I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and thanks to everyone who's reviewed/favorited/followed! It's very much appreciated! I wrote this chapter over the span of about three days so I really hope everyone likes it.

This City Is On Fire

"What about this one?" Emma asks for what seems like the fifteenth time in ten minutes. I glance up from my phone and survey the dress she has on, it's covered in silver sequins and hits just below her knees, showcasing her delicate curves. After a moment of staring I clear my throat and look away.

"No," I tell her, shaking my head and returning my attention to the phone and the conversation I have going with Fiona. I hear Emma scoff in front of me as she folds her arms over her chest.

"What's wrong with it?" I shrug but that only seems to make her angrier because she walks over and Yanks the phone from my hands, hiding it behind her back. Groaning I stand up and reach behind her but she pushes me away.

"Em give it back," I tell her but she shakes her head and takes a few steps away.

"Number one, don't call me that," she says with eyebrows raised. "Two, you get this back when you help me find a dress." Dammit, there's no way I'm getting that phone back.

"Fine," I give in after a moment of mental debate and slump my shoulders in defeat. Cursing under my breath I try not to let the smug smile on her face get to me as I trudge off in the direction of the nearest dress rack.

There are dresses everywhere in every color, some have sparkles and some don't and some are just flat out ridiculous. Biting my lip I sift through the first rack, finding nothing I think would do her justice while my patience slowly ran out. Then as I push back a boring tan colored dress I see something that catches my eye and I immediately grab hold of it.

It's a deep shade of blue with thin straps and it's covered in a layer of some sparkly stuff, either way I hope she likes it. Satisfied with my pick I take it back to Emma who's leaning against the wall, my phone in her hand. I show her the dress, hoping she likes it enough to give it a try. After she finishes inspecting it she smiles and gives me a teasing look.

"Forget the super-secret spy crap, you should've have been a stylist."

"Haha," I say sarcastically, pushing her into the dressing room. She laughs and pulls the curtain shut behind her. I take my place on the bench and start my wait, humming some song I think I heard on the radio this morning. I can hear Emma shuffling inside and muttering to herself before the curtain opens again and she steps out, looking down at herself with uncertainty.

I on the other hand can't move, I'm stuck watching her and she just looks so damn beautiful it almost hurts. The dress hugs her entire body, the back of it dipping down and exposing the skin of her back and the toned muscles beneath.

"What do you think?" She asks nervously, pulling me from my stupor. Shaking myself I stand up and take her hand, letting her spin around so I can see her fully. She looks really good in blue.

"You look perfect," I tell her, smiling when her cheeks flush a furiously shade of pink and she pushes me away playfully.

"Thanks," she holds out my phone and drops it in my hand.

"A deal's a deal," she says. "Now let's get out of here."

…

When we leave the mall Emma decides she wants to go back to her apartment and even though the nagging little voice in my head is telling me not to I have no choice but to take her there.

The sun was beginning to dip down, casting an orange glow over us as we sat in a tense filled silence, neither one of us bothering to move.

"I uh.. Thanks for helping me find a dress; I can't wait to show it to Fiona." I give her a small smile, the thought of Fi finding out I picked that dress kind of funny.

"You're welcome, I'll pick you up tomorrow at five and we'll meet up with the rest of the team before we head over to the club." Nodding she gets out of the car, grabbing her shopping bags from the back seat. I wait until she's inside before driving away just to be sure. After everything that's happened recently I feel like I'm on high alert, watching everything and everyone.

For some reason though, even if we're seemingly against each other I can't help but want to protect her. Because I don't know what I would do if she was hurt worse than she was the night before, even seeing that on her made my stomach twist.

But for now I had to focus on the job, even if it means letting my guard down a little.

…

It's four thirty now and I'm standing in front of the mirror in Maddie's bathroom, fussing with my shirt and wondering if I can really pull this off. I have on dark washed jeans and a light blue shirt with a few buttons undone. I glance at the clock and realize I have about twenty minutes to get to Emma's house so I grab my gun and tuck it into the waistband of my jeans before heading out the door.

Once I get to Emma's I go and knock on her door. Before I would have just walked right in but now I'm not sure how she'd react to that and to be honest I'm not too willing to find out. She answers quickly, already wearing her dress and one high heel in her hand.

"Hey, sorry I'm almost ready,' she says, holding on to my shoulder and slipping the shoe on. It's like electricity running through me.

"That's alright, I'm a few minutes early." I tell her, moving to sit on the couch. She's looking at herself in the mirror, her long red hair in waves instead of its usual straight form. Glancing at my watch suddenly, I clear my throat and stand up, urging Emma to hurry up.

We chose to meet Mike and the team at the Carlito and by the time Emma and I make it there the three of them are already seated, Sam on his second mojito and Fi nursing a bloody Mary. Mike nods at us both while Fi gasps at the sight of Emma's dress and the two of them fall into a hushed conversation.

"Don't you love it?" she asks, running her hand over the fabric. "Jesse picked it out." She tosses me a small smile and Fi looks absolutely shocked.

"Really? God you men have better taste than I thought," she muttered returning to her seat between the guys. When we're all seated Mike dives right in and explains the plan to everyone one more time. Emma and I go into the club as a drug dealer and his girl and approach Gomez, tell him I'm trying to find a way to get my shipment and hopefully he takes the bait.

Fiona will be outside as tactical support and Mike and Sam will be across the street taking the audio form the mic I'll be wearing, better safe than sorry he always says. Emma and I both agree on the plan and the six of us split up and go to our cars and make our way out.

I catch Emma fidgeting in her seat out of the corner of my eye and my stomach twists a little, I don't want her going in but it's too late now.

"You nervous?" I ask, trying to see what's going through her mind. I know it can't be easy going up against the man that killed one of your best friends but I also know how strong she is and if anyone can pull this off it's her. Finally she tilts her head up and looks at me, green eyes cast downward.

"I'm alright, just not as ready as I'd like to be," she murmurs, turning to look out the window. I sigh and grip the steering wheel a little tighter; I just want her to open up to me again.

"Well I'll be right there," I remind her. I can see her muscles tense immediately and my jaw clenches in slight anger.

"What?" I ask finally, my voice sharp and my patience slowly running out. Her shoulders shake slightly as she laughs, shaking her head and looking at me like she just said the answer to my question outloud.

"You really don't get it do you?" she asks, "It's not that I don't want to be with you Jesse, I want it so bad it hurts. It's that you're running around with these people who blow up bridges and race cars and shoot guns and sooner or later you're going to get caught!" She sniffles and wipes furiously at her eyes, smearing her makeup.

"I can't just sit around and wait for that, the day you get taken away probably forever. You may think you know what you're doing but you and Michael and Sam and Fi are not invincible and sooner or later you will learn that." And suddenly it's all clear to me now. She's scared. I can tell by the way her voice is shaking that she's terrified and it's all because of me. Knowing that makes me want to tell her she's right, to apologize to her and make it all better but at the same time she doesn't understand.

"You know it's not like we go around and do those things because we're bored. We're helping people who need it, people who don't get help form the police or anybody else. We're the only ones who listen sometimes!"

"And now you're blaming it on me?" she asks, pursing her lips. Damn it, I've done it now.

"No, I'm not blaming anybody." Thankfully we reach the club at the height of the conversation and I turn off the car and get out. Emma steps out and I wince as she slams the door, her heels clicking on the pavement as she walks over and links her arm through mine with a straight face.

Taking in a deep breath we head to the front door and stop at the end of the line. When we reach the front we stop in front of the larger than life bouncer who looks us over, tossing Emma a smile and a wink before stepping aside. That was easier than I thought.

Compared to outside the club is pretty dark, colored lights flashing across the floor and bouncing off the shine of Emma's dress. It's packed and she presses a little closer to me when some guy who smells strongly of tequila nearly crashes into her.

We fight our way to the bar and the bartender comes straight to us, leaning forward so he can hear us over the pulsating music and the crowd.

"Can I get you anything?" I look at Emma and nod, letting her make the order while I scan the room for Gomez. While I can't see him there's a group of men lined up in front of one of the couches, dressed in expensive looking suits and I can barely make out the guns they have tucked into their jackets.

Turning back to Emma she hands me a glass with a dark amber liquid in it, one whiff tells me it's bourbon and I toss it back in one gulp before slamming the glass back on the counter.

"I think we should wait it out for a little," Emma says, seating herself on a bar stool and nursing her bright pink drink. Although it doesn't sound too fun she's probably right so I sit down next to her and signal to the bartender to bring me another drink. Emma raises her eyebrows as I toss the drink back, taking a sip of her own and shaking her head.

"You may want to slow down," she says pointedly.

"I'm fine… just a little impatient I guess." Rolling her eyes she drains her glass and stands, taking my hand and dragging me onto the floor.

"I want a better look… I hope you're as light on your feet as you look." She smiles a little, pressing her body against mine and my face feels hot all of a sudden. Slowly she grinds her hips a little, turning us so she can see the men across the floor.

Squeezing my eyes shut I rest my hands on her hips, breathing a sigh of relief when she doesn't protest. Her hair brushes against my face whenever she moves, the scent of vanilla and cherries making itself present.

"See anything interesting?" she shakes her head, her hips still moving and the friction becoming unbearable.

"Not really, his crew's in the way but I know he's over there."

"You think we should make a move yet?" I ask, more and more impatient as the minutes wear on. Emma cocks her head to the side, thinking before she nods and leans up to whisper in my ear.

"Let me go in first, I think he'll respond better to a woman than a potential threat to his business." She pulls away and smooth's out her dress while making her way to Gomez's corner of the club, smiling at the men guarding it. They look uneasy at first, but suddenly I see Gomez stand up and catch a glimpse of Emma, ushering her to come sit with him.

She gives him an impish smile, keeping herself together event though I know she wants nothing more than to just shoot him on the spot. But so far so good and I cross my fingers as they delve into a conversation.

For at least twenty minutes they exchange smiles and Emma gives the occasional giggle before she leans in and whispers something in his ear, looking over and catching my eye. Gomez looks upset at first, but Emma sooths him with a hand on his chest and a few minutes of hushed talking, trying to convince him I'm worth this next hour of his time. Finally he relents and Emma stands up, strutting past the group and over to me.

"We're in but we've gotta make this good, he's really not happy someone else is making a move this big the same week he almost got taken out." She stops for a moment and looks at the ground, running a hand through her hair. Leaning in I wrap and arm around her waist and pull her a little closer.

"You're doing great," I whisper, hoping to encourage her to keep going until we can get out of here. All she does though is clear her throat and return to Gomez as I follow her, reaching out to shake his hand roughly when we get there.

"Oh man, I can't believe it, face to face with the big man on campus. How you doin'?" hesitantly Gomez shakes my hand, and Emma curls into his side in hopes of keeping him calm long enough for us to get the conversation going.

"And you are..?"

"Andre, call me Andre. I heard through our mutual friend Jade here that you may be able to help me with a problem I've got." Chuckling loudly Gomez sits up and takes a swig of his beer.

"I'm not sure what Miss Jade has told you but I don't just go into business with the first man who happens to find me at a club," wrapping an arm around Emma he gives a small smile.

"But lucky for you I've run into a little trouble recently and I need some man power to help with my next big shipment. If I like what you have to say then maybe we can work something out." So far so good, it looks like we might have made it in.

"Well alright, should I get your number or-"

"That's not necessary, simply meet me here again tomorrow night and we'll see what we can work out." We shake hands and I pull Emma against me as we walk out, both of us thankful we don't have to keep pretending around him. Just because I'm good at it doesn't make it any easier.

I'm trying desperately to keep up with emma as she weaves in and out of the crowds of people until she reaches the door, throwing it open and taking in gulps of fresh air. Turning my back to her I pull out my phone and dial Mike.

"Mike, did you and Sam get all that?" he sounds excited about how good things went and we make plans to meet up early in the morning and prepare for meeting number two. As I hang up I turn back around and see Emma watching me, her shoulders shaking as sobs tear through her and I can't speak. I'm so shocked that all I can do is rush forward and pull her into my arms.

"I'm sorry Em, I'm so sorry you had to go in there." All she does is press her face into my shirt and cry harder.