I do not own EUReKA. Insert something funny here. (Yup, that's really what I meant to write.)
Blame It On The Hormones
Chapter 6: You Reap What You Sow
Jack sat in his vehicle, his eyes trained on the movement of shadows as they traveled from the ground floor to the second where her bedroom was located. This was the second night in a row he had parked himself outside of her house, well after the street lights had come on. Last night he'd left the bunker in an attempt to clear his head. He decided to go for a drive so that he could have some time alone with his thoughts. Besides, Zoë told him she was tired of looking at him mope around the house, so like a ship lost in a fog, he aimlessly wandered until he arrived at her home as if she were a beacon of light. So, it was no surprise to him that he ended up in the same spot as he had yesterday.
Jack had been in this trancelike self-induced state since the night she'd stormed out. It had probably been the worst few days of his life. He made the choice not to call after she left in order to give her time to cool off. He'd hoped that by the morning she would have calmed down enough to sit with him and talk. Apparently she'd had no intention of talking to him at all. When he called, it went straight to her voicemail. Jack knew she couldn't stay at mad at him forever and they'd have to speak eventually. She just needed her space right now, and that's what he'd give her. So, for the rest of the weekend, the closest he'd gotten to her was to peer at her through her window from one block over. He was looking forward to going to work tomorrow so that he'd at least be busy and could keep his mind occupied. Anyway, he couldn't do this every evening. He was quickly feeling like some creepy stalker.
No one knew about the fight he and Allie had, but it was hard not to notice the sudden coolness between them. Jack arrived at Café Diem earlier than usual in hopes of catching her before she jetted off to GD. She customarily came in about this time to pick up an herbal green tea. When she entered, Jack sat up a bit straighter from his position at the counter, but Allison chose to make a beeline for the opposite end, totally ignoring his presence. He did manage to catch her eye and sheepishly grinned, but to his dismay she didn't bat an eye as she briskly turned and left.
How long could she go without talking to him, let alone acknowledge his existence. They were supposed to meet tonight and since she hadn't called to cancel, he took that as a good sign. As scheduled, Jack showed up outside of the Andreas Vesalius Birthing Center at precisely seven o'clock. As the minutes ticked by, he became increasingly disheartened. Maybe she wouldn't show at all. Just as he began the short jaunt toward his jeep, he saw the lights of her car pull up. Jack smiled as she stepped out the car, but quickly wiped the look off his face. It didn't matter if she was angry with him, she still looked beautiful. At least she acknowledged him this time. But before he got a chance to say anything, she commenced with what seemed to be a prepared statement.
"Carter, I don't want you to say anything. I just need you to stand here and listen."
Afraid to give a verbal response, he nodded his head in agreement.
"I haven't come to a decision about us yet. I'm not saying I want to end this, but I don't know if I can trust you."
"Allie you..."
Allison held up her hand, motioning him to stop. "Please, let me finish."
"Sorry."
"Jack, this was a huge breach of trust. You lacked faith in me and in us. I can't push you out of my life, but I'm not sure how we move forward from this. For now, I need you to be my coach, but you're gonna have to give me some time."
"I understand." He begrudgingly agreed, hoping she couldn't see the water well up in his eyes.
While in class their movements again fell in sync. It was as if they were a well oiled machine. Jack was wise enough to stay quiet and prayed that through his actions she could tell how repentant he was. Though his touches were methodical, he also wanted to convey his feelings with tender gestures. While the instructor trained them on the proper techniques, Jack would consciously rub her belly, stroke her arms and knead the muscles in her neck. Her posturing rigid, he gave a silent sigh of relief when she leaned back and relaxed so that he supported her with his bodyweight. His heart lightened somewhat, hopeful that this time together would show her unquestionably how much he loved her and never meant to do any harm.
Unfortunately, Jack's dream of an immediate reconciliation did not come to fruition. The remainder of the week, they seemed to dance around each other. Their conversations remained stilted and businesslike. The banter which flowed so easily between them similar to Nick and Nora Charles, was now a ruse, staged to appease those around them. Despite his desire to disobey her request, he gave her the space she needed. They were able to maintain the facade around GD employees and townsfolk, but their friends and family didn't fall for their act. Since Zoë and Jo spent the majority of their time with him, they instantly picked up on the change. Eventually, Henry questioned him about his behavior. Jack was unwilling to share with Zoë or Jo due to his utter embarrassment. Henry on the other hand was a confidant he knew would be direct and honest with him.
They met at his house on Wednesday for baseball, burgers and beer. It was the exact distraction he needed. Yes, he was enjoying himself, but at times he wondered if his laughter was too forced. Jack was always one to put a brave face on the outside and anyone who came in contact with him would assume he was fine. Alas, he did have a tell – his expressive blue eyes. What his face often held back, his eyes always told the true story.
Good friend that Henry was, he didn't pry. He allowed Jack the opportunity to divulge the information in his own time and in his own way. Once the game concluded, they retired to the back porch, cold brews in hand. Feeling mellower than he had in days, Jack tentatively told the tale of the Allison-Tess debacle. As he recounted the events that lead up to the fight with Allison and the subsequent repercussions, he realized how dense he'd been for even allowing it to happen.
Henry listened closely, letting him get it all out before offering his own opinion.
"Jack, you're my best friend and I'd never say a bad word against you."
"Yeah, I know that."
"I have to ask though. Are you crazy?"
They both broke out in hysterics. It was the hardest Jack had laughed all week.
Henry couldn't help rib him a bit. "Come on Jack, you really thought that was your best option?"
"Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."
"Look, you know Allison's been through a lot personally. I don't care how strong she appears on the surface, underneath she's fragile. In the last eight months she not only lost Nathan, but now her best friend. To compound the situation, she's having her dead fiancé's child and she took a risk and began a romance with you, who if you didn't know, considers her rock. Now, I know the two of you never had any intention of jeopardizing what she had with Tess, but here you are. Who knows if they'll ever be able to mend whats been broken. Allison's a brilliant woman, not just about science but life and people in general. She not only knows you, she knows your heart."
"Henry, I hear you and I can see it from your viewpoint, but I think we're over."
Jack could feel Henry's eyes on him. When he turned he was surprised to see that he was grinning.
"I'm glad one of us can find amusement in all of this." Then took another swig from his bottle.
"That's not why I'm smiling."
"Mind letting me in on the joke?"
"Do you trust me Jack?"
"Of course."
"Let me ask you. Do you believe in fate?"
"Fate? I don't know, uh, maybe."
"Well, believe it or not I do. There's a reason things happen the way they do."
"I wish I was as optimistic."
"Jack, I miss Kim more than you can imagine. Does that mean I'm going to give up on life and love? No...and neither should you. I have a feeling that you and Allison are going to be okay."
"I'm not confident we will."
"Jack, if you never trust anything I say, remember this – things work out the way they're supposed to, you just have to have a little faith."
Jack did a double-take. It was like déjà vu. For some reason, the words Henry spoke reverberated, giving him the sense that he'd not only heard, but said that exact phrase himself. The power of that statement resonated deep within his soul.
Jack knew he came to Eureka for a reason. Yes, there had been several positive results of him moving here. For one, he and Zoë had gained a better understanding of each other, bonding them and making them closer then they'd ever been before. She was striving at school, in the community and had made many friends. For himself, Jack had found a sense of belonging for the first time ever. He loved his job – even though his life was often precariously held in the balance. He had great friends and was adored by the citizens of the town. He was part of something that was bigger than him.
Then there was Allison.
From the moment he saw her, he knew she was special. No, their initial introduction hadn't gone as smoothly as he would have liked, but in a matter of days he had proven himself to her. Over the years, he had become more than a coworker. He was a confidant, a sounding board, an advisor. Most importantly, he was one of her best friends. Jack never put any credence in the idea of love at first sight. When he met Allison, his supposition was proven wrong. What he'd experienced was a feeling, a sensation which was new to him. Sure, he'd been in love before, but this time he hadn't gone searching, it had found him. For three years he sat idly by, afraid to profess him love in fear of rejection. No more. He was unwilling to sit on the sidelines. He had made the ill-conceived decision to seek out Tess's advice and it bit him in the ass. Now, it was time for him to make another move, but not one as foolhardy.
He would not go silently into the night.
Allison on the other hand, was at a crossroads. She had never been so angry in all her life. How dare he go to Tess and not come to her. It was bad enough he talked to someone else about their relationship, but his ex-girlfriend? Ha! Regardless of the fact that she happened to also be Allison's best friend, it was wrong. Allison knew she was being extremely sensitive and her pregnancy wasn't the only reason why. She was aware of Tess' plan to insinuate herself between her and Jack, told by the plotter herself. Allison had been so furious at him for not telling her, that she'd conveniently forgotten that she didn't give him the complete details about her interaction with Tess. If she had only been straightforward about Tess's scheme, all of this could have been avoided. When she looked at it that way, she was no better than him. Essentially she had done the same thing by concealing crucial information.
Not to mention, she loved him.
Deep in her subconscious she was cognizant of the fact that she never intended to let him go. If she were real with herself, she could imagine what it felt to be like in his shoes. While Nathan was alive, she often went to Jack and used him as a shoulder to lean on. She had done precisely the equivalent of what he'd done. No, she and Jack had never dated or even had a dalliance prior to their current situation, but Nathan must have endured the same sting of omission that she had. It wasn't only Nathan who saw the unique connection between her and Carter. Zoë, Henry, Jo, hell Tess and she'd only been here a short time. Allison didn't think there was one person in town who that they belonged together. Though they often denied the accusations, it was undeniable, they were meant for each other.
With that reasoning in mind, Allison knew he'd been punished enough. He felt terrible about what occurred, so when she saw him tomorrow morning, she would set things right. Well, maybe she'd wait until after work...it didn't hurt to milk it a bit. Being that it was Monday – their usual night to meet for her birthing class, Allison figured she could hold him off until then.
It would seem Jack had another strategy in mind.
For the majority of the morning, he was busy with his normal work routine. Thankfully it looked to be a quiet day. He didn't want to run into her until this evening. He had a plan in place that could not fail. He was determined to win back her trust and make amends for his faux pas. Once he arrived home, he took a shower, changed into his jeans and a dark blue Oxford button shirt – the one she said made his eyes pop. He'd rehearsed what he wanted to say, not to be scripted, but because he wanted his words to be as effective as possible.
As he gave himself one last check in the downstairs bathroom mirror, S.A.R.A.H. alerted him that a guest had arrived.
"Who is it S.A.R.A.H?"
"Dr. Fontana."
Jack was puzzled as to why she was here and rightly so.
"Shall I tell her that you are indisposed?"
"No. Let her in."
Jack scrutinized Tess as she strolled in. She looked like she was dressed to go out on a date. Her hair in loose flowing curls, form fitting jeans, a choker neck tank which she chose to wear without a bra–noticeable because of her erect nipples on display through the thin material. Jack also observed that she had on her fuck me heels. This was the term she'd used on one of the occasions they had sex when she refused to remove the five inch stilettos from her feet. She sauntered over to him, all thirty-two of her pearly whites on full display.
"Hi, Jack. Wow, don't you look handsome."
"Tess, what are you doing here?"
"I was passing by and thought I'd stop in."
"Passing by? Yeah right. I'm on the opposite side of town."
"Okay, maybe passing by's not the correct term. I'm sorry, were you on your way out?"
"As a matter of fact, I am." Jack knew he sounded curt, but he didn't care.
"Whoa, why all the hostility. I thought we were going to be civil with each other?"
"We are, it's not okay for you to come by unannounced."
"Why? Don't you trust yourself with me?"
She steadily crept nearer, forcing Jack to extend his arms in order to fend her off.
"That's not it Tess."
"Then what is it?"
"It's not right. You shouldn't be here."
"Jack, admit it. We had a good time the night you came over. We talked, we laughed, we joked. I'm not making this up, am I?"
"No. I did have a good time, I just don't think it's appropriate anymore. I told Allison about seeing you and needless to say, she wasn't pleased."
"Jack, you're an adult. You can see whomever you choose."
"That's not the point and you know it."
"Jack, Allison doesn't have to know. You and I had something good going on. Do you really think she gets you like I do? It took her three years and the death of her ex-husband – soon to be husband again before she suddenly realized you were the love of her life?"
"Are you kidding me? That's your tactic?"
"Come on Jack, this can stay between us. I'll be there for you when she's can't...or won't. Like now. Don't deny the attraction, I can see it in your eyes. You still want me."
"Don't flatter yourself Tess."
Moving closer, she bit at her lower lip, apparently an attempt at looking seductive and placed her hands on his shoulders. "It'll be our little secret.
Jack lifted her arms away. "Tess, I don't know what to do to make you understand. It's over between us. I love Allison. I won't cheat on her. I lied to her once and it will never happen again."
She turned on him, the venom dripping from her lips.
"God, you really are stupid. Allison will tire of you and toss you aside like one of her failed experiments. There's no way you can measure up to any of her previous lovers. You're living in a fantasy world if you think you can."
Jack held back a strangled laugh.
"Tess, your sad attempt to provoke and turn me against Allison isn't going to work. You call me stupid, it seems like you're the one who can't get it through her thick skull. Now I tried playing nice, but you leave me no choice."
"Jackie-boy, I don't believe you're thinking very clearly. Somehow you've made me the bad guy in all of this. You have no right to be upset with me. I wasn't the one who did anything wrong. I can't believe you'd say those things to me. I was only trying to lend a sympathetic ear when I really should have been telling you to go fuck yourself."
"Then, listen closely. I'm not being rude Tess. At this point, you're just insignificant."
Her response was exactly what he expected as she hauled back to smack his face. Regrettably for her, S.A.R.A.H. was always on watch. Only millimeters from his cheek, S.A.R.A.H. erected a force field around her, effectively freezing her in her tracks
Jack couldn't help but snicker. "I see S.A.R.A.H. has everything under control. I'll be leaving now. S.A.R.A.H. will show you the way out."
With that, Jack headed out the door, Tess' shrieks of "Carter, get back here!" now a fading memory.
Jack had just enough time to meet Allison at home before she left for class. He had hoped to have more time, but Tess ruined that plan. Jack couldn't believe how arrogant and egotistic she'd been. Obviously she knew nothing about him if she thought he'd have an affair with her. Allison was right, he didn't know Tess like she did. Jack didn't care what he had to do, he would get down on his knees and beg her forgiveness if he had to. Fortunately for him, it was totally unnecessary.
Just as his knuckles rapped on the front door, it opened, placing him face to face with her. Before she could try and voice her objections, he began.
"Allie, I know you wanted me to give you your space but I can't. I don't like fighting with you and I don't like that we aren't speaking to each other. I can't take another minute being away from you. I can't tell you how sorry I am for betraying your trust, for not giving you the chance to tell me how you felt. I should have come to you with my doubts, not Tess. It was stupid and foolish and I wish I'd known better. I would never jeopardize our relationship and for me to hurt you has been devastating. I don't care what I have to do to make it up to you but I will. Anything you say, anything you want. I'm begging you, please give me another chance."
Out of breath, he waited for her response. As each second ticked by, he became more discouraged. His eyes down cast, he was shocked when she clasped her hands around the back of his head, stood on her tiptoes and kissed him hard and full on the lips.
They parted, his eyes wide. "Wha...I don't understand. You forgive me?"
"I forgave you yesterday. I just thought I'd make you wait another day."
"So you made me sweat it out all this time."
"Hey, I deserved a little payback. I love you."
How could he be upset? "Allie, I love you too."
"You don't know how good it feels to hear you call my name Jack."
"I love it when you call me Jack."
Running late for class they decided to save their reunion for later. Back at her house they had a frank and honest discussion. Allison told him what had upset her so about him seeing Tess. She explained the reason she didn't say anything was she felt she had nothing to worry about. Maybe she was being a bit cocky herself. She never envisioned him having any further personal dealings with Tess. She apologized for being unfair and asked for his forgiveness.
Jack told her she had nothing to be sorry for. What he did do was go into detail about the unexpected guest from earlier that evening. He assured her that nothing happened and he thought that finally, Tess realized that it was over between them.
They agreed this conversation had been a long time coming. It helped in solidifying their commitment to each other.
The next few days were once again filled with bliss. They started off where they ended, never skipping a beat. An additional bonus, Tess was out of town for the remainder of the week overseeing an emergency project.
That Friday he slept over at her house. Zoë as usual was staying over at Pillar's, so Jack, Allison and Kevin settled in with a good movie. Jack was given first pick and was surprised to find out Kevin had never seen an episode of Star Trek and suggested the reboot that had recently hit the theaters. Jack gave him a brief synopsis, then indoctrinated him as an official Trekkie. Jack explained how Kirk was the best and baddest of all the captains, in his opinion anyway, but told him this new captain wasn't far behind. Kevin was fascinated by what he saw. Jack assumed it was more than likely the science of the movie that intrigued him most rather than the action and romance. Kevin sat between the two of them on the couch and eventually drifted off not long after the movie was over. Instead of waking him, Jack lifted him up and took him to his room so that Allison could tuck him in. While Allison was tending to Kevin, he took a quick shower.
Twenty minutes later, Jack exited the bathroom, a towel tied securely around his waist, he dug into his overnight bag for something to put on. His shirt and pajama bottoms clutched in his hand, he wheeled around, startled when he heard the bedroom door close and the lock click shut. What he saw, he certainly hadn't been prepared for. Allison was leant back against the door, wearing a black semi-sheer negligee that ended right below her French lace panties. It was provocative, seductive, flirtatious, enticing. Jack ran though every word he could think of in his head to describe the sight before him for he'd temporarily lost complete control of his vocal cords.
"Wow!"
"Is that all you can say?"
Jack became flustered as she drew nearer in proximity.
"Uh-huh." Jack knew he sounded like a babbling idiot, but he didn't care.
When she reached him, she looked down at the pajamas he was now unconsciously ringing through his clinched fists. With her outstretched hand, she grabbed hold of the clothes and tossed them on a chaise in the corner of the room.
"You won't be needing those tonight Sheriff," Before he could say anything, she stuck a finger between the towel and his damp skin, releasing the edge that was tucked in around his waistband, "or this."
As she sauntered over to the bed, Jack tried to get his feet moving. He must have looked quite the sight – towel around his ankles, mouth hung open, beads of sweat popping up on his forehead. When he failed to move, Allison rolled her eyes and climbed down. Apparently she was going to have to make the first move. Her hands planted firmly on his shoulders she guided him down so that he sat on the edge of the bed.
He watched in earnest as she slowly captured the hem of her nightgown and pulled it over her head. An audible gasp his immediate reaction, it was just the jolt he needed to bring him out of his stupor. He reached out for her, caressing the swell of her bottom. He couldn't believe that they were finally going to cement their relationship. With all the missteps they'd had, he had resolved himself to wait until after the baby was born. Thankfully, she had other plans. Situating herself next to him, they began.
As they tussled on the bed, Jack wrestled with an internal dilemma. He wanted her badly, but wasn't sure he would be able to control himself. He craved her, but he needed this to last. Taking a deep breath he forged on, keeping himself focused on pleasing her. They began as often did when they were spending quality time alone. Wavering touches gave way to impassioned kisses with short raspy breaths. In time, their vocal and visual signals became less important as the tactile signals intensified. Even though this was their first time, it felt like the hundredth. Not because, it was predictable, but exact opposite. They didn't have to speak words. With just a look or a touch, they knew what the other wanted, what they needed.
Assisted by a pillow between her thighs, Allison lay propped up so that she was slightly elevated. Their foreplay escalating, he leisurely kissed a path over her back. Allison moaned as his soft lips heated her from the outside in. She became frenzied as his rigid tongue created a wet trail down her spine. As he traversed back up, she could feel his equally rigid cock pressed against her buttocks, sending chills throughout her body. This was an adventure for them both as Jack allowed his mouth and his tongue to explore her – and there wasn't one area he didn't investigate, all to Allison's delight.
Jack was deliberate with her. The clock no longer mattered as he vowed to take his time. He didn't want her to exert herself, so he gladly did the majority of the work. Besides, he had no inclination to have this feeling end. He had been worried about having sex with her while she was pregnant. He thought they would be clumsy and unsure. He had nothing to worry about. If at any point he lingered afraid to make a decision, without words, she guided him along the way.
As she lay on her side, he entered her. The fingers of their left hands interlocked resting on her stomach, the other lay beneath her head. Jack pumped inside her slowly, his movements smooth and fluid.
He whispered softly in her ear. "Allie, you don't know how long I've wanted to make love to you. You are everything to me."
Her eyes closed, she savored the sensation as he rocked her methodically. Placing small love-bites over her neck and shoulder-blades, Allison moaned heavily as she lay powerless against the welcome assault.
"Jack...you feel...so good."
Each breath became sharper still as he pressed on. He knew they were both at the precipice. Desperate to see her face, Jack eased her onto her back. Knees bent, he crossed her legs around his waist – the view was magnificent. Deeper and deeper he delved. Lost in a grove, Jack froze suddenly as she let out a lusty but deafening scream.
"Oh my God, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just a mini-contraction."
"What!"
Jack didn't know what to do. It didn't help that the baby did a little somersault which sorta freaked him out.
"Allie?"
Allison assured him there was nothing to worry about and that this was totally natural.
"Jack it's okay. The baby's just happy because I'm happy. Don't stop, please. I'm so close."
Hesitant, Jack looked at her face for reassurance. What he saw was a wanton, fevered expression. When she clasped her legs tighter around his hips, his indecisiveness disappeared. Their fingers clasped together, Jack could feel her legs tremble around his as she came, with him not far behind.
Exhausted, they lay facing each other. Jack brushed a few errant hair from in front of her face.
"You know you're never getting rid of me now, right?"
Smiling broadly, Allison couldn't hide her joy. "I wouldn't let you go if you tried."
Her head planted on his chest, she fell asleep in his arms and it was right where she wanted to be.
Next - Chapter 7: When Plan A Fails, Move Onto Plan B
*To all my anonymous reviewers:
Thank you so much. Since I can't direct message you, I just wanted to let you know that your words are very appreciative and spur me to continue on.
*An additional note to akel:
I can certainly write a story during their time in Friendly Fire. Unfortunately it will be about three weeks before I even attempt it as I want to finish this story and two additional one-shots before moving on.
Also coming: Part II of I Do Over Again and With Friends Like These, Who Needs Enemies.