A/N: Whee! Last chapter... last chapter... however, there's an epilogue so... hehe, not quite done. Anyway, I bet a bunch of you were thrown off by the unexpected Joan/Price moment... but I had to throw that in mainly b/c I've been dying to use that "Never Been Kissed" phase in one of my fics and thought that it would go perfect with this story. Plus, I actually do UC ship Joan/Price so... HA. Anyway, the "Storm" has passed, thus...
Chapter Twelve: Fear Not...
She needed to breathe... she needed to breathe and get away from the stunned looks they were giving her. Joan felt like a caged rat, caught doing the unthinkable, and fearing the impending punishment.
"Oh God..."
"Joan?" Helen Giradi regarded her daughter, startled at her presence. Behind her, Joan saw to her dismay, were Luke, Grace, Adam and Iris. All were equally surprised at the sight of Joan... especially more so upon realizing from where she had emerged from.
"Joan? Are you okay? What's going on?" Price's voice woke her reverie, causing her to face the reality of her situation.
"Wow, and here I thought that Joan at the Herald was an unlikely scenario." Grace piped up. There was a slight irritation in her voice, though she masked it behind a subtle, bemused front. First Adam starts hanging out with Cousin It... now Giradi with Price? Grace silently gagged at the thought... What the hell are they on?
Before Iris had turned to give Grace a disapproving glance for her comment, the petite art student was just as surprised by Joan's appearance as everyone else. Iris had a feeling that no matter how much thought she'd put to it, she could never fully understand Joan Giradi and her impeccably strange behavior.
Luke was more than ever concerned of the Arcadia's water supply. He could somewhat understand some of his sister's erratic behavior, even how she'd pick up on some unusual past-times... however, seeing his sister emerge from the hospital room of a man that he believed she once couldn't stand was just beyond comprehension.
"Jane..." Adam began, confusion being an understatement as to what he feeling at this moment. While he could begin to fathom seeing Joan with that unknown 'other guy', catching Joan within the same company of the likes of Price... that was another thing all together.
She could feel her eyes start to tear up, her own voice caught in her throat. Joan couldn't believe that this was happening, that one little suggestion had lead to this moment. The weight of the past few days, her confusion, and every questioning emotions suddenly seemed to awaken and surge all at once. Suddenly, Joan couldn't breathe... she needed to leave... now.
Joan pushed past her mother, past her friends, and headed towards the nearest way out; which was through the door of the hospital's stairwell. She spiraled down, faintly aware of her mother calling out her name. With an impending sob about to burst, Joan swallowed hard and threatened herself to gain control. The last thing she needed was an emotional breakdown... despite being in an appropriate place to have one.
As she emerged from the staircases and into the lobby area, she raced towards the main hospital doors when a familiar, and all too perfectly timed, voice caused her to halt in her steps.
"Where are you going?"
She turned towards the body from which the voice originated. Her eyes landed upon God, once more as the "cute" young man, whose own eyes were more than avid on the National Inquirer in His hands.
"Guess." Joan growled before taking steps towards the door.
While still casually reading the magazine, "You're going to catch a cold."
She jerked in her steps once more, cursing at the fact that she allowed herself to be stopped by him. With a scoff, "Right... thanks for the heads up, Nostradomus."
"It's common sense, Joan." He spoke, briefly glancing up at her before turning back towards the magazine. "You're stepping out into the pouring rain without an umbrella... without protection for the storm. You're opening yourself up to the elements unprepared... an illness is bound to happen. Actions have consequences... remember?"
"Well," She began, "I think I can brave the consequences... and the weather." With that final word, Joan headed on out the exit. As the doors slid open, the stormy winds whirled around Joan and nearly knocked her back. She tightened her jacket, determined to make it outside, if just to spite Him. Once outdoors and welcomed by the sounds of the frantic raindrops and tempered wind, she wearily glanced at her surroundings... and sighed as she walked right back in.
Stepping back inside, Joan found to her irritation that God had not budge one inch from where He was sitting. More than that, God was still reading that magazine. She stalked towards the lobby and sat on the chair opposite facing Him. Joan was about to make a quip comment when...
"According to this article, the New Dawn will begin at the start of the Sixth month of the year 2666." There was a small amount of amusement in His voice before He took a pause to add, "Guess that means The O.C. will have to wait..."
Not missing a beat, Joan sarcastically replied, "Funny... ha, would've pegged you for being a fan of Wonderfalls... or anything on CBS."
With His gaze still firmly on the Inquirer and a smirk on His "youthful face", "Hmm... What happened to 'braving the consequences'?"
"Okay, drop the nonchalant crap, will you? You're not helping." Joan glared as she reached over and yanked the magazine from His grasp. "Just indulge me with whatever words of wisdom that I could relatively get confused over, and end up ignoring until it came time to using it for the greater good."
Noting the weary edge in her voice, God asked with a raised brow, "Irritated much?"
Snipping back as she crossed her arms, "Twenty-questions much? What do you think?"
"I think you're angry. And one needn't be of divine power to know that."
"Okay... see, this is good. You say something and I become confused as per normal."
Now it was God's turn to show signs of irritation. With a sigh, "You would think that I'd get use to those that mock me... why are you angry, Joan?"
"Who says that I'm angry? I'm not angry!" She nearly bit His head off, which caused Him to give her a raised look. Upon noting the level of her voice, Joan winced and timidly replied, "Okay... fine. I'm angry. No, wait, I'm pissed off."
He stared evenly and expectantly at her. His look said that He was more than ready to patiently wait until she spoke the words that He had wanted to hear. Without speaking a single word, He sat in a composed, easy going manner while Joan began her rant.
"So I guess just to save us both time, I should just tell you why I'm angry... at you. Like that's a surprise, huh? When am I not mad at you? Why didn't you tell me, or at least give me some kind of warning, that they were going to be here? And when I mean they, I mean as in my mother, Luke, and the only two friends I've held onto since moving to this stupid town!"
"There was a forewarning, Joan." He calmly replied. "If you were at school today, you would have heard it."
"Ha!" She pointed accusingly at Him, "So, what? Is this your twisted way of punishing me for skipping school?"
A laugh escaped His lips, which further irritated her. "Joan, I'm not punishing you. If anything, you just punished yourself."
"For what? For doing your bidding? You wanted me to be there for Price... well, I was there for him! I did what you asked and now you say that I'm punishing myself because of it?"
"Huh, that's funny..." He glanced up thoughtfully, "I don't exactly recall asking you to lie to your parents, or even to your friends, about visiting Gavin Price... I don't recall asking you to have your brother lie for you, nor do I recall asking you to skip classes..."
Joan glared at him, "Well, I don't recall you stopping me."
"When I get involve in the actions of mankind, things tend to get messy... which is why I try not to intervene and why I invented this thing called 'free will'."
A frustrated groan escaped her lips, causing Joan to place her head in her hands. As she tried to collect her bearings, right behind her, the elevator doors began to open and allowing both Grace and Adam to emerge. The looks on their faces spoke of worry and hope as their eyes scanned the area. Joan was unaware of their presence, considering that her back was facing the elevators.
God looked up, seeing the pair, then tossed a knowing smile at Joan. He remained calm as He spoke, "What are you afraid of, Joan?"
Upon hearing Joan's name, Adam and Grace turned towards the voice. Adam immediately recognized the face of Joan's "friend", which didn't fair well with his gut. Grace, however, slightly recognized the form and began dragging Adam towards their friend. They silently watched, and listened, as Joan and "the other guy" began talking.
"What?" Joan glanced up, still unaware of her approaching friends.
His eyes holding her gaze, "What're you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything... I don't know what you're talking about." Adding with a scoff, "Not like that was a new development between us."
He gave a nod, "Right... and that look on your face, a moment ago, before you ran wasn't at all similar to the look on Bridgette's face upon seeing her sister's tail."
While Joan tossed Him a perplexed look, from behind, Grace silently smirked.
"Okay, who the hell is Bridgette?" She asked, feeling some kind of conspiracy building around her.
"Why did you run?" He asked in a calm, yet direct manner.
"I-- I.." Joan began, her hands fumbling with her scarf tails while her eyes fell to the floor. Knowing that she could not get away with hiding the truth, she pleaded the fifth, "I don't know..."
Joan sighed, realizing that this was a battle she couldn't win. Invading once more into her defenses, God stared down at her. Staring all too willingly, too silently, too patiently for her to crack. With much reluctance on her part, "I guess... I guess I was afraid..."
"Of what?"
Sighing, "You know what! I was afraid of losing them! You happy now?"
"Whom were you afraid of losing?"
"Questions, questions, questions! Don't you ever tire of them?" Joan glared, waiting for a response. However, seeing that she won't even receive a snarky reply, she continued wearily. "Adam and Grace. I'm afraid of losing Adam and Grace."
This was certainly news to the mentioned parties, whom were now listening avidly a few feet away. They glanced at each other, both questioning on whether or not the other knew and finding the same answer; No.
God smirked, slightly teasing, "Three letters, Joan."
She sighed, "Why? You want to know why? Okay, because I need them. Because they are the only two people in this town, next to my family, that I really care about! God! They make school certainly more bearable... I just need them in my life, alright?"
"What makes you think that spending time with Price will cause you to lose them?"
Joan couldn't help but laugh at His directness, "My, aren't we just getting straight to the point?" Glaring, "Because... Price is the enemy. I've basically betrayed some kind of student code of ethics that stress how we should not hang out with a feared administrator. I've done some outrageous things that should have banished me from their lives... things, which as you've pointed out, were of good intentions. But for some strange fortunate reason, Adam and Grace were still there for me! So the past few days, me hanging out with Price had felt like I was on borrowed time... before they find out and dismiss me forever! So now, my time seems to be up... Guess that's why I'm upset and pissed off...
"And I guess that I have no one to really blame but myself, huh? I really did ask for it because despite it all... I've come to enjoy spending time with him. It felt good to be needed... to just be friends with someone with no complications like romantic intentions or political differences... Oh God! I screwed up..."
He reached over to clasp her hands. Joan looked down, startled not so much by His touch, but by the mere fact that her hands were shaking. In fact, her whole composure seemed to be slowly falling apart. She gazed back up and into His eyes, which were staring at her with utter understanding and compassion.
He gave her hands a gentle squeeze, "Breathe, Joan... and fear not."
This caused an unintentional laugh to escape her lips, right before a small sob followed. He calmly watched her, "It's funny how some people treat relationships, bonds, like see-saws." Earning a questioning look from her, He continued. "Rocking back and forth through life together and seemingly balanced. However, once someone has to leave for whatever reason, temporary or permanent, the balance is broken... though easily replaceable once someone else comes along. The thing is, Joan; friendships, relationships, bonds between people aren't like that at all. People will come in and out of your life, but it's up to you to keep the ties and to make sure that they never get broken... especially by one's own fear."
Joan whimpered, seeing the truth in His words. He started speaking again, smiling at her, "Joan, despite all else... you've done good. Don't allow yourself to think otherwise. And don't allow yourself, or others, to make you feel ashamed of those ties. Friendships aren't meant to cause shame."
A bit fearful, she asked, "I'm not going to lose them, am I?"
With a raised, amused look, "What do you think?"
Joan smiled softly, wiping her eyes as she whispered, "Thank you."
He gave an acknowledged nod and began standing up. Joan watched Him, about to follow suit when He shook His head. "You stay..."
"Where are you going?" She stared up at Him, confused.
"The children's wing of the hospital." He replied with a soft shrug.
"Oh..." She beamed before looking back up at him with a worried expression. "Is Kris's brother--"
Reassuringly, "Kyle is going to be fine, Joan." Gazing down at her with quiet pride, "That was a nice thing you told Kris. How he should be a teacher..." He remarked, with a cryptic edge that Joan duly noted, before walking away towards the elevators.
She grinned softly, biting back a comment and instead opt to savor the possibility. Her head was still turned away from where her friends were still silently standing. Joan was unaware of God, looking like a normal teenage boy, strolling past Adam and Grace and tossing them an acknowledged smile and nod.
Joan decided to throw caution away and turned her head, about make the "Vegas doesn't stand a chance against you." comment when her eyes landed upon her friends. Her mouth gaped, surprised by their appearance. With hesitation, "Hey... uh, what are you guys doing here and... how much of that conversation did you overhear?"
Adam and Grace glanced at each other before turning their gaze back to Joan. Grace shrugged, her nonchalance apparent, "Bridgette is a character from this independent horror movie, Ginger Snaps. You probably never heard of it because the mass corporations hardly recognizes metaphorical story-telling as opposed for big budget, big bang, big fluff entertainment." She gave Joan a small smile, walking towards her friend and taking a seat next to her.
Joan gave a slight laugh, "I guess that means you downloaded it somewhere..."
Grace laughed softly, "Actually, I bought a copy off ebay..." Her expression darkened, though a half smile played on her lips, "But that just stays between you and me, got it Giradi?"
Adam himself started towards the two girls, sitting himself down in the exact same spot opposite of Joan. He gave a nod, "We heard enough, Jane."
"Really?" Joan felt that same tremor of panic, wondering if they had just joined in at the start of her conversation with God... or towards the end. Another thought had crossed her mind; did God know that they would be listening? She wouldn't have put that knowledge pass him, which probably explains that random Ginger Snaps comment. He probably added that in to amuse Grace.
An awkward silence fell upon the trio, each unsure of what to say. As a tight unit, they would have their moments, but hardly would they ever allow an uncomfortable silence to settle amongst all three of them. Usually that would occur between two of the three, which would cause the third party to break the awkward still with a random diatribe. However, this time all three individuals were unsure as to how to break the silence.
Adam was gingerly playing this his jacket zipper as a reluctant sigh escaped his lips. He met their gazes, a rueful smile on his face. "Y'know, we can't go back."
"Go back where?" Joan asked, just as curious by his statement as Grace was.
With a shrug, "Back to the way it was, I guess. Back when we first started, just three reluctant lab partners. And whether or not you two will admit it, we were 'hanging out'. But we can't go back to those times..." His gaze held onto Joan's as he continued, "That friend of yours?"
Joan knew that this line of question would come about sooner or later. "Adam," She started, "That guy is just-- he's just an old friend. There's nothing--"
Adam gave her a bemused smile, "Actually, Jane... I was going to say that... he's right."
She was surprised by his words, especially since she was already bracing herself for the worst. "What?"
"People will come and go into our lives, and we can't stop that..." He tossed a knowing glance at Grace, "Nor can we fight it."
Grace hung her head, slightly ashamed to admit the truth in Adam's words.
"So now what?" Joan asked, sadness and fear evident in her entire response.
Adam gave a simple nod and a shrug, "Nothing... just-- we just go on." He shifted in his seat, glanced down then turned back up to look upon his two best friends. "People will come into our lives..." He looked intently at his oldest friend, "But I could find never another Grace." Then he turned and gazed adoringly at, "Or another Jane."
Joan's eyes began to mist. She glanced over at Grace, as if sharing the same thought. Returning Adam's soft look of adoration, "We could never find another Adam Rove..."
With a small laugh, he replied, "I hope not."
As Adam and Joan shared a smile, Grace rolled her eyes. "Okay, we've established that changes happen and that we just have to deal. Fine. Now let's cut the soap opera crap before I start wanting to hunt down the jackass that thought up teenage angst as a form of entertainment."
"I think that might have been Aaron Spelling." Joan commented, which earned a weary scowl from Grace.
Giving Joan a healthy pat on the arm, "Glad that there's only one of you, Giradi. Really glad." With that, Grace jumped up from her seat and headed towards the elevator.
Joan smiled as she watched her friend walk away. She looked over at Adam, who was watching the two girls with quiet amusement. "I-- I think that was a compliment..."
"Unchallenged."
JoA~~JoA
Joan, Adam, and Grace exited from the elevator, back onto the fourth floor. Joan walked ahead, with Adam and Grace bringing up the rear. As they walked back towards Mr. Price's room, ahead of them they spied Luke and Iris outside and waiting anxiously in front of a closed door.
Iris was playing with the drawstring on her bag when she looked up and spotted Adam and his friends. She gave a slight smile at the young woman walking ahead, "Hey, Joan."
Joan tossed a kind smile towards Iris, with a nod, "Iris..."
"Hey," Iris reached out and placed a hand on Joan's arm, stopping her. With a sincere smile, "For what it's worth, I think that it's cool of you to ditch school just to spend time with Mr. Price. He had told us a bit about why you were here, right before Adam and Grace went looking for you. Hey, did'ja know that there was, like, this harsh rumor about how no one has paid him a visit? It's awesome that you got to be the first to kill it."
"Not from where I'm standing..." Grace softly quipped, which only Joan seemed to hear. Remembering what Adam had briefly informed her of Grace's promise to leave Iris alone, Joan tossed her friend a raised look. "What?" She stared back at Joan, then mildly replying, "Rome wasn't built in a day."
She shook her head at her friend before turning back towards Iris, who was slightly confused by the exchange. To Iris, "I'll take that as a compliment." She was unsure as to what Price might have told the others once she had fled the scene, but hearing the understanding in Iris's voice, she found herself hoping that his words had affected everyone... including her mom.
Luke was pacing back and forth, somewhat nervously. Upon hearing Iris acknowledge his sister's presence, he snapped his head towards her. "Joan? Hey..."
Joan joined her brother's side, as he anxiously stood by the door. Giving him a questioning glance, "So, how bad does the punishment look for me?"
Luke nodded an estimate, "I'd say five to eight..."
"Weeks?" Adam spoke, joining Iris's side.
Joan scoffed, "If I'm lucky."
"Adam, our mother is a wife of a law enforcement officer. And the offenses are as followed; perjury, truancy, and conspiracy against authority. " Luke added, "In other words, we're talking months."
"I had heard, somewhere, that a mother's wrath is worst than God's." Iris commented, which earned her a weary glance from Joan.
"I always thought that it was a woman's wrath, yo?" Adam asked, looking down at Iris before taking a reflective pause, "Or am I thinking of the whole 'hell hath no fury than a woman scorned'?"
With a chuckle, Grace quipped, "Very smart man that coined that phrase..."
Joan groaned, "Thanks, guys... this is really making me feel a lot better." She bit her lip, eyeing the door nervously. Finally, taking a deep breath, "Okay, wish me luck... I'm going in."
Grace gave a slight wave as Joan knocked and turned the door knob. "Nice knowing you, Giradi."
JoA~~JoA
She stuck her head in, casting the two adults in the room a shy and hesitant smile. "Hey... is it safe to come in?"
While Price was in the same position that she had left him, Helen had sat herself down on the chair next to his bed. From the young woman's point of view, they seemed to be having a casual conversation. Upon hearing Joan's voice, they turned their heads.
Joan braced herself for the worst, but was relieved, not to mention surprised, when her mother ushered her in with a calm "Come on in, Joan."
She walked towards them, slowly and unsure. "I-- I, uh, I guess I have some explaining to do."
Helen nodded, "Yes, you do, young lady. Your father and I expect to hear the whole honest story later tonight."
Joan inwardly flinched upon hearing the latest lectures from her parents' lips. She gave her mom an apologetic smile, "Would it help my case if I promise to never do whatever I did wrong again?"
Helen stood up, walking towards her daughter and placing a loving arm around her. Giving her a motherly squeeze and a look before softly replying, "What do you think?"
With another flinch, Joan gave a helpless glance at Price. She turned to her mother, "May I at least speak to Mr. Price before I head home to await my trial and sentencing?"
"We'll be waiting for you outside, Joan." Helen replied. She gave an acknowledged nod to Price before leaving. "It was nice talking with you, Gavin. I'm glad to see that you're going to be okay and that the surgery was a success."
"Thank you, Helen. So, I'll be expecting another visit soon?" He briefly smiled at Joan before adding slyly, "Especially if you turn out to be exactly like your daughter."
Helen laughed, "Isn't it usually the other way around?"
Joan shook her head, biting back a rueful laugh all her own. "You have no idea..."
As they watched Helen step outside and close the door behind her, Joan turned her gaze back to Price. She tilted her head, giving him a quiet smile. Her eyes then spied the home-made banner sized get-well card. With a gentle laugh, "Oh wow. Now that really puts my puny card to shame..."
With a knowing remark, "I wouldn't underestimate the value of your gift."
She leaned closer towards the banner, examining the signatures and various short letters. Joan especially smiled upon two certain notes; a miniature caricature of Price by Adam and an interesting declaration by Grace.
As if reading her mind, "I take it by the amused smile on your face that you're reading what Miss Polk had written to me?"
"Were you expecting as much?"
He replied with a shrug, "She was always one to try to get a rise out of me... whether or not I was incapacitated. I would've been insulted if she hadn't signed such remarks. Which, by the way, that little insight is going to stay between us..."
Joan laughed, "Not a problem."
A comfortable silence fell between them as Joan continued to glance from one signature to the next. Price, however pressed for time with Helen waiting for her daughter just outside his door, broke the silence. "Joan, I spoke to your mother on your behalf."
"You did?" She stood straight, then headed back to the chair next to his bed.
"I explained to her how you were just doing what I had asked of you. I told her that I had wanted you to skip school so that I wouldn't have to go through this surgical ordeal alone. And that she should be really proud to have raised such an incredible caring daughter... someone who I realized was sacrificing her time to spend it with me, despite the fact that I'm the last person on earth who deserves such an honor."
Joan stared at him, speechless. She didn't know whether to blush or cry or continue to stare in disbelief over his kind words.
"Your visits have meant a lot to me, Joan. And what had happened early? The very much rational part of myself would argue that I was just suffering from the effects of the anesthesia. The other part, however, wants to apologize immensely. If I had offended you in anyway, Joan, I am honestly sorry."
She smiled at him, "You pulled back first. That's all that should matter, Mr. Price. I mean, there are those weepy, lame Lifetime movies where teachers and students have done far worst... so don't apologize. You were just trying to teach me, but I wouldn't listen."
Unsure, "Then why does it seem like that incident will be hanging over our heads like a guillotine ready to strike?"
Joan glanced down, then softly replied, "Maybe because of who we once were to each other?... How, in the past, we didn't exactly see eye to eye and now..."
"We were just thrown together into each other's lives?"
With a small smirk, "In a way..." Joan held his gaze, "Look, I learned one of a few things today-- more than I should have been able to process, but-- things change. We can't go back, but just move on... I guess I just have to get used to you as much as you have to get used to me. At least now I know that you're not that bad of a guy... at least outside of school. And I'm sure that your impression of me has changed." She gave him a haughty grin, which caused him to laugh and shake his head at her.
"It certainly has, Joan." He smiled.
"Especially with you telling me about your son..." Joan cast him a bittersweet smile, "I really wish that I still could have done something... anything to bring him here."
He looked at her, touched by her regret. Putting her at ease, "I don't think you have to worry about that." Price spoke, "See, I had gotten a call last night, after you left..." He took an intentional pause, "From Jaime."
"Really? What did she say?"
"Well," He crossed his arms, mischief in his eyes as he explained, "First I have to ask your mother a question."
Confused, "Ask my mom what?"
"If there's anyway that your sentence could partially be carried out here, with me, and somewhat waive, say, next week Saturday? There's someone that I'd like you to meet..."
JoA~~JoA~~JoA
