A/N: Here is another chapter… again, its focus is Tess & Evan, but that will change soon enough… the drama is coming up VERY shortly =)
She was late to the station the following morning. She would have liked nothing more than to stay in bed, until all her problems had figured themselves out. Obviously that wasn't going to happen. All night, she had considered the possibility of marrying Evan, of taking up his proposal to marry him. He would take care of her, she didn't doubt that for a moment, and he would treat the baby as if it were his own, raise it, love it, and protect it.
Tess wouldn't be alone. Evan could make her breakfast and a snack at the office, he would make sure she was comfortable and didn't overwork herself, until the baby was born. He would be the one in the labor room, holding her hand, and telling her that the birth pain was worth it when she held her baby in her arms.
But as much as those thoughts crossed her mind, something prevented her from saying yes.
Finally, she dragged herself out of bed reluctantly. She had been due at the office ten minutes before, but time had seemed to be less precious to her this morning, she would have liked to turn back, to turn forward, sideways, front ways, back ways, she wanted to end time so that she wouldn't have to face him again.
Facing Evan at work was the hardest part of her day, to see him looking at her like he always did, with care and loving-kindness. It hurt. There were moments when they would look at each other and she could hardly breathe, sometimes it was their looks that said it all, everything they wanted to say but couldn't. Every morning that she walked into the office her stomach twisted into knots, he would be there standing in front of her, with a morning greeting and she would always be lost for words.
She arrived at the station minutes later. As she pushed open the screen door that led her to the front desk, she took a deep breath and forced herself to go in. He was there, dressed in his uniform, watching her, as if he had been waiting. He looked at his watch, and back at her.
"Morning everyone," she greeted, showing no sign of fear. She looked at Evan but he turned away coldly, for the first time he didn't reply with a good morning, or a hello, or even a simple, Tess.
He returned to his paper work. Tess showed no emotion regarding his sudden new-found attitude.
"Morning Gallagher," Tom Croydon smiled warmly.
"Mornin'," Jo muttered.
PJ nodded, and Ben was out of sight, but there was still no reply from Evan. It was clear that he was angry with her. Tess sighed deeply and then went to her desk and sat down, she went through the running sheet that Ben had left on her desk the day before and then looked at another sheet that was new to her. A woman had called that morning about a robbery in her house the previous night.
Knowing she'd have to face Evan sooner or later, she figured the sooner the better, and stood from her desk.
"Evan, come on, we're on patrol!" she ordered walking to the front exit. She looked back and straight at Jo Parish. "Jo, can work on that running sheet? Ben can you finish the paper work from yesterday?" she smiled weakly and then disappeared out the door, behind her Evan followed uncomfortably.
DUN, DUN, DUN… sorry, too many US programs! So… we have a conversation between Evan and Tess next… heated… intense… are you interested =)
