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

Gideon perched on the edge of the couch, watching Mary toy with her cup. He was trying to maintain as much distance between them as he possibly could, but so far, all he’d managed was this uncomfortable silence. They’d tried small talk in the kitchen as he’d poured her coffee, but as soon as he’d retreated to the living room again, desperate for space, the awkwardness had returned.


“So if all goes well tonight, we should be out of your hair for good tomorrow,” he said, trying to sound normal.


“Oh. Did you two figure out a way back?”


“Well, no, not exactly. But it shouldn’t be too hard to do. Jesse’s good at that sort of thing.”


“I’m sure he’ll figure it out. And if he can’t, I’ll march down to Michelle’s store and make her help. You know…I’m glad you found him.” She smiled. “Or he found you, as the case may be. He makes you happy. You deserve that, you know.”


Chapter 82