The Gemini

61 - Total Eclipse

Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now I'm only falling apart.

And there's nothing I can do. A total eclipse of the heart

...

Family smiles, something that Jody had grown accustomed to not seeing much of. Family smiles on a holiday? Not at all. In her teen years under the guardianship of her aunt, Jody saw no celebrations. Li, despite participating when Jinny was alive, never liked observing American holidays. When Jody left home as an adult, she wanted to make up for the lost times, but she had no one to share it with. She spent it with Nikki's family one year; it was great, but it made Jody long for what she didn't have.

But this year was different. She had her husband, her father, little sisters, and step-mother to share and make memories with.

She and Roger ended up flying out to Michigan for Thanksgiving. Roles swapped when the Bells flew to Minnesota for a day after Christmas party at Paisley. Roger put on a show personalized for Alicia. The setlist was whatever she wanted plus a few that he felt she would appreciate – all adjusted to be family friendly of course.

Good times all around and the memories made were plenty. Jody's face ached from the laughter and smiles that she couldn't keep away. Smiles that she was desperate to get back. Laughs that no longer existed.

How many times can a heart break before it can mend no more?

...

Once upon a time there was light in my life, but now there's only love in the dark.

Nothing I can say. A total eclipse of the heart.

December 31, 1991

Jody hates New Years Eve. Nothing good has ever come from it. More times than not it's brought her tears in one way or another. It tried to ruin her husband's life once. Twice. The first time he escaped, but the second time... This time...

The damned television is on. Its volume on low. To the perception of Jody's ears, it's blaring. Loud and repetitive. She knew the story. Her eyes saw the story, and the image wouldn't go away.

Chicago P.D. is full of inconsiderate assholes. The whole damn department can burn down to the ground for all she cares. Hell, she would even strike the match herself, because why not? She's a murderer now anyway.

Blood on her hands. That same blood is on her pants and on her coat. She didn't know where else. It's probably on her shirt too. On the ends of her hair?

The bright red washed way from her hands leaving behind a tinting of pink in her palms. She didn't want to clean it from her skin but, for sanitation's sake, she had to. Jody didn't care about that though. It could've been the last piece of Roger she had.

Numb. She didn't know how many prayers she sent up to God, but she's empty now. Tears that came and went intermittently are gone. Like a wet rag, Jody's rung dry. Silent.

One thing they got her to do – they because she wasn't in it enough to know exactly who – is wipe clear her streaked makeup. Still she knew she looked like crap. She felt it.

Shock. They, the detectives, they asked her question after question in an attempt to gather information of the events that led to one person dead and another in critical condition. Stuck in her silence, Jody didn't offer much. Her attorney requested that they gave her a moment to collect herself.