Stopping a murder that happened forty years earlier may be the only way to heal a tortured mind ...<br><br>Six months after Jesse Madding is brutally tortured by Marcus Brooker, he is still experiencing flashbacks, panic attacks, and jumping at his own shadow. His lovers, Gideon Keel and Emma Coolidge, would do anything to help him, but Jesse refuses to be hospitalized for treatment, or even visit a therapist. Desperate for a change, Gideon and Emma suggest a radical solution.<br><br> Jesse wants to fix his life. More than anything, he wants to be normal again. He doesn't want to live in fear. He doesn't want to be ashamed of his scarred and mutilated body. He doesn't want to shy away from Gideon's touch. Certain that the holding pattern will kill him, he agrees to Gideon and Emma's proposed solution: travel to an alternative dimension and save Marcus Brooker from witnessing Mary's grisly murder ... in order to save Brooker's soul.

Chaos and Communion

He didn’t want to do this in front of Mary, and definitely not in front of his other self. This was a fight that would likely last for hours; at least, that’s what experience dictated.


His mouth was open to say just that to Jesse when Gideon stopped.


Jesse was arguing with him. Jesse was protesting about being protected.


Jesse hadn’t done that for six months.


Consciously, Gideon unfolded his arms. “We’ll just have to be careful with you, then.” He took mild pleasure in the surprise in everybody’s faces. “When we get back to the other apartment, we’ll talk about specifics. We don’t need to waste any more time here. I’m sure Mary probably wants to get some sleep if she wants to get anything done today.”


The surprise didn’t fade from Jesse’s face. “Yeah, you’re probably right. We need to leave before the sun comes up, anyway.” He checked his watch. “Which would be in about twenty minutes.”


Chapter 60