Hal stacked the files on his desk and checked his watch. The first day back to work had . taken asked more of him than he'd anticipated. After a second attempt, he managed to get out of his chair. Adjusting his uniform, something he would probably never get used to, and left the office.
A quick look around the squad room told him neither Margo or jack were there, so he walk over to the desk sergeant, when he stopped dead in his tracks as he came face to face with his most recent ex…..
Emily smiled hesitantly. " Hi" . he replied her smile, " Hi". " I didn't know you went back to work". " No….yeas, well, this is the first day…", he smiled again, realizing all eyes in the squad room on them.
" commissioner Munson" Emily smiled again. Hal laughed, " Yeach, no idea how that happened". The smile disappeared from his face, " is there something wrong?...I mean, why are you here?".
"Oh, I just….I needed to talk to someone about something". " Well….I know a lot more now", Hal smiled again. " It's nothing, really", Emily replied. Hal nodded and started to leave. " Hal", Emily called after him, " I'm glad you're doing well", she added when he turned back around.
He just nodded and headed for the door, where he found Jack staring at them. " You okay?", Jack informed while keeping his eyes fixed on Emily. " Yeach, I'm fine…I don't think she's armed", Hal answered.
" That's not what I meant, ….are you feeling okay?", Jack asked again. " Yeach….yeach I'm fine. Just a little tired, so I'll make it an early day". Jack nodded, " might not be such a bad idea. Okay, see you tomorrow then….Sir", the last he added with an amused grin.
" I'll let you get away with is this time", Hal then looked back at Emily. " Don't know why she's here other than she need to talk to 'someone' about 'something'.
The look in Jack's eyes hardened when he shifted his eyes from Hal t Emily. " Could you do me a favor….I see what's that all about?" Jack smiled quickly, " …" Sure. Not a problem"
Jack waited till Hal left the station before walking over to Emily. " Okay, Emily, what's up?", he asked making sure he didn't sound to friendly. " I'm not sure, but….the last few days I have the feeling I've been followed", she answered.
When Hal arrived home Gwen was busy in the kitchen, while Will was attempting to help. "You know….why don't you go….do something else, because with your ' help' it's taking me twice as long!", e heard Gwen complain. Ha laughed, " Boy, you two sound like a regular married couple".
" Are you all right?", Will asked. " Now, why does everyone keep asking me that?", Hal asked. " Because. you're pretty early, people aren't quite used to that", Will replied. " Well I didn't want o push things, so…." " Gwen, this is a miracle", Will exclaimed, " my dad actually realizes he's only human, and has to take a few steps back every now and then".
"Very funny….need any help with that, Gwen?"
"no, no, it's done…at least, if Will stays away from it!. A semi insulted Will left walked over to the table, where Hal stood with an invitation is his hand. " What's this?", he enquired.
" Oh, Casey's throwing a big bash tonight, and…..hey why don' you come with us?".
Hal blinked before replying, .." No, thank you. I think I will pass, this time". "Oh, come on, dad. Tom and Margo will be there to, I'm sure, and …It woud be good fro you…you know. I mean…you really should get out of the house more often….meet people"."Im surrounded by people, all do long!", Hal countered.
"You know what I mean, dad". Hal smiled, " I'm fin with the way things are, okay?. okay, I'm gonna get out of this straight jacked before dinner….be back in ten, okay?", Hal went upstairs, just as Jennifer entered the house with Johnny.
"Hey,
big guy!", Will immediately took his nephew from his sister. " Wow, what smells so good around here?", Jennifer asked. " That woud be dinner", Gwen answered, you two gonna stay?".
Jenn hesitated, " Well - - " " oh, come on, Will jumped in " Knowing Gwen she's got enough for an entire army". " Well, in that case….we'd love to". " Good, Will smiled, " then you can help me convince dad, to com with Gwen and me tonight".
"Come where?". " here", Will handed her the invitation. Jennifer smiled amused, " You now Will I don't think dad will be to hot about going to a party like this….not that it…I'm sure it's gonna be a great bash, you now, but not exactly….well I don't think he would feel in place there".
" That's what I've been trying to tell him", Gwen w said. " but he's determined to drag him out of the house". " I don't wanna drag him out of the house, I just want him to stop locking himself up in it", Will answered, " "what?".
" nothing…I just think it's sweet you're s worried about him….There was a time not that long ago, you would care if he'd drop that in front of your feet", Jennifer replied smiling a hesitating smile. "yeach well, that was then and this is now', Will waved it away, ' but I mean it, he's locking himself up in the house, it's not healthy. He should be going out there, meet people, you know".
" Will, he just told you, that this is the way he wants it, he's fine with it, so—", Gwen now said.
" He's not fine with it, Gwen, he's just…scared". " Scared?", Jennifer laughed, " Ok what?". " that if he does go out there, he will actually might someone and could fall in love again—"
" I don't think that that's really what's", Gwen started ten quickly kept her mouth." What do you mean with that?', Will asked. " Nothing", Gwen answered while exchanging a quick look with Jennifer. " You meant something with that, what?", Will asked again. " No, really, It's nothing Gwen said again., " Hey, do me a favor/ see what's keeping your dad? ' cause, we can eat" Will went up the stairs, and Gwen found Jennifer looking at her. " You're right, you know?', she said. " Right about what?", Gwen asked.
" About my dad…. He may say otherwise, but he's simply to angry an scared to admit, what many people, know only too well…..he's not afraid not fall in love again….he's still very much in love with his ex-wife, and with that I do not mean my mother..".
Gwen smiled, " yeah…..I just didn't think it wise to say that to Will". " Good thinking", Jennifer answered laughing, but Gwen could see the troubled look on her face.
Shortly after Gwen and Will left for the party and Jenn and Johnny went back home, the phone rang. Hal was tempted not to pick it up, but decided to do it anyway, he was surprised to hear officer Shanks on the other end of the line.
" Shanks, what's up?".
" I'm sorry to call you it this hour, sir, and there are probably gonna be some people that wil kill me for this, but….I just felt you should know". " Know what?" "" I just got a call about a break in, and –" " And you call me!", Hal interrupted, more amused than angry. " It's because of the person who called, sir…..it was ms. Stewart, and….she sounded pretty spooked. "
" She okay?", Hal asked after a long silence". " yeach she is, but like I said, she sounded—" " You took the call?". " Yeach" " Send someone over yet?". " No… You want me—" " No….n, it's okay…I'll have a look myself, and Shanks….thank you".
" You're welcome sir"
Emily was surprised when Hal showed up at the door. " Hi…I….why are you—", " Shanks called me, you reported a break in?". " …" yeach, I---I just got home and--- well, have a look yourself", she walked into the house with Hal right behind her. " Seems like someone doing a thorough job", he said looking though the living room", can you tell if anything's messing?'
" I haven't really noticed yet,", Emily replied. Hal nodded, " well, I'll call the station to send someone over, maybe forensics can pull some prints", e took out his cell phone and started heading for the door..
" Hal…do you mind…..do you mind sticking around till they get here….I mean….I really don't". " I don't think that would be such a great idea, Em", Hal replied. " Please, just till they get here…I can make you some coffee". Hal remained hesitant. " Oh, please….what are you so afraid of, that's I'm gonna jump you are something?", she tried shifting the conversation in a more lightened atmosphere. " I don't know….is that what you want?". " not while I'm making coffee". " okay, well…I guess I'm save then…okay, coffee would be nice, till forensics get here"
Emily smiled warmly and went into the kitchen
They should be here in half an hour, give and take", Hal said when she returned. Emily nodded. Their was a strange, uncomfortable silence. "You know... I really didn't ...I called the station and not you for a reason", Emily then said.
"Why? Because you though I wouldn't believe you?". Emily didn't reply. "Yeach, well...why wouldn't I ...Right?". The tone on which he said it made the atmosphere between them change.
"You're still filled with so much- - ", Emily looked at him but didn't finish her sentence. "Filled with what?" Hal asked in a sharp tone of voice. "Never mind", Emily looked away.
"no.no.no, Now I wanna hear what you were about to say".
"You are filled with...anger...hatred, and...it's clouding your judgment, just like—"
Hal smiled, "There we have it". "You know what? I don't wanna fight with you...I really don't". "Really!...then what do you want, Em? "
"I want you to let go of this hatred, this anger... it's not like you and it's eating away at you and—"Hal got up, "I knew this was a bad idea...You know what Em, why don't you go bother your other ex? He and Meg aren't doing too well, or so I'm told, and I'm sure he'd really appreciate –""Will you knock it off! I couldn't care less about Paul! I don't care about him, I don't love him, never have...I - - I know that now, I l—". "Don't even go there!" Hal snapped and glared at her darkly.
"I know how much you hate me... you hate me as much as you once used to love me –"
"Hate you! You – you really don't get it, do you! You still...just don't get it...do you? No, Em, I hate the things you've done, but...I don't hate you. In fact...I'm afraid I will never be able to stop loving you...no matter how hard I try, and there was a time...there was a time a was big a fool enough to believe you loved met—"
"Don't, please don't – You know I loved you, I still l—"
"I'm done being your replacement, Em".
"You... you are not a replacement! Never have, never will be! I love you!".
"Yeach! And how long is that gonna last this time! Till the next 'ex'comes along! So...whose it gonna be next, Em? Let's see...we already had Chris...then there was Paul, so...whose next in line?...James Stenbeck perh—"
Emily slapped him hard across the face, then shiffered seeing the cold look in his eyes as he looked at her; "Stay the hell away from me, Em. I'm not gonna go though this again", he said then walked to the door. "I'll wait outside".
"Fine! Just walk away...that's what you're good at! But let me tell you this...I do love you... and One day I will prove that to you".
Hal looked back; "Don't bother, Em...that's gonna be a mission impossible"
The door slammed behind him