Chapter 4

Jack and Audrey sat anxiously on the patio awaiting Jim’s return with Jacqueline. Audrey took a bite of cantaloupe and smiled.

“I can’t believe how good this tastes!” she exclaimed. “I’ve forgotten what it’s like to eat real food.” She paused while she finished the bite. “You know, you still haven’t told me how we both ended up in Malibu.”

“How many hours do you have? It’s a long story, honey. I’m serious; I probably need a couple of hours at least to tell you everything. Suffice it to say, that the US government secured my release from the Chinese in order to use me in a suicide mission that backfired. I managed to escape with my life. In the meantime, Cheng tried to use you to get to me. CTU had secured a component from Russia that holds the codes to their nuclear arsenal. Cheng offered to return you in exchange for the component. It wasn’t pretty, but in the end, I got you back and the component was lost at sea. Someday I’ll tell you the unabridged version.”

“Were we at CTU at some point?”

“Yeah, you were treated in medical at CTU before your father came and brought you home.”

“That explains it.”

“Explains what?” Jack asked.

“I thought I was remembering a dream, but I guess it was at least partially real. I remember being at CTU with you, but the rest isn’t quite clear. It seems like someone was chasing us. I just remember being scared and huddling in a corner.”

Jack nodded. “That was all real, sweetheart. I took you out of medical because I didn’t like the way the doctor wanted to interrogate you. We were hiding in a storage room while I tried to make you remember anything that could lead us to Cheng. Eventually they found us and took you back to medical.” And the reason we were hiding was that your father had a restraining order keeping me away from you, he thought but Audrey didn’t question why they were hiding so Jack thought it best not to elaborate.

“I wonder how Jacqueline is going to react to me,” Audrey pondered aloud as she dipped a spoon into the bowl of yogurt.

“Give her time and give her some space, honey. I know that all you want to do to hold her, that’s how I felt when I first met her. I wanted to hold her and kiss her and tell her how much I loved her, but I knew that if I did, I would just scare her. She’ll come to you when she’s ready; just make sure she knows that you’re always there for her.”

“I guess,” Audrey agreed uncertainly. “I’m just so afraid that she won’t remember me and won’t love me.”

“It may take time, but she’ll come around. Don’t worry. Just let it happen on Jackie’s time table and everything will be fine.” Jack finished the sentence just as Jim returned with Jacqueline.

“Look who I’ve got here,” Jim said as he stepped out onto the patio. Jacqueline was perched on his left hip. Her head rested on his shoulder. Jack immediately took note that she had her stuffed koala tucked tightly under her arm. He had come to realize over the last couple of days that the koala only appeared at nap and bedtime or when Jacqueline was feeling insecure. During his first day with her, the koala was in her arms constantly and if not in her arms, was where she could easily reach him. She had only agreed to let go of him during dinner if he got to “sit” in the seat next to her at the table. Over the next two days the koala was present less and less until this morning when she hadn’t even bothered to take him from the bed when she got up. Now, with the prospect of reuniting with a mother that she didn’t remember, her insecurities were back and the koala was once again nearby.

“Hey, sleepyhead,” Jack smiled. “Did you have a good nap?”

Jacqueline nodded the affirmative but said nothing. She eyed Audrey warily as she had Jack when they first met.

Audrey stood slowly and took a step toward her daughter. “Hi, Jacqueline. It’s Mommy. Do you remember me?”

Again Jacqueline nodded but she looked away.

“I’m home, honey,” Audrey told her. “I missed you so much and I’m so happy to be home. I love you, Jacqueline.”

Jacqueline said nothing but tightened her grip on her grandfather.

“Why don’t we go sit down,” he suggested softly to her. “We’ll sit right over here.” Jim chose the chair across from Audrey. It gave Jacqueline a good view but kept some distance between them. “There,” he said as he sat down. “That’s better. You’re getting so big that I can’t stand up and hold you for a long time anymore.”

The three adults continued to make small talk to allow Jacqueline time to warm up to the situation. After a few minutes she lifted her head from Jim’s shoulder and sat up taller. And, although she still wasn’t talking to Audrey, she seemed less hesitant when looking in her direction.

“Pop-pop,” Jacqueline said softly as she leaned toward her grandfather’s ear. “Can we go play at the beach?”

“Sure we can,” Jim answered. “I bet that Mommy and Daddy would like to go to the beach, too.”

“Daddy,” Jacqueline said looking Jack’s way but carefully avoiding Audrey’s gaze. “Will you help me build a sandcastle?”

“That sounds fun. Let’s wait until Mommy finishes her lunch and then we’ll all go to the beach.”

“Okay,” Jacqueline agreed. She slipped off of Jim’s lap and wandered to the edge of the patio to play with some of her toys. She left the koala with Jim.

It’s a start, Jack thought. He finished his iced tea. “Anyone else need a refill?” he asked as he picked up his glass and stood.

“Yes. Thanks, Jack,” Audrey said handing him her glass.

“Daddy, can I have some milk?” Jacqueline called from where she was playing.

“You sure can, sweetheart, but my hands are all full. You’ll have to help me.”

“Okay. I like to help!” she said eagerly as she jumped up to follow her father.

They went into the kitchen where Jack took just a few seconds to refill the two iced tea glasses. He then filled Jacqueline’s cup and covered it with a plastic lid. She reached for the cup but Jack held it just out of her reach. “Remember yesterday when you carried my glass out to the patio for me? How about if I carry your cup and you carry the big glass for Mommy? I bet she’ll be surprised by what a big girl you are now.”

Jacqueline’s eyes lit up. “I won’t spill it, Daddy,” she promised him. “I’ll be really, really careful.”

“I know you can do it. Let’s show Mommy.”

Jacqueline took the glass carefully from Jack. She walked slowly taking tiny steps and watching the glass the entire time. Behind her, Jack watched his daughter proudly. He hoped that this simple act of delivering a glass of iced tea to Audrey would give Jacqueline a chance to begin warming up to her.

Jacqueline stepped out onto the patio and walked straight for Audrey’s chair. “Mommy, here’s your tea,” she said in a little sing-song voice.

“You carried that all by yourself!” Audrey exclaimed as Jacqueline handed her the glass. “You did such a good job! Mommy’s so proud of you.”

Jack saw Audrey begin to lean forward as if planning to give her daughter a kiss but she thought better of it and simply ruffled the little girl’s hair. Jacqueline stood an arm’s length from her mother obviously proud of her achievement and pleased that she had made her mother happy. She watched as Audrey continued to eat her lunch.

“Mommy,” Jacqueline said tentatively. “Do you like strawberries?” She was eying up a fat, red strawberry that sat near the edge of Audrey’s plate.

Audrey nodded. “I like strawberries. Do you like strawberries?”

Jacqueline’s head bobbed up and down. “I like them, too. That one looks really good,” she said pointing at the fat berry.

Jack turned his head to stifle a laugh and saw that Jim was doing the same. Over the past few days Jack found his daughter’s coyness to be amusing and endearing, but this particular moment was beyond precious.

“Would you like that strawberry?” Audrey asked.

“Yes, please,” she answered politely.

Audrey took the strawberry from the plate and handed it to her daughter. “There you go.” Jacqueline plucked it from Audrey’s hand. She then backed off quickly and ran to Jack to show him. “Daddy! Mommy gave me a strawberry!”

“I see that,” he said with a smile. “It looks like a sweet strawberry doesn’t it. Why don’t you try it?”

Jacqueline giggled as she ate the strawberry and tossed quick glances in Audrey’s direction. Having finished, the little girl grabbed Jack’s hand and pulled him toward the house. “Let’s get ready to go to the beach.”

It didn’t take long for the pair to return to the patio dressed in bathing suits and armed with a mesh bag of sand toys ready for their afternoon in the water. “Pop-pop, are you coming?” Jacqueline asked impatiently as she ran toward the stairs to the beach.

“I’m coming, honey. Give me a second,” Jim said as he stood. “Don’t go down the stairs without a grown up, Jackie,” he reminded her.

Jacqueline stopped short of the top step and looked back. “Mommy, are you coming?”

Jack could hear the hesitation in Audrey’s voice. “I… I’ll be… I’ll be right there,” she stuttered.

“Jim, why don’t you take Jackie to the beach and we’ll be down in a few minutes,” Jack suggested.

Jim looked back and forth between Jack and Audrey. Jack could see a look of concern come over his face. “Is there anything I can do, sweetheart?” he quietly asked his daughter.

“No, I’ll be alright,” she whispered nervously without looking at him.

“It’s okay, Audrey. Take your time. I’ll play with Jacqueline,” Jim squeezed Audrey’s shoulder before taking Jacqueline’s hand and leading her down the steps.

Jim and Jacqueline were out of earshot before either Jack or Audrey spoke. “I’m…I’m… I’m sorry, Jack. I can’t do it. I can’t. I can’t walk down those steps. I’m okay on the patio and I don’t understand it, but I can’t go down to the beach. It’s too… It’s so… I don’t know how to explain it,” she gasped between quiet sobs.

Jack pulled her shaking body into his arms. “You’re not used to open spaces yet. You got used to being confined in small, dim spaces and this is an adjustment for you, honey. It’s okay. I understand. You don’t have to go to the beach.”

“But I’m letting Jacqueline down. How will she ever learn to love me and trust me if I can’t even go to the beach with her? From her point of view, I abandoned her months ago. If I can’t do things now to regain her trust, what will we build a relationship on?”

“Hold on, sweetheart! You’re getting ahead of yourself. You have plenty of time and plenty of opportunities to build a relationship with Jackie. Right now you have to take care of yourself. We’ll just sit here on the patio for a while. If you eventually want to try going down to the beach, I’ll be here for you. If not, then we’ll just stay here.”

Audrey shook her head. “No, Jacqueline is waiting for you at the beach. You go. I’ll be fine here.”

“Are you sure?” Jack asked as he kissed her forehead.

“Very sure. If I sit on the chaise over there I can watch you while you play with her. I’m so happy to see the two of you together. It was all I could think about when I went to China. I just wanted you to be a part of Jacqueline’s life. I didn’t mean for it to end up the way it did, but I’d do it again if that was what it took to bring you home and to see you two together.”

“Audrey, what you did was incredibly brave and I can’t thank you enough for it, but I don’t ever want you to risk your life for me again. I hope that it never comes to that, but if it does, forget about me and make sure that you and Jackie are safe. Don’t ever leave her again for my sake. This time your father was there to take care of her, but next time he might not be. And even if he is, she needs a mother. Your dad did a wonderful job with her for the last few months and I know how much he loves her, but she needs you.”

“You’re scaring me, Jack. Is something going on that I should know about?”

“No, absolutely nothing. I’m not in any danger and neither are you. I’m not going back to CTU. I’m going to try and correct the mess my father made at BXJ. That might not be an easy job, but it should be a safe one,” Jack smiled wryly.

Audrey nodded. “I know what you mean. I feel the same way. Jacqueline has to be our highest priority. If it ever comes down to saving me or taking care of Jacqueline, I want you to take care of her.”

“Let’s hope neither of us ever has to make that choice again,” Jack said again pulling

Audrey close in his arms and enjoying the feeling.

Audrey kissed his cheek. “Now you need to go down to the beach and play with our daughter.”

Jack couldn’t help allowing a big smile to spread over his face. “I love to hear you call her ‘our daughter’. I’m so proud of her, Audrey. And I love you both so much.”

“I love you, too, Jack,” Audrey told him as she again kissed his cheek.

Jack headed down to the beach to join Jacqueline and Jim. He looked back a couple of times to check on Audrey. Each time she waved to let him know that she was fine. His fears finally allayed, he trotted barefoot across the sand toward Jacqueline. The little girls squealed and giggled as Jack ran to the water’s edge, scooped her up and continued to run headlong into the waves. They came up wet and laughing.

“Do it again, Daddy! Do it again!” Jacqueline cried.

Jack continued to roughhouse with his daughter fully absorbed in their playtime while Jim took the opportunity to rest on a large beach blanket. It was probably at least 15 or 20 minutes later when Jack glanced back up at the patio. At first he didn’t see Audrey and could immediately feel an undercurrent of worry begin to creep into his mind. He wondered if he should have left her alone. The worry was replaced almost as quickly as it had appeared as he scanned the patio and saw Audrey about a third of the way down the steps to the beach. She had stopped and was sitting on a step. He was about to wave but stopped himself short not knowing if it would encourage her or put too much pressure on her to continue. Not sure which course of action was correct, he decided not to wave and to see how she did on her own.

Every few minutes Jack glanced at the stairs to monitor Audrey’s progress. It took her the next half hour to descend completely from patio to beach. Jack finally waved to let her know that he had seen her. Audrey smiled and returned the wave. Jack could tell that she was pleased with herself. To anyone else it would have seemed an unimportant act, but Jack knew that to Audrey, it was monumental.

Once on the beach, Audrey kicked off her shoes and stood for a long time curling her toes in the warm sand. She finally took a few tentative steps forward before really gaining confidence and walking purposefully to the blanket where her father sat engrossed in a book. It wasn’t until she sat down next to him that he realized that she was there. Jack watched Jim smile happily and pull his daughter into a bear hug. Jack knew that Jim understood the significance of Audrey walking down to the beach on her own. She wanted her old life back and she was fighting to overcome her fears and make that happen. They – Jack and Audrey – were really far more alike than they were different. Most people who knew them wouldn’t have agreed with that, but Jack had always known that it was true. Put in the same situation in China, they handled it a little bit differently, mostly because Jack had been trained to handle it and Audrey hadn’t, but in the end, they were approaching freedom in the same way. They were pushing the past behind them and reaching for a future that focused on family. Jack tossed Jacqueline into the air and caught her. Audrey sat watching and laughing and no sight could have made Jack happier.

The family enjoyed the rest of the afternoon on the beach. Jacqueline eventually tired of the water and wanted to build a sandcastle. Jack was hopeful that she would let Audrey help with that activity as she had let him a few days earlier, but the little girl seemed more reluctant to include her mother. She did let Audrey add to the periphery of the castle but she huddled close to Jim and Jack and continued to shy away from Audrey.

The afternoon was so perfect that they all hated to leave the beach. Around 6:30 they finally went back to the house for dinner but Jack, Audrey and Jacqueline decided to return to the beach to enjoy the evening. Jack and Audrey strolled hand in hand along the edge of the surf while Jacqueline ran a few steps in front of them skipping and splashing and occasionally stopping to pick up a shell or a stone.

For Jack, who had probably taken hundreds, if not thousands, of walks on the beach in his life, this one seemed to be the most amazing. Less than 12 hours earlier he stood on the patio drinking coffee with Jim worried about what would happen when Audrey awoke. Now here they were together, on the beach, with their child. He understood clearly that they had a long way to go before life was “normal” but they were on the right path.

“I see a big shell!” Jacqueline cried and took off running.

Her little voice brought Jack back into the moment. “Don’t get too far away from us, Jackie,” he called to her.

She stopped and looked back. “Come on!” She motioned them impatiently as she continued to run a few more steps and then drop in the sand. “Look what I found!” Jacqueline pulled the shell from the sand and rinsed it in the water to clean it off. “Look how big it is!” she said as she examined it.

Although not a huge shell by any means, it was a little bigger than most that she found on this stretch of beach. “It’s so pink inside,” she said as she carefully ran her finger along the smooth inner surface. “Look, Mommy. Look how pretty it is.” Jacqueline stood back up, ran to Audrey and handed her the shell.

Jack could see that Audrey’s eyes were filling with tears. “It’s beautiful, Jacqueline,” she said as she knelt in the sand next to her daughter. The two looked at each other for a long moment before Audrey enveloped her nearly three year old daughter in her arms and kissed her. Jack could tell that she didn’t want to let go, but was forced to as Jacqueline squirmed from her arms.

“I’ll look for more shells,” she announced as she darted off down the beach.

“Hold it, munchkin,” Jack called after her. “Let’s turn around and head back home.”

Jacqueline looked back and pouted. “I got all those shells already!” she reminded him.

“There might be a few that you missed. Let’s look for those on our way home.”

“I don’t want to go home,” Jacqueline stomped her foot into the wet sand, turned away from her parents and took several large steps down the beach before looking back defiantly to see what they were going to do.

Jack could tell that this disagreement with his strong willed daughter had the potential to turn into a real argument. That was something he didn’t want to have happen when things were starting to go so well between Audrey and Jacqueline. He decided that rather than argue with a child who was used to getting her own way and who had inherited his own stubborn streak, he would turn it into a game.

“Okay,” Jack said shrugging his shoulders. “I guess if you aren’t going to come on your own, I’m going to have to come and get you!”

He started running toward her, causing Jacqueline to shriek with delight and begin running as well. Jack, of course, covered the distance much quicker. He caught Jacqueline from behind sweeping her off of her feet and lifting her high into the air. She laughed uncontrollably as Jack wrapped an arm around her midsection, tucked her under his arm and carried her along the beach.

“Put me down,” Jacqueline begged between peals of laughter. “Daddy! Put me down!”

Jack eventually relented and set her down on the sand. Jacqueline was breathless from laughing which gave Jack a chance to take her left hand and Audrey her right before the little girl could protest. She gave in without a fight and skipped happily along the beach between her parents for the first time in her life.

By the time they arrived back at Jim’s house, it was time for Jacqueline to get ready for bed. After only three days, the bedtime ritual had already become an important part of Jack’s life, much like it had been when Kim was the same age. Jack liked this time of day. He liked giving Jacqueline her bath and reading bedtime stories. He liked snuggling quietly with her before kissing her goodnight and putting her in bed. Jack hoped that Jacqueline would allow Audrey to play some part in the ritual, but found that, like the night she first met him, Jacqueline would only agree to Audrey reading her one story and giving her a goodnight kiss. Jim then tucked her into bed and headed out onto the patio where Jack and Audrey were enjoying the late evening breeze.

“Did she give you any problems, Dad?” Audrey asked.

Jim shook his head. “Nothing unusual. She had to make one more pit stop in the bathroom and then she needed a drink of water. I had to rearrange her stuffed animals so they were in the right order, which, of course, was a different order than last night, but all in all, she went down without a fight. She’s tired tonight. She had an eventful day,” he smiled as he took Audrey’s hand and squeezed it.

“You’ve done an incredible job of taking care of Jacqueline, Dad. I can’t ever thank you enough,” Audrey said giving him a hug. “Now, if you two don’t mind, I’m kind of tired myself. It’s been an eventful day for me, too. I’m going to get ready for bed.”

“Sleep well,” Jim said as he hugged her one more time. “It’s so good to have you home, sweetheart.”

Jack hugged and kissed her as well. “Good night, honey. I’ll see you in the morning.”

Audrey went inside leaving Jack and Jim on the patio alone.

“I’m going inside for a drink. Would you like to join me?” Jim asked.

Jack nodded. “Sounds good,” Jack said as he followed his onetime mentor. “It’s starting to get a little windy out here.”

“Looks like a storm’s blowing up,” Jim agreed as he pointed to clouds rolling in at a distance. “I didn’t think a storm was forecast, but those are storm clouds.”

Jim made two martinis and the two sat in the den and drank in comfortable silence. Jack called Kim to say see how her day had been and arrange to meet later in the week. She was happy to hear that Audrey was doing well and was looking forward to seeing Audrey when she came over for her promised “play date” with Jacqueline.

Jack went to bed that night happy that his life was where he wanted it to be. He would get in touch with Nadia at CTU the next day. He had spoken with her briefly after Bill delivered the Vice President’s pardon and she had offered psychologists and counselors for both Jack and Audrey that were specially trained to work with former hostages. He wanted to get help for the two of them as soon as possible. The sooner they could put their individual lives together, the sooner they would be able to resume their relationship.

Jack awoke a few hours later to a loud crack of thunder. He instinctively moved to the center of the bed, pulled his arms and legs in close and took up a defensive position. It took him several seconds to remember where he was and that he was safe. This is California, he told himself. This is just a rain storm, not a monsoon. The storm will end in hours not weeks and there won’t be any rats. The thought of rats made Jack shiver involuntarily.

Although Jack was never quite sure where in China he had been held, he assumed from the pattern of monsoons in the later spring that he was in one of the southern provinces. The prison camp itself was on higher ground, but the surrounding area was low and swampy. When the monsoons came, so did the rats. Forced from their homes in lower lying areas by the flooding rivers and tributaries, the rats made their way into the prison camp. They were everywhere and managed to find their way through holes and cracks into every cell. Jack remembered being asleep and waking with a start as one of the rodents ran across his face. When food was pushed through the slot in his cell door, the rats would attack it before he could get to it. It was almost impossible to sleep during the monsoon season since the rats would crawl all over his bunk. The memories were unbearable and Jack fought to control them.

Unable to lie in bed any longer, he got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. Quietly, he tiptoed into Jacqueline’s room to check on her. He met Jim at the door.

“Storms usually wake Jacqueline up,” Jim whispered. “She’s afraid of the thunder.”

The two men entered the room and found the little girl sleeping peacefully unconcerned by the storm. She lay on her side with her face pillowed on the stomach of her stuffed koala. Jack and Jim smiled at each other as they left the room and headed back to their own. Jack was about to take his jeans off and get back into bed when he heard Audrey’s cry.

“No! Stop! Get away from me!” she screamed. “Help me, Jack! Help me! Get them off of me!”

By the time Jack ran to her bedroom, Jim was already there trying unsuccessfully to get his hysterical daughter under control. “I don’t know what happened,” he looked fearfully at Jack. “She must be having a nightmare.”

“Either a nightmare or a hallucination,” Jack explained. “It’s the storm. It reminds her of the monsoons in China.” Jack wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. “It’s okay, baby,” he cooed tenderly. “You don’t have to be afraid. There aren’t any rats here, honey. You’re safe.”

“Rats?” Jim asked quizzically. “What are you talking about?”

“Rats came out of the flooded areas during the monsoons. They were all over the cells and in her mind she’s still there and the rats are attacking her.” Jack turned his attention back to Audrey. “Sweetheart, look at me. It’s Jack. I’m here. You’re not in China and this isn’t a monsoon. There aren’t any rats. Wake up, Audrey.”

Slowly, Jack’s words sunk in and Audrey stopped fighting. She collapsed, sobbing, in his arms. “It was awful, Jack. They were everywhere. I couldn’t keep them away from me,” she wept.

By that time, the commotion had awakened Jacqueline who came into her mother’s room carrying her koala. “Pop-Pop, is Mommy afraid of the thunder, too?” she asked as she reached up to encourage her grandfather to pick her up. He did so without hesitation and kissed her cheek. Jack saw her cringe when she heard a clap of thunder.

“I think Mommy had a bad dream, honey, but she’ll be fine,” Jim assured her.

“Sometimes I have bad dreams and I cry, too,” Jacqueline said matter of factly.

“That’s right. We all have bad dreams sometimes,” Jim told her.

“I know what will help,” Jacqueline said. She wriggled out of her grandfather’s arms and down to the floor. Grabbing his hand, Jacqueline pulled Jim toward the door. “Come on, Pop-Pop.”

“Where are we going, Jackie?” he asked.

Jack watched them go wondering vaguely what Jacqueline had in mind, but more interested in trying to calm Audrey down. He sat on the bed next to her listening attentively as she told him of her experiences during the monsoon. As Jack expected, they were much like his own. She pulled her feet out from under the covers to show him the scars from several rat bites on her feet and ankles. Audrey calmed down over the next few minutes with only an occasional sob interrupting the quiet. She rested comfortably in Jack’s arms. The two looked up as Jim and Jacqueline reentered the room.

“Here, Mommy,” Jacqueline said as she approached the bed. “This will make you feel better. When I have a bad dream, Pop-Pop always gets me a drink of water.” Jacqueline handed Audrey one of her own cups with a lid on the top and a straw poking through the opening.

“Thank you, Sweetheart,” Audrey said as she took the cup. Jack noticed that her hand was shaking, but she was able to control it enough to take the cup and get a long drink from it.

“You’re right, honey,” she told Jacqueline as she gave the cup back to her daughter. “I do feel better.”

Jacqueline turned and handed the cup to her grandfather. She clearly had more planned. “After the drink of water, Pop-Pop always gives me my koala.” Jacqueline held the stuffed animal out to her mother. “Take him. He’ll make you feel better.”

“Thank you, honey, but are you sure you want to give him to me for tonight? Don’t you want him to sleep with?” Audrey asked.

“It’s okay. You can have him tonight,” Jacqueline said. Jack couldn’t help noticing that Jacqueline didn’t look nearly as sure of herself as she sounded. She eyed up the koala in her mother’s arms and hesitated for a moment. “Mommy, do you think we could share my koala tonight?”

“Share him?” Audrey asked not sure of what her daughter meant.

“Yeah,” Jacqueline said as she crawled onto the bed, slipped under the covers next to her mother, took the koala from Audrey’s arms and set it on the bed between them. “See, now we can share him.”

“That sounds like a great idea, sweetie,” Audrey said as she leaned back against Jack and smiled radiantly. They all knew at that moment that Audrey had her daughter back for good.

Jim leaned over and kissed his daughter and granddaughter. “Good night to both of you. Sleep well.”

Jack started to do the same but Audrey grabbed his hand. “Please don’t go,” she said quietly. “Please, Jack. I’m still shaking. Please stay with me.”

“I’ll be right across the hall, honey,” Jack said glancing up at Jim. He remembered his conversation with Audrey’s father earlier in the day regarding their physical relationship.

Jim shook his head. “Stay here tonight, Jack. Audrey needs you.”

Jack gave Jim a long look as if to make sure that the older man meant what he said. Jim nodded silently and left the room. Jack slipped into bed next to Audrey, sandwiching her between himself and Jacqueline who had already fallen back to sleep.

“It’s a good thing this is a big bed,” Jack said with a quiet laugh.

Audrey turned and kissed him. “I think this is the most incredible moment of my life. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier. I don’t ever want it to end, Jack. I want us to be a family. I want us to be together.”

“I’m not going anywhere Audrey. I love you and Jacqueline too much to ever leave. We’re going to make it work, Audrey. I promise.”

Audrey lay on her side with her back pressed against Jack’s front and her arm around her daughter. Jack put his arm around Audrey and kissed the back of her neck. Their struggle to become a family wasn’t over by any means, but they were well on their way. Even Jim seemed to be on board with it, no longer protesting Jack’s place in Audrey’s or Jacqueline’s life. Jack suspected that Jim suddenly felt out of place. Just a few days earlier, he had been Jacqueline’s sole caregiver. He was the focus of the child’s life and she, the focus of his. Now she had two loving parents and Jim’s role had been diminished to that of doting grandfather, but he was falling into that role well. Within a few months Jack hoped that both he and Audrey would be fully recovered. He would go to work at BXJ and they would move out of Jim’s house to one of their own. He didn’t want to move far. After all Jim had done to raise Jacqueline while he and Audrey were held captive in China, Jim deserved to be near his granddaughter. But the time would come when they needed to have their own space. And when it happened, Jack would know that he and Audrey were finally home at last.

Thanks for sticking with me for a four chapter story that seems to have taken forever to write! As you know, I love reviews. (Okay, I admit it, I’m addicted to reviews like a junkie to heroin!) If you’ve finished the story, please take a second to let me know whether or not you liked it. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate review, a few words will do! Thanks again!