The Proposal: Chapter 18

By the time Jax came out of the bath for a second time, Keesha was already out of bed, almost dressed herself.

"Good...how much more time do you require?"

"Actually, I believe I would like to go home."

"Home?" Jax furrowed his brow, confused. "Whatever for?"

"My dream...it bothers me still, and I just...I would rather be at home, where I can see Jules. I would also prefer if you came..."

"Keesha..."

"...however..." she continued. "I know that you will not. I may get back on my own, I don't believe this change need delay you any further."

Jax continued to stare at Keesha, debating. Debating on whether to ask her what more was bothering her now, or later. Deciding later would be the better time, he smiled at her warmly. "A woman is always switching her mind."

Keesha arched her eyebrow. "At least a woman always thinks before acting unlike you men who never think past the immediate moment."

Jax had to laugh. "Come. I will walk you downstairs and see you off."

Jax could see Adrian looking for him. He wouldn't be found; Jax was an expert at hiding when needed. Now that Jax had laid down the law on what Adrian could and would not discuss with Keesha, Jax planned to continue this exploration into Garcia's past with Adrian's help. Adrian would be the most useful. Adrian knew people Jax would never be able to get to speak honestly.

Adrian looked back at the bush; Jax was well hidden. He couldn't see him and he knew Jax was there. Jax would never be found if no one was looking. He reached up, knocking on the small door.

"Adrian? Is that you?"

"Anna." Adrian smiled at Victoria's mother. "It has been much too long."

Jax watched as Adrian walked into the home. The door shut, and Jax knew there was nothing left to do but wait.

"Where is Jax?" Jules asked Keesha as they pulled away from their hug.

"He is still away. I am sure he will be back soon however. Maybe as early as tomorrow."

"He is not the only one schedualed back tomorrow." Jerry mumbled. Keesha looked over at him.

"Garcia?"

"He is to be released tomorrow afternoon." Jerry sighed. "How close is Jax?"

Keesha, Jerry, and Jules began their walk to the front door. "I am not sure. We did not discuss what he had thus far. I *am* sure however, that we will not have Garcia to worry about much longer."

"You have a lot of faith in your husband I see." Jerry smiled.

Keesha did not answer. She watched Jules and Jerry go inside, sighing deeply as she knew her plan now had to be rushed.

Adrian's carriage stopped. The door opened and Jax stepped in.

"The woman was ready to pour her heart out to me, once I promised that Victoria would be taken care of. We need her here."

"Done."

Adrian finally looked over at Jax. The carriage pulled off. "You will get her here?"

"I will get her here." Jax reiterated. "No harm will come to her or their child."

Adrian nodded slowly. Victoria would be safe. And that was all he cared about. "You give me your word?"

"Why is she so important to you?" Jax inquired.

"You do not wish to talk about your love, we will not discuss mine."

"Your love? You never mentioned..."

Adrian sighed. "There is something I have never told you. What Garcia did to Adrianne, he had also done to Victoria. Long before Adrianne. The difference was, she was with child when he left her. As with your cousin..."

"Jasmine." Jax mumbled.

"Jasmine." Adrian nodded. "As I told your lady, everything Garcia has he destroys. Victoria was destroyed when I met her. She refused to allow me to get very close, though she would tell me she loved me. I did not know why she kept me at bay until today, when Anna told me all. However, Victoria obviously is the one that Garcia has the hardest time letting go of...she is the one he chose. And she beleived that she had a duty to marry him, because he was the father of her child."

"Unborn child...Adrian...the child was not born...correct?"

"She had him. He is in an orphanage in America." Adrian whispered. "That is neither here nor there." he cleared this throat. "Anna wants Victoria away from Garcia and back at home. And you will bring her back here. I have proof of the child, but I will not give it to you until Victoria is here. After that, you should have enough, with the threat of telling everyone there is a child out in America, fathered by Garcia, that he just threw away. Garcia's image is very important to him, and he will let you and Jules alone. If anything happens to Jules, Keesha, Jerry or yourself, I will make it known to Garcia, that I will make good with the proof of his indiscretions. And with proof of what he did to Victoria, people will finally beleive what he did to Jasmine...and Adrianne's name will be vindicated with God. However, you must get Victoria back here. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"He is due today?" Jax whispered to Jerry outside his manor. It was early morning, still pitch dark outside.

"Yes. So I will go and get the woman now. You stay here with your family. And I will deliver Victoria to Adrian personally."

"Now."

"Yes, now." Jerry climbed into the carriage Jax had just exited. He saluted Jax and was off.

Jax walked into his manor, taking a candle and lighting it. He carried it with him slowly up the stairs. He walked down the hall, carefully opening the door to Jules' room, holding up the candle so the light flickered off of Jules' peaceful face.

Jax leaned up against the doorway, breathing a sigh of relief. Since Garcia had wrote that letter, telling Jax he planned to take Jules away, Jax had never had a peaceful night's sleep. And for the first time tonight, he would.

It was over.

This was truely over. And now Jax could give Jules and Keesha...and himself, the life they deserved. Garcia would never be an issue again.

Jax opened the door to his chamber. His bed was made, Keesha was not in it. Faintly he heard sounds coming from the bath. He closed his door, walking over to the adjoining one. "Keesha?" he called as he knocked gently.

Keesha continued pacing the bath. She looked down at her hands, they were still shaking...after all this time...

Her hands were still shaking, her heart was still racing, her breathing, still laboured.

"Keesha?"

And everywhere she turned, all she could see was red...the way Garcia's blood had flowed onto the grounds of his cell.

"Keesha!"

Keesha kept pacing, not even noticing as Jax finally opened the door. "Keesha..." Jax touched her and she jumped back, gasping. Jax blinked, shocked at her apperance. She was obviously fresh from being bathed, her hair and body were still wet, her gown clinging to her body from the moistness. But her skin was ashen and her body shook in fear. "Keesha..."

Keesha stared at Jax, frozen. Suddenly she took a sharp breath...and the room began to spin...

"Keesha!" Jax called, catching her as she fainted. "Keesha!" he picked her up, craddeling her limp body to his chest as he ran to the stairs.

"MARGARET!!!" he called loudly.

"Jax..."

"Go back inside!" Jax snapped at Jules and Jules ran into his room, shutting the door.

"MARGARET!!" Jax called, carrying Keesha down the stairs.

"Yes my...oh..."

"Get the doctor here! Now!" Jax ordered, carrying Keesha into the study. He rested her gently on the sofa. "Keesha..." he whispered, touching her cheek softly.