Don't Underestimate Us- part 1- Hard-ball:

That night as the girls went home they planned out a few more things they could do over the weekend as they knew things were looking up, while Mouth and Brianna texted Loraina. If they were going to go the black markets, they were going to go in a group.

(**)

Brianna was outside with Jackie and Kendall that Thursday night, Loraina and Dante ready in the car.

"Are you sure you girls can handle the boys?" Brianna questioned.

"Bri we'll be fine." Kendall told her.

"She's right, we got this. You guys just be careful okay." Jackie agreed.

"Okay." Brianna nodded as she went over to the car. "We should be back by Monday, the latest Tuesday, being that I guess the sellers are having a special event or whatever this weekend that's lasting until then." She reminded. "As according to Mouth who left this afternoon to get some feelers out there for us."

"Yeah with Eli, who doesn't mind missing school…" Loraina rolled her eyes. "Your brother." She told Dante.

"I could have told you that." He shrugged.

"Also Nicolette, Teena and Scarlet will be doing guard duty on the city line borders." Brianna continued. "Seeing as we know this town likes to have trouble." She let out a heavy breath with that. "If anything does happen, just call them."

"We know." Kendall nodded. "We'll be okay, we got this." She assured her.

"Okay." Brianna spoke, as she got in the car. "We'll see you guys soon, hopefully with something to help the boys." The girls nodded.

"Good luck." They commented before the three drove away, Jackie and Kendall waving. Once they were out of focus and range, Jackie and Kendall glanced at one another.

"Go?" Jackie asked in a whisper. Kendall waited a bit more.

"Let's go." She finally replied, knowing this was their only chance. "But remember tread lightly, being that Kick will definitely warn Gunther from my end if he senses something wrong with what we're doing and vice versa."

"Got it." Jackie agreed as she went to Gunther's, Kendall going inside Kick's place.

(*)

Jackie brought up some food for Gunther, going into his room. He smiled at her when she came in.

"I'm assuming the others left?" He spoke. She nodded as she placed his food near him, then went to grab some bandages and medicines so she could change his bandages when he was done.

"They'll be back next week." She informed, as he started eating, she noticed it being a bit difficult for him, at least when he sat up. She bet it was still a lingering pain in his abdomen or side from sitting up.

"I know." He replied. She sat down next to him.

"Gunther…" He was eating a bit more, but she could see him wince every so often, as she helped, though he tried his best to make it seem like he didn't need it. "What…what if they can't find anything?" She questioned.

"Then…" He breathed, before taking a sip of his water. "Kick and I will have to wait for our moms." He figured, as he continued to eat carefully. She didn't much like that response, and wasn't sure how to go about with her next statements or questions, especially with everything she knew now. She knew she had to tread lightly here. She slightly glanced over at the tablet bottle which had barely any tablets left. She figured he might have a few days left, at best, considering his pain and the situation as he was taking more. She let out a small breath.

"Do you think you guys can with how bad you guys are?" Jackie asked.

"We're not that bad Jackie…" He tried to defend, as he finished his drink and food. However, the look Jackie gave him said otherwise, and he swallowed a bit hard, which hurt more than he needed.

"Everyone is worried Gunther." Jackie told him.

"Jackie…"

"And for good reason." She interrupted him, a look still in her eyes. "You guys have never experienced this kind of poison before." She brought up. "More to it never had anything like this happen." He glanced away with that. 'Let's just say it's been a while since we've had a fight like this…' He thought about it. "You and Kick may do crazy, outrageous stunts, but I doubt they can prepare you for this." She continued. "I mean everyone is worried, even Brianna, Scarlet and Teena said something, and normally they're the ones who would say you guys bounce back like it's nothing, or whatever." She pointed out. "So when they say it's serious, Kendall and I know it's serious." She breathed.

"Jackie…we're not trying to worry you two." He reassured her.

"By what? Not telling me the whole truth?" She inquired. "Gunther I love you, but this is serious."

"Jackie I know, but your injuries were just as severe, and you said you were fine too, remember?" He pointed out.

"I was full of adrenaline, trying to not only survive, but save Kendall's life… although I think she kind of saved mine," Jackie thought about it, "But that's not the point either, as we were also trying to help and save you guys."

"Jackie, we're immortal." He argued. "As much, and I loved that you wanted to help, you two needed to get to safety, not put your lives in more danger, especially for us." He spoke. "Do you know how concerned we were out there, for both of you?" Jackie got a surprised expression with that. "That…that came out wrong…I just…Jackie, we didn't want anything to happen to you two." He further explained. "And like I said, I loved that you wanted to help, but I'm immortal, so I can risk so much more than you." He stated. "If he….It's just….you got hurt out there far too much…and knowing what could've happened…I just…" He breathed again, fumbling on his words thinking about what could have happened to her. He didn't like the thoughts, let alone if things had been worse, if she had gotten hurt worse. "I didn't want you worrying so much about me, when you were in way worse of a condition." He said. She let out her own breath with that, staring at him.

"I understand where you're coming from Gunther." She admitted. "I do. It's just you have to understand….both you and Kick," She started, "that we will want to help you two. No matter what. We love you both." She told him. "I love you Gunther. And I just…I don't care…" He stared at her with that unsure how to respond. "We just want to help. Want to make sure you two are okay. I want to make sure you're okay." She spoke. "Can you get that?" She asked. "So yeah, I may have been worse, and not immortal, but you do crazy things when you're in love Gunther." She reasoned. "Especially when you really care about them." He let out a sigh.

"I admit that's very true." He agreed. "Just…can you try to not keep doing it?" He let out small chuckle. "Both of you." He added. "You'll give Kick and I more anxiety than we need, plus like I said, we understand, but let us do the risky stuff, as that's our department, being we're used to that…" He quirked. "You know with stunts in all." She breathed out with that, rolling her eyes.

"We'll see…" She took his plate out of his room, before coming back in so she could change his bandages. 'If I brought up the blood thing now, there's no way he'd go for it, let alone talk to me about it…I have to think outside the box here, meaning I have to go with one of the other plans…' She thought as she placed some medicine on his deeper wounds that couldn't be healed by his cousins, and the poison was making worse. She then re-wrapped the new bandages around them. "You should get some rest." She smiled, helping him lay down. He nodded.

"Thanks Jackie." She covered him up. "You should get some rest too, being you have school tomorrow." He said.

"I will." She replied.

"Night Jackie, and I love you." She lightly kissed his forehead, blushing as she turned out the light.

"Love you too. Night." She walked out. 'I have to figure out which way to go about this…' She thought. 'I wonder if Kendall had any luck, although I doubt it, as Kick is far more stubborn then Gunther.' She let out a sigh, finishing the dishes, drying them and putting them away before walking back to her home.

As she walked in, she went to check in on her mom, who sometimes would get in late, going straight to bed, which she pegged on her work. She had yet to talk to her about many unresolved questions and matters, but given things right now, she had to place that stuff in the back of her mind. She still had so many questions, about so many things, from the stuff she learned about her birth, the hunting stuff, plus now this other stuff with Gunther. However, her main focus at the moment was getting Gunther better. So all she could do was a quick check on her mom, like she mostly did when she came home late, seeing she was in deep sleep, before she went up to her room. She was thankful her mom allowed her to stay over at Gunther's to help him. She lied saying he was sick. Even if she did know about this hunter stuff, she didn't want to bring it up and say Gunther was attacked by a vampire, let alone she was too. She did not want to think about how her mom might react finding out these things, especially if it might lead to her saying she couldn't date Gunther anymore or something along those lines. Her mom did like Gunther and Kick, but her mom did have some dating limits, and Jackie was sure being attacked would exceed them.

Jackie let out a breath as she entered her room. Things were getting hectic. Although, that wasn't going to stop her from helping Gunther, she just needed a solid, full proof plan on how to do it. Then once that was done, she could get the other things that were clouding her mind settled. It was taking one thing at time.

(**)

The girls were at their lockers at lunch. Nicolette apparently had a meeting with Ms. Fitzpatrick, while Teena and Scarlet were on campus doing a few final scenes for one of the episodes on their show. They were close enough, but the girls decided this was as good of a chance as any to talk alone, as they headed to the library.

"Did you get anywhere last night?" Kendall wondered.

"Besides a small argument, sort of discussion about not getting into danger ever again, no." Jackie replied. "Pretty much, bringing up this topic, it leads to another, not to mention we both know they're not going to go for it." Jackie folded her arms as they sat down.

"Tell me about it." Kendall agreed.

"How'd it go on your end?"

"Rather the same, although you can say there wasn't much of a discussion, but an avoidance of the issue entirely." Kendall breathed. "He won't talk to me about it, and if I'm to bring it up today I can guarantee it will be the same thing."

"Then try a stronger approach." Jackie suggested. "Personally I think I might." She thought about it.

"Do that, and everything gets blown." Kendall spoke. "Remember we have to tread lightly." She reminded.

"I don't think we have the affordability to tread lightly Kends." Jackie countered. Kendall let out a breath.

"Maybe….but we have to try…" Kendall said. "Try today…if all else fails, then tonight go hard, and tomorrow harder until they take it." She told her. "We only have this weekend." Jackie nodded.

"Done." She agreed. "But if he doesn't budge by dinner, I'm going hard." Kendall let out another breath, relenting to the idea.

"Okay, I'll be prepared myself then." She remarked.

"This was somewhat your idea remember." Jackie raised an eyebrow at her.

"I know, but we both know how these boys are, and I'm trying to be smart about it. Even sneaky, seeing how stubborn they are with everything." Kendall responded.

"Yeah well unfortunately we have don't have time for that, plus let's face it," Jackie stared hard at her, "We can be just as stubborn, if not more. So let's do this." She encouraged. Kendall chuckled at that.

"Let's." She replied.

(**)

Jackie and Kendall walked back into the neighborhood, Kendall going to Kick's place while Jackie went to Gunther's. As she walked in, Jackie's mind couldn't help but race of new ideas of what to do or even how to approach the blood issue. She went into Gunther's room, going to grab his breakfast tray and plates. He was napping luckily, which she figured was because he had a hard time sleeping, as he said this morning. So she assumed after eating, he probably tried to sleep.

After taking his plates to the kitchen, washing the dishes and putting them away, she went back into his room. She couldn't help grabbing his tablet bottle. She unscrewed the cap, counting the tablets, knowing he took more yesterday, than the day before, and would probably do the same today. He was going to run out by Sunday, maybe even tomorrow, depending on how much he would take today. And with his condition, she knew this wouldn't be good. She had enough research of her own, plus the books she read, to know he needs blood, whether it's this or the real thing. And the fact this supplement isn't helping, in fact can't help or heal him, like the real thing. She knew he needed the real thing. She let out a breath.

"Jackie…." She heard her name, which caused her to drop a few tablets. She didn't mean to do that, so quickly went to pick them up, putting them back into the bottle, closing it.

"Sorry…I um….I didn't mean to wake you…" She gulped, as she wasn't expecting him to be awake, nor him to startle her like that. He quirked an eyebrow. She placed his bottle back on his shelf near his television. "Do…do you want me to change your bandages or…."

"What were you doing?" He asked, curious.

"I was just….just curious about something…" Jackie answered, trying to figure out how to avoid and respond to this question correctly. He eyed her with that.

"Really?" He sat up a bit, which made her go over.

"Gunther…." She was worried, as she didn't want him to strain himself.

"Curious about what?" He continued, still looking at her. She was caught off guard by that.

"Curious….about your tablet supply…" She confessed. "You're running extremely low and I'm worried." She swallowed. "I'm allowed to be worried Gunther."

"I told you I'll be fine Jackie." He commented. "You don't have to worry about that."

"Maybe so…" She replied. "But…." She breathed. "I can't help but be so." She said. "Like what happens when you run out and how that will affect you, especially in your current state."

"Jackie…" He still stared at her, his look softening. "I'll will be okay. I've handled that kind of thing before. So it will be okay." He assured.

"In this kind of situation?" She asked. He let out a small huff, as he wasn't liking the fact she wasn't letting this go.

"Not precisely…." He admitted. "But I'll still be okay, as I have faced a lot, and like Kick, I'm determined and stubborn." He told her. "So you don't have to worry." She had a small hum to that, as she got up, nodding. 'Ain't that the truth…' She thought, not liking it, knowing this fact all too well.

"Guess I'll get dinner ready then." She walked out, heading to the kitchen. He watched her walk out.

'Kick, I don't like how much she's asking about the tablets.' Gunther was concerned as he communicated his thoughts in his head.

'Neither do I.' Kick responded. 'They're asking a lot of questions.' He mentioned.

'I know.' Gunther agreed. 'Is Kendall doing the same?' He wondered.

'It's subtle, but you can say she is.' Kick replied. 'The point is I don't like where this can lead, being both of them are close.' Gunther let out a breath, which hurt slightly, as he winced.

'I know…' He reasoned. 'But I think we still can be able to control this.'

'Agreed, just keep on your guard with how we respond to them.' Kick answered.

'Right.'

(*)

Jackie was in the kitchen cutting up some vegetables for a soup. She placed in the broth, some thickening cream in a pot, and in another pan onions and the vegetables to cook, before placing them in the pot. She stirred them, adding in spices, a bay leaf, some herbs and a few other ingredients, then letting it simmer. She placed a timer on. She let out a breath as she glanced at the knife holder, taking out one of the sharper ones. She looked at her reflection in it, her fingers tapping on the counter. She put it back, grabbing her phone.

"Time to play hard…" She whispered as she sent a text to Kendall. The reply she got, instant as it was the okay she needed. She grabbed a water bottle, left the kitchen and went back into Gunther's room.

"It smells good." He complimented. She smiled.

"Does it, glad to hear." She grabbed his tablet bottle, opening it, and giving him the two items. As she suspected he had more today than he did yesterday. She wasn't even sure if he was going to have enough for Sunday, as he might finish the bottle tomorrow. She watched as he downed the bottle, taking both, when he was done. "Do you want me to do your bandages?"

"Don't you normally do that after I eat?" He asked.

"Yes, but I can do it now as I have time." She offered. He was a little suspicious but let it slide.

"I guess, if you want to." He agreed. She grabbed what she needed, helping him sit up, getting the old bandages off, doing the usual routine she's use to. She finished rewrapping him with clean bandages and had medicine on his wounds, throwing away the used ones. She helped him lay back down.

"Better?" She question.

"I think you're getting faster at that." He admitted.

"I've done it enough times now." She responded, getting up, putting the stuff away. She glanced at his tablet bottle.

"That's true." He nodded. She walked over to it picking it up, he swallowed. "Jackie…" She glanced at him. "I told you it's fine." She let out a breath.

"You did." She confessed.

"So don't worry about it." He said. She let out a huff before pressing her lips.

"Can I ask something?" She began. "You and Kick said this was supposed to be a substitute, correct?" He bit the inside of his cheek, definitely not liking where this was going. "If I remember, though, you compared it to a vitamin that humans take." She continued. "Which if I remember health class, vitamins are taken with the real think, not in place of." She recalled. "We don't stop eating fruits and vegetables, protein or whatever the substitute is. We add to it if we need more with vitamins." She explained. "Which made me realize, your tablets are just a vitamin aren't they, not a substitute, which is why they're not working." She stared at him. "It's the point you're not getting the actual thing."

"Jackie…." Gunther really hated this.

"Am I not right?" She interrupted. He glanced away briefly, swallowing thickly as this is not what he wanted right now.

"I'm not drinking your blood Jackie." Gunther retorted, a roughness in his tone, as he was hating this topic. She stared hard at him.

"Really?" She remarked. "I bet you have drank other girls' blood." She mentioned, which threw him as he glanced at her with that. "So what's the difference with me?" She questioned. He swallowed again, a brief moment of silence passing them. "You can drink my blood Gunther and get healed." She told him. "We both know this." He was about to argue back, but a buzzard went off in the kitchen, gathering both of their attentions. He was rather thankful for that.

"You best go get that." He spoke up, the tension still heavily there between them. She glanced back at him as he stared at her. She placed his tablets back down.

"Fine." She said, walking out, 'But I'm far from done, this is just getting started…' She thought as she went into the kitchen. He let out a breath, relief hitting him although at the same time he was hating this. 'Damnit…' He thought. 'She better quit. She has no idea what she's….damnit Jackie, she's too smart and curious with this.' He continued.

It didn't take her long to come back with a tray, she had a small bowl of soup, a spoon, a loaf of bread and a bread knife. She placed the tray carefully near him, as he sat up. She grabbed the loaf and knife. "Want some bread?" She asked. He had his eyes trained on her, not only suspicious of her, but certain of where this could go.

"No thank you, I don't need bread with my soup." He replied. She shrugged.

"Guess I'll eat it." She commented, he narrowed his eyes at that, knowing exactly what she might pull. In a swift movement he had the soup on his nightstand, the knife out of her hands safely, and had thrown it at the opposite wall, close to the ceiling. She was shocked he did that so quickly, but also angered by it, she glared at him. "You think I won't get that or another one from the kitchen."

"Try it Jackie, they'll all end up there or a place you can't get." He warned, ignoring the pain he felt, as his adrenaline was rushing through him. "I have enough energy to keep them away from you." He continued. "I'm not drinking your blood." He argued.

"And why the hell not?" She snapped, slamming the bread down a bit hard next to his bowl. "You know it will help you."

"Because I'm not doing it. I'm not putting you in that danger." He countered.

"Danger?" She laughed. "What danger? Why can't you see I'm trying to help you?" She defended.

"Because I'm not going to do it Jackie!" He retorted, the anger rising in both of them. "I'm not drinking your blood." He reiterated.

"Give me one good reason why damnit!" She demanded.

"Jackie think logically about this." Gunther told her.

"I am thinking logically." She remarked. "The one who seems to not be thinking logically here is you." She mentioned. "Having my blood will help you. It will heal you, how is that not logical?" She questioned, her fury rising more.

"Because I am not putting you in that danger Jackie, you don't know what your blood will do to me." He responded. "What you do to me." He added. "I don't want to lose control." She let out a huff hearing this, rolling her eyes.

"What, would…would you kill me?" She asked, her voice calmer now, the question taking him off guard, as she stared at him seriously. He swallowed, trying to breathe.

"Jackie…that's…" He tried to think of what to say.

"Would you kill me?" She repeated, wanting to know. "If you would be so out of control because of my blood," She spoke. "Would you?" She wondered.

"Of course not Jackie…" He let out a breath. "But that's not….that's not the point here." He reasoned.

"Then if you won't kill me, what's the problem?" Jackie questioned, folding her arms now as she gave him a serious look.

"The problem is I will be in an uncontrollable state." He replied. "And I don't want to be like that with you. Ever."

"But I'm sure you'll drink some other girl's blood?" She commented.

"Damnit Jackie, where is this coming from?" Gunther questioned.

"You have, haven't you?" She inquired. "You don't have to hide or lie about it as you must have, to take it with those tablets." She was still serious. "I'm not mad about it….just…just what's the difference from them to me?" She asked, her hand on her chest as she was curious. "I want to help you."

"Even if I may have, yes, a while back," He confirmed. "I'm not now." He said. "And I'm not drinking your blood." She gave him a hard look. "It's the point…I gave it up."

"Why?" She was getting hurt by this. "When all I'm trying to do is help you, make sure you're okay, why?" She was not wanting to cry again as she was getting frustrated. He saw, swallowing hard, hating this more.

"Because I'm not going to hurt you like that, I'm not going to go into a state like that with you, and I'm not going to do something regrettable that will affect us both." He answered. "I'm not drinking your blood." A few tears came down her cheeks when she heard that last reason.

"Regret huh…" She whispered pressing her lips together. "Well I hope you don't make a decision that you'll regret right now…" He heard that as she started to walk to his door. He started to sit up more, the pain striking him suddenly as his adrenaline was wearing down. He let out a few sounds.

"Jackie, don't…" He breathed. She glanced back at him, both locking eyes.

"I just want to help, but you won't let me." She told him.

"I don't want to hurt you." He replied. She pressed her lips, a few mores tears coming down, as she let out a huff.

"And yet…I'm hurt." She remarked, before turning and leaving. He let out a heavy breath after he heard the front door shut firmly and hard, still not believing what just happened. He leaned back on his bed, his hands going to eyes and forehead, fisting through his hair. He was frustrated, angry, sad, hurt and feeling a huge range of emotions. He really hated this now.

"Damnit Jackie…" He let out. "I understand you want to help, but…" He let out another groan hating the mixed emotions going through him.

'You okay buddy?' Kick came into his head.

"Other than hoping I didn't just lose my girlfriend and the one I love, yeah fucking fine." Gunther had a tone with the last few words.

'That was a pretty intense argument.' Kick noted.

"Intense is not the word I would use for it." Gunther countered. He let out another breath. "I get she wants to help, but she has no idea what that can do…what I can do."

'I know.' Kick agreed. 'Just give it a little time, maybe she'll come around to that idea.' He offered. 'I'm sure she'll understand.'

"I really hope…" Gunther thought about it as he didn't want to lose Jackie over this.

To be continued…

L: Damn! No, no, no, no! Like, Jackie and Gunther better not…no…like…no! That is not how I saw this going! I demand an update, demand next chapter now! Do not ruin my couple, they're beginning to become my favorite! They're my ship actually! Besides Kick and Kendall, and also surprisingly Mouth and Brianna. These are my main ships, don't sink them!

S: Don't worry, as always next chapter will be up soon.

L: It better be, I need more. Like right now! Update quickly! This is getting good!

S: Thank you.

L: To all the readers do what you guys like to do, as we hope you liked it- I know I do and need the next chapter like now.

S: You need the next chapter all the time.

L: Yes, yes I do, now give woman.

S: Oy…Again hope you liked and we shall see ya soon!

Both: Bye! Please, still keep safe and informed for yourself and others. Also please stand against tyranny that countries face like Ukraine, Taiwan and others. Thank you!