To Seek Answers (Mike Schmidt X Reader: Book 2)

Hold Me and I'll Hold You

Ring ring. Ring ring.

     Mike almost jumped out of his skin at the sound of his ringing phone. He gazed around the trashed office and sent Jeremy an awkward look. They got a little bored during their shift and may have, possibly, decided to play a rather destructive game of ball tag.

     Mike scooped up his phone as his face paled once reading the name.

     "It's (Y/n)," he panicked.

     Jeremy's face fell. "D-do you think she knows? She w-won't be h-happy about us t-trashing the office."

     Mike bit his lip. "She can't know. There's no way."

     Jeremy looked unsure. He was such a quiet, nervous and careful person that Mike was surprised he even agreed to the game in the first place. Mike had to admit though, he had a lot of fun. At this point, he probably counted Jeremy and Fritz as his best mates.

     "Here's what's gonna happen," Mike instructed, "I'm to answer, see what she wants, and not say a word about what happened. And then when she hangs up, we are going to make this office spotless."

     "W-what do we do about the fan?"

     Mike flinched as his eyes trailed towards the destroyed fan on the ground. "I'll buy another. That one's being hidden in the dark recesses of the supply closet."

     Jeremy nodded his head in agreement and Mike punched the answer button.

     "Hey, Doll. What's- Hey are you ok? What's wrong?"

     Mike's attitude changed in an instant upon hearing your strangled sobs. He'd heard you cry, but never like that. His chest felt tight. He hated to hear you so upset.

     "Hey, hey, hey, calm down, Doll. What's going on?"

     "It's Charlie."

     Your sobs grew louder and Mike's heart sunk.

     "S-she's dead. She's dead Mike, and it's all my fault."

     Your screams grew louder and Mike found himself frozen. What did you mean by she was dead? Charlie? No. She couldn't be. That was impossible. She'd been perfectly alive and well when he dropped her off.

     "D-Doll," he stuttered, "What do you mean?"

     He heard you start shouting at someone before there was a loud crash and your phone cut out. "Doll?" he called, panic beginning to rise. He was usually the calm one in stressful situations, but something was different this time. Something that made his chest hurt to the point where he could barely breathe and his knees buckled under him.

     Jeremy was suddenly at his side. "W-what's wrong?"

     Mike inhaled a shaky breath. "We need to go."

     "B-but it's our shift," Jeremy said, his eyes wide."

     "That's the least of our concerns right now. Call Fritz and tell him to head to JR's."

     "But h-he's with his sister."

     "It's an emergency."

     Jeremy reluctantly nodded his head as he dialed Fritz's number, hurrying after Mike. They locked the building before leaping into Mike's truck. "He s-said he's on his w-way," Jeremy informed.

     Rain pounded against the windshield as Mike sped along. The vehicle swerved dangerously but he didn't bother to slow down. He had to get to you and Charlie as fast as he could. He had to protect you.