Forgotten
SapphireJ
Chapter 1

A/N 1: Here it is… Forgotten Friday's! And for those of you who haven't read it before.. it is a Babe (I believe this was my first Babe to write!).

A/N 2: My web site, Stories for Women, is up and running! If you are interested in checking it out, please visit: www(dot)storiesforwomen(dot)net. There are also links to a blog, forum, and facebook page!


Not mine...they are hers...I don't make the money, she does.


"Steph, stop. Please, just listen to me."

"No, YOU stop. Get the fuck out and don't come back."

"Steph, don't do this to us. Let me explain."

She glared at him. She didn't want to hear his explanations.

"You told me, you fucking promised me, that you were done with that shit. I TRUSTED you. You just threw all that away." She turned her back on him; she couldn't even look at him anymore.

He sat down in the kitchen chair, put his forearms on the table, and laced his fingers together. His head hung down and he felt defeated.

"I know what I said and I'm sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this. I…"

"No, you never meant for me to find out PERIOD! I'm tired of all the damn secrets. I can't do this anymore. I thought I could, but I can't. If you won't leave, fine. I will. Lock up after yourself and be gone when I get back."

Stephanie picked up her purse, slid her gun in the small of her back, put her phone on her hip, and grabbed her keys. She slammed the door on her way out.

She hopped on her bike, slammed the helmet on her head, and peeled out of the parking lot. She had no clue where she was going, but she knew she couldn't stay at her apartment, not with him there.

She didn't realize how far she'd been riding until she could hear the waves. She stopped the bike and looked out on the horizon. Endless water. Peace. Calm. Relaxing. This is where she needed to be.

She drove down the street and pulled into a driveway. Getting off the bike, she took off her helmet and sat it down. She looked up at the house and smiled. It still looked the same. She walked up on the porch, felt around the top of the porch light and found the key.

Stephanie opened the door, walked in and just stood there remembering the smells. She could smell the fresh baked banana bread, the fresh apple pies and her favorite; homemade bread. She walked through the house touching everything and smiling at the memories.

Stephanie made it through the house and walked out on the back deck. She could see the sun setting as she sat down in the chair. Her phone rang; she knew who it was from the tone. She didn't want to talk, so she let it go to voicemail. Ten minutes later, the phone rang again; different tone, but still not someone she wanted to talk to.

She knew she should let someone know where she was and that she was fine. But right now, she didn't care who knew where she was. She needed time to think and process what she just found out.

She settled back in her chair and thought about her fucked up day.

The alarm was going off and wouldn't stop. Stephanie picked it up and flung it across the room. She sighed when it landed with a THUD.

When she finally got out of bed, she took her shower and got dressed for the day. Once she was dressed for work, she grabbed her utility belt and slapped it on. She got it loaded up and stepped into the hall to leave for work.

There was an envelope on the floor at her door. She picked it up and looked up and down the hall. No one there. Her spidey sense was humming. Stephanie stepped back into her apartment and shut the door.

Sitting down at the table, she wasn't sure she wanted to open the envelope. It could be anything, but she knew it wasn't good.

Slowly, she opened the envelope and dumped out the contents. Sitting there staring at the pictures, she felt her stomach start to roll. She leapt up and ran for the bathroom, making it just in time. She leaned against the tub and cried. She felt her world crashing down on her.

Once her world stopped spinning, she stood up, rinsed her mouth, and went back to the kitchen. She picked up the envelope and put the contents back inside and sat it on the table again.

Picking up her phone, she made one phone call.

"Yeah?"

"It's Steph. I'm not coming today. Something came up."

"You okay? Need anything?"

"No, I'll be fine. I just need to take care of something."

She hung up and grabbed her last container of B&J's ice cream.

Stephanie walked into the house and grabbed her keys. She needed a drink and there was nothing in the house.

Walking down the boardwalk, she stopped at a local bar. She thought about it for a second, but decided to go in. How much worse could the day get? At least it was almost over.

Walking up to the bar, she could feel all the eyes on her, but she didn't care. She took a seat at the bar and waited for the bartender.

"Hey there pretty lady, what can I get ya?"

"I'll take a Corona and lime."

"Sure thing." The bartender slid a Corona bottle towards her and placed a few lime slices next to it. "Haven't seen you in here before. New in town?"

She looked at him and noticed that he could almost pass for a Merry Man. "Something like that." She pushed a lime in the bottle and swirled it around. She looked at the bartender and decided she needed more than the Corona.

"Tequila shot. Make that two."

"Who are you trying to forget?"

"Who said I'm trying to forget anyone?"

"Come on. No one as pretty as you walks in here alone and orders tequila shots unless they are trying to forget someone." He lined up two shots for her and wiped down the bar a little. "So, who is he?"

Stephanie slammed both tequila shots without even thinking. "Two more."

"Hold on there sugar. I don't know that you need more. You don't exactly look like someone who is use to drinking a whole lot."

"Don't piss me off. I said two more. Now, are you going to give me two more or do I need to find another bar?"

Stephanie felt someone sit down on the bar stool next to her. She didn't need to look up to see who it was, she knew that scent.

The bartender looked at her companion and back to Stephanie. "You looking after her?"

"I am now."

The bartender shook his head and left to see about the other patrons.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Okay, but just so you know, I'm not leaving and you are not getting two more shots."

Stephanie looked next to her. Thinking for just a minute, she pulled out the envelope from her jacket and tossed it on the bar.

"Go ahead, open it."

Her companion opened the envelope and dumped the contents just as she had done earlier this morning. She heard a low whistle followed by, "Fuuuuuuuuck."


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