Well, this almost didn't happen as the backlash from Ike has hit Ohio. We were nearly blown away with the 90 mile an hour wind gusts. I know that is noting like what they had in Texas, but it is pretty bad for us. You would have thought you were getting beaten by Tornados all day... It was quite the adventure and I think I am going to build a story around it later... Hope you like this chapter:-)

Chapter 21

Tom sat in his apartment avoiding what he had wanted and waited for so long to do. He had decided to finally go and see her. Lexi had been in juvenile holding for four months and was now officially a legal consenting adult. This couldn't be this easy. This was a recipe for disaster . He would tell himself. She was too perfect for him but he was the reason she was in jail now. She had done her part in taking him hostage. She had helped her boyfriend only to be violently abused. She had done her part to try and help him. She had let him hurt her so badly.

He had put on a tie and a suit jacket with his blue jeans and white dress shirt. His hair brushed lightly back with his bangs falling across the top of his forehead. He sat in the chair in front of the television watching the window as the cartoons played across the television screen. He rested his chin on the tips of his finger as he bit his bottom lip and thought about her and how perfect she was to him; her lips, her eyes, her smile. He remembered the way she smelled as he held her in his arms her hair falling around her face as she slept. He had held her as she cried herself to sleep after realizing Darren had used her as an excuse to eliminate people in his way. She had broken down in his arms. It had been a struggle to hold it together and not kiss her perfect lips as she lay sleeping in his arms. She had danced in his head ever since that moment. It had been so hard to go into the judges chambers knowing that when he came out she was going to go to jail. He had known that she would have to serve time, but why a year? Why?

He struggled with the idea of her and he so much that he had gone to his mother for help. She was the only one he knew outside of Angela Miller who would understand. At least he hoped that she would understand. Who wants their son to come home and tell you that they fell in love with the girl they put in jail?

--

Margarete Hanson watched as her son son pushed the peas from one side of his plate to the other as he continued to battle his inner feelings. She had watched him bottle up the pain of Waylon County and the girl who had stole his heart. It hurt to watch him punish himself as he tried to deny his feeling for her.

"Mom... I just don't know what to do. I mean I am the reason she is in jail now. She... I mean what would dad have done?"

Margarete Hanson stood up and walked over to there her son sat pushing the green orbs around his plate like a fiver year old who didn't want to finish his vegetables but wanted his desert. She sat down in the chair next to his and put her thumb and forefinger under his chin and lifted it so he would look her in the eyes. She then brushed her free hand through his hair and then rested against his cheek. She pursed her lips as she realized the pain that continued to torment her son. He was holding all of the world on his shoulders.

"Honey... I don't think your father ever had to go through this, but I think he would have followed his heart." She smiled as he looked down at his plate and then sniffled as he brought his eyes up to meet hers.

"I-I think I love her mom." He nearly whispered.

"I know." She responded quietly.

"But I can't mom. I... she... it's wrong." His eyes pleaded with her understanding glance.

"Tommy, love is never wrong when it's right."

--

Tom took a deep breath as he started to stand up walking over to the sink opening the cabinet and pulling a glass out. His stomach flipped as he turned the tap on and took a long drink from the clear glass. He set the glass back onto the counter and then leaned heavily looking into the sink at the dishes from the previous night. He watched as the water dripped onto the ketchup stains and ran down the smooth surface to the edge and then dripped onto the white porcelain of the sink. He licked his lips and took a deep breath as he reached over and picked up his keys.

She had asked him to come and see him for two months now and today he was going to. He just hoped that she would allow him to since he had not responded to her second letter. He had sent her a birthday card and then another letter after he received a thank you note for it. He had not had the strength to go and see her. He had not wanted to explain to the rest why he was talking to her. His mother and Angela Miller were the only two who seemed to understand how much she meant to him. He thought he might be able to tell Judy but to even begin to explain it to Doug or Dennis just seemed like a bad Idea. Harry might understand, he seemed to understand everything. He always seemed keyed into what was going on in the world around him. Fuller... hell he would probably find himself in front of a review board if he even suggested to him that he was talking to Lexi George.

--

Tom took a deep breath as he slid the cold metal of the key into the ignition. The V-8 motor roared as it sparked to life. He gunned the gas as he sat in the parking lot outside of his apartment building. Her face seemed to be jumping into his thoughts again. He could not shake her as he looked down at the steering wheel in front of him.

What the hell Hanson... you've been with girls before. What the hell is so special about her? She suffered for you... well you suffered for her. She bugged the hell out of you when you met her. All you ever wanted to do was get the hell away from her and here you are going to see her in jail. Admit it Hanson... you're hoping that she will come out and tell you that she isn't interested and... Tom... she had eight months to go. Stop this for now, just go see her and help her to deal with the jail thing and that'll be it. No more Lexi, Lexi, Lexi.

"What the hell am I doing? I'm a fucking cop... why can't I get you out of my head?" Hanson scolded himself.

He threw the car in gear and drove off in the direction of the Metro Juvenal Correctional Facility for Girls.

--

"Tom." Her voice was so spectacular as she said his name.

Tom Hanson turned to find himself face to face with an angel. She walked over to him tears streaming down her face. Her blue eyes glistened as she reached out to shake his hand, her skin was soft against his. He loved how his name sounded as it slipped over her tongue and through her full lips. She was so beautiful. Her hair was shorter and the highlights that stood out so much against her still lightly sun kissed skin were gone. She still looked amazing. She took his breath away as she smiled shyly. She looked down at her feet and then bit her lip as Tom looked back at her. He took a deep breath and smiled back.

"You look amazing." He stumbled through his words as the two sat down at a table across from each other.

"I don't feel amazing, and I am not sure I will wear orange ever again." She stated raising an eyebrow.

"They treating you okay?" Hanson asked looking into her eyes. Those glorious eyes had him captivated again. She looked so great.

"Yeah... um... its a little cold at night, but I'm okay. I am going to get to graduate early." She smiled at the officer.

"I've heard. The warden says that you are doing an amazing job. He said that you started a music program for the others."

"Yeah... I really missed it. Miss H, she came by and we've organized everything to get instruments and old music to play. She really has been awesome to me." Lexi smiled her eyes were aglow with enthusiasm.

"That's great... When did you cut your hair? It looks nice." Hanson smiled back at her. His heart sank inside as he thought about how dumb he must sound to her. She was so beautiful and he couldn't think of anything better to say then her short hair looked nice.

"I cut it a couple of months ago. The beauty school comes in once a month and does our hair if we are good. I was able to get mine done. I only cut it so that I wouldn't have to deal with it in here. I want to let it grow back out when I am out of here." She smiled as she ran her fingers through the sleek layered locks.

"How are your mom and dad taking everything?" Hanson asked he had remembered from her letters that her mom and dad hadn't come in to see her since she was first brought in.

"I think they've moved." She looked down at her feet. "I tried to call the other day and the operator said the number had been changed and was not available. I know I let them down." She sniffled as she reached up to wipe away the tear on her cheek. "Mom said she was done with me Tom... she said that dad couldn't handle the stress and they weren't going to be able to come in anymore... so I called to talk to them." Her mood was so stressed and guarded now.

Hanson wanted to reach out and hold her and kiss her. He wanted to brush the tears away from her face like he had that day a lifetime ago. He wanted to give her the innocence she had lost back. He longed to feel her in his arms. He wanted to hold her tightly and protect her from the world.

"Times up." The words were like a lightning bolt. It ripped through him as he closed his eyes. He didn't want to leave without telling her how he felt. He wasn't sure he could wait eight months to tell her how he felt.

The two stood up as the officer walked in and took her by the arm.

"Wait please." She asked. "Officer Hanson..."

"Yeah." Tom answered.

The young girl pulled away from the guard and walked over to the officer wrapping her arms around his waist. Hanson took a deep breath and swallowed hard. He could feel her trembling against his body. He wrapped his arms around her small body placing his chin on her head. His stomach leaped as he felt her warmth all over his being. He closed his eyes and fought to keep the tears back that were prying to get out. She smelled to good... her hair... it smelled like flowers.

"Thank you for every thing." She whispered.

The guard looked at the girl and then at the officer as the young woman pulled away from him slowly.

"I'm sorry Alexia... time's up."

Lexi shook her head and let the officer take her by the arm and place the metal cuffs on her wrists and wrap them around her back. She looked down as the officer looked slowly back at her a knot forming in the back of his throat. The pain struck him hard as they lead her away from him.

"Please don't forget me." She stated as she walked out the door and down the hall. She stopped in front of the glass window looking back. She was then moved along by the officer.

"I won't." Hanson replied in a whisper. His heart sank as he watched his Lexi lead down the hall and back into the lions den.

Please let me know what you think.