Between You & Me: 8

"Since when did you become a drinker?" Jewel stared as Jax took his fourth shot of tequila.

"I rarely drink," he answered, pouring another shot.

"Yeah, I can tell," she answered sarcastically.

Jax handed Jewel the glass. He watched as she took her shot and then he poured her another one.

"Ever the gentleman." Jewel smiled before taking another drink. "So...when did you get married?" she pointed to his wedding band.

"Four years, two months, and three...no, four days ago."

Jewel laughed. "Obviously you never forget your anniversary. She must really be...never mind. What's her name?"

"Keesha." Jax started to hand Jewel the bottle, but changed his mind, taking the shot glass from her and pouring himself another one.

"So how..."

"We're done talking about Keesha." Jax said quietly.

Jewel stared at Jax silently for a moment. Then she noted, "And that's why you're here...that's what you meant by needing to forget." Her tone changed, teasing, "You know, you should have stayed with me like everyone wanted you to. It's that whole *J* thing..."

"Jewel, drop it. You know what...I should go. This was a bad idea..." Jax shook his head.

"For who?"

"For me...for you...just all around..."

"You sure as hell can't drive."

Jax sighed. She was right. "I'll call a taxi..." he stood.

"Or you can just wait, have some coffee, relax and then go back to wherever or...whoever you are running from in the first place. Or did Keesha push you out..."

"Okay...as I was saying, bad idea..." he started searching his pockets for his phone.

"I'm sorry." Jewel stood. She pushed Jax gently and he settled on the couch. "It's just...nothing has changed." Jewel knelt down in front of him. "Let me help you."

"You can't help me."

"I can try, can't I?"

Jax looked down as Jewel took his hand.

"Remember our agreement? You should, you came up with the rules. Let me start it off...all fun...no..."

"Questions." Jax finished softly.

"As I said Jax..." Jewel maintained eye contact as she lifted his hand slowly, placing a small kiss on it. "Nothing has changed."

As Jax stared, Jewel stroked the side of his finger with her tongue. His eyes closed and she began to suck on the appendage suggestively.

"Stop..."

"You don't sound very convincing..." Jewel breathed, resting her hands against Jax's legs. "Do you want to try that again..." she pulled herself up, gliding her body across his.

Jax opened his eyes, finding Jewel's face not even an inch from his own.

"All fun..." she whispered against his mouth.

"No questions..." Jax finished, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her hungrily.

Keesha laid quietly in the bed, staring through the bars of Jordan's crib, watching as he slept. She looked at the clock...it was so late.

And so damn hot...Keesha stood, going over to the window in the far end of the room, opening it slightly to get some air inside.

She stared out at the empty driveway...Jax had been gone for so long. She sighed deeply.

"Mommy..." Jalyn called through the closed door.

"Yeah."

Jalyn walked in. "Hi." she smiled.

"Hey." Keesha turned around with a grin. "How's my blue eyed angel?" She looked so much like Jax...Keesha went back to looking for him out the window.

Jalyn came over to window. "Fine. Where's Daddy."

"Out somewhere. He'll be back though."

"Let's eat..." Jalyn took Keesha's hand. She pulled away. "You're hot," she sang.

Keesha reached up, feeling her own forehead. Maybe Jalyn was right, that would explain why she thought it was so warm.

"Honey, get Grandma or Grandaddy to take your brother into the other room." If she was catching something, she surely didn't want to give it to the children.

"Kay." Jalyn smiled, she ran out of the room, calling for her grandparents.

Keesha turned, staring out the window once more.

Jax walked slowly up the stairs of the front porch. He should have called...it was the least he could have done....He had been gone since yesterday, and he hadn't even called...

"Morning!" he yelled as he walked into the house. He headed for the kitchen.

"Hi Daddy!" Jalyn smiled, taking another bite of her bacon. "You had that yesterday." she laughed.

Jax opened his mouth but Jane interrupted him. "She's observant when it comes to you. We told her how you came home after she went to bed and must have gotten up before she did. She's right that is the same outfit from yesterday." she filled him in on their lie.

"I know..." Jalyn turned her attention to Jordan.

"Where's Keesha?" Jax asked his parents as he looked around the kitchen. Jordan reached up for him and Jax walked over, taking him out of the high chair, holding him.

"Mommy's still sick."

"Yes, " Jane interrupted once more. "Remember she went to bed early because she wasn't feeling well...I would bet she's still sleeping."

Jax nodded. He sighed.

"So did you eat?" Jane asked Jax carefully.

"No..." Jax stated, his mind obviously distracted as his guilt grew. He should have at least called...

Really he shouldn't have gone in the first place...

"Dad..." he motioned, setting Jordan back in the high chair. His father followed him out the room.

"Where in the hell were..."

"Don't start, okay." Jax pleaded. "What's wrong with Keesha?"

"She has a fever."

"That's all, really?"

"That's what she says. I came in to get Jordan and she said she thought she was coming down with something."

"That's it? You didn't check on her..."

"Excuse me, but if you were here, you could have checked in on her your damn self."

Jax looked down at the ground. "Remember when Jerry first came back here from the States? He caught something...he was sick for days."

"Right, the change of climate or something...but he was fine..."

"Yes...but...she hasn't eaten...that could make a difference..."

"How do you know..."

"I know her. Keesha never eats when she's upset. That's how I found her in the first..." Jax sighed. He tried to change his mood by switching subjects. "She probably hasn't eaten a thing for a couple of days...will...will you go check on her?"

"Why don't you go?"

"Dad..."

"Go upstairs. You're worried about her, you should go upstairs and see if she's all right." John turned away. He started to head back into the kitchen, but then he froze. Without looking at Jax he added sternly. "You were the one out all night, maybe going up there will show her you still care...and you owe that to her, because if I was her, I would think you gave a damn."

Jax watched as his father walked away. And without another thought he ran up the stairs. He knocked on the door, opening it.

Keesha coughed but she didn't awaken. Jax walked over to the bed, reaching out and feeling her forehead. He furrowed his brow, worried.

She was burning up.

Jax sat at the edge of the bed, taking her wrist to check her pulse...it was racing...with a deep sigh he let go, taking his phone out of his pocket.

While the doctor examined Keesha, Jax kept himself occupied by playing in the back yard with the children. That way he wouldn't think and he wouldn't panic and he wouldn't beat himself up for not being there in the first place...

"Jax..." Jane peeked her head outside. Jax nodded and Jane came out while he ran inside. Jax leaned up against the doorway as the doctor spoke to John.

"...I gave her some antibiotics. I would keep her away from the children. I'll be back in a couple of days, and since she asked, I'll check Jordan again, in case she may have already given it to him. But so far he seems just fine."

"But she should be okay, right?" Jax finally asked.

"I don't see why not. Just make sure she doesn't get aggitated, because it could set off some sort of asthma attack...she's having problems breathing as it is."

Jax nodded. "Anything else?"

"I gave her medication-all the rest is basic, fluids, soups..she should be better in a few days."

"Thank you...I'm..."

"UNCLE JERRY!" came Jalyn's cry.

"Took you long enough." Jax flopped down on the sofa. He watched as Jerry sat next to him.

"Who told you to let your marriage fall apart while I was gone...Mum filled me in on what she could," Jerry added at Jax's surprised look. He walked over to the bar. "Want one?" he asked as he took out the tequila bottle.

"Please." Jax groaned. "Jerry, I have a problem."

"You always..."

"I'm serious."

Jerry's smile faded at the pain in Jax's eyes. He walked back over to the sofa and sat down again. "What happened?"

"It all started right after you went away...the situation with Lark got worse. Keesha had promised to stay away from her, which of course pissed Lark off...so she came by, telling me just that. Anyway, as it was, because of Keesha, I felt bad...and...I wanted to work things out but things just snowballed. And Keesha and I got into a huge...and I mean huge fight..."

"Lady Jane told me about that."

"I came here without her. But she followed later, for the kids of course...and I don't know, everything she did seemed to upset me, and vice versa...we couldn't talk without one of us obviously being upset while the other was obviously not saying all that we needed to have said..." Jax groaned, putting his head in his lap.

"And?" Jerry prodded.

"And...yesterday, I wanted to talk to her, but it happened again..." Jax mumbled. He turned, looking at Jerry. "She was upset, I was upset, and I just didn't think that it could get any worse...then it did. Lark showed up."

"Are you kidding me?"

"And I...I blew...but I couldn't really because Jay was there...so I left...and I went to Jewel's..."

"Jewel Jewel? As in ex-Jewel."

Jax groaned once more.

"...I have to tell her." Jax turned away from the window.

"Sure, if you want her to be even more sick."

Jax sighed. "I know...I'll wait..."

"Sure. If you really think your marriage is over, telling her will probably speed up the process."

Jax looked out the window once more. "I love her Jerry. I've never loved anyone in my life but Keesha..."

"Then I would keep last night to yourself. Because all it's going to do is hurt her...and it sounds to me as if both of you have done enough hurting. And as for Lark, I'm going to find her and get rid of her once and for all."

"No. You find Lark. Then *I'm* going to get rid of her once and for all."

Jax turned over in the bed in the room he was sharing with Jerry. Jerry was asleep in his own bed, as well he should, Jax noted. Since it was after 3:00 in the morning. Jax climbed out of the bed, going down the hall.

Jax opened the door to the room where Keesha was sleeping. He stared at her for a long while, wanting to make sure she was okay. She seemed fine. He sighed, realizing he could leave...but instead he closed the door softly.

Jax walked slowly over to the bed kneeling down. He felt Keesha's forehead...she was still warm, but not nearly as hot as she was when he first came home.

Jax trailed his fingers lightly around her face. Ever since they had met, there was something about Keesha when she slept, that completely mesmorized him. She was so beautiful...and looked so very peaceful.

"I love you." Jax whispered, his eyes watering.

Keesha tossed the cover off of her as she grew unbearably hot once more. She turned around in the bed, opening her eyes.

"Jax?" she breathed as she saw him. Sleeping in the chair across the room.

It was the first time she had seen him since he stormed off.

She had waited all night for him to come back....but if he had, she didn't see him. Who knew when he had come home? She obviously didn't know Jax at all anymore...not like she used to.

Keesha got out of the bed, leaving the room. She went down the hall to the linen closet and taking a cover, walked slowly back to the bedroom.

Keesha watched as Jax turned over in his chair, but he didn't wake up. She walked over to him, covering him slowly with the blanket.

Keesha felt tears stinging her eyes. What did it matter. There Jax was now...he was there...and though there was a distance between them, she had to keep him with her. She couldn't imagine her life without being with Jax.

(Author's Note-no I am not telling what Jax did or didn't do so don't ask. You'll find out LOL)