Fast Fingers...

[LittleRedDevil]

She stared up at the hospital, knowing it was crawling with cops, why wouldn't it with one of their own gunned down. She had been late, almost a half hour late. By the time she had arrived, the place had been swarming with police cruisers and an ambulance had been taking him away.

It was time to end her game of revenge, maybe even make a deal with the devil. Her laugh was grim at the joke. Someone was out to get her, and they were out to get Marcus Thompson too. Maybe if they put their heads together, they would both be satisfied.

Mac took a deep breath and headed into the hospital. She just hoped she could finish her story and propose her solution before they tossed her ass in jail.

 

[Angelus]

OOC: Well damn, that is what I was going to suggest. The two of them team up to find out who had tried to kill Marcus as it might be the same person that killed Mac's father.

IC: Marcus looked at Desiree, "Well, the first thing that we do is you come over here and give me a kiss. And promise me that you will never do anything like that again, you scared the hell out of me. The next thing we have to do is find a safe place where I, we can get better and investigate my attempted murder. I found out from Captain Harrison that the bullets that were taken out of my chest were cop killers and that I am damn lucky to be alive."

He then coughed again, causing another wrack of pain to shoot through his body which caused Desiree to look at him wide eyed and then rush over to him. He looked at her and said, "And I have to trust you. You told me that I needed back up but I didn't listen and look where I am."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree was by his side in an instant. Smiling down at him she sat by the side of the bed as she made him more comfortable.

Frowing down at him she shook her head,"I dont know about that kiss, Handsome, the doctor might not like you straining yourself."

She laughed at the look he gave her and bent down to kiss him fully and deeply. This is what she had been dying to do for so long and now it was like water to a thirsty man.

Lifting her head back up, she smiled at him. She could feel color rush into her cheeks and she knew that her breath was rapid. "And I promise that no matter what I will be at your side-whether you like it or not."

"Ok," She said gently on the subject of a safe house,"We could go to my apartment but they might figure it out since I am your partner."

She sat back and thought for a minute and a wicked smile spread across her lips. Looking sideways at him, she said,"How would you be about meeting my folks? They have a farm just outside the city. My dad's a retired cop and my mom's a retired nurse not to mention a great cook. It may just be what the doctor ordered."

 

[Angelus]

Marcus looked up at Desiree and said, "This is a ploy to do the get to meet the parents thing is it? It does sound like a good idea though, it will give me a chance to rest and relax and you a chance to do the same, unless your parents get the wrong idea."

Marcus then took her hand in his and said, "I don't ever want to do anything like that again. I know that I scared you to death by doing something as stupid as getting myself shot and I will be your partner- there is only one thing I have to ask though. How are you going to be near me when we split up at night- you never know some person could break into my place and kill me when I startle him."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree laughed and said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, then I guess the only answer to that would be for me to be by your side day and night wouldnt it? It's no more than what a good parnter would do."

Leaning close to his ear, she whispered,"And 'no comment' on the meeting the parents thing."

Laughing she winked at him. "Seriously, you will love my dad and probably get to tolerate my mother. Her cooking makes up for her insesent nagging. And it will be refreshing for her to have a different target than me."

"Oh, and my mother ALWAYS gets the wrong idea and my father will know withing ten minutes of us walking in the front door. He is a good cop...I never could get away with anything. But he is also a doting father and only wants my happiness. Trust me-he will like you."

 

[Angelus]

"Once a cop, always a cop huh. Hell, I would like to meet your folks- just as long as there is a guest house where I can rest, relax and play my music then I will be fine. Okay, call them and tell them that I will be coming with you. But one thing I have to tell you is that they are going to realize that you haven't been looking after yourself by the way that you look and they will look at me to blame."

Marcus then smiled at Desiree and raised his hand to run his fingers down her cheek. She sighed when he did that and tilted her head so that it rested in his hand. She looked at him and smiled before she leaned down and kissed him which he responded to and returned. He kissed her so deeply that he never wanted it to finish as he had almost lost her and it was something that he couldn't let happen.

As soon as he finished kissing her Marcus looked up at Desiree with a smile and was about to say something when there was a knock on the door and a police officer walked in. "Ummm, detectives. There is someone out here who would like to talk to you. She said that it is quite urgent."

 

[LittleRedDevil]

"They'll see you, Ms. Jameson." The officer smiled at her, but she was to busy rethinking her idea. What if they thought she was the gunman? What if they didn't want to hear anything but a confession from her. Only one way to find out Mac, a little voice whispered to her.

She stepped into the room and closed the door, not wanting anyone to hear anything she said. Well, she had their complete attention, especially his partner. Her look was a little on the frosty side. She extended her hand to the woman, "Hi, we've never really met before, I'm MacKenzie Jameson, you can call me Mac if you like. Most people do." The other woman just looked at her for a moment before clasping her hand.

"Desiree Ashford."

Mac took a deep breath, before looking from one to the other. "I heard about what happened, and knew it was time to end the game. No one was ever supposed to get hurt, and now people are. It was never supposed to be like this." She was rambling, she knew it, but it was hard to admit to being something they could very well hate and blame for the position they were in now.

"Excuse me, but what exactly are you talking about?" Marcus asked her. They were both looking at her with puzzled looks.

Mac took a deep breath, "I'm about to tell you something, but I want you to know I had nothing to do with what happened to you."

"Go on."

"This afternoon I got a phone call, it said to meet someone. I was very late, and by the time I got there, they were taking you away in an ambulance," she paused, not knowing if she could get the words out, "You see, I'm the Devil."


OOC: We could really use another character. Maybe Desiree has a brother who's also a cop, or something. Think there's anyone out there interested in playing a part?

 

[Isolde]

OOC: You read my mind. I was thinking about her having a brother who happened to be home when they go to the farm.

IC: Desiree stood there totally shocked and unable to say anything. Then total understanding dawned on her and she nodded her head in that understanding. She unconsciously stepped between Mac and Marcus-a protective move but she wasnt sure exactly what she was protecting him from-the woman or the thief.

Her first instict was to arrest the woman but she had done enough research to know that something else lay deep beneath this and she could see the look of sorrow in Mac's eyes as she looked at Marcus.

Besides, this may be the only chance they had of finding out who Marcus' killers were. She glanced down at Marcus and a look passed between them-an understanding that needed no words. They would listen and then decide what to do.

Gesturing to the chair, Desiree sat on the edge of the bed and waited for Mac to take a seat.
"Your father was a suspected thief who was active quite a few years ago until his death-or I should say murder-in his own home. You are the sole survivor. I have been doing some research but I could never come up with a name for his sole remaining daughter-I suspect a connection within the police force itself. Someone who did it to protect you but they slipped up just enough to tell me you existed."

She knew by the look in the woman's eyes that she had hit home. The pain there mirrored her own when she had seen Marcus wheeled in on the streatcher. They were now officially in a top notch mess.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus looked at the two women before him, unable to say anything. What could he say- the waitress that he had had a thing for was The Devil. The person that was in the same cafe that he went to every morning was The Devil. His mind started reeling and he looked at her.

"Okay, I am not going to have you arrested or though I should do that right now but what news do you have to tell us that we don't already know. Well, I don't know much but Desiree knows nearly everything. Tell me what you know, who would want you killed and we will go one from there."

"Oh no you won't," Desiree said. "We are going to go to my parents ranch where you can rest. I am not having you risking yourself again and I mean it. We will have to wait to find out what The Devil, sorry I mean Mac knows."

She then looked at Mac and said, "No, I will find out what you know now. And you, you will stay here and rest."

Before Marcus could say a word the two women walked out of the room, leaving him to sit there. He then picked up the remote to the television and turned it on.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree led the way into a room reserved for family of patients and told on of the duty officers to make sure no one disturb them.

Turning around, she said,"Ok, lets hear it-all of it and then I will decide what to do with the information. If the person who is trying to harm you is also trying to hurt Mar...my partner, than we have to get you to a safe place as well as him."

Her look softening, she said,"I cant promise to keep you out of jail but I can promise that I will do everything I can to gain lineancy for you in your sentance. I also promise to do everything I can to keep you alive."

 

[LittleRedDevil]

Mac took a seat and looked at Desiree. At least they were listening to her.

"Quite frankly, Ms. Ashford, I don't know if there is anything you can do for me. This isn't the first time he's come after me. It's why I live my life so low key, why all the money I have earned stays safely hidden and unused." She saw a look of suprise on the womans face. "I know it must seem a little strange, but most of the jewels I have stolen are in a bank safe deposit box. What little I did sell was for insurance fraud. I stole them for the owners, and then they bought them back, but they also had the insurance money that covered them." She paused, but Desireee said nothing, "Anyways, that's not important now. What is important is keeping you and Marcus safe. He's not looking for you, at least he wasn't, but Marcus keeps getting to close, he is now a hazard to the killer, and so he had to be eliminated. I have no doubt he will try again. The only reason I can think of for him trying to kill me, well, I've come close to finding him a few times, but everytime he slips through my fingers," Mac could feel tears burn the back of her eyes, but she blinked them away, "I don't really know what else to tell you, that's about all I know. You two have to get out though, I can take care of myself, I have for a very long time. He will try again, and next time he might succeed."

 

[Isolde]

Desiree shook her head.
"No. As long as we run than whoever this is has the upper hand. And if this person is looking for Marcus, than he is looking for me. Or, to be precise, I am looking for him. Nobody tries to take out my partner and gets away with it."

She sighed and sat down on a chair opposite her. They were up to our necks in a mess to be sure. Here she had her, the person she was looking for, right where she wanted her. She could arrest her and turn her over to the police and Marcus and she would have our reputations and careers saved. Probably even a promotion in there somewhere.

But a few things bugged her. First, she and Marcus had held most of their meetings in the cafe and that ment that this woman knew how they felt about each other. If that came out than she and Marcus would be in trouble. New partners and maybe even disiplanary action. Second, if this person who was after Mac and Marcus had connections to the prison, Mac was as good as dead. And she didnt doubt that whoever it was had connections. He or she had used cop killers and that means some good connections somewhere.

Sitting back, the wheels turned in her head. She was going to need some help and she knew who she was going to turn to-the only cop who she could totally trust beside Marcus-her dad.

She saw the tears behind Mac's eyes and her heart went out to her. Unprofessional, she knew but she had spent days going over the records of Mac's father's death and it had not been a pretty sight. She could see why she might go the way she did. But that was not what they needed to deal with right now.

Looking at Mac, she said,"Ok, I think we can pull this off and get everyone out of this in one piece but you have to trust me. Or at least be willing to work with me. Okay?"

Mac nodded, looking a bit puzzled at Desiree.

"Here is what I want you to do. As soon as I can arrange for it, I am taking Marcus to a safe place-my parent's ranch outside the city limits. I should have things arranged pretty soon and I want you ready to go with us. As soon as we are out from where this madman-or woman-can get to either of you than we can make a plan to strike back and see if we cant get him or her at a disadvantage."

"Go to your apartment and get your things packed and make sure that you have plenty of things for a nice long stay. I am not sure how long this will take but we arent coming back til its over with. Got it?"

"Give me your address and I will pick you up as soon as I have Marcus out of the hospital and our stuff packed as well. I promise I wont be sending any cops over to your place-right now capturing The Devil is not my top priority-the saftey of lives is."

 

[LittleRedDevil]

Mac wrote down her address and handed it to Desiree. "Do you mind if I talk to Marcus alone for a few minutes. I have somethings that need to be said."

She watched as the other woman fought the jealousy, but she nodded.

"Thank you."

She walked back to Marcus's room and shut the door behind her. He looked up at her as he shut off the television. He looked puzzled to see her instead of Desiree standing there.

"I...I don't know quite where to begin. I owe you an apology. I'm sorry that all this has happened to you. I promised my father at his grave that no one would ever get hurt from this. But you did. You got hurt, not because you had anything to do with any of this, but because you were doing your job. You got in the way, you were on your way to finding me before the he could kill me. And not only did you get hurt, I know you have been frustrated as hell. I watched you everytime you came into the cafe, and I wanted to tell you, to turn myself in, but my job wasn't done. It still isn't, but I can't let anyone else get hurt because of me." She could feel the tears, but held them back, "I really am sorry." She turned to leave before her tears fell.

 

[Angelus]

"Don't you dare leave this room," Marcus said in a stern voice. "You are telling me that you wanted to turn yourself over to me and that you didn't. I am sorry for what you are feeling but because of your little bit of revenge I am lying here. I am sorry for your father and that you didn't want anyone to get hurt but I did and as you said it was because I was doing my job. All that I can say is that I am sorry for what you feel but it was more my fault than anything else."

He then watched Mac turn, tears in her eyes and tried to smile but he thought that it would not do in this situation. Before he knew what she was going to do she walked over to him quickly and gave him a hug just as the door opened and Marcus saw Desiree walk in.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree stood there looking from Mac to Marcus and back again. Her eyebrow arched and she had a hard time keeping her emotions from her voice.

"You had both best be getting ready to leave," She said, her voice tinged with ice,"I am going to get everything set up now. The lady will be coming with us until we can get this whole thing figured out."

Turning on her heel, she left the room and walked down the hallway, fighting to keep the emotions and tears down. She had to stop acting like a love sick fool and start acting like a cop. That was the only way that Marcus and Mac was going to be safe. She had to see that that was her first priority.

As the elevator doors closed, she saw Mac come from the room and look up and down the hall but she had no intention of talking to the woman. For now, The Devil was still free and her search for her father's killers had been taken up by others. Other than that, she could not ask anymore.

In her car, Desiree let the tears flow. Knowing that she was probably being a ridiculous, jealous female and not caring at all. Pulling out in traffic, she got ahold of her emotions and picked up her cell phone.

"Hello, Dad?," She said, hoping her voice was steadier than she felt,"I was thinking about taking you up on your offer to come out. Yeah...its been a long time. Oh, and I have some friends I wanted to bring out with me. Can you get the guest house ready and maybe a room in the main house? And tell mom to pull her nurse's kit out...I have some work for her to do...."

[Edited by Isolde on 01-17-2001 at 12:54 PM]

 

[Angelus]

As soon as Desiree and Mac left the room the only thought that came to Marcus mind was Shit. Desiree thinks that I am in love with Mac which is not true.

He knew that right now he couldn't do a thing other than lay here in this bed and try to figure out what to do next which was pretty much nothing at all. He was bed ridden and would probably be for a while, until his wounds healed.

Just then the doctor who had stictched him up came around and checked up on him, asking him how he was. After Marcus told him that he was find he asked the doctor if it was alright if he could be moved anywhere.

The doctor said that it should be fine, just as long as he didn't do anything to make his wounds any worse than they were. Marcus promised that he wouldn't and with a smile the doctor told him to take care of himself and then left the room, leaving Marcus there with his thoughts.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree bent to zip up the suitcase she had just finished packing. She had already gone over to Marcus' place and packed after his landlord let her in. The landlord had gotten used to her being there and had heard about Marcus' situation.

After fending off an unending line of questions, the landlord had finally admited her in to the apartment and left her alone. She had packed what she thought he might like for clothes and personal items, including toiletries as fast as she could. She just wanted to get out of the apartment as fast as she could.

Now she was in her own apartment and had just finished up with her own stuff. Pulling the suitcase off of the bed and setting it with the other stuff, she went to the phone and made two calls. The first was to Marcus' doctor telling him she was on her way to pick him up and the second was to her dad to let him know that they would be on their way as soon as she picked up the others.

She carried the suitcases downstairs and packed them in the U Haul trailer she had rented. There was no way that she was going to be able to fit all three of them plus the luggage into her small car.

She was soon on her way to the hospital. All the way there she could only think of the sight of Mac in Marcus' arms. She knew she was being jealous but neither of them could deny that there was an attraction there. Sometimes she felt as if she was the odd man out.

She was soon walking the hallway to Marcus' room and she stopped to talk to the nurse. She instructed one of the guards to follow her into the room with a wheelchair. Marcus was going to have protection all the way to the car so that no one could have another shot at him.

Bracing herself, she walked into the room where Marcus was talking to the doctor and getting last minute medications and instructions. She did not meet Marcus' eyes, she did not dare. She just wanted to get him out to the car and get on thier way as soon as possible. She would feel better when they were at her parent's place.

Soon she, Marcus and the guard were headed down in the elevator-no one saying a word. The silence was unbearable. It lasted until Marcus had been helped into the car and Desiree was pulling the car away and into traffic after waiving to the guard.

Before Marcus could say anything, Desiree said,"Buckle up, we are picking up Mac next and then heading right out. I want to get there as quick as I can."

 

[Angelus]

Marcus looked at Desiree and noticed the expression that was on her face. He then knew what she was thinking and she was definitely thinking the wrong thing. He then cleared his throat, "Desiree, beautiful. You have the wrong idea. There is nothing going on between Mac and myself. I was totally surprised by the hug as even I didn't expect it. There is only one person that I would really want to hug me, the one person that I am in love with and that is the person that is in the car with me now not the person that we are going to go and pick up. I love you, and there is nothing that I know of that can change that."

Marcus then sat back and looked at the road, hoping that what he had just told her would be enough to help make her feel better enough to talk to him again as he hated her being silent to him, it was enough to cut straight into his heart.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree could feel the tears slip down her cheeks. The stress was becoming too much. She really needed this time at her folk's place. Maybe she could even get in some rest and relaxation and clear her mind.

She didnt doubt the sincerity in his voice but right now she was totally confused. "God, Marcus," She said, her voice thick with emotion,"I just dont know what to think anymore. Just when we seem to find each other everyone comes on the scene and tries to tear us apart. If I think about any of this for too long, I fear I'm going to go mad."

"All I know is that she was your obsession long before you met me and I can feel a link between the two of you. I dont know what it is exactly but sometimes I feel like I am just in the way. This whole thing is such a mess and all I can think clearly about is getting you somewhere where no one is going to try and kill you again. Once we are there, than things will be able to sort themselves out, I'm sure."

She looked straight at the road, knuckles white on the steering wheel, fighting the emotions that threatened to overpower her. There had just been too much happening in too short of a time and she was afraid she was going for a break down.

 

[Angelus]

Marcus sat back and closed his eyes, trying to figure out what had brought this on. He was in love with Desiree and she just couldn't see it even though it was as plain as day. He then opened his eyes and glanced over at Desiree to see that she was trying to stay calm, even though there were emotions that were just dying to burst out.

"You are never in the way beautiful. And you are right about my obssession but look at what it got me, four bullet wounds and the woman that I love doubting herself so much that she would give away everything just to get away from me. All that I want to do is be with you and nobody else and if you can not see that then I don't think that there is any hope. I was hoping that I could show you how much I love you at the ranch but you seem determined to destroy what we have. Why?"

He then closed his eyes again and sat back, waiting for her answer.

 

[Isolde]

Desiree pulled the car and trailer over and turned off the engine. Turning to Marcus she took her first good look at him since before Mac had announced who she was to them. She could feel the tears streak her face as she could not hold them back.

"Marcus, thats not it at all," She said, she had expressed herself badly before and now she was searching for the words to explain exactly how she felt. "I love you more than I love life. I would give it up in a second if it ment your happiness. I would also give you up if it ment you would be happier."

Looking forward, out of the windshield she said,"I would give anything in this world to spend however long it takes at the ranch to get you better and explore these feelings that we have for each other. But the world wont see it that way. If someone isnt trying to kill you and take you away from me that way than I am finding myself getting jealous of every woman you look at and even at an innocent hug."

"I'm driving myself nuts and now there wont even be a peaceful break at the ranch because I have to spend my time trying to track down your attempted murderer while you get better. I just wish the damn world would go away for awhile and leave us alone."

Shaking her head she added,"And there I go sounding like an emotional woman instead of a cop. I cant seem to get a balance between the two."

 

[LittleRedDevil]

She packed the last of her things, not really knowing what she was supposed to bring, so she had packed a little bit of everything, including a nice dress, just in case.

Mac was just locking up her apartment when she saw them pull into the parking lot. She felt terrible about yesterday. She hadn't meant anything by the hug, it was just a thank you. She had to explain that to Desiree. She could see how much Marcus loved her. It was in his eyes everytime he looked at her. Mac envied her. She wished she could find someone to love her like that.

Desiree opened the u-haul, and Mac slung her stuff inside, "I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean anything by the hug, it was more of a thank you. To tell you the truth, Marcus reminds me a lot of my brother, Andrew. It's been along time since I've had a hug from him. I guess I just wanted to feel that one more time. I really am sorry." Mac turned away and climbed into the car. A slight smile on her face at the thought of her brother. It was the first time in a very long time tears hadn't accompanied the thought.

 

[Angelus]

As soon as Mac and Desiree had gotten into her car Marcus turned to Desiree, "There is an easy way for that Desiree and you will not have to leave my side. Ring Captain Harrison and tell him that there is a person that is trying to kill me and you are looking after me, to be my protection. But don't tell him where you are because I hate to say this but I think that there is a snitch in the precinct."

Marcus then looked over at Desiree and saw her looking out of the windscreen and said, "You have no reason to get jealous, even of an innocent hug. You know that I love you more than anything and I will never give you up, even if you think it is best and it will help me you would be wrong."

He tried to move but as soon as he did there was a sharp pain in his side and he sat back down and took a deep breath. He then turned to look at Desiree again and found himself wanting to do nothing other than be with her but he knew that he couldn't as he was still a cop and there was still a killer out there.

"But if you don't kill Captain Harrison then I will and I will tell him everything. Not about us but I will tell him about why he came after me, of course he will want to know where I got the information from and you know that I can't hide it from him. I know that it sounds like blackmail and it probably is but it is the only way that I am going to get you to take a break and stop trying to do any police work."

[Edited by Angelius on 01-17-2001 at 07:26 PM]

 

[Isolde]

Before getting out of the car: Desiree looked at Marcus and shook her head. "We are both on leave, remember? I am effectivly off the force. But I intend to ask my dad for help in this. He has some contacts that might know about the murder or even have been on the case."

"But, while I am doing this, you will be getting better under my mother's tender care-as well as my own."

She looked up to see Mac coming out of the apartment building and she leaned forward to plant a lingering kiss on Marcus' lips before they could be seen. Then she got out of the car and started over to help Mac with her bags.

After Mac got into the car, Desiree slid into the driver's seat and then turned to face Mac. "Okay everyone. Clean slate here. We are going to go and find whoever is responsible for this and then we will figure out what to do about The Devil. From this time on we are going to have to work together. All of us."

With that, she turns the engine over again and they are off on their journey. It is only a few hours drive to her parent's house and they soon pull past the gates and onto a long dirt driveway. As the proceed, they pass pens where a few cattle and horses are kept. There are a few men working the corrals and they wave as you pass by.

As you reach the end of the driveway, you see a nice cozy two story house. It has a porch with a swing and, in the swing sits an attractive older woman who stands on your arrival. You can see a resembalance between Desiree and the woman on the porch, though the woman is a bit heavy set. She looks exactly like a cook who samples her own cooking.

She smiles, waves and sticks her head into the doorway for a minute before coming down the porch steps in preparation to greet you. Before she can make it down the steps, the screen door bangs open and two men walk out. They seem like carbon copies of each other except that the older man has white hair while the younger had hair matching Desiree's. The younger man is quite handsome with a ready smile on his face. He has laugh lines as if laughing comes easily to him and his eyes are as blue as the sky.

Desiree's intakes her breath sharply and her knuckles turn white on the wheel. "Damn!," She says as she brings the car to a stop,"No one told me HE was going to be here."

Looking at those in the car, she says,"My brother Tom. This is going to compicate things. He is in the family business. Brother dear is a cop!"

 

[Angelus]

"Oh cool. A fellow cop. I should get on with your family quite well then, but what is the problem with your brother being a cop?"

Desiree looked at Marcus and Marcus knew that he had missed the point. He was good at that, that at least was one of the things that he was good at. He then undid his seatbelt and after opening his door and picked up his walking stick slowly got out of the car, much to the protests of Desiree.

He walked up slowly to Desiree's family and smiled before saying, "Sorry to impose like this but Desiree insisted that we come out here."

Desiree's father smiled and said, "Yes she can be like that. So, you are the infamous partner that we have heard so much about." then he moved in closer and said in a voice barely above a whisper, "how long have you two been a couple."

That took Marcus aback, Desiree had told him that her father was a good cop but that bit of detective work was almost perfect. Just as he was about to answer Desiree walked up quickly, hugged her father and said, "Dad, I have missed you."

Marcus breather a sigh of relief.