A.N - Sorry for the delay. I like this chapter. Had fun writing Paul's lines at least. There shouldn't be much of this story left. A few chapters and an Epilogue so I'd like to thank everyone who's reviewed throught the course of the story - even back when my writing was terrible at the beginning.

You guys rock!

Well, here you go. I'm not sure bout the ending though.

Chapter 20

The stupidity of their actions hit them both at the exact same time.

Almost as if it had been planned, the duo wrapped in each other's arms turned from the young farm boy and looked at Paul behind them instead. His hand was still stemming the flow of blood from his nose but he managed to keep that wicked smirk on his face.

"If you had been paying attention," He told Jesse who was gripping Susannah tightly in fear. "Then you would know that, when you travel into the past, you should try to be seen by as little amount of people as possible. Especially if one of them is considered engaged."

Suze felt like hitting something. Preferably 'Mr Slaski's' face. He knew this was going to happen. He knew Isabella was engaged.

"Paul Slater!" She practically hissed at the boy. "You get us out of this right now or I swear, I'll -"

"Nuh-uh," Paul admonished breaking apart the couple to place his own arm around Susannah instead. "You're a lady, Isabella."

He leaned in close to her ear and spoke threateningly.

"And it's Slaski. You'd do well to remember it."

Jesse stood staring in disbelief and anger at Paul, his hatred for the boy consuming the whole of him instantly.

There was no way Jesse was just going to stand back and let Slater put his hands all over his girlfriend.

"Get your hands off of her, Slater," Jesse emphasised the last word, telling Paul that he wasn't going to stand for any of his games.

Paul's response was to tighten his grip around Suze - who was struggling wildly - and look tiredly over at the other boy.

"Go home, de Silva," he said. "There's nothing for you here."

"Other then my girlfriend, you mean?" Jesse was livid.

Paul threw him a glare.

"I don't want to have to challenge you to a duel."

Paul was just loving this.

Suze kicked Paul in the shin when he was distracted with Jesse, startling the boy so much that he released his grip on her. She wasted no time in running towards Jesse, who was smirking at Paul.

"Stay away from me." She whispered so as not to let the farm boy hear. She was the only one who remembered his presence, it appeared. "Don't touch me ever again."

"Awwww, come on Izzy," Paul pouted also remembering his audience. The blood that had once been gushing out of his nose had calmed down by now. "Is that any way to talk to your fiancé?"

"She would never marry you." Jesse gloated with a smile on his face as he possessively kissed Susannah's temple.

"Miss Isabella?" The boy called out to her.

The trio turned to look over at him, realising for the first time that their audience had grown.

"You get your hands off my daughter!" Cried an angry voice who was glaring daggers at Jesse. "And you, Isabella! You're dear sister has only just passed away and already you're showing such disrespect for her memory!"

"Sister?" Suze whispered to Jesse, clearly confused with the recent events.

"Georgie," Jesse whispered back remembering what Paul had told him months ago. Isabella and Georgie had been sisters.

"Why, Mr Slaski!" Came a voice from a woman who was standing very close to Isabella's father. "Your nose!"

"I'll live," Paul stated dryly. "I'll be fine when my beloved is back into my arms."

Jesse's arms tightened around Susannah as he realised Paul's game. That's all it was to Paul - a game. He didn't care about anyone else but himself. He just wanted the chance to have Susannah in his arms. And Jesse was damned if he was going to let him.

"Isabella," The woman's voice came again, obviously that of Isabella's mother. "Step away from that … man."

The way she said the word man indicated that she thought Jesse was anything but.

"No, um, mom." Suze crinkled her brow. It felt weird saying that. "I love Jesse."

And to prove her point she dug deeper into his embrace.

"Disgrace!" Shouted Isabella's dad.

Jesse grasped Susannah to him closely and whispered to her.

"Querida, listen," he murmured. "We're going to have to run. Not far. Just away, so that we can travel home."

Suze nodded her head, grateful for the escape.

"Okay." He was still whispering into her ear. "On the count of three. One."

They pulled apart from each other and faced the crowd who was slowly circling them, Paul leading.

"Two."

Suze clutched Jesse's hand. No way was she going to leave him again.

"Three!"

At Jesse's shout the two broke off at a run, away from the angry shouts of the crowd. Their hand's remained entwined as the pair urged their legs to take them away faster.

Looking back over his shoulder to check the coast was clear, Jesse became aware of someone following them. A person who was closer to them than the rest of the crowd.

Paul.

"Shift, Susannah." Jesse urged letting go of her hand. "I'll be right there."

"Promise?"

Jesse kissed her, quickly and passionately.

"Promise. I'll be right there."

Then he watched as his girlfriend closed her eyes and vanished. There was slight twinge of sadness when he thought of him and Susannah being seperated again.

Composing himself quickly, he turned to face Paul just as the boy was slowing in front of him. Without pausing, Jesse threw a punch at Paul's already-tender nose.

"That's for taking her."

He kicked Paul's legs out from under him so that he collapsed on the ground.

"That's for practically getting off on it."

A final punch caught Paul's ribs and winded him.

"How could you do it?" Jesse demanded, his voice raw. "Take her away from her friends just for the satisfaction of holding her in your arms for a minute - less than that. After locking her away in a barn of all places for an entire night?"

"When did she…?" Paul spluttered out, coughing as he did so.

"When did she tell me?" Jesse laughed, his relief of having Susannah safely at home combining with the rage he felt towards Paul for taking her away combining in one mass of hysteria. "She didn't have to. I could see it. The rope burns, the raw marks around her mouth."

Jesse shivered as he thought about what Paul had done.

"How could you?" He asked coldly.

"I didn't mean … I didn't … I thought that -" Paul couldn't get out a full sentence.

"Save it," Jesse demanded staring at the broken boy on the floor. "You're not worth it. Do anything like this again, and I'll do more then break a few ribs, got me?"

Paul could only nod in fear. Who knew Hector de Silva could be so scary?

The sounds of an angry mob grew closer.

"I'll leave you to clear up this mess."

Then Jesse closed his eyes and pictured Susannah. A smile crossed his face as he too vanished in front of Paul, leaving the boy to stare up at empty air helplessly as pain overcame him.

Paul passed out just as Isabella's dad's voice came screaming over at him.

"Where is my daughter?!"