I'll Come Running

Chapter 52

"What the hell do you think they're talking about in there?" John B asked looking between Rafe and JJ.

"If I know Jessie," JJ answered with a sigh and a run through his hair. "She's probably setting her straight."

"You don't think she'd actually do that do you? I'm sure she's just trying to reason with her." Sarah said, saying that last part as more of a question than a statement.

JJ and Rafe just looked at each other with a face that showed they weren't so sure Jessie was reasoning.

"Yeah, well..." Rafe replied as he held Charley in place on his lap and held her plate steady. "Jessie's got a a way with words."

"And a way of getting what she wants." JJ only half joked with a crooked smile, always trying to lighten the mood as he took a sip of his beer.

"Come on guys, if anyone can get Wheezie turned around, it's her and you know it." Pope commented. All the Pogues seemed to just nod either out of understanding or hope that he was right.

"I don't know..." Sarah interjected. "Wheezie's pretty persistent."

Rafe and JJ both laughed and hung their heads. It was almost freaky how they did it at the same time. What was even freakier was what they were about to say in unison.

"Not like Jessie."

"Woooooah" Charley finally piped up through a mouth filled with food. "You said that at the same time as uncle JJ!"

Rafe simply laughed at his daughter who was so bewildered. The Pogues were really just astonished at how much JJ and Rafe seemed to be on the same page now more than ever... literally. Suddenly they all turned their heads when they heard the distant creaking of the unmistakable screen door to reveal Wheezie and Jessie, who now was dawning her Manhattan Mayhem jacket. Rafe took notice of it, and knew she definitely just handled business. JJ took notice of it, and was once again reminded how badass his big sister was.

Wheezie came out looking somewhat neutral. The Pogues, especially Sarah, studied the teenager ever so closely, looking for any sign of anger, sadness, joy, or anything in between. Wheezie simply looked at everyone. Jessie stood behind her with her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.

"So when do we leave?"

Wheezie's question was enough to pull everyone out of their concern and turned their faces immediately to smiles and laughs. On the other hand, Wheezie wasn't smiling. In fact, she looked exchausted, mentally and physically. Jessie made her way back over to Rafe and Charley and before she could trade places with the toddler on Rafe's lap, she heard Wheezie speak up once more.

"It's late... shouldn't I be going to bed?" Wheezie asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice. Jessie could tell she was still feeling a little defeated and was probably looking for a way out of the impending conversation.

"You're an adult..." Jessie stated calmly as she moved Charley to set beside the couple and took a spot on Rafe's lap. "you can decide when you go to bed."

Wheezie realized once more that Jessie really wasn't playing. She was going to treat her like an adult, and was going to advocate for the others to do the same. However, Wheezie's first lesson in adulting was playing out right then and there. She wasn't sure if she liked the feeling. Sure, she had always wanted to be an adult, but now... it all seemed too much. Nonetheless, the teenager took it in stride and sassily replied back.

"Fine then I'm going to bed."

"Alright." Jessie sassed back with a shrug of her shoulders, clearly not caring whether Wheezie actually stayed up or not. Wheezie just shook her head and turned back around, but not before hearing her brother speak up behind her.