Who We Aren't (SLOW UPDATE)

Chapter 10

Phew. It's done. Enjoy and let me know what you think! Your comments and thoughts always motivate me to continue on.

***

**| Sang's POV |**

A loud pounding on the door was in beat with the pounding going on in my head. I opened my crusty eyes and blinked into the morning sunlight streaming in from the window. I should have closed the curtains last night but I couldn't even bother. By the time I made it back last night, I was a complete mess and only did the bare minimum to get ready for bed before talking to Sean.

The knocking started up again and I moaned as I rolled over and off the bed. I shuffled over to the hotel door, trying to keep my eyes open. My body felt heavy. Crying all night did help and I was feeling a little shy just thinking about what Sean did for me last night.

"I'm coming," I called out when more knocking ensued. I didn't have anything to do this morning, not until my debriefing later in the afternoon.

My heart clenched at the idea.

We were too late for that family.

The mother warned the police about the harassing phone calls and threats but the police couldn't even find the guy. So their cousin, an Academy member, called in and they recruited me for the job. I had a good solid trail on him but I moved too slowly. Something spooked him and he went on the run. I tried to cut him off before he got to the family but I was too slow.

They were already dead when I got there and the murderer was gone. The police were now on a manhunt for the man and another Academy team was joining in to hunt him down. They did better than me at chasing after someone going across states. Otherwise, I would be at the front lines, hunting the monster down.

I tried to sniff away my heartache but it wouldn't go away and it wouldn't, not for a long time. Already, I wanted to cry again. I couldn't get the images out of my head. They were carved inside my eyelids and I saw them every time my eyes closed.

The mother in the corner of the living room, her face bloody from being beaten in with a bat. The father only a few feet away, a fireplace poker going through his chest. The girl. Damn. That little girl.

I shook my head furiously, trying to focus in the here and now, telling myself they were going to find the man who killed them. I had all the time later to go over what happened and what I saw during my debriefing later. I wasn't looking forward to it. The cousin was furious and I couldn't blame her. I was furious.

The debriefing was going to be a nightmare. The cousin was going to be there and I already knew she blamed me. And the grief. I had to prepare myself for some very harsh words aimed at me and my failure.

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before reaching up to unlock the door.

I was amazed I even remembered to use the chain and deadbolt when I came in last night.

"Yeah?" I asked, blinking into the bright fluorescent hallway light.

"Pookie, you don't look so good," the familiar voice washed over me and I had a moment of confusion, thinking maybe I was still on the phone with him. I reached up and rubbed my ear. No phone glued to my ear.

I stared into tired and worried green orbs of heaven.

Please eyes, don't be deceiving me right now.

"What? Sean? What are you doing here? I'm still in New York, right?"

He chuckled. "Yes, you are still in New York."

I felt slow and stupid as I stared at him, my brain synapses not at full capacity.

"But you're here."