Assuming Jack

Something in me aches, throbs and even burns. Not just something, but seemingly all of me. My eyes flash open and I try to get up, but I can't move. The attempt feels like a white hog knife in my abdomen and lower back. I try again, but only grunt in excruciating pain for the effort.

I look around me and realize I'm in the hospital. Why am I here? Why do I hurt so goddamn much? I look down and see I'm in a hospital gown, and that I'm covered in bruises almost entirely. What the fuck?

I try to reach for the call button next to me,but my arm can't raise that high without searing pain. "Nurse!" I croak, my throat is raw and dry. "Nurse!" I try again with more success.

"Jack, you're up!" It's Dr. Ambrose. "A lot of people are worried sick about you, young man," she scolds me. "Rudy was here not an hour ago, along with..."

"Rudy's back in town? I haven't seen him in a few years!" Ah man have I missed that crazy little man!

Dr. Ambrose looks at me with sadness in her eyes, but I can't tell why. "Dr. Ambrose, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," Ambrose nods. "I just hate seeing you hurt, Jack." Ambrose leaves the room before I can ask what the hell happened. I don't know when I got here, from where or how long ago.

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Assuming Kim

Rudy's never driven so fast in his life as he did after I relayed the news of Jack's waking. Our group is racing through the door and to the elevator so we can reach Jack's room.

Dr. Ambrose is waiting for us as soon as we get off the elevator. I'll talk to her later, but I need to see Jack. Now. She seems to have other plans though, because she catches my arm and stops me from brushing past her.

"Kim, I'm sorry but you can't just barge in there and be his loving girl right now."

"What? Why?" Did he say something? Why would Jack want to keep me away? Oh god, he blames me, doesn't he? If I just would have drove in or thought to order in the first time...

"It's nothing you did, darling," Ambrose tries to calm me down. "His head injury has caused some memory loss, I'm not exactly sure how far back he is. I told him he had just missed you, Rudy. Jack told me he hasn't seen you in a few years."

Rudy looks at me, his face sullen because he knows what it means. "I'm sorry, Kim. We'll do everything we can to fix this. He loves you, we just need to make him remember."

"Bringing Jack up to speed in one go may have negative effects. We need to ease him in, and maybe it'll spike the rest of his memory. Perhaps we should start with why he's here," Ambrose suggests, but it's more of an order.

"Let me tell him. Let me take care of him. I don't care if I can't let him know who we are to each other yet," I beg. "I used to be a Candy Striper. I know how to handle this," my trembling voice pleads as much as my eyes.

"Okay, Kim," Dr. Ambrose gives in. "We'll suit you up and we'll keep you around for Jack."

I smile and follow her to where I can grab my outfit and change. Jack may not remember me right now, but he'll remember his nurse with a smile. I'm not only going to take the best care of my boyfriend, but I'll see just how hard it'll be to get him to fall in love with him again.

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Assuming Jack

It's been awhile since Dr. Ambrose first saw me. I guess it's my fault for not saying anything when she first came in, but I'm dying for some water. I haven't had any yet, which explains why I'm as dry as a bone. I still can't reach that damn call button, and I really don't want to try to verbally call. I don't think my throat would fare well.

Before I give up hope, a nurse walks in wearing the uniform of the fabled Candy Stripers. She's gorgeous. She looks so familiar, but I think I would have remembered her. "Good evening," she shoots me a winning smile and my heart skips three beats.

"Evening," I reply in a croak. "When you're done with all the smart stuff I don't understand, can I trouble you for some water?" I hate how gravely my voice comes out. I sound kinda like Sam Elliot, which is actually pretty cool.

The blonde looks at me with sympathetic eyed and a pouting lower lip. "How about I get you that water first?" She asks softly and leaves my room. Not two minutes passes when I hear her heels clicking across the linoleum, telling me she's back. "Here you are, sir," she smiles and brings the long flexible straw to my lips as I try to raise my head to meet it.

"Hold on, how silly of me," she rolls her eyes at herself and I can't help but chuckle as she ever so slowly adjusts the bed so I'm barely inclined. "There, no we can have you drink without worrying about spilling on you," she smiles and brings the straw back to my mouth.

In seconds, it's completely gone. "Thank you. I hate hospitals, being nearly tied down, you know? I hate feeling like a big baby. I couldn't even drink without your help," I confess. I'm a grown ass man. I know that I can't help it, and that's what bugs me.

"It's okay. That's my job, and I love it. I'm going to take care of you, Jack." The sincerity in her voice, coming from those angelic lips with those shimmering dark eyes makes me feel safe even though I don't think I've ever been more physically vulnerable.

"How do you know my name?" I ask curiously. We never introduced ourselves.

"It's on the notes at the foot of your bed," the angel giggles. "You're in my rotation, so I check up on you during my rounds."

"Oh. So I'll be seeing more of you then? I'll make sure you're not the only one who has to bring me water," I promise her with a smirk.

"It'll be my pleasure to bring your water. You deserve a little pampering after what you've been through." There's a hint of sadness to her voice, and I can't it. Seeing her upset over me makes me feel like I hurt her. Is that crazy?

Um, what exactly have I been through?" I ask. "I feel and look like I've been hit by a truck, but that's all I know." My chin itches and I try to scratch it, but I end up wincing in pain for my trouble. Angel click-clacks closer and scratches my chin for me, a very dreamy, endearing look on her face. I know her, I have to!

"Do you mind if I take a seat, Jack?" Angel asks cautiously. I nod and she sits on the bed that's pushed right up against mine. Why are there two beds? "This isn't easy for me to tell you about, Jack. I care about my patients, so I'm sorry if I get a little teary, okay?"

I give her an assuring smile and venture as far as to take her hand, which is a foreign gesture. I don't know if I told you or not, but Brewers aren't much for physical connection unless we're whooping your ass. What can I say, we're warriors.

I look down at her hand, a ghost of a connection because mine is bandaged up pretty good. I notice a simple bracelet that looks homemade pulled over my wraps, a simple beaded 'J + K'. I focus on it for a moment, and then I flash for a split second. It was Angel and I standing in a parking lot with Rudy, Jerry and some others I didn't recognize. Angel's in jeans, a white shirt with lace strings instead of buttons at the chest. She's wearing a black leather jacket and her hair is down. God is she gorgeous. Then nothing, no words, only that image.

"Jack, you weren't hit by a car. People did this to you. They beat you senseless with being jerks as their only motive. They tossed you for dead and left you in a dumpster, Jack. They're fucking animals," she lets one sob escape and a tear runs down her smooth and I can only imagine so soft to the touch cheek.

I try to reach out and catch it, because I'm unmistakably drawn to this girl, but my body won't let me get my hand high enough. I drop my arm and gasp in pain.

"Jack!" Angel gasps and wipes her own tear. "You need to stop moving. You're only going to hurt yourself more." She lowers her head and kisses the tip of my index finger.

I flash again. It's me and her in a hot tub in the hotel just a few minutes from here. I can feel her hot breath on my face and our lips are only millimeters apart, my breath hitched. At the last second I pull away and a look of hurt flashes in her eyes. As soon as the vision came, it's gone.

Angel reaches into a pocket and pulls out a little light and shines it in my eyes. "Cut that out!" I shout, trying to avoid it.

"Sorry," Angel says shyly. "You've zoned out twice now. I was just checking your responsiveness."

"Oh, sorry I snapped," I say quietly, looking at my hands, the discoloration of my fingers catching my eye. "Did they really have to break my fingers, Angel?" I ask absentmindedly as I fruitlessly try to move my digits.

"Angel?" she asks with a tilted head and a confused look on her face.

"You won't give me your name, so I gave you one that fits." I say evenly, no emotion.

Angel giggles and says, "Well aren't you a charmer?"

"Not usually," I admit. "It's pretty much just you." Angel flashes a smile that would buckle my knees if I was standing.

Angel stands up and asks sweetly, "Do you need anything else?"

"Just your name."

"Not my number, too?" she challenges.

"I don't ask for things I don't expect to get." I feel like those are pretty good words to live by.

"I'm Kim." She gently touches my hand because I can't shake it all that well. "It was nice talking with you, Jack. I'll see you on my next round."

"Hey Kim?" My question stops her at the door. She turns to me and smiles softly. "Do you give your number to all the sweet talking patients?"

Kim smiles and shakes her head. "If I did, would you be jealous?"

It's rhetorical, but I answer, "Yes," anyway.

Kim laughs aloud at me and I love the sound. "I never said you were actually getting my number. And to answer your question, not usually. It's pretty much just you," she copies me word for word. With a smile, wave and a wink, she's gone. If I'm stuck here too much longer, I will need her number.

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Assuming Kim

I close the door behind me and smile victoriously. I love this boy. He doesn't seem to know who Kim Crawford is and that I'm her. He's falling for me all over again, and it makes my heart jump like it did when we were first falling. I don't know about him, but I can honestly say I haven't landed yet.

I walk back to the waiting room where the guys are waiting for my first update.

"So, how'd it go?" Rudy asks anxiously. He calms down a bit when he sees my smile.

"He doesn't remember me, but he's still Jack," I sigh. "I'm kinda torn, you know? He doesn't remember what we already have, but it means I get a new batch of firsts with him." I hear a sniffling, and I look around to see who it is. "Rudy, are you crying?"

"No!" he shouts and storms out.

"Jerry, can I ask you something?" I'm hesitant because I've never really had a real talk with Jerry. He's always so loose and a jokester, I'm not even sure if he's capable.

"Yeah Kim, come step into my office." I roll my eyes when Jerry takes five steps away from the group and stops. "What's up?"

"It's something Jack said," I begin oddly.

"If he told you I shaved racing stripes on his hamster in 5th grade, he's full of shit!"

"Jerry, what the fuck?" What more can I say to that?

"Oh, not that? Go on." Jerry crosses his arms and leans against the wall, looking all business.

"Jack was being really sweet, and I asked him kinda sarcastically if he was always a charmer."

"Jack Brewer a charmer? Please!" Jerry falls into a fit of laughter. I'm pissed he put Jack down like that, but it answered my question.

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It's time for my second "rotation" which consists of only Jack. Last time I saw him, I brought him water, but I don't think he's eaten in who knows how long. I've taken the liberty of bringing him an assortment of Jell-O, pudding and applesauce.

"Can I come in?" I ask after knocking.

"Please do," Jack answers from the other side.

I open the door with tray in hand to find Jack staring up at the ceiling. Once the door closes behind me, he faces me and smiles. "Hi."

"Hey," I smile back wider than intended. "I thought you may be hungry. I'm sorry it's not real food, but Dr. Ambrose said we need to see what you can keep down right now."

"Awesome, I'm starving!" Jack tries to reach for the tray but his arms fall as soon as they rose, his eyes screw shut in pain. "Damn it..." Jack curses through gritted teeth.

"Jack, you need to take it easy. You need to let me take care of you." That last sentence has so much more meaning than Jack knows right now.

"Kim, I get it's your job, but I won't let you spoon feed me. I'm not a baby," Jack argues. We're going to have a hard time when I have to give him another bed bath...

"You're being a baby right now, Jack!" I fire back. "You're too fucking proud! You'd rather hurt yourself more than let someone who cares help you. I'm going to feed you myself because I can't bare to see you hurt. Why are you always so stubborn?! Why couldn't you have given up, Jack? Why couldn't you have cried out and ended the torture early instead of them beating you nearly to death?" Tears are in my eyes but I don't give a fuck. "I love you but you can be so stupid, Jack!" Oh shit. My temper completely blew my cover. That didn't last long.

"You love me?" Jack scoffs. "You haven't known me for a full day, yet! Who are you?"

"I wasn't supposed to tell you, Jack. I'm supposed to give you time to catch up," I say sadly because I fucked this all up. I had one job!

"What are you talking about?" Jack's brows furrow in confusion.

"You've known me longer than one day, Jack. That bracelet, I gave it to you on Christmas."

"Christmas? I didn't see you On Christmas. I didn't get a bracelet for Christmas." This is going to be rough.

"Jack, what year do you think it is?"

"What year I think it is? I KNOW it's 2014. And can we please go back to the who the hell are you part?" Jack says almost in anger.

"Jack, it's 2017."

"WHAT?!"

"It's January, 2017. On Year's Eve you were jumped by Frank and nine other Black Dragons. They did this to you and a head injury you sustained set your memory back to apparently 2014. As to who I am, I'm your girlfriend, Kim Crawford."

Jack doesn't move, he just stares at me. "You're telling me I'm twenty years old and that I completely forgot the last three years of my life?" Well when he puts it that way... "That explains why I've been flashing on you."

"You've been doing what now?" I don't follow anymore.

"Yeah, I had two little visions. One when I saw the bracelet. It was us in a parking lot somewhere with Jerry, Rudy, and people I don't remember. You were holding my hands and smiling."

My jaw drops and I instinctively cover my mouth with my hand. "That was when I gave you the bracelet. What was the other memory flash?"

"Um..." Jack closes his eyes, "When you kissed my finger after I tried to wipe away your stray tear because you told me why I'm here. It was us in a hot tub. We were really close, like your breath on my face close. I thought we were going to kiss, but the memory left."

"That was before we were together. We almost kissed, I really wanted us to but you wouldn't. I was supposed to be going home the next day, but you didn't want to kiss me because that memory would make you miss me more," I fill him in, the sadness of the memory coming back.

"You're something special, aren't you?" Jack asks and I give him a teary smile. "Why the tears?"

"Because I have to get you to love me again." I choke out through a sob. "I'm worried I won't be able to do it again. We've been through so much in such a short time. Parts have been rough but the connection it built between us can't be recreated."

"Kim, I don't know you like I used to, but would you like a hug?" Jack offers and I find myself nodding. He can't really hug me back, but I carefully drape an arm over him and wrest my head on his chest. "If I could rub your back, I would." Jack chuckles and the sound of it alone makes me smile and giggle a little. I sigh with contentment when I feel him rest his chin on my head.

"Is it okay if I'm still in love with you, even if you don't love me?"

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Assuming Jack

This poor girl. I've been physically wrecked and memory washed three years back, but all I can think about is how much this sweet and beautiful girl has lost. I'm her love and I don't know a thing about her outside of her name. And how do I answer that question? Is it okay if I'm still in love with you, even if you don't love me?

"Kim, don't say I don't love you. My brain is a little scrambled right now, but I wouldn't chance on whatever we have being erased so easily." Kim looks up at me with watery eyes and it's almost enough to make me cry. "Tell me about us. Everything."

For the next, I don't know how long, Kim doesn't leave out a single detail of our time together. From me saving her in the parking lot to when I woke up. She doesn't only share the events, but she tells me every thought and feeling that comes with them.

"So yeah, that brings us to now," Kim finishes.

"Wow. I can see why Jack of a few days ago loves you." I'm not sure how to handle this.

"Jack, it's getting late. I think I should..."

"Stay." I interrupt.

"What?" Kim sounds completely off guard. "But you don't remembered me," she says sounding defeated.

"Kim, you just shared everything with me. I don't remember it all happening, but I know what happened now. I know you're someone I want by my side. Even before I knew your name today, there was something about you that stuck out. I think the love we had just days ago is what it was. I can't see it being long before I fall for you again."

Kim's teary again, maybe still. If I learned something today, it's that this Kim Crawford girl is one of the strongest people I know. Those aren't tears of pain and sorrow, but tears of continuing love. Does that make sense? It takes hell to bring her tears of pain, but it's my heart that seems to bring her tears of peace. It's impossible to explain this without sounding sappier than a maple. You try, I dare you.

"Kim."

"Yeah?"

"Kiss me." Without another question or any hesitation, she attaches her lips to mine and gives me all she has. I don't have another flash of any kind, but a powerful and raw feeling in the pit of my gut and chest makes me thrive to match her hunger for me. It's rushed, sloppy, I might even say fierce. Bottom line, it's wonderful and I can't get enough of her.

Kim breaks the kiss and looks at me with pleading eyes. "Did you feel something? Anything?" Her voice is begging and I can't leave her hanging.

"There was no flash, no feeling from the past. All I felt was here and now, Kim. My heart was pounding and my head was swimming. All I could do was focus on what you were doing to me, and that I wanted to make you feel just as good."

"That feeling is love, Jack," Kim tells me in certainty, that damn winning smile back in place. "Deep down in your heart, you still love me and your head's trying to catch up."

This time I try to lean up to kiss her, but the fire in my torso won't let me. "Kim, get down here and kiss me again." Kim smiles and obliges, much to my delight.

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Assuming Kim

Time passes as Jack heals and makes progress. He hasn't gotten his memory back, but that hasn't stopped him from being the young man I love. We continue to share kisses, not always as heated, but they're enough. He's been cautiously getting bolder in his touches as his body regains its ability to move and work.

Jack is a hell of a trooper. He's been dealing well with where he is now and what's going on in his life. The fact that we live together was a big shocker, and he actively tried to hide a smug smirk about it, especially because I hadn't held back in my details of Christmas Eve night and the pool and sauna events.

We sat down a while ago and finally did right by Maggie and the kids. We found a house for rent just down the hill from us. We're covering it until Maggie can make it on her own from the income from her new daycare service. This way they're close to us and we can be sure they're safe and have all they need.

Jack's been promoted to wheelchair status, which means we can finally go home and leave Northborough behind. We can finally get back to our lives, and make it a hell of a ride.

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So this is going to be the last huge plot chapter. We can either cut the cord on this baby now, or I can do some chapters that are just about their life. It'll be closer to the show Kickin' It. No huge plot, just little stand alones that progress and are built off this, non-linearly. Let me know what you all want!

If this is the end, thank you all so much for taking this ride with me! It's really been a pleasure.