Tim then looked at Michael and said "Ya look aftur Yelena now boy, an don' git no wild haired idea's uf followin'. Thars a world of hurt gonna come down, an I don't want ya ta be apart uf it. Ya got yur ma and pa ta consider, ya hear me. .... Now open up that thar door and close it aftur I leave, don't be open it fur nobody." Tims eyes were cold as steel on a January morning in Michigan.

Michael looked at Yelena and said "Ma'am, I seen that look and have heard those words about a world of hurt before twice. Once when Uncle Tim left my aunts funeral and once when my brother left, the last time, to go on a mission with Uncle Tim. I reckon you already know Uncle Tim use to be a Navy Seal before he became a cop, he brought my brother back, so he could be buried on the family ranch. And them druggies that gunned down his family, well, he sent em' off ta thar home in hell, pardon my language ma'am. Nobody could prove he did it, but he did, sure as it snows in the mountains. ...... I promise ya, somebody's gonna wish they never pissed, pardon my words again, Uncle Tim off."

Jessie was watching customers come and go out of the small corner diner in Arnette, Texas where she was sipping at a cup of coffee and eating a piece of chocolate cake. It was her birthday. She was twenty-five years old and celebrating it alone. She didn't mind that...not really. She was used to it by now as she'd been celebrating her birthday alone since she was sixteen and truth be told, she preferred it that way. She pretty much kept to herself anyway.

Her brown eyes were thoughtful as she watched a small family enter, the father saying something funny to the little girl who began to giggle, bringing a smile to the mother. Jessica sighed, remembering briefly her own family back in Scotland. The family who wanted nothing to do with her since she was a meta. She gave herself a mental shake, pushing the memory back where it belonged....behind a door that had been shut long ago, only to open when she least expected it. She scooped another piece of the cake into her mouth, shutting out the family that had just come in.

"Can I get you anything else?" This came from the young waitress speaking with a Texas drawal and a shy smile. "No....thank ye. I be fine." The waitress stood there longer than needed and Jessie quirked an eybrow at her. "Anything else, lass?" The waitress looked uncomfortable then spoke, "I couldn't help but notice your accent. Are you from England or close to there?" Jessie sighed, "Aye, I be from Scotland but I am now an American citizen." The waitress stammered out that she'd not meant anything by asking, just was curious that's all. Jessica smiled gently to the girl, "Tis alright. No offense was taken."

Jessica finished her cake and coffee, left a tip for the young girl and left after paying the cashier. She climbed into her '68 mustang and headed out of town. She had spotted a good place to set up camp for the night on her way into town and wanted to check it out and make sure it was safe.