A/N: Well, this is a chapter i feel many of you will get all giddy about. it took me a while to finish mainly because i was not satisfied with it. even now i'm a little iffy, but it told me it was ready, and i trust my chappie's judgement... no, i'm still sane, so far. anyway, please review, even if you only have 3 words to say. 3 words can go a long way and i appreciate anything i get. and without further delay, here we go!

Stopping in front of her building, Terry finds Jazz seated on the building's steps dressed in a pair of blue shorts and grey shirt. He gets out of the car and waves to get her attention; jumping to her feet, she walks over to the passenger side of the car and gets in before they drive away.

"Hi," she warmly greets putting her water bottle in the cup holder.

"Hey, glad you came," Terry replies smiling at her unexpected confidence.

"We've never gone running at six before."

"First time for everything."

"Where are we going?"

"Mountain trail."

"Training for an upcoming battle?" She asks partly as a joke and secretly hoping he won't say yes.

"No, apparently I've been slacking."

A wave of guilt hits her. "Slacking?"

Taking a quick glance, he notices the worry etched into her brow. "It's not a big deal," he tries reassuring. It doesn't cheer her up, but it does remind her of the night before and how easily she managed to commandeer the Batmobile.

"I've been meaning to ask, how is it the Batmobile still has my palm print info?" she asks looking at him. "I thought Bruce would have gotten rid of that data."

"Uh, he did actually," he replies suddenly paying a lot more attention to the empty streets. "I, er, put it back."

Confused, Jazz frowns at him. "And Bruce let you?"

"Not exactly," Terry answers, wincing. "He didn't really know."

"No wonder he was so pissed to see me," Jazz mumbles, crossing her arms. "Why'd you put it back?"

"I, uh…" His voice trails off when he realizes he doesn't have an explanation, well, a logical one at least. So instead of trying to defend himself, he changes the subject. "What happened between you two anyway?" He asks stealing a side glance before turning onto the interstate.

"Nothing," Jazz quietly answers.

"Jazz," he lightly scolds.

Although she is about to shut the topic down, the sight of Terry's concerned face changes her mind. She lets out a sigh and recounts the night. "After I got you back to the cave, Bruce wasn't happy to see I was the one jumping out of the car and even more pissed to see you passed out because of a tranquilizer. After we set you up in the medic station, Bruce started rounding on me saying I shouldn't have interfered. He never said it, but he was pretty much blaming me for your mistakes," she looks down at her restless fingers, "and that he doesn't want me around you." Furiously clenching the steering wheel, Terry can't believe Bruce had the audacity to approach Jazz that way. Before he can think of ways to throw it in Bruce's face, Jazz interrupts his thoughts. "Look, he had every right to say what he did."

"No he didn't," Terry counters trying to keep his cool. "They're my damn mistakes; I made them, not you."

"But you didn't make them before I left," Jazz quietly argues, bringing the avoided issue into full light.

An uneasy moment passes making Jazz squirm in her seat and Terry regret they ever brought up the subject. He doesn't want to discuss mistakes or why he made them; he'd rather have an ice pick shoved through his temple than explain himself. He takes the exit that leads them up a smaller, winding highway. As the sporadic trees start increasing and the claustrophobic buildings decrease, Terry knows he only has a few minutes before they reach their destination. He doesn't want to ruin the run because of the looming tension, so he decides to do the thing that comes easiest to him: lighten the mood. Changing the subject is the best game plan he can come up with.

"So, dog grooming," he starts in a casual tone. "That's an interesting career path."

"I needed experience handling pets," she shrugs, looking ahead.

She hasn't taken the bait yet, so Terry presses on. "You like it there?"

"It has its moments."

"Like what?"

She raises a brow at him. "What do you mean?"

"You said it has its moments. Tell me one of them."

She has reason to be a little taken back; no one has expressed much interest in her job after she explains what it is, even Henry wouldn't go past the "how was your day" question. "Uh, I don't know. Can't think of any off the top of my head."

"Liar," Terry accuses with a smile.

"Alright," she says giving in. "Well, we had this one dog that was covered in mats and dirt, and I ended up being the one who had to bathe and brush him out."

As she tells the story without sparing a single detail, Terry notices she's returning to the familiar friend he knows. She begins gesturing with her hands to add a more dramatic effect to her story, and laughs before she gets to the more comical parts making Terry smile at her. He didn't realize how much he missed talking to her until then; the last time they shared a moment like this was in the music room during her daily piano lesson. At the time, the lessons were a crucial band aide that saved their faltering friendship. It worked better than expected, and it didn't take long before the two warmed up to each other. It's one reason Terry didn't hold a grudge against her for quitting.

After an animated storytelling, Jazz finally finishes with a satisfied sigh and a comfortable smile. "And that's only one moment?" Terry asks setting off another laugh from Jazz.

"I never said they were short moments. Are you complaining, McGinnis?"

"No, I just never expected giving a dog a bath would be such an adventure," he quips as he drives through the gates of the nature reserve. He parks his car in the nearby lot, and the two get out to walk side by side up the trail.

Jazz takes in a deep breath of mountain air and slowly lets it out. "This was a good idea."

"Of course it was," Terry replies. "It was mine, after all."

Although she rolls her eyes at him, her smile doesn't fade. They find a viewing deck a few feet into the walk and decide to stop there to stretch out. "Hope you're not out of shape," Terry says as he anchors a heel to a post and leans forward stretching his hamstring. "This is a pretty rough trail."

"Is that worry I smell?" Jazz asks as she bends forward touching her forehead to her knees.

"Just looking out for you, Douglas."

A sudden warmth fills Jazz's cheeks, but she quickly dismisses it, blaming the reaction on her bent over head. "Don't worry; Henry and I manage to run together a few times a week."

"Still with Henry?" He asks as he stretches his shoulders.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She straightens up and frowns at him.

"Nothing," he quickly replies turning his torso from side to side. "It was just a question."

Although she eyes him suspiciously, she continues with her warm up exercises, and grabs her ankle and pulls her leg back onto her thigh. "Why are you asking?"

He shrugs. "I haven't seen you in three months, so I thought it was a valid question. Why are you so paranoid?"

"I'm not; it's just a random question."

He raises a brow at her. The first time she told him she was seeing Henry, he got a little defensive, and now it seems that reaction is still affecting her. "Whatever," he finally sighs with indifference. "Ready?"

After hopping a few times in place and rolling her neck, she nods and the two set off up the dusty path.

After an hour of running up a rough and changing incline, the two finally reach the top of the mountain overlooking the city. The trail ends with a final viewing deck complete with benches, a water fountain and a couple scopes aimed at the city before them.

"Now that… was a workout," Jazz pants bending over and propping her hands on her knees. Laughing and panting at the same time, Terry flops down on one of the wooden benches, stretching out his arms along the back. "Beats city running… any day."

"Unless you're… leaping from… buildings that is," Terry says letting his head loll back.

Straightening up, Jazz moves to his side and joins him on the bench. She stretches her legs out and rests her hands on the top of her head. "I miss doing that."

Lifting his head, he turns to look at her. "You do?"

"Yeah. The adrenaline rush, the views, the heightened senses. Nothing like it."

For a moment, Terry is lost for words; he had no intention of discussing the reason behind her resignation, but now that's the only question screaming in his head. Nervously rubbing the back of his neck, he wonders if he should say what's on his mind. But before he could make a decision, Jazz makes it for him.

"I know you're wondering why I left," She starts, without moving.

"Uh, I wasn't going to bring it up," Terry replies resting his arm back on the bench.

"I know." She lowers her arms and rests clasped hands on her stomach. For a quiet moment, the two turn their gaze to the city to watch the morning mist lift and dissipate in the rising heat of the day. "It wasn't an easy decision," Jazz finally starts.

"Why'd you make it?" Terry cautiously asks, looking at her.

She bites her lip as she looks down at fiddling fingers. "I… I can't…" The difficulty of trying to explain herself makes her stand up and walk away. Terry doesn't follow her, but he leans forward resting his elbows on his knees to watch her nervously pace a few feet away from him. "I didn't think you… I mean I was… it's just… I don't know!" She finally groans stopping to face him.

"You don't know?" Terry asks with a raised brow.

"No, I do, but I don't know where to start or what to say," she confesses looking away.

It doesn't take much for Terry to realize the topic is more sensitive than he initially thought. "Look, you don't have to," Terry calmly reassures, surprising her. "When you're ready to talk about it, just let me know."

"Just like that?" She asks still shocked.

"Yeah. Why is that so hard to believe?"

"It's more like unexpected. You deserve to know more."

"Yeah, but I'm not going to force it out of you."

"That's one thing that's bothering me; why aren't you?"

Terry shrugs. "You're not trying to take over the world, so I don't see a need for an interrogation," he says, cracking a smile to lighten the mood. Getting up, he asks, "so, ready to head down?"

She doesn't smile as she nods, but when she turns to start heading down the path, Terry grabs her elbow and spins her around. He is about to deliver a speech that might help lift her spirits, but the look on her face stops him from saying anything. The gray eyes staring up at him are full of disappointment, not in him, but in herself. She looks desperate for reconciliation, but afraid to seek it. In response, he does the first thing that comes to mind. Wrapping his arms around her shoulders, he pulls her close and holds her tight. Although surprised at first, she accepts the gesture, and even returns it when she buries her face in his chest and wraps her arms around his waist.

Holding her in his arms, a sense of comfort overtakes Terry. He's been worried about her for months, unsure of where she was, why she never called, and most of all, why she left. But now, with her leaning against him and returning the embrace, his anxiety finally crumbles away. She may not have confided in him today, but at the moment, it's not what he cares about. He's simply happy she's with him. The realization, however, brings an unexpected flutter in his stomach that he hasn't felt in years. He's the first one to slightly pull away making Jazz look up with grateful eyes this time. Suddenly aware of his heart beating in his ears, he lets go of her and takes a step back.

"Uh, we uh, we should get going," he manages to utter putting a hand to the back of his neck.

Jazz can feel the blood rushing into her cheeks, but before Terry notices it, she quickly turns around and starts heading down the trail. When he catches up to her, she makes sure to keep her eyes glued to either the ground or the foliage surrounding them. As they walk down the unpaved path, Jazz replays the earlier event in her head in an attempt to figure out why her cheeks blushed and her stomach tightened. Yes she missed him, but she hadn't developed feelings for him, right?

'I'm dating Henry, for crying out loud!' She shouts in her head clenching her jaw. Blowing a puff of air into her bangs to get them out of her eyes, she starts thinking of logical reasons to explain why she reacted to Terry's embrace that way. It can't be because of the exercise; they had already cooled down after the run. It can't be the weather either; the morning still holds a bit of a chill but without a breeze. Can it be allergies? But since when did she get allergies?

'It was just a fluke,' she tries convincing herself. 'I just miss Henry, that's all. Yeah, that makes sense.'

"Careful," Terry suddenly cautions grabbing her waist and pulling her closer to him. Her heart leaps to her throat when their sides touch and her eyes shoot up to look at his face.

"What?"

"Loose rocks," he replies letting go of her.

Following his gaze, she spots the rocks that she would have slipped on if it hadn't been for him. "Thanks," she mutters swallowing the lump in her throat and putting distance between her and Terry. 'A fluke my ass.'

Terry manages to find a parking spot across the street from Jazz's apartment. The ride back to Gotham was a quiet one with each person lost in their own thoughts, but when the car stops at the final destination, the two exchange looks.

"This was fun," Jazz starts before she realizes that's something she usually says after a date. Inwardly cringing, she grabs her empty water bottle and moves to open her door.

"Hey," Terry starts stopping her from pulling the handle. "Max is having a party tonight; thought you might like to come."

"Uh, I don't know if that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

Before Jazz can respond, Terry suddenly winces in pain and puts a hand to his forehead. "Terry? You okay?" She asks frowning with concern.

"Yeah, just a headache," he replies rubbing the sides of his head.

"You're probably dehydrated. You should come upstairs."

"No, I'll be fine," he replies, squeezing his eyes shut.

"I don't think so. Come on," she orders getting out of the car and walking to his side.

She opens his door and holds out a hand which he takes. He manages to get to her floor without needing any help, but when the elevator doors open and he steps out, his energy suddenly drains. He reaches for Jazz's shoulder to stop from falling over, worrying her even more. She helps him through her apartment door, and reluctantly lets go of him once inside to fetch a bottle of aspirin and electrolyte drink from the kitchen. However, when she reaches for the bottle, the sound of a loud thud has her rushing back to the living room to discover Terry on the floor, face down, and unresponsive.

- to be continued - reviews welcome -