In Plain Sight

14. Aftermath

POV: Sam

As we stood staring at each other, I'm trying to read her expression. I am getting a mixture of exhaustion, regret and another emotion that only stayed on her face for a few seconds.
She looked down before looking back at me.

"Sam, I am sorry. I am sorry for complicating your life. I wish I could explain myself to you but right now I am exhausted and I also don't think you are in the mood to listen or understand." She said with a small smile.

"Kelly, look, this is just too fresh..." I start to say before she puts her hand on my shoulder and I stop talking.

"Sam I understand. It's okay. Maybe another time, we can try talking again. Goodnight." She kissed my cheek softly before opening the door and going inside. I notice she's wincing a little when she walked.
I have been so consumed by my anger that I didn't bother to check if she was okay. After all she fought 3 men tonight, she must be in some sort of pain. Damn. I am mentally kicking myself.

I knock on the door and she opened after a few seconds. 

"Are you okay?" I asked and she shrugged. I made a move to enter the house and she let me in. Wow, she was not joking about her house being back in order. It looked like nothing happened. She leaned on me as we walked to her bedroom. 

"Wait here." I led her to the ottoman by her bed and she sat down slowly. The adrenaline must have already worn off and she's feeling the pain from the fighting.

I walked into the bathroom and ran a bath with slightly hot water and added bubbles and essential oil to sooth her. I walked back out to get her and I sat down next to her. 

"I'm sorry for being selfish tonight. I got wrapped up in my anger I didn't stop to think that you could be hurt. Let me take care of you." I pleaded and took her hand and kissed it. She nodded and I stood up leading her to the bathroom. 

I took off her jeans and t-shirt gently and my heart beat faster when I saw some of the bruising on her body.
I help her into the tub and started washing her. I could feel myself getting angrier every time she winced when my hand touched a bruise. I want to find whoever did this and make them pay.

How will I even make that happen when all the evidence is gone? This is so frustrating and it pisses me off. I am with law enforcement but I can't enforce any law because she had the crime scene cleared and I don't even know if she's plotting revenge.

I applied some ointment on her bruises and gave her a pain tablet. After I tucked her into bed, I went to the bathroom to tidy up. When I came out she was fast asleep. I sat on the bed and watched her.

"Who hurt you?" I asked softly so as not to wake her up. As I stood up her phone vibrated and it was a text from a contact named "Sheila" saying:

Jackson went rogue. We believe Jackson sent those men. He's trying to bait you into snitching by using fear. Let's meet tomorrow and chat.

What the fuck? Damnit Jackson. I knew he was an SOB but I didn't think he would stoop this low.
Realization soon hits me like a ton of bricks. That means Kelly was right and Jackson is corrupt.

I went home feeling like an absolute fool. Now I'm questioning the whole motive of the task force. What does Jackson want out of this? How does he benefit if those men are arrested? Or is the whole thing about Ramirez? Does he want him arrested and out of the way that bad?

I spent the night tossing and turning eventually got out of bed at 5am to go jogging. By 7:30am I was arriving at the office and to my surprise Lisa is at my desk.

"Lisa? What are you doing at my desk?" I asked annoyed. 

"Damn lover boy. Not even a good morning or how are you?"