In The End

13

      Jon threw his bag down to the floor and slumped into the kitchen. What am I looking for, he wondered rummaging around in the fridge.   
      After a few minutes of making a mess he came up empty handed. Darn it! Jon pinched the brim of his nose and sighed heavily.
      Nothing really seemed good right now. He couldnt stop thinking about what Molly had said. The case of Robert Lasky's murder has been cold for thirteen long years though! No leads at all!
      Jon sighed and closed the refrigerator door and dragged his feet over to the couch. He began thinking of ways to help get the investigation started again and where to start.  
     Maybe I should contact Erika's brothers and those closest to her when she was little and Robert was still alive... Jon grabbed a pad and a pen from the coffee table to write down ideas. Or those closest to Robert... but they'll be harder to find. Going back to the scene of the ctime? But... after thirteen years? Starting at the LAPD could be helpful... that could be very helpful....
      Jon sighed and let the pen and pad drop back to the table. Or Maybe I should just go back to the hospital and check on Erika again... Sure he had just come from there, but a lot could happen in just a few minutes.
      He was seriously considering grabbing his keys when there was a fast knock at the door. Really? I barely got home! I swear if it's another person come to say they're sorry-! This had better be good, he fumed, clearly grumpy from his lack of sleep. The knock came again louder and quicker.
      "Oh ease off" he mumbled under his breath, "people today in big cities. Always in a rush" Jon threw the door open and someone imeadiately advanced on him.
      "Jonathan Andrew Baker! If you EVER, I mean EVER, scare me like that again, I'll take you out back and shoot ya! That is, unless I tan your hide first!"
      Jon backed away in alarm and confusion untill he saw who this moment of panic belonged to. "Mom?" He looked past her, "Pa? What are you guys doing here?" Jon asked shocked.
      "What are we doing here?" Mr. Baker questioned in shock, "Jon, we heard you were in a big accident! Almost killed they said!"
      "Ross! I told you we were gonna say it was just a visit! We weren't gonna bring that up!" Mrs. Baker exclaimed turning to her husband.
      He went wide eyed.  "Well that's kind of hard to do Belle when you charge in here hollerin' and makin a fuss, alright" Ross defended. Belle placed her hands on her hips "I could have been talking about the phone calls!"
      "Phone calls?" Jon interrupted making them look back at their son, "what phone calls?" Belle took her sons hands and they sat on the couch. "We tried calling you a few times but you never picked up. I told your father and he thought it strange that you didn't answer. He told me to ask your sister, but Ava called me before I could call her. She told me someone had be critically injured at the CHP. We were afraid it was you! Thank goodness it wasn't!"
      Jon got up abruptly and went to stand in front of the doors leading to the balcony. "You weren't hurt bad were ya Jonathan?" Ross asked. "Wasn't I?" Jon whispered, staring out at the stars. His parents exchanged concerned glances. "I only wish it had been me in that critical position."
      Ross stood up. "Jonathan, how can you say such a thing?" He asked as his mother held her hands to stop them from trembling. Jon stared out of the window at nothing. His blue eyes still empty and tired while his head continued it's faint throbbing.
      "You havn't even met her yet..." he said softly and turned to face his parents as tears pooled in his eyes. "What? Wh-"
      "Ross!" Belle inturupted and placed a hand over her heart, "I do believe what our boy is trying to tell us is... that he found someone he cares about very much... and that's who was hurt the worst, isn't it sweetheart."
      He looked into her matching blue eyes; calm and gentle. She knew. His mother knew... as she always did. "I can't live without her!" He sobbed sitting next to her. Belle took him in her arms and kissed his head.
      Jon felt like a little kid again cradled by his mother and a firm hand on his back from his father. But now matters were a lot more serious than a broken toy or a school bully. Now it was a broken heart and a murderer.
      It was so strange to him that he could turn into a small child so fast and yet... comforting to know his parents were still here for him. It didn't wipe out the pain of possibly losing Erika but it helped in its own small way.
      "I love her ma..." Jon said shaking his head, "and I... I don't want to let her go. She hasn't even woken up since the accident. What if she never does?"
      "Oh now Jon-"
      "I'll never see her again! I'll- I'll never hear her voice... I'll never get to tell her how much I love her. I snapped at her the morning everything happened and told her she was being ridiculous. I should have listened! This is all my-"
      "Don't you say those words son" Ross said shaking his head. "Don't you even think 'em. It's not your fault or anybody else's except the one who shot at your girl in the first place.  
      Now, she has a chance Jon and don't you forget that and go given up on her before she's gone, alrigh'? Would she just give up on you?"
      "No she wouldn't Pa-"
      "Exactly. You've got to give her this chance 'cause if she's dead in your mind, she's dead in life. You understand me?"
      Jon stared up at his dad slightly awed and intimidated. He blinked a few times. "I... understand sir" he looked over to his mother with determination. "I understand"