A/N This is an AU fic, not a continuation of what happens after the series. In this universe, the crash never happened. Here are the roles.

Cody Jackson-Director

Melissa Wu-Costume, Make-up, and Set Design

Lex Marin-Special Effects

Taylor Hagan-Main Actress

Eric McGorrill- Camera Operator

Nathan McHugh-Stunts Director

Daley Marin-Producer

Abby Fujimoto-Publicist

Jory Cavanaugh-Writer

Ian Bedawan-Editor

Bob "Captain" Russell-Head of the Production Company

"Cut!" Cody Jackson yelled. "Perfect shot guys!" Everyone started clapping. This was the hardest shot, where Kayla jumped from an airplane. Unfortunately, they couldn't just make them jump from an airplane. That would be dangerous for the actors. With a lot of help from Nathan and Lex as well as Melissa, they were able to pull it off.

Daley was waiting for him outside of the set. "Nice job." She grinned. "See you haven't lost your touch."

"No, I haven't." Jackson smiled back. "Taylor does a good job acting. I just wish she had more personality to her."

"I know." Daley agreed. "I feel really sorry for Abby. After all, she has to make it seem like Taylor does this on a daily basis."

"Yeah. Which reminds me, I need to go and congratulate Melissa on her awesome set design. It's amazing!"

"Yes, and you probably want to talk about more than that." Daley replied.

"Shut up." Jackson grinned, before he went off to find Melissa. He found her in the prop storehouse, which was crammed to the top with useless items that they'd probably never use again. She was folding Taylor's latest outfit when she saw Jackson. She smiled happily and stopped folding the shirt.

"Hey beautiful." Jackson said, about to kiss her. Then Nathan walked in. Jackson and Melissa immediately separated.

"Hey," Nathan said, not looking up from his clipboard. "The stunt double got a little bruise, but she's fine."

"Okay." Melissa said. "I don't want my scenery to injure someone."

"How's Miss Princess doing?" Jackson asked. That was their nickname for Taylor Hagan, the main star of the show. She grew up in some rich family, so she was used to the best. Not exactly something they had on TV show sets.

"She's fine." Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "She threw a little tantrum earlier about the catering, but Abby told her off."

Everyone laughed. They all knew how little patience their publicist had with the lead star. Jackson himself had to admit that he thought about replacing her. Maybe with Melissa. But Taylor was a good actress, he had to give her that. And that was the only reason she stayed. But tempers were growing short with the leading lady.

On cue, Abby walked in, simmering about something. "I've had it! She's out of control! Do you know how hard it is to market her as a role model? At this rate, all the little girls in the world will throw tantrums when their food doesn't get shipped directly to their room!"

Melissa sighed, then went back to cleaning up the props from the movie. "I know it's hard.
But Captain said that they're thinking about cancelling the show."

Jackson looked horrified. "They're doing what?" He yelled.

"Cancelling the show." She saw the look on Jackson's face. "Don't worry. I'm sure they won't. They never do. There's always talk, but the ratings are too high. They're probably fed up with Taylor too."

"Who isn't?" Eric walked in. One of the laziest cameramen in the world was Jackson's opinion. But he did the job and he did it well. And cheap. He continued. "I mean, she's hot and everything, but seriously? She threw a fit yesterday 'cause the camera wasn't "close enough". And when I told her if I went any further, we'd all see if she had strep throat or not, she threatened to have me fired."

"She's crazy." Nathan agreed. "But she is good at acting."

"Like you're a good cameraman, but you're lazy." Jackson supplied.

"Thanks chief." Eric said sarcastically. "That makes me feel so much better."

"You're welcome." Jackson said, rolling his eyes.

"I better check to see if the stunt double is okay." Nathan said. Abby jumped.

"What happened to the stunt double?" She asked. She left with Nathan as they were discussing the stunt double's injuries.

"I better go placate Taylor." Jackson sighed. He wasn't looking forward to this. It was one of his least favorite parts of the job. He went off to find the ditzy star and found her arguing with the editor and writer. He grumbled then went into the editing booth.

"You should move it closer to my face." Taylor was saying, pointing to the screen. "You can't see anything."

"That's the point." Ian, the editor, said.

"That's not your face." Jory looked ready to explode.

"Why isn't it? I'm Kayla!" Taylor whined.

"Of course you're Kayla!" Jory screamed. "We all know you're Kayla! But you had to have a stunt double do your scene!"

"Why didn't I do it?" Taylor asked innocently.

"Because if you did the scene, you would've gotten hurt." Ian patiently explained. Jackson had to give him credit, he was really patient with Taylor. Jackson left silently. Taylor was busy. That was good. Last time they left Taylor alone, the media caught up with her "about to crash", or so the front covers screamed. Abby had to make a whole lot of phone calls in order to take care of that one.

Jackson ran into Lex outside of the editing booth. He took one look inside, then turned around and left. Jackson followed. "I'm not going in there with her there." He grumbled. "Why can't we fire her?" He pleaded.

Jackson ran a hand through his hair. "You remember what happened the last time that was suggested." He reminded him. Lex nodded. Taylor had ranted to some magazine. Abby wouldn't acknowledge her presence for a month. That was when she started saying she instead of it.

"I just didn't think my explosions were big enough." Lex confided.

Jackson looked at him in surprise. "We can always expand on it in post-production."

"Yeah." Lex sounded unconvinced. "But the latest review said that the explosions looked fake."

Jackson's brow furrowed. "Don't worry. Abby will take care of it. If she has any time after Taylor's little antics." Lex chuckled at that.

"I'm gonna go see if Taylor's gone." Lex told him then turned around.

Jackson just needed to go see the Captain. His real name was Bob Russell, but everyone called him the Captain. He used to be a Captain in the Navy.

Jackson knocked on the big oak doors that marked the Captain's office. He knocked. "Enter!" A voice boomed. Jackson went in. The Captain turned around. "Ah, Jackson my boy!" He said happily.

"Sir." Jackson said respectfully. "I needed to talk to you about something really quickly."

"Of course, of course." The Captain murmured. "Is it Taylor again?"

Jackson chuckled. "No. Melissa told me you were thinking about cancelling Hot Shot." Hot Shot was the name of the show.

"No, I'm not." The Captain said in surprise. "We just have another one coming on, and we needed to cancel one. We floated shows, and we decided to cancel that soap opera, Fast Times. It was slowing down and we all hated the show."

Jackson breathed out. "Thank you sir."