Moonlight glittered across the forehead of the sleeping Jessie. Hardly peacefully. His face contorted as his legs kicked aimlessly at the covers. Groans and soft whimpers became louder as the dream rocked his mind and body. It was as if it were just yesterday....

"Get your lazy asses out of those bunks!"

Whips cracking, teenagers screaming out in pain. Dark hair hanging over one overly made up eye. The make up smudged beyond being messy into the realm of simple neglect as the user hadn't bathed in three days.

The acrid scent of the infirmary caused delicate nostrils to flare. Wide Amber eyes watching those older and more valuable than himself being kicked and thrown onto beds. Beds that promised rest, but delivered nothing but pain. Excrutiating pain.

"Stop!" His own voice, so far away. Was he really screaming? Bodies huddled together for warmth, comfort. Tears, rivers of tears and blood as the young adults clung to one another. Amber hues met watery blues of his best friend.

"Dove!" She was ripped from his arms. He'd promised that he'd take care of her, always. And suddenly she was gone. He could hear her screams. Hear her whimpers as the auctioneer intoned until the highest bidder pulled her, kicking and screaming, off of the stage. "Dovey!"

The punch thrown knocked Dove down and she was carried off by the unconscious buyer. Bright lights flashed and the scene shifted, changed. Suddenly he was in front of a crowd of people. His body bare, save for the diaper that they forced the boys to wear. He covered as best he could, shy, powerless in front of the money that was exchanging hands. Silent tears fell down his face.

Whips cracked too close. His body was laying on the bed, and he watched with an almost dispassionate gaze. Floating above the boy and the sadistic buyer. A frown on his face as he screamed at himself.

"Get up!"

Amber eyes flew open and he sat up screaming, "Get up!"

Jessie curled himself against Jacob's side and bit back the fearful tears that threatened to spill. He hated himself for being scared. Pulling from Jacob's strength, he squared his shoulders finally and sat up of his own accord. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to wake you."

"It's fine," the drowsiness still in his voice and this his eyebrows lowering like he was recalling something, "What's wrong?" but he was just recalling the jerk with which Jessie woke them up.

Jessie lay back down, the soft pillow cradling his head as the richly embroidered comforter was brought up to his chin. Amber eyes stared vacantly up at the tall posters on the end of the bed. "Same dream." He curled to his side, laying his head upon Jacob's thigh.

"What happened?" he reached down to finger comb Jessie's hair. His eyes were on the flat white ceiling, stretching fourteen feet overhead. His lips parted slightly and chin pointed up.

"Whips cracked, kids crying. Dovey crying and being taken away. My turn on the block. Then it was like I was watching what was going on, outside of my body." he sighed as Jacob's hand through his hair comforted him. "I just wish the dreams would stop."

"Soon, I hope," he sighed and his hand still as he talked to the ceiling, "Soon there will be a resolution to that. I hope when the affair is settled it will give you soul a peace and reassurance its always wanted," he looked down to Jessie, "for more than just sleeping soundly."

When Jacob looked down, Jessie looked up. He searched Jacob's green and blue stained glass eyes. "You are too good to me, Jacob. I don't know what I did to deserve what you give to me."

Jacob smiled at him and even his smile could soften the glass shards composing his gaze. Eyebrows ticked up just a little, "You don't want my money... my estate. You're not wanting me for bragging rights and you're not part of those circles of people that... seem to seethe corruption. I can... trust you."

That smile light a million candles of hope in Jessie's eyes. Reaching up, he gently curled his fingers into Jacob's soft hair and lifted himself to place a kiss onto the lips of his lover. "You've saved me, in so many ways, Jacob." Laying back down, he sighed softly. "Before you, I never knew that a man could be powerful and gentle. And I know that with you, my past will be laid to rest."

"Well, you didn't know that when you met me," he chuckled, one hand going behind his head and he smiled at Jessie. His hair was black and sometimes, felt too slippery. Like fine strings of stain, "It is hard when you're gay to be in a... committed relationship. It's easy to find someone who just wants to date around. You're rather different, in that respect."

"Love." he lifted his hand and pressed a finger to Jacob's lips. "When I met you, you were so full of life, larger than life. I had no choice but to fall in love with you." he smiled and lowered his hand to his chest. "And I don't care for that label, except it does describe how I feel with I look at you. I'm a very happy man and would never try to find another. I know a good thing when I've got it."

"I'm glad you think so," he said and then, like a hesitant insecurity digging up from underneath, "Do you think that the higher you are in regard that... the harder you fall?" and he looked at Jessie then, eyebrows knit, "That any disappointment you have for me will be intense because it is from me?"

Jessie couldn't help but laugh softly. "Jacob." His eyes were kind and gentle, even if a bit sleepy. "I could never be disappointed in you, love." He continued to run his fingers through Jacob's thick and slippery hair. "You've saved mine and Dove's lives. No matter what happens between us, I'll always love you."

"Oh, you will one day. I just hope I don't fall so hard that I can't get back up," Jacob know fights and disappointment were inevitable. He just wanted to know that they could survive it. His father use to tell him women were like pasta and he had to decide the kind he wanted. Ramen or handman chicken alfredo. One would come to him quickly, but be gone with little impact. The other would take longer and require greater work. Of course, this was before his father knew that the "she" would be a "he".

"Don't worry so." he moved his hand to Jacob's forehead to gently ease away any creases there. "Even if we do quarrel, that doesn't mean I don't love you." He smiled, it was so simple to him. With Jacob, he could be the child that was once was lost. He could return to thinking of things on a plain and simple level.

"You think so?" Or was this the way all lovers felt and talked? That literally laying there all that passed between them were promises and pillow talk. He wondered, absently, what Jessie could ever do to endanger his feelings for him. It was so hard to imagine him cheating on him, but he supposed that's how all shunned lovers felt until they saw the photos in an envelope. His arm around Jessie gave him a squeeze, "I hope you're right."

"I do think so." He nodded and snuggled in more tightly to Jacob, nearly laying across him and laying his head upon his shoulder. "I believe I'm right, Jacob. Because I believe in you." He lifted his head and gazed into those blue green shattered glass eyes. "What's happened to you that's made you so cynical to love?"

"My father, I suppose," he said with a small shrug of his shoulders, fingers lacing through his lover's hair, "I don't suppose you've wondered where my mother's gone?" Most men loved their mothers, regardless of whoever they were to them. Jacob had somehow missed entirely all mention of her.

He sighed softy, shaking his head. He never knew a father and his mother was so abusive that it had caused him to run away. "I didn't want to pry, love. But I'm willing to listen, anytime you need to talk." He loved the feel of Jacob's hand in his hair and he closed his eyes with a contented sigh.

He shrugged his shoulders, "Just what you father says, over and over. Relationships always felt like...contracts and that people made and broke them all the time. My father never made me feel that love was permanent. Not even his. My mother wasn't around to contradict it." It seemed between them that Jessie had a greater reason for not believing in love. Was it ironic that Jacob was the more strict on the concept?

"Your father is a fool." His eyes opened and his brow creased in a small frown. "He missed and is missing on what a wonderful person you are, Jacob." His arms circled Jacob's neck and he pulled himself into hug Jacob. "And you are, a very wonderful man."

"I suppose you can't call it missing if it wasn't something he required," he said with a sigh and then smiled down to Jessie, "I feel like a child who cries about a skinned knee to the child that lost a foot. I feel foolish." *

"Oh, Jacob, it's not foolish. He hurt you. Regardless if the pain is inflicted physically or emotionally, it's still pain." He increased his strength in that hug. "And emotional pain is a lot harder to get over, love."

"Yes, but it's amazing what... goes without notice to some people and leaves scars behind in others," he exhales and wrapped his arms around Jessie, shutting his eyes, "We should get some sleep. It's been ... some kind of insane week."

To everything, Jessie nodded, trying to hide the yawn that fought it's way to the surface. Burying his face in Jacob's neck, he tried to muffle the sound. A soft kiss was placed over the yawn spot and he lifted his head. "Jacob?" His voice was quiet and tiny, timid and frightened.

"Hmmm?" In the threshold carry of the sandman he hears a voice. He shifts to settle in deeper with the bed. Sleepy like that, a younger perhaps more idyllic Jacob was there.

"Please be safe." He finished, laying his head back upon Jacob's shoulder. He closed his eyes and listened to the steady and rhythmic beating of Jacob's heart and breathing. "Love you." Whispered to the wind as amber eyes closed. Safe and secure, he slept in Jacob's arms.

The mumble that rises from his chest said "I love you" in that sleepy language people had as they walked between awake and not-so awake. His hold on Jessie loosens as the dreams take him and he feels like nothing in the world could impose on the bubble universe that was his bedroom.

(scene rped between Jessie and Dove)

As the wind picked up and the torrential rain fell against the windows, Jessie started a fire in the fireplace of the large den. Walking over to the couch, he smiled at Dove. "Thanks for being here, Dove. I told Jacob I'd watch over the place and it doesn't seem as lonely with my best friend." He smiled and walked over to the couch, then flopped down onto it.

"You are joking, right?" Dove laughed from where she was curled up on the couch, poking her bare toes beneath his leg as he sat down. "This place is huge, you'd have got so bored here on your own. And besides, I miss my big bro sometimes, you know." She launched herself forward and hugged him warmly.

"Oh no!" He laughed as he was tackled back onto the couch. His arms went around her and he hugged her in return. "I've missed you too, Dovey. But I am so proud of you." He smiled genuinely and placed a brotherly kiss to the top of her head.

She grinned and squeezed him fondly before sitting back, reaching out for the glass of wine she'd practically had to beg to be allowed to have. She knew she wasn't the Dove he thought he knew anymore, but she couldn't remember that girl. This girl remembered him, and loved him like a brother, but she could look after herself, too. "You'll be even prouder when you hear what I've been doing."

When she got up, he used his hands and arms to lift himself up and cross his legs so that he sat Indian style on the couch. Picking up his own glass of wine, he sipped it slowly. A brow arch and he grinned as the wine was held between his hands. "What have you been up to, tell!"

She grinned at him over the rim of the glass, her nose scrunching up in almost child-like joy. "I might have been doing auditions around town," she offered mysteriously. "I might have been getting myself a job." She gasped in not all that feigned excitement. "D'you know, I might even be second fiddle in a string quintet!"

"Get out!" he bounced, excitedly on the couch. "Second fiddle is awesome, Dovey!" His smile was huge, pride shown in his eyes. "I knew you could do it. I just knew it. You can pick up any instrument and it's like you've played it all of your life." He reached forward to tap her knee. Just then the wind whistled loudly around the corner of the house and the rain no longer pitter pattered against the window, it fell in sheets.

She giggled cheerily around her mouthful of alcohol, glad she'd put the glass down when the change in the weather made her jump. Her head whipped around to look at the windows, the wet darkness outside. "Okay ... I'm guessing the weather doesn't usually do this in the places we've been, right?" she asked.

Jessie's amber eyes were wide as he stared at the windows. Slowly he shook his head. "No, it doesn't usually do this anywhere I've ever been." He picked up the wine and set it aside. "But, it'll be ok." He turned to her and nodded. "Right?"

"Well, yeah," she nodded slowly, studying the windows for a moment longer. "As long as the glass holds. But what have you been doing? I haven't seen you in, like, a week!" She bounced on the couch, as if she was aware that her comment wasn't the best to reassure him and distraction was her plan.

"Yeah, the glass will hold." He nodded, assured in the fact that Jacob had the house built to the toughest and most stringent specifications. "I've not been doing a lot, working and spending time with Jacob." He flushed softly and finally relaxed into the soft cushions of the couch. Crack! The candlelit room was brightly lighted by the flash of lightning and a boom of thunder shook the entire house.

Dove couldn't help it, she grinned wickedly. "Oooh, spending time with Jacob, huh?" she teased him. "Are you still snoring, or does he keep your mouth busy?" Even the crack of lightning wasn't enough to do more than make her jump as she giggled impishly at her friend.

"Shush!" he picked up a pillow and swung towards her playfully. "He's not complained of my snoring." His face lit up with a grin and his cheeks turned rosey red. The boom of thunder caused him to flinch and turn his head to look outside. "Man, that's some storm."

Laughing at his blushing reaction, Dove caught the pillow as it swung towards her, holding it on her lap as she looked towards the windows with him. "You know, it sort of reminds me of something me and Olivia used to do when we were little," she mused quietly. "When it was thundery, you know?" She sighed, smiling fondly. "Wow, I haven't thought of that in so long ..."

"Olivia?" He turned from looking out of the window over to her, curious. "Who is Olivia, and what did you two do?" He picked up his glass of wine and took a sip.

"Mmm?" She tore her gaze from the storm outside, meeting his with a gentle smile. "Olivia was my sister," she said quietly. Ever since her encounter with that unknown voice in the forest, Dove had been able to remember certain things without pain or upset, and one of those things was her family. But still, most of the rest of her pain was shrouded in mystery from her, to keep her mind from destroying itself. "There was this big floor-length bay door in our bedroom, and when it was thundery, we used to pull the quilts off our beds and make a little cave against the glass, all snuggled up warm with each other. She used to tell the worst ghost stories, just to make me scream." Dove laughed softly, remembering her sister with fondness.

Jessie listened, smiling fondly. "Let's do that, then. Let's build a fort." He put his wine to the side and got up off of the couch. "Come on. We can get some blankets and pillows from the cupboard." He held his hand out to her. "I don't know very good ghost stories, so maybe you can scare me with the ones Olivia told you."

To be honest, the thought of recapturing that childhood memory was very exciting for Dove, who did not remember how close she had been to her childhood in the years before now. She scrambled up off the couch with a wide grin. "I can't believe I never told you about Olivia," she exclaimed, bouncing around him like a big kid. "Where are the blankets and stuff? And we can get like finger food and stuff, make it a picnic!"

Her excitement spread to him and he laughed as he tugged her towards the linen closet. "It's over here. And we can eat marshmallows!" Those were his absolute favorite sweet treat. Her laughter was infectious and he nearly giggled as he pulled out two very thick and soft comforters and a handful of high thread count cotton sheets. "I'll start setting up the fort. You go grab some munchies from the kitchen." He pecked her cheek, then raced off into the den. The squeal of furniture being pushed and pulled, moved about could be heard.

Dove laughed outrageously, already skipping off towards the kitchen excitedly as he started to rearrange Jacob's home for their little bit of fun. Who would have thought two full grown adults could regress themselves this much for a children's game? In the kitchen, Dove filled her arms with pretzels and marshmallows and bottles of wine and, holding the corkscrew between her teeth, made her way back towards the den.

Jessie had arranged the sofa so that it's back was towards the windows, and the two over stuffed chairs were flanking it. One of the comforters was on the ground, on top of the plush carpeting and the rest of the linens were draped over the couch and chairs. He had to do some tucking and tying, but everything was in place when she got back into the den. He lay under the fort, hands on his chin, elbows to the ground, knees bent and crossed at the ankles as they swayed back and forth. "Hi."

Around the corkscrew in her teeth, Dove laughed. "Hi," she replied in a muffled tone. "Gimme hand, would ya?" Dropping to her knees, she let her burden roll and tumble into the fort with Jessie, pulling the contraption from her mouth and wiping it dry. "God, this is just like being a kid again!"

He gathered up the goodies as she dropped them and he scoot to the side to make room for her. Patting the comforter beside him, he laughed out loud. "Only better, we can drink now." Jessie had never known such happiness. Throwing his arms around Dove, he hugged her affectionately. "Making up for lost time."

"Bet you and Jacob wouldn't be making up for lost time in here," she teased, hugging her friend tightly. She couldn't imagine a life without him; they'd been friends for too long. Shuffling deep into the little fort, she braced a wine bottle between her knees and started to work the corkscrew into the cork. "How are you two?" she asked curiously. "I haven't seen him around for ages."

Jessie's grin grew at the mention of Jacob's name. The two people he could not live without were Jacob and Dove. "It's not all about making love." he gushed and sat up, watching her uncork the bottle. "We've been doing good. He's on a business trip. He takes lots of those." He nodded with a grand smile.

Her head tilted curiously. He should have realised by now, the new improved Dove was half so innocent as she presented. "If he takes so many business trips, why don't you come and see me so much?" she asked. "And why am I here now if he's away so often?"

"It's only been a week since I was at the apartment." He grabbed the bag of marshmallows and tore them open. "And he's going to be away for a while. Besides, is it wrong to want my little sister to stay over?" He made a goofy face, then popped a marshmallow into his mouth. The wind whistled and howled around the house. The intensity had grown over the past hour. And it was growing stronger, still.

She watched him with a fond smile, rolling her eyes at the face he made. She was trying to ignore the sounds of the wind, which were beginning to frighten her a little bit. Yanking the cork out of the bottle with a 'pop', she poured more than generous amounts into the glasses standing just outside their little fort. "What's Jacob doing, Jessie?" she asked softly, handing him his glass.

He moved closer to her, trying to block out the sound of the wind howling outside. "He's on a business trip." Jessie smiled and grabbed the glass of wine. Well, it was true. Suddenly the house groaned and Jessie looked up and around him.

Dove squeaked as the house groaned. "That's not good, is it?" she asked, small frame suddenly tense and worried as she looked out of their little soft fort into the gloom of the room beyond. "Are houses supposed to make that noise when it's windy?"

"Houses aren't supposed to make that sound at all." He put down the wine and took her hand. "I think we should get into the basement." He tried to sound calm, but his heart was trip hammering in his chest. He squeezed her hand, a little too tightly maybe. "Come on. We'll come back to the fort."

"The basement?" Dove blinked, shocked. Thunderstorms at home - that she remembered - didn't mean you had to go into the cellar. She winced a little at his squeeze, squeezing back, and gave him a little tug as she crawled out of the den.

Something deep inside of Jessie told him they didn't have time for a leisurely stroll towards the wine cellar. Her hand in his, his brain told him one thing: Run. And that he did. Flinging the door to the cellar open, he stepped aside. "Hurry, Dove!" The house groaned again and then SLAM BANG! The roof lifted up on the south side of the home and slammed back down, shattering the windows.

As the house groaned, Dove screamed, dropped Jessie's hand to duck down and cover her head with her arms. The noise was incredible, the shattered windows letting in the howl of the wind and the waterfall's rush of the rain, not to mention the deafening cracks of thunder and lightning. As the house settled once again, she scrambled up to her feet, waving her hands at Jessie. "Get down there, go, go!"

Instantly soaked from the onslaught of rain that poured into the house, Jessie had went to his knees as the house seemed to scream out in pain as the roof lifted and slammed back down. The tinkle of shattered glass was drowned out by the loud thunderclaps. "You, go, first!" He lifted to his knees and waved his hands right back at her. "Dove! Go!" He tried to urge her towards the cellar. "Go!"

Wet and shivering, Dove barrelled through the cellar door, turning her head to be sure Jessie was following her. Her bare foot caught on the top step, and she fell, tumbling down the steps head over heels to land flat on her back with a loud groan.

He was right behind her, the door slamming shut behind him. Turning, he reached for her hand and just barely missed. "Oh God!" Running down the steps, he knelt by her side and his hands trembled as he moved them over her. "Dovey, oh God, Dovey, tell me you're okay."

"Ow." She pushed herself up onto her elbows with a hissed wince. "I'm fine, Jessie, I just tripped, that's all," she assured him. "Bumps and bruises." Dove gave him a sweet smile. "Always was clumsy."

The sound of the wind was muted down in the climatically controlled room. He gently pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly. "Thank God you're okay." He sighed and rocked her, right there on that tiled floor. "We'll be safe down here." He looked up at the racks of bottles that surrounded them. A slow smile spread across his lips.

She cuddled into him, feeling as though thi was familiar somehow. A dark room, loud noises above and around them, him holding her close ... but she couldn't remember quite where it was familiar from. "Jessie? Is the house going to fly away?"

All too familiar and he couldn't help the trembling as the memories flooded back to him. "I don't know, Dovey, but I'll keep you safe. I promise. I promise. Nobody's going to hurt you. I won't let anybody or anything hurt you."

Her arms crept around him, and she hugged him tightly. "Nobody's going to hurt me, Jessie," she told him quietly. "We okay, we're safe." She squeezed gently. "Why are you trembling?"

Jessie was in the middle of a flash back. He simply squeezed Dove to his chest with one arm, waving the other towards the men that only existed in his mind. "Stay away from her!" he screamed, clutching Dove to his chest as best he could. "Leave her alone! Stop it! You'll hurt her!"

"Jessie!" Dove struggled out of his grip, hissing as she put weight on an ankle that appeared to be strained. She fought through the flailing of his arms, wrapping her own arms around his head to hug him close against her. "There's no one here! It's just us ... shhh ... We're fine, we're all fine ..." Above them, the house creaked and groaned under the force of the tempest outside, but here they were safe. She didn't know what was going on; she didn't remember anything clearly enough to be afraid of those memories any more.

When she yelled his name, Jessie's head snapped up and his arms fell limply to his sides. He stared into her face as his chest rose and fell rapidly. "Dove." he whispered, sensitive eyebrows creasing and curving into a relieved position. His arms went around her stomach and he held her tightly. More glass shattered over head, the house creaked and groaned as it was rocked on it's foundations. The flash back was over and Jessie was back in the here and now.

Her fingers combed through his hair as she rocked him gently back and forth, for once being allowed to play the big sister the way he'd never left her before. She rested her cheek against his hair, murmuring to him. "It's going to be all right, you'll see. And Jacob will come home and you can laugh when you tell him all about our adventure."

Aside from Jacob, Jessie never divulged what had happened to Dove and himself in those important transitional years from teen to young adult. When he looked up into Dove's eyes, he set his jaw, determined not to spoil or undo the miracle that had wiped her memory of the incidents. Forcing a smile, he nodded. "You're right. I'm just being silly." Pressing a kiss to her cheek, he then leaned back a bit. "There's plenty to drink." Soft, forced laugh. Boy did he need a drink.

She giggled softly, touching her nose to his gently. "You need to tell me sometime," she murmured fondly. "I don't think I'm ever going to remember it, even if you do." She released him for a moment, grabbing the nearest bottle and thumping down next to him. "I hope this is a screw top. I left the corkscrew up there."

He smiled genuinely when she touched his nose with her own, then curled his knees to his chest, hugging them there, when she moved away. "I like the way you are now, Dove. You're yourself. I'm afraid if I tell you, you'll go back to being scared all of the time." He shook his head. That was merely the tip of the iceberg, but it'd do for now. "Jacob doesn't keep screwtop wines." Chuckling softly, he gestured towards a drawer. "He collects corkscrews, too." Just then, a loud bang threatened to shatter the basement door. Jessie jumped and moved away to the furthest corner.

She couldn't help the shriek that came out of her mouth as the bang came, limping over towards that far corner as fast she could with another bottle in hand for when they ran out. "I won't be," she assured him, squeezing down into the corner beside him. "Seriously, I've tried so hard to remember so many things. Like when my parents and Olivia died ... I know they died, but I don't remember it. I don't even feel the sadness I should when I think about it. How is that normal?"

Jessie took her hand and gently squeezed it as she sat beside him. His arm went around her and they huddled together in the corner. "I don't know when your parents and sister died." He sighed and leaned against her. "But you were tricked by a man who promised such nice things. A home, siblings to love you. Parents that would love you and be there for you." He sighed, closing his eyes, remembering the lies that were told to him. How eager he was to believe. How stupid he was to believe. The axiom held true; if it sounds too good to be true, it was too good to be true.

"My uncle," she murmured, nodding slowly. "I remember he came to live with me, as my guardian. But there are fuzzy bits, especially when I got over sixteen. And then I remember leaving home with a stranger, and after that ... it's just really hazy, Jess. Everything but the bits with you are really difficult to remember." She cuddled in; if it helped him to protect and look after her, it wasn't such a hardship.

As the storm tore the house above them to pieces, they sat huddled together in the corner of the basement. Jessie was grateful for the darkness; it hid his tears. "They made us, do things." He whispered, clutching her even more closely. "Auctions, where we were on the block. Dove, they sold us. Night after night. And the people who bought us were not good people."

As he spoke, in the back of Dove's mind there was a soft voice singing, the same voice that came with every moment she tried to remember these things for herself. Someone was keeping her sane and safe, keeping those memories from her grasp, and she was grateful for it. She just wished the same could be done for Jessie. She hugged his arms around her. "Go on," she whispered softly. "Talk to me."

Jessie was loathe to tell her exact details. There were so many physically and emotionally painful moments. He rocked gently and was encouraged by her words to continue. "They kept us shackled until we were bought. Then the buyers took us into their rooms. Tony used to say they were getting a great deal on the rooms. They were free with our purchase." He frowned darkly, shivering. "Then they.. they.. oh God." He buried his face in his hands. "It hurt, oh, it hurt. Dovey. They beat us and raped us and left us bloody and scared. And the next day, it was all the same. Over and over and over."

Her big blue eyes filled with tears as she listened, so grateful she could not recall any of this, wishing that her dearest friend could have his memory changed the way hers had been. The storm outside was forgotten as they sat together. She knelt up, pulling him close once again and rocked him gently. "It's over, Jelly-bean," she whispered to him warmly. "They don't have us. You've got Jacob, and he won't let anything happen to you. I won't let anything happen to you, I promise."

Jessie was comforted by her assurances, her arms around him and the sound of her heart beating within her chest. For what felt like hours, he sat in silence, listening to the storm blow around them. Finally, he lifted his head and smiled. "I love you, Dovey. Thank you for taking care of me."

"It's about time, don't you think?" She smiled down at him, kissing his forehead as she settled beside him once again, turning her attention to her swollen ankle. "Are you going to open that bottle or not? I need a drink." Her grin was wide and cheerful, and if this had been the Dove he'd known for years, he would have noticed the easy transition from sad to normal. But they were still getting used to her being this way, so perhaps he did not, and she would be glad of that. The tears would be shed later, for the pain he felt even in remembering those awful months.

He knew that smile for what it was, and he was grateful that she was strong enough to push the tears back; it was for his benefit. "Yeah, let's get this thing open." He rose up then, the muscles in his legs screaming from being in that cramped position for so long. "I think the storm's blown it's course. It's quiet now." Limping over to the drawer, he opened it up and pulled out a fancy corkscrew with handles. When he returned to her side, he sat back down and proceeded to open up the bottle, easily. "Dove, Jacob's gone to get those men that did those things to us."

She glanced towards the ceiling as he spoke, listening for the wind. "You're right. For now, at least." But it wasn't that storm she was talking about, and he knew it. "I hope Jacob is careful," she murmured. "If they're truly so awful as all that, they could do the same thing to him." Her hand closed over Jessie's firmly. "And then I'll have to go superhero, because you're not losing him."

He looked down at her hand, then up into her eyes. She had spoken his worst fear. That Jacob would be harmed and possibly forced into the same terror filled existence that they'd escaped. "We'll do it together, Dovey. We got away from them once, and if they get Jacob, we'll help him to do it too. But I don't think they'll want Jacob." he sighed and brought the expensive bottle of wine to his lips and took a hefty pull before holding it out for her. "They wanted kids. Teenagers that they could pretend were innocent virgins. We were innocent, but they stole all of that away."

"Well, they won't want us anymore, then, will they?" she pointed out, taking the bottle and tipping it up to take a healthy swig. It was interesting to note that Dove seemed completely unaware of how young and innocent she did look, thinking herself just like everyone else. "If they get Jacob, we'll bash their heads in until they give him back."

"No, I suppose they wouldn't." he sighed, remembering running from place to place to keep them safe. They had been chased for a long time. He turned his head and gave a half smile, Dove was exactly the kind of kid they were looking for. "If they so much as harm a hair on his arm, I'll kill them." He spoke quietly and calmly. It wasn't an exaggeration.

Big blue eyes fixed on his firmly, without a trace of humour or brevity at all. Dove was completely serious as she squeezed his hand. "We'll kill them," she corrected him gently.

Jessie's smile widened as he took the bottle of wine from her. Another long pull and then he's sighing softly as the bottle was brought back down. "He's out there, right now. Doing this for us, for all of the other kids they've hurt. For all of the ones that they're going to try to hurt. I love him so much, Dovey. He's such a great man."

"Of course he is, he's your man," she smiled, wrapping her arm around his shoulders. "And he's coming back, Jessie. I promise you, he's going to come back and you'll get married and adopt hundreds of kids and I'll teach them all to play a different instrument and we can start our own orchestra with them."

He hugged her tightly and laughed at her visions of their future. They were so bright and happy, love filled dreams. "Aunty Dovey will teach them to be sweet and kind, Daddy Jacob can teach them to be smart and charming. I'll teach them to soup up an engine." He smiled again and leaned back. "We should go see how bad the house is."

She cuddled him affectionately, smiling when he laughed. Jessie didn't laugh genuinely nearly enough in her opinion. Then he mentioned the house, and she groaned. "Do we have to? It'll be all messy and I'll try and tidy it," she pointed out.

"Then we'll tidy it up together." He gently squeezed her hands and got to his feet. Giving her hands a tug, he was back to regular old Jessie. The smile in place, mask slid over the pain that he kept hidden inside. "Come on then."

"I'm coming, I'm coming," she grumbled, hiding her own upset at seeing the mask slide into place again. Her hands slapped into his and she pulled herself upright, hopping to keep off her sprained ankle.

Guilt washed over him as he watched her hobble. "Oh no you don't." He turned back to her, arms folded over his chest. "You're going to sit right back down there and I'll bring you some pillows to put your foot up. We'll take you to the clinic in the morning."

She crossed her own arms over her chest in mimicry of him. "Then you're going to sit down here with me, or I'll crawl up those stairs and come find you," she threatened.

"No you won't. Now you sit down there and I'll be right back. I'll bring you some marshmallows and pretzels." He smiled and turned. His long legs carried him quickly across the room and the steps were taken two at a time. It took three tries, with his shoulder to the door, to push it open.

Of course, Dove wasn't as biddable now as she had been when she was crazy. So as soon as Jessie was halfway up the stairs, she hobbled over to the foot of the steps and started to hop up them, one at a time.

He got the door pushed open and peeked his head around to view the damages. Amber eyes went wide as he stepped over debris and into the kitchen area. The floor was flooded with water that reached his ankles. As he moved, his mouth held open in awe as he viewed, first hand, the power of mother nature at her angriest. Looking up, he could see what was left of the clouds and the starlit night. "Oh God."

The water dripped down into the cellar, making the steps a little too slippery for comfort, but Dove persevered. She got to the top, leaning against the walls as she shuffled along, eyes and mouth wide open in shock at the devastation that was the house. "Jessie ... the house flew away."

As Jessie slowly sloshed through what was left of the kitchen, he slowly turned and stared at Dove in horror. "Jacob's house. I was supposed to take care of it." He took a deep breath and swallowed hard. "Jacob's house." He turned and stepped over boards that had fallen from the roof. "God, I need to call Jacob." He made his way out of the kitchen and into the hall. Walls were ripped down to the studs and the studs that remained standing were splintered at the top where they'd been broken like match sticks. "God. I'm going to be sick."

"Jessie ... Jessie, come back ..." Dove hobbled after him as best she could, but she was at a definite disadvantage. "Jessie, Jacob won't care about the damn house," she called after him. "He'll only care that you're safe and you didn't get hurt. Jessie ...calm down!"

Jessie turned, both hands holding onto the studs as his stomach emptied itself of the alcohol and sweets that he'd ingested. He dropped to his knees with the force of it. Finally, sitting back, he ran his hands up his face and into his hair. "He's been nothing but kind to me. Risks his life for me." Turning his eyes onto Dove, he sighed. "Why does God punish good people?"

Jacob had just gotten out of the shower and was preparing for his night out with the young Gio. He was hoping that as the evening progressed the boy would take him to Tony to negotiate prices and values. Through that he would build a foundation with which to negotiate for Jessie.

His phone lit up and when he answered it he thought it was Gio calling. His voice was nonchalant and distracted as he pulled on his socks, "Yea?"

Jessie's eagerness to here Jacob deflated at his tone. He tucked his knees in closer to his chest and spoke softly into the receiver, "Jacob? It's me... Jessie."

"Jessie?" he smiled broadly and pulled up his pants, phone pinched between shoulder and cheek, "Hey love. Sorry, I was expecting someone else. I have good news, but don't get too excited. I think I've found him."

"You do?" his breath was baited, held in his chest and then he sighed in relief, "That's incredible. I miss you." Then the phone went quiet and he said with low tones, "There was a terrible storm while you were gone, Jacob."

"So?"

"The house, everything, it's all gone. Well, except for the wine in the cellar where Dove and I hid. Oh god Jacob I'm so sorry. I know you trusted me to take care of your house and I did the best I could. I'm sorry." He hugged his knees tighter to his chest and tried not to let tears break from his eyes.

"Jessie..." he was trying to keep his tone even and then he said as carefully as he could, "I had three Pollock piece in that house that I already sold and was suppose to have delivered to him Monday. I've already accepted money for the works and now they are gone and that money has already been spent." The line went quiet again and he was slumped against the hotel wall, trying to figure out what he could do about the situation. It was the worst, most unforeseen thing he could think of happening.

Jessie listened as Jacob explained what was going on. He bucked up and nodded slowly. "I'll look for them, Jacob. I'll do my best, I promise." He closed his eyes and could see Jacob's face, smiling behind his lids. "So how's it going out there?"

"Jessie," he sounded the way someone does when they're explaining the foundation of something they have known well and for a long time, "they're damaged. If my walls aren't standing they're not going to be there. It's just some boards fitted together, no nails, and cloth. Even if one did make it it would be so depreciated in value because," he stopped there and realized he was going into his work too much and took a breath, "It'll be fine, it'll be fine. I'll think of something and this will work out. What about Phillip and the others?"

"Phillip's fine. He wasn't there when it happened." He sighed softly, but his mind was set. He was going to leave just as soon as they got off of the phone. He also noticed that Jacob hadn't answered his question and that caused him to worry even more. But, he kept his cool and simply went along with the conversation. "Dove was here, but we hid in the cellar. None of your wine was damaged; but we drank some."

"Well, there's that at least." Perhaps Jacob should have been more upset over the loss of his home. Truth was he had insurance and even if he didn't, dear old dad wouldn't stand for him to be walled up in a small cottage. A good bit of where he lived dealt with looking the part. Too much money and the value of items seemed to drift away. They were disposable and easily replaced. "Dove was there? She didn't... you know." He was wondering if the storm would give her an episode.

"No, but I think I did." He whispered into the phone, afraid to admit to Jacob that he'd not had as easy a time as Dove had. "But it's okay," he reassured quickly. "I'm not going to have three personalities when you get back." Small laugh and he hoped it was convincing. "Love, how is it out there? Have you found out anything yet?"

"You did?" He sounded surprised. Perhaps it was because his experience with Jessie havign episodes reached only as far as semi-violent nightmares. The reassurance made him hesitate to ask him further on it and the joke helped him give a dry laugh. When he asked him again what was going on he shrugged, even if Jessie couldn't see it, "Have a real possible lead out here I think. Don't...get your hopes up or anything. I just have a feeling."

Jessie's eyes closed and he breathed out what he'd been holding in his lungs. "Just be careful, Jacob. Please come back to me." He plead, whispering into the phone.

"I will, I will. We always have this conversation," he warned him. Right now he didn't want Jessie's worry to infect his demeanor. He wanted to meet up with the other with a suave and untroubled demeanor. One that would give little indication of underlying intent. "I need you to do a favor for me, though."

"I know, I'm sorry, love." he took a deep breath and tried to control his breathing and the trembling that threatened to knock the phone from his ear. "What do you need me to do? Name it and it'll be done."

"I want you to give Phillip this code number. Do you have a pen and paper handy?" he waited for Jessie to get himself situated before he continued, "It's 2...3...9...9...1. Yeah, that's a five digit pen. It's my security password. I need Phillip to go to the bank and get a book of checks that are registered under my name. He'll need the code. Then I need him to contact my father and inform him of my living situation. Phillip will take care of paying the necessary parties."

Jessie scrambled for something to write with and on and took down the number. "Two, three, nine, nine, one." He repeated it back to Jacob. "Ok, love. I'll give it to him when I see him. Do you have his phone number? I could give him a call, if you want." He stared at the paper for a few long moments. He wondered what else was in the locked box.

"I don't have it on this phone. I had to get my number put to this travel phone and the numbers didn't transfer over. I didn't think to write down Phillip's. What you could do though," he sat on the edge of his hotel bed, "You could look him up in the phone book. His last name is Persy."

"Phillip Persy?" Jessie couldn't hold back the soft laugh at that name. "That's kind of funny." He pulled his knees back up to his chest and lay the phone across them, his head to the side, ear to the speaker. "An adjuster came by, said that I had to have power of attorney to get the house fixed."

"I know, right?" Jacob chuckled and then let out a sigh and a shrug, "If the house is off that poorly, I made have it be built differently all together. I could use some change, you know? Oh man, I bet the pool is nasty."

Hearing Jacob laugh was the balm to his soul that Jessie needed. His smile returned, and he even laughed a bit more. "The house is bad, love. The pool is full of dirt and debris from the house and the trees. And Jacob?" He sighed softly. "Our hammock is gone."

"The hammock is gone? That's just tragic," he seemed more involved with the loss of the hammock than with the loss of a house. The exhale, "I suppose we could get another, but I just don't replace my loved ones. I'm sure something else will come along."

"It is tragic, but we can get a new one, love. And we can make new memories in it." He smiled, happy that Jacob wasn't overly upset over the house. "I love you, Jacob."

Jacob was far more upset over the lost paintings. The last thing he needed was to damage the faith of his clientele. He wondered if they would even believe his reasoning. Well, he supposed that they must considering that there would be no door for the messenger to knock on. He heard a knock on his door and when it opened his bodyguard stood there and tapped his watch to tell Jacob it was time to go, "I love you too Jessie. I need to get going, thought. Can I talk to you tomorrow night?"

"I'll be waiting by the phone, love. Good luck!" He was going to find those paintings if it killed him. "And Jacob, do be careful. I know you keep telling me not to worry, but I can't help it."

"Well you'll get me to worryin'," he said with a tone that shook its head. His bodyguard was still holding his door propped open and he got to his feet, "Just keep yourself busy with Phillip and try to get my affairs in order down there. It'll be good to come home to something that's not a huge headache to deal with. "

"Of course, I'm sorry." He nodded and sighed softly. "We'll take care of things on this end. When you come home, we're taking a vacation. Just you and me and no more headaches. Okay, love?"

"I couldn't agree more. Goodnight, love," he waited to hear Jessie echo it back. By now he had walked out of his hotel room and to the elevator with his bodyguard. The buttons were lit up and a soft bell sounded everytime the elevator cleared a floor.

"Good night, love." He whispered into the phone before lifting his head and picking up the phone to close it. "Love you." he whispered and kissed the phone before setting it aside.

As it turned out, Jacob had fallen asleep before Jessie could expound on what was weighing heavily on his mind and shoulders. Jessie had remained at Jacob's side throughout the night, and finally fell, lulled to sleep by Jacob's deep breathing.

Jacob woke up late, not just from the time change, mostly the flight. At first he felt as though he were sore from a hard day's work and rolled over onto his back. A deep breath in to stretch his chest and his wrists cross over one another in the air as he arches his back and yawns. His hand rubs at his eye and he blinked, startled at first and forgetting he was at Jessie's

Jessie had let Jacob sleep. Waking early, he had fixed a breakfast and even squeezed some orange juice. He heard Jacob stir and carried the tray into the bedroom. "Good morning, handsome." He smiled, almost shyly, as he walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "I hope you like French toast."

He's just realized that Jessie was gone when the man appeared in the doorway. A slight, relaxed smile and the reason for his return washed away. He sat up, hogging all the pillows as he stacked them behind him so that he could properly prop himself up. He folded his arms across his chest, feeling the fresh air out from under the blankets was cold, "Yea, French toast sounds good." Voice a morning has and a sleepy smile.

Once Jacob had situated himself, Jessie placed the tray over his legs. "I missed your smile." He spoke quietly and leaned in for a kiss to Jacob's cheek. "Eat up, then we'll talk, ok?"

"It's here. Just wakin up," and he kissed Jessie on the cheek carefully, a bit wary of ruining the moment with morning breath. Fingercombed his hair into better order before taking up knife and fork to work on the food prepared, "Thanks a lot. It looks great." The first bite gets chewed up and killed with a swallow.

Jessie sat back and watched as Jacob ate his breakfast. His hand rested on Jacob's thigh and he smiled as bravely as he could. He was certain after Jacob heard all that had transpired in his absence, it'd be their last meal together.

It was a bit odd to sit there, eating as Jessie watched him. It felt like Jessie was waiting to pounce on him. When he finished he folded his napkin and set it on the tray and then set that tray upon the floor. He rubbed his hands together, they were a little sticky. His eyes, sharp sewn-together pieces of color, could pierce when asking a question.

Jessie held out a wet nap. "Please, don't look at me like that." He turned his head to stare down at the comforter and it's flowery designs. "It's just been so hard with you gone."

"So I've heard." he cleared his throat, eyebrows lowered, "But it is important for you to be a somewhat independent person. I can't... promise you I'll be here forever. Not saying I want to leave but I can't control when I die or what the outside world can do." This was not the point of why they were talking. Jessie hadn't breached it yet and he was waiting for the conversation to lull into it.

"Jacob." he turned his face towards him and sighed. "I didn't want you to come home so soon. I know you had that lead. I didn't mean to worry you. I am independent, Jacob. It's just that Dove was worried."

"Why was she so worried?" he ventured, still so pressed with the want to know that the instinct to be reassuring and warm was lost on him. He hated it when he did that, his father was like that. Rather calculating and seemingly indifferent during his confessions.

Again, Jessie turned his face away and sighed. "I've just been having trouble lately. Flashbacks to that place." He looked up and a tear rolled down his cheek. "I killed a girl there, Jacob."

"What? Why?" not a hostile tone, but his eyebrows knit when the news hit him like an understanding and not just as noise. Arms tucked in tighter to his chest like it had just gotten more cold.

"The man who bought her, he was mean. So mean. And he hurt her. She bit him, Jacob. She was only defending herself. And I tried to hide her from Tony, but she wouldn't stop sobbing. So I hugged her and hugged her to make her quiet." He drew in a deep breath, trying so hard to keep it together. "And she stopped crying. Stopped breathing."

"Jessie," like a father that scolds a child and looking half horrified and half disappointed. He could forget at times what that environment was like and felt that he shouldn't be forgiving, that what was done deserved to be a shunned action. How could any competent man do that? He wanted to reassure Jessie, but he wasn't sure he could bring himself to do that just yet. Still, though, this news did not tell him why he had returned.

Jessie hiccupped and nodded slowly. "Dove says that she was injured before so badly that she just died in my arms from that injury. That I did her a favor by holding her and not letting her die alone." He had been twisting his hands together and staring at them. Then those amber hues turned onto Jacob, pleading and full of hope. "Do you think that's true, Jacob?"

"So what is it, Jessie?" he sighed and his arms uncrossed from his chest, "Did she die of wounds and you held her, or did you hold her such that she died?" He was feeling like the story being passed onto him was changing its colors and he was unsure what to feeel about it.

"I don't know." His voice was a raspy whisper. "For so long, I believed that I killed her. And it's been eating me up inside. But what Dove says makes sense. She was so beaten and bruised." He shook his head and covered his face with his hands. "I don't know, Jacob. I just don't know."

"You don't know?" Jacob's father was there in him sometimes. That was what his old man would have said, again. Why was it he defaulted to his father at times like this? He smiled to soften the stern method of expression that had taken his face. Jessie was so very close to tears and he didn't want the discussion to become that. To drive Jessie away by making him feel guilty and blamed.

"Tell me that I didn't let her die alone. That she was already dying." He begged Jacob. He needed to hear, so desperately, that he hadn't harmed somebody he was trying to protect. "Please tell me the marks on my back weren't deserved."

"Jessie... I don't know..." his palms opened up to the ceiling, not God, and his mouth staying open after he spoke. Palms down on his knees, the forward lean in bed, "But I think you know the answer. I think if you let that anxiety calm down and the debris settle that... you'll know." and another outbreath left him, "and decide not based on guilt but on... what was there."

It wasn't exactly what he had wanted to hear, but in his heart of hearts, Jessie knew that Jacob was right. He hung his head like a dejected child. "I'll clear the tray and do the dishes." He stood and then stooped to pick the tray from the floor. "I have to think." He gave a watery eyed smile to Jacob before turning to walk into the kitchen.

"Yea," and he rolled over on his side, part of the sheets gone cool in his absense and pressed his ribs to them. His gaze smoothed down over the edge of the bed tot he nightstand where the clock looked at him with an uninterested face. The ticking soft and feeling far, far away. Jesus. It was like peeling back the layers of a rotten onion with Jessie sometimes. He just wanted to get to the good core and wondered if there would always be something black underneath needing to be peeled away.

As Jessie stood at the sink to wash the dishes, he kept hoping to hear the bedroom door creak open, foot steps behind him and Jacob's arms around him. But as the last of the dishes were rinsed and set into the rack to dry, he faced the realization that it wasn't going to happen. Wiping his hands on a towel, he squared his shoulders and returned to the bedroom. Standing at the door, he watched as Jacob lay in the bed.

He had changed some since Jessie's return. Slid his pants on and sat shirtless at the edge of the bed with his hands folded together. His gaze moving to the sound of the door, him, when he returned to it. Eyebrows arched up and without a word he asked Jessie about his thoughts. It was as though he were already expecting there to be a resolution.

"In my heart," his eyes filled with tears and his voice shook. "I know I did not kill her, Jacob. I could never do that." He stood there, feeling fragile and vulnerable. "I couldn't, love. I couldn't."

"Then why do you torture yourself so much about these things? Do you feel like you're responsible for everything? Does that even make sense?" He didn't look at him, just at the coffee swirl work of the floorboards.

The question startled Jessie out of the poor pitiful stage into one of anger. "Of course I'm responsible, Jacob. I was older, stronger. I tried to help them. They looked to me with hope and I was powerless to do anything. Do you know how frustrating that is?" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, I did not mean to yell."

"So you have this...illusion of control even though you were a beaten slave?" his emphasis on the word like a hammer that meant to drive the stake home. That Jacob didn't know how many years he could handle of Jessie broken and weeping for all he was responsible for, though the real responsiblity of it was near nothing.

"It's all I had." His chin dropped to his chest and he sighed softly. "It's all any of us had." Walking over, he stood before Jacob. "I'm sorry I dragged you into all of this. If you leave, I'll understand. I won't be happy about it, but I'll understand. I'm just too complicated, filled with too much luggage for anybody to have to put up with."

"I just don't get it though," he looked at Jessie and shook his head, "half of your luggage, your nightmares, is over stuff you didn't really have control over. I wish you could drop the impression that you were in control, you know? It's just hard for me to relate and I don't mean to sound like I'm mad," he wasn't mad, just exhausted and it was only the morning. He forged his smile ahead, "I want to believe that your complicated background is due to circumstance and not of your own doing."

He reached out, head canted to the side, and gently caressed Jacob's cheek. "I'd never do the things they forced me to do. Not of my own accord." He sighed softly and let his hand fall to his side. "Do you believe me, Jacob? Trust me?"

"I believe that Jessie. I just... can't handle you feeling responsible and sour about everything that happened to you and your friends. There is a point at which you have to recognize you weren't in control, you know?" His brows go up with the question. His hair looked messy like they had been fighting all day.

Jessie sunk down onto the bed, beside him. "I know that it wasn't my fault, the things that were done to us. And I was a fool to promise any of them that I'd get them out, that I'd keep them safe. But Jacob, that's all any of us had to hold onto. That somebody out there cares. That somebody out there is going to make things better." He searched Jacob's green blue eyes. "And I did promise, Jacob. I find comfort in that I was able to deliver that promise, to at least Dove. And now you're helping to deliver upon that promise to the others."

"No, you should have promised them that even if you had known," he said, and this was perhaps the first softness to really come about him, "people need hope, even if it's a lie sometimes it spawns into a reality. But without that hope, what would their final days have been like? Darker than Hell." and he looked away to an empty place on the wall. "But you took it to be reality, that you could supply everyone a realized hope and that would be the end of it. Now knowing that you still torture yourself and that... it has to stop."

Jessie sat there quietly, staring at the burnished hardwood floor. Remaining silent and still, he ingested what Jacob had to say. He turned then, and reached up to gently guide Jacob's face so that their eyes met. "With you, it stops." He gazed into those eyes before leaning forward to give him a soft kiss. "Because you are creating that reality."

It was always early in the morning when he left. It was something he unintentionally planned. By the time he arrived it would be mid afternoon and still some of the valuable day left to work with. He had already put his bags in the trunk of Jessie's car and climbed into the passanger seat. Jacob wasn't a smoker but this morning he had a cigarette with the window cracked. He had hardly tugged on it at all and seemed more content to watch ash build up and flick it than actually smoke. "My flight is at eight so we need to be there at six thirty so... we should get there with some wiggle room, no problem."

Jessie sat in the car, waiting for it to warm up when the trunk slammed shut and Jacob slid into the seat beside him a few moments later. He, too, watched the cigarette burn. He listened to Jacob intently and smiled a warm, but sad smile. "Then let's go. The sooner you're gone, the sooner you're back." Shifting the car into gear, his foot to the accelerator and they were in motion. Jessie shifted his weight from one side to the other, still a little sore. But the soreness was a pleasant reminder of the love they shared. Reaching out, he took Jacob's hand in his own. "And I promise, no more tantrums. I'll be alright."

He was so lost in thought that when Jessie took up his hand he was almost startled. His head jerked in his direction and, realizing what was going on better, he smiled in a slightly sheepish way. Eyebrows arched up and he nodded at him, his hand gently giving Jessie's a squeeze, "It's okay if you do, you know. I don't want you to feel like... you can't just be yourself."

He smiled amiably at Jacob's reply and drove in silence for a long while. When he pulled into the airport parking lot, he found a close parking spot and pulled into it with a trained ease. "Jacob, are you religious?" He turned to look at his lover with a questioning smile. His hand went into his pocket and he pulled out a rosary. It was jet black and swung from his fingertips. Holding it out, he smiled again. "I thought you might be able to use this."

"Not especially." The last time he was in church he was twelve and it was the final time his father would put up the good fight to convince him to go. It wasn't that he was an atheist child but that church didn't have an impact on him. It was cheap babysitting or worse, it was punishment. The idea of it ever being worship was far off in the distance. Though, now there is a rosary and he wasn't sure what to say, only smile and know that many felt these items contained a certain level of luck to them, "Thank you. I hadn't realized that you were religious."

"I'm not, really." he continued to hold the rosary out to Jacob. "But I figure we can use all of the luck we can get." With a soft smile, he pressed the rosary into Jacob's hand. "Now, let's get your bags. It'll be expensive, but they have restaurants inside, don't they?" His hands closed around Jacobs and gripped gently, bringing his hand up to his lips to kiss it softly.

He gently took it from Jessie and looped it around his wrist several times. When Jessie asked about the food he nodded, "Yea, but it's past the terminal and they won't let you through without a ticket anymore." He rolled his eyes, not even bothering to vent about airport frustrations. Then he smiled at the kiss and leaned in to make the actual contact between them, "You call me for anything, okay?"

"Oh." he nodded with understanding about airport security. When Jacob scoot closer, so did Jessie. His hands left Jacob's hand and his arms encircled Jacob's neck. "Be careful, and come home to me." He whispered softly before kissing Jacob's cheek. "I'll miss you."

"I know I'll miss you," another kiss and he nodded to Jessie. A deep breath in like he's putting on his armor and he opened the door and stepped out into the cool air. He walked around to the trunk, waited for Jessie to pop it and then took up his bag.

Jessie opened up his own door and popped the trunk. Stepping around to the back of the car, he helped Jacob to retrieve his bags. "I guess this is it." He tried to smile. Placing the bag onto the snowy ground, he reached for and embraced Jacob tightly about his neck and shoulders, "Love you, Jacob." Whispered hoarsely, as the tears were being fought, once again. He had made a promise to himself and those tears remained firmly behind his eyelids.

"Hold down the fort while I'm gone, okay?" he smiled at him and when he saw Jessie's eyes were swimming it softened him. Jessie had that effect on him. Made him feel more closely connected to emotions. He kissed him, one hand cupping his cheek, "You'll do great."

"I will." He promised solemnly and closed his eyes to the kiss. With the encouragement from Jacob still echoing in his ears, he stepped out of the embrace. "You will too, Jacob. I know you will." He did smile then, even if it were a bit wan. "I'll take care of the paintings and whip those lazy construction workers into shape. If you're not home by Christmas, Call me?" His hand reached up and he pinched the lapel of Jacob's jacket between his fingers.

"Of course I'll call you. I hope to be home for Christmas," But Jacob couldn't predict what would happen in New York, or how. He just started for the sliding doors of the airport, stopping to wave to Jessie one more time before going. As he started onward he saw two teenage girls gawking at Jessie, who was completely unaware of them. It caused a deep, amused grin to spread his lips.

He merely nodded and stood with his hands deep into his jacket pockets as Jacob walked away. His lip quivered and his eyes swam, once again. The giggling girls were barely noticed in his blurry gaze. When Jacob turned, he waved with as brave a smile as he could muster. Then Jacob was gone, swallowed by those sliding glass doors. He glanced to the side to see the girls gawking and giggling behind their hands. Color rose in his cheeks and he couldn't help but laugh with a dip of his head. He slammed the trunk shut and got back into the car. He pulled a second rosary out of his pocket and hung it around the rear view mirror. It matched Jacob's etching for etching. He pulled the car out and began to drive home. It'd be a long week or so and with the taste of Jacob's kiss still warm on his lips, he knew that things would be okay.

Gio sat, sandwiched between Jacob and the body guard. The plane ride had been exciting and Gio hadn't slept a wink on the plane. The car ride through the quaint and quiet countryside bored him with the miles upon miles of uninterrupted snow covered fields. As he grew drowsy, he leaned against Jacob and wiggled his body to garner more warmth and comfort from Jacob's solid side. A sigh of contentment, he laid his head on Jacob's shoulder with a smile as his lashes lay dark on his curved cheek. One hand came to rest on Jacob's thigh.

Jacob slept through the plane ride like a thick slumber had unrolled on him. He woke up with a jolt when the plane landed and his eyes spun around in his head until, looking at Cameron, he realized that they had landed. A sleepy smile and after exiting the plane he dodged into the car with them. The miles, the mysterious miles unraveled in smoke and mirrors and somehow, Rhydin let them back in. Inexplicably. He felt a warm hand on his thigh and though he had been patient with Gio's puppy dog affections, the latter one was unwelcomed. He lifted up his hand by the wrist and moved it away from him.

The driver said, "We've arrived, Sir," and Jacob tipped his head at him.

When his hand was lifted, Gio raised his head and gave Jacob a curious look. Tony had said that Jacob had wanted to be his lover. The look didn't last long as the driver spoke. Gio turned his head to gaze out at the apartment building they'd pulled up in front of. Sitting back, he brought his hands up to his face to rub his tired eyes. So many disillusionments, the apartment building another one. "Where are we?" His voice was soft, resigned. He didn't know what Jacob wanted with him, or why he was even here; wherever here was. Bringing his hands down, he dared a glance at Jacob. He didn't understand anything, not at all.

"Gio, stay in the car with Cameron, please." He instructed with a slight motion of his hand and then climbed out of the leather car seat. Once out he adjusted grey coat, recalling only now how cold it had gotten because of the weather. He trudged his way to Jesse's door, knocking his bone knuckles on it.

"Yes, sir." Gio nodded and waited until the door was closed before leaning over and watching, out of the window.

The apartment was decorated festively for the Christmas holiday. A small tree sat with its blinking lights and garland in front of the window and there were little figurines set up around the living room. Jessie padded his way across the living room, glad to hear something other than Dove and Ben's moans from their shared room. He wore a pair of jeans and a thick, cable-knit sweater, but bare feet. Running his hand through his hair, he opened the door. Seeing who was standing there, his eyes went wide with delighted shock and immediately he threw himself at Jacob, arms tight around his neck and before a "hello" could even be said, he kissed him, thoroughly.

It was like there were weeks covered with heavy grey clouds and finally, thank God, some light had come through. Some weight off his shoulders as Jesse impacted him and instantly his arms went around him and he engaged in the kiss. He forgot about Cameron, Gio, Tony, and all the other bits of crap that had been filtering in and polluting his mind. When his lips broke from his he smiled and exhaled heavily, "It feels good to be back."

Jessie slowly peeled himself off of Jacob as the kiss was broken. "Merry Christmas, Jacob." He gave another peck to Jacob's lips then stepped back. He took Jacob's hand to lead him into the apartment. "You must tell me everything!." He smiled, squeezing Jacob's hand firmly. "The best Christmas present ever? you coming back." Jessie couldn't stop beaming. "Tell me everything, but first I got you a present and we've already eaten dinner but I can warm up leftovers." His mind and mouth were running a million miles a minute. He turned again, before he got to the door and wrapped his arms around Jacob's neck once again. "I'm so glad you're home."

"I would like nothing more, however," he paused and wet his lips, looking back to the cab that still hummed behind them in the cold, leaving grey wisps that crawled in the air, "I have a sort of... additional baggage to deal with." He turned his body so that Jesse might see the cab better and perhaps, the outline of two males inside it.

A small line formed between Jessie's brows as he leaned his head to get a better look at the cab and its inhabitants. "Jacob?" He blinked rapidly, righting himself. "Who's that?" He glanced between the cab and back to Jacob's fractured glass eyes. His broad smile becoming a ghost.

"Gio," he said like it was a lost item he had to take home. It was. He wet his lips and gestured loosely towards the car, "In my negotiations he was sort of, swept up in the process. I suppose you could say that I purchased not just you and Dove, but this... Gio kid as well." His eyes righted back to Jesse's, "I was afraid Tony would manipulate me if he knew how much I wanted you, so I negotiated a fair price with this guy to know what I should pay for Gio. He just... ended up here with me." He exhaled and looked back at the car, "I have no idea what to do with him."

Jessie listened to Jacob's every word, hung on them as if his life depended upon it. Wetting his lips, he watched the men in the car as Jacob explained the situation. His smile was gone and he slowly turned back to Jacob. "You what?" His eyes were wide. Before he would let Jacob answer, though, he stepped back and into the apartment. "I think you all should come in. That cab's got to be expensive and it's too cold to sit outside." His feet were like ice, matching how the blood felt in his veins. He wasn't sure he'd heard Jacob correctly, and a cup of tea would settle this all out. He waved to the men in the cab. "Come along then."

"I was hoping you could get the kid on his feet or something?" Jacob shrugged and, seeing that Jesse was still adjusting to the news, went to the cab with knitted brows. He knocked on the window, Cameron's side. When Cameron rolled it down he smiled shortly in greeting and then, "Hey, why don't the two of you step in for just a moment, eh?"

Jessie merely nodded, still stunned by everything. He disappeared into the apartment to go put the kettle on and prepare four tea cups.

Gio was sitting quietly, waiting for whatever was to happen next. Watching Jacob and the other man embrace, he knew that Tony had lied to him. Or Jacob had lied to Tony. Either way, he was lied to. When the knock came to the window, Gio got out of the car and gazed up at the apartment building, then back down at Jacob. "Alright." he sighed and moved to walk up the stairs. He didn't know what else to do and he wasn't stupid enough to run off in a neighborhood he didn't know.

When they got into Jesse's place Jacob shook his coat like to brush off flakes of cold and water. Once they got inside there was a strange quiet that stood in the room with them, attentive and patient. Jacob cleared his throat, saying casually to Gio, "Gio, this is my boyfriend, Jesse. He knew Tony." Somewhat direct. Atleast, he thought, much of the cloudiness of the situation would be lifted.

Jessie had set the table and gestured for them all to sit as Jacob made the introductions. "Hello, Gio." Jessie had a cool, quiet demeanor and put on his best manners. "Please, won't you all have a seat?" He poured the tea into the cups, and stood leaning on the kitchen counter.

Gio could feel the negative energy, the undercurrent of tension that seemed to be building in the room. He politely nodded to Jessie and took a seat. "Nice to meet you, too." He was bewildered at what to say. Bringing his hands up, he wrapped them around the tea cup for warmth. His inquisitive eyes went to Jacob, wondering what to do next.

Jacob took his seat last, mostly because he was removing his coat and scarf and hanging them over the back of his chair. When he sat down his eyes moved between everyone and then back to Jesse. He reached over to try to touch his hand in a more reassuring fashion.

Jessie lifted his cup of tea and sipped, staring at Jacob over the rim of his cup. He was wondering if he'd heard Jacob right in that Jacob had bought him and Dove from Tony. On one hand, the thought infuriated him. He and Dove were not for sale! On the other hand, he could see Jacob's point in that Tony wouldn't chase him anymore if the deal was done. Finally, he did sit at the silent table where all eyes seemed to be on him. Jessie sat down the teacup gently and reached for Jacob's hand. A small smile from Jesse and a glance that said I love you, but we'll talk later was given.
When he did finally speak, he forced a smile on his face and an air of excitement to his voice. "Tell me about your trip. I want to know everything." His gaze then took in Gio and Cameron. Jessie couldn't help but wonder how long Gio had been with Tony. He didn't have the haunted expression that Jessie knew so well from looking at himself in the mirror every morning that he woke up under Tony's roof.

Gio watched Jacob and Jessie with a bit of a wry expression on his face. "Well," he spoke up, his young voice soft, but strong. "Either Tony lied to me or Jacob lied to Tony." He looked down into his teacup, long lashes laying on his boyish cheeks. "Either way, I want to know what happened, too."
Jacob cleared his throat, feeling like he had oddly become the storyteller for the event. He went back in time, further back for Gio's sake. He started at the beginning of loving Jesse, then him being haunted with Tony and how Tony had been on Jessie's heels a long time. Jesse and Dove's escape up to the present. Then he wet his lips and began the tale of New York. From meeting many Tonies and finally seeing one that seemed, somehow, to be it. How he had selected him and met Gio for the first time and made arrangements to appear as though he were an interested client to get a fair price to pay for both Jessie and Dove without Tony knowing his intention. The last part was the one mentioned about Tony perhaps trying to drag him back into court, something Jacob had leaned against as a bluff for more money. It ended with them there, his free hand palm up after so many explanations. "So, this is where we begin again."
Jessie sat listening to Jacob's story, sipping his tea with one hand and gently laying his hand upon Jacob's thigh with the other. The way Jacob explained things, it all made perfect sense and Jessie was nearly moved to tears when it was explained how Jacob and fought for, and won his freedom. Sitting quietly for a few moments after the story was done, he gave a gentle squeeze to Jacob's thigh and lifted up to place a kiss to the corner of his mouth. "Thank you." Then he returned to his seat.

Gio listened, with terrified interest to the story. He had no idea what kind of person Tony was and he gulped loudly at the thought of going through what Jessie and this Dove girl had went through. By the time it was said and done, he was pale and his hands shook as he gripped the table. "Excuse me." He whispered and got up from the table. "I'm going to be sick. Bathroom?"

Jacob nodded to Gio, excusing him and looking to Jessie with a growing smile. He could see that the cold in Jessie's eyes had melted and there was a greater comfort there, in his gaze, for him. He wet his lips and leaned over to kiss him as Gio got up for the bathroom. Alone with him now he confessed, "I am not sure what to do with Gio. If he will go back to Tony out of a misguided sense of belonging, or if he really is... rerouted in life." It didn't matter to Jacob that Gio reacted so strongly now to what was going on. Being lonesome could drive someone back into the arms of their abuser. Anyone without a light sought out the first one they could.

Jessie pointed in the direction of the restroom and Gio ran towards it. Then Jessie leaned into Jacob and brought his hand up behind his head as they kissed. "We'll figure out something, Jacob. Maybe I can get him a job at the shop." Gazing into Jacob's eyes, he found himself rising and then sliding into Jacob's lap, so he could hold him close. "I'm so glad you're home, Jacob. I missed you so much."

"Well, you have to be careful with him, you know?" Jacob said, leaning back into the backrest of his chair, heavily. Eyes were on Jessie, soft even for puzzle pieces of color. Eyebrows arched up at the reassurance of being missed, "I don't know that I can put into words how good it feels to just... be back and have the matter settled, you know?"

"Yes, I do know." Jessie nodded, grimly. "Thank you, Jacob. You've set me free." His eyes welled with tears and he buried his face into Jacob's shoulder. The realization that he no longer had to look over his shoulder was setting in and was released in an odd mixture of laughter and sobs. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Lifting his head, he peppered Jacob's face with kisses. Gio was temporarily forgotten as he gave the man he loved all of the gratitude that he deserved.

The sudden shower caused him to chuckle, wrapping his arms around Jessie and nuzzling him when the kisses become overwhelming. Then he pulled his head back for air and smiled at him, "Now, this covers you for Christmas presents for some... ten, fifteen years."

Jessie gasped in mock shock and his eyes glittered with happiness. "Say it isn't so! Jacob presents are the best and I'll be so sad to not get them." He waggled his brows, emphasizing the double entendre. Giving up the act, though, he laid against Jacob's chest and rested upon his shoulder. Deft fingers played with the ends of Jacob's hair. "I love you, Jacob."

"I'm sure you'll no doubt... convince me to do otherwise," he grinned, reaching his arms around Jessie to hold him. His lips on the curve of Jesse?s crown of hair as he thought about how far away all of this had seemed just the other day. Now it was real, it was tangible and it was like someone had made the world concrete for him again.

Jessie closed his eyes to the feel of the kiss to the crown of his head. He sighed softly, then lifted up, looking into Jacob's eyes. "Tell me you love me, too." His voice was soft, with a slight plead to it. He needed to hear it. The feeling of unreality of being safe for the first time in years was beginning to envelope him and Jessie needed that reassurance that all was well, once more.

"I love you. Of course... of course I love you," said with a smile, leaning up to kiss Jesse just under the curve of his jaw. One of his hands threaded through his hair and he exhaled, softly and then, "This is a small step to get through compared to the hoops we've been leaping through. It's going to be nice, you know," looking at his eyes, "To have the dust settle for a little while."

"I want to be here," He said, clearing his throat, "Or I wouldn't have come. But every time I see you you keep asking me to tell you over and over that I love you and it's becoming less like a profession of love and more like a way to make you feel good about us." *

Jessie sniffed and clutched the edge of the sink. Looking over his shoulder, he sighed softly. "Why can't it be both, Jacob? Is it so bad, to want to reassure me and make me feel better about things? I just, well.." his voice trailed off, afraid to say what he was thinking. He didn't want to lose Jacob, but there was the feeling of having to choose between Dove and Jacob that just didn't feel right.

Jacob leaned back in his chair. His father's demanor slipping only into the hand of his own. That this was some sort of business talk, "It can't be, not all the time. When I tell someone that I love them... it isn't to reassure them. It's to tell them. It's a romantic gesture that's special. Not something I spew day-to-day so that you know everything is all right. I can't keep getting cornered by you everytime we see each other to say it. It makes me want to say it less, the more you push and the more often you push." He knew this would hurt Jessie. Jessie could shrivel at the thought that his affection for him could diminish any. He wasn't in the mood to baby Jessie.

Jessie's eyes burned and his jaw ticked under the pressure of fighting back the tears. His knuckles were turning white as he stared down into the sink. "You're right." When he finally spoke, it was quietly and as calmly as he could muster. If Jacob could turn cold, so could Jessie. Or so he hoped. "It is special to hear you say that you love me." He inhaled and the part of him that was aching the most spewed out with his next breath. "Because if not for that, I'd wonder if you did at all. You don't like my friends, you don't feel at home in this apartment, no matter how hard I try to make it feel like a home to you. You don't feel comfortable with me. I can't even kiss you in public without your getting embarassed. Why, Jacob? Why are you so cold?"

Jacob exhaled heavily and put one hand on his knee as he looked at Jessie, "Because you're very different from me, Jessie. Don't you know this is the first time I've had a real relationship with another man? You've had your boyfriends, your adjustment, your acceptance of your lifestyle. But I have to tell my father that his only son won't be giving him an heir, and I expect to be disowned for it." His posture had gotten rigid.

While Jacob's posture had become rigid, Jessie's softened and his hands slid from the sink. "I'm sorry," whispered as he turned to walk towards Jacob. "I'm sorry, Jacob. I shouldn't have snapped at you." By this time, he was standing behind Jacob and his hands went back to his shoulders. The massage was gentle, and tentative. "I know, it's a difficult time." Jessie didn't know what else to say. Bending, he kissed the top of Jacob's head.

"I'm sorry that... you feel like that about me." Perhpas it was because Jessie softened that Jacob did, in turn. He looked up over his shoulder at Jessie, "I just need a little mroe patience, is all. I'm doing the best I can. With everything pressing down as it is, I just need to feel you believe in me too."

"I do, Jacob." Jessie's eyes closed as he whispered into the thick hair on Jacob's crown. "I do believe in you." He stood upright, and his hands left Jacob's shoulders. Pivoting, he came to kneel beside Jacob, his hands covering Jacob's hand on his knee. "I do Jacob. I do believe. But there's a part of me that can't forget that love can be bought and sold. And sometimes, I need to be reminded of what's real." Looking up, his amber eyes pleaded with Jacob to understand.

Sometimes he could forget about that part of Jessie. Perhaps it was because he wanted to. Or perhaps it was something he could not see in Jessie, knowing who he was now and not the fragil leaf that shook so much at the escape of Tony. Jessie, with his boyishly good looks and sensitive ways, often made him think that he was someone who could do without Jacob. That certainly he would morn not having him but ultimately could have most anyone he wanted. Attractive people like him were like that. Jacob wasn't unattractive, but his demeanor, his way, appealed to a certain sort of person. He exhaled and nodded, "Sometimes I forget that about you." Most of the time, Jessie didn't show it.

Jessie's hands tightened over Jacob's and a half of a smile curved his expressive mouth. "With you, I sometimes forget those times, too." Jessie wished he could completely wipe that part of his life out, as Dove had. It made him insecure and weak; qualities that he couldn't imagine would last long around Jacob. "I love you so. Jacob, without you, I'd still be running, hiding, afraid of my own shadow." His smile widened as he gazed into Jacob's eyes. "Have patience, with me, too. Okay?"

"All right. I'm...sorry," he reached down to pull Jessie onto his lap and rested his head on his chest, where his heart was. His arms wrapped around him, holding him close, tight and there.

Jessie was easily pulled, and cradled Jacob's head to his chest tenderly. Lowering his head, he applied soft kisses to the crown of Jacob's head. Nothing had ever felt so right in all of his young life. And for Jacob to show just how soft and vulnerable that he could be made Jessie feel even more confident in the trust that had taken a blow, but was being rebuilt. He began to hum softly, his fingers gently working through Jacob's thick hair.

Jacob took in a dry inhale and withdrew some, but only to look up at him those few degrees, "We should get to bed. I didn't tell you. The main part of the house is finished. Not... in condition to move into yet, but finished. You want to see it tomorrow?"

When Jacob looked up, Jessie's hands moved to gently cradle Jacob's jaw between his palms. Long, dextrous fingers softly caressed the high cheekbones. "I'd love to see it." There was a bit of excitement in his eyes and voice, tinged with just a tiny bit of sadness. His world was changing, the familiarity of living with Dove was quickly coming to an end and the blank horizon of life with Jacob was just beginning. While he knew that he and Dove would always be close, there was going to be some distance between them. And where there had been distance between Jacob and Jessie, the chasm was quickly closing. Placing a kiss to Jacob's lips, he disentangled himself and slid out of Jacob's lap. Extending his hand, he smiled warmly. "Our first fight. Make up sex is in order, I do believe." He laughed softly and looked down into Jacob's eyes, adoringly.

Jacob chuckled, taking Jessie's hand to stand though he didn't need the support to get there. His hand stayed with Jessie's and his eyes went to Dove's door, "Is she visiting Ben tonight?" He thought Jessie had told him, but the argument blurred out everything. His smile appeared, deep, playful for him.

Jessie's smile widened and his gaze followed Jacob's to Dove's door. "No, she's in there." Color covered his face and his smile turned shy. "But who cares? I have to put up with the noises from when Ben stays the night with her. Payback time?" With a soft laugh, Jessie tugged on Jacob's arm, towards the bedroom they shared. "Let's go make some noise."

"Oh, I've never seen the vengeful side of you," he chuckled and squeezed his hand, nodding towards the bedroom to follow him in. He felt like a teenager, his heart beating and laughing in that discreet, snickering sort of way.

Jessie led the way into the bedroom with a wicked grin on his face and a nearly sinister laugh. Pulling Jacob inside, he closed the door behind him. God help Dove's ears.



(posted with permission from Jacob's player.)

Jessie lit the tapers and then went to dim the lights. No fancy meal, just quiet music, wine and candlelight. He had wanted to talk to Jacob about his past for some time now and finally garnered up the backbone to do it. The plan was for Jacob to arrive and they get down to it. As the music began to softly play, Jessie sipped at his wine. He took a seat in a recliner in the living room and did his best to relax. Amber eyes gazed upon the door as he waited his lover's arrival.

Jacob had come from work that day. The edges of his clothes smelled like paper and ink and he stepped to the door and for once, perhaps at Jessie's insisting, he had opened the door as though it were his own home to do so. Though he lingered in the doorway with a curious, "Hello?" The light was dim.

When the key turned in the door, Jessie set his wine aside and got up from the chair. He crossed the room as the door opened and he reached for Jacob's hand. "Hey, it's just you and I tonight, love." Jessie gently tugged on Jacob's hand. "Come on inside." He smiled, as best he could.

"Oh yea? You get Dove and Ben movie tickets or something?" he shrugged off his jacket and hung it over the back of a chair at the table. He tilted his head to the side at the romantic display. His smile cut to Jessie, "It's not even an anniversary or anything. But I like it."

"They're out buying baby stuff and she'll spend the night over there." Jessie drew closer, hands sliding up Jacob's chest and around his neck. "Welcome home, love," his voice was hushed before placing a kiss to Jacob's lips. "Can I get you a glass of wine?"

The kiss is returned to him as is their greeting pattern. When he offers the glass of wine Jacob didn't have to pause even a beat, just gave a tremendous nod and then dropped into the chair that he had claimed at the kitchen table, "It's good to be home. I think I am finally starting to get caught up on everything."

"That's good." he poured the wine and set the glass in front of Jacob. Walking behind him, his arms curled around Jacob's neck to undo his silk tie. "You know how you asked me if there were any more skeletons in my closet." The tie was removed and set onto the table.

Jacob already sighed, feeling Jessie's hands at his throat. It felt like an idle threat, somehow, to have his hands at his throat and seeming to command that he listen. So he would, though his spine was rigid, "Go on."

Jessie felt Jacob tense up and he sighed. "It's nothing bad, love. I just think you should know all there is to know." His hands moved to Jacob's shoulders and he began to massage. "Things that Dove doesn't even know."

"Oh?" Jacob looked at one of the candle lit on the table. Fresh, there was hardly a pool of wax to it but already some of it was dripping down, "I'm not sure what else to expect from you, Jessie."

"Well, did you know that I was married? Twice?" he continued to gently rub Jacob's shoulders. "And the time Dove and I spent at Tony's wasn't the first run in I'd had with Tony?" Jessie canted his head slightly and smiled. "See, that wasn't so bad, was it?"

"Oh?" Jacob looked at one of the candle lit on the table. Fresh, there was hardly a pool of wax to it but already some of it was dripping down, "I'm not sure what else to expect from you, Jessie."

Jacob couldn't say how he felt. Sometimes it was like a haze, distant and strange and seeming to be far away from him. Though he knew he cared. Nothing else? Was it so? His eyes went down to his belongings as though, like superman, he could instantly check.

When Jacob glanced away, Jessie slouched back on the chair. "You don't believe me." It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact. "And there's nothing I can say or do to make you believe me."

"Well, I had asked you to tell me the last of it, the be all end all, and now there is this new bit that you didn't speak about or break into the picture. So I wonder... how often and how likely are they?"

"There's no more, Jacob. I mean, no more of the major stuff." He shrugged and sighed. "I didn't tell you everything prior to Dove, except my mom, because who wants to be with somebody who has two failed marriages and is an admitted prostitute?" He spoke bitterly and hid his eyes on his knee.

"The thing about people, Jessie," he said, one hand scratching just over his brow as he paced the words, "The thing about people is that they can handle anything they feel confident in knowing. A man who is a self-proclaimed asshole is more socially acceptable than the man who lies and denies that being him. Do you understand?"

Jessie nodded in response to the question. "I just didn't want to scare you off with too much information, too soon. I didn't know if you'd be around long enough. And it was frightening to open up and tell you." he sighed and closed his eyes. "I thought that we were in a place where I could tell you anything."

"That's all understandable, except for the time that you told me so much and I asked you if there was any more. I was in a place to handle it if there was more, to think about it and the relationship I had with you. That was the place where you tell me all of that." He leaned back, the weight of his shoulders pressing hard into the chair, "I feel a bit led into a false sense of security."

"I'm sorry." he sighed and lowered his head, hiding his eyes in the top of his knee. He didn't know what he'd been expecting, but he was sure it wasn't this. Jacob had been understanding, up to this point. He chastised himself for not trusting Jacob more from the get go. Now Jessie felt at a loss as to what to do or say.

"So now you'll tell me this is it, I'll deal with this and then feel what...secure again that next year you won't sit me down for some other kind of talk about something else you did?" He was sure Jessie hadn't thought much about what his position in all of this was and Jacob had begun to wonder just how far back the story went. He felt he could have expected Jessie to tell him that, charading as straight for several years for whatever reason; he had gotten a woman pregnant. Nothing seemed to defy possibility.

Jessie lifted his head, anger flashing in his amber eyes. "What do you want me to say, Jacob? We've all got pasts that we don't share with people on the first meeting. If you had known all of this about me the first day you met me, would you be sitting there now? I'm doing what I can, Jacob. Would you feel comfortable spewing out your entire past on the first, second date? Just when is it the proper time to tell your potential partner that you did the things I did? Second date? Fourth? I'm telling you right here and now, there's nothing more to share. You know everything." Jessie felt raw and exposed. He laid everything out and felt like Jacob was calling him a liar.

"When I asked you if that was all... was it our first meeting?" His eyebrows lowered as he looked at the table, "You're not seeming to acknowledge that you lied to me and that I hadn't asked you on the first date. I asked you when I loved you and I did anything for you." He drew up to his feet slowly and made a small nod to Jessie's final statement, "Just like last time, this is everything?"