Title: Trouble comes in Twos - Part 4

I don't think I've driven so fast in my life. North across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. Miles and miles later I'm driving through the small town of Folsom, Louisiana. Population seven hundred doesn't sound too small, but driving through it... Well, the good news is there isn't a Starbucks. Good sign of true civilization with not a one in sight.

Another forty-five minutes later, after stopping for directions because I'm lost, I find the semi-overgrown track called a road that leads through a half-wild grove of oaks that leads to Nikki's house. I hope.

It's not quite what I pictured. It's a small single floor house, maybe one or two bedrooms, small ones at that. The entire house is surrounded by a screened in porch. Nothing fancy, except the beautiful acres I've driven through. Rows upon rows of planted oaks that have grown tall and wild through the years.

Parking next to the bright blue '76 Pontiac 4 door sitting out front, I cut off the engine just as the front door opens just as Darius steps out to greet me on the front steps.

Ducking his head down he peers into the passenger side window and smiles when he sees me. He moves around to my side of the car as I get out.

"Hey Darius," I smile at him, glad that I got the right place at least.

"Hey Nora," his smile is as big as I remember. Genuine and spreading across his entire face. "How many times did you get lost?"

"Only once, but I'm here now. Where's..." I can't even say her name.

"Nikki is on the backside of the porch, sleeping. I don't think she's been sleeping well, if at all," Darius says as he grabs my bags from the back seat. Slinging the carrystrap over his shoulder on one and carrying another in a hand, he opens the screen door and motions me in.

"Just go around the porch here, you'll find her. I'll put your bags in the spare bedroom," he directs me with a motion of his head to go find Nikki.

"Spare bedroom? Aren't you using it? I don't want to kick you out of your bed," I protest. I came without even knowing the sleeping arrangements, not like it would have mattered. Nikki needs me... My partner needs me.

Get it under control, Delaney. Cop. Partners on the force. That's it. She's made that clear. Friend? Maybe. If I can repair the damage.

I can live with this... feeling... if I can just repair the damage.

"I'm going to play the gentlemen and sleep on the couch. It pulls out into a bed, don't worry. I've done it a few times, I don't mind," he smiles at me again, but his eyes are telling a different story. He's worried about Nikki, and rightly so. I'm not here for a vacation after all. I'm here on Mr. Beaumont's request.

"Thanks Darius. I..."

I'm finding words are failing me again. Darius just smiles and goes into the house, letting me find my way.

Walking around the edge of the house through the porch, it only takes me a minute to find the back side of the house. I was right, the screened in porch surrounds the entire house. I kind of like it. The weather has warmed up a bit since the rain has stopped. It's a bit cool outside, but still comfortable enough. I can see why Nikki came here. All you can hear are the birds and the breeze through the oak trees.

Nikki.

I spot her almost immediate as I turn the last corner of the house.

Nikki.

Standing there in the middle of the porch, I just stare at her.

She's sleeping, laid out on the comfortable couch that's the centerpiece of the area, a light cotton blanket covering her. She seems so peaceful. One hand tucked up under her chin, the other stretched out and half-hanging over the edge of the couch. My fingers itch just seeing her there. I take a few steps forward, not even really realizing that I've moved until I'm standing there over her, my hand stretched out to touch her cheek.

I can't believe it's only been a little less than two days since I've seen her.

My fingers reach out before I can stop them and gently brush a lock of her dark brown hair off her face.

Oh Nikki. What have I done?

And then it hits me... being there that close to her. That undefinable scent from her car, mixed with the leather from the interior.

Subtle. Enticing. A mix of something soft and... not flowery, more clean. More Nikki.

The scent was her.

I take a step back. I can't do this. Another step and I back into the coffee table, jarring the tea set placed on it. The sound stirs Nikki and I move around the table until it's between us and sit down quickly in a wicker chair across from her.

Her eyelids flicker as she slowly wakes up. When she opens her eyes fully and sees me, for a moment the look on her face is so beautiful, so open.

So glad to see me.

And then her expression changes, becoming wary. It hurts to see it. More than I could think possible.

"Hi."

OK, that was good. Neutral. calm. Go with it Delaney. Good start.

"Good afternoon," Nikki greets me back, her voice as even as mine. "Daddy said he called you."

"Yes. Apparently he thinks you're about to be tossed into jail. Looking to re-enact a 'Women Behind Bars' movie?" I say it with a small grin, so she knows I'm trying to joke about the situation.

"Well, you know us lesbians. Give us a prison cell and some handcuffs and we're right at home," she quips back, her lips twitching into an amused smile as well.

"Prison cell and handcuffs? Is that why you became a cop?"

Nikki surprises me by actually laughing and I join her for a moment. The tension is thick between us, but we're trying. That easy camaraderie from only a few days ago is still there.

We just might be OK.

She sits up, keeping the blanket over her legs. I take a closer look at her and see weariness in her face.

"You should go back to sleep. No offense, but you look like... I doubt you could ever look terrible, but you look like you could use some serious rest," I say. Darius is right, she doesn't look as if she's had a good night's sleep in a couple of days.

Running a hand through her hair to settle it back from its slightly rumpled state before trying to reassure me. "I'm fine."

Yes. We're both fine. I'm fine. She's fine. All is normal.

Rightttt.

I do my best not to sigh, instead bending forward to rest my forearms on my thighs and look down at my feet.

"Nora."

I look up into her eyes, those most beautiful eyes. She smiles at me sadly and repeats my name again.

"Nora."

God, I love how she says it.

"Hmm?"

"About the other night..."

Nikki bit the bullet. I don't think I could have brought the subject up. Ever.

A blush rises up my neck and over my face, I can feel it, and a strangled noise comes out as as I try to speak.

"Nora," she repeats my name yet again.

Clearing my throat, I find I can speak. "Nikki. I know. I understand. Really."

OK, so I'm partially lying. I'm trying to meet her half-way. I really don't understand, or rather, I don't want to understand.

Such sadness in her eyes. I could give anything to take it away. I miss the mischievousness. I miss the smiling.

"Nora..."

I interrupt her, "So, has your lawyer shown up yet."

Good Delaney. Back to business. You can do this.

"He has. He's staying in town. Apparently he found a nice Bed and Breakfast that he approves of," Nikki replies.

"So what happened?" I prompt her.

"I have no idea. I went to bed, a couple of hours after we got here. Darius went to his room. I was in mine. I heard something not to long afterwards. Something in the backyard. Stumbling maybe, over a twig. I don't remember. I wasn't..." Nikki looks embarrassed as she blushes, "I wasn't exactly sober."

I frown slightly and she continues, "I wasn't drunk, Nora."

"OK," I nod, accepting her word, "go on."

"I got my gun out and went outside. I found him... almost immediately, in the back." She nods toward the space behind me, to the rows of oak trees and brush. "After I checked his pulse, I went back in and called the police. Darius was still awake and heard me come back in. We waited for the police. They came. They took us both to town to the police station and asked us questions. And more questions. When they finally brought us back, the body was gone and any evidence that they could find. I called Daddy and he said he'd get some help here for us."

We sit there, just looking at each other.

I finally break the silence and smile at her, a bit mischievously.

"Geez Nikki, you can't go anywhere without trouble following you."

A wide smile graces her lips and she replies, "Well, that says something about you doesn't it? Since you're here and all."

She has a point.

TBC