"...Jesse?"

"Open the door, we're going to be late..."

His feet were numb. Jesse opened one eye and quickly closed it again. He mumbled to himself as he tried again, this time blinking both eyes open and looking around the ceiling of his apartment. Was someone calling him? More importantly, what was he doing on the kitchen floor?

"Jesse, I'm counting to ten..."

Jesse ran a hot and sweaty hand over his face, which was in the same condition. Man it was hot. He could feel the sweat evaporating off his bare arms and shoulders. Jesse looked down at his feet in curiosity and was surprised to find them resting on the bottom shelf of his open refrigerator. That explained some things.

"Five..."

Jesse pulled his bare feet to the floor as he struggled to get up. With the support from his legs removed, the refrigerator door gently closed itself and the motor worked at chilling the interior. Jesse stumbled when his foot bent awkwardly under him and grabbed the counter for support.

"Two..."

"I'm coming!" he yelled in frustration. He managed to snag a T-shirt from the floor before hobbling across the living room to the door. Jesse cursed to himself as he stumbled once again and fell against the front door.

"Jesse?"

He unlocked the door and quickly opened it. Amanda stood in the doorway, eyeing him quizzically and making Jesse feel modest under her scrutiny. He pulled the thin T-shirt over his head and asked, "What?"

"Don't take that tone with me young man," Amanda began in her 'mother' tone. "Didn't I tell you to leave your phone on?"

Jesse patted his pockets and looked at the floor for a moment in concentration. The phone was on, wasn't it? He pulled out the small cell phone and flipped the cover open. The battery was dead. "I-"

"I don't want to hear it," Amanda interrupted but Jesse knew she wasn't really mad. "Are you going out dressed like that?" She folded her arms.

Jesse held his hands out and looked down at himself. "What's wrong with-"

"Nothing, if the new look is imitating the geriatric patients."

So his clothes were a little wrinkled. This might take a while. He sighed. "Come in. Have a seat while you wait. Mom." He turned and ducked his head belatedly after Amanda smacked him from behind.

"Brat," she muttered and followed him into the living room.

He went in his bedroom and grabbed the bottle of liquid wrinkle releaser off his wooden dresser. When he was sure she couldn't see him, Jesse sprayed the product liberally to his clothing before setting it down and stretching the fabric. He would have to invest stock in this stuff. Jesse grinned as he thought about how his 'lazy way out' would annoy Amanda. He loved teasing her. He grabbed his comb and ran it over the top of his head once before tossing it back on the dresser and returning to the living room. "Okay, let's go," he said as he bent to pull on his sneakers.

Amanda studied him. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Men."

"Women," he retorted just because he knew she would smile.

She rolled her eyes again and followed him out the door. "How do you stand this heat?" she asked as he shut and locked the door.

"I don't," he replied, wiping the fine sheen of sweat from under his eyes. "I spend all my time at other people's houses."

They walked down the stuffy hallway towards the elevator. "At least you won't have an electricity bill, right?"

"I'd rather have the air conditioning."

"Me too."

Downstairs, the men from the repair company were still carrying tools from their van to the basement and back again. They looked very hot, tired, and pissed. The large man from earlier glared at Jesse, making the doctor feel as small as he really was. Inwardly, Jesse cursed his genetics.

The ride to Mark's house was pleasant and comfortable. When they weren't discussing the latest news in medical research, Jesse and Amanda were content to simply listen to the radio and enjoy each other's companionship. The car rode smoothly over the familiar two lane highway that stretched alongside the ocean. Outside, the sun shone brightly through clear skies. Evening was approaching but the season had stretched the daylight hours to their maximum. Jesse absolutely loved the summertime.

Unless the air conditioner was broken.

"Has Steve talked to you about his new case?" Amanda asked, breaking the silence.

Jesse tried to remember. "The homophobic thing? Yeah, he wanted to talk to the guy who came in earlier. Said this was the first survivor."

"It's so sad. I've had four bodies in the past couple weeks. It's just awful what's been done to them."

Jesse's stomach gurgled quietly. Had it really been that long since he ate something? "Yeah, but they'll catch the guy now that Steve's on the case."

Amanda smiled as she turned the car onto the road leading to Mark's house. "You got that right," she agreed. "Maybe we'll get to help out too."

Jesse grinned as they eyed each other. Amanda seemed to be competitive by nature and Jesse's long years spent fighting for his mother's attention made him a worthy competitor for her. Whenever possible, they fought each other for the clue that would crack the case with a gentleness that would put some siblings to shame.

As the car drove closer to the large, welcoming house, Jesse looked out to the ocean. The tides pulsed against the shore in a steady, hypnotic beat and the wave crests glistened in the sun as they broke. The clean, smooth sand stretched beyond the realm of the naked eye, littered only by sun-bleached driftwood. This was the scenery that defined California. This was why Jesse loved it so much.

"Waves calling to you?" Amanda asked gently, the way you speak when you don't want to ruin the moment.

"Always," Jesse replied. "I'm just glad Mark let me leave my board here last time."

Amanda steered the car along the Sloan driveway then parked. "He knows you've got surfer blood running through your veins."

Jesse grinned as they got out of the car. "And proud of it!"

He followed Amanda to the heavy front door of the Sloan's house. She stopped on the front step and rang the doorbell, then took a step back to wait. Jesse rolled his eyes. "Oh come on," he said as he brushed past her and opened the door, letting himself in.

"Jesse!" Amanda scolded, but followed.

"What? He knows we're coming."

"Where I come from you don't just let yourself into someone's home!"

"This isn't 'someone's' home Amanda, it's Mark and Steve's home. They don't care."

Jesse continued towards the kitchen and only half-listened to Amanda mumbling about five-year-olds behind him. "Hello!" Jesse announced as he rounded the corner to the large, bright kitchen. "We're here!" There, that was fair warning.

Mark looked up from a large mixing bowl on the counter, salad tongs in hand. "Hey Amanda, I was just about to call you but I guess I forgot that Jesse can smell my cooking from across town."

"Sorry Mark, he pulled the leash right out of my hands."

Jesse ignored the ribbing and felt his stomach gurgle again when he realized just how appetizing the food smelled. It was lasagna, and it was one of Jesse's favorites. He would be forever indebted to Mark Sloan for the free homemade meals alone. Certainly beat Hot Pockets. He took a seat on the bar stool opposite from Mark and tried not to act like his stomach was eating his abdomen from the inside. "Is Steve here yet?"

Amanda took a seat at the pre-set dinning room table as Mark replied, "He called a few minutes ago to tell me he was on his way. Didn't sound too happy though, I'm a little worried."

"Maybe I just need to kick his butt on the Playstation later," Jesse thought out loud.

Mark smiled. "There'll be plenty of time for you kids to play after dinner," he teased.

Jesse set his elbow on the counter and rest his head in his hand as he looked out the glass patio doors. The sun was slowly sinking into the horizon, taking the edge off the searing heat outside. Each wave that crashed to shore seemed to have his name on it. Jesse made up his mind to get out there tonight. With a sigh, he turned his attention back to Mark as the older doctor pulled the steaming pan of lasagna from the hot oven.

"Jesse, stop drooling and have a seat over here," Amanda said.

Jesse swallowed. "I'm not drooling," he argued mutely. Obediently, he crossed the room and sat beside Amanda.

Just as Mark placed the seemingly heavy pan on top of two potholders that had been strategically placed on the table, the front door closed and keys jingled as they were hung on a wall hook. "Hello?" Steve's voice sounded from the foyer.

"In here son," Mark called as he straightened. Steve rounded the corner and the dinning room's occupants smiled in greeting. "Perfect timing."

"Sorry I'm late," Steve sighed as he headed to the kitchen sink to wash his hands. "There's been some developments in the case."

"Grab the plates," Mark said quickly after he sat in his chair at the head of the table. "So you've found out who's responsible?"

Steve carried the stack of four thick plates to the table and took his seat. "We've had our suspicions and after talking to the guy Jesse treated today, they were confirmed."

Jesse found himself under light scrutiny for a moment and he had the good graces to smile and look down. His stomach was about ready to climb up his esophagus and help itself to the dinner. Curse his metabolism anyway.

Steve continued as Mark began serving the steaming food. "Since the homicides are so brightly in the media's spotlight, the chief wants to make sure there is no way these guys can get off the hook."

"Playing your hero status?" Amanda questioned. "Give the precinct a popularity boost?"

Jesse watched numbly as Mark passed a plate to Amanda. Steve took a drink from the glass of water before him. "I hear the plans for a new forensics lab is up for debate with the city."

"So catch the bad guys and you get the grandeur and the favoritism and hopefully, a new crime lab," Mark concluded, handing a full plate to Jesse.

Steve sighed. "Something like that." He accepted the plate from his father and set it on the table in front of him.

Jesse let the conversation carry on around him as he concentrated in replenishing his energy and calming the pain in his stomach. He always thought better on a full stomach anyway. Mark offered him the bowl of salad but Jesse refused on the grounds that lettuce was rabbit food.

"So how does this involve you?" Mark asked with a dreadful tone as he handed the bowl to Amanda.

"They're sending me undercover to infiltrate the terrorist group." He sighed. "I leave tomorrow morning."

"Oh Steve," Amanda breathed as she placed her hand over the detective's.

Mark looked at his plate for a moment longer. "How long?"

Jesse set his hand and mouth for autopilot so he could participate in the conversation. He looked at Steve and noticed for the first time tonight how disappointed the older man really looked.

"Not long," Steve replied as he ate his first bite of the dinner. "These guys are homophobes, not geniuses. Most of the work is already done. A week, tops."

Jesse sighed quietly when he felt the air change to that of disappointment. Steve had become the bigger brother he had always wished for when the playground bullies got too rough, and the best friend that always agreed to his mischievous stunts, no matter what the price. Jesse was sure he could manage one week... seven days... 168 hours without that close friendship. He had managed all his life, hadn't he?

"Wait a minute- what about Bob's?" Jesse interrupted his own thought, and managed to surprise his companions. "You're not gonna make me work every night this week by myself, are you?"

Steve smiled for the first time that evening as he met Jesse's gaze. "Of course not. The place would burn down." Jesse's jaw dropped but before he could retort, Steve continued, "Part of my cover is that I manage BBQ Bob's. Looks like you're stuck with me, partner."

Jesse relaxed. He loved that restaurant, but it thrived on the partnership between Steve and himself and Jesse knew he wouldn't be the only one who felt the loss if Steve were forced to leave. Once that fear was calmed, he resumed eating with a more peaceful state of mind.

"You won't be able to come home at all?" Mark asked, turning the conversation to a more serious note once again.

"If anything were to turn sour, I don't want you anywhere near me," Steve explained. "I won't put you in danger."

Jesse cleaned his plate and helped himself to seconds unnoticed.

"At least swing by the hospital once in a while so I can see you," Mark replied.

"I think I can manage that," Steve said with a small smile. "I'm a big boy dad, I can look after myself," he added to appease his father. "Unlike dork-boy over there who still has his name on his underwear."

Jesse looked up sharply. His eyes narrowed and a hand went to the waistband of his boxers. "It was you!"

The table erupted in laughter. Jesse remember the night at the new restaurant when a customer asked to see their drink menu. Slightly embarrassed but mostly apologetic, Jesse had told the guy that such a menu hadn't come into existence yet. The customer waved it off and happily ordered a beer, but after closing that night, Jesse approached Steve. Neither of them had much experience with what Jesse dubbed 'fancy drinks' so the two had experimented in the dim back room long into the night, writing down their successes and still enjoying the buzz from the failures. It was one of the best nights of Jesse's life, and as much as he felt a stronger bond with Steve the next day, he was also largely perplexed as to who had inscribed his name onto the waistband of his boxers. Now, the answer to that mystery sat across from him in a fit of hysterics.

"Hey, it was payback for hauling your sorry carcass home that night," Steve laughed as he struggled for breath.

"And just how did we get home, detective?" Jesse prompted, smirking evilly at Steve before glancing to Mark.

When Steve narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw, Mark spoke up. "Steve, I believe Dr. Travis asked you a question."

"You are so dead."

Blue eyes met blue as Jesse and Steve stared at each other tensely. "Uh, boys..." Amanda's voice broke, like the moment you realize something bad is going to happen.

Jesse shoveled the last forkful of lasagna in his mouth before exploding from the chair and leading Steve on a chase through the large house. Jesse was gone before his fork hit the plate and Mark and Amanda were left to finish their dinner in silence, punctuated by the occasional crash and yelp from somewhere in the house.

"They were meant for each other," Amanda mused.

Mark winced when a body hit the floor. "At least they provide good job security for me," he sighed.