With a Bang (Jack McClane Story)

Chapter 6

John brought stuff to clean up with, as well as food and I couldn't be more grateful to the man. Jack and John cleaned the blood off their faces and finished quickly while I was still working on my face. I carefully cleaned around the edges of my face but winced when I got to the right side.

"Here, let me see." Jack said, turning me toward him. He gently ran his hands across my cheek and temple, causing me to wince again, "It's starting to bruise and you have a cut right here." He said, softly running the pad of his thumb across my cheekbone, "It's going to be sore and swollen for a while. You alright?" He asked almost tenderly.

"Yeah, I'm going to have to be." I nodded

I brought the wet cloth back up to my face but Jack took it from me and gently cleaned the blood up for me. There wasn't a lot considering I only had a couple scrapes and that one big cut. It could have been a lot worse if Jack didn't take the brunt of it while we jumped through the ballroom window. I watched his face as he worked diligently on cleaning mine. He was rough and tough around the edges but he had a caring side. You could see it with his interactions with Yuri and more recently, me.

I was sure he was done cleaning the blood from my face but he still gently moved the cloth around gently wiping at certain areas. He paused when he met my eyes though and slowly lowered his hand. We just stared at each other for a long moment, only a foot of space between us, until we heard someone clearing their throat making us each take an extra foot away from each other and turn. I completely forgot John was there.

"Foods getting cold." He said and went back to eating. Thank god he didn't say anything about what he just saw.

We were outside the club where I first saw Jack, looking for a car to steal. When he said we needed a car, I didn't realize he meant stealing one but then again, after what's happened so far, I shouldn't be surprised. John was off, who knows where, while Jack and I were working on picking the lock for a sleek black Mercedes. I use the term 'we' lightly though, considering I was leaning up against the side of the car watching Jack pick locks.

"You seemed confused yesterday about why I willingly got into a van with a murderer..." I started, shuffling my feet a bit, "Do you want to know why?"

He glanced up at me briefly but continued his work, "Why?"

"Because somehow, I knew I would be okay." I said quietly.

Jack paused in his movements, just staring at his hands before he stood up straight and looked at me, "And how did you know that?" He was only about a foot away from me and I was reminded of earlier in the warehouse.

I hugged my arms and looked to the side as I answered, "That night, after you shot that man, I looked into your eyes. They didn't look murderous or evil, just determined. The look in your eyes is what peaked my interest. It's what made me want to do more research on what was going on."

His hand came to my left cheek and turned my face toward his. He was much closer now, I could feel his breath and I closed my eyes at the intense feelings that started to bubble inside me.

"Since I became part of this, do you know why I always make sure I'm near or next to you?" I asked quietly, my breaths becoming heavier in anticipation.

"Why?" He asked, just as quiet.

Eyes still closed, I brought my hands up to rest on his arms, "Because I feel safest with you." I whispered.

Without another word or second to spare his lips were on mine for a long, deep, but innocent kiss. It ended as soon as it began but it stole my breath and I opened my eyes to meet his. I always thought they were intense, but right now, it was the most heated and intense I've ever seen them.