Okay! So, it's one day late, but I'm pretty sure you guys are gonna like this chapter. :) I promise that the next chapter will have a beta.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Nolan's Dark Knight universe.
"You seem happier," Blake commented from the drivers side.
Carrie shrugged and continued to stare out the window. "Yeah, well, things are going better for me today, I guess."
"I hope you're not the only one," he quietly added.
She looked at him with and eyebrow raised. "What?"
He glanced at her, too. "Oh," he started, "I meant that I hope things are better for everyone, not just you. Well, no. I'm glad that things are better for you, but I'm hoping that things go well for this investigation and the twins, too."
Digging her nails into her palms to keep from letting a laugh escape, Carrie just nodded at him and said, "Okay." As she turned her head back to the side, though, another smile graced her lips from his jumbled explanation.
She was sent off with Blake when she and Dave had left his office. The three officers were checking in before they headed out and started to search for Tommy and Marissa. And because Dave had promised that she was allowed to assist the police during the investigation, she was able to go with one of the officers. According to the logical side of Carrie, the only reason why she chose Blake was because he was the closest to her. It was not because of the fact that she might actually enjoy talking to him...
To be honest, she was a little worried about how the beginning of their conversation might start. Last night was a bit...intense. And to pretend like it never happened wasn't the smartest decision in the world. Did she really want to bring it up, though? Not really.
But when she headed down with Blake to his car, he acted as if things between the two were normal, actually better than normal. He spoke to her like he would speak to a friend or a close colleague. And, as of right now, he didn't bring up anything of the night before.
"So where are we going?" Carrie asked.
Taking a right, Blake responded, "Down to Riverton Park. One of the employees, I think Brenda was her name, said that the two kids always talked about the place. It most likely was a place where they went as really young kids with their brother and parents."
"The park holds sentimental value, and they might think of it as a safe place to be," she added.
He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, his expression full of understanding. "Exactly."
She paused a moment, inwardly deciding that it was okay to speak to Blake about the situation. And, though she hated to admit it, he didn't act like other cops. He was actually some one that she trusted; just a little bit, though. "I still can't believe this is all happening, you know?" she said, "It's just...it's like the world's moving so fast and I can't catch up to it. Things keep happening that I can't understand."
Blake took a long breath, keeping his hands tight on the wheel and eyes set straight ahead. Slowly, he told her, "I know exactly how you feel."
She saw the discomfort on his face, as concealed as he tried to make it. The sudden feeling of guilt rose deep in her chest at the sight. Why did she even say that? Things were actually going well between the two of them...and she had to go on and make everything weird again. Great going.
Carrie clasped her hands together and wrung them out. Staring at her lap, she said, "I'm...sorry, about saying that. I, I don't know why I did and I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable. I just thought-"
"Carrie," he interrupted her.
She looked at him hesitantly, not knowing what to expect. She's met with newly softened eyes and an amused expression, telling her that she's over-thought things, again.
"I'm not mad, or uncomfortable, okay?" he told her, "That...what you said reminded me of some things." She couldn't help but noticed his hands were clenched again.
Breathing out a quiet sigh of relief, she separated her hands and sent an embarrassed smile towards Blake. "Sorry," she mumbled once more.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head as he parked in one of the open spots in the park lot. Because it was early in the morning, not many people were out. Besides the occasional jogger, the park was desolate.
Switching off the ignition, Blake turned to Carrie and explained, "Now, what we're doing is just looking around the park. If we see something, I'll call it in. If not, then we leave it be and keep looking. And look for details, that will help a lot."
"Shouldn't there be more people coming?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Unless we notice something. Some of the others are heading to different spots."
She nodded and got out of the car, as did he. They began to walk on the cobblestone path that took them through the calm and peaceful area. The park wasn't big, maybe a half mile all the way around the path, but because they were searching, it would probably be more than a 10 minute walk. Especially if Blake wanted details.
During the silence of their walk, a thought entered Carrie's mind. "By doing all the searching and looking, does that make you a detective? I mean, what technically even are you?"
Blake, who was peering through a jumble of trees and bushes, answered, "I've just been given the title of officer. Like I said before, I'm just looking for as much experience as I can."
"How long have you been doing," she gestured him with her hands, "this?"
He shrugged and continued to walk ahead. "I graduated from the academy a few years back. And this is what I've been doing ever since." Turning back to look at her, he asked, "What about you? How long have you been working for the orphanage?"
It was her turn to shrug, now. "A year or so. I used to volunteer there when I was younger, so it seems like I've been there a lot longer than I have."
Blake smiled at her. "That means a lot to them. When I was a kid we only had a few visitors come down and help. It was usually just us and the staff. But you know how that works."
She bit her cheek, hard, before hesitantly asking him, "Which orphanage did you go to?"
It didn't take long for him to answer, but Carrie could tell that his tone was secluded. "St. Swithins. It's a home for boys down on 5th."
"Oh, I've been there a few times," she told him, but it didn't seem like he was listening.
It seemed like the topic of his childhood was now closed, even if it was never really opened. He was a few feet ahead of her, hands tucked to his sides and back straight. Silence enveloped the two while he walked in front of her, reminding her of the first time he drove her home. It wasn't like their silence was unbearable, but it wasn't the most comfortable, either.
Those thoughts were all erased, though, when she saw his hands relax and his pace slow so that they were soon walking in step together. He took a moment from his searching to look at her, almost apologetically, and ask, "What about you? Where did you grow up?"
Carried shrugged at him and answered, "Right here in Gotham. I've never really been anyplace else."
"Any siblings?"
"Yeah," she nodded her head, "an older sister and a younger brother."
Blake laughed, "Middle child, huh?"
"Yep, and it's just as painful as the shows make it out to be," Carrie told him.
Blake said, "It can't be that bad."
"Oh, but it can be. I'll let you meet them some day, and then you'll understand," she promised.
He didn't respond, but he did laugh once more at her complaining. They were nearing the end of the path, and still there was no sign of the twins. Of course, they did spend an ideal amount of time talking to each other, but she doubted that the siblings were even here in the first place.
"Well," Blake said as they reached the end of the path, "I don't think there's anything here."
Carrie shook her head. "So what now?"
He started to lead her towards the car. "I can take you back to the orphanage, if you'd like. Or we can head to the station and try someplace new."
Opening the door to the passenger side, "Well, I'm as sure as hell not going back home just to sit around and wait. So it looks like we're going to the station."
He too got in the car. Once seated, he paused and shook his head. Carrie looked at him in question. "What?"
Blake looked at her, a knowing expression on his face. "I should've known from last night that you would rather do anything than do nothing."
"You basically just described my whole life," she told him.
"Oh, I'm sure there's more to you than that," he teased.
She shrugged, once more, at him and let a crooked smile appear on her lips. "I guess you'll just have to find out."
He returned the expression and started the car. "I guess so."
Thoughts? :)
