—just wanted to let you all know I love reading comments, and what you like or didn't, what you want next, etc! I'd love to reply back but can't! Just wanted you guys to know! The more feedback I get the more motivated I am to write!—

Wednesday April 27th 2022

Couple days later, Joes suspension was over and he was at Jamie and Eddie's precinct this afternoon.

"Hey thanks for coming by." Jamie said.

"Sorry I was held up in Queens, busting some guys at a gun show." Joe said and followed Jamie.

"I heard, nice work." Jamie replied.

"Still waiting to hear what this is about. Who's asking for me?" Joe asked following Jamie into his office.

"Eddie responded to a call, woman got pushed around in her apartment. Very distraught, upset, couldn't get much out of her other then she needed to see you."

"Okay, Does she have a name?" Joe asked.

"Taylor Zimmerman ring a bell?"

"Taylor?! Uh yeah!" Joe panicked and headed off to where she'd be.

"Wait, Joe!" Jamie tried to stop him but he was gone.

"Taylor, What happened!?"

"My ex. He got pissed and…"

"He hit you? Has he done this before?" He asked pushing her hair back to see her eye. Taylor didn't answer, but by the emotions on her face and the fact she started crying, he figured that was a yes.

"You should've told me. I could've helped."

"No, he would've known, he took my phone and ran. He's probably halfway out of the state by now." She shook her head.

"Joe." Eddie was at the door, wanting to talk to him. He left the room, shutting the door and stood with Eddie in the hall.

"Why isn't she getting checked out at the hospital!?" He asked her.

"She insisted she come here and see you first." Eddie told him.

"What's the guys name?" He asked.

"Chris Fockner, there's nothing on him, first offense." she told him.

"So there's nothing even in the system about him, no picture?"

"No, his license picture is outdated big time." She said disappointed too.

"Did you see him?" He asked frustrated.

"I didnt-"

"Fuck." He rubbed his hand down his face.

"BUT I did make some calls, the building has cameras. So if you want we could-" Eddie started.

"Let's go." He was fired up and ready to find this guy. Eddie went to tell Jamie, and Joe arranged Taylor to get get checked out at the hospital.

——

After finding absolutely nothing all day of where this guy is they called it a day. They had a tip, he was in Pennsylvania somewhere so it was out of there jurisdiction anyway. Hopefully he'd get flagged at a toll eventually and they'd get him but not much they could do.

——

Kelsey came over to stay at Joes tonight. Over dinner he told her about his day with Taylor and her ex. Kelsey didn't mind much, she knew he liked her more then Taylor and he was just doing his job.

They were getting ready to watch a movie later when Joes phone buzzed. It was Taylor.

"Can you come over?" She texted him. Joe didn't respond because Kelsey was coming out of the bathroom and snuggled right back up to him for the movie. Little did he know she saw it over his shoulder.

45 minutes later, while Kelsey and Joe were having a heavy make out session on the couch, his phone started ringing.

"Ugh. Sorry." He got off her and answered it.

"I think someone's trying to break in." Taylor said crying over the phone.

"What!? I'll be right there!" He hung up and told Kelsey the dilemma as he ran out the door. Maybe the the son of a bitch came back to finish what he started.

—-

On his way he called Jamie and told him what was going on.

When Joe got there he checked out her entire place. There was no signs of anything. The noise she heard was a mop bucket that fell off the washing machine.

"I'll call sergeant Reagan back and tell him to put an officer at your door and one outside if that will make you feel better." He told her.

"Can't you just do it. Stay here tonight with me?" She asked, a blubbery mess.

"No I can't." He called Jamie and requested two officers at her place like he said he would. Taylor was a mess while he was on the phone.

"They'll be here in 10 minutes." He said when he hung up with him.

"I don't wanna be here alone." She told him again.

"Taylor, no one was breaking in, try and remember that."

"I don't care! I just got beat up by my ex boyfriend! You really think I'm gonna be able to just go to sleep soundly tonight!?" She blew up. Joe was stressing, he vigorously scratched his head.

"Well your gonna have to try. I'm sorry. There's not much else I can do." He said, she took a deep breath.

When the officer got there Joe talked to him and then came back inside to say he was leaving and she was in good hands.

"Wait. Please don't leave me." She said.

"Taylor. I can't stay. I'm sorry." He told her, she was crying, so scared, and practically shaking. It hit him hard, this hurt him too.

"Please." She begged, through tears. He approached her and wrapped his arms around her.

"There's two officers outside, all night, watching everything. You'll be okay." He held her in his arms tightly, she was getting her tears all over his shirt. She pulled away a little to look at him.

"You'll be fine." He told her. Her eyes were red, full of tears, her face flushed. They still got caught in a stare and…

She kissed him. They both couldn't help but miss seeing each other. Joe didn't want to think it but he did. Seeing her so scared made his heart all but shatter.

"I can't." He stopped the kiss after a couple seconds.

"I can't do that." He told her again. His heart broke to see her like this, but he was with Kelsey now, Taylor called it off so it's on her. Besides he was starting to fall in love with Kelsey, he couldn't mess that up.

He left and headed home not turning back once.

———

Kelsey laid in bed wide awake, she couldn't stop thinking about Joe having to deal with Taylor not only today but now tonight.

An hour later Joe got back to his apartment. It looked like Kelsey was out cold sleeping so he snuck into bed beside her and tried to go to sleep.

"Are you cheating on me?" She called out in the silence. Joe turned to face her, confused and concerned.

Did she know Taylor kissed him? No, there's no way. Besides he didn't think that was cheating if he didn't initiate it and stopped it. He also ignored the feelings he had for her when he was there. He told himself he was with Kelsey not her. He couldn't feel that way about her.

"I would never do that" He told her, Kelsey picked her head up a little to see him more.

"Then why did she text you earlier about coming over?" She questioned. It took Joe a second to think.

"I don't know babe. Probably because she's scared. I don't know, I should've just put an officer outside her place from the start." He told her.

"Well yeah. Then she wouldn't be interrupting our night." She told him.

"I'm sorry. I guess it's just part of the job." He said and got closer to cuddle with her.

"Huh. Yeah." She started to sit up annoyed.

"Kels what?" Joe sat up in bed to talk to her.

"Just wait here." She told him and went to the bathroom. 30 seconds later she came out in a black laced lingerie set.

"Woah." Joe got out of bed and immediately started kissing her.

"Tonight was the night." She told him pulling away for a second. Joe was thrilled, finally.

"I'm sorry." He said and smiled, grabbed her and pushed her onto the bed, climbing on top of her, continuing to kiss her.

One thing leading to the next, clothes coming off left and right and before they knew it they were finally having sex for the first time, with each other.

———

Soooo who thinks Joe should tell Kelsey about the kiss? Or should he just never speak of it? His relationship with Kelsey is finally taking off in the right direction it seems!