Disclaimer: I don't own Jericho but Essie's mine
A/N: ok, so I realized Essie's relations may be a bit confusing so here's how I have it. Essie's Mother was Jonah Prowse's sister and her Father was Johnston Green's brother. Emily and Jake are not related so their history is the same. Hope you enjoy this next chapter, reviews welcome!
The Four Horsemen Part 1
The rain continued to fall outside the Richmond house in heavy pelts, soaking everything it touched in mere seconds. Having no other option but to wait until the rain cleared the basements occupants had no other choice then to get comfortable and hope it passes quickly.
Essie and Bonnie found a corner away from everyone else and started signing. Bonnie was still freaking out over being used as a human shield, Essie couldn't blame her. Her thoughts drifted to a time when she had been in a similar situation but she quickly snapped out of it. Now was not the time.
I was so scared. Bonnie signed, holding back tears. Then when the man let me go Emily was almost in tears. Then he fell to the ground dead and Jake was there. What happened in the house? Where is the other man?
Essie turned away, the whole scene playing before here eyes…
"Freeze!" The imposter spun around, shock covered his face as he spotted the gun. "Don't move."
Recovering quickly the man smiled. "Now come on miss, you don't want to do that." He moved slowly away from the table, his hand spread out. "You're not going to pull that trigger. All we want is gas and we'll be on our way, no one gets hurt."
Essie hadn't moved since she pulled out her gun. The feel of the cool medal in her hands felt so familiar yet disgusting. She kept her gun trained on the man as he moved towards the living room. "I mean it man, stop." He must have heard the indecision in her voice because he stopped moving, he posture became more confident. He quickly reached for his gun and there was a loud bang.
The details became fuzzy for her after that. The next thing she remembered was walking down the steps towards Jake and Emily. Looking up she could see Bonnie sending her a worried look.
The other man won't be a problem any more. More tears welled up in the younger girl's eyes. It was time for a change of subject. Anything new happen since you last wrote?
One of the boys around town has been following me. Her cheeks turned a light shade of red. He tries to talk to me but I've been ignoring him.
The boy must like you. You should talk to him.
Stanley would kick his ass.
Essie smirked. She had no doubt the elder Richmond would do exactly that if he caught any guy talking to his kid sister. Where is Stanley anyway?
He went out to help our cousin put his livestock away. He should be home soon.
Maybe he stayed at your cousin's place to sit out the rain. Bonnie shook her head.
He said he would be right back. Essie began to worry. If Stanley was out in that rain and it was radioactive…
Bonnie, there's something you should know about the rain.
___
Meanwhile on the other side of the room….
Jake watched Bonnie and Essie as they signed. He could only make out a few words but he knew Bonnie was asking about what happened in the house. He had heard the shot go off in the house before he took out the other prisoner and after seeing Essie he could guess what had happened. He took a closer look at his cousin. She wasn't freaking out yet and she didn't look like she was in shock only a faint trace of regret. The lack of reaction made Jake worry.
Though he had only been back a day Jake had heard about his cousin's disappearance not a year after his own. Having lived under the same roof as her for most of her life he knew her better then his own brother and couldn't help but wonder what made her run away. He was the reckless one, the screw-up. Seeing her now, having supposedly just killed a man, he regretted more then anything not keeping in touch. The two of them used to be so close ever since she came to live with them after her parent's death and she and Emily used to be inseparable. But now she wouldn't even spare the two a glance.
Jake sighed and turned his attention back to Emily. She had stopped shaking but that long distance look hadn't left her eyes. "Em?" The school teacher looked up as if just remembering that there were more people in the room.
"Sorry, what?" Jake smiled a little.
"I was just wondering how you were holding up?"
The blonde shrugged, letting some of her frustration show. "How am I supposed to be holding up?" she asked in a low voice so not to let the others overhear. "First you come back, then a bomb goes off in Denver, my fiancés still gone, and now she's back." She said, indicating their brown haired cousin. "And then those men, it's just a little too much to handle right now." Jake stayed silent letting her rant. They've all been having a hard time the past couple days it didn't help that he had to kill a man right in front of her.
"So that's really Esther?" Jake turned around to where Bill and Jimmy, the real deputies, were sitting on the stairs. Emily answered that it was. "Man," Jimmy said shaking his head, "She grew up. Has she said where she's been?"
"No, we really didn't have much of a conversation because of…" she trailed off, the men understanding what she meant.
"Well, I guess her timing was pretty good." Bill said with a slight smirk. "What do you Greens have some sort of psychic connection or something? Showing up within a day of each other? And right when the bombs go off?"
"Nah, we're just trouble magnets."
"Jake?" he turned around to find Bonnie and Essie standing right behind him looking worried.
"Yeah, Bonnie?"
"Stanley's still out there. He doesn't know about the radiation." Jake's breath caught in his throat. If the rain had enough radiation in it and if Stanley was out in it for to long… Jake didn't even want to think about.
"It's going to be okay Bonnie, I'm sure he found shelter and is staying there until the rain stops."
"He's out in the middle of the country Jake," Essie said frustrated, "What shelter is there?"
"Not helping Es."
"Just trying to keep it real, you wouldn't want to give the girl false hope now would you?" Jake looked at her sharply.
"What is that supposed to mean?" The brunette just glared at him before walking back to her side of the basement. Jake sighed in frustration. He turned back to Bonnie who thankfully missed most of the conversation. "Just stay calm and after the rain has stopped will find him ok?" Bonnie nodded sadly and sat down with Emily who took over the job of trying to comfort the girl.
Jake turned his attention back to his cousin who was now reclining in an old chair with her eyes closed. She looked almost peaceful but Jake knew that she was upset. He walked over to the empty chair next to her and sat down. "So, I've heard that I haven't been the only one who's been away." Essie didn't even open her eyes.
"Nice seeing you too Jake. Wow, what's it been? 5 years since I've last seen you?" OK so maybe that wasn't the best subject to start out on.
"Do you want to talk about what happened in the house today?" The girl finally opened her eyes but refused to look at him. "Essie, please talk to me."
"What's there to say?" Her eyes never left the ground and her voice became filled with built up emotion. "We found out that they weren't deputies. I figured Emily was outside on the radio trying to get help. After Bonnie and the other one ran out of the house I pulled my gun on the last guy; told him not to move. He went for his gun anyway and I shot him."
Jake swore under his breath. He put his hand on her shoulder hoping to comfort her but she tensed and pulled away. No matter what she was feeling now she still didn't forget the betrayal she felt when he left. Jake seemed to understand because he didn't push it. There was one thing that was bothering him though…
"Where did you get the gun?" Essie looked up at him.
"Hey, a girls gotta protect herself right?" She said it as a joke but the truth of that statement was still clear in their minds. Jake smiled, trying to relieve some of the tension.
"Well I think most girls would go with mace or something." Essie laughed and Jakes smile widened. It felt good to make her laugh again.
The tension was only relieve for a few seconds however before a there was a loud thump above their heads. The two Greens jumped to their feet.
"What's going on?" Bonnie asked.
"Someone's in the house." Jake, as well as the two deputies, pulled out their guns and set up around the basement door. Jake turned around to tell the girls to get back when he saw that not only did Essie have Bonnie and Emily corralled by the back wall but was holding her own firearm as well ready for anything. He felt a sudden surge of pride and sadness seeing her 'ready for anything'.
There was more movement upstairs. Whoever it was they was heading in their direction. They heard the door open and a large set of boots could be seen making their way down the steps.
"Stanley!" Bonnie cried in relief. There was Stanley Richmond, soaked to the bone and looking like he just ran the marathon. Bonnie rushed forward to hug her brother but Jake held her back.
"Stanley, don't touch her. The rain may be radioactive." The farm boys once relieved face, happy to be out of the rain, turned into one of slight panic as the implications of Jakes statement sunk in.
Essie, after seeing that it was Stanley, looked around the basement for something that he could use to dry off with. She found a quilt in an old trunk and after making him sit down she wrapped it around him.
Jake couldn't help but noticed that Stanley didn't seem too surprised at seeing the formerly missing girl in his basement. That was just something else he would have to deal with later, now he needed the rain to stop so he can get the others out of the mine.
"Jake, I got your brother."
"Oh, thanks Jimmy." Jake took the walkie-talkie from the deputy and moved away for some privacy. In the corner of his eye he could see Essie watching him. Probably wondering if I'm going to tell Eric she's here. Lucky for her he had other things on his mind. "Eric, talk to me."
We found dad. He's alright, just a bad case of the flu. Where are you?
"Something came up; I'm at the Richmond farm. Eric, I had to blow the entrance to the mine. As soon as the rain stops I need you to grab some guys and go dig them out. They've been in there far to long."
I'll do what I can.
"Good. Is April there?"
Yeah, why?
"Stanley was out in the rain for about 20 minutes." There was silence on the other end. Jake was wondering if he lost the connection but then April came on. He explained the situation to the doctor and listened in fear as she explained what Stanley might be able to do to help his situation but if he began to develop symptoms then Bonnie's brother was most likely going to die.
Not long after that dire news the rain let up and the group made their way out of the basement. Jake, once again taking charge, instructed Emily, Bill, and Bonnie to take Stanley over to the medical center while he, Jimmy, and Essie would go over to the Salt mine to get the other group out.
Essie tried to switch places with Bill but Jake would have none of it. "Essie, you're going to have to face Eric eventually. Now we need to get going so come on."
Essie finally gave in and the three of then piled into the borrowed truck and drove to the mine. They had been working for about ten minutes before Eric and his team showed up. Essie tried to hide behind her hair hoping that her oldest cousin wouldn't recognize her but, no thanks to Jimmy, she was discovered almost right away.
The oldest Green was surprised to say the least but that soon turned into anger. He appeared angrier at her then he did at Jake when he first came back which surprised other man. Luckily for Essie, Jake was able to get him to focus on getting the people out instead of interrogating her about where she's been.
It took them about a half hour to dig a hole into the mine. The group was able to get the people out without any problems or panic but they weren't without casualties. Essie watched as Grey Anderson and another man carried a body out of the mine and placed him in one of the ambulances.
The sight of them almost made Essie sick. She knew coming back to Jericho would not be easy but she never expect there to be so much death. All of a sudden the events of the past two days began to crash down on her. Her breathing became labored as she tried to make her way through the crowd. She didn't get very far before her vision began to blur as well, her knees buckled underneath her and she fell hard to the ground. The last thing she heard was someone shouting her name then everything went black.
