The Right Choice

Chapter 1

Michaela stood in the shower, the hot water dripping down her back. Michaela sighed as she looked down at the ring on her finger and started to cry. She just couldn't figure out how she had gotten herself into this situation. When Jared had gotten down on one knee and asked her to marry him, it had felt so right, like there was nothing in the world that would stop her from saying to him and yet somehow she had been unable to muster up the courage to tell him the one word he had so desperately wanted to hear her say. Although for her it hadn't been almost 6 years since that day for Jared it had been, he had gotten married to someone else in the meantime and here she was trying to pick up the pieces of her life without him. Michaela knew how much Jared still loved her, it was hard not to know as he made it super clear that he was still in love with her, yet at the same time she also knew how much she loved him back. So why had she said yes to Zeke when he asked her to marry him. Michaela somehow felt like she was punishing herself by saying yes to Zeke, by not being with Jared when that was what both she and Jared really wanted.

Michaela realized that the water was too hot as she was burning her skin so slowly, she shut the water and stepped out of the shower. She knew that she wasn't being fair to any of them by saying yes to Zeke and a part of her wished that she had turned him down, but at this point it was too late.

Michaela quickly got dressed into pajamas and went into her bed to try and sleep before having to be at work the following morning. Michaela really struggled falling asleep and in the end, she only slept for about 30 minutes before her alarm went off. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Zeke wasn't home and quickly got dressed and left for the precinct. Not wanting to face Jared and tell him about the new progression of her relationship with Zeke, Michaela left the ring at home.

At the precinct Michaela tried to focus on her case but was too tired and eventually fell asleep with her head on her desk, something she had never done before in all of her years on the job.

Jared came into work that day in good spirits as frustrated as he was that Michaela was with Zeke and as she had said to him yesterday, she loved Zeke, Jared was happy that he and Michaela were getting along again and were no longer at each other's throats. Yet at the same time, from the look on Michaela's face as she spoke to him about Zeke, he knew something was up. Jared knew Michaela well enough to know when not to pry so he hadn't yesterday but today he was determined to at least try to figure out what was bothering Michaela.

Jared was busy on a case the whole morning so when he finally had 2 minutes to breathe at some point near noon, he started walking over towards Michaela's desk when he noticed that her head was in her arms and she appeared to be asleep. Jared was shocked and worried; he knew how unlike Michaela this was and he became extremely concerned so he went to talk to Michaela's partner to find out what was up.

JARED: Mikami, you got a minute?

DREA: Sure, what's up?

JARED: That's what I was hoping you could tell me.

DREA: What do you mean?

JARED: Why is Michaela sleeping at her desk?

DREA: Jared, that is something you should really talk to her about, not me.

JARED: Come on Mikami, I'm worried here. Falling asleep at her desk is so unlike Michaela. Come on help me out here, you're her partner, talk to me.

DREA: I'm afraid it's not something I can help you with, why don't you wait till she wakes up and just talk to her yourself. Or if you're that worried why don't you just call her brother.

JARED: Normally I would call Ben, but right now he's not really talking to me.

DREA: Why not?

JARED: It's complicated. Are you going to clue me in to what's going on or not?

DREA: Not, I'm sorry.

Jared walked away from Detective Mikami more confused and worried than he was before talking to her. Jared knew it wasn't his place, but he was so worried he decided to go and wake Michaela.

JARED: Mick, wake up, Mick, Mick wake up

MICHAELA: Jared, what the hell?

JARED: You tell me? What in the world were you doing sleeping at your desk in the middle of the day?

MICHAELA: I had a rough night.

JARED: Clearly, you want to talk about it?

MICHAELA: Not really.

JARED: Come on Mick, you told Mikami whats going on, but you won't talk to me? I thought we were finally friends again.

MICHAELA: We are friends again Jared, and I am really grateful for that, but about last night, it's just not something I'm ready to talk to you about.

JARED: Why not Mick? Why not?

MICHAELA: I'm just not yet ready to discuss it.

JARED: Mick, clearly, I don't know what's going on, but there is no way that I can help you if you wont let me in. As much as I wish we could be together, I have accepted that we can't be, but that doesn't mean I will just sit by when I see that you are hurting Mick, I love you to much for you to even ask me to do that.

Michaela started crying, which made Jared even more concerned than he already was. Jared quickly took Michaela into his arms, rocking her back and forth and he started talking.

JARED: Mick, please just talk to me.

MICHAELA: Zeke proposed last night.

JARED: Congratulations Mick, that is so exciting? So why are you crying and why do you look like his proposal was the worst thing that ever happened to you?

MICHAELA: Because as much as I love him, I am still deeply in love with you.

Jared was taken aback by what Michaela had just said. He knew that she loved him, but after everything that happened, he believed that she no longer wanted to be with him and he was trying really hard to accept it, but after her last announcement he was extremely confused. What did she want from him, what did she want from Zeke but most importantly who did she want to be with? And if she wanted to be with him then why was she making it so difficult. Jared decided it was finally time for her to give him the answers he so desperately needed.

JARED: If you love me as much as you say you do, then why are we not together?

MICHAELA: Because you married my best friend and I just can't get over that?

JARED: Why not Mick? Lourdes left months ago, I have been waiting for almost 6 years to hear you say that you will marry me, Lourdes is gone, you're here so what is stopping you from just saying yes Mick? But most importantly if you love me as much as you claim then why did you tell Zeke that you will marry him?

MICHAELA: Because I can't leave you again. I just can't do it to you Jay, It's just not fair to you.

JARED: What are you talking about?

MICHAELA: Jared, I think you need to sit down for this.

JARED: I'm okay Mick, really. Just please talk to me, tell me what's going on.

Michaela took Jared's hands in her own looked him in the eyes, took a deep breath and began talking.

MICHAELA: Coming back, it has a price. The exact amount of time we were gone will be the same exact amount of time we have left to live. Jared, I will be dying on June 2, 2024.

JARED: What do you mean Mick? How is this possible? This can't be.

MICHAELA: I wish this wasn't true Jay, honestly, I do. But it happened to Griffin and it happening now to Zeke. Zeke has a couple of more days to live and he wants to go out with a big celebration.

JARED: So, you agreed to marry him so that he could die after having gotten married.

MICHAELA: Yes

JARED: And that is fair to you how?

MICHAELA: None of this is fair for any of us Jared.

JARED: And what about me Mick?

MICHAELA: Jared I can't say yes and marry you, knowing that I have only a couple of more years to live. I can't do that to you, it isn't fair. You already lost me once I couldn't bare the thought of having you lose me a second time when were married.

JARED: And what makes you think you have the right to make that decision for me Mick? Don't you think I have a right to make my own decisions? I hear your point of view, but that's not how I see it.

MICHAELA: So, enlighten me, Jared how do you see it?

JARED: If what you are saying is true, and you seriously only have another 4 years to live then I would like to spend every minute of the next 4 years holding you, comforting you, being your husband and making you the happiest woman in the world.

MICHAELA: Even though you will lose me.

JARED: I'd prefer to believe that you will survive this death date and that we will grow old and grey together but yes Mick even if I were to lose you.

MICHAELA: Why Jared? Why? I would prefer leaving you knowing that you were happy, knowing that you found someone that you would be able to spend the rest of your life with.

JARED: Mick, you're the one that makes me happy. You're the one I want to be with. I already lost you once and that was the hardest thing I had ever gone through. Yes, I can't bear the thought of losing you again, yet at the same time If you are going to die then I would prefer knowing that you died happy and in my arms. And not in the arms of some guy you feel obligated to marry simply because you want to make him happy and you don't want to hurt me.

Michaela continued crying as Jared held her close to his chest. Eventually she realized that he was right and going against all of her better judgement she gave into the temptation and kissed him. The two of them were so engrossed in their kiss that neither one of them noticed Zeke standing by Michaela's desk.