Off Planet (Asterism Chronicles Volume One)

Truth and Kindness

As we entered the room Jack lead me to the bed. He made me sit down as he handed me something to eat. As I slowly ate he sat beside me.

"He's going to be okay." He told me as he sat beside me. "Cap said all he needs is to rest."

"I yelled at him. I should have let him explain. He was helping people. Saving lives, and I called him trash."

"At least we know the school was right. Overly aggressive." He joked as I hit his arm. We both laughed softly as we waited for Cap.

We sat there eating in silence. As we ate my thoughts kept me busy. I called him trash, I should have listened. Played over and over in my head. I placed my head in my hands and waited. After about thirty minutes Cap came back in.

"He'll be fine." He told us as I sighed in relief. "He just needs to rest. He shouldn't have been sitting up."

"Thank you." I told him. "You've helped everyone I love." Jack smirked at my confession.

"Your welcome." He responded sitting down. His body may seem young, but he is still old. "So, he isn't who you thought, eh?"

"No, I shouldn't have jumped to any conclusions."

"As soon as I saw him, I knew who he was." Cap said to my shocked face. "I get most of my meds from him, or I did."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Jack spoke up.

"You didn't give me a name." Cap said.

"At least I know he'll be okay." Relief flooded my body.

Cap caught his breath and left the room. As I sat there thinking of how horrible I had been to him. Jack poked my arm. I looked up to him and his serious face.

"I know you're worried, but relax. Your dad will be fine."

"How can you be so nice? He almost killed you." I asked as he smirked.

"When he first woke up, I was the first thing he saw. When he met my eyes, I saw true fear in his. His look made me debate what to say. I was going to confront him because of all the trouble he put you through, but before I opened my mouth he started to explain what happened. Hearing him say it, and knowing it was the truth, made me realize that he wasn't the man who beat me. The man who beat me had just learned his only daughter was in jail, had run away from home, and was handing around a poor boy, from the most dangerous part of the planet, who he had never seen before. He was angry and had snapped. All he wanted was to protect you from harm, as I tried to. When he found out all I did for you, he realized that I wasn't bad."

"You weren't going to yell because he hurt you?"

"I can deal with that, I did as a child. But I couldn't deal with you being hurt anymore." He spoke his true feeling, making me smile.

I leaned over and hugged him as he hugged me back. He truly was a good person. He didn't focus on himself, but more on the ones he loved. Martha and Alex, who he bought tickets off this planet, Erin, who he waited for but never came, and now me, a scrawny girl who always finds herself in trouble.

We stayed that was for a while. Until my nerves had calmed. As we separated from eachother Jack toom the dishes and placed them off to the side.

"You should sleep. You've had a stressful day." He said, his back turned to me.

"I can't sleep now. What if something happens?"

"Nothing will. Go to sleep. I'll wake you if anything does."

"But I slept a lot already." I complained to him, trying to come up with an excuse to stay awake. But the truth was, I was exhausted from the stress of the day.

He saw through me and made me lay down on the hospital bed. He handed me a blanket and sat on the chair by the bed. I've grown used to his presence as I laid down to sleep. Every night he was there making sure I was okay. Even when he was in pain and couldn't breath he still sat beside me. I was thankful for that constant.