A/N: Thank you for the reviews! Can you believe I've been sitting on this story for a while now, and never wanted to write it...
According to my outline it was going to be three chapters but I've fallen in love with it so I'm going to see how much I can stretch it out. Most of this chapter was never in my outline.
Enjoy :)
Reasonable Doubt – Part Two
"Hey. Let gets you home." Jay stops at the bottom steps and stares into the night, breathing in free air and looking out to the beautiful city of Chicago.
"They offered a plea, better than I expected. Manslaughter, three years but I could probably get you out after two." I launch into work, trying to pull my attention away from the look of freedom he's wearing. The way his smile is speaking to my own lips and pulling them up in return.
"Erin, please. Stop." I'm about to hail a cab when Jay's desperate voice reaches my ears. I turn around slowly and take him in, his jeans and navy sports jacket.
"It's been four months, I just need a break about all this case talk. Please. One night." I nod gently at him.
"Of course. Lets go." I start walking down the street and Jay follows confused.
"Where are we going?"
"It's been four months, you deserve real food." I send him a side glance, unable to hide my smile.
"I'd settle for a burger, fries and a strawberry milkshake." He tells me with a chuckle.
"So where did you grow up?" Jay asks as we sit by the water eating our burger and fries.
"Here." I shrug, taking a sip of my milkshake.
"Did you go to law school here?" He presses and slides closer on the bench.
I send Jay a sideways glance.
"What? You don't like talking about yourself, do you?" His hands moves up to sweep some of my hair back, we pause freeze in the moment.
My heart is racing, cheek wishing to seek comfort in his strong palm. Instead I clear my throat and Jay drops his hand, grabbing some fries.
"I'm not that interesting. Work is my life." I shrug, the warm tingle on my cheek from his fingertips leaving me feeling cold now that he's pulled away.
"Which brings me to, why did you become a defense attorney?" I shrug at Jay's question before turning to meet his eyes. His intense blue eyes knock the breath out of me and for a moment I forget where we are.
Who we are.
"I don't like seeing injustice. I hate seeing people just standing by and watching it happen. People who can't or won't fight back, need someone to do this for them. I fight for people who can't and I do it like I wish someone did it for me. Injustice makes me angry." I take some deep breaths completely shocked to my core I revealed so much.
"Sorry, now I'm ranting." I mutter distractedly, unsure why I've said so much. I don't think I've ever told anyone the real reason; a flippant or sarcastic reply is my trademark.
"Wished people would fight for you?" Jay asks softly, taking my hand.
"Don't Jay." I whisper and pull away, missing him already.
"Okay, we don't have to talk about it." Someone his tone conveys his respect of my privacy and the desire to know everything about me.
"Why did you serve?" I ask quietly, desperately wanting to know everything about this man.
"I would give up my freedom, my life… so others could have theirs. I too wanted to fight injustice. I just went about mine differently." I feel a strong sense of proudness, it confuses me briefly before I choose to switch my focus to his father.
I'm unsure why his father wouldn't feel the same proudness about his strong and selfless son.
"Were you going to deploy again?" I ask quietly.
"No. My mum had cancer so I was here for her. I was just accepted into the Chicago Police Academy when I was arrested for murder. If this charge doesn't go away that won't ever happen. It's why I won't take the plea." It's the first time tonight he's wanted to talk about it.
"Jay. If we can get this witness confession thrown out then going to trial will be a piece of cake… if they don't drop the case that is. But if we can't, it's a risk and you could end up with life in prison. Please, trust me on this." I turn to face him.
"I appreciate all your help Erin but I can't go around the rest of my life with people thinking I'm a murderer."
"This is your life Jay. Please, think about this." Fear grips my chest, never having felt this before.
"I have."
"Life. In prison. You remember what it was like… what they did to you in there." Images of Jay bruised and beaten flash through my mind, my eyes sting with tears I refuse to shed.
"It's no life out here, people thinking I would murder someone. Murder Allie."
"Jay…"
"You know, you've never asked me." He catches me off guard.
"What?" I whisper not liking where the conversation is going.
"If I did this." His blue eyes don't let my hazel eyes escape his gaze.
"I'm a defense attorney, we don't ask. We don't need to know."
"It's hard family and friends thinking I did this… but I have to be honest and admit to myself, that all that doesn't matter as much to me as you believing I'm innocent." His tone is begging as he once again slides closer, his warm body so close to mine.
"Jay." I shake my head, as his blue eyes drill into mine. All I can imagine is if I close the distance between us I can taste what it would be like to mix his strawberry milkshake with my chocolate.
"You feel it too don't you?" Jay asks inching closer to my lips.
"Jay. This is common; you've bonded with me. It's natural with all the time we've spent together preparing and add in that you've been cut off from the world. It will pass."
"No, it won't. It's okay. I'll convince you." Jay turns back to the beautiful city in front of him and I try to quiet my beating heart.
Flashback – 2 months, 3 weeks ago
I tap my foot impatiently as I wait for them to bring Jay from his cell; I begin pacing when I realize my breathing has slowed in anticipation.
"Should I be worried?"
"Huh?" I spin around suddenly at the sound of his amused voice.
He raises an eyebrow as the guards remove his handcuffs, a sexy smirk is playing across his kissable lips.
He makes sure to pull his gaze from me to thank the guards before his attention finds me again.
I clear my throat at my thoughts, giving myself an internal pep talk about professional standards and ethics where clients are involved.
A frown finds my lips when I realize his title of accused murderer isn't a reason to stop those thoughts in their tracks.
"The pacing. Don't tell me… they cancelled your favourite show." I crack a smirk as he folds his arms across his chest.
My eyes follow his muscles, appreciating the fact he must still be working out.
"Oh please. Does it look like I have time for TV?" I raise an eyebrow playfully.
"I don't really know Erin Lindsay yet."
"Yet?" I smirk, he chuckles before leaning close.
"Yet." He confirms before taking a seat.
"How do you do it?" I can't help myself from asking.
"What?"
"The humor… your attitude. This place breaks people."
"This is nothing compared to what I faced overseas." The confession hangs there between us, sucking any humor from the room.
"So, the pacing?" He finally asks, hands clasped together and his back rigid.
"I was worried about you." My voice is quiet, the honesty surprising myself.
"You were?" His blue eyes show happiness at someone showing they care; I take a seat across from him.
"After our last meeting, I was worried what state you'd be in. After all, can't have them hurting your pretty face." He chuckles, allowing for some humor to be resurrected in the space between us.
"Aw, you care."
"Don't let it go to your head… but seriously. How are you?"
"I'm okay." I stare into his eyes, trying to decide if I believe him.
"If that changes, you need to let me know."
"I can take care of myself."
"Very well. Okay, so I want to go through the night Allie was murdered."
"Again?" Jay drops his head into his hands.
"Yes, again. Get use to it. This night will be re told over and over, you need to make sure you don't change anything from your version of events. A slight deviation… or a too rehearsed answer can ruin you on the stand."
"Right. Don't change it… but don't say it the same." Jay raises an eyebrow at me, cheeks against his hands as he leans his elbows on the table.
"Exactly."
"You make it sound like it's completely normal. How do I do that?" He closes his eyes softly, for a brief moment I worry he's given up.
"You listen to me, you take my advice and you do everything I say. I'm here for you."
"Do you think I did it?"
"What?" I heard every word of his question, but I hope in the time it takes for him to repeat it I've thought of a way to escape.
Each time he's been close to asking or asked in the last five weeks I've managed to escape without an answer.
"You have dodged this question for over a month. I want to know. Do you think I did it?"
"Thank you for tonight." The sound of the indicator fills the silence between our words.
"You're welcome." My voice is quiet, caught up in a whirlwind from Jay's promise tonight and a flash of past memories where he's tried desperately to get me to believe his innocence.
"And for not making me catch a cab." He chuckles at me.
"Least I could do."
"You've done more than your job description I'm sure." I bite my lip hard, holding back the words I'd like to say.
I'd like to do a whole lot more than my job description.
"It's okay. I've spoken with your father and he's been paying your rent… so your apartment should be as you left it."
"Just dusty, cold, empty and lonely." There's something in his voice and my earlier desire that leads to my next offer.
"Would you like me to come up?"
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, if you need me to check for the bogeyman or something." His laugh is magical and makes my stomach flutter with what I can only assume is butterflies.
"Please, if you would. I'll even find some old scotch I must have lying around." His promise sounds like heaven falling from his lips.
"You better. That's exactly how I take my payments."
"Really. I thought it would be crisp hundred dollar bills."
"Please. My hourly billable is so much more than that." I laugh, sending him a wink.
"I do hope you are charging my father for every moment you spend with me."
"You better believe it." I switch the car off before climbing out and following Jay into the building.
Jay pauses outside his door for a moment, staring at the key in his hand.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just can't believe I'm finally back home."
"I'm going to do everything I can to keep you here." My tone is fierce, meaning every word of my promise.
"I know. Thank you. For everything." I nod, my heart rate accelerating as he leans closer.
My back is trapped against the wall, his toned stomach blocking my escape as his scent invades my senses, taking my body hostage.
I moan as I feel his warm breath against my lips, anticipation fills my belly; a kiss only seconds away.
A/N: I know, I know. Mean.
Almost as mean as making you wait for an update on Fate.
To be fair, I'm currently re reading it. I just need to be inspired and pick up where I left off. Promise a lot more is coming. ;)
I'll try and finish "Begging for One Day" tomorrow... :)
P.S. It's 2am... I'm sorry for the mistakes.