TBITC Chp. 16

What woke Jack was the smell of bacon, eggs and coffee coming from the kitchen. He checked his watch and swore in Arabic when he saw it was only nine in the morning. Normally, that would've been late for him, but Jack had been on watch until four that morning. He closed his eyes and tried to go back to sleep. He was almost asleep when something banged into the bedroom door and startled him. In one move, he sat up, drew his 1911 from the holster on his thigh and aimed at the door. Slowly the knob turned and he waited.

"Sorry about…" Alexx said, but he words drowned in her throat when she saw the weapon pointed at her.

Jack lowered it quickly. They stayed in akward silence for a minute before Jack spoke. "Sorry. Reflex."

She nodded but Jack could tell she was frightened. "There's uh…coffee and whatnot in the kitchen, if you want."

Jack yawned and rubbed his face to wake himself. "Thanks. Sleep ok?"

She nodded, going to the diaper bag she'd packed for Sam. "I did. You?"

He shrugged. "I've had worse." He stood, stretched and went to the kitchen. After getting a cup of coffee, he grabbed a plate and got a healthy portion of bacon and eggs. He found Ken, Mike, his father, Eric, Ryan and Frank at the table. "Morning, sunshine. Nice of you to join us."

Jack ignored the barb and asked, "Everyone sleep ok?"

They all nodded. Horatio saw Alexx come into the kitchen with Sam and went to them. "Alexx, do you mind if we talk in private, please?" he asked, gently. He knew this conversation was going to suck anyway you sliced it. And just because it needed to be done didn't mean he had to like it.

Alexx's face darkened. "Sure, Horatio, is everything alright?"

Horatio bit his tongue before answering. "Everything's fine."

Alexx looked at Sam. "Do you mind staying with Natalia while I go talk to Horatio?"

Sam nodded. "Do you mind?" Natalia had just walked in.

"No." she smiled at Sam, and held out her arms. Sam went to her and the two left the kitchen.

Horatio could tell that Alexx was a little dismayed the Sam would go to someone else so easily, maybe even a little hurt. Perhaps this would give him the opening he needed, and maybe soften the blow.

But she beat him to it. When the reached the beach, Alexx turned to him and asked, "Jack talked to you, didn't he?"

Horatio looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "Yes, he did. Alexx…" He started to speak, but she held up a hand.

"Of all people, I would think you would understand my attachment to Sam and my desire to see that nothing like what's happened to him ever happens to him again."

He nodded, because he did understand. "I do, Alexx, and so doe's Jack, if you can believe it. He just doesn't want to see you hurt. He cares about you. We all do."

Alexx frowned. "If he cares so much, then why isn't he out here?"

Horatio grinned. "Jack isn't exactly the touchy-feely type, but I guess you know that."

Alexx's face softened. "He told me what happened to his wife and son."

"Then you should count yourself as one of the few people he genuinely trust's on this planet."

She looked surprised. "Who are the others?"

"Myself, Ken, and Miguel. Just think about, that's all we're asking."

Horatio turned to go back inside, but Alexx stayed where she was, lost in thought.

000

Sam and Natalia were playing their second game of Candy Land, when Sam asked, "Auntie Nat, do you think Alwexx wants ta be my mommy?"

Natalia was so taken aback, first that Sam would trust and second, that he would ask her such a question, that for several seconds she didn't answer.

Finally she said, "I think Alexx loves you a lot, and I think that she would love to be your mommy. Why did you want to know?" she asked, because she was genuinely curious.

Sam's eyes dropped to the floor. "It's ok, sweetheart." Natalia prodded gently, "You can tell me."

When Sam looked up, tears were in his eyes. "'Cause I want a mommy more than anything in the world, an Alwexx seems wike she would be a good mommy." Natalia nodded, crying some herself. She reached out and took the little boy in her arms, rocking him and comforting him as best she could.

000

Unknown to the two, Alexx had been listening from the kitchen. The little boy who'd stolen her heart, brought tears to her eyes once again. Unwilling to let anyone see her like this, she went to her bedroom and let her emotions drain.