It was midnight when Jack snuck into his suite. He had finally been able to dodge the guys. Irina was in a robe, sitting in one of the chairs reading.

"Hey." he said undoing his tie.

"Hi." Irina said looking up at him.

She put down her book and walked over to him. She helped him out of his suit jacket and deftly undid the buttons of his shirt. Jack just watched her. She had a strange distant look in her eyes. He pulled her to him and kissed her forehead.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong." he said lightly stroking her back.

"I'm just frustrated."

"About."

"This disaster of a vacation. All I wanted was some time to spend together as a family. Time to sit, relax and share a laugh. Look what happened." she said her voice choking.

"We can't do anything about it. Let's stop."

"Stop what?"

"Stop trying to help him solve their relationship problems and focus on our own."

"What problems?" Irina said looking up into his eyes.

"That I don't know what's under this robe."

Irina laughed and kissed him hard. Then they had a little "fun".

*******

The next morning the men and women were once again sitting at separate tables throwing each other death stares. Irina and Jack once again entered together arm in arm. They sat down at a table. Jack went to fix them both plates. Katya took this as an opportunity to ambush her sister. She was followed by the rest of the women this time.

"What the h*ll Irina?" she said angrily.

"What Katya?"

"Why are you with him? He made you cry last night."

"My tears were fake. We had planned that because we knew how childish you would act to the situation."

"So you picked him over us."

"Yes. I did."

By this time Jack had returned. He sat down in the empty chair next to Irina.

"Good morning Katya." he said nonchalantly beginning to eat his breakfast.

Katya sent him a death stare.

"Don't sit there so smug Jack," she said angrily "This is all your fault to begin with."

"How?"

"Because you made me. . ."

"I did nothing. That reaction you had was entirely on you."

"You know why I reacted like that."

"Yes that was one time. Besides you're with Nick now. He should be the only one who has that effect on you."

"But."

"But nothing. You married him. Which means there is something he has that I don't. All you have to do is remember what that something is."

Katya sat in silence for a moment. Then she looked up at Jack and smiled.

"Rishka. Your husband is a wise man."

"Yes he is." she said kissing Jack's cheek.

Katya rose from the table and walked over to Nick.

"Nick." she said quietly.

"What Katya." he said anger tingeing his voice.

"I'm. . I'm. . ." she breathed deeply "I'm sorry."

"Katya I don't want to hear it. What you did was embarrassing to me and a simple apology can't help that."

"But Nick.""No. Get lost."

"Jack was wrong. Your not better than him." she said turning on her heel.

The next thing Katya knew Nick's hands were around her throat and she was slammed onto one of the tables.

"What did you just say?" Nick asked his face dangerously close to her.

Katya couldn't breath let alone speak. Spots were beginning to swim in front of her face. She struggled against his grasp. She thought her salvation had arrived when she saw Irina come across the room to her rescue. Irina got Nick in a chokehold. He released Katya and turned on Irina. He easily broke her hold on him and spun to face her. He swung at her but she dodged and kicked him square in the ribs sending him to his knees. He recovered quicker than she expected. This time he punched her in the stomach knocking the breath out of her and she crumpled to the ground.

Jack ran over and delivered a quick left and right hook. Jack was pissed by this time. He fought Nick to the ground and continued to deliver blow after blow. Irina recovered and saw the rage in Jack's eyes. He would kill Nick if she didn't stop him.

"Jack! Stop!" she said grabbing him from behind.

"HE HURT YOU!" he said through gritted teeth.

"I'm ok. Please stop."

Jack stood and kicked Nick one final time. Irina stepped between him and Nick and wrapped her arms around his neck, lightly running her fingers through his hair. Jack closed his eyes trying to calm down. His body was still trembling in rage.

"NO!" Katya yelled. Jack's eyes flew open to see Nick rushing toward them with a butcher's knife in his hand.

He pushed Irina out of the way and punched Nick squarely in the nose, breaking it in two. But he couldn't stop the knife from plunging into his side.

******

Jack's POV

He felt the blade slide between his ribs. The room immediately began to darken. He felt his legs give out and collapsed onto the floor. He felt someone grab him before he hit the floor completely. Then he felt someone grab his hand in theirs. He struggled to open his eyes and saw Irina holding him, tears rolling down her face.

"Irina." he said, it was getting harder for him to breath.

"You're going to be ok Jack. Just hold on."

"I love you. I don't think I tell you that enough."

"Jack don't talk like that."

He smiled weakly. He coughed and the taste of blood filled his mouth. He closed his eyes again.

"Jack, don't close your eyes. Look at me. Please sweetheart, look at me." Irina cried.

He reopened his eyes.

"I always hated it when you cried." he managed to say.

Irina held him tighter to her chest.

"Irina." he breathed, it felt like his lungs were on fire.

"Jack." she said alarmed.

He couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. As darkness surrounded him he heard her say.

"I love you too."

Then darkness.