A
warm evening breeze curled through the office, barely rustling the
heavy black out drapes that usually covered the windows. It was
unusual for Jack to open his blinds, much less the window itself,
but tonight he wanted to let the night in, if he couldn't go out
to it.
He
was working late, much later than he expected, and had had to call
and cancel dinner with Baby. It was at one of their favorite restaurants,
and he hated canceling. For them, it had been ten years since they'd
eaten there and he was really looking forward to the bread pudding.
Just because he was a vampire didn't mean he didn't have a sweet
tooth.
It
seemed that despite spending ten years as an alternate version of
himself, the paperwork that was here when he 'left' was still here
when he 'returned'. So here he was, missing dinner with his wife,
pouring over files he hadn't thought about in ten years, or two
days, depending on how you looked at it.
It
was one thing to catch the bad guys, but keeping them in prison
was a whole new set of problems. If he didn't check the boxes and
dot the I's he just have to catch the perp all over again. He rubbed
his jaw thoughtfully and decided in that case he may just decide
to eat the bastard. But they had spent months trailing and nailing
him and it would be a shame to let it all go to waste because he
couldn't decipher notes from forever ago.
Or
not forever. This was just so confusing, and it didn't help that
only Baby could understand. Baby, his wife for real now, his wife
in body, mind and soul. He even had Spike's permission, for what
it was worth. Jack rolled the shirt sleeves up his pale forearms.
They were so different from the younger, tanner version he'd been
used to, but it was a relief to be back in his own skin again. He
was Jack not John; he was home.
Rustling
the papers around, he tried to read a note by tilting it sideways
and upside down. It didn't help. With a snarl he threw a paper weight
at the wall. It bounced off leaving a dent in the plaster, and he
ran his fingers through his sandy hair roughly. He was busy muttering
and almost didn't hear someone come to his office door. He looked
up right as the person knocked, and he reached out, feeling family.
No, feeling Baby on the other side of the door. He smiled widely
as she opened it, pushing it with one booted toe.
She
stood there in all her hooker clad glory. Leather corset emphasized
her small waist and large breasts, a ridiculously short skirt in
gold silk clung to her curves, and her thigh high black boots had
three inch heels. This was Baby, this was his love, glorious flame
colored hair and stunning wolven eyes. Abby had been but a pale
imitation in looks, frail and all too human, but his heart belonged
to her no matter what her appearance. She smiled slowly, predator-like,
and he felt the flash of arousal burn through him, as it always
did. She stepped two steps closer, but still said nothing. Her already
golden eyes flickered, demon peeking out, and Jack almost threw
her on the desk right then.
And
suddenly, she leaned on the doorjamb thoughtfully, crossing her
hands behind her back. He stilled, watching her closely. She winked,
swayed her hips in a brief dance, and disappeared back around the
doorway. Jack blinked, wondering if he'd just hallucinated his sire
out of sheer frustration.
She
reappeared only minutes later, large basket in hand. Still silent,
she beckoned to him with one blue tipped nail. He walked forward
as she knelt on the floor, spreading a charcoal colored cashmere
blanket from the basket. He joined her, a question in his green
eyes. She smiled then, wistful and tender.
"Jackie,
I'm so glad to be home. But sometimes… just sometimes I miss
the other world. The picnics in the park under the bright sun if
we felt like it; curling in front of the television on rainy days;
just being together. Here, we're back with the family, for good
or for ill. I just though we could have a moment of that again.
The peace, I guess. Just us." He looked at her, amazed. "I
asked Paul to pick up our favorites from the restaurant when you
called, and brought it over. I know you're busy, but just for a
few minutes…" she shrugged.
He
reached for her, drawing her in for a soft kiss. "It's perfect."
~Fin~
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