Hi everyone ! I've been thinking about this story for a few weeks and I've got plenty of ideas to write an awful lot of chapters ;) Some of you may know me already. I'm a huge fan of Jo, and here, I wanted to explore the relationship there is between her and Ellie. I mean... Jo's a really great mother, and the fact that Ellie is adopted is inspiring, and I hope that you want to know more about them as much as I do :)
So here's the plot : Ellie is about to spend her last summer break as an highschool girl working with the CSI unit. However, things will get rather dangerous for her and Jo... Want to know why ? :) Then read on my friend ;D
AND PLEAAAASE REVIEW ! You can't imagine how inspiring it is to read what you think ! And more : Ireally love to integrate my reader's ideas when I write :) As a wink ;)
ENJOY !

Ellie was waiting for Charlie to ask her for a dance. She had been imagining that moment for weeks. She had dreamed of that dance- she wanted him to hold her tight so that she could breathe his scent. He was the captain of her soccer team, and had always been kind to her even on her first day at school. He didn't look bad either. He was a few inches taller thanher, he was strong, and his blue eyes were to die for.
She had bought a nice dress for the prom ball. Her mother had helped her choose the perfect one- it was a dark blue dress, that fell just under her knees. It was in some kind of silk, with little details embroidered in gold here and there, on the corset. She looked like an actress promoting a new film. She looked at herself in one of the mirrors of the ball room. She had just turned eighteen, and her body was that of a fully grown-up woman. She was also more mature than the others. Maybe that was because she had seen death in that subway a few years before. That was what her mother thought anyway.
She turned around when someone lightly touched her shoulder. It was Charlie.
"D'you want a drink ?"
She nodded and followed him to the bar. She wished she was able to order whiskey. Her mother had told her that men were always impressed to see a nice girl drink a strong beverage. That was certainly a southern tip for single girls. However, it was forbidden to bring alcohol to the ball, so Ellie ordered cherry syrup, and Charlie asked for coke.

"Where are you going next year ?"
Ellie was slightly disappointed by his question as she had expected him to ask her to dance with him. But she felt pleased to see he was interested in her.

"NYU." She answered. She was proud to say that she was eventually going to college. Her brother had told her all about it, and it sounded like heaven on Earth, despite what Jo had been telling her about the homework and all...
"Hey ! Just like me !"
The young girl was about to feign being surprise- she already knew they had been accepted in the same college- when a tall pale blond girl in a red dress interrupted them.
"Hi Charlie !" She shrilled.
Ellie rolled her eyes. Cynthia was her rival in everything. They were struggling to be the top of the class and they both wanted Charlie as their boyfriend. Well, actually, Cynthia was not too much into Charlie, really, she was just the center of the world. She was nice to everyone and all the boys in the class were attracted to her. They all said she had something of a French girl. Ellie didn't know why. Besides her name, Duchamp, she didn't see anything 'French' in her. But she knew something- a French name meant nothing. Or maybe it did after all, as Cynthia and Ellie's mother both had one and were both 'sexy'. Ellie envied them. They seemed to have their way with boys.

"Hi Cynthia ! I heard you're going to work in the general hospital this summer, how fascinating !" Charlie said, smiling.
Ellie was taken aback. He looked more interested with the fact that Cynthia was about to play the apprentice nurse for two months than with the fact that they were both going to stay together in NYU !
"Yeah, it's nothing really. Answering the phone, helping the nurses with changing bandages, and all that kind of stuff. And you Ellie ? Have you found a summer job ?" The blond girl sounded bitchy, and that made Ellie go mad. She had to come up with something to impress Charlie. She didn't have to think much.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I wasn't supposed to talk about it, but I'm going to work for the head of the crime lab." She said triumphantly. Charlie's charming smile showed up on his face.

"Isn't it where your mother works ?" He asked.
"Catching killers isn't a job. It's more like a way of life, you know ?" Ellie said carelessly.

Charlie nodded.
"Now that's interesting ! Care to tell me more about it while we dance ?" He said, extending his hand towards her.
Ellie was over the moon. She knew she was going to regret lying to him, but for the time being, she was satisfied with seeing Cynthia's face crumple up with surprise and jealousy.

Later that night

"So how was your night ?"
Ellie jumped when she heard her mother's voice. She should have known that Jo was still up waiting for her to come back from the party, but she was so ecstatic that she had forgotten about her curfew. She cringed with embarrassment and hoped that her mum wasn't going to ground her.

She took off her jacket and stepped into the living room where Jo was lying on the sofa, a book in her lap. She didn't look that angry, but that could mean anything.
"I'm sorry I'm late, my phone was out and I didn't have a watch."
Jo's face lit up and she smiled fondly, beckoning her to take a sit on her legs. Ellie sat down, careful not to crush her mother too much.
"It's not even one. That's okay. You know kiddo, I didn't come home from my prom ball before seven. Your granddad was furious when I came through the kitchen door. He had not slept at all, and he was about to call the sheriff after breakfast. He grounded me for seven months. If I'm not mistaken, that's a month for each hour I was late."
Ellie started and laughed.
"Really ?! Ma, I didn't know you were such a bad-ass !" She had never thought of her that way. She was that southern, charming woman, always sweet and firm. She was a great motherly figure.

Jo smiled hearing Ellie's point. Yeah, she may have been a bit of a 'bad-ass' in her times.
"Anyway, you eluding my question. How did it go ? Did you dance with Charlie ?" She asked with a wink to which Ellie answered with a knowing smile.
"You bet !"

Jo flashed her a victorious smile.
"That's my girl !" She said with her southern twang.

They high-fived and Ellie started telling her more about it, precipitately.
"That bitch Cynthia was there too. She completely interrupted us whereas we were talking about college and began talking about her summer job, cos she's gonna work as an assistant nurse. I knew I had to say something to get Charlie's attention back so I told him I was gonna work with you during summer break. He found it fascinating and asked me to dance with him. God Ma that was great ! He is such a great guy !"
She stopped, sensing that her mother was baffled. And when she put her hands on her shoulders, she could even see that she was bemused.
"Slow down there, young lady. Did I hear you talk about the crime lab ?"
Ellie tucked a lock of her long hair behind her ear. She was embarrassed and didn't know what to do. She already regretted lying, but she had had a good time dancing with Charlie.

"Hum yeah. It was on the spur of the moment, I was desperate to get his attention."
Jo looked at her daughter with an exasperated smile. Ellie knew she did not approve of desperate moves. She was the most tactful and rational woman on Earth. Of course, she could be spontaneous sometimes, but you had to get her to trust you before she confided in you. The silence that was drawing on between them was full of reproach, and Ellie didn't stand it long.
"Come on Ma ! That's not the end of the world. That's not a bad idea after all ! We need money to pay for the tuition fee, and I don't want to spend the summer at grandma's. Wouldn't it be great if I worked with you for a few weeks?"
Jo sighed. She knew Ellie wanted to find a summer job in New York, but she wasn't keen on her being exploited in a restaurant or as a baby-sitter coming late every night, and it was out of the question to let her work in a bar. She guessed that having her around at the lab could be a kind of solution.
Ellie sensed her hesitation.
"You know I want to study sciences. I'm quite good at it, and I could learn more with your team than in class. I'm bored with theory, I could use some training. I'll be discreet and I won't bother you. Please Ma !"
Jo smiled at last. Her daughter had a gift when it came to arguing, and she could remember being the same when she was her age.
"Do you realize that if you work at the crime lab, you'll be asked to open the mail and carry cups of coffee around ?"
Ellie looked at her with puppy eyes. Of course she wouldn't catch bad guys or carry on DNA analyzes, but she really wanted to be part of the team. This was going to be an important summer. Mac was getting married to Christine, and deep inside her, Ellie felt sorry for her mother. She had seen her heart break when she had learned the news. Ever since their first day in New York, she had seen her mother gradually fall for this man and she wanted to be by her side when Mac was going to commit himself to his fiancée. She only hoped Jo didn't feel it- she hated it when people were pitying her.

"I will tidy your desk if you want me to !" She pleaded.
That made Jo burst out laughing. Ellie really had her way with her, and she knew her soft spots. She threw herself on her to tickle her and they giggled.
"I could ask Mac to take you on, but I can't promise he will listen to me."
Ellie threw her arms around her mom and almost strangled her.
"Thank you ! You're the best Ma in the world !" She cried.
Jo kissed the top of her head.
"Now, don't overdo it sweetie. Time to go to bed.".

So ? What do you think ? :)