Detective Badass

Aftermath (1)

I was ridden with guilt from the whole ordeal. Three cops were rushed to the burn unit, three more were treated for bullet wounds, two dead from shots to the head, and one suffering from blood loss. Sonny was in the hospital for a few days but he would be ok, unlike the others who weren't so lucky. I went to see him a couple of times but I couldn't anymore. I couldn't come to terms with the fact that it wasn't my fault. My nose was broken but they were able to set it back easily.
Liv told me to take my vacation early and let me go home after I finished my paperwork and interrogation. They wanted to know what happened while I was with Arthur. Chief Dodds was really impressed by how I handled the situation and asked me if I was in the right department. I politely told him I was and left it at that.
I went to Sonny's apartment to grab my stuff and Zen who was excited to see me. I left him a note saying how thankful I was for letting me stay here and how sorry I was for getting him shot. I left his warm apartment and went back to my cozy one.
I was unsettled so I ended up calling my mom and asked her if she was still at the beach house with everyone and she said they were so I decided to go up there. To clear my mind and relax.

When I got out of the car I ran to her and started crying. The last couple of weeks caught up to me. I told her what I could tell her without scaring her too much. My step dad and my mom listened and offered me some advice.
"You should find another job, amores. This one is making you sick," my mom told me again for the twentieth time. "Look at your face! Your nose!"
"I like my job though," I said as my hand flew up to the bandage that was still on my nose but I couldn't hide the huge purple bruise that had formed around it.
"Then fight for it, you love your job you stick to your job and help anyone you can," Joe spoke up, surprising me. My mom looked at him like he was crazy.
He shrugged at her. "She's not going to listen to us, might as well let her do what she wants."
I smiled at them and went up to the spare bedroom to sleep. I had a few missed calls and texts from Sonny. I didn't have the heart to talk to him just yet. I called my sister, El, and told her about what happened. She said she was proud of me and that I should talk to Sonny.
"He took a bullet from the killer. Did you shoot him?," she asked.
"No but-."
"But nothing. You saved him by tackling the guy down. You should talk to him," she cut me off.
She was right. After a few days here I'll go back and talk to him face to face.

Liv called me on the third day to tell me that Arthur was going away for a pretty long time. He asked for me multiple times but they already had enough evidence to put him in jail with. That eased my mind but it didn't stop the nightmares I was having.
I talked to my therapist over the phone and she asked me why I felt guilty.
"It wasn't your fault, Maia. Why do you hold that guilt?"
"I don't know. I just feel responsible because I didn't want to talk about my childhood so he blew up an armoured car. Now those men have third degree burns because of me."
"No, because of the killer. Did you plant those bombs? No. He took advantage of you by stating if you didn't talk then he would kill someone. He would, not you."

Her words played through my mind on the drive back to my apartment. When I walked in I breathed in the smells of my home. Zen instantly ran to the couch and got comfortable enough to take another nap. "Typical," I spoke aloud to her.
I unpacked my bags and started making some soup in the kitchen. This winter air has me feeling sleepy and cozy. I was about to have a seat next to Zen when there was a knock on my door.
"Maia, please open the door," it was Sonny. My heart pained at the thought of seeing him. His arm in a sling, possible bags under his eyes from sleepless nights due to pain. I didn't answer for awhile. "I'll stay out here all night."
I smiled a little and hesitantly opened the door. He looked tired and honestly really cute. His hair wasn't slicked back and he had a little stubble on his face. Very cute.
"Why didn't you answer my calls?," he stepped into my apartment.
"I was scared," I said softly.
He shook his head. "The nurses told me you came to visit me. Why are you avoiding me?"
"Because I felt that it was my fault you got shot! I've talked it out now the guilt isn't too much to bear. I came back and I was going to call you tomorrow," I said this all in a rush.
"It's not your fault, Maia."
"I know that now," I turned to Zen, willing her to wake up and help me get through this talk with Sonny, my nerves were threatening to spill over. She was fast asleep.