This chapter makes me wince….it's jarring to me….you'll see why.

Chapter Twelve

Jazz woke up to the ringing of her telephone. There were only a few people who it could be, Danny or her parents and occasionally Sam when Danny thought she was too mad at him to give him the information he wanted.

She reached over to her nightstand and took the phone off the cradle, opening one eye to peer at the clock. It was ten am, not too early for anyone to call. She cleared her throat and answered in her most cheerful voice.

"Hi Jazz…it's Pete," came the voice on the other end of the line. Jazz's eyes widened and she turned and looked briefly at the sleeping form of the man who she learned last night, was still her husband. The very person she wasn't supposed to love, who was supposed to help her get over him. Who was supposed to be letting her go, but obviously wasn't.

"Hi," Jazz said softly as she nervously brushed a nonexistent strand of hair behind her ear. She felt a hand on her back and she jumped.

"I had such a good time with you last night," Pete said, "That I was wondering if you wanted to go out again tonight. I know I'm a short notice kinda guy, but still I can hope."

"I'm sorry," Jazz said shakily. "I'm supposed to spend the evening with my family." Well it was not really that much of a lie. She close her eyes feeling wretchedly guilty.

"Oh," Pete responded in disappointment. "Maybe another time?" His voice changed to one of hopefulness.

"Sure," Jazz said then turned to look at Vlad, who was watching her with narrowed, angry eyes. She finished up her call quickly then wound herself in the sheet from her bed.

"I'm going to take a shower," she said stiffly.

"Jasmine," Vlad growled as Jazz ran. She locked the bathroom door behind her and took several deep breaths. She knew it was pointless to lock the door, locks meant nothing to Vlad, but normally he respected her privacy and a locked door was a signal that she needed to be alone, at least it was along time ago, in another life.

She turned on the water and decided that maybe she should run a bath instead. The longer she delayed facing Vlad, the better.

Oh what did she do? Why did she do it? What was wrong with her? What was she thinking? Okay she knew what she'd been thinking, but she wasn't thinking clearly. She loved tormenting Vlad, it was true. She loved that she was able to stir up his world and his emotions. She loved him when he was kind, but she knew deep down that he was not.

She climbed in the bathtub then closed her eyes, and put her fist in her mouth to muffle the sound of her sobs. It was all his fault. The power was ultimately his. He didn't have to confront her, his eyes filled with jealous anger. He didn't have to kiss her. She was the weak one, she was the victim. He was the one who was standing in her apartment. He was the one who was uninvited.

Unfortunately, she had to take responsibility for pushing him to the edge of his self control after he warned her. She had to admit she liked it. She liked the little bit of control she had over him, that she could make him passionate, tender, loving and caring, all the things he really wasn't.

A knock sounded on the door and Jazz jumped. She looked at the door nervously, but didn't answer. There was another knock. She could feel him standing on the other side of the door. She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths.

"Jasmine," Vlad said very tenderly. "Can I come in?"

"No!" she yelled as she shivered despite the hot water in the tub and almost expected him to just walk through the door. He was honorable though, and didn't.

"I can hear you crying, Sweetheart," Vlad told her worriedly. "Why are you crying?"

"Just go away!" Jazz cried. "Just leave me alone!."

Vlad pressed his forehead against the door and sighed. He wasn't about to invade Jazz's space. He was already full of enough self loathing for his behavior. He shouldn't have come here last night. He shouldn't have kissed her. He shouldn't have let her push him over the edge of his own self control, but he loved her to distraction, he wanted her desperately and seeing her with that boy had filled him with such anger, such rage that he wanted to make her remember that she belonged to him. She was his. He did not want to let her go, despite everything he'd been trying to do for the past few months.

"Jazz," he said again as he smoothed his hand along the door. "Please."

"I said to go away, Vlad," came her angry response. "Go away and leave me in peace." He growled in frustration then looked around the room. He sighed and made the bed out of compulsion, then sat down on the edge for a moment.

Vlad was not a patient man. He was not used to waiting on anyone. He changed to his ghost form and left Jazz's apartment in a swirl of reddish smoke, not permanently, but so that he could change his clothes and shower. Proper grooming was very important to him, and if he was going to be strong in the face of his love for Jasmine, he would need armor. He felt enough off balance as it was.

It was sheer luck that moved Vlad to leave when he did. Not five minutes had passed on his departure when Danny appeared. He had called first, but received no answer. He called Jazz's cell with no answer, so he decided to just drop in, just to make sure she was all right.

"Hey Jazz," he called as he stood at her closed bedroom door. "Are you still sleeping?" He opened the door a crack then peeked in. Her room was empty. He thought that maybe she went for a walk, to the store, or even out with a friend, but then he heard the sobs coming from the bathroom and his heart froze.

"Jazz," he said as he knocked on the door. He heard his sister gasp. "Are you okay in there?"

"Danny?" she asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting," Danny answered. "I did try to call, but you didn't answer."

There was a pause then she said, "Go wait for me in the living room. I'll be out in five minutes, we need to talk."

"Okay," Danny said then sighed, he was probably going to be given an earful, but he also wanted to know why she'd been crying. Was she okay? Had something happened? Had Vlad contacted her?"

Jazz appeared in her living room and sat in the chair across from him, her eyes were red with tears, her short hair still damp. She wore a pink sweater and grey sweat, and looked miserable. She stared at Danny thoughtfully for a moment, then down at her hands.

"What's going on?" Danny asked.

"I had a date last night," Jazz answered.

Danny's eyebrows raised in interest then he frowned. "It didn't go so well?"

Jazz sniffed. "It went wonderfully. Pete, that's his name, he's really nice. We have the same major. I like him."

Danny nodded his head. "That's great Jazz." He paused not knowing what to say next.

"But there's a problem," Jazz continued. She looked toward the window and sighed.

"Have you ever loved someone you're not supposed to, Danny?" she asked in a haunted voice. "And it just put limits on everything you do? Because you're so consumed by your feelings, that you're not supposed feel, that it just tears you into a million pieces?"

Danny looked at Jazz and started to shake his head. He didn't know what to say, and more over he didn't know how it all applied to Jazz. He watched her wipe tears from her face and he felt so sad for her.

"So you're saying you love Pete?" Danny asked feeling more than clueless.

"I wish I did," Jazz laughed bitterly. She stood and walked to the window. "I would if I could, but there's a wall in my heart. I've been trying to escape for months now, and I just can't, Danny. I'll start thinking that everything is going to be okay, but then I'm just sucked right back in."

"Are you?" Danny started then took a deep breath. "Are you talking about Vlad?" Jazz didn't answer, she just stood with her back to him, and that was enough of an answer. He rubbed the back of his neck not sure what to say.

"Jazz?" Danny finally asked. He felt at such a loss. What had that jerk done? Had he been contacting her? He was supposed to leave her alone.

"It's not his fault," Jazz said quickly, turning to look at him worriedly. "Not entirely. I'm the one who contacted him. I'm the one who wouldn't leave him alone. It's not his fault, Danny."

Danny was seriously confused. "What happened?" he asked.

Jazz sighed. "He came here last night, because he was worried about me. I hadn't called like I told him I would." She looked at Danny guiltily. "I've been visiting him. He hasn't wanted me to, but I…I don't know, it's like I couldn't stay away." She turned back to the window and hung her head.

"Jazz," Danny started. He was horrified. What had his sister been doing? He watched her standing with his back to him and frowned. He was happy that at least Vlad hadn't wanted to see her, but he was still to blame for allowing her to visit him. He was supposed to cut ties completely, as their mother had demanded.

He, well everyone had worried about her return to Madison simply because they knew Vlad was there. No one would have thought that Jazz would visit him on her own. The news was stunning.

"So," Jazz continued. "I had a date with Pete, and I completely forgot that I told Vlad I'd be calling." She sighed. "Which really was a good sign."

"Yeah," Danny agreed.

"But Vlad was worried, so he came to check on me," Jazz continued. "And he saw Pete walk me to my door."

"Uh oh," Danny said.

"He was jealous," Jazz laughed. "And then…and…well, he just left a little before you came."

Danny's heart constricted in his chest. "Y-you mean you were up all night arguing with him?" he asked hesitantly.

Jazz shook her head. "No," she answered. "And I found out something else."

"What?" Danny asked, not sure he wanted to know.

"He never filed the papers. We're still married. I was really happy." She paused. "Until I woke up that is. Pete called and I realized what I'd done." She turned and looked at Danny who was now sitting forward with his hands in his hair.

"You mean," Danny started. "You and Vlad…you…" he trailed off and looked at Jazz.

She sighed. "Well we didn't stay up all night playing checkers," she answered dryly. Danny opened and closed his mouth, not sure what to say.

"What do you want me to do Jazz?" He finally asked. "Do you want me to confront him? I'll kick his butt for you if you want."

"No," Jazz said as she covered her face with her hands. "I want you to just leave him alone."

Danny shook his head. "You know, if Mom and Dad find out…"

Jazz turned and looked at Danny angrily. "And they won't find out if their not told, Danny."

"What do you want me to do?" he repeated.

"Can you take me home?" Jazz asked. "Just for the weekend? Bring me back Monday morning? I don't want to stay here."

"Sure," Danny said. He stood and put his hand on Jazz's shoulder and she turned and put her arms around him.

"I wish you could understand, Danny!" she sobbed. "You must hate me."

Danny sighed as he returned Jazz's embrace. "I don't hate you, and I do understand." Jazz pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"I'm just going to put a bag together," she said unable to look into Danny's worried eyes. "I'll be right back."

"Okay," Danny replied then sat down and watched her go, feeling extremely sad for his sister, and very angry at Vlad. He was shocked too. He didn't think Jazz ever wanted to see Vlad again. It was strange to him that she did, but then again, he knew what her memories were like, and he supposed he could understand.

"Okay," Jazz said as she came back into the living room. "Let's go." Danny nodded, changed to his ghostly form, put his arm around his sister's waist and flew her home.

Vlad returned to Jazz's apartment with a plan. He wanted her back. He wanted her to come home. He'd give her anything she wanted. All his plans for his current project would be destroyed. They could go away together, maybe back to San Tropez. He'd help her get her education, if that's what she wanted. Nothing would be beyond her reach. He felt joyous and hopeful, only Jazz could make him feel his way.

"Jasmine," Vlad called as he appeared in her apartment. He changed back to his human form as he walked toward the bathroom. The door was closed. Was she still in there? He frowned.

"Sweetheart?" he called. There was nothing but silence. He frowned then jiggled the handle and opened the door. The room was empty.

"Jasmine?" Vlad said as he turned and walked into the bedroom. He found that room empty as well. He sighed deeply. Where had she gone? He looked at the bed and frowned. Propped against one of the pillows was an envelope with his name on it.

He stood and stared at it for a long time before finally picking it up. He sat down on the end of the bed, broke the seal and read the letter:

Vlad,

It was all a mistake. Last night should never have happened.
I'm sorry. It was all my fault.
I should have listened to you in the first place, and stayed away.
Please forgive me, but I can't do this.
I don't want to see you again.
I want you to file those papers like you were supposed to.
Please respect my wishes.

Jazz Fenton

Vlad let the letter slip from his fingers and flutter to the floor. The sense of rejection tore at his heart, filling him with a pain he hadn't felt since he was very young, resurrecting feelings he though he released long ago, buried deeply in his angry heart.

"Oh Jasmine," he said as he bent forward, put his face in his hands…and wept.

Bleh! You can all kick me now. Sorry it's so short and sappy and not very resolutive. Now that this story is mine again, I'm struggling with it's direction. This really doesn't make me happy, and yet I'm compelled to write it.


I have finally figured out the allure of the pairing…it's the whole Phantom of the Opera mystic….Think about it…. Just replace "Oh Jasmine", with "Oh Christine." I didn't even realize the connection until that last line. Weird huh?