CHAPTER FIVE

Jessica had gotten up early in order to meet the boys at the garage for their little church meeting. She had talked to Deran last night about everything and had gotten all of the specifics about what is going on. She wasn't going to get fancy at nine in the morning so she left on her t-shirt and shorts that she slept it.

She thought it would be best to get their early because everyone would be on time and would be starting whatever it was they were starting…But she guessed wrong. Jessica had stopped before going there and got everyone coffee because she knew everyone more than likely would be hungover. Well that mostly went to Craig as the others didn't drink that much or not at all.

Trying to balance the tray with one hand to check her phone, she thought she was at the wrong address or that Deran was just trying to play a joke on her. Nearly dropping it, she saw a truck pull next to her car and was relieved to see Pope hop out.

"Could I have a little help here?" She called out trying to shield her eyes from the sun.

He had walked over and grabbed them before it spilt. "What are you doing here?" He asked opening the garage door much to Jessica's displeasure. She assumed it was locked and didn't try it.

"Craig told me yesterday to come so here I am. I really didn't think I was going to be the first one here or I would have taken more time driving around…What's the deal anyway with Smurf?"

Jessica had asked once she helped him with the coffee. She handed him his and took a drink of hers before sitting on a table that was in the middle of the room. With her missing all of that time, she still wasn't filled in on how the family was falling apart. Baz or Pope would be the only ones to give a straight answer.

He had glanced over at her before setting things up. "We just want to do this job by ourselves…And Baz has this crazy thought that she has been stealing from us"

Raising an eyebrow, she took another drink. "Need any help?" Jessica was thinking he was going to answer no right away but he didn't say anything. "Oh come on, I'm always helpful and I've got nothing better to do"

"Don't you have to get your job back?" He questioned stopping and give her one of his famous stares.

Agreeing, Jessica first thought about it then shook her head. "It's not like I'm just going to get back in there one two three. Maybe it all honesty I miss you guys and as much as I'd like to distance myself I want to stick around for a while.

"What happened this time for you to want distance? Have another affair?"

Narrowing her blue eyes, she knew exactly what he meant. Before she had left, she and Baz had a little thing that started and ended once she disappeared. Cocking her head, she looked towards the ground then at him.

"I get that you always loved Cath and all but for you to hate me for sleeping with Baz that one time…Do you think I was okay with it? If some people didn't lie that night I wouldn't have had much of a problem. If you could keep it under wraps that would be great but I don't know why you hate me for it"

Cath had actually found out but somehow unknown to Jessica's knowledge. It then turned into a little fight and from that moment she wasn't allowed to be around any of that family. Cath kept Lena away and she and Baz had no choice but to keep their distance. No one else knew and the only reason Pope did was because Baz had told him.

"I don't hate you for it….I just don't think it was a smart move…You guys aren't going to be something. He's supposed to be your brother"

Jessica had opened her mouth to answer to him until she noticed Deran and Craig walking in. They both looked miserable and that was something she was expecting. It took Baz and J some time to get their as both had school duties but it was now officially a family picnic.

"What are you guys doing exactly?" She asked as Baz ordered her away from the table. She had given him a smirk for what happened last night. He clearly wasn't going to say anything and would act like nothing had happened for the moment at least.

"There is a safe with money in this church" J said sitting on the floor to help connect some things together. "We have to go through the air ducts in order to reach the room" He only answered because he was the first one to speak.

She still seemed a little lost on what they were doing at that exact moment. They had air ducts in front of them and she wondered if it was some sort of practice. It was in fact what she was thinking and it was interesting for her to watch. Craig had been moody all morning and stuck to his coffee refusing to jump in.

"See, that's why you should be sober. You could function at nine in the morning" Jessica commented bending down to take a look inside of them.

"I function perfectly fine thank you" He responded. "How in the hell am I even going to fit in there? If you haven't noticed I'm taller than all of you and someone little has to do it besides J…Deran you're not that big, why don't you try it?"

"Maybe that's because I'm on the duty with you and the car. How many times are we going to go through this? Pope is the one downstairs, we are upstairs, and Baz and J are going into the ceiling"

Jessica stood back up with a stretch. "You know if you really need help I can easily fit in there"

J had been climbing inside of the ducts while Baz stood on the opposite side of Jessica focusing on the work they were doing. He shook his head hard at her which made her frown. "No. If you really want to help you can go down with Pope. I'm not taking you in there which you've never done something like this"

"You say that as if I've never had the upper hand on a situation. Remember that time you guys robbed that storage unit or something and I was the one saving your asses by distracting the guard? By the way that wasn't fun considering I had to flash him to get his attention"

Everyone but J snickered remembering it. She had just turned eighteen and it was her first time that she had saved them during a job. They all made small talk between working through it all before Craig decided to storm out complaining once again and came back at least twice.

Deran and Jessica had been standing side by side waiting for J and Baz to wait it out. "What ever happened to that guy you were dating? What was his name, Anthony something?"

Rolling her eyes, it was past history. "Well where do you want me to start? I thought we had something and apparently we didn't because he ended up having a girlfriend that I didn't know about. I gave him a second chance but then he never returned my calls or anything"

That was probably the highlight of Craig's day. "What did you do to him?"

Jessica smiled his way. "Oh I didn't do a thing" She tried playing it off to see if either of them were going to fall for it. "No, I went over to his place one day and beat the shit out of him. Why? Because I felt like it. The guy hurt me so I only paid back the favor. I never saw him again, I really think he moved"

"He probably knew that we would come after him if he found out" He said then tipped his coffee towards her. "My badass little sister is growing up…God I wish this was alcohol"

It was time to go scope out the church at least one more time before the boys went in and robbed it. They just wanted to get one more feel of the place and needed to show Jessica if she was going to tag along. She more than likely wasn't going to but just wanted to get more details.

They had to split up their little group considering that six people wouldn't fit in anyone's car. Deran and Craig of course stuck together and J ended up going with them as well. Jessica, Pope and Baz took Pope's truck which was going to make for an uncomfortable ride.

She had sat up front with Baz driving and Pope sat in the back constantly shifting his looks between them. "You could have dressed better you know" He said picking on Jessica's clothing choice.

Jessica glanced in the rearview mirror to look at him. "Well no one told me we were actually going or I would have changed. Besides, I said I would go home real quick but no of you guys would let me go" She did feel slightly embarrassed to go into this fancy of a church dressed like she just rolled out of bed.

"No one told her about the plan. I thought Deran would have filled her in better but I guess he decided to leave out this tiny detail" Baz spoke making sure the boys were behind him in their vehicle.

Pope smirked faintly and shook his head. "You two aren't going to turn into something…Right?" He asked clearly wondering if they were going to continue their little romp or move on. "I mean, Smurf isn't going to take it too kindly, neither are Deran and Craig. It's a little creepy if you ask me"

Both Jessica and Baz kept quiet and ignored him. If they were to turn into anything they weren't going to say a word to anyone and especially their brother. "You are the definition of creepy Pope. Don't even try to back me into that corner with that one" She commented quietly.

Jessica knew it wasn't exactly the right thing to say and he didn't take it kindly. Pope unbuckled himself and sat forward. He draped his arms on the console between the two seats. "You want to say that to my face Jessica? Remember that Baz and I have kept you in check all of these years and you are always screwing up. That's why Smurf doesn't want you around, you are too damaged"

She had looked over but her posture showed that she was clearly uncomfortable. Jessica took a deep breath and kept her mouth shut because there wasn't anything she could say. Baz glanced over before trying to keep his eyes on the road. "Pope, get back in the seat"

Turning his head sharply in his direction, he had a comment in store for him. "Or what? You're going to stop the car and throw me out? It's the truth. You screwed Julia over so why don't you just do the same to her. She was drunk anyway, remember? She's never gonna care for you in that way and neither are you"

Luckily they just reached the church parking lot and Baz took a hard turn. Pope caught himself before he took any damage from it. "Jesus Christ, you two either get along for this or just leave. We have other things to worry about then this and I don't want to hear any more about it. Got it?"

Jessica bit her tongue before hopping out of his car quickly. She was seething inside for various reasons. One was that Pope of course had to be an ass to her, second was that Baz didn't defend her and third she couldn't just get in her car to go home. She was now stuck with them for at least a few hours.

"Woah, what happened to you?" Craig asked once he stepped over. He watched her whip the car door open from before.

She had given him a deadly stare and crossed her arms waiting for the next move. Baz was shaking his head as he walked over to everyone before laying out the entire plan. "Alright, you two need to go search around, you still have the fake badges and things right?"

Once they nodded, the two exchanged looks and backed away slightly. Baz continued on, "J sticks with me since we are the ones climbing into the room. Pope and Jess, you guys stay with us and see how much money you see. They're going to tell the donations but there will be more due to the various programs floating around in there. Everyone ready?"

As the Cody family split up in their respective ways, the four had gone into the lobby and glanced around at their surroundings. The church was going to reveal how much money had been donated and that was exactly what they needed. Once they all made their way to the main room, Pope had ditched them and gone all the way down to the front.

Baz had tried stopping him but that was the thing, there wasn't anything stopping Pope from doing his own thing. He let Jessica go ahead of him and he guided her on where to sit. She had sat at least three rows in front of he and J.

The blonde female in front of the room had already started talking and the place was packed. At least that worked in their favor so they wouldn't seem so suspicious. As she started talking about the money, all four of them perked forward a little interested in the case.

It was enough to split between all of them and was a good amount at that. Jessica had to hand it to them for finding such a good spot. The next move however shocked three out of four of them. The woman who introduced herself as Amy had gone over to Pope and decided to kiss him in front of everyone.

Jessica had watched them then slowly look around at Baz. She mouthed at him if he knew about it but he shrugged his shoulders with the same confused look. He then nodded for her to step out and back out into the lobby so she did what he said. She waited for J and Baz to show up which took a couple of minutes.

"Did you know about that? And he wants to say what we did was crazy?" She asked in a hush then realized J was right behind him. Taking a breath, she looked back over to the doors watching the people flood out.

"You think if I would have known I would have let him in on it? Yeah it's a good advantage to have but no one even knew he was banging this chick"

That made Jessica make a face at the thought of it and waited for her older brother to come out. After some time there he came out, hand in hand with Amy. The three had exchanged looks as they walked over.

"Guys this is Amy. She's one of the people who work here and leads the church group"

"You've been going to a church group?" Jessica blurted out. None of them were religious and she wondered what in the world he was doing this time. "Not that there's nothing wrong with it, I mean…"

She had turned her head to Baz hoping that he was going to dig her out of the ditch she was in. Glancing at her, he was stuck as well but was always good at quick thinking. "Congratulations on the donations, I'm sure the church really needs it"