"Does this sandwich taste weird to you?" John asked Jade, who was a bit aloof and looking at the newspaper, pretending she was reading it.

It had been three days since the incident. John thought Jade had gone around the town for a drive, and got him fruit gushers. Oh sweet. He had said. I really missed having these.

"Hmm?" Jade looked up from the newspaper. She had really forgotten to mention a lot of things to John about that night. She was really happy to see him alive and had forgotten Vriska's existence altogether. Poor her. "Um. I haven't even eaten the sandwich yet?"

"Must be the mayo." John nodded slowly, chewing and swallowing his chicken and mayonnaise sandwich. "Mind if I take yours?"

"Oh. Sure. I'm not that hungry." Jade pushed that plate of cheese steak sandwich towards John. If there was one thing she didn't get about the coffee shops was why the hell do they sell expensive sandwiches that were tasty and never make you feel full.

"Oh. Thanks. So, any leads today?" John asked, peering at the paper.

"Um…. Actually, John. Do you mind if we take the week off?" Jade suggested, shutting the newspaper, ignoring a lot of the articles that might or might not involve supernatural hunting business.

"Take a week off?" John said, stop chewing for a bit. "What about-"

"Look. I just want some rest." Sighing, Jade brought her face onto the table, slumping over. "I told Dirk and Dave to do some research on the matter. I'm sure they have enough free time to actually go search up important stuff."

John paused again. "You made up with Dave? When did that happen?"

+++++++2 days ago++++++++

"Hello?" Jade called the Strider residence, and had waited for quite some time for them to pick up. Called them about two times, but they didn't receive it. Maybe they were somewhere else? Jade still called. Third time's the charm, apparently. Someone had picked up.

"Strider residence." A feminine voice replied, and Jade was confused for a second. Probably a guest. Or someone. Probably someone.

"Can I talk to one of the Striders then?" Jade asked, looking around, outside the phone booth. It was dark, and she didn't like it.

"You are talking to one." That just made something go click in her brain.

"Dave!?" Jade almost shrieked and dropped the phone. "What the hell are yo- You know what? Don't answer that."

"I thank you for your concern and your ignorance of the situation, Harley. What do you want?"

"I was going to apologize for shooting you, but I think you deserve that." The tone of the voice went from concerned to I am going to shoot you in the face. "Where's Dirk?"

"Bro's out. Whatcha need? Research?"

++++++++Back to the present++++++++++

"Stuff." Jade looked away, wanting to avoid the topic of one-sided awkward conversation. "Well. Anyways, deal or no deal on that one week vacation?"

John shrugged. "I don't see why not? As long as Dave does his homework."

++++++Strider Residence+++++++

"You know. That shot was totally worth it." Dave said, jumping onto the couch and looking around the messy apartment littered with expensive electronics and shitty furniture. Cinderblocks with a board on top served as a desk, shitty swords hanging on the wall, that state-to-art DJ board, and that magnificent, brand new, HD definition TV meant solely for total pwnage of videogaming. "I am glad we could afford this TV."

"When are we going to help your girlfriend?" Dirk asked as he took up the controller and changing the settings of the console to match the HD definition of the TV.

"When we kick some ass first."

"No objections."

+++++++Back to the coffee shop++++++++

Oh. They left the coffee shop already. Hold up.

"OK. John." Jade pulled up to a car workshop. "I'm going to teach you how to fix Bec." Jade gestured John to get out of the car, but he didn't. She didn't seem to mind as she pulled the small lever under the pedal, popping open the hood. Then she got out, and headed for the trunks.

"Jade?" John asked, getting out finally. "Why are you teaching me this now?"

"Because, John." Jade looked at him as she shut the trunk, holding a heavy toolbox in her hand. "Some day, I might be hurt and in no condition to drive. Some day, I might be separated from Bec and you aren't. And some day…." She paused for a second. "Some day, I might not be here to take care of him."

"Jade…"

"John. Just learn. Could come useful. Now, pay attention."