Chapters 19 & 20
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The man closed the door completely. Scorpio had just sent someone to
look for one of the men. He pushed a table and some chairs against
the door, and then surveyed the area once more. His work here was
done. He turned and looked at his captives. "Ladies." he nodded and
then went towards the back.
"What..."
"Shhh!" Keesha snapped at Miranda. A second later she heard a door
open and then a few moments later, one hard slam, and then the
vibration of small ones-as if something just wasn't closing. "Okay..."
Keesha felt she had gathered all the information she possibly could
for Jax...
Jax.
Looking at the clock on the wall, Keesha realized she hadn't been in
here long...only a few hours. But all she could think of the entire
time, was that she wasn't sure when she would be seeing Jax again...and
that, more than anything really, made this whole thing so unbearable.
Because all she kept thinking was that she had to see him again...and
she didn't know when it would be.
She refused to beleive that there was a possibility that she wouldn't.
Because she had way too much to say to him...
"Hannah, can you reach my purse?"
"What?"
"On the floor, next to your foot. If we all stand and bend, then you
should be able to reach it. Okay?"
"Why don't we just wait....the police will come here soon."
"If anyone knows we're in here alone. Which I doubt. Besides, he may
come back, and I plan to be gone by then...."
"Well, when the police don't hear from him, they'll..."
"I have to get out of here! Right now! Jax is waiting for me, and I
have to get to him, is that clear enough?! Now, hand me the damn
purse!"
With one try, Hannah was able to get Keesha's bag. She handed it to
Miranda, who placed it on Keesha's lap. She in turn put it next to
her on the bar. "What are you doing?" Miranda wondered.
Keesha handed Miranda a small jar of Vaseline. "Open this please."
Keesha used the hand cuffed to the edge of the bar to keep digging,
finally pulling out a bottle of lotion.
"What are you doing?" she repeated. "Here..."
"Thank you....I am getting back to my husband...right now."
Hannah and Miranda watched as Keesha saturated her hand. She stood,
counted to three, and the other women winced for her, as Keesha started
twisting her hand out of the cuff.
Mac reached into his pocket for his phone. "Scorpio...." Mac turned
and saw Jax run out of the police car, Marcus Taggert a few steps
behind. He grabbed his arm. "Wait!"
"I got tired of yelling." The man said into the phone from the safety
of his hide out. "I think this is much more civilized. Who have you
got for me?"
"I'll let you speak to him on your own." Mac pulled the phone down.
"I want all three of them out, Jax...not just Keesha, all *three*, have
you got me?"
Jax yanked the phone. "What do you want?"
"Ahhh....Australian...yet slightly Americanized...I gather you're
Jax...as in Jasper *Jax* Jacks."
Jax shook his head. This guy acted like he barely knew him...and for
sure Jax couldn't place the voice..."Again, what do you want?"
"What are you willing to give?"
"Anything."
"I guess I do have the upper hand. Anything in trade for three
women...what about for your little lady alone? Hmmm...how much?"
"I just told you. Anything."
Keesha stiffled a yell as she finally got her hand free. She looked
down at it, the damage wouldn't be severe...it was probably internal
bruising at the most. But she was free...at least free to move around.
She walked the women behind the bar and picked up a napkin. Without a
word, she wrapped her hand as best she could and then she picked up the
phone. "Someone cut the line. We're going to have to just go out
there."
"What if they shoot at us?!"
"Mac won't shoot." Miranda promised Hannah. "He wouldn't take that
chance knowing that we're in here."
"How touching." The man smirked, stalling for time. "Well, I don't
need *everything*. But I need a way out of here. Car?"
"Done."
Mac snatched the phone and looked at Jax. "The PC Police Department
doesn't bargain with it's criminals..."
"That's news to me considering *Sonny* and Moreno have survived here
so long..." Jax paused. Sonny.
This was Sonny's fault.
It had to be.
"Hello...they're not getting any younger..." the man sang from the
other end.
"Car." Jax said into the receiver. "What else?"
Alexis was waiting when Sonny got down to the police station. She
greeted him with his favorite words. She already had the documenation
to set him free. "Do you want to file a false arrest?"
"Maybe. It depends on if Taggert's story pans out. If he was *saving
my wife*."
"What?"
Sonny looked at Jason. Jason bent and whispred in his ear, and Alexis
watched as Sonny's mood grew darker.
"Asked for who?"
"You, Jax or Jerry." Jason repeated in his ear.
But all Sonny heard was the end.
This was Jax's fault.
Or Jerry's.
One in the same. Both of them had to pay.
"I need a way out of here, of course."
"To where..." Jax continued to stare at the door. "I want proof first."
"Proof of what?"
"That she's okay..."
"Well, I can't give you that."
"Why can't you?"
"It's not mine to give."
"LISTEN TO ME DAMN IT...." Jax stopped speaking as the door opened
slowly.
"DO NOT SHOOT!" Mac commanded, leaving his officers waiting. He
lifted the megaphone "Who's there?!"
Keesha cleared her throat and yelled as loud as she could. "JUST
US....."
Jax dropped the phone and tried to run towards her, but Taggert held
him back. He struggled and another officer had to join in to help.
"...ME, HANNAH, AND MIRANDA! THAT'S ALL!"
"Keesha, are you sure?"
She, Miranda and Hannah looked back into the club, afraid that maybe
the man had snuck back in, from wherever.
She breathed. "YES!"
Taggert let go, and Jax tore away from the other officer, running
faster than he ever remembered running.
Taggert picked the phone up from the ground.
The line was dead.
Keesha barely got away from the entrance of the club before she was
wrapped securely in Jax's arms. She returned his hug as best she could
with her one free arm, not even noticing that an officer was already
working on the other one-trying to get her free from Miranda. "Hold
still...there..."
Keesha's other arm flew around Jax and he lifted her slightly off the
ground, holding her tightly. He took a deep breath.
"Jax, you're shaking." she whispered. She pulled back some and looked
into his eyes. "I'm okay." she promised.
"Sorry." he let her down, but still didn't let her go. "Keesha..."
"Mrs. Jacks...Mrs. Jacks...."
"What?!" Keesha snapped to the paramedic as she continued staring at
Jax.
"Your hand...." she answered.
Jax looked down. He took her hand gently and held it up, inspecting
it. He frowned, unwrapping the napkin. "What happened."
"I had to free myself from the other cuffs."
"We need to have that looked at." The paramedic interjected.
"Not now...it's just swelling..."
"Now." Jax stated softly. Finally he pulled away, taking off his
jacket and placing it over her shoulders. "Come on. I'll ride with
you."
"Jax..."
Jax interrupted her with a tender kiss. His heart felt like it was
going to explode and he pulled away. "We'll talk later. I just want
to make sure you're okay."
"I *am*."
"Keesha, please. Can you do this for me?" he asked, his voice was
secure, but as she looked into his eyes, it really registered just how
scared he had been.
"I'd do anything for you." Keesha nodded, and Jax placed his hand on
her back, leading her away.
Shani-20 continued right below
Mac convinced Jax that Keesha should go to General. Miranda and Hannah
were already there, and he figured having Jax ask would be the best way
to get Keesha there.
He was right.
Jerry was waiting when they got off the elevator. "I think he's
waiting for you....I'll be in the room, I'm sure you'll find me."
"Hi Keesha." Tony Jones came over and stood behind the wheelchair. "I
hear you had quite an experience." he came in front and bent, looking
at her hand.
Keesha smiled wearily. "To say the least. But now my dear husband
won't let me go, so that I can finish being checked and get home."
Jax continued looking down at her. Keesha squeezed his hand and lifted
it to her lips, placing a small kiss.
Jax let go. "I'll be there soon."
"Okay."
All it took were three simple words. And Jax *still* hadn't had the
chance to say them. Becuase he hadn't been alone with Keesha yet.
And he needed to be alone with her when he told her.
"How are you?"
"Fine. I wasn't held captive."
"True. But how are you?"
Jax stopped looking down the hall and turned, looking at Jerry. "I
just want to take her home."
"You will. It's all formality. Hannah and Miranda have been done.
Mac took Miranda, and Hannah is talking to Marcus. Has Keesha told you
anything?"
"About?"
"The accent."
Jax nodded. "So Miranda told you."
"I told her not to tell the police yet, and she agreed. She says she
doesn't think Hannah noticed it....the question is, what is this guy.
If we know that, we have a better chance of knowing who he worked for."
"Moreno. Going after Sonny. Keesha says he must have used some sort
of secret exit in and out of Luke's do you know about it?"
"Yes, and if I told you it wouldn't be a secret now would it." he
joked, trying to lighten Jax's mood.
It wasn't working. "If Alexis doesn't hurry with that information, I
may just have to resort to different, Cassadine-like tactics to get rid
of him...."
"Jax..."
"I *will* not let his...life...take someone away from me..."
"We don't know who it was. Mac said he asked for all three of us. And
Hannah said that he told her she set up the *perfect* scenario...her,
Keesha and Miranda..." thank God Bobbie was a work-a-holic.
Jerry quit speaking as he saw Sonny and Hannah come out the room.
"Don't say anything at all, Sonny. I just want to go home." She sat
down in the chair. Sonny sighed and sat down next to her.
"Anyone you know that would do such a thing?"
"Not anymore, no." Jerry admitted.
"Me either. And this guy didn't even know me, he asked for me, but he
had to check to make sure of who I was. That leaves Sonny." Jax stated
assuradely as he continued his glaring contest with the mobster.
"Even if you're right, which you probably are, why go through all this
trouble? Why get us involved?"
Lucky came out of the elevator, running up to Jerry. "Where's Miranda!"
"Calm down...she's with Mac...you know Miranda. I take it"
Lucky looked up. "Yes. She was with me on the...she was a captive
with me these past two years...later." he walked away, heading towards
Sonny and Hannah.
Jax looked over at Jerry. "Now I suppose you know what she was hiding
during these years." he stated quietly before leaving to join Keesha.
Jerry looked down at the ground and then pulled out his phone.
Keesha looked around the bedroom at home, trying to keep her mind off
the throbbing pain in her hand. The tylenol should work soon.
"I didn't know I was married to a WSB agent...where'd you learn that
trick?" Jax joked.
Keesha winced.
"I'm sorry." Jax lightened his grip as he massaged the ointment onto
her hand.
"Justus."
"What?"
"Justus taught me." Keesha continued looking around. "This is really
nice."
"What..." Jax stared up at her. "Oh, the room. Thank you...but you've
seen it before."
"Yes, but it's kind of different after you've...slept here."
"Slept?" he smiled.
"I choose to ignore that."
Jax winked and Keesha laughed before continuing. "Besides, I don't
just mean the room. I mean this...*this* is perfect...that's why I was
in such a rush to get back here. I wanted to get back to you." She
leaned back in the bed.
Jax came into the bed, positioning himself over her. "You're happy?
With things they way they are?" he asked as he hovered.
"That would be an understatment." she sat up slightly. With a deep
kiss, she reclined all the way into the bed once more, and he rested on
top of her.
Jax pulled away, gazing into her eyes.
"What?" she asked.
Tell her, his instincts nagged. But she was happy right now with the
way things were. "Just counting my blessings." he smiled and kissed
her again.
The same words kept repeating in Jax's head. The same words he
repeated from the moment he learned where Keesha was, from Taggert.
That life wouldn't take Keesha away from him now. And it hadn't.
Keesha yawned and shifted, resting her head against Jax's chest.
"Cold?" she heard, followed by the rustling of covers. She opened her
eyes.
But it could have.
"No." she stared at his chest as she ran her fingers lightly down the
middle of it. "Did I wake you?"
"No. I can't sleep."
"Why? What's on your mind?"
"That my sweet one, you don't want to know."
Keesha looked up at him. "If I didn't want to know I wouldn't have
asked." she countered.
He sighed, realizing there was no escape now. "I...I was just thinking
about today, and how I panicked when I found out where you were."
"Jax, I'm fine..."
"That's not *it*. Keesha..." how could he put this without going to
far. "Keesha, I cannot imagine my life without you in it. And I have
no desire to do so..."
"And if I have anything to say about it you *won't*. I don't want to
be without you either..."
"But the thing is...the thing is, that you *don't* have anything to say
about it. I don't. No one does...people *go*...sometimes they just
do...you know that....you don't always get a chance...you have to...you
have to...." Jax closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Keesha, I am
in love with you."
Keesha's heart stopped. She had to force her eyes not to tear. He
said it. She didn't think he loved her, she was hoping...but she
didn't think so...but not only did he love her. He actually said so.
"Oh, Jax..."
He opened his eyes and spoke quickly, interrupting her. "And I don't
want an answer from you, because you just went through hell and back,
and anything you say to me now, might not be what you should say..."
Keesha sat up in the bed. She traced her fingers around his face and
he stared up at her. "Do you know how *beautiful* you are...I mean,
in here...." she tapped against her heart. "Do you know..."
Jax took a breath. "Stop."
"Listen to me, Jax..."
"I don't want to. I want for you to think before you say anything. I
want you to be asbolutely sure before you say anything to me...and
therefore I don't want to hear anything tonight...not with all the
emotions you must have, after what you went through..."
"Jax..." Sometimes, when she looked into Jax's eyes, she almost got
the feeling he was allowing her a glimpse into his very soul. And
right now, what they were saying was that he was petrified. "Okay."
she relented.
"Okay?" he breathed a sigh of releif.
"Okay. I promised myself I wouldn't hurt you, and I intend to keep
that promise." And right now, he wasn't hearing her. He would doubt
*whatever* she said right now. "Do you want me to go?"
"No." Jax pulled her closer and Keesha rested her head against his
chest once more.
She didn't want Jax doubting her. Ever.
And she thought *she* was scared.
All this time, she had been afraid...afraid of getting too close...and
then when she got close anyway, which was something beyond her control
she was now convinced , she was afraid that she was close for the wrong
reason...and then she realized, that she felt close to Jax, that she
needed Jax, because he was *Jax* and for no other reason.
Once she realized that, she was ready. And now, that he told her he
loved her, she accepted it with no reservations. She beleived him, it
wasn't in her nature not to. Ever since last night, while they made
love for the first time, she had wanted to hear those words from
him...she didn't expect it...but she wanted it.
She remembered when he came to the door last night, and asked her why
she wanted to see him. And she lied...sort of.
Yes, she just needed to see him. But she had a reason too.
She knew damn well why she wanted to see him.
She had been laying in bed that night until she gathered the courage to
face him-she had been thinking over and over that she was in love with
Jax.
That it felt different because she was *really* in love with Jax.
Just like Bobbie had said.
She had been lying there thinking that what she had before with Jason
Quartermaine and AJ, may have been love, but what she had with Jax was
different because he was different. She was different. She didn't
recognize it because she had never expereinced anything like it.
That's why she questioned it over and over. But that didn't make it
any less likely that she loved him.
It made it more likely, that this time, she could get it right.
Because it *was* right.
Keesha had wanted to tell Jax she was in love with him since last night.
But something stopped her. The same thing stopped her this morning.
She had this feeling, whenever she looked into his eyes, that it wasn't
the time. And now she knew why. He wasn't going to accept it.
If she had said it at the door, he would have said she wasn't sure.
If she said it while they were making love he would have thought it was
just in the throes of passion.
If she had said it after, he would have beleived it was the aftermath.
If she had said it this morning, he would have told her that it was too
soon...that she wasn't sure.
Now he was afraid *emotions* were too high.
Jasper Jacks was afraid to hear it...to beleive it. It was easier for
him to love, than to be loved.
So she would just have to show him. And that way, when she said it, he
wouldn't be able to deny it.
And hopefully he wouldn't want to.
Shani]]>
