Promise To Love Me, Even When You Hate Me.

Chapter 23.

Dylan lay on the couch watching Grey's Anatomy, he sighed, his favourite show now reminded him of happy times he'd rather forget. Reason jumped up onto his lap and started to whine, he pulled her close and gave her a cuddle.

"Sorry, cutie, I can't take you for a walk..."

He smiled as she spun round in a circle settling into his lap making herself comfortable, it was like she had sensed he needed some love. He turned his attention back to the TV.

Meredith voiceover: Every cell in the human body regenerates on average every seven years. Like snakes, in our own way we shed our skin. Biologically we are brand new people. We may look the same, we probably do, the change isn't visible, at least not in most of us, but we are all changed, completely, forever.

He let out a grunt and stroked the top of Reason's head.

"7 years to be a brand new person, huh?"

2Dads and Frankie walked in the door, Dutchy quickly changed the channel.

2Dads plonked himself down next to him and opened the pizza box.

"Bought your favourite, meat lovers with pineapple."

"Thanks..."

Dutchy stared blankly at the TV barely acknowledging him. 2Dads nudged him and handed him a slice, he glanced at him out the corner of his eye.

"So, you okay?"

Dutchy took the slice from him and said nothing, 2Dads winced realising it was a stupid question.

"Ah, yeah, sorry. So, umm, everyone says hi."

Dutchy chucked the pizza back into the box and leaned back on the couch focusing back on the TV.

"Why aren't they here then, saying it to my face?"

2Dads looked over to Frankie for help, he wasn't expecting such a cold reception, she gave him a slight nod encouraging him to continue.

"C'mon mate, they didn't want to overwhelm you."

"More like they didn't know what to say."

"Yeah, well, exactly. People never know what to say when a horrible thing happens."

Dutchy let out a hiss as he changed the channel.

"Things..."

"Huh?!"

Dutchy whipped his head around making eye contact with 2Dads.

"Horrible things, plural, Kate's dead, 2Dads, and I'm about to go to jail for it."

"Dutchy, don't be stupid!"

Dutchy stood from the couch and paced the room, he was sick of everyone sugar coating everything.

"2Dads, they have a gun, with my prints on it, someone heard us arguing and..."

"But you didn't do it?"

Dutchy spun round confused at his tone.

"That sounded more like a question than a statement."

2Dads lept up from the couch and grabbed his arm knowing full well what he was trying to do.

"Don't push us away, Dutchy."

He shrugged off his grip and headed to his bedroom.

"I think you should go..."

Frankie approached 2Dads and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"He'll come round, dear."

The next morning Lisa sat at the kitchen bench eating her breakfast and reading the paper. There was a knock on the door, Shaun's brow furrowed as she swung open the door.

"Ah, hi... what are you doing here?"

"I'm umm, staying here for a bit..."

Shaun tried not to look surprised as he entered the house.

"That's, umm, unexpected…"

Lisa wrinkled her face, Shaun laughed at her expression and sat at the bench and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Well, last time I saw you guys you were at each other's throats..."

She sat down beside him and fiddled with the newspaper.

"Well, we talked..."

Shaun picked up his mug and took a sip trying to hide his sceptical expression.

"Is that all?"

Lisa eyes widened and shot up to meet his.

"Yes, just talked…"

He laughed at her reaction and shook his head.

"Actually, I owe him fifty bucks. I told him there was no way you'd go away with him."

"Well, I wasn't gonna turn down a trip to Hawaii…"

There was an awkward pause in the conversation, Shaun didn't want to pry but she was like a daughter to him.

"So, you guys are... umm..."

Shaun waited for Lisa to finish his sentence, she hesitated, she had no idea what they were.

"I don't know, I guess I realised he was only the way he was because he loved me…"

Shaun rolled his eyes as he picked up a piece of her toast.

"Loved? I think you mean, loves, present tense."

She glared back at him indicating she didn't want to talk about it, Shaun's eyes darted around the room trying to think of a way to change the subject.

"Anyway, umm, now you're back…"

Lisa held up her hands to pause the conversation.

"Before you start with the work talk, I wanna start with the work talk…"

Shaun re-positioned himself on a stool and placed his cup on the bench giving her his full attention.

"This ought to be good."

Lisa spun her cup around in her hands trying to work up the courage to say what her heart wanted.

"I, I umm, I want out…"

She cringed, it wasn't exactly delicate, but it was the truth, Shaun flinched nearly sending his cup flying.

"What? Last time you mentioned it I thought you were joking."

"Yeah, I wasn't one hundred percent sure until I said it right now, but yeah, I am, I want a life."

Again, he didn't want to make it any harder on her but he knew the reason she joined and how much it meant to her.

"But what about your legacy to your parents, isn't this what you wanted to do for them?"

"Yeah, but I'm sure they'd want me to be happy doing it."

Shaun hesitated for a moment tilting his head.

"You're not happy?"

"Well, I love my job but..."

He wrinkled his face unintentionally, if she loved it, then what was the issue? A light bulb went off in his mind.

"Oh…"

His response confused her, she whacked him on the arm.

"What?"

"I didn't say anything…"

"No, but your face did..."

"Ignore me, it's your life..."

"Yeah, it is, anyway, so, if my case is wrapped up…"

"Ah, as far as I know, sorry I've been MIA, another case come up, so I left Warren to clean yours up."

"Well then, I'm officially giving you my 2 week's notice."

He grasped her arm, he knew she was in a fragile state and didn't want her to make any decisions she'd later regret.

"Lis, just hang on, don't you want to have another job first? Why don't you just transfer for now, I'm sure we can get you a desk job?"

She knew he was right, it was stupid to leave without another position. She had a lot of things thanks to her job, cheap rent and lots of living allowances, she wouldn't be able to afford a real life with no job.

"Yeah, okay, I'm giving you my notice from undercover work then…"

He gave her a single nod and finished his coffee.

"Okay, well if I've learned anything by you, it's that I'm not going to win an argument with you."

Lisa smiled satisfied and rose from her stool.

"Good call…"

Warren walked down the stairs and flinched seeing Shaun.

"Boss, what are you doing here?"

"Just checking in, was actually going to see how the case ended up…"

"Yeah, case closed, no dramas!"

Lisa raised her hand, they both looked at her and laughed.

"But what about the calls from the police station?"

Warren shrugged and walked into the kitchen.

"Oh, yeah that was fine, just tying up loose ends you know… we haven't killed you before so we needed to make sure it was all done and dusted."

Warren put on a smile and grabbed a cup and poured himself a coffee, Shaun cleared his throat and headed for the door.

"Right, well, umm, have you broken the news to Warren?'

Lisa scowled in his direction, Shaun laughed and made a quick exit. Warren sat next to Lisa and exhaled.

"What have you done?"

Lisa didn't want to discuss it, she knew he was going to try to talk her out of it. She knew he only wanted the best for her, but she had made up her mind. She scurried off to her room and shut the door, letting out a sigh she flopped onto the bed.

She tossed and turned unable to get herself comfortable, settling on her back she stared at the ceiling and let out a frustrated growl. Her mind was a mess, her reasons for leaving were all true, but she wondered if she wanted those things because Dutchy had inspired her. She didn't want to lead Warren on again, but maybe this time she was ready to accept love. Previously, she couldn't let herself be happy because she was grieving, but now she felt difference, maybe Dutchy had awoken her feelings. Either way, she knew that her parents would have wanted her to be happy and move on.

She lay there for what felt like hours thinking about her future, she knew she wasn't going to have one by closing herself off. Taking a deep breath in she rolled off the bed and joined Warren on the couch.

"Everything okay?"

She nodded and shifted closer.

"I've been thinking…"

"Uh oh…"

A large grin came over his face as she playfully punched his arm.

"You still, I mean, we…"

"McDonald, just spit it out…"

Lisa closed her eyes and took a deep breath in.

"Maybe we could give it another go?"

A small smile crept across his face as he tilted his head unsure that he heard her correctly.

"Really?"

"Yup, but, slow, okay?"

His eyes widened and placed his hands on her hips, picking her up he swung her around, she let out a squeal.

"Hey! I'm still sore from where you shot me!"

He placed her back on the floor and laughed.

"What a story to tell the kids, huh? When Daddy shot Mummy?"

Lisa froze for a moment, he was already jumping in, moving too fast.

"Warren..."

He held up his hands in defence.

"I'm joking!"

Lisa's eyes narrowed as she playfully hit him on the shoulder.

Dutchy sat on the couch watching TV, he hadn't moved all day. Frankie sat next to him and snatched the remote from his hands.

"C'mon, get up, I can't stand seeing you like this."

He ignored his turning his body away from her, she let out a grunt and grabbed his shoulder, he spun round, tears in his eyes.

"What am I supposed to do? I can't go to work, I can't go anywhere, I'm stuck here, waiting to go to jail!"

Frankie let out a growl as she rose to her feet and walked away before she said something stupid. She grit her teeth and turned back to face him.

"Do you want me to go get more of your stuff?"

Dutchy knew her was taking his anger out on the wrong person, he let out a sigh and stood close to her.

"Frankie, I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, you're under a lot of pressure."

Frankie returned with 2 bags of his belongings, she plonked one next to him on the couch and walked over to the mantle. Dutchy stood to see what she was doing, she placed photo frames on the mantlepiece. His eyes scanned the photos one by one, a small smile crept across his face until he came to the last one, it was a photo of him and Kate.

"Really?"

She straightened the frame and walked away.

"Yes..."

Before he could respond his phone rang.

"Hello? Yes, okay, 10am, I'll be out the front."

He hung up the phone and flopped back on to the couch.

"My arraignment is tomorrow."

"What does that mean?"

"It's where I officially enter my plea..."

Frankie shook her head and let out a huff.

"I don't know how they're doing this!"

Dutchy shrugged, he didn't have the energy to defend himself.

"Well... they are..."

The next morning Dutchy nervously sat in the courtroom, his knee bounced up and down incessantly. He swallowed hard as the judge entered the room and stood from hi chair.

"Mr Mulholland you are being charged with the murder of Kate McGregor, how do you plea?"

For a split second he thought about changing his answer, then it would all be over, but then his life would be over, either way, he had lost.

"Mr Mulholland?"

"Not guilty, your honour."

The judge hesitated for a moment and looked at the paperwork in front of him.

"Right, are we prepared to start this trial in three days?"

A "Yes, your honour" came from both lawyers.

"Right, see you in 3 days..."

Dutchy exited the courtroom with his lawyer, the crew stood off to the side waiting for him. He glanced up and saw their troubled expression, he couldn't face them, he turned and exited the building. Frankie approached the group.

"Sorry guys, he's just, you know how he can be. I'll keep you updated."

She placed a hand on 2Dads shoulder who was looking particularly disheartened.

"Don't take it personally, love."

Lisa stood at the doorway of Warren's bedroom and tapped on the door frame. Warren looked up from the book he was reading and smiled. Lisa giggled and plonked herself on the bed next to him.

"You read?"

He scoffed as he put down the book.

"What's up? You scared of the dark?"

"Yeah, sure, nah, just wanted some company."

"Yeah right, you just wanted to see me naked…"

She rolled her eyes and shoved him.

"I just forgot how nice it was to have company, you know. I don't want to go jumping back into this but it's hard when you've got history…"

Warren wrapped his arm around her.

"It's okay, there aren't any rules, I mean, we're adults, we can sleep in the same bed right?"

"Yeah, I guess…"

She lay he head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

A couple of hours later Lisa was asleep, Warren was still wide awake, his mind filled with regret. He was finally getting what he wanted, and he was realising he didn't need to do awful things to get it. He slowly removed himself from the bed and crept out of the room. He removed his phone from his pocket and dialled a number.

"Harris, it's Delaney, yeah, we need to call it off... what do you mean you can't?… Well take the case back from Summerside!… Okay, we'll make it disappear then… I'll figure something out, I'll call you tomorrow!"

He ended the call and gripped the phone in his hand, kicking the wall he let out a aggravated grunt. Lisa had heard the muffled voice and opened the bedroom door.

"What are you yelling at?"

"Oh, umm, sorry, I had a cramp, and I was trying to walk it off."

"Right..."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led her back into the bedroom.

"Well, if you wouldn't take up three quarters of the bed!"

End Chapter 23