Ever After?

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own words and ideas.

AN: This takes place immediately after 'Stoned'. I wrote this right after the episode aired but I never got around to posting it. So tell me what you think. More chapters will be posted shortly.

It had been a full 24 hours since anyone had set eyes on Jo Lupo. She wasn't at the Carter residence, nor was she in her office at Global Dynamics or the Eureka Sheriff's Department or any other place Jack Carter could think of. The sheriff extraordinaire couldn't think of anywhere she could possibly be. He was starting to worry. The last time he had seen his former deputy she had walked away from him after the scene in the infirmary.

Jack Carter descended the underground steps to his front door and requested entrance in a worn out voice. SARAH obediently opened the door for him. As he crossed the threshold, he hung his jacket on its hook and soon was collapsed on the couch with one of his hands over his eyes, trying to think.

Jo was out there alone, sad, angry and with an active firearm. He didn't so much worry for her safety but for the safety of the people that might accidentally cross her path. Jo shared the mind state of a wounded animal, come too close and she'll attack.

"Are you alright Jack? I am sensing that you are distraught about something."

"No SARAH, not really. My daughter likes Zane Donovan whom Jo happens to be head over heels in love with and who has seemed to have disappeared and there is nothing I can do about any of it." Jack rubbed his face and hauled himself to his feet.

"And Zoe won't listen to me about Zane being bad news for her. I can't tell Zoe about Jo liking Zane cause Jo would kill me, and I've checked all the places I can think of that Jo might have gone."

"Hmm...That is quite a predicament. Jo was here yesterday afternoon. She too seemed distraught. When I inquired about her well being she told me to mind my own business."

"Really?" Jack looked up. "Did she say where she was going or anything?"

"No. Although she did have a backpack. Have you tried calling her?"

"Gee SARAH why didn't I think of that?" Jack snapped at her.

"That was not nice Jack." SARAH reprimanded.

He groaned again. "You're right. I'm sorry. I just don't know what to do."

"Perhaps give her some time. She is a smart and resourceful woman. We will see her again."

The climb to the top would have been torture for someone who was less fit then her. Her time with the Rangers had drilled into her the need to be in peak shape. She gazed down at the town below her and sighed forlornly. The pack on her back was beginning to dig into her shoulders. She shifted the straps and proceeded on her way, looking for a suitable place to set up camp.

After witnessing that heart rending scene in the infirmary she knew she needed an out. She needed to get away. This wasn't running away. No, this was taking a much needed reprieve. This was her vacation, her time away from being dumped on, from walking in on scenes like that.

She spotted a rather large and comfortable looking clearing a few hundred yards in front of her. It was a fairly level stretch with some nice tree cover on one side and a beautiful view of the surrounding mountain peaks on the other. This spot was much better than the one she had found the night before.

Jo shrugged the pack off her shoulders and grabbed a bottle out of one of the holders, sipping the water to keep herself hydrated. She had learned from her time in the desert with the Army that water was an absolute necessity. Before she had left she picked up several large bottles of water to carry with her and hoped to come across a stream on her rambling. She wasn't sure how long she was going to be up on the mountain.

She soon had her camp set up to her liking. Her tent was in the shade out of the wind. Her fire was several feet away. She had brought little with her, just enough to keep her going; clothing, food, water and shelter.

The sun had set an hour or two ago. Jo was sitting close to the fire, staring into its depths. The flames were mesmerizing. They jumped and spiraled as if they were made to do nothing else. It was absolutely enthralling. She wasn't sure how long she spent just sitting there, starring.

She was only shaken from the flame induced trance by the sound of something flying over head. She looked up and saw nothing but a glimpse of lights before they passed out of sight. Probably some GD experiment. A drone or balloon or something, Jo thought to herself.

She gazed back at the fire but was again interrupted by a much slower fly over. This time she got a good look at the thing.

She groaned and let her head fall into her hands that were propped on her knees.

The Skycruiser came in, landing smoothly a few yards away. The engine cut off and Jo jumped to her feet, stalking over to the craft.

"Can't you people take a hint?" She yelled at the person dismounting. Zane removed his helmet.

"Why the hell can't you guys just leave me alone? If I'm not around it's because I don't want to be!"

Zane raised his hands in surrender. "Whoa whoa whoa Jo-Jo I come in peace."

The nickname was like a stab in the heart. "Don't call me that" she snapped. "And get the hell out of here. I don't want you here." She turned around and trudged back to her perch by her fire.

"Why?" He asked, following her slowly.

"Do I need a reason? Can't I take a few days vacation when I want to?"

"Without telling anyone? You dropped off the face of the planet. People are worried."

"This isn't the first time I've gone into the mountains for a few days. Why are you worried this time and not any of the other times?" She snapped.

"The other times you weren't acting so weird. What's up with you Lupo? You've been weird the last few weeks. Like weirder then normal I mean."

She glared at him. Her eyes were shadowed by the limited light of the fire. It looked somehow more menacing then her usual glares, Zane leaned back a fraction.

Zane knew something was obviously wrong. Her reluctance to answer the question was suspicious, as well as the way she hugged herself tighter and gazed only at the fire.

"Nothing's up...and even if there was something I wouldn't be able to tell you. Just get back on the Skycruiser and leave me alone."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Was it really that hard to comprehend? It means go away!"

"No. That first part. What do you mean you wouldn't be able to tell me? You can tell me anything Jo." His voice softened and he leaned in closer to her. Jo pulled back.

"Really? Since when have we become such good friends that you would listen to my problems? Just leave me alone."

Zane rose to his feet. "If you say so. I also came to give this back to you. I found it on your desk and it looked pretty important." He held out a gold chain with a small diamond ring suspended from it.

Jo gasped and felt for her necklace. She didn't remember taking off. She went to grab it from his hand but he pulled it back at the last second.

"Looks like an engagement ring. I didn't know you were engaged."

Through clenched teeth she said, "I'm not. I never gave him an answer." In a small whisper she added, "That was a whole different world." Zane barely heard the last part.

Jo held out her hand and Zane dropped the ring into it. Jo was kind of surprised that he hadn't recognized it. It was his grandmothers after all.

Zane gave her one last look before turning and climbing back onto the Skycruiser and flying off into the night.

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