Thread: To Finish the Job {{Soul +&+ The PG}}

It was a stark difference to be getting served, especially in her own home and by Brandon of all people. It wasnt that she thought him incapable of pouring a drink, it was just that, well, the roles were always on the reverse and the setting was always public, calm, safe. Somehow, in a short matter of hours- no, seconds - everything in the world had turned upside down and backwards, and Jai was lost as to where to even being trying to make sense of it all. Still, his comment about bravery caused a hint of color to rise in her cheeks, and she quickly pulled herself back into reality, sitting up just enough to look off in the direction hed gone. Youre my guest youre not supposed to be serving me Im supposed to be serving you Brandon . It was too late though she could hear the glasses sliding over the counter followed by the soft echo of his approaching footsteps, and the next she knew hed drawn back the door curtains to the balcony, allowing soft sunset light to flood into the room and bask it in a soft orange glow. The look that suddenly overtook his features was enough to leave Jai tilting her head just the slightest bit more, curiosity forming in her gaze. Hmm? She inquired softly when he made his comment. What is it? The response caused her to turn her face away in order to hide the color that instantly rose in her cheeks and the girlishly shy smile that traced the corners of her lips. Its not that big of a deal, she murmured dismissively, softly, managing to regain her composure just in time for him to round the couch and offer up the drink hed made. Taking it with a gentle hand, her eyes lifted to meet his, attempting to decipher his gaze for anything well, anything really, and as he lifted his own glass to his lips, she lifted hers in sync, being far less modest with it. In fact, by the time he got settled on the seat beside her, she was already about halfway through with it, and she decided it best to hold off for a moment, lest he start to worry that she was an alcoholic or hitting it hard to drown out the evenings events. Instead, she lowered the glass to hold it against her knee, sitting up just enough to more comfortably look over at him, and a smile formed across her face when he admitted that her couch was very comfortable. I told you so, she remarked with a knowing look. You should have believed me. The slight smugness in her expression faded into puzzlement as she watched him shifting in his seat, easily picking up on his sudden awkwardness, and subconsciously she tucked her lower lip between her teeth. It only took a moment for him to speak up about what he was so fidgety about, and Jai offered him a practiced, polite smile, nodding her head just slightly as she lifted her free hand to point down the hall. On the left, across from the bedroom. She informed him quietly, watching with a slight frown as he wasted no time at all in hurrying from the living area, out of her direct presence. In silence then, she waited and listened until the sound of the water pipes in the shower growled to life, and she found herself heaving a deep sigh that she hadnt even realized she been holding. More alcohol . Lifting her hand, Jai finished off the rest of her glass and reluctantly pushed herself to her feet, her gaze roving around the inside of her apartment cautiously. Paranoia was a common occurrence for her, but with all that had happened, she was on her highest nerve, pushing the barrier against sanity to its near breaking point. If they didnt catch Tony, and soon, there was no telling how long it was going to be before someone had her forcibly committed, and Jai could only hope and wish on the former. In the meantime though, in an attempt to try and relax herself, she moved back into the kitchen to set about making herself another drink. The options were various and plentiful, and on any other night could easily have made a simple mixed drink based on her mood and how her day had gone, but at current she was fried, and what she ended up mixing into her glass was a little bit of just about every bottle of alcohol she had. With a sigh, she leaned her hip into the counter, sliding her eyes closed as she lifted the glass to her lips and drew in a small sip. To say the least, it was bitter, and had the strongest burn shed ever felt, even as a bartender, but it was tolerable, and there was no doubt at all in her mind that it was going to do the trick without a need for a single additional drink save for maybe a glass of water. Still, she remained in the kitchen for the time being, distracting and pacing herself by counting to twenty mentally in between each hearty sip that she took. The glass was about halfway done when the buzzer went off, catching Jai so strongly that she yelped and nearly dropped the glass, her breath seizing in her lungs and heart skipping a beat before doubling in speed. It took her a moment before she remembered that Brandon had informed there would be a guest, and she swallowed hard, shaking her head as if to dismiss the sudden fright, before making her way to the call device. Hello? Hola chica, it's Sgt Chavez, Officer Caito- er, Brandon's partner. She heaved a sigh, nodding her head to herself in relief. She recognized that voice anywhere, and had for the better second half of her life. Michelle was the first person that Jai had talked to when she woke up in the hospital, the first one shed seen, and regardless of who her father had been or the requirements of the job, Michelle had seemed to be there for her just as much as anyone outside of the force that cared about her, enough to even rival Mel. Oh, yeah he said you were coming. Come on in. With that, she pressed the code button to unlock the main door before moving to wait by her own front door. She wasnt about to just leave it unlocked or unattended, and when the knock finally came, Jai wasted no time in unlatching everything to let her friend inside. The smile that was met with was a tremendous comfort, and Jai relaxed even more as she slid the door closed behind her Michelle and re-did all of the locks before turning to look back at the woman, who was observing her just as carefully. The first words out of her mouth caused Jai to push on the slightest of smiles, and she shrugged slightly, shaking her head. I do my best, she corrected gently, leaning in to accept her hug generously. A while? She repeated incredulously as she leaned back. Try too damn long . Jai smiled then, if only slightly, and she watched as Michelle made her way across the apartment with ease, a brow raising when she so casually dropped a pad on the coffee table. Her unasked question was answered when the woman turned back to face her, and Jai swallowed thickly, ducking her head as she remembered the glass shed left on the kitchen counter. In silence, she quickly made her way back into the kitchen, pausing only long enough to offer a soft laugh in response to the womans impatience with Brandon. It was clear that she was motherly of him, at least in regards to making sure he did the right thing and learned the right way and didnt make a complete fool of himself in the process, but then and again it could simply have been more sibling-like too, and either way, it still attested to the fact that everyone at the precinct was family in one way or another, by blood or not. Um She started quietly, shyly, as she ducked into the kitchen and retrieved her glass, quickly buying herself some time by taking a generous swig from it as she peered around at her friend. Hes been a gem, really. She spoke as she rolled her jaw, fighting the urge to pucker from the bitter burn in her mouth and throat. I um I lost it a little bit a lot , at the bar Todays a hard enough day as it is Ten years ago today he killed my dad and five years later, five years ago, today, he came after me Its safe to assume I hardly slept at all last night, and then Her voice trailed, emotion getting the better part of her, and Jai shuffled her feet along the carpet numbly so that she could sink down onto the edge of the sofa, her gaze staring off distantly. It was going fine, just like any other Friday, maybe a bit slower but that was fine, and then Pratt left early and I saw someone new come in and he just I could tell he didnt belong there, but I did my job I went over, introduced myself like I always do and asked for his order. Again, she hesitated, swallowing hard as she felt the ice start to settle back into her veins, a shiver crawling up her spine as she cupped her lass tightly between her hands. He looked at me, met my eyes I know that look anywhere, those eyes but I could see it he wasnt expecting it to be me he didnt know and now he does and I tried to play it cool, turned around to get someone else a drink and the bottle just I was shaking so hard I didnt mean to drop it and then I was back in that river all over again and I couldnt breathe or move or anything, and it was just so and then Mel and Brandon were there, holding me up and worrying, and he was gone Her gaze lifted then, tears forming in her eyes as she looked into Michelles. He was gone, like a thief in the night he was gone and now now hes out there and he knows he wont stop hell never stop I Her throat closed, emotion cutting her off mid-sentence, and she had mind enough to reach to put her glass back down on the coffee table before drawing her arms in on herself. Its only of time Id be better to push myself off the balcony, itd be a lot faster than what hes going to do to me Her mind wandered from the present then, as if the very words shed spoken had triggered a memory to resurface, and she subconsciously curled up into the corner of the couch, biting down on her bottom lip. P-p-please... Her raw, choked voice all but gurgled. S-s-st-op... An agonized gurgle left her lips, drowned by the sound of an annoyed, guttural male growl, as she stumbled back a step, her knees buckling when a blunt knife dug deep into her abdomen. I said shut the fuck up. The male voice growled the heat of his breath sliding down her ear canal as his lips just barely touched the side of her face... You'll never forget. With a sudden yelp, Jai lurched when she felt a hand on her shoulder, her widened, stricken hues lifting to identify the culprit, meeting with Michelles gaze even, and she swallowed hard, shifting slightly so that she could reach up to wrap her arms tightly around her friend, holding onto her for what seemed like dear life.