Ever After
AN: Oh my God I'm sorry this took sooo long to update. Between work and school and laptop issues...but mainly work I haven't had a chance to even think about this story but now that class is over for the winter I should (cross your fingers) be able to update both my stories more frequently.
Jo made it through all her paperwork in a few hours before making her usual rounds around the complex. She made her way down through all the levels keeping an eye open for anything going wrong or needing her expertise but everything seemed quiet for once. There were only a handful of explosions but none that she needed to be concerned about. She finally made her way down to section 5 and slowly meandered around the hallways keeping watch. If there was going to be an incident of some kind it would be down there.
And she was right as always.
A loud explosion came from a lab down the hall. As she ran people were stumbling out coughing from the fumes that were billowing out the door. Many of them were covered in a thick purple substance that stank of rotten eggs.
Jo entered the room with her hand over her mouth and nose.
"What the hell is that smell?" Jo shouted.
"Hey Jo Jo!" Zane said happily. She shot him a glare. "It was just a test of my new invention."
"And what is that exactly? A vile smelling goo?"
Zane scowled. "No, a new form of fuel."
"Isn't that a little below you? You usually work on things that blow up or something."
"Well I did make this blow up, didn't I?"
"Oh ha ha, very funny."
The lab was empty now, everyone having left to escape the smell or to wash the purple off of themselves. Zane grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the lab.
"Lets let the maintenance guys clean that up," he said as he let go of her wrist.
"Is that stuff volatile? Will it explode or something when they clean it up?"
"Nah. I was just having a little fun. It's completely harmless."
"Nice Zane." Jo paused. "Hey do you really want to know what's going on with me and Grant?"
"Hell yeah!" Zane said, suddenly excited.
Jo rolled her eyes. "Let's go grab something to eat. Coffee isn't that great of a breakfast." Her stomach rumbled to emphasize the point.
Zane grinned and the pair walked down the hall to the elevator. "Are you sure you want to hear this?" Jo asked quietly.
"Why wouldn't I? It's like being able to look into a whole other reality! What you've done is pretty much completely unheard of before." Zane was practically bouncing.
Jo smiled but was worried none the less. What would Zane think when she told him about the relationship they had shared in her time? How would he react when she told him that she wasn't the only one that had crossed over?
They climbed into her car when they reached the parking garage.
"So are you going to tell Zoe?" Jo asked nervously.
"Tell her what?"
"That you don't like her the way she likes you?"
"Oh...yeah. I'll have to do that soon won't I?" Zane sighed.
"That would probably be a good idea. Stringing her along like this is only gonna make it worse for her plus Carter's probably gonna lock you up for hurting Zoe or hug you for putting his mind at ease." Jo remarked, shifting into second gear as she floored it out of the garage and onto the highway. She quickly made it through all the gears and was driving at an alarmingly fast speed. The speed exhilarated her. It put color in her cheeks and adrenaline in her blood. She'd need all the help she could get if she wanted to be able to tell Zane what had happened those few months ago.
Zane was gripping hard onto the arm rests. Not sure what to do but sat there looking at Jo as a smile spread across her face. He had never seen that smile on her face before.
"You should smile like that more often," Zane commented.
Jo glanced at him for a moment before turning back to the road. "What?"
"I've never seen you smile like that before."
"Like what?" She asked suspiciously.
"Like nothing can touch you,"
"That's cause nothing can touch me. Do you know how fast we're going?" she replied, amusement echoing in her words.
"You know what I mean." Zane said laughing.
A few minutes later they pulled into a parking spot in front of Cafe Diem and picked a table in a back corner where they weren't likely to be over heard. Vincent walked up to them, an inquisitive look in his eyes.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise," He remarked looking at the pair that just a few weeks ago wouldn't be caught dead sitting this close to each other.
Jo knew what he was thinking. "It's a working lunch Vincent. Nothing to get excited about."
They ordered their food and Jo tried to get her thoughts in order. She wasn't sure where to start. Should she tell him about her reality first? Or how they got to 1947? Or the events that led up to how they all got dumped here instead of going home?
Zane was looking at her, waiting. "Any time now Jo Jo."
"Don't call me that." She snapped. "I'm just trying to figure out where to start. It's a long story."
"The beginning would probably be best." Zane smirked. Jo rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to start speaking as Vincent walked up with their drinks. Jo smiled at the chef extraordinaire.
When he had left them alone, Jo dived into her tale.
"Okay, first thing this stays between us. If anyone else finds out what happened to me and the others there could be consequences."
"Others?" Zane asked, an eyebrow raised.
"You wanna hear this or what?" Jo snapped. Zane raised his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry. This is the first time I've talked to anyone who wasn't involved about it."
Zane gave her an encouraging smile. "My lips are sealed." He mimicked zipping his lips shut and throwing away the key.
"And you're really sure you want to hear this? You really want to know what happened?"
Zane nodded emphatically, his lips still zipped. Jo rolled her eyes.
"Okay well here it is. On Founder's Day, Carter, Allison, Fargo, Henry and I got transported back to the same day in 1947. Something called the Bridge Device brought us all back here with Trevor Grant in tow. That's why he disappeared in 1947, because he hitched a ride with us. We ran into some trouble but managed to get back to what we thought was our own time, but it turns out that we came to this one instead. Most of this time line is the same but somethings are different."
"Like what?"
"Well for one thing, I was the deputy, not Andy. Allison was the head of GD, not Fargo. Allison's son Kevin was autistic. Henry was never married to Grace, in fact I'm not sure they had ever met."
"Huh," Zane said, mulling over all the information Zane had just received. "What was I like?"
"Do you really want to know? You might not like what I tell you." Jo cautioned.
"Lay it on me. I can handle it...unless I'm like a pansy or something."
"No you're not a pansy. You were more controlled and didn't have as big an attitude. You didn't spend nearly as much time in my jail cell then you seemed to have done when your Jo was still here."
"Did I still look like me?"
Jo quirked an eyebrow at the question. "You're more built and have shorter hair in this reality. That's about the only physical difference."
"So I'm better looking here?"
"A bit," she admitted trying to fight her blush and looked down at the food Vincent had just slid in front of her.
She took a few bites waiting for the next question she knew he was going to ask. But before he got the chance, Zoe walked in and spotted the two.
She made her way through the mess of tables. "Whacha guys up to?"
"Just talking business," Jo answered. Zane smirked.
Zoe gave him a strange look and went off to start her shift. She had gone to Vincent the day before and asked if she could work during her break.
As she was busing tables and taking orders she got a not so pleasant surprise. Lucas walked in.
They spotted each other and Zoe rushed into the back. She really didn't want to see him. She hadn't explained that she didn't want to be with him anymore. As far as he was concerned they were still together. Lucas watched her scurry off with a confused look on his face.
–
Zane and Jo watched the whole scene in amusement as they were finishing their food.
"So, was I a good boyfriend?" Zane asked, not meeting her eye.
"We had our problems. In this town it's hard to have a normal relationship. God I could tell you some stories."
"Tell me!" The look of excitement returned to Zane's face.
"You sure? You won't freak out because you're hearing stories that never actually happened to you?"
"We'll when you put it like that, it's a little weird but tell me anyway."
"Well there was the time we got stuck together by some unbreakable metal while we were in the middle of a fight." She paused, trying to think of more stories.
"What were we fighting about?"
"I had put myself out there and wanted to make our relationship serious but you acted like nothing happened. I got pissed and you didn't really understand why."
"Huh...yeah that sounds like me. Did we ever work it out?"
"Well obviously." She thought for a moment. "There was the time one of the scientists was jealous of me and swapped our bodies. She made out with Fargo while you and the rest of the town watched. You really freaked out at that one."
Zane sat with his mouth hanging open.
"Then there was the time some spore infected Carter and made all the women in town became madly in love with him. I kissed him with you sitting right next to me. After we were all cured you told me you were jealous and we shared our first kiss."
Zane smirked at the last statement.
"Anything else?"
"Well there was one more," Jo said slowly. Zane looked at her encouragingly. "On the morning I was sent back to 1947 I walked into the Sheriffs Office and found you in the cell. When I asked what you were doing, you said 'reminding you of the first time we met'." You handed me a lingerie box like you did that first morning. I opened it and found a little velvet box sitting in the wrapping paper. You dropped down on one knee and proposed." Jo paused, not looking at Zane. "And I froze. I didn't say anything. You got pissed and walked out of the office. I was trying to call you when I got sent back in time."
Zane was quiet for a moment. "Damn I'm even charming there too!"
Jo smiled despite herself and punched him from across the table.
"So why didn't you say yes?"
"I don't know. I guess I just don't do well with surprises. My mind went blank and all I could do was stare at the ring."
They were both quiet for a moment.
Jo's phone buzzed. She looked at the screen and answered.
"What is it this time Fargo?"
"Where are you? We have a problem."
"I'm at Cafe Diem with Zane. What's wrong?'
"With Zane? Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine. What's the problem?" Zane looked at Jo inquiringly. Jo shrugged.
"People are floating."
A look of confusion showed on Jo's face.
"Run that by me again?"
"People are floating."
"Um...why?"
"We're not sure. That's why I called you."
"I know nothing about floating people Frago. I'm head of security. This isn't my department."
"But it's your job to keep people safe!" Fargo yelled into the phone. "Come keep us safe!"
"Really Fargo?" Jo put her head in her hand. "You called me because you're scared?"
"No, not really...fine! Yeah!" Fargo admitted. "Will you just please come back?"
Jo groaned.
"I'm on my way."
She hung up and took a deep breath, calming herself.
"Everything okay?"
"Apparently people are floating."
"Really? That sounds so cool! I want to float!"
Jo glared at him.
"I'm kidding Jo jo. Do they know what's causing it?"
"Fargo didn't say. He wants me to go back because he's scared."
"Aww how cute!"
Jo punched him and stood up.
"I may as well come back with you. You always end up needing my help with these building wide catastrophes."
As they walked out of the cafe Zane started to feel very light headed, like his head had detached from the rest of his body. He stopped short and tried to shake the feeling but it only made him dizzy. Jo, finally noticing that Zane was no longer beside stopped and looked back.
"Um...Zane?"
–
AN part 2: Not really sure where to go from here. I know the generalities but I've never been good with the science stuff. There's a reason I'm an english major. So if anyone has any ideas or who has some idea about how to explain the floating, feel free to let me know.