Alias- Jack & Laura

22) Live the Life

Jack parked the car in the garage, then got out and watched as Laura scuttled backwards to get out of the small back seat. "You want some help?" he said uncertainly after watching her for a moment.

"No, I'm." She stopped talking and yelped as she backed up a little too far and lost her balance.

Jack rushed forward and managed to catch her under her arms. "Hold still. I'm going to pull you out." He pulled her backwards slowly, giving her enough time to get her left leg under her before letting go.

"We're going to have to work on that before I try to get out of the car in public," Laura said with a wry grin as Jack got her crutches out and handed them to her.

Just then the door opened and Sydney charged out. "Mommy!" she called.

Fortunately, Jack managed to catch her before she barreled right into Laura. He had been surprised in the hospital at how easily she handled the crutches, but he doubted she would be able to remain upright if a six-year- old ball of energy crashed into her. "Sydney, you've got to be careful around Mommy. She's hurt, remember?"

Sydney looked up at her mother, noticing the crutches for the first time. "Sorry, Mommy," she said.

"That's okay, sweetheart," Laura answered. "Let's go in the house, and I'll give you a hug as soon as I sit down, okay?"

Emily looked up from the stove and smiled as they entered; she and Arvin had come over to watch Sydney while Jack went to the hospital to pick Laura up. "How does it feel to be home?" she said with a smile.

"Wonderful," Laura answered as she settled herself on a chair at the kitchen table and propped her leg up on another chair. Sydney immediately climbed into her lap. Jack looked at Laura uncertainly. "She's fine, Jack," Laura said in response to his expression as she gave Sydney a hug.

Arvin came into the kitchen and looked slightly surprised to see Sydney on Laura's lap, but hid it before anyone but Jack noticed. "Laura. How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Not bad," she answered, looking up at him with a slight smile that faded when she saw his grim expression. She hadn't quite been sure yesterday if he knew the truth, but she could see now that he did. She had a feeling, too, that he disapproved of the current situation.

"Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes," Emily said, unwittingly dissolving the tension in the room.

Arvin gestured at Jack. "We'll be in the den," Jack said in response. He and Arvin left.

"So am I safe from casseroles and solos?" Laura said when they were gone.

"Casseroles, yes," Emily said as she pulled plates out of the cupboard.

"Sydney, would you help Aunt Emily set the dining room table, please?" Laura said. Sydney slid off her lap and went to pick up the plates. "And the solo?"

"Your name's on the program."

Laura gave a frustrated sigh. "I told him."

Emily came over after getting the glasses down and sat down across from Laura. "I don't understand why you don't want to do it," she said. "I'd be thrilled if my voice was good enough that the choir director was begging me to do a solo. And you do have a beautiful voice, Laura."

"How do you know?" Laura said, confused. "You've never heard me sing by myself."

Emily grinned. "Haven't you noticed that you're the only alto who can sight-read?"

Laura leaned forward and put her head in her hands. "Good God," she mumbled. She looked up. "I can't do it. I can't sing in front of all those people. No. It's impossible."

Emily reached over and patted her hand. "It will be fine. I promise."

Laura just shook her head. She was silent for a moment. Then she said, "I guess I don't really have a choice, do I?"

"No, I'm afraid you don't," Emily said with a smile that was entirely too gleeful. She stood. "Dinner should be just about ready."

***

Arvin pulled Jack into the den and shut the door. "How are you doing?" he said.

Jack ran a nervous hand through his hair. "As well as can be expected, I suppose."

"You think dinner will be all right? Emily's noticed that I've been acting strange this weekend. I told her there were some major happenings at work that have me upset. Which is true, I suppose."

"Dinner will be fine. Laura's a great actress," Jack said bitterly.

"I've noticed." Arvin paused. "Will you be all right tonight once we leave?"

"I'll manage."

"You're not going to beat the sh*t out of her, are you? Be careful not to mark her face if you do."

"Honestly, Arvin, I think I can control myself a little better than that."

Arvin shrugged. "No one would blame you."

"If it were Emily, would you?"

Arvin was silent for a moment. "I don't know," he said finally. "I honestly can't imagine what this must be like for you." He paused again. "What about Sydney? Will you be all right when the time comes to leave her alone with Laura?"

"Yes," Jack said without hesitation. "There's a lot of things I'm still not sure of, but Laura is Sydney's mother, and she loves her. She wouldn't hurt her."

Arvin frowned. He was about to say something else when Sydney came into the den. "Dinner's ready," she said.