Title: So Much For the Afterglow
Author: Courtney
Email: courtneystovall@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Mine . . . all mine!!! evil grin Oh, but I stole the title from a kickass song by Everclear.
Category: Jake/Hamilton
Summary: It's just before fall semester begins and Jake discovers she has bigger problems than hiding her gender.
Distribution: Required Reading, of course; and anywhere else, as long as you email me to let me know and keep these headers with the story.
Author's Notes: This was originally the start of an X-Files fic but I changed it around a bit to conform it to Jake and Hamilton because, frankly, I suck at writing Mulder and Scully. Oh well . . . sigh.
Thanks: To Jean, for beta reading this. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And to everyone else who keeps writing YA fic; you're going to end up saving my sanity if we never see the show again so thanks!
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Part 5
Jake and Hamilton ended up having breakfast at Friendly's. They were still talking over their cooling cups of coffee when Will and Scout both arrived.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Scout asked as they approached. His expression quickly turned to confusion, though, as he saw the looks on his friend's faces. They were definitely in the middle of a very serious conversation and they both looked more than a little upset.
"Everything okay?" Will asked as he, too, noticed their worried expressions.
"It will be," Hamilton assured them with an attempt at a smile.
Will nodded. "We'll leave you guys alone. We just came in to eat so . . ."
"Maybe we can catch up with you guys later . . . grab dinner or something on our last night of freedom? If you want, ya know . . ." Scout said.
"Yeah, that'd be nice," Jake said with a thankful nod.
"Okay, later then," Scout said and he and Will waved as they went to the other side of the diner to claim a corner booth.
"They know something's up," Jake commented as the other boys walked away.
"It's probably pretty obvious," he said as he reached across the table to brush a stray tear from her cheek. "You look a little pale . . . are you sure you ate enough? We can order something else."
"No, I'm just not that hungry," she said. "All of this . . . well, it's kind of made me lose my appetite, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know baby," he replied sadly. He gripped her hand in his and she smiled as a few more tears spilled down her cheeks. "Why don't we go see if Bella's up yet?" he suggested. He knew that, as much as Jake needed him, she also needed Bella. It helped her to have another girl to talk to.
"Okay," she replied and they got up to leave. Hamilton threw some money down on the table, then put his arm around Jake's shoulder to escort her out of the diner. Scout and Will watched from the corner, wondering what could possibly have their friends so upset.
* * * * *
Bella's dad was in the station going over the monthly books when the young couple arrived. "Hi Mr. Banks, is Bella home?" Hamilton asked politely after the older man had waved them inside.
"Sure kids, she's inside doing laundry I think. Go on in," he told them. They nodded their thanks and preceded into the back part of the station where Bella, her dad and her sister lived.
"Bella?" Jake called across the small kitchen. She and Hamilton stood in front of the ancient looking refrigerator, holding hands and waiting.
"Jake?" came a voice from the other end of the room. Then Bella appeared from the half opened laundry room door. "Oh, hey guys. I didn't hear you come in," she said with a small smile as she came out into the kitchen to join her friends.
"Your dad let us in," Hamilton explained, feeling suddenly like he should say something.
"It's cool," Bella nodded. She looked at Jake, then up to Hamilton, then back to Jake. "So . . ." she said slowly.
"Yes, I told him," Jake replied to her unasked question.
"I'm glad to hear that," Bella said. She looked to Hamilton again and asked, "You doing okay?"
"Me? I'm not the one I'm worried about," he stated as he put his arm over Jake's shoulder and pulled her closer.
Bella nodded once again and ushered them both into the living room. "Grace isn't home and dad's gonna be tied up with the books for hours so we can talk in here," she explained. She reached out and took Jake's free hand in hers. "You feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I haven't been sick or anything like that . . . I'm just . . ." she sighed and Hamilton could already see the tears glistening behind her lashes. He reached up to stroke her cheek and leaned in to plant a kiss to her temple.
"It's okay, baby," he whispered. Bella regarded the two solemnly, truly amazed at the genuine concern that Hamilton was showing. She had already known that he and Jake were in love, but the evidence of how deep their feelings went was still a shock. It was easy to see that he would do anything for Jake in a heartbeat; no questions asked. He loved her that much.
Jake took a deep, shaky breath and swallowed hard to push back her tears. Again, she spoke. "I'm just scared, that's all," she said softly. "I just never thought . . . well, this stuff always happens to other people . . . right? I never thought it would be me."
Bella nodded sympathetically. "I know sweetie . . . I know what you mean. And I can't even imagine how hard this must be. If there's anything at all I can do . . ."
"You made a doctor's appointment for next week, right?" Hamilton asked then.
"Yes, for Tuesday," she confirmed. "It's in Ludwig, about 50 miles east of here."
"So what time do we need to leave by?" he wanted to know.
"You're going, then?" she asked. He nodded. "Um, the appointment is at 3pm and it'll take at least an hour. I guess we should leave by 1:30, just to be safe. Will that be okay? I mean, can you get away from school or whatever?"
"It'll have to be," Hamilton said flatly. There was obviously going to be nothing and no one standing in his way of seeing Jake through this.
They both regarded Jake wearily. Despite all the sleep she'd gotten the night before, she looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen, her cheeks flushed and her lips were trembling. "Jake, you need to get some rest, sweetie," Bella said as she stroked her friend's hand gently.
Jake nodded dumbly, beyond really protesting by that point.
"Can she lie down here? Will your dad mind?" Hamilton asked.
"Of course not," Bella replied. "Come on, we'll go up to my room." She led the way and the three of them made their way to the small bedroom that Bella called her own. She'd already made the bed that morning, but she pulled back the covers and allowed Hamilton to help Jake crawl beneath them. He tucked her in and knelt beside the bed to hold her hand and stroke her hair until, after a few minutes, she fell asleep.
Bella got up from her seat across the room and motioned for Hamilton to join her in the hallway. He kissed Jake's forehead lightly and followed the other girl into the hall.
Once the door was closed softly behind them, Bella said, "This is absolutely unbelievable."
"Tell me about it," he replied miserably.
Bella reached down to grab his hand. "I'm so sorry about all this, Hamilton. Are you sure you're okay? I mean, this is definitely not the kind of news you were expecting, I'm sure."
"I'm fine," he said to her. "Well," he then amended, "not fine, obviously, but I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about Jake. She'd just . . . she's not herself at all."
"I'm sure it's normal," Bella assured him. "She's had a rough few days. I know she was really upset Friday and I wanted her to tell you about it then . . . but she was scared. I think she spent so much time worrying about it for that day and a half that she just wore herself out emotionally. She's totally drained now."
He nodded his agreement. "I just don't get it, though," he said. "Why would she be scared to tell me? How could it be better in any way for her to go through that alone . . . even for one second?"
"I guess she was afraid . . . well, afraid that you would be upset with her about it," Bella replied. "I mean, people react differently to this sort of news and--"
"I would never leave her! Never!" he insisted vehemently.
"Oh Hamilton, I never thought you would," she assured him. "But Jake couldn't help that she was scared. I'm sure her worst fears were playing out in her mind while she worked up the courage to tell you the truth. She just didn't know what to think anymore."
He thought about this, then nodded slowly. "I suppose I see your point."
She smiled softly and squeezed his hand, saying, "I'm just glad that she didn't have any of that to worry about after all. You're being so amazing with her. It's really wonderful how supportive you are with her, Hamilton."
He shook his head. "No, I'm not doing anything wonderful, Bella. It's my responsibility, too. Besides, I'm in love with this girl. I could never even think about walking away."
"She's a lucky girl," Bella said softly and reached up to kiss his cheek. "Look, I have some more chores to get to so I'm gonna head back into the kitchen. You're welcomed to stay in here with Jake, or you can come with me if you feel like talking," she offered.
"Actually, I think I'll sit with her a while longer," he said. "I'm still kind of worried about how pale she looks. I just want to make sure that she's alright first. Then I might come in and talk."
Bella nodded and watched as he quietly slipped back into her bedroom. She turned to go get back to her laundry, knowing that she'd be finishing it up alone. Hamilton wasn't going to leave Jake's side for a moment . . . and Bella was glad of that.
* * * * *
Author: Courtney
Email: courtneystovall@yahoo.com
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Mine . . . all mine!!! evil grin Oh, but I stole the title from a kickass song by Everclear.
Category: Jake/Hamilton
Summary: It's just before fall semester begins and Jake discovers she has bigger problems than hiding her gender.
Distribution: Required Reading, of course; and anywhere else, as long as you email me to let me know and keep these headers with the story.
Author's Notes: This was originally the start of an X-Files fic but I changed it around a bit to conform it to Jake and Hamilton because, frankly, I suck at writing Mulder and Scully. Oh well . . . sigh.
Thanks: To Jean, for beta reading this. Thank you, thank you, thank you! And to everyone else who keeps writing YA fic; you're going to end up saving my sanity if we never see the show again so thanks!
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Part 5
Jake and Hamilton ended up having breakfast at Friendly's. They were still talking over their cooling cups of coffee when Will and Scout both arrived.
"Hey guys, what's up?" Scout asked as they approached. His expression quickly turned to confusion, though, as he saw the looks on his friend's faces. They were definitely in the middle of a very serious conversation and they both looked more than a little upset.
"Everything okay?" Will asked as he, too, noticed their worried expressions.
"It will be," Hamilton assured them with an attempt at a smile.
Will nodded. "We'll leave you guys alone. We just came in to eat so . . ."
"Maybe we can catch up with you guys later . . . grab dinner or something on our last night of freedom? If you want, ya know . . ." Scout said.
"Yeah, that'd be nice," Jake said with a thankful nod.
"Okay, later then," Scout said and he and Will waved as they went to the other side of the diner to claim a corner booth.
"They know something's up," Jake commented as the other boys walked away.
"It's probably pretty obvious," he said as he reached across the table to brush a stray tear from her cheek. "You look a little pale . . . are you sure you ate enough? We can order something else."
"No, I'm just not that hungry," she said. "All of this . . . well, it's kind of made me lose my appetite, ya know?"
"Yeah, I know baby," he replied sadly. He gripped her hand in his and she smiled as a few more tears spilled down her cheeks. "Why don't we go see if Bella's up yet?" he suggested. He knew that, as much as Jake needed him, she also needed Bella. It helped her to have another girl to talk to.
"Okay," she replied and they got up to leave. Hamilton threw some money down on the table, then put his arm around Jake's shoulder to escort her out of the diner. Scout and Will watched from the corner, wondering what could possibly have their friends so upset.
* * * * *
Bella's dad was in the station going over the monthly books when the young couple arrived. "Hi Mr. Banks, is Bella home?" Hamilton asked politely after the older man had waved them inside.
"Sure kids, she's inside doing laundry I think. Go on in," he told them. They nodded their thanks and preceded into the back part of the station where Bella, her dad and her sister lived.
"Bella?" Jake called across the small kitchen. She and Hamilton stood in front of the ancient looking refrigerator, holding hands and waiting.
"Jake?" came a voice from the other end of the room. Then Bella appeared from the half opened laundry room door. "Oh, hey guys. I didn't hear you come in," she said with a small smile as she came out into the kitchen to join her friends.
"Your dad let us in," Hamilton explained, feeling suddenly like he should say something.
"It's cool," Bella nodded. She looked at Jake, then up to Hamilton, then back to Jake. "So . . ." she said slowly.
"Yes, I told him," Jake replied to her unasked question.
"I'm glad to hear that," Bella said. She looked to Hamilton again and asked, "You doing okay?"
"Me? I'm not the one I'm worried about," he stated as he put his arm over Jake's shoulder and pulled her closer.
Bella nodded once again and ushered them both into the living room. "Grace isn't home and dad's gonna be tied up with the books for hours so we can talk in here," she explained. She reached out and took Jake's free hand in hers. "You feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I haven't been sick or anything like that . . . I'm just . . ." she sighed and Hamilton could already see the tears glistening behind her lashes. He reached up to stroke her cheek and leaned in to plant a kiss to her temple.
"It's okay, baby," he whispered. Bella regarded the two solemnly, truly amazed at the genuine concern that Hamilton was showing. She had already known that he and Jake were in love, but the evidence of how deep their feelings went was still a shock. It was easy to see that he would do anything for Jake in a heartbeat; no questions asked. He loved her that much.
Jake took a deep, shaky breath and swallowed hard to push back her tears. Again, she spoke. "I'm just scared, that's all," she said softly. "I just never thought . . . well, this stuff always happens to other people . . . right? I never thought it would be me."
Bella nodded sympathetically. "I know sweetie . . . I know what you mean. And I can't even imagine how hard this must be. If there's anything at all I can do . . ."
"You made a doctor's appointment for next week, right?" Hamilton asked then.
"Yes, for Tuesday," she confirmed. "It's in Ludwig, about 50 miles east of here."
"So what time do we need to leave by?" he wanted to know.
"You're going, then?" she asked. He nodded. "Um, the appointment is at 3pm and it'll take at least an hour. I guess we should leave by 1:30, just to be safe. Will that be okay? I mean, can you get away from school or whatever?"
"It'll have to be," Hamilton said flatly. There was obviously going to be nothing and no one standing in his way of seeing Jake through this.
They both regarded Jake wearily. Despite all the sleep she'd gotten the night before, she looked exhausted. Her eyes were swollen, her cheeks flushed and her lips were trembling. "Jake, you need to get some rest, sweetie," Bella said as she stroked her friend's hand gently.
Jake nodded dumbly, beyond really protesting by that point.
"Can she lie down here? Will your dad mind?" Hamilton asked.
"Of course not," Bella replied. "Come on, we'll go up to my room." She led the way and the three of them made their way to the small bedroom that Bella called her own. She'd already made the bed that morning, but she pulled back the covers and allowed Hamilton to help Jake crawl beneath them. He tucked her in and knelt beside the bed to hold her hand and stroke her hair until, after a few minutes, she fell asleep.
Bella got up from her seat across the room and motioned for Hamilton to join her in the hallway. He kissed Jake's forehead lightly and followed the other girl into the hall.
Once the door was closed softly behind them, Bella said, "This is absolutely unbelievable."
"Tell me about it," he replied miserably.
Bella reached down to grab his hand. "I'm so sorry about all this, Hamilton. Are you sure you're okay? I mean, this is definitely not the kind of news you were expecting, I'm sure."
"I'm fine," he said to her. "Well," he then amended, "not fine, obviously, but I'm not worried about myself. I'm worried about Jake. She'd just . . . she's not herself at all."
"I'm sure it's normal," Bella assured him. "She's had a rough few days. I know she was really upset Friday and I wanted her to tell you about it then . . . but she was scared. I think she spent so much time worrying about it for that day and a half that she just wore herself out emotionally. She's totally drained now."
He nodded his agreement. "I just don't get it, though," he said. "Why would she be scared to tell me? How could it be better in any way for her to go through that alone . . . even for one second?"
"I guess she was afraid . . . well, afraid that you would be upset with her about it," Bella replied. "I mean, people react differently to this sort of news and--"
"I would never leave her! Never!" he insisted vehemently.
"Oh Hamilton, I never thought you would," she assured him. "But Jake couldn't help that she was scared. I'm sure her worst fears were playing out in her mind while she worked up the courage to tell you the truth. She just didn't know what to think anymore."
He thought about this, then nodded slowly. "I suppose I see your point."
She smiled softly and squeezed his hand, saying, "I'm just glad that she didn't have any of that to worry about after all. You're being so amazing with her. It's really wonderful how supportive you are with her, Hamilton."
He shook his head. "No, I'm not doing anything wonderful, Bella. It's my responsibility, too. Besides, I'm in love with this girl. I could never even think about walking away."
"She's a lucky girl," Bella said softly and reached up to kiss his cheek. "Look, I have some more chores to get to so I'm gonna head back into the kitchen. You're welcomed to stay in here with Jake, or you can come with me if you feel like talking," she offered.
"Actually, I think I'll sit with her a while longer," he said. "I'm still kind of worried about how pale she looks. I just want to make sure that she's alright first. Then I might come in and talk."
Bella nodded and watched as he quietly slipped back into her bedroom. She turned to go get back to her laundry, knowing that she'd be finishing it up alone. Hamilton wasn't going to leave Jake's side for a moment . . . and Bella was glad of that.
* * * * *