"You’re an awfully hard person to pin down, love," Jax quipped.

"Me?" Brenda took a deep breath and walked closer to Jax. "Jax, I looked everywhere……I mean nobody knew……" She closed her eyes in frustration and then took a calming breath. "What the h*ll are you doing here?"

Jax shrugged. "Like your father said – I left a lot of telephone messages but you never called me back, so I decided to come down here and try to find……"

"You DUMB JERK!!!" Brenda cut him off when she suddenly drew back and swung her right fist at Jax’s chest. "I was looking all over for you!!" Jax blocked the blow so that the force of her punch was deflected. Brenda glared at him and put her fists on her hips. "So why did you leave the messages? What did you want to talk to me about?"

Jax mirrored her stance, shoving his hands into the small pockets at the front of his jeans. "Oh, maybe about how I love you so much that my life isn’t worth spit without you……"

Brenda’s chest heaved. "You……you love me?" The words came out on a whisper as tears sparkled in her eyes. "But then why …….. why did you leave me? In Lontak?"

Jax chuckled softly. "I *knew* you wouldn’t let me get away without buying you that Value Meal." He glanced towards Harlan as he took Brenda by the hand and pulled her towards him. "Do you suppose we could have some privacy? Maybe use this room for a few minutes?"

Harlan nodded and went to stand next to Veronica. "Absolutely. It’s the least I can do." He put his arm around Veronica’s waist. "Just press the intercom button on the telephone if you need anything."

Jax slipped his arm around Brenda’s waist in a similar fashion. "I think I’ve got everything I’ll ever need right here." Brenda stared up into his eyes and cupped the side of his face. She still couldn’t believe that she wasn’t dreaming. He gave Harlan one more smile and then closed the door.

As soon as the door shut, Brenda threw herself into his arms. "You DOPE!" she growled, and then threaded her fingers into his hair to pull his head down to hers. When her lips touched Jax’s, Brenda moaned aloud at how right it felt. Jax’s arms went around her and pulled her flush against him with an answering groan.

Tongues danced as the lovers re-acquainted themselves with the taste and feel of each other. Jax slanted his head in the opposite direction to deepen the kiss as his hand slid up from Brenda’s waist towards her breast. When she broke the kiss, her eyes were glazed with the same passion that she saw reflected in Jax’s eyes. "Jax……" she panted, "why…….I don’t understand…."

Jax reluctantly pulled away from her and took Brenda by the hand. "Come over here and sit down, love," he said softly. "There’s a lot I need to tell you, and some of it isn’t going to be easy to hear."

Brenda let him lead her towards the two chairs in front of Harlan’s desk. But after they were seated and he took a deep breath, Brenda took Jax’s hands in hers. "Jax – I already know."

He looked up with raw pain in his eyes. "About Jerry? And the gene?" Brenda nodded quickly. "But how……."

"Daddy told me when he came to see me in the hospital in Lontak."

Jax grimaced and nodded. "I didn’t think Harlan knew about it."

"Daddy said John told him one night when they both had a few too many drinks." Jax nodded grimly as she took a shaky breath. "After you left me, and I couldn’t imagine why – well, it was the only thing that seemed to make sense….."

Jax cupped the side of her face gently. "I’m sorry, Brenda – for so many things." Tears were in both of their eyes. "I’m sorry I didn’t trust you and love you enough to know that your father was lying about the abortion. And I’m sorry I never told you about Jerry or the gene." He stared down at the floor. "I never thought I would have to……"

Brenda’s eyes widened. "Jax – do you…….did you have a test?……"

Jax nodded slowly. "I had myself tested shortly after Jerry died. It came back positive, Brenda."

Brenda’s hands flew to her face and her tears spilled out on her cheeks. "Ohhhh, Jax……" He tried to stop her from speaking, but her emotions were on overload. "It doesn’t matter, don’t you see? I don’t care how much time we’ve got left – I just want to spend it with you……"

Jax finally managed to catch her flailing hands and force her to look into his eyes. "And I want to spend it with you, too, Brenda……and there’s LOTS of time……"

Brenda was breathing hard and she blinked her confusion. "But Jax….I don’t understand….if you tested positive for the gene….."

"I *do* have the gene, Brenda," Jax said slowly. "That’s part of why I went to work for the WSB……."

"Daddy thought so…." Brenda’s voice was distant. "He said you seemed to have a death wish and that’s why he was sure you had it just like Jerry……"

Jax put his fingers against her lips to stop her muttering. "Would you just *listen* to me? Please?" She swallowed hard and nodded. "I would have joined the WSB whether I had the gene or not, Brenda." He shook his head and smiled wanly. "I was bored to tears working in the corporate world." Then he squeezed her hands hard. "But the WSB also has some of the top scientists and doctors in the world working for them, love. About a year after I became an agent, they told me that they had developed an experimental cure – a therapy to eliminate the gene."

"Experimental?" Brenda took a shaky breath. "Did you take it?"

"I did." Jax smiled. "And it worked. Brilliantly. Or so I thought until the doctors in Lontak checked me out……" He took a deep breath. "You remember I told you that after we…….well, after we broke up, I quit working for the WSB?" Brenda nodded. "When I quit, I thought I was cured. I thought the gene was gone. But after I left, the WSB doctor kept working on the protocol, developing it to submit to the FDA for approval. It was during that time that he discovered the treatment was incomplete."

"Incomplete?" Brenda started to feel short of breath again.

Jax nodded. "The blood work they did during my stay in Lontak showed that the gene had re-surfaced. When Dr. Trong came to talk to me post-op, he explained that unless I went back to a WSB medical facility for more treatment pronto, I couldn’t be assured of a clean bill of health."

"And that’s why you left?" Jax stared down at the floor in silent concession. "But why didn’t you tell me?" Brenda pleaded. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "After all we had been through, didn’t you think I deserved to know the truth, Jax?"

"I thought you deserved a h*ll of a lot more than I could offer you at that point, Brenda!" Jax let go of her hands and rose from the chair. He turned and went towards one of the den’s large windows. As he stared at the setting sun, he ran his fingers through his rumpled blonde hair. "You’ve got to understand that when Dr. Trong spoke to me, he really couldn’t assure me that I would make it, even with the extra protocol." Jax turned back to her and his voice shook. "He said that the WSB docs weren’t sure if I had waited too long between courses for the treatment to work again."

"So you were in a WSB hospital?" Brenda tried to contain her anxiety. "But I spoke to Robert Scorpio! He said ……"

"Robert was instructed to deny any knowledge of my whereabouts. Standard WSB operating procedure." Jax’s voice was grim. "This treatment is effective, but it’s not a very pretty sight while I’m taking it." He grimaced. "Nausea, weakness….."

Brenda shot out of her seat and rushed to Jax’s side. "But don’t you understand, Jax? I don’t *care* about all that! I just wanted to be with you! I could have held your hand while you slept, or called a doctor when you needed him….."

"I’m not very good at being the weak one, Brenda – you should know that by now," Jax admitted. "I guess that’s something I’ll have to work on for the future."

Brenda blinked back tears. "The ……. The future?"

Jax finally broke into a broad smile. "It worked, Brenda. The medication worked. The doctors think I’m finally rid of the gene for good!"

Brenda let out a loud squeal just seconds before throwing her arms around Jax. She hugged him tightly and felt his arms go around her in response. When she pulled back, he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumb. "And that’s why you finally called me? To tell me that you were well?"

"I kept trying, but I couldn’t seem to find you." Jax shrugged nonchalantly. "And besides, I really needed to speak to your father, too."

"To confront him about lying about the abortion." Brenda didn’t hide her bitterness.

"We talked about that." Jax sighed. "When he told me that he already knew about the gene, I could understand his motives a little better, I guess. But there was something else I needed to talk to him about." Brenda frowned but a hint of a smile played at the corners of Jax’s mouth. "I asked him for your hand."

"My…….my hand?"

"In marriage." As Brenda inhaled sharply, Jax looked away with an embarrassed shrug. "Call me old-fashioned, but sometimes I think traditions should be observed." He winked at her sexily. "Although I have to admit, I’d kinda like to have the rest of your parts, too."

"You……" Brenda pulled out of his embrace. "You want to marry me?"

Jax reached into his back pocket. "You’re not usually this slow, Miss Barrett," he teased. He held out his hand to reveal a small black box. "Do you think you might be able to stand having me around for the rest of your life?"

Brenda’s hands were shaking as she opened the small velvet box. When she saw the exquisite three carat princess-cut diamond surrounded by smaller brilliant cut diamonds, copious tears ran down her cheeks. But when she looked up into Jax’s eyes, she was smiling brightly. "I’ll marry you anytime, anywhere, anyhow, Jasper Jacks," she whispered shakily. "You’re not getting rid of me this time."

Even the sound of the door opening and Harlan’s awkward clearing of his throat wasn’t enough to break up the passionate kiss that celebrated Jax and Brenda’s engagement. When Jax’s hand started to stray from her waist, Harlan coughed loudly. "Well, I assume that my daughter had the good sense to accept your proposal, young man….."

They broke the kiss, but never stopped staring into each other’s eyes. "She certainly did, sir," Jax replied. He placed another tender kiss on Brenda’s lips. "I love you with all my heart, Brenda. I’ll never let you go again."

Brenda rubbed her thumb along Jax’s lower lip. "And I love you too, Jax. I want to marry you just as soon as possible."

"Sooner than soon. Tomorrow!"

Brenda giggled. "Today!"

"Hold on there!!" Harlan’s voice was unusually stern, causing Brenda and Jax to both look over their shoulders at him. "Is there some *reason* that you both want to get married so quickly?"

Jax took Brenda’s chin between his fingers and looked deeply into her eyes. "Only that I love her so much I can’t live another day without her, Harlan."

Harlan chuckled softly. "Well then…….since my daughter has never exactly been a traditionalist ….. let me see what I can do."

*^*^*^*

Two days later, a small chapel about three miles from Jax’s beach house was the setting for a very intimate wedding. As John and Jane Jacks sat on one side of the chapel and Harlan and Veronica Barrett sat on the other, Ned escorted Lois down the small aisle. They turned towards the back and watched as Brenda slowly made her way towards her waiting groom.

Brenda was dressed simply in an ivory slipper satin sleeveless gown. The V-neckline accentuated her full breasts, while the flared skirt swirled around her legs as she walked. Her hands were level with the slightly-dropped waistline as she carried a small bouquet of white roses and orchids. Jax was casually elegant in a white dinner jacket with black tuxedo trousers. A black bow tie contrasted with the white rose in his lapel. When Brenda joined him at the small altar, he took her hand and tucked it inside his own as they linked arms before the priest.

"Good evening." Father Joe was an elderly, diminutive man with thinning hair and twinkling blue eyes. "We are gathered here today to celebrate Brenda and Jax’s love for each other," he began. "A love that has already survived more turmoil than most veteran married couples ever have to endure." Brenda looked up at Jax with tears of happiness in her eyes and he squeezed her hand tightly in reply.

Father Joe opened his prayer book and took a deep breath to begin the ceremony. "Dearly beloved……" Suddenly, he stopped and looked up from the book. "You know," he said, glancing towards Harlan and then John, "I realize this isn’t the usual way to conduct a marriage ceremony, but as long as I’ve got you all here……" Brenda slightly frowned at Jax as Father Joe took her by the arm. "Here……why don’t you just move a little to the side……" He re-positioned them so that they were facing their parents while he moved off to the side and perched on the edge of the Communion rail.

"If you’ll indulge me a little here….." Father Joe winked at Brenda. "I was having lunch at my favorite spot the other day…." A nod towards Jax. "…..Taco Bell, you know……" Jax grinned. "…….when I happened to notice there was a young woman at a table near me who was crying her eyes out." Father Joe smiled wryly. "Now, I’ve never been one who was able to mind my own business, so I went over and asked if there was something I could help her with. When she looked up at me, imagine my surprise when I recognized her! I had just recently seen Molly and Joe for pre-marital counseling and then married them!"

"Well, Molly went on to tell me that everything was going fine with the marriage – nice honeymoon, wonderful life – until they started picking out things for their new apartment." Father Joe leaned towards Harlan and Veronica. "It seems that Molly had picked out this one refrigerator she truly loved at Sears but the night that they were going to go and sign the papers, she came down with a flu bug. She said that she felt awful, but Joe hated to disappoint her, so he told her he would go and set up all the paperwork without her. Now Molly described the refrigerator to him in *great* detail – even gave him the name of the salesman!"

"Uh-oh," Harlan mumbled, "I bet I know where this is going!"

Soft laughter filled the chapel as the setting sun lent a warm glow to the proceedings. "I don’t think you do, Harlan," Father Joe quipped. He smiled at Brenda and Jax again as the entire group had formed an impromptu circle. "So, Joe went to Sears and found the salesman. The salesman showed him the refrigerator, and Joe agreed that it was exactly what they needed. Joe explained that Molly was feeling poorly, but the salesman told him he could *still* sell him the refrigerator and get the sale price as long as he signed the contract that night. He showed Joe where to sign and told him not to worry about any of the rest of the details – just to have Molly come in when she was feeling better to add her signature."

"Ohhhhhh, Lord……." John Jacks sank lower in his pew as Jane patted his arm in consolation.

Father Joe shook his head grimly. "I’m afraid you’re right, John. When Molly went down to Sears, it turned out the salesman had talked Joe into signing a blank contract. The salesman had filled in the model number and price for a much more expensive refrigerator with an ice-maker as well!" Father Joe shook his head as groans filled the air. "Poor Molly – she looked at me and said, "Father, I married an idiot!!!""

"She certainly did!" Harlan blustered. "Can you imagine? The boy must have just fallen off a turnip truck to sign a blank contract!!"

Father Joe nodded. "I’m afraid I wasn’t much help to the poor dear as I had to agree that Joe was pretty dense." He looked towards John Jacks. "Not exactly something you would do, eh, John?"

John Jacks pursed his lips and shook his head briskly. "Never."

Suddenly, Father Joe leaned towards John and Jane. "But I’ll bet it would surprise you to learn that Harlan did the very same thing a long time ago!"

"I did NOT!" Harlan was clearly agitated. "Barrett Industries wouldn’t be what it is today if I had been that gullible…."

Father Joe leaned towards Harlan. "And would it surprise *you* to find out that John here did the same thing?"

"ME?" Jane had to hold John by the arm to keep him from charging out of the pew. "I’ve never signed a blank contract in my……."

Father Joe held up a hand. "And despite being the children of two brilliant captains of industry, aren’t your children about to do the same thing – right here? Right now? When they get married?"

John and Harlan both sank back into their pews quietly as Father Joe walked over towards Brenda and Jax. "Isn’t that what all of us do when we get married?" He shook his head. "When I started to think about it – aren’t ALL of us idiots? Signing a blank contract to love, honor, and cherish till death do us part – when we have NO idea how God is going to fill in the blanks for us?"

Tears glinted in Jane Jacks’s eyes as she grabbed for her husband’s hand. Father Joe came to stand between Jax and Brenda and reached down to take their right hands in his. "These two young people are about to sign the biggest blank contract of their lives. But they know that they’ll make it through, no matter how God fills in those blanks, because they have a special secret weapon that will help them." He looked at Brenda first, and then Jax. "Love. Love gets us through. Love helps us cope with life, no matter what curve balls it throws in our path. No matter how those blanks get filled in."

Father Joe led Brenda and Jax back to the center of the aisle in front of the altar as Lois and Ned took their places as witnesses. "That’s what we’re here this evening to celebrate, my dear friends. Love. The love that got these two young people through some of the darkest times in their lives. And the love that will help them survive as God fills in all those blank spaces." He reached behind him for a large, leather-bound missal and opened it. "Now, if you two will join your right hands and repeat after me……."

*^*^*^*

"To Mr. And Mrs. Jasper Jacks – long life and happiness!"

The toast was repeated around the small table. After the wedding ceremony, the entire group had adjourned to a seafood restaurant up the coast. They were seated in a private dining room that was warm with the glow of candles and Jax and Brenda’s love.

Jax took a sip of champagne and then swallowed it quickly. "Oh, I almost forgot to mention….." He leaned closer to Brenda. "Robert Scorpio sends his best wishes since he wasn’t able to make it for the ceremony."

"Probably just as well," Brenda chuckled. "After the run-around that man gave me when I was looking for you, I probably would have decked him on sight!"

"Uh…." Lois frowned in mock confusion. "I don’t think that’s too smart of a thing to do to your hubby’s boss, girlfriend."

"Not quite." A hush fell at the table as all eyes turned to Jax. "Robert won’t be my boss anymore."

As Brenda’s jaw dropped in silent surprise, John Jacks cleared his throat and smiled. "That’s right." He clapped Jax on the back proudly. "Jax has agreed to come back to working full time for J&J Jacks."

There was scattered applause from the parents, but Brenda pulled Jax closer to her. "Honey – is that what you really want? I thought you said you hated working for your father……."

Jax leaned in to kiss Brenda quickly. "What I *hated* was being apart from you, Brenda." He set his champagne glass down and ran his finger around the rim. "And if I learned anything in that last little mission in Drakar, it’s that these old bones are getting too old for all that secret agent stuff."

"Besides – my grandchildren can’t very well take their father to school on Career Day and announce that he’s a spy, can they?" The room erupted in laughter again as John Jacks blustered happily.

"And," Jax continued, "Robert assured me that even if I don’t come back to the Bureau full time, it won’t affect my treatment program if the gene surfaces again." He smiled and lifted his champagne glass. "But as of the last check, the doctors are 99% certain that it won’t!"

Everyone lifted their glasses to toast the welcome news. The evening wore on with more toasts and then a delicious dinner. The group left the private dining room long enough for Jax and Brenda to dance on a small parquet floor that had been erected in their honor. After the bride and groom had fed each other the mandatory slice of wedding cake, Ned cleared his throat and tapped his glass with his spoon.

"Attention everyone!" All heads turned toward Ned. "I think that as Best Man, my final duty will be – to tell everyone to go home and let these two lovebirds alone!!"

Brenda blushed profusely and Jax put his arm around her shoulders. "You know, Ned, I’ve always admired your subtlety!" He hugged Brenda to his side. "Besides, my new wife and I will just be going back to the beach house tonight……."

Lois giggled. "Yeah, right……and you’re just gonna go right to sleep, right?"

Jax waggled his eyebrows at her. "No…….I thought we might just……play a few hands of cards……"

*^*^*^*

Brenda and Jax lay on the black satin sheets in the master bedroom. The moonlight reflected off their nude entwined bodies.

"Ohhhhh, honey……..remind me NEVER to play strip poker with you again!" Brenda sighed.

Jax lifted his head from her breasts, where he was still languishing kisses. "Why? Didn’t you like the penalty for losing?"

Brenda cupped his face lovingly. "Darling, if *that* was the penalty for losing, I don’t know if I can LIVE through winning!"

Jax bounded off the bed as Brenda watched him in lazy satisfaction. "That’s why I thought we’d play something different next……"

"Jaxxxxxxx…….." Brenda could barely drawl his name. "Are you crazy?"

He was back at her side in an instant with a large box under his arm. "Only about you, Mrs. Jacks." He slid his arms beneath her and lowered his head to capture her lips in a torrid kiss. As the kiss deepened, Jax rolled to his back, pulling Brenda on top of him. "Now," he winked at her when he pulled away, "what’ll it be, Mrs. Jacks? Race car or ship?"

"Race car or ship?" She blinked twice. "What do you mean?"

Jax flipped the lid off the box from where he lay. "Monopoly, my dear…….do you want to be the race car or the ship?"

Brenda sat up astride Jax’s hips and wriggled against him with a sly smile. "Neither. I think I’ll be the boot."

Somehow Jax managed to set up the game from a prone position as Brenda trailed baby kisses down his chest. They began to play and very quickly, Jax introduced Brenda to an entirely new version of Monopoly.

After about twenty minutes, when she passed "go" and Jax made them one with a quick, smooth move, Brenda inhaled sharply. "Jax?"

She felt him begin to grow and fill her. "That was your bonus, sweetie. Much better than $200, don’t you think?" Brenda moaned her agreement but Jax caught her hips. "Uh-uh, love – no movement allowed until you land on one of my ….. properties."

Brenda managed to roll the dice. "…..four, five, six……" Brenda groaned aloud as Jax’s hands stroked her breasts in time with her counts. "Marvin Gardens," she panted.

"You owe me," Jax growled. He pumped his hips for emphasis as his hands worked magic where they were joined. "I’ve got a Monopoly."

Brenda threw her head back and her hair dusted Jax’s legs as she arched in pleasure. "Your turn."

Jax managed to roll the dice and counted out four spaces, which he punctuated with hip movements. "Go to jail." He grinned at Brenda lustily. "What’s my punishment?"

Brenda slid her hands up Jax’s firm chest. "Just what you deserve, Mr. Jacks." She levered herself up until there was barely a connection and then slid slowly down again. "Slow and delicious."

A few moves later, the board and movers were swept aside as Jax and Brenda gave in to their mutual pleasures. When Jax slipped his hand between their damp bodies and touched Brenda’s center, she felt as though she were riding on a comet through the night sky. A few seconds later, Jax joined her in a brilliant supernova.

When Brenda finally had enough energy to raise her head, she looked into Jax’s eyes. "I had Park Place and Boardwalk with two hotels each, Mr. Jacks." She playfully tapped his nose. "I think I won."

Jax pulled her towards him for a blistering kiss. "Wrong, Mrs. Jacks," he finally murmured. He traced the outline of her face with one finger. "We both did."

Author’s note: I wish I could take credit for "Father Joe’s" speech at the wedding, but I can’t. One of my daughter’s teachers got married about two years ago and the priest told this wonderful story at that wedding. I wish I could remember his name to credit him, but I thought it was extremely appropriate for this version of Jax and Brenda. There’s so much uncertainty in their lives – Rashid’s not behind bars, Jax still might have problems with the "gene" – yet their love will help them cope with any problems that might come their way.