Summer Heat

Ch 1: Morning

Jessica Buchanan woke slowly, luxuriating in the heat emanating from the body next to her as the sun slowly crept in through the lace curtains. She and Will had moved in together a month ago and sometimes it still seemed like a dream. Her mother had pretty much hit the roof when Jessica announced her attentions to share an apartment with Will, but considering that Vicki Buchanan was living with her own boyfriend Jess hadn’t really listened to her protests about Jess being too young.

Besides Jessica Buchanan knew that the only thing young about her was her body. Her mind and her soul were far more grown up.

She made a move to get up, intending to take a shower and start her day when she felt a firm hand grash her wrist.

“Don’t.” The voice was low and husky and the body next to her pressed closer against her.

A smile grew across Jessica’s face. “It’s Monday. You have to be at work in a little while. And I should meet with my Kelly to discuss that internship at the Sun for the summer.”

“To hell with work.” Will Rappaport listened to Jess’s giggle as he moved suddenly and shifted her so that she was on top of him. “To hell with your internship at the Sun. To hell with everything that isn’t you or me.” As Jessica lowered her face to his and kissed him passionately he found himself rolling her over again so that he was on top, with her pinned under him. “I vote we spend the day right here.”

“Didn’t we do that one day last week?” Jessica’s heart raced as he found the sensitive spot on her neck. “And the week before that.”

“That was to celebrate the fact that you finished your finals.”

“Oh and what would we be celebrating this time?”

A serious look crossed Will’s face. “The fact that I love you more than anything. And the miracle that you love me.”

“Sounds like its worth celebrating to me,” Jessica murmered losing herself momentarily to the intensity of his kiss. “I guess I can meet with Kelly tomorrow....”

Before Will could adequately convey his appreciation of this idea, the phone next to the bed rang.

Slipping out of Will’s embrace, Jess moved over to pick up the phone.

“Jessica Buchanan.” Her voice sounded whispy and she felt herself flush. Anyone on the other end of the phone would be able to guess what they had interupted.

“Jess. It’s Nikolas.”

Jessica sat up a little, her attention caught she shooed Will to come closer. “Nik? Just a second I’ll give the phone to Will.”

She could just detect the note of desperation in his voice and her inner alarm began to sound off. Cassadines don’t panic? “Actually I called to talk to you Jess.”

“Me?” Jess frowned. She and Nikolas were friends, mostly through Emily and Will, but he had never called to talk to her. Unless. “Emily? Nik is Em okay?” She could feel her heart begin to pound even as Will’s arms wrapped around her.

“She’s fine.” Nik hesitated. “Physically at least I think she is. But she won’t see me Jess. It’s been a week since I’ve seen her. Everytime I go to the mansion to talk to her Reginald turns me away. No one’s seen her for the last week, it’s like she locked herself in her room at the mansion. I’m scared Jess. Something is wrong. Really wrong.” Another pause. “I was hoping you knew what was wrong.”

Jessica thought back to the last week. “I haven’t talked to her for a few weeks. The last I heard the two of you were making plans to take a trip together.”

“We were. Everything was fine between us. I swear it. Then one day I arrived at the mansion and she wouldn’t let me in.” She could hear Nikolas’s shrug through the phone line. “This is driving me crazy.”

Jessica took a deep breath and her eyes connected with Will’s. “Calm down Nik. It’s going to be okay. Whatever is wrong, we’ll fix it. I promise. Will and I will be in Port Charles in time for lunch, okay? Can you meet us at the airport.”

“I’ll send the Cassadine jet for you if it means having Emily back.”

Despite her concern Jessica smiled. “Don’t worry. I think Will and I can get to Port Charles on our own. We’ll be there as soon as possible, okay?”

As she hung up, Jessica looked at Will. “She won’t see him. I don’t know why. I’d try calling her but I’ve always been better at getting things out of Em face to face. I think we need to go to Port Charles and see if we can try to straighten this mess up.” She paused. “Em’s my best friend. I know you have work to do so if you can’t make it...”

Will shook his head. “Nikolas is my best friend. The two of them were there for us when we needed it.” He shuddered thinking of those long hours in the hospital when he thought Jess might die. “If there’s something wrong than we need to be there to help them.”

Jess nodded. “I love you Will Rappaport.”

“You better.” He smiled at her. “You’re the one who has to explain to your grandfather why his rising young executive not only has to take a leave of absence but has to borrow the company jet also.”

“Don’t worry. My grandfather considers Emily a Buchanan by extension. Besides he’ll probably tell you to spend some time spying on the Quartermaines and write it off as a business expense.”

“The Quartermaines? What about the Cassadines.”

Jessica shook her head. “Not even my grandfather is deluded enough to go into business with the Cassadines.”

“Good point.” Will said as he picked up the phone while Jessica took a quick shower before packing. In five minutes he had made the arrangements that would take them to Port Charles.

Next Chapter: Conversations between friends.