Half Jack Chapter 9: My Mother The Moment Killer, a watchmen fanfic

Title: Half Jack

Rating: M

Summary: Here I was- half deaf, tied up & bleeding out all over the damn carpet- If someone had told me six months ago that Adrian Veidt would be the one to personally end my life, I'd have called 'em a liar. Too bad I'm usually wrong.

Thanks so much to reviewers! And a shoutout to Demee for her patience :) Sorry about the shortness! As to for song below, I'm totally obsessed with it after listening to the cover in Happy Feet :3

The funniest sound I ever heard

Papa-oom-mow-mow

But I can't understand a single word

Papa-oom-mow-mow

But if he's serious or if he's playin'

Whoo, my my is all he's sayin'

Papa, whooo

Baba-baba-baba-whoooooooo!

~Papa Oom Mow Mow by the Beach Boys.

On most occasions, a surprise visit from my mother was less than pleasant, but the moment I saw Robyn damn near break down the door to get into my room, I bawled like a baby. She wrapped her arms around my neck and rocked back and forth for what seemed like hours while I sobbed into her blouse.

After I was sick of being sad, I laid back against my pillow and wiped away remaining teas with the back of my hand. "So what did they tell you?" I asked, sniffling.

Robyn wrung her hands as she often did when she was nervous about something. "None of the fine details. I didn't want to know any of the nitty gritty if somehow you had actually been..." She trailed off and I getly squeezed her hand for comfort. "Oh, that reminds me, someone else is here to see you. We had a nice, long chat while you were asleep, and so far, I approve."

My eyes narrowed into slits. "Approve of what, you crazy old bat?"

She onyl grinned and stood up to straighten her blouse. "Ya'll can talk while I call your father. James is at home taking care of him, but they're both worried sick."

Halfway out he door, she paused to look at me. "Also, I invited him to spend Thanksgiving weekend with us. He accepted."

With that, Robyn disappeared and left me anxious to see who my next visitor would be. I must have been cursed in another life because I just kept experiencing one awkward moment after another- in this case, the inability to find the right words to properly thank my savior as he entered the room.

Upon Adrian's smiling countenance, I moaned in frustration, smacking my face into my palm. "Ahhhg-ow! Jesus!" I flinched my hitting my bandage and immediately withdrew my hand.

"Jack?" Adrian said, stepping closer.

Frowning, I took another look at him. He appeared to be just how I'd left him- perfect hair, classy suit, imposing posture, but hi eyes were overworked and tired with worry.

My expression softened as I sighed in embarrassment. "I have no idea how I'm supposed to thank you with overdoing it. Compete loss for words."

He laughed and sat down beside me. "No need to fret over that, your mother already covered the thank you's."

I grimaced and leaned in close, ignoring the pain in my torso. "I am so sorry if she said anything crazier than usual. But at least you know where I get it now, eh?"

"She's beautiful. You look just like her." he replied sincerely.

Aww. I glanced bashfully down at my lap then back at him, smiling. "Thank you."

He seemed to understand that I was grateful that he'd saved my ass and had used the compliment as an excuse to express that.

He gave me a knowing smile. "You'll be happy to know that your cat has been taken care of in your absence. I took the liberty of feeding him myself."

"Its a thankless job, isn't it?"

"It proved to be atd demeaning at first, but I pulled through."

Sarcasm form his end completely caught me off guard an I burst out laughing. "I'll be sure you get a big thank you kiss from the both of us."

Adrian stood as if preparing to leave. "Well, I'm just glad you're safe."

"If it weren't for you, I'd be in an unmarked grave somewhere right now." The color suddenyl drained from my face at this thought and I was ambushed by a merciless barrage of the what-if's.

What if Adrian hadn't come to see me the day after my abduction? What if 'd never told him about Alexis or what if I had never met him at all? I stared fearfully down at my lap, thinking Whatifwhatifwhatif...

"Jack."

"What?" I said dejectedly.

Adrian's hand suddenly flew to my face, grabbing my chin and angling it up and over to him, and in one swoop he crushed his lips over mine.

After one sweet, oh so short moment, he pulled away smiling softly. "Like I said, no need to thank me. Here comes your mother."

Dammit, Robyn!

She waltzed her big behind on in as if she couldn't possibly be interrupting somthing important. "Sorry I ttok so long. I had to pee and there was a line." She waved he hand dismissively. "I think your Daddy's 'bout to have a fit, he's just itchin' to see you, and poor James forgot to set the parking brake and took out the mailbox. Everybody wants to fly up here and visit, but I told 'em it could wait til we get together for Thanksgiving."

This news I did not object to. All my life, my trademark tactic for remedying emotional distress was to seclude myself for a short period, come out with a brave face until it cracks,re-enter isolation, then slowly crawl back into society. For some, this mere"pyschological bandaid" carelessly slapped over a wounded mind when professional treatment was needed, but I'd be damned if I had to waste another year of my life in rehab.

Adrian excused himself to leave before he was late for some meeting, but he promised to visit me at home the next day. Not long after he left, my doctor came back to proscribe my pain meds, instructed me that my physical restrictions were not to go beyond lifting under five pounds, and scheduled an appointment for three weeks from that day.

With all that madness out of the way, I was released from the hospital's care. Robyn brought me hange of clothes from home sinceI had arrived naked upon admittance, and we took a taxi home.

It was late, and I was so exhausted when we got home that I almost didn't notice the plethore of flowers littering my apartment. They were gorgeous and fresh, and bursting with color, but my mind only went to Alexis's "gifts".

My mother read a few of the place cards. They were mainly from Adrian, though some were from neighbors, and even Vincent and Angel Allende had sent some pretty daisies.

But I'd have to admire them when I wasn't about to pass out.