Damned If I Don't *Matt Murdock* (book two of Damned)

19) On the line ten stories high

"I don't know why I'm putting up with you," Terri exclaimed the next day when they were changing and she saw Vera's burned back, returning the dressing with cooling salve on its place.

Vera called her the previous night once she got home, so Terri wouldn't alert the whole police force of New York City. She came home around midnight, after she witnessed arranging shifts of vigilanting, because apparently, they were always two pairs patrolling each night. They had system; Vera had to give them that. Since she was a little hurt, they didn't give her shift that night or the next one - but Liam would let her know (because everyone fucking had her phone number, since she gave it to Bonnie aka Lilith for her fit-box lesson) where they would meet to start their patrol on Saturday. Vera was glad she didn't have to spend night with Eileen - apparently they always made pairs with at least one boy. They stuck around for a while, Vera rather listening how they were sharing experiences - and it sounded almost as if they were the good guys - then switching topics and talking about upcoming sacrifice; they needed to literally catch and drug a criminal. Vera's head hurt. She headed home the moment Egan, leaving to his shift with Dabria, gave her his goodbye and permission to go. She didn't need to be asked twice.

"No, seriously. You're insane. Why am I your friend?" Terri continued murmuring exasperatedly, walking out of the door of the private room. Caroline was supposed to be with them on their morning shift, but was nowhere in sight just yet - they could share scary info all they wanted.

"Because birds of feather flock together?" Vera offered innocently as she rolled her top down and adjusted her apron, following Terri behind the counter.

Terri turned to her, lips pursed. She seemed offended, but Vera knew better. She was... worried. Troubled. Vera didn't blame her, because what was happening was shit.

"Nice try. But you are a whole new level of crazy, Vera. I'm not used to people who are crazier than I am!"

Vera couldn't help smiling and shrugged. "Sorry. Didn't mean to make you jealous," she teased, trying to keep the mood rather light instead of dark and angsty - and they were fucking dancing on the edge of angst. They did. And that sucked, because Terri should be all rainbows and sunshine. Not angst. Vera really was a bad influence.

Terri sighed as their colleague walked in with a tired wave. "Trust me, Vera. I am lot of things right now, jealous is not one of them."

After a long time (and it made her a terrible person that it took her so long) Vera realized she was not the only one dealing with something rather scary - Terri was more than entitled to be freaked out as well. Because she had been coming to terms with her psychic abilities or whatever. The abilities that saved Vera's life.

Vera waited until Caroline disappeared in the back. "How are you doing?" she asked her friend, examining her more thoroughly than before. Terri's eyebrow shot up.

"How am I doing?" she parroted sceptically.

"Uhm. I mean... how you're dealing with the-" Vera gestured vaguely around her head and eyes in particular. "-sixth sense thing."

Terri blinked, looking almost surprised. "Sixth sense, huh?... Well, at least I don't see dead people."

Vera cracked a smile. That was the Terri she liked - and she seemed to be telling the truth. She was okay, no matter how surreal it might be.

"Actually, I was able to prevent one person becoming dead, so I guess that's something. I would like to keep it that way, so I gotta ask. You called the police yet?"

Vera winced at the note. She didn't. "I thought I'll stop at the precinct after my shift," she admitted and shrank under Terri's strict gaze.

"What the hell are you waiting for?"