Chapter 17

All the way through the airport, Jeff had to lead Jessica around. She seemed like a lost child and it worried him that they would not be able to bring her back. He led her onto the plane and she sat down at the window seat.

"Just try to rest a little, okay?" She nodded to him, holding back tears. "Jessi, honey, please don't cry. We're gonna work this whole thing out."

"How?" She asked him.

"By being strong." He said and wiped the tears from her face. "You're not alone; we are all in this together. We'll figure it out. I promise."

"Thank you." She said to him.

"Your welcome. Not get some rest. That's an order." She smiled at him then rested her head against the window. Jeff took her hand and rubbed it trying to calm her down. Eventually, her breathing slowed down and Jeff could tell she had fallen asleep.

"So what do we do now?" Jeff said to his brother.

"Man, I don't know. This is all so unreal. I mean, she's having a hard time dealing with this now, I can't imagine how she handled it before."

"She didn't." Jeff said, imagining her lying on her bathroom floor waiting to die. "We can't let that happen again."

"I was thinking about the room."

"What about it?"

"Well he wrote Stay Away. That's not something he would say to her."

"I thought the same thing when I saw it. That message was for me. He doesn't want me near her. Maybe he's right."

"What that you shouldn't be here? It's a little late for that." Matt said.

"What do you mean?"

"She relies on you. Right now, you seem to be the only person who's able to bring her back."

"Yea, but what if I'm hurting her more?"

"You're helping her more than anything else. Beside's I'm not letting either you out of my sight, so you're not going anywhere."

"Man, I just want to get out in the ring and hurt someone."

"I'll pass that along to Jay and Adam." Matt said getting a laugh out of his brother.

"Yea, I'm sure they'll be happy with that."

"Hey you know Shannon and Shane were supposed to come up to Virginia? I didn't get a chance to call and tell them not to come."

"Maybe it will be good for her to see them. I mean look what Amy did."

"Yeah, I guess."

"Besides, there's strength in numbers." Jeff said and looked to Jessica. He hoped Matt was right and that it was better that he was there. He would never forgive himself if this guy hurt her because he was involved. The plane landed and after they woke Jessica up, they all headed out of the airport. Stephanie had arranged for a car to pick them up and take them to the hotel. After checking in they went upstairs to their rooms. Jessica was relieved to find out that they were adjoining so that she wasn't going to be alone. They entered the boys room to find Vince there waiting for them. Jessica went over and hugged him.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." She said to him. "Thank you for coming."

"I felt I should go over a few things with you. We're taking what happened today very seriously. Why don't you all have a seat?" He said to them trying to make them comfortable for what was coming.

"My initial response was to pull you from the show." He said as Jessica started to protest but he silenced her. "But I know how you feel, and how much you need this. So, I will not pull you from the show."

"Thank you."

"However, there will be changes. As we already discussed, you're hotel bookings will now be handled through the security department. For obvious reasons, you cannot tell people where you are staying. As of right now, Jessica, you will have a guard with you whenever you are out in public." He got up and opened the door to the other room. Two guys came out.

"These guys will be guarding your hotel room and they will escort you to tomorrow show and the airport. As for what happens when you're off,"

"I can't go home." She said. "Not right now."

"She can come home with me." Matt said. "She can stay at my house." Vince looked unsure then looked to Jeff.

"I'll be at my house." Jeff said. "It's nearby; I can be there in minutes if I'm needed."

"If you don't feel its safe enough, Shannon Moore and Shane Helms can stay also." Matt said.

"Is that okay to you?" Vince asked Jessica.

"That's fine."

"Okay. Why don't you go to your room and get cleaned up. I've arranged for some food to be brought up." She nodded and started to head out, and then she paused.

"I don't have any clothes. He destroyed them all." She said to him.

"I'll have someone bring you some clothes in the morning." He said to her. She went next door.

"I spoke with the police. They seem to be concerned with you." Vince looked to Jeff.

"The warning." Jeff said and Vince nodded.

"They believe this particular threat was meant for you. Now I'm not going to force you with guards unless you want them." Jeff shook his head. "But if this escalates, I will not let this be voluntary. If anything gets worse, I will force you to have guards."

"I understand." Jeff said.

"Now Stephanie's has told me that Jessica is not aware of the threats you were getting."

"We didn't want to upset her."

"I think she deserves to know, but I'll leave it up to you as for when to tell her. Remember, she doesn't leave alone and neither should Jeff."

He went over and knocked on Jessica's door. He gave her a hug. "If you need anything call me, I don't care what time."

"I will." She said and Vince left. After telling them to call if they are needed, the guards took their place outside their room.

"Wow, our own personal security, I feel so important. "Jeff said trying to make light of the situation.

"Yea, we finally have our own entourage." Matt agreed. The food finally came. As they ate, Matt and Jeff tried to keep the conversation going but Jessica wasn't very talkative. Eventually even they ran out of things to say and the room fell silent. Jessica could see the worry in their faces and tried to think of something to say.

"I'm trying." Was all she could think of.

"We know." Matt said with a smile. "We'll stop staring.""Thank you."

"How about we watch a movie?" Jeff asked. "It's on Vince."

"I think I'm more interested in the mini bar." Jessica said with a sly smile. "Any takers?"

"I'm game." Jeff said. They both looked to Matt for approval.

"Well, we can't leave the room." He finally said and they ran to open it up. Jessica grabbed the tequila.

"Who's up for some shots?" She asked.

"I got the salt." Matt yelled out.

"We only have oranges." Jeff said.

"It'll do. Slice them." Jessica told Jeff as she laid down 3 glasses. She poured the alcohol and they all gathered around. "On three?" They nodded.

"One." Jeff started.

"Two." Matt said grinning.

"Three!" Jessica said and they all drank down.

"Ugh, that was horrible." Matt said.

"Come on, it wasn't that bad." She said pouring more.

"I think I'll go with a beer until we get a lime." Matt said and grabbed a beer.

"Do you think we can call down for one?" Jessica asked.

"Yea, maybe we can send one of those guards." Jeff said and grabbed a beer for himself.

"Yea. Vince will love that." Matt laughed. Jessica picked up her glass and looked around.

"No takers?" She shook the glass. "Oh come on. Don't be chicken." She picked up another glass and handed it to Jeff. He shook his head.

"Oh come on. You know you want to." She smiled at him till he finally took the glass from her.

"Okay one more."

"Cheers!" They clicked glasses and downed the drinks. Jessica laughed at the faces Jeff made.

"That's it. I'm out." He downed the beer to get rid of the taste.

"Wimp." She said to him. He grabbed a pillow and lightly swatted her with it.

"Hey!" She said and ran to Matt. "Protect me!"

"Gotta do what the lady asked." Matt said as he swung a pillow at his brother and tackled him. Jessica laughed at the sight of the two brothers rolling on the floor tackling each other. They turned their attention to her.

"So you think you're just going to get away free, huh?" Jeff said standing up. "You know Matt; I think we need to cool off a little."

"You know, little brother, I think you're right."

"Wait, Wait." Jessica protested. "What are you guys doing?"

"Get her." Matt said. Jessica tried to run to the other room, but Jeff scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom as Matt turned on the shower. Jeff gently placed her down as she squealed at the cold water.

"Christ Matt! At least you could have made the water warm." She yelled. The two boys just laughed at her as she laid in the tub, the water pouring down on her. Jeff reached his hand out to her to help her out.

"So this is how you guys get your kicks?" She asked suggestively.

"Yes mam." Jeff steadied her.

"Look at me, I'm drenched." Jeff grabbed a towel and dried her off.

"Come. Let's see if we can find you some clothes." She followed him out to his bag. "Help yourself." She pulled out a pair of sweatpants and a tank and went to go change as Matt and Jeff relaxed on the beds.

"How do I look?" Jessica said as she came out. The pants were huge on her and she had had to tie the tank to make sure she kept everything covered.

"Never looked better." Jeff said glancing at her.

"I doubt that." She walked over to Jeff with a sly grin. Jeff felt himself getting hot watching her come to him. Without warning, she pulled out a glass of water she had hidden behind her back and poured it over him.

"Now we're even." She said laughing.

"Hey!" He yelled.

"At least it's warm." She responded. Jeff reached up and grabbed her. He rolled over her and on impulse started to tickle her.

"Stop!" She yelled. "Matt help!"

"You're on your own." Matt said changing the channel.

"Stop it!" She yelled when all of the sudden the door slammed open. The three of them turned to see their security guards standing at the door.

"I'm sorry." One of the guards said. "We heard screaming." Jeff let go of her as Matt stood up and went over to them.

"It's okay. We were just letting off a little steam. We're sorry. It won't happen again." Matt said to them and ushered them out the door. He looked to Jeff and Jessica and all they can do is laugh.

"I think that's enough for now." Matt said.

"I know." Jessica said. "I'm off to bed." She gave each of them a kiss on the cheek and went to her room. Jeff lay down on his bed and jumped back up.

"What now?" His brother asked.

"It's wet."

"Well get a towel or something because we're not sharing."

"There's another bed in Jessica's room." Jeff said with a glint in his eyes.

"No." Matt said. "Towel. Now." Matt ordered his brother and Jeff laughed. He grabbed a towel and lay back in bed. Feeling better than he had in years, Jeff quickly fell asleep.