On The Run

Chapter Thirty-Five - "Plea. Bargain."

Jake

I woke up once again to an empty space next to me. Last night was truly one of the most mind-blowing nights I’d ever had with anyone – it was passionate, scary, cathartic and completely satisfying all at once. I could say that it didn’t matter that it was Sarah, and it was just the feeling of excitement and relief, but honestly, I was way past that. I couldn’t remember feeling remotely close to this with Addison, Mary or any of the other women I’d been with. Ever.

As I remembered her dazed hazel eyes staring into mine, all I wanted to do right then was have her back in my arms. I groaned internally at the ridiculousness of my situation; I mean, here I was, falling for my unemotional – until late – secretive, workaholic best friend, and for some reason, I wasn’t dreading the thought of her possible rejection, I just felt really good.

I pulled on my t-shirt and pants and walked out.

The kitchen and living room were completely empty, and I let out a sigh. She was either avoiding me, or she’d gone to get breakfast. Somehow the latter seemed a little far-fetched – one, we’d stocked up on every possible item for any kind of breakfast; two, Sarah didn’t seem like the breakfast-after-sex type.

But, I could only hope. So, I sat and waited, busying myself with case files, even though I wasn’t really absorbing much. I waited until I took a hint from the setting sun, and decided to turn in for the night. The soft sound of the front door clicking open and shut at about midnight was the biggest hint of all, so I stayed in my bed and swallowed my feelings.

Simply put, I was just another one-night stand, and I had to be okay with that.

Over the next few days, I worked by myself, as I barely saw Sarah. Only glimpses. She was out of the house before I got up, and by the time I was getting ready to turn in, I heard the front door. I’d run into her during a midnight bathroom trip, and had just walked in as she walked out, without a word.

This dynamic would have been fine, except we really needed to wrap up our case. I was now way past my due date in for work, and I wanted to leave the force with a clean slate, which meant I couldn’t seem like I was going against the Captain’s orders. I’d called in to say I’d be back in the New Year, as I was still recuperating, even though my injuries had been pretty minor. So, I needed to be done with the case, so I could officially quit. I still wasn’t entirely sure about that, but it was where I was leaning towards.

One night, about a week after the end of the Janelle Myers case and our second night together, I was pulling an all-nighter as I summarized all the information we had on Tyler Yates.

The front door opened, and Sarah’s surprise at running into me was evident. Her usual slinking away to her room wouldn’t work. I made a point to ignore her presence completely, not to be petty, but the way I figured it, if she wanted to avoid me, I’d help her.

“Hey,” she said, walking over.

“Hi,” I said, without looking up.

Okay, I’ll admit it, I was a little mad. I felt totally used, and even though I knew I was, the actual realization of the fact wasn’t a comfort. My irritation at the fact that she’d dumped the case on me was another thing I was working through, but I guess I deserved it; I did run off world travelling with Cory.

“Case closed,” she said, placing a file in front of me. “VIVIAN GRAYER” was printed on the front, and at first I was confused, but I caught on fast enough. I had no idea whether to be surprised or angry, so I settled for “What?”

“Vivian Grayer. I got lucky. Her biological parents are dead, and she’s never had a foster home; she’s been in Ms. Bees’ Home for Girls, since her parents passed away when she was eight,” she said.