Jammed (Louis Tomlinson au)

Chapter Eight

"Girlfriend?"

It was so fucking stupid. I could not believe that was the one thing I was thinking about, let alone the fact that I said it out loud. I sounded like some stupid high school girl in a cheesy movie I would never watch. Both Drew and Louis stared at me for a moment. Louis was probably trying to figure out why I asked, which I honestly still didn't know. And Drew was probably still shocked at the fact that the single question managed to show both of them that I actually had emotions.

I decided then that I needed to leave. I didn't really care what further investigation needed to be made, Drew could handle himself and Louis could help if necessary. But I needed time to think. Getting away from the case was the priority, and that meant leaving the scene. I wasn't one for running away, defeated, but sometimes you just have to.

I didn't know where to go when I got outside, however. All of New York seemed foreign now. People and things were moving all around me as I stood on the steps of the hotel, just watching them all. To think less than an hour ago I had done the same, looking for someone following us.

It almost made me sick, realizing that I had been wrong. I mean, yes, I've been wrong before. But never to such an extent: I've never misread a person, and I've never lost a lead completely. It actually scared me more than anything, because I was down to nothing. While someone was gaining access to secret government technology, I was staring at the sea of yellow taxi cabs in front of me, reading each number on each car as they passed by.

How easy and simple it was for all of them: the women walking past with a small dog on a leash, the man parking his black SUV across the street, and the small child skipping down the street humming along to some unknown tune. They didn't have to worry and they didn't have to care- because they didn't know. They could be wrong daily, and nothing all that bad would happen to any of them, or anyone else for that matter.

People watching was the most I could do. Drew was outside beside me within minutes. He said nothing, he just looked out at the street as I did. I didn't really know if that was his method of comfort, but I didn't need it if that was what it was. He stood close, our shoulders touching.

"What's the situation now?" I asked him, finally. I figured I could at least pretend like I hadn't said it, so that way maybe everyone else could forget it. Besides, we had bigger things to worry about. "Well, I let Mallory know. He wants to meet with us. I've got the girls name and we're planning on making a move soon. But first, we have to go talk to Mallory and see if we can get you back on the case." Drew answered, heading down the last few steps to sreet-level as he did so.

"You're going to get me back on the case?" I followed quickly, much more interested than before. It really was getting old being off the case, but still working on it like I was. It had only been a day, but I couldn't stand it anymore. When everyone in the agency is working on something that I'm not, would you expect me to be fine with it? I looked at Drew hopefully as he turned to face me, stepping closer to me.

"I've been trying to. He's been hard to convince, but I'm hoping that your work with Louis will help him realize that you're an asset to the company. I'm making Louis a member of the team, officially, but you have to agree with that or else I'm not letting you back in.

That's my deal." Drew explained in detailed whispers as people walked around us on the sidewalk, paying no attention to the words we uttered.

"Let's go then. I've been meaning to give Mallory a piece of my mind anyway." I smiled and Drew rolled his eyes, turning towards Wall Street so we could head back to the office. I assumed Drew had finished questioning Louis, and that Louis was in the least getting some rest. He wasn't needed for now anyway.