Trace Us Back

Rifiuto: Non Miriena

Summary: With every kiss, every touch, a spark ignited, kindling the fire that smouldered between them until a burning rage took hold, becoming wild and out of control. And each cinder that escaped from their raging wildfire became the lights that showed them the path back to what they had been, what they should have been, and what- if they gave in to their spark- they could be... The cinders they light the path and these strange steps trace us back... Removed, rewritten, reworked and reposted. For purplepotatopig.

"No."

"Come on, Jo, it's not like there's any real danger in a-"

"Listen to yourself, Carter! Usually you hate being witness to the crazy experiments that go on around here! Have you met you?" The sheriff rolled his eyes, following her as she left the elevator and headed down the hall to the nonlethal weapons lab.

"Funny Jo, real funny." He replied, catching up with her. Once they crossed the threshold into the NLWP Lab, Jo went right to Zane. Carter hung back, watching as she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, squeezing gently. He turned, his usual cocky grin appearing on his face as he wrapped an arm around her and leaned down to brush his lips against hers. The older man couldn't help the small tickle of happiness at the sight of his best friend wrapped in the arms of her love interest.

It had been three weeks since the unauthorized launch had shot Zane and Fargo into space, and in that short amount of time, Jo and Zane had been getting closer, spending more time together, but never going so far as to actually kiss in public. Zane had let up on the pranks and even left Carter alone- semi. The travelers had allowed Zane into their small group, once they realized that he wouldn't spill their secret. And in that short time, they all realized that having Zane in their group did wonders for Jo.

"So, what's this demonstration we're being shown today?" Jo asked, as Carter joined them. She pulled away from Zane, stepping back until she was standing with Carter. She still wasn't used to Zane showing affection; in fact, she wasn't entirely comfortable with the whole relationship, convinced that he was playing a prank on her. For a time, Carter was even convinced that he was, but as the days passed, he began to realize that Zane wasn't, and just wanted to know more about his alternate selve's relationship with Jo- answers she wouldn't give him.

"This is the thought fire two-thirty-five." Parrish said, going to Jo and handing her two small silver monitors to place on her temples.

"Which means?" Jo asked, glancing at Fargo, who shrugged. Parrish sighed, rolled his eyes, and beckoned her to follow.

"Stand here." He said, moving around the small table he'd set up. What looked like an oil diffuser sat on the table, filled with a dark- almost blood red- liquid. "Once I turn this on, any thought that runs through your mind will be picked up by the monitors, and transfer it to the vial. From there, depending on how sharp the thought, the liquid will light, sending a small flame up through the neck, and ignite the rim, like a candle."

"So... essentially, a candle." Carter said.

"No. The thought fire can not only be burned by thought, but it can also be burned by memories, and when those memories start to burn, it projects them like a hologram. It's meant for police interregation in kidnappings, murders, assassinations..." Parrish turned to Jo. "Go on, think of something."

She sighed, closing her eyes. Why the fuck did he have to kiss me down here? Doesn't he know how inappropriate that is?

"Whoa. That is... awesome." Her eyes snapped open at Carter's voice, and she found herself staring, at a blood red flame, dancing on the rim of the vial. She glanced up at Parrish, taking a step closer to get a better look. She'd never seen a flame so red, so deep, in her entire life. Taking a deep breath, she reached out to brush her fingers over the flame, like she used to do to the candles on her birthday cake as a child...

"No! Jo, don't!"

But she didn't have time to react, as the flame flickered, shooting up and becoming darker, deeper. When her fingers brushed over the flames, she felt a shock, an electric bolt shoot through her body, sending her back. She didn't realize Zane was behind her, reaching to grab her hand and pull her away, and when their hands connected, he recieved her shock.

The strength of their connection sent them both flying back, slamming into the wall, and knocking them both unconscious. Their bodies hit the ground, the same bolt of electricity that had started the whole thing running between their bodies; their hands remained connected, his atop hers to pull her away, ever protective.

Carter was the first to rush towards them, and he ordered Rowley, Jo's second in command, to call the infirmary and tell Allison to get an emergency team down to the NLWP Lab stat. Once they arrived, he backed away, watching Allison assess the situation, keeping a close eye on what was going on with Jo and Zane.

"Well? Ali, how bad is it?"

The doctor turned her dark eyes to Carter, worry etched within her features.

"They aren't responding to anything. I need to get them back to the infirmary so we can run more tests."

Carter nodded, watching the two be carried away on gurneys. They both looked so peaceful...

It took a moment but eventually, her eyes were able to adjust, and she sat up. Being hit by a truck didn't even begin to describe how she felt. Being insinerated by a space shuttle was more appropriate. She looked around, before slowly climbing to her feet. She took a couple shaky steps forward, spying the figure standing several feet away. When she finally got close enough to realize it was Zane, he'd already noticed her and had gone to her, wrapping her in his arms.

"Are you okay, Jojo?" She swallowed, nodding.

"I feel like I was launched into space-" She started, but stopped at the look on Zane's face. "Sorry." She looked around.

"Where the hell are we?" She shook her head.

"I have no-" But she stopped, hearing something.

"What?"

"Shh. Do you hear that?" He shook his head. She turned, her ears tuned to the slightest sound. Zane sighed, hands in his pockets, watching as the Army Sergeant in her showed herself, and she began walking away from him.

"Jo! Where are you going? We don't even know where we are! Jo! Wait up!" He rushed after her, skidding to a stop and slmming into her from behind. She didn't notice; her eyes were trained on something in front of her. "What is it?"

"See Mommy! Ms. Betsy says I'm doing really good, and that I'll be the best one in the recital! You'll be there, won't you, Mommy?"

Zane watched, confused, before asking, "Jo, who is that?" She swallowed.

"It's me-"

"I bet you will be. And I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Jo's eyes welled with tears. "And my mom."