This will be consistent with the episode "Forgiving Rollins" so spoiler alert. This will follow the episodes general story line but it will have extra scenes and all the characters thoughts. I know there is like a million of these stories, but I just couldn't help not being apart of the action. I will try to keep you on your feet, so thank you for your support and reading. I love suggestions and ideas so don't forget to leave them in the comments.

Thank you and enjoy!

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it isn't mine.

Chapter 1

"Its a brave new world. Since criminals are bound less and less by geographical jurisdiction. Law enforcement must follow suit. We all need to share information quickly and efficiently. Case in point." Patton's southern accent rang through the conference room.

Amanda cringed lightly, just the sound of his twangy voice created familiar chills slithering down her back.

"Now the recent Pattern 17 rape case in New York. For us at APD the most gratifying part of closing out that case was collaborating with our esteemed and charming colleagues at NYPD. Now one of Sargent Benson's detectives, formerly one of my own,"

Amanda silently grimaced and bit the edge of her lip.

"recalled a few old cases in Atlanta that matched the profile they had established. Now given the similarities and the MO we felt certain that DNA on file at our precinct would prove that this was the work of one man."

Amanda briefly met eyes with her old mentor. A man she had once trusted and worked diligently to impress. Now just the mere sight of him brought back grueling memories and feelings Amanda had fought to keep inside for years.

"This DNA, they were unable to obtain from the New York crime scene."

The conference finally ended and Amanda quickly got up from her seat. She made a speedy exit to the restroom and released the contents of her stomach in the porcelain bowl. Her eyes watered and she was instantly upset with how easily he could illicit a reaction out of her.

"No, stop it. You're fine." Amanda muttered under her breath.

She brushed the hair from her face and washed her hands with scolding hot water. Her hands were red, but the pain was hardly noticeable. Amanda was stuck looking in the mirror back at her own dull eyes. Have they always been like this? Dreary and lifeless, or maybe its just been like this for the last five years.

Amanda dried her hands and rubbed them with increasing anxiety on her pants. It was go time. She took a deep breath and left the lady's room with a pleasant, uncomfortable smile on her face. She met up with her team standing around a table outside of the conference room.

"He sits on the rape kits for 6 years, we catch the guy, then he takes the victory lap." Finn murmured, obviously upset with how the night had rolled out.

"Accept the things you cannot change." Amanda muttered.

"Just don't ask me to go out to dinner with him." Finn replied sarcastically.

Amanda scoffed.

The blonde looked up to see Patton making his way over to the table. Right away Amanda recognized the look on his face. The lust. The disgust she felt for this man was unbearable.

"Sargent, beautiful city you have here."

"Even when it isnt." Olivia replied.

"Yep." Patton sneered lightly. "That's true. But speakin of beautiful...Amanda, it's nice to see you. Ah, it broke my heart to let this one go."

Amanda forced a smile to her face. The same uncomfortable, awkward one that had painted her face earlier.

"Ya'all have a winner with her." Patton continued.

His stare never left Amanda's eyes. As if he was replaying every moment he had ever even imagined being with her. Amanda desperately wanted to cry or scream, this man made her emotions play twister inside of her.

"We know that." Finn curtly replied, automatically feeling protective of Amanda, for a reason he couldn't quite understand.

"Oh, forgive me darlin. Folks, this is detective Reese Taymore. This is her first conference."

Amanda looked into the same blue eyes this young girl had. She reminded Amanda of herself, so...so much. The look in her eyes, so eager to work and learn. Immediately Amanda knew she hadn't felt the pain yet.

"Oh, well welcome to New York." Olivia greeted.

"Ah, just like the song." Reese's smile lit up and made Amanda's heart crack a little. "I loved your presentation on aggravating and hot plating social media to really zero in on the crime scene or pattern."

Patton lifted his drink to his parched lips. Amanda watched his every move. Her teeth clenched and her breath ran shallow.

"We should really look into some of the programs she mentioned. Snap trends, scram fate."

Patton genuinely smiled. "Oh, anything you want darlin." Patton paused to look at Amanda before looking behind him and scanning the room. "Gosh, you know I got so many friends here."

Once again, Amanda bit her lip in a bitter reply.

"We'll catch you later." Patton said.

With one more greedy glance at Amanda, Patton started to walk away, settling his arm on Reese's lower back.

"It was nice to meet ya'all." Reese said with another pearly smile.

"You too." Olivia replied.

As soon as they were gone, Amanda let out a deep breath.

"Yeah Atlanta, they're so polite." Amanda offered.

She looked up to recognize Amaro's face.

"Sam Reynolds, Amanda's old cap, wants us to join APD at Moran's."

Finn quickly put his thumbs out like he was doing the hoke poke. "I'm outta here."

"I gotta go home to Noah guys, goodnight." Olivia said and followed Finn out.

Amaro walked around the table to talk to Amanda.

"Well, just you and me."

"I'm not good at hanging out with the old boys." Amanda stumbled over her words, but acted as though it was nothing.

"You know he said Reese is comin." Amaro rebuttled.

"Umm, I gotta walk Franny." Amanda offered lamely.

Amanda tried walking past Amaro but his arm caught her bicep. Amanda looked up at Amaro's eyes.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't it be?"

Amaro looked deep into her eyes, as if he was trying to figure out her secrets. "You would tell me if there was, right?"

"Yeah of course." Amanda easily brushed it off and walked past.

The corner of her eyes found Patton watching her. He gave her a wink and raised his glass. Amanda took a wide turn around him with a curt head nod and that same silly, awkward smile.

Amanda sat in a new bar. It was a new one every night. A new drink and a new memory. Amanda had yet to drink all her sorrows away, but at least the booze was helping her feel less like a completely worthless person. Her eyes sat fixed on the table in front of her. She had finished another drink, too many to count, but she didn't care. She liked it that way. She liked hoping that the answer would be at the bottom of the glass and then the bottom of the bottle and then the next bottle and the next. But it never was, but she was never dissatisfied.

"Hit me." Amanda said to the bartender.

Everyone around her was socializing meeting new people, drunk and sober, but Amanda sat at the bar, enjoying the company the noise brought, the distraction that made her remember that drinking was the only thing that dulled the pain, and she couldn't give that up.

Amanda took a swig of her next glass and tried to push the memories bombarding her head away, but one won out.

"Amanda, Amanda. You know I always liked you." Patton swooned.

"Yes sir." Amanda answered hesitantly.

"Tell me, do you love your sister?"

"Yes."

"Would you do anything to help her?"

"Yes." Amanda immediately became eerie of the situation.

"Anything?"

Amanda's heart dropped just as Patton's eyes.

"Then I'll see you at 10."

Amanda turned around to leave his office, her heart pounding like a trampling stampede.

"And Amanda, you should know by now, I don't take no for an answer."