"Sorry about what happened in there," Jessie said to Brian as they stepped into the elevator.

"Not as sorry as I am," Brian told her sadly. "Where we goin' anyway?"

"One of the nurse's told me there's a terrace lounge on the top floor, she said it's nice up there...quiet."

Brian hit the top floor button and leaned back against the elevator wall. He glanced over at Jessie, who was leaning up against the wall also, staring down at her slippers, and lost in thought. "You okay?"

She looked up at him. "Uh-huh. I'm fine."

"You really gonna leave Friday?"

She nodded. "I have to, it's...things are getting out of control."


"What the hell just happened?" Robert was talking more to himself than to John. He was pacing in a small circle. "She..we would never talk to each other like that." He stopped pacing and looked over at John. "I saw what you were trying to tell me yesterday, I never thought I would see that in her. We have to-" Stopping mid-sentence, he realized John looked distracted, far away. Upon closer inspection, he noticed how pale he was and that his eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "John...hey." He stepped in front of him, so John had to see him. "Hey...John, you okay, buddy?"

"When I was eight years old I broke four pieces to Dad's Civil War chess set...my Grandmother gave it to him for his thirtieth birthday and if he was capable of loving anything back then...it was that...his chess set, especially after Grandmother died. I wasn't allowed to touch it...'Don't touch it, don't breathe on it, don't even look at it' that was I heard and followed on a daily basis." He laughed nervously like he was eight again. "He kept it on a small table in the den and I'd give it a wide berth when I walked by it, like it was a rabid dog, not wanting to take any chances...cause I knew, I knew if something happened, I'd get beaten within an inch of my life...and sure enough." He blinked, his eyes finally focusing on Robert. "I was running through the den...to go outside and play before dinner...my shoelace was untied and I tripped...I hit the table, the table hit the wall and then fell. In a panic, I crawled over to it, picked the table up and started picking up the pieces...I lifted up the board and there they were, four pieces, broken underneath it. I felt like I was being crushed in a vice, I couldn't breathe and I just started shaking and screaming. My mother came running and the look on her face just added to my fear. After a few moments, she carried me upstairs and put me to bed...I laid there crying and shaking for hours and when dad's car pulled in, I just lost it again...scared to death of what he was going to do to me. My mother held me and told me she was going to take care of it, that I'd be okay. She left my room to meet him downstairs, so I slid off the bed and crawled underneath it. A minute later they were yelling...I heard something break and mom was crying. He yelled at her and hit her, for what seemed like hours, and then it got quiet...then she screamed and cried even harder...begging him to stop. I heard him coming up the stairs and I froze. Then, he called my name and I thought...he's so calm, he's not yelling, maybe he's not mad anymore...I started to crawl out from under the bed and he grabbed the back of my shirt and yanked me out the rest of the way...he lifted me up with one hand and flung me into the wall...before I hit the floor he grabbed the front of my shirt and pinned me against the wall. I can't remember exactly what he was saying, I just remember his voice and how calm he sounded...and I remember how terrified it made me...I prayed that he would yell, so it would be less scary. I woke up two days later in the hospital...I opened my eyes and he was leaning over me...my mother was huddled in the corner broken and bruised...he grabbed my shoulder, hard, and in that dead-calm, emotionless tone...told me I had better keep my mouth shut...or next time I wouldn't be so lucky to wake up. I didn't think I'd ever be that scared again..."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry Patrick did that to you, that he treated you and your mother the way he did...he regretted it deeply, I promise you. He would've cut off his arm before he would abuse someone he loved again."

"Jessie, she...I felt like I was back there again, back in that house...scared to death." John took in a deep quivering breath and rubbed his tear-filled eyes, impatiently. "I fought hard to keep myself from going down that road...to not get sucked in..." His voice trailed off, as he remembered something she had said earlier 'just don't let go'

"John?"

"We can't let her slip away, Robert...no matter how hard she pushes."

"We will, buddy." Robert put his hand on John's shoulder and squeezed gently.

"What do we do now? She wanted you to go..or me to go...or both of us to go..."

"We're not going anywhere. Whether she likes it or not, we'll be here when she gets back."


"Do you think I'm crazy?" Jessie asked Brian. They were sitting on a bench, people watching, enjoying the flower-scented air and the warmth of the sun, out on the terrace.

"I think you've been through too much...that you've seen too much...I don't think you're crazy."

"Do you trust me...right now, after everything?"

"Jessie, it's me remember? You'll have to do better than that to lose my trust. I know you, I'd trust you with my life."

"But, do you trust me with mine?"

He nodded.

"Good, I trust you too. I need you to do something for me...John and Robert, I love them and God knows, I'll never be able to thank them enough for what they do for me...for putting up with me, but sometimes it's too much. I know they mean well, I just need them to trust me and I don't think they do."

"This is about Friday?"

"Yeah. I need you to back me up...to help me do what I need to do and not what everyone thinks I need to do, but... I don't want to cause any trouble between you and Robert."

"You don't have to worry about that. I'll clear my schedule Friday, come by here early and wait for you to be discharged, okay? Then, I'm yours for the day...we'll hang out, it'll be just like old times. Promise me something?"

"What?"

"Promise you'll take it easy, that just because your being released, you'll remember that you're still not well. Don't overdo it."

"I promise. Thanks, Brian." Jessie leaned over and hugged him.

"Anytime, kid...you know that. Can I ask you something, without you getting mad?"

She slipped from his arms and looked up at him. "Sure."

"Why won't you stay? If they can help you if they can help you with the nightmares, why wouldn't you let them?"

"The truth? I don't know, I guess I need them. I need something to still be the same as it was before...even if it hurts."

Brian wasn't sure he understood her, but at least she answered him. "C'mon, let's head back down. You should probably eat something and we could watch The Tick."

"Nah, you go. I'm gonna stay here a little longer. This place almost makes you forget you're in a hospital. I'm sure Robert and John are still there...tell them I'm okay, everything is okay."

"Jessie..."

"I'm not going anywhere. Besides, if I went anywhere looking like this, people would think I escaped from a padded room and have me locked up." Jessie laughed.

Brian laughed with her, she was probably right. She had on 'Underdog' cotton pajama pants, a brightly colored tye-dye t-shirt, and big, furry slippers that looked like bear paws. "I can't believe I let myself be seen with you."

"Haha, funny."

Brian stood up. "Don't be too long, they'll worry about you."

"I won't." She sat back, relaxed for the first time in days. 'Joey will bring the Provigil tonight and everything will be fine. I'll be better.'


"Where's Jessie?" Robert asked when Brian walked in without her.

"There's a terrace lounge on the top floor, that's where we were, she wanted to stay a little longer. It's kinda nice up there."

"How is she?" John asked quietly.

"Fine. She felt bad about what happened the minute she walked out the door. She wanted me to tell you that she's okay...everything was okay."

"Did she say anything about Friday?" Robert hoped maybe she had changed her mind about leaving. Brian nodded, but from the look on his face, Robert knew she hadn't. "She's still set on leaving?"

"Yeah. Bobby she uh... she, well, I think she's figuring on you and John givin' her a hard time about it and everything, so she asked me to back her up. She wants me to pick her up Friday and I told her I would."

Robert smiled at Brian's nervousness. "It's okay, Brian. I wouldn't have expected anything less from you. You're one of four people that Patrick trusted to watch over her, it didn't just go away because he's not here."

Brian grinned, relief oozing from his body. "I know and thank you for reminding me. She told me she didn't want to cause any problems between you and me and I said it wouldn't happen...I guess I second guessed myself when I thought about it on the way down here. I called Joey, he said he'll be here about six. I figured he could help with damage control. He's gonna bring dinner again, so I thought maybe we could go get a drink or something and get you two outta here for awhile."

"Sounds good."

"How long do you think she'll be up there?" John wondered aloud, he had been thinking about it in his head and was surprised that he voiced it. He wanted to see her before Joey came.

Robert could see the turmoil, that was still playing in John's head, in his eyes and he could only imagine what the younger man was feeling. He put a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, why don't you go talk to her...it'll help...you and Jessie."

"Yeah...maybe."

"Go, John, if nothing else, you'll feel better."

"Yeah, okay."

"How's your leg?" Robert asked as he watched John limped over to the wall by the window, where his crutches rested. John winced after taking several steps, and Robert realized John hadn't even taken aspirin for pain since he had talked John into going back to sleep this morning. He didn't think John had sat down since he woke up either.

"It's sore but okay."

"I know it would be impossible to get you to take a painkiller and get some rest, but at least take some Motrin, so you'll be a little more comfortable. The nurse put some on Jessie's table, for headaches."

"That'll work, for now, thanks." John walked by them to leave and Brian handed the Motrin to him. "Thanks. I'll see you guys in a little while."

"Is he okay?" Brian asked Robert after John left.

"He will be...he just needs to talk to Jessie ."


When he walked through the door of the terrace lounge, John understood why Jessie had chosen to stay a little longer. It was like being in an indoor park. There were varieties of plants and flowers, a water fountain, park benches, and fresh air and sunshine coming through several open skylights above him. He looked to the left and saw her a few feet away blowing bubbles for a little girl, he guessed to be about three. He watched them for several moments, smiling, while Jessie and the little girl laughed, as she blew the bubbles and the little girl gave chase to pop them. He walked closer.

Jessie saw movement out of the corner of her eye, looked up, and saw John. She smiled and he walked up to the bench she was sitting on. The little girl turned around, to see who Jessie was smiling at, and smiled shyly at John.

"Bubbles!" The little girl announced.

"Lots of bubbles." John smiled down at her.

"Jessie blowin' bubbles." She held up her right arm, showing him her bright orange cast, and then reached out to put her hand, gently, on Jessie's bandaged wrist. "Got boo-boos."

John nodded and crouched down, so he was closer to the little girl. He tapped softly on her cast. "I like your band-aid. It's very pretty."

She ran her other hand over her cast. "Owange." She pointed at the flowers on her shirt and shorts. "Owange too." She pointed at the spots of orange in Jessie's tye-dye shirt. "Jessie has owange too."

"Two pretty girls in orange...very cool...you could be twins " He smiled at Jessie. "Your twin is very cute."

Jessie laughed. "Yes, she is. Hey, Kacie, you know who this is?" She pointed at John and the little girl shook her head. "This is my brother, John."

Kacie grinned. "My bubba sreepin'." She pointed to an infant seat that was set on the floor in front of the bench, across from them, at her mother's feet. She put her finger to her lips. "Shhhh...Tim sreepin."

"Okay," John whispered.

"C'mon, Kacie, time to go. Tell Jessie thank you for blowing bubbles with you." The little girl's mother stood up and started gathering her things.

"Tank you, Jessie." Kacie wrapped her arms around Jessie's waist. "Goin' bye-bye now."

"That was a very big hug, thank you, Kacie." Jessie put the lid on the bubble bottle and handed it to her. "Here are your bubbles...bye, maybe I'll see you next time."

"Kay, bye." Kacie looked at John and waved, smiling. "Bye."

"Bye, Kacie. Take good care of your boo-boo."

"Thank you!" Kacie's mother called over to Jessie as she picked up the infant seat, holding her son, held Kacie's hand and walked away.

"That kid was just too cute." John laughed as he watched Kaci, she kept turning around to wave at them. He turned his head to look at Jessie. "That was the first genuine laugh and smile I've heard and seen from you in a long time...probably since we played Doom at the VCTF building...maybe you do need to get out of here."

Jessie gave him a half-smile, then looked down at the floor. "I'm sorry...back in my room, that wasn't me...it wasn't Robert and me...I'm sorry you had to see that." She looked up at him. "You were upset, I didn't mean to upset you"

John nodded. "You reminded me of someone, I'm trying to forget." He said quietly.

Jessie knew he was talking about the 'old' Patrick. "He told me about how he treated you and your mom and I could never really picture it...until now. I saw what he was capable of...I felt it."

The last part of her sentence came out in a whisper. John put his arm around her, pulling her close, and she rested her head on his shoulder. "In your nightmare?"

She nodded. "He...I never thought he could be that way...that he would hurt me."

"He didn't," John said adamantly. "He wouldn't. It was just a dream, Jessie, a bad one." He kissed the top of her head. "Will you tell me about it? Tell me how he hurt you?"

She nodded against his shoulder. "We were at the warehouse..."


Tbc...