Thirty four

Jessie woke up in a cold sweat. She'd had her nightmare again. She climbed out her bed and down the stairs towards Rick and Josh's room. She pushed open the door and sat at the bottom of Josh's bed. She prodded Rick in the leg with her foot. He woke up and looked up at her. "Morning," he whispered tiredly, yawning as he sat up. "you had your nightmare again?" he asked. Jessie nodded. "come over here," he said holding open his hands. Jessie stood up and went over to Rick's bed. He wrapped his arms around her and they sat there for a bit.

Blake rolled over and opened his eyes. He spotted Jessie and Rick on Rick's bed. He sat up sharply. "What is she doing in here?!" he shouted. Rick and Jessie both held their fingers up to their lips.

"She had a nightmare, and she ran to the only person who she could tell as he has been there for her through her brother's time in the YOI," Jessie said putting the emphasis on she and her. She scowled at Blake. "And usually I curl up in my brother's bed to make me feel better but I can't do that can I?" she said sarcastically. Blake rolled his eyes.

"Boring," he said yawning and rolling back over to go to sleep. Rick and Jessie exchanged a look, shrugged and Rick pulled Jessie down so they were laying on his bed. He made soothing sounds to send her to sleep.

Blake woke up first Tuesday morning. He saw that Jessie was still in the room and decided he would have to get used to it. He prodded both Jessie and Rick awake. "you might want to get out before Mike comes in," Blake warned Jessie. She nodded, kissed Rick and snuck out the room and back upstairs. She pulled her uniform on and went downstairs to find Mike talking on the phone.

"yes, we are aware he is coming out," he said down the phone. He covered the microphone and mouthed at Jessie that it was the youth offenders. "But... yes ok we will sort something out," Mike said. Jessie leaned on the worktop. Elektra came in and joined her as she looked questioningly at Mike. Mike hung up. "We're trying to sort out where Josh can go," Mike said.

"Well I had a thought about this," Elektra said. Jessie and Mike turned to look at her. "What? I do care about Jessie and her brother. Anyway my idea is that Jessie could move in with Tee like she did the night Josh had been sent to the youth offenders institute and Josh could have Jessie's room. Or Frank could share with Josh," Elektra said giving two plausible options. Jessie smiled.

"That would be good. Then he would still be here and you wouldn't have to make all these phone calls trying to find a place for Josh to go," Jessie said cheekily. Mike gave her a dark look.

"Look that is all fine in theory but we haven't asked Tee or Frank," Mike told her shaking the phone at her.

"Ask us what?" Tee asked as she and Frank walked in accompanied by Carmen and Floss.

"We are trying to work out a way Josh can still live here now Blake has taken his room," Jessie said, putting the emphasis on Blake as he walked in. He scowled at her and sat down at the table and poured himself some cereal.

"yeah and we came up with two options. One Josh moves into Jessie's room and Jessie moves in with you Tee. Or two Frank shares with Josh when he comes out," Elektra explained. Faith came in and nodded.

"Sounds good," she said. Frank shook his head.

"No offence Jessie but I don't want to share my bedroom with an abuser," he said taking some toast and joining Carmen, Floss, Faith and Blake at the table.

Tee smiled. "That's fine then Frank as I don't mind sharing with Jessie," she said hugging the older girl. Jessie hugged her back.

"thank you Tee. You're a star," Jessie said.

"What's this?" Rick asked as he walked into the kitchen with Harry and Tyler.

"Josh is going to stay here in the attic while I share with Jessie," Tee told him pouring herself a glass of milk from the fridge and taking it to the table. Rick smiled.

"That is a good plan and whose idea was it?" he asked. Elektra held her hand up slightly. Rick winked at her. Blake growled.

"goodie," he said sarcastically. "the weirdo's brother is coming back," he said. Jessie turned to him.

"One you've known me all of one night and I'm not weird and two you will probably get on with Josh. If you drop the attitude," Jessie told Blake slipping into her seat between Faith and Tee and then realising that Blake was in Josh's seat opposite her. "MIKE!" she shouted. He looked up from his toast.

"yes Jessie," Mike said warily.

"At least tell me Josh gets his seat back at the table. Please," Jessie pleaded.

Mike looked at the young girl and nodded. "Yes because the table seating plan needs to be changed anyway as we are struggling to fit you all around the table at the moment anyway. Which is what I was going to ask you. As there is thirteen of you three of you are going to have to sit up here at the breakfast bar and I wanted to know if there was anyone who particularly wanted to?" Mike explained. All the kids just shook their heads. "In that case Elektra, Blake and Jessie you're new seats will be at the breakfast bar as will Josh's when he gets out. Floss you are at the bottom end of the table, then up the left hand side will be Harry, Faith, Tee and Rick with Johnny at the end and then Carmen, Jody, Frank and Tyler down the right hand side. Sound good?" everyone nodded, got up and moved their breakfast to their new seats. Elektra sat at the end of the breakfast bar near the sink with Jessie next to her. Blake left a chair in between him and Jessie before he sat down.

A/N: Will Blake get on with Josh and will he and Jessie actually like each other or will they continue to be sarcastic with each other? Indigo :)