Before long, people had to go back home. Gordo and Grady returned back to their small town and Dolores and Boyd went home to their lives. Renee was living with a friend in a small town so she didn't have to live with her overbearing mother. To Norman's horror, the small town was right next to the town with Grady and Gordo. Jack swore poor Norman was going to have an ulcer before he's 25.
Jack and Don saw everyone off either at a train station or waving them off as Boyd drove away. Don and Jack fell back into normal life and a sense of bliss seemed to settle around them. Norman was back in classes and doing well. When October hit, Dolores had her baby. Don, Jack and Norman drove up to see them and the baby. Norman and Lily were getting along well and had even visited the Collier's for dinner a few times. Ife was good.
It was a week before Thanksgiving and saying Jack was excited was an understatement. She was thinking about inviting the boys back but wasn't sure if Dolores would be up for travel with the new baby. Maybe Jack would invite everyone for Christmas or New Years.
Jack was sitting at the kitchen table looking through a cookbook she had checked out of the library. She was looking for some good thanksgiving foods. Maybe she would bake a pie tomorrow to test out a recipe. She flicked her cigarette ash into the ash tray next to her and flipped the page. It was a quiet afternoon and dinner was on the stove. Don would be home any minute.
When a knock sounded from the front door, Jack looked up and frowned in confusion. Fear flashed through her, what if Don was in another accident? She shook her head. She couldn't think like that. Jack stood, leaving her cigarette in the ash tray and moved to the door. The person knocked again.
"I'm coming." Jack called out softly as she moved down the hall. Jack smoothed out her brown dress and opened the door. Her face expressed confusion. There were three men in suits and Jack immediately felt in danger. She swallowed her fear and kept the door between her and the men. Where was Don? "Can I help you?" She asked politely.
"We are looking for Mrs. Jacqueline Collier." The man in front said calmly. Jack nodded.
"That would be me. Who are you?" She asked, fear creeping into her veins. Something was wrong. She should shut the door and wait for Don to come home. One man she would be fine. Two, she could probably handle. Three? That was her limit. She would put up a good fight but she didn't want to risk it.
"My name is Detective Jones. Ma'am, please step out of the apartment." Jones ordered. Jack frowned.
"What is this about?" She asked. Jack wasn't leaving her apartment willingly.
"Ma'am, I'm asking you, please step out from behind the door." Jones said again, tone growing firmer. Jack shook her head.
"Not until you tell me what's going on." She said firmly. Jones sighed and the man to his left rubbed his head at his answer. Before Jack could realize what was going on, Jones had reached out and snatched her wrist, pulling her out of the apartment. "Hey! Let me go!" Jack shouted and began to pull back. Jones spun her and pinned her against the wall face first and brought her hands behind her back. Jack struggled.
"Jacqueline Collier, you are under arrest-" Jones began but Jack cut him off.
"Let me go! What for? I didn't do anything!" She shouted. Jones pulled her off the wall and began escorting her down the hall. "Let go! You can't do this! I didn't do shit!" She yelled as she tried to rip her arm away from his grip. As they lead her out the front door, Jack her someone call out to her. She turned to see her husband running over.
"Jack!" He called out and she stopped. The detective tried to get her to keep walking. Don reached them and the two stopped him from reaching Jack. "Back off!" He shouted. "What the hell is going on? Where the hell are you taking my wife?" He shouted, outraged.
"Don, don't let them take me." Jack yelled out. She was terrified. She was handcuffed and she couldn't help but feeling like she did when the Nazi's took her. She was panicking. As Jones pulled her away she started screaming and calling out more franticly.
"Jack! Hey! Let her go!" Don yelled and struggled with the two men as Jack was shoved into the back of a car. "Who the hell are you, where the fuck are you taking my wife?" Don yelled at the men.
"Sir, we are taking her in for a few questions." One man said. "We will bring her home later this evening when we are finished asking questions."
"Just questions, hu?" Don challenged. "Why the fuck did you handcuff her?"
"She got aggressive. Took a swing at one of us, we had to restrain her." The second man explained. Don didn't buy it.
"She tried to hit you because you have questions?" Don asked, not believing them for a minute. The two men glanced at each other before the first spoke up again.
"Have a good evening Mr. Collier." He said as they walked back to the car.
"It's Sergeant Collier!" He yelled after them. The last he saw of Jack was her terrified face looking back at him through the rear window. Don couldn't remember the last time his felt this helpless. "Shit! Fuck!" He yelled and ran a hand through his hair. Three men just hauled off his wife and there was nothing he could do. He didn't know what to do. What does he do?
Don headed back to his car and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. He smoked on the way to Betty's house. The moment he pulled up to the house, he was out of the car and running up the yard and the porch. He didn't even knock on the front door. He just opened it and blew through.
"Betty!" He called as he entered the living room and made his way to the kitchen. "Betty!" He called. He stopped turned the corner and entered the dinning room where Betty, Daniel and Betty's husband were sitting. Betty was standing but froze at the sight of her brother. His eyes were red and he looked like he was about to start crying. He couldn't speak and waved a hand in a direction as he tried to say something. All he could do was utter sounds. He ran a hand down his face and the only sentence he could get out was "Aw hell."
"Don, are you alright?" Betty asked as she walked over to her brother. "Don, what's going on? Where's Jack?" She asked as she rested her hands on his arms.
"I don't know. Betty, I don't know what to do. They took my wife. They took her." He said quietly. Betty looked taken aback. Her jaw dropped. They stood in silence for a few beats before her husband stood.
"I'll take David to bed." He said. "Come on, sport."
"Oh, I don't wanna!" David argued. David and his father left the room, leaving Betty and Don in the room. Betty lead Don into her living room and sat him on the couch. He rested his head in his hands and took in a ragged breath. He was barely keeping it together. How could he? His wife was just kidnapped and there wasn't anything he could do. He saw the badges, he couldn't punch a detective. Betty sat next to him.
"Don, what's going on?" She asked. Don lifted his head and looked at her.
"Three detectives." He said. "They took her away. Cuffed her and put her in the back of a car." Don rubbed his hands together slowly, nervously. "I couldn't do a damn thing. She was terrified, Betty. You should have seen her face. God, she hasn't looked that freaked since…" Don trailed off, not finishing the story. Betty put a hand on his back. He was really torn up about this.
"Don, if it's the police, she'd be safe, right?" Betty asked softly. "I'm sure this is all just a misunderstanding."
"They said they had a few questions, but they cuffed her and dragged her away, Betty. Something is wrong, I can feel it." He said quietly as he looked at his sister. Betty looked at him.
"Did they say when she would be released?" Betty asked.
"Sometime tonight." Don said with a sigh and looked up to the ceiling. What should he do? "You should have seen her face. And I couldn't help her."
"You need to be there when she comes home." Betty said softly. She was worried for Jack, Don's story left so many questions that neither had the answer to. They would have to wait. "Do you want me to wait with you at the apartment?" She asked. Don shook his head and stood.
"No. I'll just go home and wait for them to bring her back." He said quietly. Betty stood and looked at her brother before heading down a hall towards the bedrooms. He could hear Betty and her husband talking. Don began walking to leave when Betty came running through the house.
"Wait!" She called as she put her coat on. "I'm coming with you. I don't want you in that apartment alone." She explained with a small smile. Don paused before hugging his sister, startling her. She smiled and hugged him back. "Let's get you home. Have you eaten yet?" She asked as they walked out to the car.
"No, Jack was making dinner." Don said. He remembered something. "I hope she took it off the stove." He said and Betty laughed softly.
"Let's get there quickly just in case."
Jack sat in a stiff chair at a table in a dark room that had one light. IT was a desk lamp and a man in a suit sat across from her, looking at two files. Her legs were crossed and she tapped her foot nervously as she smoked. They still kept her in the handcuffs. She had been there for an hour and no one had said a word to her.
The man cleared his throat and Jack froze, waiting for him to speak. He just shifted some papers around and kept reading as he sipped from some coffee. Jack smoked her cigarette and dropped the butt into the ashtray and drummed her fingers on the table impatiently. The man cleared his throat again and Jack looked up, worry lacing through her veins. She scowled when he just kept reading. Jack had enough.
Jack jumped to her feet and slammed her hands on the desk, startling the man to look up to her, adjusting his glasses. Jack glared at him and he just lifted an eyebrow.
"Why the fuck am I here?" Jack asked. "I have been sitting in this damn room for an hour now. No one has told me what the fuck is going on, heaven knows what my husband thinks!" Jack shouted. Her voice grew louder as she got angrier. "You keep me handcuffed here, waiting for someone to fucking tell me what the hell is going on! And you, you sit there, clearing your damn throat and reading, ignoring me. You guys dragged me in here, do't just fucking act like I don't exist or I swear to God I will walk out this fucking door!" She yelled, slamming her hands on the desk again. The man smiled, finding something funny.
"I'd like to see you try." HE bluffed. Jack quirked her eyebrow before turning and walking to the door. The man was taken aback. She was actually going to try and leave? "Ah, wait. Ma'am, you can't do that." He said. She looked at him, determination blazing in her eyes.
"Watch me." She said and opened the door. She walked through only to be dragged back in by two more men. They forced her back into her seat and the man across from her could see murder in her eyes. He cleared his throat and she pinned him with a look of pure hatred.
"Mrs. Collier." He said as he organized the files again. "You were a soldier in the past war, is that correct?" He asked. She nodded. "You worked in a tank for the entirety of your time in Germany, correct?" He asked. Jack nodded. "I am also under the impression you speak fluent German. Am I right to assume this?" HE asked. Jack nodded again. He sighed and closed the files. "Mrs. Collier, we have reason to believe there is a large number of Germans trying to restart the Nazi party. We would like to send you and other agents to Germany. Your job would be to relay information between the American party that is currently occupying a section of Berlin and other agents in the field. Your job would be to carry messages to and from each agent." He explained. He paused here and let her take in the information nd judge her reaction.
Jack sat back in her chair and looked at the man in front of her. After all the time she spent in Germany, all the shit she had to deal with, she finally settled into life back in the States. And they wanted to send her back?
"Find someone else." She said firmly. "I'm done here, take me home." Jack ordered standing.
"Mrs. Collier," The man said quietly. "If you refuse to take this assignment, I will have you arrested for treason. You will be taken to a federal prison with no hope of seeing your husband again." Jack stared at him.
"How dare you-" Jack started. He cut her off.
"No, how dare you? A true patriot would jump at the chance to do something meaningful for their country." He told her. Jack's head nearly flew off her shoulders.
"Excuse me? I fought in the fucking war for this country!" She shrieked. "I planted my ass in a fucking tank, risked my life every damn day, lost friends, defended this country and you dare accuse me of being unpatriotic?" Jack yelled. "Where the fuck were you?" She asked. The man laughed quietly to himself.
"Sit down, Mrs. Collier." He said. Jack and the mn had a small stare off before Jack sat down. "You will be going to Germany or you will be going to jail. Understand?" Jack remained silent and settled for glaring at him. "Very well. Here is a list of our agents who are already over there. You will be working with them. You have three days to memorize their faces and aliases. You will be put on a plane in three days. Until then you are going to remain here where we will brief you on everything you need to know." He said. Jack's jaw dropped.
"I can't even say goodby to my husband?" She yelled, outraged as the man stood.
"Too risky. We don't want someone figuring out what you are doing." He explained. "Understand that if your cover is blown, you will most likely be shot on the spot by the enemy." Jack stared at him. She had no choice. She was being shipped back to Germany. She was going to have to be working with the same men she tried to kill when she was in the war. Wouldn't someone recognize her? Fear made her heart race. "Ma'am, if you right a letter, I will personally deliver it to your husband when I go to collect your clothes. We will be packing anything you will need for your journey."
"How long?" Jack asked, not looking at the man as he walked to the door.
"I'm sorry?" He asked, pausing.
"How long will I be there?" Jack asked quietly. When the man didn't respond, Jack turned to look at him. The man in the suit looked at her with pity before heading out the door. He had no idea. Jack rested her head in her hands. She refused to cry, she would not cry. She sat there for a few moments, thinking about Don. She couldn't bare the thought of how this would affect him. She prayed to god he would be alright.
Jack slowly lifted her head and reached for the pen and paper the man had left behind. She began writing her letter.
Don and Betty took turns sleeping on the couch or reading. No one came to the apartment. At around eight in the morning, Don woke up from his two hours of sleeping and walked into the kitchen where Betty sat with a cup of coffee and a book. Don rubbed his face.
"Betty, I don't think they're coming." Don said. Betty looked up to her brother with sad eyes.
"I'm going to go home and see David, get some sleep and change. I'll be back later to check on you." She said. She stared at her brother. "Don, get some sleep. We will figure this out. I promise." Don looked at her with sadness. Betty was crushed. She had never seen her brother so distraught. How could she promise that? He thought to himself.
Don nodded anyway. Betty offered a small smile before leaving. When Don was left in the apartment, he was nearly overwhelmed with the silence. He showered, drank some coffee and got dressed. He needed to go to work.
The day was long and Don couldn't focus on his work. He kept nodding off at his desk, no matter how much coffee he drank. He needed sleep. No.
What he needed was Jack back safe and sound. But he couldn't do anything about it yet. Maybe he should call Ryan. Don thought the idea over for the rest of the day. He decided that once he got home, he would call Ryan, see what he can do. It wasn't much, but it was something. And it got Don through the day.
Don made it back to the apartment around dinner time and found it empty. He didn't expect her to be home, but he had hoped. He set his briefcase on the table and headed to the bedroom to take off his coat and tie. He was startled to see someone had gone through his and Jack's dresser. On top of it was two letters. He ran over. One was from Jack and one was blank. He ripped open the blank one first, making sure it wasn't some ransom note or anything.
He read it three times. Jack was recruited by a government agency that requested her help with an important task. She would be leaving the country and they are unable to determine how long it will take to complete the task. They would keep him updated on her well being and contact him if there is anything they feel he needs to know.
The letter was so fucking vague. Don felt the need to punch a wall in frustration. He ducked his head and breathed heavily. They took her and now they don't know when she'll be back? The fuck are they doing?
Don took a few minutes to digest the small letter before lifting the envelope from Jack. He held it in his hands before turning and sitting on their bed. He noticed that Jack's dog tags were gone from her nightstand as well. He flipped the envelope a few times in his hand before opening it.
My Dear Husband,
Don, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me. I wish with every ounce of my soul I could tell you everything. Please, even though I cannot tell you everything, find comfort in the fact that I am safe and I love you will all my heart. I am so sorry to say I do not know when I can come home. Even worse, I will not be able to see you before I leave. I wish I could see you, just one last time before I leave. If I had a choice, I would be back home with you.
It pains me to tell you, but I feel I must. I am returning to Germany. And I must confide in you, my husband, I am terrified. Don, I am so scared of returning to that hell. I fear the days ahead may be just as horrid as the days in the war and I will have no one with me. I will not have you and the boys to defend, I will not have you and the boys to protect me. I will be so alone and I am so, so scared.
But the hope of returning home to you, home where I am safe, gives me hope. I will come home again, I swear to you. No matter how long I am kept in Germany, I will come home. I wish I could tell you more, but I don't even know much more than this.
Please let everyone know I love them and will keep them in my thoughts. I will reach out to you the first chance I can. They are going to regulate when I can contact you and what I can say, so I am unsure when I will be able to write you again.
For now, I must go. I miss you and love you. Please take care and keep me in your prayers. I love you so much, my husband.
Love Always, Your Wife,
Jacqueline
Germany. Jack was going back into Germany alone. Don sat on the bed, completely off guard. Jack was leaving for Germany and no one knew when she would come home. How does he react to this? What does he do? He needed to stay strong, he knew this. He had to stay strong for when she came home. If she came home.
Don was startled out of his thoughts when someone was knocking on the door. He stood and walked to the door, Jack's letter in his hand. He opened the front door to see Betty standing there. She smiled and stepped inside as he closed the doors. She saw how his shoulders had dropped and the letter in his hand.
"Did she some back?" Betty asked. Don shook his head and lead Betty back down the hall.
"No, either she or someone else came here and packed up some of her clothes. They left two letters. One from some government organization and the other from Jack. Here is the letter she left." Don said as he handed the letter to his sister. "You should sit." He said. Don made his way over to the stove and counter. The first thing he did was get a pot of coffee going before reaching for his ciagaretes. HE lit one and got dinner cooking.
It took Betty a few minutes to get through the letter. When Don turned to look at her, there were teas in his sister's eyes.
"Don, I'm so sorry." She whispered as she walked over to him. Betty hugged her brother tightly. "I am so sorry." Don hugged her back.
"She'll be ok. She said she was safe." Don said. "She'll come home soon." He told her, trying to reassure her and himself. Don thought how many times he would have to say this. Who would need to know? Norman, oh god, he had to tell Norman. When Betty relased him he grunted and headed to the phone.
"Don, who are you calling?" She asked. Don just looked at her before he had to talk on the phone.
"Norman, it's Don." He said ad paused as Norman spoke. "I'm alright. Are you in the middle of anything?" He asked. Norman responded quickly and Don spoke again. "Norman, I need you to come over when you can. It's no rush, I just have to talk to you. No, everyone is ok. Just come when you can." Don said before hanging up.
"You're going to tell Norman?" Betty asked.
"He needs to know. He's family." Don said. "I want to tell him before I tell the rest of the boys. Her leaving affects him directly."
"Maybe he should stay here in the apartment with you. I don't want you stuck in here alone when Jack's gone." Betty said. Don understood her concern.
"I don't need him here. He might be better off at the school with his friends and peers. They'll keep him busy." Don explained. "I'm not gonna stick him here with an old grump like me." Betty laughed a bit.
"Don, you're not an old grump." Betty said. "If you're old, that makes me ancient."
"You are ancient." Don teased bluntly. Betty smacked his arm and walked over to a cabinet. She pulled out a wine bottle and a few glasses. "Pour one for me. I'm gonna need it."
Norman sat back in his seat with a look of shock and loss. Don passed him a glass of wine. Norman took it and drank before speaking. He looked around, as if he was hoping Jack would pop out and it was all a joke.
"So she's really gone?" He asked, looking at Don. The look on Don's face reflected the same look of defeat on his first night in the tank, when they all thought they would die. Don sighed through his nose and looked at his sister before looking back at Norman. He nodded.
"She's gone for now. This is temporary. Jack will be back." Don said gently. Norman nodded and took a sip of the wine again.
"How long is she gone for?" Norman asked, looking at the siblings. The two looked at each other before answering Norman.
"We don't know." Don said. "No one knows how long she will be gone or what she will be doing in Germany." Don paused. "She said she'll come back home. I believe her. She's never gone back on her word and has always found a way back. She'll get through this and so will we. We just gotta be patient."
"She'll write when she can, right?" Norman asked. Don nodded. "Let me know when she does?"
"You'll be the first to know." Don promised and stood. "I have to call Boyd, Grady and Gordo. Tell them what's going on. Help yourself to more food." Norman nodded and stood, heading over to the food on the stove. He heard as Don spread the news. They didn't take it well. Boyd had actually decided to drive down that night. He would be there by morning.
"You should call McMurphy." Norman said when Don sat down again. Don looked at Norman. "They were close in Germany. He should know." Norman explained. Don looked at him before nodding and standing to go to the phone again. Norman stood as well. "Don, I can tell him." Norman said. Don shook his head.
"No, I need to tell him." He said. "Jack is my wife, I need to tell him." Don said as he went back to the phone.
The mood for the rest of the night was somber. You would think someone died. Although, that may not be far from the truth. Betty left after all the phone calls, she needed to go home to her family and Don wanted her to go be with them. Norman ended up staying on the couch for the night. He went back to his campus the next day and didn't go to his classes.
The sense of loss hung around everyone involved. Grady had told Renee and Boyd had told Dolores. When Boyd had arrived at Don's apartment, they sat and had lunch. Don hadn't gone in to work. He needed a day. He got Boyd some coffee and they ate together. They sat in silence for a few minutes and Boyd could read him like a book.
"It's not your fault." Boyd said, sipping his coffee.
"Bullshit." Don countered. "She was right infront of me and I didn't do anything to stop them."
"And if you had struck one of them, you would be in jail." Boyd pointed out. "She needs you here, carrying on. You can and you will get through this. God won't give you anything you can't handle. And we all know Jack is going to be fine. She's always fine." Boyd reminded Don. Don couldn't help but smile.
"She is. She always gets through." Don agreed with a grim smile before he let it fall away. "What if her luck runs out?" Don asked the question. What if she didn't make it home. Boyd looked at Don for a short while before he put a hand on the man's shoulder.
"She'll come home, Top. You gotta believe that." Boyd said quietly.
Don tried, he really did. The first week was the hardest. He wasn't sure he would get through it but he did. And soon enough, another week passed. An another. He began to believe that he really could get through this. A month passed and he hadn't heard from Jack. Don figured hearing nothing was better than hearing bad news.
Don kept his head up and got by. He spent the holidays with his sister. Norman was there as well and the boys showed up for Christmas. But there was an empty hole no one but Jack could fill. But they got by.
There was total silence about Jack for a few months and Don was genuinely believing that Jack would be ok and she would be home soon. Things were getting better. Jack would be home soon. January was a hard month to get through, but the first month was harder. Don was standing infront of the calendar on the kitchen wall. Just a few more days and February would be over. Another month would be gone and he would be one month closer to Jack coming home.
Don turned when the phone rang. His heart stopped. Maybe it was about Jack. The phone rang again and Don ran across the kitchen and picked it up. His heart began to beat wildly as he answered.
"Collier." He said.
"Sergeant Collier. This is Detective Jones. I'm calling about your wife, Jacqueline." The man said. "I have good news. Jacqueline has finished her assignment and will be returning home in a week." Don couldn't believe it. Jack's coming home. Don couldn't help but laugh.
"Oh God, she's coming home. She's really coming home?" He asked.
"That is correct sir. We will call you again when we know what time her plane will be landing. Have a good day, sir. And thank you for your service." The man hung up the phone and Don put his phone down. Oh god, she was coming home. Jack was coming home. Don let out a cry of relief and ran to the door. He grabbed his keys and left. He would call Norman from Betty's house, but first he would have to tell Betty. Jack was coming home. She was finally coming home.
"Betty!" Don called as he burst through the house again, laughing. He met Betty in her living room and ran over to her, lifting her up in a hug and spinning her. "She's coming home! Betty! Jack's coming back! She's alright." Don said as he put Betty back on the floor.
"She's coming home?" Betty asked. Don smiled and nodde,d laughing in relief. Betty screamed and jumped in excitement and hugged her brother and the two were jumping together.
"I have to call Norman. I gotta call the guys." Don said and smiled. He was laughing and had to sit to catch his breath. He couldn't breathe from laughing. He has never felt more relieved, knowing that Jack was alright and that she was coming home.
Don had called everyone and the men from Fury had all decided to come down and welcome Jack home. They had a feeling she would be needing support and having them there would do loads of good. It always has. They all arrived a day early and checked into a motel. Dolores and Renee weren't able to make it but each had promised to call later that evening.
When the time came to head to the private airport, they all loaded up into their own cars and headed to the airport. The small group left tehri cars in the parking lot and gathered with the rest of civilians and families waiting. It was a decent sized crowd. Most of these people had nothing to do with Jack's reason for being in Germany. Many of these people were there for their relatives who had been prisoners of war that had just been released from any surviving hospitals. Some were there to collect the dead bodies of those who had passed.
They saw the plane land and they all stood in the cold, patiently waiting for the passengers to exit the plane. Betty stood next to don with a hand on his shoulder and the boys stood around him.
"I can't wait to see her fucking face when she sees us." Grady said as he elbowed gordo.
"Yeah man. She's gonna be tired though. I'm worried she might hit us or something." Gordo said. Jack could still pack a punch.
"I think she'll be too relieved to be home." Norman said with a small smile.
"I don't see her getting off the plane." Boyd pointed out. Don had noticed it too, but he waited patiently. She would be there. She had to be. They said she would be coming home. Betty's hand tightened on Don's shoulder as the passengers left and there was no sign of Jack. Where was she?
Don felt his heart sink when the last bit of people left the plane. Silence fell over the group as two men in suits go up the steps and into the plane. There was no sign of Jack.
"Where the hell is she?" Grady asked angrily.
"Don, I don't-" Boyd started but what could he say? Oyd saw Don press his lips into a firm line as he kept his gaze on the plane. Don's shoulders sank.
"Maybe she just got on the wrong plane." Norman offered.
"Man, I'm gonna aske someone. See what the fuck is going on." Gordo said and began to walk away. Don saw something at the door of the plane. It was the two men in suits and they had someone between them. The person was frail and small, emaciated and covered in bruises and cuts. He almost didn't recognize her. He let out a brief laugh of relief.
"It's her." He whispered quietly. Betty looked and gasped at the sight of her sister in law.
"Oh my god." Norman muttered. "She made it." Grady and Gordo laughed loudly and started shoving each other as Jack was escorted down the steps by the two men. She had an arm in a sling and bandages around her hands. Boyd hollered and his loud yell caught Jack's attention as she reached the ground. She looked around, searching for the familiar ruckus.
Jack's gaze fell on her group, on her family. Then she saw her husband. She stood in shock, letting the two men hold her elbows and shoulders. Don started walking forward in a brisk walk, leaving the group behind. His smile was as bright as the sun. Jack still wasn't moving, her mouth hung open.
When Don made it halfway, Jack began walking, shaking off the two men next to her and then began to run weakly. She pushed her shaky legs to run to her husband. As Don reached her, he could see tears in her eyes, but they never fell.
"Don!" She cried out as she reached him. She wrapped both arms around his neck and he held her close. "Don, oh my god, I'm so sorry." She breathed. Don released her and held her face before kissing her.
"It's not your fault." He told her and kissed her again. "God I missed you. Welcome home, baby. Welcome home." He said and pulled Jack into his arms again. His hand tangled in her ratty hair and an arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her close. Jack gripped the back of his shirt tightly, clinging onto him desperately.
"God, I missed you, Don." She breathed. "I was scared, I was so scared." She breathed. "I didn't know what to do, Don I-" Don cut her off and looked at her.
"Jack, you're home, you're safe. That's all that matters, baby." Don said. He saw the look of agony on her face. Agony and fear mixed into her face. "Jack, what's wrong? What happened?" He asked. Jack bit her lip and looked away, fighting tears. "Jack, what happened in Germany?" He asked firmly. Jack looked at him.
"I haven't cried." She said. "I haven't cried since the first night in Germany. I never had a chance." Jack whispered and swallowed thickly. Don furrowed his eyebrows in concern.
"Jack?" He questioned gently. "Baby, what's going on?"
"They took me. I was a spy. I was supposed to carry information to and from a specific group of people. I was supposed to be a German woman and get info from agents who were undercover in the Nazi party. It's still there. I was supposed to just carry information, be a messenger." She explained. Don nodded.
"Alright. I understand so far." Don said. A tear fell down Jack's dirty face.
"I never had a chance to do that." She told him. On my third day, I was dragged into a back alley. They knew who I was and why I was there. Someone told them I was American. They took me prisoner again, just like in the war. Just like the war." Jack admitted. Don looked at her, digesting the information.
Jack had been taken and held as a prisoner for the last few months. She was held longer than before from the same group of bastards. She had literally relived hell and it was all because those fuckers in suits. Don felt pure hatred fill him.
"Don?" Jack's worried voice carried up to him. He looked down at her. "Don, say something." She begged.
"I'm here, Jack." He said as he pulled her in. "I'm here, baby. I'm here. You're gonna be ok." He told her as he held her close and kissed her head. Two men in suits approached and if Don wasn't already hugging Jack, he would swing a fist.
"Jacqueline Collier has suffered a bullet to the arm, broken ribs and burned hands. She had also been starved and beaten repeatedly for three months." One man stated. "She will need to check into a hospital as soon as possible to make sure she receives proper care for her injuries."
"Yeah?" Don challenged. "and how exactly did she get them? You guys said she would be safe!" Don started. Jack stepped back and looked up at him.
"Don, please." She asked quietly. "I just want to go home." She said. Don looked down at his bruised and battered wife. He nodded and kissed her forehead.
"Let's go home." He said as he lead her away. "You'll never guess who came to see you." He said to her quietly. Jack looked over ot the group and giggled. But Don could still tell she was on edge. She gripped his shirt as if her life depended on it.
"We could go home, they can wait another day to see you." Don said as he kept an arm around her. She was so thin she looked like a gust of wind could knock her over. Jack shook her head.
"I wanna see my boys." She said quietly, a small smile on her face. As they neared the guys ran over to her. Grady lifted her off the ground gently. Each person took turns hugging her and welcoming her home.
Jack couldn't help but feel relief. She was home, she was safe. The men in Germany were dead, they wouldn't ever see her again. She was safe. Jack knew she was safe. But she was tired. Jack was so tired. She just needed sleep. As each person greeted her and began talking to her, Jack felt dizzier and dizzier. She started to stumble and Don frowned, grabbing her gently.
Jack's legs gave out and her eyes shut as she dropped. Black had lined her vision and she could faintly hear concerned voices calling out to her. They quickly faded out.
Let me know what you think. Is it too choppy? Too abrupt?