Frankie's eyes were a bit bloodshot as she re-read through the file jacket on Nessa Skinner. However, her mind wasn't on the file, it was on Jake as he sat next to her. He'd called her Francesca earlier. It didn't have the same effect on her as when Frank said it... but she discovered that she liked it all the same. And then there was the way he brushed his fingers up against hers as the three of them inspected the photos again of the murdered girls.
'Don't be ridiculous Frankie-girl. He'll never think of you as anything more than a friend.' She sighed softly and flipped the computer-generated report over and pulled the red pen out from behind her ear.
Jake heard her sigh for the hundredth time and looked over at her. She had passed up the complimentary drinks and the in-flight dinner. Her eyes were trained on the file and reports in it. Thank God that she was on the window seat and they were the only two in the last row because she'd kept the photos of Nessa taken at the scene out on the tray table. To the civilians who hadn't seen this directly for the last 48 hours might get a little queasy. Even the flight attendant on her way by turned a bit green
"What's puzzling you Firecracker?" he whispered.
"Hmm?" She looked up, the pen clenched between her teeth and the file in mid-flip.
"What are you working on? You've gone over that file so many times I think you've scribbled in all the blank spaces."
"Oh." She sighed and closed the file. "I just get the feeling that if I look hard enough, I'll find that little missing piece, y'know?"
"Look. Things like this work themselves out and we catch lucky breaks. This guy is only on number three and we have a long way to go. Your eyes are red. You need to rest."
"I'll rest when Dari's killer is in jail," she whispered. Her voice cracked a tiny bit as she looked down.
"Hey... easy there Francesca." Jake whispered as he put his arms around her and pulled her close.
In the comfort of his embrace, she finally let go. For two days she'd held it in and put on a solid front for Frank and for Dari's mother and father. "She was only a year younger than I was." she whispered. "She was so smart and strong and had her whole life ahead of her. Dari still believed, Jake. She had her illusions despite being a cop. The closer she got to her appointment into the precinct's undercover unit, the closer friends she and I became. I tried so hard to get her ready for the cold truth of life on the street and she still just smiled and laughed like I was the over-protective mother hen."
"You did the best you could Francesca." Jake murmured in her ear and rubbed her back soothingly. This was the second time since he'd met her that he'd seen her cry. He reached over and flipped the lock on her seat belt open. He pulled her over into his lap and cradled her against him, her forehead resting against his neck.
Frankie's tears slowed and eventually they ceased all together. The feel of Jake's hand rubbing her back was very calming and soothing. "I'm not evil," she whispered.
"I know you're not, Francesca. But give Shay some time to get to know you. Once she does and she sees what I see, she's going to love you. Just like we all do."
"Jake."
"Yes darlin'?"
Frankie chuckled at his use of her own phrasing against her. She sat up and slid back into her seat. "Do you believe me when I tell you that nothing ever happened between me and Frank?"
"What makes you ask that?" Jake took the marked up file and slid it into a briefcase that sat on the floor between them.
"I don't know. I just need to tell you that. I remember how you looked at me when we first met... and how you looked at me later in my apartment the morning Eric disappeared. I've seen a few of the looks you give Frank when he and I see each other. I just wanted you to know darlin', that despite what I let everyone believe, that nothing ever happened between Frank and I except a kiss. I needed someone that night, a shoulder to cry on. And his was convenient. We're friends, and nothing else. I love him like he was my older brother."
Jake watched her. Her posture and body language gave clear signs that she wasn't lying to soothe his ego. She didn't fidget, she didn't avoid his eyes and she didn't stutter or search for anything to say.
"I know." was all Jake could say as he looked down and pulled a magazine out of the seatback in front of him. As he forced himself to keep his nose buried in the print, he heard Frankie shifting around in the seat next to him.
After an hour or so, he felt her sliding down onto his shoulder. He looked up to see Frankie fast asleep and half leaning back, half leaning against him. His fingers came up slowly, hesitantly, to brush the stray wisps of her black hair from her forehead. "God help me, Francesca..." he whispered, unable to voice the rest. His thumb brushed against her cheek as he shifted in his seat.
Frankie murmured and shifted again, snuggling up against Jake's shoulder. Even in her slumber she could smell his scent and she was comforted by it. As she dreamed, the fingers of her right hand slid down and twined in with his, holding his hand as she slept.
An elderly lady also on the flight passed by them and smiled. What a lovely couple...
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