"Best Friends?"

Summary: Tommy Quincy hates Jamie Andrews with a passion. But why? Takes place after "Date With the Night."

Disclaimer: All chapter titles are songs by Fall Out Boy. Also I don't own anything related to "Instant Star" except for a couple of Jude-centric fantasies.

Author's Note: Well that was quite a cliffhanger wasn't it? So I guess you're wondering if he's really dead, huh? Well, sorry no Tommy in this chapter though there are some revelations.

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Jamie followed Jude out of her house. "Well," he started, "that was interesting in a way that I never want to experience again."

Jude smiled and took his hand. "It'll be okay. I'm pretty sure they're glad it was you."

Before Jamie could respond, a large group of photographers and cameramen were upon them. "Shit," Jamie cursed, throwing his arm around Jude protectively. As the herd of paparazzi began shouting questions at them, Jamie half-pulled, half-carried Jude to her car. Once the two were inside he floored it, making sure to get just a little too close to some of the photographers.

The duo reached G Major to find it a scene of likewise chaos and they were saved from having to push their way through the crowd when Liam and a phalanx of security guards appeared to usher them inside. "Everything all right?" the Irishman asked once they were safely inside.

Jude nodded. "Thanks."

"No sweat," Liam dismissed. "So...how are you holding up?"

Jude shrugged. "Okay, I guess."

Jamie squeezed her shoulder and asked, "So what's the game plan?"

The vice president of G Major cast a sideways glance at Darius' office before whispering, "We need to talk."

Jude and Jamie shared a look before following Liam into his office. "What's up?" Jude asked.

"I think I know who's behind your blackmail and Tommy's kidnaping," Liam said quietly. He peeked outside and motioned for Jamie to close the door.

"Who?" Jude asked nervously.

Liam took a deep breath. "This can't leave this office, you understand?" Once they had nodded he said, "Darius arranged for this whole thing."

Jude and Jamie both looked at each other, confusion and disbelief on their faces."Listen carefully," Liam said. "I'm not who you think I am. I'm a plant. I work for the F.B.I. We're working in joint with several other agencies on this case."

"What case?"

"We have reason to believe that Darius may be using G Major as a front for drug trafficking. Tommy had some inside information and he was supposed to testify against Darius. When Tommy took off we believe Darius instigated this blackmail plot to bring him back so that he could take Tommy out of the picture."

"This doesn't make any sense," Jude whispered.

"Listen," Liam said. "We discovered why Tommy left."

"His goddaughter," Jude said. Liam gave her a puzzled look and a second too late Jamie realized what was about to happen.

"Anna isn't his goddaughter. She's his daughter."

"What?" Jude turned to face Jamie. "You said that she was his goddaughter."

"I told you that so you wouldn't get pissed at him," Jamie defended. "I thought he should be the one to tell you." Jude seemed to accept his excuse for the moment but the look on her face said that they would talk about it later.

"Can I continue?" Liam asked. After he received no objections he went on. "Anna's mother recently passed away from what appeared to be natural causes. However, upon further inspection the M.E. determined that she was actually poisoned. Two days prior to this Darius was in Montana on business. Anna had been staying with a friend; the body wasn't discovered until she got back."

Jude took a deep breath and grabbed Jamie's hand. Could what Liam was saying be true? Was Darius the one behind the whole kidnaping/blackmail plot? "Why the money?"

"Excuse me?" Liam asked.

"The money. The blackmailer wanted money right?"

"A diversion," Liam answered, shaking his head. "How else would it work?"

"But...if you think that Darius is behind this, why don't you arrest him?" Jamie questioned.

"Unfortunately all the evidence we have against him is circumstantial at best. We need something concrete. Otherwise he'll get off scot-free."

Jude rubbed her face and said, "What now?"

Liam stood. "I think we have to got about business as usual. I just wanted to let you know the situation you're in."

Jude thanked him and walked out of the office, Jamie behind her. "I think I'm gonna be sick," she whispered to him. "Take me home?"

Jamie nodded. It was all he could do.

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Jamie lay in Jude's bed replaying Liam's words in his head. After the two had arrived back at the Harrison house, sans press, Jude had pulled him back upstairs and...Jamie blushed at the memory of what had happened after. But now that the distractions were over and Jude was sleeping next to him, Jamie began to go over the meeting with Liam.

He was shocked at first to hear Liam accusing Darius of being behind the plot but, somehow, on a deeper level he kinda of already knew. Although he'd never told anyone, shortly after Liam had hired him, Jamie had found a clerical error on the books and corrected it. Darius had been furious but a few days later, he'd apologized. If what Liam said was true, and Darius was using G Major as a front for drugs, then the confrontation made more sense. He still, however, had a hard time seeing Darius as a murderer. The guy was like an uncle to everyone. 'I guess you don't always know someone,' Jamie thought to himself.

Jude rolled over and Jamie was surprised to see she was awake. "Hey," she grinned, draping her arm over his chest.

"Hey," Jamie said back. As the two drew closer Jude's phone began ringing. Jamie silently cursed the heavens as he reached for it. "Hello?"

"Jamie." It was Liam. "You and Jude need to get down here now. We've found Tommy." There was a pause during which Jamie could hear Liam close his door.

"He's dead."

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Author's Note 2: I promise next chapter, or maybe the one after that, you'll find out if Tommy's really dead. Just remember: I did say someone was going to die.