Dancing In The Dark-Laurel Lance

The mistake...

"But I don't understand." I faced Quentin and Laurel. "You said that Espinoza died. The records say that Espinoza died." We stood over the dead body.

"He did. Hale has an obsession." I told him.

"With what?" Quentin asked.

"Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He loves games. That's why he took five officers one by one." I explained. "One for each of the five kids. Espinoza was the first he kidnapped. He was Augustus Gloop. He loves games in general. This whole charade is a big game to him."

"And if he was the first one out," Lance followed. "Then the rest of them are going to show up. Who was out next in Willy Wonka?" Quentin looked at Laurel and I.

"Violet Beauregarde. It's Decker."

XXX

"Chloe Decker." Laurel read off her file. "2 terms in Iraq. Star detective for the CCPD. And then dies."

"Hale killed her." I corrected her. My back was so stiff my spine could probably be seen.

"Hey," Laurel placed her hand on my back. "It wasn't your fault."

My toe tapped fast against the floor. "I know." I lied. It was my fault.

"Do you want to go out again tonight?" She asked me. "You know, since our last date got interrupted by a dead man."

I laughed. "I would love to."

"Pick me up at 7?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." I left with a smile on my face.

XXX

After some more fashion and dating advice from Angie, I was ready. I went to Laurel's apartment and was about to knock on the door. I looked up to her apartment where her lips were intertwined with Tommy Merlyn's. I dropped the rose in my hands and walked away.

XXX

"Vasquez." I heard Quentin walk into the training room. I only punched the bag harder. "Vasquez." He raised his voice, effectively getting me to stop.

"What's up Cap?" I asked him, sweaty and out of breath.

"What's wrong Vasquez?" He asked me. I just rolled my eyes and returned to punching the bag. He stood behind the punching bag and held it as I punched. "I asked what was wrong."

"I was seeing this girl." I punched the bag. Probably shouldn't tell him it was his daughter. "I went to pick her up for a second date and she was kissing a dude." I punched the bag so hard Quentin stumbled a bit.

"Sorry to hear that Vasquez." I stopped hitting the bag and went to check my phone.

2 missed calls from Tony💪

4 missed calls from Angie✌

7 missed calls from Laurel💘

14 missed texts from Laurel💘

"Thanks for the talk." I walked off looking down at my phone.

XXX

"What happened to 'wouldn't miss it for the world?'" Laurel asked angrily the next morning.

"I don't know what you're talking about, DA Assistant Lance." I stared down at Chloe's file.

She scoffed. "What's wrong? What did I do?" I didn't answer and she walked away.

"Dude." Angie punched my arm. "What happened? Yesterday you were begging me for dating advice and now you're giving her the cold shoulder. What gives?"

I didn't look up at her either, my eyes burned to the file. "I went to pick her up last night and she was with Tommy Merlyn."

"So?"

"They were kissing Angie."

"Oh." She said, "Oh." She repeated in realization.

XXX

"Captain Lance." I greeted the man in evidence lockup. I cleared my throat. "DA Assistant Lance."

"Vasquez." Quentin took his eyes off of the sheet in front of him to give me a sympathetic look before looking back down at the paper. Laurel's eyes met mine just for a second, but I couldn't stay.

"I'll come back later."

XXX

Laurel's POV

"What's wrong with Alana? She's been acting weird all day." I asked my dad.

"She was supposed to take a girl out last night." He closed the case file. "Caught her kissing a guy. Pretty upset about it. I'll see you later baby." He kissed my cheek and walked out.

"Well, I'm an idiot." I said out loud to the emptiness of evidence lockup.

XXX

Alana's POV

Another day, another disappointment. After what happened last night and my interaction with Laurel, all I wanted to do was drink away my sorrows and go to bed late seeing as I was off tomorrow. I was about to open a bottle of wine when there was a knock at the door.

"What do you want, Laurel." I set the bottle down and turned to face the woman who stumbled into my arms.

"I just came to apologize." She slurred, drunkenly.

"Laurel, are you drunk?"

"Maybe just a little bit completely hammered." She admitted.

"Okay, why don't you-" She cut me off.

"You know yesterday was the anniversary of my sister's death." She plopped down on my couch. "And I didn't even remember because I was so excited for my date with you! And then Tommy came by and reminded me. And by the way, he kissed me. I am in no way attracted to Thomas Merlyn." She set her head down on a pillow and within seconds she was snoring.

"Great talk." I said sarcastically. I picked Laurel up and tucked her into my bed before making my way back to the wine bottle.