Jess was relieved she could say that she recovered relatively quickly from the ambush at school.

All things considered it wasn't so bad once the initial shock wore off and she started to feel safe again. It helped especially when Scott started having the guys over more between spin ups and they showed up 'coincidentally' throughout the week for her. Their constant presence and reminders that they were looking out for her made it easier to push past the paranoia and jumping at shadows.

Jason took her to lunch pretty much every day that he was around. They spoke about anything and everything, except the Amazon trip. The fact he wouldn't even approach it and would change the subject told Jess more than his words ever could.

He wasn't happy about her going and the trip was less than two weeks out.

Still. He was respecting her decision and not trying to change her mind, so Jess felt like that was progress for them and she appreciated it. Mostly they talked about hunting and Jess felt a part of her soul bloom again. It had long since withered with her own father's excuses and distance.

Clay and her had breakfast often over the next week and they worked on brushing up her spanish and teaching her enough portuguese to get by. Trent worked through basic first aid with her twice in the evenings since the course she took two years ago had been abysmal. Brock kept her spirits up and told her all about the good experiences he'd had in the jungle, which then counter balanced Sonny.

The Texan took it upon himself to go through the painstaking trouble of hand making a trail guide to the Amazon. He entitled it, "Shit to stay away from or you'll die." He gave it to her right after taking her shopping and talking her into letting him buy her a whole bunch of things for the trip she could have convinced herself she 'didn't need'.

Between end of semester exams and final projects, getting taken out and about with her family, studying and mentally preparing herself for the trip, Jess felt like time flew way too fast.

And the stress led to some interesting coping strategies on her part. Mostly letting herself get distracted.

Like now.

A giggle slipped out of her mouth as she watched dumb videos on her phone.

"I thought you had an exam that you were crying about not being ready for."

The voice from the doorway made her flinch, but Jess knew Scott had done it on purpose so she didn't look over with her usual apologetic smile.

"I do." She answered, trying not to react any more and watching the next reel.

"Why aren't you studying?"

"I am!"

"Really."

"Yes."

"I find it hard to believe studying could be making you giggle and snort like you have been for the past twenty minutes."

"It's very funny content?"

"Stats is that funny?"

"There are all kinds of bad, puny jokes."

"Should you be giving me your phone?"

"What?! No!"

"You can't be trusted with it right now and I'm not dealing with you crying over these exams again. Get to work, or I'll take it from you!"

Sighing, Jess put her phone down and got back to work. Scott had been both reassuring and more than a little cranky for days now. It was a confusing mix that got nicely smoothed over when the others would come over. She did have to admit he was helpful in keeping her on task though and she would probably owe her grades to him this semester.


As predicted, Scott was right and she did start to get stressed again the longer she studied and got worried about the exams coming up over the next two days.

When Sonny, Brock, Clay and Trent showed up her stress levels were through the roof.

About an hour after they arrived and hadn't seen Jess yet, Sonny took it upon himself to make sure she knew he still loved her in a way only he could.

A few short moments after he'd disappeared into her room, the others heard Jess's indignant howl of protest.

"SONNY!" Jess bellowed as the door closed again when Sonny dashed out with a laugh.

As predicted she fell for it and chased after him.

"You need to stop!" She yelled, throwing a running shoe at his head and actually managing to clip him before he could duck. "That STANK!"

"Just makin sure you don't forget about me or miss me while you're in the jungle, Snow White!"

"I have a day to finish editing this paper! And study for four exams! And you ate my ice cream, Sonny, and I ran out of pastries, so now I don't have stress food and- I have a lot of feelings!" Jess's voice started shaking with emotion as she fists got balled up. "You guys need to-"

Brock appeared next to her, holding a bag of her favorite chocolate in front of her face and a box of pastries.

"Oooo….chocolate!" Jess grabbed the bag immediately, accepted the whole box of pastries and turned around without another word, going back to her room like some feral animal that just got fed.

Clay bit back a laugh and swatted Sonny when he sat down next to him.

"Leave her alone. She's had enough going on without you being an ass."

Sonny snickered and took a swig of his beer. "Ahhh, I was just having fun! She needs more of that in her life and we are failing her as brothers if we don't give her the full, Bravo family treatment!"

"Just let her get through exams, then you can harass her all you want." Metal warned as he watched the TV. He's hardly reacted at all.

Another hour slipped by and Jess emerged from her room, heading for the door and looking at her phone.

"Going out?" Brock asked, voicing what they all were wondering.

Startled, as if she'd forgotten they were all there, Jess looked up from her phone and nodded with a wane smile.

"Yeah. Pauline just called me. Some asshole broke her heart so I'm going to go over there for a little bit."

"You got enough time for that?" Metal asked without turning his head. They could all see how alert he'd gotten when he heard she was heading out though.

"Yeah. I mean…I should probably study longer, but some things are more important than good marks…right?"

Metal just grunted and Clay took the opportunity to make a joke.

"Hey, you gonna take Metal's shovel?"

Jess grinned, eyes far off as she considered, "I'll see how bad the damage is. Maybe."

"That's the spirit!" Trent laughed. "Don't get caught."

"What? Oh. No. I'd be recruiting. I don't get my hands dirty unless I'm working with plants or riding horses."

Sonny gave a snorting giggle, "For shits and giggles, and depending on the situation? We just might be available for recruitment."

"Yeah. Don't get yourself into trouble." Metal said with more seriousness than the others, finally turning his frown on Jess.

"What's that look for?!" Jess squawked, already half out the door.

Metal just raised an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't do anything for real !" Jess protested further. "I'm not you!"

The tiniest smirks appeared and Metal maintained his stare while the others laughed.

"I don't know, Snow White!" Sonny teased. "That little shit stalking you at school nearly got his ass handed to him."

"Yeah, Scrappy, and it wasn't going to be from any of us!" Trent added in, grinning.

"They're not wrong. Your impulse control isn't always the best," said Brock kindly.

Jess tossed her hair as she rolled her eyes, dark bangs coming loose from her ponytail and framing her face. She blew them to the side and said, "I was never a scrappy or violent person until I started spending time with you bozos, so congrats! You've succeeded in corrupting me!"

That rewarded her with a proper smile from Metal and he jerked his head.

"Get out of here, pipsqueak and do what you need to. You got shit to do tomorrow."

"See ya!" Jess grinned and waved as she darted out the door.

The moment she was gone, Sonny got up and went for another beer, saying, "I still hate that she's goin to the damn Amazon, but shit if it don't make her so happy to be going."

"I'll take a whiskey, if you're over there," Metal muttered. He pointedly ignored the shift of the others. It was his third already but no one said anything, nor did he admit to himself that he was drinking more and more the closer this trip got.


"And then I walked in and found him making out with Riley! On my fucking couch! Half their clothing was already off!"

"What a fucker!" Jess exclaimed, her blood boiling as she and Pauline sat in her small apartment at the barn she worked at. It lay on the outskirts of the city and was a property with both new and old builds.

"I know! So then I threw his ass out and started drinking."

Pauline wasn't extremely drunk yet, but she was getting there. This was the fourth time Jess was hearing the story.

"Aww, hun I'm so sorry." Jess, put an arm around her friend and hugged her. "That's so shitty."

Pauline bit back a sniffle and said bitterly, "I have the worst luck."

"You and me both."

"Oh yeah…that's right. Your psyco mom. You doing ok from that?"

Without meaning to, Jess touched the fading bruise on her arm and nodded.

"I'm ok. The guys have been awesome, and Naima has done so much to take my mind off it."

"I really envy you sometimes." Pauline murmured, taking another shot. "Want one?"

"No, sorry. I really really gotta drive home in the next while and go to bed."

"Ok. I ordered food for like…eight people. At least stay and eat it with me?"

"Yeah of course! When is it getting here?"

Pauline frowned, swaying a little where she sat and checking her phone.

"I don't know. It should have been here by now. Doordash is usually good."

Jess hummed and smiled a little.

"Don't tell Scott. I almost ordered Doordash once and he gave me one hell of a lecture about it."

"You sure those guys aren't too over protective? Sounds like he needs to mind his own business."

"I mean, like, to be fair he had some really valid points. And I did ask him why he made his 'face' when I told him I was ordering."

"Yeah, but-"

There was a knock at the door.

"Oh! Food!" Pauline tried to get up and failed.

"I'll get it!" Jess laughed. "You can't stand, tips."

"If he's cute send him in here!"

"No."

"Awww…"

Opening the door, Jess meant to pleasantly greet the person behind the door, but was struck dumb when she saw who was standing there.

Trevor Bailey, in full uniform, holding the Doordash order was a sight she just couldn't process.

"Jess!" Bailey seemed just as surprised to see her there. "Hi! Probably not who you were expecting!"

"Hi!" Jess blurted, then added the first thing that popped into her head. "The day job not paying enough?"

"What? Oh! No!" Trevor laughed, recovering first from the startled place he'd seemed to be. "I had to arrest the driver for the delivery and I felt bad for whoever wasn't going to eat because if it. Says it's for 'Pauline the one and lonely'?"

"Right! Yes! She's drunk." Jess winced and flapped her hands a little, stating. "I'm not."

The spark of mirth never left Bailey's face and he held out the food bag to her, "I can see that! Glad she's got someone looking after her. How are you doing?"

Taking the bag and holding it awkwardly in front of her, Jess shrugged as her ears went red.

"I'm good! A lot better than the last time you saw me, so that's good!"

"Yeah, it really is!" Trevor's eyes flicked to the bruise that was still visible on her bicep, but didn't say anything about it. "Exams almost done?"

"Soon! Another week, and then I'm going to the Amazon for a research trip!"

"Shit! Yeah, that's right! You did mention that when we were chatting the other day! Nothing more from the step-dad on that front?"

"No."

"Good."

Trevor's light demeanor clouded and his face slipped more into his 'working' expression instead until Pauline stumbled to the door and nearly took Jess out before leaning on the door frame.

"Well, helloooo…" Pauline slurred. "Shit, you're really hot! Wanna arrest me? I'm into handcuffs."

"Oh my g- PAULINE!" Jess stared at the other girl, scandalized for her friend.

Trevor just drew a long, patient breath, snorted and then smiled at Jess, "Ok! On that note, I'll be going."

"Why?! The party just got started!" Pauline swayed and nearly fell out the front door.

Jess struggled to catch her and hissed, "Paulie, shut the fuck up, for crying out loud."

"You got her?" Trevor asked, laughing a little now as he hesitated on the doorstep.

"I think so," Jess's hands were full and she was significantly shorter and not as heavy boned as her friend. "I am so sorry-"

"I've heard worse. It's ok."

"Know who else might be into handcuffs!?" Pauline lifted her head and grinned right at Jess, gleeful and clearly pleased with herself.

Blood heated Jess's face instantly and mortification flooded her. This was someone she respected greatly standing here and someone who had been there for her when she needed them! This was not happening!

Wide-eyed, Jess lifted a desperate face to Trevor and stammered, "I'm really not and I'm going to shut the door now before she says anything else that I'll want to bury her for! Shit. I mean, I wouldn't hurt her. I just need her to shut up- That's not much better-"

"It's ok, Jess," Trevor's chuckle escaped and he reached forward for Pauline's arm as she nearly slipped off Jess's shoulder and fell on her face. "Here…why don't I help you get her sitting down at least."

"Oooohh…are you coming in?!" Pauline asked, a stupid smile on her face as she let Trevor help support her into the apartment again. "Jess….wait…is this the cop who rescued you!? Awwww…you didn't say he was cute-"

"Pauline, shut up."

"Hey, don't be so mean!"

"I am so sorry, Trevor-"

"You are fine, Jess. No…no, Pauline, you gotta let go now. Yup, there you go. Nice and easy. You don't wanna be hanging onto me anyway, I ain't that nice a guy!"

"Here! Eat your food, Paulie! Look! There's garlic bread!"

"I LOVE garlic bread!"

"I know! Eat it!" Heart thundering while embarrassment flushed right up her back, making her sweat, Jess threw the food into Pauline's hands and hurried to walk Trevor back to the door. "Thank you- I'm so sorry-"

Eyes still bright with laughter, Trevor shrugged and said, "Hey, it was a boring night anyway. I should be thanking you. Enjoy the food! Hope it isn't too cold."

"Ok! Thank you!"

"Oh! And Jess, if I don't see you before you head out, good luck on the trip! I bet you'll find all kinds of cool stuff and save the world."

Embarrassment forgotten for a second, Jess smiled brightly and warmth flooded her in a good way.

"Thank you! I'm excited for it. I'm a little nervous, but yeah! Who knows what I'll find!"

"Aw, you'll be great, and you got a whole pack of frogmen watching your six. You'll be ok."

"That is true! They're pretty protective! I would feel sorry for anyone who messes with me."

"Oh, me too! Just a little. Right, see you around!"

"See you, Trevor!"

When she closed the door, Jess leaned on it and breathed out a long huff of air.

"Sommmone body likeees himmmm."

"I do not !" Jess scowled instantly in response to the singsong voice, marching over to Paulie and pulling out some of the food. "He's a friend of the guys! That would be like liking or dating one of them and it's weird!"

"Whatever you have to tell yourself…" Pauline giggled as she stuffed more bread in her mouth. "If you don't want him, can I have him?"

"No." Jess snapped, a little too quickly.

"No?" Paulie turned a coy expression on her. "Why not?"

"Because. That's why. Eat your food. I have to leave soon and need you sobered up before I go."

"If you don't like him why can't I have him?"

"You know what?! Knock yourself out." Jess sighed, exasperated as she dug into some pasta and pizza. "Not like I would ever have a chance with a guy like him anyway, even if I liked him and he wasn't my brother's friend."

Pauline hummed through her food, dopey expression crinkled with mirth. It annoyed Jess to no end and she had no idea why.

Thankfully the food did help to get Pauline back into a state that Jess felt comfortable leaving her in and she headed home an hour or so later.

The whole drive she kept looking for cop cars without realizing it and she imagined what it would be like to make some amazing discovery on her trip and actually help save lives. It was a happy daydream that made her feel braver about going despite the fears starting to bubble up inside.


The end of exams was in sight. She had one last one to write and then she was free.

Exhausted, Jess stared off into space, not thinking about anything at all when she heard Scott emerge from his room. He'd been out late the night before and she knew he hadn't come home right away after the spin up he went on.

"Jess…" The slow, dark, warning growl carried from the laundry closet in the hall, setting Jess's hair on end.

"Shit!" Jess was out of her chair and down the hall in seconds, wringing her hands. "I'm so sorry!"

"How long have these been in here?"

"Umm…a day…ish…maybe a little more?"

Scott half glared at her as he threw more soap in the machine and rambled his thumb into the buttons, setting it to wash a second time. "Clothes. In the washer. Clothes into the dryer. Two steps, Jess. Two steps."

"I know," Jess managed weakly, biting her lips and rubbing her arms as she shrunk back into the wall. She was getting better with Scott having his own feelings and being cranky about things that were fair to be upset about, but she still got that heavy, tightness in her chest when it happened.

"This is the fifth time."

"I'm sorry."

"Not looking for sorry. We need a solution. There were six cups in your room too yesterday. We talked about that."

"I just forgot! My brain…just…I don't know! Sometimes I forget what I was doing and then things don't get done! I'm really sorry!"

Scott closed the door of the machine and leaned his forehead against it with a long sigh and his eyes closed.

"Alright. I know. It's ok. Stop apologizing."

"A-are you ok?"

"Just tired, kid." Scott turned his head and squinted at her, "And a little hungover."

"Oh," Jess shifted awkwardly, "W-was it a bad spin up?"

"No."

Chewing her lip, because while she wasn't the most observant person, Jess had started to put together the increasingly cranky mood of Scott and her approaching departure.

Carefully she asked, "Does…does this have anything to do with me going to Brazil next week?"

"Maybe a little." Scott admitted, squinting sideways at her again.

Trying to reassure both of them, Jess offered, "You said yourself it was a good security plan they have set up for us."

"I know." Scott growled.

Worried, Jess tried again.

"Is there something you aren't telling me?"

Scott started for the front door, making as if to leave, then he came back again. "There is, but I can't say, won't say…and it's probably nothing, so don't worry about it. That's my job."

"It's only for ten days."

The long stare he gave her gave away what he left unsaid. A lot could happen in ten days.

"I'll never have another opportunity like this one." Jess tried to rationalize for herself that she was making the right call and it was worth the risks. "And…and the research could help so many people! They just need bodies willing to take the risks and go collect what we need. I have to do this! I want to do this!"

Scott nodded with resigned acceptance as he reached for his coat and her's, saying, "Come on. You need to get out of the house, and so do I."

"Where are we going?" Jess asked, accepting the coat and shrugging her shoulders into it. The fact he was leveling out and wanted to spend time with her eased the tightness in her chest.

Scott's keys jingled as he grabbed them from the hook. "Don't know yet. Come on."

More than happy to accept, Jess followed him out the door.

In the end, they went to the beach with warm beverages, sitting up on a table looking out over the rolling, crashing waves.

They didn't speak for a long time until Jess finally confessed the one thing still festering in her head about this whole upcoming trip.

"Harold and Ellen creep me out." Jess murmured.

Scott rumbled in agreement and waited for her to continue.

"If Alyssa hadn't flagged down Officer Bailey and Fletcher…and if they hadn't been there for that fender bender in the parking lot…I don't know what would have happened." Jess shivered and hugged herself, looking up at the sky. "Scott, what if they'd- and now they know about the trip, and Harold made this comment about 'not pissing off the wrong people' and it 'not being safe' for girls like me."

Scott glared at his cup and swirled the contents.

"You afraid he's gonna do something?"

Hating to admit it out loud, Jess drew a long, tired breath and said, "Yeah. I kinda am."

Nodding, Scott growled, "Figured as much."

"You did?"

"Asked Mandy to pick something up for you, actually. Was just debating if it was overkill to give it to you or not." Scott reached into his pocket and dug out a small box. "So. After what happened with Harold, and the persistence of those two, plus the nightmares you had after the first time they showed up, I already figured you're not doing great with that whole 'what if they abduct me' thing. This is my solution for you, because I know you're scared of not being found if that ever happened."

He handed her the box and Jess took it. She opened the top and drew out a necklace on a delicate but sturdy chain. It had a comforting weight to it as it sat in the palm of her hand. The silver pendant was round, only about an inch all the way round, maybe less. Big enough to run her thumb over. The metal work was a delicately woven celtic knot around a small blooming lotus flower in the middle. It looked elvish and mystical, but unassuming enough that if you didn't appreciate that sort of thing, you wouldn't look at it.

For Jess, it meant the world. She loved celtic knots, their symbolism. This knot was heavy with the symbolism of new beginnings and life. Then, as a botanist, she knew the meaning behind the Lotus flower as well. Purity, rebirth, and strength. The representation of a journey from darkness and pain into beauty and life. Jess loved the lotus flower.

"Mandy sourced it out for me. She even made sure it was pretty, subtle and would suit you. There's a tracker in it and a set of instructions on how to activate it. Mandy has people who can change the battery for you when the time comes. It will alert you when the battery is low through the app, which shouldn't be for about a year, maybe more. It's password protected. You get to pick if anyone has that so they can track you if you wanted not because you have to-"

Jess's hand clamped down around the pendant and she launched sideways, slamming into his side with a fierce hug.

"Thank you!" She all but cried, obviously working so hard to keep herself together.

Scott returned the hug readily enough, rubbing her shoulder and mumbling something about, "It wasn't much."

"I want you to have to passcode," said Jess after a few minutes, still squished into his side.

"You don't have to give it to anyone, pips."

"Defeats the purpose of having it if someone doesn't know how to find me."

Scott pulled away, hands resting on both shoulders, and frowned down at her, "I'm gonna be dead serious with you; I swear I will never, not for any reason, use this unless it's an emergency."

"I know," Jess gave him a watery smile and swiped at her eyes. "That's why I'm not giving it to Sonny. He'd use it to scare the shit out of me."

Snorting, Scott let her go and picked up his coffee cup again, saying, "I don't need a tracker to find you and scare the shit out of you."

Laughing, Jess scooted closer as she said, "No, you really don't, do you. So how does this work?!"

Holding out his hand, Scott said, "Here. It's easy once you know what to look for. So here on top, it's like a watch pendant, only there's no watch. You twist this, then press down here…activated. See how it locks into place? Then to turn it off, it's a press, then twist back. Little harder to do that one, but that's a good thing. You don't want it to turn off when it's not time."

"That's so cool!" Jess gushed, taking it from him and trying it out. "Can you help me activate the account?"

"Yeah, Mandy already walked me through it. Here. Already set up for you, you just need to change the password to something you'll remember."

"I never remember passwords."

"I'll remember it if you tell me."

Jess was already putting on the pendant, contentment radiating from her as she let the comfortable little weight drop. It sat at the perfect height, hanging down from her neck without any danger of slipping over her head, and would go with basically anything she owned at the same time as having the option of hiding it under her shirt if she wanted to. Scott was right though. Mandy did pick a really pretty one!

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Scott smirk and shake his head.

"So, you like it then?" He asked, amusement coloring his dry growl.

"Yes! Thank you!" Jess grinned at him.

"Good. Do me a favor and activate it as soon as you get there next week, ok? I know I said you didn't have to give anyone the means to track you, but-"

"No. I want you to know where I am, especially when I get there." Jess interrupted, letting him know she was already way ahead of him. "I already feel so much better about going now."

"Good. So do I."

"Do…do you not want me to go?" Jess asked, peering up at him with serious, dark eyes.

"Not my call, Jess. I'll support you anyway I can. If it was blatantly not safe? I'd tell you if you asked, and you did. It's as safe as it can be. Well thought out. Well planned. Good past results. Solid security detail."

"But you still don't want me to go." Jess murmured. "None of you do. Especially not Jason."

"Kid, we see the worst of the worst in this world. Not going to be able to help that one. Like you said, it's ten days. If we can expect our loved ones to manage with us away for months at a time in a war zone, we can manage ten days worrying about you."

Misty eyed and remembering being on this very beach before their deployment, Jess smiled a little and whispered, "I really love you guys so much."

"We're pretty damn fond of you too, pipsqueak," Scott rumbled back gruffly, dropping an arm around her shoulders. "Maybe a little more than fond."

"I'll be ok, Scott. Sonny gave me a guide book and everything, and you've all prepared me. I'll be just fine and I'll stay safe."

"You better. Or I'll come drag your ass out of the jungle personally."

"Is that a treat?" Jess laughed, leaning into him, warmed to the core by the dark growl.

"It's a promise."