Life After OZ Ch. 6
By Dan

*****

(Jessica's Bedroom)

*****

"Oh my God...", Jessica gasped with her hands over her mouth. "Cody? H-h-how did you get here? How did you know where to find us?"

"I got really lucky.", Cody said. Jessica turned on a lamp, but Cody didn't want lights on. She turned the light off. After a quick silence, Jessica asked him a question.

"Should I tell dad you're up here?"

"NO!...Uh, I mean, no. I wasn't even supposed to see you here. This was chance... or fate...", Cody trailed off. Jessica looked at her former boyfriend. He was in bad condition. A scar was healing on his left cheekbone, his clothing was tattered and torn, the chains bound on his wrists, and even though he still had the same aloof expression on his face, Jessica knew inside he was just as scared as she was for his safety. Cody continued speaking, breaking another period of short silence.

"How is everybody? Rena still givin' Guy a hard time?"

Jessica nodded. Cody nodded also, looking directly at Jessica. "*Heh... She doesn't ever change.*", he thought to himself. Jessica noticed Cody's wandering eyes...

"What are you so busy looking at?", Jessica said. Cody smiled.

"I'm looking at you, Jessie, to tell you the truth.", Cody said plainly. Jessica blushed slightly. Cody advanced on her, knowing this familiar situation. He stepped up behind her. Whispering in her ear, he said something he hoped would change her feelings towards him.

"I'm sorry." Jessica turned around when she heard that. Giving Cody a very odd look, it soon turned into a smile. Cody smiled as well. As he bent down to try to kiss her, he was sent backwards when Jessica smacked him silly!

"OWWW! Jessie, what was that for? I-I-I said I was sorry for what I put you through." Jessica stepped away from Cody.

"So, lemme' get this straight, Cody. You figured you were gonna' come here, wait for me, suprise me, butter me up by apologizing to me, then sleeping with me after you had my trust again? Is that it?"

"Yup."

"What?"

"I'm only kidding.", Cody said with a sad smile. He looked over at the digital clock that was on Jessica's nightstand. 4:44 am. "What I was trying to do, is show you that I still care about you.", Cody said. "I wouldn't have ran all the way here to find solace or forgiveness. I just wanted to bury the hatchet because we never settled the problems between us." Cody stepped back behind Jessica and wrapped his arms around her.

"Are you lying?", Jessica said. She just realized she hadn't been in his arms for a very long time. She didn't want to get used to the feeling, however...

"I'm not lying, not fully. I didn't know this was your house. But I did know this is your neighborhood."

"I'm flattered that you went out of your way to see me, Cody.", Jessica said, "But what about the police? And that warden guy?"

"I don't wanna' think about those jerks right now. I just want to prove to you that this is where I want to be."

"Really?", Jessica said, tilting her head to look up at him. He looked honest, sincere, but could she really believe him?

"I promise you Jessie. If I ever get out of this situation, I'll always be with you. You've given me so many chances already, and I-I know I don't deserve 'em. But please, if you do still care about me, give me another chance to prove myself to you. I've learned my lesson.", Cody said. Jessica felt her heart skip once, just once.

"*Is it possible he's really telling the truth? He... sounds so honest this time...*", Jessica thought to herself. Cody was eagerly anticipating what Jessica would say next. He wasn't playing around anymore. He wanted to show Jessica he could be what he promised so many years back...

"Were you scared?", Jessica said. Cody wasn't expecting THAT. He sputtered.

"What...do....you.....mean?", Cody whispered to Jessica. Jessica once more turned to face Cody.

"What I mean is, were you scared out there? All those people want you dead, Cody. I know you've faced that before when you fought Mad Gear and Skull Cross, but these people are the cops. Are you scared Cody? Tell me..."

Cody swallowed hard. He never really thought about how much he went through throughout this entire ordeal. He went to prison, lost a girlfriend and best friend, got into fights, got into a prison riot, escaped from prison, fought with Rolento and Sodom, and has been on the run the entire time...

"Yes, Jessica. I'm scared. God knows I'm scared. Oh God...", Cody broke down, and fell limply to his knees with his head buried in his hands. He wasn't crying, but Jessica knew the only time he had ever been like this was when his parents died by the hands of Mad Gear... She knew she had to console him. She got down next to him.

"Cody?", she asked in gentle voice. Cody looked up, expecting more words. But he was suprised, not even expecting what happened next. Jessica kissed him. This might've been the first time ever in their relationship that Jessica ever made the first move.... Jessica took his hands and Cody followed suit, with both getting up, never breaking their embrace. When the air between them became short, both broke away, with Cody the one being short of breath.

"Jessica...", he began. Jessica put her index finger to his lip.

"Shh. I know. I don't even know why I'm doing this. I guess I-I believe what you said before, Cody. I don't know if it's because I miss you so much, or something else. Just promise me something."

"Anything, Jessie.", Cody said, looking into Jessica's bright blue eyes.

"Promise me you'll stay here tonight. If you still love me, you'll stay. You don't know how alone I've felt without-"

"Don't worry, I can do that.", Cody said, now putting his finger to Jessica quivering lip. The two kissed again, Cody sliding his arms around her slim waist. Breaking the kiss, Jessica said

"I know you can't stay forever... When you leave, are you gonna' be alright? Promise me you'll stay safe."

"I will. I can promise you that.", Cody said. The two looked into each others eyes again, and slowly embraced once more. Cody made a vow to himself to make sure Jessica always knew that she'd always be number one in his life.

*****

(The Next Morning, 'Cause I wasn't gonna write what happened after, hehe)

*****

Jessica woke up in her bed with a start. She knew Cody was most likely gone, but when she turned to her left, there he was. Propping herself on her left elbow, Jessica watched Cody intently and chuckled as he snored loudly.

"*Hehe, I must've wore him out.*", Jessica thought with a giggle. Then, her giggle suddenly stirred Cody.

"Where am I?", Cody said blinking several times. He looked right and saw the clock. 9 am? then Cody looked left and saw the smiling face of Jessica.

"Jessie? Hey, babe. What are you doing here in prison?" Jessica quietly chuckled as she bopped him on the head.

"We're not in prison, Cody. Don't you remember last night?" Cody shifted slightly to turn his body in Jessica's direction.

"How could I forget?", Cody said, giving Jessica a kiss on her forehead. Both sighed, content with where they currently were. Suddenly, harsh reality struck both of them.

"You've gotta' go!", Jessica realized.

"I've gotta go!", Cody said, suddenly awake.

Cody rolled off the bed and hit the floor with a thump. Jessica clutched the bedsheets around her frame as she got up. Jessica almost laughed as she saw Cody frantically try to put his prison suit on. RIP!

"Ohhh crap.", Cody said with a whiny-type voice. His prison uniform tore apart in the back. Jessica found her robe, then put it on.

"I'm guessin' you're going to need a new outfit."

"Ya' think?", Cody said with a sarcastic look. Jessica gave him another quick kiss, then told him to stay in her room. She tiptoed out the room, and snuck into her father's room. Luckily for her (and Cody), he wasn't in his room.

"*Whew. He must've fell asleep downstairs. He might've heard me and Cody if he was upstairs.*" Jessica couldn't help but to chuckle to herself again as she searched for clothing that could fit Cody. Of course nothing of her father's could fit Cody, so Jessica just picked up some random things. After she was satisfied with what she collected, she quickly rushed back to her room and saw Cody waiting.

"Here, you can throw these on for the time being.", Jessica said tossing the clothing items in his direction. Cody looked at the clothing she picked for him.

"Great, I'm gonna' look like Eminem. This stuf is too baggy."

"Take it or leave it.", Jessica said. She then looked at a bottle she had on a nearby desk.

"*Hair Colour, eh? That gives me an idea....*"

"Cody!", Jessica exclaimed. "Come to the shower with me."

"For what?", Cody said with a sly expression plastered on his face.

"Just come on!", Jessica said, pulling Cody and taking the hair color bottle with her.

*****

(25 minutes later, back in Jessica's bedroom)

*****

Cody was brushing his hair, which was now an auburn-brown color.

"I can't believe you did this, Jessie.", Cody said. Cody quickly admired himself in the mirror. Long-sleeved red hilfiger sweater, baggy blue hilfiger jeans, and brown boots. but he STILL couldn't get over his brunette hair.

"You look nice.", Jessica said shimmying up to Cody. Cody kissed her again. He just couldn't stop himself. Both suddenly got very serious again.

"Cody", Jessica started, "You remember what you said last night. I'm holding you to that promise you made. Whatever happens, you'd better not get hurt."

"I'll keep my promise, Jessie. It's the most I can do for you, and just about the only thing I can do for myself.", Cody said as he made his way to the window. As he climbed out onto the roof, he turned back.

"And Jessie?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you. Never forget that." Cody said, blowing her a kiss. Then, with amazing agility, he jumped off the roof onto the same branch, and landed softly on the dewy grass. Then he ran for the woods again. Jessica waved until she couldn't see him anymore. She turned around and saw that her father was in the doorway.

"That was Cody, wasn't it?", he asked. Jessica swallowed hard, but decided to tell him the truth.

"Yes.", Jessica said, lowering her head.

"Well, I wish he would've stayed. I just got a call from the police station.", Haggar said solemnly.

"What happened?", Jessica said, now fearing the worst.

"Dean went out there, and jossled the cops. He... got shot. He's been arrested. They found Guy last night and arrested him too. The warden said that they'll charge Dean and Guy with Cody's crimes if we can't get him to give himself up."

"Can they do that?", Jessica said.

"I don't know, sweetheart... I just don't know...", Haggar trailed off. All Jessica could do is run over to her father and cry in his arms. Haggar looked up to the ceiling and prayed everything would work itself out. But even he knew, Cody had to give himself up.