A/N: Thank you to all my wonderful readers, and thank you so much for all the reviews and suggestions! I'm pretty new at this, so I really appreciate your feedback! Keep it comin'!

Seditionary

Rita commandeered Lynne away from her beloved English homework and made her go with her to clothes-shop. They went to a nearby discount store, and Rita sheepishly gathered a pile of clingy t-shirts and girly sweaters to take into the fitting room. Her fifty dollars bought some of each, plus a pair of jeans that actually fit her slim figure.

As she modeled her choices, Lynne shook her head in amazement.

"God, Rita, nobody's going to recognize you anymore."

"Fine with me! I'd love to start over as a complete stranger."

"Yeah—but it's not enough justlooking different. You have to learn to act different, too. And…."

"What?"

"I don't want you to become a stranger. I like you the way you are."

"Awww….Come on, Lynne, I'm not going to change. I just want to have a little more fun than I've been having. I'd like to have a boyfriend, you know? Go on dates, stuff like that. What about you, don't you care about that kind of thing at all?"

"Sure, but I'm saving all that stuff for college. I'm going out of state and I really will start over then. I'm going to get contacts, dye my hair, new clothes, the whole nine yards…."

Rita giggled.

"You could do that now, silly!"

"I know, but it would be wasted on the unwashed masses of Gotham High! Which is kind of why I don't get you—who're you trying to impress, anyway?"

Rita considered; then she just shrugged. She hadn't mentioned Mr. J. to Lynne because…well, she didn't know why, exactly. Partly because of him being older. Lynne had a tendency to think the worst of everyone; Rita could just see her cutting out newspaper articles about stalkers and perverts and serial killers, and then she'd start giving Rita the third degree about his every move….

And…it was also because… Mr. J. was hers. Her secret. And she wasn't ready to share him with anyone, yet. Not even her best friend.

***

The second bedroom in Jack's apartment was used as his office/communications room. He kept all sorts of equipment in there, including a police scanner, short-wave radio, and cell phones for various purposes. The next job was going to be a doozy. It was going to take careful planning and….aw, shit, the goddamn doorbell again…what now...?

Sighing in irritation, he checked the surveillance camera that was trained on his apartment's entrance and saw young Rita standing there. Ah, my latest project….A welcome enough distraction, he supposed. Ummm, and she appears to have gone shopping!…Very nice. He nodded to himself in approval.

Rita was wearing a clingy red and white wide-striped sweater with a lacy V-neck, and new, rather tight-fitting jeans.

Jack opened the door, and a deep chuckle came from low in his throat as he looked Rita up and down, coming out in the hall to circle her like a feral cat examining its prey. Outwardly, she shrank into herself a little due to such laser-eyed scrutiny, but in her heart, she was deliciously thrilled.

He gave a long, low wolf whistle.

"Oh, bay-by, let me up, I've had enough!!…Miss Rita, you have outdone yourself…You're lookin' good enough to eat! Oughta be damn illegal to look this good! Come in, come in, let's get some light on the subject…"

Rita dissolved into giggles. She couldn't help but whirl around to let him review the entire package again. He clamped one strong hand onto her shoulder and guided her into his apartment.

Once inside, he again looked her up and down and shook his head in naked admiration.

"Well, I bet you've got the overtaking of Gotham High well underway…I hope you didn't trip over any of the boys that threw themselves at ya! Say, how many marriage proposals have you turned down today?" Laughing, he headed over to a cabinet and brought out a camera.

"Aw, Mr. J, none! But I did notice a lot of people looking at me for the first time; usually, I just go through the day without anyone noticing me at all…." It had been rather exhilarating to stride by Robbie Maxwell's group and have them stop talking for a minute…

"Yeah? Well, I'm going to document this moment for posterity. Come over here." He gestured to his living room window where the afternoon sun was streaming in…she shyly stood in the light and smiled awkwardly at him.

"Oh, no, no, no—no smiles! A drop-dead gorgeous babe like you doesn't haveto smile! Let 'em wonder what you're thinking…here, let's see what we can do with that neckline…"

He put the camera on the table and in an instant was standing directly in front of her, gently pushing the clingy fabric farther down her shoulders, exposing more of her creamy white bosom. His dark eyes were on her face, a studious half-smile on his lips, and his hands were warm and sure. She shivered as he lightly grazed her neck with his fingertips.

"Is it cold in here?" he asked, concerned.

"No, it's just…" abruptly, she shut up. He was making her feel like a walking piece of Jello, again.

"Hey, do you have any lipstick?" he asked.

"Uh…no…but my mom does."

"Well, run get some, ok?"

"Ok…" She returned momentarily with a few tubes. Jack assessed the different shades by opening them and holding them next to her face. He picked a deep rose color, took her chin firmly in his left hand, and began expertly applying the color to her lips.

"There. You don't usually need this crap, but for the photo, I think it'll kick ass."

He motioned her into the light.

"Ok, just look out the window…here, put your hand on your hip, like this…" He took her cold hand and placed it just so, on her hip.

"Now, kind of throw your shoulders back, and act like you don't give a damn."

She cracked up giggling, and he laughed too.

"Come on, now, this is serious! This'll be the Vogue shot…cover girl, baby! Now, hold still!" He captured the shot, and lowered the camera.

"Aw, beautiful! Come 'ere, look at yourself!" She came over to him and he slipped his arms over her shoulders from behind, holding the digital camera so they both could see the image. For a brief moment he rested his chin on her head while he punched the correct buttons, and she couldn't help but lean back against him. It was a heady moment and she barely registered that she was supposed to be looking at her own photo until the image actually appeared on the small screen.

She was beautiful.

He had captured an image of herself she couldn't have imagined in a million years—disdainful, aloof, almost scornful, but fetchingly attractive in a sophisticated way. She was startled—and thrilled.

"I really look…like that?" she gasped.

"You really do…whaddya think I've been telling ya, Killer? You're on the road to the big time, no mistake about it." He had released her from his hold, and was regarding her critically.

"How about a couple of more shots? Let's get 'em while the light's so nice."

He came over to her and using his hands to guide her body into the proper pose, had her put one hand on the wall, jut out her hip and give a backward glare over her shoulder.

"Yeah…that one really shows off those jeans. Good choice, by the way…"

They reviewed that shot, then he took a few more, making her laugh so that she appeared more relaxed and "candid" than in the posed shots.

Finally, Rita remembered the time.

"Oh, Mr. J, I've gotta go. My mom's getting home early this evening and I wanted to make dinner for her…"

"Aww, that's sweet. Great idea, kid, she'll love that. Whatcha gonna make?" he asked curiously.

"Oh, just spaghetti. I'm not much of a cook."

"Well, you come over sometime and lemme show you a couple of things in the kitchen—us old bachelors have to learn to fend for ourselves, you know!" He grinned at her and she fervently wished she could stay and let him show her a couple of things right now….

"Why are you still a bachelor, Mr. J?" she asked, suddenly curious. It hadn't occurred to her to wonder before. God knows he was gorgeous enough to have women all over him….

"Oh, you know, just haven't met the…right lady, yet. I'm sure she's out there, but you know, kid,"—his voice dropped to a low purr, and his eyes twinkled as he gave her a knowing wink—"by the time you're through with me, no one's gonna be good enough…right?"

She laughed a little, clearly embarrassed. Why did he have to say things like that? She could never think of the right response.

"Uh, sure, Mr. J, if you say so…"

Uh-oh, kid definitely sounds nervous…time to pull back a little.

He laughed, letting her know he was teasing her. He slipped his arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, don't pay attention to my bullshit! You know I'm just pulling your leg. Damn, Rita, you're just so much fun to mess with…"

Suddenly, he knit his brow and looked worried.

"Look, I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable." His voice had become a warm mix of concern and sincere regret, and she quickly tried to reassure him.

"No, it's ok, Mr. J! I'm fine…I just…I just don't know how to act around you, sometimes. I wish I could be more like you…not take things so seriously…but, it's kind of hard for me…."

"Hey." He suddenly pulled her into a hug. "Hey, listen. You're just fine the way you are. I just like to…you know, joke around. A little too much sometimes. Ok?"

She melted into the hug, and squeezed him back. His slim frame felt amazingly solid and strong….his scent was of the outdoors, his wool blazer, and a sharp, spicy fragrance. She could have stayed like that forever, but he broke the clench and smiled down at her.

"You better go get dinner started, or Mom'll wonder what you've been up to…" he said chidingly.

"Yeah…I better go. See ya, Mr. J."

"See ya, Rita Mae."

He watched intently as she slipped through his door. When it shut behind her, Jack threw himself on the couch and reviewed the afternoon. Things were coming along nicely. The hug might have been a bit much, but….naw, it was actually just right. He hadn't grabbed her ass, or anything. And, damn, the kid's hair smelled nice, up close like that.

Oh, and the lipstick bit…ha ha, he coulda loaned her his, but it definitely wasn't the right…shade. A little…too…red. He smiled to himself, and absently fingered his scars with one hand as reached for the camera with the other. He then ran back and forth through the shots of Rita.

And then he took care of a little problem that had developed.

In his pants.