A/N: I know I said this is a rewrite, but this story will be vastly different from the original. Heck, even the title is different. I never got that far in Take Me Away, but my idea for that story is what prompted this one. If things seem confusing at the moment, I promise it will all make sense later. All you need to know is that it takes place about a week after the finale, and the only difference is that the blackmail guy doesn't exist. I just couldn't fit it in, to be honest--but don't worry, there will be plenty of drama without him. I hope you like it, and please review!
xx
Disclaimer: I own Tim Rozon, body and soul. Sorry ladies.
Prologue
"You're back."
He nodded. "Yeah, I guess I am."
A pregnant silence ensued before she finally spoke again. "Is there actual a reason for you being here, Tommy? Because I'm kind of in the middle of something important."
He watched as she picked mindlessly at her salad, but refrained from comment. Important his ass--she was eating lunch alone. "I want to talk, Jude." Tommy gestured towards the empty chair situated at the other end of the table. "Mind if I sit?"
Jude shrugged apathetically. "I don't care what you do any more."
Tommy released a pent-up sigh--he knew this wasn't going to be easy, but no one could blame him for at least hoping. "Will you actually talk to me right now, Jude, or am I grasping at straws?"
She threw down her fork and met Tommy's gaze with daggers in her eyes. "You want to talk, Tommy? Fine, then we'll talk. But I'm going to go first." Her eyes seemed to contain blue flames--a mix of the fire and ice that composed her.
"Let's start with you, shall we? You're the damn eighth world wonder, Tommy, and I've never been a big fan of history. You're so...removed, unknown. Once in a while you let me get a glimpse of who's buried beneath all the layers, but not very often. I'm sick of trying to figure you out, and I'm sick of waiting around for you to completely let me in." With each word, Jude's declamation increased in volume and began to draw the stares of the other customers.
Noticing this, Tommy tried to interrupt. "Jude--"
"No! Dammit, Tommy, you're the one who started this, so let me finish!" Contrary to her words, Jude seemed to be losing steam. Her shoulders began to slump, but the venom in her eyes remained as virulent as ever. "Do you remember my birthday, Tommy? When we were locked in the Chrome Cat for the night? You begged me to believe you, to believe inyou again--and I did. Truth be told, I had never stopped believing in you. But now...now, how can I believe in someone who breaks every single promise they make?"
At this Tommy looked away, knowing Jude was right, even if he couldn't help the things that he had done in the past.
"You said you weren't coming back, Tommy--and here you are, sitting three feet away from me. What am I supposed to think?" Jude finally finished in a normal tone, but by now it was too late. The owner of the diner was purposely striding over to the table where she was sitting, an upset look on his face.
Tommy also noticed this, and quickly threw a ten on the table to cover Jude's lunch as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up just as the owner reached them.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave my restaurant. You're disturbing the other customers and they've begun complaining." The man ordered nervously, suddenly recognizing just who he was reprimanding. But even famous didn't mean you could create a scene and people would be tolerant of it.
Without a word, Tommy dragged Jude outside and into the alley next to the building they had just vacated.
Leaning against the brick wall, Jude tried to speak again. "Why did--"
A finger pressed against her lips silenced her, and Jude watched acquiescently as Tommy shook his head.
"My turn, Jude." Removing his hand, Tommy ran his hand through his hair in obvious frustration. "I know what I did to you that night was inexcusable. I know you think I'm not even worthy to be the dirt on the bottom of your shoe right now, and I don't blame you--in fact, I'd probably even agree with that statement. How I acted that night was wrong, Jude, so very wrong, and I know this will only be the first of probably a million apologies I'm going to make to you because of what I did and said to you."
Jude glanced upward into the sky, wordlessly telling Tommy that this wasn't going to cut it for her. In fact, it wasn't even going to come close to bringing him back into her good graces.
"Look at me, Jude." After a moment, she complied, knowing his eyes would be her ultimate downfall. She'd never been able to resist them before--why should now be any different? "I'm sorry. I know it's just a simple word and will do nothing to help heal the hurt I caused you, but you need to know that I regret my actions that night."
"You regret leaving?" Jude shot at him, narrowing her eyes while she waited for him to respond.
"No, I don't." Tommy admitted after a few seconds. "I don't regret leaving because it was something I had to do. What I regret is how I left that night--mainly, how I blew off our date and treated you like nothing. You didn't deserve that, Jude. No one does, but especially not you."
She slowly closed her eyes, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions that were assaulting her as she stood in the shadows of the alley. Keeping them closed, she put forth the one question that had haunted her every hour since his abrupt departure.
"Why did you leave, Tommy?"
"I can't tell you that, Jude. I'm sorry." He answered, knowing the answer would provoke an eruption from Jude that would rival Pompeii.
Her eyes flew open and Tommy could have sworn that they emitted sparks as she glared at him. The only sound for several seconds was Jude's sharp intake of breath after hearing his lame excuse for an answer, and Tommy used this time to prepare himself for the approaching spew of lava, rock, and ash from Jude.
"You can't tell me? Are you serious, Tommy? Please tell me Ashton put you up to this--please." She shook her head from side to side, disbelief and anger overruling every fiber of her being. If nothing else, she deserved an explanation from him.
"I really do want to tell you, Jude, I swear I do, more than anything else...but I can't. Please understand, if I could tell you where I've been for the past week, I would, but honest to God I can't tell you." Tommy pleaded as he reached for her hands, praying that Jude would believe in him at least one more time. If he ever needed Jude's support and trust in him, now would be the time.
She viciously yanked her hands from his, knowing how persuading a gentle caress from his finger could be. "Then I'm sorry that I can't stand to be around you anymore, Tommy. If I'm not worth a few sentences about where you've been after you ditched me, then you're not worth the air around me." Jude pushed off from the wall, forcing Tommy to step back lest they collide. "Have a nice life--just stay out of mine."
One foot in front of the other, and she began walking away from Tom Quincy forever. In a way, it felt invigorating--she was finally free of him. No longer would she have to worry about where he was, who he was dating, or what he was thinking. But she also felt a hollow sadness begin to develop deep inside of her as well. Jude was walking away from her other half, if seemed like--no one else would ever understand her like Tommy could. Plus, who else would ever drive her around in an electric blue Viper with a white stripe down the middle.
Jude took two steps away from Tommy, then stopped. "Dammit, feet--move!" She yelled as a familiar wetness began to form on her eyelashes.
Tommy moved a tentative step toward Jude but halted when she cursed. It was rare for Jude to swear, and he knew that she was waging an inner war with herself and he needed to stay out of it so she could figure it out. He waited for her to speak again, but every second that ticked by felt like an hour.
"Why can't I walk away from you?" Jude asked in a strangled voice barely above a whisper, not quite sure if she was asking Tommy or herself. Did she really even want an answer?
A split second later it didn't even matter, because Tommy gave her one anyway. "Because you know I'll always follow you." He responded in the same tone as Jude, except every one of his words exuded confidence instead of angst.
Without warning she whipped around, and Tommy remained impassive while Jude's fists beat ineffectively on his chest. It wasn't long before she collapsed against him, and his arms instinctively wrapped around her as they each soaked up the warmth in the embrace that the other offered.
"I hate you, Tommy." Jude finally said into his shirt, inhaling the familiar scent of him.
"I know."
"I missed you." She continued, wondering where she would find the will to breathe if he suddenly left again.
"I know." He stated simply as he tightened his hold on Jude.
"I'm glad you're back."
"I know." Tommy replied again, relief flood through his veins at their reconciliation.
A beat of silence passed. "Is there anything you don't know?"
"Yeah, there's one thing." Jude felt the vibrations as he chuckled.
She removed her head from its position against his shirt and looked up into his twinkling eyes as she teased, "And what would that be, Little Tommy Q?"
Tommy's eyes darkened for the briefest moment before he answered her. "Where I'm going to bury your body if you ever call me that again." He threatened with a devilish smile before slinging Jude over his shoulder and walking to the parking lot.
Her laughter echoed off the walls of the deserted alley.
-----
11 months later...
Mitch Thorton quietly slipped the key into his pent-house apartment and pushed the door open. It was after midnight, and he was home early from a long business trip. Taking care to make as little noise as possible so as not to awaken his fiancé, Carrie Marrows, Mitch made his way towards their bedroom, depositing his keys on the table in the entryway.
He purposely didn't turn on any lights, not wanting to disturb his beloved's slumber. If Mitch had turned on the lights, however, they would have revealed the discarded clothes of two people that made a path to the same room he was heading for.
His bedroom door was barely cracked open as he reached it, and Mitch gently pushed it open. Seeing the silhouette of a figure against the window, Mitch had no qualms anymore turning on a light. A flick of a switch displayed Carrie--naked--underneath an equally naked man. A painfully familiar man.
The disbelief and rage on Mitch's face was quickly replaced by a cold, indifferent expression. Taking the few steps to reach the side of the bed--his bed--Mitch grabbed Carrie's hand.
"I don't think you'll need this any more." Mitch stated in a monotone as he twisted the engagement ring from Carrie's finger. It came off quickly and smoothly because of the slight sheen of sweat coating her from her current...exertions.
Focusing his attention on the man in bed with his fiancé, Mitch allowed his previously impassive face to harden slightly. "I don't even know you, Dan."
Without another glance at his ex-fiancé or ex-best friend, Mitch strolled out of the apartment like he was simply making a quick run to the grocery store.
