| "Let him talk, Jess." he said and smiled. I looked at Jake utterly lost. He took my hand and showed me my own locket, which was open to the picture of my grandmother. "You look just like her," he began, "but I couldn't be sure because of your dark hair and eyes. I've been trying for a whole year to get you to talk about your family, Jess. Now I know why you didn't." I just sat there, still dumbfounded, what the heck was he trying to say? "My mother looks just like her mother.." he continued, and reached for his wallet. He took a picture from it and held it out to me. I took it slowly and looked at it. Oh...my...god. I was staring at my grandmother, I thought. But as I looked closer, I could tell that the picture was newer and memories came flooding back. This was my mother. I felt tears stinging behind my eyelids again, and I took a deep breath. "Jake, this is...your? YOUR mother?" I whispered, tears spilling over and rushing down my cheeks. He nodded and smiled. "She left us too when the money ran out... I have been trying to get you to tell me for the longest time about your family but you never would. I was sure when I picked up your locket and looked inside...I have the same picture at home. Mom must have left it in her hurry to leave." he said. "I couldn't ask for a cooler sister.." he smiled brightly at me and I burst into tears. Jake hugged me and I looked at Tay and Zac, who were watching the whole revelation with big cheesey grins on their faces. I giggled. "I thought I was delirious when I heard you say that...OH MY GOD!! Jake!" I hugged him again and then wiped my eyes. He stood and turned to Taylor. "Take her home with you just like you planned, dude. Don't let her do more than walk on it or she will hurt herself worse. I will take care of her things while she's gone and," he turned back to me, "YOU will stay with me until we decide how we are going to get your leg healed up and back into training. I don't trust Eric to leave you alone yet and I don't want you by yourself in that apartment." he stated. Oh my god. I have a brother. |
| Taylor and Jake helped me up and Zac grabbed my bag and made sure I had everything, then slung it over his shoulder. Taylor supported me for a little way, then decided it would be easier just to carry me, since I ws limping so badly. Ike and Lacey were back with my bags, and they all loaded my things into Ike's rental SUV. I gave my car keys to Jake. "Drive it if you need to, Jakey. I'll call you in the morning before I leave, ok?" I told him. "Ok, Jessie. Have fun and REST your leg. I'll see you when you get back." He kissed me on the cheek and helped Tay put me in the car. He ruffled my hair, "Don't know where you could have gotten that temper, though. Sure as hell wasn't from Mom.." he grinned. I laughed , too. "Cripe Jakey! Like I didn't have a reason to snap his stinkin' neck.." "You did..but be careful with your leg, Jess. I'm serious. Talk to you soon, sis." and he smiled a big bright smile at me. "Later, Bro.." I smiled back. Jake shut the door and waved goodbye to everyone else. I sighed and leaned against Taylor, who wrapped his arm around me and squeezed. I had my leg propped up on Zac's knee, but it still hurt, even after the strong ibuprofen Jake had given me. I groaned. "What's the matter, Jess?" Tay asked. "My leg is killing me, Tay, I'm gonna have to call the doctor in the morning and get something stronger, I think." I told him. "We'll get it taken care of first thing, Jess." he said and ran a hand through my hair. "Soooo, " he began with a grin, "how does it feel to know you have a brother?" Everyone turned to look at me, even Ike, who should have been paying attention to where he was driving. Lacey had a huge grin on her face. "I guess I'm still in shock.." I said. "Couldn't have asked for a better one, though." "I agree, Jess. And I won't have to worry about you so much now, when I'm away." Tay said. "Good lord, Tay!" Zac exclaimed. "Why would you have to worry about her? She almost killed that asshole, he should be kissing your feet! You saved his life. I saw the look on her face when she had him pinned..holy shit! You better not ever piss her off man.." he laughed. "ZAC! Knock it off...jeez!" I exclaimed and shook my head. Taylor just laughed. "You're right Zac..but Eric is sick...I know exactly when he took her locket.." he let his voice trail off and he grinned wickedly at me. I suddenly remembered and was instantly ablaze again. "It's okay, Jess. Just stay with Jake when you get back. he wouldn't bother you, then. I'd hate to see what you and Jake could do to him together." |
| I leaned back on Tay, and relaxed a little on the way to the hotel. Everyone was talking, mostly about nothing, when my stomach gave a loud grumble. I giggled as everyone's gaze turned to me. "I can't help it!" I cried. "I haven't eaten since lunch..and that was six hours ago.." "Oh my god! SIX HOURS?!" Zac teased. "You're gonna waste away, Jess. Tay we gotta feed this girl.." I giggled again. "You wouldn't happen to be hugry too, would you?" I teased. "That's beside the point." Zac said trying to get around it. "What do you want to eat, Jess?" "I dunno Zac. You pick. I'll have whatever you have.." I said as we pulled into the hotel parking lot. "I just really want to take a shower.." Ike parked and went inside to get someone to help with the bags. Lacey went up to the suite and unlocked it, while Taylor and Zac made a big fuss over getting me out of the car and into the elevator. Finally, Taylor resorted to carrying me again, because I couldn't walk without a major limp, and it hurt, bad. Zac went ahead of him and held the doors for him, teasing me the entire time. We were finally all in the suite and Zac hollered. "I'm calling room service so don't screw around in there, Jessie. I'm hungry...hurry up!" I had to laugh. Tay carried me into his room and set me gently on the bed, I winced at the pain just sitting gave me. "Jess?" he looked concerned. "It's okay Tay, I'm just sore..." I reassured him. "Well, would you rather I run you a bath, or d'you just want to take a shower?" he asked. "I think I better just get a quick shower, Tay. The heat from a bath would make my leg swell up again." I told him. |
| "Coming up.." he grinned and went into the bathroom. I could hear the water running and he returned quickly. "Let's get you out of those clothes.." he said. I gave him a questioning look. "Hey, don't think I haven't thought about it!" he grinned. "You haven't even kissed me hello yet.." "Oh you poor thing!" I cried in mock dismay. "Come here then.." He sat down on the bed next to me and I put my arms around his neck. He leaned toward me and I kissed him very thoroughly, so he would not doubt how much I had missed him. "Hi baby!" I whispered as he rested his forehead on mine. "I missed you." I told him softly. "I missed you too, Jess." he said and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. We stayed like that for a moment, until there was a loud banging on the door. "Knock it off and take your shower, Jessie!" Zac hollered again. "Your dinner's on it's way up..." I giggled and kissed Taylor on the cheek. "Help me get in there.." I said. Taylor helped me out of my clothes and into the shower. I could tell it was hard for him not to grab hold of me and make love to me right that moment. I was dying to do the same to him. He sat on the counter while I washed up, then handed me a towel., and helped me out of the shower. I dried myself off and he helped me into my bathrobe. My leg was starting to throb again, so once again he picked me up and carried me to the table and set me in a chair next to Zac. He sat down next to me and Ike and Lacey joined us. We had a nice dinner and talked about all kinds of things, then the conversation turned to Jake and my mother again. |