The next two months passed in a blur for Jade. After her birthday party, she hadn't spoken to her brother and she was fine with that. Emily came over once a week for a tea party, that Jade now had a box full of dress ups and tea sets for her when she came around. Nicole normally bought Eric round and most times stayed for dinner while they talked and gossiped.

They avoided talking about her brother and Jade was fine with that. She didn't want to cause Nicole any drama, but her sister-in-law said it was all fine. Sometimes her father would join when he wasn't busy with his life. She enjoyed having her family around and it made her realise how much she missed the connection of family.

Jade's life had fallen into a routine that she enjoyed. She was the type of person who strived when she had a routine, which was a reason she enjoyed the AFD (Australian Defence Force) life so much. The early morning starts breakfast with her friends, before heading off to training than work for the day. Everything was in a schedule and Jade thrived off schedules.

So, when her new routine started she found herself feeling a lot more comfortable with her life. Every morning she would get up and go gym either by herself or with Marcus if he had a late start at work. After the gym, she would pick up some breakfast and meet either Noah or Sophia for an appointment whether it be for doctors, OT, Helen or seeing Dylan.

Each day Jade found herself improving and found herself struggling less with everyday activities. She still struggled to get herself dressed most mornings, but it was a working progress. Some days were better than others. There were days when Jade didn't want to get out of bed and was forced to get up and moving. There were days she wondered what the point of everything was. There were days where the finish line seemed so far and impossible. It was those days that Marcus would spend the night even if it was a weekday.

She wasn't too sure if it was for his or her comfort but, she didn't care. She liked having him over and she liked spending her time with him. Each day she felt closer and closer to Marcus and they were finally starting to have a normal relationship that they both wanted. They were making good progress in couple therapy and started getting to the deep-rooted issues they both had. She found out about his ex and Marcus learnt more about her relationship with Garrett.

They were fighting less, and Jade found herself falling deeper and deeper in love with him as each day went by. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but every time she tried she became locked up. Almost as if her body forgot how to say those 3 letter words, like her brain forgot what it was like to say and feel like she was loved.

"What are your plans for today?" Marcus asked as he waited for the coffee to drip into his cup. He tried to get Jade to sleep for a few more hours considering she woke up last night from a nightmare. Jade shrugged her shoulders and yawned knowing she wasn't getting back to sleep anytime soon.

It was 4 in the morning and Marcus had to get up to get ready for work. Noah wasn't here yet as it was way too early for any normal human to be functioning. As the coffee finished Marcus passed a cup to Jade as she gently blew across the top of her cup, before taking a small sip of the dark liquid.

"Noah is taking me to the gym later. I got to go buy some stuff from the shops, but other than that it is a lazy day." Jade looked out at the darkness outside. Daylight savings had ended as the cool Autumn started to kick in. The days had become shorter and the air was starting to cool. They couldn't use the pool anymore, so Noah normally took Jade to the local pool twice a week to do her hydrotherapy.

"Marco and I are catching up with the guys later tonight. Did you want to join?" Marcus put some bread in the toaster as he went to the fridge to grab some eggs to make breakfast for him and Jade. Jade hadn't seen Marcus's team since their last tour. She knew they were all close, but she didn't feel like she would be welcomed.

"I will think about it. You staying at yours tonight?" Jade took another sip of her coffee as she watched Marcus cook. He was only wearing his long pyjama pants that hung low on his hips. She knew he had nothing on underneath because underwear squished his junk too much. She knew if Marcus had it his way he would wear nothing to bed, but she insisted he at least wear pants.

"You know a picture last longer." He looked over his shoulder as he could feel Jade staring at his back. She had been doing that a lot lately. He would catch her staring at him sometimes it seemed like curiosity, other times it was with a look of desire that took every part of his self-restraint not to pick her up and throw her onto the bed.

He didn't want to push Jade. He wanted her to come to him when she was ready, but a part of him the selfish part wished it would be soon. Smiling at her he watched as she tried to hide her face behind her coffee cup.

"I wasn't staring." Marcus just hummed and went back to serving up the now finished food. Once the food was plated he placed it in front of Jade and kissed the top of her head.

"Whatever you say, love." He took a seat next to her and started to eat his breakfast. Jade watched him from the corner of her eye as she ate her breakfast. She smiled to herself as she watched him get off the chair once he had finished, giving her a flirtatious wink before making sure to flex and stretch at every given opportunity while washing his plate.

Jade finished up while Marcus went to go shower and get dressed. Knowing she wouldn't be getting back to sleep she rolled over to the couch, grabbed a blanket and put Netflix on low as background noise. She successfully got herself onto the couch and was proud of herself that she was now able to successfully move from her chair onto a low object. The bed was still proving to be troublesome as she had to use more of her upper body strength to move.

Jade was snuggling into her blankets when Marcus came out dressed for work. She knew one day she would get him to give him a strip show in that uniform. Thinking about it made her lick her lips in anticipation.

"Keep looking at me like that love and I won't be going to work at all today." She playfully looked up at him blinking her long eyelashes a few times before shrugging her shoulders.

"I wouldn't be complaining." Before Jade had a chance to think of anything else to say she squealed when Marcus quickly settle his body on top of hers. She was about to protest about his fat body crushing her when his lips were on hers.

They had shared many kisses over the last few months, but nothing like this. He aggressively attacked her soft inviting lips and she returned the kiss with as much fire. She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and ran her fingers through his, soft, silky hair. Her fingers playfully tugged, at his hair brushing his collar bone and knew he needed a cut soon, though she liked his long hair.

Their tongues clashed in a battle for dominance which Marcus won. Jade started to become breathless as his lips left her mouth and suckled their way down her neck. Jade let out a soft moan as her hips thrust up towards his to create friction to ease the pressure that was building up inside of her.

Marcus let out a deep and throaty groan as he kissed and licked his way down her neck. When he heard Jade moan he couldn't help but grind his hips into hers eliciting another sexy moan. He trailed his hands down her sides lingering on the side of her breast.

"Marcus." She said breathlessly as she yanked on his head guiding him to where she wanted his mouth. He got the message quickly as he lowered her top and palmed both her tits into his hands. Jade moaned and threw her head back on the couch as the overwhelming feeling of pleasure coursed through her body. Marcus started suckling his way down her throat gently nipping on the way.

He rolled her nipples between his finger as she grinded into him. She felt like a horny teenager all over again, she couldn't get enough of Marcus and wanted him everywhere.

"Please." She whimpered as he kissed and nipped at the sensitive underside of her breast. Marcus hummed and he circled his tongue around her areola teasing her enough to drive her mad.

"What is it you want love?" He managed to ask as he thrust his hips into hers. Jade could hardly remember her own name let alone respond. Every part of her felt overstimulated and she was loving every second of this.

"You. I want you everywhere." She opened her lustful eyes and watched as his brown eyes darkened as he hummed.

"Is this what you want?" He flicked his tongue over her sensitive nipple and Jade groaned and pulled roughly at his hair.

"Or is it this you want?" He drew her nipple gently between his teeth and scraped them with her hardened pebble biting gently at the end.

"Oh god. I want that. I want it all." Marcus smirked and quickly lent down and drew her right nipple into his mouth sucking hard as he flicked his tongue across it.

"Yes, that. Please, I want that." She begged, and she didn't give a fuck. He quickly moved onto the other nipple and paid it as much attention as the first, Jade lost all her sensors and submitted over to the feelings that were rushing through her body. Once Marcus paid both her nipples the attention they deserved he started to kiss his way down Jade stomach nipping at the soft and inviting skin along the way. His fingers were rolling her nipples between his fingers when his phone started ringing causing his watch to vibrate.

"Fuck." He groaned and rested his head on Jade's stomach. Jade groaned in displeasure as she picked up his phone and saw it was his brother.

"Fucking cockblocker." She mumbled, and Marcus let out a deep chuckled laugh.

"Shit." He groaned again as he sat up onto Jade's legs and looked down at her. Her skin was flushed, and he couldn't help but watch her chest rise and fall. He looked at her darkened rose-coloured nipples with appreciation before he ran his hands through his hair. Her neck was marked with tiny hickies he knew she would beat his ass over later. His phone rang again, and he looked and the time and swore under his breath.

"Fuck, I'm going to be late." He said but made no move to get off Jade. He was too distracted by her beauty to even think about moving at this point. Jade watched Marcus under hooded eyes and she could feel him tracking every inch of her body.

"I'm going to be so late." He whispered again, and Jade giggled and thought she should probably help him get to work before he got an ass beating for being late. She pulled her top back up and heard his disappointed sigh.

"How about this. I come out tonight and maybe afterwards you might find a surprise underneath all my clothing." He raised his head and looked at her with a serious lustful face.

"You aren't making it easy for me to leave love." She shrugged her shoulders and tried to sit up.

"Well if you don't go to work you might never find out what surprises I have been hiding from you." She whispered seductively into his ear and licked the side of his neck causing him to groan.

"Fuck." He rested his head in her neck for a few minutes trying to get his mind under control. He felt like a teenage boy who had seen titties for the first time. Fuck.

"Okay, I really need to leave." He sighed giving her neck one last nip before pecking her lips. Jade watched as he stood up and adjusted his uniform the best that he could. Jade chuckled when she saw that his uniform did nothing to hide his erection.

"You going to fix that?" She said cheekily unsure where or when she started feeling this way towards Marcus again.

"Hopefully it's gone by the time I get to work. Though probably not, if I'm being honest. Going to be semi-flaccid all day now." Jade laughed again as his phone rang.

"Alright, I really need to go. See you tonight love, wear something scandalous." She was going to respond as he started to walk towards the door, but she knew if she did that he was never going to leave for work.

Jade had somehow managed to fall asleep after Marcus left and woke up again when she heard someone in her kitchen.

At first, she was disoriented, but she soon realised it was Noah in her kitchen.

"Morning Jade," Noah said as she got herself off the couch onto her wheelchair.

"Morning." She grunted still extremely tired. She could really do with a few more hours of sleep. She saw Noah had started the coffee machine again when she went into the kitchen.

"Rough night?" He asked as he grabbed out two cups. He looked at Jade and saw dark circles under her eyes. Her face looked tired like she had been woken by old nightmares that still haunt her.

"Something like that." She yawned and stretched her arms over her head and Noah chuckled when he saw two dark hickeys on her neck.

"We don't have to go gym this morning," Noah suggested as he poured Jade a cup of coffee. Jade took a sip when the cup was passed to her and slouched into her chair.

"I think that might be best. My mind is too tired. I'll still pay you, but there is no need for you to hang around today. Think I might just go back to bed for a few hours and most likely watch some tv." Noah looked at Jade and watched as she arranged her daily medication.

"You want a sleeping pill?" He asked and got one out when she nodded. Jade knew it wasn't going to knock her out but, it was better than nothing. She couldn't have medicated sleeping pills because they would clash with her already medication. So, Sophia a few months ago got her some herbal ones. They helped a little, but only when Jade was so tired she could barely remember her own name.

Noah watched as she swallowed her pills and yawned. Jade and Noah both finished off their coffee's before Noah walked with Jade into her bedroom and helped her to bed.

"If you need anything don't hesitate to ask. Sofia will be round tonight to help." Jade yawned again and nodded her head as she closed her eyes. Noah Gave her one last look before he left her house.

Jade woke sometime later to the buzzing sound of her phone. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced at her clock to see it was 2 in the afternoon. She had slept for 5 hours and it still didn't feel like enough. She looked at her phone that started buzzing again and saw it was a private number. Knowing it was probably a telecommunication company she picked up her phone and answered.

"Hello, Jade speaking." She expected a pause before the standard foreigner started trying to sell her something that she didn't want.

"Hello Sergeant Jennings, this is Corporal Park from administration speaking, how are you today?" Jade sat wide-eyed for a moment as her tired brain tried to process what was going on.

"Hello, Sergeant Jennings, you there?" Jade blinked quickly a few times before clearing her throat. She had been waiting for this phone call for months and now that they had called she seemed to be lost for words.

"Yes sorry, I'm here." She quickly breathed out hoping they wouldn't hang up on her. She held her phone between her shoulder and ear and she pushed herself up into a seating position and gently slapped her face to try and wake herself up from the deep sleep she was in.

"I have called because Commanding Officer Neal has asked to set up a meeting to discuss your future employment with ADF." Jade felt a course of excitement run through her body. She had been waiting for this moment when they would allow her to work again. She knew she wouldn't be able to continue with her original role, but there were other departments where her skills would be needed.

She had been thinking about seeing if she could go into recruiting and training new cadets. She knew she didn't want to go into admin or support roles because she needed a job that was fulfilling and exciting.

"That is excellent. I am free any time Corporal." Jade said calmly because she didn't want to seem too excited, but she was. She was excited that her future was starting to take shape and once she was working again she wouldn't feel like a sense of hopelessness that she had been feeling lately. She knew she was getting better, but there were many times when she felt so helpless that it was a struggle to be around people at times.

"Wonderful. I can squeeze you into this afternoon around 4 pm or the earliest won't be until the start end of April start of May." Jade frowned. If she didn't go today then she wouldn't be able to get this meeting for another 3-4 weeks meaning that would be more time at home and not working. She looked at her clock and saw she had plenty of time to get ready, but she was still nervous about having the meeting today.

She wasn't as prepared as she would like to be, but it was choosing between having more time to prepare or waiting for almost a month.

"I can do today." She smiled as Corporal Park told her what she needed to bring. They had most of her medical documents and reports from Andrea and Helen, all she needed to bring was anything that had been updated that they might not have. When she hung up the phone Jade did a little happy wiggle on her bed before she got up and got ready.

Two hours later Jade was exiting the taxi that had bought her. She had messaged Sofia telling her she wasn't needed this afternoon and decided she was going to do everything herself. She showered herself, got herself dressed into a navy and white polka dot flowy skirt and a white high neck top. She had put her dark thick hair into a high ponytail and put on some small black strapped heels. She kept her makeup natural. She didn't wear her uniform but dressed in smart casual attire.

She wheeled herself off the wheelchair accessible taxi and pushed herself up to the main gates where she had to sign in. She showed her identification to the guard who looked at her name in recognition.

"Sergeant Jennings." He saluted which surprised Jade. She smiled at the young man as he gave back her identification as she pushed herself towards the reception. She wondered if she would run into Marcus or Marco while she was here.

As she rolled up someone opened the door for her with a smile on her face.

"Hi, I'm here to see Commanding Officer Neal. Jade Jennings." She told the receptionist who smiled at her and typed into her computer.

"Please take a seat and I will let him know you are here." She gestured towards where the chairs were, and she rolled herself over and waited. Jade didn't have to wait long until the door opened behind the reception desk. If Jade wasn't in a wheelchair she would have stood up and greeted her commanding officer with respect, instead she wheeled over to him and saluted when she reached him.

"Corporal Jennings, good to see you looking so well. Shall you follow me." She nodded her head and followed him into his office. She took a seat and noticed another person in the room with them. She was sure that the other gentlemen were part of the medical team that would be reviewing her records.