Disclaimer: I do not own Life, blah blah blah. This is my second Life fic. It takes place after season one but before season two and goes AU from there. I would appreciate readers to review and tell me what they liked, didn't like and any suggestions they have for this story since I have no idea where I'm going with this one. All mistakes are mine. Thanks in advance for reading.---
It wasn't the first time that Dani Reese woke up with no memory of what had taken place the night before. However, she was a fairly predictable person so it usually wasn't that hard for her to figure out what had gone down. It always seemed to involve three things: a bar, a man and a motel—and usually in that order.
This morning was different, though. First, she was alone in an unfamiliar bed. That in itself was not necessarily unusual. Second, she had no idea where her clothes were, even after she scanned the ugly dark brown carpet of what had to be a motel room and found nothing, not even a shoe. Third, through, and most important were the streaks of what appeared to be dried blood coating her arms, hands and what felt like her face.
Groaning, Dani rolled from underneath the stiff sheets and comforter which had brown and green flowers that matched the shitty carpet of the room. She was always amazed by how many motels refused to update their décor but when one rented by the hour, the last thing they had on their minds would be that the color pallet was probably chosen with the intent to hide stains in order to save on the cost of a good scrubbing which was definitely not done after every checkout. As her feet hit the rough shagged floor, she once again looked around and only found a key on the floor, next to the bed, with a brown plastic disc attached and the number nine printed on it in white. She gingerly made her way to the bathroom, expecting to see the grungy green tile but was dismayed to find that it was empty of clothing as well. A single bath towel hung on the curtain rod like it had been used but obviously not by her since she was still covered in brownish stains. The towel was a dingy white but it looked free of blood, or what she assumed was blood. The shower curtain was missing but the little plastic rings it used to hang on were still there. She wasn't sure if that meant anything, yet.
After using the bathroom, she quickly went to the window and peaked out from behind a heavy brown curtain but could not see her vehicle in the parking lot. Sighing, she sat down heavily on the bed. It was probably a good thing she felt so hung over since it seemed to keep the panic she was feeling in her chest from bursting out. Using a shaking, stained hand to try to comb through her thick tangled hair she took stock of her situation. She was alone, naked and stranded, in a motel room she did not recognize next to a street she wasn't familiar with. She had no purse, so no money and no cell phone. There was, however, a phone sitting on the small table next to the bed. And on that table was a phone book stamped with 'Property of Macey Motel'. Well, that was two problems solved. Reaching for the phone, she followed the instructions laminated on the table explaining how to dial out and called the first person she thought of.
"Crews," greeted the gruff, half-asleep voice of her partner.
She hadn't even thought to glance at a clock so it must have been early if he had still been asleep. She licked her lips and glanced around the room again, not sure what to say.
"Hey, it's Reese," she said, her voice deep and scratchy since her throat felt like sandpaper.
"Reese? It's six in the morning and our day off. You miss me already?" he joked and she could hear the rustle of sheets and blankets and a slight groan which must have meant he was sitting up.
She opened her mouth to answer him but again she completely blanked with what to say back. Normally she would have dryly answered that she wasn't sure if anyone could miss a pain in their ass, or she would have completely ignored his comment and told him what she wanted in her bossy no-nonsense tone.
"Reese, are you okay? Where are you?" Crews asked, voice sharpening but still calm.
"Macey Motel," she replied, her voice rough and flat.
"Dani, are you all right?" Crews asked as she heard more movement which sounded like doors opening.
Crews must be getting up and getting dressed.
"Umm, I think so…I, uh, need you to come and get me," she said, as she took the edge of the comforter and wrapped it around herself.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line but she could still hear Crews breathing and the sounds of him moving around.
"Where is Macey Motel?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied, her voice softening.
"You don't know?" he repeated.
"I think I drank last night. I don't really remember," she said, gripping the handle of the phone.
"Reese, what did you mean by you think that you are all right?" Crews asked.
This time she was silent as she debated how much to tell him over the phone. Twisting the phone cord with her other hand, she looked around the room again, hoping an answer would pop out. None did.
"I feel really hung over and I don't remember how I got here or who I was with. I can't find my clothes, purse or phone. And I think I have blood on me."
"Is it your blood?" he asked quietly.
"No, I don't feel hurt or anything. I'm not sure if I should wash it off, though," she answered.
It was ingrained in her from an early age, since her father was a cop, that if a crime had occurred, or possibly occurred, then every shred of evidence needed to be saved. She wasn't sure of what she had been involved with the night before, but bathing might make her look guilty if something bad had happened to someone else. It could also imply that she was that something bad that had happened. Either way, she didn't really know what to do.
"Just sit tight, okay. I'll put the motel in my GPS and be there as soon as possible. Don't open the door for anyone but me," Crews ordered.
Dani nodded until it occurred to her that he couldn't hear her nod.
"Dani?"
"Yes, okay. I'll wait. Could you hurry, please?"
"I'm out the door right now. It's going to be okay," he said, trying to sound reassuring.
"I think I'm a long way from okay," she said before hanging up.