The Beast Within

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Two-Face

Nyssa watched the roof above her crumble "Nyssa!?" a very familiar raspy voice sounded out "J- Jerome! I'm down here!" she called out banging on the bars "I'm coming baby!" he called out, she couldn't stop her smile once she saw his silhouette coming down the stairs, he jumped over the banister at the end of the last couple of steps and ran to her "are you hurt?" he asked looking her over through the bars "I'm fine" she said grabbing his hands through the bars "Ecco, open this" he barked and Ecco nodded and quickly ran over to them and typed in a code, the cage door swung open and Jerome ran in and grabbed his wife and held her tightly "thank god you're safe" he mumbled into her neck "I just want to get home to the kids" "I thought you were leaving me" "never, you're my husband and I love you" "let's go home doll" she nodded and he took her hand and led them upstairs where they were face to face with Jeremiah.

Jerome growled and went to step forward but Nyssa quickly stopped him and pushed him back "Jerome stop, let's just go please" "after what he just did!?" "please, I'm okay and safe now, just leave him alone" "unbelievable even after everything, you're still protecting him!" "he's the father to my children and your brother!" Jerome glared one last time at them both and stormed out "Jerome!" Nyssa called out chasing after him, she ran outside but stopped in her tracks and gasped horrified "Tris!" she ran over to Lucky and dropped to her knees and inspected her wounds "oh my god Tee!" "I'm okay, it don't hurt much" she sarcastically choked out, half of her face was severely burned and in desperate need of medical attention "I'm gonna get you help, just relax" Lucky nodded and slightly closed her eyes.

Nyssa stood over her best friend's hospital bed and held onto her hand "I'm so so sorry this happened to you, I'm so sorry I dragged you here, this is all my fault" "i-it's not your fault" her raspy voice choked out making Nyssa's puffy tear-filled eyes shoot open "oh my god, I thought I lost you" "can't get rid of me that easily" she replied squeezing Nyssa's hand reassuringly "I put us all in danger by bringing Jerome and Jeremiah into our lives, this is all my fault" "hey, you can't help who you love" Lucky said holding back her tears, she knew Nyssa would never forgive her if she knew the real reason she saved Jerome from Fire-fly "I love them both, I'm so selfish to my husband and the father of my unborn kids" "the heart is a strange thing, it pulls you in all kinds of directions" "I may have lost Jerome for good this time" "I somehow doubt that, you didn't see how destroyed he was when he thought you were leaving him, he loves you too much to just walk away, he's already proved that by staying with you despite being pregnant to his twin brother who he hates, just give him some time but you won't lose him" "won't be hard to do, I have no idea where he is and he isn't answering his phone".

Jerome groaned and slammed his shot glass down on the bar counter "let me guess, wife troubles?" he turned his head "what are you doing here blondie?" "you know, there was a time when I knew you better than you knew yourself" "those days are long over now Bab's" "hm, I guess so" she ran a manicured hand across his shoulder and sat next to him "you're playing with fire here blondie" "maybe I like being burned" she leaned in close to his face and smirked "your life was so perfect before you met Nyssa" she ran her hand down his chest to sit in between his legs, he leaned close to her face with a dangerous glint in his eye "I know what you're trying to do, I would never cheat on my wife, I love her and I don't care if you don't approve of our relationship" he pushed her away and she glared at him as he stood up "you don't deserve her" "who's the one married to her here?" "she'll come to her senses some day" "maybe, but today's not that day blondie" he grinned and left the bar.

Nyssa unlocked the front door when she was suddenly almost knocked off her feet by two small redheaded children "mummy!" Crimson squeaked excitedly "my babies" she dropped to her knees and pulled them both close "are you okay mom?" Jason asked said looking up at her with his bright blue orbs "I'm fine honey, I just missed you both so much" "we were only gone for a little bit mommy" Crimson answered happily "I know, I just love you both so much" "we love you too mommy!" Jason said clinging to her side, suddenly there was footsteps from the kitchen, she quickly spun around but instantly dropped her guard "Tabitha?" "hey" she said stepping a little closer "where have you been?" "needed to get away, how's Bab's?" "she seems okay, I just got back from the hospital, it's Lucky she's-" "oh god, she's not?" "no, no she's alive, but suffered severe injuries to her face" "what happened?" "courtesy of my dear brother" Nyssa spun around to be face to face with Jerome who was leaning on the door frame to the front door "Jerome, you're here" she said almost in disbelief.

He just scoffed and pushed off the frame to stand straight and walked past her "I still live here Nyssa" he walked into the kitchen and grabbed out a bottle of scotch "Tabby" he hissed "Jerome" Tabitha spat back, he rolled his eyes and poured a drink "I just didn't expect to see you home tonight" Nyssa said turning on the TV and sat the kids on the couch to watch "as I said, I still live here" he replied then downed his drink "Jerome, are- are you okay?" "Jesus Christ Nyssa, can't I just have five fucking minutes to myself!?" "what the fuck Jerome!?" he rolled his eyes and angrily slammed his cup down making Nyssa jump back "just shut up for once!" he snapped at her "really, this is the way you wanna act with your kids around?" he rolled his eyes once again but in the corner of his eye he saw Jason and Crimson cuddled up together on the couch with tears in their eyes,.

He sighed and calmed himself down "I'm sorry kids" he walked over and knelt in front of them and grabbed each of their little hands, Tabitha placed her hand on her whip and stepped forward protectively but Nyssa grabbed her upper arm and pulled her back slightly "he'd never hurt them" she whispered quiet enough that Jerome couldn't hear but Tabby did and she backed off with a stern nod, Jason squeezed Jerome's hand and Crimson cuddled up in his arms "why are you mad daddy?" she asked and he sighed "I'm sorry kids, daddy's just had a bad night, I didn't mean to scare you both" "are you gonna hurt mommy again?" Jason asked sadly.

"No puppy, daddy's never gonna hurt mommy ever again, I promise" "words mean nothing when you don't stick to them circus freak" Tabitha spat "I said I wouldn't hurt Nyssa, don't push your luck Tabitha, I don't have the same care for you as I do for her" "if you really cared for her, you wouldn't have ever laid a hand on her" "don't forget who's home and territory you're on" "Tabby, maybe it's best if you came back another day" Nyssa said "seriously, you want to be left alone with him?" Tabitha asked baffled and Nyssa nodded "he's my husband and this is our home" "loving him will get you killed someday" she barged Nyssa's shoulder and walked out of the house, Jerome stood up and Nyssa crossed her arms "I'm sorry Nyss" she sighed and stepped forward and he took her hand "I love you doll, I can't lose you" "I love you too, Jerome" "can I come home baby?" "yes, you can come home" he grinned and hoisted her up into his arms easily "I love you so much baby" "I love you too handsome" he placed his hand on her cheek and pulled her face to his until their lips connected.