Blaze

by Maddy V

Part 2

 

"I haven't had any girls in my life other than my ex-wife and daughter," Jess answered quietly.

"You were married and have a daughter?" Mandy exclaimed. "Why didn't you say so, before. I'd love to meet your daughter."

"I wish you could. I don't know where she is," Jess answered as tears fell from her eyes and an old wound opened in her heart.

"What do you mean you don't know where your daughter is?"

Jess took a few seconds to collect her thoughts and pull on the jeans and shirt. "Robert, could you come here please, I have something I need to tell you two," Jess asked. Robert came back in, closed the door and joined the two girls on the bed. "I already told Mandy that I was married once. I was young and Michelle and I were high school sweethearts. We thought we were meant to be with each other. We got married a month after we graduated. Nine months later, Alexandra, our daughter was born.

That was the happiest and hardest time of my life. I loved having a family of my own. I was still in college at that time and working a fulltime job on top of it all. I didn't get to see them as much as I wanted too but I didn't have a choice. Michelle loved being a mom. She wanted to stay home with the baby until she was a little older. It would be tough but, if we were careful, she wouldn't need to have a job. It worked fine for the first few months.

I spent as much time with Alex as I could. I loved that little girl more than I can ever express. Everyone said I was a good father and husband. Michelle was lucky to have a guy like me. I was a good- looking guy that treated her well. I was wonderful with Alex. I respected her and helped out around the house as much as I could. I worked my ass off so she could stay at home and do what I thought she wanted.

After about three months, Michelle got bored with staying home all day. She started going out shopping and spending money we didn't have. I tried talking to her about it but she wouldn't listen. She always had a good reason for spending what she did. At least, that's what I thought at the time. I was very naive. I always feel like an idiot when I remember those ridiculous excuses. I had to work every extra minute I could just trying to keep up.

She convinced me to take a break from school for a while so I could have more time with her and Alexandra. I thought she wanted to spend more time with me but I was wrong. She was just manipulating me and a few weeks later I was working another fulltime job on top of my first. I didn't get any more time with my family but Michelle got more money to spend. She had been draining our savings account as quickly as I could fill it, but I didn't know that at the time. I never thought that she would be taking the money were supposed to be saving.

I came home one day to find the house all but empty. She had taken Alexandra, cleared out the house, and left. All I found was a note and divorce papers. The note said that she had found someone that could give her the life she always wanted. She was sorry but she just couldn't stay with me any longer. I could live with that. We had drifted apart and I had a feeling things were going to end. All I wanted was to be able to see my daughter on a regular basis.

I took the papers to my dad who had his lawyer check them over. I was told it was basically a standard deal and that I would have joint custody of Alex. That's all I was concerned about. I didn't care about all the material things. I just wanted my daughter, so I signed the papers and gave her the divorce.

Things were fine for the first month. I got Alex on the weekends. I had moved out of our old house to a small little place close to work. Without Michelle's spending I didn't need the extra job so I had time to spare. I started getting credit card bills in my name that I didn't have. After calling the various companies I found out that Michelle had opened a bunch of accounts in our names then went on a spending spree right before she left. The total for all the accounts was nearly one hundred grand.

I checked our savings account which should have had just shy of two thousand after Michelle got her share but it was empty. She had totally cleaned me out and left me with a huge mountain of debt that I had no way of getting out of. I was furious. I could not believe that she could do that to me after everything I had done for her. Unfortunately, dad's lawyer said there wasn't anything I could do about it. I was screwed.

The money situation was bad enough. I could have dealt with that, but she wasn't happy with just trying to ruin me financially. It was the weekend after I found out everything she had done, I went to our normal spot to pick up Alex for the weekend. She never showed up. I tried calling but her number had mysteriously been disconnected. I went to her new house only to find it deserted. It was at that point I called the police.

I filed my missing persons report and got some devastating news. Michelle and her new boyfriend were wanted for credit fraud. It turns out that the new boy had done the same thing Michelle had done to me plus some other less than legal activities. She apparently had a large part in those activities. They were both on the run after stealing nearly a million dollars from various people. The police thought that they had probably left the country and would be very hard if not impossible to find.

I was crushed. My whole life had been destroyed. I lost almost everything I had. The bitch even took my daughter, the only thing I cared about. I did the best I could to try and track her down but I'm no detective and I had no money to hire anyone. All I could do was hope that I would hear from them one day.

Alex is nine years old now. I don't even know what she looks like. I haven't seen her since the last weekend she was with me. I don't even have so much as a picture of her. The least that Michelle could have done was send me a stupid picture of my daughter.

I never even got to see Alex's first birthday. I missed her first day of school. I'll never know when she has her first boyfriend or her first date. I won't get to teach her to drive. I won't be able to see her graduate from High school or college. I won't be there to walk her down the aisle. Nothing. She probably thinks someone else is her Daddy. What did I do that was so wrong as to deserve this?" Jess finished her story and collapsed in a heap on her bed. She missed her daughter so much.

Mandy and Robert were shocked by her revelation. They had no idea that Jonathan had gone through anything like that. Mandy walked to the door and motioned for Robert to follow her. He met her in the hallway. "That certainly explains a lot," she said.

"That it does. That is one very hurt and very scared girl in there. I can't blame her for closing herself off," Robert agreed trying assimilate everything he had learned about his friend.

"I wondered why Jonathan always stonewalled me when I tried to get him to date. It also explains why he detached himself from the rest of the world."

"How do we handle this, Mandy? She's not going to be able to transition all by herself even though I'm sure she'll try."

"You're the doctor not me. How would you normally handle something like this?"

"I wouldn't. It's a job for psychiatry, but I don't think us sending her down to the psych ward would be a good idea. She needs to know we are here for her and we're not going to abandon her."

"No, we are not. She's been through way too much already. Damn, how much can one person be expected to handle? If it was me in her shoes, I would've gone stark raving bonkers by now. It's not fair."

"Mandy, we both know life's not fair. It's dealt her a really rotten hand, but she's dealt with it. There's an amazing strength in her. One that I'm sure doesn't come along often. If anyone can get through this it will be her. I'll help her any way I can and so will you," Robert said with more emotion than he had planned.

"Robert, I know Jon is your friend but, it's not like you to get so involved with a patient. What gives?"

"I have only met one other person that is as kind, gentle, and compassionate as Jess. That's you. The two of you work harder than any other team I have ever seen. Between you and Jess, there is an iron determination to do the very best. You two managed to take on the most difficult cases and ninety-nine percent of the time they make it through. You care about the patients as people and not just a job. Did you know that you and Jess are the only Runners that will come in on your days off just to see how a patient is doing?"

"No, I didn't know that," Mandy said surprised that Robert had such good things to say about Jon and her.

"I didn't think so. As good people go, you two are some of the best I have ever seen. To be honest, I'm angry that Jonathan had to go through this. Maybe I am too involved, but just try and stop me. Helping Jess is very important to me. I'm not going to quit."

"I'm not going to try and stop you. He, I mean she, Damn that is hard, means just as much to me. Where do we go from here?"

Before, Robert could answer, the door opened and a much more solid looking, yet still red-faced, Jess looked out at them. "Sorry, guys, I don't know why everything is hitting me so hard today. I just can't seem to get a hold of myself," she said ashamedly.

"You have absolutely nothing to be worried about, Jessie. I know you've had to train yourself to lock those emotions away but I don't think this new body of yours is going to let you do that anymore. There's nothing wrong with crying anyway. I don't know when the real men don't cry mentality started but I wish it would end. Humans are meant to be emotional. Trying to ignore that part of us causes undo stress. How do you feel now that you've let some of that hurt out?" Robert responded.

"Embarrassed but better, now that you mention it," Jess answered.

"Exactly, now what is so bad about that?"

"Nothing, I guess. It's just weird to go from not ever doing it to breaking down every five minutes."

"I think this is a special circumstance. You've been through some very serious changes. Your body chemistry has taken a sharp 180-degree turn and you are learning how to deal with that. I would think this is a kind of clearing out of sorts, like a new beginning."

"OK, I think I can deal with that. Can we please get something to eat? I'm almost ready to start chewing on my own arm," Jess said trying to change the subject. Robert was tempted to try and force the issue but decided she'd had enough for one night.

"You sure you want to do that?" Mandy asked.

"Yes, I really need to get out of this room for a little while. I'm getting a little claustrophobic in here."

"Let's go then, we can take my car," Robert offered. Jess and Mandy weren't going to argue. Being a world famous doctor like Robert had its perks. The least of which is having some of the nicest cars. Currently he was driving in a brand new BMW 745i and Jess wanted a closer look. Even after a complete body swap, she still liked high-end cars. They followed Robert to his office to collect his things then they went down to his car.

The ride to Charlie's gave Jess a chance to see all the latest technology stuffed into a modern day luxury car. There was a button for just about anything you could want to do in the car. GPS navigation system, CD stereo, communication system, climate control, you name it it's there. Jess was definitely impressed, as was Mandy. All three of them talked about the car on the way. Just as they pulled into the parking lot all three stomachs growled in unison, which brought a round of laughter.

"It's a good thing we're here, then," Robert said as they parked. The doors were locked and their small group headed toward the front door.

"Hey, Jess, I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but you've got to work on your walk," Mandy stated.

"What's wrong with it?" Jess asked.

"Nothing, if you're a linebacker for the Cardinals," Mandy answered.

"I guess you're right. How does one walk like a woman?"

"Try making your movements smoother and more from the hip than knee," she suggested. Jess made a few attempts but wasn't making much progress. Mandy could see frustration building in her eyes "You're still stomping around, relax, loosen up, this isn't life or death here, it's just a walk. If you don't get it now, you have a lifetime to work on it."

"Why couldn't you have brought this to my attention before we left the hospital?" Jess asked testily.

"Sorry, I didn't notice. You're walking the way you always have, I am so used to seeing it that it didn't even register as odd. I didn't notice until I saw you from behind and the feminine body didn't match the masculine stride," Mandy returned defensively.

"I'm sorry, Mandy, I forget that you guys are having as much of a hard time with this as I am. I know you're just trying to help."

"We probably aren't having quite the time you're having but it is hard. I'll forgive you this time, but don't let it happen again, missy," Mandy joked. Jess cringed ever so slightly at her comment and she felt a little bad for being insensitive. She had to remind herself that just because Jess looked like a girl doesn't mean she is or wants to be. "Man, if this is hard for me, what is going on inside her head?" Mandy asked herself.

Jess continued to work on her walk but didn't make any more progress despite the coaching from both Mandy and Robert. They made it into the restaurant and Robert left their names with the hostess. Jess stood nervously trying her best to melt into the wall she was leaning against. She felt very vulnerable and exposed. Being six feet tall and having hair as loud as hers was bound to attract attention and that's exactly what she didn't want.

Almost in response to her thought, another woman waiting for her table came up to her. "I just love your hair. Where on Earth did you get that done at? It must have taken hours," the woman said.

Jess thought for a second then decided to tell the woman the truth. "To be honest I don't know. I had brown hair before I passed out and when I woke up I had this," she said pointing at her head.

The woman laughed and said, "Honey, I had more nights like that than I care to count when I was your age. That's why I quit drinking." Everyone around them got a nice chuckle out of her comment. Jess felt a little better about being in public. Not a lot better, but just enough to make her think she might be able to live through the mess her life had turned into.

A short wait was usually the case at Charlie's. It was a favorite spot for a lot of the hospital staff and local residents. The atmosphere was warm and relaxed with friendly staff and plenty of character. The entire restaurant was decorated in a kind of psuedo-cowboy motif. The walls were covered by silver weathered-wood paneling and had plenty of old ranch and farm equipment displayed. Signed rodeo and country music star pictures were interspersed throughout as well. There was a good many bumper stickers scattered throughout with sayings like stop global whining, I saw Elvis making crop circles, and one that Jess found especially fitting for a BBQ restaurant, 4 out of 5 cannibals agree, vegetarians taste better.

As Jonathan, Jess had always enjoyed trying to find the latest addition to the sticker collection. He enjoyed the clever little sayings that would pop up every now and then. His all time favorite said "Will somebody please poke a hole in the lid of my jar?" He thought that it conveyed the way he had felt then. Now as Jess, she felt that it was even more appropriate. A vague sense of being trapped and suffocating had clung to her since she had woken up. There was another feeling buried deep underneath that she could just barely sense. She didn't know what it was but she had a feeling that if she could uncover it, she would be much better off. She just didn't know how to get to it.

Robert's name was called after a few minutes. They were led to a large booth in a relatively secluded corner. Jess felt better knowing she wouldn't be as exposed as she had feared.

"I thought it would be a good idea to keep you out of the main flow of things. We should have some privacy here," Robert explained.

"That's a good idea, Robert, I think Jess needs a little cover," Mandy added.

"What makes you say that?" Jess asked.

"I hate to break this to you but, as Jonathan your emotions were very hard to read, but as Jess what you are feeling is pretty much written across your face. Right now I'd say you're feeling like maybe you weren't ready for this."

Jess looked at her for a minute trying to decide if showing her emotions was such a bad thing, "You're right, I'm a little freaked out, but I think I need to force myself to get back into the world. If I don't do it now, I'm liable to just try and hide myself away again."

"Robert and I won't let that happen, now will we, Robert?" Mandy asked him.

"Absolutely not. Sorry, Jess, but your hiding days are long gone," Robert answered.

"Thanks, guys, I really appreciate all your help. I can't do this on my own. I learned enough from the last time to know that I'm going to need help. I need to use the bathroom, I'll only be a minute," Jess said as she excused herself.

"You want me to go with you?" Mandy asked.

"No, I'm a big girl. I think I can do this on my own," Jess answered.

"OK, but if you're not back in ten minutes I'm sending out a search party," Mandy called after Jess as she made her way toward the restrooms.

Their waiter brought them their menus and a few glasses of water. He asked if they wanted anything to drink. Robert ordered a Corona for himself and Mandy decided on a Heineken. They knew that Jonathan wasn't much of a drinker so they just got a Dr. Pepper for Jess.

"I think Jess may have changed more than we think," Robert stated when she was out of earshot.

"I think so, too. Jess is a lot more open than Jonathan for one," Mandy agreed.

"She's more willing to accept help. Jonathan never asked and certainly never accepted any of my offers to help him. Jess seems to realize that she can't do it on her own. Jon thought he could handle the world by himself. I wonder which stressor brought that change on? Was it the new body or everything that has been revealed tonight?"

"I don't know, Robert. I have a feeling that there is still more to learn about our friend. There is something about Jess that tells me she's more comfortable in her new body than she's letting on. I can't put my finger on what it is exactly."
"Woman's intuition, maybe?"

"Yes, you could call it that."

Jess returned to the table a few minutes later with a half mortified half amused grin on her face. Robert had never seen Jonathan make a face like that and was intrigued.

"What's with the face?" he asked.

"I really need to think about where I am and what I'm doing," she answered, "I almost went into the men's room. If I wouldn't have literally run into a guy coming out it may have been a very embarrassing situation."

"What did he say to you?" Mandy asked trying to hide the amusement in her voice.

"He just said 'I don't think you want to come in here sweetheart. Even though, I wouldn't mind,

but you need the other door.' Then he pointed me toward the ladies room."

"I can't say I blame you for that one. You're just lucky someone stopped you before you went in," Robert said.

"I just realized how much my life is going to change now. Talk about starting over from square one."

"Look at it this way, you now have a chance to start fresh. You can take all the lessons you've learned over the years and apply them to this new life. Your options are wide open. You're the only thing that can stop you," Mandy said. She really didn't want Jess to have another crying fit. She felt that keeping things upbeat was a good idea for the evening. For the most part, she was successful. A few times, the conversation threatened to slide into darker territory but she managed to drag them back into the light. Jess was trying her best not to get depressed about things and did her part by thinking happy thoughts.

The meal was delicious and filling, just as it always was. Jess was happy to find out that even though her life had been put into a blender, some things would stay the same. Robert paid the bill while the girls made another stop at the bathrooms. This time Jess went to the right door. She was still a little nervous going inside though.

"Hey, Jess, relax. You'll have a coronary if you keep that up," Mandy commented.

"I can't help it, Mandy. I feel like a pervert walking into the ladies room. If I did this yesterday, I'd be arrested," Jess replied.

"Well, get over it. You're just as much woman as I am and have as much right to be in here as any one else."

"I know that. It still doesn't make me feel any better about it."

Mandy wanted to scream at Jess. Patience wasn't one of her virtues and Jess's insistence of holding onto her previous life habits was annoying her. She took a few breaths to calm down and remind herself that she had to be patient with her. They quickly took care of their business and found Robert waiting for them at the restaurant's entrance. The girls followed him towards his car as the stillness of the night was rustled by a small breeze.

Jess stopped and looked around like she was trying to find something. She closed her eyes and slowly turned herself around, scanning the world around her. She completed a full rotation then opened her eyes. "There's a fire somewhere nearby, a big one," She stated and reflexively stuck out her now forked tongue to taste the air around her. "I can taste chemicals in the air."

Mandy and Robert looked at each other then around them trying to get some impression of what Jess was feeling. They neither felt heat, smelled burning anything, or tasted a thing. "Are you sure?" Robert asked.

"Positive. It's in that direction," She answered pointing over her shoulder. "We've got to go. If it's as big as I think it is and there are hazardous chemicals involved they are going to need medical help."

Jess had her jaw set in determination and wasn't going to take no for an answer. Mandy started to say something but Robert saw that there was no talking Jess out of it and stopped her before a single word escaped her. "OK, Jess let's go. I'll drive and you direct," he said. They quickly got to the car and headed in the general direction Jess had pointed out.

It didn't take long for them to realize where the fire was. Midwest Chemical Incorporated was a very well known business in the area. It supplied almost twenty-five percent of area jobs and was regarded as one of the safest places to work. There hadn't been an accident there in the eight years the plant had been in operation. All three of them knew that something had to be very wrong if it was burning.

Using her new senses, Jess was able to direct Robert to their destination quickly. They arrived to a building that was almost totally engulfed in flames. There were dozens of firemen frantically trying to get the blaze under control but they were quickly losing ground as the fire spread. They parked the car a short distance away then made their way toward a group of men that looked to be in charge of the situation.

"We have got to get this thing under control. If we don't get things cooled off, the chemicals in that building could explode and take out anything within a half mile of this place. We are running out of time." said a man in a fire department jacket.

"I know that, Sam. We are throwing everything we've got at this monster and it just keeps growing. We've already lost five fireman to heat exhaustion and they'll be more shortly," returned his colleague. Another two fire trucks arrived with all lights flashing and sirens blaring.

"Here's some backup, Mike, get those guys deployed then get back here. We've got to come up with some sort of plan to fight this thing. Where the Hell are the paramedics? They should have been here by now."

Robert introduced himself to Sam, the man in charge, and offered their services until the paramedics arrived. He gratefully accepted and pointed them toward an area they had set up as a triage.

The number of firemen had risen from Sam's count of five to more than double at fourteen, plus a few Midwest employees. The three of them set to work getting oxygen to those in need and fluids to others. It was another ten minutes before the ambulances began to arrive. In that time, another half dozen firemen stumbled in, barely able to walk they were so exhausted. There were also a few minor burns and two severe burns that needed attention.

A small explosion shook the ground followed by shouts from various groups of firefighters. The steady stream of patients increased to a flood as injured fireman were brought in. The fire was still growing larger as the available men and women to fight it dwindled. More explosions shook the ground. A minute or so later, Sam made his way to the triage area.

"We're losing this fight. Get these people and get out of here. This things is going to blow up and blow up big. I'd estimate that a safe distance would be three-quarters to one mile. The farther the better," he said then returned to the fight.

"OK, Mandy, you heard the man, let's get these folks and get moving. Jess you…where's Jess?" Robert asked.

"She was just here a second ago. Where the Hell did she run off to?"

"I don't know. Help get these people loaded. I'll go find her."

"Be careful, Robert, it's getting very serious out there."

Serious was Mandy's way of saying dangerous. She never wanted to admit her job was dangerous so she started saying that her job put her in serious but not dangerous situations. That saying was soon adopted by all the Med Runners and came to mean more than dangerous, bordering on ludicrous. Robert gave her a small smile and said he'd be back with Jess in no time. It took him less than a minute to spot her.

She had followed Sam and was saying something to him but Robert couldn't quite make out what was being discussed. Sam didn't look happy as Jess was saying something he didn't want to hear. Robert picked up his pace and was soon able to hear the conversation.

"Sam, you have nothing to lose. Just give me a chance to help you," Jess said.

"You're a freaking nutcase lady. I'm not going to let you get anywhere near that fire. You'll be dead in seconds. I won't be responsible for your death," he replied.

"Fine, Sam, I take this risk on my own. Just have your men ready," she hissed then turned and strode toward the burning building. Robert was all but running after her. He didn't know what she was planning and wasn't 100 percent sure she was thinking clearly. He had nearly caught up with her when he tripped over a fire hose and landed hard on the ground. The impact knocked his breath from him and threatened to steal his consciousness. He fought back the darkening of his vision as he watched Jess get closer to the fire.

She walked quickly past the line of fireman nearest the building. They seemed shocked to see her. More than one tried to grab her but she danced away before the could get a hold of her. One final fireman tried to intercept her but seemed to give up before he even reached her. He ran back toward the others and signaled something to them. They quickly started dousing him with water. That's when Robert realized that

he hadn't given up on her; he just couldn't get any closer to the fire. The heat it was giving off was intense, even where he sat a few hundred feet away, he could still feel an uncomfortable amount of heat.

Jess kept getting closer to the flames oblivious to the heat it was producing. She began glowing red. But she still got closer. It looked as if she had caught on fire herself but didn't notice. She continued walking until she was within a few feet of the flames. She stopped and just stood there. Robert watched in amazement as did the firefighters.

Jess began to grow brighter and turn colors. The flames seemed to lean in towards her. She faded from red to orange then orange to yellow and finally from yellow to white. The heat that Robert had felt began to rapidly diminish. The flames on the farthest edges of the building began to recede. They continued dying out until only the center most portion of the building remained burning. All the remaining firemen concentrated their hoses on the last remnants of flame quickly finishing off the blaze.

Jess remained blazing. She turned towards the firefighters and started back towards them. Her clothes had been burned away leaving her nearly nude. The only things that were obscuring her were what appeared to be flames hugging her body. It was as if she was wearing pure fire. She had halved the distance between her and the firemen when they began to retreat. Robert's first thought was that it was fear that was driving them back. Jess stopped and motioned for them to use the hoses on her then she took a few steps back.

They seemed to understand what she needed them to do. The retreat turned into an attack as they directed the cooling waters toward her. For a few minutes, the water never reached her. It would turn to steam a few feet before her. Slowly it crept toward her. Three feet away at first. Then two feet. Then one foot. Then six inches. Finally, it made contact with her and the flames around her began to fade. She remained in the stream of those hoses for what seemed like hours to Robert, but in reality was only fifteen minutes. Ever so slowly the flames died and her color faded out until only a very wet, very naked Jess remained.

Someone gave the order for the hoses to stop and another ran out to Jess carrying a fireman's jacket. She had crouched down trying to cover as much of herself as possible. Her rescuer wrapped the jacket around her and helped her to her feet. With the hoses off as well as the sirens, the air had a preternatural silence. The mixture of the various flashing lights gave the whole scene a very surreal feel. The only sounds that could be heard where the squelching squishing sounds made by the feet of the fireman and Jess as she was lead back toward everyone else.

Robert had regained his footing during Jess' display and made his way over towards her. "Jess, what the hell was that and how did you know you could do it?"

"I don't know what that was, Robert. Something inside me just said I could do it and I did. I haven't a clue as to how," she answered.

"Jess, you can't do things like that. You have no idea what you are or are not capable of. It's not only dangerous for you but also those around you. Did you even think about that?" Robert nearly yelled as he tried to control the anger building within him. The thought of losing Jess was strangely harder for him to take than losing Jonathan. The vision of burying her filled his mind with such dread that he began to have second thoughts about continuing to treat her. He knew that a doctor had to keep some distance from his patient in order to keep from making crucial decisions based on emotional attachment.

"I'm sorry, Robert, I didn't think. I just reacted to my instincts. I never even thought that I may not be able to control myself or that I could be a danger to anyone. Damn, things are getting complicated," she replied with a hurt puppy dog expression that washed Robert's anger away. It was all he could do not to take her in her arms and tell her it was going to all be OK. He did manage to resist the urge but only barely.

"I have some extra scrubs in the car. Let's get some clothes back on you. I'm sure you don't want to spend the rest of the evening in just that jacket," Robert stated. "I hope Mandy didn't pay too much for your last outfit," he smiled.

"You don't think she'll be mad at me do you?"

"Just threaten to set her hair on fire if she gives you any trouble," he grinned as they walked toward his car. He always kept a couple extra sets of scrubs in the trunk just in case he needed them. He'd been a doctor long enough to know that medicine can be a very messy business. He retrieved a set and handed them to Jess then turned around to give her some privacy. She finished dressing less than a minute later. The scrubs were at least four sizes too big for her but they had a drawstring waist that she was able to pull in far enough to keep them from falling down. The shirt nearly swallowed her but would have to do until something else could be found.

"Shall we get back and see how Mandy's doing?" Jess asked.

"I think that would be a very good idea. Let's go," Robert answered and they made their way back toward the triage area. They were nearly there when they were spotted.

Sam made his way toward them with a very angry look on his face. "Just what in the blue bloody Hell was that? Do you have any idea how incredibly dangerous that was," he yelled, "You could have been killed. That was ridiculously brave and stupid. I don't know how you did that, but I'm damn glad that you did. You saved a Hell of a lot of lives tonight, Miss," he was smiling by the time he had finished.

"You guys did all the work. I just gave you a smaller target. A much hotter target but smaller none the less," Jess replied.

Sam swept her up in his arms and much to her dismay gave her a huge and kiss in front of everyone. A photographer had shown up sometime that evening and was busy snapping pictures. The reporters soon followed, moving in like jackals. Jess was surrounded by the press in a matter of minutes and was obviously not comfortable. Sam leaned toward her and said "If you don't say something these people will be on you for days. Just say something quick and then I'll get you out of here."

Jess nodded her agreement then took a few seconds to compose her thoughts. "I know you all want some quote from the newest hero in town but I don't deserve the attention. These guys out here," she pointed to the firemen standing around, "are the real heroes. They are out here everyday risking their lives to save us. I was just glad to be able to help them when they needed it. Thank you."

True to his word, Sam rescued her from the snake pit and brought her back to her friends. "I just want to apologize for being an ass and calling you a nutcase. I know there are people running around with all sorts of weird abilities but I just didn't think about that at the time," he apologized.

"It's OK, Sam, I know what I was saying sounded crazy. I just didn't know how else to explain it to you. To be honest, I wasn't even sure if I could do what I did. I just had a feeling I could and had to at least try," Jess confessed.

"I'm glad you had that feeling and totally ignored your own well being. We had lost the fight with that fire. I just couldn't admit it. If you wouldn't have done what you did, there would be a lot more damage and injuries from that monster. It wouldn't have taken long until that place went Chernobyl. With all the chemicals in there it would have been bad."

"Like I told the press, I'm just glad I could help. I hate that this happened. A lot of good people work here. They take pride in their jobs and their safety record. One lousy accident in eight years and all those people will be out of a job, at least temporarily."

Sam gave her a look that suggested he didn't believe it was an accident. She tried to get more information out of him but he only told her he couldn't say anything until after an investigation.

"I didn't catch your name," he said.

"Let's keep it that way. I don't want those jackals hunting me down. You can't tell them anything you don't already know," Jess answered.

Sam looked genuinely disappointed but didn't press her. He thanked her again then returned to his work getting his men and equipment cleaned up. Jess joined her friends in treating the injured firefighters and employees. Mandy was able to wait a whole two minutes before she started interrogating her.

"Why didn't you tell him you're name?" was Mandy's first question.

"You heard, I don't want any publicity," Jess answered.

"You hurt his feelings."

"Why do you say that? I may have disappointed him but I wouldn't say he was hurt."

"Did this change make you denser than usual?"

"Huh?"

"He wasn't just asking your name, bubble brain, that was just the first step. If you would have told him that much he probably would have asked you out for coffee or something."

"What makes you think he was interested in me?"

"First, he admitted he was wrong about you. Then he rescued you from the press and obviously had a decent conversation on the way."

"And that means he's interested in me, how?"

"Ahhh, you may look like a girl but you're such a guy."

Jess found Mandy's comment a little stressing but she didn't know why. A few days before, she was a guy. Maybe it bothered her because, as Jonathan, he always made an effort not to be like a typical guy. He would consciously try not to do the things that women complained about and tried to do the things that they wished they would. He must have been at least marginally successful since a lot of the girls he knew wished he was their boyfriend or husband. If it weren't for the huge hole that Michelle had left in him, he wouldn't have had a problem getting a date.

"All that heat has left me a little hyped up, Mandy. I'm going to take a walk and try to relax. Where's Robert?" Jess asked.

"Last I saw him, he was being attacked by the press mob. They're all wanting his account of tonight's exciting adventure," Mandy replied.

"I'll keep an eye out for him and send him back this way if I see him," Jess said over her shoulder as she walked away. Mandy's comment was still bouncing around in her head and it was bothering her more and more. She decided to stay away from all the activity and headed back toward where they had parked the car. She covered that distance in less than a minute. It had done nothing to relieve the odd pressure that was rolling around inside her. She hoped a trip around the block might help. She didn't even think about how dangerous it might be for a woman to be walking alone at night. Then again, she never had to worry about that sort of thing before that night.

The first quarter of her planned trip was uneventful as she tried to figure out why she was so bothered by being called "such a guy." She passed by a small playground surrounded on three sides by large brick buildings. Something about it caught her interest so she turned around and started inspecting the equipment. The draw was more nostalgic than supernatural. Many times as a child, when something was bothering her, she had wandered around her neighborhood only to end up at a similar little playground.

She wandered among the different pieces of equipment, the usual playground fare like Monkey bars, slides, sandboxes, and seesaws were all present and accounted for. She ended up at the swing set, just as she had done many years before. She chose the third from the left and sat down. She had always chosen the third from the left because it was the only one that didn't slip when you got going really high. She had no intention of swinging; her choice was more out of long forgotten habit than conscious decision.

Some small part of her brain must have been on guard duty and alerted her to something being amiss. That strange, creepy, being watched feeling that she had right before Cole spiked had returned and demanded her full attention. Even in the relative darkness, her new eyes allowed her well above average vision. She scanned the street and nearby alleyway but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.

Her next move was a taste test. Her newly acquired forked tongue flicked in and out of her mouth a few times. The chemical taste was still there along with a sooty dry taste from the fire. Underneath it all, was a strange acidic taste she couldn't place. A few more tongue flicks and she determined it was getting closer. The small part of her brain that had alerted her was now in full on alert with all the sirens and flashing lights. Something dangerous was coming.

For the next minute she scanned the dark alleyways and deep shadows but found nothing. She had almost convinced herself it was just her imagination running away with her when she spotted a dark form slipping from shadow to shadow. It was faint and even her heightened senses could barely keep track of it. Two other similar shapes soon joined it. The three shapes seemed to be the source of the unidentifiable tastes. Even though she had nothing to compare them to, she knew they were evil. Her stress level jumped to a whole new level and her heart had quickened its pace.

She had been concentrating on the three slinking shapes that she didn't see the two forms drop in behind her.

"We went through a great deal of trouble setting that fire, Bitch," a voice from behind her hissed. The unexpected sound literally scared her out of her seat as she jumped up and spun around to meet her adversary. She came face to face with two Vampira. She had never seen a Vampira live and in person before. The first was slightly shorter than she was and only marginally heavier. There was nothing particularly menacing in his look but she knew enough about vampira and other creatures of the night not to underestimate him. The second looked like a heroin addict who was badly in need of a fix. He was astonishingly thin and had what appeared to be a nervous twitch.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize Vampira were into bonfires," she said trying not to sound scared.

"Oh, but we are. It's terribly fun, especially when you can cause some serious damage," he smiled.

"I didn't realize I was ruining your fun. You guys should put up a sign or something."

"You talk pretty tough for a little girl who is in serious trouble," he said. The three shapes had closed the distance between them while the Vampira distracted Jess. The three shapes turned out to be Lycans, the other half of the cities big bad two. She silently berated herself for being so stupid.

"The more the merrier I always say. But you're one to talk. You're the one acting all big and bad with all your friends around. I bet you'd be too afraid to approach me all by yourself," Jess returned hoping her bravado would buy her some time or at least cause the Vampira to do something stupid.

"I should kill you where you stand," he hissed and took two steps toward her.

"That's enough, Tovan," came a voice from behind both Vampira. Tovan froze immediately. The voice belonged to a striking man in his late thirties. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit that was the deepest, darkest red Jess had ever seen. If Lucifer ever decided to try the suit look, he may very well pick that exact color.

"You'll have to forgive Tovan, he has little self control. One of the drawbacks of being a Vampira I'm afraid. Please allow me to introduce myself," he said to her in an almost business-like manner.

"Oh, please do," Jess replied.

"I am Diablo." He continued.

"Diablo? What kind of teenage comic book fantasy name is that? Or did your mom really not like you that much?" Jess questioned.

Diablo found her comment amusing and let out a hearty laugh, "Yes, it is a bit childish but once the press labels you something it normally sticks. I imagine you will have a similar name tomorrow morning. Maybe Firefly or Torch. Wouldn't that be fitting?"

"Oh puh-lez, if they call me that, I'll personally burn down their office," Jess replied.

Diablo smiled again, "You are a most amusing young lady. I should hope you would be willing to listen to a proposal?"

"What? Marriage? Mister, just what kind of girl do you think I am?"

"A very impressive one. Fire is not an easy thing to control; it is the embodiment of chaos. Controlling it takes a very special and powerful person. I could use such an individual and the rewards would be quite generous."

Jess knew of Diablo. He was the Series 3 version of an Al Capone. He was behind more murders, robberies, assaults, and extortions than anyone cared to count. He was the worst of the bad element. Jess had personally been called out on more than one occasion to try and help some poor schmuck that got in his way. Usually, all that could be done was to make the person as comfortable as possible as they died a slow and painful death. Diablo was not the type of person that Jess wanted to be involved with.

"Gee, that sounds like a right wonderful offer and all, but I'm not looking for a club to join."

"I'm only offering you this opportunity once. Should you decline and we meet again I will not be so kind." He said ominously.

"Honey, after all I've been through, no threat from a thug like you will change my mind," Jess couldn't help herself, the part of her brain that controlled her tongue must have been taking a break. She couldn't stand the type of person Diablo was. He was a destroyer, a taker of lives, and a manipulator. He was everything that she worked to end. He was a super sized version of Michelle.

"Very well, then, you've made your decision. Tovan, keep her alive and in pain for a long while. I would like her to have plenty of time to regret her decision," he ordered then turned and simply walked through the wall of the building.

Jess knew she was in a bad situation. She was cornered. She had no escape routes and had five very nasty creatures with no conscience to stop them from doing all sorts of terrible things. If she had been a rattlesnake, she would be curled up ready to strike with tail buzzing at maximum volume. She was scared. Even with all the bad things that had happened to her, she wasn't ready to meet a grisly death. The pressure that had been rushing through her doubled as her stress level increased.

"Well, well, Bitch, it looks like I have you to do with as I please," Tovan grinned evilly. "Tear her apart, boys."

At hearing those words, the pressure inside her grew by a magnitude. Jess could feel heat being drawn toward her, adding to her already overstocked supply. She felt as if she might explode if she didn't release that pressure. All three Lycans and the second Vampira lunged at her tearing clothes and skin. In one heart stopping instant, she let go of all the pressure. She felt like a balloon exploding as it left her. She watched as all five of her attackers were consumed by fire, dropping to the ground in smoldering piles.

The wave of relief she had lasted only seconds before an intense pain ripped through her body knocking her into unconsciousness again.

  

  

  

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