Coping
"Officer Valentine, how may I-" Before Ian knew it; he was forced into the living room and was thrown onto the couch. Chris held Jill back; he was trying to calm her down. Jill took deep breaths and fell silent for a moment. "Ian Rangel? Hi, I am Captain Chris Redfield of the S.T.A.R.S Alpha team. We've already sent everyone home, so you don't have to worry about any threats."
"Thank you." Ian said. Ian saw that Jill was furious and ready to attack. She's tough, could possibly kill me if she got the chance, Ian thought. "So, um." Ian said, not sure what to say. "Would you two like anything? Coffee? Water?"
"Coffee." Chris said. "Jill?" Chris asked. Jill didn't say anything. "Okay." Ian went to the kitchen and made the coffee and came back. "Thank you." Chris said. Chris and Jill sat on the couch while Ian sat on the recliner. Chris told Ian about the investigations they were doing on finding the killer and was glad to offer protection from the protesters. After a half hour of talk, Chris asked, "Mr. Rangel, may I use your restroom?"
"Sure, down the hall and to the left."
"Thanks," Chris said. Ian was alone with Jill. She was staring at Ian as though he were ready to attack. Doesn't this woman trust me yet? Ian thought. He didn't know what to say to her, it had been so long since she caught him. And at least you could do is be kind and offer her something or talk to her. Make her feel welcome. Ian thought.
"Jill, I-"
"I know what you're going to say." Jill said. "It was some creature that killed the Emus' and that you fought it and it escaped. Same old, same old."
"Jill, I know how you feel. But you have to believe me; I didn't murder the Emus'. I wouldn't hurt anyone." Jill shook her head.
"I know exactly how your kind acts. You act all innocent just to be released, and then your out on the street committing the same crime all over again." Jill fell silent. Ian was silent until Chris came and sat down. "I've already assigned one of our best people here to protect you from any danger."
"Thank you." Ian said. Chris and Jill were on their way out when Chris stopped and said, "Where are you going?"
"Back to the station, why?"
"You can't leave him, he'd be dead within hours." Jill's eyes were wide open. "Chris, you don't mean that-"
"Yes you."
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" They stepped outside. "Chris, what the hell are you thinking? I can't stay and be his maid! I refuse!" Jill shouted.
"Jill!" Chris said. Jill calmed herself down. "I chose you because we've already got enough people working on the case and you know that. Besides, you know him a lot better than we do." Chris looked at Jill who still had a mouth open. "I think you should be a little bit more trusting to him, Jill. I mean look at what he's been through." Chris said.
He was right. Jill had to do this and be trusting to Ian. She felt something come to her, as though she had to fix something. I caught an innocent man and now I have to undo it, Jill thought. "Okay." Jill said. "Have a weekly report ready and let me know how you two are doing." Chris said.
Jill picked up her equipment from her truck and went back into the house. After Chris called for a ride, Jill said, "It appears I'll be protecting you for awhile. But know this," Jill said. "You try anything, I guarantee you I'll arrest you again. But I am sure you won't."
"I wouldn't dream of it." They both smiled and walked into the living room.
"Officer Valentine, how may I-" Before Ian knew it; he was forced into the living room and was thrown onto the couch. Chris held Jill back; he was trying to calm her down. Jill took deep breaths and fell silent for a moment. "Ian Rangel? Hi, I am Captain Chris Redfield of the S.T.A.R.S Alpha team. We've already sent everyone home, so you don't have to worry about any threats."
"Thank you." Ian said. Ian saw that Jill was furious and ready to attack. She's tough, could possibly kill me if she got the chance, Ian thought. "So, um." Ian said, not sure what to say. "Would you two like anything? Coffee? Water?"
"Coffee." Chris said. "Jill?" Chris asked. Jill didn't say anything. "Okay." Ian went to the kitchen and made the coffee and came back. "Thank you." Chris said. Chris and Jill sat on the couch while Ian sat on the recliner. Chris told Ian about the investigations they were doing on finding the killer and was glad to offer protection from the protesters. After a half hour of talk, Chris asked, "Mr. Rangel, may I use your restroom?"
"Sure, down the hall and to the left."
"Thanks," Chris said. Ian was alone with Jill. She was staring at Ian as though he were ready to attack. Doesn't this woman trust me yet? Ian thought. He didn't know what to say to her, it had been so long since she caught him. And at least you could do is be kind and offer her something or talk to her. Make her feel welcome. Ian thought.
"Jill, I-"
"I know what you're going to say." Jill said. "It was some creature that killed the Emus' and that you fought it and it escaped. Same old, same old."
"Jill, I know how you feel. But you have to believe me; I didn't murder the Emus'. I wouldn't hurt anyone." Jill shook her head.
"I know exactly how your kind acts. You act all innocent just to be released, and then your out on the street committing the same crime all over again." Jill fell silent. Ian was silent until Chris came and sat down. "I've already assigned one of our best people here to protect you from any danger."
"Thank you." Ian said. Chris and Jill were on their way out when Chris stopped and said, "Where are you going?"
"Back to the station, why?"
"You can't leave him, he'd be dead within hours." Jill's eyes were wide open. "Chris, you don't mean that-"
"Yes you."
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" They stepped outside. "Chris, what the hell are you thinking? I can't stay and be his maid! I refuse!" Jill shouted.
"Jill!" Chris said. Jill calmed herself down. "I chose you because we've already got enough people working on the case and you know that. Besides, you know him a lot better than we do." Chris looked at Jill who still had a mouth open. "I think you should be a little bit more trusting to him, Jill. I mean look at what he's been through." Chris said.
He was right. Jill had to do this and be trusting to Ian. She felt something come to her, as though she had to fix something. I caught an innocent man and now I have to undo it, Jill thought. "Okay." Jill said. "Have a weekly report ready and let me know how you two are doing." Chris said.
Jill picked up her equipment from her truck and went back into the house. After Chris called for a ride, Jill said, "It appears I'll be protecting you for awhile. But know this," Jill said. "You try anything, I guarantee you I'll arrest you again. But I am sure you won't."
"I wouldn't dream of it." They both smiled and walked into the living room.