| JESSIE: A blast of cooler air and a couple of rough shakes later I was almost coherent. My bluured vision focused on the strong handsome man whose lap I happened to be sprawled across. "Hey Jess." Dave smiled dow at me and wiped my forehead. "Hi. Sorry.." I said, my voice a little weak. "Are you okay? Still dizzy?" he asked. "I dunno about dizzy..I feel fine." I told him and quickly tried to sit up, this would NOT look good, should some vulture happen to snap a picture. Taylor would understand, but it would LOOK bad. "Guess I'm still dizzy.." I muttered and moved myself off Dave's lap and onto the seat of the car next to him. I let my head drop back against the seat and took a couple of deep breaths. "I need to eat, Dave...maybe sleep a little...that's all." I told him as he motioned to the driver to start the car and leave the crowd of people behind. They were still banging on the door, trying to get my attention. "I don't get this, Dave. It's never like this unless he's WITH me. I'm sure it will shock him too. Unless we don't tell him." I said and closed my eyes, the thought of keeping ANYTHING from Taylor made me nauseous. I hated to see him angry and if he knew I'd been the one to keep it from him he'd be angry at ME. "Jess, we have to tell him. I need another person with us. If that's how crowds are going to get, I can't keep you safe alone. Not without risking the baby.." he said and squeezed my hand. "I know.." I sighed. "I hate this...I am only a fitness competitor. Crowds for us don't get like this....unless..." I said and stopped. "Nevermind. I just need food, and a nap before the show, that's all. Tay and I didn't sleep much.." I blushed. "And apparently my shopping marathon used more calories than I thought it would. Tell Taylor, I don't want to keep things from him anyway, just don't make it a bigger deal than it is." I complained as we finally reached the hotel. There were a few people milling around out front, but the crowd had thinned since this morning. I figured most of the screaming women were outside the station now. I reached for the large bag of clothing and Dave snatched it from me. "Just get yourself upstairs, Jess." he said. "I can get someone to pack this stuff and get your dress ready for later." he said. I could only groan in frustration since the look on Dave's face told me he would not have a repeat of what happened when Alex showed up at my house. That episode left him feeling guilty and like he'd let Taylor down, and Jake, both of them being men he highly respected. "Here, Jess." Dave said gently as he ushered me into the hotel room. "Lay down, and I'll go see about getting this stuff taken care of." "But....Tay.." I stammered as he firmly set me down on the bed. "You won't miss lunch. I promise. Now rest." he commanded. "Good God! You men always think.." I laid back on the pillow, when Dave silenced me with the most intense look I'd ever seen on him. "Shut up, Jess. You're not invincible and it's my job to get you to your husband in one piece." he stated. I sighed heavily. "Fine.." I laid back again and closed my eyes, falling into a light sleep.' |
| JESSIE: I woke from that nap, feeling a little less lightheaded and completely famished. I sat up and looked around the room, noticing that all of my old things were packed and ready to be shipped home, and my new things were arranged neatly in my suitcases. I pulled myself up off the bed and ran my hand through my hair, the stood and made my way to the bathroom. My mouth was so dry my tongue was sticking to the roof of it and I needed a HUGE glass of water. I drank it in two gulps,, tied my hair back in a loose ponytail, trying to tuck the one strand that was always in my face, behind my ear. Just as I was emerging from the bathroom, Dave tapped on the door and let himself in. "Feelin' better?" he asked, grinning. "Yeah, except I'm still STARVING." I grinned back. "How long did you let me sleep? This must have taken forever..' I motioned to the neat piles of my things around the room. "Not long, Jess. Plenty of females working here that were glad to help out, and get a look at you, even if you WERE sleeping. They anted to make sure you really did have all those muscles, that you were real." he smiled. "Real HUMAN. Taylor is gonna have a stroke. I still don't get it. People don't crowd me like that unless he is standing right next to me. Not that I have a problem with that, I prefer him to be in the bigger spotlight, it just baffles me." I said, mulling over the morning's events in my head. "The only thing I can think of is maybe Lizzie Borden's on a mission.." I murmured, basically thinking out loud. "But I haven't seen ONE single trace of her anywhere." "Jake and I will get it figured out, Jessie. Meantime, Jake gave me the go-ahed to bring out a couple guys from home, so you don't feel too crowded.." he said and I groaned out loud. "God! Dave, you know I trust you, and you KNOW I think you are absolutely great, but I honestly CANNOT handle being flanked by all you big burly men. One more would have been enough." I complained. "Quit your bitching and grab your stuff. Or do you WANT to miss having lunch with Tay, before he's so busy sound checking and stuff that you're sitting bored off your ass?" he chuckled. "Whatever." I grinned back at him and grabbed the clothes that were laid out for me, then locked myself in the bathroom to put them on. |