Chapter 36

"They're not picking up." Matt slammed the phone down on the table frustrated. "I can't believe you didn't try to talk some sense into them, Shan. How could you just let them go?"

"I did try to talk him out of it but Jeff wouldn't listen. He was adamant about getting Jess away from all this, at least for a little while. I figured the best thing to do was just go along with it."

"And not telling me about it? Was that his idea too?"

"He knew you'd give them a problem with going and you could probably be able to talk Jess out of it." Shannon explained.

"Well at least one of them would have been smart. How could he be so stupid? They're out there alone with no protection. There's no one to look out for them."

"I'm sure they'll be fine besides if anything did happen, Jeff's resourceful. He can handle it."

"Did he say anything about where they were going?" Matt asked.

"Look, it's all ready done." Shannon said ignoring the question. "There's no point in getting any angrier about it."

"Well I haven't got anything better to do." Matt grumbled. There was silence for a moment where both men stared at one another. "So, what are you here for babysitting?"

"It will feel like it if all you're going to do is sulk. You can't be alone; Jeff realized that and asked me to cover for a little bit. At least until Amy comes over then I'll get out of your hair."

"Look I'm sorry man. I shouldn't take in out on you." Matt said. "I'm just pissed that they would go off and do something like this."

"Angry or jealous?"

"I'm not gonna lie, I would definitely rather be out there than stuck in this chair but I'm more worried than anything else. I just thought Jeff had matured in all of this but he hasn't. He's still going off without worrying about any consequences."

"Is that so bad? Don't get mad but I don't think I agree with you. I think Jeff did think it over, a lot. He had a clear plan. He knew that Jess being around all of this was making it harder on her. Everything he does is for her and for her well being. He is not going to put her at risk." Shannon was going to continue but a knock at the door ended the conversation. He got up and opened the door expecting to see Amy but instead saw Nick Miller standing in front of him with a female agent.

"Shannon." Miller nodded as he entered the house. "How's everything going?"

"Fine." Shannon responded. "We weren't expecting to see you today."

"Well I think I've given Jess enough time to absorb everything. I really need to question her now that she's settled."

"Funny you should say that." Shannon looked to Matt.

"Why what's going on?"

"Jessica and Jeff aren't here right now." Matt told him. "They went camping."

"What? Where?"

"You see the thing is we don't know where." Matt answered.

"Wait, you mean to tell me they went off somewhere, without any type of protection?"

"They have each other." Shannon said. Miller ignored him and focused his anger on Matt.

"And you just let them? I don't believe this! Why would you do that?" Miller shouted at him.

"It wasn't like I was given a choice. I didn't know. They snuck out early this morning before I woke up. Trust me I'm not happy about this either."

"What is she doing here?" Amy demanded walking into the house seeing Agent Taylor.

"Agent Taylor is part of my team." Miller said.

"You didn't kick her off?"

"It's not his place." Mellissa said.

"If you don't mind we have other problems to deal with." Miller stood between the two glaring women. "Did you know Jessica and Jeff were leaving?"

"He called me this morning and asked if I could come over and stay with Matt." Amy admitted.

"You let him?" Matt looked at her angrily.

"What was I supposed to do? It's not like you can tell him no."

"You should have called me. I would have."

"How, were you going to hop after the car? Come on Matt, Jeff had his mind made up and I think he's right. It's a good idea for them to get away; clear their heads. With everything going on and after Jess' breakdown they both need it."

"Am I the only one who remembers that they're in danger? There is someone out there who tried to kill her, who tried to kill Matt and their solutions is let's go camping?" Miller continued to yell. He pulled Amy over to Shannon. "Now you two seem to know the most. So tell me, where are they?"

"I don't know." Amy said.

"Jeff wouldn't say where they were going. Just that he wanted to make sure we were here for Matt. He got Shane to look after the work on the house and that was it." Shannon added. He knew where they were headed. Jeff wouldn't just disappear but there was no way he was going to tell anyone. He had been sworn to secrecy.

"Really, so which one of you did he tell how to reach him? Even Jeff wouldn't leave without a way for you to contact him in case of an emergency. What about Jessica? Amy, you're her best friend right? Wouldn't she tell you?"

"Sorry Nick. He was surprising Jess and I didn't ask." Amy said.

"So you would let them go out alone?"

"They're not alone." Amy admitted.

"Jeff took someone else with them?"

"Not exactly. They don't know." Everyone looked at her. "Look after everything went down yesterday, I was freaked out so I called Stephanie to get some advice. Somehow, we got to talking about her father appearing and that's where Stephanie told me about New York. Jessica's party wasn't the first time he tried to talk to her."

"What happened?" Matt asked.

"Apparently he tried to approach her when we were there. Steph didn't know who he was, but she could tell we were being followed. She called her dad and the next thing she knew two of Vince's body guards appeared to escort him out. Steph confronted Vince who confirmed that even though Jess wanted him out of her life, he had sent two of his guys to watch out and keep her safe."

"Why not just tell them?" Taylor asked.

"He was afraid Jess would tell him to butt out which you know she would. Steph says he still cares." Amy explained.

"Why am I just finding out about this now?" Miller demanded.

"I only found out last night."

"I didn't mean you. I've interviewed both Stephanie and Vince, neither one said anything about this. Come to think of it, none of you said anything about Jess' father either."

"With the crash I get it kind of slipped our minds." Matt said.

"Is there anything else anyone is holding back from me? What else don't I know?" Miller asked. He noticed Taylor grinning and he shot her a dirty look. "I want you to go back to the McMahons. Talk to them again and find out anything you can. I want to know who he has 'protecting' them and what they know about Jess' father."

"Fine." Taylor said but she continued to stand there.

"You can leave." Miller told him. She looked like she wanted to say something but after her talking to with Stu she knew better and left the house. Miller sat down on the chair next to Matt. "What do you know about him?"

"Not much. Jess never talked about him. She didn't really talk about any of her childhood, just that he left when she was like ten and she never saw him again."

"Until the other night." Nick answered for him.

"Yea, but not the first time he saw her." Amy reminded them.

"Did any of you speak to him?"

"I did briefly." Matt said. "Jess did most of the talking then she took off."

"How long did after did he leave?" Miller asked.

"Almost right after. Adam and I escorted him off grounds." Shannon said.

"Did he seem angry with the way things went?"

"Jess gave him hell but when he left he seemed more upset than anything. He kept saying he was only trying to make things right then he left."

"Wait do you think Jess' dad has something to do with all this?" Matt asked.

"I'm not ruling anything out. We don't know how long he's been trying to reach her or even why."

"Yea well she didn't give him much time to explain himself. Plus after the accident Jess didn't even mention him." Matt said.

"Maybe with the concussion she forgot he was there." Shannon said.

"Knowing Jess, it's more likely she was trying to forget he was there." Matt pointed out. "Not that it matters right now because we can't speak to them."

"All right stop whining." Amy told him. "It's done. Besides it's probably better they're not here."

"Why's that?" Matt asked.

"Because it's time for you to start using the crutches and you don't want anyone around to laugh at you when you fall and bust your ass." Amy laughed.

"Wait I thought they were sending someone over for that? You know a sexy little nurse or something?"

"Sorry, you get me."

"It'll have to do." Miller heard their banter and grew angry.

"Damn it! Why is everything all fun and games with you guys? This is some serious shit going on and all you can do is joke around while the other two go off on a little mini vacation! What is wrong with you people?" Everyone stopped stunned by Miller's outburst. He stared at them one by one.

"You know maybe what everyone's been saying is right. I'm too nice with you guys too casual. I spent yesterday getting my ass chewed off for doing you guys' favors, for getting Jessica out of the hospital, for not questioning her immediately like I'm supposed to. How do you guys repay me? By treating this all like it's some kind of joke?"

"Nick, calm down." Matt said finally speaking up.

"This is unbelievable. You are all unbelievable. You know what? I gotta get out of here. Find your brother, find Jessica and tell them to get back here now." Miller stormed out of the house.

"Well that went well." Shannon said and Matt shot him a look. "What?"

"Call Jeff."

"And tell him what? Miller's on a rampage and wants them to come home so he could yell at them too? I'm sure that will make him come running."

"Shannon, let him know what's going on."

"I'll try." Shannon said. He went into the kitchen leaving Matt and Amy alone.

"You okay?" She asked him.

"Yea. Do you think he'll reach them?"

"He will but it won't make a difference. Jess was losing it; she needed to get away. Jeff knew that and he's gonna give it to her."

"Shan could tell them we had another attack. Then they'd come back." Matt suggested.

Amy gave him a stern look. "You would do that to them?" She asked.

"No I couldn't. It would crush her."

"They're going to be fine you know."

"Huh?"

"I don't know what Miller's problem is but I know yours." She took his hand. "You're worried about them. When they're with you, you feel like you can protect but they're not. If anything happens to them now, you won't be able to help and that scares you."

"You're right." Matt admitted. "So what do I do?"

"You accept it. Sooner or later they were going to have to handle things themselves."

"So what do I do now?"

"You let the two lovebirds have their fun. Then you grab the crutches and get off of your lazy ass." Amy smiled and he laughed.

"All right, go give them to me. I'll give it a shot but no laughing."

"Who me?" She gave him another smile before running off to fetch the crutches.