The air was thick and humid, but her blood alcohol content was too high for her to actually care. Bursting in through the double doors, she giggled into one of the girls who had insisted that they go bar hopping as a proper introduction to the team. The night had started off innocently enough, pre-gaming at Gretchen’s downtown loft and then moving on to the bar, then the pub, and how they had ended up towns over would remain a mystery for the ages. Rebecca was along for the ride and the free booze considering this was a “work” thing, a term she used very loosely but it meant that she wasn’t paying what she was drinking. Shots on whoever!

The gaggle made their way to the bar to order, Rebecca pushing to the front. Blue eyes sparking and smoldering, she might have been a little drunk but she was also a woman and she knew how to use that to her advantage. The office had judged her too quickly thinking they would be the ones drinking the soft-spoken newbie, instead, she had taken them all aback and was setting the pace. Smiling coyly as Taylor ordered another round and pulled out a card to start a tab, as they descended on the place. This place had a DJ booth, and it looked like they had cleared a few table to make room for a reasonably sized dance floor. The place had two bars and a large patio out front where people were smoking and playing corn hole, with bathrooms in between the two bars.

Feeling a bouncing body next to her own as she took in the lay of the land, a smile worked its way up her red lips. Taking her shot as the group worked its way onto the dancefloor, not attempting to dance with anyone else just brushing up against each other drunkenly laughing. Breaking away from the group she ordered another dark and stormy before rejoining the group. Hands in the air, hips swaying as she melded into the group.


One of the games they had played tonight was picking someone to join the group, male or female it didn’t matter, or dance on them without the person noticing, it was stupid and Rebecca had objected to it until this very drunken moment. Morgan was whispering in her ear about the tasty, white guy at the bar when he very suddenly turned around. Before the turn was even complete Rebecca was looking for a way out, doing a quick turn she made her way to the side patio. Talk about sobering up, quickly. Snitching a shot from Megan’s grasp and handing the empty glass back, feeling the open air on her exposed skin. Quickly downing her own drink, she gave herself a mental pep talk, There was no way that was really Michael. You just need to calm down. You were having so much fun. No worries. Everything is fine. Feeling her heartbeat calm as she heard Brittney calling her back over with a wave of her hand, pointing at an extra glass in her hand. Smiling she sat her empty glass down at an empty table, turning she couldn’t see the man anymore which afforded her a small bit of comfort as she made her way back toward her friends.

Work, drink, one night stand, work, drink, one night stand. It was a cycle and it had been the cycle for as long as he could remember. He’d never really fell for anyone like he had Rebecca. Odd shorter lasting relationships sure. But even those hadn’t lasted a week. Michael just couldn’t get Rebecca out of his head. His late partner, Jordan, had tried and he’d managed to finally start confiding in someone again. That had been when she’d been assassinated during a case. The downward spiral continued since that time.

Michael was becoming the one person he didn’t want to be. Screaming on the inside lead to drinking every night until he felt numb. It usually ended in a bad temper and tonight was no different he whirled around to yell at someone when he caught sight of Rebecca. Even after all these years he still recognized her. No, he was dreaming again or something. The incoming punch landed on his jaw as he was distracted by his high school sweetheart who had now left the room.

Grabbing his drink he smashed it on the wall before throwing the other man across the bar counter. Michael didn’t even remember how the fight had started but he knew he hadn’t thrown the first punch. Oh right something about being a traitor or something of the like. Stupid shit, and it was the same stupid shit day in and day out. Michael was known for his temper around Tierney and it wasn’t much secret even from those who usually tried to break it up.

His current partner wasn’t here. Thank god. Mark had probably pulled Michael out of more bars than he cared to count over the few years they’d been partnered together. Michael envied his partner in a lot of ways. Hell Mark’s wife was drop dead gorgeous and they were perfect for each other. Only one person in his life could do that to Michael and she wanted nothing to do with him. Now she showed her face in the same town. Michael saw her sneak back in and another glass went sailing through the air. This one destined for the other man’s back. Soon the two men were at it again.

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

As a slow song came on the troupe collectively groaned and pulled a face, but none made as much of a ruckus as the tall brunette, breaking the few couples who had straggled on to the floor apart with a shoulder here, or an elbow there before tramping back to the bar all while griping loudly. Reaching the bar she perched herself on the edge of the bar as the tender, eyed her before muttering something about the health inspector before disappearing to the opposite side of the bar.

She knew that to keep her spot she would have to behave, but unfortunately for everyone involved Rebecca simply could not keep her hands to herself, and that bottle was just within arm’s reach. Licking her lips now was her chance if she felt like, her trophy would have been a bottle of Jack Daniels, and her purse would suffice in hiding her treasure but at the precise moment Morgan caught her eye, she was being watched. Morgan was currently snuggling up with some older man who everyone was certain would be conned into paying for the drinks they had already consumed. Hearing the rumbling of a brawl Rebecca was distracted. With the grace of a drunken cat, Rebecca slid to her feet, impatiently flicking her bangs from her crystal blue eyes. Pursing her lips, as a glass flew in the open air and landed near her sandaled feet.

“That was rude.” She bellowed in the direction of the brawl who no one seemed to be doing anything about. Under normal circumstances, Rebecca’s filter would’ve been in place and she would have simply told security and made them handle the party, but tonight was not a normal evening and she was feeling particularly sassy with the extra alcohol in her system. Apparently, Michael’s reputation preceded him because it was Rebecca who was getting pushed out of the club by one of the bouncers she hadn’t noticed. Feeling a hand on her exposed shoulder as well as her upper arm, preventing her from rounding on her like she would have liked to, he was saying something about how she was escalating the situation. “How about you keep your hands to your fucking self.” Being steered in the direction of the door, she passed the cut out so she could see the opposite side of the bar. She felt that jolt again and froze for just a moment, feeling her skin react her cheeks adopting that demure blush whenever Michael was around.. That was Michael. Suddenly she felt less like sticking around and picked up the pace the crowd shifted and the moment was lost.

Michael had a handful with what was going on but when he was finally able to free himself up from what was going on, he made a point to catch up with her. Moving through a crowd of people, most of them kept out of her way. Tierney didn’t exactly like federal agents poking around. “Of all the people in Tierney.” Michael stated almost disapproving tone. More disapproving of the way she’d been playing cat and mouse. “You show up and can’t even say hello.” Michael had never really come to terms with the fact that Rebecca had distanced herself. Michael blocked her way for a moment.

It was clear that he had been drinking and was slightly intoxicated. Michael took home a new girl almost every night, and tonight was no different. The blonde who had accompanied him to the bar came up beside him. “Michael, I’m almost ready to go… you want me to call us a cab?” She questioned.

“No, Annabelle. I mean Teresa” Michael stated lightly tugging his arm away from the girl.

“My name is Samantha.” She frowned and got mad storming out of the room. Michael rolled his eyes. Whatever. His interest wasn’t really in the ‘date’ he’d brought to the bar anyhow. No, his attention was on Rebecca.

Try as he might, no one was the same as having Rebecca in his life. Michael had forced himself to move on and it had led to nothing but years of one night stands and lies and broken hearts. He’d always woken up realizing that they weren’t Rebecca and that had been that. “You’ve got some nerve.” He continued towards Rebecca. He kept his look with the one of disapproval, the one he got when something bothered him or upset him. Michael’s adrenaline was still high and so he cleared the table next to him. Lucky for him the people who were there before had left and it was jump empty dishes. No, he was angry that Rebecca was showing her face after all of this time.

He took a breath. Perhaps he’d mistaken her? No that was impossible. He knew that face. However, Michael was wishing that it was just a case of mistaken identity. Because right now the last person he wanted to see was Rebecca. She’d broken his heart, and he’d never recovered. Now more than ever he wished his partner was still alive, she’d have known exactly what to say and do to make him feel better about all of this.

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

Once it had been established that the man in the bar was, in fact, Michael she knew it would be only a matter of moments before he tracked her down, like some sort of bloodhound. It would go one of two ways he was either going to gloat about his new life in this little shithole of a tone or berate her for slipping and sliding out of their life, and leaving him alone with his demons. The moment she confirmed his identity, it was like something out of a movie, time stopped for that second. There he was and she watched the realization dawn on his face too. Something was different though, he looked different but the way he occupied space was different too. As the bouncer’s hands touched her exposed flesh time went back to normal speed, but Rebecca felt an urgency to escape the oncoming storm of Michael. It was chilly outside and being escorted outside meant you didn’t get to grab your stuff before being shoved out the door. Her phone, bag keys, and more importantly her cropped leather jacket was still sitting at the little table she had her crew and staked out. Standing as close to the door as she could without getting the stink eye from the bouncer, she rolled her eyes feeling his presence before he even spoke.


When he did speak it was only to chide her, and he knew that would set her off. The way those blue eyes rolled back into her head one would think they might get stuck back there. Taking an inhale before slowly exhaling, deeply through her mouth. She rounded on him. “I wasn’t sure you would want to talk considering that you didn’t seem to have a housewarming gift for me.” She spoke playing innocent knowing it would annoy him even more, peeking around his side as if checking for the gift he would give her when hell froze over. Michael had always seemed to appreciate that she was intelligent and playing dumb or coy was certain to get under his skin almost as much as him chiding her. As Samantha popped into the conversation Rebecca shivered partly from cold, but also from his clear lack of standards. Rebecca had comforted herself for years with the idea that Michael had gotten what he needed, someone smart, supportive, goal oriented, and able to bear children. Samantha was offering a different story and it was not a narrative that Rebecca had thoughtfully convinced herself was the best option for Michael. “If you're going to scrape around the bottom of the barrel you might as well learn her name, or is that part or your game?” She spoke tossing her head to the side, her fringe falling in her face. Rebecca still looked very much like the girl that he had planned a life with only with a wavy bob hairstyle that brushed her collarbone, and that her hair seemed to have grown darker shade of auburn.

As Michael took a step toward her, Rebecca matched it. The rest of the world might have quaked at his anger, but she had seen him at his absolute worst and was certain that this wasn’t just anger. “Because I’ve been clearly waiting for you to update your location on facebook so I could uproot my whole life and come to whatever town this is and fuck around with your’s.” She stated flatly, through the windows she could see the group she had entered with twirling and dancing on the floor, not noticing that she was stranded outside with the ghost of boyfriends past. The space between the pair was closing, and it felt more like they were circling each other than anything. She hadn’t flinched when he cleared the table and she wasn’t shying away from him now either. That look on his face was only making her more frustrated tonight wasn’t her fault, she had set off to have a good night that she wouldn't’ be able to recall in the morning on someone else’s dime and now she was trapped outdoors with an ex-boyfriend who clearly hadn’t overcome anger issues.

Michael had done well when it came to everything but women. Now here was his drunk ex-girlfriend staring him in the face thinking she was going to get under his skin. No, she’d done that years ago when she walked away. In the last almost two decades, he’d learned to use his anger somewhat constructively. “It’s you who has never wanted to talk Rebecca. It’s been you who has been too much a coward to hold a conversation.” Well that hadn’t been true in their past at least not until… No, he couldn’t think about that. It was as just as much heart ache for him and she’d left him alone to face it. Michael had poured his life into work after that. It was easier for him.

When she chided at him about Samantha, he simply pinned her with the same stare as before. He leaned in close to her face. “You know nothing about me anymore. You made damn sure of that.” Pulling back after he’d made his point he started digging through his jacket pocket for his keys. “You’re drunk Rebecca. Go home.” He wasn’t put off by her spewing things. He’d been there already. He’d broken his knuckles a few times breaking things in his earlier years as she slipped away. Michael had yelled in the mirror everything he could have thought at the time. Now all that was left was a cold closed off person in the wake of who had been.

It could be said that Michael had married his career. At times he chastised himself. Michael had his two sisters to look out for, and that was all that mattered to him anymore was that they were happy and safe. Rebecca had been gone through his mother’s death, his partner’s death, and their child’s. He didn’t blame her for any of them. Michael started pacing, pacing because he was angry. That’s what he did, he paced and he threw objects. His sisters had at one point had to intervene before he’d landed himself in jail for throwing objects at moving vehicles. Chalking it up to his usual luck, it had been an unmarked cop car that had gotten the grunt of his aggression that day. The rock sailing towards the car had hardly been his smartest move to date.

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

Color flooded into her cheeks like it tended to when her imperfections were pointed out and put on display. So this was how it was destined to be, here in this dirty parking lot she was be baring her soul or spitting on him and she only had moments to decide. Jutting her chin out, and opening her mouth and then thinking better of it before pursing her lips. There had been a point that Michael would have noted how cold she was and rushed to gather her belongings or taken off his own coat for her warmth, but those days were long gone.

Remembering the day that he had come home from work and she was laying in bed binge watching Everybody Loves Raymond, while alternating sips of wine and shoveling french vanilla ice cream and he went on about his day as if she wasn’t in bed drowning in anxiety and fresh depression. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t tried to reach out, but he had is own emotional issues and she tried her best to hide it and he checked in with her as often as any caring boyfriend would do, all the while telling her that it was okay and that she was safe and he still loved her meanwhile he wasn’t the one awakening from her blood-drenched nightmares only to be dropped into her fresh hell of looking pregnant but not being any more.

Nearly every time she looked at him, she flashed back to that moment in her sterile doctor’s office where the verdict was cheerfully that she would need a D&C, Michael had jumped from her side and things got fuzzy she was certain he had cursed the doctor and probably broken something, but she had dissociated from her body and those days, weeks, and months were a drab and empty blur of things that should have happened but hadn’t quite materialized.

Biting down on the corners of her lips on the inside of her mouth, she met his gaze and held eye contact, but broke it as he leaned in. He was too close for comfort. She might’ve broken eye contact, but she sure as fuck wouldn't be the first one to physically step back this was like a bad game of drunken chicken. Clamming up was a Rebecca Jane specialty that Michael was being treated too, she was relieved when he backed up, but that was short lived because he was pacing.

Pacing was what happened when he was restless when everything was too much. Like a fish gasping for air, “I got kicked out all my stuff is inside. I’ll leave I just need my stuff. I’ll get an uber or whatever.” She spoke everything spilling out at once, it wasn’t a request it was simple facts. She waved her hand at the thought of drunk driving, not that she had her car here but he didn’t know that.

This was how the two had always fought. When Rebecca broke eye contact with him, he knew he’d gotten into her head a little. Good, she needed it. Silence. She was still too drunk to process this conversation even if she was listening. At least that’s how Michael saw it. Michael wasn’t so sure he could forgive her for just walking away, but he would always love her and with that came a responsibility.

It was easy for Michael to see she’d not coped well. The very thing that was making him angry. He’d hoped she’d at least be happy with her decision to distance herself. Clearly alcohol was her crutch, as much as it was his. Michael wanted to reach out tell her it was alright and he wanted to be the person he always was with her. He refrained only because he was not a welcomed face and things weren’t what they used to be.

Too bad pushing her against a wall and kissing her like she damn well needed was not the answer when they’d both been drinking. Michael wanted a sober conversation with her. Meaning he wanted both of them sober. He wasn’t smashed but he’d had a few on his high alcohol tolerance he’d built over the years.

She mentioned calling an Uber and getting her things. He’d started a fight and she was the one getting kicked out of the bar. “Congratulations you are the first civilian to get kicked out. Figured that honor might get bestowed upon Marcus over there.” The drunk civilian in the corner that Michael had been fighting with. The bar was a recent addition to the town.

Michael paced inside but the bouncer didn’t let Rebecca through. Marching over to where Rebecca’s things were he picked them up. The girls at the table weren’t an issue as they had wandered off. He quickly headed for the door and handed everything to Rebecca. He held out her coat and sighed. “Come here, you look freezing.” He attempted to help her put her coat on.

“I’m calling us both a cab, but I’ve stuff I’ve got to get from my car.” He decided he’d done stupider things but he pulled her into a hug. Michael couldn’t help that he was still protective of her. He didn’t really want to leave his gun and badge in his vehicle and leave the vehicle overnight. Nor did he want to leave Rebecca alone in this state.

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

It hadn’t always been this way, Rebecca was a mild-mannered girl who usually went with the flow but since that day things had been different. Something broke, and it was yet to be repaired. Some days were better than others an she felt more like herself, but this week and a half had been different. Unpacking she had found an unlabelled box which was very much not like her to leave anything unidentified, but it had been a box full of better days little odds and ins from before, candids of her and Michael, report cards, notes that had been passed in class, his class ring, and the pregnancy test. Why did people keep that shit? Why had she been carting around a stick that she had pissed on? That’s where the investigation had ended, taping the box closed again and shoving it as far back into the dark depths of her closet.


As Michael pointed out the drunk, Rebecca flipped him off behind Michael’s back of course. “It’s his fault I’m even out here in the first place.” She huffed to Michael why she was trying to explain herself to him was a mystery to her, Michael didn’t care why she was even here let alone why she had been escorted out of doors. If Marcus hadn’t broken a glass at her fragile feet, she would still be inside dodging Michael and having a good time despite it all. Keeping her crimson lips pursed was her best option and she knew it, if she wanted her things back this was the most direct path to getting back home and if she wanted to avoid more things being broken in Michael’s hands. This overprotective streak was nothing new to the pair, Michael was always taking care of her. Slipping into her jacket she muttered her thank you, before pulling her phone out of her pocket.

How drunk was she that Michael could locate a cab before her, looking at him through her bangs as if she was sizing him up again, but kept her mouth shut. Looking back to her phone, checking her emails, and not paying attention to Michael when he pulled her in for a hug it caught her completely off guard, so she just sort of melted into him like she used to. Rebecca wasn’t about to admit it to herself or anyone else, but this felt safe and almost comfortable. “I can call my own cab.” She insisted meekly from his chest, her memories didn’t do him justice. Michael was much bigger than she recalled taller and broader. Despite that she was well over the legal limit, Rebecca’s tolerance to alcohol was high enough that she kept her arms down by her sides.

Why is it that Michael felt he was always the one having to step in to keep things from going sour? Not that they weren’t bitter in the first place. Seeing Rebecca reminded him of every reason why he wouldn’t settle down with someone. In the end, they weren’t her. No, she’d left. That had been her decision and Michael had just dealt with it. He had his sisters to care for, and a job that kept him out most of the time anyway. “What do you mean his fault?” Michael was angry but so help him if the man had done anything to Rebecca he was going to start another bar fight before the night was up. Michael’s words were a bit sharp, though not towards Rebecca but they had more of wanting answers feel than aggressive.

“No, you are absolutely not going to call your own cab. What if something happened to you?” He snapped lightly as he looked down towards her in his hug. Michael was showing his protective streak. It was just there. It had always been there. Michael was drunk but he was well aware of the fact she was a female who wanted to take a cab home alone in the dark. Even if it hadn’t been Rebecca he may have put his foot down. Rebecca? Oh hell to the no.

Michael had never been one to show his emotions on his sleeve. Rebecca not hugging him, that stung but he wasn’t going to sit here and cry about it. They were practically strangers anymore, so it was to expected but that wasn’t how it was supposed to have gone. Michael guided her towards his car where he could still keep an eye on her while he grabbed his badge and weapon from the car. The last thing he needed was someone stealing it or something. Plus he would likely need it for work in the morning. “You can go your own direction if you want but so help me you are not riding in a cab alone in this city.”

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

Things hadn’t always been bitter and sour, she could remember the sticky sweetness of late nights out in the backyard on the trampoline watching stars, hitting the bars and slip sliding around on the dance floor, not to mention the concert going or the after-school tutoring that always turned into something else. It was easy to forget the dark side of Michael when he wasn’t around, but now he was standing mere inches from her and she could see that glint in his eyes. “Nothing”, she knew she had answered too quickly, he would smell the lie. Flashing a small smile as he towered over her, that was another problem he always made her feel small, no matter how tall her heels were he was always standing over her.

Rolling those big blue eyes as he explained that she could get hurt or something could happen to her and that was why she wasn’t allowed to get in her own cab. Hand in her hair as he let her out of the embrace. “I’ve ridden in cabs since before I knew you, and nothing ever happened.” She pouted as he walked off. Tossing a disbelieving look at him as she glanced around the half-full parking lot, “Are you serious? We lived in New York. This is practically nowhere, comparatively” She licked her lips watching him ignore her. This was annoying and all she wanted was her little house tucked back behind those juniper trees. She trailed after him, still jabbering on. “I won’t be riding around this city. I don’t live in whatever this town is….” She let her sentence dangle as she turned a small circle gathering her drunken bearings. “I live that way!” She grinned pointing in the direction of I-40 as if that alone would convince him to let her go free.

As she turned back to face him, but he was too busy with whatever was in his car, “Besides maybe I don’t want you knowing where I reside.” Really though, if he knew that she had bought a house and the locations he would have insisted that she sell it immediately and she knew it. The neighborhood wasn’t exactly unsafe but it was not safe either. Her little piece of earth was in the up and coming part of Knoxville and some people were not in the mood to be gentrified. Apparently, that little turn in the brisk air had done her good, or maybe she was getting her drunken second wind.

Perching herself on the back of his car she hummed along to the song that was playing in the bar, with her eyes closed before opening them again. “You really don’t have to babysit me, I’ve managed to keep myself alive all these years I imagine tonight will be another success story.” Leaning her head back, gazing at the stars for a moment before looking at Michael hard for a moment. She wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to articulate what she wanted to say, so instead, she smiled and took a deep breath watching her exhale cloud the man in front of her.

Michael could feel his anger bubbling inside. “Don’t.” His voice was very sharp though not yelling. He rarely yelled, but his tones could get the point across well enough. “Lie to me.” He hated being lied to and especially by her. It’s what had torn them apart; lies, secrecy, and no communication. His eyes narrowed in disapproval. Michael had become particular to things. Fine and Nothing were two words that really got him agitated. Honestly, he would have preferred her to just say she didn’t want to talk about it.

He had his head in his car while he was listen to Rebecca yap a mile a minute. “I am not letting you take a cab from here to Knoxville alone at this hour.” Michael pointed out, though he was only guessing as the only real city between Tierney and anywhere the direction she was pointing was Knoxville. “A lotta shit happens in the middle of nowhere honey. Tierney ain’t all rainbows and pots of gold.”

Michael poked his head out of his car to see her sitting on the back of his Jeep. It brought back memories of times when they would just sit and talk. Seeing her again had done nothing but draw up demons that he’d been trying to hide for years. Demons he’d been trying to pretend never existed. “It’s not babysitting when you care about someone.” At least one of them cared what happened to her. Because she didn’t seem to give a rat’s ass. Heading towards the back of the car he lightly took her by the arm to help her down. Sure it might be the most uncomfortable cab ride of his life, but it was worth it if he could make sure that Rebecca made it out of this town safe.

His sisters were always bugging him to settle down; but the reason he hadn’t was sitting right in front of him. No, he’d spent his time in a relationship with his work. Now here he was thrust back into a glimpse of his past. His past before everything well to hell in a handbasket. Yet, somehow this had him wondering if he was on the edge of the handbasket again. Neither of them were the same people they had been years ago. Michael’s free hand clipped his badge on his belt. “Come on, it’s too cold to sit here all night.”

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

That tone was one she hated, those baby blue eyes narrowed in his direction. “Then don’t ask me leading questions. If you want to fight, then go throw down. I’m not stopping you, and I’m not your excuse anymore.” She hated it when he looked at her like that, like he was scolding a puppy who had puddled in the floor or was shaming a toddler for writing in crayon in the hallway, once upon a time that look had worked like a charm and she coughed up an apology, but things weren’t the same anymore. Raising her brows with her own disdain. Being without Michael had taught her how to hold her ground, usually doing a cheaper mimicry of the man himself, but he didn’t need to know that.

It wasn’t a win when he stuck his head back in the car, it was a draw but that a small victory in an of itself. Letting him think that he was allowing himself to take her home was something she would let him do, but why was she? Her eyes glazed over for a moment as a brief moment of sobriety washed over her before she was waved back into her whiskey bloodstream. Another draw.

Fists in her jacket pockets as she hummed along with the alcohol in her bloodstream, but somehow feeling peaceful with the clear stars blinking back down at her. In her own backyard, the sky wasn’t so clear, though she could still make out her favorite planet in the summer and The Dippers. It was a little easier here though, she could make out Orion’s Belt and his dogs. Shifting her gaze from the sky as he shut the door firmly and extended a hand to help her down, she had seen the hurt on his face when she rejected his hug. “I can do it myself.” She stated as she unballing her first, putting her hand in his hand. Again she was struck by how oddly normal this seemed and ordinary.

Once on her feet, gathering her bearings as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and dusted the nonexistent dirt off her mini dress. Suddenly hyper-aware of the length of her dress, or lack thereof, and just how tall her heels were. Earlier in the evening, she had felt fun and feisty, but she knew Michael always saw through that he knew she felt feisty but also that she was covering up and not dealing with her feelings. Filling the conversational lull, she tapped his badge, “Please tell me you aren’t a cop.” Though if he was a cop it would make sense as to why he wasn’t keen on her driving herself home, and if he was a cop he’d know all the ins and outs of this town’s seedy little underbelly, or whatever.

The woman had no idea what a leading question was. He simply rolled her eyes at her attitude. Reminded him a lot of his older sister. Well not that Roxie was that much older, but he was the middle of the triplets. Roxanne and Trinity were all he had and they were light years away. They had their own lives and he’d distanced himself somewhat even from them over the years. Though he was hardly not going to be there for them if they needed him. Michael had never been fortunate enough to find someone after Rebecca left. No one could replace seeing her face when he woke up. Not to say that he didn’t try over the years because he had.

“I’m well aware of how self sufficient you are. Pardon me for trying to be polite.” Michael responded when he got backlash from Rebecca on helping her down. One thing Michael had always been was a gentleman, even if there were sarcastic comments coming from his mouth. He withdrew his hand the moment she had both feet planted and was clearly upright. He was about to say something else when she tapped on his badge.

“Fine. I’m not a cop. I’m a federal agent.” He replied simply. Trying to explain who NCIS was could become a nightmare for a sober person, let alone a couple of drunk people. Sure he knew all the ins and outs of Tierney. Hell the NCIS office was here, it had moved from Charleston when Tierney and Charleston had merged. Deciding that having NCIS here where there were a few Navy and Marine personal but within a stone’s throw of Charleston had been the Navy’s decision. Maybe they figured the other branches would cause more issues here or something. Whatever the reason, he had his partner Mark were stationed out of the base in town.

Tag: Rebecca Jane Surber

While Michael might have tried to move on, Rebecca Jane had taken on the single life with vigor. Filling her hours with taking online classes, drawing, painting, photography, hiking, and dabbling with volunteer work picking up hobbies left and right only to discard them when she couldn’t catch on as quickly as she wanted or when boredom sat in. It hadn’t taken long for her to learn that keeping her hands occupied meant her mind would simply follow along, and that theory worked well until it she would look up from her task on to discover that it was three in the morning or time to go to work, losing track of time was now a norm.

It was suddenly and painfully obvious how far apart they had grown as her gentle ribbing landed on her on his bad side, the air was cool but it was feeling cooler. Frowning she fell into step with him silently. Her tongue running over her teeth, it was an old habit from years before when she had metal in her mouth. “I didn’t mean…” She shrugged her shoulders, “Nevermind.” Why did she feel the need to explain herself away, she was a grown woman and he had only been trying to help her, but she had used Michael as a crutch early on letting him part the crowds and stand up for her, but now she was able to wage her own war and she didn’t want to feel like a damsel in distress again. Shuffling a hand through her hair and watching the gravel crunching beneath their feet, why did it matter so much to her what Michael thought of her? He clearly wasn’t bothered by what she thought, or her physical well being he had helped her down only because he had offered and he never went back on something he offered, that and she had already grabbed his hand before she could have backed out.

Hearing that little teeny four letter word lit another fire in her belly. It was acceptable for him to get pissy when she tried to be her own person and it was fine for him to use her least favorite word. Fine. Just thinking of the word could send shivers down her spine, which was suddenly much straighter as she dug around in her purse for her phone before realising it was in her pocket. Pulling it out she pulled up The Lyft app only to discover that they had never even heard of this shithole of a town, and downloading Uber would eat up the rest of her precious data. Jamming her phone back in her pocket. “Fine.” She parroted back to him in a chillier tone.