The stair well was dark and dusty. It was an old apartment building, in a bad part of town. It bothered him that she lived in a place like this. Looking ahead he noticed she was out of sight. "Oh! Jill, wait up!" Sai hurried up the steps after her.
Jill sighed, rather irritated that he followed her all the way here. She had told him to go home after the fight in the alley. "If anyone finds you here, you'll be signing a death warrant." She reached the door to the apartment her and Rachel shared.
"I couldn't let you just walk off by yourself. It was getting dark and..." He stopped when he realized Jill giving him an annoyed look.
"I would have been fine... Copper Boy." She reached up and flicked his hat off his head. "I told you to take that off. Walking around here with your uniform on is bad enough." She turned around and unlocked the door.
Sai frowned and reached down picking up his hat. "Well it's not like I had a change of clothes on me."
Jill sighed and opened the door. "I told you to go home." She walked inside the dark room and flipped the switch for the light.
It was a small apartment. There was a bathroom off to one side and a sad excuse for a kitchen on the other. Two beds were centered against the back wall, under the only window. There was a table and two chairs, other than that it was empty and dark.
"You really live here?"
"Oi! Don't stand in the door way!" Jill grabbed Sai's arm and yanked him into the room then shut the door. "And stay away from the window!"
He felt horrible about what had taken place before, and now, just looking at where she lived made him feel worse. "This is your home?"
"No, I just thought I would find the place that the key I had unlocked." Jill rolled her eyes. "Yes, I live here. Now, why don't you go home? It's dark, it'll be harder to spot you." She gave him a sharp glare. "Won't daddy be worried?" She wasn't sure why, but she spoke harshly to him. Maybe she figured it would make him leave.
Sai raised a brow but said nothing. She wasn't going to force him to leave. He then noticed something. "Where's Rachel?"
"Oh my god!" Jill shouted as she too realized she wasn't there. "Where the hell is she? Oh my god... did Wong? He wouldn't... maybe..."
"Maybe she went to the store to get the medicine you forgot to get."
Jill's face went blank for a moment and then she gave a sheepish grin. "Oh yeah..."
"I'm sure she'll be back. You said she's tough right?"
Jill gave a deep sigh and nodded. "You're right... It's just..."
"It's alright... Here... how about this, I'll stay until Rachel gets back and then I'll leave. Okay?"
Jill made a face as she thought about it. Well... it didn't sound too bad. She nodded finally. "Aright, but you leave RIGHT when she gets back."
"Okay fair enough." Sai smiled, glad he could stay a bit longer.
With a sigh she walked over to the window and pressed her nose against it. How did she get into this mess. A few days ago, things seemed to be looking up. They were on the brink of being free from their contract, but now... she shook her head.
"What are you looking at?" Sai stood behind her, trying to see out the window.
Jill's eyes went wide and she turned, shoving him out of the window's view. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" She bit her lip and put a hand to her forehead. "I mean... I said stay out of sight..."
Sai looked startled and stepped back. He stumbled and fell back on one of the beds. "I'm... I'm sorry. I was just..."
"It doesn't matter... just stay away from the window." She shook her head and then smiled slightly. "You mess up my bed... you have to make it."
He blinked and quickly stood up. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... fall down..." Sai looked at her and frowned. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay." Jill responded in a cold tone and she looked away from him.
Sai was taken back and stayed quiet for a moment. "What's wrong? Can I help?"
"No!" She walked past him and sat down on her bed. "I don't want to talk. Just stay quiet and out of the way."
He looked down and quietly sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. Not close, she seemed angry at him, though he wasn't sure why.
Jill glanced at him from the corner of her eye, he was playing with his hat and looking at the floor. She sighed and glanced back to the floor, feeling guilty for snapping at him before. "You're a good cop, Sai."
He looked up at her and raised a brow. "What?"
"You're a good cop." She looked up from the floor a bit. "You figured out me... from one bad picture."
"No, it wasn't just the picture. I wouldn't have even looked at it... if you hadn't made that comment about my eye."
Jill blinked and shook her head. "I did?" She thought for a moment. "You're right. I gave myself away. I'm loosing my touch." She gave a half hearted smile and looked into his eyes. "Can you do me a favor?"
Sai gave her a confused look and nodded. "Sure, what is it?"
"Arrest me." She put her arms out and gave him a serious look.
"WHAT!"
Jill sighed. "At least if I'm in jail, I can't steal anything right? I bet you'd get big points for bringing me in."
"Stop it, Jill! It's not funny!" He reached out and pushed her arms down.
She sighed and looked away from him. After a moment she glanced over again and he had gone back to playing with his hat. "Okay then... Copper Boy, do me another favor?"
"What?"
"Can I see your hat? Please?" She gave him a pleading look.
Sai raised a brow and with some hesitation, handed it to her. "Why do you want that?"
Jill just smiled and took it. She looked it over for a second or two then placed it on her head. "What do you think? Does it accent my eyes?" She laughed. All she wanted was for him to smile, she felt guilty for snapping at him and all she had put him through.
He gave her a strange look then shook his head. "No, that's not a good color on you. Besides it has my name on it." He pointed at the badge on the front. "Well, my last name..." Reaching out he tried to grab it back.
"Hey!" Jill swatted his hand away. "I'm wearing it now!" As he continued to grab for it, she took it off and tossed it across the room. "Oops... oh well." She smirked. "You don't need it anyway, you already have hat head."
"Oh I do, do I?" He tried to act angry but it was no use, her smile had caused him to forget the hat. He laughed and then ran a hand over his hair to try and fix his so called hat head.
"It's seems like a year since I've last slept."
He turned to look at Jill. She was looking ahead as if lost in thought. She looked suddenly tired and it caused him to feel slightly guilty. After all, things might not have been so bad for her if he hadn't gone snooping around. He noticed the worried look in her eye. "You're thinking about Rachel?"
She didn't look at him, but she nodded a little.
"Rachel seems like a tough girl, if something was wrong I'm sure she would have tried to figure out how to tell you."
Jill looked at him and smiled a little. "Thank you."
Her words were simple, but they had caused him to blush. "Uh,er... well, no big deal right? I'm just speaking the truth."
"I hope she's alright."
"She is, I can sense it."
"Good..." She said after a moment.
He watched her for a moment and then looked ahead himself. He began to think. How was he going to handle this? Should he tell his father? Try to explain everything, Jill had to him? He be understanding.. .wouldn't he? Jill and Rachel were thieves by nature though. They were just black mailed into doing certain jobs. He frowned a little until he felt a odd pressure on his shoulder. Turning to see Jill's head, he suddenly became very tense. 'What was she doing?'
"Uh... .Jill?"
There was a soft groan for an answer. Leaning forward a little Sai saw that her eyes were closed. She had fallen asleep. Looking around the room for a moment, he raised his arm and let it rest around Jill. If Jill was awake, she would have seen his face red as a beet. Slowly, he began to relax, feeling comfortable with Jill so near. Her body was so warm and soft. He smiled to himself. He wouldn't have thought it by the way she kicked and punched though.
"Jill... you're something else."
"Mmmmm..."
Jill groaned once more and curled closer to him. He let his head rest on her's and he soon found it hard to keep his eyes open.
"I'll just.. .rest... for a little..."
And the two youths were still from sleep.
-
It was a powerful kiss, a kiss that had much more to it than desire or lust. A kiss that should have been more, would have been more, if it weren't for Rachel. Her ribs would not let her do anything else but a kiss. But that did not stop the two from enjoying each other's company. They had fallen asleep twined in each other's arms. And that was how they were found the next morning.
"MASTER GEORGE!"
The two jerked awake, Rachel crying out in pain from the sudden movement to her body. George sat up but quickly turned to Rachel and let his arms wrap around her. It took her a moment to realize where she was.
"What is going on here!"
Raymond had called out once more. George looked at Rachel and then turn to glare at Raymond.
"My question exactly. What is the meaning of you coming into my room like this?"
"You were sleeping with her!"
"Yes! We were sleeping! That's it!"
Raymond became quiet for a moment. Rachel let George help her sit up more.
'What have I done? I let my guard down again... damnit...'
Rachel rubbed her head and glanced from the two window. It then became clear to her that she had spent the whole night at George's place. When she first woke up, it seemed like she had only just fallen asleep, and figured that was the case. However, instead of a few hours, it had been the whole night. Snapping back to reality she heard George and his butler arguing, but the words were lost to her.
"I have to go. I shouldn't be here now."
George turned his attention from Raymond to Rachel. She had begun to get out of bed and he reached out to stop her. "You can't. I mean, not in your condition. You shouldn't be up and about."
"I'm fine, really." Rachel pushed his hand away and once again started to get up. She sat on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. Her ribs still hurt, but she had to leave, she had to get home before she was found out.
"Rachel, please. Just rest a bit longer. I'll leave you alone." George tried to reason with her, though was having a hard time finding the right words. It must have been the look on her face. She looked mad, and he figured she was with him.
Slowly, Rachel pushed herself up and looked at the two men before beginning her way to the bedroom door. "No, I'm fine. I need to go home."
George looked from her to Raymond. The older man seemed somewhat happy to see the girl try to leave. As far as he was concerned, she had cause enough trouble.
Frowning, George went over to Rachel and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Please, lay back down. In a few hours, I'll make sure you get home. I can give you a ride there."
Rachel's eyes went wide and she tried to pull away from him. "No!" She couldn't let him find out where she lived, it would give her away. That, and it would put him in danger. She shook her head, realizing she was thinking about George and his safety. Trying to cover her outburst she sighed. "No, I'm fine. I just need to go."
George was taken back. Not by her outburst but by the sudden look of concern in her eyes. She was trying to tell him something. Something that needed to be told, but she wouldn't. Or couldn't. He took a step back from her. He had been to forward. He should not have kissed her. Though he would never regret it. Even now her lips were a secret treat he wanted. Wanted for himself and only him.
"I'm sorry George..."
She spoke to him, breaking his deep thoughts. He looked down at her and realized she had been watching him. NO! Did she think he was upset with her? No, please... don't go! I need you! Why can't I tell you?
"Goodbye George..."
She pushed passed him and hurried towards the front. Raymond eyed her and then eyed George, who could only glare at him. It had caused Raymond to stiffen. Had he done wrong? He had to admit he had not seen George so peaceful before. Suddenly Raymond felt horrible. They both heard the door close and George ran passed him. But it was to late, Rachel was gone. Raymond stared at George who could only look at the floor.
"I'm sorry..."Raymond tried to speak but found it hard. George looked quickly up at him. He was about to raise hell with him but the look on Raymond's face told him all.
"I'll turn in my letter of resignation in sir..."
"No Raymond... you did what you thought was right. It was a mistake, but... I need you Raymond. I can't explain it... but..." George felt a part of him torn away suddenly as he glanced once more towards the door.
-
A thin stream of light managed to shine through the single window and brighten the dark apartment room. Normally, it was an easy thing to shade by just pulling the covers over her head. She had never been a morning person anyway. However, this morning the covers weren't that easy to grab.
Jill held her eyes closed tightly, while feeling around for the blanket. It only took a moment to realize she was on top of it, and that she suddenly seemed heavier. Usually pulling the blanket from under herself was easy, but now there was more weight on the bed. She figured it must have been Rachel, trying to wake her up.
"Go away..." She whined and kept her eyes closed, though the light from the window was beginning to bug her. Reaching up she tried to cover her eyes with her hand, only to realize she still had her glasses on.
In her mind the previous night's events began to play back. She remembered Sai, and fighting with him, then he followed her home. She couldn't remember if he had left. Suddenly she felt sick and opened her eyes slowly. A strange feeling came over her, like she was being watched. Blinking, she noticed a shadow looming over her and without checking to find the source, she screamed.
The scream had done it's work and woke Sai up in a hurry. "What? What is it? What's going on!"
It was then that Sai had noticed the large shadowed figure looking down at them. Without thinking, Sai at once jumped up and stood in front of Jill. He had to arch his head back to just look at the man. He was so large. He couldn't help but gulp.
It was then Jill's turn to jump up. She waved her hand about as she began to yell. "What the hell kind of wake up was that! You're not right Argo! You just don't go around watching people sleep! You damn..." She went on.
It had become clear to Sai, as he thanked God, that this man was not an enemy.
Argo laughed and then turned towards their table to put the bag he had in his arms down. "I couldn't help it, you two were so sweet looking."
Suddenly both Jill and Sai's faces went red.
Jill held her breath for a moment. 'I...I must have fallen asleep on him.' She turned quickly to hide the redness, but the smell of doughnuts had pulled her attention away from her problem at the moment.
"Foooooood!" She said in almost dream like state.
Sai scratched his nose as he watched. 'She does like food, doesn't she?'
Jill took no time rifling through the bag and pulling out a box full of doughnuts. Smiling to herself she popped the lid open and snatched up doughnut, stuffing it into her mouth. She would have grabbed another if Argo hadn't snatched the box from her.
"You should offer guests breakfast first." He smirked and held the box out to Sai. "Better take one before she eats them all."
Sai made a face, and then laughed lightly. He eyed Jill, not sure how someone her size could down a box of doughnuts, however, she was full of surprises. Turning his attention to the doughnut box, he shook his head. "It's okay. I'm not that hungry."
Jill gave him an odd look, suddenly snapping back into reality. It was now day time, and she had a police officer in her apartment. If anyone found out, he was as good as dead. At the moment, she could careless about herself, it was her fault Sai was in this mess to start with. Well, at least in her mind, it was her fault.
She looked up from her thoughts, seeing Argo looming over Sai, trying to get him to at least eat half of a dough nut. She got a flat look to her face and shook her head. "We don't have time for breakfast. We have to get him out of here. If Wong finds out... I. You know what will happen!"
Sai looked up. He knew that Jill was referring to him in her remark. Though, he rather would have remained where he was. He knew that when he returned to the station his father was going to let him have it. Not only did he sneak off from work the day before, he didn't go home that night. Sai mentally cursed himself for falling asleep, however at the same time wished that he would have woken up and the previous day had just been a dream.
Argo eyed the two and couldn't help but laugh a little. "Quite an odd couple uh?"
It had caused both to look at him and then at each other and then quickly away blushing. Argo grinned a little but it quickly changed as they all heard footsteps coming towards the front door. Everyone froze. Argo looked at Jill, Jill looked at Sai and Sai looked at Argo. All three mouthing WONG at the same time. Argo took a step back, not quite sure what he should do but Sai prepared himself for a fight.
Jill became very tense. 'Damnit... what the hell where they going to do now?'
The door knob slowly turned as the door was then pushed opened. A odd moan followed causing Jill to breath once again as she hurried towards the brown haired woman walking in from the hall.
Rachel turned to look at the others in slight shock."What the hell... is this a party? She said somewhat tired.
Jill laughed, but it was more of a nervous one."Well uh..."She tried to explain.
It was then Rachel noticed Sai and glared down at Jill.
Quickly Sai stepped forward."I... found out.
"You mean you were told: She looked at Jill.
"No I had a hunch and I forced it out of Jill."
Rachel suddenly became tense and took a step towards Sai. "You what?" She said slightly deadly.
Jill stepped in this time. "I wanted to tell him. He didn't have to do anything Rachel. But he won't tell."
"Yes he will..." Rachel looked at Sai and then at Argo. She frown more but pushed herself away from the group. "I need to sleep..."
Walking towards the beds, she laid down slowly. Her ribs where broken still. She had forgotten about it. She looked back at the others and could only sigh.