Loving all the positive and long responses.. keep em coming! What you think so far?

LK

Chapter 23: Slipping Mask

Sabrina was half sitting on the bed, wearing a clean shirt, keeping the first few buttons open. A white bandage covered the right side of her chest and some of her shoulder, disappearing under the shirt. Hope and Alice had gone to their rooms, knowing better than ask too many questions. Kelly was sitting at the end of the bed, both not quite looking at each other.

''Do you want me to go?'' Kelly asked.

Sabrina didn't answer and the other detective got to her feet and walked to the door. She stopped before opening it. ''Is there something I can do?''

Sabrina swallowed before she spoke. ''You patched me up.''

''You need a doctor. Painkillers.''

She got only a sigh as a response and she asked again. ''Bri, is there some way... I can help you... tonight?''

Sabrina cleared her throat and Kelly turned to face her. Instead of an answer Sabrina tossed her a small shiny key.

''What's that?''

''Keep this.'' , she said, as she pulled out a pair of cuffs and secured her left wrist on the bed post.

''What are you doing?''

Sabrina finally looked up to her. ''I'm trying.'' Some small muscles twitched on her face as she tried to keep her emotions in check. ''I'm really... trying. Kelly.''

''I'm not sure that I...''

Her voice went mechanical. ''There's another bag in the closet. Flush it.'' She lied on her side, facing the wall and closed her eyes. Her friend didn't speak, rather she did what was asked of her. When she returned Sabrina pointed to her suitcase. ''Take my gun.''

''Sabrina...''

There was only one way to do this right and she had to take all safety measures. ''I said, take my gun.'' Kelly took the gun from the suitcase and tucked it in her jeans pocket.

''Okay.''

The taller angel lifted her arm away from her body and revealed a pistol in a waist holster under her clothes. She made sure the safety was on and took the clip out. Then she popped out the extra bullet in the chamber and handed everything to Kelly. ''There's a bottle of pills in the bottom cabinet in the suitcase, leave me two and keep the rest with you.''

When Kelly left two of the tablets neatly on the nightstand next to her she returned to sit on the bed next to her again. ''That all?''

''Yes. You can go get some sleep now. Kris will be here tomorrow.''

Kelly's voice barely reached her ears. Things were starting to get into a fuzzy warm melting mash and her vision was slowly fading away. ''How are you so sure?''

She barely managed to speak this time. ''She was accepted, they won't harm her. She's a big girl Kelly, she can handle herself. I underestimated her, and I'll apologise when she's back. Happy now?'' Her hands started shaking again and she brought her palms against the mattress to keep them in control. All kinds of thoughts were going-no, racing through her mind threatening to make her head explode. Kelly reached out and touched her neck for her pulse. Her heart beat was rapid. ''You're getting withdrawal symptoms again.'' She said quietly.

Sabrina barely nodded and closed her eyes. Small drops of perspiration were starting to roll down her forehead. ''Go... sleep some Kelly.''

''I'm staying with you.''

They looked at each other for a small moment but it was enough. For now it was a treaty for peace. Sabrina was in need of some help and Kelly was the only person that was able to help in any way at the moment. Personal arguments could wait until this was sorted out and all three of them were safe. And maybe some things didn't need to be said, just felt.

''I saw what you did to that girl in the ring.'' Kelly said, needing to say something.

She closed her eyes again and made herself more comfortable on the bed. No matter the tension and arguments between them she felt okay to relax around Kelly. ''I know you did.'' She sounded sad. Kelly bit her lip.

''You won.''

''I can do my job.'' There was a slight edge in her voice as she said so.

''I'm sorry I forced you to prove it.''

Kris woke up in her dorm, confused about how she got there or when. She was late for the second class of the day, but she was still confused. She went outside in the corridor and wandered around for a few minutes. Even though it was early morning outside it seemed like these corridors were always dark. She took a sharp turn, looking down on the floor without paying much attention to her surroundings and she ended up falling on someone. When she looked up she recognised Sabrina and her eyes widened.

''Sabrina!'' She opened her mouth to keep on talking but Sabrina waved her hand in front of her face.

She gave Kris her most serious look. ''Not here, not now. Go find Kelly.''

Kris looked at her, still some how our of sync with her surroundings. ''Okay, okay.'' She turned to walk away.

''Wait...'' Sabrina called out.

''Wha... what?''

In an unexpected display of affection she pulled her into a hug. ''Are you okay?'' She might have told Kelly Kris could take care of herself but they couldn't fool anyone but themselves if they pretended they didn't worry.

Her blue eyes looked for some sense into the fragments of her memory after Sabrina was taken out of the cave in the desert. ''Yeah... yeah I think so...Sabrina I...''

''We can talk later, go find Kelly now, she's worried sick.''

Right...

Kris slowly walked downstairs to meet Kelly at the diner and she couldn't help but notice , despite her own confusion and exhaustion, that Sabrina's voice was a pitch deeper today and her hands seemed shaky. Ah, well. This case seemed to take a toll on all of them. Kris knew that there always seemed to be some sort of bad vibe between her and Sabrina, mostly because the other angels were used to her older sister. But she also knew that they would be able to talk this mess out and be like they were before. But.. Sabrina looked off today. But then, being abducted and forced to take part in neopagan rituals will do that to you, Kris thought to herself. Maybe she was just tired.

Or not?