The mug had cooled in her hands. The heat of the liquid poured to calm her mood had slowly leeched into the atmosphere, leaving a cold and slightly tasteless coffee, not that it mattered; drinking coffee was the furthest thing from her mind.

Henry was pacing before her, twisting his hands, stopping momentarily then continuing to walk. This had been the routine for the past 30 minutes. On arrival Abe had greeted them at the door, enthusiastically hugging Jo as she entered. She had been a little taken aback by his actions, however the genuineness of the act softened her initial rigidity.

He had asked all the appropriate questions as to how she had been, what she had been recently up to. It seemed he was deliberately avoiding Henry's drunken assault on her house, until the conversation had lagged in its niceties. The silent pause allowed time for Abe to consider his words.

"So you've decided to forgive Henry for his appalling display" he made it has a statement rather than a question.

"The jury's still out", she glanced at Henry standing off to the right, fidgeting (it appeared to her) through a stack of photo albums on his bookshelf. "But I think that we have both behaved badly". Henry looked up from the shelves "though some of us worse than others" she whispered in a dramatic stage manner behind her hand towards Abe.

"You have a good heart Jo, I'm pleased you're giving him a second chance". Abe finished off his croissant, placing the empty plate into the sink. "Now if you don't mind I have a young lady of my own to meet".

Abe had left them alone, his absence creating a hole that neither appeared able or willing to fill. Henry had started to pace, and he hadn't stopped.

"Henry, you asked me back here to talk, so sit down and talk to me, please I want to understand what's going on with you" and under her breath murmured "with me as else". She looked up the man before her, agitated, nervous. She was confused and it frustrated her. Only a few days ago she swore to never speak to him again, she had made every attempt to avoid him and yet here she was on his couch, waiting always waiting for Henry. Enough was enough and after what seemed like his hundredth pass by she moved to leave. An incessant buzzing from her phone halted her departure.

"Martinez"

Henry looked on, worried by the sudden change in Jo's disposition from annoyance at the interruption to genuine concern. Hanging up the call she looked at Henry.

"I'm sorry I have to go"

"But.."

"Henry, there is sniper near the precinct, there are already two officers down. I have to get to Hanson immediately"

Henry confused placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her from standing. "Jo surely you need to stay away from the area, its far too dangerous for you to go"

"Henry, this is my job. Hanson is with Reece at a separate location, we need to co ordinate to stop this guy. Its bad enough that police have been targeted, there is nothing to say civilians won't be next". The concern, or maybe fear in his eyes settled her for a moment. "I will be fine, there's a plan in place to take the shooter out, but I need to be there".

"No!" his sudden authority shocked her enough to stop her moving forward.

"Excuse me"

"I mean you can't go without me"

"This is far too dangerous Henry, besides you might do something stupid like stand in front of bullet, you have been known to make bad decisions", she smiled but the urgency to leave was pulling her towards the door.

"Jo I really think I should come with you"

At this she stopped, placing her hand upon his chest. "Henry I'm sorting stuff out in my head", she sighed " I don't know what is going on here" she gestured between herself and Henry "but I know I don't want you anywhere you could get hurt, please respect my wishes Henry, just once do as I ask"

Her hand remained briefly, and then moved to his scarf, absently running her fingers across the weave trying to imprint the feel upon her fingers. "I promise I will see you soon as this is sorted out, you can finish your story, well at least start your story then" distracted by her nervous attempt at humour she was taken off guard by the sudden tug of his hands upon her waist pulling her to him. His mouth close to her ear "I don't want you to go", he whispered.

"I wont leave you", she responded, risking a hand upon his cheek, stroking his beard, surprisingly soft on her skin. "Now let me go and do my job". Every fibre of her body wanted to remain, Henry's forehead buried in her neck, the length of his body encompassing hers, holding her in a warm security she was fearful of losing. She pulled away, moments from forgetting her responsibilities and yielding completely to his request.

She stepped back to open the door "Henry I promise you, I'll be fine, stay here – I'll call you", then remembering previous attempts "please keep your phone on the hook". And then she left.