A/N: this is it guys. The final chapter. Don't expect it to be all happiness because believe me- it won't be. Big thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed. Your encouragement helped! I know a lot of you won't like the way it ended, but there is a sequel in the pipeline, i.e. my head.
Note: play something sad while you read this. I recommend 'Stigmatized' by The Calling or 'Angel' by Sarah Mc Lachlan. Don't worry about the lyrics- just have that type of music pulling in the background. Enjoy it guys!
Chapter 6
Jesse stood in the doorway of Nicci's room, watching her pack her bag. "You're really going…" he said, after a few silent minutes.
Nicci sighed, stood up straight and turned to face him, "Yes, I'm really going."
She turned back to her backpack.
"I don't want you to go." he murmured.
"Jesse, we've been through this. I have to."
"But why?"
"Will you listen to yourself? You sound like a child."
"But can't you send someone?"
"Jesse, this is my sister!" Nicci turned to him, her exasperation clear on her face, "I am not about to let someone else do this! I can't trust anyone else to get there first. This way, if she's… if she's in trouble I'll only have myself to blame."
"But why alone? You know we'll help."
"NO!" Nicci threw her purse onto the bed as she moved around her room, "I need to do this myself."
"But Nicci-" Jesse began.
"Look Jesse…" Nicci turned to face him, "I'm going, and nothing you, or anyone else, can say is going to change that!"
Jesse turned and stormed out of the room and Nicci dropped onto the bed.
"Hey babes," Emma poked her head around the door, "Can I come in?" She walked into the room and dropped onto the bed without waiting for an answer. She watched Nicci for a while. "You almost ready?" she asked.
"Yeah, I think I have nearly everything." Nicci walked over and sat on the bed beside Emma, crossing her legs beneath her.
"I'm going to miss you…" Emma said eventually.
"Oh, don't get all teary-eyed!" Nicci joked.
"I'm serious… I'll miss you."
"I know... but it won't be for long… and I'll talk to you all the time…"
They sat in silence until Nicci spoke again, "I'm gonna' miss all of you, especially you and Shal."
Emma laughed, "The Three Musketeers…"
"Huh?" Nicci looked at her puzzled.
"It's nothing. It's just… Brennan has suddenly taken to calling us the 'The Three Musketeers."
Nicci laughed, "Yeah… I get it."
Silence fell again. "I'm gonna' leave you to pack," Emma got up and walked to the door, "Remember to say goodbye to everyone."
"I will…" Nicci replied as she left, "… I will." She stood up and finished pushing her stuff into her backpack. She swung it onto her shoulder and looked around the room. The photographs stuck on the wall caught her attention. She walked over and looked at them. Reaching up, she pulled three off.
The first: the whole group; Adam too.
The second: Shalimar, Nicci and Emma posing in the living room. Nicci smiled and muttered, "Three Musketeers."
She walked out of the room.
* * *
Nicci shifted her bag on her shoulder, took a deep breath and walked out into the wide garage. They were all there, waiting in silence; all except Jesse.
"Brennan," she stepped up to him and hugged him, "Tell squirt I'll miss him and I'll see him again soon." She released him and held his arms, murmuring, "Tell her."
"Yeah, I will…" he kissed her on the cheek, "I promise. I'll see you again soon."
She turned to Emma and Shalimar. They looked at each other until Nicci stretched her arms out, "Come here." They embraced and drew back, Emma's eyes beginning to water.
"Don't start!" Nicci exclaimed, "You'll start me off!"
"I know…" Emma replied.
"Look, I'll be back… I promise."
"We know," Shalimar told her, "We'll just miss you. What goods the Three Musketeer's with only two."
Nicci smiled, "I'll come back for a visit in six months if I haven't found her by then."
Shalimar smiled and nodded.
"Oh come here Shal," Nicci pulled them both back in.
Releasing them she walked to Adam, "Adam, you've given me everything I wanted. A home… a family. I feel safe here. Thank you for that."
Adam pulled her into a hug, "Just find her. Make her safe… give her the home she needs, the family she needs."
Nicci kissed him on the cheek and stepped back to look at them. She looked at the empty space beside Adam until Josh gently touched her arm, "We gotta go." Nicci nodded and, biting her lip, turned away.
She was halfway to her motorbike when she heard his voice, "WAIT!" She turned back to see him running to her.
"I've gotta ask you once more," he said, "Please don't go."
"Jesse…" Nicci began.
"I know, I know… you have to." He ran his hand over her cheek, "I'll miss you."
Nicci slid her hand round his neck and pulled him down to her height. They kissed as though they never wanted to part. Finally she released. "Goodbye Jesse," she whispered.
She turned, climbed onto her bike and tugged her helmet on. With one look back, she and Josh sped out through the entrance.
The team watched them go and, after a few seconds, Brennan walked over to Shalimar, slipped a comforting arm around her shoulders and whispered, "I need to talk to you when you're ready."
Adam put his arm on Emma's shoulder, "Are you okay?"
She nodded, her eyes never leaving Jesse, waiting for his reaction.
Adam walked back into the sanctuary.
Emma walked to Jesse and placed a hand on his back, "Jesse?"
He shook his head, "Yeah…"
"Come inside."
"Yeah."
He walked to the doorway and, hitting the close button, watched the garage entrance sliding shut, sealing off the sanctuary.
* * *
When they reached the outside of the city, Nicci stopped and pulled something out of her bag.
"What is it?" Josh asked, when he'd come back.
"Nothing…" Nicci ran her fingers over a photograph, "Nothing, I just wanted to look at this."
"Let's go." Josh revved up.
They sped off towards the border.
The third photograph: Nicci and Jesse snuggled up on the sofa watching a horror movie together.