"Everything will be okay Dave," Jazz soothed him.
Dave had said nothing about his worries, but Jazz could tell that he was deeply afraid. He had told her not long ago that there was always at least one element of the unknown in any plan and often more. People just weren't predictable, they could and would act in a lot of different ways.
He'd said at the time, "You see Jazz, God gave humans free will," Dave had told her gently, even as he was holding her close. "The problem with that though is that it gives them the ability to do the wrong thing. We're free to be ourselves here in America. Our actions are not watched or controlled by an outsider, just our own innate goodness or badness as the case might be. Most people aren't purely good or purely bad as they are usually a mixture of both. You are a good person in so many ways, but that doesn't mean you don't have the ability to do something evil, even if it's something small. Stealing something for example, cheating on your taxes, well, you get the point. While these are just minor examples they're still wrong, though not exactly evil I suppose.
"The problem though, is that gives people the freedom to harm others. Jorge might not be the worst evil that I've ever run across, but if he hurts you he's going to regret it. Jorge took you being nice, by rescuing him from ending up with bruises at least back when you were teenagers, as if it was a sign from God that you were his soulmate, which makes him delusional at the very least. Ever since that time I'm sure he's been dreaming of your union when you were both the appropriate age.
"When you turned him down when he asked you out on a date the first time I'm sure he was shocked. I'm sure he expected you to immediately say yes. He probably believed that you loved him just as much as he loved you. I'm sure he never planned on you shooting him down. I don't believe that Jorge knows what real love is or at least has mistaken lust for love."
"He did ask me out several weeks before that tourist was killed," Jazz said. "So you think that maybe saying no to his offer of a date made him tell everyone that I was the one that had killed him? Why he didn't do a proper investigation? Look for other suspects? Talk to people about what they had seen? Was it his way to get back at me, for denying him?"
"I can't say for sure, but considering his actions, the ones I've seen for myself, I would say that's probably correct," Dave said. "Isn't that basically when the harassment begun? Where he kept making nasty remarks, suggestive comments in front of everyone embarrassing you. I'm sure he also tried numerous times to insert himself into a conversation when you were out with a group of friends, interrupting you, even when you didn't want him to and likely had no idea he was even close by."
"Yes, he did," Jazz said amazed at how accurate Dave was, but then again, she knew that Dave was centuries old and likely had seen that kind of behavior before several times.
"I hadn't realized that his stalking me started basically as soon as I got back into town," Jazz said.
"At first, it probably couldn't have been considered stalking, but has turned into that now. However, since stalking and harassing you hasn't worked the next thing is physical violence," Dave said.
"Where he conks me on the head and takes me to his lair," Jazz said only partly in jest.
"Unless he can get his hands on something like chloroform," Dave told her seriously. "It isn't that hard to get from an outside source or to mixup yourself."
"It might not be that hard to create it yourself with the proper knowledge, but I don't believe Jorge is capable of doing that without poisoning himself or blowing himself up. Science was never his strongest subject. Besides, where would he create it? He couldn't do it at home as he still lives with his mother and she is still sharp as a tack. She would ask him what he was doing. I doubt very much that he'd tell her the truth, though she is likely to guess. She lives in town to and can hear the rumors about her son just like anyone else. I'm sure she already knows about the way he's been acting, even if she doesn't want to believe that her son is a bit of a douchebag at first. She likely realized years ago that he was a lot like his father. She might even have tried to talk to him, get him to see that I don't feel the same way and that he was being a pain or at least that's the likely scenario. When a son won't listen to his mother then he's not going to listen to me or anyone not unless they agree with his actions."
"Okay, he'll likely get it from an outside source then if he can," Dave said taking Jazz's knowledge into account. She'd known Jorge all his life after all. "And you're absolutely right, if Jorge would listen to anyone it's his mother. If what you suspect really happened and his mother tried to get him to see reason, but he went ahead and did what he wanted to anyway behind her back, he's not likely to listen to anyone, especially if he loves her."
"If he thinks about getting chloroform, I'll be very surprised, as Jorge isn't very good at thinking outside the box," Jazz said. "Still, it won't hurt to be prepared, just in case."
Jazz petted Jasper who was laying curled up on her lap. You sure are getting big," Jazz told the puppy, kissing the top of his head. "You're still cute and adorable though and so are you Amy," Jazz added, giving Dave's dog a kiss on the head as well.
"Yes, they are cute and adorable," Dave agreed stroking Amy's soft fur gently. "They probably won't grow much more though as they're supposed to be small. From what I was told the mother was a middle sized dog, though Jackie wasn't entirely sure of the species. She was probably a mixed breed of some kind."
"Probably," Jazz agreed absentmindedly stroking Jasper's fur and the puppy licked her hand. "You don't think that Jorge would hurt our dogs do you?" Jazz asked suddenly looking worried, as that thought hadn't occurred to her before. "He's not exactly acting rational lately. He might kill them in order to get to me, as they're bound to run and greet him thinking that he's a friend of mine. I mean they're not attack dogs, they're just sweet, adorable puppies. They don't have a malicious bone in they're bodies."
"He might," Dave told her seriously. "I'm also sure that both of these cuties will try to protect you and probably get injured for their trouble. Once Amy and Jasper see Jorge try to attack you they'll probably run up to him and bite his ankles to get him away from you, as that would be their first instinct. It's likely that Jorge will kick them out of the way if they are close when he attacks you. If he injures them though, he's going to regret it," Dave's expression was absolutely ferocious and Jazz never wanted that expression directed at her.
It was clear that Dave adored the puppies that they had gotten at the puppy mill, but Jazz remembered Dave saying that he had several dogs before and that simple statement took on a whole new meaning now that she knew his secret.
He'd probably had numerous dogs over the last few centuries. The only companion he could really have that knew his secret, the only one he could be truly himself around, because dogs couldn't talk and therefore, couldn't spill his secret.
Jazz could actually see Dave being very lonely, as he was basically by himself for decades and decades, except for his loyal companion laying at his feet.
Well, she certainly intended to make him as happy as possible. He had gotten through the barriers she had erected around her heart to protect it from being broken to disappear in just a few weeks. That was really quite a accomplishment and she doubted that anybody else could have done so, except her soulmate, especially so quickly.
"I can leave Jasper with my brother for a few days and you can leave Amy," suggested Jazz, as she hugged her puppy close, nuzzling her face into his fur. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to either of them and Brian has his own apartment. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"He might not, but then he would learn about the trouble with Jorge, as he would want to know why you wanted Jasper to stay with him for a few days," Dave told her. "If you want your brother involved then okay."
"Brian is already involved anyway as he tried to talk to Jorge a few years ago, back when I was a suspect in that murder. Jorge brushed aside his concerns, as he was determined to prove me guilty. My brother nearly punched the idiot in the face."
"Well, it sounds like your brother loves you very much," Dave said grinning, as he imagined that scene in his head.
"Yeah, he does," Jazz agreed smiling. "I'm glad Brian didn't hit him as I'm sure Jorge would've pressed charges for assaulting a police officer."
Jazz snort of derision at that last statement let Dave know what she thought of Jorge's possible actions.
"I'll ask Brian to stay out of it, unless Jorge actually manages to kidnap me then I would expect him and you and the rest of my family to come to the rescue."
"He won't succeed in kidnapping you I promise you that," Dave growled. "If I have to kill him then I will and hide the body so I can never be a suspect. He'll simply disappear."
"While that's sweet of you," Jazz said. "I don't want him dead unless there's no other choice."
"Alright then, I won't kill him unless I have no choice," Dave promised. "Maybe moving away from here's a better choice. Somewhere where he'll never think to look. He can't keep up with his ideas of making you his if you leave town. Move a 1000 miles away or even farther. I'm sure we could find a small town that would suit you. One that also has a coven."
"I really don't want to move away from Moonlight Gorge, at least not permanently," Jazz said seriously considering Dave's suggestion. "On the other hand, it might be the only way to get rid of Jorge. I would have to tell my family where I'm going of course and assure them that they can come visit anytime they want. I'd have to explain that it might be better for me to leave Moonlight Gorge behind at least temporarily. They'd understand once they thought about it. However, I've lived here all my life and generation after generation of my family has made Moonlight Gorge their home. Here numerous ancestors have lived and died and did their best to protect and help the community. There's no guarantees if we move someplace new that we'll find a similar situation, a small town where everybody knows everybody else and even if we did we would be the odd ones out, not quite trusted by the locals because our family hasn't lived there for generations. If there was a murder we would likely be the first suspects, just because we were new to town and it wouldn't necessarily matter if we were somewhere else entirely when it happened. Here everybody knows me and my family, as we have been part of this town ever since its foundation, so nobody is going to believe I'm capable of murder unless some witness actually saw me or there are extenuating circumstances."
"A lot of good points," Dave agreed. "You're right in everything you said. While no one expects a murder to happen soon after they arrive in town it's been known too. I know you don't want to move away from your family or your home and I can't blame you for that, as my family died a very long time ago. I had a mother and father once just like you do now and also several siblings. A little sister I adored, as well as several brothers and older sisters."
"You miss them," Jazz said this as a statement of fact instead of a question.
"Yeah, I do even after all this time," Dave sighed. "I'm sure I have many descendants if I cared to try to trace my family, but really, what's the point of doing so? I couldn't tell them that I was related to them by blood. They'd never believe I was immortal and would probably call me crazy before throwing me out on my rear. My older sisters and one of my older brothers at least were married and had several children apiece before I helped the Ambrosius family escape being killed. I have no doubt I have numerous descendants somewhere in the world. They might even be here in America for all I know, since a lot of families tend to migrate over time."
"That is so sad," Jazz said finally. "On the one hand, I understand why you don't want to see if you can find them. You would have to watch from afar, as they lived out there lives once you located them, because as you said approaching them and introducing yourself is probably not a good idea."
"No, I can just imagine the scenario where the father or brother or possibly the mother holds a gun on me and orders me to disappear before one of them shoots me. The gun might only be filled with lead shot instead of actual bullets, but that doesn't mean it won't hurt like hell when it hits. You might end up digging pieces of shot out of my behind. At least I wouldn't be sore afterwards as I heal quickly."
"That is the likely scenario," Jazz said laughing at Dave's description of his relatives probable reaction to his appearance.
"Yeah, I suppose it is pretty funny, at least so long as it never actually happens," Dave said ruefully rubbing his arm.
That was one thing she liked about Dave he had a good sense of humor and took most things in stride, Jazz thought. He wasn't the type to get angry at the drop of a hat, though he was justifiably angry at Jorge Mason and for that Jazz couldn't blame him a bit considering all the trouble he had caused. Still, just because he didn't get angry easily didn't mean he didn't have a temper.
One of the reasons Dave was angry Jazz knew was that he was worried about her safety, as she wasn't immortal, though she was sure there was a way to turn her into one. She was going to ask Dave about that after Jorge Mason was dealt with. If Jorge would just be reasonable there would be no reason to deal with him, but Jazz had come to realize that Jorge wasn't about to turn into a reasonable human being. The last few years had proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt.
"We'll try to stay in Moonlight Gorge, but I can't give you any guarantees. If I feel that your safety is compromised then we both will leave at least temporarily. If I feel that it's best we leave I don't want you to argue with me. You're safety is my primary concern right now. You can let your family know you're safe once you're out of danger. If I have to swing you over my shoulder to get you to cooperate I will. I'll not have you killed when I have just found my soulmate. I will not lose my 'only' chance at happiness."
Jazz looked like she was going to argue for a second then sighed. "Alright, I won't argue with you, though I'll have to close the bakery, at least temporarily. People aren't going to be pleased if I have to do that and they'll probably chase Jorge out of town so I'll come back."
"So you're the only bakery in town then," Dave said. "The place where the citizens get their sweets."
"No there's one all the way across town, and way out of the way for those that live in this area. If Jorge had any sense he would go there for his coffee. We would be way busier I'm sure, if there wasn't that other bakery."
"I bet you they aren't half as good," Dave said loyally. "It's probably not run by a witch after all, one with a talent for making her sweets utterly irresistible."
"I've never been there, so I have no idea," Jazz admitted. "I should check out the competition. I don't have the money to start another bakery since I've only been in business such a short time, so let's hope we don't have to move."
"If we do and it turns out to be a permanent move instead of temporary I'll give you the money to set up another bakery," Dave told her.
Jazz was about to protest, but gave in with a sigh. Dave was the one that was loaded, Jazz reminded herself silently. If they were too wed what was his would be hers as well.
"Good, I'm glad you stopped yourself from arguing because you wouldn't win," Dave told her with just a little smugness in his tone.
"I just reminded myself if we were to wed then you're assets would be mine too," Jazz explained. "I had to shove my pride away at being self-sufficient."
"And yet you borrowed the money from your parents the first time," Dave reminded her.
"That's different they're my parents," Jazz protested automatically. "Though I suppose, in retrospect, it's not really all that different to take money from the man you're going to wed, once we deal with Jorge."
"Good, I'm glad you can see that," Dave said pleased.
The two dogs laying in both their laps yawned and lifted their heads in unison. Jasper and Amy leaped off their owners laps and headed for the door, scratching at it to let them know that they needed to go out to do their business.
"Well, it looks like our babies are telling us that they need to go do their business before they go to sleep for the night," Jazz laughed softly.
"Yeah, looks like," Dave agreed also laughing softly. Dave rose from his seat on the couch and got the two leashes from where they were kept. He gave one to Jazz and kept the other for himself.
The dogs knew what those leashes meant and so sat quietly while they were attached to their collars.
"Well, their certainly better behaved then the cats I grew up with," Jazz said amused. "Obedience training is really doing them a lot of good."
"Yeah, it is," Dave agreed, as he was the one that took both of them to their classes several days a week while Jazz was busy at the bakery. He certainly didn't mind and knew he'd likely be doing it multiple times over the centuries.
The two of them left the apartment Jazz making sure to lock the door behind her before they headed down the stairs and out a side door, one that led directly to an alley instead of through the bakery itself.
"Just do your business guys I'm too tired for you to run around as you sniff for the best spot."
The dogs wondered the alley sniffing around looking for the best spot to do their business when there was a sudden sound.
Jazz and Dave looked up immediately, stiffening, searching the darkness of the alley.
Suddenly Jazz felt someone grab her from behind and then a hated voice said, "You're coming with me Jazzlyn. If you do why won't kill your dogs and your fiancé."
"Jorge are you crazy?" Jazz exclaimed. "You could end up in prison for this."
"We'll go away somewhere where nobody knows who we are," Jorge claimed. "Where are you and I will be way and start a family. It was meant to be after all."
"That is just insane Jorge," Jazz said struggling against his hold on her, but Jorge's grip was to strong. "I've told you again and again that I have no interest in you romantically. What you believe in your head is pure fantasy, not real."
"I've known we were meant to be together ever since you saved me," Jorge said in a dreamy tone still holding the gun on Dave, though it dipped somewhat as his attention lapsed.
Dave who was watching the scene closely saw his chance as the gun dipped lower and lower. Dave lunged, after shooing the dogs back into the building and closing the door, so they wouldn't get hurt. He could hear them making whimpering sounds scratching their claws against the door wanting out, but his main concern was his mate who was being held captive by someone who had obviously had a physic break or was just too stupid to realize his actions were going to see him in prison for a very long time.
Jorge was still telling Jazz how they were supposed to be together and she had turned him down. Told her how he had tried to be patient waiting for her to be ready for him. However, when she had gotten involved with Rossi that had been the last straw for him. When trying to get Rossi away from her hadn't worked he had made plans to kidnap her, to make her see that he was the one for her and that Rossi was nothing more then somebody she believed she loved, but really didn't.
She was just confused, Jorge told her, ignoring anything that Jazz had to say on the matter. She didn't really love Rossi at all he assured her, she just thought she did.
Jazz listened to Jorge rant, spittle coming out of his mouth and thought he was genuinely crazy now instead just stubborn and thickheaded. The crap he was spouting now proved it to her. Jorge had officially lost what little brains he had.
Jazz watched out of the corner of her eye as Dave slowly crept up on Jorge who wasn't paying attention to anything. She suspected that Jorge had forgotten that Dave was even there he had been so silent. Bad mistake she knew. Finally, when the attack came it was so devastating that Jorge never knew what hit him.
Jorge saw Dave out of the corner of his eye at the very last second and raised the gun firing wildly twice and only Jazz elbowing him in the ribs and stomping down on his foot caused him to entirely miss.
Dave took Jorge down with one powerful blow and stood over him with his fists clenched at his side.
"Are you okay Dave?" Jazz asked worriedly once she Jorge had released her just before Dave punched him to when he fell to the ground his nose obviously broken.
"I'm fine," Dave promised her. "He missed and that was partly because you elbowed him in the gut and stomped on his instep, so thanks."
"You're welcome," Jazz said as she kissed him in front of Jorge who looked really pissed.
"You've done it now Jorge," Dave said his voice dripping with anger and contempt. "You attacked the love of my life. I should kill you where you lay, but unfortunately, Jazz doesn't want you dead. To bad."
Jorge looked rather smug at that until Jazz glared at him with enough heat that even Jorge knew he was in big trouble.
"I only don't want you dead because I don't want Dave to have to prove that your death was justifiable. It has nothing to do with being concerned for your welfare," Jazz informed him kicking him in the side and breaking a couple of ribs before turning away ignoring when Jorge grunted in pain as his ribs cracked. "Threatening to kill a couple of puppies not to mention the man I love is the last straw. I'll let the police have you right after I take you to my mother," Jazz said, looking like she wanted to kick Jorge again.
Dave located Jorge's handcuffs and attached them to his wrist and then the drainage pipe that was in the alley, before taking Jazz into his arms making sure she had not been hurt.
Jazz said nothing simply buried her head in Dave's shoulder and he held her close, kissing her on the forehead in obvious affection.
Jorge started yelling at them, when he saw Dave's actions telling them both that Jazz was his.
Jazz sighed in exasperation and went over to him kneeling at his side and then said very softly. "You'll be going to prison for a very long time and I hope sincerely that you get over this obsession with me. I was never yours to begin with and I never will be, even if I have to kill myself. I will not be abused by an idiot who has no compassion and no intelligence for the rest of my life. I never would've dated you, even if there were not plenty of men available. You're nothing but a pain in my ass and an embarrassment to boot. Just think of all the crap I've had to put up from you over the last few years? You're lucky I didn't break your precious nose or worse.
"You took my offer of friendship and turned it into a fantasy, a fantasy of us having a life together, which is never going to happen. You can't accept that I love Dave and I intend on marrying him. If you really loved me you would have seen that I do love Dave and bowed out. Love is generous, love is kind, love is compassionate and tender, it's wanting the best for someone no matter your own feelings, it is not selfish, rude, arrogant or unkind.
"These are things you'll never be Jorge and everything that Dave has in spades. Dave is also more intelligent than you will ever be and certainly doesn't make nasty comments to people's faces or behind their backs. Don't think I didn't hear about your nasty comment that you made about my best friend. It's no wonder nobody wants anything to do with you, you don't have a nice bone in your entire body. You offend everyone you meet, just by opening your mouth."
Finally, Jazz ran down and muttered something softly, while pointing at Jorge.
Suddenly, Jorge stopped struggling against the cuffs, as he was unconscious and his head hit the pavement rather hard. Jazz rose and went back to Dave not really caring if the idiot on the ground ended up with a concussion or a cracked skull. It was nothing less then he deserved.
"What did you do?" Dave asked Jazz as he gazed at the unconscious form of Jorge Mason.
"A spell mom taught me years ago. It induces sleep. It's good for children who claim they are not sleepy when it's time for them to go to bed. Of course, it works on anyone really not just reluctant children. He's lucky I didn't do far worse," Jazz explained glancing in Jorge's direction with utter contempt in her expression.
"He's lucky you're such a nice person, even to someone like him," Dave told her. "So how long will the spell last?"
"Probably until morning so long as we're relatively quiet," Jazz said not really caring so long as Jorge was quiet and not proclaiming his love for her. "He'll be easy enough to wake up when necessary."
"I suppose we should at least call Captain Bloodworth," Dave said.
"We need to take him to my mother and the coven first," Jazz told Dave softly then explained. "This power he has, it needs to be bound away from him or he'll likely escape prison in a few months and only cause trouble. He might not realize that he has this power, but I'm sure he will when he tries to convince a guard to let him go and the guard does exactly what he wants because of that power to persuade. Most people have secrets doubts or fears and all Jorge would have to do would find out what those doubts were, which he's intelligent enough to do.
"Why don't you take this idiot to the car. I've got to call mom who needs to gather the witches counsel. After that, we can turn him over to the cops, as he'll have no more power to cause trouble," Jazz suggested.
"I understand," Dave said solemnly.
"Good. Jorge's lucky I'm being so nice after what he did to Shonda, not to mention all the crap he's put me through over the last four years. Even if he did not realize he had such a power, because he doesn't know about his weird hypnotizing ability, doesn't negate the harm he likely caused and not just to Shonda. I wouldn't be in the least surprised if he caused a lot of people harm with his nasty comments if they happened overhear him and especially if it was said directly to their face. He's getting off rather lightly if you ask me."
"Yes, he is," Dave agreed without argument, unlocking the handcuff from the pipe and dragging Jorge's tall form towards his car.
~~~Dave and Jazzlyn~~~