The next week or so is gruesome. Not in the way that it’s gory or demanding. It’s just so utterly boring that I dread going into work every day. It’s one thing to be tired from going out to help people. It’s one thing to hate coming home late because you’re solving a murder. It’s an entirely different thing sitting in a chair and watching other people do stuff around you. I feel useless. I shouldn’t even be here.

No one even watches what I do; much less cares. Captain hands me some papers every once in a while for busy work. But really, all I’m doing is transferring hand-written paperwork into the computer. I also might call Henry every few hours to make sure he’s okay.

He’s been really great about the entire thing. He doesn’t give me a hard time about worrying so much. He just answers and tells me he’s fine then goes back to work.

The murders keep happening too - every three days. The second was the waitress for the curry restaurant. The third is a man that stopped us to ask for directions the day before and got a picture for his daughter. Both of them had notes pinned to their chest for me that said something along the same line as the first.

If everything continues as it has, it’ll happen again tomorrow night. Everyone is doing everything they can, but the murderer has left nothing to go on. We haven’t seen anyone following us. We haven’t noticed anything different. I don’t know what to do at this point.

But since I haven’t been actually working, I leave the station every day at five. There isn’t any reason for me to be there and I’m more comfortable at home. Today I left even earlier because I called our alarm company to come put extra security sensors on our windows. When I walk in, there’s a worried Ella sitting at on one of the stools at the kitchen island.

Her eyes catch me and a sad smile appears on her face, “Come sit with me?”

I nod before putting my keys in the bowl and making my way over. As I take my seat, I take off my jacket and throw it on the back of the closest couch.

“Are you okay?” Her voice is quiet and her hands circle the glass she’s holding.

I sigh, but shake my head in a negative response, “I’m worried about Henry. And you and Maya. And my dads and sisters too, if it’s gone that far.”

“I’m worried about you,” she tells me. “You’ve been so down lately. We all want to help somehow.”

“You can’t help until this is over. I think I’m going to have to break it off with Henry. I can send him to the vacation house-” I start to reason aloud, but she cuts me off.

“Don’t think like that,” her hand moves to my forearm and she squeezes gently. “They’ll catch him. Or her. This will be over soon.”

Shaking my head again, I look straight into her eyes, “This is all happening because of me. Three people have died because of me.”

“No,” she corrects me, “three people have died because of some psycho.”

Shrugging, I raise an eyebrow, “I could’ve stopped it already. I think you guys should leave for a while. Just until things settle down some.”

She chuckles, “You’re still trying to get us to leave? I think we need to be here with you, instead.”

I look away from her for a second and down at my hands, “I’m sorry, El.”

“I told you this isn’t-”

Looking up, I shake my head, “I called Toby. You and Maya are going to stay with him while he’s touring New England and Canada.”

“You can’t do that,” she pulls her hand back from my arm.

“I had to. It’s only for two weeks and then he comes back here for Madison Square Garden. Hopefully by then this will all blow over and-”

“You’re not allowed to do that,” she yells. “You’re not allowed to decide where we stay or if we go at all. You’re not allowed to just push us away because you think it’s not safe.”

“It’s not safe,” I try to reason.

“It should be my choice!”

“I’m trying to be reasonable.”

“You’re not trying anything! You telling me!”

“Isabella!” I shout pushing up off my stool and taking a step away from her. “Quite frankly, I am telling! And I’m not doing it because I think it’s a good idea. I’m doing it because lives are being taken and I won’t have it be yours!”

I can see water gathering in her eyelids, but I’m not backing down.

“I’m going to take a shower,” I let her know. “We’re going to my dads’ house tonight to celebrate Brie’s birthday. Toby’s meeting us there and after the party you and Maya are leaving with him. Do you want to call her or do you want me to?”

The tears silently spill down her cheeks, “I will.”

“Great,” I nod making sure not to show any emotion on my face. “I would advise you start packing. The security system guy is going to be here within the hour and once he’s done we’re leaving.”

“What about Henry?”

I shake my head, “I already told him to meet us there.”

Ella doesn’t say anything else. She just stands from her spot and walks into her room; closing the door behind her.

Once I know she can’t see me, I let my head fall and breathe out the emotion I’d been holding. And if I’m letting tears fall while I’m in the shower, that’s my business. It’s not like they’re distinguishable from the water pouring down my body. Even after the shower, I can’t muster enough energy to really get ready. I just throw on my glasses, a tee shirt, and some jeans.

The security system guy turns out to be a girl. She comes in all flirty smiles and giggly laughter. Halfway through, I move to the living room so she can do her job. Maybe it’s the upbeat attitude, but I just don’t have any desire to watch her check everything over. I let her move around the apartment; in and out of all the bedrooms.

It doesn’t actually take too long for her to do everything. At some point Maya turns up and gives me an understanding nod. I know she’s not thrilled about it, but she gets it.

Once the alarm lady leaves, I tentatively knock on El’s door, “Are you ready?”

The door swings open and she gives me a dirty look. Ella has a suitcase in her hand and a backpack on her back. She just stand in front of me with a raise brow and a set mouth. She doesn’t say anything just stares.

From behind me comes my other female friend’s voice, “Come on, El. Don’t make this harder on him than it has to be.” She comes and stands to the side of us. I don’t take my eyes off my best friend as Maya talks, “You know if he could, he would keep us with him the whole time. Since he can’t, he has to give us to someone that can.”

Ella looks at her, “He doesn’t think we can take care of ourselves.”

“That’s not true,” I try to defend, but Maya puts her hand to my chest.

Our caramel toned friend smiles, “You know him better than that. Since we were kid on the playground, he’s tried to protect us. Me and you and Brie and Toby and Nik and now Henry; all of us. We’ve always laughed at him for it. But he’s always supported us too.” Maya looks up and gives me a nod, “He stood behind us as he made sure no one hurt us. He was there all the way up until he needed to step in.” She looks Ella in the eyes, “He’s stepping in, El.”

I’m not sure which happens first, but all at once Ella drops her suitcase, starts crying, and her face is against my chest. She’s sobbing words that I can’t understand as Maya and I rub her back. There’s not much else we can do.

Her breathing regulates and she looks up at me with her eyes red and watery, “What about you? Who’s going to protect you?”

“No need to worry about me,” I whisper loud enough for them both to hear. “I’ll be just fine. Henry will be here until I can convince him to go. We’ll be alright.”

Maya joins our hug and I kiss them both on the forehead before adjusting my glasses and pointing behind us, “Let’s get out of here.”

I help them get their bags to the car. The ride there is silent except for the radio. There isn’t much I can say or do to help the mood; so I don’t. When we pull up, Henry’s car is already in the drive along with all the rest of the families’ and what I assume is a rental for Toby.

I take a deep breath and turn to the two girls, “Let’s smile tonight and pretend like everything is fine. My dads don’t know everything that’s going on. I don’t want to worry them if they don’t have to.” They nod and I look at Ella, “Can you go in and get Henry’s keys? I have something to put in his car, but I don’t want him to exactly know.”

She nods quickly and they get out. I sit breathing for the minute it takes her.

She returns with two sets of keys and hands me Henry’s, “I got Toby’s too so I can put the bag in there without everyone getting suspicious at the end.” Kissing her cheek first, I help her move the bags before going to my glove box. Of course, she follows, “What are you doing, B?”

“I programed a GPS with directions to the vacation house in case I have to send him away,” I look up at her as I pull out the offending item. “I know he won’t go willingly, but I need him to have somewhere if he does go.” A tear slips from my eye without my consent and my voice comes out as a whisper, “He has to be okay.”

She gives me a sad smile, “He will be. You will be too. They’ll catch this asshole and we’ll all be okay.”

Wiping the water from my face, I nod. It only takes a few seconds for us to unlock his car and put the GPS in his glove box. I take a few extra breaths before we walk into the house.

The gathering goes much like all the gathering with this family. We put aside our ailments and everyone has a good time. We laugh and talk and everyone smiles. Henry throws me a few worried looks, but everything is mostly forgotten for the time being.

Henry and I don’t drink because we have to drive home and I’m not willing to stay at my parents’, just in case. The less people involved the better.

When it’s late enough for us to leave without anyone being suspicious, I start my goodbyes. Brie ask us to stay a little longer. I laugh it off with a sexual innuendo implying that we’re leaving for another reason. We give hugs and kisses until it’s just the two of us standing outside.

“I’ll meet you at home,” I kiss his lips before heading to my own car.

On the way, I distract myself with loud music. I definitely don’t think about how I should send Henry on his way somewhere far away from me.

We’re getting ready for bed when Henry speaks to me, “Blain?”

Turning to him, I try to smile, “Yea babe?”

“You look awful,” he says as he walks up to me and wraps his arms around my middle. “Tell me how I can help.”

Placing my hand on the sides of his face, I hold him there, “You are helping. You’re keeping me sane.”

He places his lips on mine in a chaste kiss. His voice then comes out as a whisper, “I feel so selfish.”

“You’re not,” I shake my head and make sure he keeps eye contact. “If anything, that’s me. I don’t want this to end.”

“It’s just that,” I can see the water gathering in his eyes, “I’ve never felt for anyone before. I can’t let you go. What if it doesn’t happen again?”

When his first tear spills over, it’s my undoing. A knot forms in my throat, but everything else feels empty. I bring my hands up and take off my glasses, and then his, careful to set them on my bedside table.

And then we’re kissing desperately. His arms pull me as close as possible; almost crushing. My hand tangle into his blonde hair pulling too hard. His nails grip into my back like talons. It hurts, but not nearly as much as losing him would. This I can bear. That I cannot.

I can taste the salt water coming from our eyes, but I’m not sure if it’s mine or his. I’m not stopping to check.

We hit the bed limbs everywhere, even though I’m not sure when we started moving. We’re both only in boxers, but neither of us move to take them off. I don’t want to break from kissing him ever. I need him right here… with me.

Henry pulls his lips away, but puts his forehead to mine, “Just don’t leave.”

“I couldn’t if I wanted to,” I admit.

He nods.

“I do, you know?”

He nods again.

I know I don’t need to say it. I know that he knows what I mean. I know that he does too. But maybe, I should, just in case.

Pulling up one of my hands to brush across his cheeks, I gain his attention. Our eyes lock for a few moments and neither of us look away.

But he smiles without any words exchanged and nods, “I love you, too.”

We fall asleep like that; kissing and tangled together.

~A/N~

:(