"That's far enough," Jess clipped, and put her hand up. "Seriously Ryan, what in the fuck is going on?"

"Just wanted to see you. Seriously. Heather said you've been miserable and—"

"Cut the crap Ryan. What did you mean by 'I know why she killed him?' Are you trying to be this pathetic, or does it come naturally?"

She crossed her arms. The sweat on her palms wicked off onto her jacket, and more was soaking into her bra. Was he just being a jerk, or did he know something? She kept her eyes glued to him, slowly breathing to calm her nerves. She didn't like this one bit.

He was so different from Shaun, and she went there, comparing them as he paced. Ryan was willowy and lean, Shaun had depth and muscle. Ryan lacked confidence in himself, to the core. He was a smart guy, but never pursued college because he didn't think he could do it. It was all she could do not to scream when he would launch into his pity tirade about how life was shitty and not fair. Shaun had always known his calling, and from all indications, was good at it with a quiet seriousness. She liked his decisiveness, his ability to control a situation. It was attractive. This neurotic behavior, which was standard operating procedure for Ryan, was not. She did, at that point, wonder what in Hell she had seen in him.

"Well?" she prodded. "I don't want to be here, and I would rather get back to Aunt and Uncle, thanks. We've all been through shit the past two days."

"Or your cop boyfriend?" he sneered.

"Not your business, Ryan. Quit trying to change the subject."

"Ok, I overheard your dad talking on the phone at work the other day, in the break room. I didn't know he was your dad. But he said that someone he was trying to hide from was getting too close."

Jess shook her head. "Okay, but how does that indicate you know why?"

Ryan paced back the other way, his hands in and out of his pockets, obviously upset. She had a brief notion to reach to him, calm him, but held it in check. He looked up at her and threw his hands up.

"He said 'she was dangerous' and that he couldn't let her get wind that he was here. That was all. Something to do with protecting someone, but then everyone has baggage right? Even you, it seems."

"You think?" Jess snorted. "But not the point right now, Ryan. Why didn't you come forward with this? Why tell me?"

"I don't know Jessie, I just needed to tell somebody and then when the news said that Mike was your Dad, I just kind of—" He stopped, shrugging.

"Kind of what?"

"I thought you might help me. I think he might have been protecting you. And I wanted to help you, because I fucked up everywhere else. Big time."

So, there it was. Her dad was back here to keep an eye on her. It made sense, because otherwise why would he risk being so close yet not making contact with her? Maybe her mom was coming back, and he didn't want her to go to the ranch. Or maybe something else had happened. She had no idea. She backed up a step, and put her hands in her pockets.

"Ryan, you haven't fucked up."

"Yeah, I have. With you, with all this—" he gestured to the building. "I should take the blame for this."

"What? That's ridiculous. Just come with me, and you can talk to Mack, he's the lead detective. He can help you make a statement," Jess implored, as calmly as possible. Ryan was starting to lose control, and she backed up again. This wasn't going how she wanted.

"I can't, okay? I can't! I don't want to go to jail!" he half-yelled, half-sobbed, starting towards her quickly, his hands diving into his pockets, fumbling with the right one spastically. He was within reach of her, so she backed up again.

"Why would you go to jail?" she stuttered, astonished. "You didn't shoot anyone, did you?"

"No, Jess! Jesus. I know who the shooter is, dammit. I know who she is because I helped her! I told her where to find Mike a day or so before I heard him talking on the phone. I didn't warn him, 'cuz I forgot all about her until... Until she'd—"

"So who is she then?" Jess asked, fishing. Did he know she was her mother? What else wasn't he saying? She took a breath and watched him pace, still fumbling with his jacket pocket.

"She said she was his ex-wife, or girlfriend, or something. I don't remember exactly, Jess! All I know is I told her where he worked and then she shot the place up! It's my fault! All mine!" he screamed, completely losing his cool. He dug further into his pocket, tears streaming down his face and he paced towards her quickly.

"Jess. You have to know I—"

He had a gun. It had to be that stupid Glock he had a permit for and liked to boast about. Why he would use it now she had no idea, but given that he looked like he was about to do something incredibly stupid like point it at his own head, she reacted. She took a big breath in and screamed as loudly as she could.

"YOU FUCKING JERK."

A moment later, a black blur steamed past her and Ryan was tackled to the ground by Shaun, Mack following to point his gun at Ryan's head while Shaun subdued him and put zip cuffs on his wrists in a ridiculously fast motion. Both of them yelled at him to stay down, hands behind him, the usual cacophony as they arrested him. Shaun had a knee on his back, and Mack holstered his weapon and got on his cell phone.

"You get all that?" she asked Mack, who nodded, his eyes not leaving Ryan as he struggled with Shaun, yelling a stream of profanity.

"Back away Miss Nichols, please," Mack snapped through his teeth.

She did, and made for a safe distance, at the side of the building, shaking like a leaf.

"Fuck," She murmured, dazed at the admission. No gun appeared when they frisked him; his phone had been in that pocket. He must've wanted to show her something. She felt a bit stupid to have reacted like that, but at least now he could tell them everything. Mack picked it up and dropped it carefully into an evidence bag he had in his pocket.

It took her a moment, but she got her shaking under control and anger replaced whatever her nerves. Why the hell had he put her in that situation? Why would he want to tell her, and not the police? Did he purposely not warn Mike? As Shaun lifted him up, she marched up to him before anyone could tell her to stop, leaning right into his face.

"You piece of shit, how? Why?" she spat. "Tell me now, you waste of space."

"I'm sorry, Jess," He gasped through tears, not looking up. "He was your dad."

"Jess," Shaun intoned, but she ignored it.

"She walked in here and sprayed bullets everywhere. She tore families apart. Why? Did you know she was going to do that and just not give a shit?"

Ryan sagged in Shaun's grip, the shame getting the best of him. Mack took her arm, and she wrenched it free. "Don't touch me," she snarled and he backed up, a look of shock on his face.

"JESS!" Shaun shouted, and she finally looked up, his fierce stare stopping her cold. She raised her hands and backed away.

" Okay, okay," she placated. Officers had come running at that point, and Shaun had handed Ryan to another officer, who frog-marched him towards a cruiser.

Yet another officer escorted her back to the wall, told her to stay put, and stood close to her, arms folded. She was so angry, she was almost ready to punch something, and she barely noticed when Shaun walked over and told the other officer he would take over. She jumped when he touched her shoulder.

"Get it over with," he muttered, backing her up to the wall, standing in front of her so she couldn't see what was going on. "I'm wearing my vest. I'll allow you to punch me once, but remember I am an officer on duty."

She gave him a look of incredulity, her anger gone the minute he was near her, his solid form providing the calm she needed to lower her blood pressure. How he did that, she wasn't sure, but she was grateful.

He was actually humoring her, a relieved look in his eye. Really? She reached out and fake punched him in the chest, then dropped her hand, breathing out.

"Jesus, Shaun. What in hell do I do with that information?"

"You did good. Shit, I was scared for you. The minute you yelled... Also, remind me never to piss you off."

"He didn't do anything wrong, but man, he's in a heap of trouble for not coming forward, isn't he?"

Shaun shrugged and hummed. "Maybe. Not my call."

Jess felt sorry for Ryan. All the people he knew that were killed paired with him carrying that guilt of giving her mother the address of the plant. It was not going to be easy for him. She felt her phone vibrating like a possessed thing, but ignored it. She wanted to be away from anything to do with this entire terrible ordeal; preferably somewhere she could distract herself with a drink, or six.

"Can we go? Somewhere? Anywhere?" she blurted, and levered herself off the wall. "Unless I have to go give a statement about that idiot."

Shaun shepherded her as they walked towards Mack and a couple other officers. The crowd was breaking up, the arrest of Ryan proving to be more interesting than a wall of remembrances. Media were following at a safe distance with cameras, and Shaun took off his cap, shoving it over her hair. She pulled it down over her face. That was all they needed. It would be all over Facebook by morning.

Michelle gestured wildly, a reporter with a phone holding it up and nodding, Tracey and Heather behind her poking their own phones, the white light from their screens making their faces angular and harsh. She knew they were just trying to help in their own way, but this evening had not been the right time. If ever.

Heather looked up and saw her, and mouthed an "I'm sorry" and signaled with her hand to call her. Jess let out another breath to prevent her temper from pushing her to walk over and tell them what for as well. Of all the ridiculous things girlfriends did... She looked away as Shaun touched her arm.

"We need to get you out of here, I think. Mack says he can get your statement in the morning, and I can do my paperwork at the same time. I think you've had enough fun for one night."

She nodded, weary to the bone of dealing with this nightmare. She just wanted it over. Shaun quickly spoke to Mack one more time, and waved as he headed over towards another officer. Shaun opened the truck door, and she jumped in quickly, burrowing down. As they left the parking lot of the factory, a few reporters pointed and tried to follow, but Shaun sprayed bits of gravel with the back tires, thwarting any pursuit.

Once they were on the next block away from the chaos, he stopped the truck. They sat there, the idling engine the only sound, and both looked out the windshield, silent, absorbing what had just happened.

"I don't want to go home yet," She said into the silence. "I—"

He nodded, looked over at her, and put the truck into drive again. He was gripping the wheel tightly, his jaw flexing, and she wondered what he was thinking, but decided not to ask. He looked mad, or frustrated, or maybe a mix of the two.

"I asked Mack to tell my Chief I was off the clock for the night, but I would stay with you in an unofficial capacity. Jenkins is at the ranch with your aunt and uncle. They seem okay with that. We don't think the risk is to you, and the less family there if she comes back—"

"The better. Got it," Jess added softly.

She reached out a hand on his thigh, remembering how he had been an absolute rock for her in the past two days, and that he was here now for her. He glanced over at her as she squeezed his leg, then took his hand off the wheel and placed it over hers, rubbing her fingers. Touching him leveled her out. It made her want things that she still wasn't sure was a good idea.

The roughness of his calloused hands pulled at something inside her. She wished, right then, that they could be two different people, meeting under normal circumstances at a bar or something. So this could be more than just adrenaline and emotion, because it felt like more than that, and she wanted it to be real.

"Thank you," she whispered, wanting to break the silence.

"For what?"

"For jumping in and being a big damned hero," she replied. "You were like a blur going past me. I didn't even realize you were near me until you were on him."

"Any time," He deadpanned, and turned a corner through a stop sign. "For you."