My Partner Against Crime

Chapter 22

Day three at the hospital.

Yesterday I had to tell Adam the truth. Jason was right, I can't just sit here and pretend that we didn't break up. It was hard to tell him, I felt like I flashed back to the first time. I still decided to stay with him, at least until he was released to go home.

I spent most of my time with Adam. I sit on his bed with him, we've been trying to teach ourselves close up magic.

I fumble with the quarter in my hand, attempting to make it "disappear." Adam laughs at me and shakes his head.

"If only Spencer were here, he'd destroy both of us." I smile thinking about the look on his face when he pulls off a trick.

"Who?" He looks at me confused, then over at the doorway. I look back to see his doctor.

"Great new, Adam. Looks like you're going home today." I look back at Adam, his face lights up.

"Awe, thank you." He sighs with relief.

"I'll have a nurse bring you your papers, shouldn't take too long." He walks away. I play with the coin in my hand.

"Holy shit I can't wait to get out of here."
-

Jason waits outside for us. He leans against his car with his arms crossed, and when he sees us he waves.

"Hey, Adam. How're you feeling?" Jay helps Adam into the backseat, I get in the passenger.

"More than ready to be going home."

"Where's your place?" He laughs.

"What? Uh, same house." My heart races. Did he really stay in the same house? When we broke up he told me he would sell the place.
-

We pull into my old driveway, giving me chills as I'm filled with old memories. We get out of the car and Adam rummages through his bag, then pulls out his house keys. He unlocks the door and we're immediately greeted by Arlo. Arlo is the dog we got together, and Adam kept him in the split. He's a Bernese Mountain Dog and he looks the same as when I left.

"Hi, buddy!" I've never seen his tail move so fast. I sit on the floor only to be overly loved.

"Marina, can I talk to you?" I look up at Jason standing at the doorway.

"Sure." I stand up and walk outside to meet him. He shuts the door.

"Are you planning on staying with him?" I shake my head

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Okay, well I need to go pick up Jess from his friend's place, do you want to go with me or have me pick you up on our way home?" I glance in the window to see Arlo and Adam wrestling.

"Can you grab me on your way back?"

"Sure, it shouldn't take me too long. I'll text you when I'm on my way." He walks back to his car and leaves.

I go back inside and again I'm greeted by Arlo.

"Hey, I'm going get in the shower, I guess uh, make yourself comfortable?" This is awkward, I shouldn't have come. I should've known it was a bad idea to get a taste of my old life, almost exactly as it was.

I sit on the couch with Arlo as Adam showers. My phone starts vibrating in my hand and a picture of Spencer and I pops up.

"Hey you," I answer.

"Hey, how are things? Are you still at the hospital?" I can hear the team chatting in the background.

"Uh no actually, Adam was discharged today. We just got to his place. What are you guys up to?" There's a moment of silence before Spencer decides to speak up.

"Well we have one guy in custody, and another is being searched for right now, this case should close pretty soon, I'm thinking today." The past few day have gone by so fast.

"Wow, that's great."

"Hey I was thinking I could take some time off and join you. I want to be with you and see your family, meet Adam. What do you think?" I'm not going to tell him he can't come, just suggest he shouldn't.

"Spence, I'll be home in a few days. Really not much is happening here anyway. Oh except Avery is pregnant. Like, very pregnant."

"That's great! Did you they just now tell you?" His tone changes from excited to curious.

"Yeah, they said I've been busy so, it is what it is..."

"So what are you doing at Adam's house?" He has every right to question what I'm doing at Adam's house, which he doesn't know used to be ours.

"It's actually the house we used to live in... It's weird, Arlo is here and it just feels like I got shoved a few years back. I'm going to head out in a minute though, I really don't want to be here any longer."

"Are you okay? I'm sorry I was rough on you before you left, I just don't like the idea of you spending time with him, especially if it's like it used to be." Arlo lays his head on my lap.

"Who're you on the phone with?" Adam comes out of his room in sweats.

"Spencer." I look at him as he tries to remember who that is.

"Ah, new guy huh? How's it going man?" Adam yells loud enough for Spencer to hear. I put the phone on speaker.

"Hi... Hi Adam. How're you?" Another not so great idea, damn I'm on a roll.

"Good, thanks for letting me borrow her. She's been incredibly helpful." I make a face at him.

"She's not property but I guess you're welcome." That's my man. I take the phone off speaker.

"Alright well I'll keep you updated. I love you."

"I love you too, bye." I hang up and turn my attention to Adam. He comes and sits across from me on the couch.

"Is this weird for you? To be back here?" His dark brown eyes look into mine.

"Yeah, it really is. Honestly it's bringing a lot up. I can't believe you kept the place." I look around at the barely changed home.

"I love this house, I can't see myself letting go of it."

The door bell rings.

"I guess you better get going." He stands up and reaches for my hand. I accept his help and go to the door.

"I'll see you later?" He has the same face as when I moved to Quantico.

"Yeah, I'll see ya." I quickly hug him, and give Arlo a kiss on his soft head. I wave before quickly walking out the door. Jason looks surprised and pulls back from the door.

"You're right. This is a bad idea." I walk towards his car.

"Does this mean I get to say 'I told you so'?"

"Fuck you."