"Well aren't you lucky that the boss seems to like you. Getting a nice diluted little dose in your cocktail…he must have plans for you."

Disinterested, Jess didn't move as she watched the man talking to her readying a syringe.

Who was he? Did she even care? She just wanted to go back to sleep and the lights were too bright. What was the point in anything anymore. Sleep was better.

As if just because she wished it, the lights winked out before he could stick the syringe into her arm.

"The fuck?"

Feet stomped from the room as dim emergency lights kicked on and Jess was left alone.

Good. She could sleep now.

Closing her eyes, she tugged unhappily at the thing keeping her arm from getting a full range of motion. Rude.

Shouts sounded and were quickly cut off by distant 'pop' sounds in the air. Someone was screaming and Jess's brain perked up at the distinct sound of a dog barking and snapping angrily.

"Shit. Dog scrap. Gotta help break that up. Don't want a poor puppers to get hurt."

Jess tried to roll over and sit up.

More shouts sounded, quickly cut off by more loud noises and she heard heavy feet running toward her room.

Jess watched with detached fascination as the door was thrown open and one of the men came flying in, gun out. He grabbed for her roughly, unlocking the bracket around her wrist and dragging her partway up before she heard the sound of glass breaking and then the man dropped to the ground in a little pink mist.

Something in Jess's mind clicked that that wasn't normal and she backed away slowly from the body, frowning.

Had he been one of the bad guys? Or was he a good guy come to save her.

"Oh…oh fuck. He's dead," Jess breathed, finally cluing in and seeing blood seeping into a large pool on the floor from under his head.

She stared at the body for what felt like minutes, swaying where she sat on the edge of the mattress.

More shots sounded downstairs and she could hear the suspicious sound of bodies falling to the ground seconds after.

Another man came barreling through the second door at the other side of the room. It was usually locked and closed.

He fell just like the other had before he even reached her with a second 'pop' of the glass in the window.

Gears turned slower as Jess turned to look at the window, blinking and frowning at the holes in the glass and squinting into the darkness outside.

How was that happening? Who was doing that?

She couldn't make sense of what was going on or where she was. Everything was slow and sluggish, like it was happening to someone else.

Reaching her hand up to scratch her hairline fretfully, it registered for Jess that she wasn't attached to the bed anymore.

"Oh!" Jess swayed again and smiled at her wrist. "Hey! Look at that! I have two hands!"

Spying the IV in her arm, Jess suddenly got the strong, unshakable desire to rip it out and suddenly she had the courage to.

And so she did with determined passion, not knowing that the person watching over her through the scope of a rifle was telling her not to repeatedly under their breath.

"Ouch….owowowowow….got it!" Jess gasped with pained triumph as she threw the hated thing away from her.

Immediately after the line ripped free, blood started flowing down her arm in a steady stream.

"Uh oh." Jess mumbled, already nauseous at the sight.

More loud sounds exploded in the upstairs hall, closer this time and Jess heard raised voices. The growing sensation of reality started to set in as Jess tried to stop the blood rolling down her arm. Awareness of the bodies laying on the floor poked at the back of her brain harder.

Guns. That's what killed them. Those were guns she heard. Someone was shooting people. Someone was shooting people in here through the window too which meant-

Jess cast a frightened look to the window again, skin crawling as it clicked that they could see her if they'd been able to kill the two men. Why wasn't she dead too?

"Let's not find out," Jess slurred to herself as she stumbled toward the door. "Where am I and why do I feel like I'm missing something important? Can I just leave? Yeah, let's just leave nice and quiet and maybe nobody will- oh, shit."

Her heart leapt into her throat when she was met with movement through the door in front of her. The foggy part of her brain shifted with dizzying speed and Jess stumbled away from the huge, hulking shadows coming through the door. She couldn't make out their features in the terribly lit room and really she didn't look past their shoulders.

The first thing her mind fixated on was that they carried guns, like the people who kept her in here, but they weren't the people who were keeping her here. They felt more dangerous and a hell of a lot more scary as their presence suffocated the darkness around her. She was pretty sure they'd killed all of the other bad guys which meant-

"Oh shit," Jess let out a terrified gasp as the racing of her heart increased to the point of nearly breaking her ribs. What if these were worse bad guys than the ones who had her?

One of them turned toward her after scanning the room swiftly and they lowered their gun so it swung by their side. They were talking, moving toward her with hands ready to grab her as she wobbled backward.

No. No this wasn't happening again. They wouldn't get her this time.

Jess pivoted, ready to run for the other door.

She got two wobbly steps before the minimal light in the frame of the second door she'd been aiming for got blotted out by another goliath man. He blocked the only exit she had left and was already within arms reach before she could stop her feet from carrying her to meet him. The sight of the phantom shrouded in black stirred up a flash memory of being grabbed and having something held over her face, choking her into nothingness.

With weak, jerky control, Jess forced her limbs to stop before she crashed into him.

The series of motion sent her head spinning again and she sensed them closing in on her. The one who blocked her escape had already reached her, nearly touching her now as he overshadowed her.

Breath coming in short gasps, Jess's vision blacked and she whimpered something desperate and unintelligible as her knees buckled. Her body crumpled.

Arms caught her as she fell, lowering her so she was half propped up against someone solid.

Next hands were patting down her legs and arms, touching her head, face, neck, prying her eyelids open and blinding them with a bright light, tapping her cheeks lightly. Voices were talking, but she didn't comprehend what they were saying over her short, shuddering breaths. All she knew was that she didn't want to be touched and she sure as hell didn't want anyone sticking needles in her ever again.

The waves of fight and determination were closer together now so she gathered herself and gave it her best. She'd had enough of being manhandled and she wasn't going back to that bed without a fight.

Whatever they'd been doing to her bleeding arm got interrupted with her sudden movement and a lucky kick made contact with something human, bringing a soft grunt of pain. At the same time she tried biting the hand cupping her face so the back of her head rested against a broad chest. The appendage retreated quickly and the other body she'd kicked rocked back a little with a soft groan.

"She got you good," A male voice said from somewhere else in the room.

Encouraged, Jess forced her eyes open and threw two more solid kicks with both legs, letting out a feral little snarl at the silhouette crouched in front of her. She tried to get loose from whatever it was holding her torso too.

That turned out to be ridiculously bone crushing arms that didn't budge no matter what she did.

A frustrated, frightened noise welled up in her chest and Jess wanted to scream.

"Heyheyhey, no. Jess, none of that. You're safe. You're ok, Jess! It's just us. We got you." The voice near her ear spoke low and urgently as the arms stayed locked around her during her struggle. "Relax. You're safe. No one's gonna hurt you. I've got you, pips, I promise."

Of course they had her. She knew that already so why did they have to rub it in?! Barely able to budge no matter what she did, Jess knew she wasn't getting away.

That scared her properly this time and the loopy, detached drugged part of her brain took a back seat as Jess's awareness spiked.

A cry ripped from her lips when someone grabbed her kicking legs and held them down firmly. Through the haze of limbs and voices talking to her, Jess saw a needle coming in towards her arm, catching in the small light of the flashlight.

"No!" She struggled harder with a hysterical, broken wail. "Nononono, please !"

This was too cruel. She'd been free. She could have escaped whatever hell this was. She didn't want this again!

"Shhh…it's going to be ok, Jess. Trent's just trying to help. One little pinch and it's over. You're ok, good people, Jess…all good people. I swear, no one's trying to hurt you."

The voice near her ear broke through the fog again and for a moment she thought there was something familiar about it, something that made her feel safe.

Latching onto the sense that the person holding her might listen to her pleading, Jess tried again with more desperation and shattered hope.

"Please, make it stop!" Jess sobbed as she tried in vain to pull her arm free. "I want it to stop! I've had enough, I want it to stop!"

"Almost over, pipsqueak. Shhh. You're ok. We won't let anyone hurt you. It's us. We're right here. You're safe."

Again, the gruff, yet gentled voice near her ear stirred her awareness and Jess felt sure she should be able to identify who it was as she paused in her fight as if that could catch her brain up.

That needle didn't stop its approach, taking advantage of her brief lull in fighting. It acted as a contradiction in Jess's mind to the comforting words and Jess let out a pitiful, howling sob as she watched it hit her skin. With it all the fight left her and Jess went limp, exhausted from the struggle and devastated by the helplessness.

"IV looks clear. No breakage when she ripped it out."

"Good." Another terribly familiar voice broke through with clarity and hands were checking her over again quickly. "Got the shot into her. Let's move."

Someone was picking her up and Jess mentally wanted to fight again, but didn't have the strength in her lax limbs.

"Metal, you got her?"

"Yup."

The words were getting easier to focus on and Jess furrowed her brow, aware of the discomfort under her cheek as something pressed into it. Metal…who was Metal? Metal who? What was she missing?!

"Bravo 1 this is 4. Heading out now."

They were in the hall now. Something cold and wet touched her hand as it swung limp in the air and she twitched it away.

"Cerberus. No. You'll get blood on her."

Cerberus? Like Hades' dog? Jess tried and failed to open her eyes. She liked dogs.

"How is she?" A new painfully distinct voice broke through the curtain in her thoughts along with the continued ringing of the words 'Bravo', 'Cerberus' and 'Metal'.

"She still drugged up pretty good but we can confirm they didn't get the new shit into her. Syringe was still full. She doesn't recognize us yet though. Hoping that will balance out with the countering effects of the shot."

"Let's hope so. If not, do what you need to. We can't risk being given away outside if she starts screaming like that again."

"Or trying to fight. She nutted Trent and tried to bite me." The words reverberated with grim approval through the person carrying her, tugging at her sluggish mind harder because she knew that voice. She…she knew all of them. Why did she know them again? Why did she want to start crying everytime she heard them? Was that a good thing?

"Yeah. She kicks like a mule."

"Good." The other voice was clipped and short. "Means they didn't break her spirit."

The arms holding her shifted her weight, holding her closer and her head tipped into the softer tissues of the neck and shoulder. There was a faint smell lingering on the skin that woke her up suddenly, stabbing through her mind at the same time as the voices did and Jess stiffened.

She absolutely knew this person and it was frustrating.

Then that urgent question of where she was and what was happening surfaced once more, igniting panic along with the primal instincts.

Her eyes fluttered open and she peered sideways at the world passing by, catching only a glimpse of the beefy shadows stalking along in the night, surrounding the man carrying her with guns ready.

Fear bubbled up into her throat with confusion. Jess whimpered, her body shivering violently and she drew shorter breaths once more.

"Please, let me go," She mewed softly, her fingers clawing up to her neckline, hunting for the comforting coolness of the pendant between her fingers. She couldn't remember why it was important, but it was.

This was all wrong and messed up. She needed help. Someone-

"You're ok, Jess," A voice whispered to her in the dark from just above her head.

"No I'm not!" Jess whimpered back. "I'm lost and I want to go home!"

"Jess, I've got you. Me. Scott . Scott's got you. We found you. You don't need to be scared anymore. You're safe." The one carrying her didn't speak very loud, but the soft growl was enough for her to hear. "Just hang in there, pips. We'll get you out of here. I'm right here. You aren't alone. Trust me, I've got you."

For some reason her body betrayed her as she listened to the words.

Slowly, it curled into the man without protest while her mind tried to catch up. Why…who was that…why were they familiar? Scott? Scott was…someone. Someone important? Someone she trusted. Yeah, that's right…right? Please let it be someone she trusted! Where were they taking her? Get her out of where!? Where was here?!

A wave of loopiness washed through her and Jess surrendered for the moment until it passed.

She came back to reality when she heard loud noises again, like fire crackers filling the air and she was nearly dropped to the ground and wedged between two massive bodies that closed her in tightly against a brick wall. Dog fur pressed into her as well and she felt something lick the end of her nose gently.

If she wasn't so stunned by the sudden movement and the noise, she might have tried to pet the animal and draw comfort from its presence.

There was a brief silence after the same noise had erupted from either side of her and it suddenly occurred to Jess that she was hearing gun fire again.

"Are…are we being shot at?" She wondered out loud, as she drifted between lucidity and that lost, detached and loopy place. Her small, wispy voice sounded funny in the quiet that followed the guns as the bodies pulled away from her, giving breathing room.

She tried to peer around the thick legs of the people standing around her and only just glimpsed what looked like a dead body a few feet away. Fear trickled in with potency once more as her view was blocked and someone murmured, "Don't look at it, Jess."

"Why are people shooting at us?" Jess asked in a small voice, pulling back a touch when one of the huge people crouched next to her and hooked his arm under her knees.

"Don't worry about it, pipsqueak. We're a hell of a lot better at shooting than they are, so it's all ok." The gruff man scooped her back up and they started moving again.

Awareness trickled in through the drunk feeling and Jess frowned when the nickname tugged at her.

"Please be the good guys." Jess whispered softly, closing her eyes.

"We are. Promise." Came the answer of her bearer.

"I think I know you…can't remember why…but, I know you," Jess muttered fretfully. "Where am I?"

"You're with good people, pips. All good people. It's gonna be ok. Don't worry about it."

"I have a big brother who tells me that," Jess mumbled sleepily, fighting to stay sharp and not really succeeding as her forehead tucked back into the crook of a neck. That scent stabbed through her again and another rush of familiarity flooded her, making her calmer. Without meaning to, she lost tension and burrowed closer with her fists tucked tight against her chest and the necklace under her own chin. "He's big, and tall, and scary…kinda like you…only he's really a teddy bear and he'll rip your arms off if you hurt me…actually….you should probably be really careful…I kinda think he'd kill you if you hurt me."

"Yeah. I would." The man's voice promised darkly in that same, low, hushed voice.

"Why do I know you?" Jess mumbled as she pried her eyes open with that nagging feeling returning, persistent like a buzzing fly in her ear. She squinted up in the dark at the scruffy chin just above her head. "Feel like I'm missing something really important…it's kinda scary! What's wrong with me? Did I get drugged again?"

"Shhh. Don't worry about it. It'll come back soon. Just trust me, pipsqueak."

"Where are you taking me?" Jess asked, a spike of rational fear coming through again as it occurred to her that this was a dangerous situation and that she was vulnerable. Ice clenched her stomach and she struggled to focus on the people walking near them through the dark, still trying to decide if they were bad guys or really the good guys.

They'd taken her into the forest now, moving like ghosts through the trees in the pitch black.

The growl of the man soothed her nerves gently as he said very quietly, "We're takin you home. You're safe. Now, shhh."

Scott. Did he say his name was Scott? Weird. She knew another Scott. He was her big brother and she lived with him…at home.

Fear evaporated as she nuzzled back into the crook of his neck and ignoring the prompt to stay quiet, Jess murmured sleepily, "Oh. Home is good. Wait. Home to…to…my brothers…not my mom…home to Scott, right?"

"Yes." The word was still soft and quiet.

Jess had unconsciously mirrored his sound level with her own soft, slurred questions the whole time since they'd been shot at.

"Ok good. My mom's a horrible person and my step-dad is worse."

"I know."

Jess tried to say something else but the arms holding her tightened with a gentle shake and 'Scott' hushed her.

"Gotta stay quiet for a bit, kid. Shh. You're safe. That's all that matters right now. No. Shh. No more talking."

Deciding that maybe he was right, Jess settled for a while, lulled by the steady tread and sway of the one carrying her. Her brain and her body weren't behaving. The longer she was with this person the calmer she felt and all desire to fight him trickled away. Maybe she could just relax for a bit. Maybe it was ok. For now.

After what felt like a long while she was roused by the crunch of rock and gravel under booted feet.

A van door opened suddenly and Jess jolted back from the sleepy place she'd been as she was passed inside to another pair of arms. Alarm slipped back when she couldn't properly look at anyone's face and motion sent her spinning again.

"How is she?" A thick southern accent asked as more people piled into the van.

Jess closed her eyes. Everything was too loud, her mouth felt fuzzy and her head ached.

"Loopy, out of it, doesn't know us and for the most part terrified of us…that's getting a bit better though." The deep, growly voice of Scott filled them in. "But other than that she's not in too bad shape."

"At least there's that." Another male sighed. "Would have liked to snag the son of a bitch who did this though."

"We'll get him next time." Scott snarled darkly, making Jess's hair stand on end.

"We got her in time?" Someone else near her left foot was talking now. He sounded younger than the others, softer spoken. "And they didn't…"

"Yeah." The second familiar voice from earlier joined in. The one who stabbed her with a needle. "Hardly a scratch on her from what I could tell. Just the IV marks and whatever the drugs did to her system which we'll know more on later. I don't think they did anything else to her. Doing a second check now."

'Got me in time for what?' Jess wondered as she was tucked down on the hard floor of the van and someone started prodding her again, moving her legs and patting her down with brisk professionalism.

"Don't forget to look for bugs and crawly critters." The Texan reminded. "Last thing our poor girl needs is to get poisoned."

The one patting her down answered sarcastically, "Thanks, Sonny. I never would have thought of that."

Jess shifted her foot, itching to kick again over being touched and it was immediately locked down by a heavy hand.

"Think Trent want's kids someday, Jess. Let's not kick him again."

Trent…there was that name again. And the voices around her…Sonny. Scott. Scott and Trent…Trent….Trent?…She had a brother named Trent too, same as she had a brother named Scott. They took care of her once when she was sick and it was weird that they had the same names and sounded the same as her big brothers because- wait, and the others…they all sounded just like-

The explosion inside her head as several key pieces finally clicked into place drew a sharp, painful gasp from her.

Jess's eyes snapped open with a rush of clarity and she blinked up at the difficult to see face leaning over her in the darkened van.

"Trent?" She croaked hopefully, scrunching up her face.

"Jess? You with me?"

It took Trent speaking and leaning closer to her for Jess to recognize him with the dark streaks on his face and outfit he was wearing. He looked like a ninja.

Staring at him as the rusty cogs finally got moving, Jess said the first horrified thought that came to mind when her memories finally started to order themselves.

"S-something bad happened…"

"Yes, it did." Trent soothed. "But, we found you. You're safe now."

Not quite paying attention to the reassuring words, Jess struggled to sit up as she remembered.

"I was…th-they- they took me-"

"I know. You're safe now. We've got you."

"Harold's partner- and then he- Jeremy- he-"

"It's ok. We know everything."

"Where are we!?" Jess's fingers dug into Trent's sleeves as he gently gripped her arms, half supporting her and half keeping her from trying to move too much.

"Still in Brazil."

The sudden burst of clarity started to fade again and that dumb swimmy feeling returned, making her tip sideways into the medic and let him lower her back to the floor of the van. "I can't be in Brazil. It's dangerous in Brazil. People get kidnapped and stuff. I'm supposed to be in the Amazon looking at plants and shit."

A hand patted her head sympathetically as Trent said, "It's ok Jess. You just close your eyes and let us take care of things, ok?"

Happy to comply for the moment and dizzy with relief, Jess mumbled, "I feel really weird…am I shaking? I feel like I'm shaking…mouth tastes weird…"

"You're still pretty drugged up, pipsqueak. You'll be ok though, we've got you."

The last while finally clicked into place and Jess's head turned to the voice, her eyes still refusing to stay open for long as she squinted, "Scott!? Wait….OH! You had me! That was you . Ok, good. That makes me feel so much better."

"Had you the whole time. I'm still right here." A hand touched her head briefly. "You're ok."

"I feel like I should be freaking out and I'm not…why aren't I freaking out?"

"It's just the drugs, sweetheart. They've got you pretty turned around." Trent told her, tapping at her arm and poking around at her veins in the light that someone was holding for him. "I promise when they clear you can have a proper meltdown and things will start feeling normal again, ok? This is going to help make sure you recover quick and there aren't any really bad side effects."

"W-wait. W-what are you doing?" Jess asked, previous lack of fear doing a full turn around when she finally opened her eyes and instantly spied another needle in Trent's hand.

"Jess, honey, slow down, it's not- damn it."

Jess was already trying to get up and struggling to push her way back the short distance away from Trent, staring at the needle sitting between his fingers like it were the devil himself. There wasn't far to go and she knocked into someone's knees.

"Wowwowow, hang on there little ocean-fearing buddy!"

"Jess-"

A dog yipped sharply with alarm.

Too many voices around her, hands both reaching and not reaching for her at the same time. Jess couldn't focus and felt trapped as her head started to pound again.

"Pips, it's ok-" A strong hand touched her shoulder and instead of shrinking from it, she leaned into it, hoping it would save her.

"N-no…no I-I don't want- pleasepleasepleaseplease…not again-"

"Jess…let's just slow it down, ok?" Trent tilted his hand so the needle was hidden, but there was a look on his face that told Jess this wasn't going to stop. "I know you're scared, but you gotta trust me on this one."

Half aware of Scott behind her and could be ready to take hold of her if Trent gave the word, Jess choked back a sob, shaking her head adamantly. The tiny burst of movement sent her spinning again and she started to crumble.

"Please…Trent?" Jess whimpered when Trent edged closer.

"Hey, look at me- Jess! Look at me. There you go…that's right…I'm really sorry, but we need to give you another one of these or you'll start feeling a whole lot worse and it could be really bad…I know it's really hard right now, but, you been so fuckin brave…just a little more, ok? Do you trust me?"

Tears overflowed and Jess nodded, body starting to shake uncontrollably now and her vision went spotting, "Yes, but-"

Suddenly it was getting harder to breath and that horrible loopy feeling crashed down again, worse than all the other times. She thought she might vomit from the way her body was shaking.

"Trent…I-I really don't feel good-"

"That's exactly why I'm giving you this- Metal!"

Big arms wrapped around her torso and she felt the arm Trent started to prep moments ago pinned under someone's elbow and against their side.

"I'm going to set up the IV so I can get this into her faster. Can we please all watch her to make sure she doesn't rip this one out?"

Forcing her eyes to open a crack, Jess mewed softly when she saw the needle incoming again.

"No! Trent, please…just wait?" She cried desperately as her muddled brain flashed random and horrible scenarios through her head. The most terrifying thing was the idea that what if this wasn't real and she wasn't really safe and this wasn't really Trent. She tried to wiggle her arm free again as she shivered violently. "Please, please, just stop…just for a minute? Please, I am begging you, just for a minute!? I just need a minute!"

The needle paused this time and with them this close Jess could focus on Trent's face properly again when he looked up at her. His expression was set with grim compassion and she knew he wasn't going to be swayed by anything she said, but the fact he stopped told her everything she needed to know.

"Jess, honey, please. If there were any other options right now I swear I would be using them." Something in his voice was strained, different from the natural, unflappable calm he usually had.

"You stopped." Heaving a sobbing sigh of relief, she went limp against Scott, still aware she was shivering and that her head was still pounding.

"Yes, but, Jess-"

Shaking her head, Jess gave up all her fight and murmured, "It's ok. I just needed to know you were you…that you're real…please be real, Trent?"

"I swear I'm real, Jess and I swear I'm going to take care of you. We just really need to get this in your arm so you don't end up in a hospital for a week, ok? I know what these kinds of drugs do to you, kid, we read your medical file from when you got drugged in highschool. It's really important you get this."

Floating in a slow, slugging place again, Jess nodded as her eyes got heavy again. The pounding made it hard to keep them open and she was so cold. Not even the warm body holding her could chase the cold away.

"Just as long as you're real…" Jess whispered.

"Darling, we are 100% real." Sonny's voice filled the space close by, alerting Jess again to the fact they were in close quarters in the back of the van and there were more people there. "And the bullets that turned those sons of bitches who took you into pink mist were real too."

"Oh, hi, Sonny! You're here too!" Jess murmured sleepily. Head turning into the arm across her front and letting her cheek rest on the big hand that still clasped her other wrist, holding it folded against her, Jess let her eyes slam shut again. "I might puke."

"That's ok, Jess. You do what you need to," Trent told her. "Needle incoming."

The pinch didn't hurt like the other times and Jess didn't even flinch.

"You good?" Scott's voice asked Trent softly over the top of her head.

Trent released a slow exhale and he answered, "Yeah."

Jess felt tugging and the uncomfortable feeling of a needle staying in her arm, but other than that it was ok.

"Meds incoming, Jess. This should help you feel better, like last time."

Not answering, Jess waited and was pleasantly surprised when the pounding her head eased quickly after that.

"Thought I was gonna have to do it for a moment there." Jason's voice carried from the front of the van. "Not like you to hesitate."

"She's not like the rest of us," Clay muttered, defending Trent.

"Jason's not wrong. I let my emotions get in the way and I can't do that. Especially in the field. Orders are to keep her alive." Trent sighed. "I don't regret the hesitation though. It helped."

"You don't give that sort of leeway with any of us." Sonny whined, trying and failing to make light of the situation as Jess stayed limp and compliant to Trent's further administrations.

"This is different." Brock snapped, alerting everyone to the fact that he was shaken up over the begging and crying and Cerberus whined unhappily.

"No, Brock, this isn't different from any other mission. Do your jobs. Deal with the rest later."

The harsh order from the front seat made Jess squirm a little and Scott loosened his hands locked around her so he could use one to brush the hair out of her face, hushing her.

"Is Jason mad at me?" Jess whimpered fretfully, limbs growing tense again.

"No." Trent answered as the van jerked to a halt and doors started opening again.

There was a joint effort of shuffling Jess from the van and keeping the IV where it should be, then she was back being carried by Scott.

"What's happening?" Jess whispered. She still felt sick, but it wasn't as bad as before.

"Gettin on a plane and going home."

A flurry of moments and ordered chaos reached Jess's ears as bright light pierced through her lids.

"Here. Put her down. We can take it from here."

Strangers' voices met her ears and Jess cracked her eyelids open and taking in a medical team.

"Jess, the medics wanna take a look at you."

This was too much. The thought of letting strangers near her, of anything hospital like, anything needles related and all the bad memories associated with past experiences…it all ignited gut twisting fear back up in her.

Jess slammed her eyes shut and tightened the arms she had wrapped around his neck this time, curling into him.

"Please, don't leave me."

"Staying right with you, kid."

"I…I don't want them touching me." Jess whimpered. "Please…I don't want more people…I can't- I can't do it."

"Jess, they need to make sure you're ok-"

"No." She choked on a sob and held tighter with a death grip when she thought he felt like he was about to put her down. "I don't want to do it again!"

"You need to put her down-"

"No! Please,please,please," Jess begged with a deeper sob. "Don't let me go, Scott! Please, don't let me go!?"

"Hey! What's going on!" That was Jason now, taking charge as always. "Metal! What's-"

The medical personnel who seemed to be doing all the talking spoke up again. "She needs to get looked at as soon as possible! Her health history-"

"She needs you to back off!" Scott snapped, his arm tightening around her and she felt him take a step back. "Give her a minute."

Jess felt ill with relief and she couldn't stop crying, which was quickly turning into hyperventilating.

"Everything just caught up to her, or did something set her off." Jason's voice was closer now.

Scott's voice was low. "Doesn't want anyone touching her."

"She needs to get checked out."

"I know, but I ain't traumatizing her further by making her let them touch her." Scott's words were harsh now, fierce and ready to fight. "Hasn't she been through enough? Just give her a minute, for fuck sake!"

"Not what I meant." Jason snapped before his tone lightened and Jess felt a hand on her back. "Jess, take a nice slow breath for me, honey. We're not gonna let anyone near you until you're ready, ok?"

"I want to go home." Jess hiccupped. She could feel Scott moving across the plane and there were voices everywhere. Somewhere in the din she thought she heard Jeremy asking if she was ok and demanding to see her before it got swallowed up again by the chaos.

"I know," Scott rumbled. "You're going home, promise, and we'll be right there with you. Trust me."

"Here. Sit here with her and give me that IV." Jason was using his bossy voice and she felt the lines in her arm shift a bit, making her shudder.

"Hey, Jess," Trent's voice came near her head and a hand rubbed a slow circle on her back. "Sweetheart, can you look at me?"

Jess forced her head up from where she'd been hiding and peeked at Trent, squinting in the light of the plane. He was crouched next to her with a different one of the medical personnel, a female, hovering further back over his shoulder.

"I know you don't want them to do anything and having strangers touching you right now isn't what you want, but what if I do it? Would you let me make sure you're doing ok?"

Gulping down another, trembling sob, Jess nodded.

"Ok. Let's just start nice and easy, yeah? Start with some vitals. You can even stay where you are, sound good?"

Nodding again, Jess turned her face back into Scott's shoulder and tried to block out the overwhelming noise around her while Trent took her vitals.

A few minutes later she heard Jason again.

"Here, Scotty. Let me take her."

Scott shifted and said in a low voice, "Jess, I gotta go take my gear off. Jase is gonna be right here, so is Trent. Rest of the boys are close by. They won't let anyone near ya."

Keeping her eyes clenched shut so that reality didn't crash over her and drown her, Jess let Scott and Jason switch places.

Once she was clasped in Jason's arms instead, Jess whispered, "Tell me this isn't real? Tell me it's all just a bad dream and I'm gonna wake up at home?"

"I really wish I could, Jess. But we're here. You'll get through this. You're not alone."

"I-I don't even know what they did to me-." Jess whimpered, squirming a little and pressing her face into his chest. "I wasn't awake the whole time…what if- I don't want to be asked questions again that I can't answer…and they'll pressure me to-to-"

Jason hushed her and rocked slightly, holding her tight. "It's ok. You don't have to do anything you don't want to."

"I don't know what happened to me while I was out- not for sure- but he said they wouldn't come near me- that won't be good enough…they'll- dad, please, I don't want to talk to them- they won't believe me if I say nothing happened just like the last time! I just want them to leave me alone-"

"Jess, you don't have to do anything you don't want to and we'll back you up no matter what. And if it helps, once they had you at that house you were watched over nearly the whole time." Jason told her seriously, logic and reason starting to sooth over the panic and jumble of other bad memories from the hospital visit after her last drugging experience. "Your brother used his super cyber skills and got eyes on you. You weren't alone, Jess. We know what happened. Ray even pulled footage from before we got eyes to make sure and people are going through it now. Even found footage from the van they took you in. The guy really didn't trust his men at all and liked to micro-manage. We know they didn't touch you past putting that IV in your arm and taking you back and forth from the room. That and their boss briefly touching the top of your head during that one phone call to try getting under your brother's skin. That's it. They didn't even get the nightmare drugs into you. Sonny killed the power before they could. Right after that we busted down the door and got you out. If the doc's wanna push something you don't want, they can come talk to us and we'll send 'em packing, ok?"

Letting out a grateful sob, Jess melted with relief.

Those moments of confusion flashed through her head, fresh and stark with the fear she'd felt when the bullets started to fly and her brothers came for her. She remembered kicking and screaming, thinking they were different bad guys coming to take her.

"Jess, I'm going to snag this arm so we can check blood pressure."

Opening an eye, Jess squinted at Trent as he took her arm and started fitting a cuff onto it.

"Did I kick you?" She whispered.

His head shot up and there was that easy, calm sympathy on his face. "Yeah. It was a great kick! I'm really proud of you!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you," Tears gathered and Jess felt her breathing hitching faster again. "I thought-"

"I know, it's ok." Trent reassured her, his unflappable placidness back as the cuff around her arm inflated. "You did good. BP…150/97."

The woman from before was writing down information on a chart as Trent told her.

"We'll take it again in ten. That needs to come down." She commented quietly.

"Uh huh."

"Jase, Blackburn wants to debrief." Scott was back.

"Right. Here." Jess was passed back to Scott again and she didn't protest. As long as she was with one of them she could keep it together. She could manage.

"Jess, is the light hurting your eyes?" Trent asked.

She nodded, keeping her eyes shut tightly while whimpering, "Too loud."

Her body was still shivering uncontrollably like it had been in the van and she hadn't stopped crying since getting on the plane.

"Blanket." Brock's voice was quiet and to her left. "It's Clay's. He said it's softer…and Cerberus is here…might help?"

The mention of Cerberus had Jess perking up, peering around in search of the dog.

"That's a yes." Trent murmured. "Anything to keep her calm would be good right now."

Cerberus hopped up on the seats next to her and Jess emerged from hiding against Scott to scratch behind his ears. When she did, Trent unfurled the blanket and tucked it around her. It smelt like Clay.

"Hi, Cerbie," Jess whispered. The lights dimmed a bit and she was thankful for that because now she could focus on the dog better.

"Jess, we do need to take some blood soon, ok?"

Side eyeing Trent pleadingly, Jess clearly communicated how she felt about that.

"Not yet," Trent went on with grim understanding. "Let's just get you calmer first, ok? One step at a time."

"I don't want to be stuck with needles again," Jess whispered, tears starting up faster again. "I just want to go home."

"We're going home, but we also need to know what they put in you so we can keep you safe."

Tucking back into Scott, Jess tried to block out the panic starting to rise again at the idea of more sharp objects poking into her skin and blood being removed.

Scott's arms locked around her, sheltering from the outside world and she heard him growl, "One step at a time, pips. You've got this, and we've got you."

"Can I have a minute?" Jess asked Trent without turning out of her hiding place.

"Of course."

Jess hesitated a spell before adding, "Would you do it?"

"Yeah, I can do it if you want me to-"

"I don't want anyone else near me."

"Ok. I'll take care of it then."

"Thank you."

"You got it, kid. Let's bring it down, ok? What about some breathing exercises? Would you do one with me or Ray? Ray's really good at them and he's got a voice that'll knock you right out…"

Exhausted and not wanting to do anything but hide, Jess mumbled unenthusiastically, "What do I have to do?"

"Just stay where you are, listen and breathe. That's it."

"Can't breathe. I need to blow my nose."

"Here." Ray's kind voice sounded from the right and she felt several tissues slip into her hand.

"Thanks." When she was finished cleaning up the mess of her face, she stayed tucked away, listening to the steady beat of the heart under her ear and whispered, "What do I have to do?"

"Close your eyes," Ray told her, settling near them and speaking the same way he did with Jameelah when she was having a hard time. "We're going to do something called box breathing. Count of four inhale, hold for four, and four count exhale, hold for four. Easy enough that even Sonny can do it."

"That's it?"

"Then you're going to visualize with me. Let's take you somewhere you feel safe and happy-"

"Home." Jess choked on the word. "With all of you guys."

"Ok. That's easy to do. We're all right here. Let's pretend you're home for a minute and it's just another movie night." As Ray talked, Jess became oddly aware of bodies quietly gathering around, sitting quietly. "All you need to do now is breath. In…two…three…four…hold…two…three…four…out…two…three…four-"

Jess struggled to do it at first, too distracted by everything around her until she noticed Scott was drawing a box across the side of her arm in time with Ray's guidance and that helped.

Once she was doing it on her own, Ray said, "That's right…just like that. We're here. It's just another night right now. Keep breathing."

"If it's just another night, we better be talkin then. Snow White said once before she liked hearin us spout nonsense…" Sonny sounded hoarse and unsure. Based on where his voice carried from, Jess had to guess he was across from them somewhere.

"Brock, is that plant you took home still alive?" Scott asked, taking Sonny's idea and running with it as he kept drawing the box on her arm and Jess kept breathing, forcing her mind to cling to the voices and pretending she was home.

"Against all odds, yes!"

"Really? I thought for sure you'd have dried it out by now!" Clay teased half heartedly, strain evident and the effort not quite hidden.

"He's not you, Sunshine boy," Sonny ribbed, still hoarse but managing better than the others to sound normal with his roughish charm. "How many plants have you managed to keep alive? Zero."

"At least I've tried. You don't even have any houseplants!"

"No wonder his apartment is so stale." Trent muttered as he quietly took Jess's arm and slipped the blood pressure cuff back on it. "Nothing to clean the air!"

"My air is perfectly clean, thank you. It gets regular maintenance in the form of alcohol."

"That's not how it works, Sonny! Didn't you ever take a biology class?"

"Several," Sonny snickered softly and Jess heard him get whacked by several people.

"Not that kind, you ass."

"BP 140/85."

"That's better. Let's check it again in a bit. Blood work?"

The sound of the woman Jess didn't know made her breathing quicken slightly until Ray started to count again and she was brought back to the steady pattern again.

"Working on it." Trent sighed and Jess felt him give her wrist a little rub before saying softly, "Jess? Is it ok if I take that blood now?"

Knowing it was happening one way or another, Jess nodded and stretched Cerberus' ears more with her other hand, not caring it was sore from where the last IV had been.

"Ok. I'll be quick. Promise. I'm gonna need that other arm though."

Resigned, Jess stopped stretching Cerbie and let him take it. He tied the band around her upper arm and then started poking around gently, hunting for a vein that wasn't near where the IV she ripped out was.

"This one will do. Needle incoming, Jess."

Slightly emerged from her cocoon, Jess flicked her eyes around at the now quiet crew and mumbled, "Not talking. Can't be like home if you're not talking."

Brock jumped on it right away.

"There's a new Marvel series coming out about Loki."

"Loki!? Why Loki?"

"He's a fantastic villain, that's why."

"Yeah, that actor does a great job with him. Who was it, Tom Holland?"

"Hiddleston." Jess corrected as she worked at not peeking at the vials of her blood. She knew she'd faint if she did.

"All done, Jess." Trent said quietly, passing off the blood to the woman and patting her knee. "You did great. Thank you."

Jess managed a wane smile and retreated back into Scott who wordlessly encouraged her to resume the breathing pattern.

"Jason, Holland is the kid who plays Spiderman."

"Yeah and Hiddleston is the one all the women go crazy over."

"What do I know? I just watch the movies!"

Jess listened to the pointless banter that gradually took up steam around her and let herself take stock of her body now that she started to feel less and less drunk. Her hair was in a very messy bun. She felt gross, like she had a layer of dirt on her. She was still wearing her clothes from the day they took her in. How long ago was that now?

The image of Rob's body falling to the group rushed up to meet her abruptly and Jess jolted upright with a horrified gasp, opening her eyes wide.

"Pips-" Scott let her sit up but kept an arm around her, "What-"

Finding Scott's face and ignoring the others sitting around them for the time being, Jess gulped back a fresh sob and mewed brokenly, "They shot Rob!"

Quiet had descended around them the second she moved upright, but Jess couldn't tear her eyes from Scott's. Rob had been his buddy. She owed it to him to tell him it was her fault.

"H-he was trying to save me- a-and-"

The stark concern on Scott's face from when she initially shot up softened with understanding and he didn't even try to hide the compassion with his usual gruffness.

"Jess, it's ok-"

"No it isn't! He's dead because of me!" Jess wailed, lifting her face to the ceiling because she could stand meeting that tender gaze any longer when she didn't deserve it. "I was too stupid to run and then-"

"Jess, he's not dead!"

Freezing mid sob, Jess snapped her head back to Scott.

"H-he's not?!"

"No. He's still alive and he's already out of critical condition. He'll be ok. They're gonna ship him home in a few days."

"He's gonna be ok?" Jess breathed, hardly believing what she was hearing. She's thought he was dead ever since waking up in this nightmare.

"He's a tough SOB. He'll be fine and he wouldn't want you blaming yourself, at all , so knock that off."

Breaking down all over again, Jess buried her face in her hands and sobbed anew, this time with relief.

Cerberus whined and slithered on his belly up the seats onto where her legs were curled up. His soft fur warmed her toes.

"Come here," Scott growled gently, pulling her back into his arms again and holding her head under his chin. "Shh…it's gonna be ok."

After crying for a bit, Jess croaked out, "I messed up the breathing thing again-"

"It's ok. We'll start over…Ray?"

"Yeah, it's no big deal, Jess. Let's bring it all down. Deep breath in."

Forcing herself to listen, Jess waffled between letting herself cry and breathing. In the end she did both and exhausted herself while calming down.

One thing she knew for sure. She was safe. Her brothers came for her. It would be ok, somehow.