John took a few side roads and detours on the way to the bunker, just in case they were being watched. He headed straight for a tunnel that appeared abandoned and unused for years. He drove inside for about a mile, then stopped. Dorian got out of the car and went ahead of them. John helped Jessica out of the back seat before grabbing her bag and escorting her inside.
"So," she said, "this is your safe house?"
"I know it's not much," John said, "but it is safe."
"That's what's important."
Once inside, John showed her to her bedroom.
"This will be your space," he said. "There's another bedroom for officers to share. We rotate shifts so I'll sleep while Dorian is awake and vice versa." John noticed a slight grimace cross over Jessica's face. "What's wrong?"
"I just... I guess I just hadn't thought about the fact that Dorian would be watching out for me while you slept."
"Look, I'm a shout away. Alright? But you'll be fine. No one's getting to Dorian." Jessica nodded, so John continued. "We'll all share the living area, and there's only one bathroom, so we'll have to share that, too. Just us, since Dorian doesn't need it. We can figure out some kind of schedule if you want."
"How about we just remember to knock?"
John grinned and nodded. "Knocking could work. Okay," John said, backing out of the room, "you get settled and I'll go check in with the captain and Rudy."
"Thanks," Jessica said with a small smile.
He nodded and made his way to the living area, where Dorian was sitting on the couch. John sat at the desk in the corner of the concrete room and pulled up a communication link, which was directly connected to the police station. He first checked in with the captain to let her know they made it to the bunker. Next was Rudy. His face popped up on the screen.
"How's it going, Rudy?"
"Fine, thanks. I hope you're not calling expecting some kind of breakthrough. This is a process, you know?"
"Yeah, I know. Where are you in the process?"
"Still running the long version of the basic tests."
"We already know what that's going to show," John said. "Can't you start the more in-depth stuff?"
"I have to follow protocol. Basic tests first. We don't want to miss anything. Don't rush me."
John ran a hand over the back of his neck. "I know. Sorry. Just let me know the minute you find anything, okay?"
"Will do."
John turned in his seat and looked at his partner on the couch. "Hey, Dorian... Why don't you go charge? I think it'll be best if I keep the shift when she's awake."
"I agree. I think she'll be more comfortable that way." Dorian stood, but turned back to John. "You know, you really do need sleep, John."
"I'm fine."
"Are you having nightmares about that day?"
"I said I'm fine. Go charge."
Dorian disappeared into the bedroom where there was a charging station for droid officers. Jessica went into the living area a moment later to see John with his head resting on the back of the couch. Eyes closed. His head popped up at the sound of her voice.
"So, we just wait?"
"Basically," John said. "Rudy is still running the basic tests on your droids."
"What about food? I haven't eaten since lunch."
"Yeah, I could eat, too. I'll contact the station, and they can arrange a delivery. If pizza's okay with you for tonight, we can have groceries brought in tomorrow."
"Pizza's fine."
"Good. Make a list of some things you would want from the store. I'll pass that along."
The pizza arrived within the hour, and they sat on the couch and ate. After she ate enough that her hunger was gone, Jessica started playing with her napkin.
"What are the odds that we can actually link this back to him and make it stick? Honestly?"
"Honestly? I don't know. It'll depend on what Rudy can find."
"And he's your best?"
"Not 'our' best... the best. If there's something to find, he will."
Jessica nodded and stifled a yawn, covering her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry."
"Looks like the day is catching up with you," John said.
"Yeah. I think I'll try to sleep."
She gathered her pajamas and went to take her shower. When she was done, she and John said goodnight as she passed him on the way back to her room. John lay back on the couch. His eyes were heavy, but the moment he closed them, the weariness faded. It was almost as if his brain knew he was trying to sleep and refused. He decided to look over the file Jessica had taken from her boss. After a couple of hours, he went into the bedroom and woke up Dorian.
"Your shift," John said. "She's in her room. Everything's quiet."
Dorian made his way to the living area and John lay down on the bed. He stared at the ceiling until his eyes became too heavy to keep open, but sleep didn't come quickly, and when it did, it was filled with images of death. The death of his partner. The bomb that took his own leg. The entire scene replayed in his head, including her face. Ana. His girlfriend had betrayed him.
John bolted upright in bed, and wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Two years in a coma, and the memories that gradually came back to him felt as if they had just happened. His hand landed on his synthetic leg, and he remembered that he didn't bring his charger. Thankfully, the droid station would work. He sat on the edge of the bed closest to it and grabbed the top of the leg at mid-thigh. A good, strong twist and a metallic blue light cascaded down the limb, showing that it was disconnected. Once he was sure it was charging properly, he pushed himself back onto the bed and lay down. He knew he had to sleep, but all he could think about was piecing together the memories of that day. Those memories kept him awake.
John shook his head and ran a hand over his face with a grunt. He had to put that all aside for now. He was on a case. Protecting this woman, keeping her safe, that's where his thoughts had to be now. He began going over what he remembered of the file, in his head. As he drifted off to sleep, the memories of that day came back, but it wasn't his partner lying dead on the ground. It was Jessica.