Encounter

Chapter 6: Can You Hear What I Can't Say?

Author's Note: I'm trying to keep up with all my stories, but I tell you, I hadn't realized how many I had going on at the same time. At any rate, here's the next chapter of this bad boy, and hopefully you like it. Things should be getting pretty interesting, let me know what you think. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

"Sam!"

Jackie felt the churning in her stomach that told her she just might get sick. Hearing Steven's words, and what she thought they might mean, she was sure that as soon as Donna left the two of them could talk, they could figure things out. Maybe not erase all the troubles and pains that they had between them, but at leaststart to heal. But now, there was no way. Not with the stripper hanging all over him, cooing idiotic nothings into his ear, holding on to him tightly. It made Jackie's skin crawl with hatred and jealousy and rage just thinking about it.

"Hey, baby." Jackie peeked to see the blonde brush passed Donna and kiss Hyde's cheek before collapsing onto the couch.

"What are you, I mean, why are you back so soon?" Hyde's voice sounded nervous, even to his own ears, and he looked at Donna helplessly. He'd just said he wanted to talk to Sam about his feelings for Jackie. But he hadn't meant right now.

"Well good to see you too." Hyde was relieved at her teasing tone, she hadn't caught on to his tenseness, or to the fact that she had so obviously interrupted something. "I switched shifts with another girl and got on an earlier flight. I just missed you so much." She scooted down the couch closer to him, and gave him a look that he assumed meant she wanted to be alone as she nodded towards his room.

Donna looked amused atSam's patheticattempt at subtletyas she stifled a laugh and raised a mocking eyebrow at him from her place on the couch.

"Huh. Well, Sam. I…" Hyde started, but was thankful when Donna cut him.

"Hey, Sam. I'm sure you did miss him, but we were actually in the middle of a discussion. Do you think you could excuse us for a few minutes. Thanks." Hyde knew Sam was not dumb enough to miss the threatening tone that underplayed Donna's request, so she looked to him hopefully, wanting him to ask her to stay,but when he remained silent, she retrieved her bag from the spot by the door and made her way to his room.

Hearing Samantha coming passed, Jackie sucked in her breath and prayed the blonde didn't notice her, not completely hidden by the curtain from all sides.

Once the door was shut, Jackie noticed that the two who remained had begun talking again, but this time their voices were more hushed, and she had to strain her ears to hear them.

"Donna, what do I do?"

"Exactly what you said you were going to. Tell her it's over."

"But, I mean, man, shouldn't I put it more delicately than that?"

"Steven Hyde, when have you ever said anything delicately?"

"Good point."

"Just go in there, and be like 'Sam, We need to talk.' And then, well, talk."

Jackie heard them shuffling and heard the basement door open, then she heard Donna's voice, in a more regular tone, speak again. "And Hyde…"

"Yeah, man?"

"Good luck."

Jackie heard the door close behind her friend, and she knew at last, her and Steven were alone in the basement.

Hyde let out his breath slowly. He was nervous, painfully so. And he hated it, because that was not zen, and he needed to be zen right now. He had appreciated everything his friends had done, but thinking about what he'd had with Jackie, or how he'd lost it, or how things were currently, was never easy for him, and he needed to keep hold of his zen so he wouldn't lose control.

Running his fingers through his curls, he wondered if he looked as tired as he felt, and just as he sighed, about to open the door to his room, he heard a pleading whisper, "Steven, wait."

And he turned around, surprised, horrified, angry, delighted – all at the sound of Jackie's voice.

"Jackie? What the hell are you doing back there? How long have you been back there?"

"I was eavesdropping, and long enough."

He narrowed his eyes at her, and he wasn't sure why, but of all the things he was feeling, perhaps anger was what he felt the most. "You were eavesdropping? Listening in on your friends? God, Jackie, what the hell is wrong with you? Have you no respect for people's privacy?"

"But, Steven…"

"Save it, Jackie. I'm not interested in how you justify it. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to bed." He knew he was being ridiculous. Sure, she had been listening in, but at the same time that didn't change the fact that he still meant all that'd he'd said, nor did it changewhat he had been prepared to do when he walked in there.

"No, Steven. Please, just hear me out." Her eyes were as big as he'd ever seen them, fearfully gazing at him. He could see the sparkle of adoration they always held when she looked at him, and it made his knees buckle slightly. He'd never understood how she could love him so much.

"Steven, I know I shouldn't have listened in. I didn't mean to, well not really anyway. You see after what you said this morning, I was so upset. All day I just kept thinking over and over how angry you had seemed, how much it seemed you wanted to hurt me, and well, my temper took over. I ignored Jacob all day. I barely got anything done, I just came up with all the things I could say that would upset you like you'd upset me. And I had it all planned out. I was going to come to you, and tell you that I was the best thing that ever happened to you and that you could either suck it up and apologize and promise not to mistreat me anymore, and I'd stay in your life, or I was gone and you'd never hear from me again. I was going to tell you that as much as I hate you for it, I also love you for the way you can get to me like no one else can, and that I think I always will. But that I can't be hurt anymore, I wouldn't let it keep happening. And I was going to kiss you with everything I had in me, and then wait for you answer. So as soon as Jacob fell asleep I came over and I waited in your room, and you didn't come home and you didn't come. And then I heard you, but you weren't alone. And I didn't want to have an audience, too much has already happened between us, right there on display, but I could not show I'd been in your room without an explanation. So I hid. And I waited for them to leave, so we could talk. But Donna just wouldn't go home. And then you said all that you said and I was so hopeful, as to what it could mean for us. And then well, you can figure out the rest. I'm sorry, Steven. I wasn't meaning for it to happen like this. But please don't just walk passed me, please talk to me. Is it true, what you and Donna seemed to talk about? Do you still love me?"

She stared, demanding an answer, eyes bright and eager. And Hyde's brain was full, thoughts swimming by so quickly. And he couldn't hear, and he couldn't see, and all he could do was take three strides forward and pull her into his arms and crash his mouth back on to hers and feel the burn, of want and relief and anger and release all at the same time. And neither one noticed, or cared to hear, the sound of the basement door open and the sharp gasp of surprise.