Hi guys,

This is a little short one-shot adding onto chapter 60 of The Jessie Stories- The Saga Begins (Chapter 25 of story Old Demons, Uncertain Futures) so if you haven't read it yet, go read it before reading this short one-shot otherwise it won't make any sense.

I found the song used in this one-shot a long time ago and felt like it fit the struggle my OC, Jessie, is going through in this section of her story, The Jessie Stories. I was going to put it at the end of chapter 60 but I felt like it would be better having its own story, as an alternative ending to the ending that takes place in The Jessie Stories.

I plan on updating The Jessie Stories- The Saga Begins sometime this week, as long as I get some decent work done writing more... I will promise you guys that it's going to be very interesting, with some plot twists you guys won't see coming. It's going to be great and I think it's worth the wait...

The song is Looking For A Light To Call Home, by Julia Brennan.

Enjoy!

Jessie stood in the driveway, letting the tears finally fall down her cheeks as she felt herself breaking. Breaking inside. Her heart shattering into a thousand pieces.

'Jessie-'

She heard Lisa's voice behind her, felt her hand on her shoulder but this time she could take no comfort from her presence. There was nothing the woman could do to ease the pain inside her. This goodbye was tearing her apart, how much more would saying goodbye to her and Jack hurt? A sob escaped her as she fled from them, ignoring their concerned voices as they called her name. Tears poured down her cheeks as she ran into the barn past Caleb as he led Shorty out. She flung Warrior's stall door open, the stallion snorting in surprise as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her whole world was crashing down, there was nothing she could do to stop it. Warrior snorted, nudging her as her tears soaked his mane. She didn't move, crying until she had no tears left.

Finally she lent her head against his neck, exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally. She closed her eyes, holding onto her stallion. What did she have left? Cindy had gone, she was going to be taken from everything she knew. Would she ever have what Cindy had? A home, family? She opened her eyes, her voice barely a whisper as she started to sing what was in her heart. Scars that's all I have, pain that's all I feel. People stop and stare, Warrior snorted, nudging her gently with his nose. But they have no idea. No, no they didn't have any idea. Any idea of what she was going through at all.

And through these tears, and through this pain. I will stand, once again. Would she? Could she? Cause I may be homeless, but not hopeless, Fatherless but fearless. Well, not entirely fearless, she was terrified. Terrified of her future. Terrified of what was going to happen to her. I've got myself, I've got my freedom. But I'm searching for my home.

Lisa and Jack had stood back, letting the girl have a moment alone when she'd run to the barn. 'I'm going to go check on her.' She said softly to him, Jack nodding as he let her go. As she walked into the barn, she could hear Jessie's breaking voice singing. Cause I am hurting but not helpless, Full of strength and scars.

I'm out here in the darkness, Warrior snorted, lifting his head as he saw the woman standing in the door of the barn but Jessie didn't even notice. Looking for a light to call home. Her hand ran down Warrior's neck as she paused for a moment, her shoulders heaving in a sob.

Looking for a light to call home.

Fear that's all I own. Lisa felt like an intruder, standing there watching the girl but it was like her feet were made of lead. She couldn't leave, her own tears starting to mist her eyes as the girl kept on with her whispered, cracking singing. Smiles don't come so easy, I'm out here all alone. No honey, your not alone. She felt a tear running down her cheek. She wanted to go to her, to tell her it would be okay but what good would it do? Jessie would be leaving too, in a week. She felt a hand on her shoulder, glancing back to see Jack as he joined her quietly.

You've got it good, believe me. She'd promised herself she wouldn't be jealous of Cindy, the girl couldn't help it. It wasn't her fault the way she was feeling, watching her having what she could only dream about. Of having people that loved her, cared for her. Through these tears, Warrior nudged her again as she held on tighter to him, closing her eyes as her voice cracked with emotion. And through this pain, I will stand, once again. She opened her eyes, her head pressed against her stallions neck. She would stand again, she would make it though this, couldn't she? Cause I may be homeless but not hopeless,

Fatherless but fearless. She was fearless, when she was with Warrior, but could she be when they were separated? When she didn't have even him left to hold onto? I've got myself, That was all she had left, her own mind and her own dogged drive to find her place in the world. I've got my freedom. It was the only thing she had left. Freedom of her mind. On her darkest days at her previous foster home, her daydreams of being back at Heartland was what kept her going. What gave her courage to do what she'd done. Her dreams were the only thing they couldn't take from her. But I'm searching for my home.

Jack squeezed Lisa's shoulder gently, a wordless exchange of emotion between them. She felt his strong hand on her, placing her hand on his as tears trickled down her cheeks.

Cause I am hurting but not helpless, full of strength and scars. She wished she could do something, say something to her that would ease the pain of what she was dealing with but there was nothing she could do except listen. Listen to the girl pouring her heart out to her horse. I'm out here in the darkness, looking for a light to call home.

Looking for a light to call home. She repeated with a whisper, Warrior blowing softly on her back as she paused for a sob. The stallion nuzzled her neck gently, knickering softly and she paused to run her hand over his fur. 'I'm okay boy, I'm okay.' She tried to convince him, and herself. Strong that's what I am, okay, that's what I will be. Would she? Would she be okay? She would. She would force herself to. For Warrior, for Cougar. For Jack, and for Lisa. Regardless of what happened, she was coming back here. She couldn't leave them. They were counting on her. You might not understand, That was aimed at Clint. Why couldn't he see she was better off here? Then again, maybe Jack didn't want to her to stay. But I won't let that define me. Cause I may be homeless but not hopeless. Fatherless but fearless. I've got myself, I've got my freedom. But I'm searching for my home. Why couldn't she stay here? This was the place she wanted to call home. She loved it here, how could she leave? She didn't want to, but she had to. Maybe they didn't care enough for her, maybe they didn't understand how much she wanted to stay here, with them.

Cause I am hurting but not helpless. She continued after taking a moment to gather herself together. Full of strength and scars.

I'm out here in the darkness- Another sob escaped her but she kept on. Looking for a light to call home.

Honey, you are home. Lisa wanted to say, wanted to tell her but she couldn't. They didn't know if she could stay. If they told her and they got told no to the girls guardianship, it would be even harder for Jessie to say goodbye to them.

Looking for a light to call home.

Looking for a light to call home. Jack was struggling not to let his emotion show at Jessie's heartfelt cry. The cry of a kid just wanting to have a place to call home. Not just a home, he knew that. She wanted a family she could call home. He squeezed Lisa's arm gently again, trying to reassure her. She was so attached to Jessie, what would being separated from her do to her? To them?

Looking for a light to call home. Her voice was a mere whisper again, breaking into sobs as she felt herself breaking. No, despite what she had sung she wasn't okay. She'd never be okay. She wrapped her arms around Warrior again, crying into his mane.

Oh my darlin. Lisa felt her heart breaking for the girl, she could grasp the essence of what the girl had been trying to convey. Her hunger and want to be loved. It reminded her of when she was her age. That was all she had wanted too. To be loved, wanted. Somehow she found herself opening Warrior's stall door, quietly approaching the girl as Jack followed her. 'Jessie-' She started softly, placing her hand on the girls shoulder. 'Honey.' The girl let go of Warrior, wrapping her arms around her as she cried. She kissed the girls head gently, her own tears running down her cheeks. Her heart was breaking but all she could think of was trying to ease the girls pain. 'Honey, it's okay. Your going to be okay.'

Jack joined them, placing his arms around both of them. Both Lisa and Jessie were crying, he was close to tears himself but he wouldn't let that show. Not to them. Not now. He held them against him, his arms around both of them proactively. Warrior snorted softly, nuzzling the girls shoulder. If only Jessie didn't have to leave...