One rest stop and two fill-ups later, Declan drove up a winding gravel driveway, a skinny cement footpath running the length of it to the right. It hadn't escaped Jared's notice that Declan stuck mainly to back country roads during the drive, and as a result Jared now had no idea where they were. He didn't recognize the small cottage house in front of them, nor the thick woods that surrounded it, but his innate trust in Declan kept him from voicing any concerns.

 

Declan pulled to a stop and got out, grabbing his duffle from the truck bed. Following suit, Jared grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder, casting a wary glance at the open front door and the giant, scruffy man that stood in front of it.

 

Jared watched as Rae barely bit back a remark when Declan thrust her duffle into her hands, and it took all his remaining strength not to draw into himself, to shut out the world and hide from what had just happened.

 

Declan traversed the grassy front walk of the cottage that was clearly familiar to him, and not for the first time did Jared wonder just what their life had been like before he had become part of the Cooper family. Out of nervous habit Jared hung back, hovering slightly behind Rae as she followed grumpily in her brother's footsteps. He kept his head down, counting his steps to keep his focus so that his building nerves wouldn’t explode into a full blown panic attack.

 

"Declan," A gruff voice sounded from the front door in solemn greeting. Jared lifted his head and shook his chestnut bangs out of his face to get a better look at their host.

 

"Gideon." Declan returned. Jared watched as the man wrapped a beefy hand around Declan's neck and pulled him close. "I got your message. I take it there ain’t no mess to clean up?”

 

Declan shook his head. “I left a detonator. The Agents will find only a pile of rubble.” Rae let out an anguished cry, shoving Declan aside to storm into the house.

 

Gideon caught her in his burly embrace. “It’s alright, honey. Gonna be alright.”

 

Jared swallowed against the lump in his throat, his fist tightening around the handles of his duffel where it was slung over his shoulder. He watched this man, Gideon, hug Rae the same way he had Declan, though Rae was much more hesitant to leave his embrace. If it hadn't been for watching Rae completely fall apart into the man's barrel chest, Jared would have retreated immediately. He didn't do very well with new places, or new people, and Declan's hand on his back was the one thing keeping him grounded.

 

"Inside, all of you," Gideon ordered, though his soft embrace of Rae belied his gruff tone. "It's colder than the devil's soul out here."

 

Jared hesitated, but Declan was right there, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "It's okay, Jare. He's okay."

 

Jared had no choice but to trust his brother, and followed him inside.

 

 

When they were all settled inside, Gideon held a tumbler in front of Jared's face. "You sure you don't want a bourbon, son?"

 

Jared pulled back, sinking down into the worn leather couch cushions. "No, thank you."

 

"Jared ain't much of a liquor drinker." Declan held out his glass. "I'll take his share." Declan slammed back his refill faster than he had the first.

 

Gideon raised his glass. "To each their own choices. Glad to see a rescue that has some confidence.” Jared flinched at the reference, and cursed Rae for going to bed early. Declan was now his only ally in this strange house, and his only ally was now well on his way to getting wasted.

 

Confidence, yeah right. Jared shrank back even farther, and wished he could just close his eyes and zap himself somewhere else. He jumped when someone gripped his knee, but calmed when he opened his eyes to see that it was Declan, settling in next to him, third shot in hand. "Jared Cooper, meet Gideon Hatch." Declan raised his glass in a toast. "Our ill-tempered, foul-mouthed fairy godmother."

 

Jared couldn't bring himself to meet Gideon’s eyes, and instead clenched white knuckles around Declan's hand, holding on tight.