I Need You

As I waited for Tessa to arrive, I kept checking my phone. Nothing. The entire time I talked to Kyle something felt off. Something bad. Glancing towards the door, Rey walked in. A defeated look on his face. "Mariah, hey."

"Hey."

It didn't take a master detective to see I was upset. "Everything alright?"

"It's been kind of a rough day."

"Same." Rey swayed foot to foot.

"Is the JT case still messing with you?"

"Every time I think I'm close to solving it, it goes sideways. I can't trust what anybody tells me."

"Yeah, I feel you." Turning my empty cup in my hands, I shrugged.

"I hope your night gets better than your day." He offered.

"I'm not holding out hope."

Before walking into the main area, he stopped and turned back to me. "May I ask a very personal question? Not about your mother."

Wanting to get mind off of this dreadful feeling I had, I agreed. "Sure. Take a seat."

Sitting, the detective studied me a moment. "it's came up talking with Lola that you're dating another woman, Tessa Porter."

Of course! This is what he asks! Out of everything, he brings this up. "Yes, I'm currently dating her. Why?"

"I just wanted to congratulate you. It takes a lot to admit that you're different. Especially if you're in the spotlight."

"So far there's not been a question here."

"I don't think it was really a question I had but more of a congratulations. Up until recently, the two of you seem quite happy together. There's a bond there that seems unbreakable." If only he knew. "Either way, I hope your night gets better."

"Yours too."

Moments later, my phone rang. It's Tessa. "Do you know how long I've been waiting for you to show up?" Irritation was clear.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Tessa sobbed. "There was a bag over my head. And a car and I don't know where I am."

Panic started setting in. "Wait. Slow down! Slow down! What happened?"

"I don't know where I am and I'm so cold!" Her voice was choked as she tried getting the words out.

"Stay right where you are." Grabbing my coat, I started out the door. "I'll track your phone. I'm coming to get you."

Pulling up to the location Tessa's phone was pinged at, I saw her lying motionless in my headlights. Pushing open my door, I ran. "Tessa!" Shaking the taller woman, I tried getting her to wake up. "Tessa! Tessa! Wake up!" A pain like I had never felt before clinched my chest. "You can't die on me! Please, Tessa!" The glow of her phone caught my eye. Leaning her against me, I read what she had typed.

I love you, Mariah. More than anything. I know I've done terrible things to you and that I don't deserve you. No matter how much you hate me, I will always love you. Xo Tessa

Tears streamed down my cheeks. "No. No. You are not dying tonight!" Getting to my feet, I carried Tessa to the car. Putting her in the passenger seat, I blasted the heat towards her. "You have got to hold on, Tessa. I need you to hold on." Guilt caused waves of nausea to churn my stomach. I can't believe I was about to break up with her. And that I've been acting like a child. I tormented Sharon when I came here. I'm no saint. "Damn it!" Slamming my fist against the steering wheel, I winced in pain.

"Don't do that. You'll hurt yourself…" Tessa's words were nearly a whisper.

"Tessa!" Pulling over, I unbuckled my seatbelt and hugged the woman tightly. Burying my face in her neck. "You're alive! Thank God!" Kissing the trembling woman, I'm not sure how many times, I started crying all over again. "I'm sorry I've treated you like shit. You don't deserve that." Hugging her again, I squeezed a little too hard.

"Ow. All the yoga I dragged you to works…"

"Sorry." Cupping the woman's face, I looked for any abrasions. When I didn't see any, I dug around in the glove box for hand warmers. "Put this on your neck. It'll warm you up." Taking the small pad, Tessa placed it under her scarf. "What happened?"

"It's all my fault. I'm an awful person and I tried to change and then I can't." Clearing her throat, she tried composing herself but failed.

Pulling her back into my arms, I let Tessa cry. "Okay, whatever happened people make mistakes. It's fine. This is not your fault."

Letting her head rest on my shoulder, Tessa sniffled. "I blackmailed the woman who took me in. I knew that they would be scared but I did it anyway. And Sharon, she's been so amazing to me. All these women were trying to do was stand up to a bad person and I tried to profit off of it."

"Whatever happened here tonight, whoever did this to you, you don't deserve this. You didn't earn being dumped here by some thugs."

"It was Nikki and Victoria." Her voice trailed off.

"What?"

"They think I moved JT's body. And I know that's who they think I am but I'm not."

"I know. I know. Okay?"

"Okay..." Looking up at me, Tessa's voice softened. "You didn't think that I could blackmail your mom but I did. I mean," she looked away. "Who knows what I'm capable of?"

"I know that it wasn't you."

"The way that they looked at me. It was like they think I have an evil inside of me. What it they're right?"

"Hey, hey, look at me. Look at me." Tilting the woman's chin, I forced her to meet my gaze. "You are not evil. Okay? You've had to protect yourself. You've had to protect your sister. And you've lived in a world where it is take or be taken. Alright, and you don't have to live in that world anymore. Even if…" My voice trailed off remembering why I had called Tessa to Crimson Lights.

"What? Even if what?"

"Even if we're not together…"

Lifting her head off my shoulder, Tessa coughed. "You're leaving me?"

"That's why I, um, needed to see you today. I wanted to tell you that I can't do this anymore."

Anguish washed over the woman's face. "You're right. I will, I will leave you alone and you'll never have to see my face again."

"You didn't let me finish. The thing is," I cupped the woman's face. I met her gaze before continuing. "I need your face. I need you and I know that now." Bowing her head, Tessa leaned into my touch. "So, you can't go. Okay? And I'm not going to leave." Kissing the sniffling woman, I tried expressing how sorry I was. How stupid I was. And how wrong I was for thinking I could live without the dark-haired musician who had turned my life upside down. Wrapping Tessa in my arms, she buried her face in my neck and sobbed.

The more I thought about what Tessa told me they did to her, darkness and anger burnt through my veins. Picking up on the difference, Tessa leaned back. "Mariah? Are you okay?" Taking my clenched fist in her trembling hands, Tessa tried gaining my attention. "You're starting to scare me."

"I'm sorry." Unclenching my hand, I entwined our fingers. "Let's get you home and warmed up."

"Will you stay with me? That look in your eyes...you're out for blood."

"Do you blame me?" My voice was flat.

"No, but I don't want you to do something you'll regret. It's over. They know I didn't move JT's body."

"It's my turn to protect you." Kissing the back of Tessa's hand, I drove in silence.

"You didn't answer my question. Will you stay with me tonight?"

"I will." Squeezing the woman's hand, I tried reassuring her. "What I said earlier about not doing this anymore, forget I ever said it."

"I don't blame you for wanting to leave me, Mariah. Just please, stay with me tonight at the very least."

"I'm not leaving. The only way I'll be leaving is with you by my side. I meant what I said. I need you. That became glaringly obvious when I thought you were dead."

"I thought I might…" Tessa's voice trailed off. "Wait, you have a tracker on my phone?"

"Uh…. Can we not talk about that right now?"

A soft chuckle escaped Tessa's throat. "You've been keeping an eye on me. But not for your Mom."

Giving in, I mumbled. "Only because I was going to follow your ass if you left town."

"That's the sweetest most stalkery thing I've ever heard."

Entering the apartment, I made sure both locks were turned before getting Tessa situated on the couch. After unfolding the bed, I helped the taller woman get comfortable amongst the pillows. I wrapped the green throw over her, tucking it around her shoulders and chin. Cupping her face, I kissed Tessa's hair. "Tea?"

"Please." Worried eyes followed me as I entered the kitchen. "Mariah, what are you going to do? I know that look. You're planning something."

"It's probably best that you don't know."

"Isn't that thought process what got us into this situation?"

Turning on my heels, I started to argue but stopped. "You're right." Going to sit on the armrest, I looked down at the frazzled woman. "I'm going to rip them to shreds for this."

"Mariah-"

"Or at least make sure they never come near you again." Leaning down, I kissed Tessa's forehead.

"As amazing as that sounds, you promised to stay tonight. You need to cool off before confronting Sharon."

"And I will. I'm not letting you out of my sight for a while." Hearing the kettle whistle, I went to make the tea.

Rejoining Tessa, I offered her a cup. "Thank you."

"Welcome." Sitting on the edge of the bed, I sipped my tea. We drank our tea in silence, thinking about tonight's events.

Finishing her cup, Tessa took my empty one and placed them on the floor. "Let's get some rest."

Meeting the woman's gaze, I bit my lip. "You really want to sleep in the same bed even after what I said? And what Sharon did to you?"

"I love you, Mariah. Two wrongs don't make a right but I don't hold what Sharon does against you. I've given you plenty of reason to walk away. I'm just lucky you haven't." Flipping back the covers, Tessa patted the area beside her. "We'll get through this, together."

Crawling in beside Tessa, I snuggled into her. "Aren't I supposed to be comforting you?"

A soft chuckle escaped the musician's throat. "We'll comfort each other." Wrapping her arm around me, Tessa pulled me closer. "I'm glad you're not leaving."

"There's no way I could." Unwillingly, I got up to flip off the lights. Crawling back into bed, I snuggled back into Tessa's embrace. "Goodnight, Tessa."

"Goodnight, Mariah."