Root laughed as Joss rolled her eyes and shifted on the bench to lean against the back wall. They were at the Black Cherry, celebrating the end of the week. She was sitting with Joss, debating about broadway musicals, while Sameen and Lionel sat across from them talking quietly. Root crossed her legs in front of her, thankful for the flexibility her pants gave her.
It had been an amazing week. In the three days since Sameen had moved in with her, Root had grown used to the change. It was so easy to spend time with their friends, or just alone together, and every morning, Root woke up tangled in Sameen despite the large bed. The relationship was somehow exciting and steady all at once.
It was Friday night now, and Root was happy that Sameen would be home all weekend. As much as she wanted to invite their friends over and make her apartment, their apartment, a place for the group to have a good time, she mostly wanted to lay in bed for days with Sameen, work on a project together, go out for lunch and make dinner together. Everything she had expected her relationship with John to be was now possible with Sameen.
She shook her head, pulling herself back to the present and smiled at Joss. "You wouldn't even go to watch Julie Andrews? I'd watch a million shows if she was the lead actress."
"I'm not interested in 'poor girl makes good' stories," Joss answered. "You make a good point, though."
They laughed and Root picked up her glass of beer, taking a sip. She was glad that Joss was finally taking a liking to her. These were her friends now, too, and drinking in a bar and talking about musicals was much preferable to stuffy dinner parties where she was just ignored. She hoped that one day she stopped comparing everything to the past, but right now, it was her only reference point and she liked to think about how happy her new life made her.
Joss took a drink, too, and looked across the booth to Sameen and Lionel. "What are you two talking about?"
Sameen glanced at Root, smiling, before turning to Joss. "I'm getting a promotion."
"A promotion?" Root echoed, grinning. "Out of the warehouse?"
"I finally convinced the higher-ups to let Shaw on the floor," Lionel said, playing with his can of Coke. "They normally want a person in the warehouse for at least six months, but I told them how skilled Shortstacks is and they made an exception."
Narrowing her eyes, Shaw glared at him. "I'll let the nickname slide because I'm grateful, but you're only going to get so many."
"Well," he snorted, "I better save them, then."
Root slid her beer across the table to Shaw, watching as she took a large gulp, finishing the glass. She shook it, making the last bit of foam swirl at the bottom, and climbed out of the booth, pushing her way through the Friday night crowd to the bar. Root watched as she disappeared between taller people and rested her arm on the table, looking at Lionel.
"That was really nice of you," she told him. "She's probably ecstatic."
"Probably," Lionel joked, grinning. "In her own, weirdass way."
Chuckling, Root nodded. Joss laid a hand on her arm, brushing her thumb over Root's bare wrist. Turning to her, Root pulled her arm away. It was still a lot to be so uncovered, and she wasn't sure she wanted anyone but Sameen touching her with that much familiarity.
Joss didn't seem offended. "How's it going with Shaw? I've noticed how good she smells now and I thank you."
Root laughed, pushing her hair from her face. "She complains, but I know she likes the rose soap. I think she likes smelling like me. If that's not too arrogant to say."
"It's definitely the truth!" Lionel grinned. "If she really hated it, she wouldn't constantly tell us that it was your soap and how she's bathing with you now."
Her cheeks warmed, and Root felt her heart warm, too. Even though she knew Sameen was happy with her, it was nice to know she was saying it out loud. Maybe she'd buy Sameen some hand lotion that smelled like roses. She'd be working on the line now and probably needed something to keep her hands healthy.
"Other than the regular bathing," Joss cut in, "is it going well? I'm sure it's a big change. It still seems impossible that she's moved in with a girlfriend."
Sameen had told them that they were girlfriends. The knowledge made Root's heart beat faster. She hadn't thought Sameen would tell anyone about their new title, but she was learning now that she did. It might just be with Lionel and Joss, but still. To know Sameen felt confident enough in their relationship to tell people, that she wanted to share details, made Root so happy.
"It's going great," Root answered, unable to stop a grin from spreading across her face. "She makes breakfast every morning and helps me with dinner in the evening. I think we've talked for hours every night. It's just… It feels like having a best friend, but even more than that. I think… Well, I think I could fall in love with her."
Joss sighed happily, her eyes sparkling. "That sounds fantastic. Honestly, that's the dream."
"I think she likes you a lot," Lionel offered. "I mean, she talks about you so much, it's getting annoying. Oh, she acts like she's complaining, but she's not. It's so weird."
Just then, Sameen appeared at the end of the table with two beers. "I got you your own beer. You keep letting me share, but you should have a whole glass for yourself. You're too nice. It's dumb."
Joss, Lionel, and Root laughed, making Sameen frown. She just dropped down into the booth and handed Root her glass. Taking it, Root winked at her, exaggerating the motion, and took a deep drink. Over the rim of the glass, she saw Sameen watching her with dark eyes.
"We're having a make-up game next week," Joss told the group. She smiled at Root. "You in?"
Shaking her head, Root put her glass down, swallowed her mouthful of beer, and held her hands up defensively. "No, thank you. I'll just watch."
"Probably for the best."
Shaw kicked Root under the table, snorting. "Your bruise is still fading from the last game. Maybe you should stay away altogether."
"And miss seeing my girl all dressed up in gear?" Root gasped. "I wouldn't miss it for the world!"
Lionel and Joss snickered at Shaw's annoyed glower. It was just a joke and Root just wrinkled her nose in response. She couldn't stop thinking about how easy everything was. She knew that on Monday she'd have to return to work and deal with Harold, but it didn't seem so scary anymore.
He wasn't as important to her as he used to be, and Root had some power over him, too. She was his best engineer and she knew his secret. If he tried anything, she'd let him know she had no qualms about telling everyone and quitting on the spot. Her relationship and friendships made her feel bolder.
She remembered Zoe and sighed. There was no way around telling her what had happened, if she didn't already know. Zoe would ask questions, express her disapproval, and probably give Root the cold shoulder. But she wasn't Root's only friend anymore, and Root would survive with her.
"What was that for?" Lionel asked.
Root frowned, picking up her glass. "What?"
"The forlorn sigh," he answered, pressing the back of his hand to his forehead like a swooning lady. "Why so sad?"
Reaching across the table with her free hand, Root pushed his shoulder lightly, smiling. "I'm not sad, dummy." She took a drink and leaned back against the wall again. "Just thinking about going back to work."
Shaw gave her a knowing look. "Need me to rough them up for you?"
"I'll help!" Joss cheered, lifting her glass and clinking it against Shaw's. "I love taking rich folk down a peg."
Root took several large gulps and set her glass down. "It's tempting," she joked, "but I can take care of myself. I just have to face them head on. Zoe will be so scandalized to see me wearing pants."
Joss snorted. "She's not as uptight as you think. A woman who is involved with the Italian mob isn't going to care that you're wearing pants. She might dislike you wearing them at work, but she won't be 'scandalized'."
"The mob?" Root repeated, shocked. "Zoe?"
"She takes money for them." Joss looked around the table. "You knew this, right?"
"We did," Shaw confirmed, dropping her chin into her hand. "I didn't know it was for the mob, though. Makes sense."
"'Makes sense'?" Root repeated again, still surprised. "I thought it was for… I don't know. I guess I didn't think too hard about it."
Lionel smirked. "It's not a big deal. My bosses pay protection money, too. They used to get robbed all the time before that."
Root blinked. She supposed it wasn't too weird. There had been a gang in Bishop who did the same thing, but it seemed more sinister to know that the mob was controlling the city. She'd lived there for almost two decades now and never knew how powerful they were. Of course, she hadn't been mingling with people who mingled with the mob.
"Huh," she said, shrugging. "I guess I just never thought about it before."
"You're one of the common folk now." Joss winked to let Root know she was kidding. "Finish your beer."
Root gave her a mock salute and chugged the last of her glass. The alcohol was definitely starting to affect her. It didn't matter if she got drunk. Shaw would make sure she got home safely and tuck her into bed. Maybe, if she did get drunk, Shaw would bathe her again.
A phone rang from behind the bar and Root watched Harper grin at someone before turning away. Shaw knocked her fists on the table and stood from the booth. She pushed herself onto her toes and looked toward the bathroom.
"Alright, I'm going to the ladies'."
She vanished into the crowd. Root finished the last of her drink and pushed the glass away. She was tired and they were planning to take a trip upstate over the weekend and spend a few days out of the city. They should go home, pack, and sleep early. It would be a long drive.
"I think we'll call it a night soon," Root told the others. "Things to do."
Lionel smirked at her. "Thank you for going home and not hogging the bathroom again."
"My pleasure," Root teased, smiling.
A loud clang made her look toward the bar and a second later, a flashing red light filled the room. Chaos erupted around them, people running in every direction. Joss and Lionel hopped out of the booth, gesturing sharply for Root to follow.
"It's a raid," Joss shouted over the noise of the crowd. "We have to go!"
Root's heart started pounding at the idea of getting arrested. She hadn't gotten in trouble like that since she was young and she didn't know how the police would treat homosexual prisoners. The reality of the situation, and all the warnings she'd received, suddenly came crashing down around her.
She tried to follow Joss and Lionel toward the front door, but a sharp elbow knocked her aside. The red flashes made it hard to focus on anything and the rush of the crowd in the small bar pushed her in the opposite direction. Deciding that getting outside in any direction was better than being arrested, she went with the flow toward the back door.
The bar's panic was infectious and she couldn't keep herself calm. They passed the bathroom, and she realized Shaw was probably still inside. Needing to make sure she was safe, Root started trying to fight against the crowd again, but she wasn't strong enough and she was pushed through the back door into the alley behind the bar.
The warm, June air made her start sweating immediately. She tried to take deep breaths and look around for somewhere to go. The others from the bar started running past her, toward the street. Before she could chase after them, a strong hand wrapped around her arm.
Turning towards it, she saw a grim looking police officer holding her in place. He started dragging her toward a police truck where several other people were already inside and handcuffed. She tugged against his grip, trying to walk backwards away from the truck. Going to jail wasn't on her list of ways to recapture her childhood.
The officer yanked her forward, making her stumble and almost fall. She glared at him, pulling her arm away with more force as she got her feet back under her. He just tossed her forward toward the truck and stood right behind her so she couldn't make a run for it. She sighed and begrudgingly accepted her fate.
Climbing into the back of the wagon, she counted the other people and saw no one she recognized. Part of her was relieved that Shaw wasn't among them, but another, larger, part wished that Shaw was there to comfort her.
The officer held out handcuffs and Root held out her hands. Once she was cuffed, the officer closed the doors. The car was quiet and Root stared down at the shiny metal around her wrists. She'd traded lace gloves for a different kind of ornament.
"You're new," a woman's voice said as the car began to move.
Root looked at the person in front of her and saw a dark-haired woman smiling at her. Root gave her a weak smile in return. "I am."
"Kara." She held out a hand. "Welcome to the real party."
Root shook her hand. "Thanks. I'm Root."
Kara raised an eyebrow and sat back against the wall of the police wagon. "Nice name. This your first time getting arrested? You look pretty nervous."
"No," Root answered, lifting both her hands to push her hair behind her ear. "It's been a while, though. It's my first time as a…" She trailed off, eyes dropping to the floor.
Kara snorted. "It's not too bad. Just punch them if they try anything. You have someone to call?"
Opening her mouth to answer, Root couldn't think of what to say. She would have called Shaw, but she didn't know if Shaw had made it out. She didn't know Joss' or Lionel's number. Maybe she could have called John, if this had happened a week ago, or even Harold, but now? There was no way.
"It doesn't matter," Root mumbled.
Kara gave her a knowing look, and leaned forward. "My advice? Get someone you can call next time. Oh, and carry enough cash for bail."
They spent the rest of the drive in silence. It gave Root enough time to think about what she was going to do after this. If homosexuals were treated this badly in the big city, what would it be like on the road? In more rural places? Would she and Shaw just be running from the law forever? What kind of life would that be?
She licked her lips, turning her hands over and looking at her palms. It would be worth it. There was no way she could live a boring life in the city with a man, and she didn't like being alone. Even if she and Shaw separated, Root would want friends she could confide in, who knew her for who she truly was. It wouldn't be so bad being a criminal if she was happy and living authentically.
Root smiled at the thought of a criminal life. She was at the forefront of her field. It wouldn't be hard to find someone below board who would hire her for her knowledge. She could probably make a good living building contraband or selling her services. The thought of her as a career criminal was almost laughable, but it wasn't impossible.
She tried to think what Shaw would do if Root told her she was turning to the criminal life instead of corporate or government work. Shaw would probably joke about how Root couldn't live a low budget life, or she would jump at the chance to be Root's muscle and get in fights. They could be a modern Bonnie and Clyde.
The truck stopped and Root looked up, surprised. She'd been so lost in thought that she didn't know how long they'd been driving. A door slammed and Root waited as the driver came back around to the front of the truck. The two doors opened and Root squinted at the light.
The police officer that had put her in the truck stood there now, with a woman beside him. She wore the police woman's uniform, her arms crossed. Nodding, she signaled to the man to get them out of the truck. Root started to stand, but the woman held up a hand.
"Not you."
Slowly sitting again, Root looked around as all the others left the truck. Kara gave her one last pitying look before leaving her behind. When the truck was empty, and only Root sat in the large wagon, the woman nodded again and the police man shut the doors.
Suddenly alone in the dark wagon, Root felt afraid. She couldn't think of any reason she wouldn't be taken into the police station to be arrested. Unless there was something more sinister happening and she'd been chosen by that woman to be used for some purpose. Thoughts swirled in her head as the car drove away.
She wished she had someone to call for help. There might not be a phone where she was going even if she'd had someone on her side. Root tugged on her handcuffs restlessly. This was the consequence for leaving her stable life.
That didn't mean she had to accept it. If they expected her to go easily, they were in for a surprise. Root felt herself get angry, the indignation and rage that had filled her as a child came easily now and she felt wild and aggressive. She remembered her old bar fights, the injuries she'd gotten from older men who had ill intentions for young girls, and the strength of mind she'd had to survive in Bishop.
The car started to slow, and Root stood from her seat, crouching down in the center of the truck. When the door opened, she'd be ready. She would push past whoever stood there and run. If they got their hands on her, she wouldn't be strong enough to free herself, but she could put up a good fight. She had long limbs and sharp nails and that might save her now.
The slam of a door alert her and she took a deep breath, steadying herself. She heard the door handle turning and grit her teeth. When the door opened, she leapt forward into the light.
"Root!"
A voice she recognized made her hesitate and strong hands wrapped around her. She blinked in the light and saw Zoe standing in front of her, looking shocked. Twisting, Root saw the woman from the police station holding her, also looking surprised. She shrugged her arms, making the woman drop her arms.
"What's going on?" Root demanded, looking around. "Where are we?"
They stood in front of a restaurant that Root recognized. It was the same place Zoe had taken her for their first dinner together, where she'd ordered wine from her father's stock. She frowned and turned to Zoe.
"Tell me what's happening."
Zoe's face shifted and she looked impressed. "Well, I wasn't expecting you to put up such a fight. You've certainly grown."
Root took a step toward her. A hand landed on her arm and she stopped, pulling it away from the woman again. If this woman didn't stop touching her, Root would take Kara's advice and punch her.
"This is Dani Silva," Zoe said, gesturing to Root's cuffs. Dani reached into the pocket of her skirt and pulled out a small silver key. "She's a friend of mine in the force. I asked her to help bring you here."
Root watched carefully as Dani unlocked her handcuffs. She pulled her hands away and rubbed her wrists. "That doesn't answer my question."
Tossing her hair over her shoulder, Zoe smiled at Root. "Do you remember you owe me a request? For that first dinner. I'm calling in that favor."
"Ok…" Root still felt suspicious, but knowing Zoe was here made her feel a little bit better. Zoe was obviously untrustworthy, but she'd never caused Root harm. She'd always gave her what she thought was the best advice. "What's the favor?"
"I need you to meet with a man, and listen to what he has to say."
Root shifted. "That's it?"
"Let's talk inside." Zoe moved to the door of the restaurant and waited for the door to open. A well-dressed man held it open for them. "Thank you, Jacques."
They stepped inside and Root looked around the small restaurant. It was empty, despite it being dinner time on a Friday night. Only someone with real power could make a fancy restaurant like this close on one of their most profitable nights. She swallowed, running her hands down the front of her blouse.
Following Zoe to the back corner, Root noticed a middle-aged man sitting at the same table they had. He was bald, with a pair of small glasses. There was nothing impressive about him, but the way he just calmly ate his steak made Root nervous. Beside him, an intimidating looking man sat, his eyes fixed on Root. A scar ran down one cheek.
Zoe stopped in front of the table and waited for Jacques to pull out the chair. He did, and she sat down delicately, unaffected by the tense atmosphere in the room. Root decided that she would mimic her, and smoothed her face into a calm smile. She sat when Jacques pulled out her chair, dropping her hands into her lap.
"Hello," the bald man said, finally looking up at her. "Root, is it? Nice to meet you."
Fluttering her eyelashes, Root sat back in her chair, nodding. "It's nice to meet you, too…"
He smiled, cutting another piece of steak. "Elias. Zoe has told me a lot about you."
"Good things I hope."
Elias gave her a considering look as he ate his steak slowly. The entire restaurant was silent around them. Root looked at Zoe, who was staring across the table at the man with the scar. She thought about what her friends had said, that Zoe was involved with the mob, and her stomach sank.
"No need to look so worried," Elias told her, smiling again. It didn't reach his eyes. "I just want to talk."
"About what?" Root pushed her hair behind her ear. "I can't imagine what we have in common."
The others around the table chuckled. Elias gestured vaguely and two wine glasses appeared on the table in front of Zoe and Root. The waiter who had helped them the last time they were there poured wine for them. Root waited until Zoe had taken a sip before taking one of her own.
"How long have you been in the city, Root?"
Swallowing, Root put her glass down. "Almost twenty years. Since I was 18."
He nodded, lips pursed. "Impressive."
"And you?" she asked. If he was going to learn about her, then she could learn something, too.
"I was born here," he answered, cutting another piece of steak. "I'm a true blue New Yorker. Enough about me. How do you like the city?"
Root licked her lips. This whole situation was incredibly unnerving and she really wished that Shaw was with her. "It's nice. A little too loud for my tastes. I'm thinking of leaving soon."
"Oh?" He chewed his steak like he had all the time in the world. He reached for his glass of wine and took a small sip. "Most people love the noise. The lights, too. Where are you from?"
She glanced at Zoe, who smiled encouragingly. "Texas. A small town. You wouldn't have heard of it."
"That's probably true," he chuckled. Sitting back in his seat, tossed his napkin onto the table. "I've heard really good things about you, Root. I would have regretted it if you'd left the city before we could meet. Especially now that I see how beautiful you are."
Flushing, she picked up her glass of wine. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm taken. I'm sure Zoe told you."
Elias just smiled at her, looking calm and dangerous. "She did." He rubbed a hand over his mouth, eyes narrowing. "Tell me about your job. You work with computers? With the Department of Defense?"
"Do you want a recommendation?" Root joked, forcing herself to relax. If the mob wanted to do something to her, then they would regardless of her attitude. If she stayed calm, she might be able to talk her way out of this weird situation. She took a sip of her wine as Elias smirked at her. "I'm a Systems Programmer. I'm working on creating a way to connect computers across long distances."
He seemed impressed. Reaching for a glass of wine, he toasted her. "A big job for a woman. Congratulations. You said you're connecting to the Department of Defense?"
The repetition made Root frown. "I'm not sure what you want me to say," she sighed. "Can you just tell me what you want from me?"
"I'm not used to my company being so direct," he admitted, mouth turned up in a half-smile. "I have to say I like it."
Zoe finally spoke. "I'll remember you said that."
He laughed at her and wagged his finger. "Cheeky. To answer your question, Root, I want to hire you to do something for me."
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, her mouth dropping open. "You want my help? What could I possibly help you with?"
"This connection you're building… Is it only a two way connection? Or can it have multiple access points?"
His request became apparent to her, and she had to hold back a gasp. Elias wanted her to create a backdoor into the Department of Defense's computer. It was definitely possible. She'd just have to make him an acoustic coupler when Thornhill developed the technology. The question was whether or not she wanted to give a mob boss that access. If the connection was found…
She realized that it would be traced back to Harold. He would be the one who got in trouble with the government. A part of her wanted to agree just to create the possibility that Harold would have to deal with the consequences. However, if he got caught for her crimes, it would come out that he was a homosexual and he'd probably lose his companies. John would be outed as well. As angry as she was at them, she wouldn't turn on another homosexual like that. She put her glass down and crossed her arms, eyes narrowing.
"It's possible."
He grinned. "That's good to know. How long would it take?"
"Well," she sighed, "we're still working on the technology. It could be a few weeks, or even months before it all comes together. Once that's done… I should be able to get you a line. What do you need it for?"
"Don't worry about that," he said, waving a lazy hand. "Better that you don't know. Now, are you willing to work with us?"
From what she knew of the mob, she would guess that this wasn't the kind of request she could say no to, but did she really want to become a criminal? A federal criminal? She remembered the rush she got when she'd first stepped into the Black Cherry, when she'd tried on her lacy black underwear in the store, when she'd let herself get angry in the back of the police wagon. There was something about breaking the rules, thinking about what she wanted instead of what someone else wanted, about being wild that made her feel alive.
If Elias paid well, then she would have even more money to take on their trip. Sameen would be glad for that. It would be nice to get some payback for Harold's treatment of her, and she knew she could cover her trail well enough to hide the extra connection. This could be a way of proving to herself that she wasn't just somebody's girlfriend or daughter. She was her own person and she could handle something as dangerous as this.
"I can tell by your silence," Elias said, interrupting her thoughts, "that you're nervous. I'll tell you what your options are." He waited for her to nod. "You can either take the money, which is two thousand dollars, by the way, or I let you go."
Root was surprised that he would just let her go like that. There was probably a catch that she couldn't see. $2000 was a lot of money, though. She and Sameen could buy a house wherever they ended up, or a car, or ten cars. She found herself wanting to take the job, wanting to prove that she really had grown. Wasn't she already a criminal for being a homosexual? This was just a crime that paid well.
She would have Sameen on her side, if any danger came, and they were planning on skipping town anyway. Elias clearly knew, via Zoe, that Root was the only one who could do this. She had some safety in that. They couldn't kill her at least.
She nodded, a smile spreading across her face. "Alright. I'll take the money. How do I let you know when it's done?"
"I'll know," Zoe answered her. She looked slightly worried, her eyebrows drawn down. "I'll be with you the whole time."
Her tone was meant to be comforting, but Root didn't trust Zoe enough to find comfort in her presence. Instead, she just drank her wine and turned back to Elias. His smile met his eyes now, and he seemed genuinely pleased by her answer. He reached a hand across the table and she took it.
"Glad to have you aboard, Root." He nodded to someone behind her. "Until next time."
A presence at her back made Root look over her shoulder and she saw that Jacques was there, his hands on her chair. She stood, letting him pull it out. He moved to Zoe and helped her stand as well. Zoe led the way back to the door and out into the street. When the door was closed, and they were alone together, Zoe turned to her.
"I'm sorry about this, Root," she sighed, crossing her arms. "I wouldn't have brought you into it if I had another choice. Good girls like you shouldn't get involved with men like this."
Root pushed her hands into her pockets. "You're not a good girl?"
Zoe laughed. "No. I'm not." She took a deep breath. "Well, I suppose there's no going back now. Just do the job, get paid, and hopefully they won't ask for more. I don't really think they'd send you to Ridgestone."
"Ok," Root said, shrugging. She didn't know where Ridgestone was, but it didn't really matter. "We're leaving soon anyway. I guess we just have a date now. Whenever this is done, we'll go. " She frowned. "I should find Sameen."
"That's a good idea." Zoe gave her one last pitying look and then stepped up to the curb. She whistled and, a second later, a taxi appeared in front of them. She smiled at Root. "Let me give you a ride."
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Root stepped out of the taxi and flashed Zoe a smile before closing the door. Stepping backward, she watched as the car pulled away from the curb and drove away, merging seamlessly into traffic. It was late now, probably almost midnight, but Root wasn't tired. She stood on the sidewalk in front of her apartment building, looking around at the city around her.
It was different somehow, a little more mysterious and a little more exciting. She wondered who else had dark secrets lurking beneath their normal appearance. Her first day out in the world as an official pants-wearer and she'd ended up involved in the mob. Just a week ago she'd still had a boyfriend.
Sticking her hands into her pocket, she took a deep breath. She wondered where Sameen was, if she'd gotten arrested. Root really needed to look for her. The car ride back with Zoe had been tense and silent. Root had asked where Sameen was, but Zoe claimed she didn't know. That had definitely been a lie. She should go inside and start calling police precincts. She'd call Joss first, just in case.
She turned to go inside when she heard someone shout her name. Spinning around, she saw Sameen racing toward her down the sidewalk. A wave of relief came over Root and she slumped, suddenly tired. The reality of the night suddenly felt like a rock in her stomach.
"Root," Sameen gasped, stopping in front of her. She ran her hands over Root, checking her arms and face for signs of injury. "What happened? I've been looking for you everywhere."
Chuckling, Root wrapped her arms around Sameen's shoulders, hugging her close. Strong arms held her waist and they just stood like together for a moment. Now that Sameen was with her again, Root just wanted to crawl into bed and fall asleep in her arms. They would spend the weekend in the apartment, she decided, ignoring the outside world.
Eventually, Sameen pushed her away and squinted up at her. "Did you get arrested? I checked the precinct, but you weren't there."
"No," Root answered, shaking her head. "Zoe had the police take me somewhere else. She had someone on the inside."
Sameen rolled her eyes. "Of course she did. Where did they take you?"
"Let's go inside."
Root pulled Sameen into the building and up the narrow stairs to the elevator. As they waited for the elevator, she thought about the best way to explain what had happened. Should she just say 'I work for the mob now?' or was that too on the nose? Maybe she could explain that she'd taken a side job and it just happened to be for the mob.
Sameen leaned against the wall and ran her eyes over Root. "Are you tired?" she asked, eyes dark as they met Root's.
"Exhausted," Root answered. She faked a yawn, keeping her eyes on Sameen. An annoyed furrow appeared between her eyes and Root grinned, raising an eyebrow. "Did the excitement get you… excited?"
"Shut up," Sameen mumbled. The elevator arrived and she gestured inside. "Go on."
Root blew her a kiss as she passed by. She pressed the button for her floor and turned to face Sameen, who was pretending to look at her nails. Before they started anything, Root needed to tell Sameen what had happened. Then, they could celebrate the extra money and decide when to leave.
They arrived on Root's floor and she pulled her keys from her pocket, leading the way. Knowing that Sameen was watching her walk, she put an extra sway in her hips. Behind her, Sameen snorted.
It didn't take them long to get inside and take their shoes off. Sameen started for the bedroom, but Root went into the living room instead, sitting on the couch. Shrugging, Sameen followed her and dropped down onto the sofa beside her.
"I should tell you where I was," Root said, giving her a small smile. "Tell me where you were first."
Sameen gave her a puzzled look, but started talking. "I ended up at Carter's apartment with her and Lionel. They forced me to stay there, doing everything short of tying me down, but I got out eventually and started looking for you."
It made Root happy that Sameen had looked for her, breaking out of Carter's apartment and running through the city. She couldn't think of anyone else in her life that would have done that for her. With her new criminal life, having someone like Sameen on her side was invaluable.
"I had an...unexpected experience."
Sameen narrowed her eyes. "Did someone hurt you?"
"No," Root assured her, reaching out to pat her knee. "I'm fine. Well. No, I'm fine."
"Ok, what happened?" Sameen sat up, resting her forearms on her knees. "Where were you?"
Root licked her lips. "I was with Zoe. She took me to meet Elias, um, a mob...member? I'm not sure if he's a 'boss,' but he was clearly powerful."
Sameen's whole body stilled, her knuckles turning white as she clenched her fists. She vibrated with rage and Root was tempted to move away, but she stayed where she was. She'd expected surprise, not anger.
"Don't worry," Root tried. "They didn't do anything. They just wanted me to do a job. They're paying me $2000!"
"I'm going to kill Zoe," Sameen spat through clenched teeth. "That smug little bitch." She looked at Root. "Don't worry. I'll get you out of this."
Frowning, Root shook her head. "I don't want to get out of it. I'm going to do it and we can use the money for our trip."
Sameen ran a hand over her hair in frustration. "Root, no. You don't know what you're getting into. These people aren't going to let you leave. They're just going to ruin you."
"I'm not a child, Sameen. I know the risks. I can handle myself."
"You've met one mob boss and you think you know everything?" Sameen scoffed. "Root, these aren't catty secretaries. They're dangerous."
Root stood up, getting angry at Sameen's dismissive tone. "I thought you'd support my choice. I can do this. I might not have your worldly experience, but I'm smart and I know how to handle myself."
"Do you?" Sameen snapped, jumping to her feet. "You didn't know enough to stay with your friends during a bar raid. You didn't know enough to stay out of mob business. You really think you know enough to stay safe?"
"It's just some computer work," Root said defensively. "I won't even be in danger. I just have to do it and tell Zoe when it's done. I didn't think you'd be so upset. Don't you want the money?"
Sameen threw her hands in the air. "I don't want the money if it means you get killed in a mob hit." She closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You know what. This is my fault. I knew that getting involved with you was a bad idea."
Ice rushed through Root's veins. "What?"
"You're a good girl and I should have known you'd end up in trouble." She ran a hand over her hair. "I might as well have brought you to the mob myself."
"I really dislike being called a 'good girl'. I'm a real person." Root clenched her fists. "Do you still think I'm just some rich girl slumming with the homosexuals? I gave up my whole life for you. This isn't a game! Is it a game for you? Is this some weird power trip? Making a 'good girl' fall in love with you and then leaving?"
Sameen sucked in a sharp breath at Root's final question, her eyes widening. Realizing what she'd said, Root flushed, but she refused to back down. She'd said she loved Sameen. Maybe she did. That didn't mean she was going to take her insults. She'd left an important relationship before. She could do it again.
"It's not a game," Sameen said quietly.
Root put her hands on Sameen's shoulders. "I need you to trust me on this, Sameen. I'm an adult. I can handle this."
"No, you can't!" Shaw pushed her hands away, huffing. "If you want to get involved with the mob, fine, but don't expect me to visit you in Ridgestone."
"What is Ridgestone?" Root snapped. "Zoe mentioned it, too. That Elias might send me there. Is it some euphemism for killing me?"
Sameen clicked her tongue and looked away. "I'll talk to Zoe and force her to get you out of this. She should know better."
"Enough!" Root threw her arm out, pointing toward the door. "Get out."
"What?" Shaw asked, tensing.
Root's lower lip began to tremble despite herself. She had been almost excited to do this job for Elias, but Shaw was ruining it. Maybe Root wasn't as experienced with crime as Shaw, but she was in charge of her own life and Shaw had no right to treat her like a child.
"Go," Root said, standing strong. "Come back when you can deal with me like a grown woman. You're my girlfriend, not my mother."
Nodding, Shaw pursed her lips, eyes tight with anger. "Ok. Fine. I'll leave. You want me to treat you like an adult? Fine. Handle this on your own. Don't come crying to me when it all goes south."
She pushed past Root and headed down the hallway to the bedroom. Root stood frozen in place, her heart racing. Sameen had sounded so final. This was supposed to be a short break, just Sameen taking the time to get over her anger, but now Root worried she'd made a big mistake.
Shaking herself, Root quickly walked to the bedroom and watched from the doorway as Sameen pulled her clothing from her drawer and stuffed it into her duffelbag. The anger was gone from her face, but nothing had replaced it. Root moved into the room.
"Why are you packing?" she asked, frustrated. "Do you really think it'll take that long to respect me?"
Zipping her bag shut, Sameen picked it up and turned to face Root. "I already respect you, Root. It's just- You should have talked to me first. It was so rash. You're not the only one who's affected by your decisions. I'm not Reese; I care-" She scoffed, shaking her head. "Forget it. If you want to make stupid decisions, then fine. I'm not your mother, right?"
Stomping across the room, she slipped by Root into the hallway. Root followed her, not sure what to say to make her stay, or even if she should say anything at all. Sameen dropped her bag for a moment to put her shoes on. Picking her bag up again, she unlocked the door and yanked it open.
"Wait," Root gasped. "Is this- Are we done? Is this just a fight? Where are you going?"
Sameen hesitated, her grip white around the door handle. She stared out into the hallway, face neutral. Root's stomach sank at the unreadable expression. It was like they were right back where they started, like they didn't know each other again, like they meant nothing to each other.
"I don't know," Sameen said softly. "Maybe I really am bad at relationships. Sorry."
The door closed behind her with a quiet click and Root was left alone in her apartment. She didn't know how to feel. Without Sameen, the prospect of working with the mob was a lot more frightening. If she wasn't with Sameen, could she still go to the Black Cherry? Were Joss and Lionel still her friends? Was she right back where she was before she'd met John?
No. Even if she didn't have friends, she was still being true to herself. Root turned and headed for her bedroom. It was better to be alone as herself than in a relationship as a lie. She wouldn't ever go back to the meek, nervous girl she used to be.
Maybe it would do her good to be single for a little bit. It had been so long since she'd had to face herself. She would focus on her work, for both Harold and Elias, and then she would leave the city. She'd use the money to buy herself a car. Stopping beside her bed, she undressed, finally tired from the long night.
It didn't feel like Sameen had broken up with her. She might be in shock. She was half-convinced that she'd wake up with Sameen beside her. Root would apologize for telling her to go and Shaw would apologize for not supporting her. Root climbed into bed, settling onto her side and pulling the blanket over her. Closing her eyes, she pictured Sameen's face just before they'd kissed for the first time.
Her skin had been eerie in the blue light of the pool, her hair was a little too long, curls flopping over her forehead. Her dark eyes had been wide as she looked up at Root, like she couldn't believe it was happening, like she was the luckiest person in the world. Closing her eyes, Root remembered how soft Sameen's lips had been against hers, how clumsy her fingers had been on Root's complicated underwear, how Sameen had asked her not to sleep with John.
Her breath caught in her throat as tears welled up in her eyes. She knew that despite Shaw's limitations, she loved her, too. She loved Root so much that she was furious. The thought hurt. She'd finally managed to find someone who loved her, and she'd chased her away. Root knew that, eventually, she'd be ok, but right now, she was devastated. Tomorrow she'd figure out the rest of her life, but right now, she let herself cry.