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"When were you planning on telling me?" Tony spun around to see Jack leaning in the doorway looking at him. He wasn't angry or sad, just slightly confused. "Telling you about what Jack?" He asked innocently, although they both knew what he was talking about.
"Your resignation?" Jack said flatly stepping into the room. "Oh," Tony replied as Jack came and lent against the desk, watching Tony move about the office.
"Tony, I'm your friend, we've been through a lot together. You could have told me." Jack said and watches as Tony puts down the papers he's reading and turns back to look at Jack. "I was going to get round to it." He points out calmly and Jack sighs heavily.
"Before or after you left?" He asked and Tony went and sat next to Jack on the desk. The two friends shoulder to shoulder, both looking down at the floor, not daring to look at each other. "Okay, it's my bad, I wanted to tell you. I was just concerned with your reaction." Tony admitted and turned to look at Jack, his face not hiding anything. Jack just raised a brow in confusion, "my reaction?" he asked, not understanding what his friend's wariness had been all about.
"Yeah, Jack. You live for this job and I'm willing to give it all up. That's not something I honestly expect you would take easily." Tony admitted and Jack sighed tiredly, understanding where Tony was coming from, but damn wasn't his friend wrong.
"Okay, so some of that statement was correct. This job is my life, but it's only because I let it become my life. I've lost everything because of this job Tony. You want to leave, for love and a family. I can't be angry at you for that. It's exactly what I should have done." Jack admits and stares at Tony as the two friends openly express their feelings for each other.
Three weeks later, Jack is walking out with Tony, helping him carry all his belongings to the car, where Michelle, heavily pregnant, is already waiting. They've put the boxes in the back of the car and Jack hugs Michelle as she climbs into the car, leaving Jack and Tony standing there.
"Promise me something, Tony." Jack says after a few minutes and Tony looks at him. "Anything," Tony replies quickly, probably too quickly. "Don't look back. When you've got your kid in your arms, don't for one second doubt leaving or question coming back." Jack says putting his hand on Tony's arm and Tony looks at him.
"I mean it. You can't look back, it was the worst thing I ever did and look how I've ended up. I won't let this job and this world tear your family apart. I need you to make it out of here and raise your kid." Jack says and Tony stares at him, before glancing over his shoulder at Michelle who's been discreetly listening in on their conversation, she nods once and Tony turns back to his best friend.
"On one condition," Tony replies putting both his hands on Jack's shoulders and Jack looks at him for a minute and then nods. "What's the condition?" He asks and Tony smiles at him. "You'll be the baby's godfather?" He asks and Jack for the first time in his life doesn't have a reply he just stares at Tony and it feels like an eternity before a smile comes across Jack's face and he pulls Tony in for a hug.
"Yes, of course, I will." He whispers and the two men hug tightly, both knowing that this is their second chance at a life they didn't think they would get. And if Jack becomes unbearable about Michelle's health and the baby's well-being, neither will complain, they know this is Jack caring and protecting the baby who's not even here but already, so deeply loved and cared for.