Irene returned home about twenty minutes later the smile never falling, grateful that the girls were out to avoid the teasing.

Jumping into bed after refreshing herself, she grabbed a textbook that she needed in order to keep on top of her medical knowledge preparing herself to read at least thirty minutes before heading to sleep. Her phone however had other ideas  breaking her trail of thought minutes later.

From Captain Hottie 👨‍✈️🥵
I had fun tonight. Thanks for agreeing to meet.

She laughed at the ID, as she began typing back.

From Future Wifey👰😍
I had fun too.Thank you for making it less awkward, it's strange but I felt like I could talk to you about anything, so thanks 😊.

He laughed, his heart fluttering at the ID, as he read her message with a big smile on his face. It felt easy with her, like he could listen to her forever, her voice beautifully soft, her eyes so captivating. It was a feeling that his heart had never really experienced with his other flings. They had the potential for a meaningful connection, and his heart warmed at the thought, his mind warming up to the possibility of marriage in an instant. However his thoughts were broken seconds later

From Youngji
Where are you? We were supposed to have a wild night remember babe?

Jackson's face recoiled as he remembered his fathers words. Was he right? His smile fading as he remembered the woman who was supposed to be the love of his life. The woman he was supposed to be fighting for. But he was drawn to Irene in a way he couldn't control. He let out a frustrated breath, as he responded to the one he wanted too.

From Captain Hottie 👨‍✈️🥵
I'm glad. Seems like I've scored brownie points....right wifey?"

Irene laughed, her hands instantly typing back.

From Future Wifey 👰😍
Of course, you've scored more than a few...I think it was the languages to be honest🤔🤔🤔 your lucky I'm a sucker for things like that hubby.

He laughed, catching the sass that she threw effortlessly. She had the ability to make him smile at the most ridiculous times, and to the most ridiculous things already.

Meeting someone new in Jackson's opinion was a divine pleasure. Regardless of how things turn out, He loved the dance that begins. The most important idea is to be able to get a true feeling for who they are over a few weeks and months without ever forming an opinion of them. You let them develop as a old polaroid photograph, nice and slow. Perhaps they are a life long friend, a lovable rouge or a person too damaged to give in an emotionally warm and nurturing way. He loved the unpredictability about her. He never knew what to expect. When he thought he had worked her out, he was presented with another layer that he couldn't help but adore. She was intriguing. And he was gladly being drawn in.

/////////////////////////////////////////

Three weeks later the boys were on another mission. It was not a training exercise this time. There was concentration embedded within all of their faces, as they looked left and right. This rescue mission was unlike no other. It was deadly. The success rate less than 30%, but Jackson had formulated everything with accuracy. He looked to his left, where Jinyoung would have stood, his heart clenching for his brother, missing his much needed presence. He let out a sigh of frustration as he turned to the boys, motioning them through with sign language in order to not attract any attention. Jackson turned around to see the American troops, he nodded at the captain of the squad who signalled him back before leading his boys through the other side. Jackson moved efficiently. His moves quite but sharp as he looked left and right, his gun changing direction with him. He signalled JB and Bambam to go one way as he moved forward, Mark and Youngjae walking backwards to make sure no one crept up on them in a surprise attack. Yugyeom walked besides him, the two looking at each other before diving in opposite directions. They listened into the transmitters waiting for further instructions before moving forward. The precision of their huddled movements could not have been faulted. They carried on, for five minutes, their formation never breaking as they inspected the abandoned building. Jackson's mind suddenly went south, his thoughts retreating to Irene, as he crouched down waiting for the all clear. Things were good. They were messaging all the time, going out when they could, and whenever he met her he would learn something new about her, the way she would look at the floor when he complimented her as though as she didn't believe it, or the way her presence lit up everyone that came into contact with her, her colleagues, patients and him. The way she smiled, noticing the way it didn't really reach her eyes, the way she seemed to put up a front for the world around her.He was left with more questions than answers and it put him one edge. But he loved it. He loved the unexpected nature their relationship had. It was based purely on the present, not anticipating future outcomes, or the weight of the past that was dragged after them. It was spontaneous. It was refreshing, like something he had never experienced. He smiled to himself turning back to where his attention should be. He wanted to do this right, he wanted to get it over and done with so he could rush home. To her. The boys looked at him teasingly as he smiled to himself. He had told them a few days after their first date. Mark and Bambam's reaction was priceless. Mark who had said she was off limits ate his words as he looked at Jackson patting his back as he hugged him. "Be careful with her heart jack. Please." He whispered to him, so the others didn't hear. Jackson moved away creating a small distance as Mark forced a smile. He could still hear the sincere pleading in his best friends voice, and it hurt his heart for an unknown reason. He remembered how he looked at Mark nodding. He understood. He could tell she had been through a lot, and everyone was protective over her, and he was becoming the same. He saw it in her eyes. The desperation to be good enough. Behind the tiredness and the false pretence that she was okay, he saw a little girl begging to be saved. Begging to be taken from her darkness into the light. He saw the outstretched hand, but he let her take her time. He wanted her to open up when she was ready. He wouldn't force her, it was the last thing he would ever want to do with a soul so pure.

But part of him gelt guilty. He was leading her on, he belonged to Youngji, according to his mind, his heart pulling faces at the very statement. It didn't skip a beat with Youngji the way it did with Irene. His guilt was hitting him in waves, he was being selfish. He didn't know what to do, he had no clue what steps to take, whether to walk closer to Irene or whether to walk back down the path that he diverged from leading back to Youngji. He had no fucking clue. But his feet seemed to make a decision for him. He wanted to get to know her more, but he knew that he needed to talk with Youngji.

He sighed turning back to the mission. He stalked further up, coming out of his previous position before walking towards the room that was suspected to be holding 59 hostages. He looked at the boys, who had all safely circled back to him, before kicking the door in Bambam and JB entering as the other four followed after, they looked around into the scared faces of women and children as Jackson placed his finger on his lips, signalling them to remain quite, he looked at Yugyeom, Youngjae, Bambam and JB whispering to them. "Get this batch out of here, Mark come with me." They nodded slightly concerned but adhered to their Captain's orders before moving. Jackson and Mark took the next door, backing each other's movements as they pushed their way through. They heard screaming from one end, followed by begging. They quickened their paces as they broke through the door, coming face to face with the terrorist that had escaped the clutches numerous times. Jackson watched as guns pointed in their direction, he could see the look of relief on the hostages faces as they spoke in a foreign language to express their gratitude. Jackson watched as the leader stepped forward, edging him on to fight, he looked at Mark signalling for him to call back up. He waited for a moment, as the man came towards him with a knife, he easily dodged it, but as punches and kicks  got more aggressive, Jackson felt the knife lodge in his side. He suppressed a scream as he took his gun aiming it before pulling the trigger, the boys entering just in time to eliminate the remainder of the opposition before they could lay a finger on him. Youngjae and yugyeom went up to the hostages freeing them from the ropes as they heard a hustle behind them, they turned instinctively to see the Americans pour in, deflated to see that they had reached before them. They heard bullets ring out, the boys standing on guard as the captain of the American squad proceeded to take a step forward. Jackson aimed his gun to the floor, a bunch of guns now pointing at his face as he signalled with his hands to his eyes and then to the floor, the Americans followed his gaze, seeing a trap that was connected to a grande. They pushed themselves back slightly as Jackson turned around not bothering to comment on the appreciation in their eyes. Quickly but swiftly they managed to arrest the remainder of the people that were involved against them. The mission was a success. No casualties. Well besides himself. Tired and drained the boys finished off before leaving half an hour later. The sat down in the helicopter, Jackson leaning his head back as he closed his eyes tired, he moved his hand applying pressure to the wound site, grateful that it was dark and that the journey home would be short. A few hours later after Jackson got his side stitched up he left to go home catching up on the sleep he desperately needed.

TBC

Authors note:
Hey if there is anyone reading this. Hope you enjoy this one. Lots of love and best wishes.