A/N: I wasn't intending on posting a chapter today, but I realized this one was short. I had minor foot surgery two weeks ago and had my post-op today. I have really related to Jessica's frustration in healing during this story, so, it felt like a good time to post this short chapter, since she seems to be finally healing.

I realized after my initial intro on this story that I said even though I don't own these characters, I adore them…I didn't mean Ben. I don't like him. At all.

Chapter 4

November

October had turned into November. Jessica was being allowed out of the sling most of the time now, only wearing it when it became too sore by the end of the day or if she was doing something where she could potentially reinjure herself and used it as a safeguard, so she would not succumb to temptation and attempt anything she shouldn't.

It had been an exhausting few weeks, made more frustrating by her inability to do much during her forced convalescence. While she knew she had needed to rest and let it heal, being forced into it meant her mind had stayed on overdrive, never really slowing down. As promised, Seth had done all of her chores that she was unable to do, and as grateful as she was to him, she also felt terribly guilty, knowing that she was still dating Ben. Even though Seth was her best friend and she hoped would remain so, she could not deny that she was using him. When she brought it up, he wouldn't discuss it. But she knew she was.

Now that it was November, she had rewrites on the manuscript that she had submitted at the end of September, and she had to hit the ground running again. Her shoulder still hurt more than she would admit to Seth, but every time he examined her, now with her wearing a sleeveless shirt each time, she knew he saw her jaw tighten and her eyes squint. He had her see an orthopedic doctor in October to make sure he hadn't missed anything with his diagnosis. The doctor had confirmed what Seth had thought, telling her to increase the exercises as much as she could and be more aggressive about using the arm when she wasn't wearing the sling, but never to the point of pain. Which often meant that she stopped many activities while in the middle of them or went back to completing them one-handed.

Then, there was the business with Mr. Keppard being killed in Eve's bedroom and all hell broke loose. Jessica had gone to Eve's house as soon as she heard the news, hugging her distraught friend, telling her to pack a bag because she was going to have her come stay for a few days. Eve didn't put up too much of a fight, realizing that her house was a crime scene, and she wouldn't be allowed to stay even if she wanted to.

Jessica always did her best to be kind to everyone. Living in Cabot Cove, she considered the townsfolk her neighbors in the old-fashioned manner. She felt a sense of goodwill towards them, even though she viewed only a handful as true friends. Still, out of all of the ladies at Loretta's, Eve was the one who Jessica came closest to considering a friend. Oh, Jessica was aware that Eve was probably the biggest gossip of them all, so she really wasn't sure what it was about Eve that Jessica connected to, but she recognized that she did. Perhaps because she recognized that Eve was lonely, seeking to fill the void with an available and attractive man. Despite Eve's extroverted nature, Jessica identified that vulnerability in her and she couldn't blame her for it. She had never wanted to chase men after Frank died, but, as a woman, she could relate to the desire to find someone special. Even if in Eve's case, it was often someone special, only for right now.

It had not been a conscious thought or decision when she brought Eve to her house after the murder. Rather, it was the right thing to do. When Ben showed up wanting an interview for the newspaper story he was planning to write, Eve had refused, telling him she had no comment. Ben proceeded to badger her to the point that she told him she was withdrawing her advertising with the paper.

To think that that evening, Eve had gone home to find a man she had recently met and flirted with, murdered on her bedroom floor and a few hours later, when Jessica had provided her a safe haven, Ben was there harassing Eve for a story was troublesome. It didn't sit well with Jessica watching him follow Eve around her house. She didn't like his behavior one bit.

She understood his profession. She understood his ambition and his belief that the public had a right to know the news. But people also had the right to privacy. And during trauma? People had the right to compassion.

Ben was not a compassionate man. That bothered Jessica deeply.

While she had recently begun to put him off every time he had asked to see her with the excuse being she had to focus on her rewrites, he deserved to be told to his face that she didn't want to date him anymore.

Making up her mind, she decided that as soon as Mr. Keppard's murderer was found, she would call Ben and ask him over to talk.

S/J

It was another two weeks before she could arrange a face-to-face talk with Ben. He had left to go chase a story right after Mr. Keppard's murder was solved. As the editor, she knew chasing stories was no longer in his job description, but she suspected that the passion he felt as a reporter was what had won him the Pulitzer Prize and that it would be too intoxicating to let go of if there was a big enough story out there. But Jessica wasn't even sure where he had gone or what he was investigating. He had called her once and said he missed her and would see her when he returned, and although she agreed to see him when he did, she did not return his words of longing. She held her breath at first wondering if it would become awkward when she did not echo his feelings, but he did not seem to notice, only telling her goodbye and he would see her when he returned to Cabot Cove.

However, when he did arrive back in Cabot Cove, she didn't hear the news from Ben, but the mailman.

"Hi, Mrs. Fletcher. You have a postcard and the electric bill today."

"Thank you," she said, automatically. She realized that postcards were free for anyone to read, and the electric bill was obvious by the return address, but did the mailman have to pay such close attention and make a comment? She smiled though, determined to be gracious.

Before she could say goodbye and close the door though, he said, "Mr. Devlin is back in town."

Pausing with her hand on the door, she said, "Oh?"

Knowing he had her interest now, he nodded, "Got back last night. I saw him at the Gazette this morning."

Apparently, there was no further gossip. Yet, she had no doubt that the mailman was thrilled to be the one to tell her Ben was back and would relay that and the fact that it appeared Jessica hadn't known, to her neighbors for the rest of the afternoon. She held back a sigh; once again, the Cabot Cove gossip mill was alive and well. Thanking him again, she closed the door.

Should she be perturbed that she and Ben were supposedly dating, and he had been home for at least twelve hours and not called her yet?

Yes, she was…but she wasn't exactly craving the conversation she knew she needed to have with him.

S/J

It was another day before she heard from Ben.

"Hi, Jessica. It's Ben. I'm back in town."

"Yes, I heard." She wasn't trying to be passive aggressive, but she supposed it could be interpreted that way.

"Well, I had to hit the ground running at the paper when I got back. I was gone too long but I'm still working on an exciting story."

"I see." She wasn't sure she did, but what was she supposed to say? What was expected? Should she ask about the story he was working on? It was doubtful he would be at liberty to tell her much, but she sensed he would want to be asked anyway.

Unaware of her uncertainty, he asked instead, "So, how about dinner tonight, Jess? I've missed you."

She considered how to respond. While she was focusing on her rewrites during the day, she did have plans for the evening. Only she didn't want to tell him what her plans were. Instead, she answered, "I really shouldn't go out tonight, Ben. But you could stop by for coffee if you'd like."

There was a pause, as though for the first time, Ben was sensing her hesitancy. She waited to see if he would question her, but instead, he sighed, saying, "Alright, Jess, you drive a hard bargain, but I suppose I could stop by for coffee. Five o'clock alright?"

She calculated. Seth had said he would stop by for a chess match tonight after his rounds at the hospital. She had been looking forward to spending time with him. As a friend. There wasn't anything between them, despite sometimes wishing there was. He had told her last night when he called that he had patients until five and then, rounds at the hospital. If Ben came at five and she told him she didn't want to see him anymore, she didn't think that would take too long.

Agreeing that she would see Ben then, she hung up. She wasn't sure how she would define their relationship. Yes, she had grudgingly understood that they were dating, but they had never discussed their status. Even though they had been dating for around six weeks, she didn't believe he was her boyfriend, the title sounding absurd at her age. She knew she didn't want to be his girlfriend. Regardless, whether they were breaking up or she was telling him that she didn't want to continue dating him anymore, she realized she had not had this type of conversation since she was in her early twenties. She wasn't sure what to even say to him. But she knew she needed to say something.

Ben Devlin was a nice enough man.

But he wasn't for Jessica.