Chapter Three -- Witchblade--Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 15:01:05 10/08/04 Fri
Author: moondreamer
Subject: Chapter Three
In reply to: moondreamer 's message, "The Ghost in the Machine - PG-13" on 11:11:12 10/07/04 Thu

A/N: Well, it is managing to continue isn�t it? Hmmm�so far I am placing this during Season 1 but things could be changing a bit in the future. My apologies to those I confused with the dates by each chapter. Since it sometimes becomes lengthy between my updates I tend to date them as a prod to myself. I was just too lazy to delete them. I�ll do better in the future.

Chapter Three

The squad room was crowded and noisy. Phones were ringing, people talking, computer keys clacking. A check of the decibel level would have put the department in violation of the same noise level statutes they were required to enforce.

What a night. Jake shook his head wearily and stretched his arms above his head before settling them back down on the mess of paper that covered his desk. He could feel the muscles in the back of his neck give a slight pop before they settled back down where they belonged.

The hardest thing about all of this had to be pretending to be so goddamn upbeat all the time. Happy-go-lucky was a hell of a lot more work than he would have ever thought.

Man, did he really need a chance to close his eyes, but he knew Captain Siri would want to see his report when he came in. Not that Jake really knew what he was going to put into his report. Talk about a strange one. He didn�t know what to make of the nights events.

Sara Pezzini was one lucky son-of-a-gun. It seemed practically impossible that one woman could have lived through a shoot-out with an infamous hit man and survived some type of freak explosion in the same night. She had to have more than a couple angels looking out for her.

Jake wasn�t sure yet how in the heck she had met up with Gallo and Vespucci in the first place. Was it really all so innocent or was there a deeper thread here he should follow?

They hadn�t found another body so where was the mystery man on the museum surveillance cameras that no one seemed to know anything about? Once she and Woo finished up their reports and put them on file he could poke around and learn more.

The harsh light of the morning left him feeling like a heel. But that came with the job didn�t it? Even though last night had been the perfect opportunity to insinuate himself with Sara Pezzini it still bothered him. Mission accomplished, and the ends justified the means; right?

What mattered was that he had made contact. It took just the right touch, but the opening had been too good to miss. Who would ever question last night? It wasn�t how he had planned it but it turned out too good not to play it.

It was practically seamless; there he was, a rookie to the department, on the scene where the object of his new crush was injured and in pain. He would have been a real jerk if he hadn�t followed her to the hospital with his tail wagging like a little puppy dog.

Her partner was busy booking Gallo; he knew from her file that she had no close family and even fewer friends. She was alone, vulnerable in those few moments as she wouldn�t be again.

She was queasy from a possible head injury, definitely not thinking clearly and sadly enough, just pathetically grateful she didn�t have to face the hospital on her own. He had stammered and stuttered and muttered some nonsense about looking out for a fellow officer and she had bought into it without question.

Jake had stayed with her at the hospital; waiting while she was put through a barrage of tests and quietly amused at her increasing irritability.

She was definitely not a push-over and without the catalyst of the evening he could see just how difficult it would have been to get past her personal barriers.

By the time she was released and he gave her a ride home they had settled into a joking, easy fellowship that had definitely been helped along by the pain killers the hospital staff had given her to buy them some peace when dealing with her.

Jake knew her reputation at the station. The ice queen, a bitch with balls bigger than most of the guys; probably a dyke. But the woman he spent time with last night was someone different.

Someone who was caring and compassionate, yet strong enough to do what was necessary. Someone who could feel deeply, yet hide those emotions away from a hurtful world. Someone who reminded him of�.

Jake brought his thoughts to a screeching halt. He was not going there. Not at all. Some things were better forgotten. Some ghosts were never meant to walk. He closed his eyes and fought for control. This assignment was supposed to help him forget. God knows, that�s all he wanted to do.

He heard a faint sound in front of his desk and quickly opened his eyes, searching for the seemingly vacuous expression they all seemed to expect from him. Damn it. There, in front of him was Sara�s partner, Danny Woo.

�Hey, Woo. How�s it going this morning?� He kept his tone light and pleasant while inwardly he was cursing his luck. This was the last person he wanted to face after a sleepless night.

�Jake.� The other man�s acknowledgement was curt and distrustful. The dark eyes wary as they passed over Jake. �You�re here bright and early, aren�t you?�

�You know how it is, it was a hell of a night. I thought I�d finish my report for the Captain and then go check on Sara.�

Detective Woo settled himself on the corner of Jake�s desk and swung one lean leg lazily back and forth.

�Ah yes, Sara. And just how was she doing last time you saw her?� The voice was quiet but Jake could feel the curiosity behind the gentle words.

�Well, you know Sara. She had a bit of headache when I dropped her off this morning but I guess that was to be expected. At least they didn�t keep her in the hospital.�

The nervous tone in Jake�s voice wasn�t all a sham. He had see Danny Woo practicing some of his martial arts forms and knew the strength and power behind the gentle fa�ade.

�Yes, I know Sara. I wasn�t aware that you knew her so well. I was surprised when I heard you went with her to the hospital.�

Their conversation had drawn the attention of a couple of other Detectives sitting around and they hurried to put their two cents in.

�What�s the matter, Woo? Jealous?� Tommy Burgess was a nice enough guy, large and amiable. Right about then Jake could have hugged him for diverting the attention off of him.

�Yeah, Danny. Everyone knows Ol� Jake here�s been making eyes after Pezzini ever since he got here.� Detective Lincoln Brown leaned back in his chair just a little too casually. �I bet it just swept him off his feet seeing her protect you like that.�

The two men burst into raucous laughter at the younger man�s expense and Jake felt some unwilling sympathy for Danny. It took a strong man to be partners with a woman like Sara Pezzini.

Tempering that was the realization that he had been so obvious as he watched her. He was just lucky that it had been put down to his admiration of Sara rather than his suspicions.

Jake used the break in the tension to gather up some of the papers on his desk and toss them into one of the side drawers. What he had on paper was good enough. He needed to get out of here before Danny could regroup and start on him again.

He grabbed his denim jacket and then turned to face Danny one last time. �I�ll be sure to let Sara know you were concerned for you. Unless of course, you want to come with me to check on her?� His voice was slightly challenging as he stared the Detective down; refusing to be considered a total light weight.

Even so, Jake was surprised when the other man stood up slowly and shook his head. �Nah, I have to get home and check on Lee and the kids. Sara will understand. I gave her a call last night.�

�Sure. Well, later, man. Tommy; Lincoln; see ya.� Jake said his goodbyes and moved quickly for the exit. It had been one hell of a long day.

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Replies:

Chapter Four -- moondreamer, 09:13:42 10/11/04 Mon