Hell Hath None 20- holy mother fucking shit I love you guys. Please review and let me know what you want to see so I can make this story longer because I think we only have a few more chapters left. I am not sure yet.
Car Crash by Hotel Books.
Jack was on cloud nine. Nothing could touch her and Don was damn near the same way but was a more subtle. Jack could see t though. And so could Betty. Betty saw it in the way Don looked at Jack, as if the world around them disappeared. Betty was helping them set up and plan the wedding. They had it set for the fall of 1946, so about a year away. They were going to have it in September so it wouldn't be too hot or too cold.
They talked about what kind of cake they wanted, where, what the decorations were going to be, everything was ran by Betty. Jack got her dress in October. Betty had helped her pick it out. Jack didn't have any family, so her new friends stepped in. They did a wonderful job. Betty was going to be her maid of honor and two of her friends from work at the library were her bridesmaids. Don and Jack considered asking Boyd to be the priest but decided against it. Instead he was the man of honor and Grady and Gordo were going to be the groomsmen. Norman wasn't and there was a reason.
Jack had no one to give her away. The only blood family she had left was Richard and his name never even came up in the conversation. Instead, Jack and Don sat down with Norman at one of their weekly lunches and asked him.
Every week or so, the three would go out to lunch and check in with each other. Mostly it was so Jack could make sure Norman was ok. Ever since Germany, she had begun to see him as a little brother. Norman didn't mind, he liked Jack. She was fun and tough. She reminded Norman of Renee in some ways.
The three sat down for lunch in September and Jack asked him to be the man who walks her down the aisle. Norman said yes immediately, not even stopping to think about it. HE didn't need to. Jack was a good friend of his and he wanted to make sure he did his part to let the two have an amazing wedding.
The guest list was mostly family and close friends. Renee was invited but Norman and Renee suggested to Jack that an invitation to their parents should not be made. Boyd's wife was invited, Betty's friends and their family was invited and Don's friends were invited, including the police officer, Ryan. Don and Ryan would sometimes meet up at a bar after work, they were high school buddies. Jack liked the man. Ryan was laid back and kind. Jack invited McMurphy. He promised her he would be there.
The months flew by as the two planned for their wedding. Everyone around them was positive and happy. Jack was doing much better and her nightmares were gone for the most part. The boys from Fury would be coming up the week of the wedding and staying in a hotel. Renee and Norman were going to stay at Betty's house. Jack was excited and didn't even think about what happened last time she tried to get married. The event didn't even cross her mind until November.
In late November of that year, they had a freak snow storm. There wasn't much snow but the temperatures dropped drastically. To make matters worse, the snow began to fall after Don had left for work. Jack woke up to find snow falling and her fiancé already gone. She didn't have work. The crash flashed into her mind but she shook her head. No way that would happen again. It was a freak accident and Don was much more careful than that. They were in a city where th streets were fairly flat and wide. There were very fey narrow roads.
Jack decided to bake that day. She baked, she hummed, she wrote caught up on writing letters. She stayed busy and soon enough the memory of the crash left her. Norman called to check in. Usually they would meet for dinner that day but with the snow and his large amount of homework, they decided to reschedule. Jack envied Betty who was in another state that week, visiting her husband's family. They were in fucking Florida!
Jack had dinner ready by five thirty and lit a cigarette and five fourty five. She briefly wondered if Ryan had swept him away for a drink at the bar again. Jack laughed to herself and figured that must be it and decided to pack up the food for later.
Confusion took over her face when someone knocked at the door. She stubbed out her cigarette and walked down the hall. The knocking grew loud and faster and somehow the hall seemed longer. Jack opened the door to see Ryan in his police uniform looking at her. Something was wrong and Jack's heart stopped. His words were muffled nonsense to her as she heard breaking glass and crunching metal around her. She couldn't breathe.
"Jack? Jack, you need to come with me." Ryan told her and she could finally hear him. "He's in the hospital."
"What happened?" SHE asked. Ryan looked at her confused.
"I just told you. There was a crash. Someone ran a red light and slammed into his car. He's in the hospital now." Ryan explained quickly. "Jack you need to come with me." Jack nodded numbly and followed him out the door, not bothering to grab a jacket despite the freezing temperatures. She couldn't feel anything anyway. The whole ride there the crash replayed in her mind over and over again.
Jack didn't remember leaving her apartment or getting in Ryan's cop car or arriving at the hospital. She vaguely remembered a doctor talking to her about how Don was in surgery. Jack clearly remembered hearing a nurse yell that he had flat lined. She never remembered being seated or nearly blacking out. This was all told to her afterward.
"Jack, Jack, you need to breathe." Ryan told her kindly as she began to hypervenhylate. Tears were falling freely and she couldn't speak. "Jack, is there someone you can call, someone who can be here with you? I can't stay. Is there someone you can call?" Ryan asked. Jack thought. Ryan couldn't stay, they needed him back at the station. Jack nodded and numbly stood and walked over to a pay phone. Ryan paid for her and she dialed a number.
"Norman?" She asked when he picked up. Ryan had left the moment she was on the phone, already spending too much time at the hospital. "Norman, Don's in the hospital. I don't know if he's going to be ok." Jack was crying and Norman could hear it in her voice. He promised to be there as soon as possible. "Norman, he was in a crash." She choked out and Norman had to pause. He had heard about Jack's crash years ago. His heart hurt that she hd to go through this again. "Norman, I don't know if he's going to be ok." She cried. Normn assured her he would make it. He had been through worse.
Norman was at the hospital as soon as he could. He entered the hallway after a nurse pointed him n the right direction. He saw Jack, tears still falling freely, talking to a doctor. The man put a hand on her shoulder and looked at her grimly before walking away. Jack turned to see Norman and ran to him. He opened his arms and hugged her. He was a few inches shorter than him and he hugged her, trying to be comforting. He had to fight the tears in his own eyes that threatened to fall.
"Norman, he was in an accident. Norman I don't know if he's going to be ok." She cried. Norman tried to comfort her and she stepped back. "He's out of surgery and they won't let me see him. They won't let me see him yet. What if I lose him, Norman?" She asked and looked up at the boy.
"Hey, he's out of surgery, right?" Norman asked and grabbed her shoulders. She wiped her eyes and nodded. "Did they say there was any reason for him not to recover?" Jack shook her head.
"But he flat lined. I heard it, I heard them say it. I thought I lost him once, Norman I don't know if I can do it again." She told him, referring to his first night in Germany.
"Hey, he got through that right? He'll get through this. We're in a hospital, they have all the equipment and doctors they need. He'll be ok." He told her gently. She nodded and tried to breathe. She put her hands on her hips and closed her eyes, looking down. They both stood there, waiting. Jack began to slowly pace the width of the hallway and Norman sat down and bounced his leg. It had been suggested that the two go home but neither did. They had been assured he was expected to make a full recovery, much to their relief but Jack refused to leave until she could see him.
The doctor wouldn't let her see him until Don woke up. Jack decided she would stay until DON woke up, much to the doctor's disapproval. Norman wanted to stay as well, for both of them. It was late in the evening when Don woke up. The doctor asked if he was up for visitors yet and Don couldn't help but be amused. Of course the two would be there.
The doctor found the two sitting in chairs, leaning against each other and sleeping.
"Excuse me." HE said firmly, waking the two. "Sergeant Collier is awake. I will allow you two to see him for a short while if you promise to go home after." HE stated firmly. Jack and Norman nodded before standing and following the doctor to Don's room. Norman had to give her a gentle push into the room. She almost couldn't bring herself to go in.
Don was in his bed. The bed was adjusted so he could sit up. He looked relaxed and turned to look at them as they entered. His head was wrapped in gauze, having a slight head wound. One of his arms was in a sling and his leg was in a cast. They also learned he had several broken ribs. On had punctured a lung and that was why he was in surgery. Overall, he was banged up, but going to be ok.
"Oh, my God." Jack breathed and walked over to the bed. The doctor left. She gently placed her hands on his face and kissed him, tears falling again. He smiled gently to her and kissed her back. She looked at him, trying to be firm. "I am so mad at you." She said and rubbed her thumb over a bruise on his cheek gently. He smiled at her.
"Good to see you, too." He said quietly and Jack smiled slightly. He looked at her. She was a wreck and had no coat. Her makeup had ran and she looked exhausted. "I see you dragged Norman in." He said and Jack sat in the chair next to his bed, holding his good hand. Jack sniffed.
"Ryan told me to call someone. They weren't sure if you were going to make it. Oh, Don, you flat lined." She told him and tears kept falling. "Don, I thought I was going to lose you again." He smiled comfortingly at her and put his hand on her cheek, wiping away some of the tears.
"Hey, hey. Shh. Does it look like I'm gone yet?" He asked her gently. "I'm right here, Jack." He told her and she nodded. He turned to Norman. "Looks like we got to see you today after all." He told Norman. The kid laughed gently and Jack sighed audibly at her fiancé. He just smiled at her. Norman smiled at both of them, letting relief wash over him.
According to Don, the man didn't run the light. He had tried to stop but the road was so slippery he slid. Don should have had more injuries if the man hadn't tried to stop. Don kept his hand on her face, holding it gently. When he spoke, it was quiet and Norman couldn't help but remember the night in the tank when he was bleeding out. Gentle but weary. At least this time they knew he would recover.
Before long, the doctor kicked the two out and Jack let Norman stay on their couch at her and Don's place. It was closer than the campus. Norman fell asleep quickly but Jack felt wrong sleeping in the bed without him. She felt empty and feared her would slip away in the night. He didn't and wouldn't but she still worried.
Jack called Betty the next day. Jack made sure betty knew he was ok and told her that Don would have to stay in the hospital for a while. Betty was relieved to hear everyone was ok and she and her husbanded decided to return home early. Betty went straight for the hospital and met Jack and Don. Jack was there as often as she could be during his recovery.
When Jack was home, Don had asked Betty to stay with Jack. Don didn't want her alone for too long. Betty and Jack spent their days off together and Jack was alone during the nights. Norman stopped by often, both to the apartment and to the hospital. Ryan stopped by when he could as well.
When Don was finally released, he had to get a cane to help with his leg. Jack babied him and hardly let him alone. Don couldn't help but laugh at her concern. Everyone got out of the event alive and ok. It was going to take a lot more than a little car accident to kill Don. Norman had informed the rest of the Fury crew and Boyd made the trip to visit and check up on everyone. He was in a high enough position at work that he could leave at the drop of a hat for emergencies. Gordo and Grady were too far away and needed at work.
Hey enjoyed Boyd's brief visit but it was brief. He had to get back home to his wife and back to work. Boyd had also brought good news with him. Dolores was pregnant. That new brought everyone's mood back up and soon they were able to continue on as normal. Don had to take it slower but he continued on.
Around February, Betty insisted Jack begin focusing on the wedding again. Jack had refused for a while, wanting to make sure Don was taken care of. Betty gave her until February. Betty and Don convinced Jack to take a day and go look at bridesmaid dresses. It took a lot of convincing.
Jack and betty eventually settled on a pretty pale green color. They would have to make sure the groomsmen's tuxes matched. Don was in charge of making sure those monkeys were ready. Norman's was easy. He just had to wear a normal tux.
After the November scare was over and Don was almost fully recovered, the mood had once again shifted to the happy excited mood. They were back to planning the wedding. Some how Jack's nightmares did not return. When Don came home, she was finally able to fall asleep, felling like everything was finally right when she was lying next to him.
The months flew past in a blur and before Jack knew it, August had sprung up. They had a month before the wedding. Almost everything was planned, they just needed to set up. The wedding was set for mid-september. Early August, Don decided to give the boys of Fury a call and have them come in didn't bother to tell Jack. Figured it would surprise her.
They arrived a month before the wedding, making sure they all arrived at the same time. Norman wasn't with them. His sister was arriving that day as well and he was waiting for her at the train station. The men arrived early in the morning. Don opened the door for them, still in his pajamas which was just pajama pants. He was shirtless.
"Come on in boys. Breakfast is almost ready." He told them and they came in. He let them drop their stuff in the living room. Jack was still blissfully unaware of the men in her home and slept away peacefully. Boyd sat at their table while Gordo and Grady just stood, leaning against the walls.
"Where's Jack?" Boyd asked. Don just smirked and pointed down the hall.
"You boys can go ahead and wake her up." Don said. "She needs to be up anyway. Norman and his sister should be here soon."
"The broad from the picture?" Grady asked, sharing a look with Gordo.
"Watch yourself with that one Coo-ass. she could give Jack a run for her money." Don warned. He wasn't too concerned. Despite his rough exterior and upbringing, Grady did have some basic understanding of manners. He ignored them most of the time but would bring them up every now and then. Besides, with Renee and Jack in the same room together, Grady wouldn't stand a chance.
Grady and Gordo snuck down the hall into their room where Jack was sleeping. She was on her stomach and her hair was a mess. She had no idea what was coming. Grady and Gordo snuck up to the bed, shared a look and shouted before both jumping onto the bed on either side of Jack.
"Wake the fuck up!" Grady hollered and landed next to Jack whose eyes snapped open. She tried to sit up but both men had made her lose her balance. She yelled, startled.
"Time to get up, man! Your boys are here!" Gordo yelled over her shouting. She glared and groaned, lying back down and covering her face with a pillow. Then she remembered they weren't supposed to be there. Grady and Gordo laughed at her as she tried to hit them with the pillow, shouting at them to get out and asking why they were there early. Grady laughed and grabbed her, throwing her over his shoulder. She beat at his back.
"Put me on the fucking ground, Coon-ass or so fucking help me I'll fucking rip your head off!" She yelled as he carried her down the hall. She could hear Boyd laughing with Don.
"You're right, Norman." Renee commented. "She can swear like a sailor." She laughed. Her and Norman had arrived at the same time she was being dragged out of bed. Jack was set on the ground and she spun, not expecting Renee to be their either. She hadn't realized she had slept in so late. She began to panic. There was no way Renee was ready to meet the group or see how they were. Jack tried to speak but found no words. Her faced flushed red and the men laughed. Norman smiled at her and Renee laughed as well. Don came up behind her and kissed her cheek.
"Good morning." He said and looked at her from the side.
"Hu." She breathed, still unable to speak. He handed her a mug of coffee and lead her to a seat. He kissed her temple and went back to making breakfast. Jack looked around at the smiling men around her and the smiling Renee. Her mouth was still open and she was unable to speak.
"Jack, It's ok. I was an army nurse, remember?" Renee told her.
"Oh yeah? Where you stationed?" Grady challenged, not really believing her. He leaned against the door frame next to Gordo, across from Norman and Renee.
"Pearl Harbor first, then a base in California." She told him a small smile on her face. "They moved me to California after the Japanese attacked. I was still in training." She watched as the smiles of the men around her fell into expressions of awe. She was there for Pearl Harbor. Norman snorted and Don smiled. Jack was still in shock. Renee smiled sweetly at the expressions. "I'm Renee by the way, Norman's sister." She introduced herself. The men shook her hand and introduced themselves. Grady was still stunned. She smiled innocently and shook his hand more firmly than with Gordo and Boyd. Grady smirked at her, impressed. To most in the room, it looked as if they were trying to stare each other down. Norman knew she was sizing him up. She was interested. Norman stepped forward to pull her away but Jack stood suddenly, knocking her chair over. All attention was on her as she spun. Don turned to face her with a smug smile. He wondered how long it was going to take her to find her voice.
"You asshole!" She yelled at him. "You brought them here!" She yelled and Don tried so hard not to laugh. Grady dropped Renee's hand and grunted, picking up a shouting Jack. "I'm going to murder you!" She growled at Grady. "Put me down! Hey!" She shouted as Grady set her down in the bathroom and closed the door. He laughed to himself as he held the door shut. Jack pounded on the door and swore loudly, demanding he open the door. Gordo walked back there and laughed with Grady.
"Hey, man! C'mon, shouldn't you be glad to see us?" Gordo teased. They could hear her shouting and banging on the door.
"I DO NOT enjoying being attacked in my own bed!" She yelled and pounded on the door. "Next time give me A LITTLE FUCKING WARNING YOU ASSHOLES!" She yelled. Grady kept holding the door shut and he and Gordo laughed quietly as she hit the door.
"Hey, man. Don't break the door." Gordo teased and the door lurched dangerously. This caught Don's attention.
"Hey, now." He called down the hall. "Don't break my fucking door." He said teasingly to her. This just pissed her off more and she began to shout at him as well. Boyd just sat at the table and read their newspaper. Dolores was still home, wanting to give Boyd a chance to catch up with his war buddies. Plus she still had work. Boyd tried to convince her to come with, but she was stubborn.
"do they always do this to her?" Renee asked Norman quietly, laughing. Norman sighed and smiled, nodding at his sister. She laughed. "Oh, poor girl." She said and moved to go help shoo the men away from the door. Norman stopped her.
"Renee," He started but Renee rolled her eyes at her baby brother.
"Norman, I'm a grown woman. I can handle these two." She told him and walked down the hall. Norman shot a slight glare at Boyd who was laughing quietly. Don began plating food and set a place out for Jack when they released her from the bathroom. He set a plate infront of Boyd.
"Don't worry about her Norman. She seems like a strong girl." Boyd told him. Norman sighed.
"I know, but"
"But she's your sister." Don finished for him, handing him a plate. "Norman, don't worry about it." He said and lit a cigarette. "What can happen in a month?" Boyd just looked at Don and raised his eyebrows. Boyd saw exactly what could happen in a month. Don met his look and understood. Boyd kept his mouth shut and hid behind the paper. Norman missed the interaction.
Renee walked down the hall smoothly towards Gordo and Grady who were laughing at Jack nearly breaking the door. She was swearing worse than any sailor Renee has had to work with and Renee had to laugh.
"Oh shit." Grady laughed as Jack kicked the door. "She really pissed now."
"I'd hate to see what she does if you make her break it down." Renee commented and the two men looked at her. She smiled sweetly. "Let the poor girl out." She said and eased her hand over the door knob, moving Grady's off it. It was a smooth, firm movement and Grady didn't even realize she had eased his hand off the door. "Jack?" She called softly. "Jack, it's me. Please don't kick the door." She teased as she pushed it open. Jack looked ready to kill nd Renee had to laugh as she brought the poor girl into a hug, greeting her properly. "Good morning." Renee greeted with a soft laugh. Jack hummed and glared at the two men over Renee's shoulder. The moment Renee let Jack go and step to the side, Jack shoved Grady into the wall and the tall man laughed. Gordo had left once Renee came down the hall. Renee just watched Jack attack Grady.
Jack had shoved him against the wall and the two struggled. Jack tried to knock him on the floor where she would have the upper hand but Grady kept them upright. Don had walked silently down the hall and Grabbed Jack around the waist and picked her up. He held her close and carried her away and once reached the kitchen, spun her around gently.
"Come on, Jack. Come eat something." He said to her quietly and kissed her temple, seating them both with her on his lap. Her face was still slightly flushed and she grabbed her mug and leaned back against him.
"Fucking lucky I didn't rip their heads off." She muttered. Grady walked by and poked her neck.
"Love bite." He said as he walked by. Jack swatted at him but missed. Renee walked past and smacked him for her. The women shared smug grins. Grady just stared at the two and rubbed his face. He was slightly worried but more intrigued. He grinned and walked over to Renee and stood next to her as they got food. They started talking and Norman watched them, worried.
"You do have one." Don said and leaned his head on her shoulder. "Hurry up and eat, we have to go introduce them to Betty." He told her and made her pick up her plate.
"We are not subjecting Betty to them!" She told him.
"Betty knows. You're the only one who didn't know." Don told her and grunted when she elbowed him gently.
"It's good to see you, Jack." Boyd said to her, smiling softly.
"It's good to see you too, Bible." She said to him with a smile. Bible smiled back at her. As much grief as she gave Gordo and Grady, she was glad to see them again. She also noticed how Grady and Renee were getting pretty comfortable with each other. She thought on that for a while. She caught Boyd's eye after watching Grady and Renee and he nodded at her slightly with a smirk. Jack suppressed a smile and ate her food. This was going to be a good few weeks.
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