Redstang1998
Cadet
Title: Taking My Life Back
Author: Redstang1998
Summary: Written from Jack’s perspective in the beginning leading up to the present, which is where we learn more about Jacks’ past and what his future will bring. Includes new characters, one in particular from his past who has always held is heart and soul. Forewarning: NOT J/I As usual JJ owns his characters. My first FF, be nice!!
Rating: PG-14 (Mild/Language/Adult Situations)
Chapter 1
May 28, that was the day that changed everything for Sydney and myself. I was at APO digging myself out of stacks of paperwork when I received the call that she and Vaughn were in a car accident. Apparently they were going up to Santa Barbara for the weekend. A car came out of nowhere hitting them on Vaughn’s side. That day, I almost lost Sydney…again. The impact caused her to hit her head on the passenger side window. Swelling of the brain is what the doctor told me was our biggest concern. After it goes down we’d know if there was any brain damage. When she was airlifted to the APO infirmary. Looking at her, she looked like she was sleeping. There was only a small bruise on the right side of her head. Other than that, she looked peaceful.
It was three days before the swelling went down, the doctor reported that there was no damage to her brain or nervous system. We just need to wait until her body allowed her to wake up on it’s own.
Four days went by before she woke.
Four days and nights I spent by her side, praying for the first time in decades.
Four days and nights I didn’t sleep.
Four days and nights I felt totally alone and helpless…again.
Finally, she woke up on a Friday. Confused and scared. I sat next to her on the bed, holding her hand as she asked question after question.
Vaughn, is he ok?
I had to break it to her that he was abducted at the scene before our people arrived. She just looked at me, then shut her eyes.
Daddy, he said his name wasn’t Michael Vaughn.
I didn’t know what to say. I told her to relax and we’d figure it all out once she was better. That’s when she started to cry. I always hated it when she cried. I felt so helpless, like there’s nothing could do to take her pain away. I just sat there holding her while she cried in my arms.
It wasn’t a couple of minutes after that the doctor came in. The same woman, that had me doing those stupid exercises to get me through the radiation poisoning. I’ll never forget the conversation we had next. Our lives would be forever changed.
Sydney, I have some things that I would like to discuss with you. Would you like to discuss this now or later?
Ummm, now is ok I guess.
Sydney, I’ll go if you want to talk to the doctor in private.
No dad, please stay.
So I just sat there still on the bed next to her holding her hand. She smiled at me.
Ok Miss Bristow, I have two pieces of news for you. First of all, the injuries you sustained from the accident are healing well, you should make a full recovery in 3-4 weeks.
That’s good, when can I go home.
Tomorrow morning, but Miss. Bristow, there’s one more thing. Were you aware that you’re pregnant?
Chapter 2
Tomorrow morning, but Miss. Bristow, there’s one more thing. Were you aware that you are pregnant?
Excuse me? Did you say pregnant?
Yes, approximately 13 weeks. I’ll leave the two of you alone, to talk. Oh, I’ve ordered an ultrasound to make sure that everything is ok with both you and the baby. The tech should be in shortly.
After the doctor left, I’m really not sure what came over me but I took both Sydney’s hands in mine and kissed them. I had a feeling of fear, but at the same time happiness.
So I guess that means I’m going to be a grandpa? She smiled at me again. I think this was sinking in for her that she was going to be a mother.
Yes, I guess you are. So what do I do now?
You rest, get better and take care of the both of you.
At that point the Ultrasound tech came in. She asked if I wanted to stay, Sydney answered that one for me by not letting my hand go. During the ultrasound it hit me. That little life was our future. Sydney’s future. He or she was going to bring happiness back into our lives. That’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to let Vaughn’s betrayal of my daughter destroy her like Irina’s did to me. I wasn’t going to allow history to repeat itself.
So here we are three months later. Sydney moved in with me into my 3 bedroom apartment. It’s nice having her around. Things have actually changed drastically. I’m slowly getting used to the color that she’s added to the place. My black leather sofa was the first thing she got rid of, slowly followed by everything else. Apparently she didn’t like my boring lifestyle. Change is good, I never complained.
I’ve now been the Director at APO now since Arvin got himself landed in jail, yet again. This new position has its challenges, namely Director Chase. I manage to give her just enough info to keep her off my back. She’s like a bad case of poison ivy that won’t go away. The only thing she wants is Irina Derevko to add to her trophy case. Personally and professionally, it’s over between she and I. We’ve both agreed to move on. It’s too dangerous to even try to be together and with Chase on her witch-hunt, I don’t want her to get caught. Hell, I don’t want to go back to solitary either. I’ve lost too much to give up my chances to make things good with Sydney. So for the time being, Irina and I have agreed to move on. If we were truly meant to be together we would be, maybe of not now, in the next life.
Dad! What are you thinking about? You’re like in your own little world.
Sorry, I was just thinking. So did anything exciting happen today at work? I got stuck in that meeting with Chase. She’s relentless.
Actually, things were pretty quite today. I can’t wait to get back into the field. Desk work is rather boring. I still can’t believe that Dixon and Chase are together.
Yeah, tell me about it. She scares me mort than your mother. We both chuckled. Chase was scarier than Irina. A woman on a mission. A woman that I’ve learned to get out of her way. I’m not sure what Dixon sees in her. Really don’t want to think about it either.
So, dad. When I was cleaning out the other bedroom, I found an old trunk. It’s hug…e and locked…so what’s in the thing that’s so important that you keep it locked?
Uhh, stuff.
Yeah, I figured as much dad, what kind of stuff?
I just looked at her. I guess it was time to tell all about about dear old dad’s past.
Sydney, that trunk has everything of what’s left of my past. The part of my past that didn’t include your mother.
Author: Redstang1998
Summary: Written from Jack’s perspective in the beginning leading up to the present, which is where we learn more about Jacks’ past and what his future will bring. Includes new characters, one in particular from his past who has always held is heart and soul. Forewarning: NOT J/I As usual JJ owns his characters. My first FF, be nice!!
Rating: PG-14 (Mild/Language/Adult Situations)
Chapter 1
May 28, that was the day that changed everything for Sydney and myself. I was at APO digging myself out of stacks of paperwork when I received the call that she and Vaughn were in a car accident. Apparently they were going up to Santa Barbara for the weekend. A car came out of nowhere hitting them on Vaughn’s side. That day, I almost lost Sydney…again. The impact caused her to hit her head on the passenger side window. Swelling of the brain is what the doctor told me was our biggest concern. After it goes down we’d know if there was any brain damage. When she was airlifted to the APO infirmary. Looking at her, she looked like she was sleeping. There was only a small bruise on the right side of her head. Other than that, she looked peaceful.
It was three days before the swelling went down, the doctor reported that there was no damage to her brain or nervous system. We just need to wait until her body allowed her to wake up on it’s own.
Four days went by before she woke.
Four days and nights I spent by her side, praying for the first time in decades.
Four days and nights I didn’t sleep.
Four days and nights I felt totally alone and helpless…again.
Finally, she woke up on a Friday. Confused and scared. I sat next to her on the bed, holding her hand as she asked question after question.
Vaughn, is he ok?
I had to break it to her that he was abducted at the scene before our people arrived. She just looked at me, then shut her eyes.
Daddy, he said his name wasn’t Michael Vaughn.
I didn’t know what to say. I told her to relax and we’d figure it all out once she was better. That’s when she started to cry. I always hated it when she cried. I felt so helpless, like there’s nothing could do to take her pain away. I just sat there holding her while she cried in my arms.
It wasn’t a couple of minutes after that the doctor came in. The same woman, that had me doing those stupid exercises to get me through the radiation poisoning. I’ll never forget the conversation we had next. Our lives would be forever changed.
Sydney, I have some things that I would like to discuss with you. Would you like to discuss this now or later?
Ummm, now is ok I guess.
Sydney, I’ll go if you want to talk to the doctor in private.
No dad, please stay.
So I just sat there still on the bed next to her holding her hand. She smiled at me.
Ok Miss Bristow, I have two pieces of news for you. First of all, the injuries you sustained from the accident are healing well, you should make a full recovery in 3-4 weeks.
That’s good, when can I go home.
Tomorrow morning, but Miss. Bristow, there’s one more thing. Were you aware that you’re pregnant?
Chapter 2
Tomorrow morning, but Miss. Bristow, there’s one more thing. Were you aware that you are pregnant?
Excuse me? Did you say pregnant?
Yes, approximately 13 weeks. I’ll leave the two of you alone, to talk. Oh, I’ve ordered an ultrasound to make sure that everything is ok with both you and the baby. The tech should be in shortly.
After the doctor left, I’m really not sure what came over me but I took both Sydney’s hands in mine and kissed them. I had a feeling of fear, but at the same time happiness.
So I guess that means I’m going to be a grandpa? She smiled at me again. I think this was sinking in for her that she was going to be a mother.
Yes, I guess you are. So what do I do now?
You rest, get better and take care of the both of you.
At that point the Ultrasound tech came in. She asked if I wanted to stay, Sydney answered that one for me by not letting my hand go. During the ultrasound it hit me. That little life was our future. Sydney’s future. He or she was going to bring happiness back into our lives. That’s when I decided that I wasn’t going to let Vaughn’s betrayal of my daughter destroy her like Irina’s did to me. I wasn’t going to allow history to repeat itself.
So here we are three months later. Sydney moved in with me into my 3 bedroom apartment. It’s nice having her around. Things have actually changed drastically. I’m slowly getting used to the color that she’s added to the place. My black leather sofa was the first thing she got rid of, slowly followed by everything else. Apparently she didn’t like my boring lifestyle. Change is good, I never complained.
I’ve now been the Director at APO now since Arvin got himself landed in jail, yet again. This new position has its challenges, namely Director Chase. I manage to give her just enough info to keep her off my back. She’s like a bad case of poison ivy that won’t go away. The only thing she wants is Irina Derevko to add to her trophy case. Personally and professionally, it’s over between she and I. We’ve both agreed to move on. It’s too dangerous to even try to be together and with Chase on her witch-hunt, I don’t want her to get caught. Hell, I don’t want to go back to solitary either. I’ve lost too much to give up my chances to make things good with Sydney. So for the time being, Irina and I have agreed to move on. If we were truly meant to be together we would be, maybe of not now, in the next life.
Dad! What are you thinking about? You’re like in your own little world.
Sorry, I was just thinking. So did anything exciting happen today at work? I got stuck in that meeting with Chase. She’s relentless.
Actually, things were pretty quite today. I can’t wait to get back into the field. Desk work is rather boring. I still can’t believe that Dixon and Chase are together.
Yeah, tell me about it. She scares me mort than your mother. We both chuckled. Chase was scarier than Irina. A woman on a mission. A woman that I’ve learned to get out of her way. I’m not sure what Dixon sees in her. Really don’t want to think about it either.
So, dad. When I was cleaning out the other bedroom, I found an old trunk. It’s hug…e and locked…so what’s in the thing that’s so important that you keep it locked?
Uhh, stuff.
Yeah, I figured as much dad, what kind of stuff?
I just looked at her. I guess it was time to tell all about about dear old dad’s past.
Sydney, that trunk has everything of what’s left of my past. The part of my past that didn’t include your mother.