Finding The Grace In Pain, At The End Of The Rain

Dancing Sequel

Chapter 1

How Could This Happen To Me?

a/n: I'll be honest. I don't know where this is going or how often it will be updated. I'm going through some pretty tough stuff with my family and w people around me, but I hope that you all enjoy it as much as you did Dancing.

The sequel takes place one year in the future. This first chapter will include a flashback, explaining everything that took place after what happened in the studio.

Here we go...

Jude smiled at Tommy, waving a hand to him as he moved gracefully across the floor with Emma. She smiled as she saw the younger girl giggle at a comment Tommy whispered in her ear. They were at a nightclub. The scars on his arms were barely visible these days...

"Mrs. Quincy?"

Jude looked up from Tommy's bed side. "Is he going to wake up?"

The doctor nodded and smiled.

"His body has been through much trauma through these past twenty-four hours, but with the right treatment, and a few more days in the hospital, he should good as new." The doctor smiled as if he'd performed some kind of miracle...In a sense, he had...

Jude sighed and smiled up at Tommy again as he finished his dance. It was a benefit he'd put together after forming Fighting Through The Pain, Out Of The Rain. His new foundation for cutters. Jude found out the day after he'd gotten out of he hospital that it hadn't been the first time he'd tried to take his life with cutting. It hurt her to know that he had. She smiled as he approached her. His happiness was so contagious. It was hard to not be happy when he was around anyone. His smile...So radiant. She smiled at him, turning on her chair.

"Having fun?"

His smile grew as he nodded. She smiled back. "Good. You deserve it..." She squeezed his hand lightly. Her thumb brushed absentmindedly over the scar on his wrist. He smiled at her and caressed her cheek. She smiled back at him. Emma walked up to them and sat down on his lap, draping an arm around his neck.

"That, my love, was very good. All those weeks of practice definitely paid off."

He smiled. "Thank you..."

Jude smiled at the girl. She'd met her nearly 6 months earlier. Tommy's new girlfriend. They'd both taken to dating not long after the divorce. She looked around. Brenden had yet to show. She sighed and smiled at the two again. "You still gonna get up there and perform?"

Jude snapped from her reverie and looked at Tommy. "Huh?"

He smiled. "I said, are you still gonna get up there and perform? You promised..." He smile begged her to kiss those soft, pink lips. She drew her gaze away from them, and nodded without a word. She stood and walked to the stage. Everyone's attention turned to her as she grabbed the microphone. She smiled.

"Most of you know about Fighting Through The Pain, Out Of The Rain...Aka, FTTPOOTP." She giggled softly, along with the crowd.

"Well, later this month, we're releasing an album of songs from various artists, about, just that. Fighting through the pain, and getting out of the rain; the rain being the pain." She smiled, looking around at various teenagers from the support group she and Tommy had started after creating the foundation. "This morning, my new single was released and played once on the radio. From now on, it will be played regularly, but it was asked to only be played once to attract an audience here tonight..." She smiled, turning to the full band behind her. "They...are here to assist me in singing that single for you right now..."

She settled up onto the stool behind her. "This is,...I Hope You Dance..."

She settled as the band behind her began to play.

"I hope you never lose your sense of wonder

You get your fill to eat

But always keep that hunger

May you never take one single breath for granted

God forbid love ever leave you empty handed

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Living might mean taking chances

But they're worth taking

Lovin' might be a mistake

But it's worth making

Don't let some hell bent heart

Leave you bitter

When you come close to selling out

Reconsider

Give the heavens above

More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small

When you stand by the ocean

Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens

Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

Dance

I hope you dance

I hope you dance

(Time is a real and constant motion always)

I hope you dance

(Rolling us along)

I hope you dance

(Tell me who)

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

I hope you dance

(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)

I hope you dance

(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)

(Where those years have gone)..."

She smiled as the tears formed in her eyes slowly began to run down her cheeks. Tommy didn't know it, but she'd written it the night after he'd woken up in the hospital, while he slept. She wiped away her tears and put the mic back on the stand before walking off the stage. Tommy walked over to her.

"That was really good Jude..."

She smiled at him and nodded before walking out of the room.

"Jude?" Tommy's voice came hoarsely as he looked down at her blond head of hair laying on the bed over her arms.

She looked up at him with tears filled eyes. "Tommy. Thank God..." She jumped up and hugged him tightly. "I was so worried that..." she couldn't finish her sentence as tears began to cascade down her cheeks. Tommy reached up, wiping them away.

"Shh..." He kissed her forehead and hugged her back. After a few minutes, she pulled away and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. He stared at her questioningly. "What happened?" He whispered hoarsely.

Jude sighed. She picked up his limp right hand from the bed, running her thumbs over the gauze on it. Several tears ran down her cheeks. "You cut both your wrists...And almost died in the sound booth of Studio A..."


Tommy sighed, the memories flooding his mind. He sighed softly and brushed his thumb over the back of her left hand, which still lay in his right. She looked up at him. She knew he was waiting for an explanation.

"Because...I still love you..." Several more tears dribbled down her cheeks.

"Then why did you say it, Jude?"

She looked at him. Why did she say it? She didn't---. Yes. Yes she did. "I didn't want you to do this...I wanted you to fight for me...I wanted you to show me that you weren't ready to give up either...And you did exactly as I suspected you would do...You tried to take the easy way out, Tommy!" She stared into his eyes. "I wanted you to show me that you were willing to fight for us, even when it seemed like there was nothing left to fight for!!!"

"And how was I supposed to know that?" His answer came calmly, quietly. He reached up, brushing a strand of Jude's hair away from her face. She looked up at him.

She spoke as softly as he did. "You just were..."

"Haley, Nate!!!" Jude ran over to them and hugged them. Haley smiled at Jude. "This...Quincy out did himself. This is really amazing!"

Jude smiled. "Yeah, he did..."

Haley smiled and rubbed Jude's arm. "Did Brenden show?"

Jude looked at her best friend sadly. "What did I do, Hales? 6 months ago, he was great...Now..." She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. "I don't get where it all went wrong..." Tears filled Jude's eyes.

"You really want him to show up here? So Tommy actually sees how he treats you? Huh, Jude?" Haley looked Jude. She didn't really believe Jude wanted Tommy to know.

Jude shrugged and looked around. Tommy was standing alone. His girlfriend had most likely left for the night. She sighed and grabbed her shawl and bag. Haley hugged her and then walked away with Nathan. Jude headed towards the bar, bumping into Tommy along the way.

"Should watch where you're going, Quincy..." She joked as they sat down on separate stools. He looked over at her and rolled his eyes. She smiled.

"I, should watch? I wasn't the one who ran into you. I believe you were the one with your head turned..." He smiled at her.


She hit his upper arm lightly. He smiled as their drinks came. Her cellphone rang inside her purse, playing a familiar tune.

"In the darkness round the sun

There's a light behind your eyes

When you've lost the will to run

You can fee--"

Jude reached into her bag and opened her phone, turning it to the lowest speaker.

"Hello?" All she could hear was muffled crying, followed by an ear-shattering scream. She looked over at Tommy. Without a word, she grabbed her bag and shawl, and they ran from the club, into the rain...

------------xxxxxx--------------

Jude ran into the Quincy home, throwing her things on the couch. Tommy ran in behind her, doing the same.

"DANCER!?" She screamed, running down the hall and throwing every door open. She reached the last room, being Tommy's and opened it, seeing her daughter curled in a ball, sleeping. She ran over to her and shook her awake. Dancer opened her eyes wearily and looked at Jude, confused.

"What the hell was that call, 10 minutes ago?" Tommy flipped on the bedroom light, walking over to them. Dancer squinted, moving slightly careful not to hurt the baby in her arms. She rubbed her eyes and sat up on the edge of the bed.

"I don't know what you're talking about...I've been asleep for..." She looked over at the clock. 9 PM. She looked back at Jude "About 2 hours...both Grace and I..." She motioned towards the baby in her arms. Jude reached down and took her. Tommy looked at Jude and then back at Dancer.

"Joie..." Jude laid Grace in Tommy's arms and left the room.

"SOPHIA JOIE QUINCY!? Where are you!?" She threw open doors and flashed on lights, frantically searching for her daughter. She headed towards the back, still in search of her. She threw open the back door and flipped on the back porch light, not seeing her daughter anywhere in sight. She ran back into the house, down to Tommy's room. Tears began to fill her eyes. Tommy looked at her worriedly.

"Where are all these bruises from?"

Jude sighed, wiping away her tears. She shrugged off his question. "I can't...Find her..." She breathed heavily. Dancer looked at them both.

"She was down in the game room when I came up..."

Jude shook her head. "I checked every room on both floors...I can't find her..."

Tears scampered down her cheeks. She turned to Tommy. "Where's my daughter, Tommy..." He wrapped his arms around her as her body wracked in a sob. He kissed the top of her head gently. Dancer laid Grace in the pack and play and then walked down the hall. Jude and Tommy followed suspiciously. They reached the front door, where a rustle could be heard from outside. Jude turned to Tommy and then to the door. She ran to it and threw the door open, running out side.

Several feet from the house in a set of bushes, Jude tripped. Tommy ran out behind her and saw Joie curled in a ball where Jude had tripped. He helped her up and then lifted Joie into his arms, rushing into the house. Jude followed closely behind, limping. As they arrived inside, Jude looked at Tommy worriedly.

"Joie...Joie, Hun? Can you hear me?"

She opened her eyes and looked at Tommy and Jude. Jude sat down on the coffee table, elevating her leg slightly to keep from dripping blood where the bushes had cut her leg. Tommy left the room for a moment and then returned with several towels and a first aid kit. He sat down next to Jude.

"Joie, what happened?" Tommy looked at her intently. She appeared to be fine, except for a few scrapes on her knees and arms. As if she'd fallen off her bike. Jude stared back and forth between Joie and Dancer.

"One of you tell us..."

"I went outside to ride my bike...and it started to rain...Brenden showed up." Jude looked at her worriedly. She didn't want Tommy to know. Haley was right.


Tommy looked at Jude worriedly. "Is that why you called Jude's phone?"

Joie nodded. Slight anger crossed his features. He was sure he'd figured it out at this point. "Is that why you screamed? Was he trying to hurt you?"

Joie looked down at the blanket and then up at Jude, who had tears in her eyes. She nodded to Joie. "He pushed me out of the car...I ran back here, but collapsed in the bushes because I was too tired to make it to the door, and then...It started to rain..."

Tommy nodded. "Why don't you go up to the washroom upstairs with Dancer and get washed up. I'll take care of your mother..."

They nodded and walked away. Jude sighed and looked up at Tommy. He was staring at her differently than he normally would.

"Now you...You're going to go to my room, shower, put on the clothes I give you, we're going to wrap your leg, and then we're going to talk...Got it?"

She didn't look at him, and simply nodded. Tommy lifted her and carried her to the washroom, helping her to remove her clothing. Afterwards, he helped her into the shower, standing her facing away from the shower head so she could hold the railing for leverage. He left the room and changed into a dry, clean shirt, boxers and a pair of pajama shorts. He returned to the washroom a few moments later, laying a pair of clothes that she occasionally left there when falling asleep after a late night at the studio.

"How's it goin' in there?"

Jude groaned. "Badly. I can't wash anything..."


Tommy giggled slightly. He slid his shirt off. "Want some help?...I promise not to try anything funny..."

She giggled softly from inside the shower. "Please?"

He rolled his eyes and smiled, finishing removing his clothing. He walked over to the shower and opened the door, stepping in behind her. "Okay, what first?"

She looked over her shoulder at him. "Shampoo, please."

He smiled and moved his head back a bit to see the labels on the shampoo. After a moment, he grabbed on and placed it in her free hand. He placed both his hands on her hips. "Go ahead. I've got you..."

She did as she was told and squirted some into her hand before setting it back on the counter and lathering into her hair. Tommy couldn't help but inhale the scent. Roasted sugar and vanilla. He sighed softly. "Turn me around, please..."

He chuckled softly, doing as he was told. Jude's eyes were closed, but she reached out for the shampoo. She squirted it onto her hand and Tommy looked at her worriedly. "Close eyes, please." She spoke childishly. Tommy didn't know what she was up to, but did as he was told. A moment later, he felt her hands run through his hair.

"Jude--"

"You were in the rain too...All of us need showers, Quincy..." She continued to speak childishly. Tommy couldn't help but laugh. "Gosh, didn't your mother ever teach you about hygiene?" Tommy laughed.

"God that feels good."

Jude smirked, though neither of them could see each other. "Water please..."

Tommy stepped forward and pulled her forward, allowing the water to wash away the shampoo from both of their heads. After a moment, he opened his eyes. Jude reached out and grabbed the railing, and Tommy brought a hand up, wiping away the water. Jude did the same. They both stared at each other for a moment.

Tommy shook his head, ridding the thoughts from them and grabbed a sponge and handed it to Jude, setting his hands on her hips again. She picked a body-wash and then began to lather it into her skin, wiping away the dirt and rain streaks. A few minutes later, she looked up at Tommy. "Turn around..."


He looked at her, perplexed. Jude stared at him persistently. He did as he was told and let go of her sides, turning around. She rubbed the sponge into his back applying pressure in certain spots, causing Tommy to let out groans.

"Feel good?"

"You have no idea." He grabbed onto the railing, feeling like his legs might give out below him. "Gosh...that feels so good..."

Jude smiled and finished up after a few minutes. Tommy turned back to her, expecting to apply the same treatment. Jude smiled and began rubbing the sponge gingerly against his chest, which was covered in scrapes. She looked up at him.

"What're these from?"


Tommy simply shrugged. "I may have attempted to rough up someone who I'd seen trying to hurt this girl I love..."

Jude looked up at him. "You knew?"

Tommy sighed. "I saw him grab Dancer's arm a little too hard last night when he dropped the girls off..."

Jude nodded and sighed. She finished up and handed him the sponge. He smiled and covered it in more body-wash allowing Jude to wash her front. She handed it back to him after a few minutes and turned around, moving her hair over her shoulder. He washed her back down and then gingerly rubbed both of her legs down. He stood back up when he'd finished setting the sponge aside and pulling her back against him, allowing the water to rinse away the body-wash. Jude seethed as the soap washed away the bacteria and dirt from her leg. Tommy closed his eyes, relishing in the moment. When they were both completely rinsed off, he stepped out and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around himself. He reached over and grabbed another wrapping it around her while she rested her hands on his shoulders. She smiled at him, and he lifted her out, setting her on the toilet seat. He pulled his clothing on and then walked out of the room to his closet. He grabbed another clean towel walked back into the washroom. He knelled down in front of Jude, wrapping the towel around her leg and applying pressure for a moment. Jude shrieked lightly, glaring at him. He gave her an apologetic look and then unwrapped the towel from her leg. He reached up and grabbed the first aid kit, opening it. He grabbed the peroxide and looked up at Jude as he opened it.

"I'm sorry..." He looked up at her apologetically as he gently poured it over the cuts.

"God damn it!!!" She screamed as he poured it over her leg. It sizzled for a bit before ceasing. Tommy wiped it away and stood.

"I'm sorry..." He set the peroxide on the vanity and then looked over at her. "You okay?"

Jude looked up at him and nodded. He knelled back down and wrapped her leg in gauze before putting medical tape over it. He then grabbed an ACE bandage and wrapped it over the gauze. As he finished, he put away the first aid kit and set it back in the medicine cabinet above the vanity. He handed Jude her clothes and then walked into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

He walked over to the pack and play, seeing that Grace had awaken. He walked over and lifted her from it, playing with her. Jude came out a few moments later and smiled at them.


"Did I wake her?"

Tommy looked over at her and shrugged. "Doesn't matter...We can all curl up and watch a movie..." He smiled and grabbed a blanket from the crib. Jude smirked at him and grabbed a blanket, limping to the sitting room.

"My choice?" She asked giddily. Tommy chuckled.

"Your choice..."

Joie and Dancer came down the stairs and walked into the sitting room. Jude smiled to them and pointed to the couch across from where she was sitting where there were two blankets. Tommy walked in a moment later and laid Joie into Jude's arms with the blanket and a bottle. He looked up at Dancer.

"You can have a break...just for tonight..."

She smiled and cuddled up under the blanket.

Tommy walked back to the kitchen and came back a few moments later with 4 bags of various chips and a pack of coca cola. Jude's eyes grew wide at him.

"What!?"

"All that sugar? Are you serious!?"

Tommy chuckled. "Jude, one, it's summer. Two, its Saturday night..." He smiled at her. "And we've all had a rough night...I think now we all just need quality family time, lots of sugar, and lots...LOTS, of chocolate..." Tommy reached into the side table drawer and pulled out chocolate bars. Jude's jaw dropped. She ripped it from his hands and tore open the first wrapper she was able to, chewing into the chocolate.

"Oh my gosh, Yum..."


Tommy and the girls stared at her, surprised. "Whoa, Girl...There's plenty of chocolate to go around." He reached for one of the bars in her lap. She slapped his hand. "MINE."

He looked at her worriedly. "Jude, are you pregnant?"

She looked at him as if he had 4 heads. "What?"


"You only hog chocolate when you're pregnant..."

Dancer looked between the two. "She never hooked up with Brenden...He hasn't been around long enough..."

Tommy's jaw dropped lightly. Jude's did also. They looked over at Dancer and then back at each other.

Dancer and Joie looked at each other and then back at Jude and Tommy.

"No..." They both broke out into a fit of giggles. "WHEN!?" They both shrieked.

Tommy and Jude stared at each other still, their mouths agape. Dancer looked at Joie and giggled. She grabbed one of the throw pillows and threw it at Tommy's head.

He shook from his reverie and looked at the girls and then back at Jude.

"Come on...If you're adding number 5 to this family, can we have a date, at least!?"

Jude's jaw moved several times. "I...wha...How..." She looked over at Tommy. A big smile had spread across his face.


"Uh-uh mister. We don't even know if this is for certain..."

Tommy's smirk stayed. "You're hogging chocolate..."

Jude blushed. "That doesn't mean anything..."

"You're hogging chocolate..." Dancer added.

Jude glared at her, her face turning the same deep red as Tommy's shirt. She looked back over at him. "I'm not sharing this with you." She opened the wrapper and bit into the candy hard, as if trying to show him that she was angry. He let ou a giggle.

"You're not mad at me." He smiled, grabbing more chocolate from the drawer and throwing it across the room to the girls. He grabbed more for himself and grabbed the remote to the TV, turning it on.

Jude glared at him. "You don't know that."

He smirked at her. "Yes I do..."

He turned back to the TV and pushed play on the remote. "And the movie of the night is?"

"Man Of The House." Dancer and Joie giggled, speaking simultaniously.

Tommy shook his head and sighed, laying his arm across the top of the couch. Jude snuggled up to him, laying her head on his shoulder. Tommy looked down at her and smiled. She smiled back up at him and then everyting turned black as something hit her face.

"HEY!?"

Dancer and Joie both giggled.

"No making out during the movie!!!"

The girls giggled and turned back to the movie. Tommy shook his head and smiled, laying his head against hers as the movie continued...

Ahhh...I think that works for your first chapter :D

Hope you enjoyed :D