[Forest] Another Jac[k] Feast

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Now what to do on a night of a full moon, while its pouring down with rain and not even the owls are out?

Take a trip to the Forbidden Forest of course!

Okay, so normal people wouldnt see the logic in this. Heck, now Jackson was here he couldnt spot the logic in it himself. And you would think he would have more sense being an apprentice in Defence Against the Dark Arts, not to mention not having his saviour around. But no! Jackson had pulled on his warmest jacket, his best pair of walking trainers and walked right into the most dangerous place, at the most dangerous of times.

Clever Jackson. Clever.

So, you find yourself in a dark, dank, dangerous forest. No clue to where you currently are in this place, and creepy noises coming from all around you. What do you do? Well if you were normal you would panic, possibly faint, or going out on a limb here, you might actually try to find your way out. Though we have figured by now, Jax is not normal. Did he panic? No, but his heart was pounding. Did he faint? No, he was wide eyed. Did he try to find his way out? Did he hell, he kept on going.

Why?
Well why not!

He was used to things trying to eat him by now! That werewolf in his first year, then the vampire in his second year. Not forgetting that plant in his third year and the squid in his fourth. Yes, things had a taste for Jackson Riley Shaw. Why? He didnt know.

Snap

Lets step on a branch to add to the effect and warn every creature from here to timbucktoo to your prescense shall we? Biting his lip he realised he wasnt being the most sensible of people. Who came to the forest on a night like this anyway! He was signing his own death certificate this one.

Snag
Snap
Crunch

He had found himself lying face down on the floor, luckily leaves had broken his fall so he wasnt hurt really. Just his pride was wounded. As he looked up, he saw the legs of one oh so familar, and that funky coloured hair that clearly belonded to Miss Biggerstall. Laughing he said, "I wasnt falling for you. I just..." Looking back his foot was still wound tightly and rather painfully around a tree root. Somehow prising it out he smiled up at her, "Fell?"

[Jac Shaw]

"Of course you did," Jac chuckled.

Sure, it was raining, and sure there was a full moon (not that you could see it through the thick, heavy, dark clouds that thundered noisily over head, and sure, she was going by herself but Jac had the crazy idea of going into the Forest on such a lovely night. She couldn't help herself but she came prepared. Her dark green wellies, her thickest pair of jean and her warmest hoodie adorned her body as she walked around the eerie, dark forest.

As the metamorphmagus walked around she had the overwhelming feeling that she was going to run into trouble. She couldn't have said why but the feeling short from her toes to the tips of her fingers as she walked, getting wetter and wetter. Jac didn't mind the rain so much. She had played Quidditch matches in worse weather. Besides under the thick canopy of the trees the rain wasn't as hard in places but in others, where the water was catching and pouring over it formed waterfalls and those weren't fun to walk though.

Just ahead of Jac was a large puddle. The inner child in the Gryffindor compelled her to run for it and jump, splashing water everywhere. Like there isn't already water everywhere, Jac commented to herself as she continued walking. If one of her friends had been with her she would have had a lot more fun with that puddle that was fast forming a pool but alas! They were all being sensible and staying indoors.

"How boring!" Jac chuckled to herself.

There was a loud thud that came to Jac's ears just ahead. Quickly making her way towards the source of the noise. Jac came to a stop just before the fallen mass of her, at times, clumsy friend. Jac planted her feet firmly apart and put her fists on her hips as she looked down at Jackson.

"Of course you did," Jac chirped with a chuckle. Holding out a hand, Jac smiled at Jax. "Fancy meeting you here," she said, knowing it was too bazaar that they would both be out in such weather at the same time. "Talk about synchronisity."

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

"Of course I did!" Jackson laughed, and taking her hand pulled himself up. Luckily he had chosen to not wear anything white. It would have been pointless as it would have looked black by now anyway. His hair was sodden and easily sticking to his forehead. Shaking his head like a shaggy sheep dog he laughed, it really was a good thing he didnt have long hair. He didnt know how girls coped! Seriously! They had to spend ages infront of a mirror doing whatever it was they did, whereas Jackson was there for a minute, if that. "Well you know me! If theres a stupid idea to be had, no doubt I will have it"

And this, was definatly one of his more stupid ideas.

Lets all take a walk in the forest, at night, pitch black, with no thought to the fact there could be hungry werewolves. Talk about idiotic.

"Okay, so my excuse is I dont think." Jackson stated, "What excuse have you got?"

Running the back of his hand over the tip of his nose as he spoke, raindrops kept collecting on the end of his nose and it tickled him something awful. Though no sooner had he wiped it away, another one formed, and he was sure his jeans would start chafering him any time now. They had gotten uncomfortably tight and extreamly waterlogged. His legs felt heavy.

A thunderclap sounded over head, followed seconds later by a flash of lightening. It wasnt a secret. Jackson hated lightening. He wouldnt go as far as saying he was scared of it, he just didnt like it. Really, was there any need for that kind of noise? Jax secretly wondered if anything would try to eat him today. Usually whenever Jac was around, something tried to make Jackson its meal.

Now was that because he was tasty?
Or because he was an appitiser compared to her?

"So Red. Being good yes? Good im glad." Jackson smiled, he thought about being a little sarcy towards her in a jesting sort of way. However, the last time Jax had done that, was two years ago he found himself leg locked until he apologized for it. So bit back his tongue and went to lean on the tree beside him, only missing and nearly falling over again. "Yes, im a clutz. Whats your point?"

[Jac Shaw]

Jac laughed along with Jackson as she pulled and he pulled to get himself up. She was used to rescuing this damsel in distress ... or whatever the gender reverse was that took the tall physique of Jackson Shaw. Why was it that so many of Jac's closest guy friends were so much taller then she was? Jac knew as she looked up to Jax that she could do something about it but that felt very much like forcing it so decided against making herself taller.

Jac laughed and nodded. The craziest idea that she could think of it was likely that Jax had thought of it before and carried it through ... as far as he could, of course. Jac ran her hands through her drenched hair, squeezing the water out of it, and she smiled serenely at Jax. "You're officially my excuse," Jac said, looking at the tall man through narrow eyes.

Thunder rolled over then, quickly followed by lightening. Jac jumped a little, surprised is all, but she could see the nervous look on Jackson's face. Seeing her chance to be a little mean for tonight, Jac reached up and patted him on the upper arm. " 'Is alright," she said like she was talking to a petulant child, "it's just lightening." A cruel smile curved the corners of her mouth into a smile.

What came out of Jackson's mouth next got him a glare through narrowed eyes as Jac crossed her arms, no appreciating his tone. But he quickly moved the conversation along so Jac dismissed the comment and smiled. "My point it that you need to always have your knight in shining armour with you when you go into the big bag woods," Jac said and pinched Jackson's cheek with an evil little chuckle. "You know you're on the top of every creature's menu."

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

That was a good question. What was the opposite of damsel in distress. Well he didnt know that was for sure. Running a hand through his hair, even though it was so short his hand didnt really run through it, more like glided over but what could you do? He felt a little foolish, but Jax was more than used to it these days. Poor bugger, always finding himself in trouble. He was one of those kind, never looked for trouble, but trouble always found him.

"How can I be your excuse?" Jackson asked, "You didnt even know I'd be out here!" Though he laughed a little as he tried to think of a reason why she would be out here. Come to think of it, was not thinking really a valid reason on his part? Truth was, knowing idiot here, he probably wanted to see if he could wander through the forest and not be made any creatures yum yum. If he wore a dress, would it make him more, or less appitiseable?

"Hey Miss im-so-patronising!" Jack laughed, though once more found himself feeling rather on the dimwhitted sides of things. Yes, so he didnt like lightening. No, he wasnt scared. Yes he just stubbed his toe on a tree root and yes it hurt. Hopping a little as he tried to shake off the slight stabbing pain, either he was addicted to pain or he was jus a clutz. Anything else world, while your at it? Just as this thought came out of his mind, a huge thundercap sounded as the heavens opened up above them. Seriously it was like being in a tropical storm right now. "Now all i need is shampoo and soap and im sorted!" He laughed.

Wince.

Jackson hated the glares he recieved off Jac, he didnt mean to offend her or anything like that and looked like a puppy dog being told off. He only asked if she'd managed to keep herself out of trouble recently, though with his track record he didnt really have much room to talk. "This is true." Jax nodded, "Without my knight I'd be creature meat for sure. Seriously though, why am I always the one to nearly get eaten?"

[Jac Shaw]

It had been some times since Jac had seen Jax last. As the two stood and talked in a great thunderstorm in the Forbidden Forest it reminded Jac of why she had always liked Jax. He was that little bit left of centre that made him so much fun to be around, even if he was proned to falling over and being eaten. That was no matter, really, as Jac was skilled enough for both of them and bold enough to be able to take action.

Jac shook her head, looking down as her wet hair fell forward and moved with her head, though one step behind. Looking back to Jackson, Jac smiled. “Well, you’re my excuse now,” she said merrily, “Besides, it’s a good thing I did come, otherwise it might have been weeks before anyone discovered your body, nibbled upon by some werewolves or even a chimera.” Jac did love to tease Jax, he was like a mark that was so easy to hit bull’s eye every time.

The young Gryffindor had sometimes felt like she went a bit far and felt a bit bad because of it but she was, admittedly, too proud to admit that she might have accidentally caused someone she truly cared about pain. It was always easier for her to shrug it off as a joke and move along swiftly. Dwelling on such things only made it awkward and uncomfortable and Jac never liked that, though it rarely became so with Jax.

Looking up at the tall man, Jac’s smile beamed. Patronising was never a bad thing with Jac, she knew that she could be very patronising at times and it always made for a good laugh. After thinking about it for a moment, Jac did laugh but because of the thought of Jack taking a shower in the downpour. “Just as long as there aren’t any werewolves down wind from you,” she teased.

At Jack’s question Jac laughed a loud laugh straight from the bottom of her feet. Brushing her wet hair out of her face, Jac sighed, smiling widely. “I don’t know, Jax,” she said with a light chuckle. “Maybe you taste good?” Jac took a step closer to him, holding her hands up like claws. “Rar!” she growled like a kitten, “I know. I could test and see if you do taste good.” She laughed at the absurd suggestion. Could you imagine, she thought rolling her eyes at how strange she was, finding her own jokes funny.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

So it wasnt a normal thing to see two students, well Jax could only call himself a student in theory, he was the DADA apprentice but still studying at least, standing in the Forest in the middle of one of the worst thunderstorms they had had in years, having what would appear to be a normalish conversation. Jax and Jac were always doing things like this, anyone who knew them, knew thier reputation about doing things that were stupid and uncharictaristic.

They both looked like they had jumped without a second thought into the lake. Of course since the fact he was nearly eaten by the squid last year, he would think a million times before he considered doing that again. "Thanks for that mental image Jac!" Jax laughed and rubbed his hands through his hair, getting rid of excess water only to have more thrown on his head anyway, what was the point? "Im glad my knight has come to rescue me, though I dont need rescuing." Jax gave another laugh, "Least not yet!"

Jax knew how to handle Jac's humour and learnt over the years not to take it to heart. As he went to take a step towards her, he slipped on the mud, catching himself though as he did, the end result he looked like he was trying to do one of those starfish jumps. Well that didnt go as planned, maybe he should just not move. That might be safer, for him anyway. You couldnt be serious around Jackson for too long as you could guarentee he would do, or say something incredibly stupid.

When Jacs smile appeared on her face, he found himself smiling back, Jax, even if he wanted to, could never stay mad at Jac, all she had to do was smile and he'd forget the reason why he was mad at her. Jax nodded as she spoke of werewolves. The only werewolf he liked was Miss Hubbles. Though of course when she was transformed he stayed well away from her. In fact you would probably find him cowering in a corner in the Common room.

Jack looked nervously around him as Jac let out one boom of a laugh, though it appeared they were still safe, when it came to Jax, he was every creatures favourite meal and he knew he would either die an old man, or be devoured by something. "Maybe I taste good?" He asked with a chuckle and stepped back as she put her hands up like claws and came towards him. Jax laughed then winked at her cheekily, "Why miss Biggerstall, is that a roundabout way of saying you want to kiss me?" He stuck his tongue out at her, sometimes with Jac you never did know what she meant unless she spelled it out for you.

[Jac Shaw]

As Jac stood with one of her best friends in the pouring rain, thunder rolling over them occasionally, Jac felt a strange tingling in the tips of her fingers and at the pit of her stomach. Looking up at Jax, as she always did, Jac couldn't remember a time when she hadn't had fun with Jax. The two knew each other so well that there was nothing that Jac didn't feel comfortable sharing with Jax, and she believes it worked the same in reverse.

Jac curtsied and grinned broadly, her wet hair flopping heavily from the weight of the water that soaked it. "My pleasure," she chuckled. Flicking her hair out of her face, a song came to her mind and she began to hum it softly, her foot tapping the thickening mud that was forming at their feet. Jac looked over her shoulder, then over the other. Turning back to Jax, Jac nodded. "It seems the animals are trying to keep out of the downpour," she pointed out.

Jax tried to move but managed to slip. Jac giggled at him and put her hands out to catch him but he somehow stabilised himself. Jac raised her eye brows and smiled at him. "Impressive," Jac said her head bobbing up and down. She wasn't used to Jax's reflexes being fast enough so that he could catch himself. Smiling at him, water running down the sides of her face, Jac stepped closer to him and patted him on the shoulder. "Well done," she said.

Jac could tell at the mention of werewolves that Jax was becoming a little more on edge then before. Wanting to ease his worrying, Jac frowned thoughtfully, looking around them again. "I'm sure the werewolves will be harassing some troll in some cave, wanting to stay out of the rain," she said reassuringly. She added a beaming smile to add that extra bit of confidence that she knew he got when she smiled at him.

Taken aback by his question about kissing, Jac smiled, perplexed and amused. She had never thought about kissing Jax, licking was something that often happened but kissing? Licking her lips, Jac tilted her head to the side and smiled coyly. "Do you want me to kiss you Mister Shaw?" she asked smiling to one side, "or is that just a roundabout way of saying you want to kiss me?" Jac laughed because it was a joke, as all things were with the bubbly girl, but her laugh quickly faded.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

So what made tonight the night Jax was going to brave all haste and come into the forest? In all honesty he did not know but nor did he care right now, he had his knight, which no doubt he would be needing at some point during this little escapade of theirs. The forest seemed to be the only place that allowed some form of privacy these days, too bad it was one of the most dangerous. Jax trusted Jac with his life, not just his life but he knew that Jac knew pretty much everything there was to know about Shaw.

"Well I never thought I'd say this, but if that be the case, let it carry on raining!"

Jax lifted his arms up as though thanking the gods or something. Though he knew he didnt know what he was doing, easy to say he was strange, but hard to know anyone like him. Jax was definatly one on his own, but that was the way he liked it. Be weird, keem them guessing. Simple, yet efficiant strategy.

"I aim to please"

Though he said this, the confidence in his voice somewhat wavered as he tried to keep himself steady. Maybe not moving would be a better idea. Of course this put running away from deadly creatures as potentially problematic. Was tonight the night one of those critters got to munch on Jax. Over my dead body! He thought, not realising the irony of this thought either.

"Well as long as they stay harrassing the Cave Trolls and not me, I dont mind"

Jax saw her smile at him, and almost automatically, and on cue, he smiled back. Feeling once more, more confident and a lot more at ease about the whole situation. That was the thing with Jac, though the two have never been anything more than just friends, all Jac had to do was smile at him and he couldnt help but smile back. He was sure if his mother died, and Jac smiled at him, that even then, he would smile back at her.

Unlike Jac, Jax had thought about what it would be like to kiss Jac. He watched as she tilted her head to the side and the question he hoped would not escape her lips, did indeed come out of them. Jax didnt answer for a while and looked at the tree next to him as though it was the most fascinating thing in the world. Where was a werewolf when you actually wanted one? That would serve as a good enough distraction, even if Jax lied to Jac, she would see right through him. Though standing here silent looking at wet wood was also not helping the matter.

"I... Uh..." Jax stammered and ran a hand through his hair, "Ooh, look... A mushroom!"

He bent down to examine the mushroom, though in all honesty he hated mushrooms. Hated their feel, their taste, he hated the sight of them and now thinking on it. He was pretty sure Jac knew that.

[Jac Shaw]

As the rain continued to fall, Jac slowly lifted her face to the sky, droplets falling on her face. She loved how soft the rain was as it made its way through the canopy of the forest to reach her. She felt calm for once in the forest. Usually Jac was on edge, wary of what was going on around her. But now, with clumsy fall over nothing Jax and all, Jac was as cool as a cucumber and twice as relaxed. When the ginger haired girl realised this she dropped her head and looked around. She knew better then to drop her guard, especially being Jackson's knight.

"Cave trolls aren't so mean," Jac protested pointedly. "Just too stupid to know otherwise. You're too quick to judge things by there covers." Jac had happened to look down at her wellies and noticed how the mug was gathering around the souls. Lifting each foot in turn, Jac wondered if there was any quick sand in the forest. Granted they had been standing in the one place for some time but did that mean that it couldn't be?

From Jack's tone of voice Jac could tell something was wrong. Looking up at him from the fascination that was her wellies, Jac noticed the funny look on his face. Frowning slightly, her hair beginning to turn a dark blond, Jac pondered reasons why Jackson Shaw would become so nervous as all that. Suddenly he jumped at the opportunity to look at ... "mushrooms?"

Jac walked over to where Jax was crouched by the mushrooms and peared over his shoulder at the mushroom. Jac found fungi very interesting but she knew that Jax hated everything about them. Her frown persisted. She crouched down beside him, her orange blond hair flapping lazily soaked with water. She put her hand on his knee to steady herself. "Jax," she said with concern, "what's up? You suddenly clamed up. You hate mushrooms!" She waved a hand at the funny looking thing when she mentioned it but kept her blue eyes on Jax.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Yeah, Jax wasnt exactly the most safe of people and if a Werewolf jumped on him, he would probably lie there for five minutes before he said anything. Of course he would have been mauled by then but you get the general idea. The air around them was now thick, probably the mixure of the heat and rain making the air humid. Flicking his hair from his face, Jax listened as Jac began to speak, making 'pfft' noises every once in a while.

"Oh come on" Jackson half laughed, flailing his arms in the air, "They wouldnt think twice about killing you and making you troll meat." As Jac lifted her feet up, he looked at her curiously, wondering why, though as he tried to move he quickly figured why. The mud had made his feet sink and as he had tried to walk he fell over, thankfully he reacted quickly this time or his head would have been bashed on the tree root. As he landed on his hands, he began to do pushups. Smiling he looked at her, "I meant to do that."

He saw her notice how suddenly nervous Jack had become. Running his hand through his soaking wet hair, he tried to look anywhere but at her, but once you've seen a tree you've seen them all. So apart from mud there really wasnt anything to look at. Well disincluding this mushroom which Jack was pretending to find interesting, but in all honesty it was making his stomache turn.

As Jac asked the question, he was given an option, lie, dont speak or say something ridiculous, for the truth was not one. Picking one from the tree, outwardly cringing as a blush came over his cheek when he realised she was crouched right behind him. He shook his head, "Nothing, no I didnt." All spoken rather quickly, "I dont hate mushrooms. Look at them, lovely fungi" Disgusting, why am I touching this?

(Blegh)

[Jac Shaw]

After a moment, Jac squinted a scrutinising glare at Jax before clapping her hand on his leg and pushing herself up. She was growing tired of this game. "Wha'eva, mate," she said, listlessly. "You don't want to share, that's fine with me." Her mood had suddenly swung to one where she didn't care much for Jackson's tendencies to clam up. It was in perfect Jax style to go all quiet about something that had passed through his mind but Jac was hardly ever privy to that.

Jac decided right then and there that enough was enough. She wasn't going to stand for it any more. Crossing her arms across her chest, Jac looked defiantly at Jax, shaking her hair over her shoulder. "Look," she said in a tone that suggested more anger then it should have, "I appreciate - always have - you putting up with me, Jax, but honestly, if you don't want to you shouldn't have just said so instead of put me through all you have done form the moment we met."

Jac had, at first, not meant to sound so heartless, but as the words came out of her mouth the more she realised how frustrated she was. It was clear that it wasn't with Jackson, there was little he could do that would irritate her longer then five minutes, but it was all too clear that that was not how it sounded. Too late though, it was already out, and although she could ask to take the words back it couldn't make Jax unhear it.

Jac's stomach sank in her guts and churned as she dropped her gaze to the leave-covered floor just to the right of Jackson's feet. There was nothing else she could say, nothing she could think to say or do. All she could do was stand there with her arms crossed and eyes glued to the floor, feeling both flushed and ashamed and knowing that nothing she could do would make it better.

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

Feeling a clap on his leg, plus some added pressure, Jax almost fell forward when Jac used him as means to stand back up. When she spoke, her tone had changed and the way she was talking had too, showing clear signs of anoyance, and Jack wasnt used to it. The two fell silent for a moment, Jack let go of the mushroom and let it fall to the floor, pushing on the tree to help him stand and turned to say something to Jac, only to have her cut him off and start to go on one at him again, which actually made Jack step back almost in fright as he never quite knew how to handle these situations.

"What?"

His tone was full of surprise at Jac's words. What on earth had she meant by that, Jack had never put up with her, he had enjoyed her company above anyone else's and wouldnt have changed their friendship for the world. Jackson's brow furrowed as he tried to make head and tales of this situation. Usually he would have said something ridiculous to lighten the mood but he couldnt think of anything to say. There was nothing he could say. Scratching his eyebrow, he looked confused over at Jac.

"Jac.." He began, not actually knowing where this sentance was taking him. Putting his hands on her shoulders he tried to look at her, but her hair was masking her face so it made it a little difficult. "..Whats gotten into you?" He asked, she never said anything like that, at least never to Jack. How could she think he hadnt wanted her around, after all they had been through and done together? It was ridiculos.

The two just seemed to stand there, eventually Jack let his hands drop off the girls shoulder and leant on a tree nearby. Things hadnt been this tense and awkward since his first year in school seven years ago, now the silence that filled the void between them was awkward and tense. How had Jack knew she would react this way to him simply keeping one thing in his head?

[Jac Shaw]

Jac felt ashamed of herself. Jackson had always been such a good friend to her, how could she after all she professed that he meant to her treat him like this? It was unforgivable and misplaced. Her head hung in shame, her thick flaming hair hanging around her face all disheveled as usual. She didn't realise that all her feelings about Leon going away, just like Grace did, was spilling out of her. It wasn't Jack's fault that she felt this way but she was making him feel like it was.

Her cheeks flushed with colour, hot and angry, but naturally through all the hair Jax couldn't see it. How could she let him see her, after that? How could he stand to look at her at all? She felt his hands on her shoulders and she heard the worry in his voice. This did not make her feel any better. It would occur to her later that this was possibly not the best place for this breakdown but since when did you get to choose when you were proned to keeping your true feelings hidden.

Her anger at herself spilt down her cheeks and dripped off her nose. She was crying; Jac Biggerstall, Quadwizard Champion, was crying. She couldn't stop herself, the more she tried the more she thought on how much it had hurt her to wish Leon goodbye and good luck with a big smile on her face. She was happy for him, she was, but that didn't make the parting any less painful.

Her shoulders convulsed and she moaned softly. How foolish she must look. All she wanted was to be in Leon's arms, to feel him hug her tight and to know that from just that she was safe. Since when was Jac dependent on others of security? It scared Jac that after a few short months her life had been turned on its head like it had been. Where was Ed when she needed him? In New Zealand with his wife. He knew how to comfort her. He knew exactly how to enfold her in his arms ... that was all she needed.

Her arms dropped helplessly to her sides as her tears continued to fall ...

[Professor Jackson Shaw]

This was a situation Jack rarely found himself in, especially with Jac and if he was honest with himself he didnt quite know what to do. Throw Jack in a dangerous situation, he'd make fun of it, he'd make you laugh, but hand a crying girl to him and he didnt know what the hell to do. The two stood there, and Jackson felt awful because he couldnt think of a way, other than himself getting eaten, on how to make her laugh. Though he was pretty sure him getting eaten wouldnt make her laugh either. Where was Girty when you needed her? She knew what to do in situations like these.

Running a hand through his hair, he tried to think of what Girty would do. Taking a few mud-sodden steps towards the girl, Jack gave a small smile and put his hand on her shoulder. He didnt know what had brought this on with Jack all of a sudden, but he knew Jac was not one to cry, whether it be anger or frustration, the famous Jac Biggerstall, crying. Now there's something you dont see everyday.

"Jac."

His voice was soft and barely audibly through the rain splatters, placing his other hand on her shoulder, he looked down at her and saw to his dismay she was actually crying. "Oh Jac..." He frowned and pulled her on his chest, stroking her hair and letting her cry on him, rather than alone. Jack didnt know what else to do now, make jokes? Tell her everything would be alright, he was here and he wasnt going anywhere? But how could he, he didnt even know what was wrong with her. All her friends were getting older now and moving on with their lives, and he knew that probably played a role in what was wrong, two of her closest friends were now professors and he knew a few of them had left to follow other careers. Though, Jack and Girty were still here, and though he couldnt speak for Girty, he could for himself.

"Im always here for you, Jac." He smiled, "You know that right?"

He could feel her shaking as his arms were around her, though he couldnt say, 'for once he felt powerless' because in a place like this, he often did. "Jac, whats wrong?"