It had filled Walter with joy that Jesse hadn't lost his spirit. He had instantly regretted revealing that he hadn't saved Jane, had feared that the Jesse he had known for so long would be lost to him under the weight of his grief. But out on the road when they had pushed the only remaining barrel of his money, and in the days after, sparks of Jesse's fiery spirit had shown itself. And his partner was slowly coming more and more back to life each day. Though he was hurt by the revelation that Walter had sprung on him, he wasn't going to let it destroy him. He should have known. Jesse had always been stronger than he let on. Walt knew that the threat to Brock and Andrea kept Jesse in check for now, but if he knew his partner, he would start seriously defying his authority soon enough.

Which was a trial in itself. He loved his Jesse, but at times he also hated his passionate spirit. Jesse's immaturity and inability to follow his rules infuriated him. It was strange that that was what exactly drew him to the younger man. Walter liked the challenge, enjoyed fighting with his partner. But now that they were in their third week of living together, he found the other man's youthful vitality equally parts exhilarating and exhausting. He wasn't sure which he felt more strongly.

In the first week at the cabin, Jesse had sulked, barely spoken to Walter. He had refused to share the only cot in the cabin, choosing instead to spread a blanket on the floor by the stove and sleeping there. The silly boy had pouted by exploring outside during the day, minding Walter's command to stay in sight, but pushing the boundaries whenever he caught Walter watching him through the windows.

During the second week, Jesse still pouted, though he had started to talk a bit more. Well, talk was a bit of an understatement. He hissed, shouted, or threatened. Aggression had oozed from every pore in his body, and everything he had said was in an effort to get Walter to respond in kind. Knowing what he was up to, Walt had ignored the outbursts, instead treating Jesse to the silent treatment whenever he had a fit.

It was the beginning of the third week now, and Walter could see that Jesse was beginning to break. He needed engagement, wanted Walter to speak to him. And if he was being honest with himself, Walter too wanted to talk with Jesse. He enjoyed their conversations when they weren't only argumentative in nature. But there had to be a lesson taught here. Though Walter secretly enjoyed debating with Jesse, he absolutely would not tolerate full blown disrespectful quarreling. Jesse would have to come to him, show him that he was willing to be civil.

So Walter continued with the silent treatment, going about his business in quiet. He cleaned the small cabin, neatly made up the cot, heated up the afternoon meal, and sat down for a fourth re-watch of 'Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium'. The entire time Walter went about his chores Jesse sat with his back to the cabin door, his blue eyes downcast, staring at his feet.

Walter was sure he had hit the depression stage of whatever issues he was going through. All of the earlier aggression had faded, and now Jesse slumped as he had when Jack's men had held him captive in their arms. Walter ignored it, instead turning up the volume on the television set and leaning back in the lone chair in the cabin.

"What is stopping me from killing you?" Jesse's quiet voice asked after the movie had been playing for a good twenty minutes or so.

Walter sighed. Perhaps that was the closest Jesse was going to get to civil conversation for now. He turned around and stared at the other man, who had finally raised his head and was glaring at him in what Walter supposed he thought was an intimidating manner. "Nothing," he responded simply, a limp shrug following his answer. He turned back as if he were truly interested in watching the movie.

"At least act like you're scared I might try, bitch," Jesse hissed, though the earlier anger in his words from a week ago wasn't there anymore.

"Jesse, I'm trying to watch this," Walter said without turning around. He smirked when he heard Jesse let out a low growl of frustration.

"Mr. White, I'm dying here. I can't stay," his partner said as he stomped forward, standing in front of the TV and blocking Walt's line of sight.

Walter stared at Jesse, but said nothing in return. Instead he just arched an eyebrow.

"Mr. White, I'm serious! I can't live here. Just kill me already. I've been punished enough!"

He laughed at that, a low chuckle that rumbled from deep in his chest. Thankfully he didn't start hacking after. "Jesse, when are you going to get it through your thick head that I'm not going to kill you? Ever."

Jesse looked dumbfounded, at a loss for words. He opened his mouth, closed it. "So you're planning on torturing me forever then?" he finally asked, and Walt wasn't sure how to describe the kid's tone.

"This isn't supposed to be torture," Walter told him, as if he were a student struggling with a chemistry equation that really was simple if they looked at the problem in another way. "We're partners for life, Jesse. Nothing is ever going to change that." He hesitated, trying to gauge Jesse's reaction to his words. The younger man blinked, as if he was trying to process it all. Was he reassured by Walt's explanation? "Just view this excursion… as a temporary vacation."

"Well it is torture!" Jesse shouted, his blue eyes shining with what Walt thought might be tears. "It's boring here, Mr. White! Not some fucking vacation! I'm going out of my mind!"

Standing there, in his oversized clothes and his sky-blue eyes shining bright, Jesse looked like a misguided angel. Walter was struck by the realization that he thought Jesse was beautiful, for a man. And Jesse definitely was a man. Walter wasn't trying to shy away from that. He was masculine, for sure, but he was also soft, in a way that set him apart from so many others. Jesse was attractive to Walt, in a way that other men weren't. His sudden train of thought took him by surprise. Was he…? No. Absolutely not.

He shook his head and tried to focus, looking up at Jesse with a slight frown on his face. "Ed will be here soon. What would you like him to get? I'll add things to the list."

His partner stared at him for a long time before letting out a snarl and storming off, throwing open the cabin door and stomping into the yard.

"Stay close!" Walter shouted after him.

Though he didn't say anything in response to the order, Walt saw the silent middle finger Jesse threw his way.

…..

The next day Walter woke to an empty room. Jesse wasn't anywhere in sight, and his crumpled nest near the stove was cold to the touch. He began to panic, suddenly unsure if his hold on his companion was as strong as he thought it was. The threat that loomed over Andrea and Brock had seemed so durable before, had kept Jesse fearful enough to at least toe the line. Had Walter been oblivious to the fact that the threat was no longer strong enough to keep Jesse by his side? Had Jesse mustered up his courage? Had he made a break for it while Walter slept?

Grabbing his coat and fumbling with the zipper, Walt rushed to get dressed. He snatched his boots up, shoving his feet into the holes and threw open the door, not bothering to tie the laces. "Jesse!" he hollered, quickly scanning the yard before looking around for fresh footprints in the snow.

There were so many crisscrossing prints from Jesse's various adventures and excursions into the yard that it would be impossible to tell if any were from that morning. Walter looked towards the direction Ed had said the town was in. There were several footprints that were that way, but Walt couldn't be sure if any of them would lead to the gate and the road beyond that led to the town.

Terror gripped him, and he stood still with indecision. Should he go after Jesse? Would the police be driving up any moment now?

"Mr. White?"

Walter whipped around and saw Jesse approaching from the far side of the cabin, on the opposite side of the way that led to town. He was flushed, obviously back from a hike. His coat was even larger than the oversized sweatshirts he usually wore, and Jesse looked so small in the puffy covering. The confused look in his eye when he took in Walter's haggard and disheveled appearance was so endearing that Walter couldn't help but smile.

"Mr. White, what the hell, yo?"

Without thinking, he approached the smaller man and put his hands on his shoulders, ignoring the way Jesse tried to move away from his touch. He slid his hands down and wrapped his arms around the slight form of his partner, hugging him fiercely.

"Mr. White!" Jesse screeched, pushing away from him with as much force as possible.

Without a word of explanation, Walter turned around and headed back to the cabin.

…..

Three days later, Walter noticed that Jesse was hanging around the cabin more. His outdoor hikes were lessening, and he realized that Jesse spoke to him more often now too. Walter was making their dinner, frying up the two remaining steaks from the freezer. The smell of sizzling meat enveloped the entire dwelling, and Walter felt a feeling of domestic contentment despite the barren loneliness that blanketed the cabin and its property. True, he missed his family. He even longed for Skyler. But having Jesse with him made him…happy.

Gazing sidelong at his quiet partner, who lay on the cot with his eyes closed, Walter was again struck by how beautiful Jesse truly was. His long lashes seemed to brush his porcelain cheeks, and his graceful hands lay sill on his slowly moving chest. Swimming in his baggy sweatshirt, Walter had the sudden urge to strip Jesse from his clothes in order to see his entire body in all of its glory. Though the large clothes were a part of Jesse's image, the desire to see the treasure that lay underneath was unexpectedly so strong that Walter had to take a moment and breathe deeply.

What was going on with him? Never before had he had thoughts like this about another man. Was the isolation he had put himself and Jesse in having an effect on him? Walter pursed his lips and grimaced, realizing that was not the case. He had subconsciously always been aware of Jesse's good looks. He just hadn't quite realized that he had known it deep in his heart. Thinking back on all of their exchanges, on his frustration with the boy, Walter was struck with the comprehension that perhaps he cared more for Jesse than what normal partners felt for one another. It would explain some of his drastic behavior in regards to the other man.

Groaning at his wayward thoughts, Walter flipped the steaks roughly, startling Jesse from his nap with the movement. His partner blinked groggily and sat up quickly, looking around as if they were under attack. When he realized all was well, Jesse settled back down on the cot and closed his eyes again, but Walter could tell he wasn't going back to sleep.

"How many days?" he asked quietly, his voice rough from his doze.

Walter didn't need to ask what he meant. He knew Jesse had been trying to count down the days when Ed would be back, but without a calendar or any sort of way to check the date, the younger man had not been able to keep track. Not so for Walter. He had always had a sharp mind, could remember small details even when other pressing matters clouded his brain. Walter knew the exact date, and Jesse knew he would.

"Five," Walter grunted.

"God, I hope he brings some cigarettes," Jesse groaned, his blue eyes finally opening and settling on Walt.

He glared in his partner's direction. "A bad habit, Jesse. It's best not to get hooked again."

"You're not my dad, bitch," Jesse responded, but there was no heat to his voice.