Author's note: written for the Prompt Table activity on the Paint It Red Forum - prompt: "By the book"
(episode tag to 2x03 - "Red Badge")
By the book
"You know, for a cop, you made a very convincing lunatic. Jane must be proud."
"Maybe it's not good police work, but I have to confess, I enjoyed it. Letting loose for once."
Yeah, what she had told Sam was the simple truth. Faking her breakdown had been fun.
Almost cathartic as a matter of fact.
For years she had done her best to follow the rules. That didn't prevent someone from trying to frame her for a murder she didn't commit.
Smashing her office window with a chair had been the best part of it all. Along with saying half-truths to Dr. Carmen – her voice shaking as if she was really on the verge of committing suicide.
Watching the man's face as she finally laid her cards on the table was absolutely priceless.
Now here she was again, in the shelter of her office. All she had to do was bottling up the whirlwind of emotions that the whole business had stirred inside her.
Fear. Anger. Helplessness. And – above all – loneliness.
Of course the members of her team had done their best in order to help her. Minelli. Bosco.
It was Jane the one who saved the day though.
She still recalled how vulnerable she'd felt when he had hold her in his arms – shortly before hypnotizing her. Vulnerable, fragile… yet she hadn't been afraid of him for once.
He'd kept on speaking with his soothing voice – telling her that everything was going to be alright. And she'd felt… safe.
That was the most absurd thing of all. For she still couldn't trust him completely.
Yet she'd felt safe into his arms all the same.
Well, it actually didn't matter. She hoped there would be no need to go along with another of his wild schemes in the near future.
Going back to solid police work was much of a relief after all.