6

"Class dismissed."

Annie's head snapped up. She looked at the clock then around at the other students who were already heading for the door. She hadn't meant to space out like that. She quickly packed up her books, closing her notebook on her half-written page of notes. She'd have to ask to borrow someone else's notes to fill in the blanks. That was going to be strange. Annie Edison never had to borrow notes. She was always the lender, not the lendee.

"Miss Edison." She was halfway to the door when her professor called her name. She tried not to flinch. Crap. He'd noticed how distracted she'd been today. It wasn't her fault, really. Jeff was skipping today for a doctor's appointment and she was just anxious to hear how he was doing. Not that she could use that as an excuse. No one at school, student or teacher, knew what had really gone down two weeks ago; How close she'd come to losing him. If she expressed concern about his well-being she'd just seem like an overly protective girlfriend. It was just a broken hand, after all.

"Yes, professor?" she answered nervously, turning towards him.

"No need to look so worried," Professor Videl said with a smile. The expression looked odd on his stern face. "You're not in trouble or anything. I was just going to see if you were interested in this," he said as he handed her a colorful printout. She took it from him and looked it over. Wanted: Forensics department teacher's aide. No experience required.

"I see a lot of potential in you, Miss Edison," Videl said, watching her as she read over the flyer. "I think you and I would work well together."

She had at one point considered applying to be a TA. It would look great on her resume and Videl was a pretty big name in the world of forensic science. At least locally. But still, she hesitated to accept. Maybe Jeff's warning had gotten to her.

"It wouldn't interfere with your studies, if that's what you're worried about." He was smiling again and she kind of wished he wouldn't. No, that wasn't fair. Here he was offering her a job and she was judging him. "And it does pay a little. It would mostly just be helping me grade papers for my other classes." He paused. "Why don't you think it over and get back to me. I wanted to offer it to you first before I opened it up to the class."

She was his first pick? Well, that was flattering.

Videl was on his feet now, briefcase in hand. "Are you headed to lunch?" he asked. "I'm headed there myself. Allow me to escort you."

"Uh, sure."

They walked side by side down the hallway, Videl engaging her in conversation the whole way. At first the interaction seemed strange. She'd never really had a teacher take interest in her like this but she quickly fell into the rhythm of it. If she was seriously considering becoming his TA, she should get used to spending time with him. He came off a little creepy at first, but he wasn't that bad actually and it was nice to be taken seriously.

They were at the cafeteria before she knew it. He gestured for her to go first through the lunch line. She smiled and stepped ahead of him without much thought. When she reached the register, she dug in her bag for her wallet but Videl reached over her, handing the lunch lady his credit card, paying for both their meals.

Annie looked up at him. "You didn't have to do that," she said.

"I know," he replied, taking his card back. "I wanted to."

See? He really couldn't be that bad. Jeff was just overprotective. "Well, thank you." She started towards the table where her friends were already seated and waiting for her but stopped a few steps in, turning back towards him. "Professor?"

"Yes, Miss Edison?"

"I'll take the job," she said. "I'd love to be your TA."

He grinned. "Excellent. I'll have the paperwork ready for you by tomorrow."

She smiled and turned back to her friends, bouncing towards their table. She wasn't sure why it had taken her so long to make that decision. It was an amazing opportunity and she'd be nuts not to take it. Despite his warnings, there's no way Jeff wouldn't see this for the opportunity that it was.

"So, no more cast soon, huh? Gonna miss it?"

Jeff scoffed in response and Annie grinned. They were sitting together on Jeff's couch, her back against his side, his injured arm draped over her. She ran her fingers gently over the rough plaster. "No, I don't think I'll miss it either," she said. She knew his annoyance with it was more physical than emotional, but for her she would be glad to be rid of the constant reminder of what had almost been.

"Of course," he said, a smile in his voice, "just because the cast comes off doesn't mean I'll be healed. I might need some help with little stuff. Like note taking for example?"

Annie snorted. "Oh, I have faith that your ability to hold a pen hasn't degraded that much."

"We'll see." The confidence in his voice made her want to roll her eyes.

"I guess we will." She sat up and turned so that she was facing him, her legs crossed in front of her. "I've got good news, by the way."

The corners of his eyes crinkled as he smiled at her, sitting forward with interest. "Do tell."

"I got a job."

Jeff looked surprised. "A job?"

"Mmhm. As a teacher's aide. It pays pretty much nothing, but I'm really doing it for the resume boost."

"Makes sense," he said with a nod. "And congratulations. Who's the lucky teacher?"

"Um," Annie hesitated, biting the inside of her lip. "Professor Videl?"

Jeff's smile faded completely. He narrowed his eyes at her. "When I told you to watch out for him I meant 'stay away from him', not 'take care of him'."

"I really don't get what your problem with him is."

Jeff paused for a moment, seeming to think his words over before answering. "He bugs me."

"He bugs you? A guy you've never met bugs you?"

"Doesn't he give you the creeps, too?"

Now it was Annie's turn to hesitate. "He's also giving me a job," she finally answered.

"But he is creepy." Jeff sat forward, latching on to the part she had neglected to deny. She should have known that there was no talking around his questions.

"He's weird," she admitted. "But I need this job. I can take care of myself, so you don't have to worry about it, okay?"

He shook his head. "I can't just not worry about it. You're too important to me."

Annie felt herself melt a little. He could be such a jerk sometimes, but he could also be the sweetest person she had ever known. "It'll be fine," she said, inching just a little closer to him. "This is a good thing. You'll see."

He stared into her eyes for a long moment, taking in her resolve before sighing in acceptance. He took her hands gently in his. "Thank you."

Her brow furrowed in confusion. "For what?" she asked.

"For telling me about it. You could have hidden it from me but you didn't. I appreciate that."

"That's kinda how this whole relationship thing works," she said with a gently teasing smile. "Trust and honesty and all that."

Jeff took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Right. So, then I've got something to tell you, too."

There was a long pause before he continued. "I wasn't going to tell anyone yet," he said, his eyes on their clasped hands, "but apparently my lips are a lot looser when I'm drunk than I thought they were. Long story short: I have a brother. Well, a half-brother. I got in touch with my dad over the summer for whatever reason and he accidently let it slip. I didn't know until then. And apparently I told Britta on – uh, on that night. It just felt wrong having her know and not you. So, I wanted to tell you. Sorry it took me so long."

Annie watched him as he stared down at their entwined fingers, her mouth slightly open. She couldn't even imagine finding out she had a sibling she didn't know about. She squeezed his fingers gently. "It's okay," she said softly. "No need to apologize. I'm glad you told me." There was a short silence before she added, "Wow, a brother. That's gotta be weird."

A small smile touched his lips as he looked up at her. "Not nearly as weird as it should be."

Annie sat forward and threw her arms around his shoulders, hugging herself tightly to him. She just loved him so much. After everything they had both been through, were still going through, they'd found each other. Who cared what anyone else thought. They were meant to be.

"Now that the touchy-feely stuff is over, what do you want to do?" Jeff asked as they separated. "This is still date night."

Annie grinned mischievously up at him. "There's always Gilmore Girls." Jeff groaned in response, leaning his head back against the couch cushions. Annie shook his arm, refusing to let him win. "Come on, you promised. All seven seasons."

He let out a defeated sigh and gestured at the television. "Alright, put it on."