Noelle - Day 180 (Double Trouble)

Hello!
I don't have a ton of time to post (part of the problem of posting literally ever day for 365) so I'm going to let you guys finish off chapter 5 in Survivors...its been bugging me, because its one of the hardest chapters I've ever written and I keep feeling like its not done.

The Survivors (Part 22 & 23)

Sam was shocked.  No, not shocked.  He had seen Jess’s determined face.  Heard her hope for better times.  He just didn’t know that she would force her way...and so fast.  So not shocked.

“So are you going to leave?  Just like that?”  He asked, falling into step next to her.  Amazed?  Surprised?

“Sorry, I don’t answer to S.H.I.E.L.D. interrogators anymore,” Jess snapped with a scornful smile.  Astonished.  That was the word Sam was looking for.

He shoved her slightly, trying to get her to smile.  “I’m not a S.H.I.E.L.D. interrogator!  Where did you get that idea, anyway?”

She abruptly pulled him into a side alley and put her elbow up against his throat as soon as they were out of sight from the road.  “Really?  I thought you were my friend.  Apparently I was wrong, so yeah, as far as I’m concerned?  You’re a S.H.I.E.L.D. interrogator and informer.  One of them.”

Nova tried to ease her arm off of his neck.  No use.  “I am your friend Jess.”

“Ha.  I think we need to swap dictionaries.”

“Please, let me go, and we can talk about this like calm, normal people.”

Jess frowned.  “No.”

An idea dawned on Sam - something monumental, revolutionary.  “What if I ... What if I came with you?”

“What?!”  Apparently this hadn’t occurred to her either.

“What if I wasn’t 'one of them'?  I’m on your side, Jess!  C’mon, I can come with you,” He said, excited by his new idea.

Jess stuck her chin out, something Sam knew she only did when she was annoyed, but she backed off.  She seemed to consider it for minute, then said with rock-hard commitment, “No.”

“Why?  You’re going to need all the help you can get!”

“Yeah, Sam, and I don’t think you realize that this isn’t going to be some fun joy ride.  We’re not going to be flying around in first class airplanes and eating at four-star restaurants.  This is flying for hours on end, building our own untraceable tech, living off the grid, being chased across continents!  This isn't your 'thing'!”

“You think I’m another spoiled softie agent with no idea of what it's like out in the real world?”

“I kinda do!  I have to be blunt, this thing that you’re suggesting, it’s insane!”

“Jess!  The whole idea is insane!  You’re breaking laws here!  This will make you an international fugitive!”

“Nothing I haven’t done before!”

They stood in a huffy silence.  Usually Nova and Jess got along alright, and they hadn’t been at odds like this in almost a year.  Finally, Sam's frown became harder and he said, “I’m coming.”

“And I won’t let you.”

“I’ll follow you."

“Are you really set on this?”

“I’m coming," He insisted.

Jess thought it over.

“Okay.”

*******

Jess bumped the door open with her hip, just like any old afternoon, and walked into her apartment.  Danny, who did not look sick or even tired, was making a salad on the counter.  She smiled as he jumped.

“Why aren’t you in school and what did you do to your hair?!?”

“School was postponed, um, I’ll explain my hair later,” She said, distracted, as she rifled through her bookcase.  “Danny, where’s that little spiral bound notebook?”

“I dunno, why was school postponed?”

Jess finally stopped and looked at him.  “Earthquake,” she said (which technically wasn’t a lie) and then added, “You have lettuce in your hair.”

Danny sheepishly pulled the leaves out of his blonde locks while Jess checked under her bed.  “Aha!”  She dusted off the book, then darted into her closet to grab her emergency backpack - water, a change of clothes, makeup, a dress, a stun gun, and a few knives.

Jess bit her lip - she hadn’t planned for this part.  Should she just leave?  She jammed the red notebook into her bag, then pulled her phone out of her pocket and snapped it.  The memory chip went in her pocket.  The remains she left on the floor.

You can’t keep working around it.

What should I say?

How should I know?  I’m just your conscience.

Helpful.

Jess took a deep breath and pulled her blonde hair up in a pony tail.  “Danny?”

“Whats up?”

“I wasn’t here.”

“Excuse me?”

“When S.H.I.E.L.D. comes knocking, I wasn’t here.”

She could tell that she had Danny’s attention.  It was pressing against the back of her neck, hoping for more.  She shouldered her pack and stood.  “I’m sorry, Danny.”

“Why was school canceled, Jess?” Iron Fist murmured from the other room, his voice deathly quiet.  She could hear him moving closer by a step, hear the worry in his words.  “You didn’t...?”

“I did.”

“What happens now?”

Jess wrenched herself around, forcing herself to look directly into Danny’s perfect blue eyes.  She pressed her lips together, fought the tears, and whispered, “I run.”

Silence.  The silence was horrible.

A moment later, Danny was across the floor and had his arms around her.  Suddenly, it didn’t matter that Sam was waiting outside.  It didn’t matter that S.H.I.E.L.D. would catch up to them at any minute.  It didn't matter that everything was in pieces.  Jess sobbed and press her wet face against his t-shirt.  His grip on her tightened.

“Does it have to -”

“Yes.”  She heaved in a shaky breath and tried to recover herself.  I can’t cry.  I won’t be weak.  I cannot be weak.

“I want to come with you,” Danny whispered, pulling away a little so that he can see her face.

She rubbed at the tear stains angrily and refused to look up.  “No,” She said, quiet but firm.

“Please?”

Jess tried to pull herself together again.  It wasn't working.  “I’m not going to let you come with me because we both know that one of us would end up...end up...d....”

“Dead.”

She melted once more and nodded, furious with herself, although she wasn't certain why.

“I want to be there for you,” Danny said, thoroughly sincere.  He tugged fondly on her new hair.  She turned away.

He pulled at the back of her sweatshirt, trying to get her attention again.  The fabric slipped from his fingers and he whispered, “If you would just let me in.”

Jess stopped crying.  “You don’t get it, do you?!  Nobody can ‘be there’ for me!  You get too close me and you are dead!  No!”  She yanked her arm away, fuming, and stared at him.  A tear was sliding down his cheek, unwanted.  “I’m sorry... but I can’t let you in.  I can’t go to your funeral.”

“Jess....”

She sniffled.  “I have to go.”

“Jess!”

“They’ll be here any minute,” She said, wiping her eyes.

“Oh for goodness sake -”  Danny grabbed her arm and a moment later his lips were pressed against hers.  Jess found her arms snaked around his neck, his hand supporting her waist, the panic building in her stomach....  She realized that this might be the last chance that she would have a chance to talk to him.  She sniffed and returned his kiss, leaning against his chest a little, trying to make every millisecond last....

Danny tasted salty tears as she pulled away, leaving him alone, cold, with his eyes still closed.  “Remember....” She whispered, her voice fading into darkness.  “I wasn’t here....”

And Jessie Willow was no more.

§§§

So yeah, that's all I got for today! Comment with what you want me to post; I hope you have a great day; and see you tomorrow for yet another 365 Days post.