Frankie looked around for Lonnie but he was nowhere to be found. She felt, well, lonely was the only way she could describe it. It was the strangest thing for her to feel given the circumstance. How could she feel lonely without a man she knows nothing of? It made no sense, but none of her emotions did lately. She thought about him all the time, and it drove her fucking nuts.

When he was looking at her in the cell, it took everything she had not to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. To feel his body pressed against hers; his lips on her mouth, his tongue on hers...Not caring how far it went, as long as it was with him. She sensed him - felt him, in her.. Frankie had never felt this way for anyone. Ever. The fact she had only just met him, and felt this strongly, meant something. Whatever this was, it was planned long before they met. There was just no other explanation for this insanity. He was her one. She knew that there was no way she could fight it for much longer. It was like a force all its own pushing her to him, it was fated - she was sure of that now; and it was totally out of her hands.

____________________________________

Lonnie sat in the parking lot, staring out the window of his corvette shaking his head. A somber sigh escaped his lips and he pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger, trying in vain to fight back the pounding headache he felt creeping behind his eyes. He thought of her and squeezed his nose harder.

"Frankie."

He said her name out loud and a warm feeling engulfed his stomach. Every time he thought of her, which was all the time, he felt warm. It was always very comforting, like he'd known her before, which made zero sense. He hated when things didn't make sense; he was a logical man, prided himself on it. But this...this was something else.

He could daydream about her for hours, and had. He actively fought the urges that came up thinking about her; buried his intense feelings deep. He knew those very feelings would push him over the edge, and the loss of control frightened him. But his control was not going to last much longer. The all-consuming emotions that roared inside him like the ocean in a hurricane; the ones hidden by the stern poker face front, were crumbling right before his eyes. And it was because of her. Lonnie realized there was no turning back now; it was like an entity all its own.

It occurred to him suddenly that she may not be here for much longer. As soon as they were done the job, Frankie would have to leave. The thought of her leaving put him in a panic, he hadn't thought of that until now. She couldn't leave - he wouldn't let her leave, no way. She was his - the one he had wanted his entire life. There was no way in hell he'd watch her walk out of it. Whatever this was that brought her here to him, he'd be damned if he was going to squander that blessing. This whole situation was just driving him fucking crazy.

______________________________________

Sargent Dee Shepard and Corporal Luke Everette were working the phones when Bubba finished up with the release forms for Frankie. He eyeballed the men waiting at the far end of reception then looked back to Dee and pointed to them. She was still on the phone and shook her head, motioning to Gillespie's office where the three men were still talking. He nodded, remembering Parker said there were more folks from OPS waiting there.

"Okay ladies, I'll take you back to the motel now. Luke, you ride with me. Where's Lonnie at?"

"Off duty" Sargent Sweet took over Luke's station holding a pile of folders he was going through. "Not sure if he's gone or still in the locker room".

The two men waiting stood up at the same time and Bubba stopped. A man younger than himself smiled and shook his hand at him.

"No worries dude, we're just here to collect the females" A curly haired early 20 something wearing baggy jeans and a grease stained sweatshirt assured Bubba. Reba and Frankie looked at Bubba's confused face and laughed out loud.

"Roach, he's a-" Frankie began but was cut off.

"Roach?" Dude?" Bubba was beside himself. "Young man, when you address me you do so as-

"My apologies" A thick English accent smoothly poured from a suited gentleman sitting beside him. His chiseled features nicely complimenting the Armoni. He looked at Bubba's name plate before continuing. "Captain. My colleague and I are here to bring our team mates back to the motel."

"Hey y'all! Reba began "Cap this is Mac, and Roach. Mac- Roach, this is Captain Skinner. Can we go with them?"

"No I have to take you. Procedure. And it's Captain darlin'" Reba pouted with an exaggerated bottom lip and Roach smiled.

"Aww, I can cheer you up beautiful".

"Bet you can sugar boy." Reba winked and Roach blushed a little.

Frankie was still shivering and thought she'd be in bed for days sick after all this lollygagging around. "Guys, I'm cold and need warmth now. Please!"

"Sorry Frankie" Mac said sincerely "Understood Captain, we'll follow behind."

They walked outside and stood on the concrete stairs above the row of police cars at the front of the station. It was the very crack of dawn, and Frankie loved this time equally as much as dusk. The sky looked like it was ripped in half with the pinks and blues of the morning, just creeping through the heavy black and grey of the night. She always loved a brand-new day; it was like another chance at living well. It was calm, no rushing, just moments to reflect and be with yourself without...

"Wait-What..."

Something whipped passed her face and she dropped down. Glass shattered behind her as everyone scattered for cover. She rolled, falling into the bushes at the side of the stairs as more glass flew out from the window. Frankie could see blood on the stairs that ran down to the sidewalk, and she tried to get out from the shrubs but the gun fire was too heavy. She shriveled back as a bullet grazed her forearm and shrapnel from the window above slid down her face cutting her cheek. She saw Reba laying at the base of the stairs motionless and bloody and Frankie screamed.

"REBA!"