The Magic Continues-23

by Deb

Jax tried to focus as the wind whipped around his body. The adrenaline surged up and down his system as he fall towards the earth. He didn’t have much time to pull his ripcord, but he had to make sure that he cleared the engines of his jet. The stall alarm could still be heard coming from the jet and then it cutoff as the jets roared back to life. Jax gave a slow count to three and activated his chute. His main concern was that the wind would interfere with the proper deployment of the silk. If the lines became tangled or the chute didn’t open properly he would have little time to discard it and get his emergency chute open. He knew he had only moments left as his body plummeted to the ground.

Suddenly he felt the pressure on his harness as the chute slowed his descent and he was pulled upright. With the gusting winds and swirling snow he could barely make out the small rectangular chute above him. He was thankful that Brenda’s picture had softened the supply sergeant’s heart and allowed him access to the low altitude jumping parachute. The silk was rectangular and smaller in size with shorter lines. With the chute properly opened Jax turned his attention to the tracking scope attached to the front of his harness.

On the ground below Brenda was pacing along the edge of the hill overlooking the train station.

For the third time she turned to Jerry. “Why aren’t the trains moving?”

“Brenda, the weather has been bad we will just have to wait for the train to come in from Interlaken.”

“Are you sure that Jax is coming?”

“He said he would be here. Has he ever broken a promise to you before?”

“No, but not even Jax can control the weather.”

Brenda looked up as she heard the sound of an airplane, but couldn’t see anything. “That’s a plane. It must be Jax. Where is the airport?”

“Brenda, there isn’t an airport around here. The military airport that we landed in Interlaken is the closest airport within hundreds of miles. In fact, this is the largest flat, unoccupied piece of land in miles.”

“But what is a plane doing out in weather like this?”

“Must be some fool with no sense at all.” Replied Jerry as he heard the engines in the jet cutback, pause and then power up.

Brenda watched his face and knew that something was happening, but she just wasn’t sure what. “Jerry, you had better tell me what is happening or else.”

He just held up his hands, laughed and looked to the middle of the field.

Jax stared at the scope and used the toggles on the parachute to adjust his course to align with the flashing red light. The scope gave him the line, but not the altitude. He was still not able to see the ground and could only guess how far he had to go. He fought the lines to square his chute over the target and thought about Brenda. Jax could hardly wait, he knew she would be there, because Jerry had set the transmitter.

Brenda remembered Jerry putting something out in the middle of the field and shouted at him. “What is happening? Where is Jax? How is he getting here?”

Jerry didn’t respond. He just looked out at the field and shrugged.

Brenda was beside herself. She was jumping up and down and beating her fists against Jerry’s chest. “Tell me. Tell me. Tell me right now!”

Jerry could barely feel Brenda’s feeble attempt to get his attention and he just laughed.

Jax breathed a sigh of relief when he was able to finally see the ground approaching below him. To the side of the field he was also able to make out the presence of three people in snowsuits. He couldn’t be sure, but he would have bet anything that the one figure jumping up and down and hitting one of the others must be Brenda.

Brenda, frustrated when she was unable to get an answer out of Jerry, followed his gaze back to the field. When she saw the body coming slowly to the ground she let out a whoop of joy. “That has to be Jax.”

Jerry only grinned at her, but Alexis nodded her confirmation. With another whoop of glee Brenda took off running for the middle of the field following the snowmobile tracks.

Jax hit the ground softly with the snow cushioning his landing. He saw the transmitter set in the snow just within his reach. He turned it off, pointed it triumphantly at Jerry and put it in the pocket of his jumpsuit. He then struggled to get out of the parachute harness before Brenda reached him. It was a tie. Jax got out of the rigging just as Brenda leapt into his arms.

Obscured by the snowsuit, helmet and face shield Brenda could not see who it actually was, but she just knew it had to be Jax.

Stepping out of the parachute harness put Jax slightly off balance and Brenda leaping into his arms sent them both to the ground. Sitting on top of Jax with her legs straddling his chest Brenda tried to figure out how to get the face shield up. Finally it slid up to show Jax’s smiling face.

“I can’t believe that you jumped out of an airplane. You might have gotten hurt. I don’t know whether I should kiss you or never speak to you again for putting yourself in danger.”

“I would definitely vote for the kiss. I promised that I would get here and I would never intentionally break a promise to you.”

“I wanted you here, but I want you here in one piece.”

“HMMM” he said with a sexy chuckle. “Maybe you had better check to make sure that I’m all here.”

“That is one task that I will look forward to.” She purred as she reached down and lightly brushed her lips along his.

One of his hands circled her waist and the other curled behind her neck as he pulled her close. This time the kiss was deeper, awakening the passion smoldering within each of them. The helmet was restricting their contact and Jax quickly tore it off and flung it out of the way. The need of their bodies to connect was thwarted by the layers of silk, wool, spandex, down, thinsulate, polar fleece and goretex separating them. Their lips were the only parts of their bodies in direct skin to skin contact and the sparks created by that contact threatened to release their long suppressed sexual desires.

The roar and vibration of the approaching snowmobiles barely registered until they were finally interrupted by Jerry’s chuckle. “If you want to cancel the rest of the plans and just stay here - that’s fine. But try not to melt all of the snow off the Alps.”

Jax groaned softly as Brenda pulled away and inquired. “What plans?”

Jax looked at Jerry and asked. “Is it still a go?”

“Yes, but you only have 20 minutes to make the Express.”

Jax turned back to Brenda. “Are you up for an adventure Mrs. Jacks?”

Her smile was dazzling as she replied. “With you. Always, Mr. Jacks.”

Reluctantly Jax got up and pulled Brenda to her feet. He helped Jerry gather the parachute and other gear to load on Jerry’s snowmobile. Alexis left Jax and Brenda her snowmobile with the bag that Jax had requested and got on behind Jerry. With a wave and a wish for happiness they were gone.

Brenda was so excited she was doing a little Brenda dance in the snow. “What now?”

“A change of location to continue where we just left off.”

“Where are we going?”

Jax just smiled and got on the snowmobile. Brenda stomped her feet in feigned frustration and got on behind him. She wrapped her arms around his chest and hung on tightly as they took off with a roar.

Back in the chalet and in their bedroom Alexis watched as Jerry tossed things out of his suitcase.

“Is there something that I can help you find?”

“No, I had something I wanted to give to Jul and I can’t find it.”

“Jerry, I don’t want you spoiling her.”

“Lexie, I have a lot of years to makeup for. She is my daughter and I’m entitled to spoil her a little, but this is something that is as much for me as for her. Success!” He said as he pulled a piece of paper out of the side compartment of his suitcase.

Jerry walked over to Alexis and showed her the document. “I can’t change the past, but I can remedy a few of the mistakes and omissions.”

Alexis read the document that Jerry held and a tear rolled down her cheek as she kissed him in response.

Jul was in the den fascinated by all the pictures of the Jacks family. A family that she was now a part of, but not quite sure how she fit in. She knew that Jerry loved her mother, but she wasn’t sure exactly how he felt about her or even how she felt about him. In her mind she could accept that he was her father, but her heart was still in turmoil. She tried to ignore the conflicting emotions as she looked at the photographs on the wall and in the albums on the table. Most of the photos were of Jerry and Jax when they were young. In many of the pictures they were in motion: running, jumping, climbing, swimming, surfing, riding and didn’t seem to want to bother to stop and cooperate with being immortalized. In others they were triumphantly wanting to register their victories and conquests for the camera.

Jul took one of the photos of Jerry and held it up alongside her own face as she looked into the large mirror on the wall. She looked between her own reflection and that of the photo. She tried smiling to see if she had the same type of dimples as Jerry’s picture displayed. Her search for similarities was interrupted by the voice behind her.

“We do have the same eyes, but luckily you got the rest of your looks from your mother.”

Jul lowered the picture and turned around slowly, embarrassed to have been caught.

Jerry just pretended not to notice her discomfort. “Where’s Em?”

“There were problems with the phones. She finally got through to Port Charles and is letting her family know that we arrived okay.”

Jerry held out his hand for the photograph and Jul reluctantly handed it over. Looking at it he responded with a chuckle. “I was about thirteen when that one was taken in Australia. Mum, was always a great one for taking pictures. The worst times were when she made us dress up once a year at Christmas for a family photo in front of the tree. She knew I couldn’t refuse when she would say that it was all that she wanted for Christmas. I would have rather chewed off my own arm then been there trussed up in a suit and tie grimacing for the camera. Not that I really object to showing this gorgeous mug to the world, but I just hate having to do what was expected of me. I did learn my lesson though and after that I would just become hard to find when I didn’t want to do something.”

Jul started to smile thinking of some of the stories that Lady Jane had been telling her about Jerry’s disappearances.

“One year I didn’t make it home for Christmas and Lady Jane just kept the tree up until I finally showed up. It was the middle of June and there was that bloody Christmas tree in the middle of the living room with all the decorations and not a single needle left on it. Needless to say, Mum got her picture of us in front of that naked tree.” Jerry chuckled remembering Lady Jane’s triumphant smirk.

Jul joined in the laughter. “She showed me the picture, but I didn’t want to ask why the tree looked so pathetic.”

Jerry brought his hand up and put it gently on her shoulder. “Jul, in this family don’t be afraid to ask about anything.”

Jul looked up at him and gave him a shy, trusting smile that shot straight into his heart. Charming women had always been second nature to Jerry, one of his most accomplished sports and yet he now found himself tongue tied by this young girl, who was his own child. “Jul, I’m still new at this father stuff. I had great parents as examples, but responsibility and dependability have never been my strong suits.”

Jul nodded back solemnly, “That’s okay. I’ve always been very mature for my age.”

Jerry was touched by her sincerity. “Well, why don’t we try it the old fashioned way? You be the kid and have fun and I’ll try to be the adult and make sure that you’re safe.”

“We could try to have fun together and just see how things go?”

Jerry winked at her. “Now, that sounds like a plan. But first we need to make it official. This is for you.” He cautiously held out the document that he had been clenching.

Jul took the paper and quickly recognized that it was her birth certificate. Years ago she had gotten a copy hoping to find some clue as to who her father actually was. All of her hopes and dreams had been quickly dashed when she had found that the space for father was blank. Now that blank was filled with the name: Jericho Jacks and her name was listed as: Juliana Davis Jacks.

Jerry was nervous when she didn’t say a word and found himself babbling. “Jul, you can call yourself whatever you want. You can still go by Davis, or use one of those silly hyphens. It’s all up to you. Maybe I should have asked you first? Please, don’t be upset.”

When she looked up at him there were tears in her eyes and he wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. He still didn’t know about women and crying, except that he didn’t like it and it made him feel helpless, a feeling he couldn’t tolerate. But when her smile broke through the tears he knew that it had to be okay. Jul didn’t say a word, she just nodded, wrapped her arms around his waist, put her head into the middle of his chest and started to cry.

Finally she whispered. “Jericho?”

“Yeah, and you had better not tell anyone else.” Jerry replied tightening his arms around her. Thankful that she didn’t notice the tears that were now forming in his own eyes.

Jax maneuvered the snowmobile around the outskirts of the village, past the railway station to a private railway spur at the Eiger Ambassador Hotel. Brenda stared in amazement at the train that was parked there. The one that the family had taken from Interlaken was interesting, but this one was extraordinary. It was an old vintage design that had been painstakingly and lovingly restored.

Brenda turned to Jax asking. “What style is that?”

“Belle Époque.”

“What does that mean? I don’t remember my French.”

“It was a time in history that the French called La Belle Époque, the beautiful or happy era. It was a time before World War I when pleasure reigned supreme. The pursuit of beauty and pleasure in all things was the order of the day.”

“Oh, I remember. La joiede vivre, living life to its fullest.”

“I would say that that would be the perfect motto for us, Mrs. Jacks. And I can’t think of anything more beautiful then you are right now.”

The smile that she gave him in response would have been reward enough for any parachute jump or death defying leap.

The conductor appeared at the landing and extended a hand to Brenda. “Mr. and Mrs. Jacks, welcome. We will be ready to leave as soon as you make yourselves comfortable.”

Jax followed Brenda onto the train and they made their way to a pair of high backed leather seats and sat across from each other. Brenda pulled her feet up and curled them under her. She watched as Jax stretched out in the seat and made himself comfortable, all the while his eyes never leaving her face. She loved the way that he was looking at her and the way that it made her feel. There was a whistle and the train started to rock as it slowly left the station.

As she got used to the movement of the train Brenda stood up, removed her gloves and moved to within a foot or two of Jax. She took off her hat, tossed it to the seat behind her. Next she unwound the scarf around her neck. letting it drop to the seat from her fingertips. Brenda watched Jax’s eyes widen and darken as she reached for the zipper at the top of her jumpsuit and ever so slowly eased it down. Her body rocked with the sway of the train as she slid the jumpsuit off one shoulder and then the other. Sliding it down to her waist she then peeled it deliberately down her hips and thighs. Having his full attention she dropped it to the ground and quickly stepped out of it.

Jax couldn’t believe how quickly the train car had heated up, especially once Brenda decided to taunt him with her slow striptease. He reacted with pleasure at the sight of that beautiful tiny body now out of the snowsuit but still encased in silk, wool and spandex. She was definitely a sight to behold. He only wished that they were alone, but he could wait he wanted tonight to be perfect.

Brenda loved the smile on his face as he watched her and she could practically hear what he was thinking, but then it was probably actually what she was thinking or at least she hoped so. She held out her hand to him. “Your turn.”

Jax rose and they were only inches apart. Brenda ran her hands up his chest to the collar of his jumpsuit. She looked up at him and smiled as she pulled the zipper down. She slid her hands inside the jumpsuit, back up his hard, muscular chest to his shoulder and pushed the suit off his upper body. She took hold of the suit at his waist and started to lower it down when there was laughter behind them.

Two other couples with glasses in hand came strolling in from the dining car. They were soon mesmerized by the sight of Jax and Brenda in the midst of their endeavors. One of the men let out a low whistle. “Fresh meat.”

“Very prime.” One of the woman replied.

Jax quickly scooped out the new arrivals to analysis the situation. The men he recognized as minor players from one of the lesser Arab Emirates kingdoms that he and Jerry had previously bested in some oil deals. There was a certain look of boredom and recklessness that they had similar to that of many of the idle rich. The looks they gave Brenda were as if she were the latest item on the schedule for bidding. The women were both tall, blonde with their own natural attributes enhanced by all of the scientific methods available to those with money. They had dismissed Brenda with a jealous shrug and were carefully taking inventory of Jax.

The couples tipped their glasses to Jax and Brenda as they made their way a little unsteadily to their seats. When one of the men finally stopped staring at Brenda and glanced at Jax he reacted with recognition. Drawing himself up with self importance and arrogance he approached them.

“Jax, I haven’t seen you in years.”

“Prince Amir.” Jax responded with a nod.

With a slight leer at Brenda the Prince continued. “I see you aren’t wasting all of your time on business deals. We have booked the Ice Palace for the evening. If you and your companion would care to join us I’m sure that we create some delightful distractions.”

Jax glanced at Brenda, who had a slightly amused smile on her face, and responded. “No thank you, my wife and I have our own plans for the Sphinx.”

“Well, if you change your minds you know where to find us.” The Prince left with a feeling of jealousy over the warmth and sexuality that flowed between Jax and Brenda, the extent of which he could only imagine. As he returned to his seat the look he gave his companion made her realize that she was going to have a very long and painful evening.

Brenda took hold of Jax’s arm and snuggled next to him. “I’m glad that we’re not joining them I was beginning to feel like the meal.”

Jax put his arm around her and pulled her closer. “More like dessert, there isn’t enough of you for a main course.”

“Is that a complaint?”

“From me. Never.”

With his arms around her and the gentle rocking of the train Brenda dozed off. As he watched her sleep Jax couldn’t help comparing her to other women that he had known. There must have been women that were smarter, braver, funnier, sexier, more exciting or beautiful, but he couldn’t think of any that were all in the same delightful and exasperating package. Brenda fit so easily and completely into his life. She found their life a delight and a challenge. She had been born into money so it didn’t intimidate her nor was it what she craved. Love and attention were what Brenda yearned for. She was the most wonderful person to give a gift to. It could be the most expensive piece of jewelry or a mint cookie and she was thrilled. Once he had offered her anything in the world and all she had wanted was a kiss from him. There had been problems and there would be problems again, but there wasn’t anything they couldn’t face if they did it together.

Brenda awoke with a smile and stretched out in his arms. “Are we almost there?”

“Not yet. Get dressed.”

“Why?”

“So we can go out and watch the scenery.”

She leisurely got out of his arms and kissed him lightly. “You’re right it is a little crowded in here”

They got up and back into their snowsuits. Every movement followed by four sets of jealous, envious eyes. They made their way to the back of the car and went out the door to the landing. Jax stepped over the chain separating them from the baggage car and helped Brenda over onto the next platform. They moved to the side railing to watch the snow-covered countryside and majestic mountains that they were climbing.

Jax lifted her up so that Brenda was perched on top of the railing. She wrapped her legs around his waist and threw up her arms with a shout of glee. With a wide smile she sang. “I know where we’re going.”

“Oh, do you?”

“Yes, while I was waiting for you I was reading about this place. The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe and you told the Prince that we were going to the Sphinx and that is the observatory at the very top.”

The train started to slow as Jax leaned in and whispered in her ear. “I wanted to make love to my wife at the top of the world.”

Brenda tightened her arms around his neck. Suddenly their joy was interrupted by a roar, thundering explosion, ripping metal, breaking glass, screams and then silence