Sara sat up, crossing her legs in front of her as she picked at the grass. It was completely dark by now and the cool evening air was turning a touch colder. Jake watched her closely, aware of the goosebumps that had pricked up on her bare arms and neck.
"She went to Booth, cut him a deal that if he let me go from the charge, then she'd put her own neck on the line. The next time he caught me, she would confess to it and take my place. Needless to say, he took her up on it. I don't think he counted on her getting me out of town for good. I'd have loved to see the expression on his face when he found out I was gone to California. Two months later, you arrested her."
She shivered and stood up. Jake stood too and wanted to hug her so badly he hurt. Her older sister took the rap for something she did and now she was gone. Sara picked up her coat and brushed the grass off of it.
"I didn't find out until a few months after the fact. Otto received a letter from Fian for me. George also called me and let me know what was going on. We kept in constant contact that way, letters back and forth. That's how I first heard your name. She told me about you in a few of her letters. Your memory haunted her for years. She never could figure out why."
She slid her coat on and kissed his cheek. "It's getting late, I should be getting back to George's for the night and you need some time to think over this. I'll see you tomorrow."
Jake watched her as she left him there in the park and headed towards her car. Once again, he was back in a spin. Things were coming to light that he hadn't known about before. Marissa thought about him for eight years? All of a sudden he felt like the dirt beneath his shoes. He'd arrested her and hadn't looked back or thought about her once until he needed something from her. And she knew this about him...
He walked the dark streets, passing by couples holding hands and stealing kisses from one another. He'd never have that with Marissa. He felt cheated inside, guilty that he couldn't protect her the way he wanted to.
When he found himself at Donovan's front door, Jake realized it was time. He slowly knocked on the door. When Frank opened the door, it was a concerned smile that greeted Jake.
"I figured you'd wind up here eventually. She found you, I assume?"
"Yeah. Spent the entire day talking to her."
"She's a lot like her sister. Come on in."
Jake spent the entire night talking to Donovan. The discussion started off about Marissa and his day with Sara... but then he found himself talking about life in the UC since he could remember. Frank listened, offering what little bits of insight and advice he could. Eventually Frank had to cover Jake with a blanket and let him sleep. Looking at him, he guessed that the younger man hadn't slept a good night's sleep in months.
--
The next morning was deja vu all over again. Only this time it was both Jake and Frank who walked in to the sounds out laughter coming from The Nest. Holding court with Alex, Monica, and Cody was Sara Morgan Raines.
"Good Morning Mr. Donovan."
"Good Morning Miss Raines. Do I even want to know how you found your way here?"
"Nope..." She grinned and winked. Fian was right, he was a good looking man... even if a bit overbearing in thinking he was right all the time.
"Uhhhhhh huh." Despite himself, Frank smiled. "So why are you here?"
"To give you all an invitation. Tonight, 7:00 at George's. I think you all remember the place?" She grinned and picked up her coat. As she did, there was a soft chirping from inside of it. She grinned and answered it, blue eyes landing on Jake as she did. "That's what I wanted to hear. Alright, I'll settle up with you when I get back home. Hey Kip... thanks, I owe you and your brother."
As she headed for the door, she looked over her shoulder. "Don't be late!"
****
"She went to Booth, cut him a deal that if he let me go from the charge, then she'd put her own neck on the line. The next time he caught me, she would confess to it and take my place. Needless to say, he took her up on it. I don't think he counted on her getting me out of town for good. I'd have loved to see the expression on his face when he found out I was gone to California. Two months later, you arrested her."
She shivered and stood up. Jake stood too and wanted to hug her so badly he hurt. Her older sister took the rap for something she did and now she was gone. Sara picked up her coat and brushed the grass off of it.
"I didn't find out until a few months after the fact. Otto received a letter from Fian for me. George also called me and let me know what was going on. We kept in constant contact that way, letters back and forth. That's how I first heard your name. She told me about you in a few of her letters. Your memory haunted her for years. She never could figure out why."
She slid her coat on and kissed his cheek. "It's getting late, I should be getting back to George's for the night and you need some time to think over this. I'll see you tomorrow."
Jake watched her as she left him there in the park and headed towards her car. Once again, he was back in a spin. Things were coming to light that he hadn't known about before. Marissa thought about him for eight years? All of a sudden he felt like the dirt beneath his shoes. He'd arrested her and hadn't looked back or thought about her once until he needed something from her. And she knew this about him...
He walked the dark streets, passing by couples holding hands and stealing kisses from one another. He'd never have that with Marissa. He felt cheated inside, guilty that he couldn't protect her the way he wanted to.
When he found himself at Donovan's front door, Jake realized it was time. He slowly knocked on the door. When Frank opened the door, it was a concerned smile that greeted Jake.
"I figured you'd wind up here eventually. She found you, I assume?"
"Yeah. Spent the entire day talking to her."
"She's a lot like her sister. Come on in."
Jake spent the entire night talking to Donovan. The discussion started off about Marissa and his day with Sara... but then he found himself talking about life in the UC since he could remember. Frank listened, offering what little bits of insight and advice he could. Eventually Frank had to cover Jake with a blanket and let him sleep. Looking at him, he guessed that the younger man hadn't slept a good night's sleep in months.
--
The next morning was deja vu all over again. Only this time it was both Jake and Frank who walked in to the sounds out laughter coming from The Nest. Holding court with Alex, Monica, and Cody was Sara Morgan Raines.
"Good Morning Mr. Donovan."
"Good Morning Miss Raines. Do I even want to know how you found your way here?"
"Nope..." She grinned and winked. Fian was right, he was a good looking man... even if a bit overbearing in thinking he was right all the time.
"Uhhhhhh huh." Despite himself, Frank smiled. "So why are you here?"
"To give you all an invitation. Tonight, 7:00 at George's. I think you all remember the place?" She grinned and picked up her coat. As she did, there was a soft chirping from inside of it. She grinned and answered it, blue eyes landing on Jake as she did. "That's what I wanted to hear. Alright, I'll settle up with you when I get back home. Hey Kip... thanks, I owe you and your brother."
As she headed for the door, she looked over her shoulder. "Don't be late!"
****