Archive of Our Own

Jake was sitting in a random clinic hallway, the wound in his leg burning, anxious and restless. The small medical staff was currently overloaded with the kids from the bus, and other miscellaneous injuries that had occurred in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. He’d already been waiting an hour for his leg to be tended to, though he wasn’t upset about it. He knew April would be busy with the little girl for a while. There were a few other nurses running around, mostly tending to kids. Jake was content to let them get taken care of first.

Eventually, though, he couldn’t wait any longer, sitting there and letting the chaos move around him. He got up and hobbled around, looking through supply closets and cabinets until he found what he was looking for: antiseptics and bandage material. He smiled to himself as he gathered up the supplies and found an empty room. Jake had cleaned up many of his own wounds in the past. This was no different.

He dumped everything onto a table and was occupied organizing it, so much so he did not notice the presence of another person sitting in a chair in the corner.

“Prepping for surgery?”

Jake nearly jumped out of his skin, his hand waving instinctively towards his hip, where a gun often was, though not at that moment. He peered into the darkness. “Heather?”

She got up out of her chair and hopped closer to him, using an obviously mis-sized random crutch to aid her. “Hey. I was just trying to get some shut eye. It’s a little crazy around here.”

Jake nodded, willing his heart to relax again. “I uh, I don’t want to waste the doctor’s time.”

“You mean you don’t want to wait any longer,” Heather raised an eyebrow.

Jake chuckled. “Am I that obvious?”

Heather just shook her head and reached for a package of gauze, opening it up. “Let me help you.”

Jake grabbed the gauze back from her hands. “I got it,” he said gruffly.

Heather blinked in surprise, her mouth opening and closing a couple times before she could come up with words in response. “Someone’s grumpy,” she muttered. Then she grabbed the gauze back. “Are you always this receptive to an offer of help? It’ll be easier if I do it.”

Jake blinked, suddenly a little embarrassed at his reaction to her offer. It was hard for him to remember how to be in polite company sometimes. “Sorry,” was all he said.

Thoroughly chagrined, he followed all her instructions, which included taking off his pants and sitting on the table, leg splayed out, so she could clean his wound. He supposed he should have felt more awkward about being in his underwear in front of a woman he’d met mere hours ago, but exhaustion was catching up with him, and Heather’s gentle and careful demeanor simply calmed him instead. He watched her hands as she cleaned and probed around his wound, using a small pair of hemostats to pull out a couple pieces of debris that had gotten in the wound. The alcohol burned like a bitch, but he managed to keep his response to a small hiss. Regardless, she whispered ‘sorry’ and smiled at him, and when she did it, something twisted a little in his chest.

Jake had nothing else to do but watch her as she worked, and that allowed him to stare at her unhindered. She was cute, he’d noticed that right away. She had a nice smile. He’d thought her a little meek on the bus; the mousy schoolteacher type, happy to let him assume control of the situation. But here at the clinic, she’d already been the opposite. Few people would grab something out of his hand after he’d already grabbed it from theirs. And fewer still would be able to get him to sit still on a table.

She was nearly done with his leg. It was cleaned, clean gauze applied, and now she was instructing him to raise his leg a little as she wrapped the bandage around his thigh to hold everything in place. Once done, she placed some tape, and patted his leg (lightly, towards the knee, far from the wound itself).

“Good as new,” she said, and grinned at him. Jake found himself smiling back. Outside the door of this room, the clinic and the town of Jericho at large were whirlwinds of chaos, worry, and activity. But in here, Heather’s calming presence made Jake feel at ease. Refreshed.

“Thank you,” he said. Heather blushed a little at the sincerity in his voice, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Jake found he rather liked eliciting that response in her.

“What about you? How’s your leg?” Jake gestured at the leg she was favoring.

“I’m waiting for an x-ray. It’s okay, they gave me something for the pain. It doesn’t feel so bad now.” Heather looked out towards the hallway, where someone in scrubs walked by the half-open door quickly, hair flying behind them, looking harried. “I can wait my turn.”

“Well, I’ll let you get some more rest,” Jake said, hopping off the table. He helped her back to the chair, gently lowering her into the seat. He found a discarded jacket someone had left in the room and draped it over her. She looked up at him in gratitude as fatigue was settling in, smiling sleepily and closing her eyes. Jake turned to leave, but after a second, turned back and leaned down to place a quick kiss on the top of her head. Then he turned again and left without meeting her eyes, wanting to pretend he didn’t just do that. He left in search of his father, the faint smell of Heather’s shampoo lingering in his nose.

***

Heather was starving, and the smell of the cookout had lured her from her house a half-mile down the street. That, and the loud music. She didn’t know the occasion, and everyone she asked just kind of shrugged at her, but she wasn’t going to look a gift steak in the mouth. Food was being served - hot, freshly cooked food - and she was happily going to eat as much as she could. Which was how she ended up with a fully loaded plate she could barely handle, as she awkwardly tried to hold it while walking along with her crutches.

“Let me get that,” came a voice from over her shoulder. She looked up to see Jake’s dark eyes, which somehow absorbed the light from the work lamps like tiny little black holes. His gaze was intense, as it normally was, and Heather found herself unable to tear her own eyes away.

She realized she’d been staring and had missed it when he raised his eyebrows at her and said her name quizzically. She shook herself out of her reverie. “Yes, please,” she said, holding out her plate, letting out a slightly embarrassed breath as he turned away from her. He took her plate along with his and walked to a table (slowly, so she wouldn’t lag behind).

Jake chose a couple seats at the end of a table, she suspected to make it easier for her to get up and down with her crutches. Heather had been realizing that Jake was very astute and caught on to small details that other people tended to miss. It was a skill she occasionally noticed in her students - students which tended to be the gifted ones that were also the ones getting into trouble. “Thanks,” she said, plopping down into the seat as Jake set down her plate.

She had fully expected him to take off after that, good deed accomplished, so she was a little surprised when he set his own plate down across from her and sat down as well. He noticed her expression. “This okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine!” Heather said a bit too quickly, trying not to let on how pleased she was. “I just thought you’d sit with Emily or something.”

Jake shook his head and stabbed at his steak. “We aren’t really at the stage where we can have a polite dinner together. I’m not sure we’ll ever be at that stage again.”

Heather nodded as if she understood, though she didn’t really. She knew there was some history there, but Emily hadn’t wanted to share much, especially since she was with Roger now. But it sounded like whatever that history was between the two of them, it was well and good in the past. Heather had to admit, she was a little happy about that.

They ate in companionable silence for a few moments, the both of them relishing their food, before conversation naturally started up again (Heather being the first to break the silence, unsurprising to herself). “I don’t think I’ve eaten anything besides granola bars for the past 24 hours,” she chuckled around a mouthful of baked potato. “This tastes so good right now.”

“Enjoy it, who knows when we’ll be eating like this again,” Jake said matter-of-factly.

Heather swallowed her bite, the taste a little acrid on the end as she remembered the situation they had all found themselves in. Jake peered at her - she was sure her face was telegraphing her feelings, she was never good at hiding them.

“Hey, sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to - to open my big mouth.”

Heather shook her head. It wasn’t his fault. That was reality, after all - nuclear bombs had gone off, and they were at war (maybe?), the town was cut off from all of society, and who knew if help was ever coming. Life as they knew it may have ended.

She was startled out of her mental spiral by a warm hand on hers. Heather looked up to see Jake had reached across the table to grab it. He was looking at her very intently - she wasn’t sure he knew how to look at anything other than with maximum intensity, actually - and it made the warmth from his hand spread up her arm and across her cheeks. Heather was actually a little annoyed at herself for constantly having this reaction to him. She felt like a schoolgirl in a way, with a crush. A grown woman, with a crush. But it was a nice feeling, and like Jake had just said… enjoy it while you can. So she was content to let the feelings wash over and through her.

“We’re gonna be okay,” Jake said, and squeezed her hand before letting it go.

Heather nodded and let the bad mood roll back off her shoulders. Pouting was going to do no good, and somehow when Jake said we’re gonna be okay, she believed it. She dove back into her food with renewed gusto. This steak really was amazing, and she’d be damned if she wasn’t going to love every bite. She risked a glance at Jake, and he was staring at her with a small smile, ignoring his own food.

Heather wasn’t sure what that meant, but she wasn’t brave enough to dig to the bottom of it. Instead, she started asking Jake questions about himself. He heavily deflected questions about what he’d been doing away from Jericho (and Heather made a mental note to try again later, after they got to know each other better. If they got to know each other better), but he was happy to share detailed stories of the kinds of trouble he and Stanley had gotten into while growing up. He relayed a particularly fun anecdote involving a carton full of old, rotten eggs from Stanley’s farm, Gray Anderson’s house, and Halloween night. Jake seemed to enjoy making her laugh at his stupid high school antics.

Eventually, their plates were empty. Heather was sad that dinner was almost over and Jake would be going one way and she’d be going her own. She pushed the plate away and sighed a little.

“It’s not over yet,” Jake said mischievously, a twinkle to his dark eyes.

“Huh?” Heather asked, tilting her head to the side. Jake just held up a finger and got up, leaving Heather alone at the table. He’d walked behind her so she couldn’t see where he went. Instead, she looked around at the people at the other tables - everyone sitting, eating, laughing. It was a good night.

A good night that got even better when Jake returned, placing a piece of chocolate cake in front of her.

“Oh, my God,” Heather smiled down at it. “This is perfect.”

Jake resumed his spot across from her. She could feel his eyes on her as she dove into the cake, letting the chocolate hit her bloodstream at mach 10 speeds. She wasn’t sure why he was doting on her so much - her mind refused to believe he liked her in any romantic sense, not little ol’ Heather Lisinski - but she wasn’t going to argue. So she stole glances at him and ate her cake, content.

***

Jake was pissed off. The power was off, again. Just when it seemed like things were getting under control. Then the EMP burst happened and now the town was plunged into darkness. This time it felt even worse than before. It had only been a day without power and the town was scared - they’d seen the bombs overhead. They knew this time the loss of power was purposeful, calculated. The town stank of fear. It was a smell he’d encountered before, and he was supremely pissed off that it had come to his little hometown, where the people he cared about lived.

He stalked through Jericho as the sun was setting, the darkness looming in the windows of the houses around him. People were quiet as they walked home, rushing slightly, afraid of what might come out after dark. Jake didn’t blame them for feeling that way. He wasn’t afraid, though. Just pissed.

Jake kept walking for a while, weaving around the streets, telling himself he was checking that everything in town was in order. But realistically, he was barely paying attention to his surroundings. Which caused him much surprise when he found himself stopped in front of Heather’s house, as if on autopilot.

It was darkened, like all the other houses, except for a window in the front corner, where he could see the telltale dim shine of a lantern just barely escaping the glass. He waffled for a minute, looking up and down the street. She was safe in her house, that should be all the information he needed to know. He was checking out the town, and like every other townsperson, Heather was where she was supposed to be.

But try as he might, he couldn’t think of her as just any other townsperson. Jake hadn’t really ever purposefully sought her out, but he kept accidentally coming across her. And every time he did, she made him smile - a genuine smile. He thought he’d run out of those in San Diego. Something about her calmed the ever-present storm in his mind, and after parting ways with her, he felt as if she’d soothed his edges somewhat. He couldn’t explain it fully. She was sweet and calm, logical and rational, all things that went a ways to explaining why he liked her company. But it was more than that: every time he looked into her eyes, he felt a little twinge of something. Not attraction specifically (though that was there, too), but affection. Caring. Emotions he hadn’t felt towards a woman in a long time.

Whatever it was, Jake found he was getting a little addicted to it. And he guessed that’s why he was there now. Standing at the end of Heather’s front walk. Staring at her house, like a stalker.

Jake looked around again, and seeing nobody, he walked up decisively to her door. Was it wrong of him to go to her now, when he was mad as hell, hoping she’d soothe the rage right out of him? He wasn’t sure, but he couldn’t stop himself either way, and before he knew what was happening, he was knocking on her door.

When she greeted him, it was with delightful surprise. She smiled wide, said his name with a slight squeak to it, and simultaneously gripped the doorknob to her house nervously. Jake found himself returning her smile without forcing himself to do it. Yeah, this had been the right decision.

Heather ushered him inside and made him sit on a couch that fell within the circle of light thrown off by a single lantern on a side table. She went to the kitchen to get him a drink, and while she did, he looked around at his surroundings.

The living room was filled with - to Jake’s eyes - junk. Electronic bits everywhere, components and computer parts strewn about. Several stacks of books on tables and on the floor, as well as a packed bookshelf along one wall. But he had to admit, there was order to the chaos. The piles of computer parts were neat, contained. The books were lined up in tall piles, all the spines facing the same direction. He felt as if this was a reflection of Heather’s mind, in some ways. Full of stuff, but orderly. Everything in its place. There was an open notebook on the table, right next to the lantern. Jake reasoned that that’s where Heather was working on - whatever all this was.

She returned before long with a cup of coffee, which he accepted gratefully.

“I don’t have any milk or creamer, sorry. Do you want sugar?”

Jake shook his head and took a sip of the hot, bitter liquid. “It’s perfect.”

Heather chuckled and sat next to him on the couch, sipping at her own cup of coffee. “I wasn’t very good at making coffee even before this, but thanks for the compliment.”

Jake didn’t say anything, and she seemed content to just let him sit. He closed his eyes and took it in - the crickets outside in the grass, the quiet rustle of wind, the slow, measured breathing of the woman next to him. Eventually, he opened his eyes and turned to Heather. She was watching him openly, curious, but letting him find his words in his own time.

“I’ve been angry all day,” he started. Heather nodded, encouraging him to continue. It knocked loose a lock of brown hair, which she tucked back behind her ear. Jake was distracted by that, watching, then letting his eyes trail further down, along her neck. He wanted suddenly to kiss her there, to taste her skin.

Whoa, slow down there, buddy. Too far the other direction.

“Jake?” Heather questioned, her voice soft, a tinge of worry to it. “You said you were angry?”

When the hell had he gotten so prone to distraction? “Sorry. Yeah. Just angry at all this, I guess.” He gestured vaguely to the air. “Angry that it seems to be getting worse, and not better. That any progress we made gets taken away by forces we can’t even see, let alone fight.”

“I get it. I have those moments, too,” she said, heaving a sigh and setting her coffee down on the table, but not before setting out a coaster for herself and one for Jake. “What can I do to help?”

Jake set his coffee down on the proffered coaster. “You already have.”

“Oh?” Heather laughed. “That was easy then.”

“It’s nice to be around someone nice,” Jake said by way of explanation, though he knew he was vastly under-explaining things. Honestly, he didn’t know how to come out and say that she was like a balm to his raw wound of a soul. That seemed a little… much.

“Nice,” Heather repeated softly. “That’s me! The nice girl.”

Jake thought there was a little bitterness to the statement. “I didn’t mean it like that. I- I’m not good at this.” He held his hands out, palm up, in apology.

“No, you didn’t say anything wrong. That’s my baggage,” Heather sighed. “I appreciate the sentiment, really. I think I know what you’re trying to say.”

Jake raised his eyebrows. “You do?”

“Yeah. You think of me as a friend! Friends help each other when they’re in bad moods. So, that’s what I do for you. I’m glad I’m your friend, Jake.”

Jake thought that was really not it at all. He supposed on the surface, they were doing a lot of friend things - having conversations and supporting each other. But he couldn’t say he’d ever had any of his other friends’ faces floating across his vision when he’s gone to bed at night, like Heather’s had. He hadn’t thought about caressing or kissing his friends. But he didn’t want to scare her or push her, and more saliently, he had no idea how she really felt about him. Maybe friendship was all she wanted. So he nodded to that. “Yeah. Friends.”

Heather pursed her lips and nodded, seemingly satisfied with the conclusion she reached. Jake, however, felt less than satisfied, and like this conversation had gone completely wrong. Frustrated, he grabbed his coffee and took a big gulp, letting it burn his throat.

At least you aren’t angry anymore, he told himself.

***

What the hell had she been thinking? Friends?! Why on Earth had she said that??

Heather sighed, annoyed at herself, for the millionth time that day. She was attempting to fix a radio with some spare parts she’d found, but she couldn’t concentrate. Images of Jake’s face kept floating across her mind’s eye, and every time it did, she recalled the conversation they’d had a couple days earlier, and it burning hot regret shot through her body.

She told herself she’d only been trying to keep things light and easy. Low pressure. But she’d gone too low pressure. Classic Heather Lisinski over-correction.

Heather sighed again and threw her screwdriver half-heartedly across the room, giving up all pretenses of getting anything accomplished. Instead she threw on her jacket and left the house, not really having a purpose in mind but heading into town regardless.

Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t long until she ran into Jake. He had become Jericho’s unofficial renaissance man, doing it all and fixing every problem. As a fixer herself, Heather found it alluring. Doing something was always better than doing nothing. She saw him across the street, and watched him for a few minutes. He looked stressed, having animated conversations with Gray and the police. She took in his messy hair, authoritative pose as he argued with Gray about something, her eyes following his form and appreciating the way his clothes fit him… Heather blinked and took a breath. Yeah, she had it bad.

Friends. Stupid. The stupidest move she’d ever pulled with a guy, and she was pretty famously bad at dating as it was.

Somehow, it was like he realized he was being watched. He looked over and saw her. Heather could have sworn his face lit up - almost imperceptibly, but it was there - when he saw her. She hesitantly waved at him. He said something to Gray then turned and ran across the street, directly for her. Butterflies exploded in her stomach, and she internally shoved them down, willing herself to relax.

“Hey!” Jake shouted as he got closer. He smiled when he reached her.

“What’s going on?” she asked. “Gray looks pissed.”

“Doesn’t he always?” Jake scoffed, making her laugh.

The two of them just stared at each other for a moment. Heather wondered what he wanted, but was content to let him get to the point while she looked into his always intense eyes.

“I need a favor,” Jake finally said, looking down and breaking eye contact.

“What is it?” Heather asked.

“I need a car.”

Jake brought her up to speed - some of Jonah’s guys had broken Mitchell out of jail. So Jake needed to get to Jonah’s, to renegotiate. Heather agreed to help him - she had just the truck in mind. It was fussy, but would get the job done. She was glad she had been able to get him what he needed. And the town, too. Of course. Couldn’t forget that she was helping Jericho, which was (supposed to be) the more important thing.

Heather realized she didn’t want to be friends with Jake. She wanted more than that. A lot more. But Jake was too respectful. She’d said the F word to him and she could feel him cooling off already. She had been seeing him every day, but since that night in her darkened apartment, it really felt like he’d been avoiding her. They’d barely talked. She had to do something.

She ended up bringing the subject up with Emily. His ex, of all people. But she had already given her blessing, and she had Roger, after all. But Heather needed more info, so she pumped Emily for whatever she was willing to share. Which turned out to be not much. Mostly, Emily gave a vague warning to her about the fact that Heather barely knew Jake.

Heather was sure there were some dark stories in his past. There had always been rumors flying around town about Jake, which became a hotter topic as soon as he came back. She’d heard his name many times before she ever met him. But no matter what the stories contained, she couldn’t shake her own first impression about him: a handsome stranger that saved her and a bus full of her students, quite literally in Suzy’s case. Heather knew those skills had come from somewhere. She knew he had been overseas, in the war. She wasn’t naive; she knew experiences like that came with a mental toll. But it didn’t scare her.

And that’s why, despite her claiming she and Jake were friends, despite Emily trying to warn her away, despite Jake taking a step back from whatever feelings were developing between them, Heather decided to make her move, before he drove off to Rogue River and possibly died out there. She wanted her cards to be fully on the table.

So she kissed him. She had him backed up into her truck; he had nowhere to go, so she just did it. She enclosed her arms around him, stood up on her tiptoes, and kissed him. And he kissed her back. She felt his hand on her back, holding her to him as the two of them practically made out, right there on main street. And when they finally pulled apart, he smiled at her.

Heather was elated. And then instantly embarrassed. She’d never done anything like that in her life. Her heart was beating a mile a minute. She stammered something about him coming back in one piece, and then felt even more embarrassed when he didn’t leave in a dramatic flourish, because he was still waiting for Eric. So Heather made a crack about watching out for irradiated ants, and he played along. She walked away quickly, feeling equal parts proud of herself and totally mortified that she’d actually kissed him. But at least she’d made a stand. He had to know now.

Not friends.

***

The drive to Rogue River was long, and though he’d had lots of conversations with Eric to fill the void, there had been plenty of silent moments for Jake to replay that kiss that Heather had given him, over and over. He kept telling himself he didn’t need the distraction right then, so he tried to ignore it.

Jake tried to ignore how she’d smelled - clean, but a natural clean. She’d smelled a little of mint.

He tried to ignore how she’d felt as he’d pulled her against his body - warm and pliable. She’d pressed up against him and it had felt like they fit perfectly together.

He also tried to ignore how the kiss had felt. How soft her lips had been, yet how insistent she’d felt. It was like she was trying to communicate through the kiss. Jake had felt their communication had been a little off lately, but this seemed clear. Her words said ‘friend’ but her actions said more than friend. And Jake had long since learned that humans were more honest with their actions than their words.

Jake wasn’t even entirely sure what he wanted, or at least he told himself he wasn’t sure. Emily was in his life again, and that stirred up old feelings too. But those feelings were stale. She was familiar, but not comfortable. Jake knew how to be in a relationship with Emily, but even though it seemed easy, he had to admit to himself it was not what he wanted. When he looked at Emily, there was affection there. He cared about her, and he always would. But there was no spark. He’d gotten over her years ago, before he even went to Iraq. Emily was an old, closed book. Heather, though - she was a new volume, with pages and pages left to read.

Eric started talking again, so Jake let his Heather-related thoughts shift to the background as he focused on the situation in front of them. Meds. His father.

But try as he might, he couldn’t get her out of his mind completely.

***

Heather watched as Mrs Green wrapped her chunks of ice in towels and placed them around Mr Green’s sweaty form on the bed. She’d gone a little crazy trying to make the ice, but, it had worked! She wasn’t sure she could recall a time when she was as proud of herself as she was then.

Mrs Green finished maneuvering the ice chunks, and she looked up at Heather, giving her a small smile. Heather nodded, and backed out of the room, giving them some privacy. She went to check on more of her ice bowls in the making, and then all but fell onto the couch.

Heather hadn’t realized how tired she was, until she was horizontal, her head on a pillow. Before she’d even felt the sleep coming on, she was conked out. And it wasn’t long before she found herself in a swirling quagmire of dreams. Images floated in and out of her mind’s eye - Mr Green, passed out in bed; running around with bowls of ice in her hands, juggling them, bowls everywhere; and Jake.

Jake.

Time seemed to stop in her dream. He was standing there, wearing one of his innocuous outfits of jeans and t-shirts, but looking somehow picture perfect.

Dream Jake walked up to her, coyly smiling. She loved that smile on him, she realized. Whenever he smiled that way, she felt he was trying to give off the bad boy aura. But she never really bought it, not fully. He just looked… cute.

“Kiss me,” dream Heather was saying, and dream Jake muttered a ‘yes ma’am’ before taking her into his arms. Heather felt his arms around her, could smell him as he moved in close, but before their lips met, she woke up.

It was dark and quiet in the Greens’ living room. She could hear soft voices upstairs - Mrs Green and Emily, talking as they sat watch over Mr Green. There was the glow of some lit candles on the dinner table nearby. Heather sat up and stretched her neck and back, working out the kinks after having fallen asleep in a weird position. She looked around, thinking about how Jake had grown up in this house. The Greens were so normal and upstanding, but she knew Jake had rebelled, run off, and done his own thing. But he came back.

The war, or whatever it was that had happened, had forced him to stay close to home. Heather wondered if he hated it here, or if he was okay with it. He seemed settled. He was protective of his family, and he supported his father. All she’d seen of Jake was a good man who’d done everything he could to help his family and this town. Heather sighed. Emily kept trying to warn her away from him, but it wasn’t working. She liked him.

She really, really liked him.

***

Heather was pacing back and forth in the hallway outside Mr Green’s room, keeping a vigil with Emily, when Jake and Eric finally made it home. They had rushed up the stairs with the medicine and someone in scrubs, rushing to save him.

Heather sat downstairs the entire time, waiting nervously. Emily had gone upstairs to be with the family - she knew them a little better. But Heather couldn’t bring herself to leave. Maybe it wasn’t the right time, but she needed to say some things to Jake.

Eventually, people filtered down from upstairs. Heather stood in the living room and watched Jake as he descended. He saw her when he was halfway down, and although it was dark, she could still see his smile. She smiled back and met him at the bottom step.

“Can we talk?” she asked, her voice breathy. She felt as if she hadn’t been able to inhale enough oxygen for the last twelve hours. Jake nodded and gestured to the front door. Outside, Heather sat on the front stoop. Jake plopped down next to her.

He had circles under his eyes, and dried sweat on his brow. He scrubbed his hand across his face and angled his head slightly, looking at her from the side. “I hear you made some ice,” he said.

Heather blinked; she’d almost forgotten about it. “Oh, yeah, some,” she stuttered. “I just wanted to help.”

Jake reached out and grabbed one of her hands in his. Heather’s breath caught in her throat.

Whatever this was between them, this lingering longing, it had to be addressed. One way or another, Heather resolved to herself, it had to come to a conclusion. She knew that she couldn’t go on like this, in some kind of limbo.

“Jake,” she started, but wasn’t quite sure what to say next. I kissed you and it was weird but I want to do it again. Can we do it again? ..No, that’s dumb.

Jake turned to her, and took her face in his hands. His hands felt calloused against her cheeks, but warm against the cool night air. Heather couldn’t come up with a single word to say, but she didn’t think she could hold a conversation just then anyway, as her own heartbeat was thundering in her ears. Jake looked into her eyes; his gaze flicked down to her lips then back up.

Oh God he’s going to kiss me - I think - is he going to kiss me? Why else is he holding my face like this?

“Stop thinking,” Jake said, reading her mind as only he seemed able to do, and he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers.

Heather blinked in surprise before closing her eyes. She parted her mouth, letting Jake’s tongue invade slightly. In response, she sucked on his lower lip briefly. The kiss intensified, both of them letting loose a pent up need. Eventually, they parted, each taking deep breaths. Heather felt as if she’d be lightheaded forever.

“Wow,” she said. That kiss was even better than their first one, when she’d jumped him against her truck.

“Thank you,” Jake said, letting go of her.

“For kissing you?” she asked.

That made him laugh, a deep laugh that bubbled up out of him. Heather felt strangely proud of that. She had never seen him laugh like that around other people, but she’d coaxed it out of him multiple times in their short time of knowing each other.

“No, for helping my dad and supporting my mom. For being here for me.” Jake paused. “For waiting for me.”

Heather smiled ruefully. “I wasn’t going to wait much longer.”

“I know,” Jake said. He picked up her hand again and squeezed it. “I’m not very good at relationship stuff, Heather.”

“Me either,” she scoffed. “I’m a 20-something, single, in a rural town. You think my dating life has been very good?”

Jake started to say something else, but Heather cut him off. “Kissing isn’t a proposal of marriage, Jake. Relax.”

He looked at her, and seemed relieved. “I want this to work,” he said.

“Me too,” Heather replied. “I think it will. If we try.”

Jake nodded and leaned over to kiss her again. This kiss was less urgent, but it still filled Heather’s stomach with butterflies. She almost couldn’t believe this was happening. She had been ready to walk away from him that night, if he’d said he didn’t want a relationship with her.

“We should go on a date,” Jake said.

“A date?” Heather looked around at the darkened town spread out from the street in front of them.

“The world didn’t end. A pretty girl likes me. I want to take her on a date.”

Heather felt a blush creep up her neck and into her cheeks. She could get used to this feeling. “Then I accept.”

“Tomorrow night,” Jake thought for a second. “Bailey’s.”

Heather grinned. That was probably the only place in town to have a date. But it was perfect. “7pm?”

“I’ll pick you up at your place,” Jake said. He stood up and Heather followed suit.

“You should get some rest,” Heather said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She backed away, not letting go of Jake’s hand until their arms were no longer long enough to cover the distance between them.

“Goodnight.”

***

Jake, unfortunately, couldn’t get any rest that night. Eric had realized he left his wallet in Rogue River, and with that, the realization hit that the mercenaries were going to come for them.

Jake sat on watch all night in the living room of the Green family home. Images ran rampant in his mind of the carnage the mercenaries had unleashed. He had to protect this town from them. He had to protect his family.

He had to protect Heather.

Jake stood at the window until the sun rose, the strength of his resolve keeping him awake. A small part of him was angry at himself for adding another person to worry about to his roster, but he couldn’t keep up that anger for long. That was the point of life, after all. To have something you wanted to protect.

He didn’t regret kissing her, and he couldn’t have been more elated that she reciprocated. Jake knew then, he would do anything for her, to keep her breathing and happy.

Jake put his gun away as his family awoke. Eric was a mess of worry and guilt, and his mom was coping by puttering in the kitchen and making breakfast. Jake told them he was going to take a nap, and he went to his room.

As he laid on his bed - not even bothering to change out of his clothes - he drifted asleep with the memory of Heather’s lips on his.

He would make this work.