A/N: Thank you all for your interest in this story, I'm really excited to keep going, and I hope you all continue to follow along going forward. Enjoy!
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Jay's POV
After I showed Erin to her room, I hear the shower turn on while walking to go put a shirt on. Just as I'm about to turn the corner to the living room, there's a knock at the door. I groan as I walk back to the front door. Looking at Carly and Chance playing with each other in front of the couch. I open the door, expecting my uncle to be standing on the other side, but to my surprise it's Allie, my girl-ex girlfriend.
"Allie what are you doing here?" I say as she pushes past me.
"Did you get a new dog?" She asks pointing at Erin's dog.
"No."
"Then who's dog is that?"
"You need to leave." I say. Ignoring her question, and grabbing her arm; pulling her back towards the door.
"Chance." I hear from the guest room.
"Shit." I mutter to myself as Allie yanks her arm away from me, and walks to towards the room. Then Erin walks out, and they nearly run into each other. Erin stops, and takes a step back.
"Who the hell are you?"
"I uh I…"
"I'm not even gone three days, and you find the nearest tramp to bring home?" Allie yells as she turns to look at me.
"Excuse me?" Erin yells from behind her, and I walk forward and quickly grab Allie's arm again. This time, I damn near drag her to the door.
"Goodbye Allie." I say as I gently push her out the door, and shut it behind her.
"Look I'm sorry about her, she's-" I begin, but she stops me.
"It's fine."
"I really am sorry."
"I've been called worse." She says tucking a strand of her wet hair behind her ear. She bends down to pet the dogs, and starts talking to them quietly. I notice that she has dimples when she smiles after Carly licks her cheek. Her dimples only add to her beauty has I take in her pale skin, and tiny frame. She looks up then, and her stunning hazel eyes lock on mine briefly before I look away.
"Uh can I get you anything? Something to drink or eat?"
"No thank you, I just came out to get Chance."
"Oh ok." I say looking down.
"I'm sure this isn't your first choice for an assignment, huh?"
"It's no problem." I say, and she gives me a smile, and crinkles her nose a little.
"Right, well goodnight."
"Goodnight." I say back.
"Come on Chancey." She says, and he obediently follows her. I watch as Carly takes a few steps forward; stopping and tilting her head when the door closes lightly.
"Let's go to bed Car." I say to her, as I turn the living room lights out. And just as I'm about to go to the kitchen there's yet another knock. I turn on my heel to go open the door. I open it, and this time it's my uncle.
"I really hope you're the last person that knocks on my door tonight."
"How's it going?"
"Well if you don't count Allie just barging in here, and calling her a tramp, I'd say it's going ok."
"She asleep?"
"I don't think so, she just took the dog into the room a minute ago. Do you want me to get her?"
"No let her be. Look Jay, this is an assignment, and I'm counting on you to remain professional. You may be my nephew, but if anything happens between you two, I won't hesitate to get you get off the force." He says, and I think about how his daughter, my cousin Michelle came about but I bite my tongue on that.
"Keep it professional, got it."
"Did you read her files?"
"Yeah most of them, is there anything I need to know that's not on paper?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Alright."
"I just came to tell you that and I wanted to check in, see how things were going so far." He says, and I nod.
"We'll keep you updated on her case."
"Ok see ya uncle Al." I say as he opens and walks out the door.
I go to my room, and lay down. Turning on the TV, and leaving ESPN on. And at some point I fall asleep.
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Erin's POV
I get woken up by Chance whining at the door. I rub my eyes, and then look at my phone for the time.
"Chance what is your problem?" I say as I get out of the bed, and he stands up. I open the door, and find that Carly was laying down on the other side.
"She's been laying there for the last hour." I hear Jay say from the living room, and I nod.
"I made coffee, but if you're not a coffee person, I can make tea, or there's orange juice." He says getting up from the couch, and walking towards the kitchen.
"Coffee's good, thanks." I say, and within seconds he's handing me a mug.
"Have you done something like this before?" I ask
"Drink coffee? Yeah, a few times." He says with a smirk, and light chuckle.
"I meant this whole protective custody thing?"
"No." he says looking down briefly before looking back up at me.
"How long have you been a police officer?" I ask, and he blushes, and gives me a look.
"Three months."
"So that's how you got stuck with me?" I say with a little laugh, and gives me a grin.
"And how long were you in the army?" I ask and I realize I've over stepped when his grin fades away.
"I'm sorry, I saw the pictures on the dresser in the room, and I figured you saw my files. I... forget I asked. I'm sorry." I say; shaking my head, and looking at the mug in my hands.
"Do you want something to eat?"
"Yeah, but I can get it."
"Do you like pancakes?"
"Yeah."
"Alright I'll make some, and let you know when they're done."
"Ok." I say taking my mug to the living room with me.
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"Breakfast is done." He says about a half hour later; placing a plate on the breakfast bar as I walk over to it. He fixes himself a plate as I sit down on the stool.
"Thank You." I say after taking the first bite.
"No problem." He says as he sits down at the end of the breakfast bar. We don't talk for a good ten minutes, as we eat. He gets done before me, and walks back around the counter to get more. When he sits down again, I see him look at me out of the corner of my eye. I pretend not to notice as I finish the food on my plate, and get up to wash my plate.
"Five years." He says quietly, as I rinse my plate off.
"What?" I ask; turning the water off.
"I was in the army for five years." He says just as quietly. My mouth opens and closes quickly, trying to think of what to say. I look down at the plate in my hand and grab the towel next to the sink to dry it off. I wipe the dark grey plate, and then I feel him come to stand next to me.
"You don't have to be sorry, it's just not something that I talk about regularly." He says, and I nod. He washes his plate, and utensils, and hands them to me to dry. Almost as soon as we're done, the front door opens, and the dogs bark for a few moments, before someone shushes them.
"Jay who's big dog is-" An older woman a little taller than me says as she comes into the kitchen. She has auburn hair, and the same striking blue green eyes as Jay, and I believe her to be his mother.
"Oh honey, I didn't realize you still had company."
"I'm Annabelle, but everyone calls me Ms. Belle, I'm Jay's mom."
"Erin." I say, extending my hand, and she shakes her head, and shocks me by pulling me into a tight hug.
"I'm going to go take a shower. Thanks for breakfast Jay, and it was nice meeting you."
"You as well Erin." His mom says, as I leave the kitchen.
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Jay's POV
Once Erin is out of sight, my mom smacks the back of my head.
"What was that for?"
"Allie called me this morning. She said you kicked her out, and had some random girl here last night."
"Yeah I kicked her out, but it has nothing to do with Erin."
"Yeah? So why'd you break up with Allie, and who's this Erin girl?"
"You've never even liked Allie, and Erin's just staying here for a little while."
"No, but you really did at one point."
"She's just not the type of person I want to be with mom."
"I'm sorry honey." She says stepping forward, and wrapping me in a hug.
"But finally." She adds after a few moments.
"What about Erin?" She says as takes a step back, her hands on my shoulders.
"She's under my protective custody."
"She what?" She all but yells.
"Shhh, I can't tell you why, but she has to stay here until it's safe for her to go home."
"Did you thank you're uncle for giving this to you?"
"No why would I, he's using it as a punishment." I say; embarrassed and a little angry.
"Three cars is a lot honey."
"Does everyone know about that?"
"No just me and your aunt." She says before looking behind her in the direction that Erin walked in just moments ago.
"She's beautiful, and you are single now." She says; raising her eyebrow and I shake my head.
"She is, and I am but she just got here last night, and we don't know how long she'll be here for. Plus nothing can happen between us. Uncle Al said I have to remain professional or I will no longer be a police officer."
"If you feel something Jay go for it, and I'll handle your uncle."
"I decided I'm going to go for a run with Chance before I take a shower." Erin says walking back into the kitchen, with a pair of yoga pants, and a black hoodie on.
"Ok mom, isn't the diner opening in like ten minutes?" I say looking down at my watch. My face becomes warm, and my palms start to sweat, as I wonder if she heard any of our conversation.
"Erin wait I'll come with you." I say as Erin turns to leave the kitchen.
"I think I'll be ok." She says not looking at me, at the same time I say
"I'll see you later mom, and it wasn't a suggestion Erin." As my mom gives me another hug.
"See you Jay, love you." My mom says as she leaves.
"Love you too ma." I yell as I walk past Erin and to my room to grab a jacket, and shoes. I walk back to the living room, and she's sitting on the chair tying her laces.
"You don't have to come."
"I'm supposed to protect you, how can I do that if you're out there running by yourself, and you don't even know where you are. "
"I'll find my way back, I wouldn't want you to feel anymore punished than you already do." She says, but not angrily as she walks to the door, and leaves while I'm still getting my shoes on.
"Erin" I yell; finishing getting my shoes on and I go outside but she's no where in sight.
"Erin." I yell again, not knowing what direction to go, just then my uncle pulls up.
"What the hell's going on?" He says as he gets out of his car.
"She ran off."
"What do you mean she ran off?"
"Mom stopped by, and Erin said she was taking a shower, but decided to go for a run instead, and she heard me say that you gave this assignment to me as punishment. I told her I was coming with her, but she ran off before I could get my shoes on."
"Dammit Jay, she's been here for twelve hours, and you've already managed to piss her off, and lose her." He yells as it starts to rain, he pushes past me and stomps to the guest room.
"She left her phone." He says when he comes back into the living room. We both pace inside, and make calls to the rest of the district. After about twenty minutes there's a knock on the door, and it's hard to distinguish it from the thunder booming outside. I go to open it even though it's unlocked, and I let out a sigh of relief when I see its Erin. I grab some towels, and blanket because she's drenched. Uncle Al radios in that she's back. But I can tell he's still pissed.
"Look you don't have talk to him, or get along, or like him at all. But you will do as you're told when it comes to your safety. Not only was it beyond irrational for you to run out into unfamiliar surroundings, but you are here to be protected, and though its unlikely, you could have still been followed. Jay's only job for the time being is to protect you. So you two need to figure something out to make this work. Understood?"
"Yes." She answers.
"Good." He says just before he leaves, letting the door slam behind him.
"I'm sorry." I say, but she doesn't look at me, and pulls the towel tighter around herself. Her teeth are chattering and her lips quivering. She turns, and goes to her room.
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A/N: Please Review.