Author's Notes: The song used in this chapter is "If I Dream About You" from Vox Lumiere's version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. This chapter is another WYDS, and this episode in particular (as some of you may have noticed) has a weird timeline. But just go along with me. Ok?
Disclaimer: These characters are property of NBC and their own creators; as is any piece of an episode needed for the chapter. I make no money from this. The song lyrics used are also property of their own creator.
Between The Lines
Part 9: If I Dream About You
(A "Fred Astaire and Ginger Chicken" WYDS Part 1 of 2)
As time went on, Jack adjusted to the idea that he and Karen would never really be more than friends. He returned to being a fulltime gay man, and had already been out on several dates this week. The nightlife was alive, his wardrobe was fabulous, and he still had his best friends.
Karen's wedding to Finster was fast approaching. Jack was proud of himself. He had been able to put his feelings aside and be happy that Karen was happy. He was particularly happy this morning, because Karen had come over for a dance lesson.
Jack smiled. He was teaching her and having fun. He decided to have a bit of fun with her as he gyrated his hips against her, and let his hands slide all the way down her backside. Karen giggled as Jack buried his face between her breasts.
"Nice. Now kiss me!" Jack said.
He nearly got a kiss out of her too. He was trying to distract her with his sexy dance moves. She started to lean in, but stopped suddenly. It seemed she was actually focused this time.
"Hey! Wait a minute!" Karen said, "I'm supposed to be learning the Fox Trot."
"Sorry. And one…" Jack started counting again as he followed Karen in the box step.
"Ah, Jackie... I'm going to miss these times with you."
"What do you mean you're going to miss them? I'm not going anywhere."
"Yeah, but I am. Once Finny and I are married, we're not going to be able to play like this."
"Of course we are. Stan and you were married, and we still saw each other every day and night. Except for that one night a month that you take Rosario out to get drunk and pee off the pier."
Karen sighed, "I know, Jackie. But this is different. Stan was fat. Finster is thin. We're going to be able to do a lot more things together. You know, like sit on the same bench at the same time. And see around each other."
Jack's expression fell, "Oh…"
"So. Our friendship, as we know it, is over." She turned Jack around and hugged him around his chest, "But you knew that, right?"
"Yeah, that's gonna be fun." Jack said, trying to keep his voice from breaking and hold back the tears.
~~~~**~~~~
Over?
Jack couldn't believe she had actually said that to him. He had accepted that the sexual part of their relationship had to end, but to lose Karen completely…
What was he going to do?
He looked up at Karen, her face beaming as he led her around the floor to the soft music. Couldn't she see how this was hurting him?
"Oh, Jackie, look at me, I'm Fox Trotting!" Karen exclaimed.
Clearly his feelings were not her concern anymore.
"Hardly." He scoffed,
"What am I doing wrong?" Karen asked,
Jack let go of her hands, watching her step back from him. "Look. Some people were born to dance. You were born to drink. If you could cut a rug like you lift a mug, I'd have something to work with." He reached over and turned off the music, then sat down in his big green chair, his arms folded over his chest.
"Honey," Karen said, walking over to him, "Why are you being like this?"
"Because, just like our friendship, this dance lesson, as we know it, is over."
Jack spun the chair around so that he was facing away from her, trying his best to bury his emotions.
"Oh, Jackie." He heard her say, "That's what you're upset about?"
She acted like it meant nothing to her. How could she? He thought. He whirled the chair back around and stood up.
"I understand you love Finny, but why do things have to change between us?" He asked, his voice wavering just a bit.
"Because they have to." Karen took his hand, "Every healthy relationship between a gay man and a straight woman has a sell-by date. Do you really want to end up like Will and Grace?"
Jack shook his head, "No."
"Well see honey? Then isn't this better?" Karen patted his arm, "I gotta go honey."
"What? Already? Why?"
"Well honey, Finny's waiting for me at the Manse', I have to send Rosario to Dry Cleaner's, do some shopping. The wedding is only a few weeks away."
"Why can't I come with you?" Jack asked.
"Honey. We're going to have to end our friendship at some point, might as well start getting used to it now. Ok? But don't worry, you'll find someone else." She grinned, opening the door. "Bye." She waved and disappeared into the hallway.
Outside, Karen sank against the wall, a single tear running down her cheek.
Now I can't hide
Caught in the middle
Where either side
Don't fit anymore
Inside Jack was quiet, staring emptily out his apartment.
And I can't lie
Can't face the moment
When I won't find you here anymore
If we can't go on
If we can't go back
If there's nowhere else to turn to
Nothing else to understand
Then I'm gonna have to hold on in the only way I can
~~~~**~~~~
What was merely a few hours felt like days to Jack. He sat in his apartment all afternoon thinking about what she had told him. Find someone else. For the past six years she had been his only girl, how was he supposed to do that now?
If I dream about you
I can say it never happened
If I dream about you
I can finally know the way
So for now, this it seems
I keep hiding in that place inside a dream
That still has you
Back at her penthouse Karen found herself alone. Well, as alone as one could be in a house with 30 servants. Finster had gone out for the afternoon, and Rosario was out on the errands Karen had sent her for. Karen found herself sitting on her bed, digging through her bedside table drawer for some headache pills. Not that she had a headache.
Her fingers fell upon something cold and hard, and she pulled it out.
She smiled when she saw it. A framed photo taken at Grace's wedding of the four of them. Karen looked at Jack, even in photographs his big blue eyes always shone through. Have I made a mistake? She wondered.
Can't decide
Tossing and turning
Just can't find my way anymore
~~~~**~~~~
Jack sat in his apartment, interviewing woman after woman for the role of his new "best friend". Some of them were pretty, well dressed, had a nice chest, much like Karen.
But no one could ever really take her place.
And I still pray
Some small redemption
To make you stay, say we can try
If we can't go on
If we can't go back
If there's nothing else to say
Or nothing else that we can do
Then there's nothing like the pain
Of what I'm feeling without you
If I dream about you
I can say it never happened
If I dream about you
I can finally know the way
So for now, this it seems
I keep hiding in that place inside a dream
That still has you
As they both slept that night, their beds felt more cold and empty than ever. Both of them wondering if what they would gain, was really worth what they would lose?
