Time Is All We Need

Chapter 28

So many things had changed since Alison left eight months ago.

Spencer found work to be not as fun. Of course she loved her job, but Ali made the slow times fun. The days where they were stuck in meetings, or had training sessions. She missed their coffee and lunch together. And she wasn't the only one in the hospital who missed Alison.

Spencer made it her mission to continue with their Tuesday night gossip sessions. Of course, it had to be done over the phone, but it was much needed for both of them. It was very therapeutic for Spencer, because she needed to vent to someone about Toby, and sometimes, Emily just didn't cut it.

But, one day Alison had let it slip that she was in a relationship with a guy she had met at the local coffee shop. Spencer felt both happy and sad when she heard the news. Alison seemed really happy, so of course, that made Spencer happy. If her best friend was happy, then so was she. But she was sad for Emily. She was sad because she knew that Alison and Emily belonged together. Alison watered Emily everyday and eventually Emily bloomed into the beautifulest rose she was always destined to be. Em just needed careful attention. Emily kept Alison in check. She was patient with Alison, and brought out a side that to her that Spencer had never seen.

Toby was basically over at Emily's new apartment at least a couple times a week. She had gotten a nicer place than she had previously owned, which both her and Toby were thankful for. Toby never understood how she lived in such a confined area when he went to Emily's apartment the day she was shot. Toby did enjoy visiting with Emily, even though she had somewhat closed him off during work, their days spent hanging out together were fairly normal. Toby always kept a pack of beer in her fridge. Spencer was on a new health kick at the moment and she'd only let him drink lite beer, which did not sit too well with her counterpart.

Emily. God, Emily was silently falling apart. Her parents were always checking up on her. Alison's parents were checking in on her from time to time. Spencer and Toby were driving her crazy with how often they coddled her. It was like they were her parents too. Every day was a struggle for her to wake up, to roll out of bed, and make it to work on time, let alone at all. She still expected to wake up smelling the blonde's tropical scent, and on special occasions, she still expected to wake up holding that perfect small frame. With everyone asking how she was doing, she couldn't fully comprehend how she actually felt.

She preferred to be alone. But, Toby wasn't near the worst company she's ever endured. She thought, somehow, Toby sensed that she didn't want to talk. Normally, he'd grab a beer, and they'd watch any form of football they could find on Emily's little television. The dark haired girl figured Spencer was pushing Toby to constantly visit her.

It was a slow day for Emily. Really, there was barely any paper work to be done. Which was a good thing, because that was her least favorite part of the job. It took time away from her making the community of Rosewood better. She had implemented a new rule for herself, if she felt like going out for a patrol or if she wanted to head to a scene, she did. All of the previous chiefs typically only went to the big cases. Where it was necessary for them to be at. But Emily was ticketing folks who were speeding, or she was even at some noise complaint scenes.

Honestly, it helped her run her department better. She saw her officers on the scene, in real time. She saw first hand what their strengths were, and what they needed to work on. She saw what people worked best together. She had seen some violations that led to relief of duty for some. But, she knew the type of people she was looking to hire.

Today was one of those days where she went out for a cruise in the unmarked car. She kept her eyes peeled for anything suspicious, any drivers that were driving distractedly, or anything that seemed out of the ordinary.