NOT FADE AWAY

By: Sage360

Disclaimer: M-X, Don't Own Em. Enjoy!

Hey! Sorry for the delay, but life calls. I've been thinking on this chapter for awhile, only because there's two possible directions this could go in. So, bear with me as I end this one. Let me know what you think.

Note: I know this is weird, but I've always thought Jesse would have shoulder length hair. It's how I wrote him in other stories, but for the sake of this chapter (More importantly, this scene), the long locks are back. Oh Yeah!

CLEARING TABLES

Most people figured Jesse the weaker of the team. He was good natured, rational and almost- ALMOST- maternal in his protection of the team. His quiet gave way to speculation, and wonder. But, never was there the intensity that followed his counter-part, Brennan. Truth is, the masses always mistake kindness for weakness. Jesse was in fact one of the stronger members of the team. His ability to phase and mass made him nearly invincible. And if possessing the fluid agility of either the elemental or feral, he most certainly would be Mutant X's primary force. Yet, the man had an honest understanding of his position. He was a calm protector, more stable than any of his team mates, thus his nickname - Rocky. But that night, all boundaries and rationale had left him. With eyes glowing beneath errant strands of blonde in his face, the molecular's tall form began a slow pace through the crowd.

No one had a clue as to how reckless he was.

Even more so, his beauty was taken for granted. Next to a six foot five elemental, the molecular's six-foot frame would seem non- existent. But not that night. Normally under the construction of designer threads, his muscular form breathed easier in the black wife-beater. The surprisingly thick construction of muscle made him seem a little too comfortable in his skin. Women couldn't help but notice. Running a hand through his gold locks, he eyed the crowd quietly. She was there somewhere...

What most failed to recognize was his persistence. When some could only see their perspective of a situation, he got the full overview. That was the basis for continuing to pursue Lexa. Her attempts to stay withdrawn from the team had left him concerned -at first.

Moving through the crowd, and smiling off 'innocent' advances, he was only looking for her. In that instant when they'd barely danced, the interaction left a deafening heat on his skin. She'd recognized then embraced him, knowing exactly what was happening -more importantly, whom she was with. It was all the motivation he needed, and kept him moving. He could sense her by then.

For someone so guarded, she lost herself easily. Within, the tightly knit crowd, she moved, barely slipping past the boundaries for male eyes. As music roared in her ears, the brunette swayed, unaware of his searching gaze. Large hands paused her, causing the woman to turn and finally face him. Something seemed dangerous about the man underneath the tumbling lights. Whether it was the angles of his face, or the very curl of his lips, his details unsettled her in the most intimate ways. Pulling her close, Jesse made no apologies.

She tried to pull away, for fear of hurting him again, but what stared back at her wasn't the broken heart from days before. In fact, this 'Jesse' was -stronger. Holding the woman against him, blonde edges of his hair spilled forward, tangling into her own hair. Nails dug into his forearms, awakening both to the impending moment. It was a slow torture one put on the other. With lips moments apart, hands curved over her hips, pulling them into the music. They more so inhaled each other, taking in the various scents. Sweat, perfume, heat- all collided between the moving bodies, making him hungry and her light- headed. It was their silence amidst the roaring crowd.

She hadn't realized he was pulling her along till they where halfway up the stairs. Jesse made sure to keep an arm around her, forcing people to walk around them. He led her past the masses, and into the darker recesses of the club. Still screaming with sound, the lights gave way, fading into a dark gold. Here, they were alone- which terrified her. Again, he encircled her, moving slowly against music. Lexa needed time to give in, and slowly inched into relaxing against him. He knew it would be this way. She'd made an art of covering her feelings, but never a thought as to dealing with them. This moment scarred her to the point of trembling. Wanting to ease her fear, lips brushed her cheek. It was all he could do- and all she needed to let go.

What at first was concern, became slow desire. His touch on the soft skin meant only to reassure her. But when she finally relaxed and managed enough nerve to return the kiss, walls as she knew them tumbled. If he moved, she followed and eventually walking backwards, thighs brushed against the edges of a nearby table. Absently he lifted the woman, spreading her slowly along its wood. Her fingers grasped into his hair, causing gold rain to fall in her face. Desperate lips and hands swarmed, removing their clothes. Lexa watched the man above her, not believing her heart actually opened to him. Between whispers and promises, he made sure to hold her, only going where she chose to take them. Blue eyes crossed paths, taking one another in and not quite believing how beautiful the other was. Lexa gave fate one more chance to stop its cruel joke. She could feel Jesse, even taste him, but her mind couldn't quite register his presence. Doing the only thing she could, the woman closed her eyes, her only admittance, an 'I love you' whispered when he finally entered. Jesse smiled down at the woman, embracing her with everything he had. Tormented by hunger, they made love, oblivious to the partying crowd only moments away.