�How else can you explain it?� Jenai asked in return. �Davis said I looked like my brother, but he wasn�t talking about Marty. And in the hospital when I asked for a name he said �your brother�. What reason would Marty have to kill us and watch us get raped? I�m telling you, Daniel is still alive.�
�Even if he is why would he want you dead?� Kevin questioned.
�I don�t know,� Jenai answered.
�So where is he then?� Jakob wanted to know. �Why hasn�t he shown himself?�
�He has,� Jenai said.
�She�s right,� Nickolas agreed. �We just didn�t know it was him.� Jenai looked at him, as he got up.
�What are you talking about?� Jakob asked and Nickolas took a picture off the wall and rejoined them.
He put the picture on the stand and Jenai sighed, �He�s been hiding among us and we didn�t know it.�
�Who is it?� Dannika asked.
�The trusty secretary boy,� Jenai replied. �Daniel Miller, my brother.�
�Are you sure?� Jakob asked.
�Positive,� Jenai said throwing her picture on the table. �He�s my brother and I never knew it.�
�How could you have?� Jakob said. �You thought he was dead.�
�I should�ve known,� Jenai said getting up.
�You couldn�t, Jenai,� Kevin stated.
�I should�ve known!� Jenai snapped. �He was my brother and I loved him! I was too blind to see that though. This was never about some attack on some building or whatever. This has been about me the whole time.�
�Don�t blame yourself,� Kevin said.
�Why not?� Jenai asked. �I left my parents send him away.�
�You were seven,� Jakob reminded her. �There wasn�t much you could do.�
�I could�ve protested,� Jenai said.
�You thought he was dead,� Jakob reminded her again.
�What happened?� Dannika asked and Jenai looked at her.
�Daniel is Brianna�s twin brother,� Jenai began, �and when he was twelve we were told he died.�
�Why?� Dannika asked.
�I don�t know,� Jenai replied. �That�s how twisted my birth parents were�are.� She sighed. �Yes, Danny was a problem child and got into lots of trouble, but us kids loved him dearly.�
�Apparently your parents didn�t,� Nickolas said.
�They didn�t love any of us,� Jenai stated. �Three months later I was dumped on the Richardson�s, Marty was dumped on the Wallace�s, and Brianna was dumped on the Grant�s.�
�That�s just horrible,� Dannika said.
�Yeah,� Jenai agreed. �One day in �88 Skip and LaKeisha came home and said that Daniel was dead. �He was hit by a car� they said. Of course we believed them, because that�s what kids do right? They believe and trust their parents.�
�Right,� Dannika said.
�I look back now and wonder why I ever believed them after all they did to us,� Jenai said. �We believed Danny was dead and never questioned it.� They looked at her.
�How comes your mother looks like Sergeant Stevens?� Jakob asked and they looked at him. �I�m being serious.� Kevin picked up the picture and looked at it.
�He�s right,� Kevin said.
�Are you telling me Portia Stevens is LaKeisha Miller?� Jenai asked. �My birth mother?�
�Or it could be a twin,� Dannika suggested.
�The chances of that are very slim,� Jenai said.
�So that�s probably why they wanted Sergeant Stevens to work on the case,� Nickolas said. �She�s connected to JJ.�
�Exactly,� Kevin said, as a cell rang. �Excuse me.� They all waited while Kevin talked on the phone and Jenai picked up her picture and looked at it. Kevin stayed on the phone a few more minutes and then looked at the others.
�What is it?� Jakob asked.
�Um, that was Rich,� Kevin replied. �It seems there was a gas leak at Laken Simpson�s apartment building.�
�Is she all right?� Jenai asked.
�Yeah,� Kevin said. �Everyone�s all right, but they�re at the hospital for observation.�
�That�s good,� Jakob said.
�Do you want to hear the interesting part?� Kevin asked.
�What�s that?� Dannika asked in return.
�Emilie, Octavia, Shay, Josette, Nikita, Alex, and their respective others were there also,� Kevin stated and they all looked at him. �Another thing, Nick, your brother reported Summer Mathers missing this morning. Apparently she�s been missing for a few days.�
�She�d never leave without saying anything,� Dannika stated.
�They have some officers out looking for her,� Kevin said. �I told Rich to keep me updated.�
�This is my fault,� Jenai said.
�It�s no one�s fault,� Kevin replied. �I�m sure she�s all right.� Jenai didn�t say anything and walked to the kitchen. �I have to make some calls.� They nodded and Kevin walked back the hall.
�I�m going to call and see how Justin�s doing,� Dannika said walking away.
Nickolas and Jakob just looked at each other and then Jakob walked outside. Nickolas stood there a moment and then walked towards the kitchen, as Jenai walked out. They just stood there looking at each other and then Jenai sat on the sofa and looked at her picture.
�Are you ok?� Nickolas asked. Jenai just shrugged and Nickolas sat beside her. �This isn�t your fault no matter what way you look at it or what happens. For all anyone knows she could�ve just wanted some time alone and took a little vacation. Aaron said she�s been stressed lately.�
�She would�ve said she was going away, Detective,� Jenai stated. �She never left without saying.� She wiped her eyes. �God should�ve just left me die that night.�
�You don�t mean that,� Nickolas said. �You�re just upset about what�s going on and once it�s over you�ll feel better.�
�I do mean it, Nick. If I just died that night with Brianna and Alexis then Callen would still be alive and Summer would be safe with Aaron and Justin wouldn�t be lying in the hospital. None of you would be in this situation.�
�So you were born into a family with issues. Who hasn�t?� She looked at him. �My family has issues also.�
�Yours don�t try to kill or kidnap people. My family is dysfunctional and homicidal and psychotic and��
�JJ, why don�t you take a few deep breaths and calm down. You were actually enjoying yourself today so continue doing so. Kev will let us know if he hears anything about Summer.� He got up. �Just do what you were doing earlier and let the police work on finding Summer. There�s really nothing you can do here in Kentucky.�
She watched him walk away and sighed. �What I was doing was thinking about that dream I had of you skinny dipping under the moonlight and then making love to me all night. That�s all just wishful thinking though. I�ll be dead before that happens.� She got up and went outside.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, whatcha making?� Jenai asked joining Nickolas in the kitchen.
�A salad,� Nickolas replied. �Do you want one?�
�Sure,� Jenai said getting herself a bowl and setting it beside Nickolas�. She got the strawberries from the refrigerator and stood next to him. She looked him over and smiled. �So.� He looked at her. �It�s a nice October night.�
�Yeah it is,� Nickolas agreed grinning. �So how�s Justin doing?�
�He�s fine,� Jenai said. �He was getting ready to eat dinner and then he was going to get a sponge bath off a hot nurse.�
�Every man�s dream.� She grinned. I could give you one she thought to herself and Nickolas looked at her. �But he�s fine, right?�
�Yeah; but I�m sure after the sponge bath he�ll be more than fine.� Let's talk about something else , she thought. �So.�
�So.� This is fun, she thought eating another strawberry. �So why are you against Kevin and Kristin naming the twins after Brianna and Alexis?�
�Well it�s not that I don�t want them to, ya know. It�s just that I wanted to name my girls in their honor, but now I can�t and it hurts.�
�Right.�
�It�s just how I feel right now.� He nodded and she sighed. Boring. �Ya know, Nick, we really shouldn�t waste this night.� She turned around and leaned against the counter, as Nickolas looked at her. �What do you say we go for a swim?�
�Let�s keep it professional, Miss Richardson.� Jenai rolled her eyes and sighed.
�It�s just a friendly swim.�
�If ya want to swim then go for it. I�m not going to stop ya, but I will remind you that it�s like only 60 degrees out.�
�I don�t want to swim by myself; it�s not fun and I meant the hot tub.�
�So get Dani.�
�She�s female and on the phone with Orlando.�
�Then ask Jakob.�
�He�s back with Janie and on the phone with her.�
�Then��
�If you say Kevin I swear I�ll kick your ass.�
He grinned and said, �I was going to say �then I can�t help you out�.�
�By taking a swim in the hot tub with me you can.� She smiled and he just looked at her. �Did I ever tell you cops suck?� She sat at the table.
�More than once.�
�Well ya do. You guys don�t even know how to have fun.�
�Thank you.� She got up.
�I�m surprised you guys find time for a social life since all ya do is work, work, and work some more.� She got water out of the refrigerator and went to sit back down, but Nickolas stopped her. She looked at him and he kissed her.
She kissed him return just as Kevin walked in, �Jenai, I think you owe me an explanation.� Jenai and Nickolas pulled apart and Kevin looked at them with a raised eyebrow.
The three of them looked at each other and Jenai said, �Why?�
He handed her the paper saying, �Explain that.� Jenai looked at the paper a moment then handed it to Nickolas. �Rich just faxed it to me.�
�I can�t,� Jenai said.
�Your name�s on it,� Kevin stated.
�Just because my names on the damn paper you assumer right away I own a gun,� Jenai said. �Well I don�t. You know I can�t stand guns. That�s not even my writing.� She sat at the table. �You�re always accusing me of shit before you get the facts. I�m really thankful you believe in me, Kev, and trust me. It means a lot.�
�You know I believe in you and I do trust you,� Kevin stated.
�You have a hell of a way of showing it lately,� Jenai rebutted. �I�m the victim here and right away you think I have something to do with it. So what if I do? What are you going to do to me that you already haven�t?� She got up and walked out.
�Jenai!� Kevin called after her. �Nice job, Kev.� He sighed and looked at Nickolas. �Am I a terrible brother, Detective?�
�Only up to the point where it seems you don�t trust her,� Nickolas replied. �But other than that you seem like a great brother to have.�
�Jenai doesn�t think so. There was a time when she confided in me constantly and now it seems she doesn�t want me around.�
�I know how ya feel. I have three younger sisters and they hate having me around. Even when I go back to visit they don�t want me around. I only get to see them every few months, ya know.� Kevin nodded. �Perhaps JJ just needs some time away from you. I mean, you two live together after all and are constantly around each other. Plus you constantly want to know her whereabouts. She might think she has no control over her life and feels like she�s trapped within your world. That could be why she doesn�t confide in you. She believes you know everything going on with her.�
�She feels trapped?�
�It�s just a thought. My sisters felt that way once and left me know.�
�Right; I�ll think about that.� Nickolas watched him walk out. �Trapped.� Nickolas smirked and shook his head, as he walked from the kitchen himself.
Nickolas went to walk back the hall when he heard Jenai, �He doesn�t understand me. He can understand me, but he chooses not to.�
�As your big brother it�s his duty to want to protect you,� Nickolas said, as they looked at each other.
�He doesn�t have to suffocate me though,� Jenai stated. �It is my right to want to breathe.�
�Yes it is,� Nickolas said. �But you should give him a break.� Jenai just looked at him and he grinned. �Ok maybe not.�
�I hate guns and Kevin should�ve remembered that before accusing me of owning one.�
�Maybe.�
�Quit taking his side.�
�I ain�t taking sides, JJ.� She looked outside and Nickolas stood beside her. �So.�
�What?�
�Are you still up for that swim?� Jenai looked at him and he smirked.
�I thought you were keeping it professional?� She leaned against the door frame and they looked at each other.
�Are you complaining?�
�Does it look like I am?� She smiled and took a hold of his shirt. He just looked at her and she pulled him to her.
�I guess not.�
She continued smiling and said, �So I�ve been thinking.�
�About what?�
�Earlier in my room.�
�What about it?�
�Well you said, and I quote, �I�ve been waiting for this moment since we met�. I�ve been wondering what moment that was.�
He smiled leaning down to her ear and then whispered, �I was talking about you wrapped in a towel, dripping wet, and looking so sexy. And having no tan lines is even sexier.�
�Not only don�t I have any noticeable ones, but I don�t have any�period,� Jenai whispered in his ear. �And this tan is all natural.� She smiled and Nickolas got closer to her.
They went to kiss just as Dannika asked, �Who the hell�s messing with the phone?�
�Son of a bitch,� Jenai said disgustedly and leaving Nickolas go.
�The phone just went dead,� Dannika stated and they looked at her.
�It wasn�t us,� Nickolas said.
�Someone probably had an accident and ran into the pole,� Jenai said. �No biggy.�
�Right,� Dannika said going back the hall.
�Now where were we?� Nickolas asked going to kiss Jenai as the power went out and they looked at each other.
CHAPTER 24
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