Whoot!! Another Chapter down!! I hope you all liked Kande's Chapter last time . . . and I hope you like this Chapter too!!

Disclaimer: I don't Own, I RENT. Except for my characters and storyline. . . those are mine.

Going Home

"Well, Well . . . lookie lookie. Jo's got a comfy pillow huh?" Lena snickered the next morning.

"Fuck you." Jo mumbled sleepily, not opening her eyes.

"Well, I hate to tell you this Jo, but its 9:40 and it's not a weekend." Ella said, getting into her CSI vest.

Jo opened her eyes, "What?" quietly and carefully, so as not to disturb Mark, Jo got off the couch (and Mark) and ran to her room. "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit!" The girls couldn't help but giggle at Jo as she rushed around her room, throwing on clothes and running to the kitchen. "Why didn't you wake me earlier?" She whispered harshly, "This is going to throw me off my schedule!"

"What schedule?" Lena asked, acting innocent.

"My sleep patterns; It's going to take me days to get back on time." Jo hissed.

"Calm down Jo, it'll be alright." Kaila said, trying to pacify the fretful brunette. "Just calm down, okay? You'll be fine."

All of the sudden, two cell phones rang. Ella and Lena answered their phones. Talking quickly and hanging up, the girls told Jo and Kaila they had to go and left.

"Amber's coming home today, right?" Jo asked Kaila quietly since Mark was still asleep. He could sleep through anything.

"If she checks out okay then, yeah," Kaila said. "Why? You're leaving us already?"

Jo nodded, "Mark needs to go back to New York and I want to go with him." She said, taking a bite of an apple.

"Why? Why can't you stay here? Why won't you stay home?"

"Kaila," Jo looked sadly at her friend, "New York is becoming my home now. I want to be wherever he is."

". . . I see," Kaila thought for a moment, "Why?" Jo looked at Mark's peaceful face. Kaila watched for a moment before it hit her. "Oh! You . . .?"

"Yes,"

"And does he . . .?"

"No,"

Kaila paused, "Are you going to tell him?"

"Not yet; I have a year to tell him."

"A year?"

Jo giggled, "I accepted a dare from his ex-girlfriend that I had to tell him before a year was up."

"And how did this occur?" Kaila asked, giving Jo a look that asked 'how drunk were you?'

Jo pretended to look innocent. "We were having a sleepover . . . with drinking games . . ."

"And you were smashed weren't you?"

". . . just a wee bit," Jo said and Kaila giggled at this. To the girls, Jo was known as the smart party drinker. Meaning, she only got completely hammered if she was at home with people she trusted or with friends at a bar or club. This said a lot to Kaila about Mark's friends. It meant they were trustworthy in Jo's eyes and worthy of a long, lasting friendship with her. Kaila would surely have to tell Amber this.

Kaila glanced over at Mark and rolled her eyes. "How late does he sleep? Its 10:15 already."

"Usually until about 11:30, maybe noon; unless he has work, then he wakes up at 6:30." Jo said, throwing away her apple and taking a sip of water from the tap.

"Well, I see what you see in him. He's cute; a little nerdy, but still adorable." Kaila commented.

"That's not all I see in him!"

"That better not be because otherwise I'd be worried." Mark mumbled from the couch. Jo giggled again.

"Good morning Mark," She said, pouring her best friend a cup of coffee and bringing it to him.

"Morning," he said, sitting up and taking the cup offered to him.

"Sleep well?" Kaila asked, hinting something. Both Mark and Jo glared at Kaila who laughed. "Well, when you're done getting ready, we can go visit Amber."

An hour later Mark, Jo and Kaila walked into Amber's hospital room.

"There you are!" The bedridden red-head said, "It's about time! I was bored out of my mind!"

"I can tell," Jo laughed, "When did you get up?"

"An hour ago; but I didn't get to sleep until late." Amber situated herself, "They're letting me go today, I'm all better."

"Really?" Jo lit up, "Oh chica! That's so great!"

"I know, right? I was worried I'd be stuck in this dump forever!"

"Well chica, Mark and I are going to be heading home soon. He's got to work soon." Jo said.

"At his sleaze job?" Amber asked. Mark winced at her words.

"Yes . . . but don't call it that." Jo said quietly, almost menacingly.

"Ooh, a bit touchy today, aren't we?" Amber snapped her fingers, "you two," She addressed Mark and Kaila. "Flee. You," She said to Jo, "We need to talk."

"Okay," Jo replied as Kaila dragged Mark out of the room. "What's up?"

Amber grinned like a Cheshire cat. "You've got it bad for him. I can tell."

"What?!" Jo was shocked.

"Oh, c'mon Jo, you've got to give me credit. It only took seeing you twice to figure it out."

"How did you . . .?"

"Killer love instincts; It's a gift." Amber said, smiling widely. "And you haven't told him yet either, have you?"

"What do you think?" Jo challenged.

"I'll take that as a 'no'." Amber replied smartly. "When are you going to tell him?"

"I have a year to tell him. His ex-girlfriend dared me to tell him within a year or else she'd tell him."

"Ooh, I like this chick. What's her name?"

"Maureen, and her lover's name is Joanne." Jo replied.

"Wait, that's the one who dumped Mark for a girl?" Amber asked, eyes wide.

"Yup,"

"And now you like him?"

Jo sighed, "Yes . . ."

Amber laughed, "Ha ha! You sucker!"

"Whatever," Jo scoffed, "Listen, Am?" Amber perked up. "I need to go back o New York."

"Because of him right?" Amber sighed.

"Yeah," Jo said.

Amber gazed at Jo for a moment before speaking, "You take care of him . . . and yourself." She said with a small smile.

"I will."

RENRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENT

"You love her." Kaila declared after she and Mark left the hospital room.

"What?" Mark's eyes got wide.

"You love her." Kaila repeated.

"Of course I love her, she's my best friend." Mark countered, trying to hide the truth.

"No," Kaila shook her head, "I mean as more than a friend."

Mark turned red, "I . . ." Kaila smirked smartly. He sighed, "Am I that obvious?"

"Yes," Kaila laughed, "You going to tell her?"

"Not yet,"

"Why not?"

"Because,"

"Because why?"

"It's none of your business,"

"It is my business, she's my friend."

A pause, "Fine, It's because I'm afraid."

"Why?"

"You sure ask 'why' a lot." He smirked.

"I know. No diverting! Get back on topic!"

"Fine. It's because . . . I don't know why . . . I'm just afraid . . . I mean, she's never had a boyfriend . . . ever."

"Just fuck-buddies and bootie calls . . ."

"Ri-wait, fuck-buddies?" Mark was astonished, "Jo? And fuck-buddies??"

"And bootie calls." Kaila corrected. Mark just stared, "What? She's human. She has sexual needs too."

"But what about AIDS? STDs?"

"She's always careful. We make sure of it."

"But how can you be sure?" Mark sounded really worried.

"She gets tested every three months. But she got tested before she left and is due for a check-up unless she's already had a couple since she's been in New York. But make sure she goes if she hasn't, okay?"

Mark nodded, "Will do."

"She hasn't tested positive for anything yet, and I doubt she had sex since she left but you never know."

"Yeah . . . you never know . . . did you know she's friends with Alphabet City's resident drug dealer?"

"What?"

RENRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENTRENT

Everyone was at the airport wishing Jo and Mark farewell.

"Remember what we talked about . . ." Amber reminded Jo as they hugged goodbye.

"I know," Jo replied.

"Mark, take care of her . . ." Ella said, smiling.

"Will do," Mark said.

"And both of you," Lena addressed the pair, "Don't do anything stupid."

Everyone laughed. The announcement for Mark and Jo's flight was heard. Everyone said their last goodbyes and Jo and Mark departed from Jo's friends.

"They're going to be cute together . . ." Amber grinned.

Next Chapter's going to get REAL interesting!! You'll see!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!!