End of a Gun (Graceland Fanfic)

Chapter 1: Welcome home Citizen Kane

Chapter One

Shoshana's POV~

Being back at Graceland was a mixed blessing, one I wasn't sure I wanted to face at the moment. Sitting in my jeep with the radio turned on low was about all I could manage, staring out at the rolling black ocean. I knew I needed to go inside, and say hello to my poor dog who I'd left at the mercy of my house mates for the past week, but for some reason, I just wanted to sit there in my worn seat and watch the endless rolling of the tides.

A whole week, wrapped up in a Op that had gone slightly astray, now seemed to have been a whole waste of time. Only ten arrests and one officer down hadn't been the expected outcome of this almost three month long operation. Officer Fuller should still be alive. Something, or someone should have prevented his death. And it being my Op, made it my responsibility.

Sighing, I climbed out of the car, unable to sit there anymore. I wanted my bed, my puppy, and a shower and I couldn't get any of those things outside in my car. I crept up the walk way toward the front door, extracting my keys from my Coach tote bag a little louder than I wanted, but hell, I was intoxicated. I was lucky I hadn't been pulled over driving home. Unlocking the front door and silently slipping inside, I took off my heavy soled combat boots right there on the welcome mat, not wanting to wake anyone up. But I should have known Briggs would be waiting, and just as I was setting down my shoes, he came around the corner. He looked ragged and unkempt, his 5 o'clock shadow seemed darker and more menacing then I remembered. He smiled tightly at me and said,

"Welcome home, Citizen Kane." I snorted, not amused, and dropped my bag next to my shoes and went to walk by him into the living room, when he grabbed my arm. It was gentle for him, but I still flinched. He retracted his hand instantly, but held me in place with a soft,

"Captian told me about the rookie cop. It wasn't your fault..." I sucked in a breath that stung my throat and burned my eyes. I wanted to glare at Briggs, I wanted to tell him to go mind his own damn business. But when I opened my mouth all that came out was,

"He wanted to be an high school English teacher... But no one in the area was looking for one, so he joined the force." I felt my throat start to close up but I tried to soldier on.

"He was a sweet kid... And I got him killed-" I paused, remembering the few interactions I'd had with the blonde cop from Canada. Older cops bossing him around and him accepting it with a smile on his face, even when they made fun of his, "fresh over the border" accent. The pretty decent coffee he'd brought at five am when he wasn't even on duty. He was one of those decent people, the ones you wanted to avoid because they just reminded you of how indecent you yourself where. Briggs shook his head.

"No, Shoshana, you didn't. Don't play that game with yourself. Bad things happen..." here he paused as if trying to find the right words.

"The kid got shot, and the EMTs where too slow... That has nothing to do with you." I shouldered past Briggs into the living room and shoved my hands into my hair. Briggs watched me warily as I began to pace.

"It was my Op. He got killed because I overlooked something... Maybe if I had placed him in a different spot..." I sat down, feeling the entirety of the day weighing down on me. Suddenly, Deuteronomy was by my side, panting with excitement. He'd probably thought I'd abandoned him. That thought brought tears to my eyes and I patted my lap. Deuteronomy put his front paws on my thighs, whole body shaking with the wags of his bobbed tail. I hugged the Doberman to me, and he squirmed around to lick my face numerous times.

"Shoshana, you can spend the rest of your life wondering what you could have done, but you can't change anything." Briggs came and sat by me on the couch and gave Deuteronomy a pat. The Doberman sniffed and wiggled closer to me.

"You caught ten of the top ranking officials in a sex trafficking ring. That's a huge achievement. Don't let one setback diminish it." I looked up from Deuteronomy's black and brown fur and snarled.

"That "one setback" is a human life." I stood, letting Deuteronomy fall onto all fours.

"I'm going to bed." and with that I strode out of the room. Briggs remained sitting, but called after me,

"You're gonna have to meet the rookie in the morning. Try to cheerful." my only response was to flip Briggs the bird and I walked up the stairs, Deuteronomy at my heels.

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