Author: This chapter's really upsetting sooo just be warned…

Thanx to Misty (missed ya), and NewsieFreak172 for reviewing and Jockey you're in this one… briefly… but you're in it…

Love Across Time

Chapter 28: The First Step

In order for my plan to work I needed everyone to forget that I had been their. Even my boys… even Jack had to forget about me. (Sort of) I had to do something I hadn't ever wanted to do…

Halfway Across Brooklyn Bridge:

They were all their Jack, Race, Blink, Mush, and Spot. They all seemed nervous of what I was going to tell them. I sighed. "Guys, I have some bad news. The man that commands me, sort of, has sent me a message. He has learned of what I'm doing here and wants me out as soon as possible."

"WHAT!" they all yelled.

"But can't you like refuse to go?" asked Race.

"No, he has sent me several assignments that I cannot ignore and has threatened to send a group of my colleges to come and collect me if I still refuse." They all knew that I would never turn down important missions and I have no wish to fight my friends.

"When are you leaving?" asked Blink solemnly.

"Tonight." They all fell silent. "I'm sorry my friends. I had no choice." I looked at Jack he had not said a word. I could tell he was fighting back tears. "I don't know if I will ever return."

After they had left Jack hung back to talk to me. Now that his friends had left he no longer held back tears.

"Oh Jack" I cradled his face in my hands and kissed away the tears like I had not even a week ago. But this time they did not stop. "Jack, in all of my 616 years I have never felt so much as I have in this time I have spent with you. No matter how brief."

"Will I ever see you again?" He whispered.

I shook my head. "I don't know…" He wrapped his arms around my waist and held me close. "But know this… I will try my hardest to return to you."

I still feel my throat constrict when I thing about it. But my plan is more important. In order to hide from them I did things I had never wanted to do. The Loft was nothing more than an empty loft. I kept only the important things with me. Just enough to fill a backpack. Then I did the unthinkable…

…I cut my hair. It didn't even reach my shoulders. It felt sooo weird. I got new clothes and I bespelled a pair of glasses to make my vision human. I could no longer see what lay in a person's soul by looking at them or the demons and angels among us. Then I changed my internal clock to make it possible for me to wake up before the boys did.

Then I went to the Lodging House. Not one of them recognized me.

It was early enough for me to sell that day. They had me sell with Jack again. He was distant all day. It broke my heart to see him like this. It took all of my self control not to comfort him.

After we finished selling Jack left me without another word. Luckily he left me with Skittery and his girl friend.

"Don't worry about Jack, Dutchy." Said Skittery. "His girl just left him."

"Did any one even meet her?" asked Skittery's girlfriend Gracie.

"No" he replied. He looked over at me. "She left him a few days ago. He's cried himself to sleep ever since."

"Poor guy." Was all I could choke out. My poor baby. But this was all necessary to my plan. I would make it up to him later. Or at least that's what I told myself…

: TEARCRYSOB! After the last chapter this one feels sooo sad. Poor Jack. I wrote this in English class…. : )