The Truth

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: All of Tina's characters.
Spoilers: Season 1 finale- "Hiatus"
Pairing: Jack/Liz, Jack/Avery
Summary: The heart monitor decides the truth.

It started out on a cool winter evening in Liz's apartment. She was making dinner for her and Jack to celebrate Christmas 22 days early. She hadn't cooked for a long time, but she wanted to try it. She hadn't called Jack yet, because she didn't want him to come so early. 
After she got everything set, she called Jack.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Jack. You wanna come over and spend Christmas dinner with me?"
"It's December 3rd. Why would we need to spend it now?"
"I'm going to travel on Christmas day."
"Alright. I'll be there at 7."
Just before Jack left, someone stopped him.
"Where are you going?" asked Avery.
"Oh, um, work."
"Why? You're done for today."
"It's for the new GE microwave."
"Look, if it's about Liz, just tell me."
"It's not about Liz."
"Okay, whatever."
Jack slammed the door at her. He didn't care. He'd been in fights with her for the past week. He was so mad at her that he told the driver to drive faster. Eventually, the driver couldn't turn the right turn and the car crashed onto another car.
It was 7:01. Jack was never late. He came in at the exact time. She started pacing around her apartment, thinking that something went wrong.
The phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Miss Lemon?"
"This is she."
"Mister Donaghy has been in an accident--"
"I'll be right over."
Liz grabbed a taxi and told the driver to go to the hospital.
When she got there, she went straight to the desk.
"Lemon. Somebody called me." she said.
"Oh, yes. Mister Donaghy designated you as his emergency contact."
"I know, I know. Where is he?"
"He's inside, miss. But family only."
"But I'm his emergency contact."
"You get to see him tomorrow morning."
Liz didn't have time to think.
"I'm his girlfriend. I need to see him."
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Please, go right in."
Liz knocked on the door of the hospital room Jack was.
"It's open." he said.
Liz went inside with a chocolate covered cake. 
"You want a snack?"
"Good god, yes."
Liz saw his heart rate slow down. Avery came dashing in the door.
"Alright, who's your girlfriend?" she said, angrily.
Liz quickly turned around to see who it was.
"Oh, Avery. Um, hi. I'm-I'm not his girlfriend. I just wanted to see him because I'm his emergency contact."
"You put her as your emergency contact?" she said to Jack.
"Yes, I did."
Liz knew this was the time to work the lie detector, since Colleen said to use it for emergencies. But this was an emergency. 
"Jack, did you get in a car accident?" she asked.
"Yes, I did."
She saw his heart rate slow down.
"What time were you supposed to come at my house?"
6:00 and I know I was late. 
His heart rate sped fast. 
"Do you love me?"
"Of course I do!" 
His heart rate slowed down.
Avery was just standing there.
"Do you love me?"
Jack had no answer but his heart rate was speeding. 
"Oh. I see." 
She left the hospital room.
"Was that the truth?"
"If Colleen hadn't taught you how to use the heart monitor, I would say it was a lie."
"So it was?"
"That's what my heart says."
"You actually did Hard Equations And Rational Thinking on me and Avery?"
"No, I mean, my real heart."
"What do you suppose we do now?"
"I'll see you tomorrow at work, Lemon."
"See you in the morning?"
"Yeah."
Liz left the hospital that night, finally relieved. 

END