Hello! I'm back from my little hiatus, with all my exams finished I can focus on this story, semi-full time! Which is great because I have some interesting things to throw into the mix of it all. Here's a shutout for reviews on the last chapter:

PEPSICOLASHIPPER: I'm so happy you liked it! I got super emotional writing this scene and I wanted it to be perfect. It went through a couple of drafts before I had something simple, yet so heartbreaking. As for the music, that's perfect! Because I do pick different songs for different scenes to help put me into the characters frame of mind. It's so funny you mentioned that and awesome you picked up on it. I should start mentioning the songs, so everyone is in the same frame of mind!

Alright, so please enjoy this early treat and I will be updating again on my usual Saturday's again.

Enjoy!

..::Song of inspiration: Halsey - Colors::..

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Jack had suggested that I should clean up. Before he left, he ran ice, cold water over the cloth and left it on the corner of the sink. The coolness of the clothe hit my skin sharply, and I flinched at the cold. But, it felt so good across my skin.

I went to my room, to take out my tooth brush and a new set of clothes - deciding to take a shower too. But, before I could leave, my cell phone went off.

"Hi Astrid,"I said as the name flashed across my screen.

"Where have you been Hiccup? Mom and dad are worried sick - so am I."

"I already called the school this morning," liar, "I told them I'm still in town for work and that I'll be missing the week."

Astrid was quiet on the other line, "I wish you would have told us. You seem more distant since getting this job. We want you to know that we miss you and-"

"I know, I miss you all too. And this job has been," I struggled for an appropriate word, "it's been really good to me. I'll be home and I'm really sorry I forgot to call."

"Okay, Hiccup," Astrid said on the other line and I felt my heart ache. I really did appreciate all they have been doing for me. But, I was going to be graduating this year - I needed to start looking for work. Or looking at universities. Being here, I kind of already had my foot in the door.

"I'll text you Astrid, tell mom and dad I'm okay."

She made a small sound on the other end before we hung up.

I felt filthy and disgusting and couldn't get that sticky feeling off my skin. I decided the shower was going to be needed and moved to the hallway bathroom once again. Jack had conveniently thought of his guest, as his shower was already lined with an automatic dispenser for soap, shampoo and conditioner. The smell of the body wash was like lilacs and lavender - so soothing and refreshing.

I thought of Tadashi and Nav - wondered if they would run across each other in the afterlife. Even as I thought about them, I tried to keep my thoughts short and shallow. So I wouldn't get dragged down. But all I felt for them, after seeing my vision now, was peace. Peace for Nav and giving him a final resting place; peace for Tadashi so that he can eternally be with his family and friend from a world full of light.

An hour later, I felt ready to go see Jack. I decided to check his room when I didn't find him in his gourmet kitchen, and the smell of grilled chicken filled my nose. His room was on the other side of the condo.

Gently, I knocked on his door, "come in," he said from the other side.

I was already preparing myself for the massiveness of the room. Jack was lounging on the bed on his back, his legs hanging off the edge and he gazed at me from where he laid.

He had a large room with a king sized bed and nightstands on either side. But other than a couple of book cases, dressers and a seating area, it wasn't decorated. His bathroom, however, lingered just on the other side. There was no door and I saw the fireplace that separated the room from the giant, jetted tubbed bathing area.

"Ready for supper?" He asked, leaning up.

"Yeah, aren't we going to… Talk?" I asked, confused. He stood up in one smooth motion and the space between us was closed in a couple of steps.

"After dinner - I promise, you'll know all my dirty secrets," he grinned but it didn't entirely meet his eyes. "Besides, I don't have the energy that I use to for conducting a telepathy read."

"Telepathy read?" I blinked and he stretched out his arms, his white shirt pulling against his trim chest and waist.

"Yep, it's when you allow a medium to enter your conscious. Zel told me about your incident after you mentioned my brother that day I picked you up from school. There was no other way you would have known, unless you had known through her, after that time she tried to get a read on you, to help channel your powers. However, instead of her entering your mind, you locked her out and stepped through her barriers."

I recalled the memory, it was during our second case at the castle. Jack noticed my face and added, "don't worry about it. You didn't hurt her - just shocked her. Only Oliver was able to do that, and things went horribly wrong."

"I know." I said slowly, "when I went into her mind, I saw that memory. That's when I learned about your twin brother. That and I had seen him on the other side and thought he was you." I blushed, back then, I thought that it truly was Jack who had found a way to help guide me through that realm. But, it had been Oliver all along.

"Well, that's how I want to show you. But, without Ollie I can't channel my own power. So I need a medium to be the third wheel, and even then, it completely drains me of any energy."

I nodded, understanding what he meant and how it felt to be completely drained in a spiritual sense. To change the topic, Jack grinned and stepped to the side of the door. "Shall we?"

"Yes, I'm starved," he lead me to the open dining room, that I now noticed was finely decorated with silks and candles. Our dinner plates sat side-by-side on the long table. Jack lead us to the two chairs and gently pulled mine out for me.

"O-Oh, you don't have to," I blushed as I sat anyway. He took the seat next to me and I admired to simplicity of the meal. Roasted vegetables and beets with grilled chicken - I sniffed deeply and the meal smelled divine.

"You're a really good cook, this looks delicious," I looked at him, his eyes were gazing at me.

"Thanks, but don't knock it until you try it," he chuckled and reached for a bottle of white wine, "can you cook?" Jack beckoned for my elegant wine glass and since I didn't know anything about wine, I trusted his good judgment and handed it to him.

"No, I've never cooked for myself. But I can heat up a mean lasagna if you test me."

In the middle of pouring, Jack burst out laughing. Once he finished, he raised his glass.

"Cheers to that!"

Our glasses clinked and I found myself laughing along side him. Jack and I began eating, since my mouth had been watering from how delicious the food looked and smelled.

"Did you call your parents?" Jack asked in between bites. "Yes, they were worried. But, they understand the situation."

"They're pretty understanding," he observed.

"Yeah, I'm lucky. I think they don't quite know how to deal with me - even though I've been with them for so long. But, they've supported me for everything I've decided and that's been a relief."

"Do they know?" Jack eyed me as he leaned back and sipped from his wine. I had a strange feeling he wasn't talking about my job - or what I did here.

Did they know I was attracted to men?

I played with the food on my plate, my face heating from the intense stare of Jacks eyes on me.

"I haven't told anyone about that, I feel like it shouldn't matter what I am or whom I see." It was a carefully crafted answer that I practiced many times in the mirror. I knew from a young age, that I was different, beyond the darkness. I had always subtly known, since most of the girls my age just didn't excite me, or attract me like I knew they should have. Not the way a good looking male would - a good looking male like Jack.

"It doesn't define you - you do know that, right Hic?" he set down his glass.

"W-what about you?" I couldn't look at his face, "does anyone know?"

"I've only told a few of those close to me."

"What about Zel? Haven't you guys -" I stopped myself from the foolish question before it made me sound jealous, or like he owed me any kind of explanation. But, from the moment I met them, I was dying to know their relationship.

"Zel and I have over a decade of tangled history you can sort through," he chuckled and added, "I made the foolish mistake once to invite her to my bedroom. She laughed herself nearly hoarse."

From the way she could yell at him and not be yielded by his sheer power, I could almost envision the moment and I joined him laughing, "what about Bunny and Merida?"

"They suspect," he eyed me, "though when I'm around you I can't help myself sometimes, and I'm not as subtle as I would like." Jack grinned widely and unrestrained. He was breathtaking and I was caught in his undertow.

I leaned back now, sipping from my wine, though, I realized in order to flirt with him and wield any power around him, I would need more wine. After a large drink of it, I met those baby blue jewels.

"And, why is it, you haven't been able to keep your eyes off me from the moment I met you?"

Jack barked out a laugh, so deep and full-throated, it caressed my skin; as if I could feel his mouth at my neck, his lips vibrating on my skin.

"Am I supposed to deny," he said in a voice so low and sensual my spine shivered, "that I find you attractive?"

Something sparked in those eyes. "You've never said it," I shrugged, thinking about all those teasing compliments. "Maybe you should do a better job at showing it."

His bright eyes gleamed, turning predatory. A thrill went through me as he braced himself on the table with his powerful arms, leaning towards me. "Is that a challenge, Hic?"

I leaned closer to him, my mouth suddenly dry, as I held that powerful and lethal gaze, "is it?"

"I think you're very aware of how attractive I find you. And it would seem," I tried to keep my breathing even, tried not to focus on the bob of my throat as he watched me with that lethal focus. He said, slow and soft, "and it would seem, you find me just as attractive, since you also haven't been able to keep your eyes off me, either."

My toes curled inside my socks, such a dangerous line we were walking. Before I could say anything, Jack's gaze cut towards the kitchen where his home phone started ringing.

I wasn't sure whether I should be relieved or not, but I leaned back in my chair as he rose and strode gracefully to where the cordless phone sat.

"Frost here," he answered in that elegant and poised tone, the mask he loved to wear. It must have something to do with work but it wasn't until I heard him sigh - actually sigh - that I knew whoever was on the other line wasn't entirely for business.

"Okay, I'll ask him," he put the phone to his chest and addressed me, "Merida wants to know if you're up to karaoke at Rita's tonight."

I straightened a little at the sound of that, "of course. W-would you be okay with that?" I looked up at him and he smiled, putting the phone receive back to his mouth, "yeah we'll be there. Make sure to get the big room. I'll put it on the company visa. Okay, see you soon."

He walked back over to me, grinning.

"We'll put this on hold," he leaned down to gather our plates, but his eyes lingered on me. "You'll have plenty of time to show me what else comes out of that wicked, little mouth of yours. But, for now, let's go have some fun."

Fun. Yes, I wanted that. I wanted to have fun and just forget about all the horrors of this case. Fun - it felt like I hadn't heard that word in a very, very long time.

^.^