Romance Doesn't Sleep
"So, uhm, what exactly are we doing here? You had better hope you aren't wasting my time." Leslie asked impatiently.
"I brought you here to show you this," Jake said, pointing towards a warehouse. "I've been told that it has stuff that might interest you in it- you being the cops."
"And who, might I ask, told you that? We've searched this place before, it's just an abandoned warehouse that used to be a methane lab." Leslie said, disappointment clear on her face.
"Look Leslie, I know what this place is. I've obviously done my research. I wouldn't take you out here if I hadn't."
"Whatever Jake, this is a waste of my time and I'm leaving." she said as she turned on her heal and began walking.
"I knew you'd bite my head off," he said. She turned around and faced him, not an ounce of doubt in her mind.
"What?" she asked.
"I said I knew you'd bite my head off. You do every time I try to do something nice for you. Well Leslie I'm done trying. Trying to impress you, please you and be good enough for you. You've broken my heart time and time again so I'm done." He turned around and walked. He could feel her eyes on his back and could almost see the tears coming to her eyes.
'Stop you damned fool,' he said to himself, 'go comfort her!' But he didn't, he kept walking. He wasn't sure where he was headed; he just had to get away.
The rage that had built up inside of him was finally subsiding and he was able to focus.
He would have to deal with the lab on his own, once she got out of there. He stopped to turn around, he had gone far enough. Leslie and her silver cop car would be half way back to the police station to tell everyone and their uncles that Jake Doyle had failed again.
He began walking back and realized that he had just lost all of the chance that he had with Leslie. She saw right through him to his insecure, unloved core. He kicked the ground and dust flew through the air. Stupid. Stupid. Idiot. What the hell was he going to do now? Leslie had been kidnapped, and he had found her. They had gotten very close over the past few months but she began drifting away when she got her old job back. And here they were.
He looked up to see Leslie's car still where they had left it. And after a bit more walking and staring he was able to make out Leslie's figure, hunched down, head on the wheel, crying. His stomach felt like it had been tied in a knot. He had done this, made her feel this way.
She hadn't seen him yet, he could walk away. But something was pulling him in and the next thing he knew he was opening the passenger door and sitting down, not looking at Leslie. He regretted it immediately.
She looked up at him startled but fright soon turned to disgust and disgust soon turned to helplessness.
"Jake…" it was almost a whisper, a whimper.
"I'm sorry." He replied, it was solid; it was strong, and not too deflated.
"No, I'm sorry. I know you're going to tell me that I shouldn't be, but I am." She said as a tear slowly made its way down her cheek and settled into her scarf.
Her scarf, the purple one he loved with her beige coat. The one that brought out her gorgeous brown eyes and perfect complection. The one- stop. Jake stop. He was getting all giddy again and her statement brought him back to reality.
"No," he said, "you're perfect."
She turned to him, eyes red and swollen with tears.
"Please stop. You know I like you, I'll admit that, but you have always been the one thing in my life that I just can't make work, why change that now?"
"Because Leslie! Because my heart swells up when I see you. Because being around you makes me happy. Because you brighten my every day. Because I can't live without you. Because-" And in the middle of his moving rant, they both heard a gun shot, loud and clear. They jumped and stared at each other in confusion.
They got out of the car and headed in the direction of the sound. The warehouse.
"Go back to the car Leslie." Jake said with confidence in his voice but with desperation in his mind. He was not going to risk losing her.
"Do I need to remind you that-"
"I know b'y, you're the top ranked officer in Newfoundland, you're the best shooter on the force, I know! But I'm asking you to leave, not for you, for me."
She stopped. She could hear the desperation in his voice, the way he moved and looked at her with pleading eyes.
At that moment, three police cars pulled into the lot, guns on the couple.
"Oh shagger." said Jake, pulling Leslie by the arm towards the gap that the police had not yet filled.