Lamb was more than a little surprised to see Veronica running into the station. She threw a file at Lamb quickly and whispered menacingly "Get the bastard." Lamb flicked through the file. Photo's, hospital reports, drawings, poems and discs. Lamb quickly leafed through it all before looking startled at Veronica who nodded sternly. Lamb grabbed his jacket, keys and gun and rushed to his cruiser. Veronica followed him, limping. "I'm coming." Before he could protest Veronica had the passenger door open and was sliding into the seat. As soon as both doors were shut the car peeled out of the lot and sped towards the address listed on the file Veronica had handed him.
When the door opened Lamb found himself face-to-face with a nicely dressed, smiling reverend. Veronica looked daggers at the man and Lamb swallowed his contempt momentarily, "Can I have a quick word Rev."
Deputy Johns sped back towards the station with Rev Hills cuffed and seated in the back. Lamb found Veronica sitting solemnly on the young girl's bed. He should probably say something witty about now, tease her, joke about her father's incompetence, but the words couldn't find him. Veronica began to speak without prompting, hers eyes remaining on the floor. "She told him. She told him, and he didn't fucking believe her. He was her best god-damn friend. And he was 16, he should have trusted her, he should have seen the signs. 12 year old girls don't lie about that sort of thing." Lamb stood awkwardly, thinking how personal this case had become for both himself and Veronica. The reverend had been abusing his 12 year old daughter for years. She'd told her best friend – a 16 year old neighbour – and he hadn't believed her. The mother was an alcoholic who had run away little less than a month ago. She'd left right after giving birth to an, as of yet, un-named baby boy. Lamb sat beside Veronica and wrapped an arm tightly around her shoulders. A momentary truce between to people wadding through a sea of stormy memories.
"Sometimes guys are too full of their own stupid crap to accept what others tell them, and other times they just don't want to. He should have believed her. And I should have believed you." Veronica nodded and grasped his hand. She looked like she was going to say something but was interrupted by the baby boy who began crying. Veronica immediately walked to the crib and picked up the baby, talking gently to him until he fell back asleep. Veronica placed him into the crib again and Lamb stood closer to watch. Veronica, however, didn't notice Lamb standing almost directly behind her so when she turned around Lamb had to grab her to stop her from falling backwards into the child's crib. They ended up very close, with Lambs arms holding Veronica supportively. His brain was telling him to step back, his heart saying to stay right there, and other parts of his body were advising him to go for it, and do things he'd rather others not know. They stood there in limbo for a full minute before Lamb decided to listen to his body and kissed the blonde full on the lips.
Will she kiss back? Stay tuned. I should have internet in two days!! YAY!!
