Hello everyone! Enjoy this next one.
The police lights still flashed behind Emily and John. Emily pulled her purse back into her lap, digging around for her badge.
"I knew this day would come." John shook his head in disgust. "I'm not letting you get away with this, either.
The police officer got out of his car. It was a male officer, a bit taller than John. He walked up to the car and knocked on the window. Emily put the window down as she continued to look through her bag.
He put fingers through his belt loops. His police cap tilted a little as his blue eyes looked down at Emily.
"Do you know how fast you were going back there?" The officer asked in a deep voice.
"I'm sorry, officer. Just let me get my badge." Emily finally looked up.
She stopped when she saw the smile on the officer's face. Her mouth opened a little as she peered over the top of her sunglasses.
"Oh my God." She whispered. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out of the car. "Jason!" She got excited.
Jason hugged Emily tightly. "Hey, Emmy." He smiled.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on a minute." John got out of the car. "You know him?" He asked. "And you weren't pulling her over for speeding?"
Jason laughed. "No way. I couldn't do that to Emily."
"John, this is my old partner, Jason Tate. Jason, this is my new partner, John Kennex." Emily introduced. "Also my boyfriend."
Jason held out a hand, smiling. John shook it.
"Boyfriend, huh?" Jason looked back at Emily. Emily shoved Jason.
"I didn't know you turned blue." Emily commented.
Jason looked down at his uniform and shrugged. "Blue's my color." He joked. "Anyways, I needed to change up my dangerous lifestyle."
Emily nodded. "You met a girl."
"Why do you always say that when I change something in my life?" Jason protested.
Emily laughed.
"I'm kidding." Jason scratched his head and then replaced his cap. "Seeing you and Benny like that made me stop and think."
The moment turned dark.
"Hey, I heard you took down Schlechtes Leben." Jason commented.
"Yeah." Emily nodded.
"Where were you headed that you were going so fast?" Jason asked, changing the subject.
Emily smiled. "Visiting Benjamin, actually."
Jason joked. "Well I won't make you late."
Emily laughed at that.
"I'm letting you off with just a warning now, you hear?" Jason jokingly warned.
Emily faked a serious face. "Yes, sir." Jason tipped his hat at Emily and then John, and returned to his unit.
Emily looked at John and cracked a laugh as she got back into the car. John shook his head in disbelief.
Emily hit the gas once more.
XxXxXxX
Emily and John checked into the rehabilitation center where Benjamin was recovering.
"Nervous?" Emily looked at John as they walked down the hall to the common room where Benjamin would be.
"No." John answered. "Just unsure of what to expect after meeting your other old partner."
Emily laughed a little. "Benjamin's cool. Super chill." She added.
"Okay." John relaxed.
They turned into a large, open room where several patients were milling about, a few nurses and trainers here and there. Emily weaved through couches and chairs and people until she found Benjamin near a window. He was the only person there without synthetics, without automated aid, and without any mechanical assistance of any kind.
Benjamin didn't necessarily distrust machines like some people did. He didn't like feeling dependent on them. That's why he didn't get synthetic limbs, use an AI-controlled wheelchair, or even a smart house system. He wanted to be able to take care of himself and Emily didn't mind he felt that way.
He was in a wheelchair, missing both of his legs. His head had odd bumps and scars all over.
"Hey, Benji!" She smiled.
Benjamin turned and smiled at the sound of Emily's voice. "Hi, Emily!" He spoke, except the words were slurred a little, and came out like "hi, Emi-wee."
Emily gave a softer smiled as she bent down and hugged him. "Ben, this is John, my boyfriend and new partner." She introduced.
Benjamin turned his wheelchair to face John and held out a hand. "Nice to meet you." His words always sounded off, always slurred.
John shook his hand.
Benjamin looked back up at Emily. "How are you?" He asked.
"Good." Emily answered. "I bumped into Jason on the way here."
Benjamin chuckled. "No wonder you were late."
Emily laughed. "Want to go outside?"
"You know where I wanna go." Benjamin answered as Emily steered him away from the window.
Emily thought for a moment. "Two weeks in a row makes you a pretty lucky guy."
Benjamin laughed.
Emily, followed by John, took Benjamin to the firing range that was kept a few wings over from where the patients are held. Emily set Benjamin up at a station, bringing a handgun over to him. "Don't go all macho just because John's here." Emily joked.
Benjamin laughed a bit as he took the gun. He got into position and flicked off the safety. He aimed down the shooting range to the human outline at the end, up towards the head. He fired twice.
"A bit to the left." Emily commented.
Benjamin readjusted and fired twice.
"Good. Bring it down a little. Don't let the recoil surprise you." Emily added.
Benjamin tried again.
"Nice!" Emily patted Benjamin on the back.
"You want to go, John?" Benjamin offered.
"Uh, sure." John took the gun and Emily handed him a new magazine. He slipped that in and readied himself. He stood in the next row over, aiming at a new outline. He fired three times, paused, and then fired three more times.
"Not bad." Emily frowned with approval. "My turn."
John handed over the gun and Emily put in a new magazine. She took her starting stance on the other side of Benjamin and fired six times in a row. She lowered the gun and started to disassemble it. She moved to put it away. Benjamin pressed a button on the wall closest to him, and the three outlines moved forward.
John's outline had six hits in the head, clustered around the lower area. Benjamin's had two slightly to the left, two slightly above, and two directly in the center. Emily's had six hits tightly grouped around the center.
Benjamin let out a tsk. "She always gets me." He looked at John.
John chuckled a little. "Tell me about it."
"You're a lucky guy." Benjamin turned his wheelchair a little.
John looked at Emily and smiled. "Yeah."
"Hold on to her." Benjamin warned. "Because you don't know what you have until it's gone."
Reviews please!
The next chapter will have a very important note, so the faster you review, the faster I update, and the faster you'll see what the note is. I am finished with the next chapter, so I am literally just waiting on you guys. Everything depends on you!