A/N: I apologize for taking so long to post this latest chapter. Life has been hectic and left me little time to write. I'm hoping the New Year affords me more time. I did want to give you a present for the Holiday though. :)
CHAP 6
Following Jo in, Blair's worst fears were realized when the brunette called out. "Honey…I'm home."
Blair fought back the sick feeling that started to form in her stomach as the words left Jo's mouth. Although she was curious, the blonde wasn't sure she could handle meeting the brunette's girlfriend. So, she was stunned…no...mortified when a familiar voice called out in a tirade from their right.
"Don't you honey me, Joanna Marie Polniaczek!"
No…it can't be! She's not…she just can't be! Blair thought, as the sick feeling worsened.
"There's a shooting at the precinct, in front of the precinct, you're involved and I have to hear about it on the news?!" The voice had gotten louder.
"Nat!" Jo said firmly, trying to interrupt - to no avail - her roommate who had charged in from a hallway to her right.
"No phone call…no message to let me know you're okay. Not one word!" the woman continued.
"NAT!" Jo said a bit louder, but the young woman wasn't listening.
"I'm crazy with worry.." Nat went on, waving her hands about. "About to have a heart attack…and, the only way I find out you're okay, is when one of the camera guys catching you leaving the station with another one of your…"
Since the redhead wasn't listening, Jo had done the only thing she'd could have to silence her friend - she'd stepped aside to reveal Blair standing behind her. The brunette would have laughed at the expression on Nat's face, but in truth, she was more worried that Nat would have said something that Jo would have regretted.
The two former roommates stared at each other in disbelief - Blair, because she thought that Natalie and Jo were together, which she realized they weren't; and Nat, because she never would have imagined that Jo would bring the heiress to their apartment.
Jo let out a small laugh at the awkward silence. "Who'da thought…the both of you…speechless. Too bad I don't have a camera."
Natalie was the first to regain her senses. "What in heavens is she doing here?!" she angrily asked Jo.
Offended, not only by the girl's snide tone, but, also by the way Natalie was dismissively pointing at her, Blair fired back. "Me?! What are you doing here?!" Blair's tone conveyed the fact that she felt Natalie was the one who was intruding.
Taken aback at first, Nat sputtered. "Listen here Blair…." but she got nothing more out.
"Stop it! Both of you!" Jo intervened, though, her words were more directed at Natalie. "Blair…Nat shares my apartment. She lives in that half," the brunette explained pointing in the direction the other woman had come from. "Nat…Blair's gonna be stayin' here for awhile."
"WHAT?!" asked both women – loudly – at the same time.
"You heard me," Jo said firmly, giving them both a look that silenced the pair. "Now…" she said as she glanced down at her shirt. "I'll be back in a minute," With that, Jo turned and headed for her half of the apartment.
It only took about ten seconds of glaring at Blair before Nat spouted, "Oh…Hell no!" and went after Jo.
Blair watched as her, formerly, close friend stormed off. She didn't understand the animosity Natalie had for her anymore now than she had ten years ago, when the redhead had moved out not long after… How had things gone so wrong then? The heiress, once again, pulled the worn leather jacket that she was still wearing, tightly around her and pushed the memories away. As she let out a small calming sigh, Blair was amazed that just wearing the brunette's coat was enough to give her comfort. The blonde shook her head as a small, sad smile formed. It seemed like forever since she'd felt this…secure. Blair's smile brightened a bit as she let her mind wander. She realized that Jo had actually stepped between herself and Natalie in a defensive way. Even if she hadn't meant it that way, Jo was protecting me. Blair thought.
Feeling reassured, Blair relaxed and finally took in the 'great' room that she and Jo had entered when they first came through the apartment door. Even by the heiress's standards, the room was HUGE, and Blair was a little stunned. The first time Jo had been to Monica's Manhattan apartment, she'd griped that her own mother's apartment would fit in the living room. And now? The room Blair stood in could probably hold, not only Monica's living room, but, also Rose's apartment – side by side – with room to spare.
The far wall was made up of mostly windows, with two large sliding glass doors that gave access to an outside deck area. That, coupled with the multiple skylights in the high ceiling, provided abundant natural light to the room. To the left of where they came in, Blair saw two doors. She guessed, by the size of the one, that it was a closet and that the other was a powder-room. Just past those doors, was the hallway that led to Jo's half of the apartment. A thoughtful, hopeful look crossed the blonde's face as she wondered if she'd be going down that hallway later. The remainder of the left side was a wall that contained a fairly large fireplace, about midway down, with built-in shelves on either side, that held a variety of books, photos, and collectibles. There were some Art-deco wall hangings that took up the empty spaces. At the far end of the left side, set by the far wall, was an oversized, comfy looking, lounge chair, with matching pillows and a throw blanket. It was under a skylight and angled so that one could look out the windows.
What really caught Blair's eye, though, was the large picture of an ocean scene above the fireplace. Although it was a beautiful depiction of the ocean at dusk, with the sun just setting at the horizon, it was the fine, evenly spaced horizontal lines that ran all the way across it, that drew the blonde's attention. The lines didn't necessarily distract from the picture, but she couldn't understand why they were there. What was obvious to her, by the placement of the comfortable looking, overstuffed chairs, rather large couch, and coffee and end tables, was that the fireplace was the focal point of that half of the room.
To her right, besides the hallway that led to Nat's side of the apartment, was a large open kitchen area, with an island and an L-shaped counter that served to 'separate' it from the living area, but still left it conducive to entertaining. Stools were set along the outside of the counter, so it could be used as a breakfast bar. Blair couldn't help but smile seeing the large stove, oven and, refrigerator, thinking that definitely their former mentor, Mrs. Garrett, would be in heaven in this kitchen.
Filling out the rest of the right side was a large wood dining table, with seating for ten and, against the wall was a similar looking large buffet hutch. Blair couldn't quite tell if the slightly rustic, distressed pair were antiques or, just well-worn.
Hanging on either side of the hutch were lithographs of the New York skyline. Blair frowned slightly at the mixed décor, but had to admit, it seemed to give the room a homey feel. Rounding out the right side was a baby grand piano, that faced in towards the living space.
Blair took her time looking over the entire room and all it's details and, she had to admit that, despite all of the lavishness, the eclectic mix of furnishings gave the room a comfortable, welcoming feel. It felt like...Jo. The room was actually how Blair imagined the brunette would decorate. However, the extravagances, the soft calming colors of the walls, the plants and flower vases spread throughout, plus, the pillows and throws that accentuated the furniture – all items she herself would have added - only further convinced Blair that Jo definitely had a girlfriend. All those simple 'feminine' touches, that she was sure, the rough and tumble Bronx native had no interest in, had to have been put there by someone. Slipping off her shoes, Blair settled into the oversized chair, curling her legs beneath her and stared out the window. She let out a soft, sad sigh at the thought of what her life could have been.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Natalie asked angrily as she stormed into Jo's room, not even bothering to knock.
"I think I'm changing," the brunette answered equally annoyed, then grimaced as she lifted the hem of her shirt. She'd already laid out a fresh shirt on the bed. "Do ya mind?" Jo had wondered how long it would be before Nat came after her.
"Please, I've seen you in less," the red-head said dismissively, brushing off Jo's comment. "Besides, that's not what I meant and you know it," she reverted back to her indignant tone. "How could you…You're bleeding!" Nat's angry tone was replaced with one of concern as she, just now, noticed the red stain on Jo's shirt.
"How could I bleed? It's usually what happens when you get shot," Jo replied sarcastically. "And, I was bleeding, I'm not anymore," she said calmly, trying to curb her annoyance. "Now...can ya give me a hand?" Jo lowered her arms after only managing to get her shirt halfway up. Normally she wouldn't have had trouble, but Jo hadn't noticed how tight Blair's grip had been on her waist on the ride over, and now, she was a bit sore. It wasn't that the blonde had squeezed her too tight - Blair seemed to have been conscious of Jo's injury - but the pressure had been just enough to irritate the wound.
Natalie heard the frustration in Jo's voice and noted the difficulty she was having, so she took pity on her. "Here...give me that," she said reaching for the shirt hem. "Bend forward a bit," she suggested. When the brunette did as she was told, Nat carefully eased the shirt over Jo's head, tossed it aside, then grabbed the clean shirt and helped Jo put it on. "So...are you okay?" the redhead asked, with obvious worry in her voice, as Jo pulled the shirt down.
"Yea...I'm ok," Jo nodded, appreciative of her friend's concern. "Casey stitched me up," Jo explained. "Guess Blair held on too….um, it got sore on the ride here is all," she added, quickly covering.
"Yea….about that…." Nat caught the cover-up, but let it go. "You want to explain to me why she's here?" she asked, folding her arms across her chest. She was calmer now, but still miffed.
"Look, it's not my fault, okay?" the brunette answered, as she pulled some extra clothes from her dresser. "It...it just kind of...happened," she responded to Nat's skeptical expression. "Look, she's the reason the captain called me in. Well…actually, David Warner was, but…."
"Wait a minute..." Nat cut her off. "What's Blair's father have to do with this?" she asked confused.
"It was all his idea," Jo said shaking her head. "He wanted me to 'watch over' her. Be her...bodyguard."
"He what?! Are you serious?" Nat asked, her anger rising again. "And what? You couldn't say no?" she asked accusingly, getting in Jo's face.
"Of course I did!" Jo fired back menacingly, which backed her friend up a step or two. "David thought he could use my suspension against me," Jo went on, glaring at Nat. "Thought he could 'persuade' me to take the job, by saying he'd 'put in a good word for me.' if I'da agree ta babysit his precious princess. Ya should'a seen him...all pompous and full of himself," Jo said with disgust, her Bronx accent becoming stronger. "The jerk even had his own bodyguard with him," the brunette added shaking her head. "He coulda got anyone ta watch her, but, he just wanted ta yank my chain is all. Show me I still wasn't anything more than a 'tool' in their world. The bastard."
The brunette mumbled the last part, but it was loud enough for Nat to hear. The hurt, anger, and disappointment were evident in her friend's voice. Jo Polniaczek was one of the strongest, toughest people Natalie Green had ever met. During her time with the NYPD, the brunette's daring and sometimes heroic exploits - though she was quick to dismiss any praise, stating she was only doing her job - had definitely earned her the 'Super' moniker she'd been given. But, like all super heroes, Jo had her weaknesses, and, one of her biggest was sitting out in the other room, waiting for them.
Aware of the history between the two, Nat had an idea of what effect Blair's presence was having on Jo and could only imagine what the brunette's reaction to David Warner had been. Nat let out a sigh as she calmed down, took a small step forward, and placed her hand on Jo's arm. "Ok, Jo. How 'bout you tell me what happened that has Blair sitting in our living room?"
Seeing the genuine sympathy in Natalie's eyes, Jo let out a heavy sigh and sunk down onto the edge of her bed. The clothes from the dresser, still in her hands, rested on her lap. "I really didn't want this, Nat," she said shaking her head looking up at her roommate. "I really did say no," she added, a slightly lost look on her face.
"I believe you Jo," Nat answered sitting down beside her. "I shouldn't have yelled at you," she added with a small apologetic smile.
"It's ok," Jo replied with a half - smile of her own. "I get it. So…you wanna know what happened? Well…."
Jo proceeded to tell her friend the basics of the meeting in Captain Ames' office. How David was the one who insisted on Jo being brought in, her initial reaction to seeing him there; which drew a smirk from Nat, and, that whatever it was David wanted, Jo wasn't interested. She started to tell Nat about the hate mail David had received….."Surprise, surprise," the redhead said as she rolled her eyes….and, that he wanted to hire Jo as a bodyguard - even bringing up her past actions as a cop to persuade her. Jo said she immediately turned him down, saying that David didn't need her as she pointed to the guy he had brought with him. David Warner had countered that it wouldn't be him she would be guarding.
Nat got a nasty feeling in the pit of her stomach, as she watched as Jo's defiant demeanor dropped along with her gaze. Green eyes were now focused on the clothes Jo held in her lap. "Jo? What is it?" Natalie questioned, not sure she was going to like the answer.
"She said it would be her."
Jo's voice was low and the red-head wasn't sure she'd heard right. "What was that?" Natalie asked, as she sat down on the bed next to her friend.
"She said it would be her," Jo repeated. "Blair was there in the office, Nat," Jo went on. "Without even looking…I knew she was there the minute I walked into Ames' office," The brunette closed her eyes, inhaled and remembered. "Aviance," Opening her eyes, Jo looked at her friend, a wistful kind of expression on her face. "No one smells like Blair."
With the level of emotion in her voice, Nat knew Jo was willing her to understand. But, the younger girl also knew how much Jo had been hurt by their one-time roommate. She was about to point that fact out when Jo went on.
"I didn't look at her but, I could feel her watching me the whole time. And when Blair spoke? The sensation I felt? It took all I had not to look at her...to talk to her...to scream at her..." Jo sighed. "To go to her," she said softly.
Natalie saw the pain and the unshed tears that had formed in her friend's eyes and she started to get angry again. "You can't be serious?" she demanded, an accusing tone to her voice. "After what she..."
"I know!" Jo cut her off, her own anger flaring. "I didn't give in, okay?" she said testily in explanation, then calmed at the accepting look on her friend's face. "I didn't even look at her. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of thinking she had that kind of control over me. I told David I wasn't interested and headed for the door," Jo said firmly but, shook her head. She explained that just as she got her hand on the knob, David commented how, 'With a well placed word' he could get Jo back on the force.
"He didn't?" Natalie exclaimed, her eyes wide in disbelief.
Jo smirked as she related how she had let David know, exactly, how much she didn't need his help and, what he could do with his offer. "I gotta tell ya, Nat….it felt damn good," the brunette finished with a satisfied smile.
Natalie let out a hard laugh. "I bet it did! I would have loved to see his face," she said smiling. "But…." Nat's smile faded. "Then how..?"
Jo let out a deep sigh before telling Nat everything that happened; from the shooting to the argument with Rachel over who had jurisdiction, the FBI or NYPD.
"Agent Finley, huh?" Nat in broke in with a knowing grin and a wiggle of her brow.
"Yea, Nat," Jo said rolling her eyes. "And I was reminded as to why she and I didn't work," she said with emphasis. The brunette shook her head at her friend's 'Whatever' response and went on. She said that Ames, Rachel and David went to have a private talk and, while they were at it, Casey had stitched up her side. Although, she did leave out Blair's attempt to help. Jo talked of the agreement reached between Ames, Warner and Rachel, and how David still wanted her to guard Blair and how conflicted she felt. "And then...he showed up. Justin Cooper Worthington,"
Nat listened to her friend, noting Jo's assorted expressions as she talked. Natalie had liked Rachel, but, she also knew, deep down, that she and Jo would never have worked. 'They're too much alike' the red-head had figured. Casey, though, was a different story. Natalie believed the M.E. would be a good match for her friend, if Jo would just give her a chance. But, it was Jo's disdainful tone and body language when she mentioned Blair's husband that got the journalist thinking. It was the same attitude that Jo had shown for the guys Blair had dated when they were younger, and she called Jo on it. Why should Jo care?
"Ya don't understand, Nat. The guy had this look on his face when he walked into the squad room. Like...he was disappointed that Blair was okay. Then, besides that...the guy doesn't even cancel his business trip to stay with her. I mean...come on! His wife was just shot at," she added angrily. Seeing the doubtful expression on Natalie's face, Jo calmed and shook her head. "I know...I know how it sounds. It's just...I-I got a bad feeling about him, Nat," The brunette sighed again. "Ya know, despite what I just said, a part of me told me to run. To just get outta there."
"Yea? So why didn't you?" Nat asked, accusation in her tone. She felt the last thing Jo needed right now, was to get involved with the Warner's.
Jo leveled her gaze on her roommate. "Wellll...that's partly your fault!" she said accusingly.?!"
"My fault?!" Nat exclaimed wide-eyed. "How is it my fault?" she asked angrily, annoyed that the brunette would try to put the blame on her.
"Hmmmm….let me think," Jo replied sarcastically while tapping a finger to her chin. "Oh yeah…who was it that came up with 'Super Jo'?" she asked glowering at her roommate. "It sure as hell wasn't me."
"Oh…yea…that," Natalie muttered meekly, cringing slightly at the hard gaze of her friend. The red-head remembered how Jo had really reamed her when Nat's story came out. 'What were ya thinkin Nat?! What if I'd still been undercover? Ya have any idea what coulda happened?' Natalie shivered at the memory of how she'd 'lost her lunch' when she realized the level of danger the article could have put Jo in.
Jo had just been some nameless cop when she'd taken a bullet for that dignitary. Natalie, though, had let it slip that she knew Jo and her editor had pushed – no – demanded – an 'in depth' article about the police officer. Fortunately, Jo's undercover assignment infiltrating a violent drug trafficking group, who was known to leave no witnesses, had been resolved just days before the feature came out. The bust had netted well over 10,000 pounds each of cocaine and marijuana, shutting down at least one pipeline into the city.
Still… Natalie thought. That was then, this is now, She became defensive. "You can't tell me David Warner bought into that 'Super' thing? He's not that gullible," Nat said angrily.
"He may not have…but the kid did," Jo countered just as angry.
Natalie opened her mouth to protest but, stopped, then started again. "Kid? What kid?" she asked confused.
"Bailey," Jo said firmly. "Blair's sister?" she added, questioningly at the still puzzled look on the red-head's face. Jo sighed as she ran her hand over her face. "Tootie told you that Monica had another kid and…you told me?" The look on the brunette's face matched the frustrated impatience of her voice. When she saw the recognition on her roommate's face, Jo went on. "She's read the stories, Nat," her tone was harshly sarcastic, but then it softened. "She's a kid lookin' for someone to protect her sister," Jo looked Natalie in the eye as she spoke. "Now, knowin' David was comin' to see me…'Super Jo'…" her voice became sarcastic again. "Who da ya think she decided was perfect for the job?"
It took, maybe, thirty seconds before the… "Ohhhh…" of understanding was mumbled by the red-head. Jo's exaggerated nod quickly followed. Kids were another one of Jo Polniaczek's weaknesses. The brunette's own rough early years, and the opportunities she was fortunate to receive, were big factors behind her desire to help, not only others, but, specifically kids. That unapologetic drive not only made her a great cop, it was also the reason behind her current suspension. Not that the bastard didn't deserve the Bronx 'justice' that Jo had given him. Nat thought. Jo's demeanor though, let Nat know there was more to the Bailey story than Jo was telling her. She took a breath. "Okay, Jo, tell me about it," she said thoughtfully.
Jo smiled at how 'adept' her friend was becoming at reading her moods. Not quite as good as Mrs. G or Blair was. Blondie sure could… Jo stopped herself and mentally shook the thought from her head. She let out a breath, and then told Nat more about her talk with Bailey, and the young girl's remarks about Blair's husband. Jo described how, in one moment, Bailey seemed older than her years and, in the next, just a frightened kid. "So…when she insisted that I had to guard Blair…even though I wanted to...I-I couldn't say no," Jo finished with a shrug and an almost helpless expression on her face.
Natalie shook her head. Though Jo had a well-earned 'Mess with me and I'll kick your ass' reputation, those closest to her knew she had a big heart. A frown formed on the red-head's face. A heart that had once been badly broken by a certain blonde. Nat thought and, she certainly didn't want to see it happen again. Letting out a heavy sigh, she shook her head. "Okay, Jo. I get it. But...why here? Why not a safe house? And, what about you? I mean… Blair…here…in your apartment?" she questioned, concern evident in her voice.
Jo gave her friend a sincere smile as she stood up. She was grateful, not only for Nat's understanding, but, also her devoted friendship over the past few years. "Here….because the press is camped out at Blair's apartment. As far as a safe house….what could be safer than here? Who would think she'd be here?" she asked giving Nat a meaningful look, to which the red-head nodded, but still looked concerned. "And Nat? This is our apartment," Jo said, stressing the word. "Oh, and don't worry about me…." the brunette added, a smile forming on her face. "Blair's gonna be staying in your half," she said, gesturing towards the red-head with the pile of clothes in her arms, then turned and headed out the door.
"Ohhh…" Nat nodded in agreement, until Jo's words sunk in. "Wait! She's what?" she cried shaking her head. Nat jumped up and hurried after the brunette, protesting as she went. "Ohhh…no. No..no...no"