The Proposal: Chapter 14

Garcia shifted in the bed; he could have sworn he heard a click. His eyes opened, growing as he realized he was staring down the barrel of a gun.

"Get up," Jax ordered quietly.

"What are you..."

"I said...get up. We are going for a stroll....of course, if you insist, I can just murder you here...with your wife sleeping right next door. The choice is yours."

Keesha sighed deeply, for some reason a chill went through her body as she slept She moved to cuddle closer to Jax. Yet all she found was a cold, empty space. Her eyes opened. "Jax?" she called, sitting up in the bed. "Jax?"

Keesha got out of bed, leaving his chamber and going through the bath, to check her room. "Jax?!" she called urgently.

"Either way you plan to murder me?"

"I would be doing the world a favor. You have wasted enough air. For the final time, get up...and meet your demise like a man."

"Lord Jacks..."

Jax turned at the male voice coming from Garcia's closet.

"...drop the pistol."

"I told you detective..." Garcia tried not to grin as Jax turned his icy stare back to him. "Lord Jacks has been threatening me for weeks now. Now you have heard him yourself."

"You sick..." Jax began.

"Drop the pistol Jasper!" the detective ordered once more.

Jax cut his eyes at Garcia. "I might as well murder you anyway..." he whispered in Spanish. But then he slowly pulled his pistol away.

"Lord Jasper Jacks...I am arresting you for the attempted murder..."

Keesha ran down the stairs, throwing open the front door. She knew precisely where he went, she just hoped that she got to her husband in time. Before he killed Garcia.

Worse yet, before Garcia killed him.

"Lady Jacks..."

Keesha froze, looking at the detective standing before her. Her heart dropped into the pit of her stomach. "Your lord has just been arrested."

Keesha actually breathed a sigh of releif. It meant he was alive. "For?"

"He came close to killing Senor Garcia."

"I do not believe you," she pretended.

"I heard him with my own ears, my lady. He is on his way to town, I suggest you contact his solicitor..."

Solicitor? Suddenly Keesha remembered, that was the same as an attorney.

"...and perhaps his brother."

"I will do that from town myself..." She turned back to the door, planning to get a carriage so she could go and be with Jax.

"Lady Jacks...you can not see him until he is tomorrow morning. Because of Jules there will be a hearing first thing. However his solicitor may see him at any time, so I repeat, I suggest that he be contacted." The man stepped forward. "There is nothing more you can do. I am most sorry..."

Keesha watched as he looked around. Under his breath he mumbled, "I will contact Lord Jericho, and have already contacted help for your husband. He wants you to wait, because Jules is coming back here. You will see him tomorrow."

Keesha watched as the man stepped back. "I am most sorry," he repeated loudly and then walked away.

Early the next morning-before day break

Jax moaned softly as another man continued to mumble in the cramped cell. He had done nothing but mumble all night, and the sound, along with the stench of sweat and urine and vomit began to make Jax think he would surely lose his mind.

"Quiet!!" he finally yelled at the top of his lungs. He reached up, placing his head in his hands, shackled together with iron chains.

What had he done?

A rat scurried over to him and without looking he kicked it away, standing from the dirt floor.

Keesha asked him not to go...why didn't he listen?

Jax looked around suddenly. Once again the low whistle came. He moved slowly, the shackles on his feet making it impossible to quicken the pace. He got over to the small window, stepping over the other man sleeping on the floor.

"You look horrendous."

Light entered Jax's eyes once more at the sound of his big brother's voice. "Jer."

Jerry closed his eyes. Jax used to call him that all the time when they were growing up. "Jules is with Keesha." he opened his eyes, clearing his throat. He continued to stare through the bars of the window, only able to see from Jax's thick blond hair to his deep blue eyes. Everything else was hidden by shadows.

"How are they?" Jax's voice brought Jerry back to reality.

"Jules does not know about you. Keesha on the other hand is in an absoulte panic. Though she calmed considerably when Jules was in the room."

"Tell her I'm sorry."

"You can tell her that yourself. She will be here tomorrow, to make sure Jules stays with her, until you get out."

"What if I do not get out?"

"You will get out...this entire town despises Garcia...this is a set back, but you will get out. And Keesha will care for Jules until then-when you may care for both of them once more."

"It is not that simple and you well know it!" Jax snapped.

"QUIET IN THERE!" a guard yelled.

Jax winced at the sound of pounding against the metal bars of the cell. He stepped away from the window so as to not attract attention.

"I am not supposed to be here." he heard Jerry speak. I must go. You take care...all right?"

Jax's eyes actually teared as Jerry's voice broke. He stood tip toe, watching as best he could as Jerry hopped up from the gutter of the sidewalk, back onto the main street. He walked away.

Agnes and Maggie waited with Jules in the carriage as one of the guards Jerry had provided led Keesha out. She stared up at the giant courthouse, having to fight the urge to run inside, not stopping until she found Jax. She turned at the light touch on her shoulder. "Good, your bruises are covered." Jerry whispered.

"Why is that important? I will stand nude and show the entire town what Garcia did to me, if it will be a way to get Jax home..."

"Do not mention the bruises." Jerry led Keesha toward the courthouse.

"Why not?"

"Because Garcia will insist Jax gave them to you."

Keesha froze. "But he did not!"

"Of course, but...it will be Garcia's word, versus ours. And in this case I hate to say, his word will have more validity."

"What?"

"Keesha, please." Jerry placed his hand on her back, leading her to the courthouse once more.

When Keesha and Jerry walked inside, Jax's attorney was already seated. "Where's Jax?"

"Not here."

"Why not?" Keesha asked Jerry. "I need to see him..."

"Because he cannot be here...according to our system he does not have to be here except for any day he is scheduled to speak. Otherwise he remains in the cell unless for some reason the magistrate allows him to come."

"Then after this, take me there."

"No one is allowed there."

Keesha was about ready to protest, but suddenly a gavel was struck loudly. She looked up, seeing the man sitting high above the rest of the courtroom. "Bring him in!"

Jerry's eyes grew and Keesha looked over to where Jerry stared.

Her heart shattered as Jax was led slowly in. His clothes were dirty from the cell, his head was bowed, his hair hanging down over his eyes. Then with a clearing of his throat, he looked up, locking eyes with the magistrate and walking confidently the rest of the way to his attorney.

People were talking but neither of them listened. Keesha had to physically bite her lip to keep from calling his name. Underneath his table, beyond her view, Jax shifted his foot nervously, fighting the urge to turn and look at her.

Jerry led Keesha to the front bench behind Jax's table.

Jax closed his eyes, the scent of Keesha's perfume washing over him as she slowly sat directly behind him. He pushed his chair closer to her, leaning it back onto its hind legs. Keesha leaned forward slowly and soon they were close enough that Jax could faintly hear the sounds of her breathing.

"Where is the boy?!" the magistrate yelled.

"Go on," Jerry ordered.

Keesha blinked, standing. "He is with me," she answered confidently.

"And you are?"

"J...Lord Jasper Jacks' wife."

"Where are you from?"

"Pennsylvania, in America."

"Really?"

Jax could tell by the magistrates' change in tone that he was impressed.

"Why is Jules with her when he should be with his father!" Garcia's solicitor yelled. Keesha looked over; Garcia was watching quietly.

"Jules wants to be with me. He really ought to be with my lord. He raised him."

"He refused to give him back..."

"After five years!" Jerry yelled.

"QUIET!" the magistrate ordered.

"Lady Jacks does not know what she is saying. You realize that she will do whatever her husband says. She is afraid of him..."

"I am certainly not afraid of him!...He would never..."

"QUIET...I hear you were injured."

Jax turned, looking directly at Jerry.

How did he know?

Jerry returned Jax's stare. After a moment, Jax started to look away-his gaze focused on Keesha's hand, her wedding band shining brightly. And finally he looked up, his eyes locking with her. He smiled at her sadly and then turned away, swallowing so his eyes wouldn't tear.

Keesha took a deep breath.

"Come forward!"

Keesha blinked, realizing the magistrate was talking to her. She moved away from the bench, walking over and standing right next to Jax. She could hear Jax's foot as it tapped against the floor.

"Closer."

Keesha came closer.

"Are you injured? And do not lie, because I will have you searched if need be. Senor Garcia claims he saw you injured."

Because of Jerry's warning, Keesha was utterly confused as to how to answer-she opened her mouth but then the magistrate added. "You in the green, come forth!"

Keesha turned, watching as a spectator stood. "Your services are required. Lady Jacks...go into my chamber, and disrobe."

The court room gasped, once again Jax looked at Jerry.

"She has marks all over her back, and some on her arms."

Garcia smirked.

"She says however that the bruises on her arm show that Lord Jacks did not harm her."

"How?" the magistrate's interest was peaked.

"She says that Lord Jacks' hands would have made bigger marks, because of their size. She is still in the chamber, her arms are free...and she wants a chance to prove this."

The magistrate smiled. "You chose a rather interesting bride," he noted to Jax. "I see no reason why not. Come forward and let us see if your hands match her bruises." The thought had never occurred to him, yet he had to admit there was so much sense to it.

"She also wants Garcia to come forward."

"I refuse...."

"Why? Is there something you are hiding? Come over! Now!"

Keesha looked up as the door opened.

"You first."

Jax walked over to Keesha quietly, amazed at her determination.

"Go on."

Slowly Jax reached up, wrapping one of his shackeled hands on Keesha's arm. They stared at each other, waiting as the magistrate walked over.

"Now you!" he barked to Garcia.

Jax withdrew his hand, about ready to walk away. He continued gazing into Keesha's eyes.

The sound of Jax's shackles rattling, intensified as Keesha's eyes closed. He touched her cheek softly, but then he was pulled away.

Keesha's eyes shot open as Garcia wrapped his arm tightly around her arm.

"Let go...." Jax ordered as Garcia squeezed against her bruises.

"You have some explaining..." the magistrate pulled Garcia away. Exactly where her brusies were, Keesha's skin was temporarily lightened from Garcia's new fingerprints-matching perfectly.

"Oh," he growled. "Did I hurt you?"

Keesha glared at him. "Yesterday was much worse. Would you care to see the bruises on my back yourself..." She turned to the magistrate. "I will show you if you wish."

"That will not be necessary. I can see why Lord Jacks wanted to kill him."

"This is not why we're here!"

"This came to my attention because of you..."

"This is about him and his temper! Or are you going to wait until he pushes both her and Jules off a cliff like he did his fiancee!"

Jax closed his eyes, wincing as the words were said out loud.

"There is no proof of that." The magistrate looked at Keesha. "You will keep Jules," he ordered to Keesha. "Take them both away."

Jax leaned up against the wall of his cell. At least Garcia was locked up as well. Too bad in a seperate cell...

Jerry was right, now that his reason was clear, Jax would probably be out soon. His attorney had said it was simply a matter of him protecting his "property."

As if what Keesha was to him could be wrapped up into one neat, though wrongly used, word.

Keesha had come through, protecting him and taking care of him virtually since the day they met.

She had married him-giving him a mother for Jules.

She had taken care of him when Garcia attacked him.

Her quick thinking had managed to get Garcia locked away-and it was going to bring Jax home.

And most of all, she saved him from living a life never knowing what it was like to love.

But now she knew about his fiancee.

Who knew if she would ever let him near her again...

Jax looked over at the low whistle. He walked over to the window. "Yes Jerry?" he mumbled.

"You have a visitor."

Jax stood, his eyes growing as Keesha bent down slowly.

Keesha placed her hands on the bars. Jax stood tiptoe once more, reaching up. His hands touched hers and she closed her eyes.

"Are you all right?"

"Please, Keesha..."

"You were engaged?"

"Yes."

"You loved her?" she found herself hoping. There was no way Jax could have hurt someone he loved.

"No. Our parents had arranged it."

"And she is dead?"

"Yes but..."

"Off a cliff...you were not there...correct?" Her voice pleaded. He had to disagree with Garcia about something. Something about what Garcia said had to be wrong...

Jax was silent. Then finally he said, "I was there."

"Jax..."

"I was there, and we will not discuss it further."

Keesha slowly drew her hands away from Jax. "I need to get Jules back home."

"Keesha...please."

"I have to get Jules back..." Her eyes teared and she stood.

Keesha stepped up onto the sidewalk, leaving Jax as he called her name.

"Are you a complete idiot!" Jerry yelled, turning back and glaring at his brother.