Chapter 7:
Scotty woke up the next morning with another pounding headache, he felt like calling in sick but he knew that they still had a case to solve and spending the day wallowing in bed wouldn't help. He dragged himself out of bed and looked out the window, the rain was pouring down and the city looked empty. After his shower and a shave he walked out the door, ignoring the brunette across the hall that always was 'coincidently' leaving at the same time as him every day and decided to take the stairs down to the parking garage.
After picking up a coffee and a muffin from the vendor, he walked up to the precinct and waited for one of the others so they could go pick up James again and when Kat walked in a few minutes later he didn't even give her the chance to put her stuff down before he was practically dragging her back out of the squad room.
"Is there a reason I am here?" James asked looking across at Scotty; he shifted uncomfortably as he was met with a cold stare from the male detective.
"We wanted to have a chat with you about Gloria" Kat said as she paced back and forth behind him.
James rolled his eyes "Would you people just drop it, the stupid bitch killed herself" he said in frustration.
"Well you see as it turns out she didn't" Scotty pulled out the crime scene photo and placed it on the table. He looked at it briefly then looked away "It turns out she was strangled" Scotty replied and he laid out a close up photo of Gloria's face "And then someone slit her wrists"
James looked back down at the photo and picked it up the photo "So someone murdered her?" he asked slowly and he looked back up at Scotty.
"Yeah and your our number one suspect James" Kat said leaning over the desk.
"What, no I didn't kill her" he said hurriedly as he turned to face Kat.
"She dumps you for the church guy, not puttin' out when you had been datin for nearly two years. That pissed you off"
"Alright I was mad at her for dumping me" he said looking between Scotty and Kat "But I didn't kill her"
"We have several witnesses that said you threatened her when she dumped you, said if you couldn't have her than no one could" Scotty said as he stood up and walked around the other side of him.
"Yeah I said that but I called her later and apologised, that's when she told me the real reason why she was ending it with me"
"And why was that?" Kat asked
"She told me she was pregnant "
Scotty snorted in disbelief "Yeah think I heard that one in Sunday school, the whole Immaculate Conception was it?"
"No, we did sleep together it was only one time and it was about three weeks before she died" picked up the photo of Gloria again "She said her father would never approve of us getting married and David was in love with her, she told me that she had to marry him."
"Did David every find out she was pregnant?" Kat asked
"I don't know"
"What do you think he'd do if he found out she was pregnant?" Scotty asked
"I don't know" he said again.
"Sit tight while we check out your story" Scotty said and he and Kat walked out of the interrogation room.
Scotty went down to visit Frannie, she re-ran the blood sample they still had in storage and confirmed that she was indeed pregnant. Lilly and Will went to talk to David again.
"David we need to ask you a few more questions" Lilly said
"Sure" He walked back into the living room
"We talked to James" Will said
"He told us that Gloria was pregnant"
"What, no she wasn't" He snapped
"We have the test to prove it" Lilly handed him a piece of paper and he took it, his eyes scanning over it.
"So the she comes to when she gets pregnant, knowing that you love her and that you'd marry her so she could pass off the baby as yours" Lilly says taking back the paper from David and storing it in the file.
"That's not what happened" David said coolly
"Well then fill us in" Will replied
"I met up with her that night, she said that she broke up with him and that she realised she wanted me. She let it slip that she was pregnant"
"So you attacked her"
"I wasn't gonna let her use me like that" He snapped
"What happened?"
"We went back to her house I told her that I wasn't gonna be made a fool of and that I wouldn't marry her"
"How did she react to that?" Lilly asked
"She was mad, told me that would tell everyone that it was my baby if I didn't marry her, I snapped and before I knew it I strangled her, she was just lying there. I made it look like she killed herself hoping that no one would find out she was pregnant" Lilly wrote out his confession and then they handcuffed him and lead him back out to the car.
A month later, after another long day they were about to leave when Stillman stopped them, he wanted to remind them that the annual PPD Gala was that weekend and that he expected them all to be there. They groaned, Lilly never really liked going but she never really had anyone to go with, but this year she could go with Rick, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Saturday night rolled around quicker than they all had expected Scotty sat on his bed, staring at the suit that was hanging of the back of the door. He definitely was not looking forward to spending the evening with Lilly and Rick. He was seriously even considering asking out the woman across the hall just so he could have his mystery girlfriend on his arm, at the last minute however he changed his mind and went stag.
He was the first out of the group to arrive and he made his way over to their assigned table and sat down, immediately asking for a glass of southern comfort. He didn't have to wait long, Vera and Jefferies came soon after closely followed by Kat and Stillman and last to arrive was Lilly. When he saw her approaching the table, his mouth ran dry she looked gorgeous.
Lilly was wearing a long red dress that accentuated her every curve and the neck line was low enough to see her perfect breast that peak slightly above the material. Holly crap she looked glorious.
"Hey guys" she said
"Hey Lil, where's Rick?" Kat asked
"Last minute, he had to work" she said and they all picked up on the slight frostiness in her voice. She sat down next to Scotty and he smiled at her.
"No girlfriend Valens?" she asked
"Err, nah" he shifted uncomfortably under the curious glare that Vera shot him. The dinner was served and they ate and chatted and then the music started. As the rest of the gang moved off to chat with the rest of the guest Lilly and Scotty were the only ones left at the table. He noticed her looking at the dancing couples and he heard her sighing. Then he did something, something that looking back on it probably was a big mistake but in that moment he didn't care.
"Wanna...dance?" he asked
Lilly turned to face him "Okay" she said and she stood up, walking over to the dance floor. Scotty was still in shock that she had said yes, when Lilly realised he hadn't moved she turned around.
"You commin?" she asked and he stood up and followed her.
They found a spot on the dance floor and he tentatively placed his arms around her as they started to dance. Scotty was still mesmerized by how gorgeous she was, he tried to keep his hand on her waist and his eyes looking anywhere but on her body.
"Would you relax" she said amusedly
"Just ain't used to dancin' wit my partner" he commented and Lilly giggled she moved closer to him and his breath caught in his throat.
They dance for a few more songs and Scotty's courage building slowly until he could finally speak.
"You look amazin' tonight Lil" he said softly
"No I don't"
"Yeah you do"
"You shouldn't say things like that" she blushed slightly
"Why, were partners right, gotta tell you the truth" He said a grin spreading across his face.
"You clean up pretty good yourself" she replied and he pulled her a little closer.
"Do you know how many guys in here would kill to be in my position right now?"
"Scotty" Lilly turned her head away from him, the blush rising in her cheeks.
"I am serious Lil; you're beautiful, intelligent..." Scotty felt his heart began to race "Lil, there is something I've been meaning to tell you"
"Yeah"
"I don't know about you Lil but I felt over the last few years you and I have gotten closer"
"Yeah, I feel the same way Scotty, when I first met you I never thought you'd become my best friend" she said
"Neither did I" Scotty countered "That's kinda what I wanted to talk bout"
"What do you mean" she asked him, pulling back slightly to study his face.
"Well it's just lately I have..." he trailed off when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Hey, mind if I cut in?" Rick asked
"Err, yeah sure man" Scotty said
"No hang on Scotty, you wanted to tell me something" Lilly said as Scotty's arms dropped from around her waist and Rick pulled her closer to him.
"It's not important, forget bout it" and before she could protest he walked back over to the table.
"Sorry I am late Lil" Rick said
"It's alright, I had fun" she said distractedly.
Rick pressed a kiss to her cheek, but all Lilly could think about was Scotty, he wanted to tell her something and judging about how nervous he was it wasn't nothing like he said. After a few more dances Lilly and Rick headed back over to join the others.
The Gala ended they went over to Jones's for one last drink, Scotty watched Lilly and Rick standing so close to each other and their arms wrapped around each other and couldn't help the jealousy spiralling through his body.
"Excuse me every one but I have something I wanna say" Rick said and a hush fell over the bar as he turned to face Lilly. "Lil, I know we have only been dating a few months but I have fallen madly in love with you" he said and Scotty saw his hand slip into his pocket and his could of sworn his heart stop and his blood run cold.
"Lilly Rush will you marry me?" he asked.
Lilly stared at him, unable to move; Rick was proposing to her, this had to be a dream. She looked into his eyes and suddenly she remembered what Scotty had said to her when she asked whether or not she should move in with him. That she should just take a chance "Yes" she said and he slid the ring onto her finger and the bar erupted in cheers and applause. Her colleagues and friends congratulated her; she looked around for Scotty in time to see him leaving the bar.
A/N: I know, I know but please don't hate me I swear I am gonna make it up to you.
