Disclaimer: I do not own Facts of Life, Sony, or any of their affiliates, characters and/or settings portrayed in this story. This story is for entertainment purposes only.
Trigger Warning: This story touches upon Domestic Violence in several aspects (emotional, financial, physical, sexual, psychological, etc.). Please read at your discretion.
Italics are thoughts, flashbacks, emphasis on a word
AN: A huge thank you to Birograce for being such an awesome beta.
"What are we watching?" Tootie asked as she leaned over and picked up the remote.
"Something action packed," Natalie suggested.
Tootie and Natalie had come to visit Jo and Blair for a girls' weekend. It was a suggestion from Jo's therapist, whom she had been seeing the past few weeks. She had no problem with the idea, since she missed her younger friends. Her therapist had also suggested she talk to them about what happened with Robert. It would be a good exercise to tell people that loved her on her own terms, before her court date. She planned to bring it up tonight.
Dani trotted down the stairs. "Okay, Avery is down for the night." She was at Blair's, the blonde and Jo were going to babysit while she went out.
"Where are you going?" Blair got up from the couch and met the girl near the bottom of the staircase.
"Out."
Blair put her hands on her hips. "I know out. Out where?"
"Side," came Dani's smart aleck reply.
Chuckles were heard from the other occupants in the living room, except Mrs. Garrett. The older woman shook her head. Rookie mistake Blair.
Blair shot daggers toward the younger three. Especially Jo, who was supposed to back her up. She motioned for the brunette to come over.
"Blair," Jo began to protest, but the blonde's face left no room for arguing.
Natalie and Tootie shared a look when Jo got up and walked toward Dani.
"Look, can you just tell her where you'll be so I can return to my regularly scheduled program?" Jo leaned against the banister.
"No, because she won't let me go," the curly haired brunette argued.
"I will too let you go," Blair defended.
"Fine, I'm going to a strip club in my old neighborhood, then spending the night at a motel with Angel."
Blair's eyes opened widely. Jo pursed her lips.
"Now you know. Can I go?" Dani asked.
"Sure," Jo gave her permission.
Dani smiled and started to leave.
"Jo," Blair protested.
"What?" Jo chuckled.
"Do you think...I mean…" Blair was at a loss for words. A strip club and a run down motel in Brooklyn. Seriously?!
"Oh come on, we went to a strip club with Mrs. Garrett. 'Mr. Perfect' was the main attraction," Jo reminded the blonde.
Dani's ears perked up at this new piece of information. "You…" She pointed to Blair. "...went to a strip club? No freakin' way!" She smiled from ear to ear.
"Out of that whole group and Blair's the one that shocks her," Natalie mumbled.
Tootie slapped Natalie's knee. "Stop," she mouthed. Natalie shrugged.
Blair's face was flush. "It was a very long time ago and…"
Dani was enjoying this. "No, no, no." She wagged her finger in front of Blair's face. "You're not getting out of this one." Her shit eating grin lit up the room. "We must have details, Miss Warner."
"It's getting late. You should go." Blair pushed Dani toward the door. "Don't want to keep Angel waiting."
"Oh, now she's worried about Angel," the young woman mumbled right before she left, a huge smile still plastered on her face.
"And you?" Blair pointed toward Jo as soon as the door closed behind Dani. "You traitor," she accused.
"What?" Jo shrugged innocently.
"You know I don't like her hanging out with Angel," Blair reminded her. "Especially not at some run down strip joint in their old neighborhood and then some sleazy motel."
Jo sighed. "He's a good kid. I'm not going over this again with you."
"Good kid? Do 'good kid's' take innocent young women to motels?"
"Blair, she was clearly yankin' your chain," Jo informed. "But if they are going to a motel, it's their business."
Before Blair could argue back, Dani popped her head through the front door. "Snoots?"
Blair turned, a little surprised to see the girl.
"We're going to catch a movie and then a bite to eat at an all night diner." Dani smiled softly. "No motel."
"Will you be back tonight?" Blair asked, her voice full of concern.
"If it's too late, I can stay at Angel's. His mom will be there and she and I share her bed while he sleeps on the couch, I promise." She crossed her heart for good measure. Blair nodded and asked for Dani to text her throughout the night.
The young woman said her goodnights and left to meet Angel.
"You know, I always thought Jo would be the stricter parent and Blair the softie," Natalie commented, Tootie nodded her head in agreement.
"Why would...I mean...why would you think about Blair and I's parenting styles?" Jo said a little defensively.
"I think about all of our parenting styles. Especially now that Tootie's pregnant." Natalie furrowed her eyebrows. What the hell is going on with her tonight? Jo had been snappy ever since they got there.
"Right. Sorry," the brunette mumbled as she took her seat once again.
"Okay," Tootie spoke trying to ease back some of the tension. "We've got a few choices," she started to read some of the categories from the screen. "Drama, romance, comedy, horror, suspense."
"I vote for suspense," Natalie suggested as she leaned over and stole a chip from the snacks on the coffee table.
"Horror," Jo advised. "What about you, Mrs. G?"
"Bed." Edna Garrett stood from the lounge chair. She was exhausted and just wanted to lie down.
'No's, aww's, and come on's' were heard from all four of the younger women.
Edna shook her head. "We've been up since early picking Tootie up from the airport, unpacking, running errands, dinner. I'm beat."
"Goodnight, Mrs. Garrett...Mrs. G."
The older woman chuckled at the garbled mix of goodnights she received from the girls before heading upstairs and turning in for the night.
"So romance." Blair smiled.
Jo rolled her eyes. "We did not settle on romance."
"Fine, so let's pick something already." Blair kicked off her heels, lifted her legs onto the couch, and side tucked them under her skirt as she cuddled back against Jo.
Tootie was on the far left of the couch, Blair in the middle and Jo on the right. Natalie sat in the recliner, near Tootie's end.
The brunette swallowed thickly at the contact from Blair. Her eyes nervously darted toward Natalie and Tootie. The younger two hadn't noticed, or didn't seem to care.
"Okay, how about a drama?" Natalie asked as she got up to turn off the lights.
Tootie nodded in agreement, but Jo wasn't having it.
"Oh God, this is why we can't watch movies together," Natalie grumbled. She found a pen and paper and wrote down the names of a few movies that were up on the screen. She dropped them in the empty popcorn bowl and told Tootie to pick.
"Why does she get to choose?" Jo pursed her lips. She loved messing with Natalie.
The writer gave her the evil eye. "You've been hanging around Blair too long," she teased. "You're starting to whine like her."
"I am officially offended," Blair let it be known.
"As am I." Jo pointed to herself.
"Hey." Blair leaned her head back against Jo's chest to catch the brunette's eye. Jo winked at her, Blair smiled. As she burrowed deeper into Jo's chest, a sigh of contentment escaped the blonde's lips. Jo smirked to herself proudly when she heard it.
"And the winner is...'Enough'," Tootie announced after drawing the title from the bowl dramatically.
Blair's eyes went wide as she quickly sat up. "That's an old movie. Let's watch something else." She reached for the bowl to draw another name.
"No!" Tootie playfully slapped Blair's hands away. "I love this movie. Besides, I haven't seen it in forever and it's great when she kicks her abusive ex's ass!"
"Hear, hear!" Natalie lifted her beer bottle in the air and toasted mockingly.
"I know, but…" Blair began, Jo tenderly grabbed her arm. "It's okay," she mouthed. She patted her chest and motioned for Blair to lay back down. The blonde smiled softly at the invite. She eased back against Jo's chest and decided to enjoy the company she was in.
As the movie played, Jo seemed fine. It wasn't until the first scene where the main protagonist's husband began to physically abuse her, that Blair felt the brunette go rigid underneath her. The blonde started to trace soft patterns across Jo's jean clad thighs in order to try to ease some of the brunette's tension.
"Oooo, let me get in on some of that action." Tootie kicked off her slippers and put her feet up on Blair's lap. Her 'dogs' were killing her. They had done a lot of walking today and being pregnant didn't help.
Jo pursed her lips when she felt Blair deflate at having to stop massaging her to do Tootie's feet instead.
As the movie continued, Jo became more distressed. "I uh...I'm going to make some popcorn," she mumbled. She lifted Blair off of her and hastily made her way to the kitchen.
"I'd better go help her." Blair removed Tootie's feet from her lap as she got up to follow Jo.
Tootie frowned that her massage was no more. "Whatever happened to 'no tricky sauce'?" she teased in regard to Blair helping Jo with the popcorn. Blair had ribbed her in the past about the uncomplicated process of making the microwaveable snack.
Blair hesitated. "I uh…"
"You actually used the term 'no tricky sauce'?" Natalie shook her head, amused. "I love your Texas-isms."
Tootie chuckled. "Oooo, bring me back something to drink," she requested from Blair, her attention back on the movie.
"Sure, what would you like?" Blair asked.
"A Coke," Tootie said.
Blair raised her eyebrows. "Aren't you supposed to limit your caffeine, mommy-to-be?"
Tootie rolled her eyes. "Fine, lemonade."
Natalie laughed at the dejected look on her best friend's face.
"Nat?" Blair checked.
"I'm good, thanks."
Blair nodded and rushed toward the kitchen. She was concerned about Jo.
She found the brunette over the sink, eyes closed, breaths shallow, body shaking while her hands deathly gripped the edge of the countertop.
"Jo." She lightly touched the brunette's arm. Jo jumped back afraid.
"I'm sorry." Blair put her hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry."
The brunette let out an exasperated sigh as she walked away from Blair toward the other side of the kitchen. She furiously paced back and forth, hands on her hips. She was angry and frustrated that she couldn't even watch a movie without thinking about Robert.
"I knew we shouldn't have watched that movie," Blair began. "And, I know you wanted to tell them about Robert tonight, but you don't have to. We can skip it, or I can…"
Jo cut the blonde off, "How come you're the expert on all things domestic abuse all of a sudden? Huh?!" If looks could kill, Blair would be dead.
Blair shook her head. "What?"
"Yeah…yeah..." Jo motioned angrily toward Blair. "All of a sudden you're...you're this goddamn domestic violence guru."
Blair swallowed thickly.
Jo's voice went up an octave to mock Blair's own, " I knew we shouldn't have watched the movie. You just need time to heal, Jo. Therapy is a good thing. It's only been a few sessions. The investigation will be over soon and everything will be fine. Perfect, perfect, perfect. You don't have to tell them tonight. I can do it. I'll do it just like I've been doing every other fuckin' thing for you lately ," Jo ridiculed. "I, I, I. Everything doesn't always have to be about you, Blair!"
Blair held her tongue, her eyes downcast. She was hurt and refused to look directly at Jo.
"I can tell them myself!" The brunette furiously slapped her own chest.
"I know you can," Blair agreed quietly.
"Do ya? Because it doesn't seem like it." Jo marched up to the blonde. "Look at me."
Blair's eyes slowly met Jo's enraged stare.
"I've told you before, if you know so much, then stop pissing me off."
Blair nodded slowly.
"I could've left him on my own too, you know?"
The blonde nodded once again.
"I'm the protector of the group," Jo defended. "Me. Not you."
Blair was mute. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She was angry and she really didn't think Jo was being much of a 'protector' at the moment.
"I've always been the protector of the group. That's what all of you expect from me." Jo leaned in and whispered, her lips just inches away from the blonde's, "And you may not know it, but I stayed with him to protect you... princess," she hissed.
Blair turned her head as she tried to control her breathing. She tightened her hands into fists to help ease her anger.
"So, you think you did a good thing? 'Saving' me?" Jo dipped her head to catch Blair's gaze. "Huh?!" Jo yelled. Tears gathered in her eyes when she noticed soft brown orbs glistening. She pulled back from the blonde's personal space, closed her eyes and shook her head, disappointed in herself.
"I'm sorry, Blair," her voice cracked as she brought up her hand and shamefully cupped her face. "I'm sorry," she repeated through a choked sob.
Blair quickly pulled Jo in for a hug.
"I'm sorry," Jo continued to apologize as whimpered cries escaped her. Her body was shaking in the blonde's arms.
"Shh, shh, shh," Blair soothed. "It's okay. I'm here," she whispered.
"I hate him so much," Jo cried.
Blair placed a chaste kiss into soft brown locks. "I know. I know you do, sweetie. I do too." She pulled back and tenderly grabbed Jo's face, lovingly wiping away the tears that escaped the brunette.
Jo closed her eyes at the soft caresses. She leaned her forehead against the blonde's as her hands came up and gently wrapped around Blair's wrists. "I'm such an asshole," she said softly.
Blair giggled at Jo's confession, her own eyes closed now. Both of them enjoying the intimate moment.
Jo smiled at the blonde's cute laugh. "This is where you say, 'No Jo, I love you, you're not an asshole' ."
Blair smirked. "What can I say Polniaczek, when you're right, you're right," the blonde teased as she pulled back. Jo chuckled.
Their gazes met and Jo gently brushed back blonde tendrils. "I'm sorry." Her eyes dropped to Blair's soft lips and then back to chocolate orbs.
Blair's breath caught in her throat at the lust filled stare. This is shaky ground, Warner. You and Jo are friends. She is going through a lot. Don't cross a line that you won't be able to…
"Blair…" Jo leaned in, their lips inches apart as she felt the blonde's breaths quicken.
"Tootie wants to know if you…"
At Natalie's voice, Jo and Blair hastily broke apart. Blair fidgeted with her blouse as Jo turned and nervously rubbed the back of her neck.
"...drove to the farm to pick the lemons," Natalie finished her statement, brows furrowed suspiciously toward Jo and Blair.
"Jo had something in her eye." Blair pointed to the brunette, who now stood behind her, hands shoved into her back pockets, head turned to avoid Natalie's dubious stare.
Natalie nodded as she walked to the cabinets to grab a glass.
"I was getting it out," the blonde nervously continued.
Jo pursed her lips to try to contain her laughter, her eyes still anywhere but on Natalie.
"No, yeah, I...I got that," Natalie stated as she placed the glass on the fridge door's ice maker. The loud noise from the machine crushing the ice and then dropping into the crystal drinkware made an already awkward situation worse.
"So we'll uh, see you out there...I guess," Blair stuttered as Natalie poured Tootie's lemonade.
Natalie's eyes opened wide as she slowly nodded toward the blonde. "You sure will."
Jo couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a chuckle. Blair's eyes worriedly landed on the brunette. Natalie shook her head amused as she walked back to the living room.
As soon as Natalie was on the other side of the kitchen door, Jo doubled over with laughter.
"It's not funny," Blair tried to insist. "Jo!" she chastised when the brunette continued her fit of laughter.
"Where are Frick and Frack?" Tootie asked as Natalie handed her her drink.
Natalie didn't hear the question, her mind preoccupied as she stared toward the kitchen door.
"Nat?"
"Huh?" She finally looked toward Tootie.
"Jo and Blair?" Tootie asked, eyes questioning.
"Oh, uh...they'll be out in a minute," she mumbled, her eyes floated toward the kitchen door one last time before she sat down and tried to pay attention to the movie.
Blair fluttered anxiously about the kitchen looking for a bag of microwaveable popcorn. She found a bag and tore open the plastic cover.
Jo watched her intently. Blair's sudden mood change since Natalie left the kitchen was confusing her. For a minute there it looked like Blair wanted to kiss her. Then Natalie interrupted them and now Blair was acting as if nothing had happened. She wondered if she was misreading the signals. She's never really pursued a woman before, and Blair has always been very tactile throughout their relationship. Maybe, Blair was just being Blair?
The brunette sighed. No, this was different...and I'm determined to find out. Jo pushed off the island's counter decisively and walked up behind Blair.
"You're doing it wrong," she husked in the blonde's ear.
Blair jumped at the statement and Jo's unabashed behavior. "I...I am?" She stammered.
Jo grinned at the woman's reaction. "Mmhmm." She nuzzled her nose against the blonde's soft locks. She discreetly breathed in the soft scent of Blair's shampoo.
"I uh…" Blair tried to move from Jo's embrace.
The brunette's arms came up to grab the kitchen's marble countertop on either side of the blonde's waist, effectively 'trapping' Blair in. "What's the matter?"
"Nuh...nothing."
"Oh, good," Jo stated, her nose still nestled deeply in golden tresses. "You have to stop it after about two minutes," she motioned toward the microwave, her head now nestled in the crook of the blonde's neck.
"Jo, I don't think…"
"Don't think what?" she murmured into Blair's nape before placing a gentle kiss on her soft, sweet smelling skin.
"That we should be doing this." Blair drew in a shaky breath.
"What?" Jo smirked. "Teaching you how to make the best popcorn ever?"
Blair closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing, she could feel the brunette's own soft respiration on her neck.
"Okay, it's been two minutes," she spoke trying to get the brunette to focus. She fumbled with the microwave's stop button. "Now what?"
"Take it out and give it a good shake," Jo husked. "Be careful though…" she continued, "...because it's hot. I wouldn't want you to get burned," she warned seductively.
Blair's breaths quickened as she felt Jo's lips graze her ear. Her hands trembled as she removed the bag.
"Jo…" she whispered as a quiver ran through her body. She closed her eyes once again to try to gain her bearings.
Jo smiled triumphantly at the effect she was clearly having on the blonde. She didn't know what was going on between them, but there was definitely something there, and not just friendship.
"Do I put it back now?" Blair asked, eyes still closed. She was aware of the shift in the air.
Jo swallowed thickly. "Uh..." She too was very aware of the intimate moment. "Yeah," came her soft spoken response, her boldness from earlier waning. "For uh...another two minutes."
Blair put the bag back in and restarted the microwave. She was counting to ten in her head. What just happened?
"I'd better go check on the troops," Jo quietly spoke as she stepped back a bit. She felt like they needed to separate for a minute before they took it too far, crossed a line that she knew neither of them were ready for just yet.
She headed toward the living room, but hesitated at the door. "Ummm…"
Blair met her gaze.
"I...I think I am going to tell them about Robert tonight," she stated.
Blair nodded as her eyes broke back toward the microwave. She watched the minutes tick away on the timer.
"I really am sorry I blew up at ya' before," Jo felt the need to apologize again.
Blair nodded distractedly, her mind elsewhere.
"You okay?" Jo whispered.
As another imperceptible nod escaped the blonde, Jo closed her eyes and let out an anxious sigh. She walked back up to the blonde. "Hey." She carefully turned Blair around so they were facing each other. "Are you sure?" She affectionately grabbed the blonde's chin.
"Mmmhmm." Blair nodded. She didn't trust her voice at the moment.
"Okay…" Jo smiled softly hoping Blair would return it. "...I'll see you out there?"
Instead of a smile, she just got another nod from the blonde. The brunette headed back to the living room slightly discouraged.
Blair let out a shaky breath. "Get it together, Blair. You can't come onto Jo. She's vulnerable and confused...and straight . And you're a Warner. Warner's do not fold under pressure. Even when that pressure is hot, sexy brunette's named Jo Polniaczek."
"You're a Warner." She found a bowl to pour the newly microwaved popcorn.
"You're a Warner," she reminded herself as she fixed her disheveled hair and clothes.
"You're a Warner," she chanted the mantra over and over as she straightened her shoulders and headed back to the living room.
The rest of the night went off without a hitch. They watched another movie, this time a comedy. The blonde had been cautious of cuddling with Jo upon her return from the kitchen, but the funny movie had helped ease some of the tension between the two.
Natalie was the first to stand up and stretch as the credits rolled. "What are the sleeping arrangements?"
"Well, Mrs. Garrett's got my room, so I was thinking you and Tootie could grab the guest room and Jo and I could share the pull out?"
The younger two shrugged indifferently, not really caring who went where, but more so wanting to know to be able to finally get some shut eye.
The four of them easily cleaned up the snacks and dishes, falling into old patterns from when they all worked in the cafeteria as teenagers.
"Goodnight guys," Tootie said, her eyes puffy. Everyone could tell the young woman was beyond exhausted. This pregnancy was really doing a number on her, and it was only the first trimester.
Natalie nodded her own goodnight to Jo and Blair before she began to follow Tootie up the stairs.
Jo looked frettingly toward Blair. The blonde opened her eyes wide and encouraged Jo to stop the two women.
"Uh…" Jo called up to Natalie and Tootie. They turned around to find a fidgety Jo.
"I uh...I need to talk to ya'."
The women hurriedly made it back downstairs. Jo seemed upset. They could tell whatever it was Jo had to tell them, it was important.
"I'm going to go check on Avery," Blair announced once the younger musketeers were sitting. Jo gave her a grateful smile.
"Oh, here." Jo handed Blair the baby monitor.
Once the blonde was out of sight, Jo paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. Natalie and Tootie looked on with concern as the brunette kept rubbing her hands together and mumbling to herself.
"Okay, it's like this…" Jo started to speak. "Uh…" She reached over and grabbed a bottled water she had brought out from the kitchen not so long ago. She took a huge gulp.
"I broke up with Robert," she stated after several minutes.
"Oh, Jo, I'm sorry," came Tootie's supportive reply. Jo smiled kindly at her younger friend, the baby of their group. Tootie had always had such a positive outlook on life, such a pure heart. She hoped Tootie's baby would be just like her mama.
"Sorry?" Natalie questioned sharply. "It's 2 a.m., Jo. I'm sleepy. There are other fish in the sea." Natalie stood up and patted Jo's arm. "Go fishing." She finished off with one her signature smiles, where her cheeks puffed and her eyes would close because of it.
"Natalie!" Tootie chided. "Jo is our friend, clearly this break up has affected her and she needs us."
Jo shook her head. "No, it's not like that, I'm not upset...I mean, I am, but not because…"
"I'm going to bed." Natalie was tired.
"Nat, wait...I need to…" Jo called after the writer.
"We should make s'mores." Tootie's eyes were wide with excitement.
"What? No!" Jo's eyes anxiously bounced between Tootie and Natalie. She had lost control of the situation.
"S'mores was a bad idea," Tootie apologized. "It's this pregnancy, I want to eat sweets all the…"
"I broke up with him because he used to beat me!" the brunette yelled.
Natalie, whose right foot was on the bottom step of the staircase, stopped dead in her tracks.
Jo's eyes were wide and her breaths labored. She didn't mean to blurt it out like that.
"What?" Tootie whispered sadly.
"He used to beat you?" Natalie asked, incredulous. Jo was a badass. She would never let a guy hit her.
Tears gathered in Jo's eyes. She hated the looks of pity she was receiving from her friends.
Tootie stood up and hugged Jo. "We're here for you. Whatever you need. We're here."
Jo was stiff in Tootie's arms, her eyes focused on Natalie. Tears slowly trailed down the brunette's cheeks as she watched the look of disappointment on Natalie's face.
"Jo?" Tootie pulled back from the hug and gingerly wiped the older woman's cheeks.
Jo nodded.
"It's going to be alright. Mrs. Garrett, Blair, Nat and I got your back. Whatever you need, you know that, don't you?
"Mmmhmm." The brunette couldn't find her voice.
"What can we do?" Natalie asked from the stairs.
Jo let out a small snivel as she wiped her nose. "I um," she stuttered timidly, "...have a court date coming up in about a month. They may call you guys to testify about…"
"We didn't know he was abusing you!" Natalie snapped.
Tootie furrowed her eyebrows at the unusual behavior. "Natalie!" she scolded.
"Well, it's true. Did she ever once call you to tell you, 'Hey, my boyfriend's an asshole. I need your help!'?"
"Natalie," Tootie repeated a little quieter. She could tell this was making Jo even more upset.
"I didn't need your help!" Jo roared. "I just want you to tell the court that when I started dating him our relationship suffered because of it. I stopped calling, inviting you over, that's all!"
"Jo." Tootie tried to calm the brunette down.
"That's all?" Natalie asked.
Jo swallowed thickly because the question was loaded. Filled with hurt and disappointment. She had let Natalie down. However, she couldn't deal with this right now. "That's all," she confirmed.
"Great. Won't be hard to tell the truth. Goodnight." Natalie stomped her way upstairs.
Tootie shook her head at her best friend's attitude. "She'll come around, Jo. You'll see. She's tired and you know how she gets when she's tired."
Jo smiled at her younger friend. "Don't ever change, Tootie," she whispered.
Tootie thoughtfully smiled at the older brunette as she leaned in for another hug. "Everything will work out. You'll see," she said softly. "Do you want me to call Blair for you?" she asked knowingly.
Jo chuckled as she hugged the girl tighter. "You sick of dealing with me?"
Tootie giggled as she pulled back, she wiped away a few more stray tears from Jo's eyes. "Never, but I have to face facts...Blair is your ride or die."
Jo winked at her.
They said their goodnights and Tootie went to fetch Blair for Jo.
The blonde came down minutes later, already in her pajamas. She smelled of perfume, mint toothpaste, and night cream. Jo swallowed thickly, thoughts of her youth flooded her mind. She realized how safe she felt just by the smell of Blair's nightly potions. Since the blonde had been staying at Dani's, she hadn't really been putting on any face creams. Jo missed the familiar smell.
"How'd it go?" Blair asked.
"Uh…" Jo shook her head. "Pretty much how I expected, actually," she realized.
Blair gave her a sad smile.
"I'm just going to head up to get into my PJs and brush my teeth." Jo hooked her thumb toward the staircase.
"Okay. I'll lock up."
"Thanks."
While Jo was upstairs, Blair double checked all the windows and doors, then tucked herself under the heavy comforter.
"Can't sleep?" Tootie asked her bedmate, who had been tossing and turning for about an hour now.
"No." Natalie let out an exasperated sigh.
"It's crazy about Jo, huh?" Tootie asked.
Natalie nodded, her eyes wide and focused on the soft light from the street lamp outside hitting the ceiling in Blair's guest room.
"Out of all of us, I never thought that Jo would…"
"I'm thirsty. Want something from the kitchen?" Natalie cut Tootie off.
"Uh…" Tootie was startled by the sudden outburst, but not completely surprised. "Some ice-water please," she requested, knowing that her best friend was still processing. Natalie had always looked up to Jo, they all had. It was hard to see their friend so vulnerable, so broken.
"I'll be back." Natalie tossed the covers aside, eased into her slippers and headed down to the kitchen.
The writer tiptoed down the stairs, as to not make noise and wake its slumbering inhabitants. Her eyes drifted to the couch, only to find a mop of blonde hair barely peeking out from beneath the blankets.
"Great." She sighed, worried that Jo would be in the kitchen. She had acted poorly toward the brunette this evening and she didn't think she could face her.
"What are you doing up?" she husked when she walked into the darkened kitchen to find Jo sitting at the breakfast table.
"Hot chocolate." Jo smiled tightly as she lifted her mug. "I just heated it up." She motioned with her head to the stove top where a small saucepan contained the steamy liquid. Mrs. Garrett had made them a fresh batch to accompany their dessert tonight.
Natalie nodded in understanding. She poured herself a cup and joined the brunette at the table. "I forgot how great it was to live under the same roof as Mrs. Garrett."
Jo chuckled. "Hot chocolate on tap."
"Yeah," the younger woman whispered in agreement.
They avoided each other's eyes as they sat in awkward silence, deep in thought.
"Go 'head," Jo finally said.
Natalie furrowed her eyebrows.
"Me and Robert?" Jo finally met Natalie's stare. "You're a writer. It's in your nature to be inquisitive."
"Alright," Natalie agreed. She took in a breath, still pensive. "How?"
Jo let out an uneasy sigh. "How would he abuse me?"
Natalie shrugged, not sure that that was really the extent of her question.
Jo nodded. "Slaps, punches, kicks...spankings," she stated the last part embarrassed. Her eyes avoided Nat's once again. "Among other things." She let out a self-deprecating laugh. If it was in a text book about abuse, she experienced it.
Natalie shook her head.
"What you thinking about?" Jo asked, knowing Natalie was holding back.
"Jo." She shook her head again, truly perplexed. "Don't take this the wrong way, but…"
The detective looked Natalie's way. "How could Jo Polniaczek let some guy beat on her?" she voiced what she knew Natalie was thinking. "Sorry to disillusion you Nat, but even the 'great Jo Polniaczek' is a weakling sometimes."
"Nah." Natalie shook her finger toward Jo a few times. "There's something…something else. He's got to have something on you, or..." she trailed off, uncertain. She shook her head, still baffled at the whole thing.
Jo sighed, her eyes not able to meet Natalie's stare anymore. "What if there was?" She fidgeted with her mug's handle, or as her Polish grandmother used to refer to it, the ear. "What if there's this horrible, dark secret that he has on me? And that's why I stuck around. Then what?"
"Then nothing," Natalie admitted.
Jo let out an incredulous chuckle. "That easy, huh?"
"Jo." Natalie reached out for Jo's hand. The older brunette was caught off guard at the action. Their eyes finally met once again.
"Yes, that easy. I'm a writer, true...but before all of that...we're friends. Sisters."
Jo nodded as tears gathered in her eyes.
"You're the person I've looked up to all my life, Jo. The person who hugged me after I was shaking so bad when Marshall got us into that accident. The person who stood by me when my dad passed away. The person who gave me advice when I lost my virginity."
Jo smiled shyly.
"I know the true you. Maybe there are parts of it that you've kept hidden from us, because you're still trying to figure those parts out for yourself, but nothing some woman beater says will change how I feel about you."
"Even if I tell you that I like women…sexually." She quickly added the last part, which caused Natalie to chuckle.
"I can read between the lines, Jo." She smiled at the brunette. "And yes..." she squeezed Jo's hand, "...even if."
"Thanks Nat," Jo whispered.
"Anytime." Natalie stood with a groan. Her back was killing her. "Let me take preggers some water. I'm surprised she didn't send out a search party," Natalie grumbled as she walked to the fridge.
Jo chuckled. "She's milking this pregnancy for all it's worth, huh?"
"Let's just say, it's going to be a long nine months." Natalie pushed the kitchen door open with her butt, Tootie's glass of ice water in one hand.
Jo furrowed her eyebrows. "I thought she was almost three months pregnant?"
"Apparently…" Natalie shook her head and rolled her eyes. "...there's also maternity leave."
Jo smiled at her friend.
"Night, Jo."
"Night, Nat…and thanks."
Natalie simply nodded before heading upstairs.
"Blair, you awake?" Jo lightly shook the blonde. She was back in the living room and tucked under the covers with the sleeping beauty.
"No," Blair replied grumpily.
Jo laughed. "You are awake, or you wouldn't've answered my question."
Blair let out an annoyed huff as she turned toward Jo. "How did the New York Police Department ever get along without you, Detective Polniaczek?" she teased.
"Hardy, har, har." Jo rolled her eyes. "My feet are cold." She pushed her feet toward Blair's own.
"Jooooooo!" the blonde squealed when 'frozen' toes touched her bare calves.
Jo laughed lightly at the reaction.
"It's not funny," Blair griped. "Besides, how's it my problem that your feet are cold?"
"It is funny." Jo lovingly tucked soft blonde locks behind Blair's ear. "And it's your problem because they're never cold when we sleep in the same bed," she stated softly.
Blair swallowed thickly. "Why...why is that?"
"Because you always want to cuddle."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Blair was skittish.
"Yeah you do, Blair. You always want to cuddle...and tonight, nothing. Why?"
"Jo, I...I don't think…"
"Why are you avoiding me Blair?"
"I'm not avoiding you. I'm tired. Can't a person be tired?" Blair turned away from Jo. "If your feet are cold, wear those tacky knee-high socks you always put on." She closed her eyes and willed her breathing to normalize.
Jo tilted her head at the odd reaction from the blonde. After a few more minutes of Blair ignoring her, she let out a tired sigh, turned face up in bed, and closed her own eyes to try to get some sleep. It had been a long day.
"You know I'm not cold, Blair. I just wanted to cuddle," Jo admitted into the silence of the night.
Blair smiled at the unusually vulnerable statement from the brunette. "Why didn't you just ask?" The blonde turned and slipped her body closer to Jo's. She knew this was dangerous territory, but she had it all under control.
"No, now forget it. I'll just go find my tacky socks." Jo crossed her arms.
"Don't be bratty." Blair motioned for the brunette to turn so she could embrace her from behind.
"I thought I told you I did the outside hugging," Jo argued, but did as she was told.
Blair squeezed her tighter. "Yeah, yeah. I can be the protector too, you know?" She placed a chaste kiss on the brunette's cheek.
"I know," Jo whispered, her eyes becoming heavy with sleep as Blair's fingernails slowly grazed her arm.
"Night, Jo."
"Night, princess," she mumbled sleepily.
Domestic Violence Quote: "One thing I notice, a person can change everything about themselves, but one thing they cannot change is their character. They can hide in the shadows, but sooner or later, the shadows will eventually fade away."
Charlena E. Jackson, In Love with Blindfolds On