Still wrapped in her robe she noticed that it was pouring cats and dogs outside, Rachel settled on a pair of black slacks, a white blouse and a black blazer. Looking side to side in the mirror no one would guess that she had slept late and now was a nervous wreck; quickly she put her hair into a French twist. As she put on her slacks, she noticed that no bruises had showed up yet from the spill she took a short time ago when she was still half asleep, grabbing for her robe. She was amazed it had not woken up Harley. The girl was still sleeping soundly; her blonde hair had come out of their pigtails and fanned about her head, like a halo.
Straightening her blazer, she grabbed one of her favorite perfumes and gave herself one quick squirt, happy to be on her way. Putting one sleeve into her raincoat and grabbing her briefcase with that hand, she ran the rest of the way into the coat. When she reached the sidewalk, she realized that she had forgotten her umbrella; it was too late to go back and get it.
Going to the curb, she immediately tried to hail a taxi. A few went by in a yellow blur. Frustrated, turning up her collar so no more water would seep down her neck and jamming her hands into her pockets, she started stamping in the direction of the DA’s office. She hoped along the way she could hail a taxi, sure she could call one but at this time a day, it would take longer waiting for one to show up then hailing one. Good thing I decided to wear flats today, she mused angrily.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a car that had been going in the opposite direction, turn make a u-turn and start driving in her direction, slowly. She picked up her pace. There was a quickie mart a few blocks away, I’m sure I can make it. From there I’ll call the office and then wait for a bloody taxi. The car was getting closer; she hastened her pace even more.
“Rachel!”
She could have sworn that she heard her name. She couldn’t be sure, she kept her pace, she wasn’t about to turn back and look.
“Rachel!” Came the voice again, this time, she recognized it. Relief flooded very drenched part of her. He stood beside the driver’s side of what she assumed was what the cops called a paper wrapper car.
“Serg…I mean Jim! What are you doing here?”
“You can ask me when you get in the car; you’ll catch your death out in this.” He gestured to the rain.
Without further delay, she ran the short distance to the car, opening the door she practically leapt in and slammed the door shut. Once inside she saw all the cop-related, she felt a sense of pride that she knew that from just looking at it.
“Here, I think you need this more than me right now.” He offered her a handkerchief.
“Thank you!” She smiled, out of the corner of her eye; she could see him rub his glasses with his tie. Without his glasses on Rachel was surprised at how young he looked. Dabbing her face and neck with the handkerchief, she could smell a hint of cologne or aftershave lingering on the fabric. The smell comforted her; it was worlds better than the smell of the rain and the concrete. Heck, she admitted to herself, if it had been a clear sunny day, it would have been nice. “You are a life saver.”
“It’s all part of the job.” He said with a wink and a half smile.
She dabbed her neck one more time trying to repress the feeling the wink caused.
“Here you go, thank you.” She handed it back to him, for a brief second their fingers brushed against each other. She smiled.
“You’re welcome.” He tucked it into his breast pocket. “In answer to your earlier question, I was feeling cooped up in the office, I figured I would patrol the neighborhood. Some muggings have been reported in the area.”
She put a hand to her throat, “That’s terrifying, my roommate and I had not heard about this,” she paused. “At least she had not mentioned anything if she had.” Rachel could only shake her head.
She watched as he reached into this jacket and pulled out a small white card. “If anything ever happens, if you think someone is following you, anything you call me on this number and I will come.” He handed it to her; she put the card in her purse.
She gently put her hand over his, “Thank you, I hope I won’t need too.” Then she put her purse back down beside her feet.
“I overslept this morning and a taxi wouldn’t stop for me so I was walking to the office.” It had dawned on her months ago, that he was so easy to talk too. Now, it still was so. It made her happy. “I hoped I would be able to hail one somewhere between here and there.”
He nodded. “I see, so you would be stuck being soaked at the DA’s office just so you could get there.” A smile played on his lips.
She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Believe it or not, I have a change of clothes. This seems to be turning into being more of a job than an internship with all the time I spend there.”
“Well, I don’t want to be known as the cop that makes you late. I better get you over there.”
“You could just drive me over to the quickie mart and I could call for a taxi.” She almost instantly regretted saying that, she wouldn’t mind at all if the two of them could spend more time together. Right after thinking that however, she mentally kicked herself. What was she thinking, this is Sergeant Gordon, he was years older and she kicked herself even more since she knew he was married.
He started the engine and drove the few blocks over to the mart. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” He gave her a smile.
“Ok, if you say so.” She smiled back at him.
That feeling prickled her again, the same one that came with the wink. She watched as he disappeared into the mart. These are just feelings, she mused, I have to admit it feels good to feel like this again. With all the stress of Bruce disappearing and law school, I almost forgot what it’s like to flirt much less chat with nice guy. She pulled the mirror down and looked at her reflection, she was relieved to see that her hair which usually liked to rebel was behaving itself. As she was putting the visor back up she saw him making his back to the car, his hands were full.
“Here you go.” Before she could react, she took a cup from him. It was warm.
Then with a tiny huff, he got in the car and closed the door. “I figured since I wasn’t able to give you that coffee the other day, this is the least I could do, especially since you had been caught in the rain. I got you a hot cocoa, I hope you like chocolate.” He paused, taking his glasses off again, he rubbed them with his tie.
“Oh! I love chocolate thank you so much.” She took a tentative sip it was perfect. It warmed her even more than the heater did. “You didn’t have to.”
“I bet it tastes better than that coffee could have been.” He paused, putting his glasses back on.
“You are right there.” She took another sip.
“And, I also got you a chocolate chip muffin.” He took the muffin out of the bag that sat on his lap. “Since you said you overslept, I bet you didn’t have chance for a bite.” He handed it to her.
“You are too kind.” She smiled and took it from him. It smelled delicious. He put the bag on the floor.
“Now, I better get you over there.” He started up the engine and they were on their way.
- Mood:
loved - Music:Sad Love - David Bowie
The door to the precinct swung open, in walked Finch and his young intern Rachel Dawes. She was no stranger to the precinct she had been in a month or two before when Bruce Wayne went missing. She had been terribly guilty over dropping him off close to that slime-bag, Falcone’s bar. She could barely make eye contact with him; all she seemed capable of was clenching and unclenching her hands, in her lap. He had taken her statement. Her story had matched up that shortly after dropping him off, she had driven off in a hurry to take a midterm exam at the university.
He grabbed the pot of the stale coffee and poured himself a cup. “Flass, I’m telling you the only reason why the case is closed is because there are too many on Falcone’s payroll.”
“Gordon, I’m starting to worry about you man. I think you are starting to obsess over Falone, ever since you and Barbara separated.”
Gordon did everything in his power not to roll his eyes. “There is a case that Finch recently brought up against some street thug named Maroni.” He gave a shrug. “Maybe they are here to get some details for their case.” He while sitting down at his desk, he couldn’t help but notice that Flass was a bit flustered. He had never seen him like that. It was unsettling.
“Yeah, that must be it.” Flass popped a mint into the dark cavern of his mouth.
He watched has Finch made his way to Loeb’s office. Ms. Dawes was right about to enter, but something was said, he couldn’t make out and the door shut in her face. Loeb was always a boorish man, even after all these years he didn’t particularly enjoy working with the man. He shuffled some papers on his desk; he wished Flass would stop hovering around, like some kind of fly. It was rather annoying and it didn’t help that he didn’t smell good. Gordon had to admit it was better than being stuck in the car with him.
“Sergeant?” Gordon watched as Ms. Dawes made her way over to him. He stood up. He couldn’t help but notice that the green vest she brought out red highlights in her hair, and that her pencil skirt made her look taller. Her was brow was not furrowed like when they first met, a confident self-assured woman made her way over to him now. He had to admit, it made her look like she was the assistant DA not Finch. With the dedication she was giving this internship, he mused she would be going places.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, Ms. Dawes.” He straightened his tie. “Is there anything I can help you with?” He asked relief washed over him as he saw Flass sitting down at his own desk.
“Yes, I was wondering if there had been any new information,” She stopped, right beside his desk, her eyes cast to the floor. The furrow that he had gotten to know was back. He watched as she took a deep breath, “on the disappearance of Bruce Wayne.” She finished.
“I’m sorry to say no.” He wished there was more he could tell her. “Falcone’s alibi is sticking.”
She just shook her head; stray strand of hair fell in her face. For a moment, he saw beyond her cool, confident, exterior that she had presented upon entering the station. She looked like the young student that she was. Then with a mere tucking of the hair behind her ear, it was gone again.
“You will let me know if there is any new information.” From the tone of her voice, he knew it wasn’t a question.
“Of course, Ms. Dawes as long as it doesn’t hamper the investigation.” He paused. “While you are waiting, would you like a cup of coffee?” He offered
“Sure. That would be nice.” She smiled.
“If it’s one thing about Loeb, he can go on for awhile.”
He could hear her sigh behind him. “Yeah, I’ve noticed.” He realized he could smell the subtle hint of perfume. It was pleasant; it almost took the dinginess of the station away.
He turned and gave her one of his half smiles. “I can’t promise that it’s the best but it hasn’t killed me yet.” He watched as she genuinely smiled, wider than he had ever seen before, and a rich giggle came from her throat.
She gave him a look from under eyelashes. “I could say same thing about the coffee at the DA’s office.”
Then the door opened to Loeb’s office, Finch was making his way out, Loeb’s was giving him a hardy pat on the back. Gordon watched as Finch’s squinty eyes scanned the office.
“Ms. Dawes, we have the information we needed.” He announced, holding up a manila envelope. “We better head back to the office.”
“Ok, boss.” She answered, looking over to him. Then she looked back at him. She gave him a weak smile, a shadow of the one before. “I think I’m going to have to give you a rain-check on the coffee, Sergeant.”
“Sure, that would be nice, Ms. Dawes.” He paused. “Call me, Jim.”
“Ok. Jim.” She said as if she was testing the word out. “We’ll have to have coffee some other time. And you can call me Rachel.” With that, a mask of seriousness smoothed over her features, as she turned and made her way over to Finch at the door.
- Mood:
content - Music:Behind the Mirror - Enigma
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