When Connie had paid a visit to Steven's house that fateful morning one week ago, she hadn't really known what to expect. When she'd called him, he'd sounded so fragile over the line, doing his best to lie even though he was terrible at it. Between that and the strange video-loop she'd been seeing on her phone all day, she knew something bad had happened. It wasn't until the gems broke the news to her that she'd realized how out of control it all was.

Steven's family convinced her to stay home, and though she was reluctant, they argued that the search could take a while, and she still had school. She saw the logic in this, but every time she sat down and tried to work, all she could think about was Steven; where he was, if he was alright.

After a week of looking for him under every rock and bellowing his name over every hill, they'd finally gotten a lead. Rumors had spread of a bulky, orange woman stalking around a tiny town 200 miles west of Beach City, usually followed by a short, chubby teenager in a pink jacket.

After hearing that, they thought they'd be ready for anything. Connie thought she'd be ready for anything.

They hadn't expected… well. This.

For several seconds, the two groups stared at each other in silence. Connie was grateful that Steven looked more like himself again, but she didn't recognize the other Quartzes with him. Where did they come from? Were they from Little Homeschool? And why was Steven hanging around Jasper? What was going on?

She didn't have much time to dwell on this, as everything escalated soon after that.

The Crystal Gems were quick to draw their weapons at the sight of Jasper. Sensing a threat to their Diamond, the two Quartzes sprang into action, throwing themselves in front of Steven and charging.

"Wait!" Jasper barked, "Don't!"

She rushed in after them, but it was already too late. The Crystal Gems made short work of them, and Connie watched Steven's devastated flinch as their gems clinked against the asphalt.

"Idiots!" Jasper roared. She came at them next, leaping through the dissipating clouds where the Quartzes had stood, her helmet gleaming in the yellow light of the street lamps.

Connie unsheathed her sword, but Garnet pushed her behind them, taking half a second to mouth the words 'Get Steven' to her.

The gems engaged in a power struggle with Jasper while Connie slid onto Lion's back, locking her legs in place and racing to get between Steven and the fight. She watched Steven run towards her, and she felt a little warmth at the familiar, endearing concern on his face.

"No! Don't hurt her!" He cried, desperately reaching a hand out. Connie shook her head, trying to reassure him.

"Steven, I'm fi-"

He ran right past her, headed towards Jasper.

...What the hell? Connie thought.

She got in front of him again, blocking his path and dismounting Lion to grab him by the wrists.

"Steven!" She cried. "Wait a- W- Where have you been?!"

"Let go of me!" He cried, pulling away and glaring at Connie with such anger and agitation that her head spun. This was… new.

She swallowed, trying to regain some composure.

"Steven, what's wrong?"

"Why do you care?" He asked. He refused to look at her, staring Lion in the eyes and trying to get past him. His success was minimal, Lion just kept moving in front of him.

"What? What even- Steven, we've been looking for you everywhere!" Connie shouted, grabbing him by the shoulders and finally, finally getting his full attention. He shrugged her hands off, but remained facing her.

"...I didn't think you'd be that upset about it…" He said, holding his elbows and looking away. Connie sputtered.

"Why would we not- I've called, texted- Do you know how many hours I've slept this week? Because I can't even remember!"

He looked at her, mouth forming into an angry frown.

"So now you've got time. Now you care." She took a step back, and his fingers curled tightly into the fabric of his jacket. "Well, I'm sorry, but I'm. I'm being my own person now. This is my choice. So leave me the fuck alone."

Connie knew that it wasn't all his fault, that he wasn't in a good mindset (she'd already been debriefed on his weird behavior the morning before he vanished), but damn. Some of that stuff hurt.

"Well, I'm sorry that everything I gave you wasn't enough!" She blurted, and Steven's eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry for answering the late night texts before exam day mornings! Spending every spare scrap of time I had with you, even when I was- when I already had homework and chores and- and college planning! Turning down party invites and friends and- just because you needed somebody to hold your hand! And I'm sorry I gave up having a normal childhood to be part of yours."

Once she'd started, she couldn't stop, spewing out hateful things she hadn't even thought about until the moment they left her mouth. "I'm sorry that it wasn't enough, Steven. I'm sorry that this is the real world, that I couldn't be your life raft twenty-four seven because you won't see a therapist, which, uh. You have time and money for, by the way. So I'm sorry. What about you?"

She stood there panting for two, maybe three seconds, before realizing what she'd just said to him.

She didn't know what kind of reaction she expected. The Steven she'd known two weeks ago probably would've broke into tears, and while he'd appreciate the emotional honesty, it didn't mean he was well-equipped to deal with everything she'd just unloaded on him.

Maybe he'd start glowing, swelling up, powers overworking to protect him from any perceived threats.

Or maybe he'd talk her down, focus on soothing her anger and apologizing for the way he'd been acting. Maybe they'd forgive each other, and they'd all go home and Connie would get to sleep restfully again.

But instead, he just looked her in the eye with an expression somewhere between resentment and hopelessness.

"I'm sorry I was such a burden to you." He said, voice completely flat.

Somehow, this was so much worse than any of the other possibilities. She opened her mouth, maybe to take the words back, to make fruitless apologies, but then there was a sound like a sack of flour being dropped from a high window. Steven suddenly had emotion back on his face, staring at something behind her.

Jasper had been poofed.

Garnet reached down to bubble her, while Pearl and Amethyst went after the remaining gemstones. Before they could even blink, several tall, hexagonal panels plowed into them, knocking them off their feet.

Steven rushed in with unnatural speed, grabbing up the prone gems and stuffing them into his pockets. He skidded on the wet tarmac as he turned, intending to make a mad dash for his car. His keys were already in hand, but the Crystal Gems rushed in to block him.

Connie stood by, watching, feeling considerably useless. Talking had been her best bet, and she already screwed that up. She certainly couldn't subdue Steven physically, and while the sword wouldn't be totally ineffective, she didn't want to actually hurt him.

...She'd already succeeded in doing that.

Steven managed to fend off Pearl and Garnet, using his super strength to throw them off, but with Amethyst, he got cocky. He held the keys high past the reach of her arms, backing up toward the Dondai, but Amethyst had learned long ago how to win a game of Keep-Away with him.

A cruel grin spread across her face, and she dug her fingers deep into his sides, tickling without mercy.

He broke into upset giggles, elbows reflexively coming down to protect his sensitive ribs, and she snatched the keys.

"Hey!" He cried, lunging after Amethyst. But she reeled her arm back, throwing them to Pearl who threw them to Garnet who threw them back to Amethyst.

They played Monkey in the Middle with him a few more rounds before he finally had it.

"ENOUGH!" He screamed, the sound carrying with such force that the pavement cracked and the gems were nearly sent off their feet. Lion jumped in front of Connie protectively, even though she was out of the blast radius. The keys were shook from Pearl's shock-loosened grasp, landing onto the shiny asphalt a few meters away.

A second passed, then two, and then everyone was scrambling for them.

Angrily, Steven created a floating wall and sent it towards the gems, intending to muscle his way past them.

"Dude, how are you even doing that?" Amethyst asked, trying to hold her ground with little success. Even Garnet wasn't strong enough to break the dense pink material. A brief flicker of confusion crossed Steven's face, but then Garnet leapt over his defenses, deftly catching Steven by the wrists.

"Steven, don't- we don't want to hurt you. We just want to talk." Said Garnet.

"Well I don't!" Steven shot back, using Garnet's own weight to swing her to the ground. He stumbled to his feet, but Amethyst was already ahead of him.

"Nope!" She cried. The only other warning Steven got was the crack of her whip. The thick rope, usually studded with sharp, purple crystals, was smooth, and softer than what she'd usually use. It wrapped around his upper body, completely immobilizing his arms. Pearl used a bo staff (which looked suspiciously like her spear, minus the sharp end), to catch him in the legs, tripping him and sending him to the ground. He gave a pained wheeze, losing all air in his lungs.

The gems approached him cautiously, and he struggled desperately in the bonds, grunting in aggravation.

"Steven, i-it's alright." Pearl said. "We're, Steven, we're worried about you! You won't answer our calls, you won't talk to Connie! Just tell us what's wrong!"

"We just want to make sure you're alright, man." Said Amethyst.

"Steven, we love you." Said Garnet.

Steven had stopped fighting for the most part, but still wouldn't look any of them in the eye. He gave a sad little huff, looking defeated, and the rest of the gems inched closer.

"...But what on Earth were you thinking!" Pearl squawked. Garnet and Amethyst both sent her worried looks, shaking their heads.

"Shutting us out, Running off with- Jasper of all gems!"

Steven tensed.

"We're going home, and you're going to explain everything, young man."

"I- I didn't do it! I didn't do- I didn't do any of it!" He screamed at them.

"...What?" Amethyst asked, puzzled. "Do… what?"

"Ugh, Steven, we don't have time for this." Said Pearl. She approached him, making to pick him up, but a pink glow flared over his skin.

Amethyst flinched as the ropes began to snap, one by one, and seconds later he was free. They tried to go after him again, but he dodged, lurching forward to swipe the keys on his way to the car.

"Steven. Steven. Don't get in that car. Steven!" Pearl screamed.

Steven held her gaze, glaring at her relentlessly as he slammed the door to the Dondai.

"Do not- Do not leave in that car! Don't you do it!"

She howled with indignation at the sound of the engine starting, clenching her fists as he sped away. She turned, racing back to the spot they'd hidden Greg's van with others at her heels. Connie broke from her frozen position, racing after the group atop Lion.

Greg cried out in shock when she ripped open the door on the driver's side, shoving him into the passenger seat and getting behind the wheel.

"That boy is in soooo much trouble." Pearl said through a storm of maniacal giggling. The others piled in the back, while Greg shot out frantic questions.

"What happened? Was Jasper there? Did you find Steven?"

Garnet shook her head at him, signaling him to keep quiet. Pearl was muttering to herself all the while, but made sure everyone was wearing their seatbelts. Even Amethyst buckled in.

"I taught that little shit how to drive." Pearl growled, wrenching the ignition so hard it almost cracked. "If he wants to test me, so fucking be it."

The car roared to life, and then they were flying down the street after Steven. Rubber squealed and dust flew, hills bucked and rolled like waves. The Dondai roared and swerved on the road ahead, taking last minute turns and weaving through residential neighborhoods.

Pearl was a much more experienced driver, having learned some time around the 1940's. She'd been a little hesitant to try cars at first, considering them dangerous and inefficient, but not every place on Earth had a functional warp pad. That, and Rose had been dating a rum runner at the time. Pearl had needed to step up her game.

However, Steven had much faster reflexes on his side. This was partly because he was a Diamond, but some of the credit had to go to his shorter limbs.

Pearl managed to follow him through every winding turn, though, staying on his tail through mazes of suburbs and town streets, never losing sight of him for more than a few seconds. Because of Pearl's reckless driving, everybody had needed to hang on to something, especially Greg, who'd been left clutching his chest and trying not to hyperventilate (he was failing. Badly).

After chasing him onto an old country road, they thought they finally had him.

Then, not half a mile later, he vanished.

"W-Wher- Where did he go?" Amethyst asked breathlessly. The road had only two lanes, and there wasn't an exit until at least two miles out. There was nothing out there but old barns in the distance, sparse trees, and the occasional weathered billboard.

Then Pearl slammed on the breaks, throwing everyone forward in their seats.

"Oh, ho ho no! I taught you that." She muttered angrily.

Pearl gripped the clutch, tugging it harshly as she executed a brisk K turn.

"Taught him what?" Greg croaked.

They realized what she meant when the car was fully turned around. There he was, hiding behind the billboard they had sped past not thirty seconds previously.

She saw a brief but satisfying gleam of surprise pass over Steven's face, before he angrily slipped back onto the road.

Pearl cackled insidiously, slamming her slender foot down on the gas. The car gave a primeval screech as it leapt from 0 to 80, and the chase resumed.

Unfortunately for Steven, he'd used up his last trick. They were on a straightaway, and the van was catching up. While the Dondai was lighter and more streamlined, Pearl had personally repaired and updated the van after it flipped, and she never let an inefficiency go uncorrected.

They were closing in on him, the van's superior, modified engine giving it a heavy advantage. It wouldn't be long before they'd reach him, bumper to bumper.

"If you get close enough," Amethyst said, "I could climb out and jump on him."

"Good idea." Pearl said.

Steven drifted left onto a main road, barely missing them. In the time it took for the van to make the turn, he'd already entered the highway.

...Going the wrong way through an exit.

The van skidded to a stop.

"Holy shit guys." Amethyst breathed. Garnet leaned forward and adjusted her visor, mouth gaping, and Connie froze in horror.

"What is he…?" Pearl asked, anger all but drained from her voice, replaced by frightened shock.

"What is he doing!?" Greg screamed, throwing his head out the window as if it would help him see something else.

A symphony of honks and yelling rose into the night air as Steven sped towards oncoming traffic, dodging cars left and right. Thankfully, the road wasn't too crowded, considering it was four AM, but there were just the correct number of vehicles to make Greg faint from shock.

They watched, absolutely dumbfounded, as he swung around and re-entered in the right direction. Soon after, his car disappeared over a bridge, going at least thirty over and diving past cars without using the turn signal. They slumped down in their seats, accepting defeat.

Amethyst, who arguably had the emotional durability of an English medic during World War I, was the quickest to recover.

"Yo, what the fuck happened to him?" She asked. Garnet just looked at her, gripping the back of Greg's seat so hard it almost ripped. Connie seemed like she wanted to throw up.

"I… I don't know." Pearl whispered.


Jasper reformed less than an hour later, restless and humiliated. She was glad that her Diamond had been able to escape, but she couldn't help her bruised ego. Her job had been to protect him, and she'd failed.

She stood up, looking around the mill and realizing that he'd left her to rest on top of his folded jacket. The base was the quietest it'd ever been since the new Quartzes had arrived, and Jasper was surprised by the soldiers' unusually subdued manner. They actually looked… respectful, for once.

She found Steven up in the loft, sitting by a large, glassless window, staring at the sunrise. He held a Quartz in each hand; neither of them had reformed yet. He wasn't crying, thank the stars, but he did seem very, very tired.

She sat down next to him, but he didn't look at her. For a while, neither said anything, and Jasper was glad about that. She wasn't really good with words.

"We need to move soon." Steven finally said. His voice was rough and gravelly, betraying how upset he was. "They know we're here. Or, they will soon."

"Mmn." Jasper hummed, giving a small nod. When she looked at him, she saw that his eyes had welled up.

"There really is no going back, is there?" He asked, voice wet and shaky.

He looked up at her, and she realized she was supposed to say something.

"No." She said, hoping he'd take the simple answer and be satisfied.

But then he sniffled, curling in on himself, and his grip on the Quartzes intensified. Jasper realized he was shaking.

She didn't really think about what she did next, but out of all the impulsive things she had done in her very long life, it wasn't the most regrettable choice she'd made (it was kind of up there, though).

Quietly, she wrapped an arm around his shoulders in a weird side hug. She knew it was awkward, it certainly felt awkward, and she'd been just about ready to pull away when he cuddled into her side, sighing and closing his eyes.

They stayed like that for a little while, and though Steven's breath would sometimes hitch, and he'd shed a few stray tears, he didn't break apart. Just the power in knowing she was behind that made the hug seem… more important somehow. Useful, effective.

She had effectively prevented him from becoming a sobbing mess, as he was prone to do. This was… progress.

"...Hey Jasper?"

"Yes, My Diamond?"

"...Do you think we'll need a bus? To move the troops?" He asked. They both took a moment to think. Steven seemed to do some math in his head, and then his eyes widened.

"...Two buses…" He whispered.

"...what's a bus?" Jasper asked.