My note…off to a decent start, well, with being a little rusty and all since my long break and the strained JimAsh relationship the writer's left us with. Come to think of it, my break wasn't as leisurely as I'd hoped...since I spent most of it formatting about four new fics, in addition to my 'real' life. Hope my characters aren't too ooc, I'm trying to keep them in character while showing their emotional sides, but that's not as easy as it sounds.

YOU'RE STILL YOU

CHAPTER 2: GETTING TRICKIER pt.1

Weekends were bad. There was way too much time to think and it was way too easy to let those thoughts wander and to Ashley, it felt like she'd been wandering forever.

It was strange...the halls seemed smaller now, without Jimmy next to her. Maybe it was because people tended to stay out of his way, so he could move more freely or maybe it was because Ashley never cared to notice who else was around her...as long as Jimmy was by her side.

It's funny how we tend to take those little things for granted.

First period chemistry was by far, the worst. Not only did Ashley have to sit next to Jimmy, they were also lab partners and today was lab day. "So, how was your weekend?", she asked as nonchalantly as she could, considering the circumstances, and took her seat next to him.

"Fine", Jimmy shrugged indifferently, without looking up from his already opened text book. "Yours?".

Ashley smirked slightly, a bad habit that plagued her when she was faced with an uncomfortable situation...it almost made her look like she was smiling, but in reality, she felt like crying. "Long...boring", she chuckled nervously, just happy that Jimmy was actually speaking to her. "How is your...um...friend?", she found herself asking before she could stop herself.

Jimmy glanced sideways at her, but didn't have time to answer. "Mr. Brooks, Miss Kerwin...attention up here please", Mrs. Barnes, the science teacher, instructed as she tapped on the blackboard with her pointer. "There will be plenty of time for whispering sweet nothings to one another, after class", she teased lightly, but turned back to the board before she could see the fallen expressions of the two students.

There were a few more minutes of uncomfortable silence between Jimmy and Ashley while Mrs. Barnes talked the students through their experiment. "Alright class, lets get started", she finally announced.

Ashley followed Jimmy to the cabinet on the far side of the room. "Here, I can carry that", she offered as he was tucking the beaker he was handed, into his lap.

"I got it Ash", he snipped and reached for the rims of his chair.

Biting her lower lip nervously, Ashley responded, "But Jimmy, that solution is caustic, if it spills it could burn your leg...".

"Not that I'd feel it anyway", he mumbled under his breath as he swiveled quickly and stopped in front of her. He looked at the tightly capped amber bottle sitting inside of the beaker, then glanced up at Ashley. "I can do things for myself, you don't have to help me all the time anymo...".

Jimmy was interrupted by the tapping of Mrs. Barnes' pointer. "Not the safest of laboratory practices Mr. Brooks", she noted, motioning to the glass perched precariously on his thigh.With a resigned sigh, Jimmy shoved the beaker into Ashley's already occupied hands and took off for the lab table.

Ashley walked over to the table where Jimmy was already setting up the burner for their experiment. The table was low enough to accomodate him, but was a little awkward for Ashley to work comfortably at...there were quite a few times where she would end up spending most of the lab time crouched down or on her knees. She placed the materials onto the table and sat down in the chair provided. "Jimmy, about what just happened...".

"Okay, so we need to measure out 30ml's of solution A", Jimmy read off from the text book, getting right down to business and dismissing Ashley's attempt at an apology. When there was no response, he looked up to find Ashley just sitting there, starring at him through her safety goggles with that look in her eyes. "Do you want me to measure it?", he asked sarcastically, nodding to the supplies that were located on her side of the table. He had no intention of taking the conversation any further.

"No, sorry...I'll do it", she stuttered, shaking her head as she reached for the solution and cylinder. With a deep breath, Ashley hoped she would be able to steady her shaky hands and emotions, as she poured.

Jimmy turned back to the book and started reading again. "Then we put five drops of solution B...that's this bad baby...", he stated ruefully, picking up the amber bottle that he wasn't allowed to carry, by the bulb tip and placing it next to Ashley. "You'd better do that too...wouldn't want to burn myself, ya know", he added, seethingly.

Ashley sighed heavily. "That's not what I meant Jimmy and you know it", she defended pleadingly. "I was in no way questioning your capabilities...".

Jimmy threw his hands up in the air. "Look, are we gonna work...", he paused to look critically over at Ashley. "...'cause if not, I'll just go ask Mrs. B for a new lab partner?".

Ashley felt the sting of the proverbial face slap in her eyes first, but she was not willing to lose any more precious time...however strained...that she had with Jimmy. "Right...", she nodded, swallowing the huge tear producing lump in her throat as she turned back to the work in front of her. "...five drops".

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To get his mind off of everything that was crumbling down around him, Jimmy threw himself, head first, into therapy. "Hey stranger", Trina greeted as she walked into the training room.

Jimmy looked up and offered a forced half-smile before returning his attention to the weights in his hands. "Hey", he gritted out, curling his arm upward.

"Haven't seen you in a few days...thought maybe you were avoiding me", she stated jokingly, but with a hint of uncertainty.

Jimmy grunted softly as he stowed his weights away and smiled up a her...genuinely this time. "No, not at all", he reassured, pushing a little closer to where she had stopped.

"Good, because I'd hate to think that spending just a few hours with me could scare a person off that quickly", she quipped playfully and sat down at the unoccupied machine next to Jimmy.

Jimmy looked down shyly. "I had a lot of fun on Saturday", he reiterated.

"Me too", Trina agreed wholeheartedly. Mutual smiles were shared, followed by a few moments of awkward silence.

"I've just been really busy", Jimmy blurted nervously, chewing on his lip subconsciously. He began to blush slightly under Trina's intense gaze, but her attentiveness encouraged him to continue. "I um...I took your advice, and added a few things to my schedule...basketball twice a week and swimming three times".

Trina's grin grew wider and she nodded approvingly. "No pain, no gain...right?", she teased lightly.

Jimmy nodded, somewhat conceding. "Big guy over there...", he motioned in the direction of his therapist, with his chin. "...wants me to build up some more strength and stability before I start practicing again. Maybe then I can actually get somewhere...", Jimmy laughed heartily, "...instead of just kissing the mat".

"There, now that's what I like to see", Trina replied happliy. Jimmy narrowed his eyes curiously and she nudged him with her elbow. "Optimism, determination...that wicked sense of humor...". Jimmy reddened further with that compliment. "A far cry from that dismissive, seriousness I walked in on".

"Yeah, I'm really sorry about that", Jimmy apologized, "Like I said earlier, I'm just real busy...got a lot of stuff on my mind...".

Trina's snicker halted Jimmy. "No biggie...it happens to us all", she brushed off his need to explain. They sat quietly for a second, before Trina leaned closer and offered sincerely, "I'm all ears if you ever need to talk, though".

Jimmy chuckled bashfully, "Thanks, but I don't think I know you well enough to go dumping all of my problems into your lap".

"Well, we could remedy that over a burger", Trina suggested nonchalantly. She immediately noticed Jimmy reluctance when he paused and the cringe that wrinkled his face told her just how unsure he really was. "Ya know, bailing on me twice in one week is really gonna give me a complex", she teased lightly.

A shy grin graced Jimmy's face and he nodded slowly, not wanting to hurt Trina's feelings again. "I guess I am a little hungry after all this", he gestured to the equipment around them. With that, Trina smiled as she stood up, and followed Jimmy out.

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"I thought you were out", Kate Kerwin exclaimed, surprised when she saw her daughter descend the stairs, dressed in a pair of yoga pants, a t-shirt, and her hair pulled up in a loose ponytail.

"Not tonight", Ashley answered softly as she thumped down the last step.

"Change of plans?", Kate asked casually, eyes still focused on the television program her, Jeff and Toby were watching.

Ashley shrugged dismissively, "Yeah, I guess". She was almost there, at the threshold of the dinning room, a few more steps and she'd be safely in the kitchen...

"Jimmy coming over then?", Kate called out over her shoulder.

Ashley let out a frustrated sigh and turned slowly. "Don't think so", her answer was clipped.

"He didn't come over last Friday night either", Jeff noted the young man's absence.

"That's right", as Kate came to realize, she sat up straighter and looked over at Ashley, who was slumped againt the wall. "I haven't seen Jimmy in over a week and he hasn't been by for dinner in even longer. Is everything alright Ash?".

Ashley stood taller and forced a smile. "Um yeah, he's just been really busy", she replied evasively, not wanting to get into this conversation with her parents right now. "His physio sessions are sorta occupying all of his free time", she added honestly, knowing this to be true by what Marco and Ellie had told her.

"That must be difficult for him...going through all of that therapy, knowing that it probably won't change the outcome for him", Kate sighed sadly, her concern for Jimmy was evident.

"I wouldn't know", Ashley mumbled under her breath.

Stunned at this revelation, Kate and Jeff turned to look at her. "Well maybe if you were a better girlfriend, you would know", Toby muttered softly in reply, his eyes remaining glued to the tv screen. If he was nothing else, Toby Isaac's was always a loyal friend to Jimmy Brooks.

"What the hell does that mean?", Ashley yelled back.

Toby turned sideways to face her. "Shouldn't you be helping him Ash?", he asked bluntly. "I mean, this is probably the hardest thing he's ever gone through and your moping around here like you just lost your dog".

Ashley stepped forward and put her hands on her hips. "I'm trying Toby, but Jimmy won't ta...I...", she stopped herself before she went too far. "...this is just something he needs to do on his own...".

"That's not it Ash...something's up", Toby argued. "Jimmy hasn't been here in forever, you don't go out anymore, I never see the two of you together in the halls, or kissing by your lockers. What did you do to ruin the best relationship you've ever had...this time?", he asked sarcastically.

Tears welled in Ashley's eyes...Toby was right, she had ruined the best relationship she ever had. She opened her mouth to confess everything, but the words just wouldn't come out. "I'm gonna crash over at El's tonight", she blurted as she ran for the door.

"Toby?!", Kate and Jeff scolded in unison.

He shrugged meekly and sunk down into the couch cusions, and mumbled, "Was it something I said?".

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Ashley sat at the end of the large dinning table, with her head laying on her arms. Her friends stood at the other end, trying to figure out what they were going to do.

"Should we...move her?", Ellie asked worriedly. "She's been sitting there for over twenty minutes.

"I've seen her like this before...not pretty", Paige shuddered. "But this time, it seems...worse".

"So what now?", Marco questioned pleadingly. Ellie shrugged helplessly, but Paige moved forward.

"Ash hun, how about something to eat?", she asked softly.

"Not hungry", Ashley mumbled into her arm.

"I could really go for a Dot burger and shake", Marco tempted.

Ashley's head popped up and she shot him an incredulous look. "Marco, I just drove and hour to get away from Degrassi street", and dropped her head back down.

"What about a trip to Grizzly's pub?", Ellie offered cheerfully. "They've got great burgers and fries...".

"With a complimentry cup of grease on the side", Paige cut in sarcastically.

"Yeah El, remember? I ruined an awesome pair of jeans by just placing a sack of their fries on my lap", Marco complained.

A light chuckle escaped from the other end of the table and the bickering group turned to see the corners of Ashley's lips turned up in amusement. "Is she smiling?", Paige whispered questionably.

"You guys are nuts", Ashley joked, shaking her head in disbelief.

"Ya know, there's no better way to drown your sorrows, then in a giant milkshake", Paige pointed out and Ashley's smile widened slightly.

"Does that mean you'll come with us?", Marco asked, sitting against the edge of the table and taking her hand in his.

Ashley squeezed his hand gently as she stood. "Sure, as long as I get that promised side of grease", she teased, leaning into Marco for support, as they walked to the door.

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"So, how do you like it?", Trina asked just as Jimmy swallowed the first bite of his burger.

"It's gross", he chuckled as he wiped the special sauce from his hands. "But in a really good way".

"Yeah, it's kinda my comfort food", she stated, munching on a fry.

"I'll give 'em one thing...you definitely get your moneys worth", Jimmy added, looking down at his plied high plate. "I've never seen so much food on one plate".

Trina laughed then took a sip of her drink. "If you think that's impressive, you should see the triple tummy twister".

Jimmy joined in the laughter and continued to eat. A faint line on the underside of Trina's right forearm caught his attention. "Is that a scar from your accident?", he questioned carefully.

Trina looked down at her arm and nodded while she swallowed the food she was chewing. "Yep, one of many, I'm afraid", she replied simply.

Jimmy's expression fell, "Sorry, I don't mean to pry...".

"It's fine", Trina assured him, perfectly at ease with his line of questioning. "And only fair that I reciprocate a little, after endlessly grilling you about your injury last time".

Jimmy smiled softly and leaned back in his chair while she continued. "It'll be two years at the end of the month...March 30th. I was out with my climbing group, doing a basic descent, lost my grip and slipped. There was too much slack in the rope and I tumbled 30 feet down, landing hard onto a ledge".

Jimmy swallowed hard, it was difficult to hear someone else tell their tale of tragedy. "Let's see...I had a concussion, broken right arm, blown out left kneecap, tons of scrapes and bruises, two fractured vertebrae and a shattered pelvis...which ironically, caused a lot of the nerve damage I suffered and also punctured a hole in my bladder and lacerated my uterus".

"Shit", Jimmy muttered under his breath.

"Sounds really bad, doesn't it?", Trina chuckled playfully. Jimmy nodded slowly, still in a slight state of shock, first at Trina's long list of injuries and also at her unique ability to talk about it so easily and to even laugh a little. "The doc's said it could've been much worse though, I almost bled to death from the lacerations. They were able to patch me up, after six hours of surgery and nine pints of blood", Trina paused and Jimmy notice her become serious for a split second. "They're still not sure if I'll be able to carry a baby or not...but it's better than being dead I guess".

"Wow", Jimmy gasped, disbelievingly.

"A man of many words Mr. Brooks", Trina teased playfully.

Jimmy blushed slightly, "Sorry, I...".

"Like I said before Jimmy, don't feel sorry for me", she stated firmly. "I'm alive, I'm happy and I'm walking on my own two legs".

"So you don't use a chair at all?", Jimmy asked curiously.

"Nope, ditched that thing as soon as I could...been well over a year now", she replied proudly. Jimmy tried to hide the disappointment that was creeping up on him. Again, as if Trina was reading his mind...she knew exactly what he was feeling at that moment. "I know you want to just get up and go Jimmy, but that's not how it works", she laid a comforting hand over his. Jimmy gave her a half-hearted smile and a slight nod...not exactly the response she was looking for. "This is by no means, a fast process...", she stated honestly, yet compassionately. "Look at me, I'm about as speedy as the average tortoise...".

"It's not just the go part...", Jimmy cut in, chuckling lightly as he shook his head. "I just want to be able to get up...and stay up", his words trailed off slightly as he hung his head down and frowned.

"You will", Trina assured him, squeezing the hand Jimmy hadn't realized she was still holding on to. "And we'll start tomorrow, right?". Jimmy nodded his acknowledgement, and awkwardly slipped his hand from hers so he could push away from the table. He wrestled into his jacket while Trina got situated, avoiding her gaze and hoping his discomfort wasn't too apparent.

"Thanks again for dinner Jimmy", Trina said as they made their way to the door.

"No problem...I enjoyed the company", he replied sincerely.

Trina moved slightly to her right to avoid the group of laughing college-aged students entering the diner. She looked over her shoulder and smiled at Jimmy. "Well the next time is my treat, I insist...".

Jimmy gasped as he looked up and locked eyes with those beautifully familiar blue ones, "Ash".

"Jimmy?".

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My cliffie gift to you, kinda predictable, but fun none the less! I loved writing this chapter, but had to split it up due to length. That's a huge fear of mine, ruining a good chapter because I made it too long and boring(I don't know how Heather does it...she can write a chap that's more than 10,000 words, with each part being as good or even better as the last and you're still disappointed when it ends because you think it's too short!...she's amazing). So please leave me a little message and tell me what you think.

Many thanks to...lilfiftyfour and LOVE JEFFREE-STAR, for their reviews.

Degrass does not belong to me.