The three musketeers

To Sofia's surprise there was another envelope in her locker when she finished shift this morning. Her secret writer seemed to have a flash. Open it here or at home? Here, giving her something to think about on her way home. She ripped the envelope open and gasped for air. Was she asleep or was this for real? This wasn't a sheet of papers, this was another ticket. Another ticket to a P!nk concert. This time not in Vegas, it was in Washington D.C., the last concert of her tour. Vegas opened it, Washington closed it. And she got a ticket.

"Hey, are you free for breakfast?" Sara's head popped up around the corner.

"Uhm sure." For Sara, she was free for everything. Breakfast, lunch, dinner…they didn't have dinner together for a while. Only the two of them.

"Perfect, Greg's waiting. Got a new love letter?"

"I wish I had a love letter, can't remember the last time I got one, really sad."

"You want a love letter from a colleague? Sounds like you're asking for trouble and complications."

"My life is trouble and complicated, one more doesn't change a thing. Plus, some love in my life…would be nice. Somebody who wants me instead of hating me. I mean, I lost my parents for a relationship I don't have…so I should get myself a girlfriend, show my parents how horrible I am, but at least have somebody, who holds me tight at night…day…I miss being in somebody's arms." She checked if somebody else than Sara heard her words. What was she thinking, saying these things out loud here at work? With dozen of cop ears around?

"Sounds like you need a chocolate breakfast again." Sara squeezed her hand. "Come on, lets go out of here, too many people are around, you don't want them know everything about your private life." The brunette pulled her out of the room. She was right, this wasn't the right place and of course Sara worried about privacy.

Greg was already in the diner, waiting for them. So were three muffins.

"Hi, I thought I order some muffins as a starter. Apparently women always like muffins."

"Chocolate cookies muffins, you're the best." Sofia kissed his cheek.

"Thanks…I buy them more often when I get kissed for it. Sara, didn't you forget to kiss me?"

"I'm not that excited to have a chocolate cookie muffin, sorry."

"She pretends to be hard and not caring, but when we were in a movie last night, she kissed my cheek because I cried."

"You cried in a movie?" Actually, what Sofia really wanted to ask was: why are you and Sara in a movie? Did you have a date? Was there something going on between Greg and Sara? Something Sofia didn't know of? A relationship, they kept as a secret. Was the secret text message writer gone because of Greg? Pain increased, moved from her lower guts to her heart. Did she lose Sara? Even when Greg was the best possibility to lose Sara to, it hurt. The thought hurt.

"Yeah, we went to a cool sci-fiction movie and one part was really sad…or I'm a pussy."

"All men cried when the robot died, he built all the cool cars." Sara chuckled.

"We get so soft when it comes to cars. The next time we watch a romance, you can cry on my shoulder and I comfort you're the whole night."

"In your dreams, Greggo. Don't make it sound like we had a date, we were out to watch a movie. Everything else was in your mind."

Sara had no idea how happy she made Sofia, telling her the truth. No date, no romance. Only a night out like friends did sometimes. Better, much better.

"I liked the pictures in my mind more than the movie."

"Of course, little dreamer. So, what kind of song text did you get tonight?" Sara looked at Sofia. "I assume that was the love letter you found in your locker."

"Oh, yes…no song text, much better. I got another ticket."

"P!nk comes back to Vegas?"

"You got another ticket?" Greg's jaw almost dropped down on the table.

"I got a ticket for her show in Washington, the last concert of her tour. Isn't that great? I mean, it's in Washington, I've no idea how to get there, if it makes more sense to sell it and buy a ticket for Vegas the next time she's here. Then again, it's the last night of the tour, I bet it'll be a special concert."

"I don't believe you got another ticket. How is that possible? And why Washington?" Greg shook his head.

"Like I said, the last concert, a special concert. Whoever leaves these envelopes made me another, very expensive present."

"And that's why you should go." Sara said. "You're maxed on overtime anyway, ask for a week off, Jim will be happy to give it to you. Treat yourself, Sofia. You deserve it after the last weeks."

"Justice?" The blonde asked. She couldn't let her kitten stay alone for a week.

"There is no justice when you get two tickets and I get none." Greg complained.

"I'm talking about my kitten, the man in my house, Greggo. He is a smart cat, but he can't get his own food. Sara, could you…?"

"Sure, I take care of the tiger. When is the concert?"

"In two weeks."

"Oh…that might be a problem. I'm away for three nights in this time."

"Your secret dates out of town?" Greg grinned.

"None of your business. Sorry Sofia. Maybe Mister Gossip can look after Justice. He doesn't have to like him, only open the cans for him and make sure there's enough water. Do you think that's possible, Greg?"

"Sure, I can handle a cat. Don't waste your ticket, Sofia. Enjoy Washington, P!nk and get me an autograph."

"The last thing is difficult…okay, I go but not for a whole week. three nights, tops, I tend to two. Fly there early in the morning, have a few hours to look around, go to the concert at night, sleep in the next day, a few more hours for Washington and back to Vegas the next morning. I really don't want Justice to be alone a long time."

"Sounds like a solid plan and a few days away will be good for you." Sara smiled.

"Yeah…"

"I met your mother last night at my scene." The way Greg said these words made it clear, the meeting wasn't a nice one.

"What did she say?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? That's not a lot. Did you talk to her only about the case?" Somewhere deep inside her, Sofia hoped her mother asked questions about how she was, what she was doing. A little sign that she still cared, that there was a chance, they could get back together.

"Mostly."

"Mostly means, you also talked about private things."

"I tried." It was obvious Greg regretted he mentioned Sofia's mother. He didn't feel comfortable about this topic.

"But?"

"You don't want to hear this and I'm sorry I brought it up, should have not mention it." The thing was, when Sofia found out, her mother and Greg worked a case together, she had asked anyway and wanted an explanation, why he not mentioned it before.

"Tell me. Please."

"I told her, her daughter is missing her family and her only comment was…she doesn't have a daughter." His eyes were filled with sorrow when he said the last words. It hurt him saying them, hurt him to hurt Sofia.

The blonde swallowed a few times, tried to keep her face straight. Her mother didn't have a daughter. That was a statement, that explained exactly, what she thought and felt about Sofia. The blonde didn't exist anymore. She disappointed her, ruined the dreams she had for her daughter. Now she wasn't a part of their life anymore. It was good she never called her parents, they had ended the call as soon as she said a word.

"I'm sorry." Sara took Sofia's hand.

"I didn't expect anything else. Sure, it would have been nice to hear my mother say she misses me too, wants to see me, accepts my feelings, but…that's not her. I messed up, I blew it, I've to pay for it, live with the consequences."

"You didn't mess up, didn't blew and what she and your father do, makes them unfit being parents. You were honest, they punish you for something, you have no influence on. Makes me wonder how it can be that a cop prefers to live in a lie than know the truth. Not the best qualification to be a captain." Greg grumbled and pulled Sofia in his arms. "They're quite stupid, I hoped after a few days, weeks, their brains work again, looks like I was wrong."

"My mom is stubborn. Until I'm not married and pregnant I won't exist anymore."

"To us you exist and we're happy to have you around. And to somebody you're important enough to give you a ticket to P!nk. Hey, why don't we watch her Sydney concert on DVD tonight?"

"Sure, it's a great one. Sara?"

"Not exactly my music but I join you. The three musketeers have to be together, don't they?"

The three musketeers? That was a nice description of them. All for one, one for all. So far Sofia had the feeling they were all fighting for her, that she did not much for her friends and she hoped, she could give back to them, give them all the help and support, they gave her now, when they were in need.