Mine To Love (manxman)

16-Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

A/N: Happy Valentines Day everyone!

I saw two swans fly over my house today and it seemed so perfect given the day that it is. I love swans even though they can be so vicious.

So here's the next chapter. You didn't think I'd make it too easy for Frankie did you???

FRANKIE

After ringing the bell for Jer's apartment for a solid six minutes, I finally convinced one of his neighbours to buzz me into the building. Thankfully I'd met her a few times while coming and going from Jeremy's place, so she knew I wasn't some crazy guy trying to get into the building.

I ran up the stairs, two at a time, since the elevator was once again out of order. When I got to his floor I jogged down the hallway and banged my fist on his door. "Jer?" I called out. "Open the door, baby." When I got no reply I banged louder.

"He's not in." I turned to see his neighbour across the hall with her head and shoulders pushed through the cracked open door.

"Do you know where he went?" I pushed my fingers through my hair in frustration. I was desperate to see him and work all of this out.

"Sorry." She shrugged. "It looked like he was going on a trip or something. He had a big suitcase with him and there was a girl carrying a duffle bag."

Damn. Where was he going? He hadn't said anything about taking a trip. Maybe it was a last minute thing.

I cursed.

If the roles were reversed I'd have found it impossible to stick around too. I couldn't watch Jeremy raising a child with someone else, not when I love him as much as I do. He didn't know that I wasn't going to do that, I'd never do that. Yes, my priorities had shifted since finding out about my impending parenthood, but Jeremy was still high on my list and second only to my child.

"What did she look like?" Jeremy had obviously gone to one of his sisters for moral support and if I could pinpoint which sister it was, then I could trace him.

"She was about my height, the same hair colour as Jeremy. I'm not sure about her eye colour because I only gave her a brief glance but I remember she was wearing these fabulous ankle boots with the toes cut out and a gold chain wrapped around each ankle. I would love those boots but the heels were super high and knowing my luck I'd probably end up falling over in them." She rambled. How the heck was a description of boots going to help me.

Boots? High heeled boots?

Sam!

"Thanks, I have to go." Before Jeremy's neighbour could reply I was running for the stairs. I was panting and out of breath, by the time I reached my car and slammed it into drive. My tires screeched and horns honked as I pulled into traffic and drove frantically towards the other side of town. Sam wouldn't be an easy nut to crack. She'd protect Jer with her final breath and I was sure she'd claw me to death.

I couldn't find a parking space in front of her building and had to drive around the block and park to the rear. Luckily as I ran up to the apartment blocks doors a man was coming out carrying an arm load of boxes. I held the door for him and wasted no time in rushing inside. The elevator took forever to reach the ground floor and I hastily pressed the button for the second floor.

I sprinted down the hall to the door with the numbers 215 nailed high on the panelling. I took a deep breath and knocked on the hard wooden surface. My heart was pounding painfully in my chest and echoing in my ears. I could almost feel her stare through the peep hole before the door opened. Her glare was cold enough to freeze the balls off of Satan. Damn, that girl was icy cold.