Chapter eighteen: Happiness and Confusion

The alarm goes off at 7.00. Jackie groans and blindly reaches for the alarm. She turns it off and groans as she gives Jack a shake. "It's time to get up." Jack groans and shakes his head before looking pitifully at her, silently begging her to stay in bed with him. She leans forward and kisses his nose. "Even though we both don't want to get up, we have to Jack."

"No." Jack says as she rolls over on her side to get out of the bed. He wraps a leg around her hip, pinning her to the bed. She releases a moan as he grabs a hold of her waist and slides his body up against hers. "Come on; let's just stay here a bit longer."

"Yes, that does sound lovely Jack." Jack slides his hand down her stomach and she trembles. "But," Jack leans forward and bites her shoulder as he arches his body against hers. She gasps and speaks up in a voice that is shaking with amusement. "we've got to…get up."

"Why?" Jack questioned as he gripped her around the waist and rolled so that she was on top of him. "Tell me, why would we want to do that?" She shook her head in amusement as he ran his hands down her arms. "I've got you here and now, the others can watch things for a bit." Jackie opened her mouth to remind him that they've been arriving to work later and later for the last week, when a sudden bolt nausea hit her. She threw the covers back, moved off Jack and jumped out of the bed. "Jackie?" Jackie ignored Jack as she raced for the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet as she lost last night's dinner. As she hurled violently, she felt Jack's hand on her back. "Baby," he said softly. "I'm right here."

Once she finished, he pressed a damp cloth to her forehead as she reached for some toilet paper to wipe her mouth. Jack helped her up off the floor and then lifted her up into his arms as he moved carefully towards the bed. "There you go." He carefully pulled the covers around her. "Do you feel any better now?" She shot him a glower and he straightened up. "Obviously not. Look, I'll go get you a cup of tea," he reached for his trousers and stepped into them. "and you stay down here for a bit."

"I just need a few minutes." She stated. "It was that Chinese takeout last night. I had one too many egg rolls."

Jack arched a brow. "With a bit too much sweet and sour sauce." She chuckled as he leaned over her and kissed her forehead. "If you're sure that's what it is. If you don't feel better in two hours, I'm having Owen examine you."

"Jack, I'm human. I've been sick before and I'll be sick again. Please, let me relax for a moment, and then I'll see you upstairs in a minute." She sat up. "I think I'll take a warm shower too. That usually helps me."

Jack didn't look too convinced, but he didn't argue with her. "Alright." H pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'll go make that tea."

"Lemon please." She added as she went to her clothes drawer. "I'll be up in a minute."

"Alright."

The shower felt wonderful, but it only alerted Jackie to the fact that her chest was feeling extra sensitive. After climbing into a casual deep blue and white dress and heading upstairs to find her tea. As she came out of Jack's office a hand on her neck caused her to jump. "Remember Jackie," she looked up into the eyes of an unfamiliar young man. "you're supposed to be showing me how to make something simple to surprise Tosh with for our anniversary tonight."

Jackie head swum for a moment. It was as if she did and didn't know this man. His name was Adam, but thinking of him made her feel as if she were fighting an infection in her mind. Her head swirled, fighting the memories of Adam, while part of her insisted that she didn't know him. Jackie shook her head and stepped away from Adam.

Fortunately, she didn't have to answer Adam, for Tosh appeared. "Hi!" Tosh's eyes narrowed. "You don't look well."

She shrugged Adam's hand off her shoulder and the swimming feeling passed. "I don't feel well either." She exhaled. "Later Adam. I need a moment."

"Owen should have a look at you."

She shook her head. "I'll just…use the medical scanner. No need to bother him."

"Sure. Want me to tell Jack?"

"No. he worries enough over me as it is."

"If you're sure."

Jackie bobbed her head as she pushed past Adam and moved slowly towards the lab. She then turned on the medical scanner, placed her hand on the screen and look towards the screen that would reveal if anything was different with her.

Her heart stopped in her chest. The scan showed two red dots in her lower abdomen. In the smaller screen below, it said, 'Three weeks pregnant with twins, male and female.' Jackie's mouth fell open and her poor brain felt rattled to death

Jackie stared at the medical scanner in shock before pulling her hand off the scanner. She stood there as shock washed over her; her chest began heaving in panic and terror for a few moments before she moved to sit down on the examination chair. She sat there, hands hanging limply in lap and her mouth hanging open in shock. She struggled to absorb the miraculous news and to calm her shocked body.

A hand on her shoulder caused her to jump and swing around. The hand belonged to Jack and she wound up knocking that cup of tea out of his hand and across the room. Jack's eyes narrowed and he stepped towards her. "Jackie?"

"Sorry." She whispered.

"It's ok." He placed his hands gently on her shoulders. "What is it? Is something wrong?" tears began leaking down her cheeks at his innocent question. Jackie responded by throwing her arms around his neck tightly. "Jackie, you're starting to worry me now."

"I'm sorry. Sorry." She pulled away and shook her head as she cupped Jack's face in her hands. "You…are… a wonderful man."

Jack looked at her warily. "What…did I do?"

She laughed lightly as she leaned forward and whispered with her face so close to him. "I'm… pregnant."

Jack's eyes bulged and he shook his head. "No. That's impossible. You said you were infertile."

"Well, something must have been wrong." She placed her hand back on the scanner and Jack stared in amazement as the results proved her words. She shook her head as she admitted with tear-filled eyes. "I am pregnant, with twins, and I've… no idea how that happened."

Jack stared at the screen in amazement before whispering to her. "Surely you must have some idea how that happened."

She laughed. "I do, but I have no idea what you put in me to cause my body to change so dramatically." The tips of Jack's ears turned red at those words. Jackie's mind changed to another subject. "Oh no!" She gasped in horror. "Gwen's wedding is in three months and I am definitely going to be showing by then." Her eyes widened. "Everyone is going to be talking about me and wondering who the father is. And I can't even say anything to anybody to defend myself! Oh, and don't even get me started on my parents!" Jack laughed at her. "That isn't funny Jack!"

"I think it's hysterical." His rather goofy expression caused her to smile. "Honey, we're having a baby and you're worried about what people are going to say." He shook his head. "You wanted one…so much and now you've got one. From where I'm standing, it looks good to me."

"Yeah." She threw her arms around his neck and he lifted her off the ground. "Oh, I love you so much."

"I love you." Jack kissed her again as everyone offered applause and congratulations. "You keep me on my toes all the time you crazy woman."

Jackie pulled away and gasped. "Jack, what about what we do here? How are we going to raise twins in this environment?"

"Jackie, it's going to be fine. We'll find a way, we always do." He kissed her on the mouth again. "Everything will be fine. I promise."

She reached up and brushed a strand of his hair back before stating. "I'm hungry."

He laughed as he swung her up into his arms. "I'm not surprised." Jackie toyed with that one strand that always fell over his right brow. "Ianto!" Jack called loudly. "See if we've got a bottle of champagne somewhere and bring it up here with glasses."

"Far cabinet in the kitchen," Jackie reported. "you'll find it behind the zinfandel. Sparkling cider for me please!"

"Right!" Ianto popped off with a look of curiosity on his face.

She saw Adam again and tremors ran through her again. "Jack," she asked in a whisper. "who is Adam?"

"He works here." He glanced at her with concern."You do know him, don't you?"

She nodded her head numbly. "Yeah, I just…it's been quite a morning. He's just...not registering."

He chuckled and kissed her cheek. "I believe that."

She started laughing and kissed him on the mouth lightly. Her brain turned on the music again, 'Happiness' from Rocky the Musical. Jack chuckled as he set her down. "Tosh! Gwen! Owen! Come here!"

Jackie's happiness was mingled with confusion as she saw Owen's appearance. When did he start wearing glasses? Frankly, the image she remembered Owen with in her mind, clashed with the man she saw now.

"Jack?" Gwen questioned as she approached, a bright smile on her face. "What's going on?"

"Yeah." Ianto said as he came back with the bottles and glasses. "Why the call for champagne this early in the morning?"

"Not, that we're complaining." Owen said as he reached for a glass.

"Champagne?" Tosh asked with a laugh as she took Adam's hand, causing Jackie to frown. Weren't Tosh and Owen supposed to be dating? "What's the occasion?"

"Well," Jack wrapped his arms around Jackie's waist. "Jackie believes in miracles and at this moment, I'm inclined to believe with her this once." Jack kissed her on the neck, catching the lobe of her ear in his mouth, causing her to shriek and blush. "Jackie is pregnant," the whole room erupted in a series of gasps, congratulations and tons happy noises. "with twins! A boy and a girl!"

Gwen ran up and hugged her. "Oh Jackie! That's wonderful!"

The champagne cork popping caused everyone to shriek and applaud. However, in the midst of her happiness, Jackie couldn't escape the nagging feeling that something was wrong. Something was deeply wrong, but her senses couldn't tell her and that was frightening.

Later that evening,

"Adam!" Jack bellowed. "With me! Gwen's house has been broken into by some stalker."

Jackie gasped and hurried up the stairs. "I'm going with you!"

"No, you're not."

"Alright." Jack stopped the dead in his tracks and turned around to stare at her. "I'll wait for you to get back."

Jack paused. "Are you serious?"

"Yes." She frowned. "You asked me not to go and I'm respecting your wishes."

Jack bit his lip and reached out his hand. "Come on," she took his hand. "you can come with me."

She frowned as she followed him towards the car. "Is something wrong?"

"You never give in to me that easily."

"I don't?" she was silent for a moment as she held onto his hand before confiding quietly. "There's something wrong with me? Isn't there?" Jack didn't answer. "I know there is. I can sense it, but I don't know what."

"Jackie," he helped her into the front seat of the SUV and then scurried around to get in the driver's seat. He started the car and raced out of the garage. "nothing is wrong. You just took all the fun out of our arguments." He squeezed her leg reassuringly. "Then, I decided I wanted you with me. Besides, I may need you to settle Gwen down."

Jackie bobbed her head and reached for his hand as she looked out of the window. Even though he said nothing was wrong, she knew he was lying. As the day had progressed, Jackie felt as if she could feel her sanity slipping away from her. Jackie did know it had something to with Adam though, but what, she didn't know.

They arrived at Gwen's flat and they all jumped out of the car, guns ready. Jack reached the door first and hit the buzzer. Jack?

"Gwen, it's us." Gwen buzzed them in and all three of them ran up the stairs to the door. "In here, Jack." Gwen called loudly.

All three of them entered, ready for anything….except the sight of Gwen pointing a gun at Rhys. Jack and Jackie stared at the whole scene in disbelief. "What's going on?" as always, Jack was the only one with actual words.

"You tell me!" Gwen snapped. "Look," she grabbed a hold of a photo of them the day Gwen moved in with him. "he's put photos of us up. He must have done it while I was at work. He's deluded. He keeps saying he's my boyfriend."

"He is." Jack said, darting Gwen a concerned look. "It's Rhys."

Rhys shot Gwen an 'I told you so look, but Gwen was in denial. "I've never seen him before in my life!"

Jackie put her gun away. "You've been with him for at least three years. I assure you."

"See?" Rhys demanded as he took a step towards Gwen.

Jack held out his hand to Gwen. "Give me the gun, Gwen."

"No!" Gwen shrieked. "He grabbed me, Jack. Who knows what he was going to do?"

Jackie exhaled and rolled her eyes as Rhys shouted. "How can you say that?" Rhys turned his fury over to Jack. "What have you done to her?"

"Nothing." Jack insisted firmly.

"Oh, come on. I know what kind of sick games you play. Pills to make you forget." Rhys spat. "Is that what that is, yeah?"

Rhys gave Jack a shove, causing Gwen to point the gun at him again. "Stay away from him."

"Hey!" Jackie snapped.

"We're engaged!" Rhys shouted. "I bought you the bloody ring you're wearing!"

Gwen brought her hand up and stared at the ring in disbelief, but she still didn't see how this was possible. Jackie and Gwen both now were showing signs of memory issues, but why only them? Why nobody else? Jack steps between Rhys and Gwen, taking a hold of her gun.

"Why don't you come with me to the Hub?" Adam steps towards Gwen.

"Who the hell are you?" Rhys's demand causing a funny, sort of warning bell to go off in her head. She froze as that thought rolled around in her mind.

"He's one of us." Jack said.

"We can check you over." Adam said. "Jack will stay here and take care of things."

"Okay?" Jack said softly.

Gwen hesitated and released the gun. Jack exhaled as Adam led Gwen towards the door. "Don't let him go." Gwen stated firmly, spinning around with an almost mad look in her eyes. "If he comes after me again, I'll kill him." that said, Gwen leaves with Adam.

Jack turns around to assure Rhys. "Trust me, I didn't do this. But whatever's happened we'll put it right."