Author's Note: I haven't written fiction in years but now just felt the urge! :) As you may notice English is not my native language, Please excuse me for my mistakes. I hope the story is gonna be okay though. :) Let me know what you think of my OC and portraying the others. Conflict of the story is going to be introduced soon!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Chapter Two: Meeting Jessica Jones

The rest of the day was a complete waste of time. Abigail couldn't focus on anything related to work during the afternoon, after she had that talk with Trish. She was sitting behind her little desk in the tiny office she shared with her colleague, Candice. Barker had his own office of course, remarkably more spacious one to be honest. Doesn't really matter though, Abigail got along with Candice and they usually worked in shifts anyway. But today was exceptional, they were together in there for the whole day – Barker's sudden leaving had put some extra load of work on the two editors. Normally Abigail wouldn't mind working in a team with Candice but today was not that day. She couldn't think of anything else than her promised meeting with that Jessica tonight. Finally she can meet someone similar to her, with the same problems. There will be a living creature who understands her struggles, maybe they can even help each other in some way.

Abigail got quite happy with this thought and couldn't help but glance over the clock in every minute. Time didn't seem to run anywhere though, workday hadn't felt so long before. She liked this job really, it was a bit different than her original career, something she had loved from the bottom of her heart, but that was then. Long, long time ago and never would go back there again. Now is okay, the job is okay she even made some new friend, like Trish. Or whatever Trish was to her, but kinda. Well, at least she offered her help in this extremely sensitive matter.

At 6 p.m. Candice shut down her computer and gAave Abbie a questioning look. She successfully mustered a smile and turned down the kind offer to get a cab and head home together. Candice didn't push the subject and Abbie was left completely alone with her thoughts for the first time today. Not for so long, as after soft knocking, Trish showed up in the doorway.

"Hi! Are you ready?"

Abbie jumped up and shut down her notebook simultaneously and a little bit too eagerly. "Yes!"

Trish nodded and they left the building in silence. Abbie just couldn't listen anymore so when they were on the street, it burst out of her:

"Where are we going? Who is this Jessica you were talking about? I want to know everything!"

Trish stopped at her car and waved to Abbie to get in. Once they were seated, she smirked at the other girl.

"Well, I haven't told anything about Jessica, I was merely thinking of her. She's my stepsister and a PI in Hell's Kitchen. She can do crazy stuff just like you."

Trish started the engine and Abbie instantly felt her heart throbbing in her throat. Someone like me!

"What? Really! She can read mine, just like me?" Wow. Mind-reading, huh? She never named this thing before. But yeah, most probably that's the exact term for her very own crazy stuff. Maybe it's time to get along with it? This whole madness, happening in her life for a time now? She smiled at the thought, yeah, it might help if I try to get on good terms with who I am, right?

But Trish shook her head. "No, not at all. But you'll see."

After a not-too-uncomfortably-long ride they arrived to a not really appealing neighborhood. Abbie has never been there before but Trish seemed to be as confident as ever so she decided not to say anything just followed her friend as close as possible. The building was worn-out and filthy but it clearly doesn't prep her for the charm of Jessica Jones herself. Trish knocked on a door with broken glass which said something about an investigation office but it was far from readable so Abbie left it alone. They waited some time, then Trish knocked again.

"Jessica. It's me!"

At the exact same moment as Trish touched the door knob, the door opened abruptly. A dark haired woman showed up behind it with circles under her eyes and also with quite a distinctive smell of whiskey.

"What?", she snapped.

"I called you," Trish hissed. "I've come with my friend. Would you let us please in?"

The woman rolled her eyes but stepped back in order to give them space. "I'm busy!", she claimed in an irritated voice.

Maybe she was indeed busy but not by cleaning her apartment that's for sure. Okay, well, Abbie didn't want to move in or be bff with her. The woman didn't offered them seats so they were standing in the middle of the living room in silence. Eventually Jessica gave a glare to Trish.

"Who is she?"

"I told you! She's my friend from work. Abigail Pond. Abbie, it's Jessica Jones."

Abbie politely extended her hand and Jessica unwillingly but surprisingly firmly shook her hand. "So what do I owe to this pleasure?"

Abbie cleared her throat but then she didn't speak up. Breaking the uncomfortable silence, Trish started to speak in an uneasy voice. "Abbie told me today about… uhm… about her certain abilities. Right, Abbie?"

Jessica, who hadn't looked at Abbie twice while they were in her apartment, now turned to her and observed her face closely. "Abilities, huh?"

It was time for Abbie to start speaking if she didn't want to strike the woman as a total moron. After all that's why she came here with Trish, so…

"Uhm, yes. It's been happening for quite some time now. I-I can hear inner thoughts… other people's inner thought, I mean. Not always but… sometimes it happens. Recently it happened a lot, actually."

Jessica narrowed her eyes as she was observing her even more for a brief moment. She didn't seem neither pleased nor surprised. "Mind-reading, huh?"

"Y-yes, that's it. I suppose. It can be activated when I touch someone. Not necessarily and not all the time of course, but proximity increases my abilities. I can try it on you, if you want-"

"No!" Jessica yelled abruptly and even took a step behind.

Abbie was first surprised then waves of shame washed over her. She felt so stupid. What was she thinking? Who is this woman anyway? Why is she giving herself out so much?

"Uhm, sorry… I wasn't… I didn't… uhm…" she heard herself rambling then bit on her own lip. Oh God this is awkward.

Jessica shook her head a bit, looking at Abbie, but after a moment she turned back to Trish. "Okay, a mind-reader, you found her, good for you, Trish. But you don't need to gather all the nutcases of New York here. I don't have anything to do with this."

Abbie glanced over Trish who had a surprised expression on her face. As if it wasn't the exact reaction she had counted on. However she pulled herself together in an instant. She even managed to muster an apologetic look toward Abbie.

"Okay Jessica, I didn't mean to gather anything here. I wanted to introduce someone but I can never rely on your behavior, right? This was not necessary at all. Doesn't matter. Sorry for bothering you with something important and an issue very alike you are constantly dealing with. Come on, Abbie, it's no reason to stay any longer."

Trish was in the front door in an instant, so Abbie did her best to follow her immediately. She hated herself for her own dumbness. What was she thinking, really? Maybe that anyone would care about her crazy stuff? Mind-reading, my ass.

Trish didn't say anything again until they reached her car. Then she stood in front of Abbie and tried to look rather apologetic. "I am sorry for what happened earlier. I didn't expect that obviously. She's a moody one. Uhm, shall I give you a lift? That's the least I can do after—"

"No, thanks!" Abbie claimed quickly "You did too much for me already, you really shouldn't have—uhm…"

She trailed off, and they both knew Abbie wanted to vanish as quickly as she can and never talk about that again.

That was exactly what happened afterwards. Trish never mentioned anything again, but she barely had the chance, since Abbie just vaguely answered her greetings in the next few days. Abbie felt completely destroyed. She elaborately avoided any physical contact with anyone, trying to keep those voices to the minimum. It worked surprisingly good. That meant isolation of course. She even considered calling in sick, but Abbie wouldn't want to risk her job. So she went in as normal, but her productivity reached a new low. After work she headed home immediately and only felt a bit of relief when she closed the door behind herself. Dreamless nights came one after another, so eventually daytime was also a nightmare because of the exhaustion and desperate isolation. She couldn't even reach her parents. They were diplomats, currently staying in Mumbai. Aside from them she got no one, friends and guys were left in another life, a one she was not willing to remember.

But there's so much a man can endure, even solitude is something you can get used to. Ordering thai food and watching silly TV shows turned out to be okay to fill your life with. At least she had a comfy and nice apartment and never became anywhere near as lonely and depressed to consider having a cat. Time has passed and nothing happened. Not in work and not behind her closed doors. At least not until a Friday night. Everything was the same, lying on the sofa, watching TV and eating pasta this time. Abbie planned on having a movie marathon for the weekend and tried to figure out what to pick up for the next two days when suddenly, around 9 p.m. a loud and sturdy knocking was heard.

"God" she exclaimed.

She stepped to the door and cleared her throat. "Who is this?"

"Open up! It's Jessica Jones!"

What the hell? Abbie was so surprised and also a bit scared, she couldn't even think, just opened the door automatically, obeying the demand. She was standing in the hallway in all of her dark glory.

"What do you want?"

"You need to come with me. We might need your help."

She was charming as ever. Abbie had no intention to go with this woman. So let's be completely clear. "I don't go anywhere," she replied "And who's us anyway?"

"Secret society with morons, you'll love it" Jessica snapped.

That definitely didn't sound something Abbie would be willing to attend to. "Okay, no thanks." She tried to close the door but a boot kept her from doing so.

"Come with me for whatever reason you made Trish bring you to me. And do it as long as I'm asking it nicely."

Abbie found it surprisingly good to finally speak to someone. Maybe her recent isolation made her to do stupid things, maybe there was something in this strange woman but she eventually just nodded and grabbed her jacket. What on earth can happen, right?