ALIVE [Connor]

[02] Stuck With Me

Hostage

August 15th 2038

PM 08:03:14

"I swear to God, Leo if you're down at that bloody Eden Club, I'm replacing you with an android."

"After everything that happened to you. You really think an android would do a better job at being your boyfriend than me?"

A pause.

"Is that a question you really want answered?"

"Isla-"

"Stop calling me when I'm on a case."

"You've been looking for me all day. Can we at least talk about this?"

"I realised about nine seconds ago that there's nothing to talk about, I'm tired of the same shit. You can't expect to keep scrounging money off of me or your dad. This - this addiction isn't okay, Leo."

"I'm getting help for it. I'm turning my life around, I'm changing myself for you, babe."

"It's not enough. None of this is enough. There's never been one time when you didn't let me down."

"It's not about the 'Ice anymore-"

"I can't keep putting my all into something that just isn't working. I'm giving and giving and giving. And you're just taking it. I need you to tell me right now, Leo, if you love me. At all."

Please.

A second pause. One which hung in the air, and the line fell painfully silent. He said nothing, and Isla's assumptions were confirmed.

"...Exactly."

"Isla, I'm sorry-"

Isla hung up and pocketed her cell phone into the back of her dark jeans. She sniffed quietly to herself, hesitating briefly to pinch the bridge of her nose and force the need for some tiny tears to form in the corners of her brown eyes.

Just give me one tear...

Nothing but dry eyes.

Shit, Leo. Even my subconscious doesn't think you're worth it.

She caught herself in the distorted reflection of the fish tank. The visual of her face fragmented by bubbles, her brunette hair secured in a ponytail. For a weary moment, she bowed her head.

"Detective Richards?"

Isla recomposed herself, swallowing the lump in her throat and then clearing it. In sheer seconds, her professionalism returned as she gazed around to spy Captain Allen standing on the opposite end of the hallway.

"Captain?"

"SWAT member's been injured. Shot right in the leg."

Isla blinked incredulously, "You're joking? Bloody hell, I told them to stay away from the window." 

She darted passed the Captain, straightening the front of her blazer and hitching the sleeves further up towards the crooks of her elbows, determination in her stride.

"All of you, get away from that window!" Isla snapped her fingers as she entered the large suite, pointing far over to the living room in instruction , much like a school teacher directing a group of unruly kids.

She tossed a glance over at the SWAT member being dragged across the floor by his colleague, wincing in pain as he clutched his leg.

"What's the situation with the deviant?" asked she, licking her dry lips in momentary thought.