One Rule

Chapter 5

I was jolted awake the next morning when I heard the doorbell ring. It was early. I grabbed a robe and headed downstairs. It was Hale. "Hi," I said quietly, opening the door, leaving the screen between us.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay. I know you and Donna were close," he said softly.

I felt the tears welling up again. I sniffed, and took a deep breath. "Um, it was a rough night, but I'll be okay. It's just going to take time," I replied. I wiped at my eyes as tears started to fall again. "You'd think I'd be cried out by now."

"I'm sorry. If you need anything, let me know," he said.

"Thanks David."

"Take care of yourself, Diana," he told me before walking away.

I closed the door and walked back to my kitchen. I made a pot of coffee and waited for it to brew. My doorbell rang for a second time while I was waiting for coffee to brew.

I ignored it at first and it, but it just kept ringing. I made a point to finish pouring my cup of coffee before huffing and leaving it on the counter to go answer the door. I yanked the door open, glaring at the person on the other side. "What?" I snapped, upon seeing Chibs standing on my porch.

He held up his hands in surrender. "I just came to check on ya," he said.

"Still breathing," I said, rolling my eyes. I started to turn to go back into the house. "I'll be at Gemma's in a couple hours. I can drive myself!" I slammed the door and locked it behind me.

I went back to the kitchen to actually drink my coffee in peace before it was time to go take a shower and get ready for the day ahead. When I was done, I got up and went to go shower. I stood under the boiling water until it started to cool down. After I got out of the shower, I dried my hair and put it up in a bun. I got dressed in a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.

I heard my phone buzz against the dresser. It was a text from Kozik. 

Headed your way. See you soon. Love you babe, K

Drive safe. Love you too, D

I made it to Gemma's before eight am. "How's your pulse now?" she asked as I walked into the kitchen. "I heard you bit Chibs' head off."

"Still a little grouchy," I replied. "Didn't sleep well."

"Come here," she said. When I stood before her, she wrapped her arms around me. I hugged her back. "I know you were close. I'm sorry baby."

"She was my best friend," I said as the tears started to flow again.

"I know, honey."

"Why would someone kill her? She never hurt anyone!" I cried.

"We think the shooter thought it was Opie," Clay said, coming into the kitchen. I stepped out of Gemma's arms and into his. "We're going to get whoever did this. I promise, Diana."

"I know. I hope they suffer," I mumbled.

"I can guarantee it," he said, stepping away.

I helped Gemma work on food throughout the morning. We ended up making a bunch of food to take to the clubhouse for the guys. It was a decent distraction while it lasted. We loaded it into my car and drove it over.

"Is it safe to approach?" Chibs asked as I put the last batch of stuff in the fridge. I turned to look at him as I put the instructions for warming the food up in the clip on the fridge. Chibs was standing in the kitchen with Juice.

"Yeah. I'm sorry about this morning," I replied, putting a batch of brownies down on the counter next to the fridge.

"It's fine, love. I know you're havin' a hard time with this." He pulled me into a hug. "All is forgiven," he said as he released me. "And just a heads up ladies, Tacoma is headed down," he warned.

"I figured. It'll be nice to see some of those guys again," I sighed.

Juice let out a laugh. "Are you really looking forward to seeing Happy?"

"He's not as bad to me as he is to other people," I shrugged.

"Be very careful with that one, Lass," Chibs warned.

"Oh, trust me, I keep that one at a comfortable arm's length," I replied.

"You better keep a glock on you with that one around," Gemma warned, coming into the kitchen.

I laughed, "So when do you think they'll get here?" I tried not to sound too eager.

"Late tonight, early tomorrow morning,"

I nodded. "Has anyone talked to Opie this morning?"

"Jax went over. Mary is over there," Gemma said.

"Should I go?"

"Give it a bit, love," Chibs said.

My phone rang and I recognized the hospital's number. I answered the phone and stepped into the other room... "Yeah, of course. I'll be there in thirty minutes." I hung up the phone and went back into the kitchen. "I have to go. Hospital needs the help, so they're moving up my start date."

"That'll be good for you. Give you something else to focus on."

I drove home and quickly changed into my scrubs before heading back out to Saint Thomas. I reported to the head nurse and started my training. It was more training on hospital procedure because I've already passed my boards and know how to deal with almost everything that would come through the ER.

I was wiped out by the time I got home around midnight. They weren't kidding when they said they were busy.

When I pulled into the driveway, I saw someone sitting on my front steps. I threw the car in park and couldn't get out of it fast enough. I ran across the lawn and jumped into Kozik's arms. My arms wrapped around his neck and my legs wrapped around his waist. "You have no idea how happy I am that you're here," I sighed against his neck.

"I missed you so much." He held me tight and we just stood there for a moment. "Why don't you go pull your car in and we can continue this inside?"

"Yeah, okay. There's a spot in the garage for a bike. That way it's not out on the street when anyone comes calling," I told him.

I pulled the car into the garage and he pulled his bike in next to me. "I don't know about you, but I need a shower," I said as we walked into the house.

"Amen to that." We walked up to my room and as we moved, various items of clothing were shed, leaving a trail to the shower.

I turned the water on hot and carefully stepped under the hot water, letting it loosen up my muscles. Kozik stepped in too. "I don't think you got it hot enough," he teased.

"I tried not to make it quite boiling because I know about your delicate skin," I quipped as he eased under the water.

He pulled me into his arms and I laid my head against his chest. I needed this. I felt his lips graze my hair. He pulled back and grabbed the shampoo bottle. He squirted some into my hand and then he squirted some into his. We washed our hair and rinsed it out before I grabbed my shower gel and loofah.

"Gimme," he grinned, taking it out of my hands. He lathered up the loofah and proceeded to scrub me down from head to toe. "Rinse."

I stepped under the water and rinsed off. "My turn," I said taking the loofah and shower gel from him. I scrubbed down and made him a rinse off. When he was done, he reached around and turned off the water.

I reached out and grabbed my towel. I did a quick dry off so I could get to the closet to grab a new one for Kozik. I handed him the towel and he stepped out to dry off. Once we were dry and changed for bed, I turned down the covers and crawled in.

"Come here," he said, pulling me closer. I was practically lying on top of him with my head resting against his chest. I ran my fingers over his rib cage, tracing the outline of the Reaper tattoo that I didn't need to see to trace anymore.

"I love you," I yawned.

"Love you back," he replied.

We both fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms. I always did sleep better when he was there. That night was the best night's sleep I'd had since I'd been back in Charming...