Page 34 of Rookie Days

“And he’s not going to.”

“No. He’s in jail now, awaiting trial.”

“So, everything’s okay?”

“Yes.” Quinn nodded slowly, uncertainly.

“What else is bothering you?” Lia encouraged.

“Ah, I don’t know… I guess I just don’t like being lied to, dammit!”

Quinn huffed in frustration. She would have moved away now, returned to her slicing and her own thoughts, no doubt. But Lia held her back.

“Wait.”

“What? Homemade soup ain’t gonna make itself.”

“It can wait. Tell me. What’s really the issue here?”

chapter 11

It was astonishing, really, the way that Lia could always get her to reveal her innermost concerns. She did so by being incredibly gentle and infinitely patient, as a wife and a lover would be. And like any good reporter, she was also terrifically persistent. Quinn gave in.

“How am I supposed to protect her if I don’t know what’s going on in her goddamn head?” she exploded.

“Oh, babe.” Lia pulled her even more tightly into her arms. “You know, it occurred to me that you might say something like that.”

“Yeah, great,” Quinn muttered. “According to Ellie, I’m too soft. Now you’re telling me I’m too predictable as well? Thanks a lot.”

“Ellie likes to live on the edge, uh?” Lia chuckled.

Quinn allowed herself a moment of silence to just rest in her wife’s embrace. Lia held her close, protectively. She brushed her fingers through the longer strands of hair at the back of her neck and went up in a soothing gesture. Quinn sighed again, but this time in release.

“You have a magic touch.”

“Only because you’re so magic yourself.”

“Huh.”

“So, what’s that you’re telling me about wanting to protect Ellie?”

“Just the obvious,” Quinn murmured. “I can’t look after my people if they keep secrets from me. I don’t want her suffering on her own either.”

“But Ellie told you, in the end, didn’t she?”

“Only because I forced her. We were talking about this new case, and I watched her get lost in some memory. Saw her glazed eyes and shallow breathing... I don’t think she has a clue how blindingly obvious this is to someone who’s been there. With the flashbacks.”

Lia rubbed a calming hand over her back.

“She’s stubborn.”

“Hell, yes!”

“Secretive?”

“You bet.”

“Mmm. But strong too, yes?”

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