The next morning was rougher than most. Just the thought of breakfast sent her stomach into a fit. Shuffling out of the bedroom head down she made it to the kitchen and quite literally walked into an immovable object.

Looking up in confusion Jesse frowned then closed her eyes on a groan when she realized she'd walked into Gage.

"Wow you look awful," he said resting a hand on her shoulder.

She winced and her eyes filled with tears. Everything hurt and she had what was shaping up to be a migraine.

"Aw baby don't cry, come on we'll find you some aspirin and I'll put you into a nice hot bath when were through. "

Wrapping his arm around her he led her through the house to the bathroom where the medicine cabinet sat full of wonderful drugs for relieving the very worst of headaches.

Once she'd downed the aspirin he took her hand leading her through Marty's room into her large master bath. Sitting her down on an animal print foot stool that sat beside the tub he then began to run water for her bath, grabbing some bath salts and oils to make it and her smell wonderful. Resting her head on her knees she listened to the water rush into the tub while Gage scurried about. God this was nice, she thought, to have someone take care of her or to even care that she had a headache. It was very nice.

He had finished up and was kneeling in front of her when she opened her eyes once more. "It's ready now. Get out of those clothes and I'll have Marty find you something to wear, for when you come out."

They were close his face was mere inches from hers. Nodding she smiled. "Thanks Gage, you're my new best friend."

A rumble from within was his answer, a very sexy laugh, which of course meant nothing, he wasn't flirting this was how he was and Jesse needed to remember that.

With a sigh she stood up turning toward the water and began unbuttoning her shirt.

"Have a nice bath," he whispered knowing that the bathroom echoed, not wanting to give her headache any reason to pound harder.

Marty was sitting on the edge of her bed looking a little rough around the edges. "What were you just doing?"

"Helping Jesse, she's hung over with a headache."

"Me too."

His face turned thoughtful. "I'll get you some aspirin and water. Be right back."

Marty nodded. "Thanks Gage."

Once she'd taken the pills she used the guest bath to take a quick shower before returning to her room to dress.

Her hair was still wet but she didn't think she could handle hearing the high pitch whine of a hair dryer near her head so she pulled it back into a pony tail and slipped on a white cotton skirt with a deep purple knit top.

Taking a seat on the sofa next to her cousin she released a sigh. "Remind me next time of my limit."

"I'll try," he murmured.

Turning her head to the side to look at him she said, "So what was that about earlier?"

His brow furrowed, "What"?

"Well, without putting too fine a point on it," she began, "I've never known you to run a bath for anyone, well I take that back, you've done it for me a time or two, but that's different, never have you done it for my friends."

Gage smirked, "That's because I'm afraid of being raped by them."

Marty grinned, "You're probably right."

"Jesse's different," he said quietly.

Her eyebrows raised into her hairline as a slow smile filled her face. "Do tell cousin."

Groaning he released a sigh. "She doesn't ignore you when I'm in the room."

Marty nodded, having encountered that more than she would like to admit.

"She hasn't thrown herself at me or acted different when we were alone."

"Thank goodness, it's really embarrassing when they do that, makes me wonder what I was thinking." Marty was recalling two years ago when she had invited a girl from work to taste test and found her on her knees pulling at the fastenings of her cousins jeans. Apparently she wanted to taste him first.

Gage blushed, thinking about that specific moment as well, "Yeah tell me about it."

"Jesse's not that type, that's why I like her. She admires beauty, but more from afar," Marty offered quietly.

"Then she'll always be a close friend," he offered quietly, "I think I would like her as a friend too."

Marty was somewhat surprised, but pleased. "I'm glad we agree."

For the rest of the morning they sat quietly, Marty nursing her hangover and Gage thinking about his new uncomplicated friend.

"When Jesse finally left the tub the water had grown tepid. She still was foggy minded, but the headache had lessened a great deal. It was as she was climbing out of the monstrosity that took up an entire corner of the bathroom that the oil on her body, especially the bottom of her feet, turned out to be her downfall.

She screamed as her foot slid on the tile while she was lifting herself from the tub causing her to pull some muscle she didn't know existed down the back of her leg while she slid into the splits with one leg still caught in the tub then falling onto her side and striking her head on the tiled floor. Whimpering and crying she tried to curl up into a ball but her foot was still caught on the edge of the tub and was throbbing in pain.

Marty rushed into the bathroom and saw Jesse on the floor she was about to help when she saw how her foot was dangling over the edge of the tub. Something was wrong with it.

"Gage!"

All color left his face the minute he walked into the bathroom. Jesse wasn't lucid she looked dazed and shaken. Marty had tears streaming down her eyes.

When his cousin pointed to the obviously broken foot that was dislocated as well holding onto the lip of the tub he almost lost it.

"Call 911."

Marty ran to get the phone.

Jesse whimpered and Gage sat beside her, stroking her hair. "I can't move you, not without the paramedics. They'll be here shortly."

He didn't leave her side just sat there trying to make her comfortable until the ambulance got there.

This was a new one for them, but they acted professional. Because of the position she was laying in one leg behind her the other in front and she on her side, it took three paramedics lifting her simultaneously before they could arrange her properly and strap her onto a gurney, securing her foot so that it wouldn't move.

Marty rode in the ambulance with her, and Gage followed in the car. They both sat in the waiting room waiting on news of her injuries.

Eventually she was wheeled out to them with a hyper extended knee, a broken left foot and a sprained right one. "Oh God, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry Jesse," Marty was holding her tightly while sobbing her apologies.

Jesse summoned a smile for her. "They gave me great pain killers, I won't have to feel a thing for at least a week."

Marty laughed, "I'm so glad and since this is all my fault you're going to be staying with me until you're healed."

"That's sweet but so not necessary. I'll be fine at home."

Shaking her head she then looked to Gage, "She's your friend too, you have to make her stay with us."

Jesse blinked somewhat surprised.

Kneeling down his beautiful light blue eyes met her less brilliant ones, "She'll cook for you the whole time your there and you know what else?"

Jesse shook her head mesmerized by his voice.

"You won't have to lift a finger, no chores. Please stay Jesse."

While she wanted to laugh at his reason, it was the 'please' that pulled her heart strings. With a sigh and a nod she said yes.