"Excuse us" Beca said to Luke as she attempted to pull Chloe's arm.
"What's the rush Lieutenant?" Luke asked never taking his eyes off Chloe.
"Get out of the way Luke." Beca said quickly.
"I haven't seen you in a while Chloe. How have you been?" Luke asked the redhead.
"Fine thank you." Chloe answered quickly.
"Luke" Beca said loudly finally earning his eyes on her. "Move."
"How do you explain to the tax payers of Hidden Hills that the firefighters who are paid to protect them are helpless to stop a serial arsonist? An arsonist that is targeting the fire department and putting innocent lives in danger by doing so?" He asked loudly. "Five fires and no suspects but the death toll keeps rising."
Beca squinted her eyes internally pleading with herself not to take the bait.
"No comment Lieutenant?" He mocked. "Or is it that the department doesn't comment on on-going investigations?"
Beca stood her ground silently.
"What's the matter Beca? Cat got your tongue."
"Leave her alone Luke." Chloe said as she squeezed Beca's hand hoping to comfort her.
"So you two are like a thing now?" He questioned as he looked between them. "I didn't think you had it in you to get a girl this hot." He said peering down at Beca before turning to Chloe. "And I must say, I wouldn't have guessed in a million years that you were a dyke. I mean" he grinned at Chloe, "Not with how much you like dick."
Beca dropped Chloe's hand quickly and surged forward for the tall man. This time Luke was ready for the attack. He grabbed Beca by the shoulders and easily tossed her against the wall. Beca winced as she landed hard on her left side. She surged forward for Luke again this time quick enough to grab him by the shoulders. Beca pulled down as hard as she could on him as she raised her left knee straight up. She felt her knee cap hit him in the stomach as he crumpled in front of her releasing the air in his lungs loudly with a grunt. Luke stood quickly and swung his right hand through the air making contact with Beca's face sending her to the ground.
Hospital security grabbed Luke by his shoulder's forcing him backwards as Chloe knelt down by Beca who was laying in the fetal position on the floor.
"Oh my God Beca are you okay?" She asked frantically as her hands hovered over Beca afraid that if she touched her she would hurt her.
"Let me go. She started it. Fucking let go of me." Luke yelled as he struggled against the two security guards.
Beca pushed herself up from the ground by extending her arms. She pushed Chloe's helpful hands off of her as she climbed to her feet. Blood trickled out of the left side of Beca's lip. She could taste it in her mouth as she walked to Luke who still stood in the officer's grasp.
"Leave her alone." Beca demanded refusing to be intimidated by Luke.
Chloe followed quickly behind Beca as she walked past Luke and the officers. Just as Chloe passed by the tall blonde reporter he puckered his lips shooting a kiss in her direction. She refused to acknowledge his action and continued quickly after Beca catching up to her just as she made it outside the hospital.
Beca found the nearest patch of grass and spit all the liquid that had accumulated in her mouth. Most of it was red as it hit the ground in a heavy clump of blood and saliva.
"Babe" Chloe called. "Are you okay?"
Beca turned towards the worried teacher. She held out her hand for Chloe who took it instantly.
A couple hours later after the Chinese take-out they picked up for dinner had been eaten, Beca sat at her dining table nursing a beer out of the side of her mouth that wasn't busted open. His words ran through her head on repeat and as much as she wanted to ignore him she couldn't. She was stewing in anger. Why couldn't they figure out who was doing this? What did they possibly have against the fire department and possibly against her? She still hadn't given up on the theory that the arsonist was targeting her.
"Hey" Chloe said quietly as she emerged from Beca's bedroom in an oversized t-shirt towel drying her hair.
Beca didn't seem to notice her. Or hear her.
"Becs?" Chloe said a little louder.
"Yeah?" Beca answered.
"What are you thinking about?" Chloe asked sitting in the chair next to Beca.
"What Luke said." Beca answered honestly.
Chloe cringed. "Which part?" She asked hesitantly.
"Not that part." Beca replied side eyeing the redhead.
"I'm sorry he said that." Chloe apologized for the hundredth time since she arrived at Beca's. "I'm sorry that he can hold that over me and use it to hurt you."
"It's fine Chloe." Beca sighed. "I was thinking about what he said about the arsonist and how we can't seem to stop him."
Chloe nodded softly, listening carefully.
"He's right. Innocent people are in danger because of us. Because of me." Beca said lifting the bottle to her lips once again.
"Why because of you?" Chloe asked.
Beca shrugged. "Just a hunch." She stood from the table and tossed her empty beer bottle in the trash can. "I'm going to go shower."
Chloe stood from the table and followed Beca back to the bedroom. "Why because of you?" She asked again as Beca undressed and quickly got in the shower. She pushed herself up to sit on the counter top facing the shower while she brushed the tangles out of her hair with a comb.
Beca let the water rain down on her head and down her body. She heard Chloe ask again. "I have to go back to the warehouse site tomorrow." Beca said loudly over the sound of pounding water.
Chloe sat up straight. "Why? I thought you were there twice today?"
"Gail wants to run through the scenario we are working on." Beca answered. "We're going to try to re-create the device we think we found and see if it has a similar burn pattern and outcome. Chief will be there and I'm going to ask him if he'll bring me back early." She knew it was a long shot but following Gail around all day made her want to be back at the house with her brothers more than ever.
"Can he do that?" Chloe asked nervously. "And it's Gail now?"
"He can do whatever he wants. He's the Chief." Beca answered. She needed to be back fighting fires. "After the investigation is over and Gail goes back to LA, I can't sit at home doing nothing. And it's Gail because her last night is absolutely ridiculous." Beca answered.
"But maybe nothing would be good for you for a while." Chloe argued ignoring the jealously she knew was irrational when Beca referred to the woman by her first name.
"I've never been good at doing nothing Chloe." Beca said as the water ran down her body. "I need to be back at work."
"Can't you just give it a couple of days Beca? You're body still needs to heal." Chloe tried to argue reasonably. "Just take a couple days to rest."
"I've been off for almost a week Chloe. I'm rested. I'm more rested than I've ever been." Beca replied as she picked up her loofah and began washing her body.
"I was actually thinking that maybe we could get away. For a long weekend or something." Chloe suggested. "Maybe we could drive down the coast." Chloe hoped that Beca would bite on the offer. "I was thinking that I could get a couple days off next week. Maybe leave Friday after school and come back on Tuesday? I can get some time off and we could take a trip."
"Um" Beca mumbled. "It's not the best time right now Chlo. Not with everything going on." Beca replied. "I want to be around if something happens. But maybe after all this is over we can."
Chloe sat quietly on the counter. She watched Beca's silhouette through the frosted glass. "What did you mean?" She asked softly. She knew Beca heard her because her actions paused for a quick second.
"What are you talking about?" Beca asked as she let the water rinse her body turning carefully with the painful burns on her left side.
"You said because of you. What did you mean by that?" Chloe asked.
"It's just a theory I have. About the fires. About the arsonist." Beca replied simply.
"Okay. So tell me your theory." Chloe replied.
Beca shut off the water. She let the drops fall from her body as she tried to decide if she should tell Chloe or not.
"Whatever it is, I'd like to know." Chloe added softly.
Beca closed her eyes and took a breath. "I've been trying to figure out why all of this is happening and what this person could possibly be after."
"And?" Chloe questioned.
Beca pushed up the shower door and reached for a towel that was hanging nearby. She wrapped it around her body and stepped out. "I'm not sure that this person isn't targeting me."
The shock on Chloe's face was evident. Beca's words repeated in her head before she could figure out how to reply.
"I don" She stumbled over her words as Beca walked past her. "I don't understand. Why?" She jumped off the counter and followed Beca back into the bedroom. "Why would you think that Beca?"
Beca pulled on a pair of sleep shorts. "They all kind of line up that way. Only happening on my shifts. Happening in my zones. Happening in my areas of responsibility. Happening just feet from the bar I was literally sitting at 5 minutes before." She answered.
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked her voice shaking with fear.
"No" Beca sighed. "I'm not. It's just a theory." Beca answered as she pulled a tank top over her head. "But there haven't been any fire's since I've been off shift except for 10-70. And if I go back and it happens again then I'll know."
Chloe stood motionless in the bedroom as Beca moved around her preparing for bed. Her head was spinning. A few days ago she thought Beca would be out of harm's way for a while. And now her girlfriend was going to ask to have her suspension lifted. She was going to ask to go back to work where she thought someone was deliberately targeting her. To hurt her. To kill her.
Beca watched Chloe closely as she performed her nightly routine. "How was Tom?" She asked trying to snap Chloe out of her daze.
"Um" Chloe mumbled. Her eyebrows furrowed. "I met his grandparents." Chloe whispered. "They uh, told me that" her voice was getting louder as she continued to speak, "the doctors are going to try to wake him up tomorrow. But they don't know what to expect yet."
"His grandparents?" Beca asked as stopping the motion of brushing her teeth but not pulling the toothbrush out of her mouth.
"Yeah. They were his emergency contacts that I got from the school. Apparently his mom died when he was young." Chloe answered recalling what Hank told her earlier.
Beca nodded as she went back to brushing her teeth. She winced as a bit of toothpaste made it into the crack on her lip but carefully licked it off with her tongue.
"I hope he's okay." She replied after she spit in the sink. Beca turned off the water and made her way to Chloe who was still standing in her bedroom. Beca wrapped her arms around the redhead's waist. "Are you going to visit him tomorrow?" She asked softly as she kissed Chloe's neck gently.
"Probably." Chloe replied. She snaked her arms around Beca's shoulders loosely.
Beca tightened her hold on Chloe. "Want to go to bed?" She asked.
Chloe nodded.
They climbed into bed and turned out the lights. Chloe was having trouble shutting her mind off. The thoughts of Beca going back to work flooded her brain. Beca's theory that someone was after her was freaking her out. She felt Beca move up against her, pressing their bodies together tightly.
"It's going to be okay" Beca whispered. She knew Chloe was struggling. She could see it in her eyes. Felt it in her ridged body language. "I promise."
Chloe's body instantly relaxed when Beca held her. Her words began to push away the fear. The promise whispered in the night were now the words on repeat in her brain. Chloe turned her head around and reached for the back of Beca's head. She pressed her mouth to the right side of Beca's lips. She was going to hold her to that promise. She broke the kiss and turned back around and settled into the mattress.
"I hope Tom's okay" Beca whispered.
"Me too" Chloe agreed.
"What happened to Tom's dad?" Beca asked as her body began to relax.
"Um. I don't know" Chloe answered. She hadn't thought to ask. Hank only offered information about his mother. She felt Beca nod slightly behind her. "His grandpa just said that his mom died when he was young and then he was sent to live with them in Topeka." Chloe yawned.
Beca felt her body slipping away. Relaxing. Chloe was warm against her. She held her girlfriend tight in her arms committing her body to memory. She felt Chloe's breath even out as she fell asleep. Beca's eyes shot open quickly. "Kansas?" She whispered.
XxXxXx
Beca stood beside Chief Smith and Investigator Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberg watching the warehouse smolder. They had successfully recreated the incendiary device they believed was responsible for starting this fire and possibly the fire at 10-70. Approximately 9 minutes ago Beca made her way out of the warehouse after smashing the light bulb with her heel starting the chemical reaction. At the first sign of smoke billowing from the abandoned warehouse, tall enough that it could be seen from a block away, Chief Smith called over to 72 recreating the alarm. The truck was in route as the building caught fire. This had to be it Beca thought. The warehouse was almost exactly how it was when they arrived on site a few weeks ago. Three minutes later Engine 72 pulled up to the warehouse. Beca watched as the crew filed out of the truck and prepared to put out the fire.
"Nice work you two." Chief Smith said turning towards Beca and the inspector.
"Well, I think my work here is done." Gail said proudly. "I'm 100% sure this was the same timing device that was used at the bar fire. Now all that's left to do is wait for forensics to test the pieces we discovered yesterday. I'll take the evidence back with me to LA to process in our lab."
"And that will take?" He asked.
"A week or so." She answered. Gail turned to Beca.
"It was a pleasure." She said extending her hand.
"Likewise ma'am" Beca returned. "Thank you for all of your help."
"Yes well all in a day's work I suppose. Good luck to the both of you." She wished Beca and the Chief. Gail smiled before turning to walk to her car.
"Think they will be able to pull prints off of it?" Beca asked Chief Smith as the firefighters began shooting water at the warehouse.
He sighed. "Of course. Everything else has been going our way."
"Sarcasm?" Beca teased. "Wow."
"What can I say? Maybe you're rubbing off on me." He teased.
"So. Chief" Beca said nervously. "I know I'm on restricted duty and everything. But I was hoping that you would lift my suspension so I can come back to work?" She asked.
"And why would I do that?" He asked.
"Because you miss me so much?" Beca said with a smile.
He fought against matching her smile. Sometimes she reminded him of his best friend so much that it was scary. He stood silent.
"I know I shouldn't have gone back in that building Chief" Beca sighed. "I disobeyed an order and I made Theo go with me putting my life and his in danger. But I'm a firefighter Chief. First and foremost. I've never made any bones about that. It's what I've always been and what I will always be."
"You don't know your boundaries Mitchell." He replied in a stern voice. "A leader has to lead by example and disobeying orders sets a very bad very dangerous example." He scolded. "I can't let that go unpunished Beca."
Beca's shoulders slumped.
"No matter how much I miss you." He added with a small smile.
"I understand Chief." She replied sadly.
"But" He paused thinking. "Maybe 20 days was excessive." He replied.
Beca's head snapped in his direction.
"Report Monday." Chief Smith said with authority.
"Really?" Beca asked quickly. Her eyes lighting up like a kid a Christmas.
He nodded affirmatively. "With Swanson out we are a little short anyway."
Beca's smile faded quickly.
"I don't want to seem ungrateful Chief because I am but could I report Wednesday?" She asked tentatively. Chloe's blue eyes from last night fresh in her mind.
Chief Smith turned to look at her questioningly.
"I'm kind of seeing someone." Beca admitted. He wasn't her father but he was her father's best friend and his eye's flashed something that looked like happiness and she felt like she was telling her dad about her girlfriend. "She wanted to go away this weekend and I'd really like to be able to do that with her."
"And just who is this girl?" He asked.
"She's a teacher at Hidden Hills actually." Beca said.
Chief Smith's eyebrows lifted high.
"Yeah I know right." Beca smiled. "I haven't spoken to my mom about it but I think Chloe has. Her name is Chloe." Beca confirmed. "And she's great. I really like her."
"I'm happy for you Beca." He said gently.
"Thank you sir" Beca replied. "So Wednesday?" She wanted to confirm.
"Affirmative Mitchell" He said straightening back up into Chief mode.
"Thank you sir" Beca said again as she looked back to the scene of the now extinguished fire.
"Good work here Mitchell" Chief congratulated.
She nodded as she began to step away towards her Jeep.
"And Beca" He called out.
Beca stopped and turned.
"Maybe bring Chloe by sometime? I'd really like to meet her." He added with a fatherly tone.
Beca nodded and climbed in her Jeep with a smile just as her phone rang loudly.
XxXxXx
It was late in the afternoon and Chloe was just sitting down at her desk for the last class of the day which happened to be her planning period today. She pulled her cell phone from her bag and read through a couple of messages. One from her mom checking with her and showing her the picture of a new puppy they just got and one from Beca. She read the text out loud to herself quietly. "Picking up Jesse at the hospital. Call me when you're finished seeing Tom. I have something to tell you." Chloe's brows furrowed. What could Beca need to tell her? She pulled up her favorites list and called her best friend.
"Hey Chlo." Aubrey answered immediately.
"Hey. Are you busy?" Chloe asked.
"No, I'm actually on a little break. What's up?" Aubrey asked.
"Do you happen to know if there is any change in Tom's status today?"
"Tom?" Aubrey asked. "The teacher from your work right?"
"Yeah. Tom Evans." Chloe clarified.
Chloe could hear Aubrey typing quickly. "Um, no and if anything has changed it hasn't been updated in the computer yet." Aubrey answered.
"Oh" Chloe said sadly.
Aubrey rolled her eyes. She knew what was coming next but waited for Chloe to ask before she offered.
"Could you like maybe go check on him or something?" Chloe asked quietly. "I saw him yesterday and if there isn't a change then I don't really need to come by the hospital today. But you know if it's too much trouble then don't worry about it." Chloe said quickly.
"It's no trouble Chlo. I know Michelle the ICU nurse. I'll go up there and I'll let you know okay?" Aubrey replied.
"Thanks Bree." Chloe smiled.
XxXxXx
"How freaking long does it take to get out of here?" Jesse asked frustrated.
"Forever dude." Beca replied as she sat leaning back in the chair with her head resting back looking up at the ceiling and her hands folded cross her stomach. "Trust me. I know."
"So are you gonna tell me what happened to your face?" Jesse asked for at least the third time since Beca had arrived at his room over an hour ago.
"Just had a run in with the past. Nothing important." Beca answered vaguely. She didn't need a lecture from him about fighting. Again.
"Nothing important. Right" He huffed. Jesse stopped pacing and plopped down in the chair on the opposite side of the hospital room from his best friend. "So tell me why you look so fucking peaceful right now."
Beca shrugged as a small smile played on her lips.
"Okay. Seriously." He said loudly. "You don't even smile and yet you can barely keep yourself from beaming so, what's up?" He asked.
"Chloe asked me to go away with her this weekend." Beca didn't move her head but she brought her eye's down to look at him.
"And I assume by your face that you're going?" He asked.
"Yeah." Beca confirmed. "She doesn't know yet but I'm gonna surprise her. I was thinking of going over to the school and asking Evelyn if she'll give Chloe Thursday and Friday off so we can take a little longer than Chloe had planned."
Jesse smirked.
"What?" Beca asked.
"It looks good on you." He said.
"What does?"
"Love." He stated.
Beca raised her head to argue when she heard the sound of then overhead intercom buzz followed by a code being read by a distressed voice. "Code Green. 4th floor. Hospital on lockdown. Shelter in place. Code Green. 4th floor. Hospital on lockdown. Shelter in place."
XxXxXx
Five minutes later Chloe's phone rang. She saw Aubrey's name and picture on the small screen and picked it up quickly. "Hey Bree that was fast."
"Chloe" Aubrey whispered shakily.
"Bree?" Chloe asked. "Aubrey what's wrong?" She could hear Aubrey's muffled crying through the phone.
"I don't know what's going to happen." Aubrey whispered through tears.
"Aubrey where are you?" Chloe asked loudly as she stood from her desk.
"I came to check on Tom and Michelle" Aubrey's voice cracked. "Michelle is dead."
"What" Chloe asked loudly. The room was spinning. "Bree where are you?"
"I'm hiding." Aubrey whispered. "I came up to check on Tom like you asked and the floor was empty. Then I heard a gunshot and I saw Michelle hit the ground." Aubrey placed her hand over her mouth to stifle her cry. "They called a code and this hospital is on lock down but you're the only one who knows I'm up here."
"Okay. Hang up and call the cops Bree. Tell them where you are." Chloe instructed. "And don't move. Okay? Okay Aubrey?" Chloe asked frantically.
"Okay" Aubrey mumbled. "Chloe. If I" Aubrey cried.
"No Bree. You'll be okay. Call the cops and tell them where you are." Chloe interrupted her best friend unwilling to hear what Aubrey was going to say.
"Okay. Okay." Aubrey replied through tears.
"Do it now" Chloe said hanging up on Aubrey.
Her hand flew over her mouth as she tried to suppress her sob as her mind raced. She fumbled with her phone as she looked for the contact.
XxXxXx
"Lockdown?" Jesse asked.
Beca felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and answered. "Hey Chlo."
"Beca" Chloe said panicked.
"What's wrong?" Beca said as she sat up straight.
"Aubrey." Was all Chloe could say as she began crying again.
"What about Aubrey" Beca asked earning a look from Jesse.
"Something's happened at the hospital. She said that someone is dead." Chloe was frantic.
"Chloe. Take a breath baby please." Beca said calmly as she stood from the chair. She walked over to Jesse's hospital room door and looked through the small window to the hallway. "What's going on?"
"There's been a shooting or something in the hospital. Michelle is dead." Chloe cried still not making much sense to the brunette.
"Who is Michelle? And how do you know?" Beca asked as she walked away from the door and back towards Jesse who was standing in the middle of the room. She pulled the phone from her ear and held it in her hand placing the call on speaker.
"Michelle is the nurse on the ICU floor. Bree called me because I asked her to go check on Tom for me." Chloe took a deep breath as she ran through the school with her bag in hand. "She said when she got up there she heard a shot and then saw Michelle on the floor. Beca I don't know what to do. I told Aubrey to call the cops and tell them where she was and to not move. She said she would but I'm going there now so I can" She paused. "I don't know what I can do but"
"Chloe I'm at the hospital right now with Jesse." Beca replied.
Chloe took three more hard steps before coming to a stop.
AN: Gulp...
Sup guys... I'm feeling so much better just in time for 4th of July weekend! YAY! I'm really going to try and post on Sunday but in all honesty I may miss it. If I do, I promise to make it up to you as soon as possible. Leave me your comments on what the heck is about to happen. And have a happy and safe holiday weekend 'merica!