Chapter 27: Reunion

Mary and Jack half ran into Carter’s room. They wanted more than anything to see him awake again. Jack only stopped long enough to hold open the curtain to let Mary through first. She took his hand and dragged him into the room after her. They stood before Carter, unthinking, unable to say anything.

Carter sat back in the bed. Something was bothering him, but he couldn’t decide what it was. He had an itch in the back of his brain that was screaming to him, yet not saying a word. With a quick glance over them, his eyes paused on their holding hands. They followed his gaze and just stared at their interlocked hands, having yet to realize what they were doing. They both blushed and quickly let go. Jack stuck his hands in his pockets and Mary fidgeted nervously.

Carter sighed, somewhat relieved. That was all it was. But what happened to Mary and Grey? And why was there this unsettling persistent silence? He had to break it, “Well... Good morning!”

Mary flew at Carter, embracing him tearfully, “You are alright. I was so afraid. But you’re alright.”

Jack sat down on the edge of the bed and placed one hand on Mary’s back and the other on Carter’s shoulder, “Carter, how are you feeling?”

“Well, I’m a little sick of this hospital bed, and I’ve only been awake for not even a hour. I’d really like to get up and about.”

Mary took Carter by the arm and tried to lift him out of bed, “Come on then! Let’s go for a walk! We can talk. It’ll be good for you to get out and about.”

Carter pulled back into the bed, “I can’t...”

Jack stopped Mary from yanking on Carter, “What do you mean you can’t? Did the doctor tell you to stay in bed?”

”No, that’s not it. I just can’t...”

Mary hugged Carter again, tears welling up once more, “What do you mean? Carter...”

Carter looked away. It hurt. The sadness began to well up in him for the first time. He’d never be able to walk again. He couldn’t just spend ordinary time with people anymore. From now on, Carter was a freak, he could never be normal again. It was one thing to contemplate this by himself, it was another thing entirely to have to face the reality, to tell it to somebody else. How could he tell them? He didn’t want to tell them yet, but he had to, “My legs. They don’t work. I can’t walk. Probably never again. Elli is trying to get me a wheelchair as we speak.”

Mary sat back. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true, “Carter, this isn’t a funny joke. Stop it. Please, stop it right now.”

Carter began to cry. It hurt so much. ”I wish I was joking... Dear Harvest Goddess, I wish I was joking.”

Jack stopped Mary before she could say anything else, “Don’t... You aren’t making this any easier on him.”

Mary fell limp upon Carter and just cried. Jack put his head down, “It’s all my fault. I did this to you. I should have been protecting you...”

“Why? You aren’t responsible for my safety. Harris is the town’s officer, not you.”

Mary spoke the words that Jack couldn’t, ”You are wrong... Harris was killed. Jack is now the town’s guardian. Defender of the right. The greatest hero the town has to offer.”

“I’m no hero. I’ve failed. I’ve failed miserably.” Jack buried his face in the bed sheets, “It’s all my fault...”

Mary touched Jack reassuringly on the shoulder, “Jack, you---”

Carter interrupted her, “---Please, can you leave us alone for a bit. I think Jack needs to talk to a priest in confidence.”

Mary nodded and went to wait outside. She wasn’t so sure this confessional was intended as much to help Jack as it was for healing Carter’s unseen wounds.

Chapter 28: Confession Confusion

As soon as Mary had left the room, Jack broke down crying. Carter felt sorry for Jack. He had such a rough life. Alienation was a tough road to walk and for Jack to be forced so quickly back into a position of caring for people must have caused a great inner conflict. Jack was a good person, Carter knew it. He was ashamed for having ever even considered that Jack could have been the murderer.

There Jack laid, cried on Carter's shoulder. He hadn't seen anyone this miserable since Doug's wife died. Carter comforted him, doing his best to reassure him. Through his crying Jack managed to ask one sobbing question, "I'm a horrible person, aren't I?"

Carter was shocked. Could Jack actually be having his breakthrough? Never once before had Jack even considered his rages to be wrong. It was always the townsfolk who were the horrible people to Jack. Carter thought back to Mary and Jack holding hands. Could Mary's kindness have reached deep into Jack's soul and reawakened his inner goodness?

Carter took a corner of the bed sheet and dabbed it around Jack's eyes, drying up his tears, "My boy, my sweet little child, you are not a horrible person at all. You are one of the most wonderful people I know. Sometimes you do things rashly, but that does not make you a bad person. To be able to ask that question alone shows that you value the light in your heart. A horrible person wouldn't have even given a second thought to the bad things they may have done. But you are doing a good thing, a great thing. You are the town’s guardian, you are trying to protect the one's you love."

"But I've failed... I've failed miserably... I watched as a grieving Rick took his own life. I could have stopped him. I know I could have. But I didn't. Everyone, it's all my fault. It's my fault you are hurt. It's my fault. Won, Manna, Harris, Popuri, Kai, Lillia, Rick, it's my fault they died. I've failed everyone, and I will continue to fail them."

Carter gasped at the rapidly growing list of the dead, but now was not the time ponder them. He put them out of his mind and did his best to focus on Jack, "I know it may hurt right now, but you are doing what is right for the town. You have to continue to stand up for what is right. Stand as a beacon of hope to those who are afraid. You are the town's savior."

"I am no savior. I’m responsible for their deaths. Their blood is on my hands, and there is nothing I can do about it."

Carter sighed, and pulled Jack close to him, embracing him. Jack needed more than anything to feel the warmth of love right now, "But it's not your fault, it's Zack's fault. You carry the weight of the world was on your shoulders. It is hard to go on sometimes, I know. But you having given us something special. You have given the townsfolk a chance. You may yet save them. You are a true hero. I know that you will bring Zack to justice. It will be all right. Soon everything will be all over."

Jack wrestled out of Carter's grasp and sat back away from him. With tears in his eyes, he pulled his scythe off of his back, "But it won't be all right. Do you know why I'm a horrible person? It would be one thing if I just did my job, but I can't," Jack stared down at the shining blade in his hands, "I want to cause pain. I want to cut. It's not right. I should just do my duty, but I can't. It's wrong to have to kill, but necessity sometimes dictates it. Necessity is the one justification for killing... But how can I be justified it if I take joy out of the revenge?"

Carter was genuinely disturbed. How could Jack feel this way about Zack? Then again, so many of his friends had been killed. It was understandable he supposed. But understandable or not, it still wasn't healthy, "Jack, you must try to take your personal feelings out of this. Revenge is never the answer. Zack must atone for his sins, but that is not your duty. If you must..." Carter shivered at the thought of what he was getting ready to say, "you may do what you have to do to stop this evil, and you will be forgiven. Just please, if you do, do that, keep your personal feelings out of it. No life should be lost without just cause and no life should ever be taken in anger."

Jack strapped the scythe back to his back, "So, it's okay if I have to kill. If there is no other choice. As long as I don't do so in anger or for revenge," Carter nodded weakly, seemingly against his own will, "But the past, what I have done so far---“

“---It is all forgiven. Jack, bad thoughts will enter into a person's head. It's how you act upon them that shows a person's true character. All will be forgiven, if you let your body and mind walk in the light. The Harvest Goddess has forgiven you."

A big smile broke out across Jack's face, "Thank you Carter. I don't know how to thank you. I feel like a huge weight is off of my chest. Thank you!" He shook Carter's hands so heartily, he thought they would fall off, "You are the most wonderful priest ever."

Carter blushed, "Jack, please. Now, you have a duty to perform. Go on savior. Walk in the light and be free!" Jack nodded and leapt up to leave. Carter called to him just as he was going through the door, "Jack, one quick question," Jack looked back, "You and Mary... Um, is Grey gone?"

"Yes, most definitely!"

Carter smiled warmly, "Then go on! There is nothing wrong with it! Go to her with an easy heart. If you love each other, then there isn't anything to be ashamed of!"

Jack, overjoyed, smiled back, "Thank you Carter. I promise I'll make it up to you. Thank you again and again!"

Carter chuckled to himself as he lay in his bed. Already today he had done such great good deeds. He had made those two so happy. Maybe life wouldn't be so bad. He hoped that their hearts were now set completely at ease.

Chapter 29: A Fresh New Engagement

Jack looked around the waiting room and saw that Mary wasn't there so he went outside. There Mary sat on a bench, waiting for him. Jack smiled and Mary smiled back. She asked him, "Feeling better now?"

"Very much so. Let's take a walk okay?" She stood up and Jack took her hand and they walked down to Rose Square...

Meanwhile, Carter lay back in his hospital bed, waiting for the doctor to return for more testing. His head was feeling sort of fuzzy. Something was bothering him, but a thick fog was quickly enveloping his mind. It had started a little bit before Jack's confession, and had kept getting worse.

He tried to roll over onto his side without success. That must be yet another thing which was going to be difficult without the use of his legs. Funny the things we take for granted. Finally he managed to roll over. He pulled the blankets around him to keep him warm. With a yawn, he glanced at the cup sitting on the table next to the bed. The doctor had said the medicine in the tea was to help calm him. It was more like drug him out of his wits. Carter yawned again. What was bothering him? Now he wished he hadn't taken the medicine. He knew Jack had said something important, but through the growing fog of his mind, he just couldn't remember. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep...

Mary sat with Jack in Rose Square. It was a lovely sunny day, the air was crisp and clean. Their was a fresh sea breeze blowing in. It was simply peaceful. Mary felt so safe with Jack. He had his arm around her, holding her close. A bird chirped from a nearby tree. Jack looked deep into Mary's eyes and sighed, "I wanted to apologize for the other day in the library. I... I shouldn't have done that. I understand you don't feel the same way about me now. I'm truely sorry. I just---"

Mary placed a finger on Jack's lips. She slowly brought her hand back down, running it down his neck and letting it rest upon his chest, "It's..." Suddenly, she leaned in and kissed Jack. It was just the two of them, nothing else in the world mattered. And them, it seemed like the kiss had hardly begun when it had ended. Her heart beat uncontrolably. Even afterwords, she could still feel his breath in her, taste his lips upon hers. Never before... "That Jack, is how I feel about you."

Jack sat there, staring into her deep blue eyes. He wanted to say everything, ask questions, but he couldn't get it out of his mouth. But she answered his unspoken questions anyway, "Jack, I've always had some feelings for you, and I knew you had feelings for me too. But when Grey proposed to me, I didn't know what to do. I never would have dreamed that he had feelings for me. I just froze and nodded weakly. I shouldn't have, I was just caught up and didn't know how to say no. I realize now that I was wrong. I should be the one apologizing Jack, not you. I never should have hurt you like that. I love you."

Jack ran his hand down Mary's back and pulled her close to him, "I love you too Mary. But regardless, I was still wrong, and I'm the one who should be sorry."

"No, you were perfectly alright. I hurt you, I hurt you bad, and you were only right to get upset." Mary laid her head on Jack shoulder, "Won't you forgive me?"

"How about we forgive each other? I guess we both made some mistakes."

"It's a deal Jack. Clean slates from now on." They sat for a few minutes, unspeaking.

"Mary, did you know that was my first kiss?" Jack smiled as she looked up at him.

"Oddly enough, mine too." Jack looked at her quizzically, "Oh, Grey never kissed me. I never let him kiss me except on the cheeks, not that he wanted to even do that. I'd swear that if I didn't know any better, I would have thought Saibara forced him to propose to me." Again, silence set in, neither sure what to say next.

"Jack, I still have it."

"Have what Mary?"

She let go of his hand and dug deep into her pocket, "I didn't have the heart to throw it away," Mary pulled out Jack's beaten and mangled blue feather, "I did my best to dust it off and straighten it back out. Anyway, do you want to try again? Let's see if I can do it right this time."

Jack looked at the feather, and gingerly took it from Mary. He turned it over in his hand and tearfully began to smile. It had been so carefully repaired. Where the stem had been broken in two, it had been glued back together nearly perfectly. Every little hair had be straightened back out and set back in place. It must have taken Mary hours of precision work to have done this.

Jack held the feather up in the sunlight, turning it this way then that, before placing it against his chest. A tear rolled down his cheek and fell upon Mary's arm, "Mary... I how can... I just... It's so... Thank you. It's the most beautiful gift anyone's every given me. Nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. I don't know what to say..."

"Yes you do Jack."

Jack took the slightly crooked blue feather and tucked it in Mary's hair, by her ear, behind the leg of her glasses. He admired the way the glinting blue of the feather matched her eyes. "Mary will you, my love, make me the happiest man on earth? Will you take this blue feather? Mary, will you marry me?"

"Of course I will Jack. Nothing would make me happier." This time, they both leaned together in harmony, and kissed one another. They sat there, their breath on each other's lips, embracing one another for the longest time. Jack was happy, for the first time in his life, he was truely happy.

Chapter 30: Dark Shadow on the Horizon

Jack and Mary spent the whole morning together in Rose Square, doing nothing in particular. They would have spent the whole day there had Mary not reminded Jack that they should tell Carter about their new marriage plans. While they could have the mayor wed them, they wanted more than anything for Carter to do it, to have Carter sanctify their marriage under the Harvest Goddess. Even more so, how could they refusing being married by one of their best friends? And, what could possibly heal him more than a wedding? It would break the dismal mood from the many funerals he'd have to perform. They hurried over to the hospital to go see Carter.

Jack held the door open for Mary and entered after her. Elli was sitting in her usual place behind the front desk, filling out paperwork. Mary walked up to her, "So, Elli?" She ran her hand through her hair, right along the blue feather, "Anything new?"

Elli continued working without looking up, "I'm sorry Elli, I'm really busy right now. You wouldn't believe the amount of paperwork that goes into ordering a wheelchair. Saibara and Gotz should have the makeshift wheelchair ready this afternoon, but we really don't want Carter to have to use that thing forever. We want our Carter to have a top of the line electric power wheelchair. Thing is, those are really expensive. That's what these forms are for, trying to get some money to help cover some of the cost from either the government or from charities."

Mary turned away, slightly disappointed. She had wanted to see Elli's reaction. Jack placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a smile. He looked back over at Elli, "Hey, that's okay. We really just want to talk to Carter. We have something important to tell him."

Elli sat down her pen and shook her head slowly. This paperwork was giving her a splitting headache. Guess she would take a break to talk after all, "I'm sorry, but he's sleeping right now. It's really best that you don't wake him up." She looked up at the two of them. Jack and Mary were holding hands, trying their best to keep a serious face. Suddenly, a huge grin broke out across their faces and they stifled laughter at a private joke. Elli noticed a flash of blue in Mary's hair. Could it be?

Elli leapt up and ran around the desk. She hugged Mary tight, "Is it really true Mary? Are you two getting married Mary?"

Mary took the precious feather out from her hair and showed it to Elli, "It really is true."

Elli looked over a Jack, "I just can't believe it. My precious little Jack is going to marry Mary.”

"I can hardly believe it myself." Jack tucked the feather back into Mary's hair.

It suddenly dawned upon Elli, "And that, that is why you wanted to talk to Carter?"

"Would you tell him for us when he wakes up? Jack and I want to be wed by him, and no one else will do."

"Of course I will. It would be my honor. It will be so wonderful! I haven't gone to a wedding in ages."

Jack took Mary's hand again, "Well, we really must be going. There is so much we are going to have to do. Thank you very much."

Outside, Jack looked up at the sky. The sun was directly overhead. A chill ran down his spine. The day was only half way done. It may have been a perfect day so far, but knowing his luck, something was going to have to go wrong. With a quick glance down the road, he saw just what was in store for him.

Anna was heading straight for them. It suddenly had dawned upon Mary that her mother would never tolerate this marriage. Mary squeezed his arm tight, "Please, let's go the other way."

"No Mary. You have to face her sometime. Stand up to her. Mary, you are worth everything to me. Am I worth enough to you that you would stand up to your mother for me? Stand up to Anna. You are strong enough to do it. I know you can." Jack stood with Mary strong in the middle of the road holding her hand tight, facing the one thing which could possibly tear them apart. Bad luck must have a crush on him or something.