Between You & Me: 9

When Jax opened his eyes again, it was still dark. He saw Keesha, still sleeping in her bed. He stood, noticing the cover which slid to the floor.

He didn't remember getting it. But someone must have...

Jax sighed...he wanted to stay, but figured she might not want him there...so with one last look, he left quietly.

Keesha felt a light touch on her forehead. She opened her eyes. "Jax?" she hoped.

"You’re still warm..." Jax sat down at the edge of Keesha’s bed. "Morning. How do you feel?"

Keesha merely gazed up at Jax silently.

"Keesha?"

"I’m almost positive I’m dreaming." She finally answered.

"Dreaming? Why?"

"Because..." Keesha sighed. "...we’re in the same vicinity...and we’re not fighting."

Jax looked down. "Give us time...I’m sure we’ll argue in a moment."

A long moment passed. And finally Jax looked up.

"I was joking."

"It wasn’t funny. I hate arguing with you."

"I know..."

"We have to stop."

"Agreed."

"So...how do we do that?"

"I don’t know...we really shouldn’t talk about this now. The doctor said that you shouldn’t get upset..."

"How do you know?"

"He told me. I sent for him..."

"You sent for the doctor?"

"Yes. Who did you think did it?"

Keesha broke eye contact. How was she supposed to know? It seemed she didn’t know anything anymore….

She saw a glass of juice on the table. "Is that..."

"Yes, I just brought it up."

"Thank you." Keesha started to sit up.

Jax reached out, about ready to help her...unsure whether she would except it he changed his mind, running his fingers through his hair instead. "Do you need anything else?"

"How are the kids?"

"Fine. Jerry’s here-he took them...somewhere..."

"Jerry’s here too? Lord, how much did I miss?" she managed a smile.

Jax sighed. He reached up, and felt her forehead again.

"You’ve done that already."

"Oh. Yeah..." Jax dropped his hand. "You really shouldn’t fly back next week. So Jerry agreed to go, and he’ll meet your mother...Tiffany..."

"I know who you meant."

Jax shrugged. "You never know. Of course, Lark is still here..."

"I doubt it."

"Why?"

"I told her to go away."

"When has that stopped her." Jax rolled his eyes.

Keesha laughed.

Jax arched his eyebrow. "That wasn’t a joke. I was serious."

"I know...but it was still funny."

Slowly, a smile grew across Jax’s face. But just as suddenly, it faded. "I’m going back downstairs. If you need anything, just yell..."

"Okay."

Jax stood from the bed. Keesha watched as he slowly walked over to the door.

"Yell."

Jax froze at Keesha’s soft whisper. He turned around, looking at her once more.

"Thank you."

"You’re welcome." Jax answered. "Bye."

Keesha waited until Jax closed the door.

"...for caring..." she finished her sentence.

Hoping that it held true.

The next few days were spent almost identically. Jax would wait until Keesha had gone to bed, and then he would sneak into her room...sitting on the chair, watching her until he fell asleep himself.

Sometime, in the middle of the night, Keesha would find Jax there...and then it was her turn, and she would stare at him as he slept, until sleep claimed her again.

Jax would wake up before sunrise and sneak out.

Keesha would wake up later in the day, to find Jax in her room-checking in on her.

They would exchange a few pleasantries, and then Jax would go. And she wouldn't see him again until the next morning...as he slept on the chair.

"Jay?" Jax yawned as he left his bedroom.

"No..."

"Keesha, what are you doing up?"

"I feel much better." Keesha finished climbing the stairs. "And I can't sleep..."

"Ah. Warm milk, and a good book." Jax finally noticed what she was carrying.

"Yep...just like Momma used to do it...I mean Tiffany."

"Got it." Jax smiled.

"Of course, she used to read it to me...see the things you miss growing up?" Keesha finally got to her door. "Night."

"Night." Jax walked back into his room.

"...okay. You get one chapter..."

Keesha looked up at Jax closed her door.

"And then it's off to bed, young lady."

"You...."

Jax pulled the chair from the corner, dragging it over to Keesha's bed. "Lie down."

Keesha stared at Jax, completely in awe.

"Down." he ordered again. "Or we will stop this right now..." he winked.

Keesha slid slowly down in the bed. Jax pulled the cover up over her body. "Comfy?"

"Yes." Keesha managed to breathe.

"Where were you..."

Keesha finally stopped looking at Jax. She pointed into the book and Jax cleared his throat. "Across the way..." he began.

Keesha had to fight the tears from welling in her eyes as Jax read to her in his soft whispered tone.

After all was said and done...after all the yelling, and all the hurt feelings...all the accusations...

Jax was...Jax.

The most wonderfully beautiful, kind, sweet man she had ever known.

And after all was said in done...not only was Keesha being reminded of why she fell in love with him to begin with...

She realized...

Jax's soothing voice began to relax her...she finally gave into the will to shut her eyes.

And one last thought went through her heart.

Not only did she love Jax, despite it all...

She loved Jax more today then she ever did.

"Keesha?" Jax bent down with a whisper.

He smiled softly. She had fallen asleep.

She always could fall asleep easily.

He found that out the first evening they met.

Jax closed the book.

He found himself reaching out and touching Keesha's cheek with his fingertips.

She was so beautiful when she slept.

He missed being able to watch her so closely...

He missed being able to hold her in his arms...being able to feel her heart beat slowly against her throat, as he buried his face against her neck.

He missed telling her that he loved her.

He missed being able to love her openly.

He just missed her.

Jax stood, forcing himself to leave and go to the door. He opened it and then turned, looking at Keesha one more time.

Keesha sighed as she slept; content for the first time in weeks.

Her entire body warmed...but unlike the fever which raged through her system for days, even as early as this morning...

This was a gentle warmth

A comfortable warmth

The warmth that only came from...

Jax closed his eyes, his breath catching as Keesha shifted towards him. He opened them again, wrapping an arm around her...resting his hand against her lower back.

Jax leaned against his own arm, watching her. He drew his hand from her waist and pushed Keesha's hair away from her eyes. He trailed his arm down, wrapping it around her again.

Slowly, Jax slid down slightly, this time resting his head against her shoulder. He wrapped his other arm around her. Then, once again he shifted lower, his hold on Keesha tightening as he nuzzeled against her throat.

"Better," he mumbled, stroking Keesha's back softly as her heart beat began to lull him to sleep.