Chapter 13

"Mamma!" Stephanie cried bursting through the apartment door at full speed. "Daddy's home!" she squealed hurling her book bag onto the couch bouncing up and down. Daddy's home, Hyde mused with a slight smile. That was something he could get used to hearing. Jackie came out of the bathroom towel drying her hair with a grin on her face.

"I see that honey, now where does your book bag go?" Jackie said with a chuckle as her daughter gave an exasperated sigh.

"In my room," Stephanie moaned taking her book bag and stomping to her bedroom. "Can Daddy stay for dinner?" Stephanie shouted from the other room.

"Its fine with me, do you want to stay for dinner?" Jackie asked going back into the bathroom and tossing her towel in the hamper. "We don't have specific plans so feel free to suggest something," Jackie said grabbing her brush as she left the bathroom.

"I'm good with whatever," Hyde said with a shrug. "Is she singing?" Hyde asked looking towards Stephanie's room warily.

"Yeah, she likes to sing to her stuffed animals. I used to do the same thing," Jackie said brushing her hair and chuckling. "So how are you doing, Steven?" Jackie asked arching a dark eyebrow. "Listen, about the last time you were here…" she began.

"I swear to god, I had no idea what Fez put in that bag besides your underwear," Hyde interrupted holding up his hands. "I swear that I am not some sicko who is into that kind of thing," he pleaded.

"You worry too much," Jackie said laughing. "I used to live with Fez remember," she reminded him. "I know how he is. He used to try and peek in on me in the shower all the time. You didn't have to run off like that," Jackie said setting her brush down on the vanity and walking out of her bathroom shaking her head in amusement. "I would have loved to see your face when you saw what was in there…" Jackie said bursting out into loud laughter. She closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure.

"Yeah, I already talked to Fez about that. Okay, I beat the crap out of him; it's the same thing," Hyde said stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Listen, there's something I've been wanting to ask you," Hyde began as Jackie made her way to the kitchen. Jackie gave him a small nod to let him know she was listening and reached for the fridge door. "What the hell is that?" Hyde demanded pulling up her sleeve and examining the bruise that was forming around her wrist.

"Its nothing," Jackie assured him pulling her arm away quickly only to have Hyde snatch it back again. "It's no big deal," Jackie insisted.

"What the hell happened?" Hyde growled fiercely. "It doesn't look like no big deal to me," he stated with a frown.

"Look, one of the guys at work got a little too friendly. I reported him to personnel. It's taken care of," she insisted pulling her arm back with more force.

"That doesn't look friendly," Hyde groused. "What happened? If its not that big a deal you can tell me," he said blocking her from leaving.

"Fine, a guy just wouldn't take no for an answer and cornered me in the stairwell. He didn't want me to leave and so I kicked him in the shin and went straight to personnel. The End," Jackie said narrowing her eyes. "Happy?" she snapped pushing past him.

"His name," Hyde demanded following her and ignoring her exasperated groan. "Jackie, I want his name," he insisted.

"Why so you can go beat him up? What would that solve? Its my problem and I've handled it. Let it go," she said through gritted teeth. "Can we please talk about something else? Stephanie's going to come barreling through that door any minute," she reminded him crossing her arms.

"Daryl Harris," a voice said coming up behind him at Grooves a few days later. Hyde turned to face his stepmother's carefully guarded expression. "The guy's name," Megan reminded him arching an amused brow.

"Why are you telling me this? Are you setting me up for some kind of sabotage?" Hyde asked warily.

"No, because I'm Jackie's friend and that pervert got off with a warning," Megan said in disgust.

"What exactly happened? Jackie didn't want to tell me," Hyde said pretending to analyze some of his stores' sales receipts.

"He's been after her since she started. Jackie keeps telling him to get lost, creep doesn't listen and follows her down the stairwell towards the parking garage. Where there are conveniently enough, no cameras. He jumps her, she fights him off, he tears her shirt and she runs to security," Megan said popping her lips in annoyance.

"He got a warning for that?" Hyde said angrily. "That guy should be in jail," he said as Megan nodded her wholehearted agreement.

"It was the no cameras thing. They said it was basically a he said she said situation and told them they should try to work out their differences themselves," Megan said frostily.

"Daryl Harris?" Hyde asked through gritted teeth. Well, Mr. Daryl Harris, looks like you are about to have a very bad day, Hyde thought seething.

"Daryl Harris, he parks on the second floor," Megan said approvingly. "It kinda sucks about the security cameras doesn't it? I hope something doesn't happen to him," Megan said sarcastically.

"Yeah, it'd be a real shame wouldn't it?" Hyde said as he and his stepmother had a moment of perfect understanding.

"Okay!" screamed the man in the crumbled heap by Hyde's feet. "I won't talk to her anymore!" he pleaded after Hyde gave him a swift kick in the small of the back.

"You don't talk to her, look at her, follow her and definitely not touch her again. Got it?" Hyde snarled in the man's ear after he'd janked his head up by the hair. "Because if you do, I will come back," Hyde promised giving the man's head one last satisfying thunk on the ground.

"I promise! " the man squealed, much to Hyde's disgust. Hyde sneered down at him and walked away carefully looking around to make sure he hadn't been seen. He wasn't scared of the police, he just didn't know how he would explain it to Jackie if he got arrested. That guy better leave her alone if he knows what's good for him, thought Hyde grimly.