~Eleven'sPirouette~ and counting stars

[bibliophile;]

Jack looked up when he heard her crying. "Baby? Are you okay?" He asked.

[twofrogsinacoat]

"Are you?" Cecilie asked, watching him. She was still crying. The stress of the day and the fright of seeing him like this had really gotten to her.

[bibliophile;]

"I had a dream... I was back in the war," he said. "And everything was so vivid..." he said, but shook his head. "Did I scare you?" He asked. "I'm so sorry."

[twofrogsinacoat]

Cecilie flinched, then scooted over and wrapped her arms around him. She rested her head on his chest, ignoring his question. "You're safe now," she whispered, squeezing her eyes shut as the tears began to slow.

[bibliophile;]

Jack hugged her. "I know..." he said, closing his eyes. But he couldn't keep them closed for long. "You never answered my question."

[twofrogsinacoat]

"It doesn't matter if you scared me. The point is that you were afraid." Cecilie hugged him closer.

[bibliophile;]

Jack sighed. "Cece... I've killed. There were eight or nine guys that me and a few others were up against. I..." he clenched his jaw, whimpering. "Six of them, were because of me." That was what really got to him. "One of them was the one that shot me, because I got his friend."

[twofrogsinacoat]

Cecilie stroked his hair gently, her head still on his chest as she listened. She was silent for a long moment before she opened her mouth to speak. "Jack...killing comes with war. I know that you hate it; I do too. But you had to, or would have been killed as well." She grimaced at the thought.

[bibliophile;]

He sighed, hugging her. "But what'll the kids think if they find out?"

[twofrogsinacoat]

"You don't have to tell them." Cecilie looked up at him. "They know you've been a soldier and they look at you as a hero. They don't have to know details, because that should come with the idea of fighting in a war anyway."