Disclaimer: *takes a break from writing* I just love Jack. He's mine, back off. If any of you try to steal him away from me, I warn you, he's been trained to attack and kill. So hands off the muse!

A/N: Btb, "hands off the muse" refers to "hands off Jack the character" as well, both "belong" to me. Jack is my muse, and the character is based on him. That done with, back to the fic, oh, and be sure you review.

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Petrified Tears
chapter 64



There was a clearing of the throat, then a soft, hesitant, "Hello?" as if the speaker was shocked that someone would be calling them.

"Hi."

Another pause, then a drawn out "Hi…" that was more like "What the hell do you want…"

Pan laughed.

"Hey Jack, it's me, Pan."

"I know who you are, Pan. I'm just wondering why you're calling."

The voice on the other end was whispered, and almost hostile, but having grown up around Vegeta, and having played therapist for the voice on the other end, she wasn't phased.

"What's wrong, Jack?"

A grunt. Then, "Nothing…just my fucking mother won't let up on me about not going on a stupid mission."

Pan sighed and shook her head. "She ever going to let up on you for denouncing yourself from the church?"

"I told her she probably should if she wants me to keep coming over for dinner once a week."

She nodded, knowing he couldn't see her. The silence stretched out, Pan picking at a thread on her pants, Jack doing nothing by the sound of it.

After a minute, he cleared his throat, and attempted conversation once more.

"So how are things with you?"

"Huh?"

"You know…your family? Your friends? That one guy who you never told me the name of but that you're so in love with?"

"Oh…yeah…um, things are good," she offered quickly.

There was another clearing of the throat, and then, "Really. So that's why you were so terrified they wouldn't accept you, and that's why you're so quiet now."

"Damn you," she murmured, picking at the thread again, letting her hair fall around her face.

"What's going on, Pan."

She sighed. "Look, I'm at work and don't have time to go into all of it. I'll call you sometime this weekend when I'm not in danger of getting my ass chewed out, ok?"

Knowing Jack, he was rolling his eyes. "Then why did you call?"

"Jack…"

"Leave out all the details, I don't care. Just tell me, are they accepting you?"

Pan sighed. "Damn you."

"Pan…"

She sighed again. "Alright, short and simple, my dad doesn't know what to do with me, my grandmother couldn't be happier, my mom's just happy I found myself; and that guy I was so enamored with? Well, his mother's trying to talk him into marrying me, and as for him…"

The silence dragged out for another moment. Jack cleared his throat again.

"Jack, are you sick?" she asked quietly, not so sure she wanted to continue. She was used to him clearing his throat, but not this often.

"No. I just spent the last 4 hours yelling at my mother though before I stormed back here…well? What about Mr. Wonderful?"

Pan put the phone card back into her wallet, standing up and sliding her wallet back into her back pocket.

"Jack, I've really got to get back to work…"

"Funny; gone just over a week and already you have a steady job."

Pan rolled her eyes to the ceiling and blew her bangs out of her face. "Jack, I'm serious."

There was another pause, and the sound of shuffling cards, the familiar and steady rhythm of the bridge calming her but making her antsy at the same time. "Fine. Just tell me how he's taking it, Pan, and then you can go. If not, I'll be forced to fly over there and drag it out of you."

Pan sighed, dancing anxiously about the payphone. "Jack, I need to—"

"Answer the question."

"Ergh!" She stared up at the ceiling and crossed her eyes. "He kissed me, but it didn't mean anything and now I've gotta go, I'll call you back later!"

With that, she hung up, gathered her files and papers, and scrambled from the room, instinct telling her to get back to her desk, as fast as possible.

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A/N: Are you reviewing? I think you are, your mouse is instinctively going to the "review this chapter" button down below, isn't it? It's not? WELL IT SHOULD BE??!?!?!?!?

-Panabelle ;P
Shrine of the Saiyan Squirt