Alrighty. Here is chapter 8. It's coming along pretty good. Just FYI, chapter 10 will have an exciting surprise. I guess it won't be as much of a surprise now, but I think you'll all still be at least a little surprised... Anyway, the chapters will be getting longer from now on more or less. I hope that's cool with everyone. ^_~

Legal: I do not own the rights to Three's Company or its characters, thanks.

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Chapter 8: Janet's Twenty Minutes Off

Janet awoke the next morning to the smell of bacon. She smiled and stretched. She was feeling much happier than usual. She wanted to think it was because she had maybe dreamed up the last couple of months. Maybe Jack was the one in there cooking breakfast. Just maybe. But no, it couldn't be. She'd finally decided that this was a dream she wasn't going to wake from. She got up and put on her bathrobe. She went into the kitchen and was joyfully shocked to see Jack standing in front of the stove, flipping eggs. She gasped and ran over to him, flinging her arms around him. "Oh, Jack!"

He turned around with a raised eyebrow. Then he flung his arms around her. "Oh, Janet!" He imitated her.

She just laughed and hugged him some more. He pulled away. "Okay, tell me. What did I do?"

She shook her head. "Nothing. I'm just so glad you're here as you."

He scratched his head and then smiled. "Wow. Well, thanks, Janet."

He pulled her into another hug and held her close. She sighed contentedly. She couldn't think of how anything could get any better. But then Jack started nibbling at her ear. She started giggling. "Oh, Jack. Jack, stop." But she knew she didn't really mean it.

Then Jack was licking her face. She shut her eyes tight. "Jack, stop it! Jack!"

He moved away. She opened her eyes and was shocked to find herself lying in bed. Jack was sitting on the bed, holding a shirt in his hand. "Janet, shirt," he said, holding it up so she could see it better.

She sighed. Of course it was a dream. It was too good to be real. "Yes, Jack. That's a shirt," she said irritably.

He shook his head. "No. Shirt."

Janet just got out of bed and grabbed her bathrobe. "Jack, I understand that it's a shirt."

As she put her bathrobe on she heard him whining behind her. She turned around and found him trying to put the shirt on, but failing. She gasped and hurried over to him. "Oh, you mean you can't put the shirt on!"

He nodded and she helped him pull the shirt over his bare chest. "There you go. Next time say, 'Janet, I can't put the shirt on.' Okay?"

"Janet, I can't put the shirt on," he repeated robotically.

Janet patted his head. "Good Jack."

She left hers and Terri's room and realized that she could still smell the bacon. "So who's cooking?"

She went in the kitchen. Terri and Jerry were sitting at the table. Jerry was reading the newspaper and Terri was drinking orange juice. A woman with blonde hair up in a net and wearing an apron was making scrambled eggs. "Who is this?" Janet asked impolitely.

The woman turned around and Janet saw that she was pretty and looked quite young. Jerry looked at her. "Who is who?"

The woman grinned. "I am Helga," she said as she bowed her head slightly. "I am from Sweden."

Janet nodded. She spoke with a Swedish accent, but there was something about her voice that sounded familiar...

"Yes, I've hired Helga for the day to help out around the house," Jerry took over.

"Yeah, because Jerry does *everything* so he needs a break," Terri said sarcastically.

Janet nodded again and sat at the table, motioning for Jack to sit down, too. "So what's on the schedule for today?" Jerry asked, folding up the paper.

Janet shrugged. "I don't know. I was hoping you would tell me."

Jerry placed a hand on Janet's shoulder. "Janet--"

Jack made a low growling noise. Jerry removed his hand. "Janet, I think you've been working very hard trying to train Jack. Maybe you need a bit of a break yourself. Maybe you should go out today and spend some time rejuvinating. If we need you we'll just call."

Janet raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think you and Helga can handle Jack?"

"Hey!" Terri piped, putting her hands on her hips and elbowing Helga, who was coming around the table to put the food down. "I'll be here, too! Jerry talked about this with me a few days ago and I told my boss I'd be taking today off."

Janet stifled a laugh. "Well, Terri...Jack hasn't really warmed up to you yet."

"No, but he could," Terri appeared offended.

Janet sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I think you're right, Jerry. I'm starting to feel the stress in my bones."

So under an hour later, when Janet had showered, dressed and put on her coat, she bid goodbye to Jack. She knelt down to his level. "Jack, I'm going to go out for the day, but I'll be back in time for supper, I promise. I need you to be good for Jerry, Terri and Helga. Okay? Can you do that?"

Jack nodded hesitantly. Janet kissed his cheek and stood. "Well, everyone...good luck!"

She went out the door. Jack turned so that he was facing the door and just stared at it. Jerry looked at Helga and nodded. She suddenly grinned. "Well, I will be cleaning the rooms now. Arvouir!" She bowed her head and left for the bedrooms.

Jerry rubbed his forehead. *Arvouir* wasn't Swedish, but luckily Terri didn't seem to notice. She was staring at Jack intently. Jerry stepped up beside her. "Is something troubling you?"

She nodded slowly. "It's just...Jerry, I want Jack to like me, too. I feel like I'm not helping at all because Jack doesn't like me. I mean, I do understand why he warmed up to Janet so quickly. He's only known her for how long? And I get Larry, too. Jack and Larry have always been really good friends from what I understand. But...Jack warmed up to you after a week or so for the most part. Why doesn't he like me? He's known me much longer than he's known you."

Jerry sighed. "Terri, right now Jack has the mind and the instincts of an animal for the most part. People have always wondered why animals do one thing and not another, etcetera. When I was a little boy we had a dog and he only liked the men he met. He would attack the women. Maybe that's part of it. Larry and I are men and Janet was just an exception because she was so nurturing and Jack can remember her from when he wasn't a dog. Do you understand?"

Terri suddenly flung her arms around Jerry. "Yes, I do! Thank you, Jerry!"

Jerry mustered a smile and then turned away. "Well, I'm going to see how Helga's doing. I'll be leaving you alone with Jack. Be careful, okay?"

Terri nodded while Jerry went back into one of the bedrooms. Jack stayed in his spot, staring intensly at the door. After awhile Terri spoke. "Staring at it long enough won't make Janet come back in." She chuckled.

Jack turned his head and looked at her with angry, narrowed eyes. He growled and then turned his head back so that he was looking at the door.

Terri sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. *What is wrong with me? Okay. Just think, Terri. What did Larry and Janet do that you're not doing? Janet...Janet sings to him and gives him dog treats....and Larry is teaching him how to talk. What Janet isn't doing is elbowing him or making wise-cracking jokes. What Larry isn't doing is ruining Jack's life, or handing off his dates to him. They're not treating him how they did before! That's my problem. I'm still treating him like the old Jack.* She put her hands in her pockets and cleared her throat. "I'm sorry, Jack. Janet will come back soon. She just needs an alone day. Do you understand?"

Jack suddenly bowed his head and then got up and walked grudgingly over to the window. Terri rubbed her chin. *Okay. What would Janet do?*

She suddenly grinned and marched over to him. "Sheeeeeeeee'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes! She'll be comin' 'round the mountain when she comes! Yeeha! She'll be comin' 'round the mountain, she'll be comin' 'round the mountain, she'll be comin' round the--"

Her singing was cut off when Jack suddenly howled. Terri jumped back, putting her hands over her ears. It was loud and sounded awful! "Jack! Jack, stop it! Okay, I get it! I won't sing again!"

But Jack continued howling. Terri heard a cat meow outside. A car horn beeped. Dogs from elsewhere began howling and barking back. She thrust her hand over Jack's mouth to shut him up, but that was a very bad idea. He whirled on her. "Terri, me alone!" He barked so fiercly that she fell over backwards.

Jack turned his head back to the window and continued howling. Jerry finally ran out of the bedroom. "What on earth is going on in here?"

Terri stood up, rubbing her posterior. She shook her head. *I'm sure Jack meant to say 'Leave me alone'. He hates me.*

Suddenly they heard a loud banging on the door. Jack ran to the door, excitedly. But they heard Mr. Furley's voice on the other side of it. "Kids, open up! Open this door right now!"

Terri looked at Jerry and mouthed the words, "Mr. Furley," panic on her face. Jack looked both surprised and disappointed to hear Mr. Furley's voice instead of Janet's. Jerry grabbed him and dragged him over to the couch. "Jack, sit on the couch. Don't move and don't talk."

"Look natural!" He said to Terri as he sat on a chair and picked up a nearby book.

Terri leaned against the wall and twirled her hair. "Open this door!" Mr. Furley was still hollering.

Jerry sighed. "One of us has to open the door, Terrence."

"Oh, right." Terri scrambled to the door and flung it open, a wide, fake smile on her face. "Mr. Furley! *What* a surprise!" She laughed nervously. "Why don't you--"

He marched past her and into the apartment.

"--come right in," she finished, shutting the door.

"What was all that racket I heard coming from in here?" Mr. Furley said, putting his hands on his hips. "The tenants were complaining, the neighbors were complaining...even the deli two blocks down was complaining! What was it? Well?" He started tapping his foot.

Terri and Jerry looked at each other, both uncertain of what to say. Mr. Furley stopped tapping his foot. "Wait now, I know who is responsible." He nodded surely.

He walked over to Jack and sat down on the couch. Jerry and Terri exchanged panicked glances. "Jack!" Mr. Furley exclaimed. "What were those noises I heard?"

Jack just stared at him, his body rigid.

"Come on! Out with it!"

Jack continued to stare. Terri had her fingers crossed.

"Tell me right now, Jack Tripper!" Mr. Furley was getting impatient.

Jack stared back.

"Speak!" Mr. Furley yelled.

Jack barked, shocking Mr. Furley enough that he tumbled backwards off of the couch. Terri stifled a giggle. Mr. Furley bounced up, dusting himself off. He appeared thoughtful. Then he nodded slowly. "Something isn't right here," he said.

Jerry and Terri looked at each other and then back at Mr. Furley. Mr. Furley was nodding faster now. "That's right. Where's Janet?"

A wave of relief spread of Terri.

"Out," Jack said.

Jerry looked at him with alarm. He brought his finger across his throat to tell him to cut it out, but Jack didn't get it. "Alone," Jack added.

Mr. Furley nodded some more. "Ohhhh. Out alone, huh? Needed to get away from you wackos?" He pointed to Jerry and Jack, laughing at his own lame joke.

Jack narrowed his eyes and started growling. Mr. Furley squinted to get a better look at him. "Wait a minute! Now I know what's not right here! It's you!" He pointed an accusing finger at Jack. "What's really going on here?"

Terri couldn't think of a reply and it appeared neither could Jerry. Jack certainly didn't know what to say and was too preoccupied with growling at Jerry to care anyway. It was very lucky that just then Helga came out. She walked toward him and he backed up toward the door. "Now YOU listen here, you! You may own this building, but you have absolutely NO right sticking your nose into their personal lives! If Mr. Tripper is gay SO WHAT! Leave him alone! And stop making Ms. Alden and Ms. Wood miserable by always peeking into their lives like that! And you don't even KNOW Jerry so leave him alone, too!" She opened the door. "And one more thing! That outfit is *so* last year!" She pushed him out the door. "Goodbye, sir!" She slammed the door.

For a moment all was quiet. Then Terri ran over and hugged Helga. "Oh, thank you, Helga! No one has ever told Mr. Furley off that well!"

Jerry looked panicked however. "Yes, thank you, Helga," he said hurriedly. "You're dismissed. I think your work is done here."

Helga looked embarrassed. She grinned cheesily and bowed her head to Terri. "I wish you luck with Mr. Tripper. Bonjour!" She left the apartment.

Terri scratched her head. "Isn't 'bonjour' French for hello?"

Jerry nodded quickly. "Yes, yes it is. But it's also Swedish for goodbye."

Terri shrugged. "That's interesting."

Just then the door opened and Janet walked in. "Where is Helga going?" She asked.

"She's done," Jerry said cooly, regaining his composure.

"Oh."

Jack leaped over the couch and ran at Janet. "Down, Jack!" She exclaimed. "No tackling people, remember?"

He stopped abruptly in front of her and sat down, looking up at her expectantly. She smiled and bent down. "Hi, Jack."

He licked her face. Suddenly the door behind her flung open, knocking her into Jack and Jack backwards so that he was on his back and she was on top of him, their faces only inches apart. For a moment Janet couldn't breathe. When she had left the apartment she had come to grips with the fact that she did have a crush on Jack at least. Why else would she have liked it so much when he nibbled her ear in that dream she had? No, she couldn't deny it anymore. But she still got butterflies in that moment, being so close to him in such an intimate way.

But then she felt someone grab her around the waist and pick her up. It was Larry. He set her on her feet. "Sorry about that, Janet. You and Jack shouldn't have been making out right next to the door," he sniggered.

Janet turned bright red. "What are you doing here, Larry?"

"What are *you* doing here?" Terri said to Janet. "I thought you were going out for the day. You were only gone for fifteen, maybe twenty minutes."

Janet nodded. "Well, I was going to go down to the Regal Beagle for a drink or something when I realized I had forgotten my purse. So I came back to get it."

"Oh." Terri gave a nod.

Janet turned back to Larry. "Now what are *you* doing here?"

"I was going to take Jack to the Regal Beagle myself. But since you want to go maybe we could all just go." He grinned.

Terri grabbed her coat. "That's a great idea, Larry."

Janet shook her head. She took Terri's coat from her and put it back on the coat rack. "No, no it's not! Larry, Jack isn't fit for going out in public yet. Not until he can act better around people, talk more like a grown man, and walk upright. Okay? When he has all of that down we'll take him to the Regal Beagle. I promise."

Larry sighed and shrugged. "Alright then. But I'm gonna hold you to that promise."

"I'm sure you will," Janet said flatly.

Larry looked down at Jack, who was tugging on his shirt. "Yeah, buddy?"

"Pictures," Jack said, his eyes shining. "Pictures!"

Larry looked at Janet. "Pictures?"

"I think he means the slideshow, Larry."

Larry nodded. "Oh, right." He bent down so that he was eye-level with Jack. "Hey, Jack-O, I didn't bring that with me this time. But I did bring this." He pulled a small book out of his jacket pocket. He flipped through it really fast and they saw that it was full of colorful pictures. Jack "ooohed".

Soon Larry was sitting on the couch, Jack next to him, and teaching him how to form proper sentances. Jerry disappeared into the kitchen. Terri sat on the chair and flipped through a magazine. And Janet sat on the other side of Jack, pondering her strange feelings for him and smiling everytime he would turn to her and excitedly say a new word.

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Okay. Chapter 8. I hope everyone was okay with Janet taking the day (or the few minutes, as it turned out) off. I don't think she'll do that again. I just needed to give Terri some time with Jack, even if it didn't turn out so well.