Walk the Distance Part 4

Disclaimer: Don't own a thing.

Author's Note: Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed my story. It meant a lot to me that people were reading and enjoying it. Sorry it took so long to get out a new chapter. It might take longer to get one out after this. I'll do my best not to take too long.

Feedback: Please? I really like to know that people are reading my stories. I love feedback, the good and the bad. I really like the good reviews :)

This chapter takes place the same day chapter 3 ended.

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Sadie was alone in the locker room after the shift had ended. She had already changed into her jeans and was working on her top when the door opened. She could sense someone was near her but continued on. A pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her waist.

"Just wanted to see how your first day was," the man said in her ear.

"Get your hands off me now," she hissed.

"Didn't you miss me?"

"I was all torn up inside with missing you."

"Sarcasm. Haven't lost your touch."

"The deal was I wouldn't press charges and you kept away from me. Connors said it was set." She came face to face with the man.

"You think I actually listen to Connors? Please. I had to stay away while you were undercover, now I don't. You can't stop me and neither can Connors."

"You won't get what you want Murdock. For as much as Connors talks the talk, he can take you down if you so much as look at me the wrong way. He wasn't very happy about what you did." Sadie tried to hold her own.

"Connors is just as bad as I am."

"He's all talk. You actually tried to . . . ," she began.

"I just tried to give you what you wanted. Your stupid partner walked in on us."

"It was attempted rape!" She cried. "I should have put you in jail for that." Within moments she was pressed up against her locker. Voices approaching the locker room distracted him long enough for Sadie to get an advantage and push him up against the other wall. She pulled her gun and shoved it in his face. "No one believes me, but I swear you won't hurt me."

"I didn't know you liked it rough. I'll have to remember that for next time," he said in a low voice.

"Won't be a next time. Because if you try to force yourself on me, I'll be forced to kill you."

"Logan!"

"What?" She turned to find Faith and Bosco standing there. She prayed they hadn't heard what she had said. "I'm busy here." She turned back to Murdock. "Remember what I said. If you come near me again, I'll make you pay for what you did."

"That right, sweet pea? Maybe I'll just have to pull some strings and get transferred here as well."

Sadie didn't say a word. Her grasp on Murdock didn't loosen, instead it tightened. Her gun was resting, no more like pushing hard, between his eyes. She took a step back to take in the man. He didn't seem so threatening now. Bosco and Faith both wore worried expressions on their faces. Murdock made a move to her and she kneed him the groin.

"You deserve worse than that." She kicked him one time then rushed to the bathroom. She was going to be sick.

She tried to hold in the fear and pain. Bosco could be heard telling Murdock to get up and leave. She wasn't sure but it sounded like he landed a few punches. Then footsteps announced someone's presence. Still a little unsure she drew her gun.

"It's just me," Faith said.

"He gone?"

"Bosco wanted to kill him. He's gone." Faith looked down. "Put the gun down."

"Sorry." Sadie slowly got up and walked to her locker. She grabbed her holster so she could put her gun on her hip. She smiled sadly thinking of how Maurice always wore his gun too.

"Who was that jerk?" Bosco appeared.

"Someone who has friends in high places. I can handle it." Her hands were shaky as she tried to put the gun in its holster. "Ahh," she cried and set the gun down on the bench. "Who am I kidding. I want him dead. If I handle it, he'll be dead."

"I'll take care of him," Bosco said.

"I think he'd end up with the same fate he'd get if Sadie handled it." Faith sat down.

"Don't worry about me. You haven't the last week anyway. Why start acting like the man I fell in love with now?" Sadie grabbed her gun and jammed it into its holster.

"Sadie."

"No. I don't want to hear how I lied to you. If you listen to what I need to tell you and you still feel that way, fine. If not, please just don't." Sadie shut her locker and began to walk away.

She was out in the parking lot and could tell he was behind her. She wanted so much for him to take her in his arms and kiss her. Tell her that he'd protect her, that he loved her. She wanted to go back to being the girl he met at the bar. That wasn't possible and she knew it.

He didn't know what he was doing. The desire was too much. He found himself chasing Sadie outside. He felt the need to hold her and kiss her. He slowly inched in and wrapped his arms around her, bringing his lips to hers. He expected the warmth and the feelings her touch brought about. What he didn't expect was for her to slap him the minute they pulled apart.

"Maurice!"

"Ooh, Bosco got shot down!" Jimmy Doherty called from across the street. It was then Bosco realized half of the FDNY from across the street were outside.

"Shut up!" Both Sadie and Bosco called out.

"What are you doing, Maurice."

"I was kissing you."

"You can hate me, ignore me, whatever you need to do. You don't get to play with my feelings."

"I wasn't trying to. I just missed you. I don't know if I can forgive you, but I miss you."

"If you'd stop being stubborn you'd know why I lied. It wasn't out of malice. The whole reason I did what I did was because working at the 29th scared me so much that I took my only way out. I went undercover just to get a transfer. There was no way you could have known." She leaned against his car. "It was survival for me in everyway, but the only time I felt safe was in your arms."

He took in her appearance. He had never seen Sadie cry. She was always strong and now she looked so lost. What had he done. He was in love with her but at the same time so angry that he was allowing her to cry without any comfort.

"Typical. I should have listened to Connors when he said you couldn't forgive." Sadie lowered her head.

"He doesn't know me."

"He seems to know plenty. I'm going home now." She turned her back on him.

"You ignoring me now?"

"If you want to call me going home for some sleep, ignoring you. Yeah, Maurice. It's not like I'd let you sit all alone in a hospital room." She smiled sadly then walked away.

He watched her slowly disappear. The FDNY crew were still standing outside, minus Alex who had followed Sadie. Jimmy Doherty was laughing at Bosco's expense while Kim tried to shut him up. He could care less what they thought. All he cared was that his stupid pride might have cost him the one thing he had good going for him. With a heavy sigh he got in his car and drove home.

He entered his empty apartment and threw his keys on the kitchen table. Grabbing the remote he turned on his stereo. For the life of him he couldn't remember what CD he had in. It didn't really matter. All he needed was noise to drown out the silence.

"This is my December
This is my time of the year
This is my December
This is all so clear
This is my December
This is my snow covered home
This is my December
This is me alone"

The sad music filled the room. He grabbed a beer then settled himself on the couch. He grabbed one of the many photos of him and Sadie sitting on his end table. The one he held was from one of those small photo booths on the boardwalk. He could remember that day like it was yesterday.

"And I
Just wish that I didn't feel
Like there was something I missed
And I
Take back all the things I said
To make you feel like that
And I
Just wish that I didn't feel
Like there was something I missed
And I
Take back all the things I said to you"

He let the lyrics sink in. It wasn't so much the words he said, but the lack of them. Her face from earlier reminded him just how much she was hurting. It was all because of him. The one thing he swore he'd never do was hurt her and he did. Not with words, but with actions.

"And I give it all away
Just to have somewhere
To go to
Give it all away
To have someone
To come home to" (Linkin Park - My December)

The music continued to play as he allowed fresh tears to spill. He couldn't ever recall crying over a girl before. Not like this. Then again, she was the first one he felt this way about. It felt as if his heart was truly breaking. Starting tomorrow he would make sure she knew that he wanted to try and fix things.