Lost and Found

Chapter 10

Pete pulled into his assigned parking space behind his apartment building; he turned off the ignition and glanced over at Mikki sitting silently in the passenger seat. He could feel his blood pressure finally returning to normal and most of the anger that he'd felt earlier was fast dissipating. I wish it were daylight out. I'd be able to judge her mood by the expression on her face…if I could see her face, that is. I just wish I'd handled that better than I did. I'll be lucky if she even speaks to me again.

Out of her peripheral vision, Mikki caught Pete looking at her, Well, at least the glare is gone and he's not looking daggers at me anymore. His color looks like it's back to normal…I thought the poor guy was going to stroke out on me for awhile there.

Turning toward Pete, her voice was low and quiet; void of the loud emotion that it held earlier. "Pete?"

"Yeah, Mikki?" Pete's voice also was low and quiet, and now held no anger in the tone.

"What are we doing here? This isn't working out, is it?"

"No Mikki…it's not. It's not that I don't want things to work between us, it's just…I just don't think it can. Somehow I get the feeling that we are a lot alike; headstrong, set in our ways, and used to being in charge."

"I probably couldn't have summed it up better."

"Mmm."

"I want you to know that I don't regret anything, and I do mean ANYTHING, that we shared…and I hope that if nothing else, we can be adult enough about this to at least be friends."

"Mikki, I don't regret anything that happened between us either…except maybe that scene on the way to the station. I'm sorry that I blew up at you like that. It was just uncalled for."

"I think that both of us got a little out of hand. I'm sorry, too, Pete. I…uhm…I'm just sorry, that's all."

"Mikki; Pete" simultaneously.

"You first; You first" at the same time, again.

Mikki jumped in quickly…"I think we've done THIS dance before…You go first this time."

"Where do we go from here? I really do enjoy your company, Mikki. You're pretty special and I can't deny that I feel really close to you. There is a definitely a connection between us…and I don't think that it's just physical."

"I know Pete, I felt at ease with you from the get go. I felt that connection, too…I still do. I just don't know how to get over the hurdle that's in front of us. Let's face it, we can't deny who we are…or what we do for a living…and I don't think that either one of us can put that fact aside…it's going to be there, a constant bump in the road, so to speak."

"So…do you have any suggestions?" I know what I'd like to suggest, but I would never dream of suggesting it for real.

"As a matter of fact, I do." But I don't dare let you in on it…you really will think me a loose woman…that is if you don't already! Mikki, watching Pete's face as best as she could in the dark surroundings, extended her right hand to Pete, saying, "Hi, I'm Michaela Sanders…ALL of my friends call me Mikki."

Laughing, Pete reached out and shook her hand, "Pete Malloy, pleased to make your acquaintance, Mikki…it IS okay if I call you Mikki, isn't it?"

Mikki reached out and placed the palm of her hand gently on his cheek, and around the lump in her throat, her voice low and strained, "I'd be disappointed if you didn't, Pete."

Pete could feel the lump forming in his throat as well as he took Mikki's hand into his and placed a tender kiss on the back of it before lightening the mood with, "I have an ice cold pizza in the back seat. If you'd like to come up to my apartment, we can attempt to heat it in the oven, I don't know how good it will be, but uhm…I'd love to share it with a friend."

"I'd like that too, Pete."

Together they got out of the car and headed up to Pete's apartment, walking side by side in quiet companionship, both thinking that spending time together just seemed so right.

Entering into the dark apartment, Mikki followed behind Pete as he turned on a lamp in the living room and then went into the kitchen to turn on the oven so they could reheat the pizza.

"Like I said, I don't know how good this will be re-heated and I'm not sure how long to put it in for, but it beats eating it cold."

"Put it on 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes."

"Sounds like another area that you've had experience in."

Mikki laughed, "Yeah, that's the 'true gourmet' coming out in me."

"Oh…maybe I'll just pass on those cooking lessons, then." Pete replied.

Pete put the pizza in the oven and then took Mikki's hand and led her into the living room; sitting down on the sofa, he pulled her into his lap and put his arms around her.

She was laughing at his silliness as she asked, "What are you doing?"

"I'm holding you." Oh boy, I'd like to be holding you a lot closer right now.

"And…why, exactly, are you holding me?" Okay, now I'm confused…OH….maybe he's a mind reader.

Pete shrugged his shoulders, "I just thought that if I held you, you'd have to answer the questions that I am going to ask you."

"Pete…we tried that last night; remember where it led…not that I'd object to…"

"I remember…and fondly, at that…but that's not why I wanted to ask you questions." Geez…this girl's gonna wear me out! NO…we can't go there again!

"Then why, Pete?" Just give me a fraction of a hint that that is what you want and I'm there!

"Because we can't be friends if you don't let me get to know you…the real you. The 'you' that was born 26 years ago, grew up in Denver, rebelled against your family in order to pursue a career that they disapproved of, and whatever else you want to tell me. I just want to get to know you…tell me all about, you."

Mikki gazed into Pete's eyes, then adverting her gaze, "It sounds like you already know quite a bit; you're going to have to be more specific in what you want to know."

"Okay…let's start with hobbies. Do you have any?"

"I like to read; mysteries mostly. I play softball…or at least I did, back in Denver. Mike and I both played on one of bureau teams; he's a good short stop, and I play a mean left center."

Pete gave a her a look of disbelief, "You have to have a pretty good throwing arm to play outfield."

Laughing, Mikki bent her arm and flexed her bicep in a playful manner, "See this shotgun? Well between it and a good cutoff man at short stop…the job gets done."

"I can just imagine." Pete deadpanned at her.

"You doubt?"

"No…not at all; but I would like to see you back up that story. How about you and Mike play pick-up for our departments' team next weekend? We challenge the fire department to a couple of games a month; pack a picnic lunch, head down to the park and make a whole day of it. One of the teams is always short by a guy or two so it'd be great to have you two along."

"Are you sure that the guys on the team, on either team for that matter, are ready to share the field with a female, Pete? The one thing that I have learned over the past eight years, is that some guys…most guys, actually, can be pretty territorial when it comes to things that they consider 'above' a female's capabilities."

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you have a little chip on your shoulder."

"Oh Pete, don't try and play it down…you know that you've probably had the same thoughts at times…go on, admit it!"

"I'll admit that there are just some things that a man CAN do better than a woman can…there's just no getting around it."

"Like what?" Mikki couldn't believe that she was hearing this, especially after the confrontation that they had over the robbery incident. There's that male chauvinism coming out again!

"Well….like…like….well, just give me a minute, I'll think of something." Hopefully something that won't land me in more hot water with this girl!

"Here, let me help you out with that answer…like burning the re-heating pizza…it smells well done, you want to check it or do you want me to." The look on her face was dead serious, but she punctuated the sentence with a giggle.

Pete easily lifted her in his arms as he stood up, then turned and all but dumped her on the couch before hurrying to the kitchen and pulling open the oven door. "Oooh…how done do you like your cheese?" He hollered, and then realized that she was right next to him.

Mikki had followed him to the kitchen and was standing by his side, looking at the over-baked pizza. The sheepish look on his face was enough to make her think twice about her intended answer so she smiled and said "It looks perfect, Pete."

"Liar." He shot back at her.

Rolling her tongue in her cheek and giving him a look that spoke for itself, she broke into a slow smile, "Shh…I won't tell if you won't."

They ate their slightly overdone pizza as they continued their question and answer session.

"So…tell me about your relationship with Mike." Pete ventured.

"There's really not a lot to tell. Basically we grew up together. He's a year older than I am and was a year ahead of me in school. We lived just down the road from each other, so we rode the bus together all through school. It's one of those friendships that you often only have once in a lifetime. We were nearly inseparable when growing up; and still are for the most part. There's nothing that I can't share with him; nothing that I can't dump on his shoulders; nothing that the two of us wouldn't do for each other. He's been there for me through every special or difficult time I have ever had to deal with; first crush, first date, first broken heart, first…well, let's just say all of the monumental firsts."

Hmmm? I wonder just how 'there' he was for all of those firsts…just how close are they…or have they been? "So you two are pretty…close…is that the word you'd use?"

"Oh, definitely." Mikki's answer was quick and easy as she smiled at Pete. She could see a shadow come over his eyes at her answer. "Uhm, Pete…when I said that Mike and I are close, I didn't mean 'close' in how I think that you think I meant close. We are close, close…not CLOSE, close…we share a definite closeness...not like the closeness that you and I shared…that was different close. Does that make any sense?"

Pete shook his head, trying to untangle what Mikki had just said; finally he looked at her with questioning puzzled eyes and asked, "Huh?"

"If you're wondering if we ever…you know…fooled around, well, the answer is 'no.' Mike and I are truly only friends in the very platonic sense of the word. Neither one of us is about to take a chance on ruining our friendship with romantic entanglements; though his parents wouldn't object to it if we did. His mom has been trying to get us to the altar for years, now!"

It shouldn't matter to me…but why am I relieved to hear that? "Listen, Mikki, I'm sorry I pried. It really wasn't any of my business to ask you that."

"That's okay, Pete; after all, what's a few heartfelt confessions between friends, huh?"

He flashed her a smile that lit up his face, and Mikki suddenly found herself at a loss for words as she sat there gazing into Pete's beautiful green eyes. I could lose myself forever in those eyes of his…No, just stop it, Mikki, it won't ever work.

Pete was holding her gaze as steadfast as she was holding his, and thinking, If she doesn't stop looking at me like that, we're going to end up doing something that we are both trying to avoid. Clearing his throat, "How about another piece of pizza…or something else to drink?"

"No thanks, Pete, I'm stuffed…and kind of tired; it's been a long, long day and I probably should be getting back to Aunt Gerties' house. Ask me to stay… Mikki was thinking as she rose off of the couch and went over by the door to grab her tennis shoes and then went back toward the couch.

I don't think I'm ready for this evening to end…say you want to stay… Pete, also rising from the couch, "I'll just put these dishes in the sink and then I'll run you home…if that's what you want."

Mikki dropped her shoes and picked up her plate and glass, "I'll get mine, Pete; you don't need to wait on me."

She followed him to the kitchen, placing her dishes in the sink next to his. As she turned around to head back to the living room, Pete suddenly swept her up into his arms and tenderly placed a kiss on her lips, "Mikki…stay with me tonight; if you want to, that is. I'll understand if…"

Mikki didn't give him a chance to finish his sentence. She placed a tender kiss on his lips and quietly, without looking him in the eyes, lest her own eyes betray her, "I can't, Pete…as much as I want to, I just can't…but I really do want to…"

Suddenly, Pete began to laugh, "Okay, which is it? You do…you don't…It's a fifty- fifty decision."

"I'd say that's pretty good odds, considering." Mikki retorted.

"Considering?"

"Considering that there's a fifty percent chance that I'll stay, and a fifty percent chance that I won't go home tonight."

Deciphering her logic, Pete laughed a little harder and said, "You know, if you ever get caught in a hairy situation, and you're out of ammo…just talk your way out…you'll have the bad guys so confused that they'll willingly give up and cuff themselves."

Mikki looked at him in disbelief, raising her eyebrows at him and finally settling on, "Just shut up and kiss me before I change my mind."

Pete happily obliged her request.