Chapter Thirty-Four: Promises

Rollins stared down at the receiver in a bout of both frustration and shock after Jo had hung up the phone on him.

He slammed the phone down and ran his hands through his hair. Goddammit!

"We got it!" One of the police officers crowed triumphantly, indicating they had finally traced the actual whereabouts of Jo and Blair's location.

Rollins, Natalie and Tootie watched as everyone else in the room sprang into action excitedly.

"What's going on?" Tootie asked concernedly.

"Calling the bureau right away. We gotta get to New Mexico," McNeal informed her as he dialed. "And fast – before your friends leave the country."

Nothing good's gonna come from this. I gotta do something, Rollins thought frantically.

"Wait!" Rollins yelled out. Everyone stared at him in surprise.

"Now, listen," Rollins said calmly. "I want to go with you, McNeal. No…I should go with you. I'm the only one Mrs. Bonner has ever spoken with. I just don't want anyone losing their heads over this situation here. You know how it goes – the volume goes way up and the next thing you know, those girls are gonna get themselves shot. So please, let's be smart about this."

Natalie and Tootie both nodded their agreement, giving Rollins thankful smiles.

"If being smart means having Jo and Blair in one piece, that's fine by me. I may be questioning where I stand with them, but I don't want to see them get hurt," Tootie said.

"What she said," Natalie chimed in.

McNeal, still in surprise of Rollins' outburst, stood speechless at first. He swallowed his dry throat.

"Okay, Ted," he finally said. "You can come."

Jo finally met Blair outside the store near their car. Blair stood with her back against the front of the store with her arms crossed, gazing forlornly at the sky.

"Wanna talk? What was all that about?" Jo asked her curiously.

Blair only sighed, absentmindedly kicking away a tiny pebble. She looked down, away from Jo.

Jo placed a finger under Blair's chin and tilted her head upwards so she could see Blair's face.

"Blair?" She asked softly. "What is it?"

"Were you really going to make a deal with that guy, Jo?" Blair asked her in a small voice.

Jo looked at Blair in surprise. "Huh?" That's what she's worried about?

"Blair, I'm not makin' any deals," Jo assured her.

"Well, I can understand if you were thinking about it," Blair rambled. "I mean, in a way, you have something to go back for. I mean, Rick and everything."

Jo stared at Blair in surprise. Where is all this comin' from? Does she really think I'd leave her now? After all we've been through together?

"Blair, that is not an option," she said sternly.

Blair sighed, giving Jo a sad smile. "I don't know, Jo," she said, her voice cracking with emotion as she turned her back away from Jo. "I just feel like…I don't know…like something has crossed over in me and I just can't go back. I just can't. I mean, I just couldn't live."

Jo reached out to grab one of Blair's hands and squeezed it tightly. She then slowly turned Blair around to face her.

"Yeah," she said in a whisper. "I know what ya mean." She then pressed her lips against Blair's in a soft and tender kiss.

"I don't wanna end up on the damn Oprah Winfrey Show," she joked after she had removed her lips from Blair's. She then pressed her forehead against Blair's forehead, toying with her hair.

Blair chuckled a little which made Jo smile but then she stopped laughing almost immediately and gave Jo a serious look.

"Jo?" She asked.

"Yes, Blair?"

"You're not going to give up on me, are you?" Blair asked anxiously. She then tightened her grip on Jo's hand.

"Whaddya mean?" Jo asked in confusion.

"I mean, you're not going to make a deal with that guy, are you? Give up on me and make a deal with him? I mean…if I lost you…I don't know what I would do…"

Jo kissed Blair again, much more passionately in an effort to shut her up.

"I promise…I'm not goin' anywhere. Like ya said, Blair…we're in this together."

Blair gave Jo a big smile. "Good," she replied, relieved. She felt her insecurities begin to ease away a little. She turned and walked towards the car, opening the door and getting into the passenger seat.

Jo followed and got into the driver's side.

"There is one thing, though," she said, turning to Blair.

"Oh?" Blair asked, facing Jo. "What is it?"

"He said they're gonna charge us with murder."

Blair only made a face as if she'd smelled or tasted something disgusting. "Ewwwwww," she remarked comically.

Jo shook her head, playfully slapping Blair's arm.

"He also told me we have to decide whether or not we wanna come out of this alive or not," she concluded.

Blair pursed her lips in playful thought. "Gosh," she replied as Jo started the car. "Did he not say anything positive at all?" She then bit her lip, trying her hardest not to laugh.

Jo only shook her head, rolling her eyes playfully as she drove away down the road.