The next day Jaye stayed in her quarters. She needed time to think. Flint
and Paul kept calling so she took her phone off the hook and if they came
by she had Scarlett tell them she was sleeping which was far from the
truth. Jaye didn't fall asleep until late that night, but that sleep was
plagued with nightmares.
The setting of the party was wonderful but Alison wasn't feeling that great. At two months pregnant she still got morning sickness and not just in the morning. She was sitting by her husband of two years, Lt. Paul Burnett. The party was for him. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Paul, honey, I want to go home."
"Alison, are you alright? You're very pale?" Paul asked her with concern.
"Yes, Paul. I'm just not feeling very well and I want to lie down." Alison opened her purse for her keys.
"Alison, let me take you home. You don't look too good."
"I can make it on my own besides this is your big night," she smiled weakly. "The guys spent a lot of time planning this."
"Look, at least let me get some one to drive you," he stopped her hand with the keys. Alison started to protest. Paul put a quieting finger to her lips. "I insist."
"Alright, Paul." Alison stood and left with one of the MP's Paul asked to drive her. Once home she fell right to sleep. She didn't wake up until her husband came home and climbed into bed with her about 2 in the morning. She rolled over. "How was the rest of the party?"
"It would have been better if you were there." He pulled her close to him. "How are you feeling?"
Alison smiled at him. "Much better. Why?"
Instead of answering her, he sighed heavily placing a kiss atop her head and pulling her closer to him. "Get some sleep, and don't worry so much. I need you concentrating on your self and Jr. here," he ran his hand over her still flat stomach as she snuggled closer to him. They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Four hours later the alarm clock woke them. "Damn." Paul cursed.
"Paul..."
"Yes, hon?" Paul asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Don't go."
"Honey if I don't get up now I'm going to be late."
"No I meant don't go on this flight." She sat up in bed and began to eat one of the crackers she left sitting on the nightstand on her side of the bed to help with her morning sickness.
Paul turned and looked at her. "Why? Is there something wrong?"
"I just have a very bad feeling about this flight." She said quietly.
Paul lifted her chin with his hand. "Honey, this flight is routine. I'll be back in a week."
"Yeah, a routine flight in a aircraft that has never been tested on a transatlantic mission." She pulled away from him.
"Honey, I'll be fine. I've done this several times on other experimental planes." He reassured her.
"I know. I'm just being silly. Go get ready and I'll drop you off." Alison got up slowly and got dressed.
The next day Chaplain Connelly came to her door with Paul's CO, Lt. Colonel Rapsen. Alison opened the door and let them in as she tried to shake the overwhelming feeling of dread that suddenly overcame her. "Please make yourself at home. Would you care for anything to drink?"
"Alison, please sit we need to talk to you." Lt. Colonel Rapsen said.
The tears started to form in her eyes. "This is about Paul isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, yes." The Chaplain answered.
Alison fell down into the recliner behind her. "Oh no."
"I'm very sorry, Alison, his plane went down last night." The Chaplain put a calming hand on her knee when the tears started flowing. "We are pulling all available men to search for him. We will get him back." He tried to reassure her.
Two days later the same two men came to her door. Alison let them in. "I think you should sit down, Alison." The Chaplain said.
Alison refused. The Lt. Colonel handed her a letter. "We cannot find Captain Paul Burnett. He is believed lost to us."
"NO!!" Alison cried as she began to collapse.
Jaye woke up screaming. "NO!!!" Her sheets were wet with perspiration. She looked at the clock that had just woken her. It was now 0530 hours. She got up and showered and then headed for the mess.
As she was walking down the hall towards the mess she literally ran into her husband. "Oops...sorry." She said, not noticing who it was and kept walking.
"Alison...." Paul caught up with her.
"Oh, sorry Paul, I didn't see you." She kept going towards the mess.
Paul followed her. "Are you ready to move in with me now?"
"Paul, I need time. Please?" She tried to walk away again.
Paul grabbed her arm. "Dammit Alison!!!! I'm your husband your place is with me and in my bed lying beside me."
Jaye glared at him. "Let go of me."
"Are you sleeping with that guy Flint?!?" Paul demanded.
Jaye jerked her arm out of his hand. "That is none of your business!!" She walked off.
"You're my wife!!!" He hollered after her then stormed off to where they temporarily put the Chaplain. "He's taking her away from me!"
"Paul, what are you talking about son?" The Chaplain stood up and motioned for him to have a seat.
"She won't come to me. It's because of him," Paul ranted.
The Chaplain leaned back into his chair and looked right at the young man in front of him. "I think you two should have counseling. You have both been through tramatic experiences in the past five years: That changes people. And you can't just come back and expect her to act as if nothing has happened. You were declaired dead, son, at least by the church. I did the funeral for you, and helped Alison after she lost the baby. Give her time and room."
Meanwhile, Jaye was walking out of the mess when Flint caught up to her. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hey." Jaye replied with very little emotion.
"I thought that maybe we could do something, just you and me tomorrow night since we both have the day off." Flint mentioned, hopefully.
"I...I can't." Jaye stammered.
"Allie..." He grabbed a hold of her. "I love you. Please don't do this to me."
Hawk saw the exchange between the two and decided that when Jaye broke away from Flint and stormed off it was time for him to get involved. He went to his office and paged the young Warrant Officer. "Enter!" He ordered when he heard a knock at the door. "Sit, Flint. We need to have a little discussion." Hawk opened a book, sat it before Flint and pointed at a passage regarding the Military's regulations about adultery. "You see what that passage says?"
Flint swallowed. "Yes sir."
Hawk sat back down. "I want you to back off Lady Jaye."
"But sir…"
Hawk put up a silencing hand. "No buts, Flint. She is a married woman. Let her be. If it's meant to be she'll come to you. She needs to work this out on her own."
Flint's eyes blazed with anger.
"That is an order, Flint. Am I understood?" Hawk leaned forward against his desk.
"Yes sir." Flint answered gruffly.
"Good. Now get out of here." Hawk went back to his paperwork.
Lady Jaye was in her office doing some paperwork for a new recruit that would be arriving the next week. The Chaplain walked in. "Hello, Alison, may I have a moment with you?"
"Sure, Chaplain. Have a seat." Jaye pushed her work to the side. "What is it?" She tried to sound cheerful but was failing miserably.
"I spoke with Paul this morning…."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Jaye interrupted.
"Now, what is that supposed to mean, young lady?"
Jaye put her elbows on her desk and her head in her hands. "He just keeps pushing." She leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling. "I mean, I was finally moving on and found someone else and bam, he's back from the dead." She looked back at the Chaplain. "I'm confused."
The Chaplain patted the hand that was resting on her desk. "I have set up counseling sessions for you and Paul starting tomorrow morning at 0900 hours." Jaye started to protest. He held up a silencing hand. "They are non-negotiable. At first I will work with you individually, to see how things have changed for both of you in the last five years. Later, we can work together, to try to find which way is best for all of you. '
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jaye and Paul had been going through counseling for a few weeks but she still would not go back with him. Paul was getting frustrated. Then one day after leaving one of their sessions he confronted her right outside the Rec Room, not realizing where they were at or that anyone was around. "Alison, I want you to come with me."
Jaye turned and faced him. "I told you, I'm not ready." She started to walk away.
He grabbed her and pulled her to him. "Dammit, Alison, I'm your husband. Your place is with me!"
Flint, having overheard the confrontation, walked out of the Rec Room and grabbed Paul's wrist.
Paul turned and faced him. His eyes burned with fury.
"The lady said no." Flint reiterated.
"Mind your own business." Paul growled at him.
"This is my business. You're harassing a soldier under my command."
"She's my wife." He pulled his wrist away and grabbed Jaye's pulling her away.
Flint clamped down on his shoulder.
"Let go of me now!" Paul shook him off.
"Let her go." Flint ordered.
"No. She's coming with me. Now back off!" Paul shrugged him off.
"She's not going anywhere she doesn't want to."
Paul let go of Jaye and turned to Flint. "I want you to stay away from MY wife!!!"
"She doesn't love you any more!" Flint shot back.
Paul punched Flint in the mouth.
Flint wiped away the blood from his mouth. "I'm not falling for your trap, Paul." Flint growled.
"Then stay away from her. She's a MARRIED woman." Paul ordered.
Jaye was yelling, "Knock it off," to the two men. But they weren't listening.
"You've been gone for 5 years!"
"I was marooned!" Paul got into his face.
"Must not have tried hard enough to get…"
"Back off you two!" Jaye yelled again to no avail.
"You have no idea and no right!" Paul yelled again.
"I have all the right! You disappeared on her and expect her to wait 5 years?!"
"Dash!!!" Jaye yelled trying to push her way in between them.
Paul's eyes and face were beat red.
"Let her pick." Flint growled.
Jaye was beyond angry. "First off, I'm not staying with either of you. Second, I need time to think so don't call me, I'll call you." Jaye growled.
"Fine." Flint snapped.
Jaye had tears in her eyes as she turned and ran away.
"Alison..." Paul called out then turned to Dash.
"Scared?" Flint asked with smirk.
"About what?" Paul glared at Flint.
"That she won't pick you."
Paul sneered at Flint. "We took vows, Flint. She won't break them."
"You've been gone for 5 years things change, people change. She's changed her heart." Flint folded his arms across his chest.
"She will choose me. Our upbringing will see to that." Paul got right into his face.
"Upbringing?"
"Oh didn't she tell you." He said sarcastically. "We're Catholic."
"You are dead, remember?"
"You seem to forget that a person cannot be legally declared dead until they have been missing for 7 years." Paul smirked. "I've only been missing for 5."
"She doesn't love you. And the Church buried you, remember? To them you are dead." Flint stared back, steely eyes locked on his rival.
"You're not giving me a chance to be with her." Paul screamed at him.
"You want your chance?" Flint got into his face.
"I want you out of her life." Paul ordered.
"I thought we were letting her decide?" Flint's eyes were stone cold.
"She has no choice. She's married to me."
"It's her call, not yours, or mine. She needs to decide."
"Good," Paul poked him in the chest.
"Fuck you."
"That's what I have a wife for. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find her."
Flint growled as Paul walked away.
Jaye knocked on Chaplain Connelly's office door.
"Please come in, Alison."
"Thanks Chaplain." Jaye walked into the room and began pacing.
"Do wish to tell me what is bothering you?"
"Paul and Flint just went head to head." Jaye continued to pace.
"And?"
"Paul hit him." She proceeded to tell him the entire story.
"Sit, my child." the Chaplain said about halfway through.
Jaye did as he told her and then looked out the window and told him the rest.
"How do you feel?"
"About what?"
"In general."
"I'm confused." Jaye admitted.
"About?" The Chaplain watched her intently.
"Everything. I don't know what to do." Jaye sighed
"About?"
"Paul, Flint. The entire situation." Her eyes were testament to her inner turmoil.
He poured her a glass of water and held it out to her.
Jaye took it and took a sip. "What should I do, Chaplain?"
"Have you prayed about it?" Once again the Chaplain's eyes were on her gauging her responses.
Jaye looked down. "I haven't prayed since the day I lost the baby."
"Maybe it is time you began."
"I can't." She said softly.
"Why?"
She looked at him and quickly got out of her chair. She walked over to the window. "I'm mad at him."
"Why?"
"He took away Paul then my baby. Then he gave me Flint and now that's being taken away as well."
"How is Flint being taken?"
"I have to go back to Paul. I have no choice and you know that."
"Why?"
"You know why. You married us."
"Do you love him?"
"Who? Paul?" She looked at him.
"Yes."
"I don't know." She paused for a minute. "I loved him, but so much has happened."
"And?" The Chaplain watched her carefully.
"I just don't know. I love them both." Jaye admitted.
"I see." He nodded his understanding.
"I just need time to think."
"I will support you however you decide."
"Thank you. I'll be going now." She headed for the door.
"Alison, why don't you take some time for yourself to reflect?" The Chaplain stopped her.
"You know that's probably the best suggestion I've heard all week," she gave him a wistful smile. "I know just the place."
The setting of the party was wonderful but Alison wasn't feeling that great. At two months pregnant she still got morning sickness and not just in the morning. She was sitting by her husband of two years, Lt. Paul Burnett. The party was for him. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Paul, honey, I want to go home."
"Alison, are you alright? You're very pale?" Paul asked her with concern.
"Yes, Paul. I'm just not feeling very well and I want to lie down." Alison opened her purse for her keys.
"Alison, let me take you home. You don't look too good."
"I can make it on my own besides this is your big night," she smiled weakly. "The guys spent a lot of time planning this."
"Look, at least let me get some one to drive you," he stopped her hand with the keys. Alison started to protest. Paul put a quieting finger to her lips. "I insist."
"Alright, Paul." Alison stood and left with one of the MP's Paul asked to drive her. Once home she fell right to sleep. She didn't wake up until her husband came home and climbed into bed with her about 2 in the morning. She rolled over. "How was the rest of the party?"
"It would have been better if you were there." He pulled her close to him. "How are you feeling?"
Alison smiled at him. "Much better. Why?"
Instead of answering her, he sighed heavily placing a kiss atop her head and pulling her closer to him. "Get some sleep, and don't worry so much. I need you concentrating on your self and Jr. here," he ran his hand over her still flat stomach as she snuggled closer to him. They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Four hours later the alarm clock woke them. "Damn." Paul cursed.
"Paul..."
"Yes, hon?" Paul asked as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"Don't go."
"Honey if I don't get up now I'm going to be late."
"No I meant don't go on this flight." She sat up in bed and began to eat one of the crackers she left sitting on the nightstand on her side of the bed to help with her morning sickness.
Paul turned and looked at her. "Why? Is there something wrong?"
"I just have a very bad feeling about this flight." She said quietly.
Paul lifted her chin with his hand. "Honey, this flight is routine. I'll be back in a week."
"Yeah, a routine flight in a aircraft that has never been tested on a transatlantic mission." She pulled away from him.
"Honey, I'll be fine. I've done this several times on other experimental planes." He reassured her.
"I know. I'm just being silly. Go get ready and I'll drop you off." Alison got up slowly and got dressed.
The next day Chaplain Connelly came to her door with Paul's CO, Lt. Colonel Rapsen. Alison opened the door and let them in as she tried to shake the overwhelming feeling of dread that suddenly overcame her. "Please make yourself at home. Would you care for anything to drink?"
"Alison, please sit we need to talk to you." Lt. Colonel Rapsen said.
The tears started to form in her eyes. "This is about Paul isn't it?"
"Unfortunately, yes." The Chaplain answered.
Alison fell down into the recliner behind her. "Oh no."
"I'm very sorry, Alison, his plane went down last night." The Chaplain put a calming hand on her knee when the tears started flowing. "We are pulling all available men to search for him. We will get him back." He tried to reassure her.
Two days later the same two men came to her door. Alison let them in. "I think you should sit down, Alison." The Chaplain said.
Alison refused. The Lt. Colonel handed her a letter. "We cannot find Captain Paul Burnett. He is believed lost to us."
"NO!!" Alison cried as she began to collapse.
Jaye woke up screaming. "NO!!!" Her sheets were wet with perspiration. She looked at the clock that had just woken her. It was now 0530 hours. She got up and showered and then headed for the mess.
As she was walking down the hall towards the mess she literally ran into her husband. "Oops...sorry." She said, not noticing who it was and kept walking.
"Alison...." Paul caught up with her.
"Oh, sorry Paul, I didn't see you." She kept going towards the mess.
Paul followed her. "Are you ready to move in with me now?"
"Paul, I need time. Please?" She tried to walk away again.
Paul grabbed her arm. "Dammit Alison!!!! I'm your husband your place is with me and in my bed lying beside me."
Jaye glared at him. "Let go of me."
"Are you sleeping with that guy Flint?!?" Paul demanded.
Jaye jerked her arm out of his hand. "That is none of your business!!" She walked off.
"You're my wife!!!" He hollered after her then stormed off to where they temporarily put the Chaplain. "He's taking her away from me!"
"Paul, what are you talking about son?" The Chaplain stood up and motioned for him to have a seat.
"She won't come to me. It's because of him," Paul ranted.
The Chaplain leaned back into his chair and looked right at the young man in front of him. "I think you two should have counseling. You have both been through tramatic experiences in the past five years: That changes people. And you can't just come back and expect her to act as if nothing has happened. You were declaired dead, son, at least by the church. I did the funeral for you, and helped Alison after she lost the baby. Give her time and room."
Meanwhile, Jaye was walking out of the mess when Flint caught up to her. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hey." Jaye replied with very little emotion.
"I thought that maybe we could do something, just you and me tomorrow night since we both have the day off." Flint mentioned, hopefully.
"I...I can't." Jaye stammered.
"Allie..." He grabbed a hold of her. "I love you. Please don't do this to me."
Hawk saw the exchange between the two and decided that when Jaye broke away from Flint and stormed off it was time for him to get involved. He went to his office and paged the young Warrant Officer. "Enter!" He ordered when he heard a knock at the door. "Sit, Flint. We need to have a little discussion." Hawk opened a book, sat it before Flint and pointed at a passage regarding the Military's regulations about adultery. "You see what that passage says?"
Flint swallowed. "Yes sir."
Hawk sat back down. "I want you to back off Lady Jaye."
"But sir…"
Hawk put up a silencing hand. "No buts, Flint. She is a married woman. Let her be. If it's meant to be she'll come to you. She needs to work this out on her own."
Flint's eyes blazed with anger.
"That is an order, Flint. Am I understood?" Hawk leaned forward against his desk.
"Yes sir." Flint answered gruffly.
"Good. Now get out of here." Hawk went back to his paperwork.
Lady Jaye was in her office doing some paperwork for a new recruit that would be arriving the next week. The Chaplain walked in. "Hello, Alison, may I have a moment with you?"
"Sure, Chaplain. Have a seat." Jaye pushed her work to the side. "What is it?" She tried to sound cheerful but was failing miserably.
"I spoke with Paul this morning…."
"Why does that not surprise me?" Jaye interrupted.
"Now, what is that supposed to mean, young lady?"
Jaye put her elbows on her desk and her head in her hands. "He just keeps pushing." She leaned back in her chair and looked up at the ceiling. "I mean, I was finally moving on and found someone else and bam, he's back from the dead." She looked back at the Chaplain. "I'm confused."
The Chaplain patted the hand that was resting on her desk. "I have set up counseling sessions for you and Paul starting tomorrow morning at 0900 hours." Jaye started to protest. He held up a silencing hand. "They are non-negotiable. At first I will work with you individually, to see how things have changed for both of you in the last five years. Later, we can work together, to try to find which way is best for all of you. '
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jaye and Paul had been going through counseling for a few weeks but she still would not go back with him. Paul was getting frustrated. Then one day after leaving one of their sessions he confronted her right outside the Rec Room, not realizing where they were at or that anyone was around. "Alison, I want you to come with me."
Jaye turned and faced him. "I told you, I'm not ready." She started to walk away.
He grabbed her and pulled her to him. "Dammit, Alison, I'm your husband. Your place is with me!"
Flint, having overheard the confrontation, walked out of the Rec Room and grabbed Paul's wrist.
Paul turned and faced him. His eyes burned with fury.
"The lady said no." Flint reiterated.
"Mind your own business." Paul growled at him.
"This is my business. You're harassing a soldier under my command."
"She's my wife." He pulled his wrist away and grabbed Jaye's pulling her away.
Flint clamped down on his shoulder.
"Let go of me now!" Paul shook him off.
"Let her go." Flint ordered.
"No. She's coming with me. Now back off!" Paul shrugged him off.
"She's not going anywhere she doesn't want to."
Paul let go of Jaye and turned to Flint. "I want you to stay away from MY wife!!!"
"She doesn't love you any more!" Flint shot back.
Paul punched Flint in the mouth.
Flint wiped away the blood from his mouth. "I'm not falling for your trap, Paul." Flint growled.
"Then stay away from her. She's a MARRIED woman." Paul ordered.
Jaye was yelling, "Knock it off," to the two men. But they weren't listening.
"You've been gone for 5 years!"
"I was marooned!" Paul got into his face.
"Must not have tried hard enough to get…"
"Back off you two!" Jaye yelled again to no avail.
"You have no idea and no right!" Paul yelled again.
"I have all the right! You disappeared on her and expect her to wait 5 years?!"
"Dash!!!" Jaye yelled trying to push her way in between them.
Paul's eyes and face were beat red.
"Let her pick." Flint growled.
Jaye was beyond angry. "First off, I'm not staying with either of you. Second, I need time to think so don't call me, I'll call you." Jaye growled.
"Fine." Flint snapped.
Jaye had tears in her eyes as she turned and ran away.
"Alison..." Paul called out then turned to Dash.
"Scared?" Flint asked with smirk.
"About what?" Paul glared at Flint.
"That she won't pick you."
Paul sneered at Flint. "We took vows, Flint. She won't break them."
"You've been gone for 5 years things change, people change. She's changed her heart." Flint folded his arms across his chest.
"She will choose me. Our upbringing will see to that." Paul got right into his face.
"Upbringing?"
"Oh didn't she tell you." He said sarcastically. "We're Catholic."
"You are dead, remember?"
"You seem to forget that a person cannot be legally declared dead until they have been missing for 7 years." Paul smirked. "I've only been missing for 5."
"She doesn't love you. And the Church buried you, remember? To them you are dead." Flint stared back, steely eyes locked on his rival.
"You're not giving me a chance to be with her." Paul screamed at him.
"You want your chance?" Flint got into his face.
"I want you out of her life." Paul ordered.
"I thought we were letting her decide?" Flint's eyes were stone cold.
"She has no choice. She's married to me."
"It's her call, not yours, or mine. She needs to decide."
"Good," Paul poked him in the chest.
"Fuck you."
"That's what I have a wife for. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find her."
Flint growled as Paul walked away.
Jaye knocked on Chaplain Connelly's office door.
"Please come in, Alison."
"Thanks Chaplain." Jaye walked into the room and began pacing.
"Do wish to tell me what is bothering you?"
"Paul and Flint just went head to head." Jaye continued to pace.
"And?"
"Paul hit him." She proceeded to tell him the entire story.
"Sit, my child." the Chaplain said about halfway through.
Jaye did as he told her and then looked out the window and told him the rest.
"How do you feel?"
"About what?"
"In general."
"I'm confused." Jaye admitted.
"About?" The Chaplain watched her intently.
"Everything. I don't know what to do." Jaye sighed
"About?"
"Paul, Flint. The entire situation." Her eyes were testament to her inner turmoil.
He poured her a glass of water and held it out to her.
Jaye took it and took a sip. "What should I do, Chaplain?"
"Have you prayed about it?" Once again the Chaplain's eyes were on her gauging her responses.
Jaye looked down. "I haven't prayed since the day I lost the baby."
"Maybe it is time you began."
"I can't." She said softly.
"Why?"
She looked at him and quickly got out of her chair. She walked over to the window. "I'm mad at him."
"Why?"
"He took away Paul then my baby. Then he gave me Flint and now that's being taken away as well."
"How is Flint being taken?"
"I have to go back to Paul. I have no choice and you know that."
"Why?"
"You know why. You married us."
"Do you love him?"
"Who? Paul?" She looked at him.
"Yes."
"I don't know." She paused for a minute. "I loved him, but so much has happened."
"And?" The Chaplain watched her carefully.
"I just don't know. I love them both." Jaye admitted.
"I see." He nodded his understanding.
"I just need time to think."
"I will support you however you decide."
"Thank you. I'll be going now." She headed for the door.
"Alison, why don't you take some time for yourself to reflect?" The Chaplain stopped her.
"You know that's probably the best suggestion I've heard all week," she gave him a wistful smile. "I know just the place."