Chapter 53
Amanda stepped off the elevator and ran right into Fin and jolted her side. "Ouch! Shit Fin I'm sorry." Fin looked at her, "Hey slow down Baby girl. Are you alright?" Amanda knew she should tell him and Liv. She knew that it was wrong to hide it, but she was scared. "Yeah Fin! I'm good!" He shook his head but looked at her funny, "Did you get your coat?" Amanda shook her head, "Yep all ordered. Where's Liv?" Fin moved to his desk, "In with Munch and the Captain. Take a seat, we won't be long." Amanda put her stuff down at Liv's desk, "I'm just going to the bathroom Fin." Fin headed back into the office and Amanda went to the bathroom to check the damage.
Amanda raised her shirt, "Damnit!" Tears pooled in Amanda's eyes, not from the pain, but from the bruises. Olivia would know. Amanda lifted her head almost with a silent prayer. She washed her face and wiped it off, but her cheek was still red. She headed back to face them. They were still in with the Captain, so she sat at Liv's desk to think. She knew she should tell Olivia and Fin. Shit she was surrounded by cops. The door opened and Amanda jumped up startled, "Amanda are you okay?" She shook her head, "Yeah Liv I got the stuff." She squinted her eyes, Amanda never lied well. Olivia walked over to her desk saying, "Ready to go home?" When she got closer to Amanda, she grabbed her chin and turned her face to the light, "How did you get this red mark on your face?" Amanda thought and looked at Fin who had his head tilted some, "Oh I was in hurry coming off the elevator and I ran right into Fin, must have happened then." Olivia looked to Fin for some truth and he didn't deny that it didn't happen, but he knew something was up, "Yeah Liv we bumped into each other. She'll be okay." Amanda started to wonder if she could eventually spin this lie for the bruises on her body, but she had to keep Liv off of her.
Olivia didn't believe it, but she had nothing to say once Fin confirmed it. "Okay! I'm gonna run to the bathroom. Be right back." Fin walked to Amanda and she swallowed hard as he took an authoritative tone with Amanda. "You and I both know, that mark was on your face before you bumped into me. I don't know what you're hiding from her, but don't put me in the middle." Amanda forgot one thing because Fin had been her friend. He laughed, cussed, joked, shot hoops, but he was a cop and cared about her as much as Liv did. Fin saw fear, straight up fear in her eyes. "Yes sir." At those two words, Fin knew that Amanda was trying to tell him something, but couldn't figure it out right at that moment. He turned around to back off, because she was terrified and that's when she grabbed him, "Please don't tell her. I won't do it again." Fin knew something wasn't right, but didn't want to throw Amanda under the bus yet. Olivia came back, "Hey Liv how about I take you and Amanda for lunch and a movie?" Olivia smiled, "I like the sound of all of that especially you paying."
Amanda didn't say much during lunch and they both started asking questions. Olivia even felt her forehead for a fever. Olivia kept looking at the mark on her face, she even asked Fin how hard they bumped into each other because it turned darker. Thank goodness for the movie. It was dark and they had to be quiet. After the movie, Fin invited them to dinner, "Okay dinner and dessert on me. Gotta eat right." He smiled at Amanda who was getting pissed by the second. She finally got him alone, "What the hell Fin? Cut it out." Fin rolled his eyes, "Okay let me tell Liv what I know." She needed a lie and quick so she grabbed his hand, "I'm sorry. I fell okay. I got distracted in the store after I told Liv I was on the way. I was running to catch the subway and fell flat on my face. I didn't want her to know." Olivia returned to hear the very end, "Didn't want me to know what."
Oh my gosh! This is why Amanda didn't lie. Now the lie was turning into another lie, bigger, and spinning out of control. "I fell today. I texted you I was coming, got distracted, and fell flat on my face." She started thinking, is that what she told Fin. Olivia immediately checked her face again, "Did you hit anything else? I knew I shouldn't have left you." Fin was laughing his ass off at this point, "Liv I'm fine." Olivia squinted, "Your butt isn't gonna be fine," turning to slap Fin in the arm who was laughing uncontrollably. "You both lied to me." Amanda spoke up before Fin could throw her under the bus, "We didn't lie, we did bump into each other." Well Fin didn't lie. Amanda sure did though and was still lying. Olivia was going to have her ass. Amanda didn't even know why she was not being honest.
When they finished eating, Fin looked at Amanda's bruise again before leaving. It was long, no scratch or scrap. If she fell like she said, the mark didn't match. He didn't push it, but he thought about it the whole way home. When Olivia and Amanda got home, she asked Amanda, "Baby you want to shower with me." Think Amanda, you can do this. How long will take a bruise to heal. "Liv I'd rather take a bath after my fall today. Do you mind?" She walked to Amanda, "Gosh it was bad huh? I'll take my shower and run you a bath with epsom salt." Amanda smiled, "Thanks Liv." Amanda heard the water turn on and she sat on the bed feeling like a jerk. Then her phone went off. It was Fin.
Fin: You might be fooling Liv, but you're not fooling me. I'm watching you.
"Great!" Olivia opened the door, "Baby your bath is ready." Amanda walked into the bathroom and peeled off her shirt. The bruises were worse. She could almost recognize the fist print on her stomach. They hurt to touch them. She climbed in the tub and cried quietly, so Liv couldn't hear her.
