A Late Night (Tag: Jack)

[Jack McCarthy]

What, Jack didn’t look that bad did he? He thought he could pass for fully awake and aware, he just had kind of face.Always focused eyes, Strong Jaw. Sharp. That was Jack to a tee, or at least that was how he saw himself. Honestly, Jack didn’t want to sleep, he never did. If he could manage it he would happily never go to sleep, there just wasn’t enough hours in the day to do all the things he wanted to do. He was Jack Mccarthy man of action not Man of teddy bears and bedtime stories.


Jack fully sat up at this point his legs kicked up as he hugged them against his chin listening to Piper, which seemed to be something he was getting used to, whenever she spoke. Jack felt an uncharacteristic need to shut up…Which was unusual for him to say the very least, but at her comments Jack couldn’t help but let a spoke cross his features “Trust me as long as you’re not running out of the room and I never see you again you’re in no danger of being like my mom” Jack said on the person that she never knew. He pretty much had to raise himself mostly, considering his mom was out of the picture and his dad was….


...well..his dad…


Jack dropped his eyes momentarily once Piper said she was worried about him, Why would she? They literally met about once or twice and Jack isn’t exactly the most impressive guy out there….but eventually he started to nod? “Ok, 30 seconds. Then were done here….”


Jack gingerly lay down in bed shifting upwards until he was length ways and his head settled on a pillow as he lay on his back feeling a little silly “Ok, this is kind of comfy” he admitted

[Piper Galloway]

Piper visibly winced at Jack's response. She knew precious little of Jack or his family and to hear the words bitterly tumble from his lips hinted at a great deal of personal turmoil that resided just beneath the goofy, almost manic demeanor. That, at least, was something Piper knew all too well. She turned the heavy frown that touched her face away from Jack, lest he see her reaction to his comment and be brought down more.

"I'll..." Piper trailed off again as she contemplated her words carefully. "I'll stay with you." She offered finally, turning her gaze to him. A light smile spread across her face and she gave him a comforting pat on the back.

She couldn't help the trace of pleasant surprise that threatened to escape when Jack finally relented. She got up to give him the room to stretch out across the bed, watching him with no small sense of satisfaction. Once he was settled in, Piper moved to reclaim her spot on the edge of the bed. "See?" She said, giving him a short nod. "Much better, right?"

[Jack McCarthy]

No, Jack didn’t really talk about his mother. Why would he? He barely knew her. He never laid eyes on her. How could he ever miss someone that he never really met. That he had no real concept of….whatever was a mom? jJac had no real clue, so argueblyJack couldn’t have any real angst depending on the subject? Why would he miss her? She didn’t even know her? The very idea would be laughable…..

….Right? Right….


Jack frown a little at Piper’s decision to stay “.....Sure”He shrugged momentarily to himself a little put out by that, why would she even want to be anywhere near this place? Didn’t she have a home? It was probably much nicer then Jack’s crappy dorm doom….God, he missed the home he had with Onnie….


Jack settled into the pillo more and more feeling kind of awkward about the entire situation to, say the least, twisting a little in place “I’m sill not even that tired…..sorry for ruining the sleep over”

[Piper Galloway]

Piper couldn't help the smile. The tension that had settled over the room was quickly washing away leaving behind a much more relaxed Piper. She wasn't sure how much, if at all she had helped in the long run. So much about Jack remained a mystery but she took no small amount of humble satisfaction in knowing she'd at least calmed him for the time being. She hoped with a good night's rest under his belt he'd be able to wake up in the morning and and give his wild notion of going to Africa some serious, clear headed thought.

"It's a sleep over now?" She said with a faintly playful smile touching her lips. Piper chuckled lightly and glanced to Jack. Despite his words she could tell he was tired and just the sight of him made her yawn as well. She wasn't used to being up so late and she certainly would have remained fast asleep if she hadn't gotten the accidental, yet frantic phone call.

After just a few moments of letting the silence resonate throughout the room that had just recently been filled with so much tension, noise and movement, Piper had a thought. She reached into her pocket and withdrew her phone, casting a short glance over to Jack before pressing the small button that caused the device's screen to light up. She tapped through a few menus before bringing up an e-book she'd been reading. She gave another hesitant glance in Jack's direction ten focused her attention on the screen in front of her. Softly she began to speak, reading the words out loud in her gentle tone.

"Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-two million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea..."

[Jack McCarthy]

Huh, so this was what this is what it was like, was this what it was like if his mom stayed around? ….which was a silly thought but he was slightly drunk delirious and above everything else. Tired and as such he mind went to weird places….



...but it was kind of nice….



Just a few minutes ago his heart was thundering in his chest so tense and excited and anxious….and now….she didn’t know what it was but there was something naturally calming about Piper’s presence. A gentle warmth that just quietly drew Jack in….



….or maybe that was just the blankets,



At first, Jack at first was confused when she pulled out the reader and inwardly winced a little as she started reading, well now this situation was officially weird., he was going to lean forward and stop her...but the more she got into it...the more Jack seemed to relax before her eyes, as Jack began to shut his eyes the gentle rhythm of her words rocking her to sleep

[Piper Galloway]

Much like everything else that had transpired on this awkward, wholly bizarre night, Piper wasn't all that sure what had compelled her to start reading. She did know it was only partially for Jack's benefit. She always found comfort in reading and doing so aloud helped prevent the headaches and dizziness that usually accompanied the endeavor. She was more than a little nervous herself and delving into one of her favorite books, even if for a brief spell, went a long way in letting her settle after the harrowing encounter with Jack.

Before long Piper's eyelids grew heavy and she couldn't stop yawning. It was now far closer to the usual time she was waking up in the morning than the time she went to bed. Slowly she set her phone on Jack's bedside table and slid off the bed. For a moment she contemplated sneaking out again but it was so late and she was so tired she thought better of it. Instead she crossed the room and flicked the light switch off before turning around. She frowned a bit then yawned, which helped make up her mind. Carefully, so she wouldn't disturb the soundly sleeping Jack, Piper kicked off her shoes and slipped beneath the blankets, curling up on the far corner of the bed, leaving as much space as possible between herself and Jack.

[Jack McCarthy]

Despite Jack dreams being plagued by gentle voices….he slept…..Well...really...well which was remarkable considering how badly he was sleeping these last few weeks….this was just a godsend. He felt like he was caught in a cocoon. A cocoon made of soft blankets and sheer serenity and Jack really didn’t want to wake up. This felt just so amazing, as of this moment Jack was done with the waking world. If he knew sleep could feel so good he would never wake up. He would stay here forever


...but eventually, Jack was startled awake by the smell of cooking food, his eyes flickered open blinking himself awake….feeling rather refreshed, a pounding headache and his tongue feeling like a dead cat….but otherwise ok, he rubbed the temples of his head lightly as he led up in bed trying to remember what happened last night or where that smell was coming from….


And why it smelled great!

[Piper Galloway]

Piper had intended on keeping her distance from Jack throughout the night. Just the mere thought of getting close enough to touch another person while in bed was enough to make Piper's cheeks flush crimson. And yet, at some point during the night she'd dared to venture closer to the heavily sleeping Jack. She peered at the outline of his face in the dark before curling up against him and losing herself in the closeness of another person.

When morning broke Piper didn't linger in bed for long. With a night's rest she grew startlingly aware of how inappropriate her daring gesture had been. Even though there had been no touching and it was and exhaustion fueled move, Piper was embarrassed and quickly slipped out of the bed feeling almost as though she'd taken advantage of the situation. After just a few moments of standing in the middle of Jack's room, Piper nodded to herself and got to work.

Jack's roommates had long left for class by the time Piper wandered out into the common room. She frowned a little as she'd already missed half of her morning class. She didn't let that bother her for long, though, as she was now on a mission. After raiding the cupboards she scrounged up enough ingredients to piece together a decent breakfast. She figured Jack had probably neglected to eat much during his time coping with the turmoil his life had become in the wake of this Onnie who had apparently gone to Africa.

And so Piper got to work. She hummed a tune softly to herself as she set about making breakfast.

[Jack McCarthy]

Oh hello ever so aggravating migraine, how sad is it that you’re far and away becoming Jack’s most faithful companion. Brothers walks away to play solder while you fight for your life . Your childhood crush and best friend’s vanishes without a word when you need her most and the love of your life travels half the globe to get away from you, but headaches you would never abandon Jack. The ever comforting mate that was there to greet him when he was at his lowest….

There was a comfort in it……

….but not really….

Jack messaged the temple of his head with his palm groaning a little slipping his dirty dressing gown over his shoulders, Probably going to dig into his chip bag to get some poor excuse of breakfast he got accustomed too recently.

So you could imagine the surprise when Jack poked his head out of his bed room door. To see that food was being made. Actual. Real like food that must be cooked before eaten...what a bizarre concept.

Not to mention the surprise Jack felt when he saw that Piper was the one making the breakfast, the last thing he expected was to see Piper there the next morning especially after he must have freaked her out. Did he say something that made her stay? In his morning post drunken state the memories were somewhat hazy. Was he somehow super charming when he was drunk?! Did he make her promise to make him food. Like a odd blackmail thing? Was that it? Was this a blackmail breakfast...if she was threatened she wouldn’t be singing would she?

Jack's eyes narrowed a little towards Piper as if trying to zero in on any signs of fear


“......Hello”

[Piper Galloway]

The diminutive girl was buzzing around the kitchen area by the time Jack poked his head out from his room. She'd freshened up as best she could in the bathroom beforehand, putting her long hair in a loose tail which swished and bobbed behind her as she went about piecing together her improvised breakfast. It was hardly going to be five star dining but she'd at least managed to find a box of frozen waffles that would suit the purpose for the impromptu meal.

Blue eyes gleamed lightly, largely unaware of being watched, as a plate was fixed. A trio of waffles, still piping hot from the toaster and slathered with butter and syrup accompanied a quartet of sausage links (which Piper hoped weren't Jack's roommates') and a tall glass of milk (which wasn't passed the expiration date so she assumed it wasn't Jack's from the beginning). Just as she placed the syrup cap back on the bottle she jumped at the sound of the voice. As soft as Jack's greeting had been Piper had long lost herself to her task.

"Goodness!" She exclaimed breathlessly, bring a hand up to her chest before her face lit up at the sight of Jack. "Oh!" She sad, growing flustered and moving to pick up the plate with both hands. "I... made you breakfast." She offered warily, unsure of what condition Jack was going to be in this morning. "I hope you don't mind."