“So I take it from what you said that you haven’t managed to wrangle either of your boys into church with you yet.” Claire tried to stop herself from letting a somewhat cynical laugh out. It came out as an aborted snort, which burned thanks to the Tabasco.
“You know how Ben does mornings, and you’d have a better chance of getting Jesse to wear a dress.” Which, somehow, seemed vaguely true. Claire glanced across the bar, taking a sip from the chaser Izzy ordered. Izzy smirked a little at the mental image.
“He’s got the hips for it,” she mused. Claire nodded, suppressing a snicker. Izzy continued to sip from her drink a bit thoughtfully.
“And Ben still hasn’t found Dean.”
Claire was distracted away from her drink when Izzy spoke again. The shift in conversation wasn’t expected, but it wasn’t unwanted. She shook her head lightly, setting the Devil’s Advocate on the bar and twisting it in her fingers. “No ma’am.” Claire glanced up from the ice swirling in her glass, catching the bar lights first, then Izzy’s dark gaze. “Seems to be a common link in all of us, huh.” Up came her drink for a good long sip, after which, she rolled her lips and sympathetically winced to go along with a slightly contemptuous tone. “Daddy issues..”
Izzy gave a muted laugh in response, her brows knitting just a little at Claire’s words though she didn’t press for details. She certainly knew Ben’s history, but Jesse and Claire were still mostly strangers. Claire just finished the rest of her drink, washing down memories with the cold burn.
“So what’s your story, then?” she asked gently, nudging the glass away and offering Izzy a half smile. “You seem fairly well-adjusted.”
Izzy gave a little shrug, casting her gaze into the depths of her glass.
“My parents were killed by a shapeshifter when I was eight,” she said, keeping her voice pitched low. “I spent seven years in foster until I ran away, making it up here. Jim took me in.” That was the name of the salvage yard: James’ Salvage. “Fast forward to four months after he died, I was possessed.” She took a swig from her drink. “Then Sam found me.”
“Sam?” Claire inquired in earnest. Her expression had softened a bit at the start of the other woman’s story, but especially on mention of the possession. Izzy nodded.
“I only met him the once, back in 2008. He was hunting with a girl ‘round then, though she and I didn’t really talk.” Claire watched her for a few moments of contemplative silence, then signalled the bartender for another round, this one on her. Seems there were more connections with them all than missing fathers.
“Been here ever since?”
Izzy took a sip from her glass, shrugging again. “No real point to leavin’. I like it here.”
“Good enough reason, I guess,” Claire nodded, a faint smile on her face that didn’t really reach her eyes. “I don’t think I’ve liked any place good enough to stay longer than a month. Not since I was seventeen.”
“Gotta wanna stay in order to start likin’ a place,” Izzy pointed out gently. Claire snickered genuinely, nodding. Her voice, though; not that cheery.
“Touche. I’m not sure I even know how, anymore.”
“You do,” Izzy said, reaching over to put her hand lightly over Claire’s. “You just do it in a different way.” Claire looked at her quizzically, but didn’t pull away. She had a relatively good understanding of what she meant, but she had no idea if the subject had been breached with her. Izzy withdrew her hand after a moment, picking up the glass again and taking the appropriate amount of time needed to down it.
“You did a switcheroo on me. We’re s’posedta be talkin’ about you.”
“I thought we were,” she responded with a brow arch, a light chuckle in her voice.
“I need another drink.”
Claire’s eyes lit up a little more, though her laugh was delayed. She glanced up to Trish as she set the second round of drinks in front of them, handing over payment and a good sized tip. “Looks like I’m not the only one who doesn’t get enough girl time.”
“Oh honey,” Izzy said with a slow smile. “I’ve had too much girl time lately. I need a little more man in my life.”
Claire picked up the shooter, a chuckle in her eyes but not exactly on her lips. “Shouldn’t be too hard for you,” she said, clinking shots again before tossing it down. Claire was going to be tasting Tabasco for three days. Izzy waited until she’d swallowed down the shot before replying.
“That sounds like a line, darlin’,” she teased, grinning wide. “Sadly, I do not have the chutzpah to handle more than one. I’m an old lady.”
Once what Izzy said sank in properly, Claire understood - and appreciated - why she’d waited until there was no booze or hot sauce in her throat. There was some very specific knowledge in her wording that Claire couldn’t ignore. The only question now was its full extent. Also, if she really wanted to go there.
“You’re not old.” Claire decided to open with something safe, and chased it down with a drink of Devil’s Advocate. Her silence followed, mostly because she didn’t know what to say beyond that. Not immediately. “But it does take a lot of energy.”
Izzy blinked in confusion for a moment before a deep blush colored her cheeks. “Oh, I didn’t mean-- sorry. That was... I’m sorry.” She laughed nervously. “I’m getting a buzz, I think. I just meant I couldn’t handle more than one in general, not--” She was cut off by Claire’s insistent laughing, a similar bridge of red across her cheeks and nose.
“Not what?” Claire goaded in good humor. As complicated the subject could be, at least the conversation wasn’t heavy as the deep psychological scars of those who hunted.
“At the same time,” Izzy finished, scrubbing a hand over her face. “Lord, give me strength, do you realize that I am a midget?” Claire’s amusement beamed through her quieted laughter, leaning on one elbow facing the blushing mechanic.
“Don’t sell yourself short.” She couldn’t help the pun, preparing to take another sip from her drink. “Besides, you’re not much smaller than me.”
“In comparison to the beasts?” Izzy paused to take a swig from her drink. “Yes I am.”
“Still,” Claire went on, her giggles finally melting off a little. “Doesn’t mean anything.”
Izzy laughed again. “Fucking a giant is difficult, darlin’. You’ve got exactly three positions that are functional without straining yourself. I can’t even imagine what two would be like.” Claire just chuckled into her drink.
“Good Sunday conversation,” she mused, taking a sip.
“I’ve said my two Hail Marys,” the older woman retorted. “I’ve made my peace with the Lord.”
***
“I hate you.”
Ben couldn’t help but pout. It had taken him two years of regular paint ball with his friend Ricky, and another year with an actual gun to get to be a good shot. Sure, he could shoot something, but there was no real aim to it. Video games taught him nothing, not even the PS5 ones that were super-realistic; the weight and kickback just didn’t exist in a controller.
Jesse shot every single bulls-eye he’d set up for him. Even the swinging ones, and the ones he’d thrown. It wasn’t fair.
To his credit, Jesse did try to hold back his smirk. Not really successfully, but he did try. “I don’t see what the big deal is, mate. You just point it where you want it to go,” he said, flipping the safety on before he checked the chamber. Guns were such a foreign thing to Jesse; he couldn’t help but be fascinated about how the parts all came together.
“Because it’s hard and it took me forever and I hate you,” Ben retorted, hands in his pockets and shoulders slumping.
Biting his lip, Jesse holstered the gun before sliding a hand on Ben’s hip and pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Which makes you more impressive and accomplished and shit, so be proud.”
Ben’s shoulders slumped just a little less, but he still felt a little annoyed. Shooting was just another thing to add to the long list of things Jesse did better than him. Giving his elbow a squeeze, Jesse looked out over the junkyard before back at the targets.
“So what else do you have to teach me?”
“With hunting?” Ben pulled one hand free and rubbed the back of his neck. “I mean, I’ve already run through all the basic knowledge. Everything else is moreorless stuff you gotta learn through doin’ it.”
“That mean I’m an expert now?” Jesse said with a grin. “Alright.”
Ben gave him a little shove, cracking a half smile. “I wouldn’t say expert. I could show you how to clean the guns.”
“Naw,” Jesse laughed, cocking his head to the side. “I don’t want to take that pleasure from you.”
His answer made Ben’s brows arch, which was followed by an eyeroll and a smirk. “So basically I should just have you on research and gun-cleaning duty until you learn to love ‘em. I gotcha.”
Jesse shook his head with a grin. “Yeah, just try and make me.” He grabbed Ben’s wrist, twisting it up behind his back and then wrapping him up in a hold around the chest. Ben thought for a moment to fight back, but the embrace was enough to take the window out of his and instead he just hanged there, breathing in deep.
Leaning up a little to rest his chin on Ben’s shoulder, Jesse’s smile turned quizzical. “Giving up so easy? Not that I mind you doing all the research and cleaning but...”
“Oh no, you’re definitely doing it,” Ben tossed back, turning his head some to grin at him. “I just like giving you the implication that you won. It’s all I have left, after all.”
“The only way you can beat me is by giving in?” Letting go of Ben’s wrist, Jesse grabbed his crotch. Ben immediately yelped and shoved his hand away. “Hm. Your manhood seems to be intact...”
“It’s called being passive-aggressive, ass,” Ben said with a laugh, his hands immediately grabbing at his shoulder and moving to flip him. Jesse dug his heels in, arms wrapping tight around Ben to break the move. The younger man put all his strength into his shoulders and arms, pushing back hard and pulling down, rolling his shoulders out from beneath Jesse’s arms. Jesse stumbled forward but twisted, hunching and driving forward against Ben’s stomach, wrapping him up again. Ben let out a breathless laugh.
“So y’wanna play rough, eh? I’ll show you rough,” he huffed, hooking his leg behind Jesse’s knee and dropping off to the side, throwing them both to the ground.
Jesse grunted as he hit the ground, but instinctively rolled, trying to pin Ben down, but Ben used the momentum to roll them a second time and planted a stabilizing knee in the space between Jesse’s knees, tucking Jesse into his chest as he tugged his arms behind his back. With a yelp, Jesse thrashed, kicking at Ben’s legs, but Ben had thoroughly pinned him.
“Not so smug now, are ya?” Ben said into his ear, lifting his knee just enough to apply pressure to Jesse’s groin as he rutted into his left hip and grinned.
Biting down on his yelp this time, Jesse strained to look back at him. “You’re such a horny little bossypants.”
“You love my bossypants,” Ben tossed back, letting Jesse’s arms go. “So much you wanna wear ‘em yourself.”
“Sometimes,” Jesse said, shrugging his arm to his side and propping up on his elbow. He grinned up at Ben. “Most of the time I just want you to take them off.”
“Now who’s horny?” came Ben’s amused reply.
Jesse leaned in, giving him a quick kiss. “I said most of the time. Didn’t say now.” Ben just chuckled again, planting his hands above Jesse’s head as he leaned in and pressed his mouth firmly against his. Humming, Jesse slid his arms over Ben’s neck, warmth blossoming from his center and spreading.
Except it was spreading too fast. And too hot. From one instant to the next it was like his insides had caught fire. Yanking back with a cry, he instinctively curled on himself, trying to escape the searing pain inside him. He could barely hear Ben’s voice through the agony.
“Jess, what’s wrong?” Cool hands pressed to his forehead, then gripped his shoulders. “Jesus, talk to me, what the--”
Jesse knew exactly what. He’d felt this before once, and even if he hadn’t, he would know. Something inside was pulling him to one point, as instinctively as turning his head when he heard his name or pulling his hand away when he burnt it. The only thing stopping him was the man on top of him.
Trying to crawl out, he spoke through gritted teeth. “Tell you, but I gotta go. Be right back, promise, just gotta go.”
Alarm flashed bright and prominent in Ben’s eyes. “What? No, wait a sec--”
Guilt flared in Jesse, but he hardly had a choice. With a pained look at Ben, he vanished.
***
Jesse gasped hard, the relieved breath of a man no longer in pain. He was still sprawled, but the world around him was very different, even with his eyes closed. Instead of dirt beneath him, it was smooth wooden planks. The breeze tasted of salt and he could hear the gentle roll of waves, cut with the sharp scream of a gull.
Not what he’d been expecting.
Opening his eyes, he saw the demon standing over him. Dressed in a white linen shirt and tailored tan pants, he looked like a celebrity on vacation rather than a demon from hell. He arched one dark brow at him, offering a hand.
“Looks like you need to work on your landings.”
Shoving himself back and to his feet, Jesse snatched his gun out of the holster, flipping off the safety as he aimed it at the demon’s head. “You ever heard of texting, you fuckhead?!” Jesse snarled. The demon barely flinched, his smile pleasant.
“I was unaware that you had a phone,” he replied smoothly. “And further, I was under the impression that we had a deal: You came when I called. A phone can be ignored.”
“Yeah, well now my friend is probably shitting himself wondering what the fuck happened to me, so thanks for that!” Jesse snapped, shaking the gun for emphasis. “That’s going to be a whole heap of fun trying to explain.”
The demon’s shoulders lifted and dropped, his eyes narrowing at Jesse slightly.
“You might as well be shaking a stick at me, son. Guns don’t work. Haven’t your friends told you that much?”
“Shaking a stick makes sense when you’re dealing with a fucking animal,” Jesse said. He wanted so badly to pull the trigger, but shooting without knowing what would happen was what got him in this mess in the first place.
Before he had a chance to even pull it back however, the gun suddenly flew out of his hand and into the demon’s. He paused long enough to check the chamber and empty the bullets out of it before crushing it as though it were an empty soda can. Jesse could have sworn his heart stopped, if only for a moment.
“Now what did I do to deserve that kind of attitude?”
Steeling his expression, Jesse spat, “Everything! But how about we start with the fucking dreams. That wasn’t part of the deal.”
The demon’s brows rose as he casually tossed the gun to the sand beside them. “Who’s to say your mind isn’t behind those dreams?” he asked. “Not that I know what you’re speaking of. I’ve been working. I haven’t got time to invest in mortal subconscious manipulation.”
Jesse blanched, then took a step forward, pointing a slightly shaky finger at the demon. “Bullshit! I never had a dream before you came along!”
The demon didn’t even flinch. “You also didn’t use any of your powers outside of the lower base ones until recently. Maybe your mind is finally opening up.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jesse tried to make his voice hard, but most of the anger had drained out of him. The demon smiled, his teeth flashing almost overly white in their bright surroundings.
“We haven’t got time for idle banter,” he deflected. “The longer you’re gone, the more upset your friends will be, am I right? I’ve got a job for you.”
Gritting his teeth, Jesse said, “Go ahead and tell me, but I already know I’m not going to do it.”
If anything, Jesse’s answer only made the demon’s smile widen. “I’m looking for a relic. It’s outside of my range, but not yours. I’ve been told it’s near Rockville, Maryland, in one of the pawn shops.”
Hearing him say the name of the town they were staying in sent a chill down Jesse’s spine, though he tried not to react outwardly. “Right, a relic, whatever.”
The smile didn’t dim on the demon’s face, but something dangerous flashed in his eyes, akin to malice.
“This relic burns hot when God is near.”
Jesse snorted. “Well I haven’t seen God around either, so it won’t be really useful to me.”
“Good thing it isn’t for you, then,” the demon replied, hands sliding into his pockets. “I need it. And if you get it for me, I won’t spend the rest of this week paging you regularly.”
The bored look on Jesse’s face sharpened at that, his eyes narrowing. “Fucking bastard. Alright, I get it for you. But have some fucking patience, especially if you can’t tell me what it looks like.”
“Oh, I can tell you what it looks like,” the demon replied, smiling again. “I did manage to get that much out of the girl; I just didn’t get an exact location before her heart stopped beating. Such a shame, too. She was very young, and very pretty.”
Jesse had to look away, his stomach roiling. The beach spread out before them was empty; quiet and peaceful. It only made the nausea worse. “Tell me then, so I can get the fuck back.”
The demon pulled out a thin card from the depths of his pocket. On it was a well-etched and shaded drawing. It was clear from its size that it wasn’t drawn to scale, but was highly detailed. It appeared to have a face, with narrowed eyes and a long nose; on its forehead was a raised spiral, and just above either of its protruding ears were two upward-curving horns.
“It’ll be made of brass. You can test it with fire. It shouldn’t melt due to the enchantments.”
Jesse shoved the card in his pocket. “Right, got it, that it?”
“Yes.” The demon paused in front of him, his face all business now. “Do not let your friends have it. Do not even let them know it is in your possession. We can’t have this back in the hands of angels or worse, do you understand?”
“Understood,” Jesse practically growled, glaring. “Can I go?”
“Report back in 36 hours, or I’ll page you again,” the demon answered, then made a dismissive gesture with his hands. “And keep your toys at home next time.”
***
Claire listened to the kitchen screen door slam with its own weight after Izzy slipped out to fetch the dogs for their dinner. She peered out through the window over the sink, where she’d been repaying the older woman’s hospitality by doing some dishes, ignoring the thought that the last time she’d performed the menial task she was probably sixteen years old.
A storm was rolling in from the east, pulling a dark front of clouds in steadily from the shore. By the iron smell in the atmosphere that drifted in from the open door, Claire suspected it’d be pouring in a matter of minutes.
“Where’s Izzy?”
Ben appeared in the small kitchen, his expression straining and his face pale. There was an intense fear in his eyes. Claire shook her hands off over the sink, the initial confusion of his tone melted away the moment she saw his face. Alarm bells went off.
“Out back getting the dogs... what happened?”
“Jesse’s gone.” Ben pushed both hands through his hair, several strands breaking away and twisting in his fingers as he did so. “He just... something happened, and he was gone. He said he’d be back, but I--”
Claire felt the blood drain away from her face, a sharp twist of panic spiking her blood pressure, but she kept it together. Ben’s frantic flailing had been contagious; that was the first thing that needed her attention. So she cut him off. “Slow down,” she urged, crossing the kitchen toward him. “What exactly happened...”
“We were in the yard,” he said, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides so as not to reach out and grab her, but he could only do it for so long before his hands naturally twisted up in his shirt. “Just goofing off since there wasn’t anything worth watchin’ on TV and we’d already messed around a bit, so I was running him through some target practice, and then he just-- he freaked out like something invisible was attacking him, and then he-- he just left. Vanished right out from under me. He wouldn’t even tell me what was wrong, and I-- how are we even gonna find him, Claire? What if something happens--”
“Baby, calm down,” she gently grabbed the hands that were threatening to stretch the hell out of his shirt, squeezing to keep his attention grounded. Her heart was racing too, but one phrase bounced around in her head over and over, keeping her relatively still: he said he’d be back. “‘Member when you headed out on your own? You were coming back, right? He said he’d be back--we need to trust him--” Because I don’t know what else to do.
“But something was wrong,” Ben pressed, his eyes a little wild. “Something was really wrong with him. Claire, what if-- what if it’s that demon from Maine?”
Claire pulled in a breath and held it, her lips pressed tightly together. The thought sent ice water through her veins, and even worse was how likely it was.
“What do you want to do?” she finally asked after a moment, her eyes wavering. “Izzy’s gonna be back any second. You wanna explain this to her?”
Ben shook his head, swallowing hard and pulling his hands free to shove through his hand again. “I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I’ve been here trying not to have a panic attack for twenty minutes. I tried his phone but--”
The back door slammed on the sentence as Jesse walked in, his eyes instantly going towards them. His expression was hard and not a bit angry, but he let out a breath at the sight of them. Ben wasted almost no time, turning sharply on his heels and rushing him, hugging him fiercely.
Claire felt like her legs had turned to cooked pasta, the wash of relief a little too much to really express. She stood where she was but leaned heavily against the stove, pushing a slow breath through her lips.
Hugging him just as fiercely back, Jesse’s eyes glanced over Ben’s shoulder at Claire, quiet. He’d been so focused on getting away from the demon as quickly as he could, he hadn’t really given much thought to what he’d say to them. He wished he wouldn’t need to say anything.
“You scared the shit out of me,” Ben said into his shoulder, not pulling back.
“Where did you go?” Claire said on the heels of Ben’s statement, lingering worry in her voice and her stare.
Jesse’s eyes darted away from hers. “Just had to take care of something. Doesn’t matter.”
Ben pulled away, looking down into Jesse’s face and bringing one hand up to it, lifting him at the chin. “Don’t do that,” he pleaded quietly. “Please. Whatever it is that made you just up and leave without saying why, it matters.”
Clenching his jaw, Jesse shook his head. “It’s personal. And it’s got nothing to do with you.”
Had the circumstances surrounding them been a little less abnormal, Jesse’s answer would’ve been met with little else than a subtle annoyance followed by forgiveness, however uncertain. Unfortunately, there were factors in their relationship--whatever it was--and more than that, that kept Claire’s eyes firmly planted on his face. What he was, what they’d been through, and her recent subconscious scuffle with an angel all contributed to the sharp uncertainty in her eyes. But she said nothing. Not yet.
She didn’t have to; it was clear by the expression on Ben’s face that he had every intention of going where she was hesitant to tread. “It’s personal?” Heat and agitation filled his words. “Jesus Christ, Jess, we’re together. All of us. There’s no such thing as personal anymore, and you know that.” He gestured between the three of them. “You matter to us, and that means that it’s our business now.”
Jesse stepped back, just reining in the urge to shove Ben away. “You’re not the one who gets to decide if my business is your business, I am. And I’m saying that you need to back off. There are things you wouldn’t understand.”
“Knock it off,” Claire injected firmly, her eyes on both of them, centering on Jesse first. “You disappear after freaking out with no explanation, how do you think we’re gonna react?” And then to Ben. “Snapping isn’t going to help anyone.” She sighed hard, looking out the window over the sink as the rain started to hit it. “Izzy’s coming back soon--so kiss and make up and we’ll talk about this later.”
Ben’s jaw tightened and he pulled away, still silently fuming. Claire’s comment stung, and he was nowhere near the mood to pretend nothing had happened.
“I’m going for a run,” he said angrily.
Lips pursed tight, Jesse didn’t say anything, just turning and heading for the bathroom. He was furious at them asking, but moreso with himself for not being able to tell them. Claire tracked him with her gaze until he rounded the corner out of sight, then snapped her eyes to Ben. The look was softer, almost apologetic--but also carried an unmistakable twinge of fear.
At her look Ben exhaled, fists once again clenching and unclenching again at his sides. What he really wanted to do more than anything was punch something, but it was looking like that was an unacceptable response to being told off by someone he loved.
“I’ll be back before dinner. I just... need to do something before I lose my shit.” His shoulders slumped a little. “Please don’t hate me.”
Claire felt a sharp sting behind her eyes and tried to blink it away. It only helped so much. Without saying anything, she pushed off her lean on the stove and gently touched the side of his face, kissing the corner of his mouth. “Never will,” she promised quietly, meeting his eyes. “We’ll get it worked out.”
Ben nodded, turning her face enough to kiss her fully, albeit briefly. Giving her a smile he didn’t quite feel, he headed out the door and closed it behind him.
***
It was a challenge, trying to find a way to make a meal all of them would like. When Izzy had came in and found Ben gone, and gotten very little from Claire about what had happened, she figured that was the best way to bring them all together.
She knew for a fact that Ben’s favorite was inside-out burgers and home fries. He was an easy one to please. After a gentle nudge from Claire, Izzy discovered she had soft spot for a Thanksgiving-esque meal, but there was no way in hell she was gonna roast a bird for three hours without proper planning; a breast would do though. Jesse, could barely meet her eyes when she’d caught him for a moment, but he’d finally answered after she’d promised they were square. Surf and turf. Izzy couldn’t help but reflect on how much the meals said something about each of them.
It had taken about three hours to get dinner finished, complete with her meal of choice, but she felt pretty damn pleased of herself. Something was clearly up, but the home cooked meal seemed to ease the tension and loosen their tongues.
“Gotta say I agree,” Izzy said around a mouthful of Moqueca stew. “Huntin’ south in this weather? Y’all are gluttons for punishment.”
“Not my choice,” Jesse said, maybe a shade closer to defensive than joking. “I just go wherever these two drive.”
Ben frowned a little as he popped another fry in his mouth. “You know we go where the jobs go, Iz.”
Izzy half smiled. “Yeah, I know, but still. Y’know you ain’t the only hunters in the whole country.” Claire couldn’t hold back the slight, humorless twitch of her lips. She didn’t look up, though.
“Been running into a lot more than usual, that’s for sure.” Not meaning Izzy, of course.
Jesse’s eyes flitted to her, his stomach going hard. More hunters, more angels, more demons. All the things he should be running from but that he kept finding himself in the middle of, with these two. He pushed the bite of steak on the end of his fork through the potatoes, streaking designs across the plate.
Izzy looked between the three of them, then stood and moved toward the kitchen. She was back a moment later, four shot glasses tucked between the fingers of one hand and a bottle held by the neck in the other.
“Tequila?”
Claire offered their too-gracious hostess a genuine, but apologetic smile. “Pass for me,” she said, forking a pea or four and bringing it to her lips. “Gives me nightmares.”
“Well what’s your poison then, darlin’?” Izzy asked. “I’ll make you whatever you want.” Claire considered for a moment or two, painting both Jesse and Ben with her gaze without realizing it. Then, she looked up at Izzy. Grinning.
“I’m not really in the mood for hard liquor, but I’ll school you how to shot-gun a beer or five?”
Jesse felt a smile curl onto his lips, despite his mood. “I’m not as picky as Claire. Tequila’s fine with me.”
Ben made a face, but booze was booze and he wasn’t about to turn it down. “Should I go get the limes and the salt, then?”
“If you could. They’re where they always are,” Izzy replied with a grin. Ben stood and moved past her toward the kitchen. “Grab a coupla cans of Corona too while you’re in there!”
Claire looked down at her nearly empty plate, contemplating the possibilities of the next few hours in relation to everything going on. The idea had settled in her head with help from Izzy’s suggestion of alcohol--drunk nights weren’t a luxury they could often afford, and everyone needed an escape now and then. That’s what had settled it. She looked up at Jesse. “So they play Circle of Death in Australia, mate?”
His smile lengthening, Jesse shrugged. “Do, but the rules might not be the same as your rules. I’m willing to go native for you, though.”
Claire quirked her lips at him and arched a playfully challenging brow. “Native? Be prepared, boy--you’re up against Polish and Russian blood.”
Izzy lined up the shots and unscrewed the top as they spoke, running a line of tequila all the way down with the ease of an expert. Ben gave a whistle and Izzy turned, grabbing a lime out of the air, then a second.
“Don’t you dare throw that knife in the house!” she cried. Ben’s laughter sliced through the immediate silence that followed.
With a grin, Jesse took Izzy’s distraction as an opportunity to down one of the shots, quickly sliding the glass back. “Hey, Izzy, you missed one.”
The short brunette turned to look, her lips parted to argue before she caught sight of the empty glass. Puzzlement immediately tinted her features until she caught the shit-eating grin on Jesse’s face.
“Asshat,” she snorted, filling the glass. “You’re s’posed to have salt and a lime with it or you’re doin’ it wrong.”
“It’s drinking,” Jesse said with a laugh. “As long as most of it lands in your mouth, you’re doing it right.” Claire’s half-snorted laugh showed her agreement. Izzy scoffed at him, slicing up two limes as Ben passed Claire and Jesse two of the Corona cans.
“That’s debatable,” Izzy said.
“S’the basic principle,” Claire said with a grin. She looked behind her on the counter, then around the kitchen in general. “Got two pens, Izzy?”
Izzy nodded and stood. “Yeah sure, one sec.”
Ben ran his tongue over the web of skin between his thumb and forefinger, grabbing up the salt and shaking it on the spot as he tracked Izzy with his eyes. His hand moved on automatic as he licked the patch of salt, grabbed the shot up, and tossed it back. Izzy returned just as he was just biting into the lime wedge, presenting two pens to Claire. She, in turn, gave one to Jesse.
“You make a mess, you clean it,” she warned. Claire flashed a smile at her that was then sent to Jesse, along with an arched brow.
“You heard her.” She grabbed her can in a way that made it clear she was waiting for him to do the same. “Done this before?”
Jesse raised an eyebrow as he held up the can. “I have no idea what we’re doing, so I’ll go with no.”
Claire laughed. “On three, shake the can twice, then stab it all the way through,” she demonstrated with a gesture, showing how the pen would go through one side, then the other. “Pull the pen out, put your mouth over one hole and tilt your head back. First one to finish, wins.”
“That’s what she said,” Ben said after swallowing back a second shot.
Snorting, Jesse picked up a pen, holding it at the ready. “Alright then. Count it.” Claire mimicked him, her elbows braced on the table.
“One, two--”
With two hard shakes, Jesse stabbed through the can, sucking in as he brought it to his mouth. The beer shot to the back of his mouth like a hose, and he choked, jerking back and having the rest spray him in the face. Ben immediately exploded with laughter, his hand slapping down on the table. Claire was right there with him, despite the delay of stabbing her Corona.
“Karma’s a bitch,” she laughed, shook and stabbed her can, then shot it back. It was drained in four seconds, a little trail of beer on her chin was swiped away by the back of her hand. Izzy gave Jesse’s shoulder a little shove.
“Go get a towel from the bathroom and clean up, pretty boy,” she said, snickering as she set herself up a shot.
Wiping his eyes, Jesse licked at the rivulets around his mouth. “Better than other things I’ve had shot in my face,” he quipped before heading for the bathroom. Ben watched him as he rounded the corner, chewing his lip as he looked over to Claire for a moment. Claire just snerked and rolled her eyes. After another moment of hesitation he stood and went after him, nearly running right into him on his way back out, making Jesse jump.
“Fuck, hi,” he said, tensing despite himself. He shifted out of the doorway. “All yours, mate.”
“I know,” Ben said. He slid an arm onto the wall to bar Jesse’s path, leaning in before he lost the nerve and kissing him soundly.
Hissing in a breath, Jesse didn’t pull away but didn’t move into the kiss either. He was as frozen as the first time Ben had kissed him. Ben sensed the lack of response and moved closer, the hand on the wall sliding up to Jesse’s face instead when he finally pulled back.
“I didn’t mean to snap at you,” he murmured quietly.
Jesse’s stomach rolled, his gaze focused to the side. At least when Ben snapped, he could feel angry at him. An apology just made him feel worse. “Don’t worry about it, mate.”
Ben swallowed hard, Jesse’s tone and body language sending him all the signals to be left alone. It made his heart ache, but he pulled away and put distance between them.
“Okay. I just...” he shrugged his shoulders and moved around the other man, slipping into the bathroom to shut the door.
Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Jesse headed back to the table. Forget beer. He grabbed a glass and downed another straight shot. Claire watched with up-lifted brows. Ben had left with tension--Jesse came back with it. She pressed her lips together and bit back a complicated sigh.
“Iz,” she said, forcing her attention elsewhere. “How’bout a round of I Never.”
The older woman laughed, running a hand through her dark hair. “Lord, I haven’t played that since I was in high school. Sure, why not?” Claire cracked open another beer and handed it to her, setting another up for herself while looking at Jesse.
“Played that one?”
Mustering up a smile, Jesse said, “Not in a while, but I still know the rules. I always end up getting shit-faced, though.”
Izzy poured another round of shots and threw one back before she took a swig of beer, leaning back so the chair was left on its hind legs. She smiled wickedly, looking directly into Jesse’s face:
“Never have I ever been in a threesome.”
Claire nearly choked on her own breath, snapping wide blue eyes Izzy’s way. They were half shocked, but also half impressed. They crinkled at the corners as she started to laugh, shaking her head as she went for a shot. It paused on the way, just so she could add: “I bet you go right for the bottom piece at Jenga, too.”
Though he felt the heat rising to his face, Jesse smirked at Izzy before downing his shot. “Now just the one period, or should we take a drink for every threesome we’ve been in?”
“Pretty sure your ass would be under the table if we went with door number two,” Izzy said with a grin. Ben returned a moment later with his cellphone in his hand.
“I’m goin’ outside for a sec, I need to make a call,” he said, already on his way in that direction.
Jesse’s expression tightened, but he looked at Claire. “You’re turn.”
Claire had also watched Ben wander by the table, but gave him a light nod as he explained where he was going. Her eyes returned to Jesse, then Izzy. Pressing her lips, she sat back in her chair with a nasal sigh, linking her hands behind her head in a lazy stretch. “Never have I ever been out of the country.”
Izzy smirked, her fingers lacing on the table.
Pouring another shot, Jesse saluted them with it before downing it. “All the travel you get in and never out of the country? That’s just sad, ladies.”
“Let the Canucks ‘n the Mexicans handle their own monsters,” Izzy drawled, smiling sweetly. Claire lightly chuckled, nodding in agreement, though she didn’t say anything. Her thoughts were centered around how difficult it is to get a passport when you’re technically supposed to be dead--but Jesse didn’t exactly need a passport.
“Right. Here comes the hard part. Thinking of something I’ve never done.” Jesse leaned back on his chair, propping it up on two legs. “Never have I ever...had a dog.”
Izzy laughed, giving him a faint kick under the table. “Bitch,” she said, tossing back a shot. Claire just smiled, staying exactly how she was.
“Kay my turn!” Izzy cried cheerfully. Somewhere in the yard the dogs started barking, but she didn’t even turn her head. “Never have I ever danced on top of a table.”
“Does a pool table count?” Claire asked with a leaning smile.
“Any table!” Jesse declared, downing his shot. Claire leaned forward and took hers, too. “Though we gotta fix that, Isobel. Where’s your music?”
Izzy laughed. “Hell no, I’m not fallin’ off and breakin’ my neck for your entertainment!”
“We’ll see how you feel after five more rounds,” Claire injected, taking the initiative to fill the empty glasses from the bottle. “Never have I ever... “
The door opened, but instead of Ben, a taller, wider, and blonder man walked in, running a hand through his wet hair. “Jeez, Bel, you think you could’ve ordered better weather for me,” he said with a wide grin. Izzy’s face lit up like a flashbulb and she nearly tripped in her haste to get out of her chair, barreling toward him and jumping straight into his arms. Laughing, the man scooped her up and spun her around before taking her mouth in a deep kiss.
Too buzzed to feel all that embarrassed, Jesse watched them with something akin to fascination. Claire’s expression was similarly watchful, though a bit softer. Obviously this was ‘cowboy,’ and she was happy for the woman, especially in her light tipsiness. The door opened just behind them and closed a second later, but with the way in blocked Ben was forced to wait. He could see Claire and Jesse at the table watching, and his stomach twisted up with complex emotions at the scene in front of him.
Izzy broke the kiss but didn’t pull away, her hands still in his hair as she spoke and her eyes never leaving his face.
“Everyone, this is Jed,” her voice full of light and laughter. “Jed, everyone.”
“Hey how y’all doin’,” he said, not looking away from her. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
“Ugh, get a room,” Ben said playfully. Izzy turned her head slightly to look over Jed’s shoulder and stuck her tongue at him.
“Excellent idea. Feel free to get yourselves as drunk as y’want; me and my cowboy gotta play a li’l catch-up.”
Claire snickered under her breath and busied herself by pouring more shots.
Grinning, Jed didn’t say a word as he carried her off to her room.
Jesse turned in his chair to watch them go, his expression thoughtful. The door closed just as Izzy started laughing. Ben leaned against the wall and rolled his eyes a little, giving a quiet chuckle.
“I suspect they’re gonna get loud in a minute or two,” he commented.
“Well, we can either be creepy and listen in--” Claire added dryly. “Or go play in the rain.” She took down the shot in front of her, having lost count at this point.
“Naw, she’s gotta have a dock somewhere,” Jesse said, getting up. He stumbled over his own feet, taking a few steps to gain his balance, arms out like a plane, leaving Claire in mild hysterics. “Fuck, got up too fast.”
Ben was at his side in a heartbeat to stabilize him, but he let go quickly. “There’s a pool house a couple miles out. I’m good to drive if you guys wanna.”
Jesse frowned at Ben’s hands. “But then we gotta come back,” he whined. Then a pause. “We can bring the booze, yeah?”
“Not into the pool hall,” Ben said. “And we can’t carry open bottles in the car. I’ll get us drinks, don’t worry.”
Scowling, Jesse turned back around, grabbing one of the shots and taking it down. “I wanna stay here. Why we gotta go?”
“Hey, look what I found,” Claire emphatically said, pulling a coin out of her pocket. “Heads, we go; tails, we blast some music in the garage.” Her thumb flicked the nickle into the air, where she somehow caught it and slapped it down on the table. Heads had won. On cue, a feminine moan could be heard reverberating through the door. Ben made a face to hide the twist in his stomach.
“I’ll bring the car around.”
Pouting, Jesse sat hard on the chair as Ben disappeared out the door again, taking a drink directly from the tequila bottle before picking at its label. “Nobody ever lets me do what I wanna do.” Claire gave him a look that wasn’t all that friendly.
“Jesus, you whine a lot when you’re drunk...” She got up with a little difficulty, nudging him out of his chair as well. “Suck it up and give them some fuckin’ privacy.”
Sniffling in a long breath, Jesse got to his feet and took another swig before setting the bottle down. “We can go inna garage. I don’t see why we gotta go some place else.”
Claire put her hand on his shoulder as they headed toward the door, gripping his shirt--both for balance and to basically keep them both moving. “Because sometimes y’gotta bend a little to make the world right again,” she said, her tone hinting at a dry sarcasm, though her words were mostly truth.
Jesse scowled but fell silent.
***
Leaning against his hand and slumping so low his chin nearly touched the bar, Jesse ordered another Jack and coke. Ben and Claire were playing pool. Jesse didn’t join them ‘cause he thought it was a boring game, and anyway, if he played, he’d probably be good at it, and then Ben would be mad at him again.
As the drink was set in front of him, he wiped at his eyes. It wasn’t like he was crying or anything, because that would be stupid and he didn’t like crying in front of people. His eyes had just sprung a slow leak and he couldn’t seem to turn it off.
A nagging pulled at the back of his head, growing so much that he couldn’t ignore it any more. He turned around just in time to see a girl sitting a couple tables behind look away. Right. Just feeling someone looking at him.
He turned back around, taking a long swig, but that nagging was still there. He spun around, and though the world tilted, he could clearly see the girl was looking away again. But the nagging was still there, and it was definitely coming from her. He scowled. It was like he recognized her, but not in the usual way. He didn’t think he’d seen her before, but then, he was awfully drunk. But there was something about her. He knew he wasn’t just imagining it. Leaving his drink, he got up and started wobbly wending his way towards her.
The moment he moved, however, she stood up and rushed for the exit in a flurry of gauzy blue fabric and blonde hair. Without a thought, Jesse bolted after her. When he burst out the door, he caught sight of her dodging between cars in the parking lot, so he didn’t stop, running for all he was worth. He was a fast runner, when he wanted to be, but she practically flew.
“Wait!” he shouted as she hit the treeline, but neither of them slowed.
It got harder in the woods. Jesse was stumbling nearly every other step, and though her hair and dress stood out even in the dark, he was quickly losing sight of her.
“Wait, please!”
[ He has his eyes on you. ]
The voice sounded like a whisper in his ears, almost lost in the rush of wind as they ran.
[ Can’t let him see can’t let him see can’t let him see I won’t go back I can’t I can’t -- ]
“Stay away!” she cried out.
He stumbled, catching hold of a tree a moment before taking off again. “Whose eyes? Go back where?”
“Stay out of my head!”
[ -- They’ll find us they’ll find us can’t let them find us won’t go back won’t go back -- ]
“Please, go back to the bar!”
[ -- He’s so beautiful everything I dreamt he’d be want to follow him can’t can’t can’t he’ll see -- ]
“I know you!” he shouted. “How do I--”
Jesse never saw the fallen tree. It hit his shins like a bat, sending him headfirst to the ground. Pain and stars erupted in his head, and he felt a distinct snap in his nose. With a loud whimper, he curled in a ball. Healing quickly never meant it didn’t hurt. The nagging suddenly increased, then there was the sensation of cool, small hands on his face. The pain was gone instantly, a rushing warmth spreading outward from her fingertips.
[ Shouldn’t shouldn’t shouldn’t he’ll see he’ll see -- ]
“I just wanted to see you,” she said quietly, the words running together. “You weren’t supposed to see me. I didn’t want you to see me, because he might be watching through you, I can feel his mark on you.”
Even through the fog of his mind, Jesse knew who ‘he’ was. His jaw clenched. “He’s not in charge of me.” His hand slid up to touch hers as he slowly sat up. “How’d you do that?”
Her eyes were so pale that it was like looking into glass. She shook her head.
[ Can’t let them hear you they may be following now can’t let them find me can’t let them won’t go back won’t go back ]
A rush of emotions twisted around the mental whisper: fear, adoration, need, concern, and beneath it all was a deep heartbeat of devotion.
“You don’t want to know.”
“I do. I do,” Jesse said, as though repeating it would help her believe. His eyes travelled from her face to her hands, cupping them under his. “Wish I could do that. You must be someone good.”
The need and adoration doubled, expanding outward like light and color in his mind. Her hands moved in his, finding them and gripping them tightly.
[ Hush now darling you were made to be better than anything ever alive or dead hush hush hush ]
“You have to go,” she begged. “I can’t hide like you. They’ll find me. Can’t let them take me back. Please let me go, Jess--”
Jesse shook his head, albeit a bit wobbly. “I’m not really good. But I can protect you.” He sat up straighter. “I’m gonna get that demon, and they won’t take you back...back where?”
The woman made a whimpering noise, squeezing her eyes shut, but the word exploded out of her head anyway:
[ Clifton Clifton Clifton Clifton -- ]
Her hands left his and moved up to his face. “Nobody can save me,” she whispered. “I was born to die.” She inhaled sharply and a moment later, Jesse’s phone started ringing. “You have to run, you have to, don’t go there, promise me!”
Even through the fog of alcohol, there was no denying it: the tremor of power in her words. It wasn’t nearly as strong as his had the potential to be, and the moment she realized her own mistake her skin went milky white.
“Please,” she begged. “They’ll kill you.”
Ignoring his phone, Jesse shook his head again. “They don’t wanna kill me. I’m-- They want me leading.” His jaw set tight. “And if they’re hurtin’ people there, then we gotta go, we gotta stop ‘em.”
She leaned forward, her forehead pressing to his, a tremble shaking its way through her and outward into the hands still resting on either side of his face.
[ I would follow you wherever you went to every part of the Earth and beyond it ]
“They’re my brothers and sisters,” she whimpered. “And I abandoned them, but I couldn’t stay, not when I know what’s coming; I’ve seen it. I don’t wanna die--”
[ But I would follow you I would I would my lord my savior my master ]
The phone went silent, but immediately started ringing again. “They’ll kill us, too. I have to go, I have to go, please--”
“JESS!”
Jesse’s head jerked at his name, but he didn’t turn away, his eyes round. “You... I-I’m not your master or something. You can go, anytime, really.”
[ Don’t wanna go can’t go have to go won’t go back there he’s got his eyes on you ]
Her hands stroked his face, the devotion still thrumming away like a racing heartbeat.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “I thought--”
[ Like moths to the flame like magnets like gravity follow follow wherever you go born to be yours ]
“--I could get away, but I couldn’t, but I can feel it now.”
[ Don’t wanna go can’t go have to go run run run they’re coming they’re coming ]
“Thank you.” Her lips pressed against his -- brief but cool like her hands and startling him -- before she pulled away with effortless grace. Then she vanished. Jesse stared at the empty air where she had been, his lips parted in shock.
“Jess--what the hell?!” Claire stumbled through the brush, coming over the crest of the small hill that hid him. Her eyes were wild with booze and old panic. Ben followed on her heels, his chest heaving as though he’d been running for his life. Turning to them, Jesse’s eyes were wide.
“There...there wazza girl.”
Ben leaned over his knees, still gasping for breath. “W-What?” Claire leaned heavily on a nearby tree, closing her eyes to keep the dark from spinning.
“Wazza girl,” he said again, looking between them. “She ran and she fixed my nose and she thought I was her master.”
“Fixed your nose--?” Claire gritted while trying to catch her breath. Her brows knitted and she looked at Ben, then back to Jesse, ambling through the summer underbrush toward him with difficulty.
“How drunk are you, exactly?” Ben panted, finally pushing up to standing again.
“Really,” Jesse said, tilting his head back. “But she was here. She was talkin’ ‘bout my d-- demon. And she ran from Clifton, but we can’t go, ‘cause they wanna kill us, but I don’t think they’d kill me.”
Not good. Not good. Not good. Claire was busy looking around the dark woods as they approached. Despite the copious amount of liquor in her system, sober memories cued by the strange subject matter were twisting her stomach. Ben rolled his lips before chewing them, finally making his way over as well.
If there had been a girl, where was she? They would have heard someone running. He could feel a creeping sensation racing up his arms at the realization. Worse still, the word Clifton sounded eerily familiar.
“C’mon, Hasselhoff. What you need is a cold shower and a cup of coffee.”
Jesse scowled at him. “She disappeared. She’s like me. ‘Cept she can do good stuff. She fixed my head.”
That seemed to sober Claire up quick. She just openly stared at him, swallowing the sudden knot in her throat. She was not liking the bells that were ringing in the back of her drunken haze.
“What else did she say?” she asked, almost wishing she hadn’’t.
Jesse squinched up his face, thinking. “She said she was runnin’ from them, and, and she was afraid that the demon could see her usin’ my eyes, but he can’t,” he said firmly. He rolled his lips in an imitation of Claire. “She said a lotta stuff in my head, but I don’t think she was tryin’ to.”
Ben’s eyes had already widened at ‘disappearing,’ but ‘in my head’ made his jaw go slack. He can read minds?
“Let’s just...” Ben swallowed hard. “Let’s get outta here, yeah? If she was running from something, chances are it’s nearby.”
Claire didn’t say it, but the solid, sharp look in her eyes before they swung out into the darkness was an unadulterated response to her thought: She was probably running from us.
Putting his hands at his sides to push up, Jesse pulled a face, looking at his mud-covered palms. Then he looked up. “Can summun help me up?”
Ben moved to his side, Claire on the other, bending into a crouch and sliding an arm around him to help lift him to his feet. He frowned, looking sideways at him. Claire, on the other hand, had an intense focus straight ahead of them.
“She tell you her name?”
Jesse shook his head, though he quickly stopped; it made the world spin too much. He leaned heavily on Ben. “Ruth.” He paused, scowling. How did he know that?
“We’ll do a database search when we get back,” Ben replied, leading him through the brush with steady steps. “Maybe she’s got a phone or something.” He doubted it -- Jesse hadn’t even had a phone until they’d left Arlington -- but it was worth a look.
Laying his head against Ben’s shoulder as he clung to him, Jesse bit his lip. “She kissed me. I didn’t kiss her or flirt or nothin’, it was her, but I wanted to say.” Claire felt a sudden seize in her stomach that may or may not have been exacerbated by booze. The thought mixed with the rest of the justified paranoia behind her eyes, and her grip tightened. But she kept her eyes forward, her features a little more than tense.
Ben didn’t have to see Claire to know she was upset. The idea was enough to twist him up as well; it was one thing for him to make a fumble with someone he knew, but a stranger? He’s drunk. She instigated and he’s apologizing. Just let it be.
“Don’t worry about it,” Ben murmured, squeezing Jesse’s side a little. It wasn’t full forgiveness, but it would do for now.
***
Jesse had been out of it the next morning, something Ben found himself a little surprised about given the fact that the man could choose whether or not to have a hangover. Something was still clearly wrong, and it bothered Ben on a deep level, but he didn’t press. The fight from the night before still stung.
But they had a lead. Claire was on the mend -- however currently on the phone with Lucas for the fourth time that afternoon, pacing on light feet just outside the window of the pawn shop. It was time to get a move on. Luckily Izzy was able to pull herself away from her true love’s embrace long enough to start stocking them up with what she had on hand, but they needed more metals for silver and iron shot, and maybe some copper if they could find it. It was a decent enough day to start picking the pawn shops, and there were enough around that they could hit up ten or so and fill up by dinner. The fact that Jesse was eager to come along also surprised Ben, but he also kept that surprise to himself.
It was the third shop they’d stepped in, and Ben wasted no time going straight to the jewelry cabinet, keeping his small talk to a minimum outside of the specifics. Jesse was right on his heels, again. He wished at least Ben wasn’t looking in the same places he was, but so far the other man didn’t seem suspicious.
And then Jesse’s stomach dropped to his feet. There, set aside with other pendant necklaces, was exactly what he was looking for. No question. His hands balled up but he tried to appear calm.
“Could I see this?” Jesse said, interrupting Ben. The young Latina behind the counter raised her eyebrows but didn’t miss a beat. She scooped the necklace out and handed it over with a, “Sure.”
Jesse bit his tongue. It felt normal. And it looked cheesy as hell. This was really something that could find God?
Ben blinked at him, his brows furrowed. It wasn’t just the impulsiveness of Jesse’s choosing the piece, but stranger than that was the deja vu he instantly felt upon looking at it.
“We don’t need brass, though,” he started, immediately reaching out to take it out of Jesse’s hand, making the other man jump.
Ben’s eyes suddenly widened, his pupils dilating as every nerve ending in his body seemed to fire at once. The color drained out of his face and his eyes rolled before he collapsed. The attendant shrieked in surprise. Jesse caught him before he could fall over completely, but that only heightened the panic in his eyes. Ben was nothing but dead weight.
“Ben? Ben, c’mon,” he snapped, giving him a shake as he knelt on the floor. Ben’s head just lolled. “CLAIRE!”
The attendant had already grabbed the store phone and was speaking into it quickly. “Hello, we need an ambulance immediately.” On the other side of the large front windows, Claire’s head popped up from the phone, just in time to see Ben half collapse from Jesse’s grip. She probably bent the hinges on the door on her way in, without even hanging up the phone. She was at their side in the next second, her hands on his face, prying his eyelids one by one.
“Baby--?! What happened?”
“He--He just collapsed,” Jesse said, his voice hitching. His eyes left Ben’s face, down to his hand where the necklace had fallen to the floor. What had he done? “What do we do, Claire? Tell me what to do.”
I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know bounced around with increasing panic in Claire’s head, and her heart felt like it was going to tear itself out of her chest, but she tried her best to stay cool. The fingers on the side of his throat found a pulse, and he was breathing--but that was it.
Her eyes darted around the shop, to the woman on the phone with emergency, to Jesse’s frantic eyes, then down to the thing he was watching.
“Did he say anything? Did he touch anything---was it this?” She grabbed the necklace by the chord without thinking; every bit of cognitive thought lent to filtering through the possibilities.
Jesse cried out and tried to stop her too late. But nothing. “D-don’t touch the figure,” he said, swallowing. “I think that’s what did it.”
Sirens blared in the distance, steadily coming closer. Claire looked up at the store clerk, who was on her way out the door to flag ambulance down. With her jaw set, she reached into her back pocket for the worn bandanna she always had on her, wrapped the pendent several times, then stuffed it under her shirt. “We’ll figure this out later--we gotta get him to the hospital.”
“Give it to me,” Jesse said firmly, holding out his hand. “I don’t want it hurting you.”
Claire’s look mixed confusion and alarm, but her focus shifted when the bell over the door sounded--leading paramedics and the store owner in on their heels. “Later,” she shot, stepping back to give the EMS room.
His stomach clenching, Jesse pulled back as well, staring down as the EMTs got to work. One of them was asking questions about what happened, but Jesse couldn’t move, much less speak. Claire answered them as best she could, her eyes barely able to leave Ben’s expressionless face. When they transferred him to the gurney and started for the door, the question came as to which one of them would be riding to the hospital with him. After the briefest hesitation for thought, Claire squeezed Jesse’s hand for reassurance as she told them she was Ben’s girlfriend, and she would go. They proceeded to load him into the bay when Claire turned to Jesse, pointedly meeting his gaze.
“Go back to the house, tell Izzy, then meet me there, okay?”
Jesse met her eyes, his expression blank. “Yeah. Okay,” he lied. He knew exactly where he was going now, and it wasn’t Izzy’s.