His brows pinch together slightly after the first thing she says, but it's equal parts annoyed and... confused? It's unlike Jackie to be like this, even about Ella. He knows they didn't get along (and that that's an understatement), but Jackie usually avoids talking much about her. She knows they were together for a long time, and while the divorce wasn't entirely amicable, that Ben obviously still cared about her to a degree -- the mother of his child, and someone that had been by his side for a very, very long time. It's at her second comment that his expression shifts into pure irritation. "Wait, what did you just-- Listen, maybe you'd be fine talking sh*t about your ex--" Not that Jackie's really talked about him for any length at all. "--but lay the hell off of Ella. Off limits, and you're way outta line." Defensive of her -- and when he thinks about this later, that's not really going to surprise him.

Her brows lift first at his tone, then what's he's saying. "How the hell am I outta line and how're you gonna talk to me like that for sayin' anything about Ella? It's not talkin' sh*t if it's true. She was horrible to you, Ben. Remember all the files? Threatenin' that she had copies of 'em. Or tellin' Adam you were going to forget him. Fillin' him up with all her poison." Her hand not holding the photo was tossed into the air before settling on her knee and she leaned towards him. "You wanna talk about my ex? I was married to him. Then I wasn't. And now I don't talk to him. I didn't invite him to my weddin' and hug up on him for a family photo." Another look down at the picture. "I'm sure it was nice and it'll be great for Adam t' have. That hand y'got on her hip really makes the shot, Detective. Class act." It was with a flick of her fingers that the picture was released to sink down onto the pile below it.

He sits up as soon as she starts to answer. It's possible that Ben's never looked this angry with her before. "You're out of line because I'm telling you you're out of line. You don't talk that way about her. You don't know what she's been through." What Ben's put her through. Maybe it's part guilt that pushes him to defend Ella to Jackie. "And no, I don't want to talk about your ex. You were married, then you weren't. What was it, a few months? Which, whatever, but-- Me and Ella were married as long as you've been alive, Jackie. She's my son's mother. We've known each other since we were kids, we--" He cuts himself off, shaking his head. Doesn't want to get into this now.

At her last jab, and the way she calls him detective, it just sets him off further. "Are you f*cking kidding me? Are you seriously jealous because I took a goddamn picture with her because Adam wanted one? Nice. Are you PMSing or something? Because Jesus Christ, I thought you trusted me more than that."

She's well aware that the expression he's wearing is something new. She's seen him mad at her but it's usually so baffled or only heavily irritated. This time around he looks so pissed that if he was a little less passionate about it all he might be able to actually pass for Sam. "What she's been through? Everyone's been through sh*t, Ben. Doesn't give someone a free pass to be a bitch!" She's rising to her feet as she says it, taking his move since he's usually the one that's up and at them when emotions begin running high.

"Good, 'cause I don't wanna talk about him either. Exes are things of the past." A sweep of her hands from one side to the other, depositing the old to where it belonged. "I know y'don't get the same benefit I do 'cause y'got Adam with her so she's always gonna be part of our lives, but the way you're talkin' is not just a 'had a kid with her' deal and that picture isn't just a 'smile for the kid' sorta thing. Y'were married for a long time but it ended for a reason!"

Jackie was so set on claiming that she was only speaking facts throughout the entire conversation but his accusation set her off. "I am not jealous of Ella!" Something else he said looked to hit her like a physical blow, a slow step back and furrow of her brows. It softened her expression but her fire was no where close to dying out. "I wasn't even mad about the picture, but you're sittin' here defendin' Ella tooth an' nail telling me, your goddamn wife, to hold her f*ckin' tongue about that junkie bitch! How am I supposed to feel about that!?"

"Okay, then what's your excuse? Because right now?" He doesn't say it, just lets out a hint of an almost-laugh, incredulous -- and still pissed. He gets to his feet around when she does. "It ended, yeah, but that doesn't mean I want to listen to you talking sh*t about her -- or listen to you giving me sh*t for still being friendly with her!" It's the last thing she says about Ella that really gets to him -- he looks like he's been physically struck, for a second, eyes wide. But while her expression had softened some, his just grows hotter, more angry. Speechless for a few seconds, because he knows he'll regret anything he says right then. When he finally does speak, his voice is quiet, low, dangerous. "You should feel sorry, and embarrassed, for talking like that about somebody important to me. Don't you ever -- ever -- call her something like that again." He doesn't even want to be in the same room with her right now. Doesn't want to give her the chance to make him angrier. So he moves past her -- at least is careful not to mess up her piles of wedding photos -- to head upstairs, and that's probably the sound of their bedroom door slamming shut shortly after.

"You just called me a bitch, Ben!?" He didn't have to say it, eluding to it was enough. "So I can't call Ella, your ex who was-" Finger lift, making quite the show of trying to piece it together to make sure she's accurate. "Was she in rehab or is she still in rehab? It's so hard t'keep track. Do y'lose the junkie title when they give your your thirty day chip? Anyway, Miss Sunshine who called me a whore the first time I met her," Gestures to herself. "I can't call her a bitch. But you!" Points at him. "You're gonna call me a bitch." A slow nod as if she understood. Well, at least until she spoke. "You have f*ckin' lost your mind if you think that's any sorta okay. An' y'keep sayin' I'm talking sh*t but I don't see it! A spade is a goddamn spade." Arms folded over her chest, standing by her words.

"And you don't think you should be sorry an' embarrassed for pickin' some other woman over your wife? I'm your wife, Ben. Not her. She can be all sorts of f*cked up and crazy and you just say it's sweet Ella bein' Ella. But I say one word outta line about her and I'm in the wrong and you're tellin' me to be quiet? I don't remember you bein' that up in arms about the sh*t she said to me." He goes right past her and makes it to the stairs before she's turning on her heels to shout after him. "How long of a stint I gotta do in rehab for you to forgive every stupid f*ckin' thing I ever done or plan on doin'!?" The door slams in reply and she's stomping along after him, tearing up the stairs. She doesn't check the bedroom door to see if he actually locked it or not, but she wastes no time in pounding her fist on the door. "Don't walk away from me!"

Huddled on the floor and crying she doesn't hear him at first, denying someone or something. It's not until he's on the floor along with her that her gaze lifts to meet him. The idea that he's brushing off how he feels, telling her to simply stop crying, is almost enough to make her blubber that much harder, but something in her hazy brain is finally clicking in realization. With the way he's rubbing at his temples, shaking his head, can't even look at her and he seems so intent on what's going on in his own head she gets it, even if belatedly.

A hand is slapped across her mouth in an attempt to muffle herself, though a small 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry' can be heard through her palm. Jackie's trying so desperately now to force back the tears, moving her hands to rub her palms into her eyes. Her voice still crackles when she speaks, strained from effort. "I'm trying. Don't go. Just stay with me, okay? I'll stop, just don't go. Don't go, don't go." True to her word she somehow manages to reel her crying in until she's simply breathing heavily, interrupted here and there with shuddering exhales and small whimpers.

It isn't easy for Ben to fight a switch. Yes, he's done it in the past, but rarely, and it takes so much effort to stay there, not become someone else, someone better suited for this. It helps when she tells him to stay, but it isn't until she sounds like she's got the crying stopped (he still won't look) that he reaches over for her, takes one of her hands. "Still here." Doesn't feel all there, and his skull feels ready to split in two, but he isn't anybody else, and that's an accomplishment. "Talk to me." He means about anything, to help ground him, but, "I don't hate her. I still care a lot about her. Doesn't mean I love you any less. But she'll always be important to me, too." Finally, he chances a look up at her face. His own expression is a little off, faded, slightly vacant, but at least he's still there. "I'm sorry we didn't talk about this sooner. But you understand, right? I love you, and I don't want to be with her, but I still care."

Her hand is given up easily, fingers wrapping tightly around his like maybe if she held on it would guarantee he wasn't going to go anywhere in any sense of the word. She's carefully scooting closer to him. "You're doin' good, sweetheart. Real good." He tells her to talk to him and she's ready to go on about anything but the subject that caused all of this to begin with yet Ben is already diving right in. Lips press together tightly, wanting to think about what she's going to say before simply spewing out whatever nonsense can reach her lips first. "I know she's important, gave you Adam, and that's why I knew it was right for her to be at the weddin'. I knew she was there, but I wasn't expecting that. That picture of all three of y'lookin' so happy like nothin' ever changed between y'all." It takes her a while to be able to continue on because she has gone from being infuriated about the situation to so dejected. "My first marriage was a joke. It can't hold a flame to anythin' we have goin' on. But you and Ella? She was your first love, first marriage, Mother of your child." He might be looking at her now but her gaze sinks down into her lap, her hold on his hand loosening. She understands he said it doesn't make him love her any less, he doesn't want to be with Ella, but still. "It's hard to follow in those footsteps."

Ben holds tight to Jackie's hand, as soon as it's clear she wants to be holding on. Even when her grip loosens a little, Ben doesn't let go. He has to take a moment to process everything she said. "I'm glad you understand." That's all he says at first, reaching over with his other hand to touch her lightly on the cheek. It's meant to get her attention, get her to lift her gaze to him, but if she doesn't, he doesn't press it. "Yeah, she is all of that. But peaches, you need to understand -- you're not following in her footsteps. She's not by my side anymore. Only you are." Moving in closer, he presses his forehead to her temple, closing his eyes. It's a little heavy, the way he leans against her. "Are you okay now? You can tell me if you aren't."

It almost seems like that's all he's going to say at first. He's glad she understands and is happy she's done being irrational and got that all out of her system. The touch her her cheek manages to draw her attention, just a little lift of her head so shiny brown eyes can meet his. Ben assures her it's not how she thinks and there's a faint downward turn of her lips, hesitation before he asks her if she's okay. Her free hand lifts to stroke through his hair when he leans in closer, still trying to assure him and keep him calm while he's doing the same for her. "It's still something I have to work through. There's going to be that little nagging feeling inside even if my brain and you tell me it's silly as hell, but it'll get better. I just... I don't know. I'm okay now, I'm just worn out. I think I'm gonna go clean up the pictures then go to bed." A turn of her head to brush her lips to his cheek. "Are you okay now?"

"It'll get better. We have time." Quiet, and he stays with his head tipped against hers until her lips are against his cheek; he sits up a little straighter then, more under his own power. "Head's killing me, and I don't feel..." Trailing off, unsure of how to describe it, he just makes a vague little twitchy motion next to his head with his free hand. "I think I'm gonna go to bed too. I'll be better in the morning." Reassuring himself as much as her. "You want help with your pictures?" Getting up to his feet then, slow, and he keeps ahold of her hand -- not just to help her up too, but because he doesn't really want to let go sooner than he has to.

"Lots of time." Wanting that part repeated, that this, him and her together, was forever. She might not have been his first love, but she would be his last love. Fingers brushed through his hair, down his jaw and to his chest. "I think sleep for both of us is a good idea. Everythin' with be right side up in the mornin'." She rises to her feet as well, lacing fingers through his. There was a flicker of a glance towards the living room then back to him. "Think they'll be safe one night an' I can just continue workin' on it in the morning?" She wasn't exactly waiting for an answer, already tugging him back towards the stairs with her. "I'm exhausted." She had been perpetually tired since their return from vacation and the fight between them didn't help matters at all.

"They'll be safe until morning. And maybe I can help you with them then." He gives her a little smile, and he's easily led to the stairs and up them, fingers twined with hers. "We can sleep in, I'll make breakfast... It'll be a good morning. Calm." To help smooth over the tension from tonight, to remind both of them how they usually were with each other. This emotional outburst was so out of character for both of them, and Ben just wanted to chalk it up to the incident earlier in the week, sweep it under the rug, and move on.