Soulmates

Chapter two

Two weeks have passed since I was shot, meeting Kelly. I'm at full recovery and dressed up in my dress pants and button down shirt, tucked into my pants. I have to wear men's clothes because of my broad body build.

I had a bouquet of flowers, walking in the hospital. I bump into Claire and her jaw drops at the sight of me. "She is going to drool when she sees you," she says with a smile, walking around me, checking me out. 

"Where is she," I ask softly as she stops in front of me. 

"Her office, three doors down on your left," she says pointing behind her. 

She walks with me and I knock on her door. "Not now please," she chokes, calling through the closed door. 

Moments later my phone rings and it was Kelly. I answer it and say in a soothing whisper, "Open your office door. I'm here."

She stays on the line and opens the door with haste. I end the call, putting my phone in my pocket as she flies into my arms. Claire takes the flowers from me before I drop them and I take Kelly in a comforting hug. Claire takes Kelly's phone and places it and the flowers on her desk before leaving us alone in privacy. 

I guide her back into her office and close the door. She lets out a calming breath and I rub her back in comfort. Something was bothering her and I was going to wait for her to say something first. I didn't want to further upset her than she already was.

Someone else was knocking at her door and she sighs in disappointment. She steps away from me and opens the door, sniffling. "Oh, sweetheart," an older woman in a pencil skirt says in sympathy. "I just got a call from your mother. I'm so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you Joyce," she says in a choked whisper, hugging the other woman. "I was about to leave."

"I hope you're not driving in your condition," she says softly. 

"I can drive her home," I say softly as Joyce jumps back from Kelly in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"I didn't realize she had company," she says with her hand to her chest. "Have we met?"

"Jennifer Williams," I say softly, shaking her hand. "I was going to surprise her, but didn't realize it was bad timing."

"This is the Jennifer you told me about," Joyce asks with surprise. 

"Yes," Kelly chokes quietly, coming back in my arms. "Can you take me to my parents house please?"

"Of course, grab whatever you need," I say softly and kiss her forehead. 

She grabs her phone and the flowers I brought and chokes quietly, "They're beautiful, thank you."

"I came to ask you to that dinner I promised when I made full recovery," I say softly and she smiles lightly. "I understand that won't happen anytime soon. I'm sorry for your loss."

"My sister was killed in action, in Iraq. She was due to come home tomorrow and wanted to meet you," she chokes quietly, lower lip trembling. 

"Her name was Jamie," I ask softly and she nods vigorously, coming in my arms. "I served with her a few years ago, before I became a cop. I was honorably discharged when I saved her life when her gun jammed. It's the four round scars on my chest and stomach."

She laughs through her sobs and I was confused. "Now I understand what she meant by seeing 'The iron goddess'."

"That's what everyone called me in our unit," I say with a laugh and tears fill my eyes. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to save her this time. She was like a sister to me over there."