Chapter 1. Phone Call

Jess was hurrying around her flat trying to get ready for work when her phone rang. She grabbed the phone off the dresser with one hand, and began pulling her shoes on with the other.

"Hello," she said breathlessly.

"Is this Jessica Parker?" a male voice asked.

"Yes…who is this?" she asked, nobody called her Jessica anymore, even to Burton and Lester it was Jess.

"Xavier," the man replied.

Jess dropped the phone in shock, and quickly hurried to pick it back up.

"Xavier…it's been awhile." she said.

Over ten years to be exact, Xavier, was her brother, he'd been troubled and left home when he was sixteen, they hadn't heard from him again after that…until today.

"Yeah…I know." he replied hesitantly.

"How have you been?" she asked, sliding her coat on with one hand then switching the phone to the other ear.

"I've been alright, I got married a few years ago…" he was cut off by Jess' outburst.

"Married! Wow! Congratulations!"

"Thanks, actually that's part of the reason I'm calling…my wife, Chantelle, was killed two days ago…and Jessica, we have a daughter, Elise, she's five…I need help."

"Of course, where are you even living now?" she asked.

"New York City." he replied.

"Okay, I'll get a flight out as soon as I can."

"Thank you Jessica."

She hung up and grabbed a suitcase out of the closet while dialing another number.

"Captain Becker."

"Becker, it's Jess, can you tell Lester I won't be at work for a few days?"

"Jess, what's wrong?" he asked, voice sounding mildly panicked.

"My brother just called, his wife was killed and I'm flying out to New York." she explained hurriedly, throwing clothes in her suitcase.

"I didn't know you had a brother." he replied.

"Yes, well until today he'd been estranged for the last ten years." she sighed.

"Jess…I'm not sure I like the idea of you going out there alone, why don't you let me come with you?"

"You don't have to do that Becker, besides Lester won't hear of us both leaving."

"I'm not giving him a choice, just book two tickets, use the credit card I gave you." he said.

"Alright. And Becker, thank you."

"Of course, I love you and I'll see you soon." he replied.

"Love you too." she said before disconnecting.

She'd barely gotten the tickets booked and the rest of her things packed before Becker was knocking on the door.

"Hey!" she said opening up, "Wow you're fast!"

He gave her a quick hug, "Yes, well I wasn't sure how soon the flight would be."

"Well I managed to get us on the next one out, which leaves in two hours." she replied.

"Then we should get going," he said, grabbing her bags from beside the door.


She called Xavier as soon as they'd landed and were off the plane.

"Xay, it's Jess, we just landed."

"We?"

She'd forgotten she hadn't mentioned Becker before now.

"Yeah, my boyfriend is with me." she said glancing over to where Becker stood at the car rental station.

"Right…okay, we're at New York Presbyterian Hospital, eighth floor," he said.

Jess' brow furrowed in confusion, "Why are you at the hospital?"

"Elise," he said quietly.

"Xay, why didn't you tell me she was hurt sooner?" she exclaimed.

"I didn't want to panic you sooner than necessary."

"Right…well we're leaving the airport now, we'll be there soon."

"Alright, and Jess, thank you."

"Of course," she said before disconnecting with a sigh. The day just kept getting weirder and weirder.

"Ready?" Becker asked, coming over with a car key in hand and grabbing their luggage.

"I can help carry that, you know."

"Not while you're traveling with me you can't," he said with a small smile, "So where are we going?"

"New York Presbyterian Hospital, eighth floor, children's wing." she rattled off. "Apparently, Elise is hurt and Xavier didn't see the need to tell me until now."

Becker was silent, but she could tell by his expression he was uncomfortable with the situation they were going into.


She laced her fingers through Becker's as they followed the nurse to Elise's room. She was incredibly nervous, she was about to see the brother she hadn't seen in ten years and meet the niece she hadn't known existed. Becker squeezed her hand reassuringly and she was suddenly incredibly thankful for his presence.

"Xavier," she said quietly as they entered the room.

He turned and his eyes widened in surprise as he saw her, "Jessica?"

She smiled slightly, "Yeah, Xay, it's me."

He came over and hugged her, "Wow, you look great!" he said with a weak laugh.

"Thanks, oh Xavier this is my boyfriend Becker," she said.

"It's nice to meet you," Becker said extending a hand, which Xavier shook, wincing slightly as he retracted his hand. Becker sometimes forgot he wasn't dealing with his soldiers.

Jess caught sight of two big, brown eyes watching her curiously from the bed, and walked over smiling.

"You must be Elise," she said, smiling.

Elise nodded shyly.

"It's nice to meet you, I'm your Aunt Jess."

"Ni…nice to m…meet you." she said nervously.

"You don't have to be nervous, I don't bite, promise." Jess said leaning down and hugging her.

Elise hugged her back weakly, "Who's he?" she asked, eyes fixed over Jess' shoulder.

"That's my boyfriend, Becker," she said, waving him over.

"Hi Elise," he said with a small smile.

"You're tall," she said.

Jess left Becker with Elise and went into the hall with Xavier.

"What's wrong with her?"

"She tried to run when Chantelle was shot, apparently they didn't want witnesses so they shot Elise too, the bullet hit her spine, and she's paralyzed from the waist down." Xavier said, his voice breaking slightly by the end.

Jess' hand shot to her mouth, then she hugged Xavier tightly, "She'll recover though, right?"

"The doctors…they don't…know."

"Xavier, I'm so sorry."

"Don't…say that. This…all of it…is my fault." he said, his voice sounded dead.

"What are you talking about Xavier?"

"I…I messed up…got involved in things that got Chantelle killed and my daughter to where may never walk again. That's why I called you, I need you to do something for me Jess."

"What?"

"I need you to take care of Elise…I…can't anymore…it's not safe for her."

"Xavier, what are you talking about? What's going on?"

"Elise needs a family, security, neither of which I can give her anymore, but you and Becker can. I'm sorry Jess, I know this is a lot to ask…but it has to be this way. Tell Eli, I love her and I'm sorry."

And with that Xavier disappeared down the hall, leaving Jess staring after him stunned and confused.