A/N Starting off the new year right! With a new chapter! We're gonna get a lot of Macey character development in this chapter. I am also going to add her parents soon, and we'll learn more about her past. Don't worry, it isn't tragic- far from it actually!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Jackie Chan Adventures. Only Macey, I promise :')

"Self-reflection disturbs you

Twin perception unnerves you

Split in two

Beautiful brutality

Self-inflicted,

These cuts my company

Opposites sides of this coin

Try both sides

I'm yours you're mine"-

The Butterfly Effect, "Perception Twin."

Chapter Twenty-Three: Tiger and the Pussycat (episode 12, part 1)

My head began to bob, slowly tilting onto the desk. The wooden surface was cool and inviting to my clammy cheek. My pounding headache dwindled down to a dull ache, but I allowed myself to succumb to sleep-

"Macey!" I was jerked awake just as my eyes began to shut. Irritation immediately flowed through my veins.

Jackie was standing nearby, head in his hands.

I frowned. "What is it?" The past few nights had been excruciating, being plagued with nightmares about Jackie and the talismans, leading to an anxiety attack, then stemming an asthma attack. Last night I finally managed to get about five uninterrupted hours of sleep in, staying up the rest working on a new column. I was in no mood for being pushed around.

"I killed a bug!" He began to sob pitifully, shoulders convulsing violently.

I sighed. "That's….um, tragic for the bug," I said slowly, as if I were speaking to an over-sized five-year-old. "But it's okay."

"No it isn't!" Jackie looked up at me, a wave of fresh tears brimming at the surface. "I'm...a murderer!" The exclamation was both theatrical and dramatic.

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not gonna get sucked into this." I headed to the kitchen, fishing around the cabinets for coffee. Actually, I could settle for some alcohol right about then, but drinking myself into a blurry stupor wouldn't help matters. I had a column to finish, anyways. The journalism life wasn't as glamorous as I'd initially pegged it to be.

I finally managed to find some chai tea and started the kettle, leaning against the counter and rubbing my forehead between two index fingers.

Uncle emerged from the living room, an annoyed expression morphing onto his face. "What happened to Jackie? He is such a crybaby!"

"He's such a jerk," Jade scoffed as she followed suit.

"He is in the library, weeping all over all my research!" Exasperation riddled his voice.

"He's in the kitchen, raiding the fridge," I added apprehensively, eyeing Jackie, who was fumbling around in the fridge, muttering curses to himself.

"Jackie?" Jade and I inquired in unison, realization striking.

*JCA*

Uncle shut the book, sliding it onto the desk in front of him. "The Talisman broke," he sighed, adjusting his spectacles, "Jackie's ying, was separated from his yang."

Jade's gaze softened. "Whoa," she murmured. "Jackie-Lite, and Jackie-Dark."

There were now two Jackies- and I mean that literally. "So, this is a split personality thing," I pondered aloud, drumming my fingers on the desktop. "Dark Jackie is an evil maniac, and Light Jackie cries at the drop of a hat."

I was fully aware that Light Jackie was in the room currently, as he burst into exaggerated tears again.

"I am the Dark Side!" Jackie wailed as I patted him on the back awkwardly. "I murdered a bug!"

Footsteps scraping against the carpet were heard, and the Dark Jackie appeared in the doorway, a seemingly permanent scowl plastered on his face.

Jade scowled. "You're the side who ate my candy? EVIL! EVIL!"

"There, there," I comforted flatly as Light Jackie continued to moan in obvious distress.

Jade gasped suddenly, grabbing my shoulder. "Macey! Look!" She jerked her index finger toward the door.

Much to my dismay, the Dark Hand was huddled in a football player-like group outside the door.

I groaned. "We couldn't get a friggin' day, could we?"

"What are we gonna do?!" Panic flickered in Jade's eyes, and my motherly instincts took over once again.

"Don't worry," I murmured, drawing her near. "I'm sure, um, Jackies will be able to stop them as usual." However, with the state Light Jackie was in, it might not have been possible- he'd probably apologize to the Dark Hand, if anything.

"Laugh like circus clowns while they beg for mercy!" Dark Jackie droned, cackling.

My eyes widened as I looked up. "Whoa."

"Run!" Light Jackie squeaked, eyes flicking about.

"Guess we'll never know if two Jackies are better than-" Jade was interrupted by Light Jackie scooping her into his arms. "WHOA!"

Light Jackie's chest heaved up and down as he breathed heavily. "This is no place for children!" he declared frantically.

I sank down into the nearby red velvet chair, massaging my temples.

At this rate, nothing surprised me anymore.