Jesse

5

There was a banging, not on the front doors downstairs but the elevator doors. I ground out a curse and moved to put my hand on the reader before turning on the camera so I could see who it was.

Imogene was on the floor, curled up and using her legs to kick the wall. The blood pooling around her was still flowing and she looked to be sobbing too hard to make any noise.

I hit the open button as quick as I could before speeding to get a blood bag. She had been MIA from the hotel for 3 days.

Aaron offered to send Greyson to look for her but I said she probably was out having fun at some blood clubs or staying with friends.

I pulled 4 blood bags and rushed back to the elevator doors. "Boys!" I shouted and moved to pick her up, she was barely conscious and only whispered my name like she knew where she was and needed me, it didn't seem like she knew she was already with me.

I put slight pressure on her chest, another on her stomach before getting a blood bag opened for her to drink from. It was gone in seconds. 

By the third bag both sons were by her side, asking her what happened, but I could tell once she had enough blood she would have to sleep.

"Let's get her cleaned." I told them both and moved to stand with her.

"Do you mean like a sponge bath?" Eli asked after we were all in my room.

"Yes." I saw them both pass a look before looking too uncomfortable. "This is your mother-"

"And we've gone our entire lives without having to see her naked. You've already seen her naked dad... multiple times if we're any proof.... you do it and we can both stay up until she wakes." Luke offered out and I sighed.

"Go." I dismissed and moved to get warm water and a dark colors rag and some scissors. I cut all the clothes off her body, washed away the blood and went to get a pair of boxers and a long shirt.

I got her redressed and she stayed so still for so long. Eli and Luke made their way in about a half hour after I was done. Both were cleaned and in new clothes and Eli came to my side, telling me I still had blood on my clothes and that I should change.

I got up and showered. Thinking back on all the important times Imogene had been there for me, all the milestones.

I remember running to her room the day I lost my first tooth. She got slightly jealous that she hadn't yet and made me drop my tooth In the dirt.

She was there when I was accepted into school, she had come over every morning for breakfast, waiting anxiously like I was to see about the morning mail call. She cheered and hugged me and told me how I better write her every day I was away.

And during the summers when I got to stay home we were still as close as ever.

Our first season we were each other's first dance, and then we kept dancing.

I had been attracted to our relationship all my life. She was my best friend and our parents only thought it made sense for us to marry after our first season. We had basically been courting each other our whole lives.

At least that is what her mother said after we said our vows.

She was the only woman I ever loved... and made love to.

And she was sitting in my bed, beaten, bitten and bloody.

Someone was going to die for hurting her.

I finished in the shower, dressing in long sweats and a white t before heading back to my room.

Her eyes were open and the boys were talking and when they all looked to me and started to sob and her hand flexes in my direction.

"What is it? Something hurting?" I asked and she started to cry again.

She never really was good with pain. When she had Jesse Jr. she screamed at every contraction. Almost gave up during his crowning... but she took one look at his head coming out of her and she pushed until he was out and safe and she was amazing.

After his birth she told me that she didn't care if she had to go through that 10 more times, as long as the baby we got was happy and healthy she would never complain.

She moved her body into my chest, sobbing hard and gripping my shirt like she was sure someone would try and take her from my arms.

"They want you love. They want you dead or they said they'll kill you last after you watch us all." She whispered to me, sobbing just after and I rubbed her back.

The boys had heard and their faces showed me how much they loved their mother... or their own lives. They shared a look before they seemed to nod.

"Where are you-"

"Just stay with mum for right now. We just want to let her rest so we'll go out here to talk." Eli told me and I gulped. I could see the lie as plain as the nose on his face, but his eyes motioned to their mother and I realized that they weren't lying to me, but to her.

"Are you in anymore pain Immie?" I used our childhood nickname in my softest tone and she shook her head. "Would you like to rest?" I asked her and she clutched my tighter. "No one is getting into this place unless I know or trust them. You are safe, you are always going to be safe with me." I calmed her as I took down her hair and ran my fingers through it.

"Don't leave me Jess. I can't handle the thought of you not being with me anymore." Even if we didn't talk as much as we used to I understood her meaning. We were still married. And while I don't think of myself as "with her" in that sense... I've always known she would be around if I truly needed her.

She was someone who knew all of me. Knew my needs and my faults, and while I wasn't in love with her, and she not with me, we both loved each other very much.

She fell into a deep sleep, letting me creep out of the room before the boys were finished talking and I sat and listened to their plan of finding out who did this.

"We need you to make a list dad. Of every one who might want you dead." Eli told me and I sighed.

"That's a long list." I told them before standing and going to get a paper so I could start on it.

"How was mum? Still in pain?" Jr asked me and I sighed before shaking my head.

"No, just worried about the protection." I told him and kept writing.

I sat there until sunrise, hearing the elevator doors open and someone call my name made me realize that I had plans with Aaron for breakfast.

"In here." I called out and she walked into my kitchen quick with a smile slowly slipping off her face.

"Why do you look like that?" She asked coming closer and I gulped.

"Imogene showed up last night, or rather 5 hours ago." I said looking at the time before trying to listen is she was up. And she was. The shower in my room was on and I heard the boys talking lowly in the guest room.

"Was she okay?" She asked and I gulped.

"Nope. But she's healed and showering as we speak." I told her and she bit her lip and looked towards my door.

"Should I go? I'm sure if a wolf did whatever happened to her she won't like me like Jesse Jr didn't like me." She all but whispered and before I could answer I heard the door to my room open and Imogene was headed towards us.

"I don't hate anyone." She called out and slowly, oh so slowly Aaron gulped and turned to glance at my wife.

I hadn't had any pictures to show her what she looked like so Aaron's surprise was a cherry on the ice cream when she let out a low "wow" and turned to me and shook her head.

"Who is this Love?" Imogene asked looking slightly worried about the words before coming to sit beside me.

"My best friend Aaron." I told her and she looked from me to her before smiling and holding out her hand.

"Can I ask why you said wow? I do have his clothes on and my hair needs attention but surely I'm not that awful looking." Immie loves being complimented but she did look worried about Aaron's comment.

"No it's not that, Jesse just didn't have any photos on hand... and his description didn't do you justice. You're beautiful." Aaron rushed out and blushed hard.

"Thank you. You must be the hybrid." Imogene guesses and I simply watched the two size each other up. Imogene might have been my best friend for most of my life, but Aaron knows me better now.

"You two shouldn't be so awkward. You are going to be mother in laws to each other kids soon." I put it out there, making Immie confused and that's when Eli was called in.

"My baby is in love?" She grabbed his cheeks, squishing then hard and kissed him over and over. Luke was standing to the side, smirk on his face and I saw Imogene set her sights on him. "And where is your love?"

"No mate for me mum. I'm good getting my own tea and biscuit. I don't need a woman for that." I saw the smack before I heard it and she shook out her hand while Luke laughed it off and rubbed the back of his head.

"And you Jess? Any man?" She asked me, hope filling her eyes and I sighed.

"Nope. Not in about 100 years." I told her and her shoulders slouched and she looked back to Aaron.

"And you're mate, obviously you have kids. Where can we meet your mate and daughter? I would love to meet her-"

"Immie, lets just get a couple things to eat ready and I'm sure we can get Greyson Lukas and even Lina over here." I cut her off and she smiled.

"Not dressed like this! I need clothes of my own! Oh my goodness I'd be a dreadful looking mother in law! I can't just meet someone in men's boxers!"

"Mum? Can I just say you do look lovely and I am sure Lina will understand the circumstances of why you're wearing what you are wearing." Eli tried to calm his mother and I just sighed and rubbed my head before shaking it.

He's been away from his mother too long.

"I sure hope you have good walking shoes Eli... I need you to go pick your mum up a dress before she chews and spits you out." I raised my voice, holding out my black card and he took it quick.

"Face time your brother so I can pick it out!" Immie shouted after him and she moved to Luke. "You do realize that your mate, be She a vampire or werewolf she deserves more respect that waiting on your ass hand and foot. For your sake I'm praying she's more powerful than you." She poked his chest and he pales just slightly before darting his eyes to me. I just shrugged and went back to my list.

"What are you writing?" Aaron asked when she realized I wasn't paying attention as Eli called.

"Making a list of people who want to kill me." I told her and she sorted through and 4 pages all front and back before looking up at me. "I've lived a long time Air. Not everyone loves me."