I currently have 5 fics I should be updating:
No Going Back
Letting You In
Lost
Fixing The Mistake
Lady Beckett
Here is number 6...
Disclaimer: Well what do you think?
...
Dead Serious
Chapter 1
Kate loved to run. The velvety blue of the night sky enveloped her as her feet beat against the hard tarmac; she followed the white lines down the centre of the road. The mugger didn't stand a chance. She was gaining on him fast and he was flagging, too. She didn't blame him. No one had her stamina.
The take down was ridiculously easy, too. He was hers in seconds; she liked to get on with things. When she was satisfied he would never hurt or steal again, she cleaned him up a bit and dropped him off outside the ER. He would be fine. More was the pity. She set off home, if you could call it that. Dawn was coming soon; her night of 'crime-fighting' was over and she could feel the need for sleep creeping through her body.
She reached the dingy basement where she lived and undressed, taking a quick shower before collapsing into bed in a death-like slumber. It could have been worse. A lot worse. She had decorated it well, and though it couldn't be called nice, it was at least a little better than bearable.
…
Rick resisted the temptation to throw his laptop at the wall. Though the launch party had been a success, Gina's patronising words were eating at his tired brain. Derrick Storm was dead, his new book was due, and he had no idea what to write.
A tousled red head peeped around the door of his office.
"Hey, Lex," he sighed.
"Hi Dad," his daughter said, wandering in.
"Can't you sleep either?" he asked her as she perched herself on the edge of his desk.
"It's morning, Dad. I have school."
"Morning?" Maybe he'd had a bit to much to drink.
"You should sleep, Dad. Don't listen to Gina. And you never know – you might dream up an idea."
"Maybe," Rick said, but he didn't think it was even remotely possible. He was beginning to fear, despite his bravado, that he really might have nothing left in him. He managed a smile for Alexis and got up to give her a hug.
"Alright. I'll go to bed. Goodnight, sweetie."
Alexis laughed. "Good morning."
"Have a good day."
"Thanks." She watched her father retreat into his bedroom and hoped he would actually sleep. He had become almost nocturnal.
…
Kate stirred in her sleep, and after a few moments, opened her shining eyes. Her throat was dry and aching; she put it out of her mind and got up, rolling her shoulders. She reached up for the bar in the door frame of her bedroom and did fifty chin ups at top speed – her favourite way to wake herself up and prepare for a night of working. She got dressed, choosing from a closet full of tight fitting dark clothes. She eyed her heels longingly, they so rarely got any outings, but slipped her feet into her running shoes.
She glanced around her apartment and raked a hand through her hair. She licked her lips, but bit her tongue when she caught herself doing it. Control, Beckett. Control.
She leapt up the stairs three at a time, her energy bubbling up as she forgot about her thirst. She grinned when she got outside, her teeth reflecting the bright white moonlight. She began to run almost immediately, her muscles buzzing happily with the exercise. Her hair whipped back behind her as she shot along the road, so fast anyone still out hardly noticed her. They were all preoccupied – it wasn't a neighbourhood where being out after dark was a good idea.
Dangerous things lurked in the shadows.
Dangerous things like Kate.
New York didn't really sleep, but most of its inhabitants did vacate Kate's playground at some point. The ones that remained were usually wise enough not to interfere with her.
Her run took her to central park and she zipped into the trees, dodging in and out of them, blissfully alone. She listened carefully, catching snippets of conversations, mostly drug deals, one couple going at it al fresco style... She chuckled. She hoped their enjoyment was worth the risk. And then-
Put it down, Tommy, you don't know what you're doing.
DON'T tell me what to do, Jared! I'm not a child any more.
Shut up. A click. I'm serious Tommy, drop it or you're-
"Everything alright here, boys?"
Tommy and Jared started at her, their guns hanging limply in their hands. Kate neatly collected the weapons as they stared. She looked Tommy straight in the eye.
"I think you should go home. It's past your bedtime."
Tommy disappeared immediately. Jared was left standing there, hypnotised by her. She caught his gaze, touching his chin with the tip of her finger.
"Were you going to kill him?" she asked, tipping her head to one side.
"Probably," Jared breathed.
"Have you ever killed before?"
"Yes..."
"Why?"
"Money. And once I just got angry. It was her fault, really."
Kate nodded. "Of course," she murmured, keeping her eyes locked with his. Her throat had been burning for long enough.
Jared set off for the police station with a smile on his face – he would finally be relieved of all that guilt. Kate resisted the urge to growl at him. And then she resisted the urge to chase after him and try to rip his head off.
She shook with the effort to control herself, but soon enough he was gone and she could tear herself away. She ran even faster now the dry ache in her throat had been soothed. She found an all night store and bought a bottle of water to rinse out her mouth, and a pack of chewing gum. There were some tastes she didn't want to hold on to.
She set off moving again, pushing herself as hard as she could, to the limit she rarely even found.
Until she felt his pull. She gritted her teeth and tried with all her strength to run in the opposite direction but it was pointless. She felt her body turning; she could hardly even slow it down as it travelled in his direction.
…
A late dinner. He could do that for her. Alexis had called to say she was going to a study group with some friends, but she would be back about nine, and she wouldn't eat, so they could eat together. Rick liked cooking.
He sliced the meat into thin strips for a stir fry, blood seeping out of it onto his fingers. It didn't bother him particularly, but it wasn't the most pleasant of sights. He chopped the vegetables and root ginger on a different board with a different knife, then checked the time – it wouldn't take long to cook. The rice was already on the boil, the table was laid for two... He hoped Alexis would like it.
He felt guilty... He knew she was worried about him. He would have to do better. After all, even if he didn't ever write another book, it wasn't as if they were about to run out of money. He might be a little childish sometimes, but he had a lot stashed away or invested... enough to keep Alexis comfortable for her entire life, let alone keeping him wealthy.
But he missed writing. He missed the energy, the buzz, the magic of it. And yet... he just didn't seem to have anything to say. Five to nine. He turned on the heat under the wok and after a moment, tipped everything in, stirring carefully as the enticing smells wafted into his nostrils. He heard the elevator doors ping and smiled. Right on time.
Alexis came in with a big smile on her face, which only widened when she saw the table and her father in the kitchen.
"It smells amazing," she said appreciatively, hanging up her bag and jacket before fetching two glasses and filling them with bottled water.
"Did you have a good day?" he asked, tipping the now cooked stir fry into a preheated dish.
"Great, thanks. School was fine, and the study group was interesting."
"I'm glad to hear it."
"What about you?"
"I was asleep for most of it. But yes. It's been fine. Your grandmother said she was sorry she couldn't be here but she had a... thing."
"A night out with her acting friends. I know."
"She tells you more than she tells me."
"I'm the one she has to get permission from. She'll be in by one."
Rick had to laugh. Alexis made such an adorable parent to them. They talked happily all the way through dinner, and two generous helpings of chocolate ice cream. They washed up together, and then Alexis said sadly that she would have to go to bed. She grinned at her father, though. She knew he had made a real effort for her and she loved him for it.
Rick wiped his hands on the dish towel and wondered what to do next. The apartment was clean, he didn't feel like video games or television... What he really felt like was a woman. He could go to his favourite upmarket bar and have three to choose from with in minutes. But that kind of shallow existence... that was the sort of thing he wanted to work on. It wasn't that he was always having one night stands. But he'd had his fair share, and though he didn't feel at the time that he was being emotionally affected... he wasn't getting any younger, and even after two failed marriages, he still hoped for something more. Something more serious.
He ended up getting his jacket and keys anyway. He contemplated the fob for the Ferrari, but in the end decided to walk. He could do with the fresh air. He left a note for Alexis in case she came downstairs again, then left the apartment.
I hope you like it! Please review. X