Locked Hearts – Chapter Three
Disclaimer – I don't own them.
A/N – Since it's been so long since I've updated this I split it in half. The emotional part that was supposed to be in this chapter is going to be in the next one, so you'll just have to wait a little while longer for that ;) Enjoy!
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Patrick rustled the blanket in his drowsiness, reaching up to rub the sleep from his eyes as he stretched his mouth into a yawn. As he tried to sit up his battle wounds were a painful reminder to take things slow for a while longer.
Carefully sitting up on the couch, he glanced around the room for any signs of Jennifer. The only sound audible was that of eggs sizzling in a skillet. Taking it slow, Patrick got to his feet and followed his nose to the delicious aroma filtering through the kitchen door.
Jennifer turned from her stance over the stove just as Patrick swung the kitchen door open. "Morning!"
Patrick mumbled a tired greeting before taking a seat at the table.
"You really shouldn't be up that much. You obviously need your rest. So," Jennifer said, flipping a full helping of scrambled eggs onto a plate, "I am going to do whatever I can to make you comfortable, starting with a healthy breakfast."
Just as she finished her statement, fresh toast jumped from the depths of the toaster, which were grabbed up as fast as they appeared. In a matter of seconds Jennifer had them buttered and the meal was on its way to Patrick, who was watching intently from his perch at the table.
"You don't need to go through the trouble just for me. I'm fine, really, I don't need to be waited on. Especially with your condition."
He snatched up the fork and knife that were laid on the table for him and dug into his hot breakfast. He cut away a piece of his egg and had it halfway to his mouth when he noticed Jennifer staring at him.
"Something wrong?"
Jennifer was lost in him sitting there, feelings jumping back and forth through her head. She jumped at his sudden question and quickly looked down at her hands, which she then wiped on the bottom of her shirt.
"No, I was just thinking," she said, spinning her wedding ring around her finger. After slowly beginning to realize what she felt for Patrick, her now best friend, she almost felt as if she was betraying Jack.
Patrick pulled a chair out from underneath the table and patted it, calling her to sit down. She trudged over to the chair and plopped herself down, the smell of Patrick's breakfast growing more enticing as she looked from Patrick's face to his meal.
"You can tell me anything," Patrick encouraged her, trying to get her to open up to him. He noticed how secluded she had been making herself lately and didn't want things to stay that way for too long.
"It's…"
She stopped before she could get started and averted her eyes to her hands folded neatly in her lap. She wanted to tell him how she felt, she just couldn't find the right words. She felt awkward, the butterflies fluttering through her stomach faster with every passing second. Patrick leaned in closer, lowering his head in order to get attention.
"It's okay, really, it is. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to."
Jennifer's head popped back up, her eyes wide.
"But I do! I want to tell you so badly, but I just…" she trailed off, hoping he didn't think any less of her. She felt like a fool.
"When the time is right, you'll know what you need to say."
Patrick took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb in a circle over the back of it, comforting her. To her the time felt right, so why couldn't she come up with anything to say?
"God, you must think I'm an idiot."
Jennifer put her head in her hands, looking at the floor in shame. Patrick moved his chair closer and wrapped one arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a hug.
"Of course I don't. I'd never think that of you," he said, getting her to look up at him. "I think you're an intelligent, sweet, powerful woman, and you deserve a lot more credit than you're giving yourself."
"Really?" she asked, shocked. His comment caused her heart to leap to her throat, touching her deeply. She sat back in her chair, awaiting his response.
"Absolutely!"
Before Patrick could continue, Abby rushed into the kitchen, looking frantic, her eyes opened as wide as possible. She was so worked up she didn't even notice how close her mother and their house guest were sitting.
"You won't believe what happened!"
Jennifer seemed startled, her mind jumping to all the worst possible conclusions. She had been through so much since Jack died, she wasn't sure how much more she could handle without getting herself a one way ticket to the nearest sanitarium. Or worse…
"Abby, what is it? What happened?"
Jennifer's voice was shaky.
"It's all over the news, you have to come see!"
With that, Abby rushed back out, leaving a stirred up Jennifer and Patrick alone in the kitchen. Patrick glanced over at Jennifer, a look on his face asking what just happened. He received a just as confused look from Jennifer, who had scooted to the edge of her seat in anticipation of what Abby's important news story was. They both jumped from their chairs simultaneously, rushing for the swinging door that leads to the living room.
Abby motioned for them to come closer, her eyes glued on the television screen. Jennifer clapped a hand over her mouth as she walked closer, realizing what was playing out on the screen.
Jennifer watched in horror as the video replayed, showing Marlena being gunned down by a Salem PD sharpshooter. She turned on her heels to Patrick, standing right behind her, and buried her face in his chest. She never heard the reporter go on about how the Salem Stalker had finally been brought to justice.
She was still upset about Marlena's descriptive confession to killing Jack, but Marlena was still her friend. The real Marlena, not the psychotic version of her. Patrick pulled her closer, his embrace soothing her rapid breathing. He felt her tears run onto his skin, making him feel worse now that Jennifer was upset.
Abby switched the television off, turning to face Patrick and Jennifer. Patrick noticed Abby giving him a sort of nod, the glint in her eyes returning. That same glint he saw when they were discussing his feelings for Jennifer. He realized what Abby meant and suddenly became very aware of how close he and Jennifer were.
Before he could try to squirm out of the hug to keep Abby quiet, Jennifer pulled back from his chest, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"Take me there."
Patrick wasn't quite sure what she meant by "there", but he was more than willing to take her.
"Anywhere you want, I just need to know where."
Jennifer turned back to the television and paused, her hand resting over her heart. When she finally caught her breath, she looked at Abby and then turned back to Patrick.
"There, where she died. I need to find out exactly what happened and why."
Patrick wasn't sure it was such a good idea, but judging from the look of determination sketched across Jennifer's face he knew there was no way of changing her mind.
He sighed, "Okay, I'm not sure this is the right thing to do, but I'll take you. Just try not to get too worked up, okay? It won't be good for the baby."
Jennifer nodded as Patrick ran to get her coat. She couldn't believe another life was taken. Marlena was almost always such a wonderful, respectable woman, but Jennifer couldn't keep herself from thinking the worst about her right now despite what happened to her.
'Now she can't hurt anyone else that I love.'
Patrick called for her to follow, bringing her back from a sort of trance. She hadn't even noticed when she took her coat from Patrick, but now she slipped on over her shoulders, slowly following him out the door. She didn't know what she would ever do without him. If the serial killer had ever laid her hands on him…
Jennifer shook these thoughts from her head, telling herself that the killer was gone and no harm could come to Patrick. It was just so unbelievable, she had to see it for herself. She didn't hear a word that was said to her during the ride there; all she could do was try to process this new information.
