Yeah, I'm updating A LOT right now because in two weeks or less I won't ever be able to. At all. But here's another chapter. And again, review review review!

Words- Chapter Nine- Lost

Detective Jeremy Redbird- San Francisco, CA

Hesitation.

Well, it was all I could do before knocking on this door. You see, I guess, despite how much that Detective Fallon was in danger, I still couldn't believe what I was about to walk in on.

But despite that, I swallowed my fears and lightly tapped on the door. With that, I listened on the other end for voices. And sure enough, I heard it.

"Who is it?" She whispered.

And then, as I had feared, another voice shot up in there. "It's… Jeremy. What's he doing here?"

As the door creaked open, I allowed one last clear inhale.

"Blaise… Oscar… I, Uh-I need a word with you, Blaise."

She sighed heavily, brushing her thick bangs out of her face. To my surprise, they both had their clothes on. She looked pissed.

Her cold fingers gripped my wrist, as her jagged nails dug into my skin. The color of her flesh was red, but her face was pale. She dragged me towards the end of the hallway, speaking in a very loud whisper. Oscar disappeared back into the apartment to allow us space. "Jeremy! What else can I tell you! I thought that if I told you that.. You might actually back off!"

My jaw dropped. Again, it felt like somebody had stabbed me. "It's not about you and Oscar! You guys can screw all day and night if you want to, it won't stop me! This is about Mal!"

Her blue eyes narrowed. "Wait… you think that- Oh my god! You think I'm sleeping with Natara's husband?"

"Well, when you put it like that…"

"He's helping me with the case! We teamed up as well since we're both close with Mal and Natara. What on earth gave you the idea that there was more going on?"

"Simple, really!" I was still shouting in a whisper. "You told me there was somebody else! And here you are at three in the morning with him! It looks bad."

She remained silent and I continued.

"Plus, your neighbors said that you and Oscar were loud at your apartment last night!"

Her brow raised momentarily, and she began to justify. "Whoa… Okay. Last night, Oscar was over. We were going over evidence. And I guess we might have been loud. We're upset, Jeremy! And you don't understand, I guess. You weren't as close with them as we were…"

Then something happened, something I hadn't expected. She began to cry. You don't expect women in law enforcement to cry because they deal with so much everyday. Their walls build up so high and when something finally breaks them down, they don't know what to do. "Jeremy, Mal is one of my best friends. I'm terrified, right now."

Not knowing what to do, I placed my hand on her shoulder and grazed it up and down. "I realize that. And… for the record, I apologize. I guess I just jumped to conclusions. And I shouldn't have."

She nodded. Maybe I still had a chance with her. Maybe I didn't. I didn't know who the other man was… but I knew that for the time being, I had to be a friend to her. I took my thumb and wiped her tears away as they fell. "It's going to be alright," I reassured her, "Besides, I remembered something. Maybe it isn't a giant help… but it's a lead."

A smile played on her lips. "Tell me. Now."

Special Agent Natara Williams- Hope, ME- The Holton Household

Mal was in the shower, and I was still analyzing the tiny folded note. Or maybe I was over-analyzing.

Unloved

I couldn't really get much from it. Sure, one word tells a lot. But this. This told me nothing. I heard fumbling around in the hall and instantly tucked the note in the pocket of my hooded sweatshirt.

Mal's voice rang out. "Honey, I… Uhh… need a dry towel."

Typical Mal.

I didn't know where towels would be. I instinctively checked the closet. And doing so, I had to pass the bathroom. And when I did, I didn't realize…

"Natara!"

He screamed because he hadn't closed the door yet. And I saw everything.

Everything.

Quickly, I grabbed a dry towel from the closet down the hall and chucked it on the floor near the bathroom. "I'm- uh- so sorry! Now cover up, please!"

I heard him chuckle. And really, I couldn't stop blushing. To be honest, Mal was beyond sexy. And he knew it. But at the same time, he was smart, daring, and kind. He was also extremely devoted in such a way that he would do anything for someone he loved. Anything. He was a total package. A ten.

I began flicking through the stations on the TV, avoiding the news on purpose. As much as I wanted to know about San Francisco, and everything going on there, I still didn't want to have to deal with it right now. Right now, I had enough on my plate. Mal stepped out, but only covering his bottom half with the towel. It was tied very lightly around his waist, revealing the very toned texture of his abdomen. My jaw hung a little low, but I tried hard to hide it.

"Natara, didn't your mother ever teach you manners? Knock."

I giggled. "FYI, she did. Plus, you must realize that I wouldn't be a very good wife if I couldn't tolerate seeing my husband naked."

"Well… I don't see you handling it very well. Look at your face! It's bright red. And I'm only half naked right now."

I sighed. "And maybe I'm uncomfortable! Put some clothes on!"

Mal flashed a crooked smile and I couldn't help but feel a tingly feeling. My body became warm. And the closer he moved towards me, the worse it got. I wanted to run away. But I couldn't. His face was so close, less that a few inches away from mine. His cologne was overpowering, and his breath was minty and delightful. "Nat, there's something you should know."

I waited.

"… The shower knobs are a little quirky. The cold means hot. And the hot means cold. And.. Dry towels are apparently in the closet."

I sighed, my embarrassment further channeling into anger. With that, he walked proudly back into his bedroom.

Yes, in this house, there was more than one bedroom. And furthermore, thank the Lord. I decided it wasn't over. I bolted into the closet and grabbed a navy blue towel, twisting it completely from one end to the other, as Mal exited his bedroom, I made my move.

I whipped him across his lower back.

He only flinched. "I've taken bullets, Natara Williams, and you think whipping me with a 100% cotton bath towel is really going to…"

I rolled it up again and whipped him a second time, but this time, I did it right across his behind.

His cheeks turned a bright red shade. "Hah!" I cried. "Who is blushing now?"

I darted past him with my new weapon and into the bathroom, locking it behind me. I turned the cold water on, remembering what Mal had said earlier about the water knobs. But as soon as I turned the one labeled Cold on, I was already butt-naked and in the shower. And guess what? That water never became hot. Ever.

Containing my slight anger was difficult, and I therefore decided that showering was going to be temporarily put on hold. I grabbed the towel off of the floor and rushed into the kitchen, wrapping it best that I could around myself. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that the towel was a little smaller than it looked. But regardless, I stormed in and poked my finger in my guilty-looking partner's face. "Malachi Charles Fallon, you said the water was hot on the cold setting! Was that truly really necessary?"

His lips spread into an adorable smile. And in return, I smiled, too. I couldn't help it. "Yes, because you just look so darn adorable when you're mad."

"Mal! I'm going to seriously hurt you! I just wanted to take a damn shower!"

He sighed. "Just turn on the hot setting. Duh, unless, of course, you need me to help you in there…" He inched closer and I felt my skin get hot again. Scolding hot. The tingling came back. And I realized the gravity of the situation. I wasn't wearing anything except a skimpy towel. And Mal, he had to have seen. But to my surprise, he wasn't eye-raping me up and down. He was just gazing deep into my eyes, burning me with his fierce blue irises.

"I- I think I've got it under control."

He nodded. "If you change your mind, Agent… I think I know how to turn some knobs."

Why? Why did he have to do those things to me? Clear frustration was written across my face as I stormed back into the bathroom, ripping the towel off and finally adjusting the water temperature to the correct setting.

I was about ready to hop back into the shower when a knock sounded on the slightly ajar bathroom door. "Natara…"

I waited, wondering if he would really just barge in on me. And really, he did. I scrambled for the towel again, letting it drape itself across my chest, and hopefully covering everything below the waist as well. But I didn't have the time to check.

"Mal, what are you-"

His gaze met mine again as he pushed the door shut behind us. I cringed and backed up towards a wall.

"Mal, I-"

His warm finger was on my lips. "Shh."

And before I could object, I was in heaven, with his lips making smooth music with my own. Truly, I hadn't ever experienced anything like it. I was making out with my partner and best friend, Mal Fallon. I didn't know what to think. I also wasn't really thinking. Just feeling. I felt him delicately graze every contour on my body, warming me up. Shivers went down my spine and his hot lips moved to my neck. I wanted to say something. I wanted to ask what this entire thing was about. But in reality, my body couldn't form anything except for moans and hot, heavy breaths.

And for the first time in my entire life, I understood love.

Review Replies:

Molly: Haha I tricked you all! I had to.

Cool22hd: Your questions will all be answered shortly. Originally, I was going to put Blaise with Oscar but I made that too obvious so I'm back to square one. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with Blaise and Jeremy at this point but ….

MALTARA FOR EVERYONE.

Yay. I'm going to try to finish one more chapter today, because literally, after today, don't count on it happening too often. But I really want to finish this story! Keep reviewing, enthusiasts J