One Rule

Alternate Ending Part 1

(Note: This picks up in the middle of Chapter 36.)

Kozik was gone on runs for what seemed like an eternity. Sometimes he'd be home for less than a day before he had to go again, and I was beyond fed up with it. We treasured any time that we did actually get to spend together, and spent a lot of the time we did get, having sex. He'd been on the latest run for about a week. When he finally came home, it was super early in the morning.

I woke with a start when I heard the front door open. I reached over and turned on the light, and as I was reaching for the gun in the nightstand, I heard him call out. "It's just me, Di. Don't shoot me!"

"I was about to," I yawned when he finally made it back to the bedroom.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." He shed his clothes quickly, discarding them to the floor, before he got in bed next to me.

I turned over and snuggled into his side. "This is better."

"You have no idea," he replied quietly.

We fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms.

...

When I woke up later that morning, Kozik was still there, and completely knocked out. Even asleep, he looked so tired. I stayed put, not wanting to wake him up. As I laid there, I could hear his phone buzzing somewhere on the floor. I assumed it was in a pants pocket, but made no move to get up and answer it. He needed the sleep. Sadly, I think he must have heard it, because he started to stir.

"What time is it?" he groaned, turning to bury his face in his pillow.

"Quarter until nine," I replied, running my fingers through his hair. It was sticking up even more than normal, and it made me smile.

"Fuck, I need to get going," he said, sitting up slowly.

"No you don't," I replied wrapping an arm around him. "You need to take it easy. You're exhausted, and it's going to get you hurt."

"Clay is going to have my head if I don't show up," Kozik protested.

"Not if I tell him you're contagious," I said.

"But I'm not."

"Take one day," I told him. "I love you baby, but you look like hell. You're tired, and if you keep burning the candle at both ends, it's going to get you and maybe someone else killed. Please, just do this for me," I begged. "I'm worried about you."

He deflated, and leaned into my touch. I took that as a yes.

My phone started ringing and it was Jax. "I'm going to tell Jax you're in no shape to go today, and you're going back to bed," I said.

"Will you lay with me?" he asked.

"Of course," I nodded.

"Okay."

Kozik laid back down on his pillow, and I answered the phone to deal with Jax. "Where is he, Diana?" he asked by way of a greeting.

"He's asleep, Jax. He was up puking all night, and I finally got him to come to bed and lie down," I replied. "He can't do whatever it is you need today."

"Are you shitting me?" he snapped.

"No. He's still got a fever, and I'm afraid he might be contagious. Do you really want your whole table puking their guts out?" I asked.

"No," he admitted, grudgingly. "How long do you think he'll be down for?"

"A day, maybe two," I lied. "I think it's a twenty-four hour stomach bug."