Disclaimer: Nope don't own Jericho but Essie's mine

Summary: After the bombs go off Jake isn't the only Green to return to Jericho.

A/N: OK so I'm following the timeline of the show starting in the middle of "Fallout". I'm changing some things but most of the major events/facts stay the same. No major pairings cause I really don't like writing them. I am a few chapters ahead so hopefully my updates won't be to far apart. Well enough my rambles. Enjoy!

The Power of Green

Chapter One

The storm rumbled in the distance as a lone vehicle made its way on a country road, speeding towards the town of Jericho. The driver was a young woman, about 20 years of age, and she had a worried look on her face.

Esther "Essie" Green pushed down harder on the gas as she thought about the events of the day before. It started out like any other day. She had been taking a nap in her apartment in a nearby town when a neighbor began pounding on her door. When she saw the mushroom cloud a feeling of dread set in the pit of her stomach and has yet to leave. She packed up her few belongings and headed towards her former home at breakneck speed. Although by the sound of the car she should have grabbed some extra gas first.

"No no no, come on baby don't die on me now." It was no use, her car slowed and after sputtering a few times finally stopped. The young women sighed; this day was not starting well. Reaching across the seat she opened her glove compartment and pulled out a revolver which she had "borrowed" from a neighbor. In her years of travel she realized it best to err on the side of caution in situations such as these. After checking to make sure it was loaded she tucked it in the back of her jeans.

Grabbing a duffle and backpack from the trunk she began the rest of her travel on foot. She could hear the storm getting closer and realized that she would never make it to town before the rain hit and something told her that she didn't want to be caught outside in a storm following a mushroom cloud.

After looking around she could see that she was near the Richmond farm. Hopefully Bonnie and Stanley will be home. I would hate to have to explain why I broke in. Essie slowly trudged up the hill towards the two story yellow house and was contemplating what to tell the brother and sister, who were close to her family, of her sudden appearance when she spotted a Sheriff's vehicle parked outside the house.

Not knowing what to expect the young woman ran the rest of the way to the farmhouse and, after making sure her gun was covered, made her way to the front door and knocked.

***

*Knock-knock*

Emily Sullivan jumped slightly as she heard the knock on the front door. The two "Deputies" were still in the kitchen with Bonnie after she had accidentally spilt coffee on one of their hands. She had slipped the revolver from the frame and was debating what to do next. She had no idea who these men were but they were not Jericho Deputies, they may have even killed the sheriff.

When she led them here she had hoped that the Richmond's would not be home. Her heart sank when she saw Bonnie come around the corner. The kid was sweet and she didn't want her to get hurt. Emily spent these few moments alone pondering what to do next. Should she wait it out and see if the men would leave peacefully or should she attempt to force them?

*Knock-knock*

Emily quickly stood up and was about to turn away whoever was at the door when one of the imposters came around the corner.

"I'll get it miss." He said with what was supposed to be a polite smile but just made her feel even more uneasy. "Can I help you ma'am?" The man asked answering the door.

"Yeah, is Stanley or Bonnie home?" That voice, it can't be. Emily slowly walked over to the door to get a look at the visitor and what she saw made her gasp in surprise. Standing in the door way was a young woman around 20 years old and about 5" 10 with long brown hair. Unlike Emily's stick figure this woman had an athletic build and an easy expression on her face; which was a bit unusual given the previous days events.

"Essie?" the name was just whispered but it caught the woman's attention. A shocked expression crossed the girls face but was quickly replaced with a tight smile.

"Hey cuz. It's been a while."

***111

Why did it have to be her. Of all the people to run into on her first day back she wasn't prepared for it to be Emily. Things hadn't been good between the two when they last saw each other and Essie wasn't sure how to act. By the looks of it Emily was having the same thoughts.

"Essie!" The deputy moved out of the doorway just in time for the girl to see a pink blur before it crashed into her.

The young woman laughed as she pulled the younger girl off of her. "Nice to see you too Bonnie." The two started signing back and forth in a flurry of hands.

You didn't tell me you were coming back.

I wasn't planning on it but after the bomb I wanted to check up on everyone.

Where were you living this time?

Close.

Did you meet anyone? Bonnie was grinning at her knowingly but before she could answer someone cleared their throat interrupting their conversation. It was one of the deputies.

"Miss, I would suggest you get on home now before the storm hits. Looks like it going to be a big one." The man had a polite smile on her face but Essie could see that he just wanted her gone.

"Well, I would except that my car ran out of gas a ways back. I knew I wouldn't make it to town in time so here I am." The brunette said indicating her bags. "And you are here because?"

"Well we're waiting for the young miss's brother to come back with the key to the gas tank." The Deputy replied, sounding relaxed but looking anything but. Essie just smiled back.

"Well you can probably bet he'll be back before the storm."

"Where've you been Esther?" Finally getting over her shock Emily, while still being aware of present company, couldn't help but ask the question that had been plaguing her mind ever since Esther Green disappeared four long years ago.

"Didn't know you cared so much Emily?" Essie knew she was being childish but she couldn't help it.

"Didn't care?" Emily was shocked. "Do you have any idea how long we looked for you?"

"Stop it." Bonnie interrupted. "Let's eat." She took Essie's hand before anyone could protest and dragged her into the kitchen were she had been cooking, Emily and the deputies followed right behind them.

They all found a seat around the table while Bonnie brought the eggs and sausage. The deputies began filling their plates right away with an urgency which made Essie think that they hadn't eaten in a while. She threw a quick glance at Emily who seemed deep in thought, and not just over her cousins sudden return to Jericho.

Before Essie could ask about it Emily quickly stood up and excused herself to the bathroom. It seemed as if the deputy didn't want to let her out of his sight but did so grudgingly after she told him where it was. Right before she turned the corner Emily sent her and Bonnie a worried look. Essie, who might have been suspicious before now took the time to take a closer look at the 'deputies' around her.

Both the men had a scruffiness about them that she didn't see in most deputies and now that she thought about it their behavior was a bit off as well. They flinched as the slightest noise and were always looking around as if suspecting someone to jump out at them at any time. If Emily's look meant what she thought it meant then these guys were not apart of the local law enforcement.

"So Deputies," Essie said getting the men's attention. "What brings you to this lovely farm?"

"Like I said our car's low on gas same as your's." the dark haired one said. "We picked Miss Sullivan up on the road and she said we could get gas here." Essie nodded. She vaguely wondered what direction they were heading being so close to town yet out of gas.

Essie began trying to figure out the best course of action. If her suspicions were correct Emily was probably using the radio in the Sheriff's vehicle to try and contact someone in town but that could work out very badly for them. Essie glanced at the walkie that was lying on the table. It was set on channel 8 which meant that Emily had seven channels to check before they found out what she was doing.

The impression of the revolver pressing into her back became more pronounced the longer she waited. Bonnie kept her eyes on her plate and the 'walkie' guy kept looking up the stairs waiting for the blonde to return. When she didn't after five minutes he grabbed his walkie and headed up the stairs to check on her. Knowing that her cousin was soon to be found out Essie decided that it was time to get in a better position away from the other imposter.

"Bonnie." Essie knocked on the table to get the deaf girls attention. When the time come's run. Bonnie seemed to be thinking the same thing because she agreed without question.

"Hey what'd you say to her?" the two girls looked at each other.

"I just asked her if she wanted me to clear the table." Bonnie nodded her head in agreement. The man still looked suspicious but let it go as Essie began to clear the table of the unused dishes.

Right as Essie set the dishes on the sink the deputy with the walkie came rushing down the stairs yelling at his partner, the gig was up. Bonnie took this as her sign and made a dashed for the door, the man just a few feet behind her.

Essie didn't take time to think. She pulled her gun on the remaining deputy. "Freeze."

***

Meanwhile, Emily was having her own stand off outside.

"You don't want to do this miss put the gun down." Emily was standing by the trunk of the car having just found the missing deputies and was pointing the borrowed gun at the man who was now using Bonnie as a human shield. "All we want is gas, that's all this is about." The man began to slowly remove his weapon from the holster.

"Don't move, please." Emily's voice was weak and her hands were shaking. The man continued to pull his gun out and was about to point it at Bonnie when a gunshot went off in the house surprising the armed man giving Bonnie a chance to escape his grasp.

"No!" Emily screamed. Essie? The man swung around to face her when another gun went off causing Emily to jump. The imposter in front of her fell dead and Jake Green came running across the porch towards her.

"Emily, are you alright?" when she didn't respond he cupped her face in his hands forcing her to look at him. "Emily?" The door to the house banged open making Jake spin around, gun up.

"Don't shoot, don't shoot! It's me!" The young woman came down the steps with her hands up. Getting a better look at the other girl Jake did a double take.

"Essie?!"

"Jake?" The two were in equal shock as they stared at each other. Essie, recovering first, smiled grimly as she tucked her gun in the back of her jeans. "Well this isn't quite the family reunion I had pictured."

Before Jake could say anything there was a crack of thunder over head. "Everyone in the basement, now!" Jack ran to the trunk and began untying the two deputies while Essie led Bonnie and Emily to the basement. The men limped down the steps and closed the door just as the rain began to fall.