Dan Cena was good at a lot of things. He was a police officer so he was good at reading people, good at shooting, and he could go through a box of donuts like it was nobody’s business. Yes, he was good at eating, good at drinking, good at being the stupid guy everyone knew could always count on to give them a good laugh, even in the bleakest of times. Typically a little less rational and a little more cornball than his older brother John, Dan Cena was always good at being the peacemaker. He and John had always shared this trait along with several others which was probably the main reason Dan and John were the closest of all the brothers. They were the most alike. So much so Dan had often heard himself referred to as "John’s Mini-Me.” Dan had never minded this though. He had always been content to stand in John’s shadow. He was good at it. Good at being a partner, good at being the sidekick. One thing he was not good at though was directions. He had navigation for that. Or, at least, John had navigation for that. Easing his older brother’s new white diamond 2012 Cadillac Escalade EXT Premium into a parking spot Dan took in his unfamiliar surroundings. Finally his eyes came to rest on his destination and he breathed a quick sigh of relief. The Old Spaghetti Factory. It had once been an old train station, or at least that’s what he had been told, and when Dan entered the dimly lit establishment he could see why this had been the chosen meeting point. Instantly, he was bathed in the smells of good food that instilled a homey feel to the air. The place was quaint and comfortable and it was exactly what Dan felt was needed, all things considered. Dan told the hostess he would be having company but would wait for them to arrive before they would need to be seated. As the pretty brunette nodded and walked away Dan went to wait next to one of the large front picture windows, leaning against the wall and peering out into the city that his brother had come to call home. It really did seem to be a vibrant city but Dan knew that had not been what had motivated John to move here. No, that wasn’t so much a question of “what” or “why” but a particular “who.”

He knew Jessica had a new car. She’d mentioned it in the text. His brother had offered to buy her one for months, but it was her new job that had made the upgrade seem appropriate. He saw the silver Mazda 3 pull into the far end of the parking lot, and noticed Jessica Rushing immediately as she got out. She put her borrowed Coach bag on her shoulder, and squared her shoulders, standing up straight. She went toward the front doors of the restaurant, but she saw something from the corner of her eye. Dan watched her, with a slight tilt of his head. Jessica took her sunglasses off slowly. She was staring directly at the Escalade. She knew it. She’d probably seen it at EBWF Headquarters a couple of times, and instantly she looked as though she wasn’t sure what to do. Danny was both confused and conflicted. Jessica looked back to the door, then to the Escalade, and then turned and looked back at her car. Without much thought, Dan opened the door and stepped back out onto the sidewalk. He called her name, and she jerked her head. She smiled, and made sure it was safe to cross the street before she ran up to the curb, and bounced toward him in a huge hug.

Jessica Rushing: You look fantastic. I’m so happy to see you!

She looked back at the Escalade.

Jessica Rushing: You’re alone, right?

There was a long pause before Dan answered, his mind processing this question. Shaking it off for the moment Dan returned Jessica’s hug heartily before stepping back and taking her in like you do after running into an old friend. It was so good to see her again.

Dan Cena: Yeah, I’m alone. Left the usual swarm of adoring women and badge bunnies back at the house. It’s good to see you Jess! Is uh, everything okay?

Jessica Rushing: Yeah, now that I know he didn’t find our text messages, find out where I was coming to see you, beat the hell out of you, and come find me himself. Things are fine.

She laughed almost normally. As though John were the butt of some crazy joke that she forgot Dan wasn’t yet privy to. She seemed to do it to comfort herself. Dan couldn’t quite laugh at the weird joke but he did smile as he shook his head and casually stepped back to rest both hands in his back jeans pockets. He felt like he was missing something here and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what that that something was.

Dan Cena: Oh Jess, you make him sound like a man who is just plain crazy. Not some guy that was just crazy for you. Besides, John won’t be seeing any of our texts I promise you that. I’m not staying with him while I’m in town.

Jessica shook her head. Dan put an arm around her and led her through the door. He had the distinct feeling that even mentioning John made her nervous. Dan Cena could read people. This was beginning to feel like there was more to it than John having a disagreement with Jessica’s new boyfriend. Once the two were inside and comfortably seating in a booth Dan decided to try and lighten the mood by a change in subject. He hadn’t spoken to Jessica in a long time so there was no difficulty in trying to find a safer topic of conversation.

Dan Cena: So I hear somebody at this table has got a new job.

Jessica Rushing: Yeah, I’m Stephanie McMahon’s assistant, which is cooler than it sounds. I make sure the wrestlers are where they’re supposed to be, accompany them to meet and greets, keep them on schedule. I help Nicole choose graphics and marketing stuff too. It’s been pretty great.

Dan Cena: Sounds like it. We all heard about it from Sean. The guy is glued to that IPAD of his, all day every day. We were all real proud of you. Looks like you’re good at it too huh? Saw the nice car.

Jessica Rushing: All Wes needed was an excuse to give me money. He got one. How’s your mom?

Dan shifted in his seat, leaning back and putting one long arm up and over the top of the booth while the other hand started to play mindlessly with the napkin-wrapped silverware. He spoke to his unopened menu with a small smile.

Dan Cena: She’s... good. You know how things are around that house. That Christmas you were there was nothing. You should see it on a day to day basis. She’s just keeping herself busy. Which isn’t really all that hard to do when you’ve got that many grandkids, nieces, nephews and... well, you know. She wanted me to make sure that I said hello for her. She still talks about you a lot. I think you are going to always be one of the honorary Cenas. You and the postman, her book club, and Father Matthew.

Jessica Rushing: I’ve picked up the phone so many times to say hello. I just feel so... so... I don’t get to keep his family, you know?

Dan Cena: Yeah, I know. Try telling my mother that though.

A small grin played at the corner of his mouth. The matriarch of the Cena clan was definitely one of those one in a million types. A character.

Dan Cena: I was going to ask you too, uh, we emptied out John’s rooms downstairs and found a few things. She didn’t know if you’d want them or if I should just throw them away. They just look like pictures of you two and papers and stuff. They’re in the truck. I’ll do whatever you’d like with them. I just thought I’d offer. Ma seemed to think you might want them but... well, I think she’s still living in a bit of denial about everything.

Jessica Rushing: Only pictures? I’m sure he kept them for a reason. Put ‘em in a box, on the top shelf in his closet. If he wants them, he’ll get ‘em out. I’ve got the memories I want. Even if he does keep making me wish I’d never known him at all.

Dan thought about telling Jessica that John had said the exact same thing just the day before but then thought better of it. He’d keep that one to himself. Especially because he didn’t really think John meant it. Something in Jessica’s tone though gave him the same feeling he’d had outside. Something told him that she might just mean those words more than John had.

Dan Cena: I don’t think he’s coming back for them but I’ll hold on to them. Sean’s living down there now.

Jessica Rushing: What the hell happened to Sean that he’s living in the basement?

Dan Cena: Not Sean. Dad. He’s not doing too well. So we all thought one of us should move in and stay there all the time. We take turns but Sean’s there the most. He’s got the smallest family. So he and Catherine and the kids all moved into John’s room and his old gym area. Mom’s getting older too you know? We just kinda thought it was time to do something.

Jessica Rushing: I saw your dad when he made the trip out west for Warfare. He looked very tired. I tried to talk to John about John Sr. about six months ago, but he told me to mind my own business. Nikki tried too, but he got pretty mad at her. You saw it right? He left bruises on her. She’s stopped trying to talk to him. He won’t even text her back about business anymore. Wes tried to release him from his contract, even offered to drop the no compete so he could walk onto Raw next week, but he declined. I don’t get it. He acts like he wants nothing to do with Nikki or Wes or Randy... but he won’t just... go.

Dan had seen alright. His whole family had. Multiple times. It hadn’t been an hour after that particular Warfare had aired that a news crew had shown up at his family’s house wanting to get their reactions. Everyone wanted to know if it was some kind of story cooked up by the EBWF or if his brother had really snapped. Dan hadn’t had an answer to that. He hadn’t answered any of their questions because he knew he didn’t have to. His brother had been in movies but he wasn’t that good of an actor otherwise he’d probably at least an Academy Award by now. His older brother, the man he had looked up to his whole life, had really hurt their father and he had pretty much attacked his former best friend, a woman who he knew John adored and connected with in a way that even Dan couldn’t describe or understand even though he too had grown close to members of the Ikeda family through John’s friendships. It was one of the main reasons Dan had come to St. Louis. Yes, Dan had seen John’s strange and uncharacteristic behavior on television but still most of what Jessica had just said was news to him. Whenever John’s personal life had been hell, like when he’d been divorcing Liz, he’d always thrown himself into his work. It was his lifeline. So why would he be risking his job by not even talking business or just going someplace with fewer... memories? Dan shook his head, finally looking up and directly into Jessica’s eyes.

Dan Cena: I don’t really know what’s going on with him. That’s actually what I’m here to find out. None of us have heard from him in months, except for that terrible night when my parents were here. I’m learning a lot of new, surprising things about him though and none of the things I’m learning are good.

Jessica nodded, drinking from her soda. They’d ordered, and were nibbling on breadsticks.

Jessica Rushing: Just be careful, Danny. Please. I think he’s... well, I think something’s going on with him. It’s like he’s just reacting and then feeling sorry for it later. I don’t think he’d actually hurt me physically, but he’s done some things toward me, and toward Phil that just suggest that he’s...

She sighed. There was no sense in tap dancing around it.

Jessica Rushing: I’m afraid of him and for him.

On paper it would have seemed like a simple statement. To anyone who did not know Jessica or John it might not have meant much but for people like Dan and his family, Nicole, Wes, and all the people that knew John and Jess and had seen them when they had been together, saw the way that he used to look at her and how he had always seemed so fiercely protective of her, a statement like that suddenly wasn’t so simple. Never in his life would Dan have ever thought that a woman, especially Jessica, would be sitting in front of him telling him his brother was potentially dangerous. Jessica knew Danny was a police officer. That meant he knew how to take care of himself and others. Still, the fact that she would ever feel she needed to warn him for his own safety made Dan acutely aware that there was so much more to this story than he apparently knew. His mind flashed back to the day before when he had shown up at John’s house. The way John had snapped at him, grabbed his shirt, gotten nose to nose with him, and glared at him with that cold, threatening look in his eyes. Dan had never seen him like that, not even close, but he had seen that same look before. In the eyes of men he had arrested. Dangerous men who had done terrible things. Just as Jessica had mentioned, John had seemed almost instantaneously remorseful and even confused by his own behavior. Dan had copped it all up to John just being extra stressed with having to work so closely on screen with his ex’s new boyfriend but for Jessica to be sitting in front of him having this kind of reaction, Dan suddenly felt that the day before he had only seen the tip of the iceberg. Her reaction to seeing John’s car made sense too. She’d almost left. She hadn’t been kidding on the sidewalk when she’d said he was afraid he’d found her. ”He’s done some things towards me, and toward Phil.” For some reason Dan felt a chill go up his spine as he leaned over the table, closer to Jessica, a worried and thoughtful expression on his face, a face that was so similar to what John had looked like just a few years before. Without even realizing it Dan’s voice took on the same professional, to the point tone it always did when he was investigating. This time the case he was investigating was just a little closer to home.

Dan Cena: Jessica, what’s been going on down here? What did John do? I need to know everything if I’m going to try and figure this out and it’s looking like I didn’t know a damn thing. He’s my brother. I can’t just give up on him and walk away. I need to know everything.

She exhaled, noticing the salad that had been put in front of her, and took her fork to it.

Jessica Rushing: He hasn’t told you anything? I just guessed that if he needed to talk he’d at least talk to you.

Danny shook his head, realizing that this wasn’t an interrogation. He reached for his fork too. His eyes were kind, and she felt like she could talk to him, so she did.

Jessica Rushing: He came to my house last fall after he came back. He wanted to explain himself, and he did, but I still didn’t understand. I’m with Phil, so John being in my house was uncomfortable. Mostly, because he was so much himself on that visit. It was the last time I really remember him being himself. And I loved him, so much. He was so sorry, and so... he told me everything. He trusted me, and... please don’t mention it to him, but to prove to me that he loved me and he’d never stopped thinking about me. He showed me a beautiful and, a more money than you make in five years, expensive diamond engagement ring from Tiffany. And I think he thought that I was just going to break up with Phil, and go running back to him. I was offended. I thought he knew me better than that. I wasn’t going to leave Phil. I cared about him. We hadn’t been together long enough for me to know I loved him, but I wasn’t going to punish him. We were already serious. Nikki thinks that’s when John snapped. It wasn’t long after that he took a few weeks off work, and came back... like this.

Dan Cena: I think that was, well, the last time John was home. Those first few weeks off. He had finally been given permission to leave the state after the whole arrest mess not too long before and he wanted to come home to make sure everyone was okay and explain things a little more clearly for us all. He showed up looking like absolute crap and Ma, being typical Ma, was trying to talk him into going to see a doctor when dad came in. They got in this huge fight and I mean huge. They have never fought like that before. John kept asking Dad about why his word didn’t count for anything and why wouldn’t he listen. Dad said John had shamed the family and that he never thought one of his sons would end up in jail like that. It ended with Dad telling John to “get out of his house” and, that as far as he was concerned, John “was no longer his son.” John just turned and left without another word. He stayed in a hotel for two more days and then on the third day when we went by to see him they said he had checked out. That was it. That was months ago. At the time he still seemed himself for the most part but just a little more quiet, distant, beaten even. I don’t know what to call it. Then, it was like no one heard from him for a while. No one knew where he was or what he was doing or if he was even okay. He just disappeared. I even ran his cell at work and it had been shut off the day he left Massachusetts. None of his bank activity changed. We all started to kind of fear for the worst. Then one day he just showed up on television again without any explanations, phone calls, nothing.

Dan mindlessly chewed on a small bite of pasta, wondering if he should even mention the next part. It wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t make anyone feel any better or change what had been happening recently. Still though Dan felt the innate desire to try and help his brother, no matter what he had done. Dan sat his fork back down and began to talk, his bright blue eyes taking on the look of someone recounting a memory of a day they hadn’t thought about in a long time.

Dan Cena: For what it’s worth, which probably isn’t much at this point, he’d had that ring for a while. He got it not long before the Slammy Awards that he took you to, and I don’t think I will ever forget it because that was really the last day I think I saw him truly happy. I was there the day he picked it up at the store. He’d had it custom made and all that jazz. I think he caught me looking at the ring box because he asked me if I had ever loved someone so much that I stopped caring about myself, so much that I didn’t exist anymore. I told him yes, I felt like that about my kids. He just smiled, said “good,” and I asked him what every good brother has to ask, was he sure this was what he wanted to do. I’ll be honest Jess, my family and I, we adore you. Grams was practically already knitting a “Jessica” stocking for next Christmas and Shoal was planning on asking you out for hummus and bark or whatever crap she likes to eat next time you came to Boston. Hell, my twins kept wanting to call you “Aunt Jessie” but I had to explain to them that might be a bit embarrassing for their uncle if you heard them say that. It’s just, after what happened with Liz, none of us ever thought he’d get married again. Not with the way things went. But John said he was sure and I asked him how he knew, considering last time. I will never forget what he said then Jess, mostly because of the way he looked when he said it. He said, “Because Jessica is beautiful and doesn’t even know it, she’s smart and she doesn’t believe it, she’s kind but always her own worst critic, and because she’s the kind of girl you just never get over.” I think he actually even practiced popping the question when we got back to his place that night and later, when I asked him about it, he said, “I’ve got to get at least this one thing right.” I really don’t think when he showed up at your door that day he was expecting you to just dump Punk and come running back to him. I think he just wanted to make sure that you knew how he had really felt about you for a long time because he hated himself so much for messing things up and I think he thought that if he hated himself that much you had to hate him even more, and he didn’t blame you for that. He was always kicking himself for not telling you sooner how he really felt. We were all raised being told that the only time you ever fight is when it is for something you love. John’s always been a fighter, more than any of the rest of us, and giving up isn’t really something he’s ever really done. I think he’d held on to the hope that maybe he still had a fighting chance to fix things. I think that was what got him through a lot. Truthfully, I miss the guy he was with you. It was the best version of John I’ve ever seen. Yesterday I saw the worst. I have no idea what happened to him for all those weeks he was gone but I know that I’m going to try to find out because I’ve seen John snap before and even that wasn’t anything like what I saw yesterday. I want my brother back and I’m not leaving St. Louis until I see him again.

She nodded.

Jessica Rushing: I hear what you’re saying Danny, but respectfully, I disagree with you. There was no need for him to make sure I knew how he really felt unless he hoped it would benefit him in some way. I don’t think he did it maliciously, but that was the day he lost hope. He’s been attacking Phil. Assaulting him, and vandalizing his things. Sometimes I think Phil hasn’t really forgiven me for not having John arrested that night. The cops were right there, but when Wes showed up I knew it would be taken care of, cops or none.

Dan shook his head, processing this. His appetite was gone. Sinking back into the plush booth Dan was quiet for several long moments.

Dan Cena: I’ve known Johnny my entire life and I don’t think there’s another person in this world, including my wife, that I feel like I know more than him. As his brother, and the person that was there with him for all those months he was gone, I think you’re wrong about that day, but I guess it doesn’t really make any difference now anyway. I... didn’t really know things had gotten that bad here. I’ve never known John to be the vengeful, destructive, violent type. It just doesn’t sound like him. He’d always just rather make some stupid joke and move on, ease the tension. Avoid the drama. Up until a year ago he’d never gotten more than a parking ticket. The John I’ve always known, well, as far as you and your new boyfriend go, I would have just expected him to have avoided you. Not actually antagonize anything. It doesn’t make sense. None of it. It’s like he’s a totally different person and, I’m sorry Jess.

Jessica Rushing: There’s no reason for you to be sorry. I just... I’ve never seen that look in his eyes, and he was so disrespectful to those police officers. I don’t know. I should have had him arrested, but I just kept thinking about Carol. He was mocking me though. He knew I wouldn’t do it. I hadn’t seen Phil in a couple of weeks, and he came into town to be with me. It was late, and we were in bed. I heard something at the side of the house, by the window, but I didn’t think much of it. I don’t know if John saw us or not, but a few minutes later there was all this crashing noise on the siding. And then glass, just smashing. Phil got dressed and went outside, and John was smashing Phil’s car with a tire iron. Busted out the windows, scratched up the door, the headlights. Tore the interior, the roof. I hurried outside, and when he saw me he stopped. For a split second he looked at me, and then he looked at his shoes. Phil asked him a question, and I swear to God Danny, I don’t even remember what they said to each other. I just remember John, smashing that tire iron into the car between every word.

A tire iron. Dan had seen John toss a tire iron into the back of his Pontiac just the day before. He hadn’t known why it had left him feeling so unsettled at the time but now, hearing from Jessica in detail what his brother had been up to, Dan suddenly felt less confusion and a little bit of fear. For his brother and for the people John was around. If Jessica had been telling Dan a story about someone else he would have instantly had a response. He would have told Jessica she should have pressed charges. He would have told her to find another place to stay or take out a restraining order or any number of options. It was just so much harder to say those things when it was about your flesh and blood. Still, Dan had to ask himself: If John had really gotten that bad, if there was nothing left of the man everyone else had once known, was he better off in jail where he couldn’t hurt himself or others? This was a man that had won awards for his charity work, that had attended every single police benefit held by Dan’s department and had always held law enforcement in such high regard.

Dan Cena: Jessica, I can’t believe that John would do the things he has done just because life has been shitty to him lately. I just can’t you know? I mean, he lived in a car for months with Liz of all people! He worked three jobs and barely had any money and he still didn’t go postal like that. In the divorce Liz took just about everything he had, and he let her, but if there was ever a time to take out some aggression that would have been it. Something else has to be going on. I’m going to do my best, while I’m here, to be around him as much as possible but... if something like that happens again, if I’m not able to be there to stop him, you need to make sure John ends up in the back of a police car. I hate to say it but it’s true and maybe that night John knew you wouldn’t do it but maybe he also just didn’t care. I saw something when I looked at him the other day I’ve never seen before, just like you did. But I know that if John ever snaps out of whatever this is, he would have wanted you to protect yourself. I do too. Don’t worry about my mom or anyone else. Just worry about you. I don’t know this guy Phil either but maybe you should listen to him when it comes to this situation.

Dan hated saying the words but he had to force himself to say to her what he would have said to anyone else in that situation. He just hoped nothing he’d just said would ever need to actually happen.

Jessica Rushing: Phil asked John why he was creeping around my house. Do you know what John told him? John told my boyfriend that I sleeping with him when Phil wasn’t around. When the policewoman asked why I was crying, John told her I was being hormonal.

If Jessica had told Dan that John had broken into song he would have been less surprised than with this revelation. Dan cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. Maybe Jessica had thought Dan was going to be able to give her some answers today but the truth was that he was just ending up with more and more questions. He was feeling just as lost, maybe even more so, as Jessica. Dan Cena was floored and shocked was an understatement.

Dan Cena: Sounds like John was just there to try and cause problems. I... am... I don’t even know what you want me to say Jess. I would never have imagined John saying something like that. I wish I could tell you something that would offer some kind of explanation but I honestly just have no idea what he was thinking that night acting like that.

Jessica Rushing: I don’t know if I’m looking for answers, Dan. I’m sort of over it. You just said you wanted to know everything. I can stop if you want.

My God, there was more?

Dan Cena: No, no... God, I wish there wasn’t more but if there is I need to hear it you know? You may be over it but I need to know everything because I need to try and fix this somehow. John would have helped me so, I gotta at least try to help him. What else has happened?

Dan took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself. What else could he have done? Sacrificed a goat? Bombed a children’s shelter? Paid homeless men to fight in the streets?!?!

Jessica Rushing: I don’t have any proof, Danny, but he broke into my house.

Destruction of property, assault and battery, trespassing, now breaking and entering... Dan’s older sibling was becoming quite the collector of charges. Dan shut his eyes, running one hand through his hair as he slowly exhaled.

Dan Cena: You say you have no proof so I’m assuming he wasn’t there when you arrived so, what happened? Was anyone still there? Was anything missing? Did he damage anything? Are you sure it was him? You weren’t hurt or anything were you?

Jessica Rushing: There was no one there. My neighbor thought she saw a SUV in the driveway, but wasn’t sure what model. She said it looked expensive. Phil and I were out celebrating our one year anniversary. When we came back to my place, the front door was half open. Nothing of value was taken. Someone broke all my framed photos of me and Phil. The only picture that didn’t get tossed on the floor was one of Randy and Nikki from the wedding, but it had been moved, like someone picked it up and looked at it, and then put it back down. They went through my jewelry box like they were looking for something, but didn’t take anything. The earrings John bought me for Christmas in 2010. They’re set in platinum, and easily 2 carats a piece. They didn’t steal them, just took them out and sat them on the dresser next to Phil’s watch. It was a Rolex, Phil stood in for John at Randy and Nikki’s wedding. Randy got it as a thank you gift for Phil after we got back to the states. No telling what it was worth, but didn’t take that either. Just... trashed the house, and the mirrors in the bedroom. Like... they couldn’t stand to look at themselves or something. But... they did take something. Sentimental, but definitely not valuable.

Dan’s voice was low, barely able to be heard.

Dan Cena: When did this happen exactly?

Jessica Rushing: Last Saturday, we were driving to the show on Sunday together.

Dan Cena: And what things were taken?

Jessica Rushing: Cole’s football jerseys, from the back of the closet. I wouldn’t even know they were missing, but the closet door was open, so I looked in there.

Dan had to wonder if the very vehicle he was driving now had been the vehicle Jessica’s neighbor had seen that night. It certainly sounded like it. It wasn’t the SUV model but it could have looked enough like it in the dark. He made a mental note to check the car. He’d hoped that maybe when Jessica had said she had no proof the facts wouldn’t have been so glaring. He’d hoped he could have argued for his brother. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t deny that the way Jessica’s belongings had been moved, so precisely, and that it had been those items in particular, there was no doubting it had been John. He’d go see John and see if he could find the jerseys. He couldn’t figure out why John would have taken them unless he’d just wanted to hurt Jessica. It didn’t sound like him, but then again none of this did. He felt so ashamed of his brother he couldn’t even look at her. He spoke to his wallet as he pulled it out and began to count out some cash.

Dan Cena: I’ll see if I can find those jerseys for you. And I want to pay to replace everything that got damaged. The mirrors and stuff. John will pay me back whenever he gets his head on straight. I can’t believe how far this has gone. I had no idea.

Jessica Rushing: Phil already took care of it. We’re going to talk some more next week, but I’m probably moving to Chicago. I don’t want to. And Nikki’s heartbroken, but Wes is insisting, and Phil seems to like the idea.

Dan stopped even flipping through the bills in his wallet. He just grabbed it all, folded it once, and pushed it across the table to Jessica, picking up her free hand in his own and placing it on top of the small stack of money. It wasn’t enough Dan knew but it was something. He looked into her eyes, looking and sounding so much like John in that moment, his voice insistent but kind. There was no denying they were brothers.

Dan Cena: John always said the only thing he didn’t like about you Jessica was that you never let anyone do anything good for you without putting up a fight. Sometimes though maybe you should consider that by allowing a man to have his penance you are actually doing something good for him. Now you can either take that money or our waitress is going to have the biggest tip of her life. I don’t care what you do with it. You probably don’t even need it anymore with that new job and boyfriend of yours but just take it. And as far as moving goes, if you don’t want to go to Chicago, just give me a little bit more time to see if I can somehow fix this. Maybe there’s something that can still be done. Okay?

Jessica didn’t look at the money. She just sighed and threw it into her purse. She was sad. She met Dan’s gaze, the strong set of his jaw, a dimple in each cheek, not as deep as John’s but there, even when he smirked softly.

Jessica Rushing: Danny, if you get hurt I will never forgive myself. Ever. You can’t do this alone. You can’t take him on by yourself. He’s too far gone. He’s too strong. He’s too scary. You’ve got babies at home. You can’t do this. You can’t ju--

She stopped suddenly, Dan’s wide, strong hand had grasped hers so tightly, comfortingly.

Dan Cena: Trust me, there is still a part of our John in there. I know it. I saw it.

Her eyes closed. She held on to his hand for dear life. Her chest started to heave slightly, and Danny knew she was fighting back tears.

Dan Cena: I’m still his little brother and I’m a cop remember? I deal with guys worse than him every day. No one is going to get hurt. I’ll take care of it. I’ll take care of all of it. I promise you...

”I love you. We’ll get through it together. You’ll see. I won’t let anything happen to you. Why won’t you just let me take care of you? I know you don’t want me to, but baby, that’s my job.” Jessica’s eyes sprung open, and she forced herself to look at Dan. The tears were flowing freely down her face. She tried to breathe.

Jessica Rushing: You sound. just. like. him. when he’s worried.

She dabbed her eyes with her napkin.

Jessica Rushing: Danny, oh, Danny. He’s...

She inhaled sharply. Not caring that her mascara was running down her face.

Jessica Rushing: He’s dead. He’s gone. It’s like, he’s dead.

Dan grabbed a napkin and gently reached over to wipe her face. Even this simple act brought with it memories. It took her back to that Christmas, when she had cried in the bathroom and John had come in and wiped her tears away in the very same manner. Dan struggled to keep his voice light despite the thickness he suddenly felt in his own throat. No man liked to see a woman cry. Especially a pretty one. Jessica was his friend and he knew things that others that were too close to the situation could never possibly know. He could see things as an outsider he couldn’t have seen as a participant and he knew that somewhere inside John still loved Jess and that maybe a part of her still cared for him too. She had moved on but sometimes you just can’t help something like that.

Dan Cena: I have always looked up to John. He’s always been the strongest, he’s always gone the farthest. So when you say I sound like him, the old him, it makes me feel very proud.

Jessica Rushing: Well, it makes me feel sick to my stomach with grief, so...

Dan Cena: Don’t. It may seem like there is nothing left of him but I know there is. I know this because I saw a small piece of it yesterday. I know there is because he is choosing to stay here, where there doesn’t really seem much left for him, so there must be a small bit of John that is still fighting for his life. He chooses to spend his days at work walking down the same hallways that you and Phil walk together. I don’t know of any man that would choose that kind of torture if all they wanted was to create problems and hurt someone else so maybe they’ll stop hurting. Trust me on this. So stop crying because then you’re going to make me cry and I just got into St. Louis and I don’t want to be known here as the guy that cries like a baby in public.

She nodded. It was time to pay, and for her to leave Danny, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to stay with him a while longer. She wanted to make him laugh. She wanted to hear him thank the waitress and call her “ma’am”. She had the insane urge to get in the car with him, just to watch him drive, wondering if he’d square his shoulders and drum his fingers on the steering wheel when he was in deep thought. She wanted all of it, because she had to know that something of the kind hearted man she’d loved, lived on somewhere. Even if in someone else. Jessica reached for her wallet, but Danny had already put down his credit card. She eyed him skeptically. He was a public servant, she was sure she made more money than him these days, but she let it go. They made more small talk, casual, and she did manage to get a laugh out of him. His dimples on full display brought her a small comfort and she was composed. Her face beginning to take on its natural color despite the dark circles of makeup under her eyes. They got up to leave together. Danny opened the door for her as they walked out onto the sidewalk.

Jessica Rushing: Hang out with Nicole before you leave. She’ll be a lot more fun. She’s mad, so his name just sort of solicits grunts, and that’s about it.

Dan Cena: See and here I thought we were having fun!

Dan smiled big again, his sense of humor already starting to return tenfold. Shuffling his feet a little the smile stayed on his face though his voice became more sincere as he looked down at her.

Dan Cena: Just so you know Jess, I know that there is a chance that there will come a day where we don’t talk anymore. I get that. I completely understand how we Cena’s, the family and John, are like a package deal. Just, never feel like you can’t give me a call or shoot me a text okay? You are always welcome in our family and I’m speaking on behalf of everyone. Despite some of the not so great topics of conversation, it was still really good seeing you again.

Jessica Rushing: He won’t talk to me. He talks a real big game with Nikki and Phil, but he won’t speak to me. He always looks away if we’re in the same room. So, I need you to do me a favor, please?

Dan Cena: Of course Jess. Anything.

Jessica Rushing: When he’ll listen, and you think it might not hurt anymore. Tell him that I need him to go home and hug his daddy. Okay?

Dan nodded, and Jessica hugged him. She stood with her head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around her for what seemed like a long time. She spoke into his ear.

Jessica Rushing: And tell him, even though I’ve found a new place in my life, that I was wrong. I absolutely belonged, and I’ll never forget it. He’ll know what I mean.

Dan pulled Jessica just a little closer for another moment before stepping back and releasing the embrace. He hoped one day he would get to tell John though something told him that if that day came his brother may need him even more than he did now.

Jessica Rushing: Don’t tell him I love him though. Okay?

Dan nodded.

Jessica Rushing: I know you’re not going to be able to keep yourself for looking for them. They’ll be on the top shelf of his closet with the other things he wishes he hadn’t done but can’t regret. The wedding pictures with Liz, the rap album...

She smiled slyly and Dan had to chuckle and return her grin. She knew John so well. He’d said similar things about her too in the past. Warned Danny she could be every bit as stubborn as him, she had this cute way of not liking her food to touch on the plate, she liked to dance to music while cooking dinner- as long as she didn’t think anyone was watching, her feet were very ticklish, and she was one of the only people he’d ever known that kept the bread in the refrigerator, claiming that it tasted fresher that way. They knew secrets about one another, small idiosyncrasies that made up who each person truly was. Maybe they hadn’t been together as long as Jessica and this new guy. Maybe they were a thing of the past. But they’d definitely made the most of the time they had shared together. There was no denying that.

Jessica Rushing: Bye Danny.

Dan Cena: Bye Jess. Take care of yourself.

With final parting glances the two friends went their separate ways. Dan didn't know if she ever looked back but he did, making sure she made it across the street and into her car safely. When he saw she had Dan walked to his own, abet borrowed, vehicle. As Dan climbed into John’s Escalade and shut the door behind him he didn’t immediately reach to put the key in the ignition. Instead he leaned back in the plush leather seat and thought. He needed a plan of action. He needed John to let him into his house and he needed to look over this car for any possible red flags. So much of this new John was a blank canvas. An empty void where a person he once knew had lived. He was an enigma. Questions with no answers. But Dan Cena was good at his job, at solving riddles, mysteries, and problems and he vowed this would be one complexity that he would find answers to, starting with this car. Starting with the large cream and white floral hat box his mother had sent for Jessica. Maybe some answers could be found in there. Yes, Dan Cena was good at a lot of things. Discovering the truth was one of them.