Page 42 of Courageous Demands

The chief was suddenly very busy looking for something in the cabinets – but not Justin. Alec almost visibly winced at the knowing grin plastered over the other man’s face.

“Well, well, well… if it isn’t the Honorable Judge Rushman, I presume? How’s it going, your Honor? Are you slumming with the common folk or are you here to see someone?” and then Justin got this mocking surprised look on his face. “You aren’t here to see our last – and very single – ‘flirt’ of the team, are you? Surely you didn’t buy into that stupid nickname like all the other women in…”

“Enough, Justin…”

“That’s Captain Dailey, Beckett.”

“Can I just call ya’ ‘Captain D’s’ like the fast-food place…”

“Deez nuts!” Chad, Lance, and Colton chimed in together in unison – making Willow laugh uncomfortably as Alec grinned.

“No. You cannot,” Justin replied in a flat voice, grimacing.

“Could I see you outside for a moment, Alec?” Willow said quietly, taking his hand. Alec turned and stuck out his tongue at Lance, who playfully tried to grab it – causing the two of them to laugh as Alec dodged him.

“Dude, that’s messed up!”

“Don’t stick your tongue out at me…”

The two men bickered before Alec and Willow were out the door – and alone. She looked a little wary and immediately dropped his hand.

“I didn’t mean to create a scene. I just thought it would be nice to come by and see you for a moment,” she began, standing there looking so alone… and he felt this urge to comfort her.

“I’m glad to see you,” he said softly, reaching out to cup her cheek. “I had a really nice time the other day, and this helps break up my day.”

“Mine too.”

“Does it bother you if the guys know?” he asked warily, knowing it was going to be hard to explain this impromptu visit – but he couldn’t tell her ‘no’ either.

“Do you mind?” she asked, looking just as worried as he was.

“Actually, I don’t think I do. I mean, I still worry this is all so surreal and that something is going to happen – but that’s on me. I’m trying…”

“I know,” she smiled gently, obviously relaxing at his answer. She laid a hand on his chest, looking up at him with those beautiful eyes, and he felt his heart turn over, wondering if she could feel it under her fingertips. “I wish I could give you some comfort or wipe away your worries.”

“I’m just feeling a little unsettled right now.”

“Is everything all right?”

Alec didn’t answer. He closed his eyes and hung his head slightly, thinking about that child with the brown hair and large hazel eyes. This was crazy. Things were so ‘weird’ between them… and every part of him wanted to believe in this, but he really was scared to get his heart broken again someday – and hesitated.

“What’s wrong?” Willow asked in a hushed voice, moving her hand to touch his cheek. “If you need to talk – I’m here.”

That brief phrase, ‘I’m here,’ was what he told the boy earlier today. While he had never really thought of himself as a ‘family man,’ his mother’s words kept ringing in his mind along with flashes of that child’s innocent face, making him wonder what theirs would look like. Life could change in an instant, seeing that man holding his son once more.

“Alec?”

“Do you ever have days where you think that everything is happening or lining up because now is your time for something to unfold?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like every time you turn around, someone says something, or you see an indicator of a path you should take, or you start thinking weird things you never imagined before – but all of it becomes related. Everything is coming together in this weird focus, creating a picture that you never realized was missing or blurry before.”

He looked at her and made a nervous sound in his throat, feeling her touch his cheek once more with such open understanding and acceptance. She was always like that – and even when they broke up, while it had been bad – it was also the ‘gentlest’ break-up ever recorded.

“I feel like my whole future is plopped in the optometrist’s chair, and they keep flipping those goofy little lenses in front of me. Like the Big Man Upstairs is asking me, ‘Is this better, or can you see this clearer? How about now?’ – and I never imagined I might need glasses,” he hesitated and looked at her. “But if I let Him gimme a prescription, I might actually realize just how beautiful life is. Does that make any sense at all or am I being completely Looney-Tunes?”

“You have such a way with words,” she chuckled – and leaned up to kiss him. “I like it.”

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