Jasons Story Ch 16

I know that you weren't too happy with the length of the last chapter after waiting so long. I needed to break up the story at that point. This is another chapter for the fans.

Enjoy Nigha's Chapter and as usual; I ask that you vote and comment because I love that stuff!

Kitty

*

Two weeks to the day after the accident; Brett regained consciousness. Nigha was at his side in the wheelchair that she'd be using for the next few months while her pelvis healed. Due to the continued risk of infection; Brett wouldn't be able to see the twins for at least another week.

The time for him to know the truth was fast approaching and she was at a loss of how she would tell the man that she loved for the vast majority of her adult life; the man that had fought his way back from death, that the twin girls that he was so in love with belonged to someone else.

How could she break his heart? How did she break his heart?

Jason.

Bria had come to visit her on the day that she'd decided it was time for her to tell Brett the truth. He was regaining his strength with each passing day; but she was afraid of what the news would do to him.

"How did I get in this mess?"

Bria's response was simply a sharp look accompanied by a raised eyebrow. Nigha couldn't help but smile.

"It's been a long time coming, but I have to tell him today. I should've come clean in the beginning; maybe there would've been hope for us."

"So, you're that sure that it's going to be over?"

"I don't know if there's a chance for us and then there's..."

"Jason."

"Jason. He was shattered when I told him and then he surprised me."

"How did he do that?"

"After I blurted out the truth; he was silent and just got up and walked out. I could see that he was hurt and angry. After what seemed like an eternity he came back and we talked. Before he left he told me that he still loved me."

"And? You and I both know that wasn't all that he told you" she said with her arms crossed.

"He said he knew why I didn't tell him and that now that he knows the truth; he'll never let me go" she said as she looked out the window.

"Big shock there! Do you want him to let you go?"

"I don't know. I don't know much of anything these days except for the fact that I'm still very much in love with my husband AND with Jason. After what I've done; how can I be with either of them?"

Bria sat next to her on the bed and hugged her tightly. "However this plays out; if you need anything, you know that I'm here for you."

"I'm definitely going to need you girl" she said as the tears rolled down her face.

Bria stayed in the waiting room while Nigha went in to tell Brett the truth and break his heart. After about 10 minutes; she heard Brett yelling and various monitors beeping. She hear Nigha crying and yelling "Brett, please calm down" and as she started to walk over to the door; she was ushered out of the way by doctors and nurses.

One of the nurses pushed a protesting Nigha out of the room and Brett could be heard screaming "How could you do this to me?" over and over as the beeping increased in pace and volume.

"Don't do this; I need to be with him!" she said pleading with the nurse. "Brett I'm so sorry...I love you" was all she could get out before the nurse went back in and shut the door.

Bria ran to her side to comfort her. Nigha was crying almost uncontrollably as Bria pushed her out onto the terrace. Bria was dying to know what had happened in the 10 minutes of quiet, but didn't want to push. She didn't have to wait long.

"Bria; what have I done?" she asked as she held her face in her hands.

Quelling her inner smartass; knowing full well that they both knew the answer; she sat and rubbed Nigha's shoulders.

"Honey; what happened?"

"He kept telling me that he couldn't wait to see them and then...then things just got crazy. I tried. I really tried, but there was just no easy way to tell him. I searched for the easiest way to break it to him but when I was able to make the words come out; he went from disbelief to anguish and agony in the span of 10 seconds.

I don't ever think I can get over the look in his eyes. I thought the look in Jason's eyes was painful. Jason's eyes were filled with hurt and disappointment; Brett's eyes looked like I'd stabbed him in the heart and I'm sure that's just how it felt. In that moment I knew that it was over; what we have is broken and I broke it. I broke him."

"Give him some time. He's hurt; physically and mentally, and that's a LOT to process. Maybe after he recovers completely; he'll want to work things out."

"You didn't see his eyes. I just wish that I could take it back; take it all back, but..."

"But you don't."

"What?"

"I know you love him and those babies were conceived in love. You had more than a year to stop it and let him go, but you didn't...you couldn't. It's been a long time coming and now you have a choice to make."

"I'm really gonna need you to stop being the voice of reason" she said as she looked at Bria and smiled through her tears.

"Well someone had to take over when you walked out on the job" she replied with a laugh."

"The choice has already been made for me."

"Nobody makes decisions for Nigha Elise McShay Stevens! I know it's rough now; but ultimately the choice will be yours."

"I made my choice months ago."

"No, you chose to do the safe thing and not to hurt your husband. That choice was taken away from you when your test came back positive. Your new choice is who you're going to be with...and you know it."

"I need to go and see him."

"Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"None of this is a good idea, but I have to see him."

She started to wheel herself back toward his room with Bria following close behind. As she approached the door; the doctor approached her.

"Mrs. Stevens; your husband is heavily sedated right now. I can't begin to presume what happened in there, but he can't take more upset until he regains more of his strength. If you're going in there; please try and keep things calm."

"I will Doctor. Is he awake?"

"If he is; he won't be for long."

She nodded her head and Bria opened the door for her to go inside. She rolled up to the side of his bead and looked down at him. His eyes were closed. She spoke barely above a whisper.

"I'm so, so sorry. I love you so much and if I could take it all back; I would. I never wanted to hurt you."

She struggled to hold back the tears; in vain. She needed to release the months of pent up anguish and guilt, and figured that this would be the only time; even if he couldn't hear her.

"I don't know how it happened; how I let this happen and now I only hope that you can reach a point where you don't hate me.

I love you so much and I don't want to be without you. It's all so fucked up."

She sat in silence and watched his chest move with each intake of breath. She used the blanket draped over her legs to wipe the tears from her eyes and face before she continued.

"I want our family to stay together, but I don't know if you can ever forgive me; if you can ever be with me again. I love you and I always will, but I..."

"You love him too, don't you?"

She'd had her face buried in her hands and his voice made her look up immediately. He was still lying there; eyes closed and breathing steadily.

She must've imagined it and she sat quietly; barely breathing.

"I knew that he was in love with you and I knew that you cared for him. Answer the question. That's the least you can do for me."

She hadn't imagined it. His eyes were still closed, but he spoke slowly, deliberately, and coldly. It was a tone she'd never heard in his voice.

"So NOW you're quiet? You've been rambling since you came back in and NOW you're quiet? You love him don't you?"

She wanted to lie; she wanted to wheel herself out of there, but he was her husband, the man she loved more than life, the man she'd betrayed so many times. The time for lies was over.

She answered the question with one word.

"Yes."

It was so quiet; barely above a whisper, but that one word lifted a huge weight off of her shoulders. It was quickly replaced by a pain in her heart as she looked into the familiar eyes that looked as if they now belonged to a stranger. She searched for the words that would make it better, but none came because none could. She tried to breathe, but she couldn't.

Her heart broke as she broke his.

"Get out."

She'd thought about pleading with him, but when he again yelled the two words she expected the most; but made her physically ill, she slowly wheeled her way toward the door. She looked back at him and saw a tear trickle down his battered and bruised right cheek as he let out a low moan. It was the type of sound a wounded animal let out before it accepted death. It killed a part of her.

When she wheeled her way back into the lobby; Bria was sitting there patiently awaiting her return. She didn't stop and when Bria approached she simply said, "Not now Bri; I've got to be alone."

Bria nodded and sat back down as Nigha went to the elevator.

**********

She sat in the nursery with Bryce in one arm and Jadyn in the other. As she looked down at their sweet faces; framed in a few big jet black curls, she looked into their identical eyes and felt the pain in her heart ease slightly.

"Oh girls. Mommies' life is in shambles right now and I can't promise that the chips will land well after the fall; but what I can tell you is that you have a Mommie and a Daddy that love you both very much and we'll build on that."

She leaned over and kissed both babies on the forehead; pausing for a moment at the softness of their skin.

"If what happened brought me both of you; then it was all worth it" she said as Bryce smiled at her. Nigha knew that it was just gas; but it was exactly what she needed right then.

**********

Nigha was to be released in two days and Brett had refused to see her since she'd told him the truth 5 days earlier. Bill had refused to look at her; the hurt evident in his eyes every time he'd seen her and Suzanne just tried to give her reassuring glances while Bill wasn't watching.

Suzanne had come to see her in the days that followed "the news" as it was commonly referred to by everyone, and told Nigha that even though she had betrayed her son; she knew that there had to be a really good reason and she'd loved her for the past twenty years and that could never completely go away. She also explained that Bill was so hurt that he'd cried with Brett and Suzanne had to walk out for a minute to keep from breaking down.

"Do you still love my son?"

The timing of the question surprised her, but she answered without thinking.

"I always have and I always will."

"Then I need you to fight for him and what the two of you have."

"If it were only that simple. There are so many factors involved and it's so raw right now."

"Then it's true; you are in-love with this other man."

Nigha bowed her head and that simple movement gave Suzanne her answer. Nigha was right; it was more complicated than she'd hoped.

She reached out and took Nigha's hand before continuing.

"Nigha; you know that I love you like you were my own, and I don't want you to mistake my kindness for understanding or forgiveness. You've destroyed a part of my son that I know will heal over time; but it's killing his father and I to see him this way. I could wring your neck.

I can't presume to know what happened and I'm not one to judge. You have a very tough choice to make and YOU are the one who has to make it. I still love you like my own and you'll always be the mother of my grandsons. Make your choice and either fight for my son or let him go."

Nigha thought carefully before speaking again.

"I love Brett and I'll always love him, but how can I expect him to; not only forgive me, but watch and help me raise the twin girls that he'd come to adore and that aren't his own flesh and blood? Daily reminders of his wife's infidelity and having to constantly come face to face with the man that's partially responsible."

"Honey; I never said it would be easy. I know that it's going to be probably the second hardest thing you've ever done; but I know you and I know that you'll figure it out. Just don't keep hurting my son is all that I ask."

"Fair enough."

Suzanne nodded and walked toward the door. Before she could walk through; Nigha needed to say something.

"Suz...I am sorry."

"Sweetheart; I know that you are. I can see it in your eyes. What you have to figure out is exactly

what

it is that you're most sorry for? I know that you're sorry that you had to break Brett's heart, but are you sorry for the affair? Are you sorry for falling in love with the other man? Or are you just sorry that in the end; the truth had to come out?

You've got a lot to think about and in the end you have to be true to my son...and yourself" she said as she gave Nigha a sad smile and walked out.

Nigha thought hard about what Suzanne had just said. There was so much truth to her words. She

was

sorry for hurting Brett; is that where it ended? Truthfully; how could she be sorry for the steps that brought her those beautiful, innocent little mixes of her and Jason? Yes; she had regret, but she couldn't apologize for loving Jason and that was a huge problem.

She had to see Brett, but she knew that she had to give him some time so that he could give an honest answer to the question that she so desperately needed to ask.

**********

The day that she was going home; she had an unexpected visitor. Jackson had decided to come and pay her a visit. Aside from Clyde, Max, and Sam; he was the only one from work to come by to see her.

She was dressed and busy getting her things in order when he knocked and came in. Her face immediately lit up and she motioned for him to come inside.

He sauntered in; handsome as ever, in a pair of loose-fit jeans and a crisp white polo. He'd prepared himself to see her, but the gash on the side of her face was still hard to see. He felt his jaw tense and tried to shake it off. Gash or no; she was still beautiful. He leaned over and gave her the best hug that he could muster.

"I've missed you and I've been worried" he began.

"How is everything going in my absence?"

"I'd love to be able to tell you that things have been fine without you; but my wife is tired of all the travelling I've been doing lately. Your accounts are so high-maintenance when they can't hear your voice" he said with a chuckle. "Any idea when you'll be able to come back?"

"They've told me that I'm going to be in this chair for at least a month; after that I'll be going through intensive physical therapy to rebuild and retrain my muscles. I should be back to work in about three months."

"That's what I figured" he said with a smile as he lowered his head slightly.

"Jack; you need to tell me something?"

"I do, and now's as good a time as any I guess. I was offered, and have since accepted a position as the Vice President of Strategic Development. I'll be moving to Atlanta in three months" he said; trying to bring a level of excitement to his voice that didn't mirror his feelings at that point in time.

"Oh" was all that she could muster as a response.

"Nigha; you're the only one that I feel confident about becoming my successor. I'm here to ask you to apply for the position."

"Jack; I'm flattered, really I am. I know that I'd have to decline because with the twins and...there's a lot that's going on right now that I have to get sorted."

"Are they alright?" he asked; concern evident in his voice.

"They are absolutely perfect, but even though I plan on returning to work; I can't devote the additional time to learning the "ins and outs" of what it is that you do."

"Well; you can't blame a guy for trying" he said as he reached out and touched her hand. "I just hope you'll be able to make it back before I have to leave."

Just as he was making his last statement; the nurse wheeled in the twins, followed closely behind by Bria, Elise, and Simon. They twins were going home too.

"Can I see them?"

"Sure" was her easy reply.

He walked over to the clear bassinets and peered in at the sleeping babies. Not being able to resist the urge; he reached out and touched one of the girls puffy little baby cheeks and she stirred. He removed his hand; hoping that he hadn't awakened her, but it was too late. She blinked her eyes a few times and then she turned her little head just enough so that he could see a familiar pair of eyes.

He recognized immediately the eyes that he hadn't seen in about six or seven months. So many things made sense in that moment; Nigha wanting Jason to have the advancement opportunity, Jason's reluctance to take it and the anger he obviously felt when Jack had confirmed the suspicion that Nigha had made the way for him to get it.

How had he missed it?

He recovered well from that moment of shock and returned to his normally cool façade. He looked at her reassuringly before he spoke again.

"They are beautiful; just like their mother and they have their father's eyes" he said as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

She looked at him and smiled. She understood his meaning and noticed the shock in his eyes when he saw the baby's.

"Nigha; you take all the time you need. I'll make sure you have what you need when you get back" he said as he leaned in to give her another hug.

She held his hand when he pulled away. "Thank you Jack. Thanks so much."

"Hurry up and get better so you can come back" was all that he said before he said his good-byes and left the room.

"Mom, Dad, Bri; can you stay here with the girls? There's a stop I need to make before we go."

"Sure thing honey. Will you be long?" Elise asked.

"It'll only take a few minutes."

She didn't need to go far and she had to be very careful while sneaking into his room. She really didn't plan to stay for long; what she needed to say would only take two minutes max.

When she came in his eyes immediately went cold and he refused to look at her again.

"Brett; I know that you don't want to see me and I'll be leaving the hospital in the next hour. I had to come and see you before I left to let you know that there will come a time when I ask you a question and you will have to answer.

Now is not the time; I know that, but soon. I love you and I know that somewhere in your heart you still love me. We have to figure out where we go from here."

She noticed his heart rate start to increase and knew that it was time for her to go. Before the door closed behind her she said one last thing.

"I love you Brett and I want you to get better as soon as possible."