The Threat Of Fear

chapter 17

        A puff of air left my lungs as I plopped onto the couch.

"Rough day at work?" Alec hummed.

"You have no idea." I groaned, dragging my hands down my face.

I let out a sigh.

"People disgust me," I muttered. "Why and how do they think of doing such terrible things to others? And why of all things, do they act them out? It's disgusting and it's pathetic."

"I agree." Alec murmured. "But they can also be beautiful, they can also do beautiful things."

I sighed again.

"Right." I nodded. "It's just so hard to see that through everything I see at work."

"It must be," Alec said, sitting down and rubbing my back comfortingly. "It must be hard having to deal with the monsters you deal with."

"Yeah," I agreed quietly. "But someone has to do this job, so others can stay safe, so they don't have to fear as much. Maybe someday, they won't have to fear at all. The monsters won't go away themselves, you know."

"So, to lighten the, uh, the mood, I'm coming out with a new line for work soon," he said.

"I'm listening." I smiled.

"I decided that it's going to be a maternity line," he continued. "In honor of you. Also, I've had some made just for you for once your belly starts to grow more."

        "Yes, Shade," I sighed, sitting down at my desk. "I'm completely fine."

"Are they alright too?" he wondered from the other end of the phone.

"As far as I know," I hummed, sitting down. "I'm not that kind of doctor."

"Are you going to tell your boss?" Shade asked.

"Yes," I replied. "Soon. I promise."

"You be careful out there." he murmured. "I've got to go. I, I love you, bye."

"I love you too, Shade." I smiled. "You be careful out there too."

"Oh, don't forget, you're coming with me to a party my team is holding tomorrow." He reminded me before ending the phone call.

"Great timing." Leon grinned, walking up to my desk and clasping his hands in front of him.

"What do you need, sarge?" I hummed, slightly spinning in my chair.

"I need to talk with you in my office," he answered.

Did I do something wrong?

"You're not in trouble," he reassured, placing his hand on my shoulder causing me to tense up slightly.

What's going on?

"Umm, alright." I hummed. "I'll be over in a moment, I guess. I'm, umm, I'm going to go to the restroom first if that's alright with you."

"Good." Leon nodded before walking off back into his office.

      I let out a nervous sigh as I knocked on Leon's office door.

"Come in, Rachel," he responded.

I did as he told me to do, shutting the door behind me.

"So..." I trailed off. "What did you need to talk to me about, sarge?"

"How have you been?" he asked, leaning back in his chair.

Hmm?

"Fine," I responded. "Why?"

"You've been... different," he said. "Is something up?"

"Y-yeah, actually," I mumbled, rubbing the back of my neck. "There kind of is something up."

"And that is?" he pushed.

I let out a quiet sigh, trying to work up the courage.

"Are you pregnant?" he asked.

My eyes widened in shock as I stared at him, unable to say even a single word.

"Does anyone else in the squad know?" he murmured.

I nodded bashfully.

"Anthony Marino, my partner, knows," I whispered.

The office stayed silent for a few moments.

"Let's keep it that way for as long as we can. I will turn a blind eye for as long as I can only because we're already missing people right now." he sighed. "After that, you will have to be assigned to desk duty. For now, you will be allowed to examine the crime scenes and question people, but nothing else. You got me?"

"Yes, sir." I nodded. "Thank you."

"You are dismissed." he waived, going back to his paperwork.

"Yes, sir," I repeated.