This City Is On Fire
They always say trust takes time to build, sometimes even years. As a spy it's one of the first things I was taught, and one of the things I hold on to. I guess it's also something I should have thought about before I dove right into a relationship with a girl I met on the street. But hey I'm not exactly known for long thought out planning when it comes to things. To me it's easier to find the target and take them out in one move, no extra planning or backup.
It's dangerous yeah, but it's a way to make sure you get the bad guy without giving them the opportunity to escape. Now though, I'm starting to wish I had listen to case officers from the past, to Michael and Sam, because now I only have one option and no matter which way I think about it, wether I go through with it or not someone's going to lose.
I'm still pacing the floor like a mad man when I hear the front door open. I walk to the middle of the living room and watch Emma step inside, her green eyes trained on me, wide and alert. There's something there when I look at her, betrayal and distrust mixed with something else.
Her jaw is clenched tight and her arms never leave her side, she walks closer to me until all I can smell is her perfume. Her eyes are moist as tears fill them and that just cuts me even deeper. I open my mouth to say something, because honestly I'm mad too. But the more I think about it the more I realize I can't be angry with her, after all I'm the one who told her I worked in accounting.
"Em," I whisper down to her, hoping that maybe she'll listen. But when she looks back up at me her mouth is set in a straight line and all she does is shake her head in disgust before she pushes past me and walks into the bedroom. I want to follow her but I'm no Michael Westen, and I can read a woman well enough to figure out when she wants to be alone, the talk would have to wait. So instead I grab my keys off the coffee table and head off to Maddie's, because if anyone can make me feel better right now it's her.
The suns just starting to set when I get to her house and I start to realize how exhausted I am. When I walk in the front door there's a surprised look on her face, which tells me she knows nothing about the situation between Emma and I. I play it cool though, smiling as I join her at the kitchen table. She raises an eyebrow at me and stubs out her cigarette, blowing out a plume of smoke as she did.
I lean against the table and fold my hands in front of me, pursing my lips while I decide how I want to start this conversation. Maddie though, apparently senses my frustration and through a small smile tells me to go ahead and start explaining.
"I need to break it off with Emma," I say through a sigh. There's shock on her face but she nods and I know it's my cue to elaborate.
"There was an incident over at the loft," I say. "When I went over to help Michael out with something there were two detectives there. They said they were investigating a couple of explosions and they needed to talk to Michael."
Maddie rolls her eyes and takes another drag of her freshly lit cigarette. "I'm assuming you boys had something to do with that?" she asks. I sheepishly nod my head and continue.
"Anyways, one of the detectives was Emma and when Michael found out we were seeing each other.." When I say this it's as if Maddie can see the scene unfold in front of her and she nods in understanding.
"You've dug yourslef a mighty deep hole," she says before she stands up and walks out to the garage. I groan and rub my eyes with the balls of my hands as I nod. I know I've screwed up but I don't know what to do. I owe Michael so much for helping me, but when I think about Emma I realize this could be my only chance to find a girl. But then again, I realize Emma deserves so much more than a guy who constantly has to lie about his life and is never home.
My mind wanders to Fiona, because I know she's been in Emma's spot and I wonder if maybe I should talk to her. I decide to call her the next day, see if I can get her away from Michael long enough to figure out this whole situation. When Maddie walks back into the kitchen she has a warm smile on her face and she gestures to the garage.
"Bed's ready. I have a feeling you're not going back tonight." I chuckle and bend down to kiss her cheek before walking out to the garage. I stop in the doorway and turn back to Maddie who's watching me with a worried look.
"Thanks Maddie." I say softly.
She smiles and stubs out her cigarette before she walks to her bedroom. "You're welcome Jesse."
So I think I completely butchered the timeline for this. I originally had it set in season 4, but at the time I didn't realize how little time there was between Michael meeting Jesse and him finding out Michael burned him. So I guess you could call it AU if you want. Rambling aside thanks to those who reviewed, it's appreciated!