For the next few days, mostly in the evenings, Scott took Jess out driving in the 'new' little Honda Civic. On Thursday, when she had placement, he sent her with his truck so she didn't have to try to navigate the highway in a car she wasn't comfortable driving yet.
Comfortable. That would be the day!
Learning to drive standard was not what Jess would describe as 'fun'. Scott on the other hand found it entertaining, so much so that he had trouble hiding it. Even when she nearly lost her temper after stalling in the driveway five times before noticing the parking brake was on, Scott still teased her after talking her down from giving up.
Scott was a good teacher though. By Friday morning, Jess did her first drive on her own, taking the back roads to school the same way she did when she still had her truckie.
Nervous as she was, it wasn't going too terribly! She'd only stalled twice and squealed the tires once. All in all, it was shaping up to be a good day. After her morning class she would pack up her bag for the weekend. Scott promised he'd pick her up and they'd drive out to the campsite to meet up with everyone else.
Jess was excited for the weekend and nervous too.
Ever since Scott got mad at her for lying about being hurt, Jess was on edge and she practically fell over herself at times to try avoiding further conflict, despite what he'd told her about it not being a bad thing. A part of her was convinced her shift in demeanor was dragging on his patience even though he hadn't said anything and that only made it worse. Then again the other part of her rationalized logically that Scott wasn't the kind of person to keep quiet if there was a problem so maybe she was worrying about nothing at all.
Still. She'd broken trust. If there was one thing she'd learned over the past year of spending time with Bravo it was that they took honesty and a person's trustworthiness very seriously. Lying was a big deal to them, so Jess was learning.
What she didn't fully grasp was the underlying current of other events happening within the Bravo family. Things were tense among the team for other reasons that didn't involve her at all. That was bound to factor into why Scott reacted as he had earlier that week, however she didn't have the slightest clue about any of that. So far they'd hid it so well when they were with her so she never suspected.
Right now Jess was thinking about the weekend and hoping that she could reclaim some of the peace and sense of safety she had with them. All she had to do was-
Distinctive flashing lights in Jess's rearview mirror dragged her attention back to the present and her heart erupted with panic.
She was getting pulled over? What the fuck did she do?
Speed. She was speeding?
"Oh my god, I'm speeding!" Jess gasped, looking down at the speedometer which was over the speed limit even though she'd already had the breaks on.
Heart hammering, Jess pulled over and put the car in neutral before pulling the parking brake and waiting for the officer to get out of their car.
This couldn't be happening. Please…no.
The officer came to the window and Jess only just read 'Bailey' on the tag before she cast a quick look to his face. She could hardly make eye contact she was so embarrassed and his face was unreadable.
"Hello," She managed meekly, face flaming.
"Good morning! Do you have any idea how fast you were going?" Bailey asked her, not a hint of amusement in his words, but if she had looked at him instead of her steering wheel she would have spotted it twitching around his mouth.
"I'm gonna go with not the speed limit."
"That would be correct. Yes. And do you know what the speed limit is through here?"
"Fifty."
"And do you know how fast you were going?"
Jess prayed for the earth to swallow her up.
"I'll be honest, I don't know. It's a new car, and I'm not used to driving something that actually has any guts, or driving standard and then my brain was a thousand miles away and by the time I realized I was speeding, you were pulling me over, I'm so so sorry. It won't happen again and I totally respect the consequences."
"Wow!"
Jess braved a look at the officer and saw the half smile creeping across his face. It made him look a lot younger than he had a moment ago and his brown eyes warmed significantly.
"That was quite the explanation. You haven't been drinking or doing anything recreational that I should know about, right?"
"No, I just talk like this when I'm nervous, I've never been pulled over before." Jess blurted earnestly.
"Ok." Bailey nodded. "Well, I need to see a license and registration."
"Right." Jess froze for a second, mind going blank as to where anything was.
"Try the glove compartment," Bailey said helpfully. "That's usually where registration is. You said this is a new car? Is it yours?"
"Um, no, I mean…sort of. It's my fr-brother's car, but I'm driving it because mine caught fire on Monday."
"Caught fire? Well, that's not good!" Bailey commented. "Everyone ok?"
"Oh, yeah! It was just me. Great start to the week! Anyway so now I'm driving this one and my brother, Scott, pays the insurance and bought it and stuff because I can't afford it right now- here it is! I think?"
"Yup, that looks about right. Now I just need your license."
"Right!" Jess grabbed her bag and started rummaging through it for her wallet whispering under her breath, "Please be in here, please be in here, oh thank heavens!"
"Ok." Bailey's posture shifted the longer they interacted, going from ridged shoulders and a set jaw to relaxed features and easy movements. "Thank you. Sit tight. I'll be back in a moment and we'll have a chat, ok?"
Jess nodded miserably and put her head on the steering wheel as he walked away. This was going to make the insurance go up and that was going to cost Scott more money and he was going to be mad again! She was such an IDIOT! Why the hell hadn't she been able to focus and be aware of the speed she was going?! Had she run a stop sign and not noticed too?!
"Alright." Bailey was back a few minutes later. "So. I'm gonna give you a warning this time because you were only going twelve over and it's your first time being pulled over."
"Thank you!"
"Hey, don't thank me yet. You really did seem off in your own little world there! If I see you not paying attention again I won't be as nice. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Ok. Off you go. Drive safe."
"Thank you!"
Jess started the car, counted to ten as the officer started to walk away and then tried to ease out carefully.
She stalled the car twice before noticing it was sitting in second and not first.
Panicked, she glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that Officer Bailey was laughing in his car.
Not sure if she was relieved or more mortified, Jess put it in first and drove off.
No one ever had to know about this. Ever. It would go with her to her grave because the last thing she needed was for Scott to find out she got pulled over for speeding within the first week of him providing her with a car to drive.
Glancing at the clock, Jess swore. Now she was late for class.
When Metal arrived to pick Jess up at Ingrid at two, she wasn't ready to go.
Ordinarily that might annoy him a bit, but he was coming to expect at least half-hour delays from Jess so he'd factored it into his driving plans.
Trent and Clay were riding with them since there was a limit on parking at the campground. Usually Brock tended to be their third Musketeer, but their kid was in a tiff with Sonny right now and it was wiser to keep them in separate vehicles.
Damn it, they all really hated whenever Sonny got his head up his ass. The man was picking a fight with someone new every other week right now and Metal was close to having enough of it. Whatever was going on with him needed to get sorted, or he'd find himself knocking some sense into the Texan.
"Should we go in and make sure she's actually getting ready?" Trent asked after three minutes of them sitting outside.
"Might be interesting to see if they're actually locking the front door or not." Clay commented with that side smirk of his and hopeful mischief.
Metal glanced at his phone. Jess hadn't answered his text yet.
Admitting to the same curiosity as Clay, Metal let himself out of the truck and said, "Yeah, let's go see if we can hurry her up."
The long-suffering look shared between the three men when they turned the handle of the unlocked front door was priceless and they took it as an invitation to let themselves in.
Music was blasting in the empty kitchen, the counters were a mess of dishes in each girl's individual 'dish bin' and various bottles of empty liquor. A sink full of dishes from Jess's bin was half finished, there was a half finished plate of noodles on the table, and it looked like someone was in the middle of sweeping the floors, but had stopped to organize the blankets on the couch instead.
Above their heads they could hear three of the girls talking and light feet hurrying around in the room at the far end of the hall.
"Are you sure you don't want my bag?" Pauline's voice carried. "It's got lots of pockets!"
"No! I'm good!" Jess called back. "What time is it?"
"I don't know! My phone's downstairs."
"Shoot. Phone…where the heck is my phone?"
Zoe's personable voice answered, "Didn't you have it when you were doing dishes?"
"Ugghhhhh" Jess groaned. "I never finished those!"
"What have you been doing?!" Pauline laughed. "You started those like, three hours ago!"
"I don't know! I was washing dishes and then the floors were too gritty so I had to sweep them, and then the blankets were on the floor so I folded them, and then I got hungry but then I realized I hadn't started packing yet and it was going to be time to go soon and-"
"Can you spell ADHD?" Zoe sang, "It starts with a J and ends with a double S!"
"Stop!" Jess growled as she stomped to the bathroom. "I'm not even hyperactive and I get all my work done and I've always been a good student!"
"There are different kinds! Have you even watched those reels I sent you? You could be the inattentive kind of ADHD and that would make more sense because typically females are more on that side of things, which is why we don't get diagnosed when we're young and just spend life thinking something is wrong with us."
"Then why is she getting all her shit done for school?" Pauline asked. "I thought the whole ADHD thing made it so people couldn't get school work done."
"Because of the high functioning anxiety that drives the hypervigilant need to be perfect." Zoe answered reasonably. "That and if you pay attention, Jess goes through phases of not doing school for like three days and fixating on other things, like books or computer games, and then when a deadline gets closer she suddenly does nothing but school. It's a constant rollercoaster. Oh! And the way she stims to focus? Classic signs right there, and then there's the way she-"
"This is not 'psychoanalyze Jess' day! Pauline I need that sweater back."
"I'm literally wearing it right now!"
"Yeah, but it's my warmest and I need it. So give it back."
"Oh my gosh, Jess. Here! Just use this one! It's warmer."
"But I like that one!"
"I didn't put on deodorant this morning."
"Ok, nevermind, you can keep it a little longer. I'll take this one. I feel like I'm forgetting something." Jess signed. "Paulie can you come look through and make sure I didn't?"
"Yeah sure…shit! Jess! Why are you taking half your room? What the heck is this? You don't even need this! And this? Girl…you're going for a weekend!"
"I don't know! I panicked! I haven't gone camping in forever and do you have any idea how intimidating it is going camping with these guys?! Plus I've caused way too much trouble lately! I can't be unprepared and cause more!"
Downstairs, the three guys listened with mild amusement and discontentment when Jess mentioned being too much trouble.
"How long do you think it will take for them to notice we're here this time?" Clay murmured.
"Not sure." Metal answered, heading into the kitchen to finish Jess's dishes. "Trent, wanna toss that food in a container? She may as well eat it on the way."
Nodding thoughtfully, Trent followed into the kitchen quietly while Clay grabbed the broom and finished sweeping the floor.
"You know, I actually think I finally figured out why Jess reminds me of my middle sister, Josie." Trent told them in a low voice.
"Why?" Clay asked.
"Because Josie has ADHD and some of the lovable shit Jess does is just like her. Zoe might be onto something. It took years for us to figure it out, but when we did, Josie started finding coping skills that worked for her. Wondering if Jess would benefit from some of them."
Feet came skipping down the stairs and Zoe's absentminded singing grew closer to them. It halted the second she got a clear line of sight to the kitchen.
Trent was adding items from Jess's part of the fridge to the meal she'd abandoned, Metal had just finished with the dishes and started to dry them and put them away. Clay was started on the livingroom floor now, sweeping up dust bunnies that had lived there for far too long.
"Oh, wow. Hi!" She took in the three of them with surprise and simultaneous acceptance."Shit. Guys! We didn't lock the door again!"
"Ohhhh, my bad!" Pauline yelled.
"Yeah, noooo kidding! We have visitors!" Zoe called back before saying to the three men, "You guys really don't need to be doing that! I'll look after it!"
"She almost ready?" Metal asked, continuing to dry dishes and put them in the cupboard despite Zoe trying to tell him not to.
"Not really. I mean, I think she might be, but…well…it's Jess. Pauline's helping her. She shouldn't be too much longer."
On cue, Jess and Pauline both appeared around the bottom of the stairs.
"I am so sorry! I didn't realize what time it was!" Jess started to say before she registered what they were all doing. "What…what are you doing! Why are you cleaning my house!?"
Trent grinned at her openmouthed amazement as he tossed her lunch in her hands and took the pack from her shoulder, heading for the door.
"We don't like waiting around with nothing to do." Clay teased as he tossed the dirt into the garbage and leaned the broom back up against the wall.
"Yeah, and it seemed like you needed some help." Metal added as he hung the dish towel over a chair and started back towards the door. He gave Pauline a look on his way past. "Lock the damn door."
"Actually I think I didn't lock it this time," Jess told him meekly when Pauline turned to her disbelievingly. The other girl clearly wasn't used to being called out and Jess was willing to take the fall rather than have conflict in the house. That made Metal's blood boil.
"Fine." Metal fixed Jess with the same half glare and frown. "Lock the damn door. You ready to go?"
"I think so." Jess faltered under his stare and Metal suppressed the urge to sigh. It was like they were back to square one again ever since Monday. Couple weeks ago she wouldn't have blinked and might have had a sassy comeback.
Purposely softening, Metal jerked his head and said, "Come on, then. Let's go."
It took until Jess pulled on her blundstones for her to say, "Oh! My phone-"
Metal pulled it from his pocket and handed it to her. "Was by the sink."
Cheeks flushing, Jess mumbled, "Thank you."
"How long were you guys here this time?" Pauline asked a little too cheerfully, like she knew it would bug Jess.
Metal wasn't going to answer because as far as he was concerned right now no one got to tease Jess except for Bravo team.
Clay played right into it. "About ten or so minutes."
"Well, at least it wasn't longer than that." Pauline stated breezily.
Zoe's eyes went big and she nodded silently in agreement from where she was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
Jess went a little darker red and Pauline smirked.
Whatever the unspoken joke was, Metal didn't care right now.
Deciding enough was enough, Metal hooked an arm around Jess and put pressure between her shoulder blades. "Let's go, pipsqueak."
The girl jumped the slightest bit at his touch before tension let with a light exhale of relief.
Once they were in the truck and Clay got Jess talking, things started to improve.
"How's your day, Jess?" Clay asked as they got on the road.
"It was good!" Jess told him. The way her expressive eyes did a worried little flicked made them wonder if she was lying, but no one wanted to call her on it right now. Metal had mentioned in passing that she hadn't done well with him being ticked off at her so they were trying to be careful with her.
"How are classes going?" Trent joined in the effort to get her to relax back into the girl they'd managed to coax out during her stay with Metal.
"They're good! I can't believe another week is already done. It's going so fast! Next thing I know it's going to be midterms." Jess said, the stiffness around her shoulders faded and her face brightened. "I really like placement though! It's so good to be outside and doing something other than learning concepts or looking through a microscope! I get to monitor the different little survey stations for research about a couple different species and then in a few weeks I get to go looking for this one plant that they used to think was going extinct, but it's making a comeback because of the way the climate has been changing! It's exciting because they haven't been able to successfully grow this thing in the lab setting yet to have all the pharmaceutical properties that wild grown has, so if we can study more of it in the natural environment, then that would be huge!"
"Sounds way better than being in a classroom." Clay commented.
"It really is." Jess agreed.
Metal had to privately agree. The kid needed to get outside more.
The afternoon was everything Jess hoped it would be. Emma was back from college for the weekend, so the two of them got to catch up and Mikey was home too from his hockey school, glowing and full of stories. The three of them were put to work setting up tents in the large campsite partway up the mountain, overlooking a clear lake.
Jameelah and RJ had been sick earlier in the week, so Naima had them home for the first night. She'd be bringing them out bright and early Saturday. As such it was only Emma, Jess and Mikey for now. No one else had brought anyone along and the rest of the crew joining them would be arriving the next day.
Jess didn't mind though. She liked having her 'little family' to herself for a bit and planned on enjoying every minute she could.
After dinner, when it got dark, Emma and Mikey took Jess up a trail to a second clearing further from camp and the three of them looked at the sky for about an hour, talking.
Emma told her about college, Mikey told them both about his school and his friends. In turn Jess shared all about her program and the adventure of having Bravo break into her house.
The two siblings practically rolled on the ground laughing over that one.
"I can't believe you walked right past them and never noticed!" Mikey exclaimed, giggling with a snorting inhale that made the two girls laugh harder.
"Hey, the basement is like something from a horror movie. I totally thought whatever I was sensing wasn't real!" Jess said.
"Who put your food in a smiley face?" Emma asked.
"It was probably dad!" Mikey broke in. "He used to always cut my apples and put them in a happy face when I was littler!"
"I actually never asked!" Jess confessed. "I was a little too flustered by the whole thing. Oooo! Shooting star! Did you see that?"
"I saw it!" Emma cried.
"Awww, I missed it again!" Mikey whined.
"You have to keep your eyes on the sky, dummy." Emma said in a very big sisterly tone.
"I am!"
Emma ignored Mikey. "So, Jess! Any cute guys?"
Jess laughed. "No and there won't be for a while. It occurred to me the other week that I have seven really overprotective individuals just dying to harass the first guy I date."
"Awwww!" Emma torn her eyes from the sky and looked at her. "I know that feeling! Welcome to the club! It's such a mix of 'I love that you care' and 'oh my god, just take a chill pill'!"
"Right?!" Jess shivered for a third time and started considering going back to camp for her hoodie. It had been warm all evening despite it being nearly the end of September. It was almost hunting season back home. "How do you deal with it?"
"Red herrings." Emma answered automatically. "I dated a few guys I didn't even really like that much in highschool, just to break Dad into the idea. After that, when the guys kept improving, he relaxed a lot more."
"Seriously? I dated people that you didn't really like just to bug your dad?"
"Yup! I figured that way it wasn't as big a deal if they got scared off."
Jess grinned at the sky, impressed. "That's sneaky. I like it!"
"It was really funny!" Emma giggled. "You should have seen dad make these punks wet themselves!"
"Funny for you, maybe!" Mikey grumbled. "I had to listen to mom and dad argue about your choice of boyfriend on more than one occasion. Dad nearly lost his mind the day you brought home Connor!"
Emma laughed again. "Ohhh yeah! Connor! And what do you mean you had to listen! You were probably eavesdropping!"
Mikey didn't answer, leaving room for one to suspect that Emma was right.
"I don't think I can just date randos to get them off my case or ease them into it." Jess sighed. "I don't date. Boys are just…I don't know. Most my age are still so…gross. No offense to boys, Mikey."
"Oh! Don't worry. I know what you mean." Mikey told her seriously. "I can't wait for my friends to grow up some days."
"That's because you're an old man at heart, Mikey." Emma cooed, reaching over and ruffling his hair.
"Stop!"
Shivering properly this time, Jess pushed up off the ground. "I need to go grab my sweater. I'll be back."
"Do you want us to come with you?" Emma asked, "It's pretty dark."
"I'll be ok!" Jess told them cheerily, heading into the dark without an ounce of fear. "Be back in a bit! I'll probably take my time. I actually love nighttime walks!"
And she did take her time.
Seeing the brilliant sky through the trees above her head was perfect and she loved being alone in the quiet of the world around her. Nothing could soothe her soul the way nature did. Owls called in the distance. There were still some crickets and night creatures still alive. The perfect sounds of the end of summer and transition into fall.
As she drew closer to camp, the peace was chipped away by the sound of tense, angry voices.
Sonny's voice was rising the most out of all of them, so as Jess's feet slowed near the edge of the campsite, she heard him saying sarcastically, "Isn't that just the way, you sidin with goldilocks over there. Typical."
Freezing in her tracks, Jess watched with a numb cold creeping up through her as she witnessed her 'brothers' having an argument about lord knows what.
Was it her fault? That traitorous, poisonous whisper snaked through Jess's brain and she wanted to turn and leave again before anyone noticed her, but her feet stayed frozen in place.
"Ok, what is your problem, Sonny!" Clay snapped. "You've been busting my chops for over a week now! I'm getting tired of it!"
"If your head was in the game instead of chasing the skirt of that new girl of yours, we won't be having this conversation!" Sonny snarked nastily. "You wouldn't have to ask!"
"If you've got something to say, Sonny, you better say it!" Clay shot back loudly, getting up in the other man's face. "I'm done guessin!"
Sonny gave him a shove and snarled, "The whole point of brotherhood is to actually be there when it counts!"
"Not being there? How have I not been there! Sonny the only one not here is you ! You've been a complete dickhead since we got from that Op back last week!"
Moving to give the younger guy another good shove because he hated being called out like that, Sonny found his way blocked by Metal. The brick wall of a guy had one hand on his chest and the other gripping his forearm.
"Hey, let me go, big guy. I ain't got beef with you right now-"
"You are going to look to your left."
"What the hell are you talkin about, grizzy bear- look to my-"
"Look. To. Your. Left." Metal's eyes were blazing with fire now and Sonny was wise enough despite his hot head to do as he was told.
His head turned left at the same time the rest of Bravo did and he saw Jess standing just on the edge of the campfire light, back from stargazing with the others for whatever reason. She was staring at a log near the fire, bare arms crossed across her chest as she shivered noticeably. The sweater she must have come back for was hanging across a chair near Brock but she hadn't picked it up yet.
It didn't take a genius to assume she'd been there for most of the fight and anyone could tell she'd been triggered by it.
"Damn it, Jess-" Sonny's voice came out louder and harsher than he meant it to after the moment of absolute silence and Jess jerked out of her detached trance.
She cast a blank look around at them, whispered, 'I'm sorry' as if she'd been the cause of all this and hurried off into the pitch black without another word.
"Jess!" Metal called after her, but when she didn't stop he turned a sudden anger on Sonny. "Well that's just great, dumbass. Now I gotta try and talk her down from whatever hell hole all this dragged her into!"
"It ain't my fault she's sensitive." Sonny defended, hating himself immediately after saying it.
"Do not fault her for that." Metal growled dangerously.
"I ain't faulting her, but it's still true. She's as sensitive as they come and maybe she's gotta toughen up a bit if she's gonna be around us is all I'm sayin-"
"I'm gonna pretend you didn't just say that."
"You go right ahead there, brother bear. Don't know what she'd do without you ready to strangle anyone who makes her the least bit upset. Since when did you start gettin all warm and fuzzy anyway?"
"I otta hand your ass to you an a platter with the way you're acting tonight-"
Brock rolled his eyes as the argument started up again, this time Jason was getting involved and Ray was intervening too. With things heating up between Sonny and Metal, who didn't usually get as hot under the collar as he was right now, Jess was momentarily forgotten by the other members of Bravo.
Grabbing Jess's sweater from the chair beside him, he held it out to the dog sitting unhappily at his feet.
"Cerberus. Check here." He said softly. "Let's go find Jess."
The dog gave a little 'woof' of agreement and set off looking for the girl.
They found her down a side trail not far from camp, down by the lake.
She was sitting on a rock, still as the stones around her and staring out over the moonlite water.
"Jess?" Brock called softly before Cerberus could reach her. He didn't want to scare her. The girl flinched anyway, but he pretended not to notice. "You ok?"
"I'm fine." Jess told him way too quickly, playing with Cerberus's ears when he sat down next to her.
"You sure about that?" Brock handed her her sweater and took a seat on the next rock over where he could get a better read on her face. It was blank, tight and way too controlled right now as she pulled the hoodie over her head and stuffed her hands in her pockets. "I'm guessing you saw the more heated part of that argument."
Stubbornly, Jess shook her head and said flatly, "I'm fine. It's fine and even if I'm not, I have to be ok, because Sonny's right. I am too sensitive-"
"Oh, don't you even think about listening to that idiot, Jess." Brock cut in mildly, deep down annoyed that the Texan had spoken those words loud enough that Jess had heard them. "He's got his head up his ass and we all know it. What's going down has nothing to do with you and I'd be willing to bet good money he didn't mean it."
"Sounded like he did. I heard him. He said I'm too sensitive and I need to toughen up if I'm going to spend time around all of you."
"Again. He's got his head up his ass, don't pay any attention to him. Sonny's biggest weakness is saying dumb shit when he's hot under the collar-"
"He's not wrong though." Jess interrupted. It sounded like her teeth were clenched. "I am too sensitive. About everything. I fucking cry about everything and I'm-"
"You aren't listening to me." Brock cut her off firmly in return. "He didn't mean it."
"Even if he didn't mean it, he's still right!" Jess finally looked at him. Tears were already lurking around her lashes, glistening in the moonlight.
"Ok. So you're sensitive. Why is that a bad thing?"
"Because it means I can't function like a normal person and I can't handle conflict and I can't handle stress and I can't handle anything !"
"Who says you can't handle those things?" Brock asked carefully.
"I don't know! People?"
"What people?"
"Just…people!" Jess was running thin on arguments now and she was getting frustrated. "I…I hate being sensitive. My sister used to make fun of me for it. She'd constantly tell me I was too sensitive, and she was right. And so is Sonny. I probably am too sensitive to be around you guys. I know I'm naive and I don't know a friggin thing about half the shit you guys do and see-"
Jess broke off with a harsh breath and her nails started to worry at the edges of her hair.
"Did you know that your sensitivity is one of the things we actually really love about you, Jess?" Brock asked her quietly. "And I'm not just speaking for myself. I know for a fact the rest of them value you for it too."
"What? No…no it's not."
"It is." Brock confirmed seriously. "Our work, Jess? It takes away that part of us in a lot of respects. You're right. We see a lot and seeing the shit we do, dealing with the stuff we have to work with? That takes a toll. Now, we can either let it turn us into hardened shells with nothing inside, selfie and hollow, or we can reach for the things that remind us of the goodness we fight to protect. Your sensitivity? The Innocence? Empathy? Passion for the things you love? Resilience in the face of a shitty lot in life? Jess, you remind us how to have a heart despite the stuff going on. Because you've absolutely had stuff go on and you're still you. It didn't break you and you're not hard, or bitter. And the fact you are so sensitive means we have to care about someone's feelings because none of us want to see you cry over something we did or said. Honestly, it's helped us take better care of scared people when we're in the field."
"How?" Jess asked, clearly bewildered by what he was saying and only half believing him.
"Let's take Metal, for example. When we're working he's notorious for being clammed up, big, dark, and scary. He usually leaves all the reassurance to the rest of us when we deal with people. That's been changing over this past year. No, don't give me that look. I'm serious! I'm not making this up!" Brock lowered his voice. "This stays between us, got it? Good. So that spin up right after we came off leave? It was dealing with a situation that involved a lot of hostages. Some of them were young females. I have rarely seen Metal voluntarily take charge of terrified hostages unless there are no other options. He did this time and damn it, Jess, it was like he was talking to you the way he approached those girls. He calmed this one utterly terrified girl down like it was the most natural thing in the world to him, and it was amazing. Metal doesn't do that in the field. He keeps in his shell, does his job and focuses on physical protection. Emotions are someone else's job to deal with, not his…until now."
"But, why? Why would he just suddenly-"
"Because they reminded him of you, Jess. He remembered they were people, not just a mission, and he treated them like people instead of relying on a detached fortress of regulations and duty to dictate his words." Brock smiled a little when Jess's lip trembled. "You mean a lot, kiddo. Don't sell yourself short."
When she didn't answer and it was clear she was still having trouble accepting that she had a positive impact on their lives purely because she was herself.
"I think the rest of us have noticed it in ourselves too, in other ways." Brock paused, waiting to see if she would respond. Her cheek came to rest on her knees and she looked at him again, emotion starting to break through that overly controlled, fragile exterior. "We were waiting during another mission, it was in these woods that none of us appreciated anything about other than the fact we had good cover to hide in. Then Trent comes out with this comment that we were sitting on a patch of herbs that honestly I can't remember the name of, but he started saying something about the medicinal properties of them and that you'd be geeking out over it. Then just like that Ray says that you'd be over the moon to be in the woods we were in, and suddenly I saw the scenery through your eyes, and yeah, it was beautiful there. It's a little moment, Jess, but it set the pace for the rest of that day for me even when I wasn't thinking about it anymore. Got home, went to close my eyes and I saw those trees instead of other things for a change. I'm grateful for it. Thank you."
"I didn't do anything." Jess whispered.
Brock sighed and moved so he could sit next to her properly. "I really hope someday you see that's not true. But for now, can you at least try to accept that your sensitivity is not a bad thing and that just because we're really bad at being sensitive ninety percent of the time doesn't mean we don't value it?"
"It doesn't make me weak?" Jess asked, tears finally choking her up.
"No. Never. If anything it makes you stronger because you're brave enough to feel even when it hurts." Brock put an arm around her and squeezed gently. "We don't do that, Jess. We put our feelings in a box and some of us never take them out. It'll only work for so long before they explode and then, well, then it's a heap of trouble. You're not weak. You're brave, kid."
Heaving a shuddering breath, Jess leaned into him a little and whispered, "I don't feel brave right now. I feel like I have to fix whatever's happening up there, at camp. Like I have to fix it or the people that I love are going to just…fall apart and then leave."
"Don't worry about them, Jess. It'll get sorted. I promise. Like I said, feelings go in a box until they burst out again for some of us. It's a little messy when they do, but it'll be ok." Getting the sense there was something more to that last comment about leaving, Brock added, "No one is going to leave you, Jess. Family is messy, but we're good at picking up the pieces and healing stronger than before."
"The…the raised voices, the tones, and then the way Sonny shoved Clay just…I don't know, it made me feel like I was a kid again watching my mom and dad fighting." Jess rubbed her eyes and her voice got quieter.
"I'm sorry you had to see that. I know it's unpleasant and I can't say I love when it happens myself, but I promise everyone is safe. Bet you if we go up there now they'll be just fine."
"Are you sure? I don't want to intrude again. I feel like I wasn't supposed to be there before."
"You're fine. Come on. It's getting cold and you need to get warmed up."
"I said I would go back and watch the stars with the others. I was just coming back for my sweater."
"Ok, then we grab a coat for you too and go join them. Who knows, maybe we'll round up some more knuckleheads on the way."
Jess smiled finally and let him pull her to her feet.
"What were they even fighting about?" Jess asked quietly as they climbed the trail again up to the campsite.
"Nothing you need to worry about. Whatever it is, it's not the real issue and it's something Sonny has to figure out. He's been off for a while now."
"I never noticed."
"He's really toned it back around you, Jess." Brock gave her a half teasing, half serious grin. "Yet another example of the good influence you have over us."
"I guess, but then-"
Jess cut off as they came into the clearing, staring open mouthed at the display that greeted them.
Heart sinking, Brock swore under his breath.
On the far side of the clearing, where the ground was even and softer with grass and sand, Sonny and Metal circled each other like dogs and periodically dishing out good kicks, hits and body slams as they wrestled.
"What are they-" Color vanished from Jess's cheeks as she started forward.
"Wow…ok, let's just slow things down a bit there," Brock caught up to her just as she came to the edge of the group of men quietly standing watch. This was not going according to plan anymore and he was scrambling to salvage it. "They're fine. Just let it play out, Jess."
"But- NO!" Jess's distress only grew when both boys smashed into each other hard and Metal fully lifted Sonny and slammed him into the ground. Sonny coughed, snarled and rolled back onto his feet while Metal waited. "They're-"
"Jess, it's ok," Brock had an arm out, blocking her path in case she tried to intervene. "This is just how we handle things sometimes. No one is going to get hurt badly, and I promise they'll be back to normal after. Sometimes we just gotta settle it in the ring."
"B-but-" Jess's voice started shaking as she took in a glimpse of her brothers she'd never seen before and was reminded that they were some of the most highly trained, dangerous people she'd ever met. When Scott told her this was how they solved problems sometimes, she never could have imagined what it looked like. "They're gonna hurt each other!"
"Hey! Jess…" Jason was dipping back, catching sight of them. "Brock, what's she doing here? She doesn't need to be seeing this-"
"Didn't exactly get the memo we were settling things like this tonight," Brock told him, more than a little annoyed with all of them for washing all the work he'd done to convince Jess everything was ok. She was worse than when he'd found her.
"I'm sorry-" Jess started, fighting tears back, unable to tear her eyes away from two of the people she loved seemingly beating the shit out of each other. "Did…did…was…did I cau-"
"Damn it, Jess. Don't apologize. Come here." Jason hooked an arm around her and pulled her close. The girl latched on, half hiding her face when he hugged her. "Look, this is fine…I know it doesn't really look like it, but they're just working some stuff out and it's got nothing to do with you or anything you did, ok?"
"D-do you want me to go?" Jess whispered, paler than the moon itself right now and shuddering like a leaf with each angry movement from her brothers.
Jason studied her for a minute, then glanced at the fighting before shaking his head.
"Nope. You know what? You're staying till the end." He guided her round to sit on the picnic table between him and Brock. "That way you know they worked it out and can see what we mean when we say it's ok. Alright?"
In the 'ring', Sonny was puffing and heaving as he paused to plan his next attack. Metal was winded, but not nearly as bad right now. Out of the corner of his eye, the Texan saw Jess huddled between Jason and Brock on the picnic table, her face half hidden behind Brock's shoulder as she watched with obvious distress.
Suddenly all the anger and frustration he had in him was spent and fighting lost its appeal. Instead he just felt tired, ashamed and ready to go nurse his bruises.
He wheezed, "Is it just me, or do I hear Jess crying…"
"I heard her." Metal growled, still stone faced and focused.
"Suddenly I ain't so pissed anymore…how bout you?"
"If you're done being an asshole, then I'm good."
"I'm happy to call this all settled if you are…?" Sonny held out a fist hesitantly, internally praying the big guy accepted. He didn't know if he could last much longer anyway.
Unreadable, the caveman met the bump with a nod.
"I'm gonna go talk to Jess now…I…don't know if you noticed…" Sonny gasped as he worked to catch his breath around all the new aches and pains. "But you made her cry too while you were kicking my ass…so…"
"Never said I didn't." Metal growled with a warning glinting in his eye as he pushed past on his way to Jess. "You coming?"
Sonny nodded wordlessly, wincing as he got accustomed to his newly beat up body.
"Hey, pipsqueak," Metal greeted Jess without a trace of anger and in a lighthearted tone that didn't at all fit the streaks of blood, sweat and dirt covering the pair of them. "You ok?"
A new little sob burst from Jess and she looked between them, still tucked slightly behind Brock's shoulder. The dog handler put a comforting hand on her knee and squeezed.
"Are you?" Jess asked incredulously.
"Ah, shit, Jess, we're just fine." Sonny hid a wince as he smiled and nodded to Metal. "Sometimes we just gotta figure this stuff out like God intended."
"Yeah, come here, kid! We're ok. Nothin to worry about." Metal motioned for Jess to come in for a hug.
She instantly shook her head, refusing to move.
Everyone went quiet, holding their breath because for one terrified second they thought they'd broken their girl and she didn't trust them anymore, that she'd been so triggered she thought they would hurt her.
"I'm not hugging you right now. You're really sweaty." Jess blurted in a small voice.
One relieved heartbeat later had everyone, including Metal grinning and laughing.
"I offer a hug, and you say I'm too sweaty!?" Metal pretended to be offended but that smile couldn't stop from surfacing again. There she was. The Jess who spoke her mind was hinting at showing herself. He'd missed her.
"What about me?" Sonny asked hopefully. "Do I get a hug?"
Rubbing away another set of tears that had escaped and huffing on a tiny laugh of her own that nearly reached her eyes, Jess shook her head again.
"No." Her voice still shook with the shivering of her body, but she was making a valiant effort to get it together. "You're worse than him. I don't want to get blood on my shirt."
"Aww, hear that, caveman? She's worried about us hurtin each other, but she ain't worried about hurtin our feelings. How do you like that?"
"I say we give her a hug anyway." Metal answered in a serious tone, his mouth twitching when Jess pointed at him.
"Don't even think about it! You guys are all gross and stuff." Jess squawked, previous tears starting to dry up into a half hearted glare. "Y-you're like a pair of stinky cavemen."
"Ahhh…Jess you shouldn't have said that." Brock murmured.
"Why?" Worry immediately colored Jess's face.
Jason laughed, reassuring her that the mood was still lighthearted, "Because they'll take it as a challenge."
Metal and Sonny exchanged a look and both grinned at Jess just long enough for her to react.
Her eyes went big and she rolled backwards off the picnic table with surprising grace, landing on her feet.
"Byeee!" She called as she backed away rapidly. The two aching, tired boys almost let her go but then a sudden, devious little spark reappeared in her eye and she challenged quietly with only the tiniest hesitation, "Stinkers."
A laugh rose at her daring, and the tension in the air now all but evaporated. The girl picked up on it and all the fear that was still sitting around her shoulders lessened as she smiled.
"Damn it, Jess! I hate runnin!" Sonny laughed as he rubbed sweat from his brow and got ready to come after her.
"Oh, it's on, pipsqueak." Metal growled as he and Sonny went over the picnic table between Brock and Jason, the shortest route to get to her.
"Run Jess!" Clay cheered.
Jess needed no prompting. The second the boys started after her she squeaked out 'Oh shit!' and started running.
"Stay on the path so you don't run into trees!" Trent warned as Jess neared the edge of the campsite.
He needn't have. Jess didn't make it that far.
Her shrieking laugh carried back to them from the far end of the huge campsite when Metal and Sonny caught up to her.
It rained that first night around midnight.
Metal was dragged from sleep by voices and lights bobbing in the dark, so he slipped from the larger tent he was sharing with Brock and Trent to investigate.
Jason and Mikey were sitting under the trap structure they'd set up.
"What's going on?" Metal asked as he joined them under the tarp.
"The girls have a leaky tent and they're both soaked. They're getting changed in our tent." Jason groaned, rubbing sleep from his face and ruffling Mikey's hair. The kid was still half asleep in the chair already. "I'm trying to figure out sleeping arrangements now because our tent's not big enough for four, and Emma kicks in her sleep so she needs more space, and Mikey snores which means Jess is stuck with both if I bunk with one of you."
"She hasn't been sleeping well this week." Metal commented.
"I saw that," Jason concurred. "Plus she's cold and wet now-"
"Stash her with Trent, Brock and I." Metal told him. "We've got the room and none of us snore."
Jason considered the proposal and nodded, "Three of you already in there should help keep things warmer too. Alright. Let's do that if she's good with it."
The girls approached then, jackets glistening with rain in the lantern light.
"Did we get it figured out?" Emma asked.
"Yeah. If Jess is comfortable with it, because I don't think she wants to wake up black and blue or sleep next to Mikey's snoring, we'll put her in with Metal, Trent and Brock for tonight and then you two will stay with me."
Looking cold and just a touch miserable, Jess shrugged. "I don't care where I go."
"Ok. That's settled then." Metal started back to the larger tent. "I'll let them know."
It took a few minutes to get Jess settled. Metal was glad he brought an extra sleeping bag, but he wished he'd brought the warmer one when he saw how cold she was. The kid was properly layered up, but she struggled to keep heat, especially with how thin she still was.
"Jess, just roll over closer to one of us if you get cold." Trent's voice mumbled into the quiet, half asleep.
"Ok. Thank you."
For her part, once Jess was mostly comfortable she tried not to move. There was no way she wanted to wake anyone up by moving too much. There wasn't that much room left in here with four of them trying to respect her space unless she sought out warmth. She'd made herself a promise not to make a big deal about being cold or anything.
Still, she was freezing, even with Cerberus in the crook of her legs and the sleeping bag. The chill she'd caught that evening before the rain, coupled by getting wet in the tent didn't help anything.
Shivers started to roll through her. Her nose was cold.
It took nearly ten minutes of trying to fall back to sleep and failing because of how cold she was before Jess finally gave in and rolled closer to Scott. The second she did, Brock rolled her way, closing the gap between them and she was blocked in by the warmth of both larger people.
The rain sang her to sleep after that.
When Jess woke hours later she was cozy and warm. It took a few moments to realize the reason was because sometime in the night she'd rolled over a second time and ended up curled on her side with her back right up against Scott. She would have moved away the second she clued in except that in the last few hours he'd turned over too, thrown part of his sleeping bag over her and an arm was resting heavy on her shoulder. Cerberus had taken her 'spot' but was still close to her with Brock cuddling the dog on the other side. From what little she could see, Jess figured Trent had his back close to Brock at this point too, making the whole bunch of them like a puppy pile or something. There wasn't space to move without disrupting everyone else, so Jess closed her eyes, burrowed back down and went back to sleep instead.
With whatever it was in Sonny's system reset by the multiple smacks to the side of the head he received, the rest of the weekend passed with lighthearted fun and good company. There were waterfights down by the lake which was still somewhat warm enough to swim in if you were brave enough, hiking, games, talking, all kinds of things. Naima and the kids came out, along with Lisa, Eric and a bunch of others that Jess didn't know as well. Their tents scattered about the camp and there was still a bunch of room at the far end of the clearing. It was all a happy affair and Jess enjoyed it as best she could.
She couldn't deny there was an underlying tension in her gut ever since the previous night. Sure, things were resolved, but Jess herself hadn't resolved much. She was restless.
It was early afternoon now. Just after lunch. Most of the group was gone fishing, something Jess didn't enjoy, or hiking, or playing ball, or just sitting around drinking and talking.
Jess was checking her phone for the first time that day and nearly choked on her water when she saw the message and picture Pauline sent her.
The message said ~ So…remember when I said I couldn't remember where we were going this weekend?~ And a picture of the sign of the exact same park Jess was at.
Another text came through and it read. ~ Guess who else I have here? Wanna sneak away for an hour or so? I can come up to your site. It's not that far.~
Jess felt a little bad that she didn't even hesitate to accept the offer, because her heart was screaming for joy.
"Um, so, I'm going to be gone for a couple hours." Jess announced to the small group she sat with, looking up from her phone, eyes bright and practically glowing with excitement. She hopped out of the camping chair and yanked on her blundstones.
"Where you headed?" Sonny asked, exchanging a confused glance with Jason.
Jess hesitated, not wanting to make a big deal about it in case they thought she wasn't enjoying herself. "Nowhere interesting. Pauline's actually here with Joey and she brought Charlie along. A whole bunch of them are out this weekend! We didn't realize it was at the same park!"
Four more heads lifted and stared at her.
No noticing or remembering that they didn't know who Joey and Charlie were, Jess waved, "Bye! I'll be back in a bit!"
She started walking off for the trail that led down to one of the main roads.
"Charlie and Joey? Who the hell are Charlie and Joey?" Sonny asked.
Metal was frowning darkly after Jess. "I have no idea."
"Are we really going to let her just walk off into the woods alone to meet these people we've never heard of?" Asked Trent, sounding half worried.
"Oh, I think maybe we better-" Ray started to get up. He seemed a little too eager.
"Right behind you!" Jason was up too and in no time at all the five of them caught up with Jess.
No one wanted to miss out on terrorizing potential boyfriends.
"Jess! Hey! Wait up!"
She turned around and grinned. "Hey! Why are you coming along?"
"Well, it's just we thought, it's such a nice day and we could all use the walk." Ray told her casually.
Jess gave them all a weird look and shrugged. "Ok."
"So, Charlie and Joey." Sonny began, unable to contain himself.
Slowing her stride, Jess's smile faltered. "What about them?"
"Wanna explain a little more about them?" Jason asked in a universal 'papa bear' tone.
Brow furrowing, Jess said, "What do you want to know?"
"How bout if you like one of em or not." Sonny suggested casually.
A smile flashed over Jess's face and she said, "Oh! I really like Charlie! He's super cute, sweet and sensitive, although he's still got a bit of a wild side to him, but that's ok! We can work on that!"
Jess noticed the wave of glee and protective tension that washed through the group.
Her eyes went big right after saying it and she backpedaled quickly, "Wow…wowowowow…hold on just a second here-"
"Think we better meet this Charlie." Metal growled darkly.
"It's not what you think-" Jess was choking on her words now and her face was just priceless because she looked torn between laughing and panicking.
"Your face lit right up when you talked about him, Jess." Jason told her, laughing humorlessly. "We're meeting him."
"I don't think that's necessary!" Jess protested, laughter bubbling up from deep in her chest.
"We do!" Sonny announced firmly, his face set with more seriousness than was typical for him.
"I don't think this is going to go the way you think it is!" Jess insisted, eyes dancing now as she glanced at her phone and sent another text. "I actually think you're really going to like him!"
"I doubt it." Metal told her frankly, though his stiff posture was shifting the longer he studied her.
Something was up. He could feel it. This girl was way too calm and laughter was lurking under the surface, poorly hidden.
They rounded a bend in the trail.
Coming to meet them was Pauline, on a tall brown horse with a second, slightly shorter horse getting led behind.
"Hey!" Pauline called out, waving.
"Hi!" Jess called back, skipping down the trail. She paused to greet Pauline's horse. "Hello Big Joey! Hiiii Charliee! Who's the sweetest boy!? How'd he do? Was he good?"
"He did amazing actually, considering how green he is! I think it's going to be a good ride! He's a little funny with water though."
"Oh good!" Jess cast a shiteating grin over her shoulder at the group standing further up the trail. "There's some people who want to meet you, Charlie, so be good! We have to make a good impression or they'll get grumpy with you."
Trent was killing himself laughing at this point, having long since figured out what Jess was up to. Jason and Ray looked a little sheepish but appreciated the humor in the situation. Metal was mostly expressionless, arms folded and taking it all in with a slight quirk to his mouth. Sonny wasn't laughing at all. He just stood utterly still, a little shell shocked as Jess untied the horse and kissed its nose.
She led the young, jittery horse up the trail and stopped in front of them.
"Charlie, this is Jason, Ray, Trent, Sonny and Scott! Be nice, ok?" Still grinning and looking ridiculously pleased with herself, Jess said, "Guys, this is Charlie. He's a little rough around the edges, but don't hold it against him. He's a good boy and tries very hard!"
"Well played, Jess." Shaking his head, Jason laughed. "Well played."
"I honestly didn't play anything!" Jess squawked, rubbing Charlie's forelock and patting his neck. He danced around when she started messing with the girth to tighten it, but Jess didn't seem to mind at all and just waited for him to settle again before moving it up a notch. "You guys did that all on your own!"
"Why the hell are you getting on that thing?" Sonny blurted, having jumped back the second the horse started to paw the ground rapidly with its front hoof.
"Why wouldn't I?" Jess asked, checking the length of her stirrups, unbothered by the dancing and agitation of the horse. She preferred bareback or riding English, but with Charlie she needed something extra. Well, that and her legs weren't terribly strong anymore and Western was better for a trail ride.
Sonny eyed the horse critically. "Cause horses are dangerous, that's why!"
"Yeah, well," Jess looked the Texan right in the eye and stated. "So are you and I still spend time with you!"
"Ohhhhh!" The chorus went up behind them and poor Charlie startled a bit.
"Shhh," Jess quieted him down, petting his ebony nose and cooing softly, "Ignore them. They're just noisy and scary, but it's ok!"
"This is a bad idea!" Sonny protested. "We're not seriously letting her get on that thing so soon after her little trip to the hospital?"
"Is the Texan seriously scared of horses?" Ray asked jokingly.
"What about those burns?" Sonny kept pushing, ignoring Ray, and the group shifted with an underlying tension.
Pulling a helmet from one of the saddle bags Jess paused. "What about them? They aren't blistered anymore and I'm not holding the reins with that part of my hand anyway."
"Her burns are fine." Scott told them, leaning on a tree and watching with interest as Jess became something entirely new to them. Her movements were sure and confident. Nothing about the huge animal that could easily kill her scared her and he couldn't say that he'd be getting on a horse like Charlie if he were her.
"If you're concerned about how Jess will do, you really don't need to worry." Pauline called as she walked Joey closer. "She got a great seat and hardly ever falls off."
Jess swung round as she buckled the helmet and made sure the fit was right, "Hey! Don't jinx it! I don't have my crash vest!"
"I'm not jinxing anything! You don't even need the vest!"
"Is she really that good at staying on?" Jason asked, being the first to approach Charlie and rubbing his nose affectionately. Metal approached slowly as well, holding out his hand and letting the young gelding nibble his fingers hopefully for a treat.
Pauline gave them all a distinct stare. "Oh. I have so many videos I could show you of our riding adventures! Jess has some friggin awesome moments!"
"Um! No. Don't show them those." Jess warned, face going a deep red. "It's nothing. It's not that cool, and I fall off half of them anyway."
"Well, yeah! But, it's how long you stayed on that's impressive!" Pauline laughed. "Besides, you are totally proud of those ones! Admit it!"
"Oh, I have got to see these," Trent told Pauline with a grin. "You make sure I do, got it!?"
"Deal!" Pauline dropped Joey's reins and stretched her arms a little before messing with one of her saddle bags. "Honestly, they're golden. Like, so good! This one time she was helping me with this horse at my old barn and-"
"Not a story for right now!" Jess interjected.
"Why not? It's awesome!" Pauline seemed genuinely confused.
"Because," Jess started to get on Charlie, but he wouldn't stand still. Metal and Jason both instinctively reached out to grab the bridle and stop him, but Jess shook her head. "No, it's ok. I got it. Leave him. Geez, Charlie! Stand a second, buddy!"
The horse danced in a full circle, forcing Jess to follow him, hopping on one foot because her other was already in the stirrup. "Hey…come on…relaxxx…shhh…there you go! Good boy!"
Charlie stopped for two seconds and Jess swung up with practiced ease that nearly floored her family because the horse wasn't short, and she definitely was. Once up there, she changed even more. The shoulders she tended to let hunch up and forward with stress came back, her spine went straight and tall, her head was held with confidence and she didn't even flinch when the horse under her spooked to the side with the rustle of the leaves in the wind.
Sonny swore when it did and out of all of them, he seemed most likely to drag Jess back off the fourteen thousand pound animal.
Turning to Pauline, Trent asked, "So, what happened that one time?"
"Don't-" Jess warned.
"She was riding this one mare that was supposed to be a riding school horse, but she'd been throwing riders during jumping? Yeah, anyway, Jess gets a clear round out of her, and it's great until the very last jump, and then Lucy just frigging plows to a stop before the jump, and Jess went flying, like, I mean flying , landed on her face on the other side of the jump."
"Paulie!" Jess groaned at the sky and sighed. Beneath her, Charlie heaved a big breath too, blasting it out his nose as he looked around, head held high and ears alert.
"And then she just jumps up off the ground like nothing happened, announces to us that she's 'never fallen on her face before', blood pouring from her nose and gets back on Lucy, which we're all like, ok cool! That's good, guess she's ok…only then! "
"Oh no, I think I know where this is going." Jason chuckled.
"Oh, yes!" Pauline confirmed, having way too much fun telling this story. "She doesn't notice the blood all down her front until after she's back on Lucy, and like, this horse was being an ass before, but now suddenly is good as gold. She stood like an angel when Jess all up fainted off of her."
"And on that note!" Jess turned Charlie and started him back down the path. Pauline laughed and followed.
"When should we expect you back?" Jason called, his dad voice carrying weight to it.
"Two hours, tops." Jess called over shoulder. Charlie gave a small squeal and kicked his heels up, making Jess laugh.
The men watched the two girls disappear in silence before Sonny broke it, saying, "That girl is gonna get herself killed."
"Let her be." Jason ordered decidedly. "It's good for her."
"I'll say. Did you see the way she got on that thing and turned into a queen?" Ray shook his head. "I never seen her like that before."
Heading back up the trail, Metal nodded. "Suits her."