an. I want to have this up over the weekend and I told some people it would be! I am so sorry for the delay. I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter...It's a little slower than the last few chapters but things will be picking up again. Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to read and review this story. I hope you continue to enjoy it.
disclaimer. if only I could make a living writing fanfiction!
How to Fix a Heart
Realizations
Lydia arrived at the hospital 20 minutes later. Caroline was still there, reading to Seth. She looked up from the book on her lap when Lydia entered the room.
"Hi Caroline. Thanks for staying with Seth while I was gone." Lydia sat her bag on the bedside table.
Caroline nodded and closed the book, after marking the page she was on. "It's okay. I'm glad you got here before I had to leave for work."
"Roman told me what you said." Lydia smiled at the thought that her big bother would wake up soon. "I really hope you are right."
"Me too." Caroine tucked the book into a large tote-bag. "I better get going so I can get ready. I'll see you later Lydia." Caroline slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to Seth, taking his hand. "Hopefuly you will be awake when I come back." She gently squeezed his hand and Lydia smiled. She let go and walked out of the small room.
Lydia took the empty seat by her brother and took his hand in hers. "Honestly Seth. I hope she is right because I could really use my big brother right now." She sighed, thinking about her situation with Dean. She knew that even if Seth was awake there was no way she could really talk to him about what had happened. Dean was his partner, his friend. There were just some lines you didn't cross.
She gasped, and then smiled, as Seth's hand tightened around hers momentarily. She inched closer to the bed, "Leave it to you to still listen to everyone's problems even when you are unconscious. . . . I am sorry I wasn't here last night. I am glad Caroline stayed with you. .. you know, I think she likes you."
Lydia released his hand and leaned back in h her chair. She watched the rise and fall of his pulse as she pondered her situation.
"Could we talk for a minute?"
She turned her gaze toward the man in the doorway and frowned, "I'm sorry. I don't think we have much to talk about."
Detective Farrelly crossed the room and stood on the other side of the bed. "It will only take a moment, please?"
Lydia sighed and stood up. "Fine." She led the way out of the room and down the hall to a small alcove with plants and seats. She leaned against the cool pane of the floor to ceiling window and crossed her arms, "What can I do for you detective. I'm afraid there is not much I can do to help you with your case."
He smirked, "Well, actually Miss Rollins, I am here on a more personal level. "
Lydia frowned in confusion, "Do you have information about my brother's case?"
He shook his head, "No, unfortunately I do not."
"Then I am confused. What else would you want to discuss with me?"
"I came to see if you would like to go to dinner with me?" He gave her a charming smile.
"Dinner?" Lydia repeated, dumbstruck.
He nodded, "I know it is kind of spur of the moment but –"
Lydia raised her hand and he fell silent. "I'm sorry detective. I am sure you are a great guy and everything but, I need to be here with my brother right now. I hope you understand."
Stephen nodded, "Of course. Maybe another time. Thank you for your time. I really should be getting back to the station." He smiled politely.
But she couldn't help but notice a glint of disappointment in his eyes.
-x-x-x-
Ebony sat alone in her office. Her meeting had just ended and she was supposed to be organizing her calendar for the rest of the week.
Except she hadn't planned a single thing. . .
She couldn't get a certain raven haired man, and the words he had spoken to her earlier that day, out of her mind.
What you think I am going to snort it or something? Don't worry . . . I don't do coke.
Ebony pulled out his file and glanced at the offense listed on his record.
Possession of a Controlled Substance: Powder Cocaine
She frowned and closed the file. Obviously he was arrested for possession of cocaine. So he must have used it at some point. Unless he meant he didn't snort cocaine anymore because he quit? If it was a part of his past of course people would be suspicious… and he would know that she had the information about what he was arrested for.
He had looked so hurt though.
She sat down at her desk, picked up the small business card, and grabbed her phone.
Something was not adding up and she was going to get to the bottom of it but, first she had a call to make.
She typed in the number and hit send before her nerves could get the better of her. She tapped her nails anxiously on the desk as the phone rang, once, twice, three times, before he picked up.
"Hello. This is Detective Farrelly." He had a thick accent. English? Irish?
"Hello, I was calling with a tip on one of your cases." She said. "I heard from a reliable source that they saw Detective Dean Ambrose doing drugs this morning."
"Is that so? What kind of drugs ma'am?" She could hear the scratching of pen on paper.
"Cocaine."
"And may I have your name Miss."
"I would rather remain anonymous, detective. There are personal reasons I do not want to be involved."
"Okay." She could hear the disappointment in his voice. "Thank you for your assistance ma'am."
"Have a good day, detective." She hung up the phone and dropped it onto her desk. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, praying she made the right call.
-x-x-x-
Roman pounded on the door. He heard the footfalls of the man on the other side and bit back the urge to just barge through the door. He needed to keep his cool.
The door swung open and Dean leaned against the doorframe. He looked a mess, his hair disheveled, as if he had continuously ran his fingers through it and tugged at the ends. His eyes were dark and swollen and his knuckles were bruised and bleeding.
"Well, you're the last person I would expect to see here."
"We need to talk Ambrose." Roman pushed passed him and stepped into the apartment.
Dean laughed bitterly and slammed the door shut, "Why would a good boy like you want to talk to a low life like me?"
Roman ignored his comment. He looked around the small apartment and frowned. The coffee table was flipped over and there were broken bottles, glasses and papers scattered across the floor. A half-drank bottle of beer sat on the floor next to several empty bottles. There were two large holes in the wall by the doorway and the fresh dust and drywall on the furniture and floor indicated that they were new. For a moment, a twinge of sympathy radiated through him.
Then he remembered what his friend had done and he turned to face him.
"We are going to talk about Lydia."
"Well, I'm not much for giving dating advice but, I'll be honest with you buddy. . . I don't think she's gonna get with an ex con. So I wouldn't get my hopes up." Dean crossed the room and flopped down on the couch and picked up his beer. He took a long swig and leaned back against the dark leather. "I'd offer you one but, I guess that would violate your parole, right?"
Roman rolled his eyes. "When did you become such a dick?"
Dean shrugged and continued to nurse his drink.
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"You know what." Roman's patience was wearing thin. "Why did you put the drugs in Lydia's bag?"
"Because that rat was here and I wasn't about to get busted with them."
"So you figured you would just dump them off Dia? What if the detective had asked to check her bag? What if she had let him? She could have been arrested Dean."
"There was no way he was going to check her bag. I kept him busy. He didn't even pay her a second glance."
"He knows she was here. He probably assumes you are in a relationship. Girlfriends help their boyfriends all the time. You've probably made her a suspect."
"Roman, chill out. He isn't going to bother Lydia."
"You don't know that."
"Yea, I do. I made it very clear to him that he needs to leave her alone."
"So he has already said that she is a suspect?" Roman felt his temper rising.
"I told him to leave her alone." Dean repeated.
"Okay, let's say he listens to you and he leaves Lydia alone. What if she had been pulled over? What if she had been caught with them? How do you think Seth would feel if he woke up to find out his sister had been arrested?"
"She wasn't arrested." Dean polished off his beer and dropped the empty bottle with the small collection at his feet.
"But she could have been and it would have been your fault."
"I would have gotten her out of it. I wouldn't let Lydia go down for me"
"It's easy to say that now." Roman knew about the feelings that Dean had for Lydia and he wanted to believe him. He really wanted to; but, it was impossible. If he had any regard for Lydia's safety he wouldn't have dropped those drugs into her bag in the first place. "Dean, you put Lydia in a really dangerous situation. You could have ruined everything for her. She could have gone to prison and you don't even care. Anything could have happened and it would have been your fault. You got lucky this time but, you aren't going to be lucky forever."
Dean stood up, eyes narrowed. "Are you threatening me, Reigns?"
"No but, I'm going to give you some advice. If you care as much about Lydia as I think you do, stay away from her. Get yourself together. Make things right and then maybe; just maybe you might be able to win back her trust. Not that you deserve it."
Roman turned and walked out of the apartment, slamming the door in his wake.
-x-x-x-
It had been a quiet day. Ebony had stopped by after she left her office but hadn't stayed long. She wanted to get as many home visits done as she could. She was interning at the DA's office on top of her parole duties. Lydia was just grateful that her friend gave up so much of the little free time she had to come to the hospital.
"Hey, do you mind if I join ya?"
Lydia turned around. She had to admit, she was surprised to see him so soon. She nodded and he crossed the room and took the seat beside her.
"I figured even if you couldn't go out you'd still have to eat right?" Stephen Farrelly smiled and held up a paper bag. "So I figured I could bring the dinner to you?"
"You are persistent." Lydia smiled. "Lucky for you I haven't eaten yet and I am starving."
"I take it that means I can stay and we can talk?"
Lydia laughed, "Yes, you can stay and we can talk."
Stephen smiled and opened up the bag. He pulled out two Styrofoam containers and handed her one. "I figured Italian was probably a safe way to go."
"Absolutely. Thank you." She popped open the container and inhaled the decilious scent of garlic and onion. "It smells amazing."
"There is this great restaurant in White Chapel. . they have the best spaghetti. . ."
Lydia sat the container in her lap and held up a hand to silence him, "Hold up. You are telling me you drove 30 minutes to get our dinner."
Stephen nodded, "I wanted to make sure I brought you something nice."
Lydia smiled and took the fork he held out to her. What kind of a man drives to the next city over just to bring a nice dinner? There were tons of restaurants and diners across the city but he took the time to go to one that he knew would be good. She looked down at the chicken parmesan as he opened his own container.
"Thank you for this Detective." She smiled and took a bite of the food.
"Please, call me Stephen."
She nodded, "Well, it is delicious Stephen. Thank you."
"You're welcome." He smiled and ate some of his own dinner. "Why don't you tell me more about yourself?"
"There is not much to tell. I own an organic market which keeps me busy. I am close with my brother, our parents died when we were young."
"I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thank you. What about you? What is your story?"
"I worked homicide for ten years, caught my fair share of killers. One day I woke up and realized I couldn't see that kind of brutality anymore. I was offered a spot in Internal Affairs and took it. I have a little sister who still lives in Ireland near my parents. I go back three times a year to visit."
"I bet it is beautiful over there."
"It is." He nodded, "I love my home here though." He smiled. "There are a lot of beautiful things in America as well."
Lydia smiled and continued to eat her food. She was surprised to find herself thankful for the detective's company. He was actually rather kind. "I wanted to be a police officer too, just like Seth. But I quickly realized it wasn't for me. I love my store and all of the people I get to meet working there."
"I will have to stop in."
"We even carry a few lines of organic pet products." Lydia smiled.
"Really? I'm guessing you like animals?"
"Very much. My roommate and I have a cat and a dog. Smokey and Celeste."
"Cute." He smirked. "I have a dog, a terrier. He is seven."
"I bet he is adorable."
Stephen nodded, "Thank you."
Lydia turned her attention back to her dinner. It was nice to have someone to talk to, something to keep her mind off of everything that had happened that morning. She was grateful that Stephen had been so persistent. She really was having a lovely time.
-x-x-x-
Dean tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. What had he been thinking? Roman was right. He could have gotten Lydia into a lot of trouble. It was never his intention but, it could have happened. He was so wrapped up in himself, in his own little plan, that he failed to see the risks. He was overly confident. He was begging to be fail.
He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't lose everything. He couldn't lose his job. He couldn't lose his friends. He couldn't lose her.
He pulled into the first empty space in the parking lot and cut the engine. He grabbed a cigarette out of the pack in his council and lit it. He inhaled deeply and blew the smoke out slowly. What was he going to say to her? How can you apologize for being so stupid? What if she wouldn't forgive him?
No, Lydia was a good person, a kind person. She would forgive him. There was no way she wouldn't forgive him. It wasn't in her nature.
He got out of the car and puffed his cigarette as he crossed the crowded parking lot. He stood in front of the sliding glass doors as he took his final hit. He dropped it the cigarette butt into the dirty ashtray on top of the garbage can and ducked into the hospital.
He walked down the hall, his hands shoved into the pockets of his leather jacket. He ignored the stares of everyone he passed, knowing the were staring at his exposed badge and gun. He got to the elevator and pushed the up button firmly. He tapped his foot as he waited for the shiny metal doors to slide open.
He sighed with relief when he stepped into the empty elevator and hit the large number 3 on the panel. He smoothed out his ruffled curls as he rode in silence to the third floor.
The elevator doors slid open with a hearty ding and he stepped out into the busy hallway. He walked to the third-to-last room on the left and stood outside the open door. He inhaled deeply and turned to go inside when a familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
"So you like hiking and swimming but, you don't go biking. " Stephen asked.
"I'd much rather walk and enjoy the scenery." Lydia said. "Maybe take some pictures."
"So you like photography."
"I like pretty much anything that has to do with art. But I especially like music and photography."
"What kind of music?" The Irishman prodded.
"Any kind really but I especially enjoy rock music, like Seth."
"I have tickets to a concert next week. My sister was supposed to fly in but she can't make it. Maybe you would like to go with me?
Dean clenched and unclenched his fists.
How dare that rat ask Lydia out?
"I'll have to see how Seth is but, honestly. I'd like that very much."
Dean closed his eyes. How could Lydia agree to go out with him? How could she go out with the man who was investigating him?
"Great. I should get going but, maybe I can come by and see you and your brother tomorrow."
"Okay. Thank you for brining me dinner. I had a nice time."
How could she be flirting with him?
Dean clenched his fists so tight he dug his nails into the flesh of his palms. Fighting the urge to drive his fist through the wall, he walked away; head bowed… and pressed the button for the elevator.
thank you to everyone who voted in the poll on my profile; if you haven't voted yet... please do :)
also, thank you to everyone who read this chapter and who will/has taken the time to review, follow and favorite.
you are all amazing.
-Danie.