Hiya people. So I wrote the second chapter, then the computer wouldn't load the internet. Turns out loads of people's internets were down. So I totally stressed. Finally the net came back up and while I was writing the last part, the word document deleted all my work, 'cause I hadn't saved it, like every page. I wrote this one in more of a rush because I made a promise and if I do all I can to keep them. Hope it's sufficient.

COLD CASE

Unable to form a reply the day before, Lilly left with a smirk plastered to her face. In all honesty, she didn't expect Scotty to be on the other side of her door so early into the morning. She had almost forgot her definitive mention of going with him, and thought he'd shake her from his invitation at her suggestions. But there he was watching her with an unknown expression, waiting for her to say something, she presumed.

"Scotty?" Her hair mused and eyes heavy, she sleepily yawned.

"It is six-thirty right?" He checked his watch quickly.

In her haze she had much difficulty reading him, but swore she detected nervous jittering in his demeanour.

"Six-thirty? What the hell Scotty?"

"I said I'd pick you up. At least tell me you've got your bag packed."

"I was thinking you'd be round in the morning, not the middle of the night."

"I'm sure I told you."

"Well obviously you didn't or I would have told you that you're insane."

Taking the view that she was not a morning person he pushed both him and her into the house. If she wasn't going to care that she was outside in her pyjamas, he sure would. She just held onto his jacket for balance as he held her arm and closed the door.

"If you wana get there before it gets dark then we leave now, if not we can always leave later."

"You're kidding? Where on earth are we going."

"Chicago. You know, to my parents."

"How am I supposed to know, you never talk about them?"

"Sure I do."

"'This one time my parent's did this' stories don't count. I thought we were going to New York or something."

"Nope, just be glad they don't still live in Miami." He smirked.

"How on earth did you manage to shower, pack and get here before seven? Did you even sleep?"

"Sure. I just went to bed earlier. Like you should-"

"Well, if someone had told-"

"I know, you've said. You might wanna get a shower before you get changed by the way, cause, you'll probably not get one for a while."

"Great. How about you give me five more minutes and come back later."

"Just go for a damned shower."

"Fine."

She walked to the bottom of the stairs and turned around.

"I won't say no to leaving late if you're okay with it." She shrugged.

"Rush, don't make me come up there."

"I have every intention of making you come up here."

The way she said it had been playful, and Scotty was sure she didn't mean what he thought it meant. An image of them in the shower fluttered into his mind and he cursed himself. He had decided previously to sort his act out and this was not helping what so ever. Any red-blooded male would be lying if they said they'd never thought of doing Lily Rush. He even had money on the suspects thinking about it. The problem was, this awareness had evolved into much more than a fleeting thought. And it was getting ridiculous.

"Excuse me?" His voice almost broke as the question was started but he hid it well.

"Well, how else would my bag get packed?"

Phew! Never could he remember being so nervous. And at a miscommunication; it was almost laughable.

"Hey, I never said I'd pack your bag."

"Well, you're the one that wants to leave early."

He held an evil gleam in his eye. "Okay, but don't expect to like what I pick."

"Why would I own clothes I don't like?" She asked innocently before ascending the stairs.

"I do." He shouted, running up the stairs after her. "Lil?"

"In here."

He got to the door as she was pulling out a towel. The room was rather big, as was the bed, he noticed. Trust me to think about the bed. There were various draws and a wardrobe on the far wall, along with a small cabinet by the side of the bed. He walked over to it and opened the top drawer. There the pictures lay. He recognised the few he saw.

'Who would be in your bedroom; besides dead people.'

It wasn't a question that George had asked, but a statement. He remembered it so clearly, as well as the feelings that came with Lilly being locked in that roof. He pushed the photos back in the drawer and with it the reminder. Here he was in her bedroom. Maybe not in the same context as George had meant, but he was still here, proving the sociopath wrong. He scoffed. Like Ray hadn't done that already. He was happy for her…except…that part of him that wasn't really.

He sat heavily on the bed, as he watched his partner rummage for clothes to wear after the shower. Where was Ray anyway? Scotty couldn't help but wonder if Lilly was just trying to distance herself from who she was because of George. Yesterday, she had made that comment and a few weeks ago with Ray. The only thing they reminded him of was what he had with Christina. Physical. A need for something more…but never there.

"Would you not do that?"

"What?"

"Collapse on my bed. Furniture breaks when you do that."

He resisted an eye roll. His mom was always getting at him for that. "Okay."

"How did you afford a place like this?"

"It was my dads."

"Was?"

"Yeah. Happy packing."

She picked up the clothes and towel and went into another room. He sat there for a while, before his brain kicked in. He looked under the bed and in the wardrobe, but couldn't find any sort of bag to put her clothes in. He walked to the closed door and heard the water running.

"Lil?" He shouted, but didn't get a reply.

He knocked a little but didn't hear anything from the other side. He knocked harder and opened the door a crack. He heard a squeak and through the mirror he found himself looking at, saw Lilly's posture turn to the door. She had one of those glass showers with the white blocking a major view, but just the silhouette he got of her body brought a reaction in him that he shouldn't be getting. Fortunately it was pretty steamy inside. She might have missed him.

"Scotty!" Maybe not. "That you?" Maybe so. "What is it?"

"Where's your bag?" He spoke with the same tone as any other encounter. It wasn't the first time she gave him this reaction, and he knew for a fact it wouldn't be the last.

"Shit." He hid a laugh. "Um, I think, uh, try the cupboard downstairs."

It wasn't in the cupboard, but soon enough, he found it, housing an orange cat with one eye. Well at least she was telling the truth about the cats. The cat hadn't given up the duffle bag easy, but lack of something better to use, he got it away. On his way past the bathroom, he noted that the water had stopped and hurried on to his task. Lord knows he had to find at least one skirt to hide in there.

Now he wasn't zooming in on one thing, he was able to notice the dresses she kept in there. He had to double take. One of those were definitely going in. Grabbing any three and a pair of jeans, he folded them haphazardly and stuffed them in. A few skirts here. A couple of tops. A shirt. Some net thing that he presumed was a top.

In his subconscious, he knew he was overdoing it but the clothes were so small and barely took up any room, that his conscious mind didn't clock on. Hoodies, shoes and some outfits he thought may be pyjamas were in next. Travelling methodically upwards through the drawers, the top one sent him for a loop. He reached in and pulled out a pair of very lacy, black underwear.

He knew he shouldn't be this turned on from a piece of clothing, but when it was Lilly's he was dealing with. She may have actually worn these. Every part of him screeched at him to put it back or just throw it in the bag. He didn't. Maybe it was that indecision in the voices that kept him there, but when Lilly walked through the door to see how he was getting on, he merely turned, object in hand.

"Black panties Lil?"

COLD CASE

In next chapter, they start their journey. Don't worry, I'm grabbing a cup of coffee and starting it now. Hopefully it won't manifest into some other story. Rofl. Ttfn.