This story is AU from the "Experience is the Teacher". Basically think of it as an alternative ending if Mr. Zwick and Co. had the allotted 22 instead of 19 eps. Stupid ABC. Everything remains intact from "Experience is the Teacher".

Disclaimer: This fic is designed for non-profit use only. I own nafink. NAAAAFINK. It's all Mr. Zwick and Co. and the good people at ABC who used to and abused the show mercilessly. Good work ABC, you fickle sods

THANKYOU: To everyone who has reviewed. You awesome people know who you are. It means so much to me, cheesy as it sounds, but it's true. And, please, once you finish this chapter, review. I'm exceptionally needy.

Shout out to Karen, my awesome beta. Internet brownies for you.

Chapter Six

"Where is she, Rick?" Karen asked her ex- husband urgently.

"She's in her room." Rick reached out to Karen. "Wait, Karen. Maybe you should just take a minute and adjust to this. I don't want us to say anything that we'll regret."

"The more time we leave it the more Jessie will feel unsure and alone," Karen said curtly. "This needs strong parenting Rick, so it has to be now."

"What are you insinuating, Karen?" Rick asked softly, his voice holding a hint of anger.

Karen turned and glared at Rick suspiciously. "When you found out what did you say to her?"

"I asked how long this has been going on," Rick said defensively.

"And?" Karen asked, raising her eyebrows derisively.

Rick shuffled and sighed with frustration. He couldn't look Karen in the eye. "She then went up to her room."

Karen snorted with disgust. "I see. You ignored her because you couldn't deal with all your emotions!"

"Karen that is totally unfair."

Karen sighed and started to walk up the stairs that led to Jessie's attic. "Look Rick, you could do your whole 'active inaction' thing to me when we were married. But there is no way we are just going to not deal with this when it is my daughter. We need to clear this up and set guidelines now."

Rick angrily followed Karen up the stairs. "We are both going to deal with our daughter, Karen. Don't play martyr with me."

"Oh just listen to yourself Rick!"

"No the point is you're not listening to me!"

Unbeknownst to them, Jessie could hear their voices outside her door. She shuddered as she remembered when she was a child, curled up in bed and listening to the hushed, angry voices of her parents arguing near the death throes of their marriage. Tears pricked her eyes as she grabbed her headphones and switched on her music to full blast.

"Karen, let's stop the arguing OK?" Rick hissed angrily outside Jessie door. "We need to put aside blame right now and talk to Jessie, OK?"

Karen sniffed haughtily, but nodded. She knocked on the door twice, but when they heard no answer they opened the door and after they clambered up the last flight of stairs they found their daughter lying on her back listening to music. Rick cleared his throat and waved a few times before he finally caught Jessie's attention. Sighing, Jessie switched off her music and sat up, resolutely not looking at her parents.

Rick and Karen looked at each other apprehensively, unsure where to start. Karen took a deep breath and began. "Jessie, I understand that everyone has had a huge shock tonight. But your dad and I have agreed that the sooner we get everything out in the open the better everything will be, ok? Jess?"

Jessie looked down at her bedspread, her eyes glazed and glassy.

Her skin felt feverish, slick with sweat and her entire body was pulsing with embarrassment. Words she wished to say echoed feebly but her lips were sealed shut. And she found no compulsion to pry them open.

Jessie felt, rather than saw, her parents' eyes glued to her, their intensity raising the hair on her neck. She nodded once, her neck rough and stiff, hoping they would take their prying eyes away from her.

Karen and Rick looked helplessly at each other. Each felt a myriad of emotions flooding through them, but one they knew they both shared was worry. To see their daughter in such obvious pain felt like a cold hand pressing on their heart. Karen saw doubt flicker on Rick's face and knew he was about to insist they talk about this later. Karen knew however, despite the difficulty this needed to be sorted out now.

"Honey, I understand that you're upset," Karen voice wavered slightly, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. She continued. "But we need to talk about this. You've been with her for?"

"Three months."

"I'm sorry?"

"I already told Dad, three months!" Jessie said loudly, her voice quivering with repressed anger.

"When were you going to tell us about this?"

"I don't know!" Jessie snapped angrily. She glared sullenly at her bedspread.

"So, so," Karen asked nervously. "How much, how do you, you…how much do you…care for her?" Karen asked haltingly.

Jessie squeezed her mortified eyes shut. She couldn't answer this. "This isn't any of your business," she said warily, curling up in a ball.

"Jessie, we're your parents, of course this is our business," Karen retorted shrilly.

"The thing is Jess, I can understand you not wanting to tell us. But during that time you played both Karen and I," Rick said sternly. "If we had known you and Katie…were involved then there is no way we'd have let her sleep over."

Karen flinched. She had forgotten that Katie had slept over at Rick's house a few days ago. Her stomach knotted up with dread just contemplating the possibilities. "Did she do anything to you?" she asked urgently.

Jessie looked at Karen and Rick for the first time, anger beneath unshed tears. "What?" she asked incredulously.

"Did you and her…" Karen asked even more urgently now.

Jessie looked appalled. "Mom stop!"

"No Jess look at me!" Karen almost shrieked. "Did you have sex with her?"

Jessie leapt from her bed as if it had stung her. "No, Mom, god!" she snarled.

Both Karen and Rick breathed sighs of relief. "Thank god," Karen whispered.

Jessie's face twisted angrily. "You have no right to ask me these questions!" she spat, her head throbbing to a painful beat

"We're trying to protect you!" Karen protested while Rick nodded his agreement. "Katie's older than you and…"

"Don't even say it," Jessie growled menacingly.

Both Karen and Rick were taken aback by Jessie's anger. Rick decided to take another approach.

"You're not even sixteen, Jess," Rick pleaded gently. "You're young and everything is confusing…"

"I'm sure what you're feeling now is very real, honey," Karen interrupted condescendingly. "But at fifteen you don't know how your feelings towards Katie may change."

"If she says it's a phase I'll kill her," Jessie thought maliciously. This was worse than she had ever imagined. She stood before her parents as her embarrassment gave way to anger. Anger that hummed through her veins; bubbling up inside her and threatening to spill.

"You can't stop us from seeing each other," Jessie growled.

Rick and Karen gave each other dubious looks. "No," Rick said hesitantly.

"We should meet Katie's parents. The four of us can discuss the situation properly then," Karen stated.

"Excuse me?" Jessie cried disbelievingly.

Karen muttered to Rick, "I think that would be for the best."

Jessie sighed with frustration. Suddenly, her anger seemed to seep away, leaving in its wake only a heavy tiredness. She couldn't be around her parents anymore. She shrugged and despondently sat down on the bed.

Rick and Karen noticed her sadness. "We love you sweetie," Rick shuffled forward and gently placed a kiss on his daughter's head. Jessie shirked away from the contact, but Rick didn't notice.

"We want to help you," Karen said gently gazing intently at her daughter.

"Fine," Jessie said dully.

A stagnant silence hung over the room. Rick and Karen stood helplessly, for the first time neither able to think of something to say.

"We'll talk about this some more tomorrow Jess," Karen said shakily walking over to Jessie. Jessie flinched away from Karen, her eyes downcast.

"Don't touch me," she said in a low, steely voice.

Karen blinked hard, her words like a slap. "I know you're upset but you shouldn't take that tone with me."

Jessie looked her mother directly, eyes brimming with exhaustion but also resolution. Setting her jaw she said angrily, "I'm listening to music now," and with that she turned and threw herself on her bed, facing away from her parents.

"Jessie, please now is not the time…" Karen began.

"Karen. Don't."

Karen turned and gaped at Rick who was wearing a determined expression on his face. "Let her be."

With shaky sighs both Karen and Rick bid their daughter goodnight. They walked out so troubled that they did not notice Jessie's shoulders shaking slightly as silent tears rolled down her face.

Rick's feet thudded into the pavement. His breath came in rasping hisses as his blood shot through his veins. He could feel his heart pounding continuously and he could feel his whole face throbbing, soggy with sweat.

But although his body was loud, his mind was silent. When Rick jogged nothing could touch him. He felt absolved from all responsibility of his life in this moment there was nothing else but trees, lawns and the continuous thud of shoe meeting cement.

It was over all too soon. Before Rick knew it, he was outside the Sammler-Manning Manor. Rick hesitated, selfishly wishing he could continue to run, to exert his body until his mind was completely quiet. But with a rueful smile, Rick headed into the house. Too many people needed him to stay.

It was late, around nine, and all the kids had gone off to school or in Eli's case, work. Lily had left for the radio station but not before kissing him in the morning and whispering "I'm here. If you want me to be."

Rick rubbed his forehead and leant against the counter. For the countless time his mind wandered to his daughter. He barely slept a wink last as his mind ruminated over every moment when he should have seen this coming.

Rick's reverie was interrupted by the shrill ring of the phone. Sighing, Rick picked up the receiver.

"Ricky Sammler why have you abandoned me so?" An amused voice boomed from the receiver.

Rick sighed irritably. "Sam."

"The office is so empty without you," Sam jauntily continued. "If you wanted to break up you should have just told me."

"I'm coming in late today, alright," Rick snapped. "Is that some crime?"

"In some countries it is," Sam quipped.

"If that were the case then you'd been hung, drawn and quartet ten times already." Rick growled.

"Hey, somebody is more snarky than usual! That was almost funny." A pause. "Is everything OK?"

The words were sitting on the edge of his tongue and impulsively Rick thought he could tell Sam. He pressed his lips together, swallowing his response. "I'm fine," Rick said instead. "I'll be in soon. Anything else?"

"There was, yeah. We got a call back from the Allen Branch project guys."

Rick's heart jumped. "And?"

"And it doesn't look good," Sam continued. "The Allen Branch voiced their concern about our capacity to design the hotels, and, ah, other major architectural firms are taking serious interest in this one."

"We have to get this job Sam."

"I think maybe…" Rick could hear Sam shift uncomfortably. "I think we should focus on smaller jobs."

"How can you say that?" Rick objected.

"Look it's the truth Rick! I know this job could be lucrative, which is important especially when you've got a kid on the way. But really…they seemed very hesitant about…both of us, and I couldn't really dissuade them. There wasn't much point trying really."

"I can't believe your shit!" Rick seethed. "This is all about the Atlantor project last year."

"Well, it was all over the news. You headed the project that left the company bankrupt and the owner charged with seven economic offences he wasn't tried for because he died of cancer! It was the story and people haven't forgotten about it."

"If you don't want this project then don't blame me! I was at that meeting.

They didn't like us because they weren't impressed with your casual approach."

"What approach?"

"How you've approached everything Sam. Like you just click your fingers and everything falls into place. Obviously the Allen Brach people were immune to your smooth talking. Probably because none of them were women."

"Hey," Sam yelped.

"I want this job Sam." Rick yelled in frustration.

"I know." Sam said quietly. "I'll ring them back, see what I can do." Sam paused. "But Rick, you got some problem, take it out on someone else next time."

And with that he hung up.

Through the throng of students mulling the halls of Upton Sinclair, Katie finally spotted Jessie. She let out a relieved sigh and hurried towards her.

"Jessie you ok?" Katie asked fervently going in for a hug. Jessie accepted the embrace reluctantly, her body stiffening under Katie's. Katie noticed this and withdrew uncomfortably. "That may be a stupid question."

"No I'm ok," Jessie said hesitantly. Standing in the hallway Jessie felt vulnerable. All around them there was eager eyes just salivating to expose them

"That ride home with Lily was the epitome of hell," Katie sighed. "She was trying to make small talk and be all cheery while I just wanted to die." She peered at Jessie with concern. "How was your Dad?"

"He's my Dad." Jessie said bitterly. "Mom also came over. They acted like it was ok but…" Jessie shook her head and looked away, her mind drifting back to the conversation last night.

"Jess," Katie sighed sympathetically.

"They might be talking to your parents," Jessie interrupted quickly. "I just thought I should warn you."

"My parents? What like some parent meeting?" Katie screwed her face into a picture of distaste.

"Yeah." Jessie said quietly as they lapsed into uncomfortable silence Both girls stood listening to the hum of voices and the shuffling of feet in the busy hall way. The bleating of the bell shook both girls out of their reverie.

"OK, well school time," Katie said brightly. She went to hug Jessie goodbye but this time the younger girl instinctively backed away.

"What, am I not allowed to touch you anymore?" Katie asked, hurt.

"Katie," Jessie hissed, furtively glancing around to see if anyone overheard.

"What? Nobody's listening," Katie snorted. Her eyes grew hard. "You should stop being so paranoid."

"I'm not being paranoid. I just think that during school maybe we should…"

"It's OK, I get it," Katie said sadly.

"Katie," Jessie sighed, hanging her head reproachfully. She raised a tentative hand to her.

"I'd better head off," Katie said dejectedly. She awkwardly stuck her hands in her pants.

"Ok," Jessie choked out softly.

With a rueful smile, Katie turned, her shoulders slumped and forlornly shuffled away.

Sighing miserably, Jessie turned and walked to class.

In her darkened house Karen was leafing through some files on possible new cases. She was due back at work the next week so it was imperative that she catch up on the work she missed. To the naked eye, Karen might have seemed studious as she rifled through her work but on closer inspection her eyes were glazed, staring blankly at the words that were all squished together in one indistinguishable mess.

Karen started at the knock on her door. She wearily got up, wondering who it was.

She opened the front door to find Henry beaming back at her. "Hi Karen. May I come in?"

"Uh, sure." Karen said hesitantly. Henry smiled then walked in, while giving her an appraising look.

"You look like you're walking just about normally now. You still use the cane?"

"Yes. I mean, sometimes," Karen said snippily.

Henry noticed her tone but decided to ignore it. "Well, you really don't need it anymore. Why don't we try some exercises without the cane?"

Karen body tensed as she looked at Henry skeptically. "Henry. Wait,"

Henry looked at her quizzically. "Hmm?"

"Why are you here?" Karen asked wearily.

"Straight to the point, I shouldn't expect anything else." Henry grinned sheepishly at her. "I'm here because I like you. And because of that I would like to take you out to dinner sometime," he said that in a rush, as if he had held the words in for a long time and it was a relief to release them.

"Oh, I don't know Henry," Karen said tentatively.

"Is there a problem?" Henry asked abashedly.

"Well, for one it isn't proper!" Karen retorted sternly.

"Proper! What are we, Victorian England? How are we not proper Karen?" Henry asked derisively.

"You're my physiotherapist! It's not right."

"Karen, why should that come into account at all?" Henry asked, clearly exasperated.

"Because there are boundaries. Relationships that should not be forged between people because it is foolish and inappropriate to do so." Karen's voice was raised.

Henry chuckled though his eyes held no trace of humor. "No, that just means you're stopping yourself because some people might find your relationship to be a little out of the ordinary. But really," Henry shook his head. "It doesn't make a difference what anyone else thinks." Karen snorted and walked away. Henry began to feel helpless. "And any relationship would not affect our professional one."

Karen shook her head, frustration and anger bubbling within her waiting to explode upon this unsuspecting man. "You're wrong. It does matter what other people think. And it would affect any working relationship we have." Karen paused, feeling guilty at the sight of his deflated figure. "There are lines Henry. Lines that people shouldn't cross."

Henry struggled to find words. He couldn't look at Karen when he replied. "Well, good for you. But I happen to believe that life is a whole lot messier and confusing than that. But if boundaries are all that you can ever see then…" Henry broke off, his throat dangerous scratchy. Swallowing hard he turned and walked to the door.

"Bye," Karen called out to his retreating figure.

Henry turned and gave Karen one final smile. On the surface he seemed the same Henry, laid back and easy but Karen could keenly see the pained expression hidden in his dark eyes. "See you at your next session."

Then he was gone.

The next day Jessie barreled through the corridor, a frown marring her features. Ignoring the hustle around her she was not awoken from her trance until she heard Katie shout her name.

Katie hurried up to Jessie. "Can I talk to you?" she asked surreptitiously. She indicated to an empty classroom.

Once inside, both girls breathed a subtle sigh of relief. Katie slouched against a near by desk.

"Phew," she said, trying to hide the nervousness she was feeling. "So, Jess, how you holding up."

"Fine," Jessie said unconvincingly.

"Yesterday kinda sucked didn't it?" Katie winced.

Jessie ducked her head. "It really did." She said quietly, her hold on her emotions tenuous.

"We were so stupid!" Katie muttered. "I can't believe that we were too dumb not to think we weren't going to get caught!"

Jessie could only nod. It took every inch of Jessie's resolve not to crumble in front of this concerned and caring girl.

"And now," Katie took a deep breath and tried to gather her thoughts. "Everything is just…" she couldn't say it. She was too afraid to voice how their relationship had changed, fearful to give the vibe between them a name. "I just want you to tell me one thing," Katie pleaded plaintively.

Jessie looked up cautiously. "Yeah?"

"I want to know how you're really feeling! Please!" Katie implored.

"I told you fine," Jessie snapped.

"But how can you be fine when I'm not!" Katie burst out, her voice cracking. Tears pricked her eyes and she didn't hold back. "I'm scared. God, everything is different. With you and with your family and I just need to know if everything is going to be ok with us."

Jessie sighed as her face crumbled. She couldn't look at Katie. "I don't know," Jessie cried out, balling her fists. She too could feel tears stinging her eyes and she battled to hold them in. "I have no idea what's going to happen!" Jessie shook her head in frustration, feeling flushed with anger and fear. "I just wish…"

But the school bell would not be deterred, ringing shrilly and interrupting Jessie. Katie stared at Jessie, wide eyed, silently pleading with to continue. But Jessie's face closed down, knowing that momentarily students would be streaming through the door. She composed herself. The moment was lost.

Almost on cue the door opened and Grace entered. She stopped short at the expression on both girl's faces. Jessie tore her gaze away from Grace's compassionate but knowing eyes and fled out the door barely glancing at Katie. Katie slouched further, feeling as thought she had been slapped. She avoided Grace's eyes.

"Katie," Grace said hesitantly.

"I gotta go," Katie said sharply, fiercely grabbing her bag and heading to her art class. Grace silently took the scene in. She had heard nothing, but was certain what had been going on. Shaking her head she sat down and prepared for class