Rifiuto: Non Miriena
The sound of gunfire rang through town. No one dared go out to see what was going on, or if anyone was in danger. Mainly because the majority of the other residents in town had seen the head of GD security driving through town towards the woods. Everyone knew better than to go after her. Even her husband, who had delt with her outbursts- or lack there of- before.
Everyone except Zane.
He followed the sound of the gunshots, until he came upon Jo, standing several feet from a tree. He watched her take aim and fire. Bark shattered, flying from the thick trunk as the bullet hit. She lowered the gun and slid a few more bullets into the chamber, before sliding it closed and taking aim again. He said nothing, just slipped up behind her. She gasped and turned to him, just as the bullet hit the bark.
"Are you okay?" She sighed, catching her breath. After a moment, she said,
"Fine. Just fine." She loaded the gun again and aimed.
"You're not fine, Jo. Something's obviously upset you."
"I'm not upset about anything."
Bark flew everywhere as another bullet hit. He sighed, sticking his hands in his pockets. "Did you get some bad news?" She stopped, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye.
"No. Everything's fine."
Zane thought a moment. Then, he moved towards his former lover and reached out, laying a hand on her shoulder. She jumped. Turning, she found herself staring into Zane's worried eyes.
"If you ever need to talk about anything and you don't want to talk to Carter, you can always talk to me. You know that right?" She nodded.
They stared at each other for several minutes before she pulled away and turned back to her target practice.
Jack looked up when the door clicked shut. His wife stood in the doorway, her handgun dangling in her fingers. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a hasty ponytail, and she was trying desperately not to cry. He didn't say anything, didn't move towards her, knowing that if he did, she'd flee. Better to stay put and let her reach for him than to go to her and have her run. She took a deep, shaky breath, and the empty handgun dropped to the floor at her feet. She took another deep breath, before sliding to the floor.
After a moment,
"Jojo?" She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. Her lower lip quivered and she shook her head.
"Jack..."
He went to her, kneeling down in front of her as she reached out to him. Her arms went tight around his neck, and he held her close, tangling his fingers in her hair. He held her close, kissing her hair. "He's dead! My brother's dead! I just lost my brother! I just..."
"I know, love. I'm so sorry."
She looked up at him. "No you don't know! I lost my brother! Alex is dead! My... Alex is dead! Jack, I... Why him? Why Alex? It's not fair, Jack! It's not fair!"
She broke down fully, Jack gathered his wife in his arms and held her, rocking back and forth. She buried her face in his chest, clinging to him as though her life depended on it.
"I know. It's not fair, Jojo. He didn't deserve to die young. No one does. But he loved you, and you love him. And he knew that."After a moment, he pulled away to look at her, lifting her chin. "Jojo, he loves you. Dead or alive, he always will." She nodded, burying her face in his chest.