JESSIE:

"Uncle Tommy? Aunt Liis? What are you doing here? How did you find us?" I step back, opening the door wider to allow them to step over the threshold and into the foyer.

"Oh Jessie, sweetie. We'll explain everything. Let's just take a moment to sit and, I promise, we'll tell you all that you need to know." Her eyes are not on mine as she finishes her last statement; instead they're glaring a hard line at Uncle Tommy. His stern, tight-lipped expression tells me he's not planning on being nearly as forthcoming as Aunt Liis is promising.

Dean leads them over to the large sitting area and switches on a couple of lamps before settling on the chaise across from the large couch, patting the spot next to him so that I'll join them. Arms crossed tightly over my chest, I stalk over and take the seat beside Dean but cast a dubious glance at my uncle. If he doesn't plan on telling me exactly what the hell is going on, he's going to be talking to my back as I walk away from him. I'm not going to tolerate this coddling from the Maddox men in my life any longer. I'm done with it.

"We're so glad that you're doing okay, Jessie. After the earthquake and everything, we wanted to come out and see you, but work…well, things have been a bit crazy." Aunt Liis knots her fingers together anxiously, then tucks her long, dark hair behind her ear for the third time since entering the suite. I switch my gaze to Uncle Tommy and, in contrast, he's sitting there stiff and unmoving with his hands resting on his knees, not meeting my eyes, staring at a point to the left of my face.

Dean clears his throat next to me and I realize that I probably should've contributed something to the conversation, but he takes over in my silence. "We understand. You can't be expected to drop everything and fly across the country at a moment's notice. Which, I'm sure, has Jessie wondering, as am I, what brought you both to the west coast? If you don't mind my asking."

"Yeah, Uncle Tommy," I finally pipe in, addressing him directly since he hasn't said a word since he laid eyes on me. "What are you both doing all the way out here? I thought you were sticking closer to home these days. You can't tell me that a big advertising crisis came up in California that demanded both of your attentions at the exact same time that my psycho ex is MIA." Aunt Liis glares at Uncle Tommy, and I know this was the cover he was going to try to use. "Please, spare me that story. My parents sent you out here, right? But why? They'll be here in less than forty eight hours. Are they really that freaked out?"

Uncle Tommy exhales deeply through his nose, attempting to gather his thoughts. I know when he's preparing a speech in his head, and this is definitely one of those times. I lean into Dean, using his body warmth for comfort. This doesn't look good. I've never seen my uncle look this tense and edgy.

"Jessica," he starts, clearing his throat and taking Aunt Liis' hand. She squeezes it, giving him reassurance, but for what? Panic rises up the back of my neck and has me clasping Dean's hand for my own support. "We were here on business."

"Oh bullshit!" I explode, jumping up from my seat. "You've got to do better than that, Uncle Tommy."

"Jessie, please sit and let your uncle finish," Aunt Liis commands in her quiet but firm way. "This isn't easy on either of us, or your parents for that matter. If you can please, please just listen and let him explain, you will get the answers you're looking for. And some that you may not want. Hear him out."

I return to my seat and Dean gives me a look of reassurance, wrapping an arm around me and turning his attention back to my uncle. I do the same.

"As I was saying, we were here on business. But not the type of business that you're thinking. Your aunt and I," he looks at her, and she nods encouragingly, "we're not in advertising. We never have been."

Confused, I try to absorb the new information, but without more I'm still left in the dark. For the first time, he meets my eyes and holds them for a moment. Then he drops the bomb.

"We're with the FBI, Jessica. Liis, your father, and I. Although, your father is retired and your aunt only consults these days, we've all been a part of the Federal Bureau of Investigations since before you were born."

My mouth is hanging agape and my eyes are burning since I haven't blinked in close to a minute. I'm being shaken and I look to my right to see Dean mouthing words to me that I don't comprehend.

"I'm sorry, what?" I question once I have a handle on my voice.

"I said, are you alright? Your face, you're white as a sheet." Concern is etched over every feature as he clasps my jaw in his hand, forcing me to look at him.

"I'm…I…I don't know. Hold on." I whip my head around and shoot out of my seat, jabbing my finger accusingly at my uncle through the air. "You said my father? My father is…he's…he was in the FBI?!"

Pacing the living area, I clench my fists around large bunches of my hair, tugging at the scalp in hopes that the pain will give me some clarity. Nothing. Makes. Sense. The FBI? No. My dad works on cars in the garage that he and Uncle Trent own together, and back in the day he would bullshit to ad execs so they'd buy campaigns that my uncle thought up. Nowhere in there was there room for a double life as some kind of FBI agent. There's no way he was in the FBI. Nope.

Aunt Liis places her hands on my shoulders and I drop my arms to my sides. "Jessie, honey I know it's a lot to take in. There's just so much you don't know. I swear to you, this was only kept from you for your own safety. You, your brothers, cousins, your aunts and uncles; it was just safer to keep you all in the dark at the time."

"Wait, none of them know about this either?"

Uncle Tommy crosses the room to where we stand. "The only family members who are aware of our actual professions are your mother and your Aunt Cami. And now you. Both of you," he gestures to include Dean as he joins us. "It's imperative that this stays between us until your parents are here to explain."

I raise my hand to cut him off. "I thought you were explaining? No offense, but I'm not waiting two days to find out why the hell I've been lied to for my entire life."

"Jessica, watch your tone. Your father is still your father." Uncle Tommy's face tells me that arguing is out of the question. "He has done everything he could to ensure that you kids and your mother would never be affected by his decisions and this job. I will not defy his wishes and tell you something that he wishes to explain to you, in detail. He, your mother, and your brother should be arriving tomorrow morning. We pulled some strings to get them here quicker. Please, be patient."

"Fine. But can you at least tell me what you two are doing here?" I compromise. Aunt Liis fields my question, giving him a chance to breathe after his confession.

"You're in danger, Jessie. Plain and simple, there's no other place we would be. Being in the position your uncle is in, he has access to resources that can keep you safe. We truly are out here on business. I was consulting on a domestic terrorism case that Thomas is working on. When your father called, we were about ready to head back home anyway. Being in San Diego, it was no problem getting to you first. We'll be staying until William Jackson has been apprehended."

Blowing out a breath, I clomp to the sliding glass doors feeling like an obstinate child. I want to know everything. Why my father lied to me. Why my mother kept the secret. Why he was involved with the FBI to begin with, and why the rest of the family can't know what the hell they've all been up to. How can I possibly keep this from Jamie?

Staring at my own reflection in the glass, I address anyone who's bothering to listen. "Jamie has to know. I won't keep this from him."

"He will. Soon." I turn to face my uncle as he speaks. "This is my last job for the bureau. I'm planning to retire. Once I'm no longer at risk of being exposed, the family will be told. Until then, you have to keep this between us. I'm sorry if that isn't something you're comfortable with, but it's the way it has to be."

"Fine. Great. If that's all, I'm going to bed."

Turning my back on all of them, I head for a bedroom at random. It doesn't matter where I end up, as long as there's a bed. I just need this day to be over.

DEAN:

"You had to know this wouldn't be easy on her," I remark, handing Liis and Thomas drinks.

"Of course. There's no way to gently explain that you've been lied to your whole life," Liis begins as Thomas sucks in a breath to protest. "No matter that there was no way around it, and there is much more to the story than has been detailed so far." He relaxes back against the couch as she goes on. "From her perspective, she was betrayed by those meant to love and protect her. In reality, she was betrayed because we all love and want to protect her, and the rest of the family."

"I'm sure the reasons are valid, but you'll have to give her some time," I sip my own beer from the stocked bar as I wonder how she's coping in the other room, knowing she's definitely not sleeping as she said. I didn't want to be rude and leave her family out here on their own, but the only place I want to be at the moment is with the girl I love.

"She'll have plenty of time to herself once this maniac is found," Thomas snapped.

Liis places a hand on his knee to calm him, but at the mere mention of the situation with Will, my own blood starts bubbling beneath the surface. "Tell me what you know so far," I insist.

"Not much more than you, I'm afraid," Liis reports. "He left campus approximately forty eight hours ago, after the attack. He hasn't been seen by friends or family since, but we were able to access security footage from Pittsburgh International Airport that shows him boarding a flight to Los Angeles yesterday afternoon. This confirms that it is possible that Jessie might've seen him in her classroom earlier today as she stated."

The baffled look I'm sporting must register with Thomas. "Travis filled us in on our way here. We know everything."

Liis continues, "We've got traces on all of his credit cards and his cell phone. If he makes a move, the bureau will know first. He can't go very long without slipping up. When he does, we'll be there."

I huff out a breath on a half laugh. "I can't imagine this is where the FBI wants their resources allocated. Are you sure this is all legit?"

Thomas drains the remaining amber liquid from his glass and pushes himself into a standing position, reaching for Liis' hand as well. "When family is involved, people know better than to ask questions. We pull the strings that need to be pulled in order to get the job done. That's what we'll do here."

I move with them to the door to see them out. Thomas stops and places a hand on my shoulder, surprising me. "I know you love her, Dean. So do we. I was the first of us brothers to hold her when she was born. Had to fight Trent off and everything. Staring up at me with that cocky Maddox grin, even at ten minutes old… I will keep her safe. You have my word on that."

I nod, shake his hand, and give Liis a brief hug as they exit the room, leaving me in the echoing silence.

They'll protect her, I know that. But who'll protect Will? Because if I find him first, he's as good as dead.