When it was clear the confrontation was over, Jo made her way to the
floating office, leaving Tina and an obviously disconcerted Shane to
discuss whatever it was they should be discussing. They had a lot to
discuss; of this, Jo Wheaton was sure.

Jo sighed. Why had she allowed herself the luxury of feeling for
someone? It had been much more than she’d felt for months, almost a
year. She cursed in French as she pushed the door open to her office to
reveal the short tomboy that had accosted her before about Amy.

She was on her in an instant, her hand at her throat, tugging her head
sideways and revealing the most delectable vein in a neck she’d ever
seen.

“You’d better talk before you no longer can” Jo muttered into JadedRogue’s ear.

“You saw what happened to Shane. You have to change things” Jaded
squeaked out, her whole body painful as Jo lifted her off the ground
with one strong hand and shook her. She watched the Rogue for a moment
then dropped her on the floor. Jaded crumpled into a ball on the floor,
and Jo grabbed her throat in a firm grip.

“Talk.” Jo ordered.

“I can bring her back you have to” Jaded choked, Jo letting go of her
throat and letting her breathe. Jaded grabbed her neck, pushing past
Jo. “The laptop.” Jaded said, the Rogue pointing to the laptop on the
desk and Jo tossed her a look.

“We” She stopped, reluctant to admit any wrongdoing. “I created this
thing a vortex.” She explained and Jo bit down; she’d been caught in
one before. It had mangled her powers so hard that she’d been sick for
weeks afterwards.

“Non.” Jo muttered, grabbing the computer and seeing the swirling
colors as she snapped the top shut. “Who cursed it?” She asked and
Jaded narrowed her eyes, going to the desk, giving Jo a wide berth.

“No one”

“Someone cursed your writing. Merde.”

“Non, no curses, no hexes,” Jaded denied.

“Then what? Bad programming?”

“How would I know? It’s weird and weird is not my specialty,” she fended off Jo’s sharp questioning.

“Who wrote the program?” Jo put her hands on her slim hips and glared at the Rogue.

“Um,” she stammered, “moi.”

“And have you ever had this problem before?” Jo asked, her hair tussled
and Jaded was sure that she was sexier than she’d written her.