ForevaXena's FanFic . . .

Blue Oblivion

by Jp

© December 1999

_{No part of this text may be reproduced in whole, or in part, without expressed consent of the author}

Disclaimers: Technically, these swinging chicks belong only to me, but…they may resemble a couple of cool ladies that belong to RenPics. This is not for profit just a little fun and what a bad case of writers’ block, a boring job, and a jolt of inspiration can inspire.

Violence: There’s a couple of moments of swift ass-kicking. On a scale of 1 to 5, I’d give it: 3 or maybe 4 buckets of blood.

Sex: Where? When? How much? And how come nobody told me? Nothing too bad, just some sweet grrl on grrl fumbling. If that gets your panties all in bunch then look elsewhere, no harm no foul.

Language: I didn’t think virgin ears was still a concept, so naturally, I ignored it.

Other crap: ‘Charm City’ is my home when I’m not at school, so it inspired me. I’ve taken a few liberties with the landscape, but in an off hand sort of way, it’s right. Uh, I’m supposed to warn about hurt/comfort…so I’m warning.

By the ways and thank yous: Yes, this is my first jaunt into the genre of UBER!!! By the way the Serenity prayer isn’t mine. I’d like to say that I came up with all those wonderful lyrics but actually they belong to: Gershwin (The Man I Love); Young, Crosby, Washington (Ghost of a Chance); Webster/Livingston (12^th of Never); Ellington, Gordon,Mills (Prelude to a Kiss); Strayhorn(Lush Life); (Angel eyes). I don’t really have anyone to directly thank, but special big-ups go to all those kick ass writers (T. Novan, Missy Good, Morrig, LN James, yada yada, the list goes on) who have kept me up way past my bedtime and have made all my last minute paper writing sessions possible.

Lunchtime: Feel free to drop me a line and tell me whatcha’ think, whatcha’ hate, whatcha’ like and all that. Be easy, be gentle, but if it’s constructive criticism give me your best shot. catwoman59@hotmail.com

Suggested reading tips: Fix a Martini and grab a stack of cd’s that include: Diana Krall, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Cassandra Wilson( just to name a few) and then

Chapter I

Tonight, she was without her shadows, it was just her and the girls. They were three women in the middle of Baltimore city after 11:00p.m. in search of a jazz club, that Sara laughingly referred to as ‘a hole in the wall’. They found their ‘hole in the wall’ on Eager Street. After Sara managed to wheel her 400 Series Mercedes into a parallel parking spot they walked three abreast on the sidewalk towards the club. Connor walked in between her two friends with her hands shoved loosely into the pockets of her dark slacks. She wore a deep blue button down oxford, with the cuffs rolled up her forearm, and the collar open just enough to form a cradle for a smooth silver cross that teetered on the promise of cleavage beneath its point. As they stood before the door to the club, Sara swung the door open and swept her free arm across her body as she did a semi-curtsey and beckoned her two friends forward. Conner flashed her a blazing smile, while Terry giggled and followed behind.

The club actually turned out to be a lot larger than a hole in the wall. Connor observed the ecclectic surroundings as she dug out her wallet and handed her id over to the thick necked gentleman on the stool to her right. He handed it back to her and hit her with a smile that said, ‘just doing my job’. She kept herself from laughing by winking at him and walking off behind Sara and Terry. They found their way to a table about midway into the crowd. The room was filled with the chattering of businessman and college students. The clinking of glasses and the swirling of ice cubes were partnered with laughter and the snapping of lighters open and closed.

Connor had volunteered to buy the first round of drinks as she waded through the small cluster of people between the tables, lounge chairs, and the bar only to find herself searching for a small opening in the crowd at the bar. She let out a small sigh as she thought to herself, ‘I can’t be that freakin’ short’. She gave her thoughts a smirk as she realized most people were on stools and that her 5’4" frame still made her average. She ran a bejeweled hand through her short strawberry blonde hair and absently tried to smooth a loose strand behind her ear. She laughed on the inside as she acknowledged the fact that she was still getting used to her new short hair do. She let her hand drift to her pocket as she squeezed into an opening at the corner of the bar. She found the railing on the floor and stood on top of it, just to make sure she got the bartender’s attention. Sure enough, he spied her reddish-blonde spikes of hair and nodded in her direction.

"What ya’ need?". He popped the top off a Miller Lite and glanced at her as he set the bottle down in front of him.

"Yeah, let me get a glass of Merlot, a Vodka cranberry, and uh, Blue Moon."

"Martini?"

"Indeed." She flashed the dark man a big smile as she waited on her order.

She was digging through her pocket for her credit card when she heard it. Moments before she had only been peripherally aware of the bass tuning and the saxophone running the scales. But as Connor placed her credit card on the counter of the bar she became aware of a low and mournful humming. The sound grew stronger and the melody became a little bit clearer as Conner passed off her credit card to the bartender without looking at him. Unfortunately, her height was getting the best of her as she edged her way through what seemed like a standing room only crowd with three drinks balanced in her hands. Connor plopped down in her seat and the entire world opened up in that instant.

The spotlight might as well have been emanating from the whites of Conner’s eyes since they were both transfixed on the figure on the stage. Conner’s eyes seemed to dance with the music as they traversed the body of the singer. One bare foot rested on the floor of the stage while the other tangled itself in the bar of the stool. Conner followed the feet up a pair of legs that were draped in black linen trousers. Even though the singer was seated, Connor could tell that the legs went on forever. She followed those legs up to a torso covered in a white silk shirt. The shirt tapered in at the waist causing the material to fit snugly against the swell of a pair of breasts. The open collar gave way to a hollow of a neck that rose up languidly to support a chiseled jaw, high cheekbones, an aquiline nose, a pair of tapered eyebrows, and a mane of blue-black hair that cradled her face. The eyes were hidden behind closed lids. Connor could only imagine what rested behind those lids as she focused on the full red lips that sang out for the man she loved.

‘No wait’, Conner thought, ‘she didn’t say ‘man’ did she. She barely managed to raise her glass to her lips as she listened intently.

"I’ll understand and in a little while, she’ll take my hand and though it seems absurd - I know we both won’t say a word." Connor held the Vodka in her mouth as she let the words and the drink set in. She closed her own eyes and sang the lyrics in her head. "Maybe I shall meet her someday, maybe Monday- maybe not. Still I’m sure to meet her one day, maybe Tuesday will be my good news day." As the last note was sung the saxophone took over and Conner opened her eyes.

She held onto the mic for dear life, like always, and she closed her eyes like always. Behind her lids she sought out forgiveness. She sought out hope and mostly she sought out love. She always found it in the same pair of eyes. There was never a face, just the eyes. They were a pair of misty green eyes that gave way to golden-brown flecks when the sun hit them just right. The eyes were honest and compassionate and not the hollow eyes that haunted her nightmares. The eyes were bright and full of hope. Most importantly the eyes were filled with love and forgiveness. She sought them out behind closed lids and held onto the mic for dear life, like always. She almost wanted to collapse in grief with the last note, but Samuel slowly crept in on the tail note and took over as she faded out, and then she opened her eyes.

Where had her breath gone? Furthermore where was the oxygen? Hell, where was everybody else? If Connor believed that you could see someone across a crowded room and know they were the one, she would have leapt from her seat and tackled the woman on stage, but Connor didn’t want to believe.

The singer let her hands fall haphazardly across her lap and she waited a beat for Rod Serling to step from the shadows and tell her she was in the Twilight Zone. She needed a drink, but she couldn’t remember where she put it. ‘Oh, yes the piano’,she remembered. But that meant movement, and if her legs weren’t Jell-O than they were nailed to the floor. Maybe she was crazy, those eyes weren’t misty green, it was dark out there and smoke was in the air, and she probably had too much to drink. She nodded internally but couldn’t tear her eyes away from the strawberry blonde that seemed to fill the room.

‘My God,’ Conner thought, ‘I’ve never seen eyes that blue before.’ They were like the sky on a clear summer day. No clouds, no smog, nothing. Just a light breeze, sun, and a blue sky that promised of heaven. Connor thought her heart had stopped and apparently so had her friends.

"Connor? Connor?" A waving of hands in front of her face.

"Hello, earth to Connor, this is your captain speaking?" A snapping of fingers. Finally the spell was broken with a swift slapping of Connor’s shoulder.

"Jesus! What the hell?" Connor’s eyes snapped shut and then back open and focused on the spots of red that speckled the table.

"Good grief Con, we thought we lost you." Terry spoke into her drink as she took a swig of her Vodka Cranberry.

Connor let out a nervous laugh and then took a large swig of her Martini. The chilled alcohol made no dent in the heat that had consumed her insides. "What’s up Conner ?" Sara let her hand graze Conner’s arm as she spoke.

"Nada. I-I just got lost there for a second."

"Lost. Ha. Lost my ass." Terry took a quick drag from her cigarette. "Girlie, you looked like you were about to rush the stage."

"Shut up, Terry." Conner shot her a quick glare and palmed her glass.

"No, seriously, have a tissue," Terry held out her out her napkin in a teasing gesture, "you look like you got a little drool on your lip." She reached out as if to dab the napkin at Conner’s mouth. Conner swatted the hand away gently, but hard enough to show her discomfort. She formed perfectly pink lips into a pout, just to add fuel to the fire.

"She’s right Con, do we need to strap you down?" Sara creased her brows in mock concern. Conner opened her mouth in the want to say something back, but instead she opted to take another drink, almost draining her glass.

"Screw you guys, I’m going home." She pouted playfully this time as she got up and walked to the bar. Sara and Terry only laughed.

True she needed another drink, but really she needed air- and honestly she wanted another look at the woman on stage. Conner managed to find an empty stool on the corner of the bar facing the stage. She sat down and waited patiently for the bartender to notice her hand that casually palmed an empty glass. She kept one eye on the bartender and kept the other focused on the stage. The woman on stage was still sitting as she swayed in time with the drummer. The audience erupted into applause as the saxophone solo ended and the woman on stage finished the line. "Someday she’ll come along, the girl I love." Conner didn’t even touch her new drink as she listened to the song end. She jerked from her stupor as applause cascaded throughout the crowd. She barely held onto her drink, as her being shivered involuntarily at the light husk that was breathed into the words, "thank you". Conner found her seat again and sat down with her eyes focused on the table. Sara and Terry smiled at each other, sharing a private joke.

"So, should we take bets on how long it’s going to take you to get those di-gits?" Sara let a heavy New York accent accompany the last word. Then both Sara and Terry burst into giggles as Conner rolled her eyes and flipped them both the finger.

"Fuck you both.", was Conner’s reply.

"I’m sure you would enjoy her more." Terry waggled a finger in the direction of the stage. Conner just shook her head and took a drink.

The set continued for at least another half and hour, and all the while, Conner fought between staring at the stage and fending off her friends non-sequitors and one-liners. Whether it was the good drinks and good music, or Conner’s obvious attraction, she found herself hooting and hollering as well as whistling loudly as the set ended. Sara and Terry leaned into one another as they laughed themselves silly at Conner’s antics.

--------

She exited the stage as quickly as her legs would allow her, with minor lulls in her forward motion as she flashed toothy grins at patrons congratulating her. She made her way down the florescent-lit hallway to the back office/ dressing room. She found the nearest couch and collapsed into its cushions. She rested her hands on her knees and cradled her head-letting her hair surround her face and forearms. She sat like that until Sam’s deep laugh interrupted her silent musings.

"Blue!", he boomed. "Chickie, that was a slammin’ set. Whoo! Fire, baby, fire." Blue looked up from her hands and laughed sincerely. "Hey Sam.", she breathed. She sat back on the couch and ran a hand through her dark locks as she sighed.

"What’s up baby doll? You have one too many, huh?" He let out a light chuckle as he sat down next to Blue and began to twist the mouthpiece out of his horn.

"I think maybe I did. I don’t know Sam." She shook her head and sat forward letting her hands rest on her knees. She let out a puff of air and stood up stretching her hands above her head until she heard the light crackling of her spine adjusting. She tousled her hair and walked to an empty table on the left and retrieved her watered down Scotch and water. Sam just watched the tall woman as he polished his horn and went to place it in its carrying case.

"You know I’m not gonna pry chica, but if you need to talk-well you know." Blue whirled around towards Sam and flashed him a bright smile.

"Yeah, ya nosy bastard." A light Boston accent caressed the curse word as she took a swig from her drink. "It’s nothing that horrifying I promise, just a feeling I got, ‘as all." She shrugged and stared off towards the door as she sipped her drink and thought to herself. ‘I wonder if she’s still out there. Hell, there probably isn’t anybody out there, I was hallucinating, those weren’t the eyes. Too much smoke, too much smoke to be sure.’

"Whatever, chica. You headin’ out with us or what?" Blue snapped from her stupor and rested her cool blue eyes on the lanky black man with a saxophone slung over his right shoulder. "Yeah, baby, I’m right behind you." She drained her drink, sat the cup on the table and grabbed her jacket off of the hook by the door as she followed Sam out.

Conner had waited as long as Sara and Terry would let her. It had been at least a half-and hour since the set had ended and the bartender had flashed the lights to indicate last call. "Look goofball, either go and wait for her or bring your skinny ass on!" Terry shot Conner a fierce look as she got up from the table. Conner waved off her glance as she downed the rest of her fourth Martini.

"Jesus, girl how the hell can you drink those like that, eych!" Sara reacted to an imaginary shiver and stood up. "Terry’s right, baby, come on." Sara’s comments were accompanied with a soft smile and caring eyes. Conner gave into the silent entreaty and stood as well.

"Well, since you asked so nicely," She dragged out her last word as she glared at Terry. ", I will oblige."

Terry rolled her deep brown eyes. "Whatever," she glanced back at Conner who was poking out her tongue, "ya midget." Terry didn’t bother to wait for Conner’s reaction to her taunt as she quickly scurried out the front door. Sara wanted to break into laughter as she watched Conner’s ears redden. She walked ahead of her and backwards so to face her.

"Now Conner, it was just a joke, she’s playin." Conner really wasn’t on the verge of some violent outburst but she hated the taunt none the less. Conner had always been the small fry and she had spent 24 years of her life proving that size didn’t matter and that good and useful things came in small packages. She was sure to show Terry a few things about midgets if she could just get past Sara. Sara was continuing to walk backwards towards the door as she pleaded with Conner to calm herself. Just as she was about to flash Sara one of her more disarming smiles, Sara’s path was interrupted by a tall figure wearing a black silk swing coat. Conner reached out to catch Sara as she ran smack into the wall of a human and stumbled backwards.

Sara felt herself falling, and she thought of how bad her rear end was going to hurt when she met the ground, but it never happened. Instead she felt a strong arm at her back and one arm gripping her upper arm in a forceful yet gentle manner. "Holy shit!" Sara spat out when she realized she wasn’t’ on the floor. Warm blue eyes locked on her own blue eyes and smiled. "Well, if that’s a thank you, than you’re very welcome." The voice had a smooth husk to it and an accent she couldn’t place.

"Oh good grief I’m sorry." Sara quickly relayed as she was brought up to her full height of 5’7". "I am such an ass, I’m sorry and thank you." She smoothed her auburn hair down with a shaky hand and let out a giggle. "Come on Conner, let’s go before psycho leaves." Sara smiled again at the woman and walked out of the door.

Conner found herself stifling a giggle as she watched her friend scramble for her feet and then she lost the urge to laugh as she focused on the waves of black cornsilk that adorned the head of Sara’s savior. The hair was a deep black and it rippled out in waves of dark oblivion down the sturdy back blending in with the jacket. Conner snapped her eyes shut hard and willed herself not to think stupid thoughts. She regained her smile as she watched Sara turn around and walk out the door. Conner walked towards the door and stopped to place her hand on the arm of Sara’s helper. When she did, the faceless figure turned to face her.

It was brief, but it was long enough to scare the mess out of Conner. The eyes were now a deep blue and uncovered by smoke and unfettered by stage lighting. They were piercing and full of fire and it was a fire that was directed at Conner. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, at least a thank you, instead all she could come up with was, "Holy shit."

"Is that a new language they’re teaching in college?" She watched the lithe girl step back and then she watched as a sweet smile crawled across her face. The laugh she let out, allowed Blue to gather her own senses and break their gaze.

"No…no, no it’s not." ‘Jesus I can’t think of anything else to say besides holy shit and you are the most beautiful entity that I have ever laid eyes on, in my whole entire life.’ "Uh..it’s, not, just you look familiar."

Blue watched the mental struggle that the young girl was having and only drew her full lips into a smile instead of laughing. "Yeah, I was up there singing."

"Ha. Exactly, that’s what I meant. I figured you guys walked out the back or something." Conner flashed her a confident smile and looked anywhere but the woman’s face.

"That’s probably the safest route, huh?"

"Safe you say?"

"Yeah, your friend, backwards, stumble." Blue fought hard to hold back a laugh as the statement finally registered with the young woman.

"Holy shit!" Conner’s eyes grew wide as she realized Sara and Terry were waiting one her.

"There it is again, I gotta get a dictionary."

Conner laughed and gave the tall woman a smirk as she glanced up at her. "I gotta go, uh, maybe I’ll buy you that dictionary." Conner’s green eyes sparkled with want as she scurried out of the door.

Blue started to say, "only if you read it to me", but Conner had all ready disappeared out of the door way and ran down the side walk. Sam, who had watched the encounter unfold, placed a hand on Blue’s shoulder to get here attention.

"What’s up chica?" The two stood toe to toe at six feet even and locked eyes for a moment. Sam waited out the glazed over look in his friends eyes before he took his hand off of her shoulder. Blue searched for an answer for Sam, but could only come up with one. She focused on Sam’s face and smiled. "So," he prodded.

She merely stated the words: "Holy shit."

Chapter 2

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