A Lost Scene from "A Family Way"
By Steph ([email protected])
Summary: This takes place at the end of the episode when Jack is at the soccer field alone
Author's Note: Thanks to Jamie and Roxy, my two excellent beta readers. And, thanks to Angie, for being my sounding board and Bitter Club partner-in-crime.
Jen walked onto the soccer field and saw Jack sitting near the goal, his head hanging low.
"Hey, Jackie Brown. What's shakin'?" She plopped down on the grass next to him.
"I don't want to talk about it, okay." Jack got up and began kicking the soccer ball toward midfield. "How did you know I was here anyway?"
"Andie called and told me to get my best-friend butt down here right away." Jen still wasn't quite sure what was wrong. Andie had been very cryptic on the phone. "She threatened to buy me more college application books if I didn't."
Jack let out a small laugh. Finally, Jen knew she was getting somewhere.
"So, Jack, you gonna tell me what happened?" Jen was geniunely concerned; Jack looked so defeated.
"Why does everything have to be so hard, Jen?" He turned around to face her. The dried tear marks gave betrayed his stoic demeanor.
Jen walked over and put her arms around him. It was all he needed to let go. Jen held him until the crying subsided.
"Just when I think things are getting easier, the small-minded bigots of Capeside remind me that they aren't."
"Since when do you care what people think, Jack?"
"Since it affects these kids and their soccer team, Jen! Some of the kids can't play because their parents think I'm dangerous."
Jack walked over to the bleachers and sat down. Jen joined him.
"Jen, they act like I'm a pedophile or something, like I'm going to steal their children away into the woods."
"But, Jack, we know that's not true. We all know how good of a person you are. And, the other parents will know it too."
"I wish it was that easy. You know, if I was straight, none of this would be happening." Jack put his head in his hands.
"Hey, look at me. Don't you doubt who you are because of some conservative, middle-aged yuppies who wouldn't know an open-minded thought if it ran them down in the street." Jen wasn't going to allow Jack to take any steps back, not when he had made it this far.
"You have taken an interest in these children, and you are teaching them a lot. That's a wonderful thing, and don't you forget it."
Jack looked at Jen and slowly smiled. He rose to his feet and pulled her up into a hug.
"Thanks, Jen. This isn't easy. I'm glad you're here."
They began to walk back toward the parking lot arm in arm. Jack stopped when they reached their cars.
"How did I end up with a wonderful friend like you, Lindley?"
Jen smiled and started to get into Grams' car. Jack got into the Saab and rolled the window down.
"Didn't you know? Andie gives me a $100 a week. Gonna have to re-negotiate my fee soon because, to be honest, you're a pain."
Jack laughed and started the car. "Go home, funny girl. I'll see you tomorrow."
They both drove off smiling to themselves, knowing that they were two of the luckiest people in the world because they had each other.
The End