AN: Sorry for the delay guys. We will start updating more regularly now that a majority of the craziness of the holidays is over. Please keep reading and as always reviews are greatly appreciated.
I'm so sorry, Elphaba. I really wanted to take you out tonight, but…" Before she could continue Elphaba stopped her.
"You weren't planning on getting attacked, and I'd feel more comfortable in private." Elphaba assured her, as Marcus helped her to her room. Now that she knows that Tony will be more aggressive about bringing her back, staying locked inside tonight sounds far safer for both of them.
"Shirt and pants off. Let's assess the damage." Marcus said, getting a nod from Jessie. She winced, pulling the ripped shirt off to reveal a white sports bra. Elphaba couldn't help but gasp when she saw the angry bruises on her sides and stomp marks on her back. When she turned to the side Jessie's body looked like it had been through a war, old scars on her back standing evidence. Elphaba recognized the scars as whip marks, a common punishment where she came from for serious offences.
"It looks worse than it is, I promise." Jessie said, trying to ease her mind. Marcus huffed in disbelief.
"Jess, raise your arms." Jessie tried to lift them, and yelped in pain. Marcus shook his head, "It looks just as bad as it is Jess, your ribs are bruised at least." Marcus said a hint of worry in his voice.
"I take a beating and keep on ticking. I'll be fine in the morning." Jessie said, attempting not to wince as she relaxes her arms.
Marcus chuckles as he shakes his head. "You can't help being a tough girl, can you?"
"Nope." Jessie said, smiling at him.
Turning to Elphaba. "Would you mind keeping an eye on Bonita Badass here? Keep her out of trouble?"
Elphaba grinned as she nodded her head, "No, I don't mind."
"Good, because I'm dying to play Texas Hold Em." Marcus said with a grin.
"Try not to blow your twenty percent before our flight." Jessie quipped.
"Says the woman that just paid three grand for a jello wrestling match." Marcus teased back.
"Would've been worth it at triple the price." Jessie gave a wink to Elphaba who looked uncomfortable with the conversation.
"She must like you Elphaba." Marcus said, patting Elphaba's shoulder as he walks over to the door, "Good luck, she's the worst patient ever." Jessie flipped Marcus off, as he left laughing.
"Did you really have your heart set on pizza?" Jessie asked, getting a shrug. She really hoped Elphaba said no.
"Not really, why?" Instead of answering, Jessie picked up the phone.
"This is Jessie Reynolds, room 1471. I'd like two surf and turf dinners, a bottle of Red Zinfandel, and one of the chocolate decadence brownie surprises. Oh, and a six-pack of coke. Thirty minutes is fine, thank you." Jessie said hanging up. "Just because I'm confined to this damn room doesn't mean I can't take you out to a proper dinner." She explained.
Elphaba's jaw dropped as she heard Jessie order dinner. She shifts on her feet a little uncomfortably, she really isn't used to someone being this nice to her. "Thank you, but I would have been just as satisfied with pizza."
"You deserve better than pizza." Jessie said, getting a shy smile, "Were you able to get that business taken care of?"
"No, it imploded on me." Elphaba said a bit frustrated and exasperated.
"What happened?" Jessie began to worry that something very shady happened to this wonderful woman.
"The men were associates of Tony's," She said, shaking her head. How she hadn't figured that out before now was still bothering her. Really, it should have been painfully obvious to her, but yet she still missed it.
"What were you trying to get?" Jessie asked curiously. Elphaba looked at her, trying to decide. No one knew her story and as nice as Jessie was, she wasn't sure she would understand either.
"I have to get an identity. We had agreed on twenty thousand. The money you'd given me plus what I saved was finally enough. When I got there, they doubled the price." There was a hint of anger in her voice as she recapped the exchange.
"What do you need an identity for?" Jessie was genuinely curious, there weren't very many reasons for someone to need an identity.
Elphaba's jaw clenches for a second at the question. She honestly shouldn't be surprised, but she still didn't intend to answer her question. "Jessie, don't take this the wrong way, but that' none of your business."
Jessie saw the reaction and made a note to not ask that question again. She understood trust issues and honestly didn't blame the woman. After having dealt with sleaze bags like Tony she isn't surprised by this reaction. "Fair enough. Look, I'll front you the rest." Jessie offered.
Elphaba's jaw dropped. "You don't know me., why would you give anything to me? What's in it for you?" Elphaba asked cautiously. She already felt like she sold her soul to Tony by doing those sleazy shows. She had no intention of selling or giving anything else away.
"I just don't like seeing any lady in a bad situation. If I can help you it's yours." Before Elphaba could respond the doorbell rang, the food had arrived. As room service was setting up, Elphaba used the time to assess the woman in front of her.
In the six months since she arrived here, she had never met anyone like Jessie. Most people reminded her of Ozians: selfish, petty, and willing to use anyone they could for their own benefit. Jessie had already given her a small fortune, and hadn't asked for anything in return yet, it was confusing to Elphaba. After the meal was set up, the staff left. Elphaba's stomach growled just from the look of the spread. "It looks delicious." she said as Jessie pulled out her chair. "Thank you."
"It really does. You are very welcome." Jessie said pouring her a glass of win, "So do you have a back up plan?" She sat across from her as Elphaba began eating her salad immediately.
Pausing between large bites, Elphaba takes a sip of wine before answering. "I'll get a bus ticket tomorrow and try again." She hadn't eaten since the diner the night before.
"Where will you go?" Jessie began eating her own as she waited for Elphaba to answer.
"Anywhere really, but I've heard Texas is nice. Where are you heading tomorrow Jessie?"
"LA. It's where I moved after…after I decided I didn't like Pittsburgh winters anymore." Jessie said, catching herself before she spilled too much information.
Elphaba noitced, but didn't mention it. Apparently she wasn't the only one of the two of them who had a history they would rather not talk about. "I've heard it's nice there too."
"Unless you've got your heart set on Texas you could come see it for yourself. With you love of tats you'd fit in perfectly?" Jessie had finished her salad and was moving on to the main course.
"Tats?" Elphaba was genuinely confused by her statement, she paused halfway through her main meal as she waited for further explanation.
Chuckling lightly at Elphaba's confused expression. "Yeah, that full body green tattoo you have. It must've costed a fortune."
Elphaba thinks about it for a minute, she almost doesn't tell Jessie the truth. However, this could be a good first test to see how trustworthy she really is. "No Jessie, this is my natural skin color."
"Really?" Jessie asked, with the innocence of a child.
"Unfortunately…you really thought it was a tattoo?" She hadn't heard anyone think that before to her knowledge. Most people think that it is a parlor trick of sorts that Tony is using to pull in more money. However, no one ever stepped up to test their theory about that.
"Yeah, I've never seen anyone with green skin before, "Jessie noticed how uncomfortable she looked, "It's beautiful on you though."
"You don't need to lie Jessie." Elphaba smiled shyly as she took a sip of wine. It was quite nice of Jessie to even say that.
"Good because I don't lie well. You're very beautiful and I really think you would like LA." Jessie said changing the subject.
"Perhaps, but I don't have the kind of money it takes to live there." Elphaba was very happy for the subject change. She continued to eat her main course a little slower now.
"No, but you've got a roommate., I rent a two bedroom. You can room with me until you find work." There was sincerity in her voice as she waited for Elphaba's answer.
Elphaba just stared at Jessie for a few long moments. Then she shook her head slowy, "Um…thank you Jessie, but…I don't think I could accept this offer. You have already done so much for me, I really couldn't burden you any more."
Jessie nods, "Well…now that I've won the championship, I'm going to be twice as busy as I have been. Marcus suggested that I hire a personal assistant to help me stay on schedule. Why don't you work for me as my assistant and I promise you a safe place to stay. It would be irresponsible of me if I asked you to move like this and couldn't provide a place for you to stay." Jessie truly hopes that Elphaba would accept this offer. She really wanted to help her get away from that sleaze bag and set up with good documents.
Elphaba looks at her, a little in disbelief, as she thinks it over. Sighing she finally nods her head, "Ok, but I want my own room" At least she wouldn't have to worry about Jessie trying to use her like Tony did. She honestly didn't believe that Jessie would do anything that shady. Her curiosity gets the best of her, "But why? You don't know me. Why are you doing this?" She just needed to know the answer to this question.
"Your own room is no problem." Jessie sipped the wine, thinking about the second question. She really had only explained it to Sonya. "When I was growing up, I watched by best friend get into an abusive relationship. She made me promise not to do or say anything. He hit her in front of me. I decided that no one would ever do that in front of me again and I'd help anyone trying to get out of that kind of situation." Jessie said, clearing her throat to stop the tears. She hated that memory almost as much as the memories of Shang's Island.
Elphaba looked at her and nodded that explained a lot actually. She fully relaxed as she began to eat the very tasty looking brownie. "Then I accept graciously. On the agreement that I will pay you back for your kindness someday."
"Call me friend and we can call it even Elphaba." Jessie smiled, happy that Elphaba agreed to work for her and go to LA.
"My friends call me Elphie." Elphaba said with a warm smile.
"Ok Elphie. Let me page Marcus, he can get you a ticket on the morning flight." Jessie said as Elphaba's face fell.
"No he can't. I don't have an ID remember?" Elphaba pouted a little as she thought about it. Could that awful man really keep her pinned down here?
"Then we'll drive. It's only a five-hour ride. I'm dying to break in my new bike." Jessie said excitedly.
Elphaba stared at her in sheer disbelief, was there an end to this woman's generosity? "You are willing to do all of this? And you really don't want anything in return?" She said, making sure she understood correctly.
"I wouldn't say I don't want anything in return." Elphaba's gut twisted at those words. "I want to see you be safe and happy. That's all the thanks I want." Jessie said as Elphaba studied her eyes. She had the same honest, earnest look on her face that Glinda did. A part of her felt guilty for assuming the worst when Jessie started that last sentence.
"You are very different than anyone I've met Jessie." Elphaba said shaking her head in disbelief. She was down to the final bite of her brownie. Looking over she noticed that Jessie had finished all of her food already and was on her second glass of wine.
"Considering the company you keep, I'll take that as a compliment. How long will it take you to get packed?" She hoped that they wouldn't have to go anywhere near wherever Tony was currently holed up. That probably wouldn't end well right now.
"I already am." Elphaba said, motioning to the backpack.
Sighing in relief, "Then we'll head out in the morning. We'll just head back ahead of everyone else, make yourself comfortable. If I don't get into an alcohol bath soon the stiffness is going to set in." Jessie said getting a nod, with a smile she polished off her second glass of wine before heading to the bathroom to soak.
Elphaba watched her leave, barely able to speak. Even in Oz, she was rarely shown this much kindness. She couldn't make heads or tails of Jessie, she seemed to be a force of nature all to herself. Jessie reminded Elphaba a lot of Glinda in that way. Glinda was the first person to simply accept Elphaba, green skin and all. In fact, until Jessie, she seemed to be the only one that ever would. Elphaba desperately wanted to trust herself, and let herself trust Jessie. However after everything, she still couldn't help but wonder what the fighter wanted with her.
()
Jessie drew a hot bath, pouring in green alcohol. She did it after every fight to stop the aches that came when the adrenaline rush wore off. Stripped down she hissed as she slid in. Closed her eyes she let her thoughts roam and found herself smiling.