A/N: Profuse, if not delayed, apologies. NaNoWriMo has occupied my life this month, and let me tell you, I didn't even come close to cranking out a novel. I don't know how people do it, but I think it would be more effective to do this in, say, April. Or another month that isn't wracked with holidays, planning, and other non-writing-related activities. But I digress. Here is your coveted update! It's short, but necessary. So for everyone who is needing to kill the long hour between The Walking Dead and Talking Dead on this Sunday night, enjoy!

DEAN:

She hasn't spoken in nearly half an hour. Not since Jamie confirmed that Will has completely lost it and gone MIA. Jessie's been sitting on the couch with her arms clutched tightly around her upper half, staring into space. The only reaction we can get out of her is a shake of the head, mostly in response to us asking if she's okay or if she needs anything. I glare at Jamie for the third time in the last ten minutes. He never should've told her Will was missing. Not while she was still reeling over the news of that poor girl.

My head snaps to attention when Jessie's body shoots off of the couch. She stands there with her hands at her sides, trembling, eyes unfocused but filled with dread.

"He's here."

Her voice is barely a whisper, but Jamie turns from his position at the window, and Kelsey's phone drops from her hand. I just stare at her, not fully comprehending her words, despite their simplicity. It just doesn't make any sense.

"Jess, I know you're upset that he's missing, but that's no reason to think he's already—"

She cuts me off when her eyes sharpen, focus, and meet mine with so much fear and panic that my words become lodged in my throat. "I saw him."

"What?! Why are you just telling us this now?" Kelsey screeches.

I cross to her and take her face in my hands, wanting to soothe her in some way; knowing it's impossible. "What do you mean, baby?"

Our eyes lock as she clears her throat to explain. "I didn't know it was him. How could I? Why would I even think… It was in class. I was daydreaming and the professor asked me a question. I blanked but someone behind me whispered the question in my ear. I turned to thank him when class was over, but all I saw was the back of his head through a crowd of other students on their way out."

The son of a bitch. He had the gall to sit in the same room with her, to speak to her, and then run off like the pathetic excuse for a human being that he is. I'll kill him.

"Are you sure?" Jamie asks, barely restraining his anger.

She blinks and a tear escapes, traveling down her cheek and getting caught in the valley between her lips. She nods her head slowly and Jamie is tapping out a number on his phone before she can blink again. I don't know what to do with her at this point, but I do know that I need to get her out of here.

"Come on," I take her hand and lead her to the bedroom.

"W-what are we doing?" she asks hesitantly.

"I'm taking you somewhere safe," I answer, fishing out a bag from her closet and shoving clothes in at random. I don't know what the hell she'll need so I just grab whatever items my hands touch and stuff them into the bag haphazardly.

I hear her sniffle behind me and turn to see her on the bed, huddled up by the headboard, arms wrapped around her knees. "Yeah? Where would that be? Where's safe?"

Dropping the bag, I move to sit beside her so that we're hip to hip, stretching my legs out in front of me. "Jessie, I don't know. But you can't stay here. It's too easy for him to find you."

"You think he won't find me at your frat house? It's not like we can go stay with Danny. He knows where he lives. Once he finds out we're not here, that's the next place he'd go." She looks up at me with such hopelessness in her eyes, it guts me.

"We can stay at a hotel. You've only got one class tomorrow, just skip it and then you won't have to worry about classes until after break. The police will have found him by then." At least that's what I'm hoping.

"I hate the idea of running from him."

I wrap my arm around her and pull her into the crook of my neck, kissing the top of her head. "Do you have any idea how hard it is for me not to be out there right now, hunting him down like a dog? But I need to know you're safe, and I don't trust anyone else to keep you that way."

I can feel her shoulders tense as she wrestles with the idea of letting someone else worry about her, take care of her. Then she lets out a deep breath and nods her head beneath my chin. "Fine. Let's go."

Jessie wouldn't hear of Jamie and Kelsey staying at the apartment alone. I had to agree with her. When he figured out that she wasn't there, he'd be pissed. I wouldn't want either of them in his path. Jamie decided to go stay with the guy he's been seeing, assuring us that he could take care of himself. Kelsey is heading home early since it's just a little over an hour's drive. That just left us.

"This is a joke, right?" she asks, setting down her bag in the foyer.

"What was I supposed to do? My mom insisted when she found out what was going on."

"And that's very sweet, and extremely generous of her, but why in the world do we need a penthouse suite? At The London of all places? What was wrong with a little chain hotel?"

Looking around, I understand where she's coming from. This place is insane. There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms on two separate floors, a dining room, separate kitchen area, rooftop deck; the list of opulence goes on and on. I'll admit, mom went overboard. But this is where she stays when she comes out to the coast for business, so they know her here. Plus, the security was the number one draw, and the reason I didn't fight her on this.

"She wanted your parents to be able to stay with us when they fly in on Saturday. I know they'll feel better being close to you. Jared will lose his mind when he gets a load of this place." I cross to her and rub my hands up and down the tops of her arms. "And you know the security is excellent. There is no way that anyone is getting in or out of here without us giving the okay."

She sighs and walks around the enormous entryway, crossing the room to the sliding glass doors leading to the roof. "I guess it's not the worst place to end up for spring break."

We spend the evening lounging on the outdoor couches in front of the electric fire pit on the roof. Jessie needs to decompress in silence, and I'm willing to oblige her if it means no tears or breakdowns. I'm able to breathe easy for the first time all day.

When Jessie's stomach begins growling, we head back down the stairs to find a room service menu since neither of us wants to leave the safety of the decadent suite just yet. My hand is inches from the in-room telephone when it begins to ring. Jessie's eyes dart to mine and panic fills them instantly.

I pick up the phone, not taking my eyes off of her. "Hello?"

I listen to what the person on the other line is saying, more confused than ever. What they're saying doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but maybe Jessie can shed some light. "Okay, send them up," I say, then hang up and move to unlock the door.

"What the hell was that all about?" she questions.

"That was the manager. We've got visitors, and they wanted to get clearance from us before escorting them up here," I explain.

"Wait, what? Why did you tell them they could come up? We don't even know who these people are. What if it's bullshit? What if it's him?" She slams her hand on the door I was just opening and it clicks shut again.

"Jessie, it's okay. I don't understand what's going on, but I know we're not in any immediate danger. Especially not from the people on their way up here," I say soothingly, trying to ease her mind.

"How can you possibly know that?" she demands, but is cut off by loud knocking and a voice from the other side of the door.

"Jessie? Dean? Let us in," the muffled male voice calls from outside. Her eyes widen in recognition and surprise.

"Because it's your uncle."