Ever After

Chapter 2

Zane returned to Global Dynamics sometime later, his head spinning. Several of Jo's comments coupled with her actions over the last few months sparked his suspicions. He walked back into his lab and hopped onto his computer for a night of digging.

Jo awoke to the sweet aroma of coffee. This confused her, as far as she knew she was the only one on the mountain. She scrambled out of her sleeping bag and charged out of her tent, gun at the ready.

"I brought coffee," Zane said as he poked at the fire.

"My God! Didn't you get the hint last night? I do not want to see you! I don't want to see anyone. Go away and leave me in peace!"

Zane ignored her tangent and held cup out to her. She growled but advanced and snatched it from his hand.

"What do you want?"

"To have a chat," Zane replied grinning at her.

Jo raised an eyebrow at him and said, "About what?" She took a sip of her coffee.

"About you."

"Uh huh" she replied, a little nervously.

"Who are you?" Zane asked, his face showing complete seriousness.

"Really Zane? Really? I'm Jo Lupo, just like I've been my whole life."

"So you're not from an alternate reality that somehow got displaced here with Trevor Grant, one of the founders of Eureka?"

"Um, no?" She said suspiciously. "Why would you think that?"

Zane took a drink of his own coffee. "I spent last night doing some digging. Your complete dismissal of my suspicions about 'Charles' kinda threw me." He used air quotes to emphasize his disbelief of Trevor's assumed name.

"That's because he is Charles Grant. I can vouch for him."

This time it was Zane's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Is that the only thing you found?" Jo asked.

"Well there's the fact that you're actually being nice to me. In the past you would have kicked me off the mountain instead of actually accepting the coffee and hearing me out. Plus you haven't locked me up since Founder's Day, the fact that you think I proposed to you and helping me out when Mansfield wanted to take me away. Also that's my Grandmother's ring around your neck."

"So all of this makes you think I'm from some other dimension?"

"How did you get that ring Jo?"

"I told you, someone asked me to marry him."

"Last night you said that was in a different life. The evidence is overwhelming. Tell me what's going on."

Jo sighed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"You went back to 1947. Had some wild adventure and came back with Trevor Grant to a reality that obviously isn't your own?"

"You're partly right but I can't tell you anymore." She said, looking down at the coffee in her hand. She took a drink, not looking at him.

"Come on. You can trust me."

"It's not about trusting you." She snapped, then groaned.

"Sorry. But there's a protocol. No telling anyone. I'm not the only one involved and I have to protect them."

"What was your reality like?"

"I just said I can't tell you. Please don't ask me anymore. It's hard enough not to tell you everything without you poking around."

Zane sighed and stood up.

"When are you coming back to Eureka? You've been gone a day and a half. Zoe is worried about you."

Jo gave a harsh laugh.

Zane looked at her. "What was that about?"

"Zoe couldn't care less where I am. She's too wrapped up in her little crush on you."

"Oh that? I was messing around with her. She was a fun girl. But strictly a friend."

"You're screwing around with her? Do you not realize how much she likes you?"

"Well yeah I guess."

"So you don't have any feelings for her?"

"No."

"Well does she know that?" Jo said angrily.

"Probably not."

"That's just cruel Zane."

"Yeah I guess." He paused the looked at her. "Is that why you ran like a bat out hell in the infirmary?"

She didn't meet his eyes.

"I was the one that gave you that ring wasn't I?"

Jo didn't answer him.

Zane sighed again and got to his feet.

"I'll tell everyone that you're fine and you'll be down in a day or two, okay?"

Jo nodded. "Thanks" she mumbled.

Zane climbed on the Skycruiser and left her alone.

She took the ring in her hand once more and followed him to where he had been parked and starred out at the beautiful scene that stretched out before her.

"Well at least this hasn't changed."

Zoe trudged down the stairs. It was early in the morning. She hadn't slept well. Her worries about Jo made her toss and turn all night.

She joined her dad in the kitchen. "SARAH Coffee please?"

Jack gave her look. "What?" She snapped.

"You're in a chipper mood this morning."

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I didn't sleep well. Any word from Jo?"

"Yeah. Zane called me this morning. He tracked her down and said he had seen her and that she was okay. She just needs a day or two more to herself."

Zoe paused, "What happened to her Dad?"

He took a few moments to answer, not sure whether to tell his daughter the truth or to stick to protocol. "I'm not sure."

"You're a terrible liar."

If only you knew, he thought to himself.

"She'll be fine in a few days. It's not my story to tell."

She nodded.

"Now. I want to talk to you about Zane. I don't want you to see him. That boy is a train wreck. All he's interested in is chasing skirts. I don't want to see your heart broken. I'd have to kill him then you'd have to visit me in jail."

"Seriously dad? I'm 18 and in college. You can't tell me who I can and cannot see!" Zoe was not happy. She did not appreciate her father butting into her relationship. Lucas was kind of understandable. But she's older now and he has no right, she thought.

Jack could feel his temper rising. "He's just gonna break your heart! He's done it a million times before!"

"Dad! Just butt out!"

"Your father's right Zoe. That boy is bad news. He has a very extensive criminal record."

"Thanks SARAH! Thanks a lot. You're both being unfair! You don't even know him!"

"I'm the sheriff! I know everybody!"

"Well not like I do!" Zoe shouted. She slammed down her mug and stomped to the door. "SARAH door!" She yelled at the house.

Jack shook his head, not sure what else to do. He knew they were going to fight about this. He knew this was gonna hurt Jo, the man she loved so much not loving her but showing interest in her friend.

AN: Tell me what you think. Next chapter should be up in a few days.