I decide my first task back at work would be to check the status of the animal blood. "Ah, Detective welcome back. You gave us all a scare here in the office."
"You mean, no one threw a party in my absence?" I tease, making my way to his desk which is covered with books and folders. "Honestly Mark, how do you get anything done down here?"
"Heh, I see the accident didn't shake your sense of humor." He teases back, with a wink.
"I missed you too, buddy." I reply, fingering through some of the papers on his desk. "Do you mind? I have everything where I need it." He says smacking my hand away.
"Mhm... So have we gotten any further with the blood sample?" I ask. Stopping in front of an exam table, moving around utensils and glass beakers. Eyeing him playfully, in the process. "You are such a child." He remarks, rolling his eyes, "As a matter of fact, I have. I would have let you known sooner, but someone's been on vacation the last few weeks."
"If only that were true." I tease, picking up funky looking jar. "Yes well, the blood sample is Canis Lupus." He replies, taking the jar from my hand, "and I wouldn't touch this if I were you."
"Canis Lupus?" I ask, now opening a cage with tiny mice in it, "Yes, where's Detective Ashcroft? She'd know what that means, and will you please stop messing with things! You don't know what those mice are carrying."
"Oh come on Mark, they are so cute!"
"Yes, so cute, and so full of HIV"
"What kind of lab are you running here doc?!" He just rolls his eyes. "Canis Lupus is a species of the Canidae family, or commonly known as the grey wolf. However, I also found an unknown agent in the blood stream. I haven't been able to place it yet, but I promise I am working diligently to figure that out."
"Unknown agent? Like a hybrid? Or mutation?"
"Exactly."
"Doc, is it possible that if a mutation was imbedded in this animal, or thing, that it could double in size, and possibly have other significant mutations?"
He stares at me, piecing together everything I had just mentioned. "With what we saw out in the woods, I think anything is possible." A voice comes from the hall. Turning towards the door I see Karma leaning against the frame hands crossed together.
"Detective Ashcroft, you should be resting." I insist, making steps her way. Her hair is in a ponytail, with a Giants ball cap on. Loose blue V-neck, and denim shorts.
"I was, or still am. Liam thinks I am anyway. He's at the airport picking up some luggage that he had sent down."
"Okay, you should still be back in bed." I reply relentless
"I will, I just wanted to stop by and see how you were doing. I tried your home. Sasha answered, and told me you were already back to work." I forgot to mention Sasha has been staying with me this past week. She didn't want me to be alone, and I honestly didn't mind the company. "It's good to see you're doing better Detective." Mark butts in. She gives him a thankful nod.
Turning her glance back to me, "I've also tried your phone you know. Seems to go to voicemail every time I call." She has a bit of anger and sadness in her voice. Ever since I left the hospital, I've tried to distance myself from Karma, especially now that Liam is going to be staying.
"I've been busy. Things with the house, work. You know." I lie, running my hand through my hair, glancing back at Mark. Who seems to be enjoying the scene unfolding between us. Just needs some popcorn and he'll be set. I think rolling my eyes.
"Can we talk?" she asks gesturing to the hall. I nod, as I follow her out, but not before stopping Mark in his tracks. "Me, Mark. She wants to talk with me." He just shrugs his shoulder and walks back to his desk.
"Amy, why do I get the feeling you are purposely ignoring me?" She doesn't waste any time.
"I'm not purposely ignoring you, I'm just trying to distance myself from you, which then yes leads me to purposely ignore you." I sigh the last bit looking up to the ceiling. This isn't going to be easy. "Liam's here Karma, and it is very clear how much he loves you. I don't want to be in the way of that. So yes, I'm going to back off. I know we still have to work this case together, but that has to be it Karma. Please let that be it." I finish taking hold of her hand in support.
"We can still be friends, Amy. We can still talk on the phone you know."
"You are right, but not when you are supposed to be resting."
"I don't need to rest anymore, I'm sick of resting. That's all I've done for the past two weeks!" she replies, clearly frustrated.
"Okay, okay. Hey, look at me. It's going to be fine." I respond, lifting her head. She jerks away, "Fine? You think being ignored be someone you care about is fine? Amy, you saved my life and now you won't even give me the chance to show you how grateful I am."
"Karma, I know how grateful you ar-,"
"Then let me show you, Amy. Please." I stand there staring at her, I don't know what I am doing. I want her in my life so badly, but I know I could never just be friends with her, and If I continue down this road, things are only going to get harder, for the both of us.
"K-Detective. You need to be resting, that's an order."
"Oh please, you don't control me. You don't get to just order me around, after you've played your little mind games with me." She's furious.
A couple detectives come down the hall breaking the tension between us at the moment. As soon as they walk by, Karma pushes me into an empty room slamming the door shut. "Detective Ashcroft, you need to get yourself together." I say as I make my way back towards the door, only to be shoved against the wall near it.
"Why are you fighting this, Amy? Why are you being so cold?" She cried out, running her palm just under my hem. Sending chills straight through my spine. I push her hand away, only for her to pin it against the wall.
"Karma, stop."
"Why? I thought this was what you wanted, you made yourself very clear before. Did you get what you wanted then?" she asks, hovering her lips just off my collar bone. God… "Or did you get it from Sasha?" she breathes, grabbing my center when she said 'it'. That's it. I think as I shove her back a bit.
"Karma, you have a fiancé!" I shout, trying to steady my breathing.
"That didn't seem to faze you before, what's so different now?" she sneers, fighting back the tears threatening to fall.
"Him! He's what's different now, Karma. Liam is here, and he loves you god damnit!"
Quickly turning away, I lean my head against the wall. He loves her. He's here. He's her fiancé. He was hers first. All these thoughts repeating in my head, as I stand there, lightly tapping my head against the wall. A few seconds later, I feel two hands wrap around my waist.
"I'm so confused, Amy. I don't know what to do." She mumbles against my back.
"Do what you did before you came here. Act like none of this happen." I whisper, turning to embrace her.
"I think that's the stupidest thing I have ever heard you say." I laugh, "Yeah well, I never claimed to be smart." I reply, rubbing small circles on her back with my palm.
"Clearly. Not knowing what Canis Lupus means, pft. What kind of detective are you anyway?" she jokes; I slap her in the arm for that one.
"Come on Detective Asscroft. Let's get you back to the hotel, shall we?"
"Oh god no, please Amy. Anywhere but there, can we go walk around town or something?" I shake my head in agreeance as we head for the door, I stop her just before. "I want you to know, that I never faked my feelings for you. Everything is real." I speak genuinely, she punches me in the arm, hard.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"God, you really are stupid!" she replies, throwing her hands up as she walks out of the room. What did I do?