The answers are getting harder and harder

[jack_morgann]

Ashmores dead. The rest of his army has either taken off or is dead. I sent my men out through the town to make sure no more of his troops were lurking anywhere. The Mayor stopped by and informed us we had to get things cleaned up by the weekend. I reckon I'm not the only one who thought the guy was off his rocker. We'll get the town cleaned

Comments

[kim_sullivan]

*walks into the bedroom carrying two cups of hot chocolate*

Hey Cowboy, thought you might be thirsty.

[jack_morgann]

*smiles a little and takes the mug from her*

Thanks.

*takes a sip. studies her over the cup*

How you holding up?

[kim_sullivan]

I don't know, really.

*sits down next to him on the bed*

I called my parents and Daddy and I talked for awhile. He says what I'm feeling is normal and there is no shame in being grateful that the people I love survived.

That it's possible to grieve for the people died, and still be happy for the ones who didn't. I told him about Paige. How we hadn't known each other that long, yet when I lost her, it felt like my heart broke.

*looks over at him*

How are you?

[jack_morgann]

*reaches up, tracing her chin with his thumb*

Your Dad's right. Theres no shame in being grateful for those who lived. *voice quiet* I'm grateful you're okay. Did talking to your Dad help any?

*sighs, shrugs*

I reckon I don't know. Just going through the motions for the most part. Though...I had to call her father. That was tough.

[kim_sullivan]

*sets her mug on the night stand, wraps her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder*

I can't imagine how tough all of this has been on you, Jack. I'm sorry you had to make those calls. Sorry you lost so many of your men.

[jack_morgann]

*looks off*

It was a high price to pay, but I don't think any of them would've chose to do it different, even knowing the outcome. They were all good men, good soldiers.

*voice quite*

Paige is the one I didn't do right by. She's the one I failed as her CO.

[kim_sullivan]

I don't think she saw it that way, Jackson.

*hugs him tight*

[jack_morgann]

I reckon she propbably didn't, *smiles a little* doesn't mean it ain't true.

She was a medic, Kim. She shouldn't have been out in that fight. She was just a kid and now she's dead. I could've prevented it.

[kim_sullivan]

She was a medic. She was also a soldier. Paige wanted to fight. We made a pact...

*voice kind of quiet*

I'd have her back and she'd have mine and we'd make sure both of us could fight this fight without anyone trying to protect us or treat us different. That's all she wanted, Jackson and you gave her that.

There is no way she was sitting that fight out.

[jack_morgann]

I know. *looks at her* I know you're right.

But on the other hand, if I would've made her sit this one out, she'd be alive. I'm still thinking that'd be the better of the two options.

*looks down.*

I should have told her how proud I was of her. She sacrificed herself taking Ashmore down, and she'll never get to know how she ended all this. *smiles ruefully* A medic, a girl, a kid no less. She was braver then any ten men I know, hell braver than me.

*looks at her*

You were pretty amazing out there too.

[kim_sullivan]

She was my age, Jackson. Not exactly a kid, but yeah I get what you're saying. I wish she had made it through, but I know if given the choice? She'd have rather been out there and taken that son of a bitch out than to be safe in the medics room.

*smiles a little sad*

I told her you were proud of her. Maybe I shouldn't have spoken for you, but I did it anyway.

*looks up at him*

We were all great out there. We won. It's bittersweet, but it's what we have, right?

[jack_morgann]

*kind of startled* She just seemed way to young to have gone through all of that. Y'all do.

*smiles a little and looks at her questioningly*

You did?

*looks at her*

Yeah, bittersweet best describes it. It's over and the worlds still standing.