“Atlanta!” Zander laughed, taking a deep breath of the city air. “How… I didn’t really miss you this time.” The end note was somber, and Jasper sighed at his friend,

“Better than being in the house?” Jasper asked, shrugging. He pulled his crutches out and groaned. “Probably not.”

“Oh, wait,” Elijah called as Jasper started to crutch away. “Don’t move, Jasper. Zander and I have something for you.”

Jasper turned slowly with a frown. Elijah was pulling a case out of the trunk that Jasper hadn’t seen him put in. Zander was grinning like a fool at him, and Jasper grew worried.

“What’s going on?” Jasper asked, moving back toward the Range Rover.

“Well,” Elijah huffed, opening the locks on the case. “You aren’t going to have a good time tonight on those. And this showed up a couple days ago. I’ve been getting it ready with some added enchantments, but I think you could use it tonight and test it out before I put the finishing touches on it.”

Jasper sat down in the back seat and leaned his crutches again the side of vehicle. He watched Elijah carefully pull a metal leg out of the case. Jasper’s jaw dropped.

“I was going to build it myself, but I was having a really hard time with it. I contacted a company for ideas. They make custom and stylish prosthetics. It’s what I wanted for you, and they had a wealth of knowledge about what’s needed for you to be comfortable.” Elijah chuckled and handed it to Jasper. “So together, we designed this. Something fitting for an IMPO Special Agent who’s out there helping take down the bad guys.”

It was gorgeous, all black with silver and gold accents. It was sleek and interesting, without having that obvious prosthetic look to it. He could see where he would slide his knee in, and it would fit snugly. There was a sleeve that went on higher up the thigh to secure it. It was shaped like a real calf, a real ankle. It was sturdy as hell, since they made it out of some sort of metal, probably because of what it would go through.

“I designed yours with their Cycle model and convinced them to let me throw in a bit extra.” Elijah continued to explain. “Then there’s a foot attachment as well, so you can wear shoes. That’s why we haven’t let you throw them out yet.”

Jasper was stunned. He pulled it to his chest as tears formed in his eyes.

“Since then, I’ve been doing research on physical therapy to get you accustomed to using it.” Zander said picking up where Elijah left off, “but I think you’ll be fine. We’ll worry about that tomorrow.”

“Jasper?” Elijah asked, waving a hand in Jasper’s face.

Jasper just held the leg for a moment. He had been better than most with losing a limb, but it still ate at him. He’d never been the best of the guys. He’d always been physically behind them. He did everything he could not to hold them back on the more strenuous activities of their jobs. Losing his fucking leg was just another added kick to the balls for him, though. He needed people to help him get around. He needed to drag crutches around everywhere.

“Jasper. Hey, my bud. You okay?” Zander asked gently.

“Thank you,” Jasper whispered.

“I looked into it.” Zander sighed. “Your knee may still flair up, but we’re looking into enchantments, and there is a Magi who might be able to correct some of the issues with pain, now that you have a prosthetic.”

“This…” Jasper gasped for air as his eyes filled with tears again. Just when he’d finally gotten the others to back off. “This means the world to me.”

“Let’s get it on!” Elijah cheered, patting Jasper on the shoulder. He took the leg from Jasper, and Jasper pulled his shorts up for Elijah to have a good view of his thigh.

It took about five minutes to secure, since none of them had done it yet. It gave Jasper time to think about something.

“Why did you wait for us to get here?” He asked, looking between them.

“I figured you might want to get the emotional stuff out of the way… without everyone else staring at you,” Elijah chuckled. “Just me, you, and Zander. And it gives you a night to adjust before everybody else sees it. That way you can stumble around with us and go back to them completely normal.”

Jasper laughed, and he slid the shoe over the fake foot. Zander offered an arm to help him stand, and Jasper accepted it. It was strange, and he wobbled around for a moment.

“Let’s try a few steps,” Zander said, leading Jasper as he walked a few feet. It felt good, and he looked down and noticed the foot was actually bending where the ankle should have been.

“How’s does it know?” he asked, testing it, rocking back and forth on it as he watched.

“The ankle? It’s designed to move naturally as you walk or run. Or ride a bike. It has a ball joint that gives it the movement. I’ve been playing with an enchantment to make it more responsive to you,” Elijah said, kneeling down. Jasper lifted his leg, using Zander as support. Elijah messed with it, but Jasper didn’t know what he was doing. “You should be good to go for the night. Let’s get to the club and get drinks.”

“Yeah, I think I’ll stay sober tonight,” Jasper reassured him. He didn’t want a repeat of what happened at Harry’s, and he wasn’t a drinker to begin with. He was normally the babysitter on these trips, anyway. “I’ll make sure you two stay out of too much trouble. Are the rooms booked?”

“Yup!” Zander laughed. “We just need to pick up the door keys and check in for the night. Then Elijah and I can go find girls. Or boys. Whatever floats your boat this evening, Cowboy.”

“We’ll see.” Elijah laughed. “I’m not sure what I’m feeling, so…” Elijah shrugged with a grin.

Jasper chuckled and let go of Zander. He wasn’t steady, but he thought he could get adjusted quickly. It felt… mostly natural, except that he really couldn’t feel anything with his new leg.

He was overwhelmed by the gift Elijah and Zander had just given him. He’d spent the last few weeks wondering if he was going to spend his entire career with a standard, ugly prosthetic behind a desk. He’d always pushed himself to be the best he could, and that would have wrecked him. There was a real fear that the IMPO would pull him off the team if he couldn’t do the work of a Special Agent. He would have been shuffled into admin and forgotten.

That wasn’t going to happen, now.

It was near midnight and Jasper was sitting in a small booth at the bar sipping on water. Zander was drinking a Jack and Coke across from him while Elijah chatted up a short brunette next to the table.

“It’s been a pretty subdued night,” Jasper noted, looking over at Zander.

“Yeah, I guess I’m just not feeling it,” Zander groaned. “Which sucks. I needed to… get some shit out of my system, and I’m not sure I can.”

“You need to get laid,” Jasper said flatly. “That much is obvious after that stupid move you pulled with Sawyer today.”

“Don’t give me that.” Zander puffed up and glared at him. “I’ll crawl over this table and dump that fucking water on your head if you give me shit for that.”

Jasper rolled his eyes.

“Go get your dick sucked. Fuck, man,” Jasper growled. “I don’t need you moping because you have a hard-on for a woman who’s not interested.”

“She’s interested,” Zander mumbled petulantly. Jasper shook his head.

“You need to let her go,” Jasper whispered.

“Have you?” Zander asked in a snarl.

No. Jasper hadn’t lost hope for Sawyer yet, but he knew better than to get in her face over it anymore. She was going to have to come around on her time. That would give him time to handle his own issues with the entire situation.

“I didn’t think so,” Zander grumbled when Jasper never answered, “And we all know what you’re hung up on.”

“I’m getting there,” Jasper sighed. “She’s done a lot of good stuff in the last few weeks, but it’s hard to forget what she became after we left her.” Jasper thought it was all their fault that any of it happened. He believed in right and wrong. End of discussion. They had done wrong by leaving her alone. She had done wrong by…

Jasper took another sip of his water. She’d done awful things because she didn’t have a choice, he reminded himself. No choice at all. She’d fallen for the worst guy she could have. She had been tricked into and trapped in a cycle of pain and despair, and for some reason, Jasper was hung up on her life as an assassin. He was hung up on her activities as a thief when she didn’t need to do that anymore. He was hung up on the fact that she was supremely capable of violence in a way he’d only knew one other person to be. But Quinn and Sawyer were two very different people with two very different sets of circumstances.

“You’re both idiots,” Elijah said, laughing. The little brunette was hanging on him, but he didn’t seem to mind it. Jasper didn’t give her a second thought after that. “You both need to give her time. She’s not the type of girl to fall into bed. She’s too fucking smart to open that can of worms. You’re both trouble for her. We all are.”

“Elijah, you should come be trouble with me.” The brunette giggled. “Come on, big fella, let’s go dance.”

“I’m not in a dancing mood tonight, ma’am. I’ve been trying to tell you that for twenty minutes.” Elijah sighed. “You’ll have to find another partner.”

“You big tease,” she replied and giggled. Then Jasper watched her commit a cardinal sin and take Elijah’s cowboy hat. He saw Elijah stiffen as he looked down at the young woman. She put the hat on her head. “Come dance.”

He didn’t say anything. Jasper swung a quick glance at Zander who was a bit wide-eyed. One did not ever take Elijah’s hat without asking.

“You should go,” Elijah told her, not showing any anger or frustration. He took his hat off her head and brushed it off. “I’m not interested.” He ended in a growl, putting his hat back on. She gasped and glared at him before finally walking off.

“You really know how to pick ‘em.” Zander chuckled, pointing at the retreating back of the young woman.

“I’ve been telling her no for twenty fucking minutes,” Elijah growled. “I get it, she’s drunk and I’m me, but damn. No means no. Speaking of that. Zander, Sawyer said no, and no means fucking no.”

Jasper snorted his water at that. Bullseye from the cowboy. Zander turned a little red and looked away.

“I just want her…” Zander mumbled.

“Yeah, well, give her a fucking break, will you?” Elijah growled out softly. “I’ve got her talking to Quinn about all of this now, and Quinn’s fucking trying to make the mental leaps to figure it out. On top of that, you two aren’t the only ones in the house who live with permanent hard-ons over her.” Elijah took a deep breath, and before Zander could cut in, he continued. Jasper just leaned back and let it happen. “Vincent’s fucking tied in knots over fucking everything, and I’m not sure how to get his head back on straight. Quinn is attracted to her, but doesn’t know how to approach a… I hate to say this, but a human female. He just doesn’t understand how to handle it. He’s used to simpler ways. So just fucking back off before this fucking goes buck wild on us.”

“You didn’t include yourself,” Jasper pointed out.

“Yeah, I find her attractive,” Elijah huffed out, leaning back. “And I’ll be honest, I don’t care who she sleeps with or who she doesn’t. I really don’t, as long as no one gets hurt. But I’m in charge of this team on the emotional side of things, since Vincent has always been shit at it. I need to keep all of you fools happy, and you’re making it fucking difficult.”

“I don’t care,” Zander whispered. Jasper turned to him, and Elijah raised his eyebrows. “I don’t. She can…” Zander trailed off, pursing his lips.

“Ah.” Elijah chuckled. “You think you’re okay, but you can’t even say the words. Tell me, Zander, what would happen if I slept with her and—”

“I’d fucking kill you,” Zander growled.

“Exactly.” Elijah groaned. “And you didn’t even let me finish to say, if we both slept with her. I guess it’s different for me because I have Quinn, and we’re both fine finding other partners. I know you’ll ever only be comfortable with Jasper and he’s got his own fucking problems.”

“You and Quinn aren’t… a relationship?” Jasper asked. Elijah and Quinn were always hard to define. Jasper was going to downright ignore the other implication. He was only half on-board with Zander’s half-cocked plan to win Sawyer over to both of them. They weren’t stupid teenagers anymore. There was more to worry about now.

“We’re not, but it still changes how I see things.” Elijah chuckled. “Maybe I just spend too much time with Quinn. He thinks we make all of this too complicated.”

“We’re human. You two are weird,” Zander grumbled, finishing his drink. “I don’t want anyone here. I’m just not into the idea. I want her, and a random hook up just isn’t going to fucking cut it for me. That’s what’s wrong tonight. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

“I should have gone out to the woods,” Elijah said, sighing. “Just hung out with the wolves.

“I’m having a fine time.” Jasper chuckled, looking between them. “A bit of distance is great for me right now. Gives me some clarity.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Zander snarled.

“Both of you be quiet. Let’s go to the hotel and just watch porn or something. Or sleep. Sleep is good.” Elijah groaned. He left their booth and Zander followed. Jasper was a bit slower, but he met up with them at the Range Rover.

“Sleep is good.” Jasper sighed.

“How is that for you?” Elijah asked him carefully, hauling himself into the passenger seat. Jasper was driving since he was sober and only needed one leg to do that.

“Hard,” Jasper groaned out.

“She still having nightmares?” Elijah frowned. He looked back to Zander, but Jasper knew Zander wouldn’t have an answer.

“Every night…” Jasper sighed. “I’m going to try and convince her to keep a dream journal and use it to talk to a therapist or something… the shit she dreams about? It’s awful. It’s one of the reasons I’m so… I’ve lived through her life now. Every kill, every moment of abuse. None of the fucking happy memories. I would give my fucking other leg for a night where she has normal fucking happy memories.”

“Don’t you need to go into the dream to get that much?” Zander asked as Jasper drove them to the hotel. “Like, normally when people leak into your dreams, it’s just flashes.”

“And when she had an inhibitor on, it was just flashes,” Jasper sighed. “But now her magic is completely unrestrained. It’s flashing out of her all night, and I’m getting caught and pulled in completely. I take naps at my desk throughout the day now, just to get enough sleep.”

“Good luck convincing her to see a professional,” Elijah mumbled. “She’s been strong enough to handle it on her own for a long time. She might be resistant to seeing someone and spilling her secrets to a stranger.”

“I know,” Jasper whispered. He figured he would need to try and solve the problem first before asking her to let someone else try. “I might look into enchanted dream catchers too. For myself.”

“Those are expensive.” Elijah sighed. “Need to be made by a Magi with dream walking and enchanting. Good luck finding said Magi.”

They spent the rest of the drive in silence. Jasper actually had the journal on his desk for her. He would give it to her tomorrow. He made that promise to himself, to give it to her and hope she used it. It wouldn’t help him, but it was the start of progress. In the meantime, he knew what he could talk about that was something not Sawyer.

“What’s going on with that murder in Texas?” he asked Elijah. Elijah took a deep breath and groaned.

“It’s a really Anti-Magi area. They aren’t going to ask the WMC to send the IMPO in. Whoever gets sent will need to contend with the fact that they will have resistant locals for the entire thing,” Elijah explained. “It’s going to be us.”

“Yup!” Zander piped up. “Because fuck us!”

“Is it definitely a Magi kill?” Jasper continued, firing off another question.

“It’s definitely a Magi body,” Elijah growled. That made Jasper accidentally hit the brakes a little too hard. “Yeah, now you see the problem. We’ll be going into an Anti-Magi area to find out who killed off a Magi—if it was a murder. Nobody is going to be helpful.”

“Fuck,” Zander sighed, quieting down in the back.

That wasn’t good for any of them.

They parted ways at their rooms, and Jasper tucked himself in for his first restful night of sleep in weeks, nearly months. But sleep didn’t come quickly, even far from Sawyer. The problem with what was going on was now he didn’t know if all the nightmares were hers… or if some were just his own.