Best Friends? Chapter 23: You're Crashing, But You're No Wave, an instant star fanfic

"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: MyPassionateMusician, the girlfriend says, 'Hi'.

As soon as the call had come in, Agent Jason Gibbs had wanted to run and hide. There was no way out of this nightmare it seemed; but because it was his job, and because Special Agent in Charge Fenway would kill him if he didn't report this, he'd made the call to Agent Duhane and informed the man that Tommy Quincy was missing. And that, as Gibbs was to learn, was just the tip of the iceberg.

Liam burst into the safehouse where, up until an hour ago, Tommy was being kept. "What the hell happened?" Liam demanded, already feeling as though he could vomit any minute.

"We have no reason to believe Mr. Mills took him," one of the junior agents, Gibbs, reported without preamble.

'Thank god for small favors.' "Then what the hell happened?" Liam barked.

Gibbs fidgeted and Liam could tell something bad was coming. "We think...that he may have escaped."

Stuart Harrison sat in his kitchen, listening half-heartedly to 'London Calling'. It had been a record that he and Jamie had both loved, and there was many a night when they and Jude would just relax, listening as The Clash explored many different genres of music. But instead of the usual rebellious streak he felt when "Clampdown" came on, a slow painful memory of Jude and Jamie, aged eight, came as the two of them sat in the living room each trying to decipher Joe Strummer's words. It brought tears to his eyes to think that, in just ten years, the two of them had grown so much and that one of them could be gone forever. 'So could the other,' a little voice whispered.

Stuart tried to block out that kind of thinking but he knew better. Jude had been barely holding on since Tommy's death and the one thing that had kept her going was Jamie. But now he too was gone and Jude had no one to turn to. Except for him. And he as put away the dishes from the night's aborted meal he promised himself that he wouldn't let anything happen to Jude. Even if it meant killing that bastard Darius.

As if his thoughts could summon someone, Jude walked into the kitchen. "Hey," he greeted, not sure what to say to her exactly.

She gave him a small smile as she waved back and grabbed her coat. "I'm going for a walk," she said.

"I'll be right here," Stuart responded. As soon as she was out the door, he collapsed onto a nearby stool, the act of just talking to Jude now an immense task. Without warning a hand clasped over his mouth and a voice whispered, "Don't say a word."

Dr. Michael Sandmen rubbed his eyes and grabbed the coffee pot on the counter. Realizing it was empty the man sighed and asked a nurse to make some more. He'd just removed a bullet from a young man, who had been found alongside a road wearing no clothes, and now he faced the task of finding out just who the young man was. As he accepted a cup of coffee from the nurse he noticed two men in suits walking down the corridors very anxiously. 'This can't be good.'

"Gentlemen," he called out. "Can I help you with something?"

The two men approached and flashed badges at him. "I'm Special Agent Duhane," the first man said, "this my partner Agent Hawkes." The doctor shook their hands. "We've recently received word you've performed surgery on an unidentified young male."

Sandmen was impressed. The guys were fast. "Yes, sir. He's in recovery. We can't permit you to visit him but you can look in on him."

Duhane smiled. "If you would be so kind."

Sandmen led the two men to the teen's room. The two agents smiled at the sight. "Sir," Hawkes spoke into a cell, "we've got him."

"Is he wanted or something?" Sandmen asked Duhane.

The agent smiled. "Yes, doctor. He's wanted."

Liam hung up his phone and, for the first time in nearly a month, smiled. Duhane and Hawkes had found Jamie. The mysterious caller who'd tipped off the agency about Jamie's whereabouts was right. Which, unfortunately, meant that whoever the caller was, he most likely worked for Darius. This in turn meant that Jamie knew something vital about Darius' plan. Something that Darius no doubt had wanted Jamie to know and to reveal. As a million scenarios played through his head, one thought kept repeating itself until finally he turned to Gibbs and said, "Find Jude Harrison. Give her the news." He paused. "On second thought Gibbs, you're in charge of finding Tommy for right now. I wanna see the look on Jude's face when I tell her the news."

Stuart tensed his body, ready to fight off whoever it was that held him until the voice spoke again. "We don't have long. I can't be here when Jude comes back."

Almost instantly, Stuart recognized the voice. "Tommy?" he muttered.

The hand was off his mouth in a second and the stranger was in front of him. Although he looked vastly different there was no doubt in Stuart's mind that this man was Tommy.

"You're supposed to be dead."

Tommy grinned. "Everyone keeps saying that to me."

"What are you doing here?"

Tommy glanced around before finally saying, "I can't stay long, Stu. But there's something I need you to do for me."

"Are you sure?"

Jude looked at the little bag in Patsy's hand and nodded. She needed the release. To mourn for Jamie. "Alright, princess," Patsy chuckled. Jude handed her the money and Patsy gave her the coke. "A pleasure as always," Patsy smirked. If Jude hadn't been so preoccupied with Jamie's disappearance she might've noticed something off about Patsy's smile. But she didn't.

When Jude got home her Dad was nowhere to be found, which was just as good as far she was concerned. This way she could just go straight upstairs without any worry. As soon as she'd closed the door, she ripped open the bag and stared at the white powder. With almost no second thoughts about herself, she lost herself in it's beautiful numbness.

Sadie and Kwest entered the Harrison house, surprised to find it empty. "I knew we were gonna be late but...damn," Kwest joked.

Sadie punched her boyfriend playfully. "Shut up." Kwest leaned in for a kiss, and as she obliged him, a car pulled up in the driveway. Liam jumped out, a huge smile on his face. "Where's Jude?" he asked as soon as he ran up to them.

"I don't know," Sadie shrugged. The second the words left her mouth, there was a loud crash from upstairs. "That was Jude's room," she whispered, mostly to herself.

Liam and Kwest ran upstairs. Sadie ran behind them, fear enveloping her. She ran into the room right behind Kwest and stopped dead in her tracks at seeing Jude, splayed out across the floor convulsing, spittle flying out of her mouth. "What's happening?" she screamed.

"She's overdosing," Liam responded, while simultaneously picking Jude up.

"Oh god,"Sadie cried, following Liam. "The baby."