Old Man Scout

My name's Jack Reeds. I'm a scout, and no. That's not a joke. Stationed at: Lakeside

[jackreeds-blog]

He gives a smile but half is in disgust.  “Yea.  My stomach didn’t like the vacation.” Jack was very much concerned about his own well being.  He’d have to have some sort of check up at some point.  “Hoping I didn’t get anything from where ever I’ve been.”  Perhaps it was a good thing he didn’t remember it.

Thinking about his stomach made him realize he was hungry.  He hadn’t had anything since breakfast days ago.  And even then, none of it stayed in his stomach.  “Want to get something to eat?” he asks.  “I’m half starved.”  He tried not letting the shoes ruin his appetite.  Jack had a spare pair, but they weren’t his running shoes.  

[ramblinwrxck]

The mere thought of food is enough to cause her stomach to growl, and rather loudly at that. A deep shade of red tints her face, embarrassed by her own hunger. “I think my body says yes.” Her words tumble out awkwardly, coupled with a forced chuckle. A tremendous weight had been lifted off her shoulders, and her clouded mind had began to clear.

Fran stands now, smoothing out her skirt, and swaying slightly under the weight of her own body. She was weak; her thinning frame had been stressed over the past several days. She is shy under his gaze, momentarily wishing that he wasn’t looking at her. How she had been feeling had been a tremendous overreaction, wasn’t it?  How silly she was feeling now. Jack was here, with her, and he was… her friend. They were friends. “Lunch sounds terrific right now.”

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack chuckles at her embarrassment.  “I’ll buy the food,” Jack says.  “As long as its the cafeteria food.”  The boat didn’t cross his mind until now.  Crossing the lake was not something he was willing to do at the current moment.  Perhaps tonight.  

Jack walks over to his dresser, pulling it away from the wall.  A pair of shoes fall.  “Still there,” he mutters with a thankful smile.  They were oddly bent from being pinched against the wall.  He had taken them from the spy as a joke.  One that probably wouldn’t be getting the punchline.  

After putting the slightly ill fitting shoes on, he stands over to the door.  “Lunch for two?” he says and holds out his hand.  He hopes that there was something good to eat.

[wuollet]

I think the greatest way to embarrass both Jack and Allen would be to talk about their parent’s sex lives.  And I only share that, because I was thinking of their parents on the ride home.

It made me laugh, and almost die I thought it was so funny because their reactions to the talk would basically be summed up in these two pictures:  Jack - Allen

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack was glad to hear that Allen had been on his best behavior.  He could really be a piece of shit sometimes.  “That’s good to hear,” he replies.  “I’d have to punch him in the mouth otherwise.”  He wouldn’t.  He didn’t think he could ever hurt his brother on purpose. Not without a good reason, like running out on him or messing with someone he cared for.

He gives a small laugh.  “So I’m told,” he replies.  Vinny would kick his ass later for disappearing for days.  Hopefully, the old man wasn’t dead.  He really didn’t want to talk to ‘her’.  

He again feels guilty for having put her through duress.  He shakes his head in an answer for her.  “No,” he replies but tries to see if he could remember anything.  “I remember thinking seeing my brother.  With the quartermaster.  Then I was in the respawn.”  He looks at his shoes and grimaces.  

“Which reminds me.” He kicks them off.  He supposes that him turning his stomach inside out was a dead giveaway something had happened.  But he had been to angry about the spy and worried that his brother had been on the base to think much about it.  “I need new shoes.”

[ramblinwrxck]

Fran cocks any eyebrow at his response. Why was that? Was that jealousy she heard? A pang of melancholy sits with her at the thought. He probably just meant that in a platonic way. “I wouldn’t want to start any trouble.” He was a handsome man, though. Certainly not as handsome as Jack, but absolutely attractive. She scans his face, taking in his features. Definitely someone she didn’t mind looking at every day.

What was she thinking? She tries to shake the thought.

She nods, turning to look at him now. “I’m just… really glad that you’re good.” They share a moment of eye contact before she turned away again. The overwhelming urge to move closer was unbearable, and terribly awkward for her. Jack had already been through a lot. No need to pile more shit on top of that. “It was lonely here.” Fran mumbles, trying to play it off.

Momentarily brought back into a normal state of mind, she grimaces when the scent of his shoes hits her. “Merde!” It was enough to make her gag, but she refrains. “God, did that happen you respawned? Are you okay?” when After all, she had been the one emptying her own stomach contents only twenty something hours ago. Probably not good on her already wasting frame. It would do her some good to actually eat some real food.

[jackreeds-blog]

He gives a smile but half is in disgust.  “Yea.  My stomach didn’t like the vacation.” Jack was very much concerned about his own well being.  He’d have to have some sort of check up at some point.  “Hoping I didn’t get anything from where ever I’ve been.”  Perhaps it was a good thing he didn’t remember it.

Thinking about his stomach made him realize he was hungry.  He hadn’t had anything since breakfast days ago.  And even then, none of it stayed in his stomach.  “Want to get something to eat?” he asks.  “I’m half starved.”  He tried not letting the shoes ruin his appetite.  Jack had a spare pair, but they weren’t his running shoes.  

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack steps outside, cursing his brother's name.  "Allen!" he yells out to his brother who was swinging on the swing set.  "You gotta get back inside!" Allen doesn't say anything so Jack gets closer to the swing set.  "Allen!"  His brother slides to a stop.  

"What?" he yells at him.

"You need to get inside," Jack replies.  "Miss Jacobson says so."  Allen sticks his tongue out and lets out a raspberry.  

"No," he replies, and starts to swing again.  "Join me, Jack."

"They already called mom," Jack says, feeling like he was letting Miss Jacobson down.  "She said I have to get you inside!" Allen starts to laugh and leans back on the swing putting himself upside down.

"That bitch can't tell me what to do!"

Jack clenches his fists.  "Don't talk about mom like that!  You know what dad said when you talk like that!"  Allen flips back up and slides to a stop again.  

"Well, uh," he says starting to stutter.  "Well- No!  I won't!  And you can't make me get back inside!"  Jack reaches out and grabs his brother's arm and tries to pull him off the swing. Allen pulls his arm from Jack, pulling him to the ground. Jack lets out a cry as his nose connects with Allen's knee.  

"Jack!  I'm sorry!" he says as Jack rolls away from him.  "I didn't mean it!" Jack stands, holding his nose, unable to tell if it was bleeding or if it just a feeling.  With a roar, he tackles Allen to the ground off the swing.

They're split up minutes later as Mr. Anderson, the school principal, steps out onto the playground.  Jack's yanked up by his collar of his shirt and Allen is pulled up by his earlobe. Without a word, they're dragged to the office.  Where they sit in silence, Jack holding back tears and sniffling.  He never had gotten into a fight in school before.  

About an hour later, their parents show up.  Their mother immediately goes to Jack, inspecting the bruise that was forming around his eye.  

"That little shit," she mutters under her breath, something Jack barely catches.

"It was my fault," Jack replies, but she shushes him.

"Its not, Jack," she says.  She stands and takes his hand.

"I hit him first," he replies, looking up at her.  There was a look of disbelief on her face that Jack knew she didn't believe him.  He looks over at his brother who was being looked after by their dad.  He had a split lip and a bloody nose over their scuffle.  He looks back at his mother.  "It was my fault." 

"Lets go home," she says stiffly.  Their dad stands and takes Allen's hand. Jack spends the ride home looking at his hands, wringing them together.  When they arrive home, Jack notices that his mother is in a better mood already and she heads inside, followed by their father.

Jack sits on the porch steps, and Allen sits down next to him.  They remain quiet a few minutes before Allen puts his arm around Jack.  "I'm sorry," he replies.

"Don't talk about mom like that," Jack says, wanting to angrily push his brother away but not wanting to make his brother angry.  He wipes away a single tear, grimacing at the bruise under his eye.  Allen pulls his arm away anyway.  He sits for a few moments more, before stomping his foot and storming inside. He continues to sit quietly until his father steps out and sits down next to him.  "Well, if it isn't my little slugger," he says with a light chuckle.  

"It's my fault," Jack immediately replies.  His father puts an arm on his shoulder.  

"From what Principal Anderson said, it sounded like it was your brother who started it," he says softly.  "What happened?"  Jack goes quiet a moment, trying to remember what happened.  

"Miss Jacobson said I had to get him inside," Jack starts.  "But he wouldn't listen to me.  And then he called mom a bad word."  Jack wipes his nose on his sleeve.  It hurt but wasn't bleeding.  "Then I hit him and Mr. Anderson stopped us."  Jack goes quiet again.

"That's it?" his dad asks.  Jack hesitantly nods his head.  "Ok," his dad says standing up and giving his hair a quick tousle.  "You do know that means you're grounded," he continues.  "And dinner's in an hour."  He disappears inside.

It was a quiet dinner that night.  The only sounds were of silverware hitting the plates and chewing.  Allen didn't come down to eat.  He never did when he got into trouble.  Jack knew he'd come down later and sneak leftovers.  Jack couldn't remember a time where his mother would make his brother come down to eat.  Sometimes he was there, sometimes he wasn't.  Tonight, Jack had little appetite and instead pushed everything into a pile on his plate. His mother gently tried to get him to eat before she gave up with a heavy sigh and left him alone. 

Jack stood in the doorway of his bedroom.  Their bedroom.  Jack and Allen shared a room.  The light was off, but he could see Allen sitting on his bed, staring out the window as the sun set. 

"Allen?" Jack asks but his brother doesn't move.  Jack stares at him from the doorway before he steps into the room.  He stops by his brother's bed and hears sniffles coming from his brother.  

Allen was crying.

Jack stands a moment, unsure what to do before he crawls onto Allen's bed and wraps his arms around him.  "I love you, Allen," Jack says.  He wasn't sure what his brother would do.  Allen wriggles an arm from under his hug, and Jack loosens his grip, thinking that he was trying to push him away. 

Instead, Allen wraps the one arm around Jack and returns the hug.  "Yea.  Tell me something new," he says with a broken laugh.  

(All first draft.  because what is editing?  I don’t know so I didn’t do it.  Also.  Allen had a really rough childhood. He always wasn’t the ray of sunshine that he is.  Kinda curious as to how he didn’t turn into some super deadly serial killer I mean what.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack fought every bit to stand up and leave.  He really wanted to speak to his brother.  And it wasn’t just about the gift.  But he stays with Fran.  It only felt like he had seen her this morning.  He had disappeared on her.  Much like Allen had did to him.  He was going to stay with her for now.  If anthing, he could have Vinny track him down again.

He listens to the start of Fran’s story, and smiles.  He was glad that they had met each other.  It probably could have been on better terms.  "He didn’t… Try anything, did he?“ Jack asks.  Knowing Allen, he might have tried something.  Jack would kick his brother’s shins if he tried anything.

Jack gives a sheepish smile at her request.  "I can’t promise that,” he replies and motions to the hotel in general.  "Kinda my job.  Not to die, of course.“  He goes quiet before he gets himself into trouble.  

“So hows everything going?  Didn’t seem like much was going on on the battlefield,” he says trying to change the subject.

[ramblinwrxck]

Tried anything with her? She wrinkles her nose up at the thought; to have his brother’s hands upon her disgusts her. Their interactions had been kurt and uncomfortable, a quiet funeral for a man too quick for his own good. “Nah.” Fran gives a sheepish smile, keeping her gaze upon him. “We just ate breakfast together.” Then he ran. Surely, no one wanted anything to do with the human equivalent of a graveyard she seemed to be. Her collection of bones seemed to grow with each and every acquaintance she made; it was surprising that she didn’t rattle when she walked.

For a moment her eyes wander to her hands curled into her lap. Bandages clung to several her fingers, suffocating the memories of the past several days. Their scars left behind certainly would not be the first of their kind, left behind in a spasm of grief. They certainly wouldn’t be the last. She looks back at him, and shakes her head, that smile lingering. “You’re a real smart ass.”

A momentary silence settles between them. She almost laughs at the question, but lets out a scoff instead. An ironic question, in her opinion.  “They shut everything down. Everything when to shit.” Fran shrugs, now looking away. “I haven’t had the greatest past few days.” Her tone struggles to maintain a light mood, and comes off as forced. Once again, she awkward rests her hand on the crook of her neck.  “Do you remember anything?”

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack was glad to hear that Allen had been on his best behavior.  He could really be a piece of shit sometimes.  “That’s good to hear,” he replies.  “I’d have to punch him in the mouth otherwise.”  He wouldn’t.  He didn’t think he could ever hurt his brother on purpose. Not without a good reason, like running out on him or messing with someone he cared for.

He gives a small laugh.  “So I’m told,” he replies.  Vinny would kick his ass later for disappearing for days.  Hopefully, the old man wasn’t dead.  He really didn’t want to talk to ‘her’.  

He again feels guilty for having put her through duress.  He shakes his head in an answer for her.  “No,” he replies but tries to see if he could remember anything.  “I remember thinking seeing my brother.  With the quartermaster.  Then I was in the respawn.”  He looks at his shoes and grimaces.  

“Which reminds me.” He kicks them off.  He supposes that him turning his stomach inside out was a dead giveaway something had happened.  But he had been to angry about the spy and worried that his brother had been on the base to think much about it.  “I need new shoes.”

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack stands at the dresser, unable to figure out what to say next about the turn of events that left him with only the journal Fran gave him in possessions.  Instead, he lets out a groan. 

Jack turns around to looks at her when she mentions his brother’s name.  “Who?” he asks, making sure he heard her right.  Had Jack seen him? Was he here when he died? Did she talk to him? Did he say where he was going? Was he okay?  All the questions piled up behind Jack’s lips and all he can get out is “I missed him?”  

If Allen had her gift, then Jack was certain that he wasn’t going to get the gift for her back.  It had been a lot of effort and time to get him here in the first place.  If Allen thought he was dead…

Jack walks over the the bed and sits down on it.  He looks at Fran, and attempts to give her a smile.  “I’m sorry.” he says.  Jack reaches out to take her hand but stops.  Instead, he clasps his own hands together.  “One hell of a new year.”

[ramblinwrxck]

“Your brother?” She replies, hand now sliding down to rest upon her shoulder. Their interactions had been terribly awkward; both of them had reeked of booze and despair while they ate cafeteria grade food in silence. He had provided an eerily comforting familiarity in Jack’s absence, despite having just met him. There had been certain things about him that had just reminded Fran of her best friend. Jack probably didn’t think they were all that similar.  “He was heading back into town when I talked to him.”

He stank like a bar and wasn’t particularly nice to him. She had slapped him upon their first meeting, and perhaps she hadn’t made the best impression. “We uh–” It wasn’t something she had been particularly concerned about. It was not something she outwardly would mention if he asked. “It was nice meetin’ him.”

Her gaze follows him carefully, as to make sure he wouldn’t disappear again. A small smile comes to her face as he takes the place beside her. The urge to lean against him washes over her, but she refrains. Where did that come from? “Just don’t go dying on me again. Hot embarrassment stings her cheeks as she the words tumble out between her braces. “Who the fuck was I supposed to protect in battle?”

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack fought every bit to stand up and leave.  He really wanted to speak to his brother.  And it wasn't just about the gift.  But he stays with Fran.  It only felt like he had seen her this morning.  He had disappeared on her.  Much like Allen had did to him.  He was going to stay with her for now.  If anthing, he could have Vinny track him down again.

He listens to the start of Fran's story, and smiles.  He was glad that they had met each other.  It probably could have been on better terms.  "He didn't... Try anything, did he?" Jack asks.  Knowing Allen, he might have tried something.  Jack would kick his brother's shins if he tried anything.

Jack gives a sheepish smile at her request.  "I can't promise that," he replies and motions to the hotel in general.  "Kinda my job.  Not to die, of course."  He goes quiet before he gets himself into trouble.  

"So hows everything going?  Didn't seem like much was going on on the battlefield," he says trying to change the subject.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack is left surprised at the gift he was given from Fran.  It was unexpected, really.  He hadn’t expected something so personal.  It almost made his own seem less then it was.  

“Its…” He couldn’t find the right words on how much he appreciated the gift.  The thought that had been put into it to get it.  “I love it.”  He puts his hand over the cover of the journal.  This was one of his most precious items now. 

Jack was unsure if his own gift for her was still in its place.  He walks over to his dresser and opens the top drawer.  

It was empty.

“I did have a gift,” he says, sad and angry at the fact that he couldn’t give it to her now.  “But it a lot of my stuff is gone.”  All of it it seemed.  Jack didn’t quite get the chance to look around but Jack was convinced that spy could really pull a prank.  Or, at least, he hoped it was the spy.  

Dead for days.  That was one hell of a set up if it was that spy.

[ramblinwrxck]

Fran bites back a smile, watching his reaction. How bittersweet it was, having this moment. A sense of relief washed over her, knowing that he would actually use it. It really had cost her a pretty penny. “I’m glad.” The gentle desert breeze flowed through the cracked window, tickling the back of her neck. Allen must have forgotten about it before he left. Her hand rests there now, feeling the tangles of hair now lingering.

An empty feeling washes over her, reliving the past several days in their moments of silence. The room had been stripped bare, leaving no trace the man that she had became so familiar with. His bed had become a coffin, and her body upon it the flowers resting above it. Knowing that it had all just been a misunderstanding left her feeling… hollow.

She perks up when he speaks, hanging on his every word. Disappointment creeps into her throat, but she holds back. “Oh.” She replies, looking around. “I guess Allen must have taken it when he cleared your room all out.” Her english still wasn’t all that great.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack stands at the dresser, unable to figure out what to say next about the turn of events that left him with only the journal Fran gave him in possessions.  Instead, he lets out a groan. 

Jack turns around to looks at her when she mentions his brother’s name.  “Who?” he asks, making sure he heard her right.  Had Jack seen him? Was he here when he died? Did she talk to him? Did he say where he was going? Was he okay?  All the questions piled up behind Jack’s lips and all he can get out is “I missed him?”  

If Allen had her gift, then Jack was certain that he wasn’t going to get the gift for her back.  It had been a lot of effort and time to get him here in the first place.  If Allen thought he was dead...

Jack walks over the the bed and sits down on it.  He looks at Fran, and attempts to give her a smile.  “I’m sorry.” he says.  Jack reaches out to take her hand but stops.  Instead, he clasps his own hands together.  “One hell of a new year.”

[jackreeds-blog]

A small smile forms on Jack’s face as she hugs him.  Perhaps it had been because he was dead for however long it was.  Perhaps it was because he doesn’t remember being dead.  The hug she gave felt wonderful, and he gives her one in return.  It felt so different then the one he got that morning…

Days ago.

The smile disappears and Jack hugs her tighter. “I’m sorry,” he says again.  He hadn’t meant to make her so upset.  That was not at all what he wanted to give her today, or when ever that morning happened.  “Making you feel like shit wasn’t the gift I wanted to give you.”  Jack’s momentarily curious if the gift was still in the drawer or if who ever took his things took that too.  

He’d worry about it later.

Jack smiles again at her apology.  “I’m glad, too,” he says.  Glad that he was here.  Glad that he was still alive.  Glad that she was here, too.  

[ramblinwrxck]

His embrace is warm and welcoming, almost as if they’d known each other for years. His mere presence brought her a comfort that she hadn’t known in years. One that she wasn’t quite sure that she was ready for; she keeps his arms around her for the moment. She buries her face in the crook of his neck, and regulates her breathing against his skin. His scent has not changed, almost as if he hadn’t done battle at all. Had he even broken a sweat before his death? Most likely not.

She sniffles now, feeling much more reassured. “I’m okay. I’ll be okay.” Fran always seemed to be in the end. It was just so reassuring that this was real. Jack was right here with her, with arms wrapped around her. He was safe. She was safe. Everything was alright. How overwhelming and strange this feeling was. Happy? Sad? She wasn’t quite sure. However, at the mention of a gift, she suddenly remembers his.

She lingers in the embrace momentarily, hands clinging to the back of his shirt. “Speaking of gifts…” Slowly, she pulled back, and reached for her back. Her hands fumble with the clasp, still shaking from previous events. The leather notebook had remained untouched; it was still handbound and leather, with his initials monogrammed into the bottom right corner. She hands it to him, words seemingly escaping her. “Merry Christmas, Jack.”

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack is left surprised at the gift he was given from Fran.  It was unexpected, really.  He hadn’t expected something so personal.  It almost made his own seem less then it was.  

“Its...” He couldn’t find the right words on how much he appreciated the gift.  The thought that had been put into it to get it.  “I love it.”  He puts his hand over the cover of the journal.  This was one of his most precious items now. 

Jack was unsure if his own gift for her was still in its place.  He walks over to his dresser and opens the top drawer.  

It was empty.

“I did have a gift,” he says, sad and angry at the fact that he couldn’t give it to her now.  “But it a lot of my stuff is gone.”  All of it it seemed.  Jack didn’t quite get the chance to look around but Jack was convinced that spy could really pull a prank.  Or, at least, he hoped it was the spy.  

Dead for days.  That was one hell of a set up if it was that spy.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack doesn’t say anything.  Dead?  Days?  He would have thought it was a poor joke, but the tears in her eyes convinced him other wise.  “I didn’t…  I’m right here?”  

He feels like he wanted to sit down.  “I’m alive,” he replies.  He looks at Fran who’s distress was making his own worse.  He was alive, wasn’t he?  He clenches his hand, before giving Fran’s hand a hard squeeze.  “I’m alive,” he repeats.  “I’m here.” 

That was what mattered, right?  He was here.  With Fran.  Breathing.  He could feel the heart beat in his chest.  He was alive, now.  He was alive with Fran.  But it had been his fault she was upset as she was.  He had made her cry.  “I’m sorry.”

[ramblinwrxck]

The repetition is something she absolutely needs to hear. She squeezes back, before pulling him up to embrace him. The only time she had ever hugged him had been several days before, just a few moments short of Jack’s death. Fran had thought two weeks without him had been strange, but just a few days thinking he was dead had gutted her. There was a whole nother level of emotions that this had brought on, and quite frankly, she wasn’t quite sure how to deal with them. At the moment, all she knew was that she didn’t want to let him go.

Her body had shuddered with sobs over the past several days, and just when she thought it was over, it began again. How terribly confusing this all was. She felt vulnerable and angry with herself, but blissfully relieved, and overwhelmingly overjoyed. This was a completely new bundle of emotions for her. For nearly ten minutes, she stays wrapped around him, before pulling back to look at him. Why had he apologized? It hadn’t been his fault. “Quelle?” She asks, mind running rampant in her native tongue. Sometimes, she didn’t quite make the switch.

Once again, she wipes her smudged makeup from her cheeks. Francine was beginning to calm down. “I’m sorry– I’m just…” Terribly overwhelmed because I think you mean too much to me? Feeling like I’ve let you come too close? Unsure how to progress with or without you? “Glad that you’re here. Glad you’re okay.”

[jackreeds-blog]

A small smile forms on Jack’s face as she hugs him.  Perhaps it had been because he was dead for however long it was.  Perhaps it was because he doesn’t remember being dead.  The hug she gave felt wonderful, and he gives her one in return.  It felt so different then the one he got that morning...

Days ago.

The smile disappears and Jack hugs her tighter. “I’m sorry,” he says again.  He hadn’t meant to make her so upset.  That was not at all what he wanted to give her today, or when ever that morning happened.  “Making you feel like shit wasn’t the gift I wanted to give you.”  Jack’s momentarily curious if the gift was still in the drawer or if who ever took his things took that too.  

He’d worry about it later.

Jack smiles again at her apology.  “I’m glad, too,” he says.  Glad that he was here.  Glad that he was still alive.  Glad that she was here, too.  

[jackreeds-blog]

He gives a small smile at the comment she makes.  “Of course I’m alive,” he replies.  What else would he be?

Jack tries his best to keep Fran from pulling him off the floor.  “You don’t have to feel like that now,” he says.  “A little bit of rest will make you feel better.”  Perhaps a little food, too.  Jack should have had some left overs from his breakfast in his room.  He had planned on saving it for lunch, but with the short work day, he wouldn’t complain having to spend it with Fran.

Jack opens the door to his room, but with Fran holding him like she was, he finds it difficult.  “This would be a lot easier if you, you know.  Let me open the door,” he says humorously.  He meant it as a joke.  

When he steps inside, he discovers his room nearly barren.  He keeps holding Fran but is unsure what to do.  The first thought was that it was that spy playing tricks again.  He frowns, ready to give that spy a right kick to his ass.  But he had to take care of Fran first.  Then he’d take care of him.

[ramblinwrxck]

Her head was spinning by the time he sat her down on the bed. Francine had lost people previously, but only once had she experienced anything like this. Losing Jack had brought her back in time several years, standing in the childhood home of her lover. Her hands curled around the edges of the laundry basket, to take in the scent of the clean linens. The knock on the door is unexpected, to which his mother responds. Bette was a simple woman, who she enjoyed immensely. Ward was just like her.

The laundry tumbled to the floor, staring at the two uniformed men at the doorstep. In that moment, her world came crashing down. The dull ache she had been carrying in her chest was reminiscent of that feeling; losing Jack had been like losing her lover. Their relationship had always been platonic, friendly words exchanged in close quarters. She doubted that it would ever be any more than that. Fran was unsure if she even wanted that again.

Once again, she looks at him. This time, the tears come. She reaches out to cup his face, and respond to his previous comment. “You were gone for days.” How humiliating it was to feel so vulnerable in front of him. BECAUSE of him. Why did he matter so much? They’d known each other only a few months. “I watched you die and never respawn.” Her voice trembles as she speaks, through quiet sniffles and tears wiped on wrists.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack doesn’t say anything.  Dead?  Days?  He would have thought it was a poor joke, but the tears in her eyes convinced him other wise.  “I didn’t...  I’m right here?”  

He feels like he wanted to sit down.  “I’m alive,” he replies.  He looks at Fran who’s distress was making his own worse.  He was alive, wasn’t he?  He clenches his hand, before giving Fran’s hand a hard squeeze.  “I’m alive,” he repeats.  “I’m here.” 

That was what mattered, right?  He was here.  With Fran.  Breathing.  He could feel the heart beat in his chest.  He was alive, now.  He was alive with Fran.  But it had been his fault she was upset as she was.  He had made her cry.  “I’m sorry.”

[jackreeds-blog]

The look she gives Jack surprises him.  It was like she seen a ghost.  He lets out a small chuckle, and grabs her hands.  “Everything ok?” he asks.  It definitely made him worry about her with how she was reacting.  “You really didn’t fall into the fountain, did you?”  That was definitely not something anyone would look forward to. 

His smile fades a small bit, worried about Fran.  He’s never seen her like this and for her to be so different then how she was that morning, definitely made him worrisome.  “Are you ok?”  He hoped that she had gotten herself looked at, too.  He takes her arm.  “Come on, lets go lie down.”

All thoughts about finding his brother disappeared as he focuses his attention to Fran.  If she was sick, either from falling into the pool or otherwise, he wanted to help her feel better.  Although Jack was sure she just looked a bit hungover.  But there was no way she could be that way within a few hours.

[ramblinwrxck]

“You’re alive.” A small sentence is all she could manage, gripping his hands tightly. She stumbles slightly as he guides her, dazed by the whole situation. How was any of this remotely possible? Time and time again, she had heard rumors of people disappearing in respawn. They had all ended the same, and Jack would most likely be no different. With each passing day, she had accepted his fate just a little bit more; with each passing day, she had began to lose reasons to stay here.

She lets him guide her back up the stairs, and through the hallways that she had spent the past several days aimlessly wandering. She had convinced herself that if she’d walked around enough times, she would begin to feel better. Francine finds herself leaning against him for support, body struggling to catch up with her racing mind. “I– I’m sorry I’m just…” What was the word she was even looking for? There were too many emotions to even account for. “Overwhelmed.” Perhaps that was a good word for it.

Her hands once again grip him as he struggled to open his door, not wanting to let go. She just didn’t want him to go anywhere again. She couldn’t bare to be alone anymore.

[jackreeds-blog]

He gives a small smile at the comment she makes.  “Of course I’m alive,” he replies.  What else would he be?

Jack tries his best to keep Fran from pulling him off the floor.  “You don’t have to feel like that now,” he says.  “A little bit of rest will make you feel better.”  Perhaps a little food, too.  Jack should have had some left overs from his breakfast in his room.  He had planned on saving it for lunch, but with the short work day, he wouldn’t complain having to spend it with Fran.

Jack opens the door to his room, but with Fran holding him like she was, he finds it difficult.  “This would be a lot easier if you, you know.  Let me open the door,” he says humorously.  He meant it as a joke.  

When he steps inside, he discovers his room nearly barren.  He keeps holding Fran but is unsure what to do.  The first thought was that it was that spy playing tricks again.  He frowns, ready to give that spy a right kick to his ass.  But he had to take care of Fran first.  Then he’d take care of him.

[jackreeds-blog]

When Jack arrives at the office, he finds it surprisingly empty.  He calls out again but is still met with nothing.  He still feels a bit uneasy, since he hasn’t really come across anyone yet.  He had to have missed something.

He walks up to the door of the quartermaster and gives a knock.  “Anyone home?” he says.  Jack puts his ear to the door and doesn’t hear anything moving inside.  

Jack leaves the office, not knowing when they’d be back and heads back to his room.  There’s a small thought of wondering where Cade had taken him, if he took him back to the mainland or made him swim.  Jack just kind of hoped that they just took him to the mainland.  

Jack sees one or two people in passing, calming some of his uneasiness.  Nothing seemed too different, or at least seemed broken to pull everyone off the battlefield. 

He makes it to the stairs, and he sees Fran.  He gives a small smile in confusion, as she was wearing a different set of clothes then she had been wearing before.  She also looked a lot rougher.  Like she didn’t get a good night sleep.  “Fall into the fountain again?” he says jokingly.  

Jack still had that gift to give Fran.  He’d have to give it to her since they now have some down time.

[ramblinwrxck]

With her head down, and arms crossed, Fran drug her feet against the sand covered pavement. It was odd having no one to converse with. It had really become part of her daily routine to consult Jack on day-to-day affairs, no matter how small. Even if just a small conversation, they had talked daily. She didn’t have the energy to think much about it, considering that she’d lost all the food and water she’d eaten in the past day to brandy.

Her mind had gotten lost somewhere along the path, scattered among the sand and cracked concrete. There had really been nobody to run into, as many of the employees had taken this opportunity to get as far away as this place as possible. The thought had not even crossed Francine’s mind. She had been too wrapped up in her own grief to consider going home at the time. Now that she thought about it, going AWOL didn’t sound so bad. They couldn’t really arrest her for that, could they? She didn’t know. Maybe they wouldn’t…

Suddenly, a voice above her startles her. Her heart climbed into her throat, as if it were trying to escape the very body that had sheltered it. It takes a moment to process the familiarity of it. She looks up, suddenly lifting her sunglasses to get a better look. No, this wasn’t possible. Was it? Everyone had said that it took months for this to happen, if it had happened at all. Jack was standing here, in front of her, like nothing had even happened.

Perhaps this was just another dream.

His words fall upon deaf ears as she reaches out and touches his face, wide-eyed. He was definitely real. No hangover hallucination, induced by some vile form of grief that had snuck into her brain due to lack of water.

Perhaps if she’d had something to eat, or even something to drink, within the past forty-eight hours, she wouldn’t have fainted. There was a first time for everything! Like fainting, coming back from the dead, and even meeting older brothers. What a strange week it had been.

[jackreeds-blog]

The look she gives Jack surprises him.  It was like she seen a ghost.  He lets out a small chuckle, and grabs her hands.  “Everything ok?” he asks.  It definitely made him worry about her with how she was reacting.  “You really didn’t fall into the fountain, did you?”  That was definitely not something anyone would look forward to. 

His smile fades a small bit, worried about Fran.  He’s never seen her like this and for her to be so different then how she was that morning, definitely made him worrisome.  “Are you ok?”  He hoped that she had gotten herself looked at, too.  He takes her arm.  “Come on, lets go lie down.”

All thoughts about finding his brother disappeared as he focuses his attention to Fran.  If she was sick, either from falling into the pool or otherwise, he wanted to help her feel better.  Although Jack was sure she just looked a bit hungover.  But there was no way she could be that way within a few hours.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack threw up as soon as his feet hit the ground.  There was no warning so he spit all over his shoes.  He cusses out loud and takes several steps back. He was going to get that spy to pay for it.  

Jack steps out of the respawn, ready to find the spy and kick him with his bile covered shoes.  The place was strangely quiet.  No gun fire, no yells.  It gave off an eerie feeling, and it made Jack immediately uncomfortable.  Stepping out into the main area of the battlefield, he finds it empty. Had he missed something? Was there a recall he missed while in respawn? Jack couldn’t think of anything that would cause the administration to pull everyone off the battlefield.

He calls out, “Hello?” before making his way towards his room. He’d come across the spy sooner or later if everyone just so happened to be in respawn at the same time.  It’s happened before, and according to some people, it was the funniest thing they saw.

Jack hopes there’s no ‘technicality’ involved in this, if he was leaving in the middle of a fight.  He would be pissed if he got fired because of it. Especially before he could meet Allen 

Jack stops.  Allen.  He forgot he’d seen him before being tossed into the respawn.  He takes off in the opposite direction of the rooms.  He had been walking with Cade which meant he could only be in one of two places the quartermaster liked to spend his time. Experience told Jack that the correct spot was the Administration office.

[ramblinwrxck]

Expensive brandy did not taste nearly as good the second time around. It hadn’t been the first time Francine had found herself laid on the cool tile of her bathroom floor, it and certainly wouldn’t be the last. Her sorrow had been briefly overshadowed by her pounding head and overwhelming need for water. She couldn’t even brush her damn teeth with the tap water here, and she’d used to last of it several days beforehand doing just that.

What a mess she was, but she had to get it some how. Otherwise, she would end up in the sick bay, with no respawn as a backup. She toys with that idea for a moment, before flickering eyes catch a glimpse of the judgemental cat in the doorway. No point in making the cat suffer because she just couldn’t bare to live with herself anymore. Someone had to take care of the fluffball. She guesses it would have to be her.

Slowly but surely, she peels herself away from the toilet, and rinses her mouth with tap water. A quick look in the mirror returns a grimace. Dark circles and leftover makeup, which she had been apparently too drunk to get all of it off. She scrubs all of this off, only to re-apply an equally as messy, yet less smudged face. To top off that quintessential hungover look, she adjusted her hair with her fingers. No need to brush it, it would only get frizzy. She ties a red bandana into her hair, a makeshift headband, and less than stylish accessory.

Her outfit consists of a short sleeved button up and navy shorts; not to mention a pair of white sunglasses to hide herself from any visible light source. How disappointed her brother’s would have been if they could have seen her. How mercilessly Jack would have made fun of her. With a sigh, she began her trek down to the cafeteria.

She couldn’t help but notice how muggy it was today. Something was different.

[jackreeds-blog]

When Jack arrives at the office, he finds it surprisingly empty.  He calls out again but is still met with nothing.  He still feels a bit uneasy, since he hasn’t really come across anyone yet.  He had to have missed something.

He walks up to the door of the quartermaster and gives a knock.  “Anyone home?” he says.  Jack puts his ear to the door and doesn’t hear anything moving inside.  

Jack leaves the office, not knowing when they’d be back and heads back to his room.  There’s a small thought of wondering where Cade had taken him, if he took him back to the mainland or made him swim.  Jack just kind of hoped that they just took him to the mainland.  

Jack sees one or two people in passing, calming some of his uneasiness.  Nothing seemed too different, or at least seemed broken to pull everyone off the battlefield. 

He makes it to the stairs, and he sees Fran.  He gives a small smile in confusion, as she was wearing a different set of clothes then she had been wearing before.  She also looked a lot rougher.  Like she didn’t get a good night sleep.  “Fall into the fountain again?” he says jokingly.  

Jack still had that gift to give Fran.  He’d have to give it to her since they now have some down time.

[jackreeds-blog]

Jack threw up as soon as his feet hit the ground.  There was no warning so he spit all over his shoes.  He cusses out loud and takes several steps back. He was going to get that spy to pay for it.  

Jack steps out of the respawn, ready to find the spy and kick him with his bile covered shoes.  The place was strangely quiet.  No gun fire, no yells.  It gave off an eerie feeling, and it made Jack immediately uncomfortable.  Stepping out into the main area of the battlefield, he finds it empty. Had he missed something? Was there a recall he missed while in respawn? Jack couldn't think of anything that would cause the administration to pull everyone off the battlefield.

He calls out, "Hello?" before making his way towards his room. He'd come across the spy sooner or later if everyone just so happened to be in respawn at the same time.  It's happened before, and according to some people, it was the funniest thing they saw.

Jack hopes there's no 'technicality' involved in this, if he was leaving in the middle of a fight.  He would be pissed if he got fired because of it. Especially before he could meet Allen 

Jack stops.  Allen.  He forgot he'd seen him before being tossed into the respawn.  He takes off in the opposite direction of the rooms.  He had been walking with Cade which meant he could only be in one of two places the quartermaster liked to spend his time. Experience told Jack that the correct spot was the Administration office.

[jackreeds-blog]

Nathan becomes a lawyer when he gets older.

[jackreeds-blog]

Another idea I've been thinking about is a Nathan and Richie get-together.

And realized that they might get along like Allen and his mom.

[jackreeds-blog]

And we're done.