Jessie was ecstatic, Elphie seemed to be fitting into her military family perfectly. She had honestly been really worried that Elphie wouldn't be very comfortable with how brash they could be sometimes. As usual she had nothing to worry about, Elphie handled it like a master and threw back comments just as easily. At the moment Jessie was laughing at Jax as they swapped stories from the past few years. For as hardcore as Jax was about OIA and the military in general, he was just as much fun outside of work. Sanchez and JJ were setting up the stereo system, they were struggling with plugging in all of the complicated wires and seemed to be arguing about a few of them. Johnny and Sonya were just lounging around watching everyone.
"Damn, Blade, you'll let anyone in this party." A gruff voice spoke up behind Jessie.
She turned and grinned at Charlie. "They let your old, decrepit ass in, didn't they?" Jessie teased.
Charlie gave her a hard look. "Who the hell you calling old?" He said, before a grin spread across his face. He pulled her into a bear hug. "Good to see you in one piece, Jess." He whispered in her ear.
"You too, Charlie." Jessie said, as she returned the hug. Her eyes were misty as she hugged her old friend and mentor. In her time on Sonya's world, she'd come to think of Charlie as a father. He was the voice of wisdom and experience. The one that called you out if you screwed up, and the one that kept her and every member of OIA that he bothered to care about in check.
Sonya smiled when she saw Charlie arrive. She shook her head with a soft chuckle when she saw him talking to Jessie and called out. "Hey, don't get him choked up! He's gotta man the grill."
"You're lucky you're my favorite recruit, Blade." Charlie said with a chuckle as he finally let Jessie go.
"Damn right I am. We got the meat ready for you." Sonya said, motioning to the grill.
After Charlie arrived, no one dared to touch the grill. It was akin to sacrilege for anyone other than THE grill master to cook on the grill, something Jessie found out the hard way at her first party. Charlie gave Elphaba a friendly smile as he walked to the gril and gave her a gentle pat on the back.
Jessie was standing near the door of the house when another voice spoke up. "I heard you were back." Jessie turned around, to see Andrea.
"Yeah, I finally got my mission accomplished." Jessie said, proudly.
Andrea raised an eyebrow, "It only took three years."
Jessie clenched her jaw a bit at that. "That wasn't exactly by my choice."
Andrea nodded briefly, "Perhaps not, but getting married was. When you were in my office last, I didn't think you were interested in women. In fact, you were very into Tarek."
Jessie's fists clenched at that name. "Don't ever mention that sonuvabitch's name again." Jessie said cooly.
There was a satisfied smirk on Andrea's face at that reaction. "Have you told Elphaba about him?"
Jessie ground her teeth before answering. "No, and it's none of your damn business either. Can you not shrink me for one fucking day?" Jessie said, before storming off inside. So much for the party being fun with that bitch here. Jessie hated to question herself, because she'd spent most of her life doing it. Her time with Sonya had taught her to trust her gut and not overthink things. However, Andrea made her think about everything, and Jessie hated having to talk to her.
Elphaba could sense Jessie's anger and quickly followed her into the house. She slipped her arms around Jessie from behind and kissed the side of her neck gently. "Are you ok, baby?" She asked softly into Jessie's ear.
Jessie sighed as she began to calm down when she felt Elphie's arms around her. "I'm fine." Jessie said, leaning back into the embrace.
"You looked a little pissed when you stormed out a few minutes ago." Elphaba said softly.
Jessie chuckled under her breath, "Pissed is an understatement. You ever talk to someone who's nice enough, but you can't stand that they question everything?" Jessie asked.
Elphie shook her head slowly, "No, I can't say I have. Jess...don't let it ruin your day, love." Elphaba said, kissing her cheek softly.
Jessie smiled as she leaned back into Elphie a little more. "How could it? I'm here with my best friend, my extended family, and my beautiful wife. She just got under my skin for a minute. I'll be fine." Jessie said.
Elphie smiled brightly at that. "Good. Come on." Elphie said, leading her back outside. Jessie and Elphie mingled outside with everyone else, as Charlie manned the grill.
Andrea watched Elphaba and Jessie interact. Jessie seemed to be serious about her, and she treated her with the reverence a man would. Andrea noted that Elphaba play every part the proud wife. Jessie seemed a world away from the woman that thrashed four girls in the prison yard, and threatened Andrea with death for asking too many questions. Andrea knew that it had been three years, but she didn't believe this happy façade Jessie was putting on. Jessie was destructive and disturbed. Andrea didn't think her wife knew anything about Jessie's dual personality. As Jessie's therapist, she was obligated to warn the woman before it was too late. Andrea found her opportunity when Elphaba went into the house alone, and Jessie was busy talking with Charlie. "Excuse me, Elphaba, isn't it?" Andrea said, walking over.
"Yes, I'm Elphaba." She said, with a wary smile. This was the one that had upset her Jessie just a few moments ago. Elphaba wondered what she wanted.
Andrea smiled pleasantly as she extended her hand to Elphaba. "I'm Andrea, Charlie is my father."
Elphaba shook her hand and matched that polite, but fake smile with one of her own. "Jessie speaks of your father with lots of respect and love. However, I've never heard her mention you." Elphaba recalled that Jessie was hesitatant to mention her biological family as well. Usually if Jessie did not speak of someone, it was for a good reason.
Andrea nodded, "She likely wouldn't. I was her therapist before she disappeared three years ago."
Elphaba arched an eyebrow at that. "Oh? Why was she placed under your care for...therapy?" Elphaba was aware that some people were sent to therapists for help after traumatic events. However, she had also heard stories of bad therapists who made their patients worse rather than better.
Andrea nodded, "It is OIA protocol. However, in Jessie's case she was sent in for her reckless, self destructive, and sometimes violent ways."
Elphaba recalled a few things Jessie did that would fall under those categories. However, none of them were done out of vengeance. The closest for a concerning reason was the phone call with her sister. Elphaba frowned at Andrea. "I have trouble believing that Jessie acted in these ways for dark purposes."
Andrea sighed at that. "Then you don't know your wife as well as you think you do." Andrea said, wondering how much of her past Jessie had kept secret from Elphaba.
Now Elphaba was beginning to get frustrated and her fake smile faltered for a moment. "Since she's told me about her entire life, feel free to enlighten me." She snapped.
Andrea smirked before nodding. "Did you know she questioned a prisoner without proper authorization to find the Lieutenant? Or that she gave herself up to an international criminal to find the Lieutenant's location? She attempted to go on the rescue mission with broken ribs and a concussion? Before that, she catapulted herself through a windshield to stop someone from kidnapping the Lieutenant?" These were just a few examples.
Elphaba listened but didn't look the least bit surprised at any of these, which Jessie had indeed told her all of. "You have yet to tell me something Jessie has not already told me herself."
Andrea was not completely surprised by this. "So you approve of her antics?"
Elphaba sighed, "Not completely. However, she has done far more things of a similar nature since she met me. I can tell you know all of them were far harder on her body than those few you just mentioned."
Andrea frowned slightly at that. It appeared her attempt to help Jessie understand that these reckless acts were unwise did not work. She looked at Elphaba. "Do you understand that the only person she's had any kind of relationship before you was a man named Tarek. A man that, it turned out, was using her to help Shang keep Sonya captive. He betrayed her and Sonya."
Elphaba's eyes narrowed a bit when she went there. "Yes, I am aware." Jessie hadn't technically told her, but she did have some very bad nightmares about him when they were in Oz. Elphaba had seen them, but never brought it up. She knew Jessie would tell her about it when she was ready. She looked up at Andrea after she calmed down. "Is there something you're trying to hint at, Andrea? I'm not very good with subtlety."
Andrea was actually surprised that Elphaba knew. However, she still intended to warn her. "I don't want you to get dragged down with her. Jessie's actions are brash, irrational, and illogical. Not only that, she could be playing with your emotions unwillingly. She was quite fond of Tarek, and had never mentioned being interested in women, not even to the Lieutenant. I don't know what's happened in these three years, but unless she's gotten counseling she is volatile and a danger to herself and by association you."
Elphaba glared at Andrea when she heard that. She honestly didn't know how someone so stupid could be a psychiatrist. The temptation to slap the taste out of her mouth was becoming greater with each passing second. The last comment put a dark look in Elphaba's eyes and a hint of a smirk on her face. Outside thunder clouds began to roll in and the deep boom of thunder could be heard easily. Elphaba's voice was ice when she spoke. "Perhaps you are the one who needs to see a doctor. You obviously are blind to who my wife really is. On her earth she is a multi-millionaire who lives in a dump because she gives all of her money away to shelters and orphanages. She wouldn't hurt a fly unless it threatened her family." Her smirk grew slowly, "If you really want to see volatile then you should keep speaking negatively about my wife." Elphie was angry enough that you could feel the electricity inside the house as well as outside.
Sonya stepped into the house, she knew Andrea and Elphaba were inside. "The weather's odd today. That's the second time it's been thundering and storm clouds pop up in a clear blue sky." She said, before turning around. She saw the anger in Elphaba's body language and turned on Andrea. "What the hell did you say Andrea?"
Andrea was actually feeling a little nervous, but relaxed when Sonya stepped in. "I was just telling her about Tarek and Jessie's past." She said casually.
Sonya stared at her like she had grown a second head. "Why?"
"She's got a right to know Sonya. You know as well as I do how dangerous Jessie can be." Andrea said.
Sonya laughed at that. "Jess? She's a teddy bear!" She paused a beat. "Unless you fuck with me or someone she loves." She added.
Andrea was about to speak when Elphaba leveled another glare at her. Sonya stepped between them and looked at Elphaba. "You know the truth and that's all that matters."
Elphaba looked at Sonya. She nodded her head after a moment and walked back outside. The clouds and thunder slowly went away as she got further from Andrea.
Andrea was about to follow after her and say something else. Sonya grabbed the top of her arm firmly and kept her from going outside. "My house, my rules. You aren't anyone's doc here Andrea. If you can't speak like a normal human being instead of a shrink then don't talk at all. I respect your dad to much to kick you out, but if you push either Jess or Elphaba again...I won't hesitate." Sonya let her arm go before walking back outside to re-join the party.