Chapter 4

Legal disclaimers-Hey, don't own, just have this little corner of the driveway...

Author's Note-So, you guys like. Great. Did I mention it's gonna get darker? Questions been asked, so I'll answer it. Lexa is coming, you'll see...evil laugh. Laily, I know, just let me know if you're gonna put me somewhere, as you see, I signed up and everything.

Please, review, let me know what ya think...

The cityscape of Washington faded from view as Emma Kilmartin stared out the window of Shalimar's car. Jesse had put her in the car with the feral knowing that they had years to catch up on, but the awkward silence was hard to deal with.

"Married," Shalimar said after a few moments of silence, "I never thought you the marrying type."

"Me neither, but, it was right," Emma admitted, "He's truly the best I could have asked for."

Talking about Jesse had broken the ice. She and Shalimar did start to catch up, seeming just like they had put the needle down on an old record. She looked in the rear view mirror. Jesse had chosen their hybrid SUV, knowing it might be needed for whatever terrain they were heading for. He drove behind them, paying more attention to the road then the car in front of him. He was doing some heavy thinking, she knew that from the long trips he took with the Presidential detail and the look he gave her from his spot. Even though she knew that he didn't posses any psychic abilities, their closeness told her everything. They could read each other like a book.

That was the side effect of living with an empath. You never could hide your emotions, ever. You learn to build walls so that you don't read the other person every single moment of the day, but when they are really hurting, you have to have those walls so that they don't hurt you as well. Jesse realized this the moment he put Emma in Shalimar's car, he needed the time to build up his wall.

She waved at him. Jesse noticed her watching him and smiled, putting his hand out the window, and flashed three numbers from his outstretched hand. One, Four and Three. Emma waved and flashed two fingers back at him twice. The first sequence he flashed simply meant, I love you, her reply was me too. The smile had faded, and his look had gone back to the zen of driving, as he liked to call it.

Emma had seen the look. He really didn't want to hurt her, but he was struggling with his emotions over seeing Shalimar again, the thought of Adam alive and the people he was about to face. Driving for him was a way to cope with it, he could work out all the emotions he needed to and be calm when they reached their destination. When they had first gotten back together, he had taken many long drives without her, just so he could gather some of his own control. He loved her more than he liked to ever admit, and felt that they truly completed each other.

Those controls were trying desperately to kick into place. When Adam had left the first time, he found he could control his emotions by just asking questions and spending long nights working off stress in the dojo. When Adam left the second time, he felt so lost. He tried to hold them together, but between Lexa's ties to other places, Brennan's need to run things and Shalimar not knowing which way to turn, he felt their staying together was hopeless.

They turned onto the interstate highway, the traffic thinning out and Jesse switched the stereo on. The radio blared classic rock and started to settle his nerves. It always seemed that no matter what horrible mood he dropped into, usually songs from the 70's and 80's could pull him out of it. Maybe it was too many years in clubs had dulled his taste for the pop of now, but he needed some music that had lyrics and a story to go with them.

Shalimar turned off at a desolate exit and drove along a forested road. Emma had kept the window down, breathing in the beginning of a cool nights air.

"It's so beautiful out here," Emma commented, "The air is so clean. Where on earth did you guys find it?"

"Believe it or not," Shalimar began, slowing down till she saw Jesse pull up behind them, "Brennan found it through a job he had. I loved this drive and told him that we had to move here, even if we didn't like the house."

Emma laughed. That was so typical of Shalimar. She had to have the control over where they lived, but it had to have nature, or she wouldn't have any part of it. They continued down the forested road and turned off onto a dirt driveway.

"We're here," Shalimar announced, pulling in, "Just wait till you see it."

In the twilight, Emma could tell the house was one of the older homes that you only hear about in auctions. Two story, colonial from the old days, and it had the look like they were in the stages of fixing it up. Shalimar had explained to Emma that while Brennan was making a good amount of money teaching kids martial arts, he also had made their house a place where they both could work and have a life together. They also housed mutants in need, so that everyone was welcome. Emma and Jesse would not have to worry about a room; the house was big enough for a basketball team. They had considered turning it into a bed and breakfast when they were completely done with it.

Jesse drove in behind them, his appreciation of the house growing. His file on Brennan and Shalimar included the actual location of the house and a picture, but the picture did not do it justice. It was still in renovation, but it was gorgeous. Jesse parked and got out of the SUV, pulling Emma and his bags out of the car quickly. Shalimar parked and got out, key in hand to open the door. They followed her inside.

The house entered into a huge great room, a large fireplace on one wall, stairs leading down from the upstairs level in front of them and seating all over the room. Instantly it reminded Jesse of the large spaces in Sanctuary.

"Brennan?" she yelled, popping her keys on the hook next to the door, "I'm home."

"I figured, I heard you drive up," Brennan said coming down the stairs from above them, his back to the small group, "You talk to Jesse?"

Jesse put the suitcases down and took Emma's hand. It was shaking. He winked at her.

"Sure did," Jesse said, a laugh hiding in his voice.

Brennan turned at the bottom of the stairs. His joy of seeing Jesse was only echoed by the shock of seeing the woman next to him.

"Emma?" he whispered.

Emma shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. Brennan ran across the great room and pulled her into a bear hug. Emma started to laugh and stopped as Brennan took her face in his hands.

"I thought you were dead," he said, stunned, "I know that this is a huge story. I just want to hug you again."

He did, and Jesse smiled at Shalimar. It was good to feel like he was with family again. Emma laughed again, then coughed.

"Bren, I'm glad to see you again, but I need a second to breathe," she said, pushing him back playfully, "Besides, you didn't hug Jesse like this."

"Just wait," Brennan gave her a devilish look and turned to his friend.

"Hey," Jesse said, putting his hand out.

"What's this handshake crap?" Brennan replied, bear hugging Jesse, "God, I have missed you, bro."

Jesse returned the hug, laughing as well.

"Me too," Jesse's voice was a near whisper, "You don't know how much I have missed you."

Brennan stood back from their hug and looked into Jesse's eyes. The old bond was still there. He knew just from the look that he had his brother back.

"I want to know everything, but I just made a room for you guys upstairs, take a second and settle in, I've started dinner," Brennan grinned, "Hope you like Italian."

Brennan's pasta was a favored treat from their old days at Sanctuary. The mere thought of Brennan's meatballs made Jesse's mouth water. He also realized that he was starving.

"That sounds perfect," Jesse laughed, "And it's weird to see you so domestic."

"I've trained him well," Shalimar grinned as Brennan grabbed the bags and headed upstairs, "I'll go stir the sauce."

"Thanks babe," Brennan grabbed Jesse by the shoulder, "Let me show you where you guys are."

Shalimar and Emma headed into the large kitchen that was just off the great room while the other two headed upstairs. Brennan led Jesse into a large bedroom with a sitting room and a bathroom. Even in the dying light it was a beautiful room and like nothing that Jesse had expected.

"This is amazing," he said, putting his suitcase down, "I can't believe this house. It's so you."

"Thanks," Brennan replied, "A lot of hard work went into it, but I have to admit I love it. How have you been?"

"Busy, very busy," Jesse replied, meeting the look that Brennan gave him, "I'm sorry I have been so horrible at contacting you guys, I just..."

"Man, it's forgiven," Brennan began, "You were keeping Emma safe. That's explanation enough. How is she though? My god it's so amazing to see her. I mean where, when?"

Jesse sat on the edge of the bed while Brennan settled into a chair across from him.

"My new job had me checking on mutants in the witness protection program," Jesse began, "I knocked on her door and well, after we recovered from the shock, I brought her back to DC. We were married three months later."

"Married?" Brennan was stunned, "I never thought you were the type."

Jesse continued, rubbing his eyes. While the drive had calmed him down, his lack of sleep was catching up with him.

"Yeah, I know. It was the right time and the right place, she's an amazing woman and I am the better for it. That was three years ago," he watched as Brennan put the timing together, "We needed the time to put our lives together."

"Gotya," Brennan replied, "She okay?"

"Seems to be," Jesse resisted every urge that came over him to lie down on the bed and go to sleep, "She works at a bookstore in Georgetown while I work for the Secret Service."

"You're a G Man?" Brennan smiled, "I thought we hated those guys."

"Nah, these guys are actually pretty cool," he stifled a yawn, "I'm on the Presidential detail."

Brennan stopped and stared at him. The Jesse he knew wasn't political and the thought of him being in government work made sense, but it was still hard to swallow. Presidential detail meant that he was way up in the Service, let alone just a simple bodyguard. Jesse had followed Adam into the world of serious connections. Something wasn't right with his body language, though.

"What, you're surprised?" Jesse watched the reaction with a guarded look, "God, between you and Shalimar you're acting like I'm working for Genomax or something. This is a great job."

"Just amazed at how time has changed us all, marriage and work. Shal and I have a school that's doing well, you guys are married, but Jesse, you're not happy," Brennan noted, "What the hell is eating you?"

"Stress," Jesse's one word reply was followed by the rumbling of his stomach.

"and hunger it seems," Brennan got up and put a hand out for Jesse to get up, "Come on, let's go eat and see about getting your stress out afterward, I even built a dojo here in the basement."

Jesse took a second and sighed. Food was the best idea. He let Brennan help him up and headed downstairs to a good meal with old friends.