Full Circle

by Persephone

Epilogue

"Sulking? And I thought I was supposed to be the immature one."

Jack Dawson glanced up from his seat on a raised concrete section of the Quai. Just ahead of him, the Seine burbled along happily. And to his right, Faith settled down noisily beside him.

"Thinking," he frowned, correcting her. 'I don't care what Isabelle says. This is never gonna work. Never, never, never.'

"Sulking," Faith countered. "So you got your marching orders, too, huh?"

"Mhmm," he muttered noncomittedly.

"She's pretty bossy."

"Yeah, she is."

"'Course if I get to be a jillion years old like she is, maybe I'll be bossy, too."

Jack chuckled, face lightening, "A jillion? You do like to live dangerously, don't you?"

"Yep," Faith flexed her booted feet, then stretched, "So what's the deal, JD. Are you gonna be my teacher or not?"

The smile faded as Jack turned his gaze outward, "I don't know."

Faith nodded or rather he felt her nod, "You don't think I'm worth the time."

"No," his head rose up sharply, "That's not it at all. I just--"

"You just what?"

"I don't know if I'm good enough," he said after a few minutes.

Faith seemed to consider this, "Then maybe we should find out together. Sort of like a trial basis."

"A trial basis?"

"Yeah, you know. If in ninety days, I'm not satisfied, I get my money back for free," she replied glibly. Then her face got serious, "I know you're scared, JD. I am, too."

She picked up a loose bit of gravel and tossed it into the choppy waters of the Seine. "I've been let down by other people my whole life. My parents, my friends. Every time I've ever trusted anyone, I've been slapped in the face with that trust. And in spite of what my common sense is telling me right now, I *want* to trust you, Jack. Maybe," she choked a bit, " 'cause you're the last chance I've got to do something right."

"Faith--"

"For all she is bossy, Isabelle is right about one thing. We need each other, Jack. I can't believe I just said that," she muttered the last bit as an afterthought, "I need a teacher and you need someone to shake you out of your meaningless existence."

"Meaningless?" he protested.

"Hush, I'm trying to be mature here. It doesn't happen often, so enjoy it. Look, if the idea is a complete bust, you can drop me back on Isabelle's doorstep and I'll annoy her until she teaches me."

"She put you up to this," he accused.

"No, it's just common sense. Something I don't use a whole lot of. Think it over," she stood up, "Know where a girl can find a decent club in this part of town?"

Jack studied her, mulling over what she'd said. It bothered him to admit that maybe Isabelle and Faith had a point: he didn't have much direction at the moment. Maybe he did just sort of drift from place to place. It was just so hard for him to settle down, to let himself have real ties to anything again. Aimless, he could wander and never get hurt because he was never around long enough to get close to anyone. But this...Teaching Faith would mean he would have to get closer to her than he had any other person, save perhaps Isabelle or Claire. The bond of trust between a student and mentor practically demanded it.

Could he really bring himself to risk the emotion? To put his heart and soul into something again that could be snatched away from him in an instant?

Staring up into Faith's expectant, if slightly impatient face, he made a decision. "Sure. Need an escort?"

The effect was instantaneous. She went still, her eyes huge with gratitude. Then she shook herself, the gruffness returning to her manner, "Well," she drawled, "I suppose I could let you tag along. Just this once."

"Oh, thank you," he offered her his arm, "Shall we?"

"Yes," she took it, then paused, voice quiet, "Thank you, Jack."

Maybe things would all turn out badly. Maybe one day he'd look back and rue his decision but all he could feel right now was that he had made the right choice. That didn't mean that he was any less afraid. It just meant he was going to do his best to do right by Faith. It meant he was going to live in the real world again.

The prospect was strangely exhilarating.

~End~

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