A/N: I've probably rewritten this chapter more than any chapter ever! Sorry it took so long to post, but please enjoy and feel free to review and comment!

Uneasy Lies the Head (2)

Gail walked into the Black Penny with one clear and undeniable mission in mind…to get blind drunk BEFORE she had to face her girlfriend. She realized, albeit too late, that she was dead wrong with how she had handled the situation earlier. Of course, in her opinion, Jade was far too young for not only a concert on her own, but also a curfew any later than 9 o'clock…maybe 10 o'clock on a SPECIAL weekend. Still, walking away from the woman she was supposed to be in a partnership with was no way to handle the matter. Even more, the steady ignoring of Holly's call and text messages had boxed her into an unbelievably jagged place. It was true that Gail had grown up some, but it seemed when she didn't get her way, she could still be an overwhelming brat. Therefore, before she had to admit this fact and gravel at her lover's feet, she might as well be at least a bit buzzed to take the sting out of her own falling ego.

This was of course how she would assume this night was going to go. She would drain a couple of boilermakers at the bar, while Holly was at home, stewing in a pool of anger and resentment of Gail's poor behavior, and once Gail apologized and PROPERLY compensated for her poor temper and communication skills, all would be well. Well, hell if Holly didn't seem to have other plans in mind…

It took Gail less than two steps towards the bar to recognize her girlfriend sitting on the other side of the room. She was radiate as ever; hair flowing ever so gently around her shoulders, the earrings that Gail had given her sparking against the dark light of the bar, and that patented smile that Gail swore should only be meant for Jade and herself; and yet, Holly was offering it to a stranger, who had slid into the seat in front of her. In less than the time it took for Gail to recognize the fact that her plan for redemption had now been changed and that she was teetering on the edge of exploding into a fit of rage on the dark-skinned beauty that was now keeping her girlfriend company; Holly locked eyes with her and smiled softly. No, she couldn't be serious, Gail decided. This must have been Holly's way of punishing her or at least goading her into a psychopathic brain snap, because there was no other explanation of Holly's happy reaction. Didn't she realize that the sheer thought of her happily flirting with someone else was enough to form independently murderous thoughts in Gail's mind. Well, if she didn't know, she was about to find out.

Gail couldn't remember breathing at all as she approached the table where Holly and the woman sat. They looked comfortable enough…a drink in front of Holly, a drink in the girl's hand that she comfortably sipped on as if she belonged there with Holly, and Gail staying just far enough from the table as not to turn it over in a fit of rage. Gail was about to open her mouth to say something when Holly stood and placed a tender kiss on her lips.

"I thought you weren't coming," she said, still slightly against Gail's lips. It took the blonde a few seconds to register her girlfriend's words.

"Huh?" she managed and felt like a complete fool as Holly sat back down and eyed her.

"You got my text, right?" Holly asked now equally as confused. "I sent it hours ago…"

"I…I…" Gail began. Before she could finalize her thought, Holly's cohort stood.

"I'm gonna head back over…I'll see you tomorrow in the lab," for someone reason, the woman could tell that she wasn't exactly welcomed anymore in the area.

Holly smiled, "thanks again Laura," she bid her friend farewell and then focused on Gail, who was nervously shifting from one foot to the other. Holly narrowed her eyes and knowing Gail better than she knew any other person, nodded her head with clear crisp understanding now, "you were ignoring my calls and texts…so you failed to get the text inviting you here tonight, didn't you?" Holly's voice was teasingly accusatory.

"I…" Gail couldn't form a sentence. She pulled out her phone and went over the text messages that Holly had sent to her. The last one said clearly…Black Penny at 6? Gail took a deep breath and shook her head at her own stupidity. She was easily batting a thousand in the stupid Olympics today.

"Well, at least sit," Holly encouraged after taking a sip from her own drink. When Gail had, she slid a boilermaker to Gail's side of the table. How in the hell had she missed that? Gail questioned herself. She had had tunnel vision and had only seen Holly and Laura's drinks on the table before. "I guess you are still fuming about earlier?" Holly stated more than questioned. "Jade is sixteen, Gail…" Holly felt poised to defend her position again.

"No," Gail stopped her. "I'm not still angry…" and honestly, she wasn't. She felt a bit foolish about her behavior and although she still hated that Jade was at the stage that she wanted to go to Drake concerts with friends, she knew that Holly had a sound reason for letting her go. "Holly I know that you are always looking out for what's best for Jade…"

"And you don't think I ignored your feelings because legally I am her guardian?" Holly asked quietly. She didn't want to think about how much that statement had cut her. They were supposed to be a team and instead, Gail just assumed she would bulldoze her just because her name was on a piece of paper. Holly gathered her glass, but kept her eyes away from Gail. She could barely see Gail move, out the corner of her eye, but she could feel the soft graze of Gail's lips against her own within seconds. She let a tiny bit of air escape her lips before pulling back and looking at her girlfriend. "It hurt," she said simply shrugging as if it didn't. Still, Holly closed her eyes to the feeling that tore through her when Gail turned her back earlier and walked away.

"I'm sorry," seemed a little deficient, but this was where Gail would begin. "I said it in anger…because I wasn't getting my way…" she tried to explain and it felt stupid even to start with.

"I know…" Holly said brushing a piece of hair from her face. "You should just know … it hurt, seeing you walk away from me…not wanting to talk it out."

"I'm sorry," Gail whispered again. "It will never happen again," she said humbly.

Holly seemed satisfied with the resolution and took another sip from her drink. She looked down at her phone. "It's only 7:20…what are we going to do until midnight?" she frowned a bit.

Gail frowned too. She drained the boilermaker in front of her and sighed. "I had set aside a big portion of my night for apologizing," she admitted. "I guess we could go home…watch at movie or something…"

"Or other things…" Holly grinned seductively. "I really wanna catch up on my sleep," she stuck her tongue out at her girlfriend."

"You should call them now," Haley suggested again. This time, it seemed like Jade had actually heard her because she pulled her head from inside the fridge and looked over at Haley.

"It's not even ten-thirty," she complained. "They are going to think I'm a dork…"

"They live with you…they know you are a dork," Haley countered. Jade pulled out the mustard, a package of turkey and a tomato. "Call them…I'll make your sandwich."

"I like my bread toasted…"

"I know how you like your sandwiches," Haley reminded her pushing her towards the bedroom. "Call them," she said slightly louder because the traffic below the apartment was increasing as more people were leaving the concert venue.

"Okay," Jade smiled. She picked up her phone and headed to the bedroom. Leaving the door open, she hopped on Haley's made-up bed and dialed Holly quickly.

"Hey…" Holly answered, "everything is okay, right?"

Jade's smile widened. "Yeah," she laughed. "We're just in already…not a lot to do after the concert when you are under twenty-one."

"Ah…" Holly agreed. "Was it a good concert?"

"It was an amazing concert," Jade gushed.

"Good…" she could hear Holly smile. "Are you going to finish your paper; before the deadline."

"I just have one paragraph to finish…is Gail mad at me? She only returned one of my texts and that just said, 'okay…' which usually means…"

"No she is not mad with you…"

"Just hating the fact that I went to a concert," Jade finished knowing. "Well, we're back, safely inside the apartment. No problem…no misbehavior…as promised."

"There was never a doubt in my mind…" Holly stated. "Goodnight Jade."

"Goodnight Holly. Tell Gail goodnight too…"

Jade hung up and headed back into kitchen where Haley was finishing up. She cut Jade's sandwich in half and slid it over to her. "Thanks…"

"No problem," Haley said easily.

"No, thanks for the entire night. I've had a really good time. I didn't even know that I liked Drake that much…"

"I didn't know I liked Drake that much either..."

"You don't," Jade shook her head as she took a bite.

"I probably don't," Haley smiled when Jade offered her the other half of her sandwich. "But you were a bit pissed at me and … that felt a bit unbearable. You hate Emporia don't you?"

"It's not that it's unbearable…" Jade took a deep breath "It's going to sound strange, but I think I might know Dr. Meeks, from when I was a kid. It just seems improbable though."

"You haven't told Gail or Holly?"

"You didn't hear me say that it was likely improbable? How would I know that woman…why would I know that woman? I'm just probably being paranoid because my mom may be alive…either way …it's just a couple of weeks; so no, I don't hate Emporia." Haley eyed her suspiciously as if she didn't believe that answer. "And I was never pissed at you…"

"I couldn't tell," Haley mumbled. "What are you doing?" she asked as she watched Jade frown at the phone screen.

"Nothing…my phone is just acting up," Jade explained.

"It probably just needs an update or something." Haley held her hand out and waited until Jade put the phone in her hand. She quickly went through a few programs and handed it back to Jade. "It's amazing how little you still know about that phone."

"It's not my fault…I'm not a computer genius," Jade said stretching and yawning simultaneously. "Can we just go to bed…learning how to update my phone is way too much for me tonight," she said dramatically.

Haley rolled her eyes skywards. "You are so very difficult. And you never listen…I've showed you a million things to do on that phone…"

"Okay and I love that you love doing things on that phone, but it's so much easier when you just do it for me," Jade smiled big. "I'm exhausted…" she gritted out behind a yawn.

"Fine," Haley said pointing Jade to the bedroom. "Fine if you never learn anything about your phone."

"What if we go on vacation?" Gail asked as Holly clicked on the television in their bedroom. Holly had just gotten off of the phone with Jade and Gail finally felt like she could relax for the evening.

"Where would you like to go on vacation, baby?"

"I don't know…my mom and dad used to take me and Steve to a cabin, but honestly that was more like Hunger Games training," Gail admitted with a frown. "Where did you go for vacation as a kid?"

"Honestly, during the summer, my parents allowed me to go a lot of summer camps because they were working…"

"You say that happily?" Gail teased.

"Camp was fun…I learned a lot at camp," Holly informed her. "But in the winter my mom would take me to some of the seminars she held, and my dad flew us to Miami once…but that was for work."

"Those can hardly be considered vacations, Stewart…I was thinking somewhere like the beach or I don't know…something that didn't involve work. We only have like a year before Jade is eighteen."

Holly turned to peer at Gail, "are you getting sentimental, Peck?" she kissed her girlfriend's cheek.

"She went to a concert tonight, Holly. By herself, and she made it home and she called with no problem…"

"Are you mad at that?" Holly questioned.

"No…I'm actually proud of that. But I can't help but keep thinking, if she were five, instead of sixteen, we would have so much time to do so many things, like vacations and camping and …"

"You don't like camping," Holly reminded her.

"I worry about her all the time," Gail admitted.

Holly ran her hand through her hair, "I worry about her too, Gail."

"But you do it so much better," Gail said hovering over Holly now. She bent down and kissed Holly. "Vacation? Somewhere warm, after Jade's mythology class."

"Look at you, making plans," Holly said moving up to the headboard and pulling Gail down so that she now straddled her. "Vacation…but I get to choose the place."

Gail kissed Holly softly, "No…you'll pick somewhere with museums and …art galleries…we'll let Jade choose."

Holly thought about it for a moment, "Fair…because she is going to choose somewhere I wanna go," Holly teased.

Gail didn't exactly ask why Jade had found her way down to station the next day, she assumed that it had something to do with feeling guilty about doing the end-around around her with the concert last night, yet Gail was ultimately happy to see her. The girl sat at Dov's desk, who had the day off, and looked up vacation spots. "How about New Orleans?" Gail questioned. Jade peered over the computer and shrugged.

"Do you really want to go to New Orleans?" Jade questioned.

"There's culture there…"

"I was thinking Boston, New York, Montreal," Jade began naming off.

"Those all sound like places I'll get dragged to museums while visiting," Gail frowned. "Think somewhere hot or tropical," Gail suggested.

"Are you trying to influence my decision," Jade smiled.

"No…I want a vacation; not an educational experience."

"Maybe you shouldn't go with me and Holly then," Jade suggested and was awarded with a pen being thrown at her. "Not New Orleans…I'm afraid of crocodiles."

"I'm…" but Gail's train of thought was interrupted by her phone. "I'm not even sure crocodiles are in New Orleans," she said before answering her phone. "Hey honey…" she answered. It was obviously Holly.

"What are you up to?"

"Jade stopped by the station, so we've been discussing vacation plans," Gail explained. "She's leaning towards New Orleans or somewhere hot."

"I highly doubt it," Holly giggled. "She's not at Emporia today?"

"She said all of the interns were called off today…so after her class, she came to hang out with me."

"Well, isn't that sweet. So I kinda have good news, bad news…"

"Let's hear the bad news first…" Gail sighed.

"I have to go to Ithaca, New York this weekend."

"That sounds terrible…"

"But I was thinking that maybe you and Jade could go too…"

"That is not good news," Gail moped. "I have to work, but I could ask Jade if she would like to go."

"Go where?" Jade asked automatically sitting up straighter. "Go where, Gail?" Gail only glanced over at Jade. "When will you guys come back?"

"Sunday night, it's only a four hour drive. I just have to be there for tonight and Saturday," Holly answered.

"Go where?" Jade asked again.

"To Ithaca, New York," Gail answered.

"Can I drive?" Jade asked eagerly. "I wanna go…can I drive?"

"If she goes, she can drive some…" Holly said.

"She said some…" Gail relayed.

"I'm definitely going!" Jade said popping up from her seat. "I'm going to take the bus home…I gotta pack…"

"Jade," Gail hollered after her. "Come back here…" she waited until Jade was standing beside her desk before going on with her conversation with Holly. "When are you guys leaving?"

"We have to leave pretty soon. I kinda need to be there by eight tonight for some prepping for a talk I have to give tomorrow morning. So we need to leave kinda soon. I'm getting off in an hour and I'm going to pack and head out."

Gail took a deep breath. "Okay…I won't be able to see you then?" she didn't want to sound pitiful but couldn't help it.

"I'll swing by the station," Holly promised.

"Gail…can I go pack?" Jade questioned as if standing there was annoying her to no end.

"How much stuff can you need for two days?" when Jade only rolled her eyes, Gail nodded. "Go Jade, I'll see you later, okay?"

Jade smiled, "Bye, Gail…I'll see you soon…" the girl practically bolted out of the station.

"What am I supposed to do for two days without you two?" Gail whined.

"Behave yourself," Holly suggested playfully. "Behave yourself, Peck."

And the sun had disappeared; slowly, gracelessly disappeared behind the myriad of deep purple and gray clouds that now littered the sky. It was going to rain. There was the question of how much it was going to rain, and for how long, but the distinct fact that it was going to rain was what was locked into Jade's brain as the bus chugged along the road. They were three stops from her stop, which happened to still be about half a mile from her actual home. Therefore, almost immediately, Jade prayed that the rain would hold off until she was safely inside the house. And then her mind clicked on to the fact that if it rained, she was not going to be driving. She frowned at this fact, and shifted uncomfortably in the bus seat now thinking about the four hour lost opportunity she was going to forfeit all because of the rain. Damn the rain, she groaned as the sky opened and the threat fulfilled itself.

It sounded angry, even as it fell torridly onto the rooftop of the moving vehicle. A hot day's rain was always the worse, especially when it wasn't cooling and likely going to be followed by … and there it was, the clap of thunder that Jade knew would eventually come. The rain and thunder was what had stolen Jade's attention. Something so innocent; she was worried about her clothes and hair getting wet, but had blatantly neglected to pay attentions to her surroundings. Granted, there weren't many surroundings…just two other people on the bus now. Yet, Jade should have been paying attention.

Her stop was now, and she stood, placing her cell phone in her back pocket and exited the bus. It seemed as though it took a minute before a rain drop actually made contact with her, but it was as Jade assumed it would be, hot and angry. It would be easier to cut through the park, she decided to herself. Walking around would take a bit longer, and although the grass would be wet and slick, it would cut time and steps from her journey. So she began through the park, which appeared to be deserted in this midday hour, and walked as quickly as possible. The speed that she managed didn't seemed to be getting her further any faster, so her quick steps soon turned into a determined trot, which progressed into a steady run. The pace suited her for a while, before something, perhaps the pacing, went terribly wrong and Jade could feel her balance going.

It would have been more embarrassing if more people would have seen her, or if the rain couldn't have been partially blamed for the mishap. Still, as Jade skidded to a stop on her belly, she couldn't help feeling the red hot sting of embarrassment as she tried to pull herself together and stand again. She didn't need to try hard, because she felt someone's touch just above her elbow. It was a gentle tug at first, but as Jade made it to her feet, the hand became more forceful, closing in against her bicep.

"Thanks," she mumbled trying to pull away.

"Erica Jade," her name was whispered as if it was a mixture of curse and salvation, "I suggest we do this the easy way…" Jade tried to pull her arm back again, but the crushing grip of the hand around her bicep stopped her. Before he was able to finish his statement, Jade had whipped around and kicked her assailant. He recoiled just enough for Jade to get a more targeted kick in, which she landed but he still caught her foot. "I see this is going to be the hard way," he let out a harsh breath. He looked around and thankfully the rain had made sure no one was around. He grabbed Jade's foot and pulled it from under her.

Jade tried clumsy to catch her fall, but the second her hands connected with the wet ground to break the fall, an intense pain rippled up through her shoulder. She tried to roll out of this goon's clutches, but she was in too much pain and he quickly grabbed her again. She threw her free foot towards his chest this time and connected, which threw him into an open and blind rage. He pulled the tiny girl close and pulled her to her feet. "Help!" Jade screamed against the rain and the pain she felt in her body. "Help!" She could feel her body being lifted off the ground, but she was determined not to give up without a proper fight. "Help!" she shouted again. This time she was met with her mouth being covered. She opened her mouth as wide as possible and chomped down on the space between his index finger and thumb. This was enough to make him drop her, albeit directly on her ass; still Jade scrambled to stand again. She wasn't lucky enough to be successful the first time and the man grabbed her previously injured shoulder and gripped it as tightly as possible. It was enough to send a crippling pain through Jade's body and she slowed a bit. He pulled her close and reeled his fist back.

"Don't make knock you the fuck out!" he threatened seriously. She was still just long enough for the man to reach into his pocket and pull out a bottle. Seconds later, an excruciating burning sensation engulfed her face and she was pulled to her feet and dragged, stumbling in whatever direction she was being pulled. She cried out in frustration and sheer pain. "Stop it," she was commended, "Or I will pepper spray your ass again!" he threatened, and for good measure, he did just that. Jade gagged and tried to stop walking again, to which he just lifted her small frame from the ground and pent her to his hip. It felt like they had walked miles, but had really only cut through a small wooded area of the park to end up on the other side of the street.

"What the fuck did you do?" it was a female's voice, but that was all Jade could tell at this moment.

"Shut up," he barked. "Where were you?"

"You said stay in the car…I stayed in the car!"

Jade struggled to get her breath amongst the fire-like sensation in her nose, mouth and eyeballs. Her ears were ringing too now, and she could feel herself being pushed into what she assumed was a vehicle. She resisted again and was punished with a sharp fist to her back.

"Carlo!" she heard the female say. "She's a little girl …and you know Shoshana will kill you!"

And that is perhaps when she stopped squirming. It was the realization that she didn't want; the one that the fight for survival had made sure Jade didn't remember. She was being kidnapped, and at her mother's request. She was tossed in the backseat of a SUV and now she could hear the rain on the rooftop. Her hands went to her eyes, since it seemed the time to scuffle had come to an end. She was pulled into a sitting position and her arms were jerked forward. She could hear the tape before she felt it wrap around her wrist, and then around her ankles. She could imagine him biting a piece off, and he forcefully placed it over her mouth, and finally, although her eyes were already watering and she was sure she was blind, he placed a piece of tape over her closed eyelids.

Jade heard the back car door slam, the front open and then slam too. "Drive…" the man said in a harsh tone.

They were well on their way before Jade heard any more talk. "You know mom is going to kill you right?" the female voice asked.

"If I didn't do this…I was already dead…" Carlo replied sadly.