I Am Your Shield: AOS

2

November 8, 2013

Jackson stood on the porch with his mom, the sky was still dark, the sun was sett to rise for three more hours. Behind Jack, sat two SUV's waiting for him to say his goodbyes. Hank had gone back to bed, he didn't really seem to be in the mood to be awake any longer. Jack can only assume that Hank's patience for Jack was gone.

Mary takes a step forward.

"You sure about this, kid?" Mary asks, "You- You don't have to."

Jack held the backpack strap tightly. He grits back a smile, a forced one, but one to make his mom feel fine.

"Of course. It's like you said," Jack said, "I need focus. I don't think I'll find it here."

Mary gives a sad smile.

Jack feels his mom reach out and placed her soft, gentle hands on his face. She cupped his cheeks as she looked at him with her eyes. She looked ready to start crying.

"My little boy," Mary said.

Jack kept the smile on his face.

"I'll call. I'll text. I'll even email." Jack said.

Mary blinks back some tears and nods.

"O- Of course." Mary said.

She leans and kisses her son on the forehead. She then hugs him tightly. Mary knew at some point this day would come. The day in which he would leave, but she had never expected it to hurt as much as it hurt right now.

Mary pulls back, but held onto his hands.

"Be safe." Mary said.

"We have to go," It was Coulson.

Jack and Mary turn to the formerly deceased man.

Mary nods, "Right." She turns to her son, "I love you."

Jack turns back to his mom, "I love you too."

Jack feels her mom let go of him and takes a step back. Jack steps towards the porch steps and walks down.

Mary locks eyes with Phil.

"You take care of him, Phil. I swear to God if anything-," Mary was cut off.

Phil looks at his ex-wife, "I promise with my life,"

Mary scoffs, "I mean it."

Phil looks at her seriously, "And I mean it," He said, "I'll take care of him."

Jack had stepped down to the dirt next to his father, and glanced back at his mom. She looked so distraught, but still managed to keep her composure. Phil placed a hand on Jack's shoulder to motion him towards the SUV, and he follows his dad. Every now and then, Jack would glance back at his mom. He would find her still composed despite the tears falling. 

Once he reached the SUV, he looks back for the last time at his mom. She waves at him and smiles. Jack held his hand up and wave one more time, before he then climbed into the SUV.

In the driver seat was Phil and Jack was getting into the passenger seat. It seems the rest of his father's team were in the other SUV.

'No doubt talking about the boss's kid,'  Jack thought as he rolled his eyes.

Jack put on his seat belt and looked at his mom for the very last time as the care turned around to drive down the driveway. Jack found himself looking at the rear view mirror for as long as he could to see his mom, but she never once broke.

"I figured," Phil starts, "We drive alone so you wouldn't have to deal with any awkwardness."

Jack glanced at the driver.