OMG, you guys!!! I am so sorry it's taken me so long to update. I feel just awful! See, first there was Christmas break and then last week I was sick. But I've written the next chapter and here it is!

This one isn't as long as I had hoped it would be. I'm suffering some writer's block and I'm hoping that I'm heading in the direction I want to with the story...

But yeah. Here it is. :)

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

=-=

Chapter 13: More Questions

The next few days flew by and soon it was Friday--the day Janet had been dreading. Jack was fully prepared to go on his date with Jenny, or so it seemed. He was very confident, too. He walked around the apartment humming and Janet felt like she could just explode with envy, but she didn't. Not in front of Jack at any rate.

That night Janet and Chrissy waited in the living room while Jack and Jerry figured out what Jack was going to wear. Terri was working the late shift. Mr. Roper was on the chair reading the newspaper. Mrs. Roper had gone down to the Regal Beagle for a drink. And Larry would be over any minute.

"I'm so happy for Jack." Chrissy grinned.

Janet just nodded. *She* wasn't happy for Jack--not in the least! But she wasn't going to let her jealousy stop Jack from having a good time. Not yet, anyway.

The door opened. The girls stood and Jack came out. He was wearing a nice suit and tie--just like he had on the date with Janet. But Jerry had added one touch--just enough cologne that if you got near him and smelled it you would go weak at the knees. "It's my cologne," Jerry added when he had told them he'd put it on him.

"Oh, Jerry, it smells wonderful!" Chrissy exclaimed. "Jack, you look really handsome," she said to Jack.

Janet nodded. "You do, Jack. Jenny's really going to enjoy you tonight." She tried on a small smile.

Jack suddenly flung his arms around Janet. "Thanks, Janet!"

Janet nodded, blinking back tears. Jack let go of her just as the doorbell rang. For once Jerry got it. It was Larry. "Hey, Jack-O. Ready go go?"

Jack nodded. Jerry grabbed a bouquet of flowers off of the table the phone sat on. "Here, Jack."

Jack took the flowers, bid goodbye to everyone, and left with Larry.

Chrissy smiled. "Gosh, Janet. I hope Jack's date goes well."

"Me too," Janet agreed, though she really didn't mean it.

Jerry went into the kitchen, saying something about being in there if they needed him. Mr. Roper got up and mumbled something about going to bed. The girls changed into their nightgowns, put robes over them and sat on the couch, talking.

"Do you remember when we first met Jack?" Chrissy asked.

Janet smiled and nodded. "How could I forget? It's not everyday you walk into your bathroom and find a man sleeping in your bathtub! I know you did the 'walking-in', but I was just as surprised as you." She laughed.

Chrissy giggled. "Janet, we laughed so much more after Jack moved in. Did you know that?"

"Of course we did, Chrissy. Jack's gift was making us laugh."

Chrissy started to giggle again. "Yeah, he was always doing stupid things."

Janet shook her head, smiling. "I was the odd duck. He was always doing stupid things and you were always saying stupid things. I was the only smart one." She chuckled.

Chrissy patted her hand. "And you were the best at being smart. But even though Jack always did dumb things he could be a real sweatheart, too. Couldn't he?"

Janet nodded. "He certainly could. I lost count long ago of all the times he was there for me when no one else was."

"Remember when that creep thought I was a hooker? And he showed up at the apartment and Jack punched him!"

Janet laughed. "That was a little impulsive, but he was looking out for you."

Chrissy nodded. "Yeah."

Janet smiled. "Gosh, so many times Jack was looking out for me. I can't even pick one to share."

"How about the time that guy from your highschool attacked you?" Chrissy queered.

"Yes. I didn't let Jack help much with him, but I saw the concern on his face. You know what I remember very well? I had this dance instructor recently and I thought I was a really good dancer because he told me I could make it as a dancer and all of these horrible lies. Jack warned me that he was just trying to get 'close to me', if you know what I mean."

"Oh Janet!" Chrissy gasped, her eyes wide.

Janet sighed. "Of course, I didn't believe Jack. Why would I believe Jack? He's only looked out for my best interests since I met him!"

"Well, you just answered your own question, silly." Chrissy smiled.

Janet continued. "Anyway, I marched out of the apartment just fuming at Jack. When I got to my dance lesson I found out the truth--that Michael really was a seductive jerk. I told him off and stood in the corner next to the stereo. Jack was there. He had come after me. He came up behind me and I started jabbering and saying things like, 'I know what you're going to say, Jack. You were right, I was wrong'--that kind of stuff. But he said, 'I didn't come down here to say any of those things. All I came down here to say was'--and then he turned on the music--'may I have this dance?' And, oh, Chrissy. I cried. And he just held me. After all of the cheap guys I've dated...why couldn't I see it? Why haven't I ever noticed that Jack is the only guy I've ever known who has always been there...who has truly cared about *me* and not about getting something from me?"

And then something happened that Janet did not intend. A tear rolled slowly down her cheek. Chrissy's eyes grew wide as her friend fought back tears. She scooted closer. "Janet? Janet, what's wrong?"

Janet shook her head. "It's nothing, Chrissy."

But she had barely gotten the words out when she burst into tears and lost her cool completely. Chrissy immediately engulfed her in a hug. She didn't know if she should say something or what she should say. She had seen Janet cry before, but she felt inside of her that this was different.

After a few minutes Jerry came out. He saw the girls hugging, heard the muffled sobs and immediately came over to them. He sat on the arm of the couch beside Janet and looked at Chrissy. "What's wrong?"

Chrissy shrugged. "I think it's Jack."

Jerry nodded. "You would think that he died."

Janet pulled away from Chrissy and turned to look at Jerry with bloodshot eyes. "He did die, Jerry. At least, the Jack I used to know died." She burst into tears again.

Chrissy put her arm around Janet lovingly. "Jerry. Can't you say nicer things to Janet?" She scolded.

Jerry sighed and also put an arm around Janet. "Janet, I do have some good news that you might like to hear. I was going to wait until everyone was together to share it, but I think if anyone deserves to hear it first it's you. Do you remember that chemical that Terri mentioned the other day?"

Janet nodded. "She said there was no cure..."

Jerry shook his head. "She was wrong. There are experts taking a look at the chemical right now and they think that with enough time and the proper materials they can create an antidote."

Janet grasped what Jerry was saying and her eyes grew wide. "So they can--"

"--Bring Jack back to life," Jerry said, a twinkle in his eye.

Chrissy immediately jumped off of the couch and squealed. "Yay! Jack's coming back! Jack's coming back!"

She pulled up Janet, who joined in. Jerry just smiled and went on his way to the bathroom.

"Quiet down out there!" Mr. Roper hollered, bringing their voices down to a whisper.

Just then the front door opened and Mrs. Roper came in, a secretive smile on her face. As soon as she saw Janet, though, her smile faded and she rushed over with outstretched arms. "Oh, Janet. Janet, are you alright?"

She hugged her. Janet nodded. "Yes, I'm fine now, Mrs. Roper. Thank you."

Mrs. Roper assumed her smile again. "I have some news for you, girls."

They all sat down on the couch and Chrissy grinned. "Oh, I just love news!"

Mrs. Roper smiled. "I was at the Regal Beagle, as you know. While I was there Jack and Larry came in with two pretty girls. I stayed a little while longer to watch them. And I have good news! It looked to me like the girl Jack was with really likes him. Isn't that great?"

Janet swallowed as she fought off tears. Chrissy looked at her for confirmation. Janet forced a smile. "It's wonderful!" She exclaimed.

Chrissy seemed surprised at her exclaimation, but grinned herself and said, "Yay, Jack!"

Suddenly Jack's bedroom door opened and Mr. Roper came out. "Helen! Can't you keep these two kids quiet? You're disturbing my sleep."

"But Stanley, it's not even eight o' clock yet," Helen said with a furrowed brow.

"So? Just quiet down!" He went back inside and shut the door.

Mrs. Roper rolled her eyes and waved him off. They continued talking for another hour and a half before Mrs. Roper decided to go to sleep as well. Janet and Chrissy stayed on the couch. Chrissy was flipping through channels and yawning sub-consciously. Janet was thinking about Jack and Jenny and hoping that they would be back soon. Sure, it wasn't really that late at nine, but she was still worried.

After a while Chrissy turned off the television. "I wonder what Jerry's doing in the kitchen." She pondered, tapping her chin.

Janet's brow furrowed and Jack was pushed out of her mind. "That's a good question, Chrissy. Let's find out."

They got up and crept to the door. They got as close to it as they could without pushing it in. Jerry was clearly talking to someone.

"This is a serious matter and you *will* do it. I want no excuses. Peoples' lives are at stake here. No, if you find Elias you will hold him. He's bad news. Agent Garcia did some background research and pulled up a criminal file that was well-hidden. Elias was put in jail several years ago for unauthorized genetic experiments. If he's following Janet and Jack around he's bad news. If you find him you are to detain him until I can get down there for questioning. Hold on, Samantha is trying to contact me."

Silence.

"Yes, girls?"

"Jerry, we lost Elias. And we can't find Clover," said the girl named Samantha.

"It's always Clover," Jerry replied, frustration lining his voice.

"Well, it would have been me if I wasn't out tonight," said another female voice that sounded very, *very* familiar.

"Yes, how is that going?" Jerry asked.

"It's going very well. He's a very interesting person and a little bit weird, but I really like him. I think he's kind of cute."

"She really likes her mission," Samantha said.

"That's good. Keep up the good work, girls. I'm on the phone with someone very important."

"Bye, Jerry," the two girls said in unison.

Just when Jerry started talking again Chrissy sneezed and he stopped abruptly. Janet grabbed Chrissy's wrist, ran over to the couch, and sat down. Jerry opened the kitchen door and peeked out. "Everything alright out here?"

They both nodded. "Yes!" Chrissy piped.

He nodded as well and went back inside. Janet sighed, her brow furrowed in thought. "I just *know* I've heard that second voice before," she said.

"Of course you have! That was Jenny," Chrissy explained.

Janet gasped and grabbed Chrissy's shoulders. "Oh my God, Chrissy! You're right! Those three girls that Jerry keeps contacting who obviously work for him--Jenny is one of them! But the question is: are they good guys or bad guys?"

Chrissy laughed. "Oh, Janet. They're good guys of course!"

"Chrissy. Just because Jerry was a law enforcer back in the day doesn't mean that he's a good guy now."

Chrissy shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "I can tell with people and I just *know* that Jerry is a good guy," she said adamently.

Janet shrugged. "Okay, fine. But I'm still not sure we can trust him."

Before Chrissy could disagree again the front door opened and Larry stepped inside with Donna. "Hey, girls. I'd like you to meet Donna." He said, grinning.

Janet jumped up. "Larry! Where is Jack?"

Larry shrugged. "Well, Jenny just lives a couple of blocks over so I told Jack to walk her home. For experience." He winked.

Janet gasped. "You left him alone with Jenny?"

"Sure. She is his date, right? Come on, Janet. He's not going to try anything. He's the polite Jack that I never knew. And if you're worried about Jenny"--he laughed--"don't be! She's the sweetest kid I ever met."

"Kid?" Janet queered.

Larry nodded. "Sure. She's only twenty. I remember when I was that young..."

"It wasn't that long ago," Janet reminded him.

Janet wasn't really in the mood to meet Donna so she pushed she and Larry out the door and waited impatiently for Jack. "If he isn't home soon..." she kept saying.

Jerry sat next to Chrissy on the couch. "What's wrong with Janet?"

Chrissy sighed. "She doesn't trust Jenny. I think she's just *jealous*."

Janet stopped pacing and approached Chrissy, a hand on her hip. "Jealous? Chrissy Snow, I am *not* jealous of Jenny."

Jerry nodded. "You're right. She's jealous."

"I am not!" Janet squeaked.

Just then the front door opened and Jack came in. Janet ran over to him. "Oh, good! You're okay! What happened?"

Jack smiled. "I kissed her," he said proudly.

"What?" Janet asked.

"Tell us all about it, Jack!" Chrissy said excitedly.

Jack hurried over and sat on the chair. "I walked her to her home and when we got there I remembered that Larry said to kiss her goodnight so I did. And she went inside and I came home."

"Wait," Jerry spoke up, "you found your way here by yourself?"

Jack nodded, a wide grin on his face. Jerry grinned at Janet. "He's making marvelous progress."

"Oh, sure. How did the date go, Jack?"

"Really good! I messed up sometimes but she still likes me. She wants to take me to skate on ice Sunday night. Skate on ice! Can you imagine?" He shook his head as though it was absolutely unbelievable.

"Well, are you going to go?" Janet pressed.

He shrugged. "Yes. Unless I shouldn't." He looked at her expectantly.

Janet sighed. "Of course you should, Jack. I'm-I'm glad you're happy."

Jack ran over and hugged her. Although his arms were around her Janet just didn't get butterflies in her stomach. All she felt in there was cold--as though she had just swallowed an ice cube.

=-=

There we go. I've already started chapter 14 so hopefully I will be able to get that one up in the next couple of days. Thanks for being patient with me everyone!!