Holds Me Together
Rating: T-M Just in case
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
A/N: I love you people! You make my day! Sorry for the proofreading as always. FYI: My responses to reviews are going to be at the bottom of each chapter instead of the top, just so that everyone doesn't have to scroll to get to the story. Don't' feel unloved, it's not like I'm going to ignore the reviews! I swear! Read on with yo bad self, now!

Chapter 9 – When Are You Coming Home?

"We should get back to one of the dorms," Luke suggested. It was nearly 3 am and they were the only customers currently in JB's. Outside, two detectives sat in two unmarked cars, keeping watch for anyone remotely matching Ryan Hunter's description. They had been ordered to keep watch over Luke and Grace until Hunter was found. Sometimes around 8 am, Grace and Luke managed to get to their classes. Since then they had tried to go about their normal activities. Grace showed up at JB's around 7:30 for dinner. Since then she'd been doing work, and when Luke got off of work and clocked out, they'd talked while studying and doing homework.

Now Luke was sitting lengthwise in his side of their booth with his back against the wall and his head hung back. Grace was still wide awake, though she looked stressed and like she was starting to get tired. She was determined to go on with her daily routine regardless of if Ryan was coming after her or not. You will not will, she had told herself repeatedly throughout the day. She looked at Luke, with his head leaned back and his eyes closed and sighed.

"You can go if you want. I'm not tired," She told him.

"You know I'm not going anywhere without you," Luke said. Grace sighed. She rested her elbows on the table and her head into her hands.

"I'll just keep you awake, brain," She told him.

"I don't care," Luke shrugged. He sat up tiredly and watched her. Lazily she let her arms stretch out on the table, looking around at her open books. The words were starting to blur, since she hadn't slept in nearly two days. Luke reached out and placed his hands over hers. He watch Grace stare at his hands and knew she was contemplating whether or not she wanted to pull her hands away and retreat back into herself. "Come on…we'll watch crappy cartoons, or reruns of the X-Files on TNT. They always make you tired," He grinned. Grace almost snickered.

"Who wouldn't fall asleep with a theme song like theirs?" She asked. Luke cracked a smile and gathered up her books and his own. He slung both of their bags over his shoulder and pulled an arm around her as they left. "Wait, come this way," Grace said, leading Luke across the street to one of the unmarked cars.

"What are we doing?" Luke asked. Grace knocked on the detective's window. When he rolled it down she smirked at him.

"Since you're supposed to follow us anyway, why don't you give us a ride to his dorm?" Grace suggested. The detective nodded and told them to get in.

"Wow, expertly done," Luke said once they'd been dropped off and he and Grace were heading into his dormitory. Grace shrugged.

"No big thing," She said. When they entered the dorm, they noticed Sweet Lou was missing. Luke looked at the dry erase board hanging on the wall near his desk.

"He's out with Glynis," Luke said, stretching after setting their stuff down. Grace looked at him as he put his arms over his head and stretched his back. He'd taken his jacket off, and his long john shirt rode up revealing the beginnings of a very toned abdomen. She tried to remember if she'd known that Luke was working on toning himself up, but her thoughts got lost somewhere between that and the little tuft of hair that was leading into his jeans. Moments later, as if just registering what he'd said, she shook her head.

"He's out with Glynis this late?" She asked, impressed. Luke nodded.

"Same thing last night. He came back in the morning to crash," Luke said. He was busying himself in undressing. Grace just sat on his bed, not wanting to move. Her mind was starting to shut down from the desperate need of sleep.

She was vaguely aware of Luke speaking to her as he walked over towards the bed. She was caught up in a thought about when he's stopped wearing boxers most of the time and had gone to boxer briefs, claiming it was a happy medium between both boxers and briefs. She couldn't figure out why she was even thinking about this.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" She asked as he sat next to her.

"Are you okay?" Luke repeated himself.

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," She nodded, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"You've got messages," Luke pointed to Grace's cell phone on his desk. Grace sighed.

"I don't care," She said. Her phone had been on silent all day and she had no intention of checking it until tomorrow. She'd already spoken to Adam, Joan, Helen, and Will and she couldn't take her phone ringing so much at the moment.

"Okay," Luke reached out and pulled her too him. "It's okay to be freaked, you know," He said to her.

"I'm not," Grace said adamantly.

"Oh, I know," Luke agreed with her, "I just mean, if you were, it would be okay," He said. Grace just put her head down and let it rest against Luke's skin. She fought to keep her eyes open now. Luke didn't say anything else. He just sat there, running his hand slowly in circles across her back. Once her heard her steady breathing, her pulled her jacket off of her careful not to shake her and then pulled his covers back. He was careful not to wake her and he situated her on the bed. He untied her shoes and dropped them to the ground before maneuvering in next to her. Grace shivered slightly and turned until she was buried against Luke, never once waking. Luke watched her for a few minutes before brushing a kiss against her forehead and closing his own eyes. Are you done torturing her yet? He wondered.

"Why do you think she isn't answering her phone?" Joan asked, worried. She was spending the night in Adam's room, spooked. Adam shrugged.

"She probably got tired of the calls and concern. Remember when she tossed her phone in the refrigerator section?" He asked.

"That was a completely different reason," Joan reasoned. Adam pulled Joan closer as they lay under the covers.

"If something was wrong we would've heard about it already," Adam said. Both of them were speaking quietly, not wanting to wake Tristan up. Joan sighed.

"I'm sorry. I'm being paranoid." She said. Adam kissed the top of her head. "You know Luke hasn't answered either,"

"Jane," Adam said tiredly.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry," Joan said innocently, nestling closer to Adam. Adam tightened his arms around her. Joan was breathing strangely. He noticed that she was holding her stomach as well.

"Are feeling all right?" He asked her. He felt her hold her breath for a moment. It alarmed him but he tried not to let her sense this.

"I'm all right," She assured. "Just paranoid as ever."

Adam decided to accept this. "Good night Jane," He kissed the top of her head again.

"Good night Adam," Joan said softly. It didn't take Adam long to fall asleep. Joan lay awake for a full hour longer, with her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and thinking through the past for days' events before finally succumbing to sleep.

"I just spoke with Luke," Will told Rabbi Polanski the next morning as he walked into the hospital waiting room that the Rabbi was sitting in. Rabbi Polanski stood.

"Did he say whether or not Gracie was going to come home?" He asked. Will looked down.

"I…don't think that's going to happen," He cleared his throat. The Rabbi's shoulder slumped slightly.

"Oh," He said calmly, yet visibly devastated. Will felt guilt, but the guilt was mostly because he had no sympathy for the Rabbi beyond the extent that he knew this was karma from the summer. Well part of it was anyway. "That's okay. That's okay. I can't really blame her. I didn't know she was in the hospital until she'd been discharged. I guess she thinks we don't love her," He shrugged, walking up the hall towards Sarah's room and looking through the window.

"Rabbi…I need to take a statement from you," Will said cautiously. The Rabbi turned to Will.

"A statement from me? Why?" He asked Will.

"Well, since you found your wife," He cleared his throat again. "We need to know exact details about the situation, Rabbi. That means we need to take a statement of step by step how you came across your wife in this state," Will explained. The Rabbi nodded blankly.

"When?" He asked Will.

"As soon as possible," Will replied. The Rabbi looked at him.

"Okay," He nodded, following Will.

"We can get on a plane and go down there if you want too," Luke said after he'd talked to his father. Grace shook her head. Luke could see she was still trying to grasp this situation.

"No. No. I'm not going down there," She stood from Luke's bed and started pacing, still shaking her head.

"Okay. We won't go then," Luke stood up to stop her, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. Grace wiggled free from his grasp and started pacing again. "Grace…"

"Why should I care about them? About her? She didn't care about me?" Grace asked, not specifically to Luke. Luke had no answer for her. He just let her keep going. He saw her eyes filling and he wondered if she was alert enough to realize it. He felt his heart jumping at the pain she was going through. Currently she was putting herself through extra torment, torn between what to do.

"I didn't ask for this family you know," She said to Luke, getting angrier. "I didn't ask for them to do this to me. I didn't ask for my mother's past transgressions to come back and try to kill us all," She fumed. Luke nodded, swallowing hard. Grace's eyes were starting to turn red from the tears. She clenched and unclenched her fists as she paced. Her shoulders quivered but only slightly from adrenaline and anger. "Who is he going to go after next? Is he going to come for us? What about Girardi and Rove? What about the rest of your family? If he just going to wipe everyone out to hurt me?" She looked at Luke. "What about you? What if he comes after you?" She asked. Luke stepped forward and pulled her against him.

"Don't do this to yourself," He pleaded. "I'm not going anywhere, you know that."

"But what if he-,"

"No." Luke said firmly. Grace's tears were soaking into his shirt and she shook as she cried. Luke felt the pounding pulse of rage shooting through him. He remembered feeling this the first time Grace had cried to him, when he'd found out about her mother's problem. He wanted to stop Ryan. He wanted Grace to know that everything would be all right, even if he wasn't sure it would be. He swayed slightly with her as she held onto him, her arms tightly around his waist.

"We're going to be fine," He assured her. "Grace…seriously, if you want to go home for your parents…" He let the sentence trail off. Grace sucked in a deep breath of air, letting it out slowly and not moving to part from Luke. She shook her head.

"I don't know what I want," She said and Luke knew it embarrassed her to admit this. He put his chin down on top of her head.

"I'll call and book some tickets," He told her. "We'll figure everything out once we're there?" He suggested. Grace shook her head.

"I'll call my dad," She sniffled. "I'll see what the doctors are saying," She tried to steady her voice. Luke nodded and kept a hold of her hand as she pulled herself from him and grabbed the phone.

"Whatever you need," He told her as Grace began dialing.

"Will, hey Will, I got your tox screen back," A man said, walking into Will's office.

"What's it say, Hank?" Will asked, after seeing the perplexed look on Hank's face.

"Well," Hank glanced at the sheet to make sure he wasn't hallucinating. "She's either a really lucky lady or one heavy party animal, sir." He almost laughed. His smile faded at the look on Will's face. He coughed. "Well, we found traces of Ketamine, Rohypnol, Vicodin, and two other barbiturate drugs. And get this, boss, her blood alcohol level was a .85," Hank said.

Will looked at Hank, disbelieving this. He took the folder and read it, shaking his head. Then his eyes caught something else. "What does that, right there mean?" Will asked, pointing to a hand written note. Hank looked at it.

"She's got advanced Cirrhosis," Hank explained, drinking some of the coffee in his hand. "How long does she have?" Will asked, still staring at the chart.

"Doc said the summer, maybe to next fall if she quits drinking," Hank almost snickered. "As if that would happen."

Will shot a look at Hank. Hank put his hands up in defense and excused himself from the room. Will rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to quell the beginnings of a headache. He sighed as he shut his office door and sat back down at his desk, tiredly rubbing his chin as he stared at the open file.

"Hey, you all right? You didn't speak nearly all of class," Dina said to Grace after class while Grace was packing her books into her bag. She glanced at the seat behind her and saw Collier sitting there with his hands behind his head. She looked at Dina and then back at her messenger back to finish packing.

"Yeah, I'm fine," She lied. "I've just got a lot of stuff on my mind," she told Dina. Dina nodded.

"Oh I know! Especially now that Henley's moved the final up to next week," Dina sighed. "Well, I've got to go. See you later, Grace," She gave Grace's shoulder a pat as she walked by. Collier stood up as Grace put her bag over her shoulder after putting her leather coat on. She stuffed her hands in her pockets and eyed him suspiciously. Without saying a word, she shook her head and turned to leave the classroom.

"So we're still on bad terms are we?" Collier asked, catching up to Grace as she reached the sidewalk. Grace rolled her eyes.

"I thought you don't like to repeat yourself?" Grace asked, casing a glance at him. "You already gave me your cryptic message, what else do you want from me?"

"Who said there was only one message?" Collier replied. "And don't get mad at me because it's cryptic. I didn't create the message, I just deliever it. You wouldn't get mad at a FedEx man if he brought you a package and when you opened it you found a confusing object you had to assemble yourself would you?"

"No, I'd get mad at the company," Grace reasoned. "Maybe there should be instructions on how to assemble the package?"

"Okay, enough metaphors. Here's the deal," Collier began.

"Oh, so now you're going to just cut to the chase?" Grace was slightly amused as they stopped at a corner and Grace prepared to cross. "Look, all I know is the next few days are going to be hard for you. You have to be strong. Do what you think is right, and don't run from your feeling," Collier gave her a pointed look.

"I do not run from my feelings," Grace argued. Collier snickered.

"You're joking right?" He asked.

"Did they send you to annoy me or pass along messages?" Grace asked dryly. She hadn't been able to get back to Joan's messages, and she wasn't sure if she was going to be able to tell Joan about Collier even if she could.

"Just do you best to follow the suggestion. It'll help you in the long run," Collier supplied. "Take your best friend up on her suggestion to when she calls!" He called to her as she crossed the street. Grace wondered briefly who would be considered her best friend, exactly, as she kept walking.

"Just in time," Luke smiled as Grace approached. He was just putting plates down on the table of their booth, but he turned and greeted her with a hug and a kiss. "How was class? Any good arguments today?" He asked as they slid into their respective sides.

"I didn't really pay attention today," She told him. "I think Dina and some other girl got into a scuffle over something stupid," She shrugged.

Luke studied her for a moment as he chewed a mouthful of food. He decided he wouldn't push to keep asking her how she was. "Lou's friend, Charlie, you remember we met him at the parties?" Luke asked her. Grace looked up and nodded, popping a French fry into her mouth, acknowledging that she indeed remembered Charlie and Kit who they'd sporadically ran into from going out with Lou to some of the other parties he'd invited them to. "They need someone to fill in short notice for them, in their band. Their guitarist dropped out on them and left for New York," He continued. Grace nodded slowly, looking at Luke to see if there was a point to this. Truthfully her mind was still occupied by Collier and his 'messages.'

"And…?" Grace led Luke, to get him to continue.

"And, Lou suggested me to them. I asked JB, he said he'd let me off early so I could go." He cleared his throat, nervously. Grace nodded. She was waiting for the rest of it.

"Spit it out, brain," She told him.

"It's supposed to be at this shady club about a mile away. They start at 9, and play til midnight." Luke continued. "Each of us get 200 a piece for it," He shrugged. "I mean it's not like I need to learn any songs, they're a cover band and all. I figured we could go. Sweet Lou and Glynis are going. A couple of their friends will be there. It should be fun. We could bring Missy and…what's his name, the guy she went out with last week? He'll be there anyhow. He's the drummer."

Grace studied Luke for a minute. It was amusing to her that anyone would ask Luke Girardi to be a part of their band. Then something hit her and she furrowed her eyebrows. "Wasn't their guitarist the singer too?" She asked. Luke nodded and shrugged.

"I think I can handle that," He said. Grace nodded. It wasn't like Luke couldn't sing. She thought about the summer when he'd gone up and took part in the karaoke contest and shook her head, stifling a laugh.

"So what do you think?" Luke asked, looking at her hopefully. Grace thought about it for a minute. She wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of spending her Friday night in a bar full of drunk college kids. Then again, she hadn't been too freaked after going to some of the parties they'd been invited to, and Luke's hopeful look sent her over the edge.

"Okay," She said.

"I mean, it won't be so bad and-wait, did you say okay?" Luke asked. Grace nodded and he smiled broadly. He leaned across the table without warning and kissed her. "Thanks!" He smiled. Grace shrugged.

"You know you wouldn't need my permission to do thing, though," She said.

"I know, but I wanted you to come. How fun would Friday be without you?" He shrugged. Grace felt her cheeks warm up some and they finished their dinners.

"So, what are we doing tonight?" Johana asked as she stood in front of the mirror that was hanging on the back of their dorm room door, checking herself over to assure that her makeup was okay and her hair was perfect. She smoothed out her shirt and absently brushed off the knee of her jeans.

Joan was on the other side of the room at her closet organizer. She was preparing herself in a similar manner, using a small mirror to apply some of her own make up. She finished up and checked herself over before grabbing her cell phone and searching through the phone book.

"We're meeting Brandon and Hayley and heading for O'Malley's," Joan commented. Johana chuckled slightly.

"Just don't drink as much as you did in October," She suggested with a grin. Joan cringed slightly and laughed.

"Never again, my friend," She commented. "And as I recall I wasn't the only one who drank too much that night,"

"Why whatever do you mean?" Johana asked innocently.

"Where are you and Tristan going tonight?" Joan asked as she came to the number she wanted and dialed.

"Dinner, movie and probably wondering around for something to do after that," Johana nodded.

"Well you know where we'll be if you two want to come join us," She told Johana. Johana nodded.

"Girardi, just the person I was trying to call earlier," Grace's voice floated through Joan's ear. Joan smiled.

"Hey Grace. You were trying to call me?" Joan replied.

"Yeah. No big. I was just returning your calls," Grace explained. She was also in the middle of getting ready. Granted it was 8:30 in Cambridge and 5:30 in California. Grace was in the process of fastening her jeans as she cradled the phone to her ear with her shoulder. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to see how you two were. I'm sorry we scared you about the letter with Ryan," Joan said. "It just spooked us."

"Forget it," Grace said quickly. "I'm fine," She lied, knowing full well that Joan didn't believe her. Missy was just getting in from the shower and was in a corner of the room by the end of the beds and her desk changing. She and Grace were going to meet Luke and everyone else at Suds Bucket so that they had time to change.

"Grace-," Joan started to say.

"Drop it, Girardi," Grace warned, sitting down to put some socks on as she talked to Joan.

"I'm just saying, it wouldn't be stupid or anything like that if you were, you know freaked-no, not freaked, worried," Joan corrected herself before Grace would yell at her. Grace sighed.

"Look, I'm fine. I'm going to be fine. Ryan can't do anything to me. Besides your dad has cops tailing us everywhere," She explained to Joan.

"What about your mom?" Joan asked, knowing that Grace would not react well to this. She heard Grace take a deep breath.

"They said she was going to be fine. I don't know why everyone expects me to go running home," She said. Then, as if second-guessing herself, she restated her position. "Correction, I do know why everyone expects that. If it was anybody else the first thing they would do was hop a plane home. But let's face it Girardi, I'm not everyone else. And I don't feel my mother deserves that much respect from me. Why should I go run to help her when she didn't, and wouldn't, do the same for me?" Grace reasoned. Joan was silent for a moment.

"You're right. It was a horrible thing they did when you were in the hospital," Joan said. "But, and you don't have to admit it to me, just listen. I know it's bothering you, and you know maybe you shouldn't go home for your mom or your dad. Maybe you should go home and address the issue for yourself," Joan suggested. Grace sighed. Joan smiled to herself, knowing that at least Grace had listened to her.

"Look, Girardi, thanks for the pseudo pep talk, but I have to go," Grace quickly turned the conversation around. "Somehow, your brother managed to join a band," She laughed some as she said this.

"What?" Joan asked. She wasn't sure if she'd heard Grace right.

"You heard me, Girardi," Grace said. "We're about to leave to meet him where they're playing tonight.

"Are we talking about the same person here?" Joan questioned. Grace laughed.

"Goodbye, Girardi," She said into the phone.

"Tell Luke I said Hi. Bye Grace," Joan replied. Both of them hung up. Joan was just finishing tying her shoes when Johana opened the door to reveal Adam and Brandon in the hallway.

"Ready?" Adam asked. Joan gathered everything she needed and nodded. As she walked out the door, she turned to Johana.

"Call me if you guys are coming to join us," She said. Johana nodded.

"Bye guys!" She called, shutting the door behind them.

"Okay, here we go," Missy came back to the table Grace had selected. It was a large round table with about seven chairs off to the left side of the stage if you were facing it. She had taken her jacket off and sat down and Missy had gone to get them some drinks. "Are you sure you just want a soda?" Missy asked as she slid the glass in front of Grace and took a sip out of her own beer.

Grace nodded. "So are you and…Ajax was it? Are you two together now?" She changed the subject as the band finished setting up. Ajax was the band's drummer. Kit was its keyboardist, and Charlie was its bassist. Luke, for now at least, was the lead guitarist and singer and another guy Grace hadn't met was the other guitarist. Missy blushed slightly.

"I'm not sure," She shrugged, looking to the stage.

"I see…" Grace said, catching Luke's eye for a moment. He looked excited, and nervous.

She smiled slightly as he turned around to tune the guitar he had just put over his shoulder. Grace wondered who's it was, but figured the guy she didn't know owned it because he was helping Luke tune it.

"We're supposed to go out again tomorrow," Missy smiled. Grace looked back at Missy.

"So you're going on another date with him, but you don't know if you're…dating?" Grace asked. Missy shrugged.

"We didn't really talk about it, really," Missy explained. They would have kept up their conversation, but Sweet Lou approached with Glynis close behind. He gave a slight bow to both of them.

"Hello, ladies," He smiled broadly.

"Uh, Missy you remember Sweet Lou," Grace said. Missy shook his hand and nodded.

"Sure I do," She said.

"And this is Glynis," Grace pointed to Glynis who had already smiled and waved to Grace. Glynis held her hand out eagerly to Missy. "Glynis, this is my roommate, Missy."

"Hi!" Glynis said with a small nervous laugh. Lou held a chair out and Glynis sat down.

"Does anyone need a drink?" He asked looking around at them.

"I could use another," Missy indicated, reaching into her pocket for some money.

"Please, I've got it," He looked at Grace. Grace shook her head. "I'll be right back then," Lou turned and headed for the bar.

Missy and Glynis soon became caught in a conversation about tattoos and Grace was resigned to just listening when she heard her name. The band, File Under X, had just launched into their first song and Grace turned her head to see who'd called her.

"Grace! Hey!" Avery approached. Grace stood to greet Avery and before she could say hello, Avery had thrown herself to Grace and hugged her. By the time Avery let go, Grace was still shocked. Behind her stood JB Jr. Grace looked from Avery to Junior and smiled.

"Does Izzy know you two are here?" She asked with a smirk. Avery laughed and Junior blushed slightly. "Relax," Grace gave a wave of her hand, "Come, join us," She offered. Avery and Junior looked at each other and nodded. As they sat down, Grace introduced everyone and they began talking.

As the night progressed the table found themselves becoming fast friends, from the mere acquaintances they'd been before the beginning of the night. They found themselves singing along to some of the songs the band was playing. All of them except for Grace had been moderately drinking and they'd been sharing baskets of wings and fries.

Grace had found herself pulled into these actions without thinking about it. Despite her dislike for music, she did find herself singing along and dramatically dancing in her seat with the others as they laughed and joked. It felt good, even if she did feel a pang of guilt every now and then, to let loose and forget about all the serious stuff going on in her life at the moment.

"Forget sitting here, come on, who wants to dance?" Missy stood as she posed the question. Sweet Lou looked at Glynis and then stood, holding his hand out to her. Glynis smiled and stood. Avery and JB Jr. followed Glynis and Lou out.

"Oh, don't you dare think you're going to just sit there while we dance," Missy prodded Grace.

"I think I'll pass, thanks," Grace smirked.

"Oh come on, Grace, don't you ever have fun?"

Grace turned her head to see Collier standing there, grinning. Next to him was Dina.

"Hey Grace!" She smiled. Collier turned to Dina.

"I'll meet you out there," He told her. Dina nodded and headed for the small area that was being used as a dance floor.

"So not you're going out with people I know to get close to me?" She asked. "Can angels do that?"

"I'm not exactly an 'angel' per say." Collier grinned. "Why don't you come dance?" He asked. Grace narrowed her eyes at him.

"Is that your new mission? Make the girl in the corner dance?" Grace asked, amused. Collier shrugged.

"Nobody puts baby in a corner," He quoted. Grace rolled her eyes.

"Please don't quote bad movies," She shuddered.

"As I recall…you used to dance to the end of that movie when you were younger…" He said knowingly. Grace stood up.

"Okay, that's seriously creepy," She told him.

"Come on, dance. Let loose. It feels good, don't you think?" He asked. Grace sighed.

"Will you shut up if I do?" She asked. Collier nodded.

"Fine," Grace walked over to where her friends were dancing in the middle of the rest of the crowd, most of which were college student that Grace knew were underage like herself. Just then, the band started playing the chords of a familiar song. Grace stopped at looked at Luke. He smiled knowingly at her as a smile broke across her face.

"I love this song!" Missy called over the music.

"Who doesn't?" Avery asked as if anyone who didn't like it was crazy. Luke leaned into the microphone, still watching Grace. Grace grinned. This was definitely a crowd sing along song.

As Ajax beat the drums, the lyrics came in and the bar erupted with everyone singing along and the people on the dance floor area dancing wildly along.

This bed is on fire with passion and love/The neighbors complain about the noises above/But she only cums when she's on top…/My therapist said not to see you no more/She said you're like a disease without any cure/She says I'm so obsessed that I'm becoming a bore oh no…Aw you think you're so Pretty eeeeeee-eeeeeeee-eeeeeee…

Grace felt her eyes close as she shook her head back and forth to match her dancing among her friends who were just as enthusiastically singing along as she was.

Caught your hand inside the till/Slammed your fingers in the door/Fought with kitchen knives and skewers/Dressed me up in women's clothes/Messed around in gender roles/Dye my eyes and call me pretty eeeeeee-eeeeeeee-eeeeeee…

Grace remembered the first time she and Luke had heard this song in each other's presences at least. They had been walking by a club on their way home from the movies when they had both stopped instinctively at the sound of the familiar opening chords. Both had looked at each other and without so much as a comment, had started dancing on the corner and singing along. People were driving by, honking, talking about them, and even laughing at the sight they were seeing. Luke and Grace didn't even notice, too caught up making fools of themselves. When the song had ended the people in the club were clapping more for them then the band.

Moved out of the house so you moved next door/I locked you out, you cut a hole in the wall/I found you sleeping next to me, I thought I was alone/You're driving me crazy when are you coming home?...Pretty, Pretty eeeeeee-eeeeeeee-eeeeeee…

Grace opened her eyes when the song ended and clapped and whistled, cheering along with the rest of the now packed club. Luke caught her eye once again, glad to see her smiling and that she'd remembered the same thing he had. He winked at her as Charlie came over and said something to him. Luke nodded and they launched into another song. Grace felt adrenaline pumping through her. Could she really be having fun dancing to cheesy cover songs with all these people that she now considered friends? She looked at them as they danced with her. How had she gone from three friends to all the friends she now had? Collier saw the look on her face and leaned in to call out to her above the music.

"You let yourself, that's how," He supplied an answer for her. Grace looked at him.

"Dude…don't put yourself in my head," She said. Collier just grinned and went back to dancing.

"Hey, there's Fleur!" Missy excused herself and went to a darkly tanned woman with long black hair. She was wearing black pants and a red long sleeved shirt that rode up at her stomach. Next to her was a girl with jean and a blue thin sweater on, accented with bright blonde hair. Both smiled broadly and greeted Missy with a hug, before Missy waved them on to follow her. Missy introduced Fleur to everyone. When Fleur came to Grace, she smiled.

"Hey, Grace," She said. Grace nodded.

"Hey, long time no see," Grace commented. Fleur was in one of Missy's classes and she worked at the campus Library, where Grace had run into her quite a few times.

"Grace, this is Aurelia." Fleur introduced Grace to the blonde haired girl. Grace shook her hand.

"Hi, most people just call me Rails," Aurelia said. Grace nodded, accepting this. Fleur went with Lou and Missy to get drinks for everyone, who were still dancing. They returned and started dancing again as another song started. Grace smiled to herself. It did feel freeing to just let loose.

Joan had just finished laughing at a joke Brandon had been telling when Adam asked if anyone else wanted a drink. Joan happened to look up at the old bartender and he winked at her before tilting his head to invite her to come over. Joan narrowed her eyes at him and he smiled, giving a sarcastic wave. She rolled her eyes.

"I'll go get the drinks," She offered, hopping out of her seat. Adam looked at her for a second and she kissed his cheek and headed to the bar before he could argue.

Sitting on a stool at the end, the old bartender walked over. "I need another pitcher."

"Aren't you a little young?" Bartender God asked. Joan laughed at him.

"Okay, 1, you already have been selling us drink. 2, about 10 other people in here are underage and 3, you're the one who called me over here," She smirked. Bartender God seemed to consider this. Reluctantly, he filled up a pitcher and placed it in front of her. Joan handed from crinkly bills to him. "So what's the deal, is this my lecture on underage drinking or what?"

"No," Bartender God shook his head. "Actually, I think you should be more concerned about Grace."

Joan blinked, startled. "I should be concerned about Grace? Aren't you all-knowing? You should already be well aware that I am," She replied. Bartender God nodded. "Do I get anymore then that?" Joan questioned despite the fact that she was almost certain she wouldn't.

Bartender God shrugged. "You should be worried about yourself as well," He looked at her.

"What are you babbling about?" Joan asked. She wasn't really in the mood for his cryptic games.

"It's not going to happen until you're at home, Joan. Keep going to those classes with your professor," He said as he wiped up the bar with a towel. "It's going to be all quiet on the home front until then."

Joan looked confused. "If you're going to endanger out lives like this all the time, you should at least give me better hints and suggestions then that." Joan took the pitcher in one hand and turned to leave. Bartender God put his hand on her shoulder. Joan turned her head and looked at him. His eyes held a eerie sadness.

"It makes sense if you look for the signs Joan," He said seriously. "A lot is going to happen, Joan. You're going to have a long road ahead of you. All of you, Joan not just you."

Joan studied him for a moment. She took a deep breath. "You know my mom said once that you…God…only gave people burdens they could handle…"

Bartender God studied Joan at this statement, looking at her somber expression. She swallowed hard, knowing that he already knew what she was going to say.

"Sometimes it's really hard to believe that," She nodded and walked away from the bar, heading back for table.

"I remember thinking, how could it be that you, liked that song," Luke smiled. He and Grace were huddled together under the covers of his bed. Sweet Lou and Glynis had yet to return. They'd said they were going to another party and if they returned it wouldn't be until at least dawn.

Grace laughed from her spot lying with her head on his chest. She was letting her hands draw their usual shapes across his bare skin. Their clothes, this night, hadn't gone flying so much as just dropped to the floor as they'd struggled not to just fling themselves at the bed.

"Why wouldn't I?" She questioned. Luke snorted.

"Because I did," He said, smiling. Grace looked up at him. "It was the first song we ever agreed to liking, and not hating."

"Yeah well…at least we always have Kool & The Gang to remind us of our mutual hatred?" She suggested. Luke laughed.

"If, by whatever long shot, we get married, that is so our wedding song," He stated. Grace stopped at this. Luke quickly recovered. "Relax, I'm just saying. Hypothetically…" He trailed off when Grace's lips came down upon his. When she pulled away she looked away from his eyes and put her head back down on his chest.

"Well…it wouldn't be a complete travesty I suppose," She shrugged. Luke leaned his head down and kissed the top of her head. "Would it be possible to get to Arcadia tomorrow?" Grace spoke up after a few minutes.

"What?" Luke replied.

"I want to go back. Just until Sunday night," Grace cleared her throat nervously. "I don't want to go alone though," She admitted. She didn't look at him.

"How early do you want to leave?" Luke asked. Grace looked up at him now. He nodded to her, reaching for his clock. "I'll set my alarm for 5. We can get a little bit of sleep and we'll get to the airport by 6. Okay?" He asked. Grace nodded.

"Thank you…" She spoke barely above a whisper. Luke kissed her forehead.

"Don't be ridiculous. There's no need to thank me." He told her. He waited for her to fall asleep before closing his eyes.

A/N: Okay chapter title is from "Laid" by James. And I have to say, who doesn't like this song?

Responses: Michelle – Hey, what's up? The Collier thing was supposed to be surprising, glad it work! ) Thank you for the compliment about my writing, I'm blushing, really! Hope this chapter lives up the expectations. Sam – Wow, I caused nausea! It was pretty disturbing, eh? Danica is one of my favorite girl names. It's unique I think. Ew to Collier? You were thinking he was bad, huh? Hunter is evil…but that would make me evil too, since, well I wrote it. I'm glad that despite the lack of G/L ness in the chapter, it was still enough to make you queasy! Carol – Hey! Welcome aboard! Glad you like where it's going. It is, as someone said starting to get pretty dark. I think I lightened this chapter up in some parts at least to counter balance that some. We'll see though. ) Kool-Wolf – Now listen you punk…I hate your guts too, yo! I'll die when you do! You may not have been asking literally but I answered literally, take it or leave it my foe. I am Not wasting valuable story time as I stop the chapters as specific points. It's mostly to anger you. (I suppose it takes a retarded person to sound retarded, hmm?) What, exactly, is the or else, for? What could you possibly do if I don't update? Hmmm? Punk! sayxanything – Sorry it was longer than an hour for the update, yo! ) Audrey – Heh, heh, heh, liked this chapter much huh? Ryan is pretty evil, isn't he? Hey, expect the unexpected right? I'll explain exactly what happened to the cop later on probably the next chapter. Tiffany – Hey, it was a logical progression to the Tiffany thing what can I say? I'll spare the pathetic person from your wrath towards them (in regards to the emailer). Ahh…I should've guessed Indiana. I'm not so quick after I write, my brain slows down lol. that could be because I'm up so late actually. Nope, really never been to Myrtle Beach. We have a house at the Jersey shore though, I go there a lot. Hahaha, Woohoo! I look forward to more than 20 chapters! Butterfly Dancing – First I made someone queasy then I gave you chills, wow. That's awesome. Well, not that you got chills. Anyway. Have fun on vacation! Let me know how it was when you get back! Where are you going? Anti-Like-Grace – Well, I hope you read it for fun. It's fun for me, writing it! I'm glad you're addicted as well! And thanks for the review! Coveredinrain16 – Well hello there. Thanks for the review on That Summer first of all. I'm glad to see you've come aboard as well! John Mayer is cool, ) I felt it fit with the chapter for Ch. 3. Thanks for the compliments on the writing. Glad I hooked you! Welcome to the addiction I shall continue to add J/A stuff just for you, how's that?

Thank you everyone for reading and for reviewing too! Much love to ya (except for the punk! In your case…much hate to ya, my foe.)