Copnapped

35

When Jay met Stacy he couldn't believe his luck. He'd only just left school and was trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to do something meaningful and that's exactly what Stacy was going to do for him. He was nineteen years old when she came looking for him. She wanted his help. Jay had always been intrigued by this woman who had flirted with him that night after prom, when Allie had gone to the bathroom during the after party at classmate's family bar.

The woman who happened to be the first cop he'd ever trusted. Jay was nervous about seeing her again. They hadn't exactly left things on the greatest terms. The last time he saw her had been rough, she was carted away in an ambulance and he thought she was seriously injured. She hadn't even told him that she was okay. He'd thought that she'd died. And he knew that's how the protection program worked but he was in love with the woman. He thought she'd at least tell him that she was alive. It was true that they weren't a real couple, but she always knew about the crush he had on her. She used it against him more than once. She was the one who chose him to play her boyfriend because she knew he would be convincing. He was always so smitten with her. It was her idea to sleep with him while they were undercover, it was her idea to also sleep with other men to get her job done. Men who were now in prison.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't worried that she'd capture him under her spell again. He just couldn't work out why she had to be revived after all this time. He just didn't see the point. He couldn't open up to Erin about this, he knew it was risky keeping more secrets from her but this was something he couldn't share. It was just too humiliating. He didn't want to be the coward in this situation. He didn't want Erin or anyone else to see him that way. He just didn't know how this was going to go down.

After he'd rushed off, Erin had followed him of course. He was sitting outside on the entryway steps looking out at the road. She sat down beside him but didn't speak. He could feel her presence, and see her legs from the corners of his eyes. "I'm sorry." He told her, and he meant it. He was sorry about everything. He'd never meant for this to happen.

"Don't be." She whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. She didn't love public displays of affection but this was a moment that she found it appropriate. She could see that Jay needed to feel loved and supported and that's exactly how she was going to make him feel. Dragging up the past was always scary, she knew that better than anyone. This wasn't going to be easy for him, and she wanted him to feel like at least he had her through all of it.

"She's going to probably say some things about me, but she knew a different guy. I wasn't the same back then." He told her, he couldn't bring himself to look at her.

"I get it."

"She's a manipulator; don't let her get under your skin."

"I won't."

He turned around and faced his girlfriend, he didn't know why she was being so supportive. He hadn't exactly given her a reason to be. He was a dog, he was a lying dog and he wanted her to at least get mad at him.

"I slept with her years ago."

"Jay, you don't have to do this."

"I do, there are things she might say that are best coming from me."

She nodded, that was fair enough. "Okay hit me with it."

"I was just a kid when we met. She knew I wanted to do something meaningful with my life so she coax me into being a cop."

"I thought you were a ranger first."

"I was, but in the beginning. I went undercover with her and I got this taste for it. I was stupid thinking it was all like the movies. That's how she made it seem. She was grooming me, taking advantage. I was like in love with her or something."

"We're all stupid when we're young."

"That's true." He said with a relieved smile, for some reason that short statement really spoke to him.

"Erin, you and I have been through a lot."

She nodded, "We have."

"So once this is all over, I want to take you somewhere, just to get out of Chicago for a break."

"Is this your way of asking me to go on a holiday with you?" She asked him, raising her eyebrow.

"I guess so?"

"Oh honey, you can ask better than that." She mocked.

"Do you want to take a trip with me?"

"Depends where we're going..." She feigned having interest, looking intently at her fingernails.

"Anywhere you want to go."

"Anywhere?" She lit up, causing him to laugh. She was playing with him, he knew this but it was still nice to see her all perked up again. It didn't happen too often lately, he missed it.

"Yes smarty pants." He scoffed, wrapping his arm around her protectively.

She melted into his touch, letting herself fall into his embrace even though they were outside for the whole world to see.

"I'd go anywhere." She whispered.

Jay smiled to himself, they'd come so far.

Author's Note:  Thank you so much to everybody who is reading this. There will be TEN more chapters until the end. I love reading through all of your comments. Thanks for the support.