Here's chapter 18! Things are starting to get really exciting and I'm really enjoying writing this right now! Unfortunately the story is coming to a close. *tear* It will definitely be done before February is over, probably within this week or the next. Just a heads up. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

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

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Chapter 18: The Charity Ball

"Maybe he went to the mall. They're having a great sale a JCPenny's. I mean, I would have gotten sidetracked!" Terri suggested.

Mr. Roper: "He probably decided he was sick of being around all of you people and took off."

Larry: "I bet he's really some perverted guy who's always hanging out in bars and picking up chicks...wonder why I never got to know him better?"

Jack: "Can I have a biscuit?"

Chrissy: "Maybe he was kidnapped!"

The room got silent really quick. Everyone was looking, not at Chrissy, but at Janet. She was rubbing her forehead. Jack was still tugging on her sleeve, queering about having a biscuit, but Janet barely even noticed. "He *didn't* go to the mall and he's definitely not picking up chicks. He might have gotten tired of us...but I just can't see Jerry running out and not telling us anything."

"So he was kidnapped!" Chrissy gasped. "Oh, poor Jerry!"

Janet held up a her hand in a sort of "stop" signal. "Chrissy...I don't know. Who would kidnap Jerry? That doesn't make much sense either. I think..." she trailed off nervously.

Mrs. Roper rubbed her arm. "Now Janet, I think we might all be overreacting. Jerry is a sensible person. I'm sure he'll be back anytime now."

Janet shook her head. "I'm sure he won't," she said quietly.

"Well why not?" Terri wondered.

Janet sighed and explained about every conversation she had overheard Jerry have. She also told them her personal suspicions. When she was finished everyone's view had changed.

Terri: "I bet he's a terrorist!"

Mr. Roper: "You let a conman stay in this apartment!"

Larry: "I knew it! He *is* in the maffia!"

Mr. Furley: "I let a conman stay in this apartment!"

Chrissy: "He was kidnapped!"

They argued once more about the situation at hand. Then Jack finally shouted, "Jerry is smart! He can take himself for care! No...he can care for himself! Wait--"

"He can take care of himself?" Mrs. Roper supplied.

He nodded resolutely. "Yeah. And *I* want my biscuit!"

Janet laughed and took him into the kitchen, but their Jerry problem never left her mind. Not even when the first thing Jack did when they were alone was give her a sweet kiss on the lips.

Well, maybe *then* it left her mind.

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The question of Jerry's whereabouts didn't disappear over the next two days as they were preparing Jack for the ball. No matter what they were doing, if at least two of them were in a room together they were discussing it. The only person who refused to talk about it was Chrissy--she was the only one who still thought Jerry was a good guy.

Well, their two days soon turned into one day...then a few hours...then a few minutes. Only Janet and Jack were permitted at the ball. Everyone was waiting in the living area for Jack, who was finishing up by himself in his bedroom.

Janet was pacing anxiously. She had really tried to look her best. Anyone would say she was beautiful, but she still had her doubts. She wore a silky blue evening dress with matching shoes. It was a very Janet-ish dress, but it still brought out her features nicely. She wore a single pearl necklace around her neck.

*Click.*

The bedroom door opened. Everyone's eyes turned in that direction. Jack came out in a fine tuxedo and top hat, complete with a cane. Janet stifled a giggle, but at the same time she felt her legs turn to jelly. He was so handsome! He approached her and slipped a corsage on her wrist. "How do I look?" He asked, looking upward at the hat perched on his head.

Janet smiled. "Absolutely wonderful."

He smiled and extended his arm. She took it and they left. As soon as they got outside he kissed her on the cheek. "You are so beautiful!" He exclaimed. "I just had to tell you."

Janet laughed. She didn't feel at all nervous anymore. Jack would do fine. As he had said about Jerry: he could take for himself care!

The ball took place in one of California's nicer buildings...though there are many of them in L.A. Cars were everywhere when they arrived and the parking was valet. Janet couldn't remember teaching Jack anything about valet parking, but apparently someone had for he knew just what to do. Janet was so relieved that she was leaning on Jack for support as her legs had nearly given out!

But that was okay with her.

They entered the building and spoke to the man at the entrance of the small, but beautiful ballroom. As they proceded into the ballroom he announced them.

"Jack Tripper and Janet Wood of Santa Monica."

It seemed every person in the room stopped talking and looked up at them. Janet was a little shocked at first, but then thought it seemed to make sense that everyone present at the ball should have heard of Jack's situation.

Even when they walked onto the floor they could still hear the whispers.

"Would you look at him? Such a gentleman!"

"Is that the woman who trained him?"

"Do you suppose he can talk?"

"He's such a cutie! Oh, I would date him in a heartbeat!"

Neither Jack nor Janet had ever been to a ball before, so they weren't really sure what to do next. They just stood there until a man in garb similar to Jack's approached them. He was much older and fatter than Jack, though, and wore spectacles. Oh his arm was an old woman who wore a white dress and diamond earrings. "Jack Tripper!" The man exclaimed, extending his hand. "Why, I can't believe this is you! After what the judge and doctor told me I was absolutely cringing about meeting you tonight, yet look at you! If I wasn't told so I would never have guessed you were the untamed dog-man everyone was talking about!" He chuckled.

Jack chuckled himself as he shook the man's hand. "Are you the mayor, good sir?"

"I am," said the lady. "Mayor White." She extended her gloved hand.

Jack took it and kissed it. He smiled at the lady. "Very pleased to meet you, Mayor."

She smiled as well. "What a charming lad. You may call me Mina. Come, let's dance."

Jack gave Janet a smile as he left with Mayor Mina White. The mayor's husband looked at Janet. "Shall we?"

Janet really didn't want to, but she couldn't be rude, so she took his hand and they went onto the floor.

Mr. White didn't dance with her very long. Soon he and Janet met up with the mayor and Jack and switched off. Mr. White was with his wife and Janet was with Jack. She shivered at his hand on her waist. "Well, how did it go?"

Jack shrugged. "Fine. She's very nice. She asked me how I feel about cats and--"

"What did you say?" Janet asked, unaware that her grip on him had tightened in anxiety.

He shrugged again. "I just told her they're cute and furry."

Janet sighed with relief. Jack continued. "And she asked about you, too."

"What did-what did she want to know?"

"She just asked me what you were like. I told her that you are the most loving, caring, beautiful person I have ever known. She said Mr. White said that to her before they got married."

Janet's stomach did a flip-flop. Married? Would Jack ask her to marry him? Her mouth felt as though someone had poured sand into it. She just stared at Jack. If he did ask her such a thing, what would she say? Yes? No, because when he was given the cure he would forget that he had asked her. No? Well...it would be the right thing, but... She sighed. He hadn't even asked her and she was already stressing! She mentally told herself to calm down and turned her attention back to Jack. "Let's show these old stiffs how to really dance," she said with a mischevious wink.

She and Jack spent most of the night dancing. Whenever they whirled past someone they could hear their comments. Everyone they passed said something good about them. Janet was feeling absolutely giddy about how well the night was going. She looked back a couple of months ago and shuddered at how things had been then...Jack always attacking Terri...how he couldn't speak or walk upright... She never thought then that he would be dancing with her in a tuxedo, acting just as civilized as anyone else!

But then someone turned up. This someone caused Janet to worry again.

It was Dr. Elias.

They hadn't seen nor heard of him since that night in the Reagle Beagle when he cornered Janet. But he still had the nerve to come straight up to she and Jack, a wry grin on his face. Janet noticed that he was wearing an ugly brown suit once again and beemed with pride that Jack was dressed better than him.

"Ms. Wood. How pleasant to see you again."

Janet nodded stiffly. "Hello, Dr. Elias."

Jack's eyes narrowed and his gaze was shooting daggers at the doctor. Janet knew he would have been growling and probably have pounced already. Fortunately he was able to keep his cool. But his grip around her waist had tightened.

Elias turned to Jack. "Well, Jack...you'll do, I suppose," he said with the air of one looking at halfbreed dogs and deciding finally that one of them would just "have to suffice".

Janet glared at him. It was lucky then that everyone was called to dinner or Elias may have been hurt by both Jack *and* Janet.

They took their assigned seats. Jack and Janet were at a table with Mr. and Mrs. White, Judge Hammond, Elias and a couple of other people they didn't know.

The meal was delicious and went wonderfully. Jack made small talk with the people at their table and charmed them with his sense of humor and dazzling smile. Janet was very proud of him. At one point Elias left claiming that he needed to "use the facilities". Janet got an uneasy feeling and grabbed Jack's knee. He blushed slightly and reached under the table to grab her hand. "What's wrong?" He whispered, leaning toward her.

"Elias," she murmured.

He nodded. "It's okay, Janet."

"How cute," said one of the other people at the table, "the creator and the creation. What a marvelous couple you two make!"

"Agreed," said the mayor with a smile at Janet.

It was Janet's turn to blush.

Something quite interesting happened then. There was a loud cry followed by, "Why, there's a *cat* in here!"

Janet's blood froze. Jack stood up and she grabbed his hand. "What are you doing?!" She asked, trying not to sound worried.

He released himself from her grip and left the table. Everyone watched as he approached the cat (a tiny kitten, no less) and picked it up. He petted it and scratched it behind the ears. It purred and cuddled up against his hand. He came back to the table. "I know it's not good manners to have animals at the table, but would anyone like to pet it?"

It turned out that the mayor was a sucker for cats and was very pleased he had brought the kitten over. Everyone petted it and then Jack slipped it in his jacket pocket, where it curled up and went to sleep.

"Jack, you're such a darling person," Mrs. White said with a smile.

"Yes, you are," Janet said, her eyes glued to him.

"Mrs. White? May I be excused to the restrooms?" Jack asked.

Mrs. White smiled. "Of course, Jack."

So Jack left. He returned shortly, however, and had Elias with him. They took their seats. Jack leaned over to Janet. "He sent the cat in," he whispered, a bit angrily.

Janet was angry as well. So he was trying to ruin the whole evening! Why did he care so much if Jack did well or not anyway? Sure, Janet thought the guy was a lying creep, but could he really be so cold-hearted? *Probably,* she thought grimly.

She was brought out of her thoughts as the waiters returned with ice cream for each guest. Jack grinned. "Oh, I love ice cream," he said.

Mrs. White returned his smile. "As do I. That's why I wanted them to serve it." She winked.

Jack chortled and started to take a bite. He stopped, however, with his spoon halfway to his mouth. Janet turned to see what he was looking at. Elias was picking up his butterknife. Janet was a little curious as to why he would pick up a knife when they were eating ice cream, but her curiosity turned quickly into horror as Jack jumped up, galavanted across the table on all fours and leaped on Elias, knocking his chair over backwards and him with it. The knife went flying, but Jack wasn't through with Elias. He was growling and barking like a madman and was biting ferociously at Elias' arm.

"Help! Murduring mut...get him off of me!" Elias screamed.

"Security!" Mr. White bellowed.

The security guards came in and pried Jack off of Elias. "He was going to hurt Janet!" Jack was yelling as he fought the guards. He didn't look much like a gentleman anymore. His hat had fallen off in the scuffle and his hair was ruffled. His clothes were messy and wrinkled, his jacket slipping off of one of his shoulders. His eyes were bright with fury.

"I was not!" Elias retorted as Mr. White helped him up. "I was merely going to give my knife to the waiter because I had no need for it! The man is paranoid," he added to Mr. White, who nodded grievously.

"I am not annoyed!" Jack spewed, mixing up *paranoid* with *annoyed*. "He told me! He told me he was going to hurt Janet!"

Janet gasped and her eyes shot to Elias. He flashed her a triumphant smirk before returning to the befuddled look he had been wearing. "He's telling the truth!" Janet exclaimed. "It was Dr. Elias!" She pointed at Elias accusingly.

Mrs. White stepped up to Jack, her head downcast. Janet wondered if she would believe them. She looked up at Jack, straight into his clear blue eyes. She sighed and reached into his jacket pocket, removing the kitten, who was now shaking. Then she backed away and looked at the judge. "Judge Hammond, it was agreed that if Mr. Tripper made any murderous attempts or acted like an animal that he would be locked up in an insane asylum."

"It was," the judge agreed bitterly. He looked at Jack. "Mr. Tripper, you must be sent to an insane asylum on charge of being insane. I'm sorry."

"Take him away," Mrs. White said quietly.

"No! No, you can't! It wasn't his fault!" Janet rushed at the security guards.

Jack fought them as well, calling for Janet the whole time. They had to call in more guards to carry Jack off and a single guard stayed, holding Janet around the waist as she kicked and screamed. But it was no use.

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Janet returned home nearly an hour later. She had fought and fought with Mrs. White and Judge Hammond until her voice was hoarse. Finally Mr. White had placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "It's a battle you can't win my dear," and she had left, tears streaming down her face.

Apparently the story had gotten around the town already, for when Janet walked into the apartment she was showered with hugs and "Oh Janet!"s.

They were all trying to encourage her, saying that she could take it to court. Mrs. Roper was going to get her lawyer on the case, Larry was going to start a protest...they all sounded so hopeful, but Janet knew in her heart that Mr. White was right. It *was* a battle she couldn't win. She thanked them all for their kindness, secretly wishing Jerry was there to tell her something logical like he always did. She quickly said she wanted to go to bed and no one argued with her. When she got to her door however she turned around, a faint smile etched in her face. "By the way...which one of you taught Jack what to do when there's valet parking?"

"Oh, that was me," Mr. Furley said importantly, straightening up.

Janet smiled, tears glistening in her eyes. "Thank you--" her voice broke and she went into the girls' bedroom, shutting the door softly behind her.

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*sniff* That was hard to write--the end there when Janet and Jack are calling for each other as he's being taken away... Anyway, like I said above, the next chapter should be out this week. I hope you guys are enjoying the story!! :) Once again, thanks for all the reviews! Y'all are AWESOME!!! ^__^