The one where Hyde and Jackie decide to give the whole 'long distance relationship' thing a shot. They only last two weeks. And somehow, end up getting a dog in the process.
warning: fluff galore and puppies.
Chicago isn't anything like Point Place. It isn't a small town in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin where everybody knows everyone and the only stranger you ever meet is one who is passing through.
Chicago's a big city with high crime rates and a lousy police department. And in comparison to the massive metropolitan, Jackie is tiny- barely weighing a 100 lbs with maybe one karate class under her belt. Hyde didn't realize how fucking nerve wracking the idea of leaving his girl alone a 100 miles away from everything she's ever known would be until her bags were packed and in the Camino's flat bed, and he was about to drop her off at her new apartment.
Jackie's new place was a cozy little one bedroom apartment in a neighborhood that was said to be well respected by most people the lived in it, but Hyde didn't believe a word of it. The guy living across from her was beefy and 6 ft 3 with a bunch of tattoos running down his arms and a bad ass scar on his cheek.
Hyde would've found him cool if it weren't for the fact that the only thing separating him from his chick's apartment was a lousy ass door lock and an alarm system that honestly doesn't look all that reliable.
Jackie just laughed when he pointed all this out to her. As always, that chick had no sense of self preservation. It didn't matter that 'Ted' the neighbor baked her a pie on her move day, that he smelled like cinnamon and cloves or that he volunteered at the near by soup kitchen every Wednesday, Hyde was just not comfortable leaving her alone with nobody else on the floor except him.
They argued, they bickered, they give each other the silent treatment. Jackie refused to even think about moving. The rent was too good and the location too convenient to indulge Steven's paranoia. But Hyde was stubborn in his own right, and he refused to leave it alone until she promised to at least increase security.
In the end, they settle on a guard dog. The apartment allowed pets, and a ferocious canine should keep predators away better than most security they could afford on their respective salaries. Jackie promised to visit the shelter down the block that weekend, and Hyde returned to Point Place a little smug, thinking he'd won.
He should've known better.
A fortnight later, Hyde's visiting Jackie at her flat. A surprise of sorts mostly because he missed her. He closed down the store early, called in sick with W.B for the next day, and just got into the Camino and drove over.
There was a BEWARE OF DOG sign on her door that made him smirk, and he could hear muffled barking from the other side of the door alongside the radio playing something funky and disco. Hyde rolled his eyes, but used the spare key Jackie had give him to let himself in.
Immediately, the barking paused, the grew closer and the radio shut off. It was only then that Hyde realized that maybe getting in unannounced wasn't a very good idea. He froze. He'd never met Jackie's dog. For all intents and purposes, Steven was the intruder right now.
The animal's stomping paws grew closer, and Hyde held his breath, his back against the door, hoping he won't be mauled by a giant Doberman or some shit.
Only, when the dog turned the corner and came into view, it wasn't a Doberman, or a Dalmatian or even a fucking Labrador. It's not even really a dog at all.
The animal is small, and cute and fuzzy as hell. A puppy. With a pink bone collar around its little furry neck reading in loopy lettering, 'puddin'
Hyde scowled. Mostly because that was not what he had in mind when he told Jackie she needed to get a guard dog. But also, that was his name, dammit.
"Whoever you are, you should know I have the police on speed dial and a baseball bat that I will not hesitate to use to bash your head in!" Jackie called out from further inside the house.
Hyde rolled his eyes, "Jackie, what the fuck?"
"Steven!" She squealed, then ran out with a smile, and no, she didn't have a baseball bat. She was holding a fucking frying pan. One that barely missed his head when she jumped into his arms. He grunted, but held her close, both irritated and happy at the same time. Only Jackie Burkhart would be capable of making him feel so many conflicting emotions at the same time.
They pulled away eventually, and Hyde pointed at the puppy, "What the hell's that?"
She gives him a fake confused look, trying and failing to look innocent, "What do you mean? You wanted me to get a dog."
"Yeah. For security. Not for your handbag. Jackie, that little shit couldn't hurt a fucking fly."
As if he could understand, the puppy barked petulantly, and immediately, Jackie cooed, going over to pick him up,
"Oh, don't listen to him, baby. Daddy's just being a little crabby."
Hyde closed his eyes, shaking his head asking for patience. But he couldn't help but take another look. He hated to admit it, but the thing really was cute.
"Why'd you name him pudding?" He asked, and no, he wasn't upset. He didn't even like 'pudding pop'. He just tolerated it because he couldn't handle Jackie pouting.
She smiled knowingly at him, then shrugged. "I just missed you. It gets lonely sometimes."
He'd missed her too. Way more than he had thought he would. Hyde sighed. The weren't getting rid of the dog, he knew. Jackie'd gone and gotten herself attached to the little fur ball. And there was no way in hell he was letting her live here all on her own.
There was nothing else to be done about it. Hyde would just have to move in.
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