A/N: I know, I know. I'm evil. I left a major(ish) cliffie. But deal with it, here's another chapter. And it's random, but long (ish) and I think it's pretty good…or at least passable. The title has almost completely and totally nothing to do with the chapter, but I'm working on trying to come up with 'creative titles'. Stupid english teacher. But I'll stop rambling now.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Nada. Zip.
Chapter 4
"Susannah," Jesse took a step toward me, touched my cheek and a whirlwind of emotions went through me.
Love, lust, hope, disappointment, anger, confusion…and finally settled on pissed-ness and mega bitch.
I stepped back, my face stone like. His face fell in disappointment. Why? I don't know. But right then I really didn't care.
"Jesse, I'd love to chat, but I must discuss a few things with someone first." I sent an evil glare to Doc then ran into the kitchen.
"Why didn't you people tell me?" I said it; my voice was brimming with anger.
"Well…" it was Andy. I turned my glare on him, "we didn't want to upset you…"
"Upset me? Do I look upset to you?" I was almost screaming. I heard the front door shut and thanked God that Jesse was gone.
"Suze, you're going to have to deal with him," I whipped my head around and was face to face with Jake.
He looked older than the last time I'd seen him. Standing next to him was a pretty brunette with blue eyes and next to her was a really tall skinny blonde. Not sick skinny, but fairly close.
"Jake, stay out of this, it doesn't concern you," he cut me off.
"Actually Suze," his voice sounded tired and a bit hesitant, "it does concern me. Because Jesse is my best man."
I froze. There was no other way to describe it. I turned around to face my mom, I blinked once, twice, three times.
And then I passed out.
When I came too, I realized I hadn't quite yet. Woken up, I mean. I was in the Shadowlands.
Now, how the hell had I gotten here? I turned as I heard, no, felt, someone approach me from behind.
I whipped around and saw Paul jogging toward me through the fog.
"God Suze, do you know how hard you are to find?" I silenced him with a wave of my hand.
"Cut the crap, what am I doing here? You know I hate this place, couldn't you have just called like a normal person?"
"I suppose so, but that would have been easy, you know? I hate it here too, but I needed to talk to you."
I glared at him and he took a step back.
"What was so freaking important Paul?" Only I didn't say freaking.
"You're going to have to face him sometime Suze."
Oh, HIM.
"Why do you care?"
"Because I think you need to talk it out. I don't like him anymore than you do, but it's been driving you crazy for the last three years," he looked away from me and said quietly, "I can't let you go on like this."
I almost didn't know what to say. But that my childish side took over and I said, "you can't make me."
"Yes, I can."
It was true too. I was more powerful than he was, but he had been learning longer.
"Screw you," I glared at him. He gave me an evil half smile. Like the ones he'd given me when we were teenagers.
"Gladly, but somehow I don't think that's what you meant."
I rolled my eyes at him and sat down in the fog. It was weird, because the fog came up to my shoulders, and I couldn't see my feet because it was so thick…
"But you are going to have to face him sometime Suze. You can't run forever. If he hadn't shown up like this, I would have made you face him eventually."
"No you wouldn't have."
He sighed and rubbed his head, was I giving him a headache? Probably. But it wouldn't be as bad as the shifting one he'd have…but I'd have one of those too…might have to pummel him for that later.
"You're right. But that doesn't change anything. I'll be there as soon as I can, but it'll be tomorrow night, at soonest. So just…don't do anything stupid."
I gave him a look of fake hurt, "how dare you."
"Just…stay away from Jesse. I don't care what you have to do. Lock yourself in your room until I get there, I don't care. But you'll end up…I don't know, blowing him up or something."
It was probably true too. I had learned a few more things of the shifting kind and a totally cool one (that I'd completely, sort of, almost, mastered) was blowing things up. The only problem was that if I got too mad, I'd blow things up accidentally. Last time it was Paul's front door. Don't ask.
Oh well, he needed a new one anyway. I didn't like that one. Not that he was aware of this. Still.
"All right. You have my word. But you better be there soon, understand?"
He nodded and disappeared. I shivered. God did I hate this place. I thought of my room, my bed my lamp my window seat…Jesse.
No. That wasn't a good…
When I landed, I wasn't in my room. I was somewhere I never thought I'd see again. My old apartment. But what the hell was I doing here? I was supposed to be in my room…
Oh. Oh no. This could NOT be happening. I'd thought of Jesse. And now I'd been taken to him.
Could this day get any worse?
Please don't answer that.
I pushed myself off the floor, and that shifter headache immediately pulsed through my brain. It felt like my skull was being split in half. I tried to ignore it, and seriously wished I had some Advil…or anything, really.
I heard footsteps coming from behind me and I fled into the living room. There was a sigh and a cupboard door was opened. I heard someone open the refrigerator, then silence. Then more footsteps.
The living room I was standing in looked identical to when I had left it. Everything was the same. It was quite creepy actually. I turned around and almost had a heart attack. There was a picture hanging on the wall, but it was the people in the picture that had shocked me.
Sure, I expected to see Jesse in there, no biggie, but the girl standing next to him…I remembered taking that picture. It was prom night. Jesse and I.
Why did he keep that picture? Why? All of these years…
I heard him come into the living room and before I could change my mind, I shifted out of my old apartment and into my old room.
I ran faster than I could have thought possible to the medicine cabinet and yanked it open, I popped two Advil in my mouth and walked shakily into my room. I didn't know exactly what all this was about. What kind of sick joke was he playing?
I sat on the window seat and stared out, not really looking at anything in particular.
I didn't know what to do. I hadn't felt like this…lost, uncertain, since three years ago. But Paul would be here tomorrow, or I'd hunt him down. So it would be all right then. And he would stay, make sure I didn't kill Jesse, then after the wedding I could return to my life. I could go back to being Suze Simon, FBI agent and invisible to my family. After the wedding, everything would return to normal.
A/N: Review please.
