Broken Pieces (closed)

[zydrate]

<<looking for a male RPer, send me a PM first for more info>>

The car hummed low, the lights inside dim and illuminating the radio and gauges with a soft aqua green glow. Jason's hands grip the wheel tensely, flexing as the song on the radio plays--but he cannot hear it. His mind racing, remembering the scene they just left, remembering Sarah... he glances out of the corner of his eyes at her, sitting next to him in the passenger seat, jaw clenching angrily to see that expression on her face in his mind's eye. Letting out a harsh breath, he reaches forward and silences that stupid radio with a quick flick of his wrist on the volume, leaving the inside of the car in silence, nothing but the quiet hum of the engine to give a backdrop to his thoughts.

Smiling a little, humorlessly, he turns to her, keeping an eye on the road. "Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" ignoring her apology, his tone is icy cold, threatening. He grips the wheel harder, the plastic making a small squeak under his hands, his body tensing and filling with heat, as if the broken silence opened the gates and let it all come crashing in. "I can't believe the way you acted in there..." he says through a sneer, his mind numbed with jealous rage, re-visualizing the scene of her hanging on those men--strangers, friends of friends, briefly met at the beginning of the evening--her drunken laughter floating through his mind, and remembering the look he got from Mark and the other people he was speaking to after they glanced her way.

"What the fuck was going through your head? Hm? Flirting with those men...And Mark! Tell me, did the concept of self-control not enter your mind at all?" Jason smacks the steering wheel as a new burst of anger fills him and feels the need to be released, his breath coming out heavily. "Just...tell me, what was going through your head while you flaunted and flirted with those men tonight. Just, please, give me a reason, not to explode right now," there is a threat in his voice, and a chill, his voice soft as he tries to control another flash of rage shooting through him.

The song playing happened to one of Sarah's favorite. She knew something was bothering Jason, or Jase as she called him, but she didn't question it. Usually if it was a work problem, then he wouldn't want to talk about it. That's what had it to be...right?

Sarah didn't look at him, didn't ask him, instead she just stared out the passenger window, watching the water from the rain make little water trails across the window. The night was dark, as was the drive back to their home. It was more than 30 miles from the city, a little farmhouse on a 25 acre spread, something Sarah had wanted for a long time and was finally surprised with by Jason just over two years ago.

Not a neighbor for miles around....

Just then, Jason reached over and angrily punched at the radio, turning it off completely.

'Here we go...' thought Sarah as she sighed loudly, bracing herself.

"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?"

Sarah didn't bother to look at him as she tried to apologize, "Look, Jase... I said I was sorry, you're making a big dea--"

"I can't believe the way you acted in there..."

"Just calm down Jase, damnit, I said I was sorry!" Sarah said, rarely did she ever counter any of Jason's comments...but right now, he didn't know what he was talking about!

"What the fuck was going through your head? Hm? Flirting with those men...And Mark! Tell me, did the concept of self-control not enter your mind at all? Just...tell me, what was going through your head while you flaunted and flirted with those men tonight. Just, please, give me a reason, not to explode right now!!"

That was it. Sarah turned to face Jason, her tears threatening to fall. "I told you Jason, there is nothing going on!!! How many fucking times do I have to tell you that?!"

*-* 2 years later *-*

3 A.M.

Sarah woke up from a cold sweat, the covers kicked off the bed...the sounds of the city still reverberating in the small, one bedroom apartment she rented, located in the middle of L.A.

A far different place than what she had before...

Before that night.

"Damnit.." she muttered and grabbed the blankets from the floor and covered herself again, almost as if hiding from the world. She needed to sleep. If she could have just one night of decent sleep, then perhaps her crummy job as a waitress wouldn't seem so crummy...

 

[CarnivalBarker]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tARZ33qnABQ/UaoRcME2EyI/AAAAAAAACT0/ifOhpEjkUMM/s1600/Tom+Hardy+2.jpg

Daniel Finch stepped into the station for the first time in several days. His partner walked in behind him, filling the room with his booming voice.

"Finchey got him a little girlfriend down at Charleston's, boys!" Brady laughed.

"Fuck you, Brady," he said, over his shoulder. He had simply asked the girl's name and she told him it was Sarah. Sure, she was cute. He just hadn't seen her there before. He had not made it to the restaurant for close to a month. A guy working undercover doing buy and busts on the local corners could not risk being seen walking into a nice, upscale and modern place like Charleston's in a decent sweater and leather jacket. A week ago he and Brady had finally busted a stash house, getting them off the rotation for two weeks while they worked with the District Attorney to finish up the paperwork and give the statements that would put some low level types in the can for 8 months to a year. He sighed at the thought that the guys he just yanked out would be back doing damage in the not too distant future.

"She was hot, though. Ass like you boys wouldn't believe," his partner continued.

"Brady, really? C'mon," Finch said. "She was nice and she doesn't need you harassing her."

"What?" Brady asked, playing dumb. "Like you wouldn't want to dress her up like one of the girls we talk to when we do the 'Don't Do Drugs" talks to the kids and put your baton as far in her as you can!"

"Brady, stop." He dropped his notepad on his desk and pulled up the chart of his cases on his desktop computer. He sighed as he looked at the screen. He had been on the force for 10 years this coming summer, and in that time the cases got more bleak as the city grew more dark. Heroin had infiltrated the slums, which meant money was changing hands. When money changed hands, others wanted to get it. When others wanted to get it, turf got challenged. When turf got challenged, people got shot. When people got shot, people died, and the homicide rate went up. When homicide went up, business fled the area, and the slums grew. When the slums grew, taxes went down and infrastructure fell away. And when infrastructure fell away, pensions and payroll got cut. Now, in the cold dark depths of winter, the city council announced layoffs to the police and fire departments, and the force was walking on eggshells. An undercover cop would have to soon cover day shifts on the streets, which put him in danger if he got exposed. And his closed cases would need to go up soon as well, because worrying about being laid off was worse than worrying about getting shot, in some ways. No good result seemed to come from the trend the city was seeing.

But Daniel was also a believer. Some guys wanted to be cops to carry a gun. Some wanted to have a pension and a quick retirement. He wanted to catch bad guys since he was little. He still believed that there was good and bad and he wanted to clearly be on the right side and do what he could to fight the darkness. But tonight, he was tired. Paperwork could wait. No sooner had he looked over his files than he turned off his screen and grabbed his jacket.

"I'll see you boys tomorrow," Daniel said.

"Where you going?" Brady asked. "Don't get all butthurt over that little philly at dinner," he laughed, causing the other guys in the bullpen to laugh. "You know she's getting mounted after work by some junkie who will give her blow anyway." The boys laughed again. They always did. Daniel ignored it all and headed past his partner, to his car, and drove into the night. Four hours later he woke up, having no idea where he was or how he got there. He rolled over as he realized he was on a couch in a rather filthy looking apartment.

"Hey there," the girl's voice chirped. He saw a nice looking blonde pulling her coat on over a red dress that she wore over black leggings and matching black boots. "I gotta run to work," she told him, leaning in to kiss him. He kissed her back, still unaware of who this was. "You can let yourself out." She kissed his neck once before standing up.

"Did, uh...." he began before she cut him off.

"Nope," she said. "Because there was no way you would remember it." The girl smiled at him from above. "But if you want to later, call me." She looked at him with pity as she left. He quickly gathered his things and looked at the clock. It was 11 pm.

"Who goes to work at 11 at night?" He thought to himself. Just then the girl walked back in the apartment and into her room.

"Forgot my costume." She walked past him holding a tiny bag and a sailor hat.

"A stripper goes to work at 11," he thought. He rubbed his head. "How much did I drink at the bar?" He wondered, just before stumbling out to the car, which he found after wandering a few moments in the parking lot. He figured out quickly that he was in the downtown entertainment and residential district from the view of the NBA arena nearby, and using those bearings drove himself home, where he collapsed in bed. He knew his morning would begin mid-day at Charleston's with coffee, eggs, and a shot of bourbon. He fell asleep hoping he would see Sarah there again.

 

[zydrate]

Sarah was running on pure adrenaline alone. Her day started mid-morning but that didn't mean it was less busy. It took a lot to work the brunch crowd and because of that, she had downed 2 Red bulls before her shift and could already feel it wearing off.

Dressed in the uniform of the restaurant, a pair of black slacks, her white polo shirt tucked in and her dark hair pulled into a ponytail, she blended in with the rest of the staff, smiling at regulars that stopped there often.

She made her way to the last occupied table in her section, Sarah looked up from her order pad and smiled when she saw who was waiting there. A cop she had met a few weeks ago and thought she'd never see again.

He certainly was easy on the eyes and during the last time, Sarah hadn't seen a ring on his finger.

It wasn't that she was 'looking' per say, but one couldn't help but notice the little things about an attractive man.

Seeing that he already had some coffee in front of him, Sarah walked up to the table and put a hand on his shoulder, "Hey Daniel.. are you ready to order?" She asked. That was a trait of Sarah's job everyone loved. She had a great memory of who was who and they loved how she greeted each one by name and a smile...

 

[CarnivalBarker]

He looked over the menu, but wondered why. He was pretty straightforward, usually ordering the same thing each day. But the menu was part of the routine, too, so he did it each time. He was disappointed when an older, heavy-set woman had poured his coffee, but noticed Sarah as he sat down. She was heading toward the kitchen. She looked cute, as she had before. Putting it out of his mind, he glanced once more at the foods in front of him. Maybe I'll do pancakes today. He felt someone lightly rub his shoulder.

Hey Daniel, are you ready to order? Sarah stood over him beside his booth.

"Oh, hey, Sarah. Uh, yeah," he stammered a bit. "Could I get three eggs and some toast, please. And would you see if you could maybe find a shot of bourbon in the back, too?" He winked at her. "Help start the day, you know?" He smiled a wan smile, a bit embarrassed that he was drinking this early, but it was a common order for him and the headache he still had demanded it. As he waited her response or for any follow up she might ask, he quickly, nearly instantly, took in her pretty face and allowed himself the briefest daydream of what it would be like if she was the girl leaving him in bed when he was through. She really did have a great look, and the staff uniform, well....she wore it better than anyone he had seen.

 

[zydrate]

"Bourbon?" Sarah repeated, her tone curious but quickly changed when she repeated his order.

"Sure, not a problem... I'll bring you some more coffee too." she finished, giving a smile before leaving his table and getting his order placed.

A few minutes later, Sarah returned with more coffee and a shot of bourbon, served neat. Placing the glass in front of him and then pouring him some coffee, Sarah let the bourbon thing go. Hell, look at her, she was running on an energy drink..different strokes for different folks. Besides, it wasn't like he asked for the bottle and was drinking straight from it.

"So, I don't see you around often Daniel, how are you doing?" She asked, pulling the pot of coffee away after pouring him a fresh cup.

 

[CarnivalBarker]

And why DON'T you see me around more often....we should fix that, he wanted to say.

"I'm, uh.....great," he says, trying to convince himself a bit, perhaps. He laughs and points at the shot glass, the elephant in the room was on his very table. "Just a long night doing paperwork, you know?" He looks at her cute face, smiling at him with his coffee. "You get a coffee break?" he asks her. "I'd love to share it with you," he points at the seat across the booth.

Before she reacted, he wondered just briefly about her. He had been coming here a long time, but only recently met her working here. He wondered about her background, what her story was. She was too pretty and seemed too smart to just be slinging coffee at this place, even though it was a pretty nice place in the dirty city. He wondered if she was running from something or to something. Any more, everyone seemed to be doing one or the other.