If All Else Fails

Disclaimer: I do not own anything!

Pairing: Maggie/Jasper

Summary: When Jasper joins the Basketball team, Maggie can't help but take inventory of their friendship, and wonder if she really should have said no when he asked. Takes place during Fountain of Truth.

Maggie hated it when he put himself down. Especially when he did it because he thought he was letting his father down. This morning's conversation was about sports, and his last attempt to do his father proud. "I already failed at football, and baseball, and soccer. And there was that ridiculous attempt at curling."

Even if it were a ridiculous sport, it was still an Olympic sport. She found herself defending him, "I thought you were very good with that brush." She knew she sounded condescending, and she looked at Henry quickly to get him to support her. Henry obviously didn't follow what she was hinting at, and Jasper just looked discouraged.

"I didn't know being an athlete was so important to you," Henry used his 'I'm confused' voice, and she knew he didn't understand his cousin as well as she did.

"Does this body look like it wants to be a jock?" Maggie couldn't control her eyes as they roved down his body. She raised her eyebrows and tilted her head in her approving fashion, but caught herself in time to rush her eyes back up before anyone noticed her lapse in control. He did ask, after all.

Jasper went on to explain exactly what she knew to be the root of the problem, and his current obsession with timed intervals of sickening protein bars. His father. Jasper had this inane notion that his father wanted a jock more than a genius. She knew all Mr. Bartlett wanted was for his son to try his best, but for Jasper that wasn't the case.

Most of it stemmed from Jasper's own inability to be proud of himself. Maybe Basketball would be his niche in sports, and she would have to bite her tongue. But she didn't think he would be any better at basketball then he had been at tennis. At least a racket wouldn't go flying out of his hand in basketball, though he may overshoot the basket. That probably wouldn't result in a black eye though.

"I mean, how does it look for the dean's son to be totally inept in school sports?"

"The whole school is inept at school sports. The Tornadoes haven't had a winning season." Yet Jasper still felt like he failed at sports. Everyone else just didn't suck as bad. She wished he would see in him what she did. What his father did. That he did his best at everything he tried, and that was an admirable quality more people should possess.

As they continued to walk down the hall, Jasper saying he was going to own the basketball court, Dean Bartlett opened his office door and stopped us. Henry was needed at some meeting, effectively getting him out of the Euro Quiz for the day. She smiled when Jasper asked if he could be needed in the meeting too.

Professor Darkness passed by, effectively ignoring her in his address, "Dean Bartlett, boys. Assuming you won't be late, I'd like to get this over with as soon as possible." Then again, everyone in their group considered her 'one of the boys,' she stole a glance at Jasper, or they did now. As he passed, she heard his snide, "nice breakfast, Jasper."

As Henry walked away, she quickly made her way closer to Jasper. She turned to go, but he asked Henry what his business with Professor Darkness was about, Henry had no idea. Maggie knew they would find out as soon as Henry got back to campus, so she didn't let it bother her.

As he turned to leave, Henry offered a casual, "good luck on the quiz." Not sounding the least bit concerned.

"Good luck with him," Maggie turned to find Jasper with his mouth full of power bar.

The look he gave her, well it shouldn't have been allowed in public, and she felt her insides shiver in delight. But then he opened his mouth, "chewy," and she realized the look she thought meant 'thank god, we're alone,' actually meant he hadn't given up his earlier defense that his power bars were going to solve his problems.

She rolled her eyes at his stupidity, "nutty," she called him and walked off.

He followed her immediately, and they walked in the comfortable companionship they were so used to.

This was why she had said no to him. She didn't have any other friends like Jasper. Some might think it was a good thing, but she knew what it was. He was her best friend, and even though he was insecure and silly, she wouldn't trade him for the world.

I had planned this to be a multi-chapter story, but I also wanted to leave it in a good place for a one-shot. What do you think?