Frustratedly pounding on the vending machine in front of her; Jo pursed her lips, and blinked back the tears stinging her eyes.
-Sean had dealt with many cases gone cold. Today Jo was forced to reopen yet another one due to a link in their current case.
-Every time she lets herself think she's moved on, she's eventually taken back to square one- she thought; resenting the fact that she'd broken down not just in front of Mike, but in front of Henry.
-Her heart began to hammer as she felt his hands slide along her waist; moving inwards towards her belly. "Henry, I'm sorry. I.." She cracked. "It's alright. You know I understand the feeling. Do you recall what I told you during our first bar outing?: this feeling never goes away.. It merely weakens," he spoke calmingly. He reached down, and placed a small stick of mint gum in the palm of her hand; closing her fingers around it. "I've been keeping a packet of gum for you in my back pocket for a few months now.. Just in case," he smiled; giving her an affectionate peck on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered; turning around, and leaning into his embrace. "Would you like to go home for lunch? Chicken soup and a bath sound nice?" he offered; Jo nodding her head slightly, and backing away: gradually trying to compose herself before she walked back out into the precinct.
-She had long wondered what the bulge in his back pocket was- He doesn't own a cellphone, and carries his money in the inside pocket of his coat. -Now she knew.
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Sliding into the driver's seat of Jo's car; Henry turned on the radio(to the contemporary rubbish he doesn't like), and buckled in.
-It'd been a while since he'd driven.
22 years to be exact.
He prayed he wouldn't scare Jo (or himself) too bad. "You can drive, right?.. Like.. Something other than a stage coach?" She asked; Henry cracking a grin. "Yes. See?" He asked; flashing her his (technically fake) ID, and sticking the car key in the ignition. "We both know this is fake," she sniffled; a small smile playing across her pretty pink lips. "A detective dating a man whose technically criminal.. That'd make a good television program, hm?" He grinned; backing up, and pulling out into traffic.
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After a few minutes of silence, he turned the radio's volume up; his skin beginning to bristle as the current song's lead vocalist softly sang:
-When you try your best but you don't succeed. When you get what you want, but not what you need. When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep. Stuck in reverse-
He peered over at Jo, and took a deep breath.
-And the tears come streaming down your face. When you lose something you can't replace. When you love someone and it goes to waste. What could be worse?-
The song continued; Henry's mind beginning to wander as he heard the singer begin to blubber about love.
-Lights will guide you home. And ignite your bones. And I will try to fix you-
-This wasn't just about fixing Jo- he thought-she's fixing him too.. And for this, he'd be forever grateful.
He pulled up beside the shop, and finally made eye contact with her: tears noticeably glistening in both of their eyes. -They were so lucky to have each other.
-And high up above or down below. When you're too in love to let it go-
"Rather odd coincidence, hm?" Henry sniffled; trying to lighten the mood by offering her a gentle smile.
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Looking back, she didn't quite know when or how it happened, but her lips had somehow found his during the last five minutes or so; her feet carrying her into the shop, and up the staircase: their lips failing to part even once.
-They made it as far as the dark green couch situated in the middle of the living room; Jo tackling Henry down onto it, and rustling out of her slacks in record time.
