Summary – You have to go back to go forward. Better press on.

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Before or After

Tommy

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"You have no idea where we are, do you?" I really don't think he does. Or if he does he's just messing with me and taking the long way. Well at least we're out of that god-awful forest.

Stopping and giving me a look, he points across the field we're on and to the oddly patched one down the way. "What an-"

"Stop right there!" Both of us turn and groan as two men come ridding up to us on heavily armored horses. I can't believe those poor animals can even walk in all that stupid metal. Why would anyone cover their horse like that?

Snorting, I glare at them. "You could say please." People around here are just so rude.

Ignoring me for the most part they circle around Jase. Oh so I'm the one in the dress and yet he's just Mr. Popular. Doesn't that figure. "Cheshire Cat you are to be taken to the jail under direct orders of the Duchess at once." What!? Oh no you don't!

Getting in-between them and Jase, who looks more annoyed then worried, I'm ready to kick them off those horses. "He's busy right now, try back later." Rearing their horses, they force me out of the way and throw a net over Jase. "Hey! You can't just steal my guide!" I say as I sit on the ground.

As one grabs the net and hauls Jase up and onto the back of his horse, the other turns to me. "Silence gir…oh um..boy?" Shut up, you're in enough trouble. You shall suffer my wrath!

Standing, I try to be as menacing as I can from six feet below him. "I'm going to hurt you a lot….and stop him, he can't take Jase!" Ridding off in the opposite direction, the guy with Jase seems done with this matter now that he has my cat boy.

Shaking his head, my guy keeps me from running after them. "He's been ordered to the jail, only the Duchess can say otherwise." Grr, I truly and utterly hate this place.

I give up. "Fine where's this Duchess?"

Turning his horse around, he points across the chessboard patterned field. "Across the field. Though unless you're already there you're not expected." I think I'll take my chances.

Gazing across the huge area, I sigh. I so don't want to walk anymore. And I swear to god if I get mauled by any chess pieces there is so going to be hell to pay! "Gee thanks for that little tip." Turning back to him, I see he's already headed off after his partner. Whatever, guess I don't have much choice now but to go see this Duchess.

-oooooooo-

Okay, I've been knocking on this door for five minutes now and my patients is definitely wearing thin. Trying the doorknob and finding it unlocked, I give up and just go on in. I seriously doubt this place gives a damn about breaking and entering laws. "Excuse me, um is anyone home?"

"Are you the new help? You should have been here two hours after yesterday and addressed yourself afterward." Coming down the long hall, which seems to be the only thing beyond the front door, Trini hurries to me. You had Jase arrested? Oh this should be good.

Closing the door, I rein in the urge to shake her really hard. "I'll remember that for next time, Trini."

Stopping a few feet away from me, she regards me with great displeasure and shock "You address royalty in such a manner? No jam for you." Aw, no jam? Really, well gee that just kills me. Yeah, I'm getting really bitter here.

"I don't want any jam, I want Jason out of jail." When she doesn't even look at me, I bite my tongue and bow. "You majesty."

Thankfully looking at me now, she still doesn't seem to have her mind where it needs to be though. "It's very good jam you know. Though you couldn't have any if you wanted it. We never have jam today. Always yesterday or the day after but never the day it is."

I have a headache. "That's special. Can you please let the Cheshire Cat out of jail now?" I need to get to the Red Queen here, Trini. And chances are once I do I'm gonna need some help in fighting her.

"Of course not. How silly you are, he has to be in jail before his trial begins which needs to be done before he commits the crime." Okay that seriously makes no sense. How can you put someone in jail if they haven't even done anything yet!? And I thought our judicial system was fucked up.

"He hasn't committed the crime yet?" Let's make sure I'm getting this straight here.

Seeming shocked, she shakes her head. "Of course not. What a silly thing to ask. Why would he be in jail if he'd already committed the crime?" You know what, if that was the case I think I should be in jail, because I'm about five seconds away from trying to call my Dragon Zord and going Evil Green Ranger on this world.

"I don't understand, why should he be in jail if he hasn't done anything yet!?"

Shaking her head and looking at me rather sadly, she pats me on the head. "You're a very confused child aren't you?" And you're not? Don't ever do that again by the way.

Not in the mood to argue, I nod. "I suppose so."

"Were you never punished for doing something wrong?" That's highly beside the point.

"Well yes, but I had already done something wrong and was punished after I'd done it, so that makes all the difference. But to punish someone for something they haven't even done yet is just wrong. I mean suppose they never even do the wrong thing they're being punished for?" I never liked being lectured or grounded, but if I was and hadn't even done anything yet to deserve it I would have been furious.

"Well that would be all the better now wouldn't it?" But he…er, well, that's not the point…yes okay so it would, but still. Alright that's it, when these people start making sense around here I know I've been here too long.

"Well…yes I guess so, but then it's wrong to punish them." I think I'm losing this argument.

"Oh dear." Taking a ribbon out of her hair, she begins winding it around her left index finger tightly. Should I even ask? I'm going to regret this, I just know it.

"Why exactly are you doing that?" She's going to cut off the circulation if she keeps it up.

Finishing up and tying the ribbon so it stays on, she regards me sadly. "I'm going to cut my finger." I see, you're going to cut your finger. Of course, why didn't I think of that.

"What?"

Pointing to her jeweled pin, which is clasped around the collar of her dress, she still seems upset. "On my pin, I'm going to cut my finger on my pin, when it pops open." Aww. Can we get back to the Jason issue now?

"If you know you're going to cut your finger and how you're going to cut it why don't you just avoid doing it then?" I know, I know I'm letting myself be sucked in here, but seriously now, if you know what's going to happen why not just avoid doing it?!

"How on Earth do you expect me to do that, when I've already cut it?" Unwrapping the ribbon now, she carefully ties it back in her hair. Anyone got any aspirin?

"But you haven't already cut it!" And I'm letting myself get upset about this because? Maybe because she's my friend and I don't want her to get hurt. Or maybe because I just feel like arguing now. Either way.

"Yes, I have, it's now bleeding. Which is something that happens to one's finger that's been cut." It is not bleeding you nut job.

Growling, I'm ready to just take the pin from her before she can hurt herself, assuming she actually will. "This is absolutely re-"

Dear lord! Covering my ears as she begins letting out ear-piercing screams, I'm now worried about her. Geez, you'd think someone had cut off her foot for screams like this! Maybe I should try and find a doctor, or get her to lye down or something! But then just as suddenly as they'd started, she falls quiet again. "There, much better." What!?

Uncovering my ears, which are still ringing, I regard her with disbelief. "Was that really necessary?"

Regarding me with mild surprise, she holds up her finger. "Of course, wouldn't you scream if you had cut your finger?" Yeah but not like that. And you didn't cut it damn it!

"But you didn't cut it yet!" Don't strangle her, just stay calm and in control, here.

"Aw but I shall." That said she begins straightening her pin, when as predicted it pops open and makes a small slice across the tip of her finger. "Op, see there we go." Ignoring the injury she fixes the pin and returns her attention to me.

Okay, I have to ask. "Why aren't you screaming this time? Doesn't that hurt?"

"What's the good in screaming again? I've already done that, and why should I scream before I've hurt myself. My you are strange child." Not half as strange as you, sister.

"Look, can you please just let my friend out of jail?"

"Of course not, he won't be caught until next week, so he can't be released now, now can he? Besides, it's almost time for tea." Mustn't kill her. Mustn't kill her. She is my friend and I love her and I will not kill her.

Taking a deep breath, I try to force a smile. "Where exactly is the jail?"

"Why you're in it of course." Showing me her key, which I hope will open any and all the doors here, she then places it back in her pocket. Of course. Why not, I mean seriously, what was I expecting. I give up. Fine you want to play like that, okay, I can do this.

Pointing down the seemingly never-ending hall, I don't even try to be dramatic. "Look the Jabberwock." I'm so not even trying anymore.

Still though, she turns and looks. "What where?" I don't care. I don't want to know where her brain is, or where anyone else's is for that matter. I just want to get Jase, find the Red Queen, and get the hell out of here.

"It hasn't arrived yet you have to keep watching." Taking the key from her pocket I head down the hall, gazing in each door I pass. Not too much to see. Each room has pretty much the same amount of nothing. Watch him be in the very last one."

-ooooooo-

Reaching the last door, I shove it open and shake my head as a very depressed looking Jason greets me. "How you doing?"

Raising his head, he shrugs. "Been better." Yeah, me too.

Motioning for him to get up, I don't think we have much time here. "Come on, we've got to go before Trini recalls she has a brain." When he doesn't move, I give him a stern look. "Jase come on." We don't have time for this; we have to get to the Red Queen. And am I obsessing about that or what.

Still sitting, head in hands, he looks at me miserably. "But I'm in jail." But you're in ja-oh for crying out loud! This is so far beyond being too much for me.

Crossing over to him, I quickly grab his arms and haul him to his feet. "Yeah an I'm in an insane asylum. Just shut up and lets go."

To be continued………

(1) The pin incident was from the movie 'Alice through the Looking Glass'.

(2) The Mad Hatter was thrown in jail in the book 'Alice through the Looking Glass'.

The Queen is coming up, YAY!

Oh and a survey is needed. Alright now I must have all the fabulous readers choices fairly soon for this because this info will be needed in the next part. So…

If you had your choice of one of the following things to happen which would you choose?

Tommy's skirt gets pulled up

Jase and Tommy have to kiss

Jason does a little song and dance

Tommy does a little song and dance