A/N: Warning: This chapter is fluffly as fuck, my nose ran out of blood to bleed out. Geez, but next chapter will be bloody, not in the oh my god so cute way. Literally. Or maybe not so bloody. Whatevs, I haven't wrote it yet.

Chapter 12: Homecoming

"Hey Boss!" Shaundi swayed her hips as she walked. "How's your trip to the S.A.?"

"Hmm?" She said distractedly, "Good."

"Why don't I sound convinced?" She dropped down on the bed next to her. "Something happened?"

"N-Not really." She looked away.

Shaundi sat up. "Tell me about it. Come on Boss, let it out." She nudged on her shoulder.

"Shit, don't even remind me about it." The Boss turned on her side, avoiding Shaundi's skeptical look.

"Fine." She pulled out her phone, "I'll call Johnny."

"No." The Boss swiped her phone swiftly from Shaundi's hand. The other line was already ringing.

"What?" Johnny greeted lazily over the phone.

Shaundi grinned at her as she stared blankly on the phone.

"Shaundi, seriously, what the fuck-" The Boss cut the line off with a frown.

"Oooooh... something did happen between you two." Shaundi teased, elbowing her to her side.

"Fuck, Shaundi! Get the hell out of my room!" she pushed her lightly. "Come on, I'm exhausted."

"Did you kiss?" Shaundi asked, as if she hadn't heard her.

"Wha—N-" She blushed.

"Oh my god..." Shaundi's eyes widened in curiosity.

"Fuck it. Fine!" the Boss said angrily, "We kissed! He left me standing there! I punched him the following day! End of story."

"Boss! Why the hell did you punch him?" Shaundi pouted cutely.

"Well, he deserved another, or a thousand more." she dropped her back on the soft bed, "Geez, my life is already complicated as it is, why'd he have to..." she gritted her teeth in frustration, "God, now I'm really confused!"

Shaundi watched her, trying to hide the smile on her face. She had always knew these two had something for each other from the very first time she saw them together. The way they looked at each other – it was different from how they looked at anyone or anything else. She had always assumed that they were more than friends, but the time she had spent with the two made it clear that they were nothing she thought of. No, they were just two people who were clearly cut for each other, but would choose to stay away from each other for the sake of not complicating things between them. They had this unusual relationship instead which she had always envied, a different kind of connection. Soulmates? she often asked herself. She had watched them carefully, waiting for that magic moment where they'd finally realize that they actually need each other in some other way than cover fire and drinking buddies.

And while she almost gave up on her hopes that their relationship will ever progress, there she was staring at the Boss getting flustered over a kiss.

"Shaundi, this is the part where you give me some helpful relationship advice." She said flatly, finally regaining her composure.

"Oh," the smile on her face wouldn't fade for days, "Uhm... follow your heart?"

"That's a shitty advice, dear. I don't have a heart." She said with a dry humor.

"One step closer to the million dollar bet." She mumbled quietly, not paying attention to her anymore.

"You were betting on us?" she scrunched her eyebrows.

"Eheh... Pierce's idea?" She smiled, totally unapologetic. "I was rooting for you two to get together, so uh... Go team!"

"Ugh." She dropped her head on the pillow. "I give up."

"You should talk to him." She said in a more serious tone.

"Not really good at confrontations. What if I make it worse? What if we can't be friends anymore? What if-"

"Stop overreacting Boss." She twisted a lock of her hair, "He'll understand. In fact, he's the only one who can put up with you, you weird, complicated sack of bones." The Boss looked at her skeptically. She dropped her chin onto her palms, "But more importantly, what do you want to happen? You know you like him the same way. What's stopping you?"

"I—uh..."

Her phone vibrated on the bedside table. The perfect escape to the question. She picked it up in a jiff.

"Hey Boss, how's the trip?" Viola chirped on the other line.

"..."

"Hey Viola," Shaundi slumped on the Boss' back, "Boss and Johnny kissed."

"Oh my fucking... OH MY GOD! I'm a hundred dollar richer." she laughed darkly, "So are you two dating now?"

"Geez, it's one kiss. Why is everyone making a big deal of this?" She mumbled as she tried to shake her lieutenant off her back, "Damn it Shaundi, you're heavy! And why is everyone making bets on us?"

"Relax Boss" Viola chuckled, "It's just that we all think you'd make a cute couple. Plus, it's so obvious that you two like each other. I saw you two together back then for like ten minutes and I knew you two had something for each other."

"How the fuck do you—really?" She blushed.

Shaundi dropped on the bed laughing really hard, her hands on her stomach. The Boss glared at her, "Sorry Boss." She continued to laugh, "I just never thought we'd ever spend time like this."

"Oh I almost forgot Boss," Viola said in her usual tune, "Mayor Reynolds says he wants to see you. Go drop by anytime."

"Mayor Reynolds is looking for me?" The Boss beamed. "I'll be there in..." she checked her watch, "...two hours?"

"Seriously?"

"I need a distraction from all of these before I get sent to the psych ward." She walked over to her closet, "Plus, it's the Mayor. THE MAYOR!"

"Woah, that was fast." The mayor chuckled.

"Anything for you, Mr. Reynolds." She smiled shyly. "So what did you need me for?"

"Not much actually." he motioned for her to sit down, "I just thought I haven't thanked you from saving me and the city monument yet."

"Oh, uh... that's no problem, Sir" she scratched the back of her head. "It was the right thing to do."

His scantily dressed secretary brought two cups of coffee on the table, winking on the Mayor as she left.

"I heard you were diagnosed with cancer last month," he sipped his coffee. His expression grew dim, "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, really. But they said my case wasn't all that treatable." She laughed dryly, "tumor was too close to the brain and surgery was unlikely. So," she shrugged, "I have eleven months more or less."

He sighed, "Viola says you're not receiving any treatment?"

"Oh, if I do chemo, they might reduce the size and extend my life but I'd be all brain dead, well, not literally... I just won't be able to do the normal things I do, running around and shooting properly" She mused, "I think I'd rather die than that."

"You're really okay with that?" he set down his cup. "Dying, just like that?"

She sipped the black coffee slowly, "Well, I'd say I'm pretty accomplished. I've done everything there needs to be done. My legacy is there. I don't really have anything to live for. Besides, I think it's better to die at the peak of my career than to grow old to see it burn to the ground."

"Trust me it won't. You've got good people." he winked at her, making her blush a little. "Tsk, you'd make a great loss to me." He tipped his hat.

"It's been a real pleasure working with you, Sir." She smiled, "You have no idea how much it means to me to hear you say that."

"I'm curious though, who will manage the Saints after you're gone? I'd like t know who I would be working with after you're gone."

Her lips tensed into a thin line as she heard the question.

"Uh... Johnny will... probably." She hesitated. "He's a little brash, but the Saints will definitely follow him. Oh, but I'm sure he can behave if he needs to."

"Mr. Gat? Oh yes, I heard he had awaken from his coma. It's a pity I haven't met him." He smiled, "I should've told Viola to ask him to accompany you with your visit here."

A short breath came out of her mouth to compensate with a laugh she intended. Shit. Everywhere he had to remind me of himself. Seriously, how did he wound up in our conversation?

"W-Well, I'm sure he'd be pleased." Her tone was unsure. "Um, I must take my leave, you must be busy."

"Hn, paper works sure are boring, kid. Drop by anytime, I need someone to talk to, seriously."

"I'll try to visit more often, Mr. Reynolds, sir." She stood up and shook his hand.

"Bring Mr. Gat here, next time."

She faked a laugh, "Will do."

"Fuck it. Johnny this, Johnny that." She mumbled as she pounded the horn, "Get the fuck out of my way!" She turned sharply at the curve on the road, making the other cars crash behind her. She didn't even spare them a look.

"Fuck this shit." She scowled at herself, "How can he do that to me? Kissing me and then telling me it's a mistake? Fuck that." She hit the NOs as she braced herself for the impact. "Fuck, fuck fuck. I've never been so confused in my life. And now he hasn't even called me? He doesn't even want to know how I feel? Oh great, now I'm just self-pitying."

She hit the brakes, making the car screech loudly. Skid marks stained the asphalt under her.

"Fuck it. Shaundi's right, I need to talk to him to clear this up. " she pulled out her phone and stared at her phone book. Her finger hovering over his name. "Fuck me, I can't. This is crazy." She sighed as she slumped back on the driver's seat. "Maybe I should go see him? Yeah, yeah that's a lot better, I'm never comfortable with talking over the phone anyway. Ha-ha, wonder where he is? But what the fuck do I need to talk to him for?" she mumbled, "He said it's nothing, maybe it's nothing... but fuuuuck, it's definitely not nothing for me."

She fiddled with her phone nervously, "Better go ask Kinzie to trace him... or maybe Matt, because Kinzie will probably get suspicious and ask me about it. Miller it is."

"Hey Matt, could you go and find Johnny for me?"

"Is he missing? Why don't you just call him?", he sounded like he was eating his dinner.

"Look, don't ask. Just do it."

His keyboard tapping loudly can be heard over the phone, "Why did you two fight or something?"

"Listen kiddo, I recruited you for the sole purpose of having someone do what I need to be done without question. So just do your freakin' job!" She yelled angrily.

"Geez Boss, sorry. I was just trying to talk to you so you don't get bored while I look. What's with the sour mood?"

"Just shut up and give me the location." She slammed the steering wheel. "I'm just... exhausted , okay? Got a lot on my mind, that's all."

"Right. I got it. He's in the his unit in Supremacy Condos in Athos Bay. Do you need-"

She hung up and hit the gas.

The Boss swallowed the lump in her throat and balled her fist. "Whew, it's okay. Just casually visiting a friend." She assured herself. "Take a deep breath and knock."

She tapped her boots on the carpeted hallway. "Maybe a little later. I need to catch my breath."

She stared at the door nervously, then down at her feet. "Shit what am I wearing? Ripped jeans and a fuckin' everyday hoodie?" Her red curls was messily draping on her face. She ran her fingers through it once, "What am I gonna say to him, I was in the neighborhood and decided to drop by?" she mumbled to herself, "This is clearly not in the neighborhood. Fuck, I never go here anyway."

She bit her lip, "Fuck it, I can't do-"

The door slowly opened. Her jaw almost fell when she saw Johnny holding the door, about to step out of the room.

"Hey." He looked at her with a hint of confusion.

"Hi." She smiled nervously. Too late to back out now.

"So, uh, how long have you been standing in front of my door?"

"Wha—No. I mean—Yeah." Her whole body tensed, "A-are you heading out?"

"Actually, I was going to go find you. Do you want to come in?" he leaned over the frame of the door.

She nodded and walked pass him. She looked around the white room. A few guns and ammo boxes on every corner, a slick black sofa, a small kitchen with beer bottles on the counter, a bedroom behind a door, and a huge window with the view of Stilwater. Typical bachelor pad.

"Hey Boss, listen," He slowly walked towards her. "If you're still thinking about—"

She took a step forward and grabbed his collar, pulling him closer and claiming him lips for no more than three seconds before pulling away.

"Yep, still thinking about it." She blushed as she bit her lip. She kept her grip on his collar.

He grabbed her waist and pulled her in, kissing her again. She parted her lips, deepening the kiss, before pulling away again.

"I'm confused," she said under her breath. Her hands snaked around his neck, brushing the tip of his hair, "And I'm fuckin' scared of... this."

She had always been articulate but now she's at loss of words. A thousand words swam in her head but she can't find the right words to tell him what she truly feels.

He smiled before planting a light kiss, "I love you," he gazed onto her icy blue eyes, "That's what I meant to say back then."

She felt her blood rush to her cheeks, her heart wanting to rip out of her rib cage. She wasn't exactly ready to hear those words from him, but he knew him – blunt and straight-forward. She wanted to say the words back at him, but her throat felt too dry to speak. She decided against it.

"I'm fuckin' dying, Johnny." She looked away, "It's not... I want this to work out, you and me... but I can't leave you like this. I'm gonna die really soon, and I don't want you to..."

"Really, that's your concern?" He smiled lazily making her frown a little, "Because I don't really care."

Her eyes widened, "I don't care if it's a year... or a month... or a week... or a day," he whispered between short kisses, "I'm gonna regret it more if I let you go without having you know this."

She closed her eyes, sinking into the ecstatic kiss. Her mind tells her to pull away, to walk—no, run away. But her heart was screaming for her to go for it. She had let every opportunity pass by before. Every open door she closed was beginning to creak open again.

He tilted her chin up to deepen the kiss. She pressed her body against his, pulling him closer. He slid his hand on her back and carefully laid her down on the couch. She wrapped her legs around his waist, she couldn't help but moan as he caressed her neck. She felt his cold fingertips slide under her shirt, touching her burning skin. His other hand brushing under her denim-clad thigh. She bit her lips in anticipation as her fingernails dug on his back. She cursed herself and wished she had worn a mini skirt, just so she can feel him run his fingers over her bare thighs.

"Phone..." Johnny lifted his head. She blinked twice, unsure of what's happening. He smiled, seeing that she was still dazed and lost, "You're phone's vibrating like crazy".

He pulled it from her front pocket with the fleur-de-lis keychain hanging on it and placed it beside her head.

She frowned, "Just let it be. Probably not important. Prank call or something." She reached out for him again.

He laughed dryly, "You're the leader of one of the biggest and most powerful gangs in the world. I doubt it's that's a prank call."

She bit the side of her lip and glared at him before reaching for her still vibrating phone.

She inhaled before answering the phone, "What, Pierce? This better be good or I am gonna fucking hang you upside down and feed you to Angel's tiger".

Johnny sat up and ran her fingers over his messed-up hair. He looked at her with amusement, as she held the cell phone against her ear with irritation. She was still lying on the couch, breathing ruggedly like he is.

"What did I ever do to you, Boss? And yes, this is important. You're gonna love this." He paused long enough to build up the tension. "We found Dex."

"WHAT?!" she exclaimed as she sat up abruptly.

A/N: Did you notice that this chapter is full of phone calls? Because I only did when I finished with Pierce's call. :|

Throwback chapters coming soon. Note that the next chap will take long. I need to re-watch SR1 cutscenes to get a better feel of Dex.

Read and review.