Chapter 10:
She slammed the cab door and settled at the back seat with a sigh. "Just get me out of here." She said quietly. The cab driver drove quietly and Megan tried to relax, the evening events replaying in her mind. She felt humiliated and insecure. Meeting her ex boyfriend was one of the most stupid things she ever did. He didn't change at all; he was still the same bastard that left her five years ago.
She blinked the tears away. She was better off without him and he didn't deserve her. She was angry, angry with herself for giving him everything, angry with the F.B.I who forced her into this horrible meeting, angry with Bobby Manning for not being there as he promised.
She raised her head in surprise, angry at Bobby? Why should she be angry with him? She shook her head, still thinking about her evening. He took her to the cheapest place she knew and she smelled like a frying pan and burned cooking oil. And he was so cocky and arrogant, telling her everything he accomplished while all she ever did was getting a job as a paramedic. He asked her to spend the night with him. He had the nerve to ask her about…she stopped the thought from surfacing. She clenched her palms tightly, her nails scratching the flesh painfully. She will not cry. She refused to shed anymore tears for him.
"Are you alright, Megan?"
She gasped when she realized who the cab driver was. He looked at her through the mirror as they stopped at a red light.
"Bobby." She stated, bowing her head when the tears suddenly flowed down her cheeks.
Bobby's eyes widened and he pulled over, getting out of the cab and moving towards the backseat. He sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. She went rigid for a moment and her left hand moved to push him away but he held his ground and she leaned her head into him, her tears hot against the collar of his shirt.
"Why are you crying? You did a great job." His hand moved to caress her hair, his fingers toying around the black clip that held her hair high above her neck.
"It's not him, Bobby." She sighed. "He's a jerk but he would never kill anyone. He is too much of a coward to do that." Bobby chuckled. "Did you guys arrest him?"
"We couldn't arrest him, Sheila. But I'm sure Jack got him for questioning just because he touched you." His green eyes clouded, he traced her forearm gently. "Did he hurt you?"
To his surprise, she smiled and raised her head from his shoulder. Her eyes were still shining but she no longer cried. "Don't go all caveman on me, Bobby. I'm fine."
He chuckled, moving his hand to wipe the wet stains that still covered her cheeks, his thumb lingered a few seconds and he traced a line across her cheekbone. He swallowed, his mouth turning dry. His right hand moved down her back and then settled on her hip, pressing slightly as he moved closer. Her eyes were wide and dark as she looked at him, her tongue moving to wet her lips. He stifled a groan.
She thought she will pass out if the torture will continue. One of his hands was still caressing her cheek and neck. The other one was pressing intimately into her hip. She wasn't sure he knew his hand drew upper along her hip every second and she licked her lips nervously. He bit his lips, his eyes clouding.
The sudden sound of breaks screeching and a car horn startled them and they pulled apart, breathing heavily.
"I should get you home." He mumbled. "Or maybe you want to grab something to eat? You haven't eaten anything."
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I'm quite hungry."
He smiled. "I know a great place. It has food, drinks and dancing. It's quite close to my place but I need to get this cab back first." She nodded her head and he moved to get up.
"Bobby, wait." She reached towards him, her hand grabbing his forearm. "There was only one vest." She said quietly. "James' wife is pregnant, so I refused to wear it and I gave it to him."
"I know." He smiled gently. "I think we need to work on our communication." She chuckled and he continued. "I'll have a vest for you by tomorrow, so you'd better be a good girl about it and put it on."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes, sir."
"You wanna sit at the front with me?" She nodded and he helped her out, opening the front door for her. When they drove away he grabbed her hand in his, caressing slowly.
Jack growled with disgust as he marched towards the bullpen. The conversation with Brian Ford answered none of his questions and only added to his sense of nausea. The man was a bastard and both he and Myles had to restrain themselves from the urge to shake him back to his senses.
When he reached the bullpen, he dropped a handful of notes on his desk and sighed with frustration. In front of him, Myles looked grim as he closed his cell phone. "It's confirmed, Stalker was on the flight last week when the first shooting happened. It can't be him."
Jack pursed his lips. "That entire night only seemed to open more questions." He said.
"It's none of our business." Myles said firmly. "What happened between them in the past is private and no longer relevant for the case."
"I feel sorry for her." They heard a new voice and Jack turned and regarded Sue with surprise on his face.
"What are you doing here? I thought you went home."
Sue shrugged her shoulders and motioned towards the trey of pizza she carried. "I brought dinner."
Myles turned to grab his coat and smiled to himself. "Well, I bid you good night." He snorted when it took the couple in front of him a couple seconds to break eye contact and focus on him. "For heavens sake…" He mumbled.
"Night, Myles." Jack said.
"See you tomorrow." Sue added.
They stood quietly for a while before Sue reached for the pizza, handing him a slice. He sat on his desk and she sat beside him. "So, what are you saying?" He motioned towards the white board.
"I'm glad you're not working tonight." She said softly and he turned to face her, a smile lightening his face.
"I'm sorry about dinner. We haven't been able to talk all evening."
"It's alright." She smiled. "This case is draining. It wasn't him right?" Jack nodded his head. "She had to endure all this for nothing."
"It was too obvious." Jack said. "It would have made our lives much easier."
Sue yawned and Jack grinned at her. "Do you want me to take you home?"
She nodded her head. "If you don't mind, Lucy drove me here."
They headed towards the garage, their hands touched almost on their own and they smiled at each other. She intertwined her fingers with his and he squeezed lightly, the touch conveying so much more then words ever could. When they reached his car he stopped, moving his arms to envelope her gently, slowly pulling her into his embrace.
They stood in each other arms for what seemed like an eternity. He memorized each scent and every breathe she took. She learned the beating of his heart and the touch of his lips on her forehead. She raised her head slowly, meeting dark and serious eyes.
"I'm used to holding back." He whispered.
"Then let go." She said and he smiled gently.
"I didn't want to talk to you in the garage." He kissed her hair. "I can't hold it back." He confessed. "Not anymore. I want us to be so much more then what we are today."
She nodded her head. "It's not that easy…" She hesitated. "I want to give us a chance. I think if we'll take things slow then…"
He didn't let her finish, crushing her into him, hugging her fiercely as a sudden joyous laugh escaped his lips. They stood in each other arms, caressing and laughing quietly. It was comfort and light and when he finally pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss he knew he was finally home.
The woman beside him seemed a little dizzy as she took another sip from her cocktail and then closed her eyes, smiling to herself. Bobby wondered if he did the right thing by letting her order something that had too much vodka inside. She opened her eyes and reached for the plate of fries, taking the last ones.
Bobby snorted and stopped her hand from moving. "No way, Sheila, I was planning on those two." He motioned towards the two fries she held in her hand.
She smiled wickedly and turned to face him, her knee touching his thigh as they sat side by side on the bench. "We can share." She said and popped one of the fries into her mouth before moving her hand in front of his face. "You want?"
He had too many things he wanted at that very moment. He wanted to run. He wanted to stay. He wanted to touch. He wanted to kiss. He wanted another drink. He opened his mouth and accepted the fries, her fingers touched his lips and chewing suddenly became a challenge.
She smiled at him. "Do you want another drink?" She asked, motioning towards his empty bottle of beer.
He shook his head. "I never drink more then one."
"Okay." She said, her face turning away from him. "Did you bring me here out of pity?"
Bobby frowned. "What? What do you mean?"
She bit her lips. "You don't look like you're having a good time. We don't have to stay."
"The problem is…" He said slowly. "that I'm having too much fun."
She didn't seem to believe him. He smiled and reached for her hand, clasping it between his own.
"Okay, if you're asking whether I heard the conversation between you and your ex then the answer is yes, I heard his side of the conversation from Sue's mouth when she talked to Jack. No, I did not take you here out of pity. I don't feel sorry for you; I think you made quite an impression. What exactly happened before you left?"
"I spilled a glass of cold water on the front of his pants." Bobby laughed and she grinned. "I kinda regret not ordering hot tea."
"I'll make you a deal. It's still early; there is no reason to go home." She raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue. "I'm Bobby, you're Megan." He shook her hand. "Now let's dance."
She giggled as he pulled her towards the dance floor. "I don't do slow dance on the first date." She said, laughing as his arms enveloped her, pulling her close.
"You're drunk; you have no idea what you're saying."
"Don't insult me, Bobby." She made a face at him, her head resting just below his shoulder. "I can hold my liquor."
He laughed when he twirled her around and she stumbled back into his arms. "Then shut up and dance…"