Fanfic: Caretaker (1/1)

[smokingmirror]

Title: Caretaker
Author: Avarice
Rating: G
Pairing: Jack/Marlane, Aaron/Marlane
Spoilers:
Summary: Aaron is charged with looking after Marlane and Jack Jr.
Word Count: 878
Date First Posted: 2005?
Date Revised - 21-05-2011
Beta: -
Awards: -
Notes: I always was amused by Marlane's lack of guilt at adultery. She was, after all, initially kept in Scorch County against her will... She's very close to a female version of Tybalt.
Feedback: always welcome, as is constructive criticism.

Aaron knocked gently on the Silver's front door. A voice from the inside called "Come in, Aaron." With the invitation, he removed his hat, turned the knob and entered.

Jack Silver stood in the kitchen, finishing a cup of coffee. He drained the last of the beverage and put the ceramic cup into the sink.

"Jack," Aaron greeted, hat held to his chest with both hands.

"Little Jack's still asleep, and Marlane's awake, but in bed. She's not feeling well."

"Is she alright?" Aaron asked immediately.

"Yes," Jack smiled, "just an upset stomach. She insisted she was fine, but I wanted you here just in case she needed anything." Aaron watched as Jack straightened his uniform tie in the mirror and took his hat from the stand. "Something's come up, I've got to visit La Concordia."

The unsaid immediacy of the statement made its impression on Aaron, but he said nothing about it, instead opting for: "Alright."

Jack opened the door. "If anything comes up, you know where to find me." He touched his fingers to the brim of his hat, and shut the door behind him.

Aaron was left alone in the sitting room.

First thing's first, Aaron hung his hat on the stand, where Jack's had been. He wandered the room awkwardly, sitting on the floral print sofa for a few minutes before the anxiety got to him.

The spare room that Marlane had first stayed in when she arrived at Scorch County had been turned into a nursery. Aaron poked his head in to see the small baby boy asleep in his crib, black hair fanned out on the blue flannel sheets. His chest rose an fell with comforting regularity.

Aaron left the nursery as quietly as he'd entered and made a beeline for Jack's bedroom. The door was mostly closed, but there was a gap of a few inches through which he could see the corner of the bed, and a lump under a similar florally printed duvet.

"Marli?" Aaron asked softly, mindful of the possibility she could be sleeping.

The lump under the duvet moved, and a voice, rich like nectar said his name. It made little shivers travel down his back. Aaron took it as an invitation and pushed the door open slowly with his fingertips.

Marlane Silver lay on the right side of the queen bed, upper body slightly propped up by two thick pillows. The covers pooled in her lap, exposing her upper body and the lacy nightgown she chose to sleep in. It left her arms bare and a good deal of her neck and chest, too. Aaron looked for signs of illness or discomfort in her face and body language, but they weren't immediately discernible.

She smiled at him, stretching her arms above her head, and he felt odd. Not in a bad way, but odd all the same. She patted the empty space next to her. Aaron walked over and sat on the other side of the bed gingerly. He felt the residual heat from where Jack's body had lain maybe half an hour ago.

Marlane gave him an unimpressed look and turned her back on him, facing the edge of the bed. "Boots off,"
she instructed.

Aaron had learnt not to be put off by her turning her back on him in such a manner. That, accompanied by the instruction of taking his boots off meant she wanted him to climb on the bed and lie next to her.

He could do that.

Quickly and efficiently, Aaron removed his boots and climbed onto the bed, on top of the covers, and shuffled towards her. Once he'd reached her, she wasted no time in molding the back of her body to the front of his with a contented sigh, pulling his right arm around her waist.

"How's Jack?" she asked, fingers running down the skin of his arm, occasionally brushing the thick stitches that ran down the length of either side.

"Sleeping with his thumb in his mouth," Aaron replied. He didn't understand what was so appealing about sucking on one's thumb. He had briefly tried it to see of there was anything he'd been missing. There wasn't, and he looked stupid. Still, for some reason, baby Jack enjoyed doing it and it didn't make him look stupid. "How are you?"

"I'm fine," she told him, "just got a funny feeling right here." Marlane took Aaron's hand and placed it on the soft curve of her stomach, and then motioned his hand in a circle. When she moved her hand further up his arm, he continued to rub her stomach in the gentle motion.

"What can I do?"

"Well, there is one thing..." Marlane trailed off, and Aaron stopped rubbing.

"What?"

"You could get under the covers with me."

Aaron's soft laugh was a mixture between a husky chuckle and a hiss. His tongue flicked out briefly and smelled her hair. He rose and pulled the covers back to hop in under them. In that time, Marlane turned her body so they were face to face when he lay back down.

"Howdy," Marlane drawled, pushing her hips into Aaron's, fingers working at the buttons of his shirt.

"Howdy, Marli," he responded, which made her laugh.

~finis