Catch and Release

Death In Numbers

Nicole was called in that night. The vagueness of her boss made her heart ache. Fear for her friend flooded her. As she walked through the door to the holding room, she was met with a distraught Athena and overly quiet Jesse.

"J, what happened?" Jesse remained silent. "Come on. Talk to me."

"I killed him." Jesse said emotionless.

"Who? Jackson?"

"Lucas." Jesse gritted.

Before Nicole could ask any more questions, the captain came in. He explained what Jesse had told him. Nicole just looked at her friend in shock. Jesse was never one to kill. Athena had almost been raped. By her own brother. It was like some sick, twisted fantasy from a tv show played out in her life. She could only hope her best friend was ok.
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'I killed him. It was the right thing. You had to protect yourself and Athena.'

"Jesse, come on. I'm taking you two home. Maria has LJ. She's meeting us at your house." Nicole said.

Jesse stood silently holding her hand out to Athena. Who hasn't said a word. Jesse, with Athena attached to her side, followed Nicole out of the building. Her body was numb. She could only feel the weight of Athena at her side.
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Nicole had taken them to Jesse's house were LJ was waiting.

"Mommy!"

Athena put on a brave face for her son. "Hi, sweetie. Where you good?"

"I'm always good, Mommy."

Jesse looked on as Athena put on a mask and became the mother she always was.

There was so much that the two of them needed to talk about. So much that she needed to fix.

Athena left to put her son to bed and Jesse said the goodbyes to Maria and Nicole. She was determined to talk to Athena.
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Chase was livid. Jackson was lying in front of the tv doing nothing as always.

"Can you please clean. It's disgusting in here!" She said.

"Would you stop nagging. Gah! How could my sister deal with you?"

"She was clean you idiot! Even when she was gone she showed me love. Fucking you was the biggest mistake I've ever made!"

Jackson looked at Chase wide eyed. "Who do you think you're talking to? I'm not my bitch ass sister. Now you will respect me!"

Chase spit in his face. "Fuck you!"

Before the woman could get away, Jackson had his hand armour her neck. "I've fucked you enough long enough. I've had you and now I'm tired of you." He threw her to the floor. "Get the fuck out of my house, slut!"

Chase held her throat. Her plan to get Jesse was set in action. Black eye, check. Marks on her neck, check. Now the woman she needed.
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Athena walked into the living room. She had on a shirt of Jesse's that was way too long. She had showered after getting her son settled in the guest room.

She stood at the entry way watching as Jesse laid on her back, eye's closed and arm over her head. This woman was it.

Jesse had come back into her life after all these years. She accepted her son. She was so different and yet still the same.

The military had changed her. Had changed the way Jesse thought and carried herself. Athena rejoiced, however, the underlying sadness of tonight made it bittersweet.

"I can feel you watching me." Jesse said.

"I thought you were sleep. You were always a heavy sleeper."