geekfreak63

Voyage

2008-08-08T22:54:24Z

It's been awhile but I'm still here. I've finally got part three done. Be ye forwarned.......there is a mention of child sexual abuse. (Jo WAS a vice cop) Also a lot of 9-11 content. If you don't want to see this, avoid this chapter.

"What's the situation?" Jo asked as she entered the bridge.

"Two small vessels approaching fast astern,Cap. One off the port beam." Her first mate and right hand man, Frank answered. "Tryin' to push us inshore, I'd guess."

"Well, I don't think that's gonna work now." A slight grin appeared on her face. "I have an idea. Have we set all of the scuttling charges on the Warner's boat?"

"Oui." Henri, answered as he entered the bridge.

"Set off the stern charges only."

Henri grinned in reply. "You are like renard, you will make them see the jewel slipping away and POOF, we are forgotten!

"Somethin' like that. Blow the charges when they reach visible range. In the meantime, put us at maximum detonation range with the yacht between us and them."

The bridge crew waited as the smaller boats appeared in view. At a signal from Jo, a dull thud was heard from the direction of the Warner yacht. A puff of smoke drifted into the air as the ship began to settle deeper into the water at the stern, her nose begining to point skyward. Just as Jo had hoped, two of the small boats immediately turned toward the sinking yacht. The third continued toward them for a briel moment but then swung back like a child afraid of losing his share of the candy.

"Take us out'a here." Jo commanded. "As soon as we're over the horizon initiate ghost measures. Stay on course for the next hour then begin figure eight patterns with full sweeps. I don't want to be surprised here guys."

A combination of oiu and aye gave acknowledgement to her orders.

"I'll be in my quarters."

One of the younger crew men gave Henri a questioning look.

" Have you not seen the Blonde? Ella est parfaite!"

********************************************************************************************

In the passageway, Jo steeled herself to face her former roommate and best friend. She had to convince the blonde that here was no redemption possible. If there was a chance to get Blair out of this mess unharmed, she had to be ready to leave without a look back for Jo. The heiress had thought her dead, now she needed to wish her so. Jo sqaured her shoulders and entered her cabin.

The sight that greeted her eyes stole the breath from her lungs. Blair had been crying. She looked up as Jo entered. Time stood still. Jo's legs propelled her across the cabin as if they had a mind of thier own. She slid her arms around the blonde's shoulders and her heart broke open with a sob. The two held each other and let the tears wash over them. After a time, Jo gingerly moved to sit beside her dearest friend.

“I couldn’t do it anymore.” She sighed. “The harder I tried to make it better, the worse it got.”

Blair sniffed. “Rick?”

“Rick, work, the world. I was workin’ on a case, just an everyday call girl ring....you know? We went in to bust the place and it was full of little girls......kids....Most of them younger than ten......I mean...How can that be?...

Why would any one do that? Turns out they were bringing them in from Asia and outright selling them....Anyways, it took all night to get CPS in to take over the kids....and the social worker....she just shrugged and said it was the third time they had picked kids up from this house! Three times! No one seemed to care enough to keep these creeps in jail!! I went into The Lockdown Bar with the guys.....just to grab’a couple of drinks to take the edge off. We had only been there fifteen... twenty minutes tops when the plane went into the north tower..We got there in time to see the second plane and all hell broke loose.....I was trying to help...everyone was. Something took my legs out from under me. I ended up in a church with a lot of other people who were hurt too. Something snapped, Blair. I just left and started walking. Lots of people were just walking out of Manhattan. We were like ghosts, covered in gray dust. I didn’t even notice how bad my leg was until I got to Yankee Stadium.....”

“Jo that’s over three hundred blocks!! Do you expect me to believe you walked more than twelve miles with an injury?!” Blair was incredulous.

“Nah...at one point I rode in a cab filled with people. There must’a been ten of us. The cab driver just kept picking people up no meter no nothing. Wanted people to be at home with their families, he said. He kept crying that America was not supposed to be like this.” The brunette paused. “He was right. It wasn’t supposed to be like any of this.”

“What happened then, Jo?”

“I went to Ma’s. She wasn’t there. I guess she was at work by then. People needed a lot of stiff drinks that night. I left her a note saying I loved her and went over to the free clinic. They stitched up my leg and I walked on.” Jo’s narrative seemed to sputter.

“Your mother swore that you had been to the apartment. She refused to believe that you were dead. She showed me that note at your funeral. I thought it was the shock of losing you. You know, some old note you left her as a kid.”

Jo restarted .“I never meant to just disappear. I sat under your bedroom window at Eastland one night. I wanted to tell you I was okay...I ....well....I wanted to be okay, but I wasn’t. “

“Oh, Jo! I wish I had known.!”

“Yeah.....well. I didn’t know. The only thing I did know was that Jo Polniaczek, the person I was, was dead."

"What about Rick and Jamie?" Blair asked.

"What about 'em? I was working and drinking too much to be a good mom. When I was home, Rick and I fought. After I knocked out a couple of his teeth in a drunken rage, he filed for divorce. I got the papers on September tenth. I had failed at everything ,Princess. I tried to be regular. You know, a normal wife and mom .....but I just wasn't cut out for it. By the time I started to think again, I figured Jamie was better off thinking her mom was dead rather than knowing I didn't love her enough to make it work with her dad."

"Jo, Jamie needed....needs her mother. Rick went down to the towers when he first heard the news. He was looking for you or trying to help...no one really knows. He was struck by someone who jumped from tower number two. It was instantainious."

Jo sobbed, "Oh, my God,.....what about Jamie?!!"

"She went to stay with your mom. She came to Eastland, and after your mom had the second back surgery, she started to stay with me at the headmistress' house. She's handled herself well and she graduated with top honors. She is enrolled at Langley in the fall......but Jo, she has missed you and Rick terrribly. I've done my best but I'm not her Mother. Jo, we need to go home."

"I can't." Jo's voice had gone cold. She continued, over Blair's protestations

that her lawyers would help. "It's more than that Princess. I've stumbled into something big and people want me dead. If I'm going home, I need to get you and your dad to safety and figure out what I know and who doesn't want me to know it."

"I'm not leaving you, Jo. I want to help. Remember, Mrs. Garrett always said I was an irresistable force."

Jo looked deep into Blair's brown eyes, the tears present made the green and gold flecks stand out even more.

"Yeah, and I am an imovable object." She grinned.

"Blair, if this is gonna work,no one can know that we are working together. In fact, it needs to appear that you are being....." Jo blushed and mumbled.

"What did you say"

"You ....I...it needs to look....well....you know."

"I do not know. Please explain"

"Itneedstolooklikewehadsex" Jo blurted.

"WHAAAAT?!!!!"

"Well, I'm a pirate and that's what I usually do with beautiful a beautiful woman."

Jo's blush returned with a vengence at her addmission. Blair continued to stare at her. "I need you to scream......come on, Blair.......Blair?......."

The heiress started as if from a bad dream. Suddenly, her open hand was in contact with Jo's face and Jo was flying across the cabin. Blair looked at the offending limb. Before she had time to wonder what had happened Jo was up and in her face.

"Good......jeeze!.....You really pack a wallop.....Now scearm.............SCREAM!"

Jo reached out and twisted the front of Blair's blouse. It tore scattering buttons all over the floor. The blonde finally screamed.

"JOOOOOOOOOOOOO..........." She began to cry again.

Jo took Blair into her arms. "I got ya, Princess.....I got ya."

Voyage

2008-06-12T20:33:21Z

The blond heiress sat back on the bunk and sighed again. She had awakened several minutes ago in the fair sized compartment. Finding the door locked from the outside, it appeared that all she could do was wait. She looked around in the meantime. The room was sparse but neat, a few clothes and toiletries stowed efficiently. There was only one item that spoke of the owners life; a small photo of two young girls arm in arm wearing red graduation caps and gowns.

Footsteps came and went in the passageway. Blair listened until she finally heard the uneven pace stop. The door swung open and the pirate captain stood there. She began to shout.

“Your dead!......... I went to your funeral!”

“I’d better go lie down then.” Quipped the captain.

“You don’t understand........I grieved for you!.....Your parents....Rick.....My God, Jamie........ .Why would you do this to them?........Why would you do this to me?......My husband left me because he couldn’t compete with your ghost!! Jo! What were you thinking?!!!” The blonde's sobbing filled the room.

"Are ya gonna calm down soon or should I just slap ya now and get it over with?"

Incredulous brown eyes were raised to the captain's face.

"You don't care, do you?"

“Care about what. Blair? Care that ya have hurt feelings? Frankly, I have much more important things to worry about right now. I just came to see if ya wanted to say goodbye to your dad.”

“Daddy! Goodbye? Jo, he’s not......”

“Nah, but he needs surgery and that can be done better on dry land. Com’on, I’ll take ya to ‘em.”

Jo , moved aside to allow the blond into the passageway. She gestured astern and they walked along in silence. Jo stopped Blair with a hand to her elbow and guided her into the sick bay.

David Warner was propped upon a table giving orders to the Doctor, which were largely ignored.

“He givin’ya trouble, Doc?” Jo asked with a slight grin.

“”No, I’m used to stubborn patients who think they’re in charge.” He pointedly looked at his captain.

Blair had moved to David Warner's side during this exchange. He took her hand

and smiled to reassure her. "How are you holding up, Princess?"

"I'm as well as can be expected under the circumstances." She shot a look at Jo that would have killed anyone else. Jo shrugged it off as if it were a fly.

Just then, there was a knock on the bulkhead and a young crewman entered.

" From the bridge, Cap." He handed Jo a scrap of paper. She scanned it, then stepped to an intercom box onthe wall.

"This is the Captain. Set condition one through out the ship and prepare for a ghost run. We've got company coming, boys!"

She turned. "Doc? What can you do for Mr. Warner here?"

"Enough. Lots of structures in the shoulder but he got lucky. Spar missed most of 'em."

"Good ." She turned to the young crewman. "Take Ms. Warner back to my quarters. I'll be on the bridge."

With that she exited before Blair could object. After a brief check of the situation, she turned and walked purposly toward the brig.

************************************************************************************

The door opened with a clank. Ted Wilson rose from the bunk to meet the pirate captain eye to eye. Unfortunately, for him, his eye met Jo's fist as a solid left cross caught him by surprise.

"You son of a bitch! Why would you bring them into these waters? And what the hell are you doing on their yacht anyway?"

Ted raised his hand as if to ward off more blows. "I needed to find you, Jo."

"Why didn't you go through the channels?"

"There are no more channels. You don't exist, remember?"

" How about our 'unofficial' ways? I mean, this isn't a new situation here."

"Jo, someone on the inside has supplied the agency with information.....information that indicates you are now working on the other side."

The brunette looked confused."The other side?"

"The word is that you have begun to enjoy the pirate way of life too much. The Director has convincing evidence that you have ties to the terrorists and are for sale to the highest bidder."

"You know that's a damn lie!!."

"You've done your job too well. Someone wants you out of business."

"Lot's of people want me out.....the raiders we hit.....the corrupt officials who gain from the raiders.......you mean someone bigger, don't you?"

"Real big. I think you've got information that they don't want out"

"What information?? I stop pirates from preying on people in these waters by pirating from them and sinking their boats!! "

"I don't know but I do know that the order has been given. You are not to escape at any cost."

“Why did you haul the Warners into this?!!"

"I just needed an excuse to be here. I never thought they would be in danger because I knew you. I knew you would see that IRF and get there.....by the way ....Who was in that boat you blew up?"

"Some of the locals. They monitor the distress calls. Early bird gets the worm, ya know, or in this case a rich prize. This is a rough neighborhood. In fact we need to get out'a here." She reached into her pocket and handed him a key. "If I can't trust my crew, I'm gonna have to leave you down here but I want you to be able to move around if I need ya. David is in sickbay and I'm gonna keep Blair in my quarters."

"Why?" He asked.

"I'm a pirate....you figure it out."

Voyage

2008-06-12T20:30:35Z

The explosion rocked the ship sending the blonde sprawling to the deck beneath her chaise. Immediately the klaxon from the ships alarm began to blare as the diesel engines ground to a halt. A large column of black smoke escaped from the port side of the vessel and then tapered off as the fire suppression system performed its job.

"Blair? Are you alright sweetie?!"

"Yes, Daddy, at least it appears so. What happened?"

"I'm not sure, Princess, but It seems to be over now. Here comes Ted."

A compact, wavy haired man approached the Warners on the aft deck.

"What's going on?" David Warner questioned his chief of security.

"There have been a series of small explosions and a fire in the engine room."

"We only felt one." Blair interjected.

" That would have been the engine room. As near as I can tell, several small charges were set to take out our electronics systems. The explosion in the engine room was a by product of the fans stopping. The diesel fumes built up and a spark set them off."

"How did the fire alarms go off with no electricity?" David questioned.

"The new security system we installed last year uses a completely different power system. In fact, It has already sent a distress call and our location to the nearest authorities.”

“Well then, it looks like you’ve got things covered Ted.”

“There’s still the question of who set the original charges.”

“Are we in danger?” Blair asked.

“Probably not. Ted Wilson paused....”There have been some issues in these waters but I’m sure that the locals will be along shortly.”

In less than an hour, the posted lookouts spotted a ship headed in their direction. A signal flare was fired and the signal returned. The smaller boat was headed in at a rapid pace.

“What flag is she flying?” Wilson shouted up to the nearest lookout.

“No colors, sir!”

“Blair, go to your cabin and get under the bunk!”

“Why?”

“Just go....NOW!” David shouted.

Before Blair could move, there was a screaming shriek and the approaching ship erupted in flames. Behind her appeared a much larger ship. Ted Wilson, acting on instinct, threw Blair to the deck and covered her with his own body. Flaming debris landed on and around them.

When Ted lifted his head, the first thing he saw was his employer.

David Warner had been knocked off from his feet by the power of the blast.

A piece of deck spar was protruding from his shoulder . Before he could react, Blair was trying to get up.

“Noooooooo!.....Daddy!!”

She crawled over to her father.

“I’m okay, Princess. It hurts like hell but I’ll live. Ted! What happened?!!”

The small man pointed mutely at the ship which was now grappled to the yacht’s starboard side. Armed men poured over onto the deck and began to spread though the ship.

One word said it all. “Pirates”

"DOWN ON THE DECK!! ALL OF YOU!!!" A tall man with an automatic rifle gestured at the kneeling blond and the security man.

"But my father is injured....I need...."

"NOW!!" The man growled.

"Just do as he says, Blair. I' m okay."

She complied. Her father grasped her hand as they heard the men begin to move through the ship. After about 15 minutes of this, they heard one of the men shout:

"All clear Cap. Looks like the crew took off in the Zodiac."

"Merde!" A slightly muttered curse accompanied an off meter gait.

As the steps approached, Blair lifted her face from the deck slowly. She saw a ragged pair of canvas deck shoes. The right one had a hole were the wearer's big toe had popped through. Tan brown ankles showed above the shoes. The left shin was marred by a jagged scar running from the inner ankle to just below the outer side of the knee. The legs disappeared into baggy cargo shorts topped by a worn shirt adorned by a slightly rude French phase made popular by a singing group in the 1970's. The face was tanned and pleasant and green eyes sparkled down into brown.

"Hi ya, Princess.

Blair's head slumped back to the deck.

"Never could take a shock." the Captain muttered. "Henri! Get the Doc over here to look at Mr. Warner and then get these three settled on the Queen. I want the transponders on this tug shut down yesterday! Look for redundant systems too. Once the Warners are secured, I want everything we can use stripped and moved to our hold. Remember to disconnect all the electronics from their power sources. We don't need to advertise here. Let's go, people!"

A motion of the leader's head pulled the tall man aside.

"Frank. get the bird up and find the crew of this tub. We'll be ready to scuttle within the hour. I want them back before then"

"Oui, mon Capitan. It will be as you wish"

How Did We Get Here

2008-04-29T00:55:56Z

The incessant buzzing of the cell phone jarred Jo from a dreamless sleep.

“Polniaczek”

“Jo? It’s Natalie.”

“Nat, hey, how ya doin’? You in town? How in the hell did you get this number? This is for official police business!”

“I’m an investigative journalist, remember? I’ve got Colonel Kaddafi’s number! You think I couldn’t find you?”

“NYPD could use ya some days. What’s up?”

“It’s Blair, Jo....”

“Nah...No way....I’m done with that!”

“Jo, she has a mass in her abdomen. It’s on her left ovary. They’re afraid it’s cancer.”

“Nat, my god, why didn’t she call me?”

“She’s afraid you’ll come back out of guilt not because you love her.”

“Love her!!.....She’s the one pushin’ me away!.....She ...

“Jo, Blair’s afraid she’s dying.”

That simple statement left Jo reeling.

“She’s having surgery tomorrow at Sloan-Kettering. Will you be there?”

“Yeah........Nat?....I really do ....love her, I mean.”

“I know and she loves you too. I’m at the St .Regis. Room 1066. I told Monica we’d meet her in the OR waiting room at seven. Blair goes in right before that.”

“Tootie know?”

“Yeah, she’ll be here too........Jo?”

“Yeah?’

“Nothing...see you in the morning.

Natalie poured herself another drink. She thought how she usually quipped about liking her whiskey the same way she liked her men.....strong and straight! She moved back over to look out at the stunning view of the city and pondered the relationship between the two women that she thought of as older sisters...maybe even parents in some ways. After all, Jo and Blair had always been there for her and Tootie She was grateful, if one could be grateful in this case, to return the favor. Her thoughts wandered back to the first months in town with Mrs. Garrett.

................................................................................................................................

It was a Saturday morning and she was getting set to open Edna's Edibles, all she needed was that last tray of croissants. Tootie offered to help but Nat told her to stay and get the till set. She dashed out of the shop and into the kitchen. Okay, maybe she didn’t so much dash as mosey, she grinned to herself....being in a war zone had taught her much more about speed then she ever wanted to know! Anyway, after grabbing the croissants (and a couple of cookies) Nat realized that she had to bring the coffee carafes out too. Not wanting to make two trips, she loaded herself up with the goodies and backed through the swinging door into the rest of the house. Blair was coming down the stairs and stopped to pose as she usually did. Jo had just popped through the front door from her morning run, her skin glowing and her hair coming out of her ponytail to lay around her face in a very becoming manner. Brown eyes and Green locked as Blair floated down toward the brunette. Neither noticed Natalie. In fact, she could have been naked and on fire and not made an impact. The blond cupped Jo’s face and gently kissed her lips. Jo gingerly nibbled on Blair’s lower lip until the young heiress opened her mouth and deepened the kiss. Finally they broke apart.

“Hey.”

“Hey yourself, Blondie.”

“Did you elevate your heart rate?”

“Nah, I let you do it for me.”

Both girls laughed as they pulled apart.

“I guess I should grab a shower before my shift starts.”

“Better make it a cold one.” Blair quipped.

They gently murmured a few more things and then each went on her way.

Natalie still stood in the kitchen doorway, her mouth hanging open. When she finally regained control, she dashed into the shop and grabbed Tootie.

“Girls..........kissing.......can’t.... breathe” She panted.

“What are you talking about, Nat?”

Natalie gathered herself and plunged ahead. “Girls kissing. I know, I know. It’s an all girls school. It happens but who knew....here...right under our noses....passion!”

“Your not making sense, Natalie! Girls Kissing? Who?”

“Jo.......Okay ,should’ a seen that one coming. I mean come on......motorcycle,

boots, camouflage.....but Tootie....I mean who could’ a guessed Blair!”

“What!”

“Jo and Blair kissing....more precisely, Blair kissing Jo. And I do mean kissing!! Wooo! Hot stuff! I thought I might get singed and I was only watching!”

“You watched them kiss?!!!! Tell me more, girl!”

“Tootie, you never would’ a believed it. There I was croissants in hand when it happened.”

“What happened?!!”

“ Bair kissed Jo. She walked right up to Jo, plain as can be, and kissed her right on the mouth! Now, I was waiting for Jo to pop her one, but NO....she just kissed her back. And then....Oh, Boy, do I mean THEN, ..it happened! WOOSH! Internal combustion! I’m tellin ‘ ya Tootie, if I ever get a kiss like that, I’ll die!”

Tootie sat and thought about what Nat had told her.

“Do you think they’re in love?”

“I don’t know.....maybe.”

“It would make sense. The way they fight and all...Plus it would explain them sleeping together.”

“WHAAAAT?” Natalie’s voice rose to a screech!

“Well, the other night I had that dream again.”

“The one where Michael Jackson turns white and his nose falls off?”

“Yeah, that one.” Tootie continued. “ Anyway, I got up to lie with Blair.”

Natalie interrupted. “You lie with Blair when you have nightmares?”

“Uh huh, It started my first year at school. She told me I could come to her room if I got scared. She was real nice about it. Said she was lonely and scared when she came here too. So, anyway, I got up but she wasn’t in her bed she was in Jo’s. I thought maybe one of them had had a nightmare too. I went down the hall and slept with Mrs. .Garrett the rest of the night.”

“Girls! Have you unlocked the doors yet?” Mrs. Garrett breezed into the shop.

“We can’t sell any croissants if the people can’t get in!”

Natalie got up and unlocked the door, turning the sign over to OPEN.

.............................................................................................................................

Drink finished, Natalie turned back to her room and away from the lights of New York. Jo would be here early, if she knew Jo, and tomorrow would be a long day. As she crawled into bed she whispered a little prayer for Blair....for all of them, really.

In the Bronx another’s prayers were being offered as well.

Unfortunate

2008-04-20T19:14:36Z

I was sifting though pictures yesterday when noticed my hair. Not one of those moments when you pass a window and see your hair and say "Damn! That's good!" but more of a gradual journey: my hair though the decades. As a child, Mom took us to her "Lady",once a year before school started, to get our pixies. For the rest of the year, she trimmed our bangs and anything else that stuck out. No mess. No fuss. Of course, it was the late '60s and I wanted long hair like my older sister had. "Only when you can take care of it yourself." Mom stated. I began to comb and brush without being asked and she let me grow it out. So began the love/hate relationship. I was stylish but at what cost? It was long, shiney, and beautifully blond. It also got knotted, caught bubblegum, and, once, got caught in the chain of my bike!
Then along came Farrah Fawcett. Suddenly, my long hair needed more. I had a little natural body but lacked the feathering. Somehow that led to "wings". (Those of you who were in Jr. High in the '70s know what I mean). Now began the battle.I was armed with blow dryer, curling iron, and hair spray. The tools of femininity. I tried. It was a losing battle. The wings were grown back out. Next: the disco years! A friend gave me a "curly"perm. I looked like a blond Rosanne Rossannadanna!(God Bless Gilda) Again I grew out the mistake. I graduated from High school in 1981. I celebrated by getting a Lady Di. It was cute. I could manage it but I was still trying to be a "real girl". Soon it was grown out for a series of disastorous spiral perms. No combing. Just wash and go. It was, in retrospect, unfortunate. I began to try to express who I really was with my hair.(Mullet). In the years since, it has been long and it has been short. Currently, it is an Ivory League cut which I let go where ever the cowlicks take it. Finally I am free of the tyranny of hair! I have women come up to me and ask to touch my hair. They will touch it with reverence and wisper " I wish I had the courage to do that." They worry that it will make them look too masculine or that their faces are not the right shape but most of all, they worry that people will disapprove of them. Maybe, years from now, I will look back and cringe but for now, freedom is in the buzz of the clippers.

How Did We Get Here

2008-04-20T18:27:35Z

Author: Geekfreak63
Fandom: Facts of Life
Pairing:Jo Blair
Disclaimer: NOT mine. Must return to reality some day. Ignore the voices. (Muttering to
herself: "not fair, so not fair!")

Authors Notes: Someone wanted more. Blame them.

Type your cut contents here.

"Blair, have you spoken to Joanna about any of this?"

"No, Mother, and I don't plan too."

"But don't you think you should?"

"Why? Did you consult friends when you had cancer? Really, Mother, even I found out by accident!"

"Dear , Jo is so much more than a friend to you."

A shocked Blair gapes at her mother before covering: "What are you trying to imply, Mom?"

"I'm not implying anything. I'm stating a fact. Come on, Blair, you are talking to your mother. I know you, and I've known about the two of you since you were at Eastland."

"I suppose I could deny it but I'm just too tired." The blond sighed. We have been ....intimate. It was ..a convenience. We trusted each other to take care of certain needs without the pain of falling in love. I just wanted to avoid....”

“Avoid what, Blair? Avoid becoming me?”

“Avoid the pain you’ve been though, Mother. Every time you get divorced, you loose a little piece of yourself. I’ve watched it all my life and I don’t want to feel that way.” Blair was on the verge of tears.

Monica took her daughter into her arms and made small shushing sounds while rocking slowly back and forth.

“What am I going to do? I held Jo at arms length until I pushed her away!” Blair was openly crying now.

“Tonight, Dear, you are going to go to bed and cry yourself out. In the morning, after a cucumber mask to bring down the swelling in your eyes , we will go find Joanna and work on fixing this mess”

“Mother, how did you know about Jo and I? I mean....At Eastland?”

“Remember the spring parents night in your sophomore year?”

“Yeees....”

“After dinner, when the other girls were playing records, I went into the kitchen. Mrs. Garrett told me that you were finishing the dishes. I went to say goodbye because I had cocktails at Doris’......When I pushed the door open, I saw you and Jo. You were in each others arms. I let the door close and then I called your name. When I walked into the kitchen the two of you were side by side finishing the dishes.”

Blair remembered.

It had been a tough week. Jo was sullen and angry. Her mother was coming to the Spring Fling with her new boyfriend and, again, Jo was feeling abandoned. Mrs. Garrett had been pushing them all hard with party preparations and to top it all off, Jo and Blair couldn't seem to shake Tootie! Every time they hoped to be alone, the young girl popped up and stuck to them like glue. Despite all of this, or maybe because of it, the desire the two older girls felt, was growing more every day. This led to a couple of very nasty eruptions of words between the girls and Mrs. Garrett on the morning of the party.

"Girls, I have had enough of the two of you!" The red head's voice rose in genuine anger. "You will learn to get along or you will kill each other but I will NOT be caught in the middle and neither will anyone else! The two of you will be on kitchen clean up tonight without help! "

" But Mrs. Garrett My Mother is coming!" The blond whined "I won't get to spend any time with her!"

"Maybe she'd like ta steal my Mom's boyfriend" Jo muttered

Blair pretended to ignore the comment. "Some of us like to be with our Mothers."

"I know girls, but you really leave me no choice. I can't have you sniping at each other day and night and I won't have you talking to me in that fashion. You have a choice here. You can continue arguing and spend the night in the kitchen or you can work together as partners and spend more time with your families."

Both girls began to protest but were met with an up raised hand from the older woman.

"I won't listen to any more of this. I have made up my mind about this." With that she walked back out into the cafeteria.

"Now look what you've done! It's not my fault that you have been such a grump this week!" Blair was still dangerously close to whining.

" A grump...jeez, Blair... why don't ya say what ya mean? Ya wanna call me a bitch, then do it!" The brunette turned and stomped up the stairs.

"TURN BLUE!!" The strongest oath the blond could bring herself to use rang in the empty kitchen.

The party preparations were finally completed although, the older girls avoided each other though out. Natalie tried to inject a little levity but it was no use. Blair used up all of the hot water in the shower and still, Jo did not say a word. Jo's mood did not improve with her Mother's arrival.

During dinner, Blair watched Jo from across the room. She could feel the hurt rolling off of her friend in waves. Rose Polniaczek was trying to get Jo to warm up to her boyfriend, Jack with little success. Blair knew what Jo was going through. She had lived though the same thing a few times. Her Mother was a serial divorcee.

Mrs. Garrett signaled the girls to begin clearing as the headmaster rose to give the same old “irony of the rebirth of spring coinciding with the winding down of the academic year” speech. After depositing the dishes in the kitchen, Nat and Tootie went to rejoin their parents. Jo and Blair were left alone.

“At least Howard cleaned up all of the pots and pans.” Blair stated.

Jo gave her a look and then decided to give her a break. They both needed it.

“Yeah, I guess he must’a felt sorry for us.”

“Or maybe Mrs. Garrett scared him too!” Blair cracked a small smile .”She scares me sometimes.”

“She scares me and I’m use ta Old Lady Melvin!”

“Who’s Old Lady Melvin?”

“Mr. Melvin’s Mother. They lived in our building. She always carried a broom. Didn’t speak a word a English. Used ta chase us off the stoop when we were kids. I watched her beat the hell out of a couple of tough guys who tried ta rob her once. Four feet tall and she had those guys cryin’ for their mammas!”

Blair shivered in mock fear. “Brrrrrr”

As the girls worked together to load and run the industrial dishwasher Blair spoke again.

“Jo, I’m sorry about getting us into this mess.”

“Nah, it wasn’t just you, Blondie, I’m just as much at fault . I just feel kind’ a jumpy lately.”

“You know that your Mom still loves you. Take it from me, men come and go but women are family forever. It doesn’t matter if it’s by blood or by choice, once we love you, you’re stuck with us!”

The sound of tables being moved and music playing came from the cafeteria. The girls were wiping the last load from the dishwasher. The into to Reunited by Peaches and Herb began to play. The girls could not help but grin.

“ We okay here?”

Blair nodded.

“Then ya wanna dance, Princess?”

“My pleasure.”

They moved into each others arms and began to sway. The joy of occupying the same space and breathing the same air enough for now.

‘Blair, Dear!”

The girls reluctantly stepped apart to finish the dishes as Monica entered the kitchen.

How Did We Get Here

2008-04-17T23:04:22Z

Part One

“There is a mass on your left ovary approximately 3 centimeters in size.”

Blair took the news very calmly. She had expected this.

“I assume you will want a second opinion. We can’t tell if it is malignant until we actually get samples to the lab, of course, but I suggest we move quickly on this.”

Blair thanked Dr. Kaye and made arrangements with the front desk for the second opinion recommended by her gynecologist. Now she sat looking out at the lights of the city….alone.

“I can’t do this anymore, Blair. I’m tired of having to leave before morning…Tired of pretending that I don’t love you. You wanted to avoid a relationship ‘cause they always end. Well, what ever you want to call this has ended. I want a partner, a woman to share my life with. You want a best friend with benefits."

That was two weeks ago. Blair had not seen Jo since then. Right now, she wanted nothing more that to feel Jo’s arms around her...Jo’s strength to keep her safe. Damn the board of directors Eastland parents, and mostly Damn Blair Warner and her attempt to avoid her Mother’s life.

She thought back to the first time they had made love.

“Pleeeease? You know I can’t be alone in that room!” the young heiress whined.

“Jo, you have to go with me! We both need to work on that report and the biology lab is the perfect place. Everyone will be in the library fighting over the references and we will have our own personal copies!”

“If it’s so perfect, why do ya need me?”

“You know perfectly well.”

“Yeah.” The brunette grinned. “The the furry little animals scare ya.”

“They are rodents and reptiles, and they don’t scare me…Warner’s aren’t afraid of anything! I just don’t like all the little scratching noises they make. We Warners are not used to lower life forms.”

“I’m not getting’ any peace until we get this done, am I?”

“Not likely.” Blair’s smiled one her hundred watt smiles. “Thanks. Jo. You won’t regret it.”

The girls headed over to the Warner Science Building on the far side of the Eastland campus.

“Grandfather loved the sciences.” Blair announced. “He always hoped that one of his descendents would win a Noble prize.”

“’Fraid it won’t be you, Blondie! Jo jabbed at Blair. “Not with out my help to get ya though biology anyway!” She ducked the pained look that the blond sent her way.

They continued with the light verbal sparing until they crossed though the lobby sculpture “Our Solar System at Rest” and stopped at the grotesque display of human teeth under the influence of fluoride. Both girls cringed at the sight of the enlarged, spotted molars.

“I still don’t see why we need to see that.” Jo commented.

Blair shrugged in agreement as they entered the lab and she turned on the lights. The quickly settled in and soon were engrossed in their work. Jo hated to admit it but Blair was right. They had the references all to them selves and in a couple of hours they had achieved more than the whole weekend at the library would have yielded. As she sat up and stretched, She noticed that the Blonde was having a hard time concentrating too.

“Hey, Blair, How about we take a little break here?”

“Huh? Oh, sure I’m having trouble staying awake as it is.”

As Jo prowled around the room, she started to grin. “ Hey, Blair. I found just the ticket to keeping’ us both awake here.” She clicked on the radio and tuned it to the local rock station. Foreigner’s Urgent was playing.

“I love this song.” Blair squealed. She began dancing around the room.

Jo watched the blond as she tossed her hair and gyrated her hips. She was mesmerized by the movement of Blair’s body. A familiar longing caused her to sigh. A loud crash pulled her from her reverie. In her exuberance for the dance, Blair had knocked over the aquarium containing Harvey, the boa constrictor.

As soon as the glass hit the floor and Blair realized what had happened, she leapt into Jo’s arms and wrapped her legs around Jo’s waist to get her feet away from the snake. The contact was electric! Both women gasped and their eyes locked. Suddenly, Bair closed the gap and her lips claimed Jo’s. A moment into the incredible kiss, Blair found herself deposited onto the lab bench and Jo whispering into her ear.

“Are ya Sure Princess?”

In response, Blair ground her center harder against the other girls flat abdomen and reclaimed the softest lips she had ever felt.

Jo moaned and Blair opened her mouth to swallow it all. Jo took up the invitation and her tongue entered. It was Blair’s turn to moan. Jo’s kisses enflamed her senses and her body. For the first time in her dating history, she wanted more. Jo’s hands slid up under her shirt to caress the soft skin found there and Blair reveled in the rush of heat that flooded between her legs. She needed to feel Jo’s flesh with her own. They separated briefly to gasp for air and Blair began to pull off her blouse when her eye was drawn to the slithering form moving across the floor. She leapt to her feet with a shriek and disappeared from the room.

An astonished Jo found her arms empty and her ears ringing from the slamming of the room’s door.

“ Blair, he ain’t gonna be able to swallow you. Your head’s way to big!”

Jo teased.

“I’m not coming back in there until that beast is contained.” Blair sniffed.

“What is going on here, Blair? “

“Oh! Miss Mahoney! What are you doing here?”

“ I’m here to take care of the animals. What are you doing here?”

The door opened and Jo stepped out.

Blair started to answer. “Jo and I were working on our papers and....”

“And I knocked over Harvey’s cage. It broke but he seems okay. I was just going to look for a broom to clean up. I put him in the empty case on the book shelf for now.” Jo didn’t quite know why she said what she did but for now she felt very protective of the blond.

“It’s almost dinner time.” said Miss Mahoney. “Why don’t two go and I’ll finish up here.”

“I’ll pay for the damages ,Ma’am.”

“No Jo, some breakage is built into the budget. Now get going or you’ll be late and Mrs. Garrett will not be happy!”

The girls had just enough time to drop off their things and start the dinner setup.

The time passed by quickly as they served, bussed tables, washed up and finally ate their own dinners. Soon the evening was over and all of the girls went to bed. Unable to sleep, Jo listened to the light snoring of the others. Soon she felt the mattress dip as Blair climbed into the bed. She had left her pajamas on then floor and she kissed Jo softly.

“Now where did we leave off?”

Home Alone

2008-04-09T21:47:29Z

Bair Warner was bored and feeling sorry for herself. She had awoken this morning with a slight fever which prompted Mrs. Garrett to send her back to bed and to call Derrick Winslow to cancel their date. Blair did not mind too much at the time but now it was Saturday night and she was home all alone. She was tired of being in bed reading or dozing. Mrs. Garrett had tickets to see Barnum, the big hit Broadway show and had planned to stay in the city over night. Tootie and Natalie were in D.C. with Tootie's parents going to some airplane museum and Jo, well, who knew where Jo went on Saturday nights. Glancing around the room one more time, Bair decided to go watch some TV in the lounge. Since the doors were locked and most board students went home for the weekends, she didn't feel the need to get dressed. She grabbed her pillow and blanket and headed downstairs. At the last minute, she grabbed Jo's purple jersey in case she got chilled. Once she had a cup of tea and was settled on the sofa, she turned on Fantasy Island and was quickly engaged with this weeks stories. It is chilly down here, she thought, It's a good thing I grabbed this ugly thing. She pulled it over her head and pulled the blanket up to her neck to ward off the cold. Better, she thought, except for my nose. She pulled the collar of the jersey up over her nose only to be engulfed by the essence that was Jo. It was hard to describe but it was part girl sweat, part exhaust, and part something green, maybe the Herbal Essence Shampoo they all used. Underneath it all was a musky scent that made Blair's stomach flop and her pussy cleanch. Jo had been masturbating when she last wore this shirt! The thought alone had Blair's juices flowing! Of course they all did it. It was only normal. In fact, Blair had walked in on Nancy once last year. Only her ability to play the airhead and her total (suposed) self absoption allowed the two of them to pretend that she didn't notice and saved them both embarrassment. TV show now forgotten, Blair wondered how Jo touched herself. She would be a little rough but very efficient. Jo never wasted time with niceties. She imagined herself as the dark haired girl, reaching up under the jersey to roughly palm her breasts. Her palms creating delicious friction on her quickly hardening nipples. "Fuck yeah" Jo's voice hissed in her head. Jo would be profane. Jo would call her bodiy parts by names that Blair would never use. "I want ya ta use yer mouth on my tits" she purred, "then I want ya ta touch me." Blair slid her right hand into her silk pajama bottoms and gave herself a squeeze before parting her lips and gliding a finger slowly into the wetness. Almost immediately, her hips picked up speed. Jo would bring herself off fast. "I love how you finger my cunt" Jo's voice was husky, her panting almost making the words unintelligible. For a full glorious minute, Blair's. heart and breathing stopped as her back arched and she hung on the edge. Then with a muffled scream, she fell into the most intense orgasim of her young life. She lay there awhile as the world began to resettle around her. She was overcome by a thought as she pulled her hand free. Would Jo be the kind of girl to lick her own juices from her fingers? Yes, Blair decided and gingerly slid her finger into her mouth. She was surprised to find that her taste was not unpleasant and actually quite complex. The thought caused her to slide the hand out from between her lips and back down to the lower set. Just then she heard the sound of a key in the lock. Blair quickly sat up and pretended to be fully interested in the end of her show.

"Jeez Warner! Whatta ya doin' in my favorite shirt?"

" I'm...I..um...I was cold." The blond stuttered.

"Hmm..I thought maybe the fever had burned out yer brain and you were starting to dress normal"

"There is nothing "normal" about this disgusting thing" Blair shot back.

Jo smiled. "Why don't I help ya upstairs. Grab your pillow, Blondie."

Blair stood a little to quickly and the room shimmered for a second beforeJo's strong arm wrapped aroundher waist.

"I've got ya Princess. Still a little woozy, huh?"

Blair took a deep breath to answer when she was assailed by the fresh smell of the night air on Jo's skin. "I want to taste her neck. I want to taste all of her...Oh, my good lord, I've become a nyphomaniac!" Thought the young heiress.

Jo was also stopped cold by the scent rising from Blair. I wonder if she was...Oops, I remember what I was doin' last in that shirt. Jeez, it'a a good thing her nose is stuffed up or she would neverlnet me near her. I bet she would freak out if she knew I was thinkin' about her watchin ' me with those artist's eyes. Oh, Yeah...touchin; me with her light brush stokes...Whoa, Polniaczek! Keep it in yer pants!

They continued up the stairs, turning off the lights as they went. In the hallway before the bedroom door, Jo spoke."Why don't cha go in to bed....I um...think I'm gonna grab a quick shower before hittin' the sheets. Night, Blair."

"Good night, Jo"

Technological isolation

2008-04-08T21:04:08Z

My answering machine blinks at me in an accusing manner, daring me to ignore the little red light yet berating me for not being home in the first place. I know what the call will be. I am guilty of the same crime as my callers. What is this transgression? ? A sin of major importance or just another little straw on the camels back? It is isolation by technology and it may have finally become too much for me.
At some point, in the late '80's, a lover convinced me that we needed an answering machine. I readily agreed as I wanted the chance to pickup overtime shifts at the hospital where I work. It was exciting to come home and find a message even if it was only the Orkin man trying to sell roach protection. Soon I was saying things like "Leave me a message" or recording funny or not so funny outgoing messages. Then came the first transgression: screening calls. How arrogant, to decide, based on whom is calling, if it is worth my time to answer. Next came the assumption that others were doing the same. "Pick up if you are there," I urged friends when I had a chance at concert tickets. After that, it was only a small step to returning calls when I knew others were not at home so I could just leave a message and not actually have to talk to them at all. In this twenty-first century, communication has degenerated past the very impersonal e-mail with no salutaion or signature, to a series of letters and numbers that stand for words.
Now what is the point of all of this? I always thought that by providing more ways for people to reach each other would open the lines of communication.I was wrong. Our technology has allowed us to become more separate and more alone yet still "in touch". I remember running for the phone as a teenager just to see who it was. Now we look at the callerID and let the machine pick up, as if the show we are watching is more important than the living, breathing person on the other end of the line. The light is still blinking. I would love to pull that plug but what if it is something important?

Thoughts

2008-04-05T12:31:24Z

The Blonde sighed and rolled over. The events of the last evening and her own thoughts and feelings about the issues raised were not allowing sleep to overtake her. She gazed at the girl in the next bed. Jo.Oh, sure, she was a barbarian, but everytime Blair began to feel comfortable in her superiority, ("Breeding Dear, blood always tells" her Grandmother's voice occasionally echoed in her head. ) something happened that made her see the girl in a new light. Take tonight, Mrs. Garrett had asked them to talk to a younger student who was having a very hard time with her parents divorce, both Jo and Blair having been though the process. The girl, a sixth grader, was dealing with her first year at Eastland and her parents breakup. Jo had the insight to see that by sending their child away to school they were only trying to provide her with stability during the rough time. She managed to get the girl to come to that conclusion as if it were her own thought. With much crying on all parts and even some laughter they had helped the sixth grader begin to cope. By the time they left, the younger girl was fast asleep. As they walked across the quad, Blair reached forJo's hand. The brunette said nothing just holding on provide the connection they both seemed to need.
"Do you believe that true love forever really exists,Jo?"
"I think it's a lotta work, but yeah."
"Me too"
Nothing more was said as they reached the cafeteria. They performed the delicate ballet of teenage girls sharing a bathroom and climbed into their twin beds quietly as not to wake Nat and Tootie. Jo quickly fell asleep. All in all, just a day in the life.
"Why do I feel like my world just shifted" thought Blair. She gave one last look at the girl next to her; sighed and rolled over again.