Cindy looked herself over in the mirror and tried to fight back the tears. Her head was pounding, the beginnings of a massive migraine starting to appear. She made herself move out of the bathroom and into her room, only to fall onto her bed and stare at the window. She took a deep breath to keep from crying, but it was useless. Her whole body hurt, and even in the dark she could tell that there were bruises forming. Bruises that she wouldn't know how to explain. She couldn't exactly think of a decent way to tell Lindsay that her boyfriend beat the hell out of her because she said she thought she might be a lesbian. Or that she might have mentioned to him that she was interested in someone else. Arik had a temper. One which happened to go up a few notches after he had been drinking. It wasn't the first time she found herself in her cold apartment all alone and bruised. It was however the first time she had found herself there feeling like she could just end her life at any given moment. It was something she hadn't felt since she was a teenager, and it was a feeling she didn't like, because she knew she had it in her to follow through on anything. Her gaze drifted to the alarm clock. Five fifteen in the morning. Sleeping wasn't even a choice anymore. She would just have to get up in an hour to go about her normal life. She could always spend that time thinking up excuses for the bruise on her face. She should report him, because he would do this again. Even if he came back when he was sober and said he wouldn't, he would. She had believed him the first three times. Then she learnt. It's why she was glad the other club members never asked to come to her place. That would never be a good thing. She rolled onto her back and almost screamed as a sharp pain ran up her side. She ran her fingers over her left ribcage and inhaled sharply. Broken ribs. She should get them checked out, but all the paperwork that would piss Arik off all over again was not worth it. She would down a handful of aspirin before she left for work and pray that it helped the pain. Her phone began to ring and she felt like throwing it out the window. Her mood slightly changed for the better when she saw that it was Lindsay calling. She pushed the accept button. "Hello?"
"Did I wake you up?"
"No. I was up. What's going on?"
"Well, I know you like to run, and I feel like going for a run, and you seem like you would be better company that Mr. FBI Guy. So, can I swing by and we can go for a nice morning run?"
Cindy was quiet for a moment. "Sure. Do you know where I live?"
"Yeah. I found out one of the times you got cuffed." She said, a smile in her voice. "It should take me about 20 minutes to jog over there. See you then?"
"I'll be out front." Cindy said, smiling. She hung up and slowly got up off the bed, suddenly remembering her injuries. "Shit." She said, looking for her jogging clothes. Shoe carefully put them on and headed out of the apartment and down the stairs slowly to wait for Lindsay. She found herself leaning against the wall and almost dozing off as Lindsay approached.
"Hey." She said, stopping in front of the short redhead. Cindy looked up, prepared for the questioning. Lindsay looked at her face as the bruise registered. "I'll make you a deal, reporter. You just keep me company on this jog, and I won't ask." She said, trying to smile.
"Deal." Cindy replied. "I might not be able to go that fast. I kind of walked into my table and banged my knee." Lindsay glanced at her and she knew the Inspector knew she was lying, but thankfully, she didn't question anything. As they took off down the street, Cindy kept her gaze straight ahead.
"What's on your mind?" Lindsay asked, treading the conversation carefully.
"Far too much. It was a bad day yesterday, and I didn't get any sleep at all last night. So hopefully when we get back a shower will wake me up so I don't fall asleep at my desk today." She laughed and gently put her hand on her ribs to dull the pain as much as she could. Lindsay came to a stop and looked at the younger woman.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just a little pain in my side. Nothing big." She said, smiling. Lindsay turned her towards her and gently ran her hands along her left side. The second they made contact with her ribs, she winced.
"Okay, that isn't your knee." She stated, not smiling anymore. "What happened?"
"I don't know." Cindy lied, turning to continue on.
"No, you do not get to say that you don't know and then drop the subject. Why are your ribs bruised, if not broken? And I know I said I wouldn't ask, but does your face have something to do with this?" Cindy moved to a bench and sat down. Lindsay quietly followed her. "You trust me, right?" Cindy nodded. "Then tell me. Please?"
"No. Because I don't want anyone to have to worry about my personal problems."
"Oh, so you can barge into ours but we have to stay out of yours?"
"Yeah." Cindy said, standing up and beginning to walk back towards her apartment. Lindsay followed her the entire way and almost slammed into Cindy as she stopped. "Lindsay, please go, now." She whispered, seeing Arik walking towards them. "Now!"
"Well, dear, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Arik said, wrapping an arm gently around Cindy's shoulders.
"Uhm, Arik, this is Inspector Lindsay Boxer. Linz, this is my boyfriend Arik." She said, her voice quiet. "Thanks for the jog. I will see you later." She said, letting Arik lead her into the building. When they were at their apartment, he pressed Cindy to the wall.
"An Inspector?"
"Arik, I didn't tell her anything. She is a friend and we just went for a morning run. That is all." She said, tears in her eyes. "I promise." He looked at her carefully before unlocking the apartment and shoving her inside. She moved to go into the bedroom but he stopped her.
"Where do you think you are going?"
"To shower and change for work."
"No. You are calling in sick today." He snarled, pushing her onto the couch. "Don't wanna risk you seeing your little Inspector again and telling something you know you shouldn't."