Good afternoon, angels!  This continues my J&B adaptation of Mary McBride’s novel, “Just One Look.”  Previously, Jax had left Brenda when he thought the Slasher was in custody and she was safe.  After the Slasher murdered a woman who looked a lot like Brenda, Jax returned to find her safe and sound.  He promised not to leave her again as chapter 11 ended.  Enjoy! ---------------------- Jan

 

Faceoff

 

Chapter 12

 

          “Good morning!!!”

 

          Blue smiled broadly as Jax swung the door of Brenda’s brownstone open.  Steam trailed into the air from three styrofoam cups suspended in a cardboard tray she balanced in her hands.  Jax sniffed suspiciously at the brown bag surrounded by the cups and then motioned for his partner to enter the house.

 

          “What’s so good about it?”  From the tone of his voice, Blue almost expected Jax to scratch a distended beer belly and belch a loud welcome.  He closed the door behind her, methodically throwing the dead bolt and re-fastening the safety chain.

 

          “What’s NOT good about it?”  The cheery expression on Blue’s face only drew another growl from her surly partner.  “It’s not snowing or sleeting, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I get the holiday off for a change, we haven’t had any more Slasher murders lately……”

 

          “EXACTLY!!”  Jax’s frustrated exclamation made the tray of coffee cups rattle in Blue’s hands.  He jabbed a finger at her for emphasis.  “I’ve been living here with Brenda for ten days now, Blue………”  He glanced back at the kitchen to make sure his landlady wasn’t within earshot.  “Ten days of being stuck here in *Martha Stewart h*ll* with nobody else to talk to!  Ten days of just sitting and waiting for that psycho to make a move!  Ten days of eating purple lettuce and sleeping on some d*mn loveseat that was made for Munchkins!  And for WHAT??!!”  He ruffled his hair with his fingers before resting them on his hips.  “Ten days of staying here, protecting Brenda, while the Slasher is probably off somewhere cruising the Caribbean with Kathie Lee Gifford!!”

 

          Blue narrowed one eye.  “Why do I get the feeling that what *really* p*sses you off is ten NIGHTS of cold showers?”

 

          “Jax?”  Brenda’s voice echoed from the rear of the brownstone.  “Was that Blue at the front door?”

 

          “Morning, Brenda!” Blue called, eyeing Jax warily.  “We’ll be right back……”  She dropped the volume of her voice so that Brenda couldn’t hear.  “Look, if it’s really that bad, partner, let ME spend a few nights here and give you a break……”

 

          Jax rubbed his face with both hands and then propped them on his hips.  “I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.”  He looked out the door of the brownstone towards the street.  “It’s just this d*mn waiting that gets to me……”  He smiled sheepishly at Blue.  “You *know* I never was very good at stakeouts.”

 

          “Riiiight…….Mr. Patience, I remember,” Blue quipped.  “Well, just keep my offer in mind in case it all gets to you again, OK?”  She knew from the tone of Jax’s voice that the tension he was feeling was not only caused by the Slasher.  After the way he had left the station like a bat out of h*ll the night of the last murder, Blue was pretty sure that Jasper Jacks was secretly wanting to do more to Brenda Barrett’s body than guard it.

 

          As Jax passed her in the foyer to lead Blue down the hall to the kitchen, she couldn’t resist giving him a friendly pat on the rear with her free hand.  “Looks like somebody’s been so busy feeling sorry for himself that he hasn’t been doing his Buns of Steel video either, Sweet Cheeks.”

 

          Jax spun around hissing and spitting.  “Do you know what it’s like to have to just sit around and wait for some nutcase to make a move?  And all the while you’re doing it, the person you’re guarding is feeding you gourmet food?”  He snatched the tray from her and then groused, “And by the way, that’s *Lieutenant* to you, Sergeant Barr.”

 

          Blue nodded contritely.  “Whatever you say, *Lieutenant* Sweet Cheeks.”  She giggled when Jax took a long deep breath and looked like a volcano getting ready to explode.  To escape the detonation, she pushed past him and sauntered into the kitchen, where Brenda was just pouring orange juice into chilled glasses.  “Hi there, Brenda!  Wazzup?”

 

          “Not much, Blue.”  Brenda returned Blue’s smile and placed the pitcher of juice in the center of the table.  “Thanks for bringing breakfast.”

 

          “My pleasure.”  Blue winked at Jax as he set the bag of pastries in front of Brenda and then proceeded to put a cup of coffee in front of each plate.  “It was the least I could do when DD called and told me he needed his fast food fix pronto.”

 

          “I know.”  Brenda took a seat.  “I’ve been so cruel to him, forcing him to get by for the past week on Spanish omelets and homemade cheese blintzes.”

 

          Blue raised her eyebrows critically at Jax.  “Homemade cheese blintzes?  No WONDER your butt looks a little rounder than usual, partner.”

 

          “COULD WE *PLEASE* STOP DISCUSSING MY BUTT AND TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE????!!!”  The glassware rattled with the force of Jax’s exclamation and he winced an apology in Brenda’s direction.  “So……”  Jax offered Brenda the tray of pastries after snagging a cinnamon sticky bun for himself.  “What’s new down at the station?”

 

          “Not much.”  Blue took a jelly donut when Brenda passed her the plate.  “Mac had half the force out working traffic during that ice storm last week, but now that it’s melted, things have been pretty quiet.”

 

          “Has he said anything about Brenda?”  Jax sipped some coffee between bites of sticky bun.  “Or me being out for so long?”

 

          “He used your name in vain when we were short-handed during the ice storm, but other than that he’s been pretty cool.”  Blue chuckled softly.  “Actually, Felicia’s had him so traumatized over this whole Thanksgiving dinner thing that he hasn’t been paying too much attention to the crime-fighting business.”

 

          “Felicia?”  Brenda finally contributed to the conversation.

 

          Jax nodded.  “Mac’s wife.”  He genuinely smiled for the first time that morning.  “She’s apparently driving him nuts because she’s doing all the preparations for Thanksgiving dinner herself this year.”

 

          “Not only is it her first time cooking the traditional feast,” Blue added, gesturing with her donut, “but there’s lots of out-of-town company descending on the Scorpio house.”  She ticked off her fingers with her free hand.  “There’s the three kids, and Mac’s grandmother-in-law from Texas – Mariah is her name, I think, and Mac’s brother, Robert, and his wife and daughter……”

 

          Brenda raised her eyebrows.  “Hmmmmm……sounds like a houseful.”

 

          “It is.”  Jax hurriedly swallowed more of his coffee.  “I know Mac was excited about it since his son doesn’t usually come home from college that often.”

 

          “Malcolm, Junior.”  Blue shook her head and laughed again as she stared into her coffee.  “Can you imagine compounding one mistake by naming your kid something that awful?”

 

          “Which is *precisely* why I always told Miranda we wouldn’t have a Jasper, Junior.”  Jax shook his head.  “No use two of us having to suffer through life with that moniker.”

 

          A sudden awkward silence fell in the room at the mention of Jax’s late wife’s name.  Brenda chewed on her lower lip as Jax stared thoughtfully in the direction of the back yard.  “So……..”  The cheer in Brenda’s voice was obviously forced.  “What will you be doing for the holiday, Blue?”

 

          “Spending it at the hospital, I think.  Luka’s drawn holiday duty so some of the other docs with families can spend the day with their loved ones.”

 

          “That’s d*mn decent of him – although I have to say, you’re certainly spending a lot of time with the good doctor lately, aren’t you, Blue?”  Jax tapped his spoon against the side of his juice glass and put on a fierce look.

 

          “Oh, Jax, don’t be such a Pooh bear,” Brenda scolded.  She rose from the table and took her glass and plate to the sink.  “You’re not Blue’s father, you know.”

 

          Blue sat back in her chair, a contented smile gracing her face.  “I know, I know…….I *am* getting pretty close to this guy.  But he’s nice, and he makes me happy, and he doesn’t even mind that I get shot at for a living.”  She gave Jax a pointed look.  “In fact, he even encourages me to talk about work and asks me questions about the cases I’m working on.”

 

          “Really?”  Jax dropped his spoon and it clattered noisily on the table.  “What kind of questions?”

 

          “The *right* kind of questions, DAD,” Blue countered, sticking out her tongue at Jax.  She rose from the table and went to join Brenda at the sink with her own dishes.  “So – what will you guys be doing for Thanksgiving?”

 

          “I’ve already got a turkey defrosting in the fridge downstairs,” Brenda replied happily.  Then she shot Jax a rather disgusted look.  “We’re still negotiating whether or not I put the chestnuts and oysters in the stuffing, but I think I’m winning.”

 

          “Are NOT!”  Jax never looked up from his coffee, still stirring it with apparent disinterest.  “We eat *turkey* on thanksgiving, and plain old bread stuffing the way my mum makes it with bacon and celery and THAT’S ALL!”

 

          Blue’s gaze bounced back and forth between a silently fuming Jax and an equally combative Brenda.  “WELL………”  She suddenly rubbed her hands together gleefully.  “……since you two kids seem to be getting along so well, I’m sure SOMEBODY must need me for SOMETHING back at the station so I’ll be moseying along now…….”

 

          Brenda folded her arms and watched without a word as Jax escorted Blue back down the corridor to the front foyer.  As soon as they were out of earshot, she cut loose with an expletive that was rather un-characteristic for her and began to gather up the rest of the dishes. 

 

          {So he’s tense because nothing’s happened.  Well, here’s a news flash for you, buster – I’m tense too!!  You think it’s easy just sitting around waiting for some guy to come try to kill you?  And being cooped up here with a guy who looks like he walked off the cover of GQ doesn’t make it any easier!  Especially when he gets all bent out of shape just because I suggested serving asparagus tips with Thanksgiving dinner……}

 

          By the time Jax returned to the kitchen, Brenda was busily occupied doing the dishes at the sink.  “You know,” she said, never turning to face him, “you probably don’t need to stay with me if you’d rather go somewhere else for dinner tomorrow…..”

 

          “Really?”  Without even looking, Brenda knew that Jax had probably arched up one eyebrow the way he did whenever he got into one of his “I’m-the-cop-and-you’re-the-dumb-civilian” moods.  “And what makes you think that?”

 

          “Well, it’s been almost two weeks and everything’s been disgustingly quiet around here.”  She finally turned around and dried her hands on a towel as Jax smirked.  “And tomorrow IS a holiday, after all……”

 

          “Oh, and you think that criminals take holidays off, do you?”

 

          Brenda’s hands drooped disgustedly to her lap.  “There’s no need to be nasty about it.”  She grimaced.  “I just thought if you’d rather spend the day alone or something…….”

 

          Jax turned to the side and muttered an obscenity under his breath as her voice trailed off.  “I’m sorry.”  He sighed and came over to take the towel and dish-drying duties from her.  “I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that.  I guess all of this is probably getting on your nerves, too.”  He paused and looked into her eyes.  “And as far as where I’d prefer to spend the day……”

 

          The ringing of the telephone made both of them catch their breaths and look towards the wall.  Jax strode quickly to grab the receiver off the hook.  “Jax, here.”  His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.  “How did you get this num…….”  Then he grimaced and tipped his head to the side.  “Oh, she did, did she?”  There was a pause.  “No, it’s V, not Q, and I’m sure she WAS very helpful.”  Another pause, punctuated by nodding.  “Yes, I know it is.”  Another pause.  “Well, I really can’t……..”  Pause.  “Because I’m technically on duty…….no, bodyguard duty………”  His eyes widened again, even farther.  “No, I don’t think that would be a ………”  He stared down at his feet and shuffled them awkwardly.  “Well, because she’s……..well, she’s………”  Suddenly, he put his hand on his hip and embarrassed anger flitted over his face.  “Of COURSE she’s not a hook…….” 

 

All the breath seemed to leave his body in one long sigh as Jax closed his eyes and rubbed his palm over them.  “I know………no, that’ll be fine……….see you then……..”

 

Brenda had been taking short breaths, trying to interrupt Jax’s one-sided conversation.  But it wasn’t until he actually hung up the receiver and rested his forehead against the wall that she got the chance.  “Was that your boss?”

 

Jax’s lips thinned into a smile as he turned to her.  “In a manner of speaking.”  He walked slowly towards Brenda to cradle her elbows in his hands and look deeply into her eyes.  “You won’t have to worry about making that turkey and stuffing for tomorrow, Brenda.”  He took a deep breath.  “My mother is expecting us around 4:30.”

 

~*~*~*~*~*~

 

          “I can’t do this, Jax!”  Brenda sank lower in the jeep’s passenger seat and covered her eyes with her hands.  “I just can’t do this!”

 

          Jax glanced over at her before flipping the wand for the turn signal.  “I know, Brenda.  You’ve said that before.  Frequently.”  He peered at the poorly-illuminated street-sign after turning the corner.  “Why not think positive for a change?”

 

          Brenda’s eyes shifted to the left to glare at Jax.  “OK.  I can do that.”  She took a shaky breath.  “I’m POSITIVE that I can’t do this, Jax.”

 

          Jax kept his attention on the street but directed his words towards the passenger side of the jeep.  “OK – then how about this?  Just pretend that you’re out for a quick drive with me in the jeep!”  He reached towards her to try to pat her hand for reassurance.  “You know – like we did the night we went to the quick shop for that cheese.  Don’t think about what’s going to happen after we stop.”  When Brenda deliberately kept her hands folded in her lap, Jax shifted his hand back to the steering wheel.  “You didn’t feel threatened just sitting in my car that night, did you?”

 

          “That’s because I was too worried that you were going to be shot by those crazy robbers!”  Brenda shook her head and sighed.  “It’s no use, Jax.  You can’t try some backwards psychology to get me to forget my fears.  Gail Baldwin has been trying that for years.”

 

          Jax checked his rear-view mirror before making another turn.  “OK – then what if you concentrate on something else instead?  Something really confusing?”  He shot her a lop-sided grin.  “Like trying to keep everyone in my family straight?”

 

          “Are you kidding??!!”  Brenda finally allowed herself a small laugh.  “Even with the names written on the back of my hand, I’m *still* bound to get at least half of them wrong!”

 

          Jax slowed the jeep to a stop after making one last turn into a long driveway.  “Well, prepare to be welcomed, love, because I can see the advance party coming our way.”  Before Brenda could say a word, the passenger door was yanked open by a tall, blonde boy who looked a lot like a younger version of Jax.  “Robert!!”  Jax bounded around to the passenger side as the teen helped Brenda get out of the jeep.  “Where’s your dad?  Getting too old to get his butt out of the easy chair in front of the TV?”

 

          “Hi, Uncle Jax!”  The teen clutched Jax to him in a bear hug after slamming Brenda’s door.  “Dad’s inside raking Jussy’s new boyfriend over the coals.”  He turned back to Brenda and extended his right hand.  “Hi!  I’m Jax’s nephew, Robert.”

 

          “Brenda Barrett.”  Brenda shook Robert’s hand and nodded.  “Let me see if I’ve got this straight – you’re Jax’s oldest brother Jonathan’s son, right?”

 

          “You’ve been practicing!!”  Robert led the way to a large brick colonial as Jax put an arm proprietarily around Brenda’s waist.  “Lady Jane is trying to get all the men away from the TV but so far it’s not working.”

 

          Jax pulled Brenda closer to him and smiled at the question in her eyes.  “Lady Jane is what we affectionately call my mother.”  He leaned down to whisper in her ear.  “And Jussy is my baby sister, Justine.  We’re all pretty protective of her because she’s the youngest, so we tend to be a little rough on any guys she brings home.”

 

          “A *little* rough?”  When a voice echoed from the door to the house, Brenda looked up to find a tall, blue-eyed blonde woman smiling at her.  “You threatened to make her last boyfriend go walkabout for three months and you call that a LITTLE rough?”  She laughed heartily and extended a hand to Brenda.  “I’m Jax’s older sister, Jasmine.”  After shaking Brenda’s hand and giving Jax a hug and kiss on the cheek, she brought them inside.  “Being the third-born in this family made me smart enough to know NEVER to bring home any of my significant others until I already had a ring on my finger.”

 

          “And I suppose THAT’S why that finger is still naked, huh?”  A stocky, dark-haired man came from a long hallway to stand behind Jasmine and ruffle her hair affectionately.  “I’m Jerry,” he said, winking at Brenda.  “Fourth-born and Jax’s favorite older brother.”

 

          Brenda’s eyes widened in recognition.  “You’re married to the nurse at GH – Bobbie!!”  She handed her coat to nephew Robert, who disappeared with it and Jax’s bomber jacket promptly.  “I met her a few weeks ago……”

 

          “That’s right.”  Jerry looked over his shoulder.  “Bobbie’s out in the kitchen helping mum with the special recipes for Lucas.”  He leaned closer to Brenda.  “Our son’s diabetic, so that makes the holidays a little harder for him.”

 

          “Ahhh, there they are, mother!!”  A booming baritone voice coming from the living room caused everyone to turn in that direction.  “Jax, my boy!  It’s been too long!”  Jax easily moved into the embrace of a tall, thin man with salt-and-pepper hair that thinned noticeably in the front.  They hugged for a few seconds and then both turned towards Brenda.  “And this must be the young woman whose body you’re guarding!”

 

          “Brenda, this is the man responsible for all this madness – my father, John Jacks.”  Jax remained where he was as his father moved towards Brenda with his arms extended.  “Dad, this is Miss Brenda Barrett.”

 

          “It’s a pleasure to meet yo…….”  Brenda’s greeting was muffled as John Jacks pulled her into an enthusiastic hug similar to the one he had given Jax.  When he let her come up for air, she was blushing but laughing like the rest of the family members.  “Well…….everyone around here sure knows how to make a person feel welcome,” she quipped.

 

          “Everyone?”  John shook his head and waved a hand.  “Pfftt……you haven’t even met *half* of Jacks family yet – or the most important one, at least.”  He kept an arm around Brenda’s waist and started to pull her in the direction of feminine laughter.  “Why don’t I take Brenda back to meet Lady Jane and the rest of the clan in the kitchen while you and your brothers go play some soccer before we eat, Jax?”

 

          Jax’s face fell as he saw pallor creeping up Brenda’s neck.  “Oh, dad……I don’t think that’s such a good idea……..”

 

          John froze in place.  “Now look here, young man,” he scolded, “I know you’ve got this *thing* about making your job more important than anything else.  But I give you my PERSONAL guarantee that nothing will happen to Brenda while we’re gone – except maybe your mother will draft her into helping make the mashed potatoes.”  When Jax saw Brenda seem to relax a little, he tipped his head to the side in concession.  “Besides,” John added as he led Brenda away, “that Slasher person would have to be out of his MIND to deliberately get in the middle of a Jacks family Thanksgiving!!”

 

          Brenda caught one last glimpse of Jax over her shoulder as John led her down a long hallway towards the source of delicious aromas.  Within ten minutes, her head was swimming with more introductions – Jax’s oldest brother Jonathan, his wife Caroline, and their three children; the second-born son Jeffrey, his wife Celia and their young two daughters; and the “baby” of the family – Justine, and her boyfriend Derek. 

 

          “It’s OK,” Bobbie laughed as she led Brenda into the dining room later.  “I don’t think I got everybody straight until I had been dating Jerry for about six months.  And there’s been several nieces and nephews added since then!”

 

          “So…..the three youngest of the clan aren’t married but the three oldest are, right?”  Brenda set teaspoons next to the knives that Bobbie placed as she made her way around the table.

 

          “Right.  Jasmine, Jax, and Justine are still single.”  She paused for a minute.  “Although technically, Jax was……..”  When Bobbie’s jaw dropped and she got a “I-put-my-foot-in-my-mouth” look, Brenda smiled wanly at her.

 

“It’s OK.  Jax told me that his wife was killed by a drunk driver.”

 

Bobbie nodded and then set to work again, changing the subject diplomatically.  “And all of the three married ones have kids.”

 

          Brenda paused and stared off into space.  “Jeffrey and Celia seem so different, you know?”  She shrugged and smiled self-consciously.  “And I just *love* the names for their daughters – Emma and Lorraine.” 

 

          “I know.  Jeffrey went to school in England and that’s where he met Celia.  I guess the names came naturally.”  She laughed softly.  “AND, I think that we were all so traumatized by the whole “J” thing in this family that we deliberately picked names that began with anything *but* that letter!” Bobbie suddenly frowned and looked around the table.  “Now I could swear that I brought the salad forks with me from the kitchen……”  She set down the rest of the silverware.  “You stay put and I’ll be back in a jiffy with the missing pieces.”

 

          Left by herself for the first time in almost an hour, Brenda started to feel the first stirrings of panic claw at her throat.  She took deep breaths and started to circle the table, trying to focus on something else besides the strange surroundings and loud commotion coming from the back yard where the men were playing soccer.  She was close to the entrance to the foyer when she heard it – a faint whimpering sound.  Brenda paused, set down the cutlery in her hand, and then turned to go towards the source of the sound.

 

          It didn’t take her long to find it.  A little girl in a navy velvet dress was sitting on the bottom step of a long staircase in the front foyer and crying softly.  She had her face buried in her hands and her blonde curls were trembling with the force of her sobbing.  Brenda looked around desperately – where were the “too-many-to-count” members of the Jacks family when you really needed them?

 

          Suddenly, the little girl looked up and Brenda’s heart melted.  Tears pooled in the corners of her deep blue eyes.  “Hi……..”  Her lower lip shook when she spoke but she didn’t seem to be afraid of a stranger.  She couldn’t have been more than three or four years old.

 

          “Hey, there………”  Brenda moved towards her cautiously.  “Are you…….I mean, is everything OK?”

 

          The child took a shaky breath.  “Who are you?”

 

“I’m Brenda………”  She came to stand next to the banister, not wanting to scare the child by trying to sit down.  “Who are you?”

 

“I’m Wori.”

 

Brenda’s eyebrows rose.  Through the blur of introductions, the name didn’t ring a bell.  “Rory?”

 

“Wori!” she repeated, clearly vexed.  “Wike my reaw name is Worraine but everybody caws me Wori.”

 

“Ohhhhhhh, Lori!”  Brenda sighed in relief.  One of Jeffrey and Celia’s daughters.

 

“That’s what I *said*.”  Lorraine narrowed one eye at Brenda but then sighed and new tears ran down her cheeks.  “I hate it here,” she pronounced emphatically, her curls shaking.

 

          “You do?”

 

          Lori nodded solemnly.  “Uh-huh.  It’s too woud and there’s too many peoples.”

 

          Brenda’s breath caught in her throat.  She told herself that it was just a normal toddler reaction, being pint-sized in a grown-up world.  But yet, she saw in Lori’s eyes a glimmer of something familiar and her heart broke for the little girl.  “Yes, but these “peoples” are all your aunts and uncles and cousins, and they love you very much,” Brenda crooned.  How could she comfort the child when she was tempted to make a run for the front door herself?

 

          “My *sister* doesn’t wuv me.”  Lori’s lower lip protruded.  “She won’t let me pway with her Barbies or ride her bike.”

 

          The instant bond that had formed between the two grew even stronger.  How many times had Brenda’s sister, Julia, shooed her away from her own toys?  “Well, sisters are like that sometimes,” Brenda replied slowly.  “But it doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”

 

          “Do you have a sister?”  Lori sniffled but the tears seemed to be drying up.

 

          Brenda nodded.  “I sure do.  And to tell you the truth…….”  She leaned closer.  “I think it’s pretty noisy around here, too.”

 

          Lori’s face brightened.  “You wanna see my secret pwace, Brenda?  It’s not noisy there at AWW!!!”

 

          When Lori stood up and stuck out her hand, Brenda found herself taking it without a second thought.  “Sure.  Let’s go.”

 

******

 

          Bobbie followed Jax into the front foyer of the Jacks home, waving her arms frantically as tears ran down her cheeks.  “Jax, I’m SOOO sorry!  I don’t know how this could have happened!”  She turned in a complete circle as Jax swore beneath his breath.  “I was only gone for a minute……”

 

“I TOLD mum I shouldn’t have brought Brenda here with me!” Jax growled, resting his hands on hips.  “I just KNEW something like this would happen!!”

 

          “Now, son……let’s not get ourselves into a dither before we’ve got all the facts.”  John Jacks came down the stairs to join the group.  “We don’t know for SURE that anything bad has happened….”

 

          “What’s all the ruckus about?”  Jane Jacks came from the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel.  “Did somebody say I burned the turkey?”

 

          Jax eyed his mother grimly.  “Brenda’s disappeared.”

 

          At that moment, Celia burst into the foyer, panting for breath.  “Lorraine’s gone, too.”  There were stifled gasps as she came to take her brother-in-law’s arm.  “Jax, do you think that……..” 

 

          Just as Celia’s voice rose to a pitch near hysterical, Jane came forward.  “Now, wait a minute…….”  She smiled slyly and crooked a finger at the group.  “I’ve got an idea.”  They all frowned in confusion but followed the matriarch of the family as commanded into the dining room.  Jane went to the table, smiled, and then leaned down to flip back a corner of the heavy, white damask tablecloth.

 

          “Hi!”  The soft obscenity that fell from Jax’s lips drew a firm scowl from Jane.  Lori scooted out from under the table.  “You found us!!”

 

          Jax watched in relieved astonishment as Brenda crawled out from under the dining room table with Lori.  She stood up and immediately the toddler reached up to Brenda, requesting to be held.  “Hi, everyone……”  She looked around sheepishly.  “Gee……did you know that that damask stuff is REALLY soundproof?”

 

          Laughter finally exploded in the Jacks dining room and Jax came over to put his arm around Brenda’s shoulders.  “Are you OK?” he whispered in her ear.

 

          “I’m fine.”  Brenda smiled brightly.  “When do we eat?”

 

          The words were no sooner out of her mouth than Jonathan appeared in the door to the kitchen bearing a platter with a huge turkey.  Everyone scattered to their seats but when Celia tried to tell Lori to sit at the children’s table, there was a strong protest.  The little girl wrapped her arms around Brenda’s neck and refused to let go.

 

          “She can sit on my lap – if that’s OK with you?” Brenda asked Celia. 

 

          “I suppose so……”  Celia crossed her arms and tried to look sternly at the adorable mischief maker.  “But just remember – your Uncle Jax is a policeman, and he’ll send you to jail if you steal anything off his plate!”

 

          Fortunately, Brenda wasn’t adverse to pleading guilty when Lori sneaked the fifth black olive from Jax’s salad bowl.  Brenda almost forgot completely about her phobia as the meal progressed and the warm, wiggly little girl on her lap stole her heart – as well as Jax’s stuffed celery.

 

          Before Brenda’s anxieties had a chance to re-surface after the dinner, she found herself being dragged to the back yard for the annual Jacks Family Grudge Match.  She tried to explain that she wasn’t any good at athletic competitions, but once the rules were explained, Brenda found herself laughing along with the rest of the combatants.

 

          The men went to one side of the yard, the women to the other.  Each “couple” formed a team.  Since Jasmine was the only adult who had come without a companion, she was declared to be referee and score keeper with the children serving as rooting sections.  A large metal trash can was placed in front of each group and then John Jacks brought out two red Frisbees and tossed one to Jane.

 

          At a signal from the referee, the game began.  Jane sailed her Frisbee towards John, but instead of catching it, he neatly deflected it off the back of his arm into the trash can, scoring a point.  When John threw his Frisbee, Jane managed to put her shoulder in its path so that it, too, went into the trash can.  Another point scored.

 

          Each team took turns trying to bounce their Frisbees off parts of their partners’ bodies into the trash cans.  Jerry showed off by spinning around to let the Frisbee Bobbie tossed careen into his behind and then into the can.  Brenda panicked momentarily when her Frisbee sailed directly towards the zipper on Jax’s jeans, but he crouched down in time to let it bounce harmlessly off his chest and into the can.  That particular maneuver set off an entire series of plays where the men aimed for the women’s chests, while the women aimed for the most vulnerable areas on their partners’ bodies.

 

          “I can’t believe that your mom and dad won!” Brenda exclaimed as Jax led her back into the house for a hot rum and pumpkin pie.  “They were incredible!”

 

          “Don’t tell anybody,” Jax murmured close to her ear, “but we let them win every year!”  When Brenda’s mouth fell, he nodded wisely.  “Because we know if we didn’t, mum would have us out there for a re-match till the wee hours of the morning and we’d never get to eat the pie!”

 

          As they were getting ready to leave, Brenda felt a tug on her arm and found herself face to face with Jane.  “You know, dear,” Jax’s mother smiled, “I haven’t had a chance to tell you that the thing I’m most thankful for today – is you.”

 

          “Me??!!”  Brenda pointed to her chest.  “After all that trouble I caused before dinner when I disappeared?”

 

          Jane slipped an arm around Brenda’s waist.  “No, dear.  Look at my son.”  She nodded towards Jax, who was playfully sparring with Jonathan and Jeffrey.  “I don’t think I’ve seen him this happy in a long time……”  When Brenda looked into Jane’s eyes, she saw the hint of tears.  “……and I’d bet my bottom dollar that it has a lot to do with you.”

 

*~*~*~*~*

 

          Two days later, Brenda decided that she could have sent Jane Jacks to the poor house for that statement.  Things had remained quiet and Jax was beginning to pace the brownstone like a caged tiger.  During their enforced togetherness, Jax and Brian, the grocery kid, had gotten to the point of being civil to each other.  However, the previous morning Jax threatened to frisk and fingerprint Brian when he couldn’t find his spiral notebook with Brenda’s bill and had to check his pockets twice.  Every time the phone rang, Jax jumped for it like a jack-in-the-box.  He followed Brenda everywhere, even sitting in the chair next to her while she did her computer updates until she was ready to scream. 

 

          The morning of the second day, Jax spent an unusually long time on the phone.  Brenda suspected that he must have taken some of his frustrations out on Blue, because his mood was much improved after that.  He even suggested that they rent another movie that night and spend a quiet time in front of the fire.

 

          While Brenda was preparing their dinner, Jax called the video store.  She always got bored chopping vegetables, so out of habit she flipped on the small television set in the corner of the kitchen.  The local evening news was on, showcasing the former-showgirl-turned-anchor Tiffany Hill.

 

          “Whatcha’ doin?”  Jax strolled into the kitchen and immediately his eyes were drawn to the TV.  “I thought I heard noise……”

 

          “Yeah, well I was dicing the carrots and celery for the salads and wanted some distraction so I turned on the news…..”  Brenda rose from the table and lifted the wooden chopping block.  “And you have to admit, although she’s a lousy news woman, Tiffany Hill *is* fun to watch.”

 

          “Uh-huh……”  Jax’s voice trailed off as Tiffany suddenly stared up into the camera and took a deep breath, thrusting her chest towards the viewers.

 

          “Now …….”  She batted her eyes dramatically.  “Here’s the scoop I’ve been promising you, folks………”  Brenda frowned and set down the cutting board to listen.  “Thanks to a *very* reliable source of mine inside the PCPD, this reporter has learned that a renowned sketch artist for the FBI, Chuck Morris, arrived in Port Charles last week and has been working with the mystery witness in the Dockside Slasher case!”

 

          “WHAT!!”  The knife fell from Brenda’s hands to clatter on the floor.  “Jax!  She just said………”  She sputtered and pointed to the TV.  “Did…….did you hear what she just said?”

 

          Before Jax could reply, Tiffany smiled and leaned forward to offer Port Charles citizens a fine view of her cleavage.  “In fact, my source tells me that thanks to this eyewitness’s account, the PCPD have an accurate description of the Slasher and an arrest is imminent!”

 

 

 

          To be continued……..

 

          Author’s note: I confess to some major diversions from the original novel in this chapter.  In the original, after the hero comes back to the heroine, there are quite a few pages of romantic angst and longing as well as bickering.  In order to keep the action moving, I’ve decided to eliminate those scenes and/or delay them to a later chapter.  In the original, the hero takes the heroine to his parents’ house for their wedding anniversary celebration, and the entire scene is only a page long.  However, since the Jacks family is so easy and entertaining to write for, I couldn’t resist doing the Thanksgiving feast.  The family will return near the end of the book.