I Am Jessamine

Later that night Jess found herself with Spence and Barney in the underground parking area near the service elevator. They had got through in a stationery delivery vehicle that Barney had driven. A lot of deliveries happened after hours to avoid hold-ups and Hopper, wearing a baggy coverall over his black fatigues, had delivered the stationery to the security who said they would hold onto it for the bogus company until morning.

Hopper had then quietly and gently jabbed the security officer in the neck with an incapacitating agent which would have him out cold for twenty minutes to half an hour and when the officer recovered, would then have a headache from hell and his vision would be blurry, but their virus would be in the system corrupting all camera recordings, log-ins, and elevator usage.

According to Hopper’s voice in their earpieces, he had taken the stairs and was already on the floor above the designated offices and removing a pane of glass, ready to rig himself up and get moving. Jess was very impressed because that meant a crazy number of flights of stairs. She knew the guys were fit, but hells bells that would have been some workout.

“Right, Jess,” said Barney as they stood in the elevator, “we will stop two floors below, which are totally clear, and you will get out and climb into the ventilation shaft directly opposite the doors. From there you will make your way up. You got this?” Jessie put her game face on, pushed everything else aside, and concentrated solely on what Barney was saying even though she had gone over it numerous times. “You remember where to place the packages, yeah?” Jess nodded again.

“Even if it sounds stupid or you get irritated you have to keep mentioning where you are and whatever you may encounter in those vents. We have to know, Jess.” Spence looked at Jess and she saw his face was serious and his eyes flashed. “You’re wearing the right gear so slipping through them should be a breeze. Once you have the packages in place move on. If you see a red laser stop where you are and tell us. This dude sounds paranoid to the max so I would expect booby traps from him. Having seen a couple of his guards, these neanderthals look like they don’t play.” Jess nodded yet again. She was ready to get this done and end it all. Rancliff would kill her at the drop of a pin and walk away smiling, so Jess had to see him the same way. If he didn’t go down now, with all the time traveling information in his possession, heaven only knew what he would do if he went back.

The elevator stopped and Barney pulled the manual cage doors open carefully and looked out. Nodding to Jess he leaned down and made a step with his hands and Jess stood in his cupped hands and he lifted her. Jess pulled the cover from the vent and Barney pushed her up. She pulled herself in and then pushed the vent cover into place carefully and pocketed the latches.

Hopper spoke in everyone’s ear telling them where he was on the outside of the building, feeling like king kong, and Jess had to smile. He had placed his packages and set the detonators exactly where they had planned and there had been no glitches so far. He told them there were lights on in the offices and there appeared to be six neanderthals with automatics and sides and one male with a sidearm in and out of the main office. “Tall, lanky looking mofo, guys. But he is mad as a bee in a jar. Looks very agitated and keeps wiping his face. He’s jumpy and will crack at any sound. Be careful.”

They all acknowledged and Jess mentioned where she was and told them of the wires hanging through the shafts that she had to be careful of. “Okay, that’s affirmative on their security. They have clearly linked theirs up with the main building security. The virus will take theirs down as well. Jessie, check the wiring and tell me if you see little black clips on each of the different colored wires. They will be spaced at least an inch apart.”

Jessie was already sweating up a storm and moved to the shaft with the wires running down and checked carefully. Orange, blue, red, white, green, black, and yellow. “Yes, they are all here and the black clips are attached to each. There appears to be a bigger black box thing attached to the side of the vent shaft.” She heard a chorus of hisses as the men said ‘yesss’ and Jess only imagined how they were relieved by this.

“Hopper do you have the mofo in your line of sight?” Barney asked quietly.

“Affirmative.” Hopper’s response was brief.

“Are you able to hold your position?” Jess imagined Hopper hanging onto the side of the building swaying in the wind and she felt nervous for him.

“Uh, that’s a negative.” Hopper hesitated and Jess didn’t want anyone being in unnecessary danger.

“What do you need?” she asked quickly.

“A timeline from when he realizes the security is compromised,” Spence muttered and she could see him closing his eyes.

“I am almost there, just hold on. I can keep eyes …” and that is as far as Jess got when she heard grunting and flesh being hit and deep breathing and panting.

“Keep moving Jessie,” Hopper said in her ear loudly enough over the other noise.

Jess dragged herself quicker and placed the last few packages in their allotted places. She then closed her eyes and recalled the plans for the ventilation shaft and moved towards the designated spot over the main office and quietly and slowly slid herself through towards the louvered vent cover.

“We have taken down two neanderthals with minimal damage to ourselves, but the neanderthals are tagged and bagged,” Spence said quietly but sounded breathless and Jess sighed gratefully.

Their comms were dead quiet so Jess whispered breathlessly, “In position. Full view of mofo’s office.”

“Do you have eyes on him?” asked Spence with a grunt and Jess wondered if he had got hurt.

“No. Voices outside.” Jess strained to hear what was going on and then Rancliff came flying into his office slamming the door against the wall.

Jess pressed down on her comms mike hoping the guys would hear. “I don’t give a shit about it being the internal security’s main frame problem. We have to see any unusual glitches as a threat. Keep in touch with each other via your two-way radios and stay on the alert.” Rancliff threw himself down into the chair behind a very large desk. The place was sheer opulence and Jess was amazed to see his British Brigadier General uniform on a special mannequin in the corner behind him. Insufferable bastard.

“Thanks, Jess. They will be onto us soon if they can’t reach the two we took down.” Said Barney quietly.

Just then one of the goon squad crashed into the office and was breathing heavily and Rancliff jumped up. “Two of our men are missing. I can’t reach them on the radio.”

“So go and find them for chrissakes!” shouted Rancliff.

“Jessie! Get out of there. Move! Move! Move!” shouted Spence and Jess began slowly pulling herself back, but something must have caught Rancliff’s eye and he looked right up at the vent. He screamed to his men, “The shafts! The ventilation! They’re in the ventilation shafts!” He then pulled out his sidearm and Jess pushed herself back and wriggled as fast as she could backward to get to the bend so she could turn around and get herself out of there.

He began firing up at the vent cover and Jess dropped flat and held her head. When he had used up his bullets and had to change magazines Jessie moved as fast as she could, got to the intersection, and turned and headed back. There were shots fired from below at the tunnel Jess was in and she could hear shouting.

In her ear, Spence shouted, “We’re here Jessie. One. Two. Three.” And Jess heard a door get shot open and more shouting, but the bullets never stopped being fired at where she was. Jess had brought her tiny little dagger with her and it was neatly tucked into the thick leather strap around her wrist, but she also took out her Glock and was moving with it in her hand.

She heard Hopper shouting, “Move over rover, Hopper is comin’ on over!” and a loud shattering noise which could only mean he had shot out a window pane and then crashed through it. “Hello, boys!”

Jessie heard Rancliff screaming, “Get them! Kill those fuckers!” and his voice was just below her, and then automatic fire opened up and the tunnel around her started disintegrating. Jesus, he’s literally ripping apart the vent with bullets. Jess curled up and held her head waiting for the craziness to end. Then she heard the metal tearing and knew what was coming. The vent snapped and it dropped at the one end and Jess couldn’t stop the momentum and she slid down the shaft and hit the carpeted floor, losing her Glock, and landed on her back looking up at Rancliff and he stared at her with wild, crazy angry eyes. He was breathing heavily and pointing the automatic at Jessie.

Reaching down he grabbed her by her hair and hauled her up and smacked her across the face and she flew over a desk. Her head spun and she saw stars and tasted blood in her mouth. Rancliff was fast and he came after her and again grabbed her hair and lifted her to her feet, but this time Jess was ready. She held onto the wrist that was holding her hair with both hands and then lifted her feet off the floor and kicked at his chest with all her might. He grunted and let her go and flew backward. Jess landed on her feet and very carefully slid her tiny little dagger out of its sheath at her wrist and held it up against her wrist and stared at the man she wanted dead. She hated him with a passion and felt the heat rising from inside her and she gave him her most evil grin and with her other hand, she showed him to come for her.

Rancliff was a coward, but fighting a woman and being able to inflict pain upon her seemed to be his Achilles heel. He took the automatic rifle and flung it down and made his hands into fists and brought them up to his face. “I am going to beat your brains out of your head, you fucking bitch!” Jess grinned with blood all over her teeth and running out of her mouth and nose and he charged at her.

She knew what he would do so she let him come at her and right at the last minute she dodged and used the tiny dagger that was wedged in her fist with the blade sticking between her fingers and punched him under his arm. It did not hurt too much but the little blade did its job. She knew she had nicked the artery. It was a good strike and she flipped the blade back against her wrist. She turned and he laughed at her telling her that what she did had not even hurt him. She put her chin down and grinned again and he became enraged and flew at her. This time Jess misjudged and she got a glancing blow on the cheek from him and she spun and dropped to her one knee. She knew Rancliff would take advantage of this and as he approached her she jumped and flipped over using a handstand technique and her boot caught him under his chin. The contact was good and she heard him grunt. Jess turned around just as he moved to get up and had his back to her. Her head was still spinning and her adrenalin was running out so she prayed her next move was accurate.

As Rancliff stood Jess jumped with both feet up and hit him right in the kidney area and she half fell on top of him as they both went down. Jess was exhausted but brought her sharp little dagger out and slashed behind his heels. She heard him scream and he reached out for her and managed to get her belt. Jess slashed and stabbed at his hands and arm until he let go and she slashed at the other ankle. Rancliff howled like a man in a rage and Jess stood up on shaky, wobbly legs and looked down at him.

She saw her Glock on the floor and picked it up and holstered it and then kicked the automatic out of his reach. His hands were bleeding badly as were his ankles. His chest must start to feel quite painful around about now, Jess thought as she sat heavily on an upturned desk breathing as though she had just run a marathon.

Spence came crashing into the office where Jess was with Barney and Hopper close behind him and they stood and stared at her sitting looking at Rancliff. Putting his hand on her shoulder Jess looked up at him and nodded and he patted her shoulder. He looked pretty banged up himself as did Barney and Hopper.

“You bitch! You fucking piece of shit! You have ruined everything. I hate you! I hate you!” Rancliff screamed as Jess stood up and pushed her little dagger back into its sheath, looked around to make sure she had left nothing behind, and walked out of the office, leaving Rancliff to scream after her how much he hated her and he would arrange the ruination of her family and her lover. He would personally see to it that Grayson would be drawn and quartered.

Stopping Jess held up a finger silently asking for a moment. The guys nodded and she dragged herself back to Rancliff and he grinned at her, “I knew your fucking lover would get your attention!” and he laughed.

“No,” Jess said tiredly, “Grayson is safe and he will never be touched by you. Neither will Rourke, or Genevieve or Gem, for that matter.” He stared at her not comprehending.

“Your son? Germaine?” Jess asked with a grin on her face that would make anyone’s blood turn to ice.

“He’s dead you stupid cunt! Went down with the ship, thank god!” He was proving ever more how much he deserved to perish.

“No, James, he did not. I rescued him. I saved him. I loved him like my own and he is the most amazing boy and I am so proud of him. He is Master Jermaine Kellie O’Cleirigh and he has nothing of you in him. He is honorable, loyal, kind and so very humble. A son to be proud of, but you threw him away.” She turned to walk out of the office and leave Rancliff screaming obscenities after her, but she stopped and looked back at him, “Thank you for Jem.” Tipping an imaginary cap she bid him farewell and hobbled out of the office and walked to the service elevator with the guys and they all clambered in. “Going down?” asked Hopper and grinned showing a missing tooth and Jess raised an eyebrow. “You should see yourself.” Said Hopper as he grinned at her and they all laughed and then groaned as the lift lowered.

Reaching the parking they climbed into the van and Hopper pulled on his coverall and cap and they drove out from the underground and parked three blocks away. “Do you think he would have got out of there by now?” asked Barney.

“Nope,” Jess said, feeling very sure of herself.

“You sure?” asked Spence

“Yup. Sliced off both Achilles at his ankles and the superficialis and profundus in both hands. He’s bleeding internally because my first blow with my little dagger caught his axillary artery.” Jess leaned her head back and tried to open her jaw carefully.

“Don’t do that. Let it get stiff and then it will begin to relax again. You’ll be okay.” And Barney patted her leg.

Spence flipped a black plastic box open and inside was a silver switch. “Wanna do the honors?” he offered Jess and she shook her head.

The men counted down together. “Three. Two. One.” And Spence flipped the switch and they heard loud popping noises and they stepped out of the van as they watched the strategically placed packages go off as they had been set to go off. Very carefully and with precision. There would be structural damage, for sure, but easily fixed and the floor above would definitely fall in, but there would be no building coming down.

They got back in the van and drove off and Jess felt relief and sadness but mostly relief. Spence handed her a bottle of water and a rag and Jess took a big swig and began cleaning the blood off her face and nose. Her cheek, eye, and jaw began swelling up and it hurt. A lot.

Hopper took an alternate route out of the city to avoid the police, ambulances, and fire brigade so their trip home took a little longer than expected, but finally, they got back. Jess watched as the men took off the number plates and replaced the originals and peeled the plastic signs for a bogus delivery company off and then tossed it all in a drum and burned it all. Removing all their gear, Jess included, down to their shorts and t-shirts they placed the firearms in a massive trunk, and the clothing got burned up in the drum as well, and then they threw in the blueprints, the cardboard cylinder, and their notebooks and then added trash on top of the fire so it was all burned thoroughly. The ear pieces, comms devices, firearms, knives, and extra ammunition and magazines were all placed neatly in the trunk, taken to the horse stall at the back of the barn, and put back in the very big hole and they all took shovels and covered it up and threw hay over the loose soil and their footprints.

Walking over to where Baggy was watching her, Jessie gave him love and attention but he drew his head back and his eyes rolled. “It’s okay baby, it’s only a little blood, but I need you to do something for me that will help me so much, my big boy.” The horse came forward and nudged her and she grinned at him even though it hurt to do so and she found the roll of hidden peppermints in a hole in the wood post of his stall and gave him two. He happily chomped them as Jess opened the stall gate and called him into the stall where there were loads of fresh hay and she hung a bucket of oats for him.

Baggy happily entered the stall and sniffed at the clean hay and other new smells. Without much fuss, he lay down and rolled all over covering himself in hay and Jess laughed at her horse. Standing up again he shook and then walked over and started to munch the oats in the bucket. The men had raked up the other marks made by their feet and when everything was the way it should be they walked out of the barn and the men headed to Spence’s cottage and Jess to the house.

Walking into the kitchen Jess went straight to the fridge and praised Maria for her good senses and took a Bud light out for herself. Leaning against the counter she twisted off the cap and took a few deep swallows and then burped loudly. She then heard footsteps on the stairs and Jess stood dead still and reached for a knife and slid down behind the counter.

“Jess, is that you?” came a very nervous and shaky voice. Jess had completely forgotten that Jerry was sleeping over.

Standing up from behind the counter she saw Jerry standing with a bedside lamp over his head. “Relax Jerry, it’s me. I forgot you were here.”

Jerry stood staring at her and his mouth hung open. “What the fuck happened to you?” Jess showed her surprise at his use of vulgar language.

She shrugged and said, “It’s over, Jerry.” And the old man stared at her and then asked, “Where’re your clothes?”

“They got sterilized.” She said blankly and Jerry just nodded and looked totally confused. “Your face is swelling and bruises are forming.” And he put the lamp down and walked over to the fridge freezer and took out a bag of corn, wrapped it in a dampened dish towel, and gave it to her, “The cool temperature will cause the blood vessels to narrow, staunching their flow and minimizing swelling.”

Jess held the bag to her face and nodded, “Thanks. Did you know that back in the day the healers would apply leeches to the bruised area?” Jess didn’t know why she said that, but Jerry nodded.

“Yeah, I know. Arnica works a treat too. I’m talking about the real McCoy here, the flowers.” He said and put the kettle on “May I?” he asked and Jess shrugged and left him to it. He took out some tea and made himself a cup as Jess went to sit down at the table. “How do you know about herbs?” asked Jess.

Bringing his cup of tea and another beer for Jess he sat down at the table. “My mother was an herbologist.” His eyes got a faraway look as he spoke and Jess listened as she opened the second beer. “You should have seen her greenhouse, ah, it was a thing of beauty. We never went to doctors for anything.” And he began telling her about his childhood and his mother and Jess felt herself winding down.

“If you loved helping her and are so knowledgeable on herbs and their healing properties, how come you became a lawyer?” she raised her eyebrow when he laughed, “Back then that was not a respectable profession, according to my father. He was a lawyer, you see, so it was expected I would become one too. My wife thinks my love of plants is a load of baloney, too, so I keep my interests to myself. Although I do have a greenhouse at home where I keep all my herbs, bulbs, and such. I have orchids too.” He said proudly with a grin on his face.

Jess was seeing a different side to Jerry and perhaps he wanted to be found out for his crimes. She tilted her head to one side and looked at him, “Why don’t you quit, Jerry?”

“Oh, I’ve wanted to on many an occasion, but the wife has high expectations and likes the idea of being a lawyer’s wife.” He said sadly and frowned. “Does that make me weak and pathetic?”

Jess burped and put her beer bottle down, “Yep, it pretty much does, but we all do things for our own reasons Jerry. Ben always used to say to me, ‘Don’t judge people for the choices they make when you don’t know the options they had to choose from.’, so I don’t judge you, Jerry.” She took the bag of corn away from her face and laid it down slowly, “But, if you want to quit and open your own little herbal remedy nursery, I will help you. I believe you will be happier and better suited to that line of work.” Jerry stared at her open-mouthed, “You would do that for me, Jessie?”

Leaning her elbows on the table Jessie leaned forward, “Jerry, you have been a loyal attorney and business manager to my family for as long as I can remember and you happened to make a very big mistake. I was very angry and if I had not seen you in this different light I probably would still be angry, but I see you clearly now. You have dropped the pretense and I can see how truly unhappy you are being a lawyer. You really should rethink why you are still a lawyer and maybe look into leaving your wife with her sister. Perhaps pack up her things and send them to her?” Jess asked and Jerry laughed and slapped the table, “I had that same thought this evening when I tried to call her and the sister gave me an earful. Bitches can stay in Jacksonville. Lots of retired doctors and lawyers there for them to harrass.” Jessie laughed and gave him a high five.

Groaning Jess stretched, “I am going to have a hot bath and then probably the best damned sleep I have had in ages.” And she stood up and Jerry picked up the bottles, handed her the frozen corn, and as Jess turned to leave he said quietly, “Small frequent snacks, lots of water, beef up your B6 intake, and teas with fennel, cinnamon, and lemon balm. Don’t forget slippery elm, flax seed, and oats. Ginger, Camomile, and Peppermint are all good for mum’s to be. I can always help there.” Jess stared after him as he tossed the bottles and washed out his cup.

Putting her arm out she said, “Come on Jerry, you can assist my bruised, stiff self up the stairs.” He put his arm around her shoulders and they walked up the stairs together. At the top, Jess said, “We will talk in the morning. Have a lie-in. It is Sunday after all.” And they went off to their rooms and Jerry felt a lump form in his throat at her compassion and generosity after all the wrong he had done. He felt so humbled and ashamed. He would help her get her affairs in order, sell of his biggest clients and then close his practice. Quit from the profession he had always hated and start something he loved more than his marriage. He knew that would be a battle, but he would do what he had to do and start over. That old bumper sticker saying was true, you never are too old to start over.

Jess dragged her feet into the bathroom and began running the water. She tossed in some bath salts and as the tub was filling she walked over to the mirror and looked at her face, “Well bug, thank god these will be gone by the time you get here, honey, or I would frighten you half to death.”

Jess stripped and got into the bath and sank down into the comfortably warm water and she groaned. Lying for a while in the bath Jess began to feel her muscles relaxing and she ran her hands over her very flat tummy and felt only love for the little life growing in there. This is you and me Gray, my love, my life, my soul. This is our legacy. Daddy, this is your grandbaby. Mom and Dad, I carried parts of you with me over two hundred years and she will be all of us. Nicky, this is your blood too. I miss you all and I love you all so very much. Never forget my precious darlings. Never forget.

The sobs wracked her body and she shoved the washcloth in her mouth, but Jess let it all out. She didn’t try and stop herself. She didn’t think of herself as weak or soft. It simply was and she allowed it all to flow from within the deepest parts of her soul.

After her soul-cleansing cry, Jess had a good scrub and then got out of the bath and wrapped the towel around herself, skin glowing all shiny and new, apart from the bruised face. Jessie dried off, lotioned up, and dragged on a pair of pajama shorts and a vest she lay on the bed with the semi-frozen corn on her face and went over the events of the evening one last time and then promised herself it will get buried with all the other bad stuff she had done to keep her family and loved ones safe.

She remembered Rancliff’s face when she had told him about Gem. The rage and the fury were tangible and he would have killed her if he could. Rancliff’s child now living with the surname of those he had hated so much. She wanted that to be on his mind when the roof, quite literally, came crashing down.

There would never be an attempt from him to try and make Ireland his Kingdom. Ireland would live through rebellions and battles, but would eventually gain its independence, and not be ruled by one man, but by the people. Whatever other issues that country may have, it would never be tainted or touched by James Rancliff and his ilk.

Jess began feeling a little nauseous and quickly scrabbled in her drawer for a cracker and broke off a piece and started nibbling. “This isn’t morning, bug! Oh wait, it is, but very early!” and she lay back groaning. Sweat beads popped out on her forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. “Look, can we make a deal?” she spoke to her baby, “I will eat very sensibly, enjoy only one beer on the odd occasion and keep up the exercise, weather permitting, by taking walks on the beach down at the coastal end of the ranch? And you will do your best not to cause too much upheaval with my digestive system. How do you feel about that?”

Jess lay with her corn on her face and her arm over her eyes and her other hand on her belly. Nausea began to slowly subside and Jess smiled. Patting her belly she said, “Now, I will tell you all about the Faeries of Ireland and how they impacted my life, mo cuishle. You will know that you are the product of a very, and all too brief, but so appreciated, love that waited for a thousand and twenty-five years. I will tell you of your daddy, who I know loves you beyond all sensible reasoning, just as I do. I will tell you about the little boy, Gem, who I loved as my own. You will get to know all about your great grandfather and your grandparents, who are so beautiful and brave, proud and honorable, and loyal to their kin. I will remind you of your heritage all the time, my bug, and I will make you proud of us all. They all watch over you with so much love and caring. Their love, their souls, are a part of you and me. We will never forget, angel bug.”

Jess began at the beginning, right here on Kellie’s Heart, and she fell asleep at the part where she met Grayson Iain Murphy for the very first time. With that memory, a smile touched her lips and stayed until she woke up the next morning.

Kelleirigh’s Heart Ranch – Eight months later