Illusion of Love - Jack/Sharon
Title: Illusion Of Love
Author: M. Elizabeth Ravensblood
Rating: T - Teen minor language and sexuality
Pairing: Jack/Sharon with Implied Jack/Samantha
Summary: As Sharon becomes more defiant, Jack finds a way to regain control of his apprentice. Set in Season 2, just after Dying To Live
Author's Notes: The lyrics in the story are from the Elvis' cover of Always On My Mind. I wrote this at the request of roman_romantic.
Sharon was becoming more difficult by the day and Jack's patience was quickly waning. Although he's originally intended to keep her around until Samantha could begin to realize her destiny and murder his Jill, thereby acknowledging her envy and pledging her love to him, Jack was beginning to fear he lacked the patience to keep her around for much longer. Her defiance was becoming intolerable and dangerous. The night Sharon had confronted his Samantha could have ended far worse than it had and her latest antics re-decorating his home and carrying on the flirtation with Newsstand Louie were beyond the pale.
Samantha was showing signs she was jealous of Sharon, Jack decided. Bit by bit it was there. The sweet moue of distaste as she eyed Sharon's exploits on the board which previously had been his alone. Even shooting him had been a painful but vivid manifest of Samantha's displeasure. If he killed Sharon now, it would set back the schedule for Samantha realizing her potential. He'd underestimated Sharon catching on to his devotion to Samantha. Although he was pleased to have one jealous blonde on his hands, two was becoming difficult to manage. Surely there had to be someway to get Sharon back in line. Jack studied Sharon as she sulked in the lair and considered his options.
Aware of Jack's gaze, Sharon felt the familiar mixture of tenderness and anxiety rise up within her. She'd had men in her life before, but no one had touched her as he had. Why did he want Sam? She was younger than Sam and Miss FBI agent would never kill with Jack like she did. What was it that made him think he needed that icy bitch when she would give he soul to have him return her love? It wasn't fair, Sharon sighed to herself.
She'd never doubted Jack would return and had hoped that by deleting Sam from the computer she could delete her from his life. Jack's fury and the resurrection of Sam on his computer had hurt and she wished he understood. When he'd given her Louie's heart for Valentines, it had been a bittersweet moment. Although it hurt to see her friend die, she felt encouraged that Jack had to still care about her. He'd killed for her that time, not Sam. But he didn't sign his work that time, a little voice whispered in the back of her mind. When he killed for his precious Samantha, he signed his work.
How long would it be until Sam finally saw the beauty in Jack's offerings? Someday her curiosity would overcome her revulsion. Jack's handsome face and disarming manner had won Sharon over without a single death. Even his snow queen was bound to melt eventually under the dark ardor of his courtship. Where would that leave her? Sharon knew that Jack wouldn't try to keep her around when that day came. She'd always been streetwise and never had let anyone in, but then Jack came along and even though he terrified her that first day, she'd fallen for him and over time it had only deepened. So many times in and out of bed, Sharon told him she loved him. And so many times Jack had looked anywhere from indulgent to annoyed as he remained silent.
"It's not fucking fair," Sharon swore.
"Did you just say something, Sharon?" Jack hissed.
"No. Yes. I-"
Rising from his computer chair, Jack walked into the bedroom where Sharon sat. Pretending to study the jukebox, he sighed, "What's wrong Sharon?"
Knowing each word was dangerous to utter but unable to help herself, Sharon stood and said, "You. Us. Jack, why- why her? I love you so much, why can't you- Why can't you love me?"
Idly flipping though the selections, unsure of how to field Sharon's question, Jack turned her words on her and asked, "What makes you think I don't?"
"Sam."
"What about, Saman- Sam?" Jack continued to look through the song titles as his mind worked on a solution other than eviscerating Sharon in the bathtub.
"You're obsessed with her. You want her!" Sharon yelled.
"I don't want her," Jack replied, silently amending, that he needed his Samantha more than he needed air to breath. Want didn't come close to the truth.
"Don't you? Then why not kill her?"
Still flipping through, Jack stalled, "To be the best, you have to defeat the best. Haven't you ever considered that I want something far worse than to kill her?"
"Like what?!" Sharon spat angrily.
"I plan to destroy Sam. Sam will be the architect of her own demise," Jack explained, omitting that Sam would be dead to the FBI as Samantha embraced his world.
"Really?" she sniffed. "Then you love me?"
Inspiration struck Jack and he pushed a button on the jukebox. Strains of Elvis filled the room. As the former king of rock n' roll apologized for having not loved as he should of, the reigning king of serial killers, turned around. Forcing an expression of tenderness on his face and trying to visualize Samantha, Jack moved towards Sharon and lovingly caressed her face.
"Jack-"
"Just listen," he instructed softly and forced her to meet his gaze. Tracing the contours of her face and imagining Samantha, his expression was full of love. Poignancy filled Jack as he thought of his beloved and his eyes swam with water. Normally he would have forced back such a display, but this time, he allowed the droplets to trace his face. His eyes glistened and blurred the woman before him, allowing him a moment's respite.
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
Sharon wavered, her lower lip quivered and her eyes became moist. Jack did care! So strong and proud and here he was shedding tears for her! He had to being telling the truth about wanting Sam dead. Maybe there was hope.
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died
Give me, give me one more chance
To keep you satisfied, satisfied
Jack continued wordless caressing her Sharon's face. Then he reached for her hand and kissed her palm, his eyes never moving from Sharon's. Weeping with the flood of emotion that consumed her, she basked under the gentle glow of his eyes. It wasn't the way she'd imagined him declaring himself, but it didn't matter, Sharon decided. Jack had never looked at her with such emotion or tenderness. The vulnerable quality of his expression was heartbreaking and her heart melted. He loved her!
Maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine
If I make you feel second best
Girl, I'm sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
"I love you Jack," Sharon cried and kissed him.
Jack allowed the kiss and made no move to stop Sharon as she started to remove his shirt. As she touched him and murmured words of love, Jack half closed his eyes to veil the look of triumph that surged within them. Let Sharon have her delusion for a night, it would keep her in check. Samantha's first kill would be all the sweeter for destroying her rival. As Sharon urged Jack onto the bed, Jack couldn't quite pretend it was Samantha, but the rush of victory and the image of Samantha killing her that swam through his mind compensated and he met Sharon's passion.
An hour later, Jack watched Sharon as she slept. Lighting a cigarette, he smirked and drawled, softly, "Poor foolish Sharon. Didn't I tell you once that gods never apologize? You should know by now there's only one woman on my mind."
Slipping out of bed, Jack went to his computer to whisper to his golden goddess of his victory. Jack hummed softly to the computer screen as Sharon dreamed about the illusion Jack had given her...
Author: M. Elizabeth Ravensblood
Rating: T - Teen minor language and sexuality
Pairing: Jack/Sharon with Implied Jack/Samantha
Summary: As Sharon becomes more defiant, Jack finds a way to regain control of his apprentice. Set in Season 2, just after Dying To Live
Author's Notes: The lyrics in the story are from the Elvis' cover of Always On My Mind. I wrote this at the request of roman_romantic.
Sharon was becoming more difficult by the day and Jack's patience was quickly waning. Although he's originally intended to keep her around until Samantha could begin to realize her destiny and murder his Jill, thereby acknowledging her envy and pledging her love to him, Jack was beginning to fear he lacked the patience to keep her around for much longer. Her defiance was becoming intolerable and dangerous. The night Sharon had confronted his Samantha could have ended far worse than it had and her latest antics re-decorating his home and carrying on the flirtation with Newsstand Louie were beyond the pale.
Samantha was showing signs she was jealous of Sharon, Jack decided. Bit by bit it was there. The sweet moue of distaste as she eyed Sharon's exploits on the board which previously had been his alone. Even shooting him had been a painful but vivid manifest of Samantha's displeasure. If he killed Sharon now, it would set back the schedule for Samantha realizing her potential. He'd underestimated Sharon catching on to his devotion to Samantha. Although he was pleased to have one jealous blonde on his hands, two was becoming difficult to manage. Surely there had to be someway to get Sharon back in line. Jack studied Sharon as she sulked in the lair and considered his options.
Aware of Jack's gaze, Sharon felt the familiar mixture of tenderness and anxiety rise up within her. She'd had men in her life before, but no one had touched her as he had. Why did he want Sam? She was younger than Sam and Miss FBI agent would never kill with Jack like she did. What was it that made him think he needed that icy bitch when she would give he soul to have him return her love? It wasn't fair, Sharon sighed to herself.
She'd never doubted Jack would return and had hoped that by deleting Sam from the computer she could delete her from his life. Jack's fury and the resurrection of Sam on his computer had hurt and she wished he understood. When he'd given her Louie's heart for Valentines, it had been a bittersweet moment. Although it hurt to see her friend die, she felt encouraged that Jack had to still care about her. He'd killed for her that time, not Sam. But he didn't sign his work that time, a little voice whispered in the back of her mind. When he killed for his precious Samantha, he signed his work.
How long would it be until Sam finally saw the beauty in Jack's offerings? Someday her curiosity would overcome her revulsion. Jack's handsome face and disarming manner had won Sharon over without a single death. Even his snow queen was bound to melt eventually under the dark ardor of his courtship. Where would that leave her? Sharon knew that Jack wouldn't try to keep her around when that day came. She'd always been streetwise and never had let anyone in, but then Jack came along and even though he terrified her that first day, she'd fallen for him and over time it had only deepened. So many times in and out of bed, Sharon told him she loved him. And so many times Jack had looked anywhere from indulgent to annoyed as he remained silent.
"It's not fucking fair," Sharon swore.
"Did you just say something, Sharon?" Jack hissed.
"No. Yes. I-"
Rising from his computer chair, Jack walked into the bedroom where Sharon sat. Pretending to study the jukebox, he sighed, "What's wrong Sharon?"
Knowing each word was dangerous to utter but unable to help herself, Sharon stood and said, "You. Us. Jack, why- why her? I love you so much, why can't you- Why can't you love me?"
Idly flipping though the selections, unsure of how to field Sharon's question, Jack turned her words on her and asked, "What makes you think I don't?"
"Sam."
"What about, Saman- Sam?" Jack continued to look through the song titles as his mind worked on a solution other than eviscerating Sharon in the bathtub.
"You're obsessed with her. You want her!" Sharon yelled.
"I don't want her," Jack replied, silently amending, that he needed his Samantha more than he needed air to breath. Want didn't come close to the truth.
"Don't you? Then why not kill her?"
Still flipping through, Jack stalled, "To be the best, you have to defeat the best. Haven't you ever considered that I want something far worse than to kill her?"
"Like what?!" Sharon spat angrily.
"I plan to destroy Sam. Sam will be the architect of her own demise," Jack explained, omitting that Sam would be dead to the FBI as Samantha embraced his world.
"Really?" she sniffed. "Then you love me?"
Inspiration struck Jack and he pushed a button on the jukebox. Strains of Elvis filled the room. As the former king of rock n' roll apologized for having not loved as he should of, the reigning king of serial killers, turned around. Forcing an expression of tenderness on his face and trying to visualize Samantha, Jack moved towards Sharon and lovingly caressed her face.
"Jack-"
"Just listen," he instructed softly and forced her to meet his gaze. Tracing the contours of her face and imagining Samantha, his expression was full of love. Poignancy filled Jack as he thought of his beloved and his eyes swam with water. Normally he would have forced back such a display, but this time, he allowed the droplets to trace his face. His eyes glistened and blurred the woman before him, allowing him a moment's respite.
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
Sharon wavered, her lower lip quivered and her eyes became moist. Jack did care! So strong and proud and here he was shedding tears for her! He had to being telling the truth about wanting Sam dead. Maybe there was hope.
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
Tell me, tell me that your sweet love hasn't died
Give me, give me one more chance
To keep you satisfied, satisfied
Jack continued wordless caressing her Sharon's face. Then he reached for her hand and kissed her palm, his eyes never moving from Sharon's. Weeping with the flood of emotion that consumed her, she basked under the gentle glow of his eyes. It wasn't the way she'd imagined him declaring himself, but it didn't matter, Sharon decided. Jack had never looked at her with such emotion or tenderness. The vulnerable quality of his expression was heartbreaking and her heart melted. He loved her!
Maybe I didn't hold you
All those lonely, lonely times
And I guess I never told you
I'm so happy that you're mine
If I make you feel second best
Girl, I'm sorry I was blind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
"I love you Jack," Sharon cried and kissed him.
Jack allowed the kiss and made no move to stop Sharon as she started to remove his shirt. As she touched him and murmured words of love, Jack half closed his eyes to veil the look of triumph that surged within them. Let Sharon have her delusion for a night, it would keep her in check. Samantha's first kill would be all the sweeter for destroying her rival. As Sharon urged Jack onto the bed, Jack couldn't quite pretend it was Samantha, but the rush of victory and the image of Samantha killing her that swam through his mind compensated and he met Sharon's passion.
An hour later, Jack watched Sharon as she slept. Lighting a cigarette, he smirked and drawled, softly, "Poor foolish Sharon. Didn't I tell you once that gods never apologize? You should know by now there's only one woman on my mind."
Slipping out of bed, Jack went to his computer to whisper to his golden goddess of his victory. Jack hummed softly to the computer screen as Sharon dreamed about the illusion Jack had given her...