An Unstable City *On Hold*

Leaving

Y/N POV

I had only been home for five minutes before someone was pounding on my door. I placed my phone on the counter, flipping it over and turning off it's sound. "Who is it?" I call out when I get close to the door. 

"It's me." Tom says. "If you don't let me in, I'm coming through anyway." 

"How'd you get past the front desk?" I ask, hesitating. What if he knew what I had done? 

"Used the badge. Now open the door." He hit it again and I swung it open. 

"What? I just got back from the gym." I moved out of the way to let him walk in. 

"Why weren't you answering your phone?" He asks, dodging the question. 

"I didn't bring it with me. Like I said I needed some time for myself." I shrug and point over to the counter. 

"Romanoff got out." He says suddenly and I let my face fall. 

"What? How?" 

"We don't know. I went in to talk to Isabela who was watching and when we walked back in Romanoff was gone." He runs a hand through his hair and he sighs. 

"Guess I shouldn't have left. I'm sorry." I grumble and rub the back of my neck, pacing. 

"What happened to your hands?" He walks over to me, grabbing my hands and running his thumbs over my bruised knuckles.

I yank my hands back, "Got carried away at the gym." 

"Y/N... let me help." He reaches out again and I shake my head. 

"What do you need me to do?" I ask, changing the subject back to work. 

"Do you have any idea how she might have gotten out?" He asks, still looking worried.

"No." Yes. 

"No. It's been years. My job is to put you behind bars and that is what I am going to do." I stand up and I hear her chair move slightly as she turns to look at me.

"You're making a mistake." She says softly.

"No. I'm doing my job." I pick up the file and pause for a second by her side. I let the photo fall to the ground and I bend to pick it up, unlocking her cuffs as I do. We make brief eye contact and she looks surprised. "We're finding her killer." I mutter as I turn for the door. 

"I'll reach out." She whispers after me and I shut my eyes, regretting my choice already.

"I need you back in." Tom says, shaking me from the memory. 

"I refuse to take this case, Tom." I say and he takes a step back. 

"What? You can't do that." He insists. 

"Yes I can. Because I have a reason. You know just as well as I do that this case is personal to me. I shouldn't be on it. If that comes up in court I don't want to be the reason this all fails. Let Oliver lead the team." I cross my arms and his jaw clenches. 

"When did you start worrying about the rules?" He walks towards me and I shake my head. 

"Ever since I made the mistake of sleeping with my boss." I say. I don't even know where that came from but it made him do a double take. "Now get out of my house... respectfully." 

"Y/N-" 

"I will not take this case." I say again and he pinches the bridge of his nose. 

"Then guess what. Don't bother coming back until it's solved." He pushes past me, throwing open the door.