Hey all! I have very low expectations that this story is even going to get read lol. It's kind of a strange crossover idea, but I hope it's enough to peak your interest. If you have the time to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it!
"You should move to a small town where the rule of law still exists. You won't survive here. You are not a wolf..."
These words echoed in Kate Macer's brain as she packed her bags and left town. She just wanted to get away. She didn't want to think about everything that had happened. Now it was a week later, and she found herself in a small town in Louisiana. It wasn't hard to get a position with the local law enforcement, and Sheriff Keith Rodrigue was kind enough. He didn't ask Kate about her past, and she didn't offer any information. It was best to just keep things to herself. She drove slowly around the small town, paying attention to the goings on around her. When she reached her new, small home, she parked and sat for a moment. This was her new life. It was quiet. She could get used to this.
...
Phil Broker wiped the sweat off his brow when he paused from his work. Looking at his watch quickly he saw it was almost time to pick up Maddy.
"It ain't break time," Teedo joked. Phil made a face at him.
"The sweat's burning my eyes," he commented.
"That means you're working," Teedo grinned. Phil just shook his head. The scar on Teedo's neck bothered him every time he saw it. It was a constant reminder of how his friend had almost died trying to save him and Maddy over two years ago.
"Did you hear we're getting a new cop in town?" Teedo asked.
"You just know everything, don't you?" Phil sighed.
"Of course! Small town, baby," Teedo laughed. "I think you'd like her."
"Her?" Phil asked, surprised. He didn't want to admit, but his interest was a little peaked.
"Yup. British too, just like you," Teedo winked.
"What are you implying?"
"Oh, nothing," Teedo smirked. He went back to work, and Phil just shook his head while he went back to his.
...
"See you," Maddy said to Teddy, waving at him. Ever since the Incident over two years ago, they had become friends. Almost thirteen now, Maddy still had nightmares of the men who had tried to kill her father and herself, and when she had found Teddy crying one day about his mom's addiction, something inside of her just connected with him. They both had trauma. He had lost weight from stress and growing, and his face didn't look so mean anymore. It was sad instead.
"Bye," he waved. Maddy went over to the waiting truck where her father was sitting and pulled open the door.
"Good day?" Phil asked.
"Yup."
"That's good," he smiled, putting the truck in gear. They passed Cassie while she waited for Teddy to get in. She nodded at Phil, who nodded back. It was an unspoken truce between them after her brother, Gator, had shot her when she was trying to protect Maddy from him.
"Can we have pizza tonight?" Maddy asked. Phil gave her a look.
"Maddy," he started.
"Pleeeaaase? I've eaten enough beans and carrots to make me turn into a vegetable myself," Maddy complained. Phil chuckled. Since his wife had died, he was always trying to make sure Maddy ate healthy.
"All right," he caved.
"Yes!" she fist pumped.
"But it has to have green peppers on it at least," Phil warned.
"Deal!"
...
Kate decided to go out for dinner. She hadn't stocked her cupboards yet, and she didn't feel like cooking let alone eating a can of beans. It would be good to get to know her new neighborhood anyway. She stopped at a friendly looking restaurant and went inside. Soon after she sat down, she was approached by a friendly waitress, who went to bring her some water. Kate looked around cautiously. The place wasn't too full. She noticed a few families as well as couples. At the far end, she spied a father and a daughter, both laughing at something. Her eyes lingered on the rugged outline of the father. To her, he looked like someone who had experienced pain in his life. She recognized that look so well because it was in her own eyes every day. She closed her eyes, and suddenly Alejandro was standing in front of her with his gun pressed into her face. Gasping, her eyes flew open, and she gripped the table while her heart started to pound. The image slowly faded, and Alejandro's eyes were the last thing she saw before it disappeared altogether.
"Are you okay?" the waitress, Karen, asked as she set down Kate's water.
"Hm? Yes," Kate nodded.
"Have you thought about what you want to eat?"
"What do you recommend?" Kate asked. She was trying to clear her mind of the past.
"The ravioli is my favorite."
"Then let's do that," Kate smiled. Karen smiled back and went off to place the order. Laughter again made her look back over at the father and the daughter. At least someone was having a good time.
...
Teddy turned up his music when his parents started shouting. His mother was using again despite her swearing off it two years ago. His father was angry, and Teddy felt frustrated. Why couldn't she just quit? He'd never understand.
"Cassie! Damn it, you have to stop this!" Jimmy shouted. There was a thump followed by a loud crash, and his mother's voice careened through the air.
"Shut up, Jimmy! Just SHUT UP!" she screamed.
"Please just stop...!"
"I NEED it!" she howled. "GATOR!"
"Your brother is in jail, Cassie, remember? He can't bring you this shit no more."
Teddy heard his mother break down crying then, and he turned his music up louder still. His uncle was in prison for kidnapping, attempted murder, and having a meth lab. Teddy had never really liked the man anyway. As his parents continued yelling and fighting, Teddy sat and wished that he had a different family.
...
"That lady keeps looking at you," Maddy said to Phil as he pulled his coat on.
"Who?" he asked. Maddy gestured, and Phil snuck a peek. Indeed, the woman in the far corner had been watching. She turned her face away very quickly when he caught her gaze.
"I think she likes you," Maddy teased. Since Ms. Hetch had left the school, Maddy was always on the lookout for someone her father might like. She worried about him being alone.
"How can you tell?" Phil asked as they started to walk out.
"Because. She looked at you about ten times in the last half hour. That means she's thinking about you, and if she's thinking about you, then she likes you."
"Your logic is confusing," Phil commented, holding the door open for her. Maddy stepped outside, giggling. Phil took one last look at the woman, and she was again caught looking at him. This time, she didn't look away. His lips curved into a small smile as he turned to leave and follow Maddy to the truck. Maybe his daughter wasn't so crazy after all.
...
His smile stayed trapped in Kate's mind all night. She made up her bed and tried to sleep, but all she could see was him looking at her. She decided to just go with it. It was better than seeing all those dead bodies stuffed in the walls of that cursed house or the bodies of her fallen teammates who had been killed by the rigged bomb. It was much better than seeing Alejandro standing in front of her and threatening to kill her or the cartel guy she had almost slept with trying to strangle her. She massaged her neck gently after thinking about that. Yes, Kate had some ghosts in her closet. She wanted to keep them there. This place was going to help her with that.