Chapter Three
Laya took the last sip of her coke before leaning back slowly in her chair as she watched the six of them exchange glances with each other and glance at her.
She moved to get up to get another but Kelly beat her to it.
"I'll get you another. Coke, right?" He asked, grabbing her glass.
"Yeah, thanks."
"I'll join you. Round of beers?" Jay asked, all of the guys nodding in agreement.
Laya smiled to herself in amusement but then felt a twinge of pain in her ribs. Oh, right. She forgot to take her pain meds before she left the hotel earlier. They weren't broken, just bruised badly.
"You alright, Laya?" Connor asked, his eyes watching her like a hawk, Will's were as well. She sighed.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just forgot to take my pain meds before I headed out tonight."
The doctors' eyes sharpened at her words. "How badly are you hurt?" Will asked, just as Jay and Kelly arrived back with the drinks.
Laya sighed. "Not too badly. The most painful part is the bruised ribs, which is what the meds are for. I'll just take them when I get back to the hotel tonight."
They were silent as they drank their respective drinks. "So, Laya, what happened?" Greg asked.
"The job, as I'm sure you have all experienced it yourselves. Especially those of you that are required to be more physical," Laya said with a pointed look at Jay, Kelly, and Casey.
"Yes, but we usually don't look like the perp beat and choked us to death," Casey said sharply.
Laya shrugged. "It was an off day for me. Next time, I'll make sure to be more vigilant."
"An off day?!" Jay exclaimed, those around them that had been already shooting them glances since none have seen all six sitting together before, just began to stare. "Is that what we are calling it?"
"Well, it was! I mean, yeah, I'm used to be shot at and stabbed, but I wasn't expecting a crowbar to the head," Laya said so matter of factly that all of them exchanged glances at her tone.
"Are you-" Kelly interrupted Greg.
"Have you gotten checked over?"
"Yes, I was officially discharged by the doctor three days ago. I am off work until I am officially healed."
"Do they have an estimation?" Will asked.
"About a month to be fully healed. Have to do a couple rounds of PT to make sure everything is all good. Then should be back to work fully. Although the team knows that they can call me if they need any assistance on a case."
"Why do I get the feeling that you are hoping that'll happen?" Conner said amused.
Laya smiled at them all. "Because you all know me, and you all know that a bored me, is not a good thing. Just be glad I didn't go to England, no way I would've been healed before I was out and about."
Exchanged glances.
"You've never said what's exactly over in England…" Will said.
Laya furrowed her brow. "I haven't? Huh… Well, I have two cousins, an uncle, and an aunt but I'm closer to my cousins more than anything. Especially since I'm the only one that gets along with both of them."
"What do they do?" Greg asked curiously.
No matter how long they've known each other, this was really the first time that any have shown an interest in her family across the pond. Laya couldn't help the quirk of her lips as she took a sip of her drink.
"Ah, well, one occupies a minor position in the British government and the other is a detective."
"That's cool. You kind of all work for law enforcement in some way," Casey said.
Laya shook her head. "Oh, no. I work for the FBI, one cousin works for the British government, and the other is not just a detective, he is a private detective." Talking about her cousins, more her brothers than her actual brother, brought a pang of homesickness. Maybe before she went back to work she could hop over the pond for a bit. "Now, you boys will excuse me. The pain in my ribs is starting to become unbearable and I am ready for a lie down."
"Do you want one of us to drive you?" Kelly asked.
Laya stood and shoved her crutches under her arms. "Nah. I'll just call a cab while I settle my tab with Hermann. I'll see you all later, alright?"
"Please, Laya? Let Conner and I take you to where you are staying?" Will pleaded. Laya narrowed her eyes at the two doctors. She knew what they wanted. She didn't know if she should give in. Heck, none of them knew about her 'status' either so she knew that if the two doctors took her to the hotel, she would have to fess up.
"Why?" Laya sighed.
"Because we all know how dangerous Chicago can be," Jay said.
Laya couldn't help the eye roll. "Dangerous? Yes, I'll give you that Chicago can be dangerous. But you do realize that I actively go hunting serial killers down, right?"
"Oh, right… I like to forget that part about your job," Jay grumbled. Laya smirked.
"I'll be fine, guys. But if one of you want to call me that cab, feel free."
Conner sighed. "I'll call one for you."
"And I'll go settle your tab," Will said.
"What? No!" Laya protested but Will smirked at her.
"Yes, I am. Unless you can beat me to the bar."
Laya grumbled but sat back down in her chair. "You suck."
Jay leaned over with a laugh and kissed her forehead. "Since you're heading out, Will and I are going to head out too."
"Yeah, tonight has gotten way too much excitement." Greg said, standing up with him. Laya rolled her eyes. She knew all of them were now going to be waiting outside with her until she got into the cab.
"Well I'm waiting outside for the cab, if you boys want to join me?"
"Laya, you know we'll follow you anywhere!" Kelly laughed, the others echoing.
"Oh, did she bully you, too, when we were younger?" Will asked as he came back and they began to slowly walk out of the bar.
"You better believe it! And she bullied all of the actual bullies too," Casey said with a grin. Laya took the good natured teasing as the six of them traded stories about their childhoods.
All in all, Laya would consider tonight to have been one of the better nights she has had in awhile.
She was glad to be back.