Rainy Days and Mondays – Part 5
"Chaz?" Smiffy waved his hand in front of Charlie's face as she jumped out of her daydream and blinked up at him.
"Take your time sweetheart." he kissed her forehead and sat in the table in front of her.
"What are you doing here?" she hissed up at him. "You shouldn't be here!"
"I couldn't leave you-"he started to say, before she cut him off, holding her hand out.
"You can't be here," she frowned. "I don't want you here..."
Smiffy's face fell and he hung his head slightly. "Oh.."
"I don't want anyone here, not while I'm writing my statement.." Charlie slowly moved her hand out and closed it over his, squeezing it weakly.
Smiffy nodded and he stood up, kissing her hand and turning to leave. He reached the door and opened it, glancing back at her. "I love you." He said, squeezing her a small smile.
"I...I" Charlie swallowed heavily and tried again. "I..I..." She trailed off and nodded. "I know." She said, silently cursing herself for not saying it back.
"How is she?" Gina passed Smiffy's cup over and sat back behind her desk, watching him carefully.
He sipped his drink and watched her as she lit up a cigarette. "She's holding up" he said quietly. "She doesn't want anyone in there with her.." he stared down at his cup and balled his hands. "When I find the-"
"Easy Smiffy," Gina took a long drag on her cigarette. "I understand how you feel, but that's not going to help her," she said kindly. "Not now..."
Smiffy sneered slightly and sipped his drink before banging the cup down on Gina's desk and standing up. "I can't take this anymore..." he said, standing up and heading to the door.
"Sergeant!" Gina stood up and glared at Smiffy's back.
Dale kept his hand on the door handle but didn't move, or look back. "This isn't about you.." Gina said, not taking her eyes off him. "Think how you'd make her feel if you went charging in there, against her wishes...she's already told you she doesn't want you in there...not yet..."
He hung his head and sighed as Gina took a step closer to him, resting a hand on his back. "She already feels violated Dale," she said softly. "You storming in there in the mood you're in now will only upset her more."
Smiffy sighed and looked up at Gina. "Poor Charlie.." he said quietly, his voice loaded with emotion.
Gina nodded as Smiffy turned to her, resting his head on her shoulder, fighting hard against the tear rolling down his cheek.
"Nick!" Cass shouted, already scrambling over several black bags piled against a wall.
"Cass," Nick ran over to her, "What you found?"
Cass smiled triumphantly and pulled out a jacket, holding it up in front of Nick, balancing it on the end of one finger. "Look familiar?" she asked.
Nick looked over the long black three quarter length coat and smiled slightly. "Charlie's."
"I can't see her bag," Cass said, carefully passing the coat over and turning back to the bags, moving them away as Nick gently folded it and placed it into an evidence bag. Nick put the bag in the boot of the Panda and went back to her, helping her search under and around the bags.
"Nothing.." he sighed and looked up at Cass. "You gonna call it in?"
Cass nodded and turned away from him, lifting her radio. "Sierra Oscar from 518."