Jesse watched as Rosa's eyes flew open and widened in shock, but there was something there just a hint or shadow of fear? He pulled back and looked over her head, keeping her in place so she didn't have to look at the fool interrupting them.
"How about later, partner?" Jesse tried to keep his voice level and calm but he wanted to sock the guy in the face, what idiot sees two people having a moment and decides to interrupt on purpose to ask for a dance? "Can't you tell we're in the middle a somethin?"
"Sarah." The guy said calmly, his voice faintly beckoning, Jesse's eyes narrowed looking him over. He didn't seem like a gang member, he was dressed nicely with dark hair swept back from his square face. "Who is this guy?"
"What are you doing here?" She snapped, looking over her shoulder at him, her green eyes narrowing sharply. Jesse started to ease his grip on her but she stepped closer to him. "Shouldn't you be at home with your new girl?" She scoffed and shook her head, looking back up at Jesse. "I can't even look at him right now, I'm sorry, just..." her eyes were pleading, the fleeting look from before buried under the fire in them now. "Can we go? I don't really feel like dancing now." She slid her hands down his arms and gripped his hands tightly.
"Whatever you want darlin'." Jesse nodded, squeezing her hands back gently before moving to slip an arm around her shoulder when the newcomer smacked his hand away, earning him a death stare from the cowboy. "Easy there hombre. She don't wanna stay, she ain't gotta."
"I need to talk to you Sarah," The guy snapped as he ignored Jesse completely. "We got somewhere we can go, just the two of us?" His demeanor seemed to change, but Jesse got a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach as Sarah looked at the guy. "All I want to do is talk, if you will talk to me tonight, and we get everything we need to be said, said...then I'll go and I'll never bug you again."
Jesse didn't move, he didn't want her to agree. He wanted to wrap his arm around her and take her out to the shooting range at the hideout so she could vent her frustration out one bottles and cans. He bit the inside of his lip to keep himself from outright scowling at his rotten luck, he was so close to a kiss and it had been taken from him. Sarah took a deep breath before closing her eyes and shaking her head slowly, Jesse watched carefully as she opened her eyes slowly and looked up into Jesse's face-her green eyes seemed just as conflicted as Jesse felt.
"I'm so sorry cowboy," She tried to give a smile but it didn't reach her eyes, Jesse didn't return the empty gesture. "Truth be told I did still want to dance with you," She pat Jesse's hand that still held hers and the corners of his mouth tip up for half a second before she continued. "But the sooner I get this over with, the sooner I can move on. I won't lie to you, I need a bit of closure-I've got a lot on my chest that I need to say to him." She cast a dark glance over her shoulder at the guy; who gave a pitiful look and cast his eyes downward. "We can pick back up later?"
Jesse could swear he heard a flutter in her voice as she asked, and for half a second he was flooded with the feeling of the impending kiss that almost happened. He felt like his body could float from the earth and his heart picked up in speed. He tipped his head down so his hat his eyes and decided to let her sweat it out for a second before he peeked around the edge of his hat and winked.
"Course sugar," Before Jesse could think better of it, he leaned in quickly as Rosa started to turn away and planted a sweet, soft kiss on her cheek by her eye. He heard her gasp and as she put her hand to her face as if to protect the fresh kiss, her face darkened with a blush as the lights dimmed. "I'll be waitin, you know how to find me." Jesse turned halfway and looked over Rosa's head at the ex-boyfriend and nodded once, not really out of spite or respect, but the acknowledgment of his existence.
Rosa turned away slowly, hand still to her cheek before turning and waving the guy in a different direction, following after him with a few glances back over her shoulder until they were lost to the crowd. The further she got from him, the more his light smile fell until he was frowning sadly at the dance floor. He made his way to the edge and stepped into the grass, putting his hands in his pockets as he walked mindlessly to the hotel.
He was about to head inside when a low whistle caught his attention, Jesse looked up and scanned the area around the rim of his hat when he caught sight of El Lobo sauntering over to him with a wide grin, still wearing his leather jacket with the white skull and a new bandana with the same mark.
"Didn't expect to see you fer a few more days," Jesse chuckled, feeling a bit nervous. He was still riding the rollercoaster of his feelings for Rosa, he wasn't sure he would be on the top of his game to deal with The Wolf. When Lobo got close he flung an arm around Jesse's shoulder and shrugged as he steered him away from the hotel gently and walked him slowly toward the road some feet away.
"Yeah well, the job just became a rush order and I'm in need of some hands, get me?" Jesse listened intently to see if he could hear Genji following but he couldn't hear much over the roar of the music and dancing crowd.
"That so?" Jesse chuckled, tugging on his shirt so it would release itself from his pants. "So you gonna fill me on on this job, or do ya just need some muscle to keep people in line?"
"I got a few newbies." Lobo sighed, sounding irritated. "Need someone to show 'em the ropes while on the job. The group we in contact with only wants me to do the talkin', they aren't trusting of us yet-so I need you to keep my newbs in line till this is all squared away. Keep 'em quiet and keep 'em packin-yeah?"
"Man-babysitting?" Jesse acted repulsed, shoving Lobo's arm off from his shoulder and picking up his speed. "I ain't bein' nobodies bitch boy."
"Now hold on!" Lobo snapped, rushing in front of Jesse and stopping him with a hand. "I didn't say babysit, I need you to show 'em how this shit works. How to pack into crates, how to make shit go smooth yeah? You'd be head of the packin-if you need to waste somebody," Lobo shrugged as if he wasn't talking about murder, but sweeping up broken glass. "Then waste 'em. Break somebody if you gotta. Show 'em how Deadlock ran their shit."
Jesse pretended to think it over, acting as if he was still upset for not playing a more important role-but in truth he couldn't ask for a better position. He would be teaching newbs how to pack away the weapons for shipment. He could tag some of the crates that would be sent ahead before Overwatch and Blackwatch 'could' stop them and it would lead them to the hideout or a warehouse for the other gang.
Slowly, Jesse began to smile at his luck-this was lining up nicely. His job could be over in a night or two and he could dedicate what time he had left to be with Rosa. Jesse looked up and smiled outright at Lobo and held out his hand to shake, the older man smiled back and shook the outstretched hand firmly before punching Jesse in the arm playfully.
"We hidin out in this ol' abandonde warehouse, north a town." Lobo pointed out into the wilderness, "When you find'a dead deer on the sidea the road? Follow the paint cans, we got'em spread out 'round the road. Be there tonight, got some other stuff I gotta do, but we start packin tonight." Lobo started to leave when he pointed to JEsse and all the comraderies faded. "Don't fuck me over McCree."
"Ain't my type," Jesse smirked, turning to walk back to the hideout where Gabe would be. "Be there when I get done, gotta finish some stuff up with Santana first, your new guys there already?"
"Better be," Lobo snickered, "Or they'll be missin some body parts."
The two parted ways and Jesse returned to the cabin and filled in the adults on his talk with The Wolf. It was quickly agreed that Jesse initial thought was a good one, get two gangs with one job. It was set up so that Jesse would make one of the new gang members go out into town and attract the attention of the rest of the team and lead them back to the hideout without coming in contact with Jesse. He would plant a few trackers to the false inside of the containers while doing inspections and get them on the move before the operation would get into full swing.
Genji insisted that he be brought along with Jesse but the cowboy refused the help, he explained that if he pushed his luck by bringing in his own new guy, it might tip off Lobo, it was best if he went alone and tried to get it over with as soon as possible. By the time midnight rolled around, Jesse was on edge, he wanted to get the job over with-so he took Santana's jeep down the road and was glad that he found the warehouse without much issue. It looked like it was falling apart, and could collapse any minute-all the more reason why he could rush the packing. When he shut the jeep off and jumped out there were three young men smoking outside the open door.
"Donde esta Lobo?" Jesse asked, narrowing his eyes at the boys as they looked between one another. "Tell him Jesse is here." Jesse slipped on his gloves as a voice came from inside the warehouse.
"There's the cowboy, yo-numbskulls. This hombre used to run with Deadlock-he knows the in's-n-outs a packing-he's gonna show you how and make sure ya'll don't fuck it up. Listen to him, quicker we all get this done-quicker everyone gets paid and we can move along to the next job-yeah?" The three men looked at one another before giving Jesse a once over and standing up to follow Lobo inside. The older man took Jesse on a quick walk through and left him alone to teach his tricks to the three men who picked up very quickly-much to Jesse's surprise.
They didn't talk much and were focused on the task, so there was little that Jesse had to correct as the loaded the fake barrels with guns and explosives and ammo. When he came across a barrel that needed fixing, he leaned down further inside and placed a small tracker the size of his thumb and packed things around it so that no one would notice. The work went by and before dawn, it was completed. Lobo came in and checked the first few barrels, nodding in satisfaction and gave a whistle before slapping Jesse on the shoulder.
"I'm impressed, you whipped 'em into shape overnight, expect a nice bonus there cowboy."
Jesse chuckled and excused himself, reminding Lobo that he was to contact him at the hotel. The drive back to the cabin was slow, although Jesse had naped before he had gone to the job he was tired and knew that if he wrecked the jeep that Santana would kill him long before Gabe could. But as he saw the hotel come into sight, Jesse found himself driving past. A feeling a dread overtook him, his blood turned cold as his heart slowly pounded in his chest, each beat hurting like cold hands were squeezing it in rhythm. His hands clenched the steering wheel a tightly as he found himself pulling up to the two story house that Ami and Rosa were staying in.
As he pulled up he noticed the front door was standing open, as was the double windows in what would have been a bedroom. Some of the lights were on, but most of the house was dark. Jesse glanced at the clock and realized how early it was-it was possible that Ami had stepped out to smoke and was nearby. He put his hand on the gear shift to put the jeep into reverse when he heard shouting.
"Get out!"
"No fuck that-I'm not leavin so you can go runnin back to your fuckboy!"
"Don't call him that-if anyone is a fuckboy its you!"
"Whats his name!"
"I don't know!"
"Course you don't you fuckin whore!"
Jesse recognized Rosa's voice and could tell this had been going on for a while, he half wondered where Ami was as a shadow appeared in the window, he caught sight of Rosa leaning on the metal bar that ran across the double windows and served a makeshift tiny balcony. Her hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail, she looked like she had been up and pacing all night. He stood up and hung on the side of Jeep so she could see him, she seemed to take in a breath and mouthed 'No' to him and gently shook her head before another shadow appeared and the guy from before grabbed her by the neck and stood beside her.
"Called your boy-toy to come to the rescue like your some clean little princess?" He snarled into her ear, making her close her eyes and jerk away from him. "How many times you fucked him-huh?!" The guy yanked on her neck and Jesse yelled out as he got out of the jeep but he was ignored.
"I haven't-I barely know him-I don't even know his name! He was nice to me, we danced-that's all!" Rosa snapped, "But he's made me feel more special in a few nights than you have in two years!" Just as she got free of his grip, she was slapped hard across the face with his free hand. Jesse didn't bother yelling this time, he drew peacekeeper from his holster and took quick aim for the wall closest the the ex. Jesse put one bullet into the wall, level with his head as Rosa ducked away and ran further into the room, but the man followed.
Without a thought, Jesse ran inside the house, glancing around the room just enough to see that it was a wreck-they had been fighting all night and more than one thing had been thrown. Jesse took to the stairs on the far side of the room, noting the large hole in the wall halfway up, the size of a fist. The ice that had cooled his veins was hot now, he could feel it pumping in his ears as adrenaline pushed up the stairs and to the bedroom on the left, the door closed tightly. When Jesse got close he slammed his shoulder into the door and it swung open with a bang.
His eyes immediately found Rosa across the room, handcuffed to the bed's metal headrest. Not only was her cheek red on the right side where she had been slapped, but there were bruises on her neck and arms.
"Thief go!" She shouted, pulling on the handcuff as Jesse turned to look around the door as it started to swing back shut from the forceful open when he felt something hard slam into the back of his neck and his vision fade as it slammed two more times, as he lost consciousness he could see a pair of shoes step toward Rosa who balled her hands into fists, ready to defend herself.