That Monday, Jack donned a greed dress, did her makeup and hair, and sat in the kitchen window, reading, while waiting for a cake to finish baking. When don came home, he had to stop and stare at her. Though she was still worryingly thin, she had color to her face, life to her eyes. She turned and smiled at him, a genuine smile.
That Tuesday, Jack wore a blue dress and white headband and decided to visit Norman. She hadn't seen him in a long while and he had finished classes for the day. Jack and Norman went to lunch and walked around the national mall. Jack didn't eat much, but she loved the feel of the sunlight on her skin.
Wednesday, Jack cleaned the apartment and made Don dinner. When he came home, the place smelled wonderful and she was singing along to a record. Don startled her, and it took her a few minutes to recover, but she did recover. With the spring air, the winow in the kitchen and their bedroom were open. Jack fell asleep with her head on Don's chest rather than with her back to him.
Thursday, Jack was washing dishes, but the slosh of the water in the sink sent her back to Germany. Don found her in hysterics on the floor in the kitchen She had cried and screamed and Don held her until she tired herself out.
Friday, Jack sat in the sunny living room, wrapped in a blanket, smoking. She would sleep and read. Her sleep was haunted by nightmares. She wasn't back on her feet until Sunday, and Don had to almost drag her outside. After a small while of walking out in the sunlight (and an icecream) Jack began to smile a bit, and the light in her eyes was fighting to get through.
Jack went through a cycle of recovery and nightmares, but as weeks went by, the nightmares started to lessen and she began being more active, more social. She got her job back at the library and went out with her new friends. They would do brunch every once in a while. She was almost back up to her regular weight and she was back to cooking. She visited Norman and Betty regularly and summer began to roll in. She started taking the phone calls from the boys more often as well. Through the colder months, she couldn't bring herself to hear their voices, shame and exhaustion keeping her from the phone. They spoke of visiting soon and she picked up writing to Rene again. She was getting back into a routine. Don would come home or pick her up, one or both of them would make dinner, they would relax and read or listen to the radio. Don would hold her close and look at her with such love and she would find herself being very thankful she hung in there for a little longer. She could handle water better, but she could not submerge her face. On the days where she flashed back, sometimes she could ground herself quickly. Other days, she would just sit, exhausted, but be up and about again relavtively quickly, not with as much energy as before, but it was an improvement.
It was late May and the two lay in bed with the windows open, welcoming the cool breeze that moved the thick humid air of Virginia. Jack lay next to Don, dozing, not able to fall asleep as she slept most of the day, just being lazy. It was too hot to be productive. She rolled over and faced the window, watching as the thin curtains waved in the breeze. It had started to rain a while ago and rain beat the fire escape. The wind wasn't blowing the rain in, so Jack left the window open. She heard the thunder roll towards them and it vaguely reminded her of her time in the tank. It rolled closer and grew louder. Lightning flashed and she could see the light from it. Jack was dozing off to sleep, and just about ot fall asleep when she felt something in her bed shift violently. She rolled over, frowning, and saw Don sitting upright in the bed, panting.
"Don?" She asked and sat up immediately, worried about her husband. He looked dazed and confused. She put a hand on his arm. "Don, you alright?" He looked at her and raised a hand to rest on her face. He sighed and relief took over his face.
"You're alive." He breathed. Jack's face softened and she pulled him to her and lay them both down. He lay ontop of her with his head on her chest, listening to her heart, to her breath. Jack ran her hands through his hair, trying to relax him. He would tense at the louder claps of thunder, probably about to jump up and start giving orders. He had done that a few times in his sleep, especially when they first came home. He would sit up and start shouting orders to get under cover. One night Jack had actually rolled off the bed, barely awake, and tried to duck for cover.
Jack snorted a bit at the memory. Don hummed, asking her what she was laughing at. She shook her head.
"Just a memory." She told him. "Remember that one night you started shouting, telling people to duck for cover, but we were just here?" He snorted. They lay there in silence, listening to the storm. After about an hour it started to fade away, and Jack knew the storm was almost over. Don still lay on her chest and she kept a hand in his hair. Both dozed off like that, waking a few hours later, hungry.
It was still humid, but it was a bit cooler that morning. Two cigarettes burned in the ashtray at their small table as sun shone in the room. A mug filled with warm coffee sat in Jack's hands. The smell of bacon filled the room as the grease crackled and popped in the pan. It was a quiet, calm morning. Jack flipped the paper of the magazine to finish reading the article she was reading. Don was whistling something as he cooked the bacon. The toaster popped up two pieces of toast. It was a good Sunday morning.
A knock at the door startled Jack. She glanced at her husband who glanced back at her briefly before making his way to the door. Jack sat still, staying in her seat. They weren't expecting anyone were they? What if it was those men again? She sat tense, ready to run to the bedroom for the gun. She wouldn't let them take her again. She heard the door open and shut as what sounded like several people entered. They filed down the hall and a loud voice boomed through the apartment. She knew that voice. Jack sat frozen in her seat, eyes wide as they came to the end of the hall.
Jack didn't have time to scream or protest as she was lifted out of her seat and thrown over his shoulder.
"Bet you thought you'd be rid o' us!" Grady shouted as he spun with her over her shoulder. Jack laughed and grabbed onto the back of his shirt.
"Grady!" She shouted, laughing and he dropped her, only to have her wrapped in another man's arms, pressing her close to his chest. She laughed and tried to wiggle out. He just squeezed tighter. "Gordo, you wanna break my neck?" She teased and swatted at him. He laughed and released her. She leaned around him and saw Boyd standing there with his wife and a small bundle in her hands. Boyd met her with open arms and hugged her. "Is that what I think it is?" She whispered, indicating the tiny baby. Boyd laughed and Dolores nodded. Jack's smiled lit up the room. "How is she still asleep with Coon-ass screaming?" She cooed as she neared and looked at the tiny babe. She had rosy cheeks and the cutest nose. "She's so precious, oh Boyd you must be so proud."
"She looks sweet," Boyd told her and rested a hand on her shoulder, "but t two in the morning, she's a little demon." Jack laughed.
"Is Norman here, yet?" Gordo asked Don as he sipped Jack's coffee loudly. Don hummed nope as he sat down, smoking his cigarette.
"What's everyone here for?" Jack asked, looking at Don, confused. He looked at her with a smirk and picked up his newspaper. She put her hands on her hips and stared at him. "Don?"
Sorry it's so short, but I needed to get something up. And I needed to let you guys know I am starting a new story. It's a Fury story. It's called Valkyrie. Go check it out!