A/N: can i just express how much i love getting reviews? well, i LOVE getting reviews :D thanks go out to all those who took the time to press that button and type their thoughts. This chapter is short, but its building up to something a bit bigger, which will be clearer in the next chapter ;). This chappie is more about character development though, so not as much action, in case that's what you were hoping. But those who have been waiting for a been of Jazz and Ter interaction, read on! enjoy!

Every time sleep claimed Terry's mind the last few hours, nightmares of Blight bring him back to the waking world. After four failed attempts, a very tired and aggravated Terry gives up and gets out of bed to find the night sky brightening into early dawn. Running a hand into his disheveled hair, he shuffles to the bathroom, turns on the cold water and splashes his face a few times. Heavily leaning on the sink, he looks up at his reflection to find dark, puffy eyes staring back. Straightening up, he lets out a long yawn as he heads to the kitchen to make a jug full of coffee.

After turning on the coffee maker, he takes a seat at the kitchen table and bends over to rest his forehead on folded arms. He doesn't know why Blight has been terrorizing his dreams recently. The last time he had a run in with him was years ago, so why now all of a sudden? He thinks back to their last encounter in the submarine. Blight never showed his biohazardous face since then, but Terry knows he's hiding somewhere; hiding from all the ruin he's caused, from the people he's killed. Terry's fists clench with self-hatred. He failed to stop Blight himself, and because of his carelessness that night, he may never find out where Blight is so he could deliver what he deserves. He was so naïve; a kid siding with Paxton, of all people, to take down his father's murderer. What the hell was he thinking?

"Yeah, what were you thinking, you stupid kid?" Blight's voice suddenly taunts Terry startling him awake. Shooting up, Terry realizes he fell asleep at the table.

"Damn it," he curses frustrated at how hard it is to get much needed rest.

Pouring a large mug of black coffee, he takes it into the living room and turns on the television. It's still too early for the news, so instead he settles on the tacky infomercials. It isn't long before his heavy lids close, but as soon as he starts dreaming, Blight's haunting laugh once again opens his heavily bloodshot eyes.

"Why now?" He groans tiredly dropping his head back.

Turning over in bed for the umpteenth time, Jazz lets out an annoyed sigh and props up on her elbows. The past night's events kept playing in her head keeping her up most of the night. With the clock reading 5:03 am, Jazz reluctantly pulls herself out of bed. There's no way she'll fall asleep now, so might as well start her day a few hours earlier than usual. After setting up her coffee maker, she leans on the counter giving Zee a chance to rub against her legs and purr for treats. She smiles at the grey tabby but doesn't give in to his demands.

But the cat's efforts to please her don't take her mind off of Terry. From what she gathered the previous night, Terry was careless enough to let Spellbinder tranquilize him. The realization worries her; what would have happened if she wasn't there to help him? She thought he would have been better off without her considering he's done the job for years before she came along, but apparently she was wrong. Spellbinder isn't someone who poses as a real threat, a nuisance yes, but not as dangerous as Inque for example; yet Terry managed to get into serious trouble with him.

Her eyes slowly shift to her phone sitting on the table in the middle of the kitchen. She should give him a call, check up on him… maybe reschedule their dinner date. The corner of her mouth turns up in thought; she's worried about how it would go considering she's been ignoring him for three months. Although she's afraid he might be holding a grudge, a voice in the back of her head whispers she's wrong, that he's not that type of guy. Making up her mind, she moves to pick up her phone and dial Terry's number.

The infomercial about a magical cleaner that is versatile enough to clean any surface, including human skin, has been going on for a half hour and the Australian host only seems to be getting louder with each surprised exclamation. Bored, tired, and irritated, Terry is halfway through his second cup of coffee before a faint sound catches his attention. Muting the TV, he realizes his phone is ringing from somewhere in his room. He gets up and walks to his room, but by the time he finds his phone hidden underneath the sheets, his voicemail picks up the call. When he checks the name of the caller though, his bored eyes suddenly perk up.

A little disappointed that Terry didn't pick up, she ends the call without leaving a message and sets the phone back on the table. She figures it's a good thing considering she's calling a little too early in the morning; that and she has no idea how to explain herself if he did pick up.

"Oh, well I'm just calling at 5:30 in the morning to see how you're doing," Jazz says mocking her own tone. "Yeah, great idea, huh Zee?" She asks looking over at the purring cat seated on the floor. Zee lets out a loud meow in reply and starts rubbing against her legs again.

She frowns at the treat seeking pet before getting up to fill her mug with coffee. However, just as she reaches for a mug, her phone starts buzzing startling her. Quickly reaching for it, she realizes Terry is calling back and hesitates for a second before answering.

"Hello?"

"You called?" Terry smoothly asks.

"Uh, yeah, sorry, I didn't realize it was so early."

"I was up," he replies sounding a lot more relaxed than her.

"Oh, uh, how come?" She asks trying not to sound nervous.

"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep." After a silent moment passes, Terry gets the idea that Jazz must have called him on a whim. To ease her anxiety, he clears his throat and asks, "so, how come you're up?"

"Suffered the same fate as you," she replies, sitting down.

"I guess we have an epidemic on our hands," he jokes, lightening the mood.

"Oh, funny guy," Jazz says with a smile. Relaxing, she finds the courage to ask, "so, how are you feeling?"

"Tired; it's a common symptom," Terry replies easing back into his couch.

"No, I meant after last night."

"Oh, fine. Got away with some cuts and bruises."

"I get the feeling you're lying," Jazz suddenly says before she could stop herself. "Uh, sorry, shouldn't have said that," she quickly apologizes before he gets the chance to react.

"Why not?"

"Um, I don't know. Just, uh, I just thought since… er," Jazz stammers, trying to think of an excuse. Because of the way she left, she feels she's lost the privilege to inquire deeper about personal matters.

"Wow, Jazz, relax." Silence is the reply that brings back the uneasiness. "Is there something bothering you?" He asks hoping Jazz won't retreat into her shell.

"No," she quietly lies.

'Damn it, I'm losing her.' Uncomfortably shifting in his seat, he straightens up and tries a different strategy. "Do you have work today?"

"No, I'm off. Why?"

"Feel like taking a run with me?" The quiet moment that follows makes Terry grip his phone with anticipation. "Jazz?"

"I don't-"

"It's just a run, nothing more," Terry tries convincing her.

Hearing the plea in his voice, she lets out a defeated sigh. "Where do you want to meet?"

Smiling with relief, he replies, "I'll pick you up in half an hour." Without wasting anytime, Terry shoots up off the couch to throw on his running clothes.

After setting her phone down, she looks over at Zee with a nervous smile on her face. "Still want a treat?"

- to be continued - reviews welcome -