"I've come to an agreement with myself, Emma." Reid started to say.
"I will believe every word that you've told me. Every word about you being from another world. Every word about you being here to help me find my daughter if – you can describe to me in detail things about this man here that few to no one else would know but either I myself or him." I looked from Reid to Drake.
I blinked a few times, trying to remember everything I knew about this man, every speck of information I was able to know from the show. I tried my best to figure out the one key piece that would make Reid believe me. Then, I remembered…
"You don't know me, it's obvious, but I know you Bennet Drake. Your rank here in the police force is Sergeant. You have a long standing military background – which I won't bother going into detail, but the one thing that I will bring up, is that tattoo that you got done while you were in Egypt. The Egyptian Warrior Goddess Sekhmet which is located on your right arm – upper arm I should say. The other two has army sergeant stripes on your left upper arm, and two snakes on your right arm."
Drake tilted his head with his mouth wide open before he raised a finger and looked at Reid.
"How did she – " Reid lowered his pen and placed it on his desk. Drake looked at me again before looking back at Reid again.
"How does she know about Egypt? Did you tell her, about that and my tattoos?" Reid took a moment before he shook his head.
I looked at Reid, I wondered what was going through his mind right now. I was hoping that this was enough to make him believe me – it was enough to shock Drake that was for sure. Reid stood up slowly from his desk and walked over to stand in front of me. He placed his hands on both sides of my shoulders slowly and then looked me in the eyes.
I had to admit it was an extremely intense moment, much more than I would have imaged it being to begin with. His eyes they held so much emotion – grief, determination, but above all else; hope. His hands squeezed gently onto my shoulders almost as if to reassure himself that this was actually happening.
"If you have come here to help me find my daughter, answer one question for me." he paused almost as if even afraid to ask. I could tell from how he sucked in his bottom lip and paused briefly as he closed his eyes before slowly opening them again – his hands gripping me tighter.
"Is she alive?" I felt my heart race faster.
My mouth dried, not expecting the question to come so soon – how stupid of me. I blinked once, raising my head just a tad to get a better look into those beautifully transfixing greenish-blue eyes of Reid's.
Looking at Reid I want to be able to tell him yes, even though the answer was uncertain. Deep in my heart something told me that she was still alive, and it was that feeling and hoping that told me to strive to help Reid find her. Because why else would I have been sent here into this world if not to help him find her?
"That's the one question I can't answer. But, in my heart - " I clenched my clothing tightly, catching myself before I spoke further.
"I was sent here for a reason and that reason was to help you find your daughter. I believe that she is alive and so long as you continue to believe it as well, we will find her." I finished.
Reid's eyes flickered back and forth as he gazed into mine as if trying to figure out why I was so determined and helping him find his daughter. But not just that but also as to why I was so sure that she was alive. He took a deep sigh and released his hold on me. Turning around he looked at Drake.
"As I was saying, Emma will be around more often." Reid said, although acting as if he didn't know much else to say.
I watched his body language and noticed that he stood there very awkwardly. His body was very stiff, his shoulders were very broad and seeming tensed, not to mention that he was rubbing his fingers together and his thumb on the outside of his index finger as he made a fist. I didn't really understand why he was awkward, but I figured that was really none of my business.
"Um, if it's okay I'd like to change now, please?" I asked.
That was basically all that was needed to be said and the two men looked at me once and gave a small nod prior to exiting the room, giving me the privacy to change into the clothes that was provided to me by the police force.
I changed into them rather quickly, deciding to leave on my bra and underwear for the time being even though it had already been a day and them I really didn't have any extra to change into so I would just have to wait until I could find a spare that would suffice.
The pants slipped on rather easy once they were wiggled past my hips and I buttoned them up quickly. The white undershirt was thrown over my head and it was actually very baggy on me, much more so than I had originally planned - making my breast almost non-existent.
I also decided to keep my sneakers, even if they did look out of place in a time like this. Once I was finished I opened up the office store only to find that the two were no longer standing outside. I was slightly confused at first until the sergeant that stood behind the desk noticed that I was looking for both Reid and Drake.
"They headed downstairs to the jailers room. Best stay here till they're done." he said.
It was almost as if it clicked for me. I then realized where I had come in during the story-line. Fucking episode one. I closed my eyes – I'd be here for a long time. I turned to the left and headed in the direction that I knew to be the lower jailer rooms.
"O-oi! Where are you going?" I was already rounding the corner by the time he was done yelling and almost around from behind his desk.
I made my way through the straight hallway and it did not take me long before I found the room that I was looking for. It didn't take me too long to find the stairwell that I needed in order to descend further into the station. Once I got below I rushed past an officer – who seemed almost keen on stopping me and I stopped at the cell where they were holding the woman. Drake was the closest to the door so he was first to meet me. He held his hands up and gave me a worried look.
"Please, you really shouldn't be in here, Miss – " Drake started only to watch as I looked around him and noticed the naked lady on the floor of the cell.
I glanced at Jackson and then Reid, seeing that they were both looking at me. The thought passed through my mind if they had expected a reaction of me fainting or becoming disturbed by the body, neither notion passed me.
"Do you mind if I take a look?" I asked Jackson.
He gave that grunting sigh he always did that signaled that he was baffled and then looked to Reid, who was dead set on me. Reid turned his eyes away from me and looked to Drake, giving the man a nod that would allow me to proceed into the cell. I walked up and keeled down onto the cell floor, quickly noticed that the throat was cut and the eyes were crossed out – this was a tall-tail sign of Jack The Ripper. I looked her over, looking closer to the markings on her body – it had been a long time since I had seen a body like this one.
"I know what you're thinking." I said, my eyes wavering up to Reid.
I could see his jaw lock, almost as if he didn't want to believe it anymore than anyone else wanted to believe it. Nobody wanted to believe that it was Jack the Ripper, and that he could have very well have been back in London.
"But, we can't let those thoughts let this get in the way of things." I said, causing Drake stepped forward with a look of confusion.
"Get in the way of things? What are you talkin' about girl?" he asked, all eyes on me.
I sighed and looked off to the side trying my best to figure out a way to explain it. I knew the history behind Jack the Ripper well enough to be able to tell Reid how the man worked, but without the proper technology Jack the Ripper would continue to slip through the fingers of the police.
"We can't focus our attention to this right now. We can't focus that this There are other forces here at work, we need to focus on the living. Help them the best we can." I explained, looking at Drake.
The man continued to look confused as his glances crossed to Jackson and Reid. Reid looked from Drake to me.
"I understand there are others that need our help, but are you saying that you agree that this isn't Ripper?" Reid asked, causing me to blink merely once.
"Yes, you're chasing a ghost that isn't here." Suddenly, at the sound of footsteps and everyone's attention turned to the man who walked inside unannounced.
"Open up!" A tall and scruffy elderly man said as he waltzed into the cell room.
I noticed him right away, Chief Inspector Frederick Aberlinene. I held my breath, wondering if my being here would cause chaos or be a welcome – I never really knew what was going to happen with this man. He walked over to Reid, looked him in the eye, and it was then that the whole room seemed to freeze in time. Their stare down was intense. I became slightly worried once the Chief Inspector turned his gaze onto me.
"I heard Division H had picked up a young woman that had been staying in your office, Inspector Reid. And on top of that I find that you're keeping this from me!? This is my case, Inspector!" Reid's jaw tightened again, I could see it happen from the corner of my eye as my sights was locked with the Chief at the moment. I lowered his head for a moment before it shot back up and he locked eyes with the Chief once before glancing my way.
"Yes, one of our Constables brought her in last night after he had fainted on the street. She's been here since. As for the woman you see before us – I do not believe that she is a victim of the Ripper." he informed the elder man.
"Name's Emma. Nice to meet you too, Chief Inspector." I said, speaking up.
Though I was afraid earlier to step on toes that notion had been long forgotten due to the fact that he was speaking about me as if I wasn't even present within the room. The Chief turned to me and gave me that look in which told me that I'd better watch myself; I ignored the look completely. This caused all three men in the room to grow rather weary of my actions as the Chief gave a smirk and chuckled to himself.
"Passing out on the street over nothin, but standing over a body like it too is nothin? Tell me, girl, what the hell are you, a by-standard, doin here?" he was getting straight to the point.
I pushed my lips together, trying to figure a way out of this corner that I had managed to back myself into, but I had found not a single answer that could have worked. The Chief gave a scoff and with a wave of his hand, ordered me out of the cell. I narrowed my eyes, but turned to leave none the less, but that didn't mean I wasn't about ready to allow him to have the last word.
"I'm telling you, you're chasing ghosts." I said rather loudly before I slammed the cell door extremely rudely.
I gave a loud huff as I made my way down the hall and back down stairs. Once I came in sight of the Sergeant he gave me a worried look once I reach the corner of his desk.
"I warned you not to go up there." he said as he put a plate of some type of bread on the counter as if to offer me a piece.
I piece it up and looked at it curiously, I had never seen a bread like this – or felt one as hard as this one here. I looked to the Sergeant as I held up the piece of food.
"What's this?" he gave a confused chuckle.
"That there's a scone. Don't tell me you've never had one before?" he asked, raising a brow as he watched me sniff the piece that I held between my fingers.
I looked it over carefully almost wondering if I really wanted to eat the food since it was British after all – and you know the whole long running stereotype of how the British couldn't cook some what made it uneasy.
"No, we don't have these back in America." I informed him.
Just as I was about to decline the food it seemed that my stomach betrayed my wants by shouting out it's own needs. It growled loudly, loud enough that I knew that the Sergeant could hear it from where he stood; but he said nothing, only smiled softly.
"You should have a bite, it's good I promise." he said, leaning up against the counter and waiting for me to try a bite.
I still looked unsure, but my stomach was right I needed to eat something even if it wasn't all that good tasting. Swallowing the fear of the aftertaste I took a small bite of the bread – or it was rather like a biscuit I guess you should say. I stopped my chewing for a second to look down at the food in my hand – this tasted really good actually.
"Does this have honey in it?" I asked prior to taking another – bigger – bite this time.
"Aye, sometimes you can get them baked with honey, which is what's in the one you're eating." I couldn't believe it.
It was really sweet but at the same time crunch, almost like chocolate – but not nearly as good. I closed my eyes and gave a large smile as I shoved the last bit of it into my mouth and continued chewing. I don't know how long I stood there eating that one single biscuit, but apparently it was long enough for all three men – the Chief, Reid, Jackson, and Drake – cam around the corner.
"Remember what I said, Inspector." The Chief said in ear shot of me.
It was at that moment that I opened my eyes and turned to look at the four men, catching a quick glimpse of Reid staring at me before quickly turning away to look at the Chief once more. He said nothing but nodded in agreement to whatever it was he was suppose to agree with – although I had some clues when the Chief turned toward me and gave me one last quick glance over before he headed out the front door of the station.
Once the Chief was gone it seemed that everything suddenly fell back into a norm and it was like everything never happened. I placed my hands in my pockets of my pants as I made my way toward Reid, Drake, and Jackson – the three of them were speaking to each other and only stopped once I came forward.
"Well, he's even ruder in person." I scoffed, rolling my eyes as I went.
Reid sighed, nodding for Drake and Jackson to leave to go I guess where ever it was that they were talking about before I approached them all. Now that it was just the two of us, Reid extended his arm and held out his hand and gestured that he head into his office – as that was the direction in which his arm was extended. I walked ahead of Reid and didn't say anything further until we entered the office – waiting for him to speak up first.
He seemed uneasy about whatever it was that he needed to speak about, but I didn't figure it had to be anything too awfully bad or else he wouldn't have seemed so calm. He walked over to his desk and stood beside it – instead of sitting down like usual – he stood beside the chair in which I had taken a seat in once I entered the room. I looked up at him and he looked down at me.
"You are very strange." he said bluntly.
I couldn't help but snort and give a small laugh. Nobody had ever told me that straight to my face before – at least nobody from my own world anyway. I gave him a small reassuring smile.
"I guess that's just what makes me unique." I shrugged.
"No, I mean that in the sense of – " he paused, probably trying to figure out the best way to put whatever it was he was preparing to say to me next.
"In the sense of being so open in a room full of men." I couldn't help but allow my smirk to grow slightly.
"Oh, that well, yeah. I'm not just going to sit by and let someone talk about me in a way that makes it seem like I'm not even there – when I'm clearly in the middle of a room standing over a dead body."
Reid gave me a look – one that I couldn't read. He placed his fingers on his lips and he almost looked as if he was thinking about something, but what it was I couldn't tell.
"I'd like to talk to you about your accommodations."
I raised a brow, wondering if that was really what he wanted to say originally or if he had just changed his mind – probably.
"Well, I've got no place to stay but here – you said it yourself, Edmund."
There I finally said it. His first name finally slid off my tongue like a knife through butter. It felt wonderful to be able to say – shut up and focus here. He paused for the briefest moment before continuing.
"Yes, we'll, you'll be staying here till we can figure out where to place you. If it isn't obvious I'll be needing to keep you close by – " he paused once more and seemed almost as if what he said was a mistake.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that… I merely want to be able to reach you when the time arises."
He tried to explain it better than before. I understood him the first time, so why was he repeating himself a second? I figured he was just doing it for him so that he'd understand better what he was trying to get across.
"If you're still trying to wrap your head around your current case I can promise you it's not Ripper."
I spoke up, hoping to ease his nerves somewhat. He gave a faint smile, it seemed to help just a tad but I knew that he was the type of man that had to see it with his own eyes for him to consider it true. He moved about ever so slightly as he took a step across the room.
"I'm in need of a shirt. I must go home for the moment, but I will return."
He said, as if trying to convince me. I gave him a look – my look of 'you're not fooling anyone here.' – and he seemed to catch on rather quickly. But I allowed him to slide, only allowing him to know that I knew that he wouldn't be back anytime soon.
"Alright. I guess I'll be here then. Waiting for you in your office."
I stood up from my chair and walked back around behind it. I looked at Reid once more and gave him a soft smile.
"But the moment you run into trouble, don't think I won't be there."
He gave me a baffled look that only caused my grin to widen.
"Do you honestly have the knowledge of when I'm in danger?"
I laughed, throwing my head to the side as I slipped my hand over the back of the chair.
"Don't believe me? Wait till you get home. Your wife won't be there, but she'll have come home from church the moment you're preparing to change your shirt."
He looked at me with the strangest gleam in his eyes, almost as if he was curious as to if I was right about his wife coming home on him changing into a new shirt. He shook his head and picked up his hat which sat on the desk, running his fingers around the rim.
"You couldn't possibly know that… I will return shortly. Be here when I do."
And with those orders he left. I knew better then to try to leave and follow him or go wandering off on my own accord. So I just sat back down onto the cot and pondered. As I laid there and thought to myself about everything that had happened so far. I could recall as the old man had given me the drink in which caused me to wined up here in London – Ripper Street – but I couldn't for the life of me recall why he had sent me. I closed my eyes and sighed, this was the first time I couldn't recall my mission because something like this happened.
Placing my arms back behind my head and started to ponder on the fact of how long I would actually have to be here and what the would mean for the people of Whitechapel.