Interlude: First Noel (The Executive Office #1.5)

by Tal Bauer

“Keep going.” He turned the page. Jack accepting his folded flag in Arlington, looking like his world had ended. Jack, one hand hovering over Ethan’s coffin. Jack, sobbing, nearly collapsing into the coffin, barely able to stand. “I didn’t know if I should leave those. But they happened. They’re part of us.” It took a few swallows, but Ethan finally managed to get past the lump in his throat. His fingers traced over Jack’s bowed back, the despair in his face. He turned the page. A printout of the news headline and a picture of Jack on the day he told the world that he and Ethan were more than friends, more than colleagues. That he loved Ethan. “I’m so sorry,” Ethan murmured. “That you had to do that―” “I didn’t have to. Pete told me to deny it. I chose to say what I said.” “Why?” Ethan frowned, and he finally turned away from the photos. “Why, Jack? Why did you reveal it all? You could have avoided all of this―” “Because I loved you, and I still do love you. You deserved more than to be forgotten or ignored. I thought you were gone, and I wanted to do the right thing for your memory.” “I’m so sorry.”