A/N - No one saw this plot twist coming (well, except for Petra who knows my fics better than me, sometimes), so I'm glad. There was some foreshadowing in the previous chapter, but no worries...everything is revealed in this one!

Enjoy and review!

-JQ-

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Chapter Nine...The Battle You're Fighting

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"Mr. Anderson, I appreciate this, but...wouldn't you like me to read a script, or something?" Sadie asked, a little uncomfortable. He lowered his arm, but never lost his composure.

"I trust my hiring associates," he insisted, a smile still on his lips. "Do you want the part?"

She nodded, a little too enthusiastically. "Of course! It's just that--"

"Then, what's the problem?" Mr. Anderson folded his hands in his lap.

Sadie dropped her gaze. "Nothing..."

"Then, congratulations, Miss Harrison." He stood and offered her his hand again. She accepted it gingerly. "You'll be getting the script for the pilot within a week."

Sadie smiled, relaxing a bit. "Thank you, Mr. Anderson."

He looked her up and down, a grin on his face. "Call me Mitchem."

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Tom's eyelids fluttered open and reality came back into focus. He sat up and looked around, stretching out his sore muscles and silently vowing never to sleep on his couch again.

Something was missing. Realization hit him.

"Jude..." He stood quickly and rushed down the hallway to his in-apartment studio. Opening the door, he looked around, confusion and panic setting in. "Jude!"

Tom ran through his apartment, checking every room. But Jude was nowhere to be found. He flung open his front door and sighed.

"How long have you been out here?" Jude glanced up from the steps, where she was sitting.

"Awhile," she answered simply.

Tom frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Tommy, her birthday is...was next week." Jude sighed. "I want to be strong, but...I...it's...I want to..."

"Jude..." Tom sat down next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. "You're not gonna heal over night. It's gonna take time..."

"I know, it's just...I miss her, Tommy." Jude's voice cracked and the tears spilled from her wide eyes. "And I miss Sadie!"

Tom pulled her close and her salty tears soaked through the thin fabric of his tee-shirt. "Hey...it's okay. You'll be okay...Shhh...it's okay."

"Tommy, I don't know what to do," she moaned quietly. "What would she want me to do?"

"I promise. We'll make her birthday special, okay?" Jude nodded and buried her head in Tom's chest, her soft sobs filling the stairwell.

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Don collapsed at the bar, the florescent lighting illuminating the sweat on his forehead.

"What can I get for you?" the bartender asked, tossing his dishrag over his shoulder.

"Whiskey, please," Don muttered, resting his head in his hands.

"Coming right up."

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Sadie hailed a cab, hopping in the back.

"Where to, miss?" the elderly driver asked, glancing back at her through the rear-view mirror.

"Fifth and Florence, please," she said, relaxing against the smooth seat and losing herself in thought.

What is this? The Twilight Zone? I barely even auditioned the first time and I get a callback. Don't even look at the script at the call back and get the part? And I could swear he mentioned Jude. But how would she know a TV director?

Sadie wasn't sure of anything. Not anymore.

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Tom held Jude tight until her crying quieted down and her breathing became regular again. She pulled back from him, sniffling.

"Thanks, Tommy," she murmured, drying her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Anytime," he insisted.

"You're the best." She smiled up at him and he gave her a hug.

The front door of Tom's apartment complex opened and the two of them broke apart. Jude frowned at their visitor.

"Sadie," she said coolly.

"Jude, please talk to me," she pleaded. "I'm sorry, okay? I know I screwed up, alright? But I need you, Jude. I can't do this alone..." Sadie broke down, sobs shaking her small body.

Tears dripped from her sister's eyes. "Oh, Sadie..." Jude stood and stepped over to her older sister, enveloping her in a warm embrace.

Tom watched the two of them, a sad smile forming on his mouth at the sight of such a bittersweet reunion. The Harrison sisters held each other for awhile in silence until both of them calmed down.

"No more fighting, okay?" Sadie mumbled, releasing Jude.

"Agreed." The two of them shared a smile.

"Oh, I didn't get a chance to tell you my good news!" Sadie exclaimed.

"Okay, spill!" Jude insisted. Tom grinned, glad that the two of them were reconciled. They were going to need each other.

"Alright, so I got a callback today, right? For the lead on this new TV show. So, I go in for this audition in front of the director, and before I could even read a line, he hired me!"

Jude gasped. "Sadie, that's wonderful!"

"Congratulations," Tom added.

Sadie smirked, her happiness evident. "Thanks. This is so exciting! And the director seems really nice, too."

"Anyone we know?" Tom asked.

"Um...Mitchem Anderson...Jude, he kind of mentioned you, actually," Sadie said offhandedly.

Jude's face paled and she glanced at Tom before locking eyes with her sister. "Mitchem Anderson?"

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A/N - Okay, Chapter Nine is DONE! I hope not too many of you saw that coming!

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And tell me which song "The Battle You're Fighting" is from to get a preview!

Love,
-JQ-