Ohh… What was that noise?

Kim heard it again. Riiiiiing!

She blindly reached over to the phone, automatically knowing where it was.

"If this is a sales call on a Sunday morning, I swear-"

"Calm down, Kim. It's me, Ricky. I tried calling you last night, but it went to voicemail. Listen, something's come up. You need to get down to my studio, pronto." As Ricky was speaking, Kim pulled off the blanket she had thrown on her head, squinting at the bright light suddenly assaulting her pupils, making her eyes hurt a little.

"Oh. You are kidding, right?"

"I know, I wish life changing opportunities would be a little more respectful of our weekends too. But whadaya gonna do." Ricky was too sarcastic this early in the morning.

Kim was still trying to get her mind to wake up at… she looked at the clock. 7:00 am on a Sunday morning. And what was that other noise? It sounded like the shower. Right. She was in LA, in a hotel, after one if the better nights in her young life. And Jack was in the shower... Naked and steamy... She shook her head.

"Can it wait?" She mumbled, while looking for something to wear.

"Kim, its important. I know you're still in LA. Wake up and get here. You have 30 minutes. Get to it."

Grumbling, Kim searched for casual clothes to throw on. She went to the bathroom just in time to see Jack get out of the shower. He was wearing a towel around his waist and looked delicious, but she had places to be and no time to get distracted. She started brushing her teeth and combing her hair at the same time and Jack looked at her puzzled.

"In a hurry to leave already? I must try harder next time to make you wanna stay."

Kim finished the brushing and turned to him, "don't worry, you were spectacular. Ricky called. Said there is some sort of emergency at the recording studio and I need to be there in ... 20 minutes now. Wanna come with me?"

Jack nodded and went to get dressed, while Kim called Jeremy. She had to wonder if he ever slept, because he was ready to go whenever she was.

They made it for the studio only ten minutes late and were met by an excited Ricky and Steven. Neither Jack nor Kim warmed up to him, but there was no denying that he was a zealous manager. Ricky took her hand and dragged to the office, where she was faced with a group of men and women.

"Here she is. Kim Crawford. Badass Karate master, talented actress, and a great singer. She is also my friend." He announced dramatically and turned and winked at her.

Kim blushed at that and just laughed off his introduction. "Yep, that's me. Nice to meet y'all."

"Kim, these are my team. Producers, and such. They heard your song and wanted to know who it was. So, here we are." Ricky was giddy.


In the end, Ricky was right. It was one of those life changing experiences. Kim had a genuine offer for a record deal! With Ricky's label! She had to get her own manager and review the contract, of course, but ... She had a record deal!

Giddy herself now, she called her parents and had her dad start looking into the best lawyers and managers. She, Jack and Ricky celebrated and she was on cloud nine. She had a record deal!

Kim's life changed again. She moved to LA permanently. Bobby, acting as a surrogate dad and in agreement with her parents, moved to LA and she lived with him now. It worked out to the best. Jack was filming the show and occasionally Kim had to do so too. They did not have to be apart anymore.

All other time she was not busy with the show, was taken with recording new music. The label worked out the deal with the network and Black Moon was going to be on her first album. To capitalize on the popularity of the show and the song, Kim filmed a video for it and it was released in advance of the album. Kim was able to convince her team to use dancers in the video and got Jerry to be one of them. Both her and Jack missed the Wasabi gang and this way, they got to spend time with them. Jerry ended up being one of the extras routinely hired for the show. He had good basics of the karate and could be use din multiple scenes. Milton, of course, was meant for a more brainy pursuits, but he loved learning anything new and was a surprising source of information on any number of things. The show even credited him as the consultant for some episodes.

Caitlyn was Kim's first choice for songs material. Some of her songs, not all, were what the producers felt would be a good sound for Kim - not too pop, with a harder edge, but still melodious and somewhat darker. She had even one duet with Ricky that was more romantic, but had been one of her favorites. It was Caitlyn's song and Kim arranged for her to meet her idol. The poor girl was stunned and barely coherent from excitement. Ricky was surprisingly gentle with her. He talked about Caitlyn's music, her inspiration, her life before. Caitlyn was now one of Kim's biggest fans.

Kim also came through on her promise and made sure that Jamie and Ricky spent some time together. She wasn't sure anything would come of it, but the two of them had some energy between them, even if they stayed friends for now. Kim actually told Jamie, who was a little disappointed, that she and Jack were friends first, for a long-long time, before they took a chance. Even then, it was some extraordinary circumstances that made them make a move. Jamie laughed and said that they should make a show about the two of them.

Bridge Crossing was quite popular. There was enough action to lure the guys and enough drama and romance to make it more than just a knuckle buster action show. There were even fans of various pairings on the show. Understandably, Lena and Caleb were a popular pairing, but there were quite a few fans of Jo and Caleb and even Tommy and Caleb. "Callen" and "Jocal" had their own tumbler handles and fans were creative with their arguments for and against each ship.

Since Jack and Kim were a couple in real life, and because Jocal was popular, they were asked for joint interviews and photo shoots. The network still resisted it, because they didn't want relationships, real and screen ones, to overshadow the show. It did not stop the fans though. Somehow, the video of the first photo shoot for the show, when Jack was mad and Kim had helped him with a shirt, made it online and the Kick shippers, as well as Jocal shippers, were raking up the views.


Her album - Black Moon Rising - was ready and Kim was jittery over its release. Jack tried to calm her down by distracting her with a surprise trip to New York. If they spent most of the time in bed, it was mostly because Jack was hotter than the sun and very romantic. There were far fewer pictures of them taken in New York and Kim was half-jokingly telling Jack they shoudl move to the East Coast to avoid the media.

She should not have worried about the album. The label was even better at marketing than Angela. Between their campaign, her social media, the fans of Kick and Jocal, and Ricky's unwavering support and plugging of her music, her album did well. It wasn't a stupendous success, but it was a solid effort.

Kim had made a few appearances on TV and interviews to promote her album. There was abuzz about her already. She was known even before the show and now, with the album on her hands, she was interviewed a lot. Her black belt and love of animals was something people commented often on, because she had for almost a year dedicated her social media to martial arts and other athletic and volunteering activities. One interviewer wanted to capture that and she had donned her gi and cheerleading uniform for the photos. Those ended up being very popular and the article was a little gushing, starting that "this young singer packs a punch, not only in singing, but literally, in real life. Kim Crawford will kick butt and take names, but will do it gracefully. Her music has plenty of that attitude and yet it has the depth to it, offering both badass anthems and delicate love ballads."

Then came the best possible news, Kim was offered to tour as an opening act to Ricky. The label thought it was the best to capitalize on their fame, friendship and history. It would be late spring and summer, leaving her plenty of time to film for the show. Her role grew because people liked Jo, and especially Jo and Caleb together.

Kim got the news at the house she shared with Bobby. The last several weeks were hectic and she has seen Jack in between rushing into and fro. Today was a slow day for her and she relished the quiet. She went around looking for anyone, but Bobby was out and Jeremy was at the security room. She texted Jack to let him know that she had a free days and was waiting for him at home.

By the time Jack came back, she made a simple dinner and was waiting at the table.

"What's all this? Kim, we could have gone out. I haven't spent much time with you lately..."

"And we would have been around people, who would have recognized you or me and then there would be paparazzi... Trust me, this is better. I missed you."

"I missed you too."

They kissed, but Kim kept it short and they went to have their dinner and chatted about this and that. Jack seemed to be nervous or anxious and Kim waited until dinner to ask him about it.

"Is there something going on, Jack? You seemed preoccupied..."

"No, nothing is going on. Just...I have something for you..." Jack said and went into the pocket of his pants. It was a jewelry box. Not small enough to be a ring, but still rectangular in shape. Kim looked at him surprised.

"What's this? What is this for?"

"Kim, it has been a year since your run in with Ricky that made me get my head out of my ass and ask you out. It's an anniversary gift." Jack seemed sheepish and was uncharacteristically blushing.

Kim was stunned... And touched... And a little teary... He remembered... She almost forgot it herself, they were so busy. She smiled at him through her tears.

"Can I see it?" She said and Jack rushed to open the box, stammering the apology.

It was beautiful. There, in the box, was a small charm bracelet. It looked silver and had at least three charms on it already.

"It's platinum. And the charms are..." Jack moved his fingers over small charms, pulling the first one for inspection, "the hieroglyph for love. Bobby knows an artist, who does those. These ones are K for you, and J for me. You gave me once a bracelet with J and K. You thought that amnesia wiped that memory, but I remember. I still have it. So, this one is from me to you. J plus K." Jack finished in a rush and his cheeks were red by the end of it.

Kim was crying by now, unable to speak for the emotion robbing her of speech.

"Oh, shit, Kim. Why are you crying? You don't like it? I can get you something else.. I knew I was bad at this..."

"Nnnno, I love it. I love you. I am crying because you are the sweetest." Kim rushed through her clogged up throat and leaned to kiss Jack, tears making the kiss salty. "You are very good at this."

They kissed like this for a while, until Kim's tears dried and the sweet moment turned heated. The familiar passion rose between them and Jack stood up and took her hand. They walked, stumbled really, while kissing on the way to her bedroom. One there, Kim pushed him onto then bed and slowly took off her dress, leaving her in her underwear and heels.

He watched as she shimmied off her panties and then unhooked her bra, letting it slide off her arms to the floor, but keeping her heels on. Jack was transfixed now now. She knew about his thing for heels, but it was more 'Kim in heels' thing, really. She was short. He knew that intellectually, but somehow her legs went on for days: long, smooth, graceful. When she put heels on they were impossibly longer yet and his mind had always jumped to the 'legs around his waist' fantasy. He was about to start begging. He was on the edge of control. And he knew Kim knew it.

She was grinning, completely naked and grinning at him as she pulled her hair free from its ponytail. He took a step toward her and she bit her lip. He took another step and she took a step back.

He leaped after her, catching her before she could make another step. She squealed but didn't fight him off; instead she jumped up and wrapped her long-long legs around his waist, just as he imagined it.

He sighed happily as he walked back to bed, his hands caressing her firm butt. His erection was already throbbing and he could feel that she was wet already. The time not spent together in recent weeks must have made her just as horny as him. "Been too long, Kim. Want you so much..." Jack whispered into her ear and rasping his stubbly jaw over her neck, kissing along the way and ending at the breast.

"Yes, yes, too long... just want you in... now..." Kim replied in a soft voice, still not used to being too vocal or direct.

He made a quick work of his clothes and then spread her, running his fingers over her wet, smooth pussy and coating himself before pressing in. She exhaled and pushed back. She released a long, satisfied mewl as he slid home and when he had nothing more to push in, he added his own grunt.

Their movements were slow, the earlier moment of heat and chase past, and they simply moved in happy, well practiced moves.

Everything about Kim was perfect, was remarkable, and somehow, she was his. And he hers.

She started to moan his name and canted her hips to get him to hit right there. He clenched his teeth as she squeezed around him and he slipped a hand between them to rub her clit. He hardly touched her and she jerked, swearing softly.

He pinched and then soothed the tender nub as her moves grew erratic and her breathing got louder.

He smiled, proudly, because she only got loud when she was about to have an orgasm. He rubbed her harder as he pounded a little stronger and she shrieked his name as she came fiercely.

A few of Kim's curse words and moans later, he removed his fingers and concentrated on his own release. He lifted on his elbow a little and stared down and watched as his length pulled out and then shoved back in.

He loved this position, seeing them like this and feeling himself hit inside her, sweet and rough, smooth and hard...his fingers gripped her shoulder just enough to hold her steady as his last thrust slammed her strong.

He clenched and mumbled her name as he released hot and deep. She was sighing; swaying slightly to milk him and finish her own come down. She looked at him and smiled her sweet content smile and he leaned over to kiss along the side of her face.

"Happy anniversary, baby."

She lifted her arm with a bracelet on it and sighed, "Happy anniversary, love. Would you have thought last year that we would be here?"

"No, not in a million years."

A/N: So, if people are interested, for the new Kick story, would you guys like Jack to be like Caleb (so very AU), or would you want another variation of how Jack and Kim get together from being friends (slight AU)?