Heart Warmer-2
Susie sat on the couch and watched as JJ did a fashion parade showing off all the clothes they had bought that day.
"Wow you look great in that." Susie commented when JJ walked out wearing a denim skirt and a peasant top.
"Really?"
"Yeah. It really suits you. Hey I have an idea. Keep that outfit on. I'm taking you out to dinner."
"No you don't have to do that."
"It's nothing really. I've got all this money and nothing better to spend it on." Susie replied.
"Are you sure?"
"Of Course. It's great having someone I can relate to. You're like my little sister all over again." Susie smiled.
"I've always wanted a big sister."
"Well I guess if you want I could be your big sister."
"Are you kidding?" JJ cried. "That would be great. Better than great." JJ jumped into Susie's open arms and the two of them held each other in the tight embrace.
"Well I guess it's time for dinner. Just let me get changed and we'll get out of here." Susie pulled away. "I wont be long." She rushed into her room. She emerged a few minutes later wearing a pair of bootleg jeans and a black Singlet top.
"You look great." JJ smiled.
"Thankyou. I don't usually get people complimenting my clothes."
"Well you'd better get used to it." JJ told her.
"I'm sure I will." Susie replied. She grabbed her bag and linked arms with JJ then the two of them walked out of the house and climbed into Susie's convertible. (AN: I know she probably doesn't have a convertible but in my fic she does!)
"I love this car." JJ cried as they were driving along and the wind was blowing through her hair.
"So do I. Best thing I ever bought." She replied.
"How could you afford it? I mean these cars are always so expensive."
"Well you see it's a complicated story. I used to be married. That was until my husband was shot." Susie explained to her what had happened as they drove along.
"Oh." JJ fell silent. "I'm sorry."
"Hey it's not your fault. I guess it was my own fault for being so pushy." Susie replied. "I should have been more understanding. Maybe then we could have worked it out." She added. "Before he died he had filled out a life insurance policy. And he changed his will to leave everything he had to me." She explained. "$1,500,000 to be exact. I guess he was just looking after me."
"Wow." Was all that JJ could say. "And you used the money to get your house and car?"
"Among other things."
"Doesn't it hurt? I mean using the money he left for you. Surely there has to be some sort of pain when you think about how you got it."
Susie pulled the car into the Imperial parking lot.
"Well there is sometimes. But I think I'm ready to move on. I mean I still think about Brad a lot. Whenever I see something that reminds me of him I start thinking about how happy we were." A tear escaped from her eye and she wiped it away.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."
"Don't apologise. I actually feel so much better. I haven't been able to talk to anyone about Brad before now."
"Really?"
"Yeah. It feels so much better to have my feelings out in the open. I've had them bottled up for so long now."
"Well I was glad to help you." JJ replied and she leaned over and gave Susie a hug.
"Thanks." Susie replied and she smiled.
"Hey do you know where the bathroom is?" JJ asked as they walked into the pub.
"Just down the hall to the left." Susie pointed.
"Thanks. I wont be long.'
"I'll grab us a table." Susie said and she walked up to the bar.
"Hey Suse." Chris said. "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if I could grab a table for two in the dining room?"
"Not joining the others tonight?"
"Actually no. I'm having dinner with a friend."
"Oh." Chris raised her eyebrows. "This 'friend' wouldn't happen to be someone I know would it?"
"No I don't think so. She's only been in town for a few days." Susie explained.
"Ah. It's a female friend." Chris replied.
"What did you think I had a date or something?" Susie almost laughed.
"Well not exactly." Chris replied. "Anyway right this way." She led Susie through to the dining room and she sat down.
"I'll get James to bring you a menu." Chris said.
"Thanks Chrissie."
"No problems." Chris replied and she walked off. A few minutes later JJ emerged from the bathroom and wandered towards the dining room.
"Hey!" Susie called. "Over here." She waved to JJ.
"Hey." JJ made her way over and sat down.
"So what do you feel like eating for dinner?" Susie asked as James the hired help brought over a couple of menus.
"Thankyou." They said as James passed the menus to them.
"I'm not sure." JJ said to Susie. "The Italian meatball spaghetti sounds nice." JJ suggested.
"I think I might have one of Chris's famous steaks." Susie replied.
"Sounds tasty. But I'm not really one for steak. I'm more of a chicken person." JJ replied.
"Chicken is not one of my favourite meats." Susie replied.
"Really? I love chicken." JJ laughed and the two of them started a conversation about their favourite foods.
Later that night Susie was heading back from the bathroom past the stairs when Jonesy walked down them.
"Hey." He said and Susie looked up.
"Oh it's you." She mumbled.
"Look I'm sorry about what I said before. I'm just worried you're going to get hurt." He smiled at her.
"Like I said before. JJ is a perfectly fine young woman who just needs someone to love her that's all. And right now I'm the only possible candidate for that." Susie replied. "If you have a problem with that then take it out on someone else. I'm not interested. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get back to dinner with JJ."
Jonesy sighed as she walked off. He walked back up the stairs wondering if this was how Susie had felt when she was trying to help with Donna. All he wanted to do was help her but she just wouldn't listen.
"You're here early." Mark commented as Jonesy walked through the front door of the station the next morning ½ hour before his shift started.
"I've got some things I have to organise before my shift starts." He replied.
"Fair enough." Mark replied and Jonesy walked into the mess room. He dumped his bag in his locker then headed out to his desk.
"Hey Serge?" He asked.
"Yes Constable Jones?" Mark replied.
"Do we have the number for child services around at all?"
"Ah it should be in the phone book." Mark replied. "Why? Something happen to someone you know?"
"No. Just want to check something."
"Ok fair enough." Mark turned back to his work.
"Ah here we go." Jonesy dialled the number her had found.
"Good morning St David's Children's Help Centre how can I help you?" A young female voice asked.
"Yes Hi. It's Constable Evan Jones here from Mt Thomas police. I was wondering if I could make a few enquires."
"Sure." The woman replied. "What would you like to know?"
"I was wondering if you had the records for a…Jesika Lowman?" He asked.
"Hold on a second and I'll check." Jonesy listed to the hold music that was playing.
"Are you there?" The woman asked a few minutes later.
"Yes." Jonesy replied.
"I'm sorry but we don't have anyone by that name on record. If you want I can put you through to the Melbourne office. They may have some record there."
"Yes thankyou that would be great." Jonesy replied.
"Ok. Just hold on a minute and I'll put you through."
"Melbourne Children's services Linda Speaking how may I help you?" Another woman's voice came on the line.
"Hi it's Constable Evan Jones from Mt Thomas Police here. I was wondering if you had any record of a Jesika Lowman at all?"
"I'll just check for you. Please hold."
"What's your interest in Jesika Lowman?" Mark asked.
"Just doing a check-up that's all." Jonesy replied.
"This would have anything to do with the fact that she's staying with Susie would it?"
"I'm just worried about her. I don't trust this girl."
"Evan she's just a kid…" Mark started.
"A kid who committed a crime." Jonesy retorted.
"Are you there?' Linda asked.
"Yes." Jonesy replied.
"Well it seems we have three people by that name." She explained. "Would you mind spelling her name for me?" Linda asked.
"J. e. s. i. k. a. L. o. w. m. a. n." Jonesy spelt it out to her.
"Right." Linda said. "If you like I can fax the information off to you?' Linda asked. "Or we could send it by mail which could take up to 7 days to reach you?"
"Fax would be great." Jonesy replied.
"Ok so what was the number?"
Jonesy told her the fax number.
"Ok we'll send that right over." Linda replied. "Thankyou for calling."
"Thanks." Jonesy replied and he hung up the phone.
"If a fax comes in for me will you let me know?" Jonesy said and he stood up.
"Ok." Mark replied as Jonesy walked into the Mess room once again.
Later that day when Susie got to work she noticed that there was a fax sitting in the machine. She was about to pull it out when Mark grabbed it.
"Ah that's for me." He said. "Sorry I should have pulled it out before." Mark smiled.
"Oh." Susie replied. "So what have you got for me to do?"
"You and Evan are on Patrol." Mark replied. "He should be back in a second."
"Were is he?"
"Ah…" Mark started.
"I'm right here." Jonesy said as he walked up behind Susie. "Ready to go?" He had his jacket on and keys in his hand.
"Sure." Susie replied.
"Evan before you leave
"I'll meet you in the car."
"Ok." Susie headed out of the station.
"Yes?" Jonesy asked.
"This came for you." He handed the fax to Jonesy.
"Thanks." He looked at it. "What? This cant be right." He said after a few minutes.
"What is it?" Mark asked.
"I've got to tell Susie." He quickly ran out to where Susie was waiting by the car.
"Gee what's your hurry?' Susie asked when she saw him running.
"Look at this." He thrust the paper into Susie's hand.
"What is it?"
"Promise not to get mad at me?" He asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I called Child services to check out Jesika's background."
"You what!" Susie cried.
"Before you go off at me read the information they faxed me." He referred to the paper. Susie slowly read it.
"What? No this can't be right?" Susie cried. "There has to be some mistake."
"Well I don't think there is." Jonesy replied. "They can't have mistaken something like that."
"I don't get it. Why wouldn't she have told me?" Susie asked.
"I don't know. She didn't tell any of us."
"I have to talk to Jes about it." Susie said. "Tell the Boss I'm taking personal time."
"Susie no." Jonesy started but before he could stop her she had taken his keys and was driving off with the Patrol car.
"Susie." He closed his eyes. "Please don't let her do anything stupid!" He looked up at the sky.
"What are you doing here?" Mark asked when he saw Jonesy walk back into the station. "I thought I heard the car drive off."
"You did."
"Then why aren't you in it?"
"Susie borrowed it."
"What do you mean 'borrowed'?" Mark asked.
"She said to say she's taking some personal time. Look I have to talk to the boss ok." Jonesy headed into Tom's office without knocking.
"Jones what are you doing? Don't you know how to knock."
"Sorry." Jonesy apologised.
"Aren't you supposed to be on patrol with Raynor?"
"That's the problem. She's taken off with the patrol car."
"What?" Tom started getting angry.
"Before you get angry she has a good excuse."
"Well I'm waiting."
"Do you remember that girl we brought in who was shoplifting the other day?"
"What's she got to do with this?"
"Well she's staying with Susie and we just found out that…well she's…well Jo she…"
"What's this got to do with Parrish?" Tom asked.
"Well you see Jesika Lowman is really Jesika Parrish."
Well what do you think? Please give feedback and I will continue!
Jess
