as ever, i do not own eureka, or any of its characters - i am but a fan...
in sickness and in health
"Morning Jo" said Sheriff Carter.
Jo mumbled a response as she poured herself some coffee in Carter's kitchen. Across her, Carter had a worried look on his face. Judging from the dark circles under her eyes, she hasn't been getting much sleep.
"You ok Jo?" he asked.
"Yep," she replied as she took a sip of coffee. "I'm peachy." Of course Carter knew she was lying. It was apparent to anyone who bothered to notice that all was not well with her and Zane.
After the Astraeous announcement, it went from awkward to almost cold. Zane was expectedly upset when he found out she withdrew, but she also refused to talk about it beyond "You're going to Titan. It's what you want isn't it? So there shouldn't be a problem with me not going!"
Jo knew she was being a coward by avoiding talking to Zane. Just as she was a coward indulging in passionate goodbyes when Zane got his pardon, rather than telling him how she really felt.
She was just scared shitless. Almost nothing could ever scare Jo Lupo. Except this particular Zane Donovan, whose unwavering blue eyes can have her running in the opposite direction. Especially when he looks at her as if he…
Carter's voice cut through her thoughts.
"Um, S.A.R.A.H. said Zane was outside the bunker last night."
"What?"
"That's correct Sheriff. We don't know how long Mr. Donovan was outside though…"
"We?" asked Jo
"Me and Andy" replied S.A.R.A.H as if it were obvious. "We sensed a presence outside last night, and once we'd determined it was Mr. Donovan, we waited for him to request entry. We were unsure whether he wanted to see the Sheriff or you, Jo, but per our calculations, it was a 99% chance that he was here to see you, Jo."
"But he just sat there on his bike, not moving or saying anything. And it was raining hard too last night. So finally Andy went out to talk to Zane, but he was gone when Andy got outside."
"Oh." Jo's shoulders slumped as she put down her mug on the kitchen counter.
"Guess you're not the only coward in the relationship, huh?" Carter, more perceptive than some people give him credit for, scored a double bulls-eye.
"Relationship? Zane and I don't have a rela…" Jo stammered defensively.
"Aw c'mon, Jo. Man up!" then changed his pronoun as Jo's eyebrows shot up "Ok, woman up…" then shook his head because it didn't sound right. "Just suck it up and admit it. You and this Zane are in a relationship. However you define it, it's definitely a relationship. And now it seems you're both running away from it."
His eyes and his voice both softened "Although judging from his actions last night, he's at least trying to reach out. You may want to close the gap between the two of you"
Jo put her hands around her mug, as if she needed to anchor herself on something. She looked at her friend with a pained expression "Tell me what to do Jack. I don't want to lose him but I'm afraid I might have already"
She looked down at her hands clutching her mug so tightly. She knew she looked as desperate as she felt. "Maybe I should have taken your advice and just let things be. But I didn't and now it may be too late…"
Carter tried to make light of the situation. He didn't like seeing Jo like this. "I'm not so surprised you didn't take my Beatles-inspired advice. But it's never too late Jo." He crossed over to where she was and gave her a brotherly hug.
He pulled away and with his hands on her shoulders, stared her down "Now go talk to Zane before I'm forced to take on drastic measures."
Jo gave Carter a quick kiss on the cheeks and replied in her best Zoe-like voice "Yes, Dad!"
As she headed for the door of the bunker, Carter muttered under his breath "I swear I will lock those two up if they still don't get this right."
