In the end of course, it all came out. A week later she stayed up late watching a movie. She shuffled to the kitchen. Rum … damn, they were out. Some Jack Daniels would have to do. She poured a glass and perched in her favourite spot, in the bend of the bench next to the sink. Sip. Sip. Sip. The warmth spread through her. A light flared behind her and Alex appeared, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
'Another sleepless night?' He grabbed the bottle and took a swig, leant against the bench next to the bare legs. 'Aren't you cold?' he picked up a shirt at random from a nearby pile of washing and wrapped it around her shoulders. She leaned instinctively against him, so he kept his arm there. He grabbed the bottle again.
Jemma looked at his profile. 'You should go back to bed. You're working tomorrow.' His mouth twitched in a smile and he kissed her forehead. This wasn't the Jemma he knew. She'd changed, or maybe his instincts were wrong and she was fine, there was nothing bothering her. But then she turned her head a kissed him quickly, hungrily.
Alex laughed and stood upright so she couldn't reach him. No, there was something wrong. She was just trying to look after herself for once. One look at the blush on her face and he knew what was going on. He leant back down and hugged her.
'Tell me what's going on. Talking's probably the safer course of action.' She smiled ruefully.
'Oh but that way's so much more fun.' Alex grimaced suddenly. True, in the past he'd taken advantage of her in such situations. At the time his tactic had seemed to work to pull her out of a depression. But his own love life wasn't as comfortable as it had always been. His relationship with Tenayah had drained him in a way Kat and Jemma never had.
'I do agree it's more fun.' He stopped, unsure how to explain his position but Jemma stepped in quickly.
'I know you're still hurting about Tenayah.' She looked at him for a moment. 'It's unfair of me to expect anything of you. Not like that.'
'I'm still your friend Jem.' He turned away and picked up the bottle. 'Go on then. Give me the bare bones of it at least.'
'I think you'd know most of it. You know I've never been apart from Jack for this long, especially not without any word from him. Umm …' her voice wobbled 'I guess he doesn't want me any more. We argued sure, but we always worked it out. He always took the first step towards making things better. But this time … more JD thanks.' Alex filled her glass and waited for her to compose herself. 'Well he just disappeared aye? Didn't even tell me what his business is over there in NY.'
She changed the subject abruptly. 'You know how I met that girl at Serena's birthday? Leila? Ages ago?' Alex nodded, perplexed. 'Her best friend moved to New York, a couple of months back. She's working for the same firm Jack does. Leila told me a lot about her. She's really pretty, but she falls for guys quickly. For the wrong guys. She doesn't stop to think about what's going on, she plunges in as soon as she sees a likely prospect. She doesn't take no for an answer.'
Alex suddenly realised where this was heading. 'Oh.' He straightened up and stood around in front of her. She leant against his chest and burst into tears.
'Leila showed me a photo. She's so pretty! Of course Jack doesn't want me anymore.' Alex rubbed her back helplessly.
'You don't know for sure.' He said quietly, although to him it seemed too obvious it was true. It fit the pattern of who Jack was. Who knew how long he'd stay over there for? Maybe he was planning to keep his options open, come back, patch things up with Jemma, and keep his New York affair a secret.