AN: Longer adult version of this chapter in the Outtakes version of this story. About 3 pages longer.
Thanks to all those that continue to read. I know slow updates are annoying, but I try to get a JQ weekend in whenever I can. Since I'm posting on a Saturday (which I never do), hopefully that means I'll have time to read and review a bit tomorrow between holiday activities.
Similar to last chapter, these events are happening concurrently and even some concurrent with last chapter because I wanted to check in with all perspectives. If you read the alternate version of the rescue chapter, than the first scene will be familiar (because this was always part of Temple's arc) but that's the only carry over scene. What else…
Poor Jonny. I still torture him so…Happy Reading and Happy Easter.
XXX
Temple was beyond pissed. At himself and the situation. He sat stone cold still in the holding cell, berating himself. He had closed his eyes a while ago. He was tired, but mostly he was sick of rolling them every five seconds as he watched the members of the local sheriff's office run around like chickens with no heads. It was a fucking shit show in his opinion, making it even more embarrassing that they had detained him.
"Mr. Temple?"
Temple opened his eyes and pursed his lips at the Sheriff like he was bored. The man was mid to late fifties and quite out of shape, but Temple could tell with one look that he was the man in charge.
"You are?" Temple demanded.
"Sherriff Craigson," he cleared his throat. "Your story checks out."
"That's because it's not a story," Temple shot back. Standing.
"Or you just have friends in positions of power," Craigson challenged. Temple stayed silent, staring him down. "It's not every day I get to speak with someone from the NSWC."
"Congratulations," Temple smiled condescendingly. "I'm happy for you."
Craigson scoffed. "They have no authority here, but made a very compelling case on your behalf. Seems it would inconvenience me greatly to keep you here much longer."
"Sounds about right," Temple agreed.
"Yeah," Craigson nodded. "I still find it hard to believe you were in that building scouting potential safe houses for covert training operations when my men came upon you…"
"How is it that your men came upon me?" Temple tried to sound accusing. He wanted to throw the Sheriff off guard, hoping to learn how or where he had fucked up. The Sheriff's eyes grew wider. "We of course can't use that location now. I'll need to file a report."
"We've had several girls go missing in the last few days," Craigson started.
"I saw the news," Temple confirmed. "And the FBI agents over there are hard to miss."
"Anyway," the Sheriff spoke over Temple. "We've received a tip about that building. Neighbor across the street called it in early afternoon. Saw a man going in there that they did not recognize. It's a relatively small island and people are spooked so we're getting a lot of calls. Couldn't get over there for a few hours. Unless you were there earlier today too, it obviously wasn't you they saw."
'Fuck,' Temple thought. 'Brought down by dumb luck and poor timing.' He would have preferred making a mistake. At least that could be learned from.
"Any tips panning out?" Temple asked curiously and the Sheriff narrowed his eyes.
"Do you know Race Bannon?" Craigson asked.
Temple did not give anything away on his face. "No. Should I?"
"His daughter is one of the missing girls and he was in here earlier," Craigson explained. "I ran a background check on him. He spent a good stint in the Navy…."
"Along with four hundred thousand other fine men and women," Temple nodded and then pointed to the lock on the cell. He was not going to get anything useful out of the Sheriff. "Now how about you let me out of this cage and give me my things back. All of them or I'll have my friends give you another call."
Five minutes later, Temple was walking away from the police station with his sidearm and the small knapsack of things he always carried with him. He started in the direction of the dealership, which was about two miles away. Once he was a safe distance away, he grabbed his burner.
"Fucking hell," he immediately cursed. He did not recognize the last call, but knew two things. It had to have been Race and he did not answer, which meant that someone in the station did. Temple knew that Race's next move would have been tossing that phone, but he tried to call it back anyway.
"Shit," he cursed again and picked up the pace. He arrived at the dealership fifteen minutes later, breathing heavily and frustrated to see no sign of Race or the kid staking it out. He knew they must have found a good lead to leave the place unguarded. He approached the door slowly and smiled. He spotted his motion sensing cameras quickly, which meant they were watching. He intentionally set off the first one and waved his burner in front of it. It was all he could do. Race would call if he needed him.
"Fancy meeting you here."
Temple tensed, but then immediately registered Jade's voice. He turned and faced her. "You're like a fucking cockroach," he insulted and then started to move. Searching for the best place to watch from the shadows.
Jade grinned like a cat and followed. "What a silver tongue you have…dick."
"Where are they?" Temple shot back, cutting right to the chase.
"I don't know," Jade sighed. "But Race knows where Jessie is. He took my car like a bat out of hell and drove off. He only paused long enough to tell me that he needed this place to be watched. I think I'm Plan B, but I doubt Race will let it get that far."
Temple nodded. "And the kid?"
Jade shook her head and sighed again. "He wasn't with Race."
"Shit," Temple ran a hand through his short cropped hair. "That sounds like trouble."
"Yeah. I think Jonny had a head start to Jessie and that's part of the reason Race was in such a hurry," Jade concluded.
Temple nodded. "I'm honestly not sure what to make of that kid, but I know he's not thinking straight right now. Neither is Race."
"Race even half distracted is more effective than most," Jade defended.
"I'm aware," Temple huffed.
"I have your phone," she changed the subject, tossing it over. "Race will call if he needs us."
"Awesome," Temple growled. "I love sitting on the fucking sidelines."
XXX
"I'm fine," Phil growled. "I don't need to be fucking sidelined."
"Sir…"
"Stop calling me sir," Phil snapped. "I'm aware that I have a concussion. That doesn't mean I need to sit here for hours. It means I can't fall into a deep sleep…which I can assure you I won't," he ranted.
Phil was leaning on the back of an ambulance outside an entrance to the park. The one he had confidently walked through before almost getting blown up. He had agreed to be treated, but he had not agreed to be babied.
"Sir?" This time it came from his left.
"Are you serious?" he yelled, whipping his head around and then immediately regretting it and softening. "Clarin," he sighed. "Sorry…how are you?"
"I don't think whipping your head around is advisable," she offered, leaning on the bumper next to him.
"Fair point. Now answer my question?" he ordered.
"So demanding," she teased. "Are you always like this?"
"Yes," he grinned. She smiled back and he found himself admiring her beauty again. It had been a long time since he had allowed that to happen. Maybe too long. "Are you always such a ball buster, Clarin?"
"Yes," she looked at him sideways. "Also, I think almost being blown up together means we can stick to first names."
"Alright," he agreed happily. "So…answer the damn question, Max."
"You first," she ordered and he laughed out loud.
"I've had better days," he answered honestly and then sobered. "I'm afraid that my best friend is gonna lose his daughter and I couldn't help…" he paused.
"Phil?" she prompted.
"She's a remarkable young woman," he continued. "I…I'm hoping to hear good news soon." He stood slowly. "But in the mean time I need to be doing more than sitting here."
Max stood too and forced him to sit back down when she saw that he was unsteady. "Agent Monroe is on top of things," she assured. "The grid search continues. You made that happen. You don't need to personally oversee it to the point of keeling over."
"Mmm," Phil grunted.
"Have you heard from Bannon at all?" Max probed.
"No," he lied and then stared at the ground. Hard. Like it had wronged him. It was bothering that Race had hung up on him so abruptly before and had yet to call back. He was stuck in the game he hated most. Waiting.
"Hello…where are you?" Max was waving a hand in front of his face. "Where did you go?"
"Sorry…tired," he admitted. That was true.
"Can I give you some advice?" she asked, but gave it to him before he could agree to take it. "Call your daughter."
XXX
"The person you are calling is not…"
"FUCK," Race screamed into the small space of the car. The rush of air that exploded from his body gave him relief, but it was only temporary. "You have her. Come on, kid. Call me back. You have her."
Race glanced at the GPS for the tenth time in thirty seconds. He was grateful that Jade had come upon him when she did and that Mark's car had the GPS. Race did not have a map of the island memorized like Jonny and this made things much easier. But despite that small piece of luck, Race still had the urge to rip the GPS from the dashboard and throw it out the window. Every time the estimated time of arrival updated, he felt like it was personally taunting him.
He was still twenty minutes away, but planned to cut that time down significantly. He was strategically breaking traffic laws and hoping that luck would stay on his side. He had never wanted to get his hands on a police scanner more. He wanted to call Phil back and ask for help, but could not do that until he had more information. Too risky. He wanted to call Temple and ask for help, but that was no longer an option with Temple detained. He wanted to call Estella and give her good news. He knew she must be even more out of her mind by now. Mostly he wanted Jonny to call him back and tell him that his little girl was safe.
'Please,' he thought desperately. 'I'll do anything. Give anything. Just let her be alive. Please.'
The MOMENT you start internally bargaining with yourself… turn back around. You're too close. You're mission is compromised. That's unacceptable.
Race sighed. One of Temple's many rules of engagement. They had all been beaten into him during training. Don't feel. Don't compromise. Do your duty, trust your training and complete the mission. That was paramount above all else, including making it out alive. He was the perfect solider for years. A robot…and then it slowly started to change. Estella started it and Jonny was the final nail in the coffin that buried his career in the field, but Jessie was every single thing in between.
Estella gave him a glimpse of the life that was possible. A new way. Sometimes, he still selfishly wishes she had been more patient with him. If she could have hung in there a few more years, he would have turned the corner while they were still together. For her and their family. And maybe they would still be together. But that was not meant to be and he knew it was not fair to put it all on her. He gave up too. Instead, it was two little kids that got him there. They loved him unconditionally. It was innocent and pure and more real than anything he had ever felt. It changed his life for the better. And when he did not think his heart could be any fuller, Hadji joined the family and he knew he was wrong. They became paramount and he knew protecting them was the most important thing he would ever do. Losing any of them would crush him, but losing Jessie… he was not sure he could survive it.
'Please. Please.'
That particular Temple rule had gone out the window the day she was born.
"Daaaaaaaaaaad," she groaned. "Please stop. Stop or let me out of the car and I'll walk."
"I only asked how your night was, Jess. Stop being overdramatic."
Jessie narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. She looked out the window in defiance. "You think I don't know what you're doing?" she huffed.
"What am I doing?" he challenged.
"You interrogated Jonny last night like you know nothing about him," she growled. "Twice. Before we went out AND when we got home. Was that really necessary?"
"Yes," Race shrugged.
"Well you'll be happy to know that he didn't even hold my hand, dad."
"That does make me happy," Race smiled. "Thanks."
"And I think we remained the regulation three feet apart the entire night," she continued her rant.
"I actually told him four so I'll be having another talk with him about that," Race laughed.
"He probably won't even want to take me out again," she spoke over him.
"If he gives up that easy than I no longer approve," Race shot back.
"This is you approving?" she shook her head and turned away again. "Can I please walk the rest of the way?" she asked quickly.
Race laughed and kept driving. "Maybe this won't be so bad. I'm already looking forward to my next conversation with him." He looked over at her when she did not give it right back. "Jess?" Angry tears started rolling down her face and he could tell she was fighting back a sob. "Shit," he pulled over and turned off the car. She unbuckled her seatbelt and tried to leave as soon as the car stopped, but he managed to grab her upper arm and hold her back.
"Get off me," she ordered.
"I'm sorry," he rushed. "I'm sorry, Ponchita. I didn't mean it. Come on, you're not walking along the highway. Shut the door."
He let go when she settled back in her seat and slammed the door shut. He collected his thoughts as he watched her wipe away tears. It was a rare sight.
He apologized again and meant it. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to upset you."
He waited in the awkward silence for her to speak. She was still crying when she finally looked at him. "You ruined it," she said quietly.
"Jess…"
"I was so excited when he asked," she interrupted. "It took him months to work up the courage. I almost did it myself because he kept losing his nerve," she sighed.
"Why didn't you?" Race asked. He just wanted to keep her talking.
She shrugged. Embarrassed.
"Jess?"
"Because I wanted to be asked," she admitted. "Okay? I wanted him to ask me. I was really looking forward to it…and you ruined it."
"How did I ruin it?" Race pushed.
"Jonny was like a different person, dad. He was so nervous. He was afraid to even look at me…it was SO awkward and then you drag him behind closed doors a second time as soon as we get home. He's not gonna want to do it again and I can't really blame him. Why would you do that?"
Race paused and considered how best to answer. "You just threw a lot at me, but I think I have an answer for all of it if you're willing to listen?"
"Okay," she sighed.
"First of all," Race started. "I know for a fact that Jonny very much wants to take you out again." He saw her posture change immediately.
"How?"
Race sighed. "This stays between us?"
"I promise," Jessie nodded.
"Jonny and I had more than one conversation before he took you out, Jess. I made it very clear to him what my expectations were and they were simple. I gave him two rules. The most important being that I need to know where you two are and when at all times. No exceptions and no messing around. You're my whole world and it's my job to keep you safe." Race smiled. "I don't know why I was surprised, but Jonny took it a step further than I expected."
Her eyes widened. "How?"
"I didn't interrogate him when you got home last night," Race started and stopped when Jessie gave him a skeptical look. "Maybe a little, but mostly we just talked. He asked me to give him boxing lessons and then sent me the floor plans of the next three places he wants to take you. All in the name of safety."
"What?" Jessie smiled.
"Yeah…so I don't think you need to worry about him not wanting to take you out again. I meant what I said before though. If he had given up that easily, than you damned well better blame him. You deserve a hell of a lot more than that and I don't plan on letting you forget it."
Jessie smirked. "Like advanced reconnaissance on three dates more?"
"At the very least," Race shrugged. "I'm still not impressed."
"Dad!"
He shrugged again and smiled. "Maybe a little. But only a little. Now, how about we discuss why he was so nervous and awkward? Because it wasn't my fault, Jess."
"Okay," she scoffed. "Than whose fault was it…"
"Yours," he cut her off without ceremony. "You have that boy wrapped around your finger and you don't even know it. He's awkward because he has no clue what he's doing. He's nervous because he's afraid he's gonna mess it up given the fact that he has no clue what he's doing."
"He told you this?" she challenged.
"Hell no," Race laughed. "But I was a fourteen year-old boy once and I happen to know this one pretty well. Now the easy question. Why am I so overprotective?" he paused. "Why do you think? Because I used to be a fourteen year-old boy. Because I've never loved anything the way that I love you. Because I will do anything to protect you and if that makes Jonny a little uncomfortable than he'll learn to deal with it because that will never change, Jess. I love you so much."
She surprised him with a hug and he soaked in every second of it. "Thanks dad. I love you too," she said quietly and then pulled back.
He pointed a finger at her as he started the car. "You won't use anything I said against him?"
"Mmm," she smirked.
"Jess," he scolded. "I'm serious. Do I need to be more worried about him than you?"
"That's the way I'd prefer it," she admitted.
"You won't always have the upper hand," he laughed as he pulled back into traffic. "The sooner you accept that, the better off you'll be."
"You speak from experience?" she asked.
"I speak from failure," he told her honestly and she got really quiet. She did not speak again until they were heading up the long driveway to the Compound. As they approached, Jonny caught sight of them from the porch and waved. Awkwardly.
Race groaned and Jessie giggled.
"Thanks for being honest with me, dad. For not treating me like a kid. I promise this stays between us."
"Good," he grinned.
"So what was the second rule?" she then asked.
"Huh?"
"You said you gave Jonny two rules. You only told me the first," she pointed out.
"Oh," Race laughed. "Easy. He's to be a complete gentleman at all times or I break his dominant hand."
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad," she groaned.
"It may be a while before he holds your hand, sweetheart."
His ringing phone made Race's heart jump straight into his throat. 'Please,' he thought, grabbing it from the center console and then looking at the number.
"JONNY?" he yelled, trying to swallow back his fear.
"I have her," Jonny rushed. "She's safe."
Race pulled over. He took the phone away from his ear and bit down hard on his wrist to focus on the physical over the emotional. Fighting back the cry of relief he wanted to let out. That had to wait. She was safe, but Jonny sounded panicked. It was less than two seconds before Race shot back his next question. Afraid to know the answer.
"Is he dead?" Race asked.
"Yes. I…"
"Don't say anything more," Race cut him off.
'DAMN IT,' he screamed internally. The checklist of what he needed to do was already forming as they talked. He would not allow this to touch Jonny any more than absolutely necessary. He needed to be in control of the narrative.
"I'm on my way. Don't touch anything else. Let me talk to her," Race insisted.
"She hasn't woken up yet," Jonny sighed.
"Is she hurt?" Race cleared his throat while waiting for Jonny to answer.
"No obvious injuries. She'll be okay," Jonny added confidently. "Listen, I don't have a great signal down here. There's a springhouse on the property. We're under it. I need to go and get the girls out of here. Are you close?"
"I'll be there in a few minutes," Race told him.
"Okay. Good," Jonny responded. Now he sounded exhausted. Jonny's lack of sleep over the last few days was a genuine concern for Race at this stage.
"Jonny…" Race paused. 'Thank you. I love you. I'm proud. Hang in there. Everything will be okay.' He could not decide what to say first.
"You don't have to say it. I'll see you soon." Jonny hung up.
Race stared at the phone for a moment and then smiled. Life can change in a heartbeat.
XXX
Jade watched the door to the dealership like a hawk. She did not want to let Race down. Temple was about three feet away, annoying her simply by being present. Out of the corner of her eye she kept catching him glance at her.
"What?" she whispered yelled after he did it the third time. "Is there a better way to watch a door?"
"Not that I'm aware of," he grinned and gave her the eyes. "I've always admired cockroaches, ya know. Resilient little things."
Jade scoffed and raised an eyebrow. She was not in the mood. "You did an amazing job teaching Race how to stay alive through the impossible. Perhaps he can return the favor and teach you how to speak to women," she insulted.
"Don't flatter yourself," he rolled his eyes. "I'm just bored."
Temple's ringing phone interrupted them. "Put it on speaker," Jade demanded.
"Racer?" Temple answered. "Jade's here with me. What do you need?"
"Good," Race replied quickly. "That will make this easier. Do you remember our trip to Berlin the first year I was active?"
"Vividly," Temple smiled.
"You should see this house over by 146 Everwood Drive," Race told him. "It's exactly the same." Then he hung up.
"What the fuck?" Jade asked.
"Precautionary protocol in case we have a visitor listening in," Temple told her. "So nothing we say can be used against us later."
"Obviously," Jade acknowledged. "Please tell me you know what that meant."
"I do know, sweetheart."
"Now tell me without calling me sweetheart," she ordered.
"Are you sure you don't want to see where this tension takes us?" he smirked.
"TEMPLE."
"We're on clean-up duty," he was back to business. "Whoever had Race's daughter is deader than Bin Laden and the kid did the honors. Race wants that to go away or at least be hard to prove."
Jade smiled. "More than happy to help that cause. Where do we start?" Temple jutted his chin toward the door. "What's in there?"
"All the pictures that sick fuck took of the girls," Temple grumbled. "Before and after taking them," he added. "There are pictures of Jonny and Jessie…together."
"Oh my god," Jade exclaimed.
"I'll get rid of the photos," Temple announced, crouching down and rifling around in his knapsack. "Can you find us a ride? We need to meet Race at the address he gave and help him there."
"No problem," Jade agreed. "How long do you need?"
"Not long," Temple popped back up looking quite happy with himself.
Jade's eyebrows jumped when she looked at what he was holding and realized his plan. "Is that really necessary?" she questioned. "Seems extreme."
"Quick and effective," Temple shrugged. "I'm just taking a page from that lunatic kid's playbook. Why should he be the only one that gets to burn down a building today?"
XXX
Estella and Benton had fallen into a comfortable silence. Or maybe they were both too lost in their own thoughts to notice. Estella was curled up on the couch. Every once and a while Benton would tell her to close her eyes. He was in a chair across from her and she would tell him the same. After about an hour of this, Hadji had woken up and started making his rounds again. Checking in on everyone. Trying to get them to eat. Estella did not try to stop him. She could tell he needed to keep moving. Eventually, he sat down heavy at a desk across the room and was back behind a computer. Estella wanted to ask what he was working on, but could not muster up the energy. If he was on to something, she did not want to interrupt him. If he had nothing, she was not sure how much more of that she could take. She kept replaying things over in her head. Fights with her daughter. The time she had spent with Jonny. The way he and Race had tricked her. She was trying to make sense of it all.
"I know exactly how he feels about me. He tells me all the time." Her face was so sincere.
"He's never hurt me. He loves me, mom." She said it with so much confidence.
"I won't give up on you," Jonny whispered. "I won't give up on us. I can't lose you."
"Estella, there's NO PLAN without her," Jonny yelled.
"That was the first time your daughter made my heart skip a beat. Probably two," Jonny smiled.
"Have you ever loved something more than you love yourself?" Jonny was screaming into Mark's face. "I have. I do. The girl I love more than anything else is in danger right now."
"Dubois," Race said.
"Jonny's up for the challenge," Race assured.
"You taste just like I remember," Race whispered.
"I'll bring her home," Race swore.
All the while, she was staring at her phone on the coffee table. It was level with her head. Willing it to ring. Afraid of the message that could be on the other end. It had been hours since she heard from Race or Phil.
'Please,' she prayed.
The vibrations of her ringing phone against the table startled them. They all sprang up alert and then froze, staring at the phone.
"Oh," Estella called out and lunged for it. Benton and Hadji huddled around her while she fumbled with it nervously. "I don't recognize the number," she told them. Hands shaking.
Benton closed his hands around hers in support. Then he took the phone from her gently and answered it on speaker.
"Hello?"
"Benton?"
"Race," Benton rushed. "You're on speaker. I'm with Estella…"
"They're both okay," Race interrupted. "They're okay. On their way to the hospital to get Jess checked out. Meet them there. I need to go…"
"Wait," Estella yelled, grabbing the phone from Benton and taking it off speaker. "Roger?" she whispered. Eyes closed.
"She's safe," he assured. "Stel, go be with her. I'll meet you there soon. I need to go, sweetheart. Can you give me back to Benton for a moment?"
"Thank you," she cried. "Thank you so much. I love you." She handed the phone to Benton and rushed to find her shoes and splash some water on her face.
"I love you too," Race whispered, but did not think she heard him. Now the hard part.
"Hello?" Benton cleared his throat nervously.
Race could hear the trepidation in his old friend's voice and the guilt he had been keeping at bay started crashing back in waves.
"Benton," he sighed. "I need to be brief."
"Tell me," Benton said haltingly. "Is he really okay?"
"Yes," Race promised. "…but I need you to call a lawyer as a precaution. We need to be proactive."
"Is that really…"
"Yes," Race interrupted. "Just to be safe, but yes. I'll meet you at the hospital."
Race hung up and a new fear struck Benton to his core. He watched Hadji and Estella embrace and cry happy tears, but it all felt a little unreal. 'They're both okay,' he told himself. 'That's all that matters.'
A moment later, Hadji approached with a worried look. "Father? What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Benton smiled weakly. "I'm simply exhausted…let's get to the hospital. I'll feel better when I see them. We all will. Nothing's wrong."
But deep down he knew his son had killed a man.
XXX
"She's mine forever now."
Jonny kept replaying Clay's last words in his head. Stewing on them. He wanted to kill him again.
Getting topside with the girls was exhausting and took longer than he wanted. At least that was how it felt. He kept squinting, trying to see more than the LED lights allowed. Hoping that Race would appear from thin air. Jessie was deadweight in his arms and his adrenaline was fading fast. The all-consuming fear had subsided. She was in his arms and it was tangible. He tried to replace the fear with determination. The goal of getting them to the hospital kept him moving forward, but the trek out from under the springhouse also gave him too much time to think and to feed what was becoming an all-consuming guilt. Every step he took only entrenched it further.
When they were kids, he and Jessie would spend hours debating what superpower they wanted most. It was a fun debate, but they always ended up choosing the same ones. Jessie wanted to fly and Jonny wanted to teleport. It had been years since he thought about that, but he was thinking about it now because he desperately wanted fresh air. He needed to keep a clear head.
He tried to focus on putting one foot in front of the other. How the forward motion brought them closer to the ladder and the fresh air, but all of his senses were overwhelmed by his surroundings. What his girl was forced into. Every place his eyes landed made him want to punch a wall. There was no safe place to look. The musty smell. The sound of Keri and Brenda slowly trailing behind him. Both were still crying. The sound of his shoes sinking into the mud and the sound of water crashing against rocks. Living near the ocean, that sound had always been something he found comforting and even relaxing. Now it felt haunting. He felt a shiver rush through him and pulled Jessie closer. Hoping his body heat helped and wishing he had another shirt to give her. She was so cold.
'Because that animal cut her clothes off,' he thought angrily.
The air was damp and he could taste the moisture in his throat. He was cold too, but also sweating. He looked down at Jessie as he walked. The pallor of her skin and her complete lack of responsiveness had him swallowing back a choking sensation, but she was still the safest place to look. Her hair had fallen into her face. Jonny wanted to stop walking, push it back and kiss her.
"Even if love is full of thorns, I'd still embrace it. I know that in between those thorns is a rose worth all the pain." He whispered it to her and then rolled his eyes. "I know it's not Shakespeare," he laughed. "…but seems appropriate, babe." He had spent the last few weeks memorizing romantic quotes. Mostly Shakespeare. Partly because he felt insecure about being away from her for months while she was surrounded by men smarter than him. Like he needed to step up his game. Partly because he knew she would roll her eyes and make fun of him for it, but secretly love it. He could always tell. This week was supposed to be theirs. Marked by quotes to make her smile and stolen moments away from prying eyes. Not fear, anger and guilt.
'Finally,' he thought. He was standing in front of the ladder, releasing a long breath.
"A few more feet," he called back to Brenda and Keri. They were about ten feet behind him. "You two are amazing," he encouraged. "We're almost there." Then he lifted Jessie closer and pressed his lips against her temple. "We're almost there, baby. I love you," he whispered. Then he looked up into the darkness above. "Fuck. Okay…okay. It's alright…You're alright" He kissed her again and then locked eyes with Keri, who was supporting Brenda and clearly more exhausted than him.
'Pull it together, Quest. You got the easy part.' He gathered his resolve and forced a small smile.
"Hey," Keri greeted lamely.
"Hey," Jonny smiled. It was genuine this time. Keri had stopped crying, but her tear tracks were still there. Despite the circumstances, Jonny found himself thinking she was beautiful. She looked so much like Jessie that it was hard for him to think otherwise. He was also grateful for her presence and how well she was holding it together to help Brenda. "You ready to go home?"
"Yeah…I've always wanted to be part of a Christmas miracle," she sighed sarcastically and Jonny laughed.
"Yeah," he huffed. "Me too. Brenda?"
"I'm hanging in there. Just want to get out of here," she sniffed. "Did you call for an ambulance?" she then asked without emotion. "I need…my baby," she trailed off.
Jonny voice caught in his throat at the implication. "I…I don't have a signal," he apologized. "I can call when I get up there or get you there myself," Jonny offered.
"What will be faster?" she sobbed. "I saw you on the phone before? Who were you talking to?"
It was not asked as an accusation, but it did add on to his guilt pile.
"I honestly don't know what would be faster," Jonny admitted. "I don't know what EMT response time is like around here or if a holiday schedule would impact it. The closest hospital is in Jacksonville. I know where it is and I can get you there. I was…I called Jessie's father before while I had a signal to let him know. I'm sorry…I wasn't thinking clearly, Brenda."
"It's okay. I'm fine," she nodded. "I'm a nurse so I know I'm fine. Let's just get outta here."
Jonny was not sure if she was trying to convince him or herself, but it made him want to work faster.
Keri stared up the ladder. "Daunting..." she quipped and then rubbed Brenda's good shoulder. "You up for a piggy back ride?"
"No," Jonny cut in and met Keri's gaze again. "It's too high and the bars are slippery. I'll carry Jess up and then come back down for Brenda. Give me a few minutes."
Jonny balanced Jessie over his right shoulder gently and began to climb. He did not want to waste another moment. Clay's camera shifted back and forth across his chest as he climbed. He had forgotten that he grabbed it, but now it had his full attention and was burning his skin. Making him nauseous. The thought of what might be on it….He was afraid to know, but needed to know.
"Brenda was dessert, but Jessie…Our girl…she's a screamer. If it makes you feel better…she didn't seem to enjoy it. Much. She kept calling out for you, but you weren't there…I was…She's mine forever now."
Clay's words taunted him and then he felt the gun again. Digging into his lower back.
'He's gone,' Jonny thought. 'He can't hurt her anymore. Focus on climbing.'
His back hurt and there were a few moments where he wished he could stop and switch her to his other shoulder, but he pushed through the pain until the moonlight hit his face. He took a deep breath, gulping in the fresh air as he climbed out of the hole and then pulled Jessie back into his arms.
He spun around the small space, but knew it was a wasted effort. There was no place to set her down that was clean or warm. So he got on his knees, laid her out and placed the camera by her head. He made sure his t-shirt covered as much of her as possible and then kissed her cheek and her forehead. "I'll follow thee and make a heaven of hell," he whispered and waited, hoping for a response. "Come on, baby? That was a good one….alright…I'm sorry. It's okay," he ran his hands over her lightly. "You're okay. My fighter," he smiled and pushed the hair out of her face. "You're amazing. I'll be right back. Your dad's on the way and I'll be right back. I love you."
He pushed himself off the ground and back down the hole without looking back. Intellectually, he knew she was safe. Understood it the same way he knew that one plus one was two. His racing heart was another story. A hot panic flushed through his system the further he moved away from her. Panic that she would not be where he left her. Panic that he tried to control by taking deep breaths through his nose and forcing mind over matter. Race had told him earlier that these feelings had more to do with lack of sleep than weakness. He tried to focus on that. As if knowing it would make the feelings go away. Praying that Race was right because he needed to be stronger than he felt.
"What's wrong?" Keri asked as soon as his feet hit the ground.
Jonny shook his head clear of the cobwebs. "Nothing," he smiled weakly, crouching down so Brenda could easily climb on his back. "Your chariot awaits," he said quietly.
Keri was unconvinced. "You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders right now," she commented as she helped Brenda.
"Nah," Jonny stood. "Just a pretty girl."
Keri laughed softly. "That was a lame joke."
"You set me up. Too good to ignore," Jonny shot back. "Besides…I'm a lame joke kind of guy."
"I highly doubt that."
"Well…maybe I'm just trying to make you smile."
"Sounds closer to the truth," Keri mumbled.
"Give me a head start and then follow us up," Jonny directed. "Go slow. Seriously."
"Promise," she sighed. "The last thing I want is a head injury after everything."
Jonny smirked. "I knew you were smart from the moment I saw you." Then he looked over his shoulder at Brenda. She was resting her head on his shoulder and had her good arm wrapped tightly around his neck. "You okay? Gonna be able to hold on?"
"Yes," she mumbled.
Her voice was weak and did not give Jonny much confidence. "Let's make a change here before we get moving." He eased her to the ground and then brought her around in front of him. "Let's do it this way?" he suggested. "I'm a little nervous you're gonna pass out on me. This way I can catch you. Alright?"
"Yes. Okay," she nodded, wrapping her arm around him and letting him lift her up.
"Take a power nap on my shoulder and we'll be there before you know it," Jonny told her and then started to climb. "Don't look down."
"Okay." She rested her head on his shoulder again and started to cry. "Thank you. Thank you for…"
"Please stop thanking me," he sighed. "Don't thank me for doing the right thing. That feels weird."
"People are assholes," Keri called out from below. "Which is why 'doing the right thing' actually surprises people and warrants thanks."
"She's right," Brenda agreed. "I see it daily at work. People are assholes…and idiots too."
"Not all people," Jonny argued.
"No…so thanks for not being an asshole," Keri told him. "Will you accept that?"
"Yeah," Jonny laughed. "Sure."
"I might throw up on you," Brenda warned after a beat.
"Go for it," Jonny told her. "Jess puked on me once. I've convinced myself its good luck. The night still turned out pretty great."
"Really?"
"Yeah…fucking prom. She wasn't really in to it, but I thought we should go," he added. "Get the full high school experience. Anyway…I spent more of the night taking care of her on a bathroom floor than I planned, but it was still fun."
"Are you a for real?" Keri scoffed. "Also, I don't consider being vomited on good luck, but you do what you need to, Brenda."
"I think I'm good," Brenda announced.
"Almost there," Jonny told her, climbing out of the hole less than a minute later and easing Brenda to the ground. He held on to her and rubbed her good arm. She was cold and unsteady on her feet. "Open your eyes and take a few deep breaths for me."
"I got her," Keri told him as soon as she was upright.
"Keep her close and try to warm her up," Jonny instructed.
After that, Jonny did not waste a second. He cleared everything that was blocking the front door and tried the handle. "Fuck." Locked. He checked his phone. "Still no signal," he told them. He looked at the door, the window and back at the door. Deciding that trying to pick the lock quickly was a better option than taking injured and unconscious girls through the window he had climbed in. He needed to get Jessie and Brenda somewhere warm as soon as possible. He grabbed the picking tools from his pocket, wiped the sweat from his brow and got on his knees to get to work.
"Who the hell are you?" Keri asked.
Jonny assumed it was rhetorical and did not respond. A minute later, he swung the door open and went right for Jessie. He felt a noticeable calm wash over him once her cheek was pressed into his chest again. "The car is a few blocks away," he told the girls. "Do you want to come with me or wait for me?"
"Come with you," they said in unison.
"Follow me."
XXX
Race's eyes darted around wildly as he drove down Everwood Drive. He spotted them and the SUV at the same time, pressing his foot down harder on the gas. He hastily parked Mark's car in front of the SUV, jumped out and ran toward Jonny. He vaguely registered Jonny telling the girls not to be scared.
"Give her to me," Race ordered and started to grab her before he finished giving the order. "Give her to me," he insisted when Jonny resisted.
"Sorry," Jonny mumbled and let go reluctantly. Then he turned to Keri and handed her the keys to the SUV. "Can you get her in the car? I'll be right there."
"Sure thing," Keri nodded. Jonny watched them walk away before turning back to Race who was fussing over Jessie. Then Race started rattling off questions, but his eyes never left Jessie.
"Has she regained consciousness at all?" Race asked.
"No."
"Do you know what he gave her?" Race asked with more worry.
"One of the girls is a nurse," Jonny explained. "She thinks it was Ketamine."
"Were all the girls drugged?"
"Yes, but Brenda and Keri are both pretty lucid at this point. They said he gave Jess more because she was fighting," he spat out.
Race sighed. "Did they see you pull the trigger?"
"Yes."
"Was it self-defense?" he asked slowly.
Jonny paused for far longer than Race wanted. "Yes."
"Give me the quick version, kid."
"I entered the house through a basement window. Broke the glass. There are cameras outside the house and a cell jammer in the kitchen. I checked the whole house. There was no sign of her. I don't think he ever had them in the house, but there's a blue sedan and an SUV in the garage. He had them in the springhouse on the property. About fifty feet underground. There's a poorly lit path, but it leads right to where he kept them…" he stopped.
"Jonny?"
Jonny rubbed his temples. "Sorry…headache. He's down there. Clay…that's his name. Desk in the corner with three monitors linked to all the cameras he set up. I didn't check, but I think they were just streaming video. Not recording. I don't think he had any recording equipment in the space, but again I didn't look too hard. I took his camera," Jonny sneered, pointing to it around his neck. "When I walked in…Keri was in a cage. Brenda and Jess were strapped down. No clothes. He was…assaulting Brenda. Had a knife to her throat. I told him several times to put down the knife, but he refused."
"Got it," Race nodded. "Look at me and listen to me," he then ordered and waited until Jonny did. "I'm gonna go speak to the girls for a moment. While I do that, I want you to put the gun, the camera and anything else you have on you that you don't need on the front seat of the car. I think I saw a t-shirt in the backseat you can grab. Then you're gonna get them to the hospital. The hospital staff will call the police. Don't say one word until we talk again. Not one," Race waited for a nod, but only got a blank stare. "Tell me you heard me?" Race demanded.
"I understand," Jonny whispered.
"Kid," he sighed. "I'm serious. Not a word."
"I did what I did, Race. It was necessary," he defended.
"I know," Race agreed. "But I've done a bang up job of pissing off both the locals and the FBI over the last few days so I don't want to take any chances. You need to trust me."
"I do. Okay," Jonny promised. "I heard you."
The words did not make Race feel better. He knew he needed to work fast. "Go on," Race told him and then headed for the SUV.
Jonny went for the car and did exactly what Race asked. A few seconds later, he found himself wearing a beat up Jonny Cash t-shirt and staring at the camera and the gun on the front seat. Wondering again what was on the camera. Afraid that if he let it out of his sight, he would never really know what happened to her. He turned his head to look at Race, who was speaking with Keri through the driver's side window. Then he looked back at the camera.
'Race knows best,' he told himself, slamming the door shut and walking away.
XXX
Race approached the driver's side of the SUV slowly, staring down at Jessie in his arms the whole way.
'Thank you,' he thought.
Keri rolled down the window as he arrived. Race peeked into the car and saw Brenda lying down across the back seat. "I'm sorry if I frightened you earlier," he started. "I'm Jessie's father."
"Hi," Keri nodded, but did not meet his gaze.
"Are you sure you're okay to drive?" he asked, leaning down until she did look at him. He wanted to see her pupils.
"I am," she said. "I'm from here. I know the fastest way."
"Alright," Race smiled and then cleared his throat. "Can you tell me what happened? I couldn't get much out of Jonny." He wanted to know how she would answer.
Keri stared at Race for a long moment and then glanced at Jonny who was coming toward them. "He saved us," she shrugged. "Clay was gonna kill us and he stopped it. That's all I know."
"Drive safe," Race smiled. "I'll see you at the hospital." He walked over to Jonny on the sidewalk, realizing that he had to give Jessie back and that he really did not want to. He sighed, looking down at her one more time and kissing the side of her head. "I love you, Ponchita. So so much. I need to take care of a few things, but I'll see you soon."
XXX
Jonny relaxed back into the front seat. He had given his phone to Brenda so she could call her fiancé. Keri's parents were out of town so she wanted to wait before calling them. There was nothing more he could do until they reached the hospital. He looked down at her. Readjusting her for the third time to make sure she looked comfortable. No matter what he did. No matter how many times he brushed a hand over her arm or her face, he could not tell if she was comfortable. Her face was blank and pale and her head would loll to one side or the other when he jostled her.
Jonny leaned over so he could speak quietly against her ear. He stared at an eyelash while he spoke. Hoping to see a flutter. "I wish I knew if you could hear me, Ace." He pressed her hand against his chest so she could feel his heartbeat.
"I like falling asleep to your heartbeat."
She had been curled up against him when she said that.
"Now who's cheesy?"
He had teased her for saying it.
"Please wake up, Jess? So I know you're alright…Please? Just a quick smile? Will you do that for me?" He heard the desperation in his voice and wanted to smack himself. "I'm sorry, baby. I know I'm not being fair…but I'm never fair when I'm trying to make you smile at me," he grinned. "You know I'm gonna keep running my loud mouth until you open those amazing green eyes and roll them at me. Tell me to 'shut up, Hotshot'. Come on, you know you want to," he laughed and then sighed. "Okay." He pressed his neck into the headrest before leaning against the window instead. Staring at the lines on the road as they raced by his eyes. His mind immediately flashed to the last time he had done that and it was like a slap in the face. Because the last time he had done that was after finding Lena. They were racing away from the scene before the authorities arrived. Away from a dead girl that he thought was his. Only for a moment, but long enough to know for sure how that would feel. As they drove away from Lena, he had an intense memory of holding Jessie close after their first time. Specifically the feel of her heart beating against his ribcage. His eyes watered when he realized he could feel that now. She was here.
It had been less than a day, but that memory seemed far way. 'Just focus on her,' he told himself.
"I keep thinking about how we spent Christmas last year, babe. Do you remember? It was just the five of us and we were home," he smiled. "There was at least a foot and a half of snow on the ground, but we didn't feel like going outside. So we opened gifts and watched movies all day by the fire. I don't think any of us changed outta pajamas all day. Even for dinner. You did take off those red silk ones I like so much at one point and put on those cute cotton ones with mistletoe. I'm pretty sure I stole a kiss every time your dad left the room…that was a great day."
He stared at her for a while without speaking. "I love you, beautiful. More than anything."
Then he pressed his forehead against the window. The cold felt good now. He closed his eyes, but could still see her face. 'Wake up,' he thought. 'Please…wake up. I need to know you're okay.' His chest tightened. It hurt.
"Are you still awake?" she whispered into the dark. He could not see her, but he could feel her. Lying half on top of him with her head nestled under his chin. Her fingertips were lightly caressing his side. Her breathing was steady and every few seconds her eyelash would flutter against his chest. His arm was draped over her lazily. "Hotshot?" she whispered it softer this time. "I love you."
He startled her by rubbing his hand across her bare back instead of speaking. "You scared me," she sighed.
"Forgive me, beautiful?" he flirted.
"Yes." She kissed his chest.
"You okay?" he asked nervously.
"I feel amazing," she admitted and he smiled. "How do you feel?"
"Incredible," he grinned. "Like I want to brag to my best friend about the night I just had."
"Spill it?" she laughed.
He tilted her chin up so he could kiss her first. "Promise you're okay?"
"I love you," she said sincerely. "Tell me about your night, baby."
"Well…I spent it in bed with the girl of my dreams for the first time and it was even better than I dreamed."
"Thought about it a lot, had ya?" she teased.
"SO MUCH," he laughed. "Can't sleep?" he then asked.
"Just don't want to," she admitted. "I don't want this night to end, Jonny."
"I have an idea," he announced, kissing the top of her head and then reluctantly slipping out of bed in search of his boxers.
"No," she pouted, turning the light on his nightstand on. "I already dislike this."
He laughed as he leaned down and gave her three quick kisses. "I love you like this."
"Like what?" she asked.
"This," he walked away, but called back over his shoulder as he went. "I'll be right back. Don't you dare put one article of clothing on, baby."
He rushed and was back in under five minutes with a plate of fruit, crackers and half a bottle of wine he knew she liked. When he got back to his room, she was sitting up in his bed and leaning back against the headboard. A sheet wrapped around her. He stood at the foot of the bed and smiled at her.
"What?" she wanted to know.
"Cataloguing," he grinned, handing her the plate and a wine glass.
"This is your dad's wine," she pointed out as he poured. "What if he realizes it's missing?"
"I'll tell him I drank it," Jonny shrugged. "They let us drink it at dinner. What's the difference?"
"I don't know," she laughed as she watched him remove his boxers and climb back into bed next to her. "But I would love to hear you explain how this is no different to our dads."
"Shut up," he bumped her shoulder with his. "…and kiss me already."
She did with a smile. "You're wonderful."
"I'm just in love with you, Bannon."
XXX
"This is so embarrassing," she said tiredly.
"It's not," he promised, rubbing her hip. She was curled up on a hotel bathroom floor. Still in her prom dress. She covered her face and groaned when he flushed the toilet again. "I think it may even be a prom rite of passage, babe."
"Stop trying to make me feel better," she sighed.
"I don't think I'm capable of stopping," he teased.
"I meant for this night to be romantic," she complained. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have drank that much."
"You were having a lot of fun up until twenty minutes ago," he laughed and then curled up behind her. "It was actually really cute to watch."
"Oh no," she whined, but still grabbed the arm he wrapped around her and held on tight. "This is what you're gonna remember about tonight. Spooning me on a bathroom floor. Fucking prom."
He kissed the back of her head. "I know you won't believe me, but I don't want to be anywhere else right now."
"I threw up on you," she shot back.
"Only a little."
"You're too nice."
"Would you seriously not take care of me if our positions were reversed?" he asked.
She turned around in his arms and buried her head in his chest. "I'll always take care of you," she whispered. "Thank you for taking care of me."
"I love you, Ace."
"Will you ever want to have sex with me again or is the mystery just gone?" she mumbled overdramatically.
He laughed with his whole body and pulled her closer. "Babe, I'm three hundred and forty percent positive that's not an issue."
XXX
"Wake up. Wake up, baby." He heard her voice and registered the softness of her hand roaming his bare chest, but he did not want to wake up. He wanted to go back to his naughty dream about her.
"Hnnn," he grunted. "No." He rolled away from her hand and onto his stomach. He grabbed a pillow and put it over his head for good measure. She jumped onto his bed, occupying the spot he had just been sleeping in. Jostling the mattress and making it harder for him to slip right back into slumber. "Baby," he groaned into his mattress. "Stop…sleep. I need sleep."
"No," she responded defiantly. "You woke me up from a very peaceful sleep last night."
"Hnnn," he grunted again when she straddled him, sitting down hard on his lower back. Her soft laughter at his response almost annoyed him. Almost. "Nothing coming out of your mouth last night sounded like a complaint," he shot back.
"That's true," she hummed happily, leaning down to press her lips to the middle of his spine. Running her hands up his back until she could capture his wrists. Then she kissed her way up to the nape of his neck. "You did make it worth my while," she whispered. "You always do." The way she said it made him tense in a good way. Any mild annoyance on his part evaporated as her hair and lips moved over his skin. He kept his eyes shut and gripped the pillow around his head tighter. She tightened her hands around his wrists in response. "I woke up wanting you," she moaned.
He bit his lip hard to keep from moaning too and fought the urge to push his hips into the mattress, craving the sensation. Between her and the dream his dick was wide awake and had already decided for him, but he did not want her to know that yet.
He focused his mind on her in an attempt to maintain control. Every point of contact she had with his body. Lips that were soft, but firm against his neck and shoulders. He enjoyed the ghost of their presence long after she moved on. Her tongue that would intermittingly slip through her lips to taste him. Her hair, which tickled his skin and left behind a scent that made him want to forgo showering so he did not lose it. The silky material of her shirt. Her hands holding him hostage. And finally her thighs. Bare and encasing his hips. The silk pajama bottoms she had put back on last night were gone.
It did not escape him that all he had to do was turn over and he would likely get a repeat performance from the previous night. Making love. Slow. Her on top and in control. Enjoying every view she offered him to the fullest. From the unfiltered looks that crossed her face to watching himself as he filled her. Sometimes that felt like an out of body experience.
He broke out in a light sweat just thinking about it, despite it being the dead of winter in Maine. Despite the fact that he was only in boxers. She sent fire through his veins. He freed his wrists easily and tossed the pillow he had been hiding under to the ground, crossing his arms to use as a pillow instead. She straightened and started giving him a great massage. He focused again. On her hands. "That feels good, Jess."
"I'll make you feel better if you turn over," she promised.
He smiled, but stayed put.
She huffed, slapping her palms down on his shoulders. "Are you seriously upset?"
He flipped onto his back so quick it scared her. He gripped her hips and she gripped his shoulders to regain her balance. Before she could, he positioned her over his growing erection without shame, seeking the friction he needed.
"Why would I be upset?" he asked through his teeth. Eyes closed again and now focused on keeping her body where he wanted it. They pushed against each other lazily. In a practiced rhythm. Like they had all the time in the world. "Mmm," he sighed. He could not remember ever having a better wake up call.
"Don't you dare fall asleep on me," she teased. "It'll give me a complex."
He laughed. Out a breath and undeniably consumed by her. He opened his eyes and looked at her for the first time since she arrived. Then he couldn't take his eyes off her.
"Ha," she threw her head back and stared at the ceiling. He wanted to sit up a lick her neck, but he ignored the instinct. Her hands curled into tight fists against his stomach. "Jonny," she moaned and then met his eyes with a hooded gaze that sent his heart racing even faster. She flattened her hands and traced the outline of his abs. His muscles tensed in anticipation. "I love your body so much. I think about it all the time," she admitted.
"Baby…if I ever fall asleep while you're on top of me just kill me on the spot. That's not a world I want to live in," he professed. She giggled and then started to unbutton her shirt with one hand. Normally, he would swat her hand away and undress her himself, but he contented himself with watching. He kept his hands on her hips to guide them. The slow build of tension between them was addicting. "I love you," he worshiped. "Best present ever."
She smiled softly as she undid the last button and pushed the silk off her shoulders. Then she folded the shirt into a makeshift blindfold and he smiled. 'This is new,' he thought excitedly. He did not protest when she leaned forward and tied it around his head. It was not tight, but he had no intention of taking it off.
She kissed and nibbled his ear. "I love you more, Hotshot. More than you'll ever understand."
He swallowed and she licked his Adams apple. "Don't tease me, Jess. Please."
He felt her smile against his skin. "Where's the fun in that?" she laughed low in her throat and bit down on his shoulder lightly. His hips bucked wildly in response.
"You shouldn't have left last night," he sighed. Blindly, but expertly, running his hands up her body to tease her nipples.
She placed her hands over his and held them to her breasts. He could feel her heart beating beneath his palms. He could feel her heat pressed against his stomach. "Don't be upset," she told him.
"I'm not upset," he clarified. "I just wanted to wake up next to you."
"You did," she pulled his hands from her body, kissing each palm and then his fingers.
"Not the same," he growled.
"Baby," she scolded. "Don't be unreasonable. I can't stay here all night with my dad in the house. He'll either kill you or have a heart attack."
Jonny grinned wide. "He can't kill me."
"It's so sweet that you think that," she teased.
Jonny rolled his eyes beneath the blindfold. "So your solution is to leave at three in the morning and sneak back in before six?" he challenged.
"Yep," she laughed. "Now stop complaining or I'll leave and you can take care of yourself…OH."
He scared her again with his sudden movement. He pulled the blindfold away with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her, jumping off the bed and taking her with him. She instinctively wrapped her arms and legs around him, which always sent his head into an animal-like tailspin. Slow and sweet would not cut it. She had been perched on top of him for too long. He wanted inside her and he did not want to test his luck with being interrupted.
Eventually, they made it back to the bed. She kissed her way up his body and then laid beside him, curling into his side. She ran her fingers over his chest lovingly and he did the same with her hair.
After a few minutes, she sighed and sat up. "I need to go."
He pursed his lips and met her gaze. "I don't like this trend."
"This isn't a trend. It's just the way it has to be for now."
"I know," he responded dramatically. "I'm sulking."
"Aww," she kissed his cheek. "What can I do to make you feel better?"
"I'm sure I can think of something," he played along. "If you want to sneak into my room again tonight."
"I want to sneak into your room every single night."
He smiled and lifted a hand to caress her temple. "I want to wake up to this face every single day."
"Merry Christmas, Jonny."
"Merry Christmas, Jess."
XXX
Keri closed her hand around his shoulder and shook him before she spoke. "Wake up. We're here."
"I'm awake," Jonny mumbled, but did not move. He had felt her park, but was anxious at the thought of leaving the bubble of the car. Having to hand his girl over to someone else. He held on tighter at the thought. Afraid he would not be there when she opened her eyes. He wanted to be there to reassure her. She was safe.
She is safe. It did not feel real yet.
'Move,' he told himself. He opened his eyes and immediately connected with her lids. Still closed and too red for his liking. Because she had been crying…and he was not there.
He was not expecting her to meet his gaze, but was still disappointed. He looked back and Brenda and over at Keri in turn, giving them both a smile and a nod.
They got out of the car, but Jonny waited a beat. It was his first real moment alone with her since she was taken. He looked down again. Grateful for the steady rise and fall of her chest. For the, all things considered, peaceful look on her face. He stroked her hair slowly. Like they had more time than they did. It struck him again in that moment. How close he had come to losing her. How crippling that would be. He moved his hand to her face because he needed to feel that her skin was warm and alive. "I think you're amazing. Thank you for fighting until you couldn't," he smiled. "Thank you for screaming your head off until I heard you. Thank god you did that, love. I don't know what I would've done if…"
He paused and took a deep breath. "I would've never gotten over you," he admitted. "You fill…every inch of heart. Baby, wake up and I'll stop making big declarations." He paused again. "You're smart to ignore me on that one," he grinned. "You know me too well. I won't stop…I mean every word though."
He stared at her face for a few more silent moments.
"How are you so beautiful without even trying?" he laughed and then his breath hitched. His view of her quickly clouded with unshed angry tears. "Fuck." He lifted his head and stared at the ceiling of the SUV to contain them. He was so angry that she was hurt. The sound of her screaming was carved into his heart. Along with every bruise, cut and burn he had seen on her body. The pressure in his chest grew as he thought about it. He knew he needed to control these feelings. He knew it was not his fault, but he could not control the anger and self-blame that kept bubbling up.
'Keep it together. Keep it together. Keep it together.'
After repeating his mantra a few times, he started talking to her again. His voice getting progressively shakier. "I know you hate hospitals, Jess…but this is the way it has to be. I really need someone to tell me you'll be alright. I need to hear a doctor say it. So just do it for me?" He waited for a response that would not come. "Okay?" he whispered. "Okay. I know it doesn't feel like it right now, but I promise…I promise…I'll be strong for you. I promise, babe. Whatever you need. No matter what. I'll be your safe place…or your punching bag," he laughed. "I prefer the former to be clear." He leaned down and pressed his lips to her forehead one more time. "I love you. I love you." Then he opened the door and pulled her closer to his chest.
A glimpse of Race's discarded ring in the center console caught his eye before stepping out of the car. He stared at it for a few seconds and then slipped it on his finger without another thought. She was his family and he would not let anyone dictate otherwise.
He had to jog a little, but easily caught up to Brenda and Keri. Jonny was not sure what he expected as they walked through the emergency room doors, but what he got was business as usual. No police and no descending family members. Yet. Jonny took the lead and explained everything to the nurse behind the front desk. She had been following the news closely and let them back immediately. Everything after that was a bit of a blur. He lost track of Brenda and Keri quickly. That made him feel a little anxious, but he was assured they were being taken to private rooms.
He breathed a little easier when a nurse directed him to a room for Jessie. He had refused to put her down until they got to the room and the staff indulged him. Whether they thought he was crazy or just felt bad for him he did not know or care. He placed her in the bed and covered her up. He sat on the edge and rubbed her legs over the sheets to warm her. "You're safe, baby. I love you. You know…"
"Excuse me?" a voice from behind interrupted. Jonny turned and saw a tiny nurse. A little over five feet. Blonde with closely cropped hair.
"Hi," Jonny greeted and stood. "I'm Jonny. What…will she be examined soon?" he wanted to know.
"I'm Corie and yes," she told him.
"I'd like to speak with her doctor first," Jonny requested. "And I'll be staying with her."
Corie gave him a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry…only family can…"
"I'm not leaving," Jonny cut her off. "She's my wife."
AN: Quotes from Shakespeare and Sleeping Beauty