Flying Under Radar (11)
The next month is going to be manic until I go on study leave, so updates are likely to be few and far between. Damn real life, always getting in the way, eh? I truly appreciate the lovely reviews you keep writing, imo they're better than chocolate ;D
Slight niggle though: I know you mean well, but as an author it's quite off-putting when you've just spent ages writing a new chapter and instantly you get asked for more. I do completely understand though, cause I read fic as well as write it, but please, spare a thought for those of us that actually require sleep!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
(phone rings)
Still half asleep, Jo reached blindly for the alarm clock, groaning at the intrusion into her slumber. Knocking the bottle of whiskey off of the coffee table, even in her sleepy state, Jo was surprised. Normally when she knocked the alarm clock onto the floor the damn thing finally shut up. Waking up enough to recognise the noise as the phone, Jo sat up on the sofa, cursing half-heartedly as her feet landed in a puddle of spilt whiskey, grateful that the bottle hadn't broken. Meanwhile, the phone carries on ringing.
'Alright, alright, I'm coming! Who do you think you-" Jo grumbled, her eyes widening as her short term memory kicked in. "Sam! Shit!"
Rushing into the hall to answer the phone, Jo tripped over one of Tess' suitcases, casually strewn across the floor as they were.
Grabbing the receiver, Jo finally answered the phone.
"Jo Masters."
"Hi Jo, its Sam here." Sam said awkwardly.
The electricity sparked at hearing Sam's voice jumpstarting her brain into action, Jo managed to stammer "Are you okay? How's your vision doing? Is there anything you need?"
"I'm fine Jo, my visions back to normal. I rang 'cause you asked me to, remember?"
"What? Oh yeah, 'course." Jo replied distractedly, having just caught sight of a note from Tess on the table next to the phone.
Jo, I can never apologise enough for hurting you, but things have gone beyond apologies now, so I'm going to stay the night at a friends, and I'll collect my stuff tomorrow, and I'll post my keys back as well. You look so beautiful asleep on the sofa, so serene. I was an idiot to even look at someone else, but what's done is done, and it's all my fault. I hope in time you won't hate me as much, and I truly hope you find someone who can treat you as well as you deserve, because you really are something special.
Love Tess. xxx
"Jo?" Sam asked, "Jo are you there?" The silence on the other end of the line concerning the blonde detective.
"I could never hate you Tess." Jo mumbled as she read the last sentence of the note.
"What? Jo, are you alright?" Sam asked, now thoroughly confused.
"I'm fine." Jo claimed, the wobble in her voice completely undermining her denial.
"Really?" Sam pressed, knowing how stubborn the DC was about opening up to anyone.
Silence.
"Tess left me." Jo said in a small voice.
"Jo I am so sorry. That's the last thing you need after all you've been through tonight."
"Yeah, well to be honest I should have seen it coming I suppose..." Jo's tone was quiet resignation, as she now sat on the hall floor with her head in her hands, wriggling her toes in whiskey soaked socks as she spoke.
"Even so, it's still a blow when it happens though."
"Tell me about it. All I want to do is forget. Everywhere I look something reminds me of her. Can't even get drunk though, gotta work tomorrow." Jo grumped.
"Haven't you checked your messages? Jack rang, said he'd heard about the crash, was glad we're alright, and that we didn't need to go in tomorrow. They've got all the evidence we collected, Walker and Jaimeson are singing like songbirds, and The Fraud Squad have uncovered nearly a hundred bank accounts linked to del Vecchio. They've got more than enough to be going on with; Suzie, Phil and Zain are running the interviews, but we'll still get the main credit for the bust."
"That's great." Jo said, trying, and failing, to summon up anything resembling enthusiasm. The thought of spending a day at home, alone, with reminders of Tess everywhere being entirely unappealing. "I think I might go in anyway, just to get out of the house. I'm sure I could find something useful to do."
"You're more than welcome to come over, I mean, if you want, and...and stuff" Sam offered awkwardly. "I would drive over, but I've got concussion, and you've got my car, so in all fairness, you should come to me." Sam babbled, cringing as she did so.
"That'd be great." Jo managed with a little more enthusiasm. "If that's not too much trouble or anything..."
"To tell you the truth, I'd be glad of the company. Ever since Abi moved out I've just been rattling around this place on my own."
"Well, if I'd be doing you a favour..." Jo smiled, her sense of humour well and truly back in play.
"So I'll see you shortly then, Roadrunner?"
"Who are you calling shorty?" Jo quipped. "I'm just gonna tidy up here, then I'll be over. See you soon."
"See you."
Putting the phone back in its cradle, Jo saw Tess' note again. Sighing deeply she wandered into the kitchen to get a cloth to clean up the whiskey. Mopping up the spilt liquor, Jo dumped the empty bottle in the recycling box before heading upstairs to pack an overnight bag. Quickly changing out of her rumpled red dress into jeans and her favourite grey cardie, Jo grabbed the stuff she needed and practically dived out of the bedroom, so strong were the memories it sparked.
Trying desperately to ignore the images running through her head, there was one memory that no matter how hard she tried, Jo could not ignore. It was the night Tess had moved in with Jo, the night they had first made love. Exhausted from their pleasurable exertions, they had lain on their sides, toe to toe and nose to nose, promising each other to remain true and faithful, pledging their undying love with words and kisses until sleep overtook them both.
Grabbing her bag, Jo took one last look at the photo in the lounge before replacing it on the shelf. Writing a short note to Tess:
I'm also staying at a friends, so please post your key back. Just so you know, I don't hate you Tess, you still mean too much to me for that. Maybe in time we could still be friends. Jo.
Jo grabbed Sam's car keys and headed out into the night.