Instant Connection

26 pt.1

As Briggs slowly made his way into the Graceland house he didn't know what to expect. Would Charlie even speak to him? Would there be a whole TAC team waiting for his arrival to arrest him? As he moved further into the house he was just met with silence. He inched his way up the stairs and to Charlie's door, begging her to let him in. Charlie stayed strong and refused. She told him that it was as close as he would get to her and she stood by it. She demanded that he move out of the house, Briggs told her that he wouldn't, until she made him.

Charlie was heart-broken. She had felt so guilty about Juan Badillo's death, even going to the extreme and watching his widowed wife. Now, she understands that she wasn't to blame, the guilt wasn't hers to feel. The man she loved was a murderer. The man who got her pregnant is a murderer. It brought up many unanswered questions for her. Was she right about the other assumptions she had about Paul Briggs?

Outside of the large house sat four of the other members of the house. Jake, Mike and Stella were sitting around their usual area as Johnny poured lighter fluid into the hole, music playing in the background. Mike was explaining how he got his ass handed to him by their section chief and Sid showed up, looking pissed that all of his money sat out on the plastic table.

"That's enough, Johnny." Jakes warns him.

"No, it's not."

"That's enough, Johnny." he repeats.

"I know how to build a fire, Jakes." Johnny snaps.

"You know how to blow us all up is what you know."

Johnny grabs the matches from the ground and instantly lights one, "Watch and learn, son." he smirks. He tosses the lit match into the pit, causing a huge puff of fire to shoot up.

"Woah!" The four of them shoot, leaning back from the flames.

"I told your arsonous ass." Jakes says.

"You're all right. Nothing happened to you." Johnny tells him.

Stella instantly grabs her leg and makes hissing noise, "I'm not. I think it got a bit, man."

"Oh, shit. Really?" Johnny asks, making his way over to her.

"Yeah, Johnny. You should've listened to Jakes." she snaps.

"We should get you to a hospital." Mike says, standing up.

Stella snaps her head towards him and sends him a quick wink, "Yeah, Johnny can you help me up?"

"I got you." he says, scooping her up in her arms. "Stella, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have put so much. I-I just..."

"Lesson learned?" she asks.

"Yeah. Yeah. Come guys, let's go." he says, rushing them.

"You can put me down now, Johnny." she smirks.

"What? You just- yo! That's not right." He places her back down and she sends a smile his way.

"Serves you right, you need to be more careful."

The pair sit back down and Mike starts talking about the case once more. Asking if everyone finds it as crazy as he does that they're close to bringing down a major cartel and crooked cops. The other three send looks to one another before shaking their heads.

"Sounds like our job." Jakes reminds him.

"He's looking for a little rub and tug." Johnny jokes, causing Jakes to laugh and join in on teasing Mike.