Jack:
Unfortunately, things were not miraculously better after Alex and I kissed again.

If I moved too fast he still jumped. If I began to yell he still trembled. Kissing in public made him anxious. Even the mention of Zach’s name made him flinch, and the one time we caught a glimpse of him in the hallway nearly sent Alex into a panic attack.

Things weren’t great, but they were getting better.

“W-Would you guys mind if Jack and I bailed on coffee today?” Alex mumbled, shyly at lunch.

It had been a particularly bad day for him and, on top of his usual anxieties, midterms were piling extra stress. As we walked out of history I offered for us to just head home after class, and I was glad to see him taking that offer.

Cas gave him a gentle smile. “Of course not, honey. You two go home and relax.” He returned her grin as the bell rang.

“Hey, Lex.” As he spun to face me I placed a soft kiss to his forehead. “I love you.” He grinned widely. “You gonna be ok through last period?”

His cheeks flushed a light pink, but his grin never faltered. “Yeah, I’m fine. Love you, too.”

I didn’t pay much attention to the lecture. I watch Alex so closely that, if I wasn’t his extremely concerned boyfriend, it could have been considered creepy. He was jittery the whole time. His notes were messier than usual because of the slight tremble in his hands. I was, honestly, incredibly worried. When the bell rang, I let out a breath. It was Friday, and it was obvious Alex needed the respite the weekend would provide.

“S-Sorry, Jay,” Alex mumbled as we waited for May’s class to come out.

I frowned. “What’s there to be sorry for, love?”

He shrugged, nuzzling his face into my neck. “That we didn’t go out because of me?”

I chuckled, pressing a kiss to his hair. “I’d rather be with you every time.”

He groaned. “You’re such a sap.”

“Jacky! Alex!”

He lifted his head from my shoulder to smile at May as she ran towards us. “Hey there, beautiful,” He lifted her onto his hip, “ready to go home?”

She nodded quickly. “Can we have ice cream for dinner?”

“What are you, crazy?” I laughed. “Mom would kill me if I let you have ice cream for dinner.”

“Mommy’s not home!”

“Mommy’s not home?” Alex echoed, shooting me an incredulous look.

“Yeah!” May cheered, oblivious. “Mommy’s on a work trip!”

“That doesn’t matter; you can’t have ice cream for dinner.” I sighed as I dropped into the passenger seat of Alex’s car.

Alex stayed quiet as he drove. I wasn’t paying much attention until the car stopped; then I realized we weren’t at my house. I furrowed my brow as Alex took May out of the car, grinning at her. I scrambled out. “Lex, what-“

He put a finger to his lips. “Stop being such a spoil sport. What Mommy doesn’t know, won’t hurt her.” He winked at May who clutched his hand, giggling. “You coming, Jack?”

I grumbled, but followed them into the ice cream parlor. “It’s the middle of January for Christ’s sake, Lex.”

He rolled his eyes at me as May ran up to the counter to stare at the flavors. “Oh come on, live a little.” He bent down to May. “What would you like, beautiful?”

“Double Chocolate Cookie Dough!” she cheered.

He laughed, the girl behind the counter joining him. “Make that two, and one mint chocolate chip.”

“You got it,” she smiled already scooping. Alex nudged May when the girl gave her the ice cream.

“Thank you!” May said quickly before diving in. Alex grinned.

“You’re welcome! And these are for your dads,” she smiled.

I laughed as Alex flushed bright pink. “Oh, I, um-“

“They’re not my dads!” May giggled. “This is my brother, Jacky. And this is my…Alex.”

The girl behind the counter flushed as she took the money from Alex’s outstretched hand. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to assume.”

“It’s ok,” I chuckled. “I get mistaken for her dad all the time.”

“I don’t,” Alex mumbled, shoving his change into his wallet.

“Sorry, I just figured because you’re so good with her… Agh, sorry. Have a nice day!”

“Thanks, you too,” Alex gave her a small smile before we joined the table May had decided to sit at.

“You spoil her,” I noted, sourly.

My boyfriend laughed. “Yes, but I spoil you, too.” He handed me my mint chocolate chip. “Oh, come on, I know it’s your favorite. Don’t be such a party pooper.”

May giggled.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re not off the hook, missy. You’ll have to eat some real food tonight.” I saw Alex shaking his head at her and pinched his side, making him squeal. “Yes, she does; stop being such a bad influence.”

“Meanie,” Alex pouted, which only made May giggle more.

By the time we got home, May was running around the house on a sugar high. Alex only laughed when I grumbled that it was his fault.

“Oh come on, Jack, lighten up. It’s just some ice cream. I’ll make dinner later.” He kissed me. “I love you.”

“Oh no! You don’t just get to pull a pouty face and say ‘I love you’ and think that gets you off the hook.”

“But I do love you,” he tried.

“No.”

“But Jackyyyy,” he whined, suddenly backing me into the wall. My whole body felt hot when he grabbed my hips, pressing a kiss under my jaw. “I was just having some fun.” His thigh was suddenly between mine, pressing against my crotch ever so slightly. “Please don’t be mad.” His fingertips ghosted over the skin on my hips.

My breath came out uneven, causing him to giggle. “Fuck you, you’re such a tease.”

He nipped at my ear. “Maybe I’m not being a tease. Maybe I’m looking to relieve some stress,” his thigh applied more pressure, causing me to bite my cheek to hold back a moan, “and was hoping I could take it all out on you.” I shivered, partly because I was unsure where his sudden confidence came from, but also because the rough whisper he spoke in was giving me all of the right kinds of chills.

“Are you s-sure Lex,” I managed, “because – fuck – because I don’t want to r-ru-ugh-ush you or-“

“Shh,” he kissed me. He tightened his grip on my waist to lift me up, then shifted it to support my thighs when I wound my legs around his hips. He walked back to my bed, never breaking the kiss, before he laid me gently on the sheets. “Sometimes,” he grinned at me as he began unbuttoning my shirt, “you have to do something a little crazy,” he shoved it off my shoulders and tossed it across the room, “to try to get back to normal,” he kissed me again, “and, god, what I’d give to get back to normal with you Jack Barakat.”

That was all I needed. I rolled us over, going right for his belt as Alex whipped off his shirt. “In that case,” I sucked a deep purple mark above his collar bone, making him moan, “let me help relieve some of that stress, baby.”

Alex:
“Feeling better?”

I hummed an agreement, keeping my eyes closed as my fingers brushed along Jack’s bare back.

He giggled, cuddling further into my side.

“Jacky! Alex!” My eyes snapped open as May burst into the room.

“You didn’t lock the door?!” Jack hissed as he pulled the covers tighter around us.

“Whoops?” I offered.

He rolled his eyes as May jumped onto the bed and scrambled into our laps. “What’s wrong, baby?”

She whimpered, hiding her face in my chest. “Daddy’s home and he sounds mad.”

I met Jack’s wide eyes. “I thought, you had a restraining order!”

“We do!”

There was a crash downstairs.

I held May tighter to me. “Lock the door, and call the cops. I’ll call Joyce.”

“YOU CAN’T KEEP ME OUT OF MY OWN DAMN HOUSE!”

Jack scrambled up, hastily throwing on a pair of boxers from the floor before locking the door and searching the pockets of his discarded jeans for his phone. When he found it, he tossed it to me before picking up the landline on his desk. I quickly called his mother, but was sent to voice mail. I groaned and hung up. May was shaking in my lap.

“Hey, hey, it’s ok baby girl.” I pressed a kiss to her hair.

“Please, hurry, I think he’s drunk. It sounds like he’s trashing the first floor.” Jack sighed before mutter one more, “Yes, thank you,” and hanging up. “Cops are on the way.”

I nodded. “She didn’t pick up.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Of course not. Just keep trying. Call her cell, her business phone, page her, text her that it’s an emergency, whatever. I’m going to try and get him outside.”

“Are you crazy?! You’re not leaving this room! He nearly killed you last time!” I had forgotten May was there until she began sobbing.

Jack sighed, taking her from me and rubbing circles on her back as he shushed her. “It’s ok, sweetheart, you’re ok.”

I texted Jack’s mother’s personal and business phones that it was an emergency before calling again. Her personal phone went to voice mail, but she picked up on the fourth ring of her business phone. “Jack, honey, what is it? I’m in a meeting and-“

“Joyce, it’s Alex.”

Her tone shifted immediately. “Alex? What’s wrong? Is Jack ok?”

I glanced over to where he was sat, calming May. “Yeah, yeah, we’re all fine, it’s just-“ Crash! “Mr. Barakat walked in.”

“Oh! Are you three safe? Did he touch you? Did you call the cops? I got a restraining order and-“

“Joyce, Joyce, it’s fine. We’re locked in Jack’s room. The cops are on their way.”

She sighed tiredly. “Ok, good. I’m going to go wrap this up. I’ll be on the first plane home. I should be able to get one tonight.”

“Call us when you land, we’ll come pick you up.”

“Alright, sweetie, thank you. Any sign of the police?”

I listened, faintly hearing sirens. “Yeah, I think they’re just arriving. I’ll keep you updated.”

“Thank you, Alex. Be safe, all of you.”

“Of course, see you soon, Joyce.”

I put the phone down and wiped my face. “She’s going to catch the first plane home and call us when she lands.”

The sirens were close, now.

I looked up to find Jack already watching me sadly. “I’m sorry. This isn’t your fight; you shouldn’t have to-”

I waved off his apology and stood up. “Nonsense, I-“

He quickly covered May’s eyes. “You need to put on some pants.”

I flushed, quickly ducking into the closet. I pulled on a pair of sweatpants hastily, and grabbed a t-shirt, pulling it over my head as I walked out. “I’m going to go meet the cops. May?” She lifted her head from Jack’s shoulder with a sniffle. “You stay here with Jack, yeah?”

She shook her head. “N-No you t-too.”

I took her from Jack as he dressed in the discarded clothing on the floor. “Hey, it’s ok, nothing’s going to happen. The nice police men are going to make sure of that.” She shook her head again, holding onto me tighter.

“Lex, take her with you. Get her outside, because I don’t know where he is and I don’t want her in fifty feet of him. Talk to the cops. I’ll look for him.” He came to stand in front of me, pressing his cell into my hand. “I’ll take yours so I can get in touch with you, but this way if Mom calls back you can talk to her.” He pressed a kiss to May’s hair. “Ok, sweetheart? I’ll meet you outside in a few minutes.”

I kissed him roughly. “Please be careful. I love you.”

He chuckled. “I love you, too.”

We both shoved on shoes and coats, wrapping May in one of Jack’s winter coats that was far too big, and stepped into the hall. We made our way down the stairs quietly before we split. I got to the front room just as there was a knock on the door. I supported May with one arm as I opened the door to see two uniformed officers.

“We got a distress call?” one asked, a woman who was seemingly unimpressed with my haphazard appearance.

I jumped as a crash came from behind me. “Yes, yes, um this is my boyfriend’s house and there’s a restraining order against his father, and, um, he just walked in, and we think he’s drunk, and he’s been trashing the house.”

“Is anyone hurt?” the other officer asked as the first slipped past me to investigate.

“No, but Jack’s looking for his father and if he finds him Jack will get hurt.”

He nodded, his gaze finding May, who was wrapped up in my arms, still trembling. “You two go sit in the car. Get her out of the cold.” Then he was gone, after his partner.

I power walked over to my car, thankful I’d snatched my wallet and keys from my jeans, and set May in the back seat before clamoring in after her. We sat in silence for a few minutes as I soothed May before Jack’s phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered, quickly.

“Alex?”

“Tom?”

There was a beat of silence. “So, does Jack have your phone? Is that why no one picked up?”

I sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I have his phone incase his mom calls.”

“What’s going on over there? People are saying that cops were pulling into Jack’s driveway? What did you two do?”

I groaned. “It’s a really long story, but the important thing is that we’re fine. I think. I hope. Oh god, Jack hasn’t come out yet.” Suddenly the realization that Jack had disappeared ten minutes ago hit me. My chest tightened.

“Hey, Alex, breathe.” I had forgotten I was on the phone with Tom.

I glanced down to see May had fallen asleep. “Right, right.” I had to keep it together.

“Do you need me to come over there?”

I took a deep breath. “No, stay home. This should be all cleared up in an hour.” I anxiously watched the front door waiting for Jack to come out.

“You sure?” Tom sounded skeptical, but I suppose he had a right to.

“Yeah, definitely. I’ll let you know how it all goes.” The phone began to beep, and when I pulled it away from my ear I saw Joyce was calling back. “Tom, I’ve gotta go, Jack’s mom is calling.” We said a quick goodbye before I switched the call. “Joyce?”

“Alex? Is Jack ok? Can I talk to him?”

I sighed. “Jack’s still in the house at the moment with the cops. We thought it would be best to get May out of the house until Mr. Barakat’s in handcuffs.”

“Yes, yes, good. That was a good idea.” I heard muffled words to someone else before she said, “I’m on my way to the airport now; I just wanted to check in.”

“May asleep next to me in my car. Jack should be out any second.”

She sighed. “Thank you, Alex. Just, please make sure my baby’s ok – both of them. I’ll get in touch again when I get a flight.”

“Sure thing, Joyce.”

The next five minutes were filled with the most agonizing wait of my life. It was silent as May tossed in a restless sleep. Then, finally, I let out a breath as the male officer emerged with Mr. Barakat in handcuffs. I rushed out of the car as Jack’s father was crammed in the back of a police cruiser.

“Jack!” I exclaimed as the car door shut. “Where’s Jack is he ok?”

“Lex?”

I spun to see the female officer helping Jack out the door. “Jay! Oh my god!” I rushed up to take him from her.

“Nothing too serious, hun,” she told me with a sad smile. “He twisted his ankle, but he’ll be alright. You may want to get those ribs looked at though.”

I moved the hair off his face to see a bruise blooming on his cheek bone. “Oh, Jack,” I sighed. “I told you to come with us.”

He let out a short laugh. “Yeah, maybe one of these days I’ll wise up and start listening to you.”

“I know it's been a rough night for you boys, but if you could we’re going to need a statement,” The male officer said as he made his way back to us, standing beside his partner.

I glanced back at my car. “You won't need a statement from her, right? I don't want to wake her if we don't have to. I'd really like to let her just sleep this off for now.” They shared a look. “There’s nothing she would tell you that we won't. She was with us the whole time.”

“No, I suppose not,” the female officer smiled.

“Thank you, ma'am,” Jack returned the gesture. “Lex, why don't you get her to bed?”

My gaze flicked from him to my car. “Are you ok?”

He laughed. “I'll be fine, love, go.” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “Go on, then.”

The very kind female officer – whose name, we later found out, was Officer Reyes – stayed to get a statement from each of us while her partner drove Mr. Barakat to the station.

It had been about a half hour and we were physically and emotionally exhausted when she asked, “Now, where is your mother?”

“She was on a business trip,” Jack sighed. “She was only going to be gone for two days so we figured it would be fine.”

“She was?” Officer Reyes questioned.

“She’s on her way home now,” I clarified. “One of the first things we did – besides contacting the authorities was contacting her. As soon as she heard she left to get on the first plane home.”

She nodded. “When she gets in, we’re going to need her to stop by the station to answer some questions as well.”

Jack nodded. “Of course, thank you for everything, ma’am.”

She gave him a soft smile. “Be careful, boys. Best of luck with everything.” Then she and her partner, who had arrived to pick her up, were gone and Jack and I were alone again.

Jack laid down with a groan, putting his head in my lap.

“Yeah,” I agreed with a sigh.

We stayed like that for a few moments, just letting ourselves process everything, before Jack’s phone rang again.

“Hey, Mom,” Jack answered, putting her on speaker.

“Oh, Jacky, are you ok? Alex said you went after your father. Are you crazy?”

“Mom, I’m fine. Were you able to get a fight?”

She sighed. “Yes, yes, that’s why I was calling. I’m just waiting for it to board. I got a seven-thirty flight back. I should be back by midnight.”

I checked the grandfather clock to my left. “Alright. We’ll be at the airport for midnight. Give a call if anything changes.” After a quick goodbye, I turned to Jack. “We have like six hours until we need to go. I think a nap is in order.”

He laughed. “That sounds like heaven.”

Notes