Stirrings

By Elise and Rose

Jack & Grace

Jack whistles as he carries another box to the den. He'd no idea how many movies they'd collected, or books, or knick knacks. They had a lot of stuff gathered over five short years. "Bloody hell what will it be in twenty?"

He started filling the shelves when he heard Grace shout that the washer was off balance again. With a shout back Jack walked into the laundry room. Sure enough the bugger was trying to walk out on them already. "Now my socks don't smell that bad."

With a chuckle to himself he walked over and stopped the cycle and pulled the machine out. After re-leveling the washer he pushed it back and started it back up. Starting in the middle of a cycle, the machine shook hard vibrating the floor beneath him.

That vibration took Jack to another place; he stood for a moment lost in time feeling the floor of the building shake with the first blast. Someone was shouting at him..... a woman? Blinking he heard Grace's voice and went out to the kitchen. "You called love?"

Trying to hide her worry, Grace smiled but it probably wasn't convincing. She was worried about her husband. Too many times since the accident, she had seen things like this happen to him. It first started in the hospital when she would sit at his bedside, holding his hand. He would be asleep and mumbling to himself in the fit of a dream. A dream she knew was related to the bombing.

He was shaken by sudden noises. She remembered the first time it happened when she dropped a pan in the kitchen. The brief look of fear on his face worried her. She thought his reactions would lessen over time. But they seemed only to increase. What worried her more was that Jack wasn't talking to her about it. Grace didn't want to press him, it could make things worse. She did the best she could to be patient. Wait for him to talk to her. Find comfort in her. It was hard to do. Standing in the kitchen, he had that same shaken look on his face.

"Yes darling, I need you to look in the garage for the box that has the rest of the dishes. I think the movers left it out there by mistake."

Trying to hide her worry, Grace smiled but it probably wasn't convincing. She was worried about her husband. Too many times since the accident, she had seen things like this happen to him. It first started in the hospital when she would sit at his bedside, holding his hand. He would be asleep and mumbling to himself in the fit of a dream. A dream she knew was related to the bombing.

He has shaken by sudden noises. She remembered the first time it happened when she dropped a pan in the kitchen. The brief look of fear on his face worried her.

She thought his reactions would lessen over time. But they seemed only to increase. What worried her more was that Jack wasn't talking to her about it. Grace didn't want to press him, it could make things worse. She did the best she could to be patient. Wait for him to talk to her. Find comfort in her.

It was hard to do. Standing in the kitchen, he had that same look on his face.

"Yes darling, I need you to look in the garage for the box that has the rest of the dishes. I think the movers left it out there by mistake."

Jack smiled and kissed her cheek. She looked worried about something, nodding he figured it was probably just concern that the moves didn't drop all their wares. Patting her on the bum as he walked out to the garage Jack gave her a reassuring wink. "I'm sure it's out there, love. We've found a few of the kitchen wares scattered about the house."

Walking out Jack took a moment to enjoy the heat of the day. The sun was bright it was a lovely Australian afternoon. After moving a few boxes sure enough he found two more that should have gone into the kitchen. He carried them in to her and set them on the stool. Jack gave her a small laugh. "Here you are. I caught them trying to escape."

"Thank you. I think that deserves a kiss." She smiled and pressed her lips to his.

Grace caressed his cheek. It was getting increasingly difficult to wait for Jack to talk to her. She told herself, the next time he had that reaction, she would talk to him. "Are you ready for lunch, darling?"

Resting his hands on her hips he smiled and nodded. "I think I've worked up an appetite. What's on the menu?"

"Now that depends on what menu you're talking about." She grinned and nuzzled his neck.

"We have roast beef sandwiches for lunch, dessert...is up for grabs."

Setting her on the kitchen counter he grinned. "Up for grabs eh? How about a bit of Gracie ala mode?"

She giggled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Grace adored Jack's playfulness. He often used it to cover up the things that bothered him and this time he was leaving her out. She knew it wasn't intentional, but assumed the bombing was difficult for him to talk about. Of course it would be, Grace could have no idea how it affected him. Not until he told her.

She curled her hands through his hair. Something that always relaxed him. Grace needed him to know she was here for him. "I love you, Jack."

Sighing contentedly as he hugged her to him. "I love you too, Gracie." Having her by his side made all the difference in the world with his recovery. Grace had given him something to live for. Nothing else in this world was more important to him than his wife.

Helping her back down they made the sandwiches together. Jack grinned as he squirted a bit of mustard on her shoulder then licked it off. "Mmm, you're spicy."

She shivered at the feel of the cold mustard then the warmth of his lips on her bare skin. She kissed him lightly and smiled. "Jack, behave yourself. You know we have an appointment at 1:30 to see the realtor ."

That put a smile on his face. Jack was looking forward to seeing the theater. "I guess that means we should eat and clean up some. Well you always look beautiful but I'm a bit of a mess."

After lunch, they cleaned up the dishes then went up stairs to the bedroom. Grace smiled as Jack danced around as he stripped off his clothes before jumping into the shower. She peeled off her clothes and stepped into the shower behind him. With a kiss to his shoulder, she smiled seductively. "I know I already took a shower this morning, but you are just too tempting." Filling a washcloth with soap, she scrubbed his back.

Jack leaned with his hands against the wall of the shower. It felt so good he couldn't help but sigh and give her a sound or two of pleasure. He hadn't even realized how tense he was. The move and excitement of a new business prospect had him in knots.

Good knots granted but civilian life was a big change. No more getting up at the crack of dawn unless he wanted to. And he didn't want to but the years had trained his body to be up and he was having a difficult time convincing it that sleeping till seven or eight was okay. "That feels wonderful love."

Grace kissed his shoulder hoping to relax him. It had been a difficult year. He was supposed to have been deployed for six months. It was extended to eight. It was in that last month that the bombing happened. Two others were killed, several injured, including Jack. He'd been enduring physical therapy for his leg for months. In the past four months he was finally able to walk with no pain and only the slightest limp.

Now he was dealing with the end of his military career and a move to another country. Fortunately it was Australia. His home. It was all a great deal for Jack and Grace hoped to be able to see him through everything.

He turned and she washed the rest of his body. Sliding the washcloth over his broad shoulders, down his thick arms. He was so handsome to her. More handsome than any man she'd ever seen. Once they were both washed, Grace stepped under the water with him to rinse the soap away. She kissed him and smiled. "Time to go, darling."

Kissing her back he grinned. Grace had taken such good care of him. Even when he was hurting and grumpy and really didn't deserve anything better than soup dumped on his head. Jack wanted to settle into this new life with her with no worries. So far it wasn't so bad. He was adjusting and they were happy. Turning off the water he wrapped her in a towel. "Let's get dressed and see what we can do with the old place."

Grace looked over the map of The Glen. It was a large place but quaint. Several homes were spread out over the lush green hills that stretched across to the horizon. When they reached the town square, she glanced at the signs, looking for the right number. She smiled when the old building came into view. "There it is."

Jack parked along the street and looked out. First impression was pretty good. Getting out he helped Grace out of the car then they walked around the front and looked around. "Everything looks in fair repair, one side of the marquee is cracked but that's easily fixed. Do you see the realtor?"

She nodded when she saw a beige sedan approach and pull up behind their car. A dark haired man stepped from the car and approached them with a grin.

"Are you Mr. Morrison?" Grace asked him.

He grinned and nodded as he extended his hand. "Yes I am. And you must be Mr. and Mrs. Corbett. What do you think of the place so far?"

Grace looked up at the theater and smiled. "It's beautiful."

Mr. Morrison grinned and nodded as he motioned to the front door. "Wait until you see the inside. Given it's age, it's been very well maintained."

Jack slid an arm around Grace's waist and followed him. "It does look in pretty good shape. What about being up to code? How far out of date is the old girl?"

He nodded as he led them through the lobby. "The last renovation was in 1982. You can see from outside that it was used as a Civic Center for a number of years. The building will need to be brought up to date. New wiring and plumbing. The foundation and the framework is sound."

The realtor led Grace and Jack through the theatre showing them the features, old and new, many original to the theater itself.

Grace lit up when Mr. Morrison opened the old screening room where many of the original light fixtures and chandeliers had been carefully stored.

After explaining the cost of the building and the estimated repairs, the realtor left Grace and Jack to give them time to talk.

Grace trailed her fingers over an intricate carving of a lyrebird in the brass of the chandelier. She looked up at her husband with a soft smile. "What do you think, Jack?"

Jack looked carefully at the walls and ceilings no leaks or they had been carefully repaired. The building inspector confirmed that the building was sound. The place had been closed up but it didn't smell old and musty that was a good sign. Looking at her he sighed softly and crossed his arms. He could see that pout coming on, the one that said she was disappointed. "Now Grace, there's a lot of work to be done on the place. She's in good shape considering but it's going to take a lot of elbow grease to get her ready to open. So....."

A wide grin spread across his face. "So you better get out your pen and sign those papers so we can get started, love."

Laughing as he twirled her around Jack kissed her. "Yes, it will be love. Absolutely perfect. We'll give the old girl life again."

She smiled and kissed him deeply. "I love you, Jack." Grace took his hand and tugged him towards the door. "Now let's go find the realtor."