A/N I'm back! I'm so happy that I'm writing again. I have a four day weekend so that'll make it a lot easier to write. In the next few chapters we'll see more and more of Macey's parents, and maybe even meet them soon! I wonder how her parents will respond to Jackie? I have decided to Jackie's POV this chapter, since people seemed to enjoy it! I will try my best to copy his voice as much as I can. Also, toward the end I'm going to add a segment that I came up with last night so the chapter is a bit longer. It wasn't apart of the original Jackie Chan Adventures episode, but it's funny and I thought you guys may enjoy it. It's more of a filler than anything.
"We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't light it
But we tried to fight it"-
Billy Joel, "We Didn't Start the Fire."
Chapter Four - The J Team (season 2, episode 3, completed)
Darkness was just beginning to sweep the skies as Jackie and I arrived at the hotel we'd booked in Tibet, China. The hotel was pretty nice, but it was kind of hard to enjoy the scenery when you were about to fight a demon. (AGAIN.) We'd ordered Jade to stay at Uncle's Rare Finds, with both Uncle and Jade watching the shop.
I'd packed the outfit I'd previously been wearing, too tired to pack a clean change of clothes. It would get dirty again if I was going to be fighting a demon with Jackie again anyway.
The hotel room was cramped but quaint, with two queen-sized beds nestled in the corners.
Grateful for a rest, I flopped down on the bed, yanking the pillows over my head. "Wake me when this is over," I mumbled into the blanket.
"Are you alright?" I heard Jackie's footsteps pause as he lingered near the bed.
"Just peachy." I sounded like Jade. "Sorry." I sat up, pulling the covers off my face. "I'm fine. I'm just really, really tired. Thanks for asking, though." I lie down on my back, staring over at him. "What about you?"
"Fine, I suppose…," he drifted off with a sigh, running his fingers through his mussy hair.
"You're not, are you?" This job was definitely demanding. No, more than demanding- exhausting.
"No. I mean, I am, but-" Jackie ducked his head, his dark hair shielding his face.
"But what?" I studied him intently, although his facial expression still remained unreadable.
"Uh, never mind." He lie down on the bed, lying on his back and raising his arm in the air. (A/N Does anyone else ever randomly do this when they lie down or is that just me?) "I'll tell you tomorrow. I'm pretty tired."
"Same," I mumbled, my head resting on the pillow.
In any case, we both needed a good rest.
*JCA*
JACKIE'S POV
Somehow, I just couldn't sleep. As tired as my body was, my mind would not rest, wheels spinning and visions of Shendu plaguing whatever sleep I could achieve.
I let out a huff of frustration and rolled over in bed, facing Macey. She slept soundly, face covered by the darkness of the room, and chest rising up and down with the steady motion of sleep.
I envied her ability to succumb to sleep so quickly, but was still glad she was resting well. At least, one of us was.
I hoped Uncle would come up with a sleeping spell. Better yet, a spell that would vanquish Shendu for good. But one could only dream.
Something was upsetting me, I just couldn't pin-point what. Of course it was Shendu, but something else as well. It irritated me even more that I couldn't figure out what else on earth could be bothering me at a time like this. I could sit and think myself into a bad mood.
I stared at Macey as she silently slept, covered by the sheets. Her strawberry-blonde hair fell over her eyes, and her thumb hovered near her mouth, giving her an almost youthful appearance. She mumbled something incoherent in her sleep, one hand dangling freely off the bed.
To clear my head, I stood, deciding to take a walk through the hotel halls. Maybe that would at least calm my racing mind. I was tired, and that was why I was over-thinking everything.
"I'll return soon," I announced in a low voice, although I knew she couldn't hear me.
I slipped out into the hallway, stuffing the hotel key in my pocket and turning to face the walls. I sidled past the rooms, thinking nothing of them, until the grating sound of snoring prodded at my ears.
Frowning with renewed irritation, I whipped around. One of the brown hotel room doors was cracked open, just enough so that I could peer into the room without intruding.
The familiar faces of the Dark Hand were scattered about the room, all appearing to be fast asleep.
Great. I groaned inwardly. Just by chance they landed themselves in the same hotel we'd decided to stay in. It seemed like we'd had nothing but bad luck lately. But, you know what they say, without bad luck, there wouldn't be any luck at all. But I think bad luck has made its point now.
The talismans could be right next to me, and-
I snapped to attention, pushing my tiredness aside. "I've got work to do," I murmured to myself before slipping into the Dark Hand's hotel room, subsequently slamming into something- or someone.
A feminine groan came from the floor.
"Oh! I'm so-" I stepped back, then, my gaze darkened upon seeing whom I'd bumped into. "Viper?!"
The leather-clad girl stood, an annoyed glint in her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" The question arose both accusational curious.
"I'd say the same for you, Chan." Viper stood, scowling, and hooked her hands on her hips. She seemed just as happy to see me as I did her. "Looking for the Talismans. What else?" Although her gaze remained distrustful, Viper extended her hand. Several sparkling grey Talismans rested on her palm.
"Hey, those are mine-" I began, but the childish retort was broken off as several shadows loomed nearby.
The entire J-Team stood in the doorway, Uncle, Jade and Paco included.
Anger and frustration tugged at my nerves. "Jade- how- how did you even?!"
"This kid just doesn't give up," Macey, who was leaning against the wall, remarked. "You kinda gotta respect it."
I turned on the J-Team. "You never should have come along!" I yelled, rubbing my eyes tiredly.
"Jackie…," Macey started to say something, but decided against it at the last moment. She appeared as tired as I felt.
An argument broke out among The J-Team, with Uncle bellowing about how Talismans are not the main goal.
Macey wasn't able to take it anymore. "Stop it!" she shrieked finally, glaring daggers.
All heads snapped toward her, startled by her sudden outburst, myself included.
The normally calm, level-headed girl stood with an exasperated expression, still glowering at the J-Team. "We are a team, you guys! We need to work together, not-" The argument had started back up again, angry voices droning out Macey's reprimand.
Macey lifted up her hands in surrender. "That's it, I'm out." She turned to go, then turned on her heels. "Hey- where's Jade and Paco?"
*JCA*
WITH SHENDU & THE DARK HAND
The Dark Hand's boot-clad footsteps vibrated against the walls of the ancient chamber. Shendu, currently in spirit form, led the Dark Hand deeper into the brick walls.
A single, small brown object was lodged into one of the bricks: it was the spell book that Shendu had swiped from Uncle's Rare Finds.
"Take it," Shendu commanded in a low voice, dark eyes fixated on the object. "It is good magic, I cannot touch it." Being evil had its downsides sometimes.
The Dark Hand obeyed, but before their fingers could even reach for the book, two small figures swept in and yanked the book from the wall.
The Dark Hand gasped in surprise, glares shifting to the perpetrators.
Jade and Paco had successfully removed the magic book. The two children slapped high-fives, triumphant expressions on their faces.
But their celebration was short-lived: Finn let out a howl of frustration, subsequently grabbing the spell book from them and frantically thumbing through the worn yellow pages, fumbling for a spell that would stop them.
A loud boom sounded through the walls, and the J-Team burst in, Tohru towering over them.
"Tohru, buddy!" Finn exclaimed happily, his face lighting up at the sight of his old friend.
"You're alive!" Ratso commented in amazement.
"Good to see you," Tohru greeted indifferently, throwing the Enforcers against the wall.
A man equally as buff and burly appeared near Tohru.
"Mad Monkey Kung Fu! Octopus Fists of Fury!" Fists collided as the insults were hurdled. "Shredding Bear Claws! Minnow wallops whale!"
Tohru paused mid-punch, fist in the air. "I'm sorry, what was the last part?" he inquired in a dangerously low voice.
Hak Foo wavered. "I said, 'minnow'-"
Tohru slammed his body against Hak Foo with all his might, pushing Hak Foo to the floor.
"What was that last part?" Hak Foo, dazed, clutched his aching head between his hands. "I wasn't going to use these-" he reached into his pocket, activating the Sheep Talisman- "but now you've made me mad!" Hak Foo's hopes were shattered as he evaporated into Astral Form, lingering thinly in the air. "Astral Projection?! Gah!" He glanced down at his unconscious body. Tohru sidled over to Hak Foo's empty body, planting his overly large self on the said man.
Hak Foo let out a yelp of pain as he was sucked back into his own skin.
MACEY'S POV
I stared in amazement at the rubble before us. "Wow," I breathed. We'd finally managed to gather all twelve Talismans again, Jackie and I equally relieved that they were back in the right hands. "I'm out." I lifted a hand in the air and collapsed dramatically to the ground, my eyes squeezed shut.
"Macey!" I could feel a worried Jackie kneel down beside me. "Are you alright?"
I shot up, gasping for air. "Merry Christmas!" I squeaked, my chest heaving with tightened breaths.
Jackie's face contorted with relief, and he broke out into a light-hearted laugh. "I think she'll be okay."
I stood, doing a weird little army salute. "Aye aye, cap'in!"
Hak Foo groaned from behind us, and the J-Team turned around.
Uncle had kicked Hak Foo over again. "You are blocking my light!" he growled, wagging a reprimanding finger at the thug, who slumped to the ground in defeat.
"Jackie, Shendu got away with the book," Jade said in a low, mournful voice.
My gut twisted with dread.
*JCA*
"Thank you for your help." Jackie, Jade, Uncle, the J-Team and I stood gathered in a circle in the Tibet airport. "There is still the job of stopping Shendu from opening the demon portals, but we will call each other again if the situation calls for it." Jackie sent a parental glare at Jade as he said the last part.
Jade pulled an innocent face, giggling sheepishly. "Heh heh…,"
The circle parted, and the rest of the J-Team (not including Jackie, Jade, Uncle, and me) went their separate ways.
I wiped sweat beads off my forehead. "Well," I sighed, cocking my hip to one side, "this calls for celebration, don't you think?"
"Heck yes!" Jade nodded her enthusiastic agreement.
"Jade, I'm tired." Jackie's exaggerated yawn confirmed his statement. "Can celebration wait until tomorrow?"
Jade and I looked at each other, then grinned. "Nah," we protested in unison.
"I couldn't sleep if I tried," I stated. "I'm too pumped."
"Me, too," Jade volunteered. "I think I'm on an adrenaline rush."
"You're on a something rush," Jackie grumbled, causing me to burst into a giggling fit that ended in a hacking cough. A few passerbys gave us weird looks, but then went about their business as usual.
I dropped my bag and slumped against the wall, criss-crossing my legs. "Well, we're gonna be stuck here awhile," I pointed out. "Might as well make the wait fun, right?"
"I hear to that." Jade grinned at me, sitting down, but still moved with energy.
Jackie rolled his eyes but gave in, collapsing theatrically between me and Jade.
We began to entertain ourselves with an intense game of hot hands.
"Ow!" I squealed as Jackie slapped the top of my hand. "Damn you, Jackie."
I made another move for his hands, but he jerked back automatically.
"You're gonna pay for that." I reached to smack his hands, and this time succeeded.
He let out a yelp of surprise and rubbed his red hands, giving me innocent puppy eyes.
"Ha!" Jade stood, pointing at Jackie accusingly. "Now who's the baby?"
"Ayee-ah!" Uncle shrieked from the sidelines, glaring over at us behind a book he was skimming through. "How is Uncle supposed to work with racket?!"
Jackie chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, Uncle. It won't happen again."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." I took the opportunity and slapped his hands.
"Ow!" Jackie repeated, glaring at me.
"Ayee-ah!" Uncle screeched again.
"Sorry," I hissed back, then looked at Jackie. "I think this game is annoying Uncle. How about Never Have I Ever?" Alcohol was usually required for Never Have I Ever, but since we only had water bottles, that would have to suffice.
"Uh-" Jackie started, a question mark in his voice.
"So, the other person says 'never have I ever' and if you've done what they say you take a drink, and if you haven't, you don't drink," I explained, shaking my icy water in his face. "It's kind of like Truth or Dare."
"Simple enough." Jackie shrugged.
"Right?" I uncapped the Dasani bottle, setting the white cap on the floor. "Here, you play too, Jade." I handed her a full water bottle, then to Jackie.
"You go first," Jade commanded, and I nodded.
"Okay." I bit my lip, thinking.
"She's trying to think of the things she hasn't done, this could take awhile," Jackie joked, and I acted like I was going to splash water on him, causing him to automatically reel back. He leaned on one arm on the floor, laughing.
"Okay. So, never have I ever done something illegal." So this one was obvious, but it was fun to see people admit stuff they didn't think they'd ever admit.
Jackie and I both raised our bottles to our lips and took a drink.
"Guess we can both say we've gotten arrested." We set our water bottles down.
Jade wrinkled her nose thoughtfully, then said, "Never have I ever, kissed a boy." I was the only person who had to take a drink.
"You kissed someone?" Jade's eyes widened. "Who?!"
"Just a boy I liked in middle school," I said nonchalantly, sloshing my straw around. "It wasn't a big deal."
"What was it like?" I'd forgotten that Jade was much younger, and probably never even made physical contact with a boy, and more than likely wouldn't for a long time. She was at the age where you still thought the opposite sex had cooties.
I sighed. "It wasn't...it wasn't as good as you think it is, okay? You'll find out when you're older."
Jade nodded, her gaze apprehensive.
I took a deep breath. "Never have I ever, had trouble sleeping after watching a horror movie." Out of Jackie and I, Jade was the only one who didn't take a drink.
"Wow." I laughed. "You're braver than I thought, Jade."
She only shrugged. "So? Horror movies are stupid," she said dismissively.
"Never have I ever, lied to my parents about where I was going," I said, and Jade and I both took a drink.
"We both know that's true for Jade." Jackie laughed. "Where'd you sneak out to, Macey?"
"Just some dumb party in high school," I muttered, my face flushed with embarrassment. "It wasn't very fun. I ended up going home anyway. Um, never have I ever….ran to save my life." All three of us took a drink. "That one was kinda obvious. Never have I ever been awake for two days straight." At this Jackie and I both drank.
"Damn, how?" I asked, and he set his drink on his lap.
"Magic," Jackie said, and I rolled my eyes. "I had too much caffeine. Er,...never have I ever…," His face narrowed with strained confusion as he racked his mind for a question.
I burst out laughing, collapsing next to him on my back and placing my hand on his shoulder to steady myself.
"What's so funny?" He stared at me in genuine puzzlement.
"Your face…," I laughed uncontrollably, chest shaking.
"Thanks." Jackie sounded more annoyed than insulted.
"No, I mean, your facial expression. You look like a confused puppy!" I erupted into giggles again, which sent Jade into a fit of laughter.
Being best friends with Jackie Chan, you never had a bad day.