Can I have this kiss forever?
The sound of a telephone buzzing on the nightstand woke Detective Jessica Angell from the deep sleep she had just fallen into. The strong arms of her boyfriend Detective Don Flack held her tight as she tried to find her phone.
"Let it go to voicemail," he said.
"You know I can't do that."
"This is Angell."
"Jess, hey it's Stella. I know it's your day off, but I need your help."
"Alright Stella, I'll be there in about an hour."
Jess hung up the phone and looked at Don's sleeping form. She wondered how she had gotten so lucky. She crept out of bed and ran into the shower. A half hour later she emerged from the bathroom. Don was no where in sight. She could hear him in the kitchen preparing coffee for the both of them.
"Good morning."
"Morning," Don said as he smiled at her.
"Are you sure that you don't want to call Stella back and tell her that you are sick?"
"I have to go Don, you know that. I promise you though, I will be back for lunch." Jess raised an eyebrow at Don.
"Enjoy your day off, you deserve it." Jess said as she gave him a kiss.
"I love you Don."
"I love you too Jess, be careful out there." Don said as he gave her another kiss.
FAFAFAFAFA
Don was sitting on the couch catching up with Sportscenter when he heard a knock on the door. He looked at the clock and realized that it was only 10:30 am. It was too early for Jess to be back for lunch.
He opened the door and saw Mac & Danny standing in the hall of his apartment building.
"Mac, what's up?"
"Flack, it's….it's not good."
"What happened Mac?"
"It's Jess."
Mac went on to explain that Stella and Jess had been involved in an attempted robbery at the crime scene they were processing. Jess had taken a shot to the chest. Stella had immediately shot the suspect dead.
Don didn't hear anything past its Jess. In an instant, everything he felt went out the door. She was just here this morning. She told me she loved me. I can still feel her kiss on my lips. What the hell do you mean something happened to Jess!
He didn't remember getting to the hospital with Mac & Danny. He didn't remember walking into the emergency room and seeing the sea of NYPD officers in the waiting room.
He saw Stella and looked at her. She was covered in blood. Jess's blood.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! WHY DID HAVE TO CALL HER IN TODAY!" Don yelled at Stella.
Mac walked up to him & Stella. "It's not Stella's fault, Flack."
"Its okay, Mac." Stella held back the tear that was threatening to fall from her eyes.
"I'm so sorry Flack." Stella offered her condolences.
"Don't talk to me." Flack angrily walked towards the room where Jess was being kept alive on life support.
He looked at her lifeless form lying in the hospital bed. He could hear the machines breathing for her. He pulled up a chair next to her bed and sat down. The tears formed in his eyes as he held her hand.
"Jess, baby. I am so sorry that I wasn't there to protect you."
He held her hand for another hour as his tears gently fell on her arm. Everything he had hoped for was gone. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He wanted her to be the mother of his children. He could see them growing old together. All of it gone in an instant. He heard the door open and saw an older man standing in the doorway. It was Jess's father. Don met the older man's eyes and knew that it was time to let her go.
Don Flack stood up and leaned over the body of his girlfriend. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips as he said goodbye. A final tear slipped from his eyes as he told her that at least he would have this kiss forever.
"I love you Jess."