Page 39 of Purgatory (Devil Dogs of the Apocalypse #1)

Jax nods at that. I get where he’s coming from. There are more useful and efficient tools at our disposal if she ends up needing to wield a more powerful weapon in the future. Pistols, long range rifles, even how to properly use a knife could come in handy.

“What do you think about going over some basics with us? Loading a gun, mechanics, how to fire a few of the different types?” Jax asks.

“Sounds like it could be fun,” Aly says which makes Jax smile again.

All he wants to do is protect her and make sure we do everything we can to keep her safe, with or without us if it came to it.

I’m proud of him for taking the initiative and of her for being so enthusiastically open-minded about his suggestion. I lean in close to her ear.

“That’s my girl.” My words make her erupt in shivers and I pull her in closer to me as we all walk together back to the house. We quickly change out of our outfits and into something less soaking wet, grab our gear and head back out to meet with Jax.

∞∞ ∞

Jax is definitely thorough, to say the least. He could have just brought out a pistol.

Simple, light, easy enough to learn how to use and care for it.

But no, he decides to bring out a folding table and cover it with a mini version of a gun show: a Colt .

45 M1911 hand gun, a Glock 22, an AR-15 rifle, a sniper rifle and a 12-gauge shot gun.

All different types that each have different ammunition and different ways to load and ready the weapon in preparation to shoot.

I’ve got to give it to the man. When he says he’s going to do something, he puts his all into it.

No shortcuts. No beating around the bush.

He gives that task everything he has. And I know, when it comes to Aly’s safety, putting his all into it and giving her everything he has to give is just the beginning.

Aly’s attention is zoned in on it all, too.

Asking questions as we go through explaining the mechanics of each and eager to learn and do more.

Through it all, she doesn’t waiver one bit.

Soaking up every bit of knowledge we pass to her.

She’s an amazing student, to say the least. And Jax is a great teacher.

He even manages to put a silencer on each just so she could practice shooting off a few to get the field of the recoil.

“Ok. So, you learned about each one of these, let’s see how you feel actually using them.

” Jax indicates to the weapons on the folding table.

“Go ahead and pick which one you’d like to try. ”

Aly takes her time looking through the various guns, but ultimately chooses the AR-15.

Honestly, I was a bit surprised she didn’t choose the Glock 22.

It’s the smallest of the bunch so it would make sense for someone as small as her to choose the least intimidating one.

But then again, I need to remember not to underestimate her tenacity.

I decide to sit down on the grass and watch Jax hand the rifle to her, showing her how to properly hold it and how to load it. When she’s ready to go, he has her take a steady, wide standing stance while he stands slightly behind her, quietly giving her direction.

“What do we aim a weapon at?” He asks. His question a mere whisper on the back of her neck.

“Only that which we intend to destroy...” Visibly restraining a shiver, she lifts the rifle, sighting in on the target Jax stapled to a tree.

“And what do we intend to destroy?” He continues, moving her hair out of the way before pointing down the makeshift range.

Releasing a long, heavy breath, she closes her eyes, focusing. After a few seconds, she opens them, determined and ready. “Everything and anything that means to harm us.”

“Atta girl.” He moves back, places a pair of noise cancelling ear muffs on her head and gives her a soft pat on the shoulder before saying, “Fire when ready.”

And she does. Watching him guide her, I can visibly see the tension leave his body.

The rigidity of his movements from even just yesterday has diminished significantly.

Even the way he’s acting around Aly has changed.

He’s more open. More vocal. Less distant.

There’s even a rare smile on his face. The ability to protect her, to teach her how to protect herself is helping him just as much as it’s helping her.

“Alright, that’s enough. Let’s pack it up. Good job, Aly. You seemed to really get the hang of it at the end there,” Jax says as Aly goes to hand him back the weapon. He holds up a hand. “Wait up, what do we have to do before we hand over a live weapon?”

She looks down at it, pausing a second before understanding dawns. She presses the button to release the magazine on the AR-15, checking and clearing the chamber before setting it down to clean. “You clear it… make it safe.”

Jax nods his approval, pride noticeably beaming out of him. “Good girl. Exactly.”

It’s been a couple of hours and dinner prep and chores were calling. Everything’s been neglected today while we chose to, instead, have a day of fun. It was worth it though.

Once the guns are packed, Aly and I make a turn to head for the gardens but Jax doesn’t make any move to join us. It’s like déjà vu from earlier. And just like earlier, we both turn, meet his eyes and ask the question without needing to speak. He answers without hesitation.

“I’m just, uh, I’m gonna hang out here for a little longer, if that’s ok?” He’s still smiling, so that's a good sign.

“No worries. We’ve got some work to do in the gardens today, anyways.

Take your time.” I take Aly by the hand and nod toward Jax.

Jax nods back to me silently, then takes a seat in the grass, admiring the beauty around him.

It makes me happy to see him like this. To see that my suggestion worked.

To see a long-lost side of my friend I haven’t seen in a very long time.