Where My Demons Hide

All Aboard

*Gage's POV*

After silencing the annoying text alert, I put my phone back in my pocket and turned to check on Meadow. Just as I turned around, I saw her bolt outside like her ass was on fire. Shoving back in my chair, I apologized to the couple at the next table and walked as fast as my legs could carry me to the door.

A hundred different scenarios ran through my mind as I looked up the street for her. What the hell happened in the few minutes she was away from the table to make her react like that? I know she's not entirely thrilled with this arrangement we have, but I thought we were making progress. Looking to the left I see her small frame leaning up against the side of the building. She's bent over at the waist and her hair is blocking her face from my view. Honestly, it looks like she just ran a marathon and needs to catch her breath.

Instantly, my police training kicks in and I can't help but slow my steps and steady my own breathing. My body is tense and I feel almost like I'm approaching a suspect, which is almost laughable considering she is a good foot shorter than me and about a hundred pounds lighter. The minute her shoulders bunch up under her ears I know she notices I'm right there.

"Just please, give me a fucking minute," she holds her hand out in my general direction though she never actually looked up.

"I didn't know coffee was so stressful," I want to punch myself in the face the minute the words leave my mouth. There is something about this girl that makes all logical thoughts go out the window and my brain starts to malfunction. The dumbest shit comes falling out of my face when I'm around her.

"Not now, Gage," she sounds completely defeated.

My stomach knots a little as I realize this. I have been through hell and back in the short time I've known Meadow. I have seen and heard some shit that I never wish to repeat and yet I keep coming back. Completely magnetized by her, drawn in like a dumbass moth to a burning flame. My bags are packed and I have my ticket purchased for the crazy train. It's the only explanation I can think of. The stress of the job is finally getting to me, I think. Because she has made it abundantly clear that she wants nothing to do with me and I can't seem to stay away.

"Meadow, are you ok? Wait, clearly something happened and you're not ok. What I mean is," I sigh and run my hand through my hair. Something I've been doing a lot since she fell into my life.

"I'm fine," the tear streaks on her cheeks tell me she is anything but fine.

"Just want to make sure nothing happened with anyone in the coffee shop while you were in line," there, that sounds like a good reason to be flustered.

"No one physically assaulted me, if that's what you're implying."

"Well, I have to make sure, it's my job and all," seriously Wilton? God, I could kick my own ass right here and now. If my partner Chase were here he'd be laughing his ass off at me.

"Right, well, stand down officer. I'm good."

"Meadow, what happened that made you fly out of there?"

"I forgot to set my DVR for my favorite shows," she looks me directly in the eyes and smirks.

This girl, with her quick wit and sexy as hell mouth, I want to kiss her and shake some sense into her all at the same time. One thing I know for certain, in the short time I have known Meadow is that she can't and won't do vulnerable. But every time I see her, there is something going on that makes her let her guard down completely. Call me a lame ass, but I call that a sign. I can't tell if it's a good or bad sign yet, but it's definitely something.

"Ok, well let's get you back home so you can do that," I go to place my hand on her back but stop immediately when she visibly flinches. Whoever hurt her and forced her to react this way has a serious beating coming there way. I feel massively protective of Meadow already and I find myself wanting to fix everything that's wrong in her life.

"I can handle it all by myself, Gage, but thanks so much for the offer," she clearly wants to be done with me, but I can't walk away yet. We agreed to meet a couple times a week for a couple hours at at time and I intend to hold up my end of the agreement.

"Sorry, doll, but times not up yet."

"Gage, please, can we just not today? I really don't have it in me right now," she looked at me with pleading eyes and I almost caved and said yes.

"How about this? You wait here, I'll run back and get our coffees to go and we can talk while we head back to your place?" I tried to make it sound as easy pie so she had no reason to argue.

All I got was a deep sigh and a head nod from her. Well, easy enough. I turned quickly and headed back to the coffee shop, as I turned to the door I noticed Meadow leaned back against the building to wait for me. This was good. We would get coffee, walk slow and maybe get some fucking answers out of her. The only things I know for sure, other than the fact that she's funny and sexy as hell, are she doesn't like to be touched, she's clearly got some mental health issues and she positively despises someone named Jonah.

I grabbed the coffees when my name was called and headed back for the door. My partner Chase was walking in and stopped me from leaving.

"Dude, I just saw the nicest ass on some chick heading that way," he laughed as he tossed his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of Meadow's apartment. I somehow knew it was her.

"Was she just over five feet, darkish blond hair?" he nodded as I was talking, "Ass you could bounce a quarter off of?" he nodded again, "The fuck man? That's Meadow, the chick I was telling you about."

"The head case?" Chase didn't have a filter and often pissed people off just by opening his mouth.

"Watch what the fuck you say, huh?" I narrowed my eyes at him so he would understand I meant it.

"Sorry, dude. I didn't know you were serious about liking her. I just thought, actually, I didn't know what the fuck to think when you took off the other day to meet with her. Gotta say, guy, I don't fucking get it," he never said anything he didn't mean and I've worked at the department with him for almost five years so I know this more than anyone, but he was seriously pissing me off.

"You don't have to get it, fuck, I don't even get it. But just lay off alright? This could be nothing, but there is seriously something about this girl that I can't get outta my fucking head."

Chase starts laughing at me, drawing attention of the other customers in the restaurant. I slug him in the arm lightly so I don't spill the coffee I'm still holding.

"Gage, seriously man. Maybe you should have been in the fucking bed next to her, you sound just as outta your mind as she is," and with that he walked away from me to get his own coffee.

He wasn't telling me anything I didn't know already. Like I said, ticket for the crazy train is bought and paid for. All aboard.

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A/N ~ Sorry this chapter didn't really have a lot going on. This is my first time writing from another point of view so I was a little unsure how to go about it. I kind of just wanted to get inside Gage's head a little bit, feel him out and obviously meet his partner Chase. Not much dialogue between Gage and Meadow, but I think this will help me in the future if I decide to write from his point of view again. If you could comment and let me know what you thought about it, I would greatly appreciate it.