where do we go from here

Derrick tried not to think about Jules being at Ian's. They were just friends. An old friend at that. He couldn't act jealous. He wouldn't want to deprive Ian of spending some time with his 'mate' as Ian kept insisting. So he stewed about it at work. That was all there was to do. Work.

Of course, Ian hadn't came right out to tell Jules about Derrick, either. Another thing that left Derrick soured.

"I'm going to lose him, I just know it." Derrick found himself turning to Josie. Naturally, she was available to talk. She'd spent most of her summer at her Dad's and now she was making circular scarves with a vengeance at home. At least she was keeping busy, with the crocheting, but the longer he watched..it irritated him.

"Can you stop crocheting!" He found himself demanding. Of course, they were in her livingroom and it was so light and airy, the lights weren't even on in the late afternoon. He'd just gotten off work at the cafe, and he found himself restless. "Just listen to me."

Josie stared at him as if he'd lost it, already.

"Are you like this around Ian?" She questioned, but didn't stop for a moment with with her hook making double crochet stitches.

"Of course not." Derrick winced.

"So, you'll just take it out on me, is that it?" She was cross with him now.

"Who? Who listened to you, all those times about..that..that guy in the rock band you thought you hooked up with, but you really didn't? Who had to listen to all that crap? Me!" He glared back. That was so long ago. Someone else's life. He knew what she wanted from him then, and he couldn't do it. He knew he shouldn't have brought it up. Finally, he fell back on the couch as if he needed to have a fit.

Josie just sighed.

"I don't know what you're all worked up about. Ian's like the most faithful guy I've ever met. He's by the book, isn't he?" She pointed out, but the crocheting kept going.

"I know." He looked up at her. "I just don't know what to do." He set up then.

"Are you asking me, to meet this Jules?" She asked with no emotion. Just those eyes giving him a dead stare.

"Maybe." He didn't really want to involve her, but it might help. "What about Neal?"

"What about him?" Her words so blunt.

"I thought you two-"

"I'm just his friend." She was serious.

"I dunno. I think Neal thinks-" Derrick knew Neal thought differently.

"We're friends." She clarified.

"OK." But he'd hate to ruin this for Neal. The guy sketched pictures of Josie, all the time. Derrick stared at her. Intently. He would have paid her if he had the money. But he wouldn't think on it now, as he hoped Josie had the magic touch with Jules.

"What do you want me to do?" She wasn't making this easy.

"As if you'd never have a clue." He knew how she worked. He didn't think she'd changed that much. She fluttered her lashes then.

"Don't come on to me." He fretted as he got up. This wasn't about him. Exactly. He certainly couldn't stay here or she'd probably get the wrong idea. "Just forget I said anything." He knew he should have never talked to her in the first place.