The Threat Of Fear

chapter 11

        "Alright," Nick sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Just a few more hours left."

"Got it." Alec nodded.

"Do you want me to drive the rest of the way?" Nick asked. "We could find somewhere to pull over and switch. We could even stop somewhere and get food before we continue."

"Sure." Alec agreed. "Let's find a place to get dinner."

"There's this really good place a few miles here," I suggested. "It's an Italian restaurant, they have amazing lasagna. We could go there. It's even on our way home so we won't have to go out of our way to get there."

"And you know of this place, how?" Nick asked, handing me his phone to put it into his phone map-thing.

"Work." I shrugged. "We were in the area so my partner decided to go there and get us something to eat."

"And your partner is who, again?" Alec asked. "I can't remember."

I handed the phone back to Nick.

"Detective Marino," I answered.

        "You were right." Nick sighed, getting into the driver's seat of the car and starting it. "They do have great lasagna."

"I told you." I giggled, sticking my tongue out at him. "Also, I'm always right."

Nick started driving out of the parking lot, continuing our journey home.

"Ehh, more like about 40 to 50 percent of the time." Alec hummed.

"So, 90 percent?" I smirked. "That's close enough to 100 percent, right?"

"No," Alec said.

"But you said 40 and 50 percent, and that makes 90 percent." I pouted playfully.

"No, I said 40 to 50," Alec corrected. "Meaning one or the other or somewhere in between."

"How about a solid 75 percent then?" I bargained.

"Deal." Alec sighed.

        "Home!" I cheered walking into our house. "Finally."

"Did you not like the trip?" Alec asked, looking at me skeptically.

"No, I did enjoy it," I smiled. "I just, well, there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed. It's also quite nice not having to wear ten different layers just to go outside."

"Plus, we are not stuck in that car anymore," Shade added, stretching his arms.

Alec sighed defeatedly. "I do admit that it was a long car ride. I'm pretty surprised that no one started to fight during that."

"Me too." Nick agreed. "It's pretty miraculous that no one fought, but then again, I'm kind of used to there being fights every day while at work. Preschoolers, what are you gonna do?"

I laughed at Nick's response.

"Anyway," Nick hummed. "I'm going to go unpack than take a nap."

"That's a smart idea." Alec agreed before looking at Shade and I. "The two of you should probably do the same, don't you guys have work tomorrow?"

"I go back on Monday," I shrugged. "But I'll still catch up on as much sleep as I can till then."

"Same." Shade said.

"Than go and do that." Alec shooed us. "Go on, go! Sleep you two, sleep."