Chp. 40
Jack had been convalescing at his father's house for a month, and he was growing stronger by the day. He was back to his regular exercise regiment and he'd received regular updates on Clavo's movements. Mike and Kenny had also joined SITU and, along with Jack, their first assignment had been to terminate Clavo. Alexx and Sam had visited Jack frequently, and it wasn't lost on the former soldier that Alexx didn't approve of his new job or the fact that he couldn't give up his old life. He'd wanted to give her space and time to digest everything, so he waited for her to come to him.
Finally, she had one evening when they were walking on the beach.
"Jack, where do you see us?"
He grinned at her and played dumb. "What'd you mean?"
"I mean," she said, scowling at his feigned ignorance, "are you happy with me?"
Jack's face darkened with concern, he stopped, gently taking her face in his hands. "I haven't been this happy since before Jenny and Matt died. You and Sam have given me my life back."
"And SITU?"
Jack nodded. It was a fair question. "Babe, they came to me. I saw it as a chance to serve my country and my community, doing what I was trained to do. I promise that I won't take unnecessary risks, and that I'll come home to you and our children every night. If you'll have me, that is."
Alexx smiled and playfully slapped his arm. "Of course I'll have you."
Then it dawned on her that he'd said children, not child. "Jack, are you saying what I think you're saying?"
He nodded, got down on one knee and pulled a small velvet box from his pocket. "Remember when you said you were willing to explore a more than platonic relationship?" he asked, and she nodded, tears in her eyes.
"Alexx, you've given me a new reason to get out of bed in the morning, a reason to live, instead of just existing. And I can't stand to be away from you any longer. Alexx Woods, will you marry me?"
Tears of happiness streaming down her face, Alexx could only nod. She watched as Jack placed a simple, yet elegant ring on her finger. When he stood, she pulled him to her and kissed him deeply. "So, is that a yes?" he asked, grinning.
Alexx smiled through her tears and whipping her eyes, said, "Jack, you're an idiot."
He nodded and put his arm around her, pulling Alexx to him. "Yeah, but you love me, right?"
"Always."
As they walked back to the house, Alexx asked another question Jack had been expecting. "Are you still going after Clavo?"
She was surprised when his answer didn't come immediately, but she waited. Finally, he said. "Only if you want me to."
Alexx was surprised at this and immediately understood that Jack would do whatever she asked. She'd thought about what she would do for a longtime and finally said, "I want him out of our lives, but I don't want him to just die. I want him to wake up every day and know that he's paying for what he did to Sam and Anya."
"You want him in prison?" Jack asked and she nodded. Jack hadn't thought of that. And when he did the thought of Clavo truly suffering for what he did by losing his freedom, made him smile.
Jack smiled and said, "I think that can be arranged."