499 words. This is part three of what is now a four part story arc. The next one will end it and then I'll be back to my normal, semi-romantic, go-lucky self.

I hope.

Jennifer hesitated and she could feel the panic emanate from her heart which had flash frozen in mid-beat. "Rodney?" she whispered as she edged closer to him. She licked her parched lips and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. "Rodney, I love you."

"What's love got to do with it?" Rodney asked with a soft chortle that was neither humorous nor genuine. His eyes moved about her face as though he were memorizing every detail, and when his eyes settled on hers she knew her world was about to come crashing down around her ears.

"When we started," he motioned back and forth between them a couple of times, "us, we knew I wasn't very good at this." He hesitated for a second, but before Jennifer could take advantage of it he refocused and said, "And I tried, Jennifer, but I, I don't know, I'm too set in my ways I guess and… well, I really thought I could make you happy but…"

"You do make me happy, Rodney!" she exclaimed, her desperation making her voice louder then she'd meant to. She reached over and took his hands in hers and took in a quick breath. When she spoke it was a miracle it didn't come out as a sob. "You do make me happy."

Rodney sadly shook his head. "Maybe I did at first," he said with a warm smile full of happy reminiscence. "But not lately and we both know it. I keep getting caught up with work and," his hands gently flexed around hers and he looked down to avoid her eyes, "ignoring you."

"Rodney," Jennifer said in a firm voice. "Please don't do this."

"Have you been happy lately?" asked Rodney as he looked up into her eyes. Before Jennifer could give him an answer him he said, "Just think about it for a second. How many times in the last, I don't know, the last week, have you really laughed at something?"

"Rodney that's not the point," she argued, and to her surprise he nodded his head.

"You're right," he said and then he gave her a smile that nearly glowed with pride, "as usual. Alright, fine. Let me ask you this: how many times in the last week have you felt so mad and frustrated that you thought you could rip your hair out?"

Realization at what he was saying hit her like a Wraith stunner and tears filled her eyes. She'd felt as he'd described a few times lately, and the root cause of those episodes of anger and frustration had been Rodney.

Rodney released her hands and quietly said, "We can still be friends and, you know, work… together. Right?"

She couldn't talk. Or move. He waited a few moments for her to say something and a sad resignation fell over his face that sliced deep into her soul. All she could do was watch in agony as he turned and slowly walked away to leave her all alone.

a/N: "What's Love Got to Do with It" was written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle and released by the awesome Tina Turner on her 1984 album Private Dancer.