Hello people! Here you have a new chapter. I'll post again until next Friday, 'cause I'm going on vacation. Please wait for me and miss me!

:P

Enjoy...

Chapter 46

After her encounter with Margo, Brooke ran to work and told Ilana everything about it. A mix of feelings crossed her heart. She felt overwhelmed and somehow hopeful. She believed Jack would call her any minute. But another week went by and he didn't.

Her birthday arrived. Since it was Wednesday, she agreed with Ilana that they'd celebrate until Friday, so they wouldn't have to get up early the next day. At work, Ilana got her a cake and made her blow the candles, even though Brooke wasn't thrilled with the idea.

At night, they went to her parents'. Mr. Julian was on a business trip, and that just made Brooke sadder, but she remained calmed and tried to stay positive. What she missed the most with her father out of the country was his birthday present.

Brooke's favorite story when she was a kid was Cinderella. She made her dad read it for her every single night before going to sleep. She loved to hear over and over again how the prince had found Cinderella by putting the glass slipper on her foot. Therefore, since Brooke 16th birthday, her dad had given her each year not a glass slipper, but a beautiful dress. What was special about it was that her dad never knew her size number. He just looked at the dress and knew if it'd fit or not. And Brooke always found amazing that the dress he gave her was not only of her taste, but also that it fitted perfectly, like it was hand-made especially for her. It didn't need any adjustment. That's how she experienced her Cinderella moment every year.

But this year there was no dress. Her mom explained that the store got it all wrong and didn't deliver it on time. Mr. Julian was pretty upset and had called Brooke to explain she would get it by Monday. He also congratulated her daughter and told her he was having terrible reception in his cell phone.

Then, after having dinner with her family, she went home. Her birthday was over and Jack never called. Right, they had broken up, she thought, but at least he could've called her to wish her a happy birthday, just as a friendly, no-hard-feelings gesture, and for good times' sakes. But he just didn't, he probably didn't even remember the date. With pain and sorrow in her heart, she let go any hope of getting back together with him. She cried again. She just couldn't believe it. He just didn't give a damn for her, and she loved him so much. It was over, so very over.

The next day she woke up feeling blue, but determined. Fine, Jack didn't love her, and no matter how much she cried, that wasn't going to change. It was time to start moving on. She knew that she would never love anybody like she loved him ever again. Brooke never knew what the world failure meant, but now she did. Her relationship with Jack was the first failure of her life. There was always a first time, she thought, and she had to resign herself to live with that failure forever.

When she got to work, she went right to Ilana's office.

– I'm taking it off.

– You're taking off what? –Ilana asked disconcerted.

– The bracelet. –she said, glancing at her right wrist.

Ilana frowned. – Really? How come, I mean, why now?

– Because I can't cry these tears anymore, and it reminds me of him every single day. As long as I wear this bracelet, I won't be able to move on. I have to take it off.

Ilana sighed. For some things, she was very superstitious. She was convinced to that day that Jack had given Brooke that bracelet because he loved her, and she believed that if one of them decided to take it off, their bond would break. – Has he given you the key? –she asked concerned.

– No. –Brooke replied discouraged.

Ilana felt relieved. If Brooke wanted to take it off, she had to ask him for the key. Then they would talk and work things out. ­– So when you're calling him?

Brooke looked at her with disbelief. – Calling him?

– To get the key, you know.

– Of course I'm not calling him. I'll just go the jewelry. They will take it off.

Ilana's face distorted. – Brooke, are you sure?

– Absolutely. I can't believe you're asking me. It's like you wanted me to keep suffering.

– That's ridiculous, Brooke. But his mom… she told you to be patient and maybe…

But Brooke cut her off. – His mom can do nothing about it. He's not a child. He's made his choice.

­­– But maybe you can just wait a little…

– It's been a month Ilana… –Brooke said somehow annoyed. – I think it's been enough time. He's not changing his mind, and I have to face it. –she said, her voice broken and tears showing in her eyes. – So, taking off this bracelet is the first step.

Ilana nodded. – Fine sweetie, if that's what you want…

– Yeah…

When the day was over, she went to Cartier on the 5th Avenue. She knew they had all the keys to all their bracelets. She cried on the way. It was so tough to give up on Jack… When her cab got there, she got off. But the boutique was closed. They were having a huge inventory and wouldn't be opening till Monday. Fuck… she thought. She walked down the street and found a little jewelry whose ad read "Any kind of repairs made". She went in and asked the jeweler:

– Hi… Excuse me, I want to take this bracelet off, but I don't have the key. You think you can help me?

The jeweler looked at her wrist. – Why don't you go to Cartier? It's just a few blocks away…

­­– It's closed until Monday. And I really need to take it off, so, maybe you have a tool or something… –she said all jittery.

– Um… these are very fine jewels, but maybe… let me see. –The old man went inside the backroom whilst Brooke followed him with her sight. Then he came back and tried some screwdrivers on the bracelet, but none of them worked.

– No, just what I thought. You need to go to Cartier, only they have those kinds of screwdrivers.

– Maybe if you try with something else, please? –she begged.

The old man smiled. – Why you want to take it off so bad? –he asked curious. But Brooke just looked down, her eyes watering. – Well ­–said the man– if you can't wait, maybe I can cut it off.

– Cut it off? –she asked abashed.

– Yes, you know, with a saw. It'll just take 5 minutes… But then it will be irreparable… –the jeweler stated.

Brooke hesitated. She wanted to take it off, but she didn't want to break it like that. – Maybe you shouldn't take it off… –the man told her with a tender smile. – Go home, wait until Monday… –he suggested blinking an eye.

Brooke nodded. After all, she only had to wait 4 days. – Fine… I'll do that…

Friday came. Ilana had made a reservation for 8:00 O'clock at the restaurant they always went to, where they were celebrating Brooke's birthday at last. When Brooke got home after the work-day, she found a beautiful present-box on her bed. She smiled and opened it.

Her eyes opened wider. Finally, her dress had arrived. It was stunning. It was so far the most beautiful dress her dad had given her. It was cardinal-red and sexy. It had a halter collar that showed her cleavage and an A-shape skirt that got over her knees. She undressed to try it on. Yes, it was a perfect fit, as always. She smiled, but sorrow grew inside her. Life went on after all…

She started getting ready for dinner. She put on her new dress, as in every birthday. Then she went to the restaurant. Ilana was already there and was stunned when Brooke walked in.

– Oh my God Brooke, you look amazing! ­–she said jaw-dropped.

– Thank you sweetie…

– I just don't know how he did it, unbelievable… –Ilana affirmed incredulous, turning her around and scrutinizing the dress.

– Well, you know my dad. He has a gift…

Ilana smiled mischievously. – Oh sweetie, you have no idea…

They all took their places. All her friends were there. They had a nice dinner. They were laughing, talking, having a great time. But Ilana seemed absent.

– Honey, are you okay? –Brooke asked puzzled.

– Sure, why you ask?

– I don't know, you've been very quiet the whole night. What's going on?

– Nothing! I just… Nothing sweetie, I have this thing at work, but you're right, I won't think about it anymore… –she replied nonchalant. – So, you didn't take the bracelet off, huh? –she said impishly.

Brooke rolled her eyes. – The fucking store's closed. I'm taking it off on Monday.

– Fine. –Ilana retorted shrugging, with a smug face.

Then the cake arrived. Everybody sang "Happy Birthday" to Brooke. It was time to blow the candles. She closed her eyes and made her birthday wish. Then, at midnight, the dinner was over and everybody went home.

When Brooke got to her place, she checked the time. It was already morning where her dad was, so she decided to call him. She kept looking at herself in the mirror whilst she waited for him to pick up, delighted by the beautiful dress and how it looked on her.

– Hello? –Mr. Julian said.

– Daddy! Hey!

– How you're doing cookie?

– Fine, great. I just wanted to thank you…

But interference cut her off. She heard Mr. Julian talking. – I'm so sorry about the dress cookie, I just told your mom to cancel the order to those mother fuckers, but you're not going to believe the one I found for you here, you'll have it once I get back home, I promise.

Brooke didn't know what her dad was talking about. – But daddy, the dress just got here today, and it's beautiful. I wanted to thank you 'cause I love it… Hello? Dad?

But the call cut off. She frowned. Well, it seemed this year she was getting 2 pretty dresses. She went to the living room and saw on the couch Ilana's coat. What an ass, I took it instead of mine…

She grabbed it and when she was walking to her bedroom, the doorbell rang.

– I knew you would come back to get your co… –she affirmed whilst she opened the door, but then she froze and turned pale.

– Snow White.

She felt her heart speed up. She was speechless. Her birthday wish never worked so fast. – Snow White is Jackie's favorite bedtime story. –a nervous Jack stated from outside the door, with a longing look. – And Brett's favorite cereal is Frosted Flakes. –he said, and then took a step inside the apartment. Brooke let him in. She couldn't believe Jack was there. Maybe she was hallucinating, maybe it was a dream. She didn't dare to speak, afraid that he would disappear if she did.

– Why do you love me, Brooke? –he asked eager to know, walking around, scanning the place and looking at the pictures on the walls, his hands in the pockets of his jeans and a black coat emphasizing his tall and slender figure. Brooke was still dazed and couldn't utter a word. – I need to know –he continued– You can have any man you want. You could be with Marty, or Patrick… one of your dad's lawyers. Why me?

She was not dreaming. Jack was there, right in front of her. She stared at him determined. – Because you make my worst day brighter just by looking at me. –she finally pronounced.

He looked down and smiled shortly. He liked what he'd heard. She still loved him. Then he looked in her eyes longingly, hesitant. – I need to… talk to you.

Brooke nodded and sat on one of her couches. Then she gave him an expectant look and placed her hand on the empty seat beside her, inviting him to join her. The minute he sat so close to her, she wanted to throw herself in his arms and kiss him, telling him how much she missed him, how much she loved him, how much she wanted to be with him, but she contained herself.

He was staring at her intently. If he had any doubt about his feelings for her, it got washed away the minute he saw himself reflected in her eyes. – I've been thinking about everything you told me that day… I'm not a liar Brooke, and I never meant to hurt you. I just made a mistake and I'm sorry. –he took a deep breath and went on. – If I didn't… show you who I am, was because I was afraid to lose you… I'm the one who's not worth of you… All my life I've been obsessed with doing the right thing… I've kept trying to fix everything around me, because that's what I was supposed to do. I never wanted to be a hero, Brooke, but I had no choice. All I wanted was to make my dad proud, to prove him I had what it takes. But I got lost in the way… I forgot who I am… –he said with a broken voice. – When I met you, I remembered. I was just myself again. You didn't need me to save you… You didn't need me to take care of you… You didn't want a hero, Brooke, you just wanted me… You didn't know anything about me and you kept coming back… You even fell in love with me… So I thought… why ruin it? I thought that if you really got to know me, you'd leave me. That's why I didn't want to… merge what we had with my everyday life. That's why I didn't want to take another step… –he assured, his eyes watering. – But I can't let you go… You taught me that happiness is a choice, so I choose to be happy with you… I love you, Brooke.

Tears rolled over her face when she heard those words, the ones she waited forever to hear and even believed would never come. Yet when she was about to speak, he cut her off. – But I've done terrible things… I'm so fucked up… and you need to know who I really am. And if after I tell you everything there is to know, you still want my soul, I swear to God I'll live to make you happy. –he assured determined, with a longing look.

Brooke nodded again. – I'm listening. –she said softly.

With that, he began narrating his whole life, practically since the day he stood in front of his father with a black eye after trying to defend Marc Silverman. That day, he told Brooke, was the first time his dad told him he didn't have what it takes. Then he told her how he got into Medical School against his will after trying to become a pilot, and how he finished it a year early to start his internship at St. Sebastian.

With tears showing in his eyes, he told how demanding and stern his dad was on him, and how he pushed him all the time. Yet, he admitted, he felt admiration, love and respect for him, and a longing aim for his approval and recognition. But soon that feeling became into a fierce and obsessive competition with him.

Later on Jack told her how he met Sarah and how he fixed her after it seemed impossible. Therefore, he said, she fell in love with him. He admitted to Brooke he was doubtful the night before the wedding and that he couldn't write his vows. His dad was the one who helped him figure it out, with a drink at the pool. That moment, he affirmed, was the one he treasured the most among all the memories he had of his dad.

Then came the bad times, he said. He talked about his marriage with Sarah and how it fell apart. With sorrow and embarrassment he admitted to Brooke that he believed his dad was Sarah's lover, and how he beat the shit out of him and drove him to alcohol again after more than 50 days sober. He told about his days in Puckett and about the lover he had there. She was the one that tattooed him, he declared, and even revealed what the tattoos meant. Soon after he got them, he explained, he was expelled from that place and never welcomed again, without knowing why.

Then he returned to Los Angeles and to the hospital, to face the ultimate confrontation with his father. Stifling his crying, Jack said how he had betrayed him that fatidic day in front of the Hospital Board, which had led to his dismissal as a doctor. That, he assured, made his dad run away to Australia. Then his mother ordered him to bring him home, but it had been too late, because he died there. He regretted never telling him he loved him. And that's how he ended on that plane that crashed on the island.

Stunned, Brooke heard silent every single thing Jack had been through on the island. He narrated how he met Kate and how he fell in love with her. He confessed she was a criminal and all the things she'd done. He also spoke about all the terrible things he'd done there, but swore to her all he did was to protect his people. He told her how he'd learnt on the island, by an absurd coincidence, that his dad was indeed proud of him and loved him. He even admitted to Brooke that, even to that day, he wished his father was around because he missed him and loved him after all.

Finally, he told Brooke how he found out about Claire and how they came back to the real world. Then he told her about his life with Kate. He described his happy days beside her, and how blessed he felt when each of his kids were brought into this world. Then he narrated how Kate died because she was running away from him again. He described how torn he felt because of her betrayal and how hard it had been for him to keep going every day.

All his life, he admitted, he'd been carrying a lot of baggage. He spoke for hours, with exact details and words and places, like he was making a balance of his actions for the Last Judgment.

– Then you came along, and here I am… –he said before clamming up. He didn't dare to look at Brooke. That was it. He had finally revealed his soul. But after listening to himself, he was convinced she wouldn't like it.

Brooke placed her hand on his cheek and made him look at her. – Thank you, Jack. –she said. He threw a questioning look. – For telling me all this. Now I really know who you are. –she added with a sweet smile.

– I feel so ashamed and…

But she gave him a short kiss to silent him. – You don't have to be ashamed of anything, Jack. You did what you had to do. And if all you've been through was meant to happen, so that you can be here with me tonight, then it was all worth it. I love you and nothing will ever change that… –she affirmed determined, with a huge glint in her eyes.

He threw himself in her arms and finally surrendered to himself, to her, to love and to happiness. He cried his eyes out for all the pain, the guilt, the rage, the fear and the shadows in his heart. He cried for his father, for Sarah, for Boone, Shannon, Ana Lucia and all the people he couldn't save on the island, all the people he left behind. He cried for Kate, her betrayal and her loss. He cried for his children not having a mom, for making Brooke cry and for missing her birthday. Meanwhile, she just held him tight, repeating in his ears that everything was fine, and placing little kisses on his head. It was true, he thought, everything was fine because she was there. He'd finally found his rock. For the first time in his life, he felt safe.

As if he'd been through an exorcism, he fell asleep in Brooke's arms, exhausted. His peaceful breathing and the warmth of his body lulled her too. She leaned him on top of her and fell asleep right there on the couch.