AN-This was only supposed to be a few chapters but has spiraled and I am currently on 5 with probably more to come.
Chapter 4.
As Pride parked the car he looked across at Brody.
"You ready for this since you really should be sick and nowhere near here" as he reached across and took her hand in his.
"Ready as I will ever be" she replied squeezing his hand.
With that he got out the car and walked round to open her door offering her his hand to help her out the car. As soon as she was down and the car door was shut they let their hands separate and walked into the office to see LaSalle at his desk stuffing his face with what looked like a Beignet and at least a few more in a bag on the desk next to his steaming coffee cup.
"Morning Christopher, see you brought breakfast in today" as he walked up LaSalle's desk
As LaSalle had a mouth full of beignet he just picked the bag and passed it to Pride. Pride took the bag and helped himself before turning to pass the bag to Brody who he thought had followed him over. Instead he saw she was sitting at her desk or attempting to sit at her desk and get comfortable. He knew he should have made her stay off today but he knew it would have caused an argument so he left it.
Walking over with the bag he smiled at her before he passed her it and took another bite of his beignet causing a mini sugar storm all over. They both laughed as she took the bad and took one out before giving him the bag back which he placed on her desk at the same time as sitting down on her desk with his legs stretched out supporting his weight.
"You should have stayed at home, I just saw you shuffling round" as he caused another sugar storm with another bite of his beignet.
"I hate stopping home as there's nothing to do other than feel sorry for myself. I don't do that well so I can at least sit here and watch you both work and if something comes in at least I can do something to help" as she started to eat and ended up with sugar all down her front and all over her chin.
Out of instinct Pride picked a napkin up and brushed the sugar from her chin as he let his finger follow the napkin stroking her chin. She smiled up at him and motioned to LaSalle who was watching them.
"You might as well come over and join us Christopher since you're straining your neck to see and hear everything" as Pride looked over his shoulder to see LaSalle stand from his desk and walk over.
"Thanks, didn't want to interrupt anything. Take it I can eat the last one since they were mine" as he picked the bag up took the last one out and then balled the bag up and tossed it into the waste paper basket behind Brody's desk.
"LaSalle we are sitting in the office at work, what on earth could you interrupt? I can hardly sit down never mind anything else" as she went to stand up to shake the sugar off the front of her.
"Fair point. Since you brought it up why are you in anyway? You should be vegetating on a couch or tucked up in bed. If I looked like you did yesterday that's where I would be" as he finished eating and licked his fingers before brushing the sugar off his t-shirt.
"LaSalle we all know your lying as you would still be sat here if you looked like I do under this top" as she finally made it to standing without help even though she saw Pride itching to help her.
LaSalle just shrugged his shoulders as he knew she was right but he was not going to admit it, especially out loud. He had noticed that she had sported a few more bruises since yesterday as he saw how she moved and he saw the one on her face. He had a few cuts and scraps from hitting the floor but he had escaped lightly compared to her. He didn't even want to think what she was like when she first woke up and moved. On saying that he suspected by the way he saw his boss wipe the sugar from her face and the way he was fidgeting when she went to stand that he woke up in her bed this morning, probably wrapped round her. It also didn't go unnoticed that she had one of Kings t-shirts on.
He had to say they did fit well together and it was about time King moved on from Linda. Brody seems to keep everyone at arms length yet she had let her boss in. For someone like her he must be special to get past them barriers she had built up. He was pulled out of his thought by the sound of a phone ringing.
"Pride" as he answered the call.
"Okay we're on our way" as he hung the phone up and stood up brushing the sugar off the front of his shirt.
"Let's go, we got a body" as he walked over to the filing cabinet and removed his weapon as LaSalle went to his desk and got his jacket.
Brody was still standing up and she stepped forward and was hit with a sharp pain in her chest. Pride saw her move and saw her face as the pain hit, he was at her side in seconds. His hand rested on the small of her back as his other rested on top of her hand.
"Sit now before you pass out from hyperventilating" as he eased her back to her chair.
"You have just proved you should be home and not here. We will talk when I get back and I will fill in forms to get you off sick for a few days. You will not be any good to anyone if you don't let yourself heal" as he finally got her sitting down.
"See you shortly okay" as he bent and kissed her head before following LaSalle who had left to get in the car.
She watched him walk out and felt the tears prickle her eyes. She hated when she was off injured and now when he came back he was going to make her go sick. She sat trying to calm her nerves when she caught a glimpse of something or more like someone out the corner of her eye.
Laurel walked in and as she looked round she saw Brody still sitting.
"Hay Merri where's everyone?" As she walked up to Brody's desk.
It was when she got closer she saw the top Brody was wearing and instantly knew it was her dads. Well this was interesting, she was sat here on her own and she was wearing one of her dads favorite t-shirts.
"You just missed them, there away to pick up a body" as Brody started to stand up and her ribs yet again fought her movements.
Laurel stepped round the desk to Brody side and held her arm as she stood up.
"Right upstairs and lets get you comfortable then you can tell me what's going on, and don't say nothing. Your sat here while they're out on a shout and you have a bruise on your face not to mention whatever is making you double over. I will get to the fact you're wearing dads favorite t-shirt which is the one I bought him a few years back. Don't argue either just move" as she linked Brody's arm and they walked slowly to the stairs.
"You sound just like your dad" Brody commented but didn't argue.
When they finally made it upstairs they walked in what had become Prides room and Laurel helper her over to her dads bed. When she got her sitting she lifted her legs up and round and had her in a sitting position half lay back.
"Let's start from the top with what the hell happened to you and when and then work to now. How does that sound?" Laurel commented as she she pulled a chair over and sat down beside the bed.
"Fine and you look like your dad when you pull that face, just so you know. We were out on a job yesterday and I got slightly bruised" seeing the famous Pride eyebrow raise she changed that "okay a lot bruised, I have a few broken and cracked ribs but that's it. As you saw its a little painfull so your dad has left me here" as she moved a little and winced.
"Let me see how bruised bruised is then" as she stood up and went and put the light on.
When she came back to the couch Brody hadn't moved so Laurel stood with her arms crossed and just looked down at her.
"You sure you dad didn't send you here? You could do a very good job of impersonating him. You have his facial gestures and stances perfect. Okay you win" as she slowly rolled the t- shirt up and watched the shocked look on Laurels face when she saw how bad her chest and stomach were.
"That's the same face your dad had when he saw as well. This is actually very unnerving, you look so much like him and I hadn't realised until now" as she pulled the t-shirt back down and looked at Laurel.
"Well that explains why your not out there. It's also sort of explains how you're wearing dads t-shirt but not completely. You want to fill me in or you want to wait for dad to get back and you can tell me together?" As Laurel sat back down in the chair and looked at Brody.
"Laurel I have will not lie to you but I have no idea what your dad wants me to say if anything. The best you can get out of me is the fact your dad stopped with me last night because as you can see I can hardly move. He took care of me and we came in to work together this morning. Yes I have this on and I took it out your dads bag when he was getting ready this morning. Nothing has happened between us yet because as you can see I am in no fit state to but I as I said I will not lie and say I don't want anything to happen because I do" as Brody looked up at Laurel then down at her hands.
Brody caught movement out the corner of her eye and wasn't sure if she should be protecting herself or calling out for her not to go when she felt the bed dip a little and looked up slowly to see Laurel had sat on the bed next to her. She sat still and dropped her gaze back to her hands and never moved but waited for Laurel.
"Merri look at me please" as she took Brody's hand in hers.
Brody looked up and the eyes she saw staring back at her were the image of her fathers, the eyes she could get lost in and had already done a few times.
"If dads happy then I am happy. I am not a small child with the delusions of happy ever after. My parents split and the world went on. I adore my dad but he can be stubborn and pig headed when it comes to me. He still sees me as his little girl, he does try but he's not that good at it. He needs to know I grew up and he can tell me stuff like this. I knew that day would come when he meet someone that he liked. How about I go make coffee and you can tell me how on earth my dad got you to fall for him and I want all the details" as Laurel let go of Brody's hand laughing.
Brody had to laugh as Laurel left the room. This day was going from weird to out and out bizarre. From waking up wrapped in Dwayne's arms to now being sat or about to be sat with his daughter having a conversation about why she liked him. She had no idea what would be said when LaSalle and Pride came back and found her up here with Laurel and more to the point what he would say about what she had told her. This was the first time she had spent any real time with Laurel as they were always busy or Laurel was with her dad. She heard footsteps coming up the stairs and knew Laurel was coming back up with the promised coffee. She knew from now on she would be spending more time with Laurel around her so she had better start as she meant to go on. Since she was falling in love the father she knew she would end up falling in love with the daughter. As she had just seen Laurel was so much like her dad and she knew going by the way Laurel had just treated her she was going to be just fine.
Laurel came back through the door carrying a tray with cups on and a packet of cookies. Setting the tray on the chair she pulled the table up to the head of the bed so it was in arms reach of Brody before she set the tray on it. Putting Brody's coffee and the packet of cookies next to Brody she took her cup and sat on the foot of the bed bringing her feet up so she was not mirroring Brody just she was sat up more.
"Right you okay sat like, that for drinking your coffee or you need to sit up more? Don't want to get to comfortable ready for story time if the story tellers got to move half way through" Laurel laughed as she watched Brody pick her coffee up and take a drink.
"Nope I'm good as I am and who says I intended to share why I think you dad is so amazing?" As she's saw the look on Laurels face.
"No fair, will you stop doing that. Like I said before you have a knack of looking so much like you dad. There are times when he just has to look at me and I literally melt. He has a way to see beyond the outer me and see what's deep inside. He can be funny, smart, annoying as hell, grumpy, moody but most of all so sweet and caring and tender. This job has me build up so many layers and at times become so detached from the really world. Your dad has some how found a way to break through them layers and start to see the real me. I have shut myself away for so long even when I was engaged I never let him see the person underneath. I have to admit that I never saw me falling in love with anyone but now when I see your dad I have to say that is what's happening. I haven't even told him half of this, never mind the fact that I am falling in love with him. We only started what we have yesterday when I was hurt so haven't really sat and talked or done anything really. I can't believe I am sat here now having this conversation with you, I never ever open up to anyone except your dad" Brody told Laurel as she sat and drank her coffee.
Laurel sat and listened to Merri speak and was touched at how much information she was willing to share with her. If anyone could love her dad then she was happy it was Brody. Going on what she had just said then if dad loved her half as much she loved him then they were going to be very happy together. She knew this job could be demanding and tough and time consuming. They were some of the reasons her parents split. Yet here was a woman who knew the job all too well and by the sound of it loved it as much as her father did. This could work very well for them both. By the fact Merri could she how much like her dad she was she knew she had took a lot of notice and it took a great deal of patients to see the man her dad actually was.
"I can see you love my dad and that takes some doing at times. I can also see dad must love you by the fact you have his favourite Mardi Gra t-shirt on. Speaking of dad I am sure I can hear noise" as the both sat and listened.
Sure enough they could hear the muffled voices of both Pride and LaSalle down stairs. Then they both heard Pride shout out her name. She didn't answer but they both sat smiling. They both knew he would come up looking so they both stayed silent.
"I can't wait to see dads face when he sees us sitting like this" Laurel whispered as they heard footsteps on the stairs.
It took a few minutes as Pride must have checked every other room before he came in and saw them both sitting. He stopped dead when he saw both his girls sitting and he didn't miss the smile on both their faces. By the way they were sat and the fact there was cups and cookies on the table he had a feeling he was well and truly busted and his daughter probably knew a lot more than he would have told her. He was pleased to see his daughter had his hopefully future girlfriend bonding, he had no idea what on earth they had talked about but they were both smiling so he presumed it was safe. Stepping into the room he walked up to Laurel first and bent and kissed her head.
"Hey I didn't expect to see you today. What brings you out here?" He asked his daughter.
"I have some free time since I did my exams so came to spend some time with you and your now new girlfriend if that's okay with you both" as Laurel looked at Brody and winked so only she could see.
They both looked at Pride and saw he was speechless at Laurels last comment but he soon recovered.
"I take it were busted then?" As he looked across at Brody who just smiled.
"Dad the t-shirt does kind of give it away to anyone who knows you well enough" as Laurel nodded in the direction of Brody.
"Well since I am busted and by the look of it you too have had a good bonding session them I can do this" as he stepped away from Laurel.
Pushing the table away he came and rested on his haunches at the head of the bed and bent forward and placed a very brief kiss to Brody's head.
"You feeling okay? How come you're up here lying down when I couldn't get you to do this earlier?" Pride asked as he took Brody's hand.
"Someone not far away from me has learnt a few ticks from her dad and can be very persuasive when they want to be and has her fathers looks off to an art form. I couldn't say no as you well know" as she squeezed Prides hand.
"That's why she's daddy's girl" as he reached across with his hand and Laurel took it.
As Pride sat and watched the way his girls were looking at each other he knew they must have had a good talk when he was out. He had a feeling he was going to to get the low down from them both about the conversation at some point but now he had work to do and unfortunately so did Brody.
"Well I hate to break my girls up but I need you down stairs. We need manpower on the computers doing the usual stuff and since you won't go sick then I am afraid it's work for you" as he looked at Brody and gave her a half smile.
"Your right as usual. Laurel how about you come join me downstairs and we can talk while I attempted to get some work down if I can sit down right to work" Brody asked Laurel as she looked between father and daughter.
"Fine by me as long as it's okay with Laurel" Pride said as he stood up but never let go of Brody's hand.
Laurel nodded and stood up as she bent and brought Brody's legs back round to the floor at the same time as her dad help Brody stand up.
Neither missed the sharp intake of breath or the fact she had to wait before she pulled herself up right once she got up.
"Where's you pain killers? I take it it your due them by the amount of pain you in?" As he slotted his arm round her waist and the 3 of them started to make there way down stairs.
As they got to the bottom of the stairs they headed over to Brody's desk and it was Laurel who picked her bag up as she waved it at Brody. Brody just nodded as she went to sit down and let Laurel hunt round in the bag for the tablets. Finally she found them and passed them to Brody who quickly downed 2 and then looked at the cold coffee on her desk. Picking it she took a drink and swallowed. Coffee was drinkable hot, cold or warm it made no difference on the caffeine contents. Sitting back as best as she could she let her eyes close and waited till the pain killers took effect. She could feel both sets of Pride eyes on her and they were both boring in to her just as intense as the other.
"Will you both relax and stop the staring, I can feel you both watching me and it feels the same no matter which set of eyes it is"as she opened her eyes to find both Laurel and Pride staring down out her.
"Laurel you can stop as long as you pull up a seat but you have a desk over there that you can work at and I am down here because you said we had work so go work then" as Brody lifted her hands up and get gestered for him to return to his desk.
Laurel had left to find a chair but he just stood there. When Laurel came back and put the chair down Pride looked between them both before he smiled and walked away to his desk. At least if he had Laurel sitting with her he knew she was okay. They set about out working while Laurel pulled her laptop out and sat as Brody's desk with her doing heaven knew what but she didn't bother Brody as she worked. It was actually Brody who pulled up an address for a possible suspect and the boys went to investigate but as Pride went out he kissed both Laurels head then Brody's before leaving and giving them one last look as he left.
"He is way overprotective when he wants to be but he can be so reckless when it comes to himself" Brody commented as she eased herself to standing.
"Welcome to the family, that's what he's been like as long as I can remember. Let's go see if dad has anything sugary, I need a sugar fix now. If not I will go buy some cookies and anything else that has a high sugar content. You coming?"as Laurel headed to the kitchen.
"If will join you after I have checked in with Loretta" as Brody shuffled away.
When Brody finally made it see Loretta she was in agony. She stumbled in and just made it to the bench before she nearly collapsed. Loretta turned when she heard someone enter and was at Brody's side instantly.
"Where?" As she helped Brody up onto the table.
Brody pointed and Loretta dashed away and came back with an ultrasound machine. Brody rolled her top and Loretta was still just as shocked at the mess. Grabbing the gel she squeezed it just where Brody had pointed and gently placed the wand on the area. After about a minute Loretta had her phone out and was calling an ambulance. She looked at Brody and then took her hand.
"I hope I am wrong but it looks like you have internal bleeding so you need a hospital. Everything will be fine, I will phone Dwayne and let him know. Lie still please" as Loretta walked away to phone King.
"Loretta, Laurel is in the office" as she moved to get up and was held down.
"I got it" Loretta told her.
Loretta phoned Laurel who said she would be there in minutes and sure enough she raced through the doors within a couple of minutes closely followed by ambulance staff. As Brody was loaded on to the trolley she grabbed Laurels hand and wouldn't let go. As she was wheeled away she felt the tears fall due to a combination of pain and the fact she hated this, hated being dependent on anyone. Laurel stood back as she was lifted into the ambulance and climbed in beside her taking her hand as she sat down.
"Hey, it's okay, I will be here till dad gets here. I won't leave you I promise" as Laurel squeezed Brody's hand and wiped the tears from her face.
"Even when your dad gets here don't leave me please" Brody practically begged Laurel.
"I will stay as long as you need me okay" as Laurel squeezed Brody's hand as her phone rang in her pocket.
Laurel pulled the phone out and answered it one handed.
"We're on route now, yes I will stop with her. See you soon, yes I will tell her. Love you too bye" as she put the phone back in her pocket.
"Dad is clearing up the loss ends then he will come straight over. He said stay tough and he said he loves you" Laurel finished as she saw the look on Brody's face.
Hearing the words made the tears fall faster for Brody just as they felt the ambulance stoped and the back doors open.
Brody was wheeled out and Laurel followed beside her holding her hand. When they reached a set of doors Laurel had to say good bye as they took Brody straight to surgery going on Loretta's diagnoses and the scans she sent with her. Laurel felt lost, she had stood here a couple of times with her mother waiting on news about her dad but now it was different. She would be the one standing here when her dad came in as she was away to surgery. She was used to doing the worrying with her mother but never her father. As her dad had told her he loved Merri and she loved him. This was uncharted waters for them all. She got up and walked around, sat down and stared into space. Got back up and walked around again and again sat back down. She got back up and was doing her 4 th walk round in a circle when a hand fell on her shoulder and she heard her name. Whirling round she was greeted by the site of her dad. The look on his face spoke volumes, he was terrified and he was showing it.
"I don't know dad, I haven't heard since they took her to surgery" as she stepped up to her dad and hugged him.
Dwayne Pride was a tough man but was not used to being the one sitting waiting on news. He had always been the injured one. Now he was sat her with his daughter waiting on news about his junior agent, Meredith Brody. The woman whom he had fell in love with and he was now not afraid to admit it. He drove here at break neck speed, lights flashing, siren the works. He prayed he hadn't left it too late to tell her. He had only just got her in his life, he did not want and couldn't not lose her now. As he stood holding Laurel his world seem to be falling apart, his wife left him and the women he loved was going through God knew what.
Laurel let go of her dad and guided him to sit down. She told him what had happened at the office and what Loretta and said to her on the phone. She told him the promise she made in the ambulance and felt as her dad wrapped his arm round her shoulder.
"She's sucked us both in by the sounds of it" as he kissed Laurels head.
They sat together with Prides arm still across Laurels shoulder and waited. Laurel offered to go for coffee but he shook his head. When they had news he would drink coffee, he needed to know, he needed to see her for himself before he did anything. They were talking about the conversation that Laurel had had that morning when they heard someone call Brody's name. They were both up and standing in front of the doctor in seconds.
"You both here with agent Brody?" The doctor asked and all they could both do was nod.
"Follow me" the doctor said as he turned and walked through the doors leaving Laurel and her dad to follow not knowing where they were going or even if Brody was okay.
