Jason's Story

Here it is finally -- chapter 18. I know that I suck, but I hope that this chapter makes up for some of the waiting that I've put you through. If you're new to Jason's Story (JS); this chapter will make very little sense, and if you're a JS vet, thanks for sticking with me. JS will not go beyond 20 chapters, this I promise you. Thanks so much for reading, and please vote and comment (and if you're thinking of commenting on some racist bullshit I ask you; why did you even bother to open this story...you know what category it was under ;-) I hope you guys like it, and I love you! Kitty

*****1 month later*****

Nigha and Brett had come to the agreement that she would move into her parent's second home while they sorted things out with the boys. He'd finally had a chance to see Bryce and Jadyn and smiled at their beauty as his heart ached.

They should've been his.

They wanted to give the boys time to digest and adjust to what was happening, and the four of them would work out a custody arrangement. Stephen still wouldn't say very much to her and Sean just looked like his world had ended. This was never what she'd envisioned for herself. Her family torn apart; no real glimpse at how things would play out, and things were just getting started.

She was to blame, but she wasn't alone. She hadn't seen Jason since she and Brett decided that things were through. She assumed that he'd heard and was just giving her some time before he tried to become a more permanent fixture in her life.

After she and the girls had settled in; she got a call from Jack asking her to come to his going away party. She'd regained her strength and looked forward to returning to work in two weeks. Jack's party was a week away and she definitely intended to go.

"So, do you know the person that's going to be my new boss?"

"No"

"Well, what's his or her name?"

"I didn't mean 'no' I don't know the person...I meant 'no' I don't know who it is. I don't know whether it's a man or a woman. I've been assured that it's someone very familiar with our day-to-day operations, but it

is

kind of strange."

"I'll say. Why the big mystery? Any ideas?"

"I'm guessing it's a high-profile acquisition from the competition. Maybe they don't want word getting out too soon."

"So, I guess I'll get to meet him/her on my first day back then?"

She heard him chuckle on the other end of the phone line before he responded.

"From what I hear, Lincoln will be bringing him/her to the party on Friday. I'm anxious to find out the answer to the mystery myself."

"Lincoln?

The

Lincoln Meyer? Wow, it must be a pretty big deal if the CFO is handling the introductions personally."

"I know right? I think he's just coming because he knows that you're going to be there. At any rate, the curiosity is killing me!"

"Well, I can assure you that whomever my new boss is; he/she won't be nearly as good as the one that's vacating the position" she said with a smile.

"Nigha; if you ever decide that you want or need to pick up and leave, I just want you to know that you'll always have a position wherever I am. If I have to, I'll create one."

She heard the enthusiasm and sincerity in his voice; she would definitely miss him.

"Jack; my life is here, but it's nice to know that I have an offer elsewhere should I need it."

After a brief silence on the line, he continued.

"So I'll see you on Friday then?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world. Besides, I need to meet the person that gets me as their new right hand" she said with a sarcastic laugh. "And if Lincoln is coming just to see little ole me" she said in her best southern drawl, "I can't very well disappoint the man, now can I?"

Jack burst out laughing on the other end of the line and she joined him. Jack was great to work with and no one else could take his place.

"See you Friday Nigha. Get some rest."

"Sure thing still-technically-my-boss" she retorted with a mock salute. "See you soon."

After they hung up; Jack sighed and continued to pack up his office. He'd miss her most of all and he hoped; for her sake, that her family situation would eventually be alright.

***************

"J; what are you up to?" Bria asked him.

"What?" he said before taking a huge bite of his PB&J.

"I don't know...the woman that your insanely in-love who just happens to be the mother of your children has ended her marriage. As a matter of fact; this news broke about a month ago, and you haven't visited the girls since the week before everything went down. So I'll ask again; what are you up to?"

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow as he continued to chew another huge bite of the sandwich.

"Just what would you have me do B? Rush over there, all caveman-style and demand that she be with me? Come on girl; you know your sister better than that. And if you don't, I sure do."

The three of them; Kane, Jason, and Bria, had resorted to calling each other by the first initial of their first name instead of their actual first names.

"I gotta tell you, I'm very surprised that you haven't just charged over there."

"If I'm to convince her that we belong together; I have to use all of the tools in my arsenal, not just a club to beat it into her thick skull."

"So you

do

still want to be with her? Even after everything that's happened?"

"I'd walk through fire; barefoot and naked, with my schlong dragging across the flames, just to be with her. She needs time and all I have is time" he replied matter-of-factly while taking a sip from his glass of milk.

"Ewww, mental picture" she squealed as she threw her hands over her eyes. "Jeez, you've really got it bad for her don't you?"

"She's my disease...what else can I say?"

"That about sums it up...oohhh" she squealed.

Jason rolled his eyes as his brother came up behind Bria, and nuzzled his stubbly face into the crook of her neck. They were ridiculous and although he was happy for both of them, he was not-so-secretly jealous.

Jason and Bria's relationship had grown closer since their time in the hospital; waiting on progress reports of their loved ones. She couldn't help but like him once she got to know him, and he felt the same about her. She knew that through everything, he was very much in love with her sister and he had been willing to step aside to allow her to do what she felt would make her happy.

He

had

been willing, but while Nigha carried those twins; Bria as well as Nigha knew that if those girls were his, all bets were off.

They were.

***************

Nigha decided that doctors-be-damned; she'd wear her strappy silver heels to Jack's going away party. She'd opted to wear her hair straight; she wore no jewelry, and wore a deep mulberry strapless dress. It was fitted through the top and hip, and was cut on a bias so that it flowed while she walked.

She'd done her patented smoky-eye in varying shades of charcoal and gray, and wore a slightly shimmery gloss for a simple lip. Her hair was parted so that it hung over the scarred side of her face more so than the other and when she slipped on her heels; she was ready to go.

She felt a little nervous about seeing the majority of her co-workers for the first time in a few months, but found it surprising that she wasn't nervous about meeting her new boss. He or she would be the one person that didn't know about her personal situation and that presented a welcome change.

After the valet had taken her car; she walked into the ballroom where the function was being held. Within thirty seconds, Ginger; Jack's secretary, found Nigha and squeezed her into a tight hug.

"Oh my goodness, I've missed you so much" she said with excitement.

"Me...too...Ginge" Nigha was able to breathe out with a little laugh.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Nigha. I didn't hurt you, did I?" she asked, her voice laden with concern.

"No I'm fine, so have you met my new boss."

"I haven't met him personally, but I have to tell you that it must be a requirement for the head of this department to be good-looking."

'Of course he's good looking, just what I need right now' Nigha thought to herself.

"Really now" she stated with a smirk.

"I know that we didn't get to work together for that long, but I know that look. Ben and I are perfectly, blissfully happy, but I'm married; not dead. You'd have to be lacking a pulse to not notice this one. Come on" she said as she grabbed Nigha's hand and started to make their way over to Jack and Lincoln.

On the way, Nigha grabbed a glass of champagne from one of the waiters.

When Jack saw Nigha walking toward them, Nigha noticed the strange look on his face. His first instinct was to smile, but then she noticed him draw his brows together. As they approached; Lincoln immediately rushed over to Nigha leaving the new boss to chat with Jack.

"Nigha, it's been too terribly long" Lincoln said as he kissed her hand.

"It has indeed" she answered with her trademark smile. "How are Lily and the girls?"

"Lily has been worried sick about you since we heard about the accident. Jackson can fill you in on the weekly status update calls" he replied with a laugh.

"Speaking of Jackson; you're finally stealing him away from us huh?"

"Finally; couldn't have picked a better word. He had his heart set on you stepping up to the plate, but I completely understand your decision. How are those new babies, and how on earth do you look thinner than the last time I saw you" he asked as he took her hand and led her into a playful spin.

"Genetics, twins, and staying off painkillers" she joked. "Maybe someday soon, I'll be back at my normal weight because none of my clothes fit."

"Normally after a woman has twins; her clothes aren't too small" Ginger added with a mock sneer.

"Touché" Lincoln replied with a hearty laugh.

"Indeed" Nigha said as she shot Ginger a playful look of disdain. "So...tell me about the new boss."

"After you bowed out gracefully; there were only a few worthy candidates and one just stood out..."

As Lincoln was describing her new boss; she looked at him while he was talking to Jack. He was very tall and obviously a bit rebellious due to the fact that his hair was definitely past 'corporate-deemed' appropriate length, and he wore it in a sleek ponytail. As they walked closer for the coming formal introduction; she was struck by something very familiar.

'Cool Water .'

It only smelled like that on one man, but there was no way. She hadn't seen him in over a month, but there was no way he could've pulled this off. She was just imagining things.

"...from what I understand, he started his career here a few years back."

'No, no, no...calm down...it can't be.'

She took a sip of her champagne in an attempt to calm her nerves, but her senses were flooded. She'd smelled Cool Water so many times, but it never smelled as fantastic on anyone but Jason.

Her new boss would be the exception, and had to be anyone but.

"Nigha; this is Jason Branson" she heard Lincoln say from somewhere far away. Everything went silent as she felt a pressure building in her head blocking out all sound; blocking out everything but the insanely loud beating of her heart.

She felt something crack in her hand and everyone around her started to scramble. Jason closed the space between them and took her hand. Everything was happening in slow motion and she looked in disbelief at the crimson flowing from her palm.

Jackson looked on at the train wreck happening before him; powerless to do anything about it or the aftermath. Ginger was looking around frantically for someone to help, and Lincoln just stood there with a shocked look on his face.

She looked into his eyes; confused, and he immediately went to work removing the glass from the champagne flute from her hand. The next thing she knew, she was floating across the floor toward the door of the ballroom, and shortly thereafter; she was in the ladies room and Jason was running water over her hand.

Her senses returned with a vengeance as she felt the water stinging her hand. His hair that had been so neatly tucked into a ponytail moments before, was steadily working to free itself from the confines of the elastic band. She took a large intake of breath causing him to stop and look at her. The emotions started to flood her face and she looked a mix of shocked, confused, hurt, and pissed.

He cut the water off and took a good look at her hand. It wasn't nearly as bad as he first thought when he practically carried her out of the room, but it did need to be bandaged up. He went to work looking for a first-aid kit when she finally spoke.

"What are you doing?" was all she could muster.

"Trying to find the first-aid kit" he answered.

"No smartass; that's not what I meant and we both know it. Why didn't you tell me what you were planning?"

He was still looking for the first-aid kit as he answered her as if she'd asked if it was raining outside.

"Nigha; you've had a lot going on for the past few weeks and it didn't really matter that I was busy accepting a new job. A job I've been angling for the past three months" he said as he finally found the plastic blue box.

He motioned her toward the floral, tufted ottoman and helped her to sit down.

"It never occurred to you to let me know what you were up to?"

"Now why would I go and do a thing like that?" he said with a smile as he opened some anti-bacterial ointment and started to gently rub it onto her cuts. "I already knew what you'd say, how you'd feel, or better yet; how you'd tell me you feel, and I didn't see the point."

He unwrapped the roll of gauze as he continued. "Although I can say that you shocked the hell out of me back there. I expected a polite "how do you do" and maybe a pissed-off glare, but the whole squeezing of the champagne flute until it shattered threw us all for a loop" he said as he wrapped her hand.

"I guess you could say that it was the glass or your face, and since you're my boss now; I didn't want to be carted off for assault with so many witnesses around."

He smiled a little at her last statement; remembering that she probably could've made him see stars if she had slugged him. As he was putting tape on her hand to secure the bandages, Ginger walked into the ladies room.

As she looked at the two of them; Nigha with her knees pressed together and her feet apart, and Jason on his knees tending to her wound, she realized that there was more to the two of them than a former working relationship. She quickly regained her composure as the door shut behind her.

"Oh my goodness, there you two are" she said with a little too much excitement in her voice. "We were trying to find you to make sure Nigha was alright."

Jason looked at Ginger and gave her that smile that made women melt. Nigha rolled her eyes at him because she knew what was coming next; a thick layer of charm.

"I'm sorry; instinct took over and I rushed her away so that I could get a better look at her hand to make sure it wasn't too serious. There were only a few minor cuts so I cleaned her up and now I'm just finishing up the bandaging."

"I'm so glad to hear that" Ginger said as she placed her hand on her chest. "Let me go see if I can track down Jack and Lincoln to let them know that everything's fine. Nigha; will you be joining us again tonight?"

"Sure Ginge, I just need a few more minutes that's all" she said with a genuine smile. Ginger was so sweet and caring.

"Okay, I'll let everyone know" she said and then turned to look Jason in the eyes. "You take care of her alright" she said with a meaning that he understood immediately.

"I sure will. I need her to be tip-top to show me the ropes on Monday" he said with a smile and a wink to let her know that he picked up on the double meaning.

Ginger walked out and shook her head. He was a smoothie and looking the way that he did made it that much easier for him to get away with it. She noticed the way that he looked at Nigha and she worried for her. Nigha was in deep trouble.

"Looks like you still got it" she said as she shook her head and laughed.

"You make it sound like I was in danger of losing it" he retorted as he placed the last piece of tape on her bandage.

She held up her hand and took a look at his handiwork.

"How did I not know that you were trained as a male nurse?"

He let out a small laugh before answering her question.

"Well, I recently became a father to the most beautiful set of twin girls that you can possibly imagine and I took CPR so that I'd be prepared if anything ever happened and they needed me."

She looked at him; stunned. She had no idea that he'd done that and was so touched by the gesture.

"I asked if the instructor could teach me a few things about how to dress cuts and scrapes and he happily agreed. He said I have a natural talent" he said with a proud smile.

"I'd have to agree with him. The ER couldn't have done a better job" she smiled while admiring the bandage.

"So these twins of yours; does their mother know that you're so devoted?"

"I think she has an idea" he said with a wicked smirk.

"So, why isn't she here with you tonight?"

"Well, we're not together and it's quite complicated right now, but eventually..."

"Eventually what?"

"She'll be in a place where she can listen to her heart and we'll be together."

"You say that with certainty."

"There are few things that I am certain of in this life, but that is surely one of them. I'm certain that I love her and just as certain that she loves me. It'll take a while, but it'll happen."

"Why aren't you together now?" she asked as if she didn't know.

"My goodness; we met less than an hour ago and you're already digging into my private life. I already told you that its complicated! You're not going to be one of those nosey coworkers are you?"

She couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm so sorry Mr. Branson. I got caught up in your story, but I promise that I won't delve into your personal life."

"Please; call me Jason and that's too bad really" he said as he reached for her hand to help her up. When she stood, he pulled her close to him. "She haunts my dreams you know."

His admission sent chills down her spine and she was speechless as he held her close. "A woman as beautiful as you should never have to apologize. You do look beautiful tonight Nigha" he whispered within inches of her ear.

"I've missed you" he said as he put his hand on the small of her back and brushed his lips across her cheek.

"We better get back before the search party returns" she cleared her throat and managed to croak out.

"Of course" he said as he took a step away from her.

As they made their way toward the door, she stopped him.

"Your hair is a little mussed. You might want to fix it before we go back in."

"Yeah...the last thing we want is for people to start talking" he said as he looked at one of the chin length strands that had broken free, causing her to smile.

"Thanks" he said as he pulled his hair free and combed it with his fingers.

It was beautiful, falling well past his shoulders in natural waves. She didn't think it possible, but he looked better than the last time she'd seen him; the hair, the goatee, and the body, the epitome of a male model.

He pulled it back and looked to her for approval.

"It's perfect; now let's get out of here."

**********

After the five minutes of reassuring everyone that she was alright; she made her way through the throngs of people who'd been waiting to see her for months.

After she'd been talking to Sam for a few minutes; she felt a light touch on her elbow. She was a little surprised to see that it was Jack.

"Can I have a minute?"

"Sure; Sam, I'll catch up with you later" she said as she started to walk away with Jack.