I sat by myself in the lonely room and cried my eyes out. I shook my head at the unfairness of it all. Couldn't Ian see that those actions were from my past? That I would never repeat them again, given the chance? Clearly not. I sobbed into the furniture and when Mel and Jared came back my face was covered with tears. Mel glanced at Jared and then ran to my side. She lifted me up off the couch and gently held me in her arms. I cried into her shoulder and sniffed, "He…he…" I shook my head, unable to speak the words.

Mel patted my back like she was comforting a child, "Wanda…ssshhh, its ok. You didn't do anything wrong. Ian has to forgive you. He can be pissed with Jared for as long as he wants, but in the end, he will get over it. Like I said, you've done nothing wrong." I nodded as I cried tears into her shirt and I heard the door close behind me. I saw that Jared was no longer in the room with us. Mel sighed, "I'm sorry for my actions, too. I was stupid and selfish and I didn't even stop to consider the situation…" she paused and glanced at me, "But I'm disappointed with you for not telling me how Jared feels. I consider you my sister. Sisters tell each other everything." I stared at the floor in front of me, unable to meet her gaze, my hands twisted in knots. I sighed, "I didn't want to ruin our friendship, Mel. And I didn't want to be the cause of you and Jared breaking up. It's the reason I took myself out of your body. It's the reason I gave you your life back. If I told you, about Jared's…feelings…it would have defeated everything."

Mel sighed, "I still have a right to know, Wanda." I nodded in agreement, "Yes, but that's for Jared to tell you, not me." Mel bit her lip, not entirely wanting to admit that I was right. She sighed, "It seems like both of our men have trust issues." I nodded, "And so do the both of us." Mel laughed unexpectedly, "I think it's a hell of a lot easier for us to trust each other when you're in my head. You can't hide anything." I nodded sheepishly, "I'm surprised I was able to for that long. You don't know how many times I wanted to tell you." Mel smiled slightly, "I can imagine."
At that moment, Jared walked in and sat down in front of both of us on the coffee table. He sighed, "I've already told Mel I'm sorry. I can't apologize enough, to either of you. It wasn't fair of me to tell Wanda my feelings either. So Wanda, I offer you my sincerest apologies. It was never, ever my intention to put you in an awkward position with Mel. But I had to say something, to someone. I…I kind of know how you felt when you were inside Mel's body now." He smiled sheepishly at me and I was surprised when my heart did a little leap in my chest. I cursed myself in my head.

However, instead I nodded, "Its ok, Jared. I appreciate your apology. I also can't apologize enough for all of the pain I've caused between you and Mel…" but before I was done, both of them were shaking their heads and Jared interrupted me, "You don't even need to apologize, Wanda. You saved Jamie. You gave Mel your body back. I think that's more than enough of an apology. Like Ian said, you're too good at self-sacrificing." He smiled at me shyly, and it was so odd to see on his face. I'd never seen Jared shy, ever. Maybe it was more embarrassed than shy though.
Mel cleared her throat, "Ok, now that the apologies are over, Ian is waiting for us to continue our raid! Wanda, do you want to go and clean up in the shower before we leave?" I nodded and smiled gratefully at her for suggesting it. I hurriedly showered, washed my face of my tears, and dressed into a nice peach summery dress, which was dotted with little flowers all over it.

I walked in on Mel and Jared talking and they immediately stopped when they saw me. Mel nodded "Perfect! Let's get going!" We got in the lift, Mel and Jared with their sunglasses on, and travelled down to the lobby. We hopped out and I sat in the front next to Ian. He barely moved his head in my direction as he stared straight ahead and listened to Jared giving him directions.

We played the music loud enough to dim the strain and tension in the truck. To be honest, it didn't help much. I pulled out my lists of food when Jared said we were nearing the store. I did the same as before: crossed out the repeated items twice. The drive took forever, but eventually we got there. I was glad to be relieved of the tension in the truck over the last few minutes.

I left without a backwards glance at any of them. I spent hours shopping for fruits of every kind-grapes, nectarines, pineapples, apples, pears- you name it! I took longer than necessary too because the last thing I felt like right now was hopping back into a tension-filled car. I loaded as much bread as possible and meats too. When I walked out of the shop with one trolley full of food, I walked slowly across the parking lot, again delaying my time in getting to the vehicle.

When I got there, Jared was waiting impatiently for me, arms crossed, as well as Ian. As soon as I approached, Ian came and took over the trolley for me. I wanted to protest but I was too angry to say anything to him at this point. Ian didn't say a word either as we lifted the packets of food into the car. Jared grinned, "Chips! Nice Wanda! You've done a good job!" I could see Ian's muscles clenching in his jaw and I smiled, "Thanks, Jared. I still need to go back for the drinks though." Jared said, "I think I'll come and help you. Those thirty five gallon tanks are far too big for you to carry on your own." Ian cleared his throat loudly. I ignored him. I nodded, "Thanks Jared. That would be a big help!"

We walked across the lot in silence until we were out of earshot of the truck. Jared sighed, "Wanda…I'm really, truly sorry about…um...everything. I hate this tension." I mused at that and couldn't help but laugh, "That's funny. You're the one who called me "it" for the longest time, and created lots of tension with Ian quite willingly. Now you regret it." Jared nodded as we finally reached the entrance, "I know," he whispered, "But I also couldn't keep that secret from Mel."
We rounded a corner to where the fridges holding all of the drinks stood. I sighed, "I know. But at what cost? My sisterhood with her? Your relationship with her? What good did it do anyone?" Jared nodded, "I thought it would help, to get it off my chest. Obviously it didn't and that's what I'm apologizing for and I truly hope you can accept it." We began pulling out the gallons of water from the fridge. I sighed, "Put it this way…if Mel forgives you, I forgive you." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jared swallow, "She hasn't said as much yet." I nodded, "Then…we wait until further notice."

I grabbed cokes out of the fridge too, as well as Iced Tea and other flavoured drinks I thought people might like. We were about to leave the store when I said, "Hang on, Jared, what about a football?" He smiled at me and nodded, "I think get several of them. We haven't had a match since your first one! And we have lots of tension to be relieved." I grinned and ran down to the toy isle. I found a bunch of different balls, and grabbed three off the shelf. I also went to go and find a pump to go with them in case they deflated. Jamie would at least be happy about this.

Jared had already started pushing the cart with all the drinks on it back to the truck. I hurried behind him, footballs and pump in my hand. I wanted to get back to the hotel now. I wanted to get back to Jamie. Right now, he was the only person I really wanted to see. Everyone else was just in a fowl mood. Usually we all joked and bantered in the car. Not this time.

If I had thought the car drive there had been bad, the drive back was so much worse! Jared didn't even bother to try and talk to anyone as he sat in the front beside me. We had the radio on up too loud. It was giving me a headache. We drove past the hotel and Mel asked irritably, "What are you doing?" Jared sighed, "I'm going back to headquarters. There are things we all need to sort out. I think we all need to cool off in our own space and time before we discuss them." Mel snapped, "Like it was your right to make that decision Jared!" He sighed, sounding more tired than I have ever heard him, "Why, Mel? We're done with the raid. Ian made sure all of our belongings were packed earlier. There's no reason to stay." Unfortunately for Mel, he had logic in his reasoning. She snapped, "Fine! But what about Jamie? What if we all arrive back and nothing's been solved?! He'll pick up on it instantly and the last thing he needs is all of us fighting! I'm already in enough trouble when I get back." She looked like she was about to cry angry tears. That's how I knew she was really upset. I've been in her body, so even outside of it, I still remembered how she felt right now. It made me sad to think this was all my fault-that I had caused my sister so much pain.

We were all sitting at our drop off point, where I had had to spend the night with Jared wrapped around me when we went to raid and find Jamie's medicine. We sat in a small circle. It felt like the weirdest thing to be doing with three of the strongest people I had ever met. Mel had insisted on it-she called it her "truth" circle. She said she did this with friends in high school. Jared hated it when she was so upset. He would do anything for her.

So now here we were, sitting like a bunch of teenagers in the middle of the dessert, protected by a random cave. Jared spoke first to break the silence, "I have to apologize to all three of you. I…I apologize to Mel whenever I think she won't bite my head off for speaking to her…I apologize to you, Ian, for…" he trailed off, "Uh…" Ian finished his sentence for him, "For betraying me? For hurting Wanda? For making her feel guilty for your feelings for her. For putting your feelings before her and Mel's relationship? For betraying your girlfriend after everything she did to try and get back to you, alive?" Jared looked like he had been slapped in the face by Ian's words and I myself even winced at the harshness in his tone. Jared nodded at all of it, "Yes, and for hurting you too. I consider you…a friend. If not my best friend. So I profusely apologize. To all of you. I can't apologize enough for my actions and feelings. But I can promise this…I will never act on those feelings. I will let them die as swiftly and quickly as I possibly can." He was looking at Mel intensely when he said this, his eyes taught with the tension and stress over the last three days.
Mel nodded stiffly, "I accept your apologies Jared." He gave her a small smile of thanks. Jared turned to me, "Wanda, I'm so sorry that I felt this way. I never meant for it to be out in the open like this. I wanted to keep it to myself as long as possible. But that was impossible. And I'm sorry for what my selfish actions have lead to. I hope you can accept my apology." I nodded numbly and replied, "I can, Jared." He swallowed and glanced at Ian, "Ian…" he said but before he could continue, Ian interrupted, "Can I ask you something?" Jared nodded slowly, not a position where he could deny Ian the truth any longer. Ian said slowly, "Have you…have you kissed Wanda in the body that she is in now?" The whole cave tensed and I smiled as Jared said quickly, "No. I can promise you that I haven't. Not at all." Relief spread across Ian's face as he nodded in satisfaction, "Alright. I think I can live with that. I accept your apology, Jared. Can we go home now please?" Everybody nodded in agreement as we prepared for the short journey home.

A/N: Hope you all enjoy and as always thanks to such fantastic reviewers!