Chapter Two --- Losing You

A/N: Here's chapter two! Thanks to everyone who reads, and more importantly who REVIEWS!!! I hope everyone likes it, but I wont know if you don't tell me (hint hint)!!!

This chapter is a flashback, in case you don't get that (I can be bad at explaining things…)

Love as always,

Ciara

x x x

"Jess? I'm a couple of blocks away, hold tight OK?"

"Got it. If you hurry, I'll buy dinner tonight."

"I'm counting on it, I'm broke. See you soon gorgeous."

Don clicked off his cell phone and drove along behind an irritatingly slow middle-aged man in a small, rusted old contraption. He honked the horn pointedly and shot the driver a sarcastic smile while tapping his watch.

"C'mon, c'mon," he muttered impatiently, tapping his fingers against the dash. "Come on!"

His cell started ringing again, an angry, tinny beeping which reflected his irritation.

"Flack here, what's up?"

"Don, where are you?" Jessica Angell's voice sounded strained.

"I'm on my way, the traffic's crazy. Is everything alright?"

"Yeah- yeah it's fine, I guess."

"What aren't you saying Jess?"

"I-I think- never mind, it's not important."

"Jess."

"I-I dunno. I get the feeling that I- that somebody's watching me."

"Get out of there Jess. I'll be right there, just get safe."

"No! I've got to do this, Don. I'll never forgive myself if I don't."

"Jess? Jess!"

But she was gone. Don swore profusely and switched on his siren. He sped up, overtaking dangerously and ignoring the honking horns and yells of dissatisfaction. All that concerned him was getting to Jess and making her safe. Maybe he was overreacting, but the girl was stubborn, more so than even he was, and she didn't know when to quit. Taking a gamble was one thing, risking your life was another.

The car had barely skidded to a stop when he was jumping out, drawing his gun and calling Jess.

"Where are you? Why aren't you picking up? Jess?" He tried countless times, but to no avail.

And then he heard the gunshot.

People were running and screaming in every direction, crying and yelling for help. There was no second shot. For a moment he thought everything was alright.

And then he saw Jess's car. The driver's door was wide open.

"Jess? Jessica? Angell!" he yelled, running and calling for backup simultaneously. "Jess, answer me, dammit!"

It happened in a split second. One moment he was sprinting full tilt. The next he had stopped in his tracks. He fell to his knees and grasped the hand curling out from behind the door. Her hand.

"Jess?" he whispered again. "Jess, stop screwing me around. Answer me. Please."

Silence.

"Jessica." His voice was even smaller now.

He scrambled around the door, clutching at her. She was as beautiful as ever, her dark hair sprawled across the pavement, her expression somewhat peaceful. It looked like she was sleeping. Don tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and saw that her earpiece was still nestled there. Then he saw the dark stain spreading out across her chest.

When the medics arrived they found a handsome dark-haired man soaked in blood, holding the body of an attractive young woman and stroking her hair. Her head was in his lap and he was talking softly to her, even though she was clearly past hearing.

"Wake up Jess," he moaned, rocking gently as though trying to wake a child from slumber. "I came as quickly as I could, so you owe me dinner, remember? You promised. If you wake up, you can choose the restaurant, I promise. I'll even eat Mexican if you want. Just wake up. I don't even want the meal anymore. I just want you to be OK. You have to be OK, Jess. I need you to be OK."

But she wasn't.

So now we know what they're all doing in the hospital…….

What do you all think? Please read and review, I need the confidence-boost to keep me writing!!!