"Yeah... I'll try," Jess replied, slumping down at a computer and trying to make sense of the pile of notes in her barely-awake state. She didn't want to imagine how rough the customers would be. Despite Roxy's reassurance, nothing felt safe. Not after last evening.

The empath had just started to arrange the jumbled paperwork into some sort of order when the phone rang. For a second, she froze. She knew next to nothing about vehicles, and hadn't had time to learn the skills she'd need. How would she deal with an enquiry, unprepared as she was? "Uh... Do you want me to get that?" she asked Roxy hastily, glancing from her to the phone. She'd probably be best sticking with organising documents for now, although it depended what Roxy wanted.

Roxy sighed and rolled her eyes. She picked up the phone. "Roxy's Shop. How can I help you?" She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and started writing stuff. "Yea that's fine. Bring it in." She slammed the phone down. "If you don't want to be the desk person that's fine. I can manage. I have this long." She growled. She had no patience for people who said they could or would do something and then didn't.

"You don't have to know jack about cars or bikes. Just answer the phone. If they ask you a question you don't know the answer to put them on hold and ask me. Or ignore the damn phone. They will call back or come in." she snapped. She didn't need Jess to answer the phone. She ignored the damn thing more than she answered it. She didn't have time to deal with idiots. She turned as the door to the shop opened.

"N-No, it's ok," Jess insisted, knowing she sounded nothing like the kind of friendly, confident person customers would expect to answer the phone. "I'm happy to do this." After everything Roxy had done for her, she wanted to give something back - and it was about time she developed some useful skills. She had to ease her way back into the world instead of cowering away from it.

Even so, she went tense as the door opened. She had to resist the urge to step back. This would be her first interaction with a stranger since she'd first met Roxy in the cabin. Think of the person you should be by now, she told herself, and pretend to be her.

In theory, it was easy. In practice, not so much.

Roxy studied Jess. She wanted to believe that the empath could handle the simple job she had been given but honestly she was beginning to doubt it. It seemed that the other woman couldn't handle very much. And most of the stuff that she struggled with didn't seem to have much to do with emotions. She shook her head and headed over to the bays. It was few places that she felt confident. She was a natural when it came to repair vehicles.

A few minutes later a biker pulled into the bay. Roxy directed him to the counter once she had his bike stabilized. He walked into the waiting area towards the desk. He liked Roxy she had more than proven herself more than once. She was a tough cookie but she was fair and honest. He liked that she was blunt. She didn't pull any punches. If you screwed something up she would tell you and he appreciated that since he liked to tinker.

That doubt emanating from Roxy didn't help Jess' confidence in the slightest. She brought herself to face the customer - a rather rough, intimidating-looking guy - as he climbed down from his bike and strode towards the counter. Despite her efforts to seem approachable, her greeting came out as a mumble. She cringed. Even with her lack of experience, she knew that wasn't what anyone would call stellar customer service.

There was no reason to be nervous, really. The emotions she could faintly detect from the guy were calm, trusting ones. She of all people should know not to make snap judgements. Interacting face-to-face with people after so long, though, was something she'd have to get used to.

And she could get used to it, despite what Roxy seemed to believe. She could... couldn't she?

The man, Roc, studied Jess. The woman Roxy had indicated was her new assistant an empath. The poor thing looked like she was going to have a panic attack. If she couldn't handle him how the hell was she going to handle the rougher people. Roxy didn't discriminate. If you didn't have an active warrant she would fix your vehicle for you. If you did then you were screw. She would make sure you never saw your vehicle again. Atleast not in one piece. But this willingness to ask no questions attracted alot of less than law abiding citizens.

"Kid you might want to reconsider helping out down here." He suggested as he pulled out his credit card. "I am not nearly as scary as some of the people you will see if you work for Roxy. You might want to hide out of sight. Roxy said to tell you that she is tightening my chain and changing the oil. You should find the numbers somewhere in her chaos."

Jess shuddered at the man's words, but reconsidering wasn't an option. If all she did was stay hidden, then what would she be able to do for Roxy, who'd done so much for her?

"It's-It's alright, really," she reassured the man, scribbling down notes and sorting through the pile of papers. She probably just sounded naive. Like she had no idea what she was getting herself into - and she didn't. She acknowledged that. This was yet another reminder that she and Roxy had ended up in some kind of trouble, and Jess didn't want to think what that trouble could be. "I'll cope. I've got to help in some way. Uh..." She glanced up. "Could I take your name?" The empath mentally scolded herself for not having asked who he was and what he needed done right away.

Once she became more familiar with the regular customers - well, the least rough ones anyway - things would be easier, or so she told herself.

Roc shook his head. "You better not let Roxy hear you say that. She is one touchy lady." He seen one guy offer to 'help' Roxy with someone. The man had thought because she was a small woman she couldn't handle his bike. She had kicked his ass and then fixed his bike. Roxy was one of the few woman he knew that would survive a disaster on her own. He had never met anyone as independ as she was. She hoped she would be able to let the empath in.

"My name is Roc Mckenny." He told her when she asked his name. He had no idea how Roxy kept track of things. The desk always looked like a hurricane had hit it. But as far as he knew she had no trouble getting paid or getting the parts she needed. So whatever she had been doing before Jess would work if the empath couldn't handle things. And looking at the woman he didn't think Jess would at the desk long. Which was kind of sad for both of them.

"Ehh..." No sooner had Jess let her nervousness show, she knew she was proving Roc right about her. Just like Roxy, the man exuded doubt. The empath took a quick glance in Roxy's direction to make sure she hadn't offended her further.

Once she'd scribbled down the name, she began sorting through another mountain of papers. "Ah, got it... I think," she said, pulling out a note with prices and numbers jotted all over it. "This won't... uh, this shouldn't take a moment..." She started up the computer, the till system appearing on the screen. Jess stared. If only Roxy had taken the time to give her proper training. Still, the empath knew she should be grateful for everything Roxy had given her.

Aware that with each passing second, she was keeping Roc waiting, Jess set to work figuring out the system and typing in numbers.

"Take your time. I don't think that Roxy has much of a system. You might want make one of your own. She usually just looks up the cost of the pieces. I have no idea how she estimates labor." Roc told her. He could tell she was overwhelmed. He didn't know if he could help but he knew that he was one of the few clients that Roxy had that might try. Her shop wasn't the kind of place that appealed to the average person. He looked to the repair bay but Roxy wasn't paying them any attention. It was clear that she thought the empath was fine on her own.

Roxy didn't know if Jess could handle the desk or not. She watched the empath as she worked to pulled Roc's chain from his bike. She could tell that the other woman was overwhelmed but she didn't know if she should or could help. She had no idea what Jess was experience. Adapting to society couldn't be that hard could it? It wasn't like she was one of those people who was always surrounded by a crowd. She avoided people when she could. That should make things simpler. All Jess needed to do was write down the work she was doing. Hell she didn't really need to do that. But she figured that it would give the other woman a place to start.

"I'll, uh..." Jess took another look over the sheets of paper. "I'll talk with her about it." There was a note of reluctance in her voice, but she didn't imagine Roxy would react well if she made up a system for her, without her say. The empath had found that prices for certain jobs and vehicle components had already been written down, giving her some reference points, though she and Roxy would have to cooperate instead of working independently. Which would be far from an easy task for either of them.

"But... It shouldn't be a problem. It should be done fairly quickly." As she smiled, she knew she probably looked more strained than reassuring.

A customer shouldn't have to help her. Good customer service meant ensuring the best possible experience, not creating more problems for the client. At least this guy was being patient, but it was unlikely everyone would be.

"For now, uh, I'll make notes," she said, still trying - and undoubtedly failing - to sound positive as she jotted down the job currently being done, glancing over at Roxy every so often. Was she really helping out, or just getting in the anchor's way?

The morning proceeded about as normal as usual. Atleast as far as Roxy was concerned. She worked on the vehicles that came in. The jobs ranged from simple to complicated. Most of them were in and out within an hour. She didn't leave the bay at all. Just sent the customers to the desk for Jess to handle. She wasn't sure if the empath could handle the job or not but figured she knew what jobs she did to fix whatever the other woman screwed up.

At noon a man in a suit came into the repair area. He looked and acted nothing like Roxy's normal customers. Her usuals were bikers and construction workers. This man was clearly a business man. Roxy's heart raced when she saw him. She swallowed as he approached. She indicated to the bathroom. It was the only place on the first floor they could talk privately.

She didn't look at Jess as she followed Max. She didn't want to attracted the empath's attention. She tried to stay calm but she couldn't hide the fear and hatred she felt for the man. The thought of being in a small room with him terrified her but she had no choice if she wanted to keep Jess safe.
----------------------------------------

All through the morning, customers arrived and left. As Roxy had mentioned the other day, they weren't exactly the chatty type, but at least they didn't give Jess as much trouble as she'd feared - except one biker who yelled at her to "hurry the fuck up" as she leafed through the notes. Gritting her teeth from the waves of tension he gave off as he stormed from the desk after paying, Jess tried to focus on sorting the rest of the papers.

So Roxy hadn't trained her. What should it matter? She'd just have to train herself. Didn't she want to reduce the burden she put on the anchor, instead of adding to it? Thankfully, her other duties turned out less difficult than talking to customers. The computer system, like Roc had said, was pretty straightforward, and the mound of paper didn't take long to organise into neat, separate stacks. Jess hoped she'd done so to Roxy's liking. It would be easier to keep everything tidy with folders, but this was a start.

She picked up one of the stacks - only to drop it in shock at a sudden spike of fear. The man who'd just entered the building was nothing like the other customers. It wasn't just how out of place he looked here, in his expensive suit. It was the way he terrified Roxy.

As the purple-haired woman gestured for him to talk in private and followed him, Jess felt the shield grow thinner, a mix of emotions from outside starting to leak in. Her thoughts as jumbled as the papers all over the floor, the empath moved away from the desk, closer to the stairs before it could get any worse. There, she stayed. This was as near as she'd get without intruding.

This had to be the man who'd spoken to Roxy yesterday, who'd caused her that exact same feeling - but what did he want?

Roxy closed the door behind her. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the man who followed her. She hated him almost as much as she hated her father. Almost. Howard was a slimeball but he was also chicken. He wouldn't have had the courage to approach her without his boss's assurance that her hands were tied. If she didn't have a weak empath to protect she would have kicked his ass.

She flinched when he reached out and touched her face. "You know what he wants." He told her as he closed the distance between them. "the boss wants you back."

"I agreed to repair the cars your moron crow damages to keep the cops from arresting them. That's all your boss is getting out of me. I can't go back I have to be near my empath and Jess isn't strong enough to handle me being more involved so unless he wants to be responsible for damaging an empath he will back the hell off and accept what I feel she won't notice." Roxy growled. She wouldn't go back. She was grateful to have the accuse of not being able to be far from the empath. There was no way her father would risk an empath. There was no way for him to hide that. He would toy with her until Jess was strong enough for them to be further apart and then he would force her hand.

Breathe. Stay calm, Jess demanded of herself, inhaling and exhaling deeply, trying to stave off pins and needles of tension that pierced the weakened barrier from all around. She'd almost forgotten just how much stress many people tended to hide. It felt as if a ball of ice were plummeting through her, growing heavier with each stretched-out second, but she had to do this, if not for herself then for Roxy. The anchor was the one in trouble.

She could hear the other woman growling something from upstairs, even if she couldn't hear the exact words. Jess' fingernails dug into her palms as she remained by the staircase, that sense of dread creeping over her - mixed with something else. Defiance. Whatever was going on, Roxy was doing her best to resist.

"He will wait as long as he needs to. You will come back in time. You no longer have a choice." He practically purred. She glared at him and pointed to the door. He chuckled. He knew he was skating on thin ice. He opened the door and stepped out. he made his way across the garage. Roxy followed behind him. Her anger clearly written on her face. Jesse wouldn't need her abilities to see that.

"What do you want for lunch?" Roxy growled. She didn't want talk about the visitor. She needed to get to work on the car he was pulling up to the bay. Just seeing it made her feel dirty. She didn't want to do this. She had walked away from this life when she was sixteen. She didn't want to go back. But now she had Jess to protect and the empath was too fragile to survive the kind fight they would have on their hand if she refused.

Jess shrank back as the man strode out of the door, giving off a sick feeling of satisfaction that made her shudder. Roxy followed, storming back into the garage with a look on her face that could turn milk sour. As if nothing had happened, the anchor mentioned lunch, although her words came out in a growl.

"I, uh... I'm ok with whatever you want," Jess replied as she hurriedly gathered up the scattered papers. Roxy's presence muted the stray emotions that had been creeping in, but her seething anger replaced them.

For a moment, the empath was silent, her question catching in her throat. Roxy was less than likely to want to talk about this, and even if she did, Jess knew she'd probably have no idea what to say or do... but it might be best for both of their sakes if she at least hinted what was going on.

"If you don't mind saying," she finally said in a near-whisper, "who was that?"

"Fine let's go." Roxy wasn't hungry but she knew she should eat and she knew Jess needed to eat. She would take the other woman to the cafe. It was a small place but the food was good. Getting away from the garage would help. She went back to the bay and closed the heavy doors. Then went to the main door and put the be right back sign up. She knew the empath had questions. Many that she couldn't answer. She doubted that she would ever be able to tell the other woman what was going on. The empath simply wasn't strong enough to handle the darkness of her world.

"He's a jerk. He works for a rich guy who's used to getting his way." She explained. It wasn't much of an explanation but it wasn't a lie. She tried to stick as closed to the truth as she could. She didn't know how much the other could pick up.

Although vague, the answer was more than Jess had expected. She wondered who Roxy had been talking to yesterday - that guy, or the rich man she'd just mentioned. Either way, the anchor was in an incredibly tight spot, that much was clear.

"Yeah... Definitely seems like it," Jess commented as she placed the gathered-up papers on the desk and followed Roxy. "This rich guy... If you're ok talking about it, what does he want?"

Once she'd asked, she couldn't help but glance away. Even if this was a question Roxy didn't want to answer, Jess knew this wasn't just about a job on a vehicle. There was so much more going on under the surface.

"It doesn't matter what he wants. He isn't going to get it. Not from me." Roxy growled. She didn't want talk about her father and the dark world she had grown up in. She had done her best to leave that world behind. She was going to fight to stay as far from it as she could. Jess made her venerable but the empaths weakness also gave her a reason to keep her distance. Her father wasn't a stupid man. He wouldn't risk an empath. They were too valuable.

Roxy stormed towards the door knowing that Jess would follow her. She was careful never to go past the amount of space that had separated them all day. She figured that was a safe distance since the empath hadn't said anything to her. She figured Jess would move closer for the space was too much for her. Roxy wished she could read the empath better. But the other woman was still adjusting so her body language was hard to read.