"Why didn't you come to memorial?" his voice resonated throughout the room, causing her to jump in fright.
"Geez, do you have to sneak up on people like that?" Lexa snapped, trying to calm her pounding heart.
"Says the invisible woman," Jesse replied dryly.
Lexa rolled her eyes and turned back to the computer screen, ignoring the feeling of his piercing eyes focused coolly on her typing figure. "What?" she finally sighed in annoyance.
"I asked a question," Jesse pulled up a seat across from her, crossing his arms.
Lexa tapped her fingers on the desk, procrastinating. "I thought I wouldn't be welcome."
"Shal asked you to come," came the fast reply.
"Look Jesse. I shouldn't have been there," Lexa huffed, before becoming nearly sincere. "Adam and I didn't part on the best terms. My presence would have been an insult to his memory."
Jesse's expression softened at her solemn words, feeling the pain in her voice for the first time. Overcome with something, he saw himself reaching across the table and grasping her hand. Her fierce blue eyes met hers across the table as she raised her head in shock. Time stood still as electricity sparked at the touch. He saw, for a fleeting moment, past her walls, into her soul. In the next instant they were back up. They crashed back into reality and Lexa took her hand back, but without giving his one last tiny squeeze.
"I should go," Jesse stood, looking for any emotion in her eyes. Nothing. Just walls.
"Yeah," she agreed briskly, turning back to her work.
Jesse shook his head in disbelief and amusement. He turned quickly on his heel and strolled out. A few more steps and Brennan and Shalimar's voices could be heard.
"I just don't see her ever fitting in," Shalimar explained.
"You don't have to tell me," Brennan snorted. "I don't want her here."
"Well, we have no choice, right?" Shalimar sighed in disgust. "I'd rather live with a bitch than die or not find Adam."
"I don't know about the second part," Brennan laughed. "But living is definitely important."
"She has a heart of steel," Shalimar commented, causing them both to giggle.
"Maybe not," Jesse announced his presence, crossing over to sit with them.
"How do you know?" Brennan retorted.
Jesse's mind flashed back to that moment when he saw Lexa, the real Lexa. "I just do."
"Right," Brennan rolled his eyes, changing the subject.
As he watched Shal and Brennan laugh and flirt, he could only think of one thing. "I'll find you Lexa Pierce. Watch out for the Trojan horse."