In which Jake tries to explain.

[allmydreams]

[Cowritten with str8on_tilmorn. Takes place before THIS.]

It was a couple days after his fight with Aaron, and Aaron still wouldn't speak to him. Jake got out of work pretty early in the afternoon, and since Grace was still working, he decided to go for a drive. He didn't realize it until he was on the way, but he was going to see Felicity. He cared about her, and he didn't want her to be upset over something Aaron didn't even understand.

He sighed and picked up his cell phone before he was in the city and called Felicity.

Felicity was on the bus heading back to her place when she got the phone call. She frowned a little when she saw Jake's name on the caller ID, before placing the phone to her ear. "Hi."

"Hey, sweetheart, it's Jake. How you doin'?"

"I'm okay," she said with a nod. "What's up?"

"Well...I'm..kinda in the neighborhood. Thought maybe my almost sister-in-law would wanna offer me some coffee."

She smiled slightly at that, before nodding. "Where are you in the neighborhood?"

"Just enterin' the city now."

"Come by my place. Becca shouldn't be home for another few hours."

"I'll be there shortly," he said, before hanging up. He continued through the city, remembering why he hated driving there, and soon found parking near Felicity's place. He headed to the building and rang her buzzer.

She jogged her way over to the door, having just enough time to change out of her business clothes and into a t-shirt and jeans before hitting the intercom. "Jake?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"C'mon up."

Jake grabbed the door and went in, then found his way up to Felicity's door. He knocked lightly and rocked back on his feet.

She opened the door a second later and flashed him a grin. "Hey. Make yourself at home."

He grinned back and opened his arms. "What? No hug?"

She smirked. "I was gonna wait till you got in the door, first."

He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her. "Hey there."

"Hey," she said, closing the door as she returned the hug. "What brings you by?"

He sighed, not really wanting to lie. He gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Thought you might want someone to talk to."

She sighed a bit herself, before looking up at him. "Grace's Overprotective Older Sister sense was tingling, wasn't it?"

He shook his head. "Gracie doesn't know I'm here."

She frowned a little more. "Then what's going on?"

"I guess...I wanna talk about Aaron. If you're willing."

She pulled back a little from him. "What about it?"

He raised a brow slightly. "Can we sit?"

She nodded, before gesturing over to the couch, and moving to sit herself.

He settled in and rested his elbows to his lap. His hands twisted together slightly as he was quiet for a moment, but then he looked at her. He didn't want to betray Aaron by saying too much, but he felt he needed to say something. He took a breath. "What...what exactly do you know about Aaron? 'bout how he grew up?"

She paused for a moment, before shrugging, resting her elbow on the arm of the couch and her chin in her hand. "To be honest? Nothing. I get the impression that it was bad, but we never really -- talked, beyond me."

"Nah, didn't figure he would. I mean..there's stuff I still don't know. Just how he is. But...the thing about him that...that you need to know. He doesn't have any family. Didn't grow up with any of it. And...I guess because've that, he doesn't really think the way we do....does that make any sense?"

"I think so." She paused for a minute, before running a hand through her hair. "Look, Jake, he doesn't owe me anything. I'm not sure what you're trying to get at -- "

"He doesn't...look, I talked to him. I get what he said, and the thing is...he doesn't. He doesn't understand what was hurtful 'bout what he said. He's a good guy, really. I just...don't want you to be hurt by...somethin' he didn't know he was sayin'."

"Jake," she sighed softly. "You didn't have to come here and go to bat for him. Really. I hear what you're saying, but -- you didn't have to do this."

"I'm not...I'm not here tryin' to save his hide. I'm here for you, okay? Cuz I know how frustrating the sonuvabitch can be, and I know how it feels to be shut out by him. He's...impossible. Sometimes I just wanna...smack some sense into him, y'know?"

"You make it sound like things were more than what it was," she said gently. "It's really not that big a deal." Because that was what she wanted it to be, and until she could actually make it work it was staying that way.

"No, but I know that he likes havin' you around. And not just..." he went a little red. "He thinks of you as a friend. I can tell. But he's not gonna come tell you that, and he's not gonna try an' get you to see him again. That ain't the way he works." He took her hand gently. "I'm not tellin' you to go back to what you two were doin'. Not at all. But..." He went quiet again. He wasn't sure anymore what he was there trying to do. He gave her hand a squeeze. "He doesn't know how to trust anyone. Doesn't mean he distrusts you."

She was quiet for a moment, before shrugging. "It's not a big deal. Really. I just needed a little space."

He sighed and just watched her, unsure if he bought it or not.

She looked back at him, and while she wasn't the most convincing liar in the world, she could stand her own ground somewhat. "Really. If anything, maybe it was a good thing this happened now as oppose to -- later."

He shrugged. "Just thought...I dunno. Just wanted you to understand him a little better is all."

"Which I'm grateful for. But even if I do understand him, it doesn't change the fact that -- he just doesn't feel the same way I do. And that's not looking to change anytime soon. So better this happen now, then -- later, when we're even more off balance."

"You really care about him?" He asked it gently, not quite looking at her.

She shrugged a bit. "Trainwrecks seem to attract each other, don't they?"

"Look, I...don't wanna see you get hurt. Really I don't. And I'm not saying it'll come to that. But...I think you're good for him, Felicity. I think he likes havin' you around, and...I don't know...he needs more people that care about him. Might get him more used to the idea."

Felicity sighed slightly. "I'll think about it, okay? I just -- need time to wrap my head around it."

He nodded. "Yeah...but...you're okay, right?"

"Yeah," she said with a firm nod. "I'm good."

"Mm, okay. If you say so." He nodded, then gave her a smile. "Gonna take me for some pizza before I leave?"

She laughed, before shaking her head slightly. "Sure. I can do that."

He grinned. "Awesome."

"In fact," she said as she started to get up. "I think I know the perfect place."

"Yeah?" He got to his feet to follow.

"Mmmm-hmmm," she said with a nod. "Pizza slices as big as your face."

He nodded. "Sounds good. Lead the way."

"You got it," she said with a nod as she pulled open the door to let him out ahead of her. "After you"

He headed out and waited in the hallway, holding an elbow out for her.

Once she was finished locking the door, she took it, before looking up at him with a grin. "So how do you feel about pineapple on pizza?"

"Pizza is pizza, food is food," he grinned.

"I think we're gonna have fun," she said with a nod.

"'Course we are," he replied as they went.