A/N - Thanks for all the support, you guys. It really makes my day! Here's sixteen!
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Chapter Sixteen…I've Nearly Lost My Mind
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Jude sighed and relaxed her body into Tom's. "Tommy…"
"Yeah, Jude…?" The two of them had been cuddled close in silence all morning, neither of them wanting to move, or talk for that matter. It was almost noon and this was the first words either of them had spoken since last night.
She coughed, sighing. "I'm sorry," she muttered.
"Shhh…save your voice." Tom kissed the top of her head. "It's okay. I promise."
"I love you, Tommy." He smiled down at her.
"I love you, too, Jude."
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Sadie fluffed her hair, starting to wish she had put it up. Did Mitchem like it up or down? Shrugging, she glanced at the clock. 6:58.
Two more minutes until he was late. And he had promised to be on time.
"I promise, Sadie. On time. Early, if I can swing it." Mitchem's smooth voice drifted through the phone.
Sadie giggled. "Okay. You promised. Hey, what do you think about going out?"
"I guess…Sure…"
A soft knocking on her door brought her out of her reverie. Gliding over to it, she opened the door swiftly.
"Hello, beautiful," Mitchem grinned, holding out a folder of papers. She eyed him curiously, taking her gift.
"These don't look like flowers."
"The script. For the pilot. Sorry it took so long. The writers were fixing some things."
She nodded. "Oh, it's fine. Thanks."
Mitchem held out his arm. "Ready to go?"
"Of course."
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Kwest was at the soundboard in Studio C, glad to finally be alone. Today had been hectic enough with his explanations, "Yes, I am eating." "Yes, I'm fine." But Mason had a sore throat and G Major was down another artist. He pulled a set of headphones on one ear, fiddling with some controls on the board.
"Kwest?" A female voice asking his name startled him.
Spinning around, he met Portia's eyes. "Hey…"
She cocked her head to the side. "You okay?"
"Yeah…" Portia gave him a pointed look. "Really. I'm okay."
"Kwest, you've been moping around all day."
"I'm fine," he insisted. She sighed.
"Okay. Hint taken." Kwest turned back around and focused on the board, wishing he was alone again. Portia's next question caught him off guard. "You want to go out?"
Kwest turned around slowly, raising his eyebrows at her. "Excuse me?"
"Just dinner between friends." Kwest paused, taking this all in. "I'll pay," she added in a singsong voice.
Kwest laughed. "Okay…"
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Mitchem and Sadie settled into their regular seats in the back. The waiter didn't even bother to hand them menus--he already knew what they were going to order.
"This is nice," Sadie commented, grinning at her date.
"It's the same as every other night," he reminded her, with a slight frown.
"I know…" They lapsed into a silence, Sadie's feelings a little bruised. Her eyes wandered around the little restaurant, settling on the door. And she couldn't take her eyes off it.
Portia and Kwest were standing by the maitre-de, scanning the place for an open seat. "No, not now."
Mitchem glanced up from his hands. "What was that?"
"Nothing. We have to go." She stood, reaching for her coat on the back of her chair. "Come on."
He followed her gaze, a smirk forming on his lips. "An ex-boyfriend? I'll kick his ass for you, if you want."
Sadie frowned. "He's not an ex-boyfriend. I just don't want to see him." She reached for her coat again, but Mitchem grabbed her wrist.
She looked down at him, but he refused to let go. "I don't care who he is. I'm not going to let him ruin our night." Sadie sighed and sat back down. Mitchem loosened his grip on her. "Thank you."
She relaxed a little, realizing how stupid she must have looked. "Sorry."
The two of them lapsed back into their silence, this time a bit more comfortably. But Sadie's inner peace didn't last long. She noticed Portia and Kwest with the maitre-de again. This time, she was pointing in their direction. Sadie glanced around and gulped. A table had just emptied next to them.
Oh, please. Not over here. Anywhere but here.
But Sadie's silent pleas were pointless. The three of them were headed this way. She glanced up at Mitchem, wondering how he'd take another escape attempt.
Not a good idea.
Turning her attention back to the two of them, she saw Portia lean over and whisper something in Kwest's ear. He nodded and she headed in the opposite direction.Sadie could hear Kwest's voice over the entire crowd.
"I can get to the seat just fine by myself. Just come back when my date comes back." The maitre-de frowned, clearly offended. But she left him alone without so much as another word.
And now Kwest was on his way over to her.
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Kwest saw Sadie and Mitchem. He wasn't blind. And besides, his Sadie-Radar had gone off halfway down the road. As he made his way over to the empty table, he spotted their entwined hands and he felt the jealousy rising in him.
This is why she's ignoring me? This lowlife?
Before he knew what he was doing, his mouth was open, and words he had been trying to suppress were flying from his mouth, "Is this why you haven't been retuning my phone calls?"
Sadie looked up and him and he saw her face visibly pale. "Kwest, leave me alone."
Mitchem lifted his hand, hoping to stop this situation before it started. "Look pal, we're just trying to enjoy our dinner here--"
Kwest spun around, glaring at Sadie's date. "I'm not your 'pal,' so don't ever call me that again." His voice held an obvious warning.
Mitchem's face hardened. "Okay, fine. But can't you see she doesn't want to talk to you?"
Kwest faced Sadie, ignoring her date. "I know you don't mean it. You're just hurting. But I'm here for you, just like I was at the hospital. Remember that? I can do that again. Whenever you need it. I want to."
Mitchem frowned. "What is he talking about, Sadie? When were you hurting? What hospital?"
"Nothing," Sadie insisted, glowering at Kwest. "Just drop it, Kwest, okay?"
His face softened at her anger. "Sadie, you need me. You know it and I know it. Please…"
"Kwest, stop it."
Mitchem stood up quickly and leaned in Kwest's face, gripping the collar of his shirt tightly. "Look, man. I don't know what's going on. But she said 'stop it'."
"You do not want to be this close to me right now," he growled.
"And why is that?" he taunted. Kwest swung a fist up, landing a punch square in Mitchem's jaw. Sadie's date stumbled backwards from the force, his hand leaving Kwest's shirt and flying to his face's rescue.
Sadie jumped up in shock. Before she could do anything, Mitchem lunged for the other man, throwing punches that landed in air. "Kwest! Stop!" she screamed, tugging the two of them apart.
Another pair of arms joined the mix and Sadie turned enough to see Portia's dark arms prying the two men apart. "What's going on?"
Before she could answer, she heard footsteps thudding over to the brawl and two pairs of strong arms pulled everyone away from each other. Sadie's eyes darted around. Two waiters were the ones to break it up.
One waiter grabbed Kwest by the neck and pushed him into a chair, while the other waiter ushered Mitchem to the kitchen doors where a waitress was waiting with ice.
The owner of the restaurant rushed over, red in the face, pointing at Kwest and Portia. "You two! Out!" Kwest grunted and stalked out the door without another word, Portia following in his wake.
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Sadie eyed Mitchem concerned. He was icing down his chin and he hadn't said a word. "Here, let me check it," she offered, reaching out and touching the ice.
He shrugged her away. "Who the hell is this guy, anyway? To think he can do something like this to me!"
"He's…" Sadie sighed. "He's Kwest."
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A/N - Sorry there wasn't too much Jommy this chapter. This one was kinda centered around Kwest and Sadie…which is quickly developing into a nice subplot, if I might say so myself. I love messing with Mitchem and Sadie.
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