Closer to the edge

Chapter seven-THE BIRDS

The next morning, Jo woke up to the sound of something sizzling in a pan. Her nose told her it was bacon. Her stomach grumbled hungrily as she peeled open her eyes and yawned.

She stretched lazily and sat up. She looked and saw Lassiter in the kitchen. She put a smile on her face.

“Morning,” she called cheerfully as she got up and headed into the kitchen. She slid onto one of the breakfast stools and propped her elbows up on the counter.

“Morning,” Lassiter grunted at her. “I want to warn you right now. I’m not the best cook. I’m not used to preparing meals for more than one person.”

Jo shrugged.

“That’s okay,” she said.

He plunked down a plateful of eggs and bacon and some slightly burnt toast. She dug in hungrily, wolfing it down as though she hadn’t eaten in days. She could tell Lassiter was watching her but she downed the food in record time and began slowly sipping some of the orange juice he’d poured her.

At that moment, his door bell rang. Grumbling under his breath, he wiped his hands on the dish towel and headed over to the front door. Jo watched him curiously.

“Sweet Justice its O’Hara, Spencer and Guster,” he said turning to face her.

“Let them in,” Jo suggested brightly.

“And if they see you here like this?” Lassiter hissed motioning to the state of dress she was in. “I could hear Spencer’s taunts now.”

Jo felt a sting. So, having them see her here was a bad thing? Why would they think that Jo and Lassiter had spent the night together and that was a bad thing in Lassiter’s eyes?

“I see sure. I’ll go get dressed,” Jo said in a dejected tone as she slipped off the stool and headed into the bathroom. Thankfully, everything was dry and she quickly gathered her hair into a side braid. She heard voices in the living room and when she cautiously stepped out, six pairs of eyes caught her. She smiled and waved at them. They hadn’t changed.

Shawn let out a catcall and Gus was grinning.

“Whoo Lassie! You stallion you!” Shawn cried slapping Lassiter on the back. “Who knew pal?”

Lassiter grabbed Shawn’s hand and bent it back a bit. Shawn twisted his body along with his hand.

“Shut it Spencer,” Lassiter snapped at him. “It’s not what you think.”

“Of course not,” Spencer was smirking knowingly.

“What is going on, Carlton?” O’Hara asked frowning. “What’s Ingrid doing here?”

Lassiter seemed to have a stunned expression on his face but he quickly recovered.

“Um,” he said glancing at Jo briefly.

“I stopped over early this morning to see if there were any leads to arrest Alexander,” Jo supplied quickly.

O’Hara nodded and smiled. She believed Jo which was good. Naturally, Shawn was still smirking in that annoying way.

“Well,” O’Hara said. “There might be. Someone reported a strange smell coming from one of the old houses on Ranol Road. They said it smells like a body or something. We know Alexander has a history.”

“Good.” Lassiter said clearing his throat. “Let’s get going. O’Hara, I’ll meet you guys down stairs.”

O’Hara nodded and left. Shawn and Gus made faces at Lassiter and Jo. Lassiter narrowed his eyes and picked up one of his throw pillows and flung it at Shawn. It slammed right into Shawn’s face.

“Ow,” Shawn laughed as he began heading down the hallway. But Jo could hear his taunts that echoed. Shaking her head, Jo picked up the pillow and placed it back on Lassiter’s couch. She looked at him.

“This is going to be interesting,” she said biting her bottom lip. “How are we going to keep this from them? How are we going to do this?”

Lassiter grunted.

“I have no idea,” he said shaking his head. “But we’re gonna have to try.”

*************************************************************************************

Pulling up to the house, Jo felt a shiver run down her spine.  The flash of light she and Lassiter had seen…what was that? At the time she thought it was just lightning, but now she wasn’t so sure. Could it have been like time setting itself? It was like the events with Alex and the warehouse hadn’t happened. Or had it and something changed? Jo was confused and she was going to have to get the others on board and do research.

Lassiter led them around the house, searching for a way in. Already, the smell hit their nostrils and Jo pressed the top of her wrist to her nose to try and stop the smell.

“Oh God,” she winced.

“I know,” Shawn said coming up beside her. “It smells like a dead body.”

Finally Lassiter managed to get the back door open and he pulled out his gun. They slowly and cautiously entered the house, not prepared for what they were about to see. Sitting in a chair, tied and gagged was a girl about Jo’s age in the living room. Someone had mutilated her and there was blood everywhere.

Jo turned and bent over, placing her hands on her knees and tried her calm her stomach which was rolling violently. She felt someone’s hand on her back, but from the dark dress shoes she could see as they passed by, she knew it was Lassiter.

She heard Lassiter calling for backup and a coroner.

She quickly headed out of the house and into the fresh air. She eagerly sucked in some fresh air, glad that the cool air soothed her turning stomach. After a few moments, she felt someone coming up beside her. It was Shawn and Gus.

“Guys, I need help,” she said turning to them. “I think I’m going through some kind of time loop or something.”

******************************************************************************

After explaining what was going on to Gus, who believed her right away. Shawn believed her too thankfully. Gus did some research online. Jo stood behind him and peered over his shoulder at the screen.

“Apparently, it’s as if time’s correcting a mistake,” Gus explained. “These ‘other’ lives you claim to have experienced actually happened because it’s searching for the right ‘time’ when this mistake occurred. In four months, there will be a huge ‘checkpoint’ for you to go…it says here, this check point could be anything…a building to a structure. If you don’t go into this checkpoint, time itself will be destroyed because its offset by this mistake that occurred in your life. Do you remember anything?”

Jo bit her lip. It all sounded familiar. Jo thought long and hard but she couldn’t recall anything.

“No,” she said miserably flopping onto the couch. “I can’t remember any mistake I might’ve done.”

“Then you’re gonna have to go through some weird stuff until this mistake is resolved.” Shawn said.

“Little by little time is trying to fix itself,” Gus interjected. “So that time you said in the warehouse when you died? That no longer matters because time reset itself.  Each time you die time has to send you back to the original point until it finds the right moment.”

Jo rubbed her hands over her face. It sounded plausible though and it does seem like that is exactly what was happening.

“So what do we do?” Jo asked them.

“There is nothing we can do,” Gus said looking up from the screen. “You just have to let it run its course.”

“Wonderful,” Jo muttered.

She checked her watch. It was getting late and she had to get back to Lassiter’s condo…but how to come up with a reason?

“Gus,” she said quickly. “Do you think you can drop me off by Lassiter’s condo? I gotta run this by him...you know to get him up to speed.”

“Sure,” Gus said grinning as he grabbed his car keys.

Jo waved to Shawn and followed Gus.

En Route, Gus turned to Jo. He had a knowing grin on his face.

“You’re staying with Lassie aren’t you?” he asked shrewdly as he stopped for a red light.

Jo looked at him shocked and confused but slowly broke into a bashful smile.

“How’d you figure that out?”

Gus just shrugged.

“Working with Shawn you get to pick up on things,” he replied. “But don’t worry. I wont tell Shawn.”

Jo breathed a sigh of relief. The light turned green and Gus continued. He stopped in front of Prospect Gardens and turned to Jo.

“Don’t fret about this time thing. I’m sure we’ll figure things out before 4 months come up,”

Jo flashed him a smile and climbed out as she headed up to Lassiter’s floor.

*******************************************************************

Jo also filled Lassiter in on what Gus found out. Much to her shock and pleasure, he actually believed her.

“This is strange for me,” Lassiter grunted shaking his head. “But I’ve seen it happen with my own eyes. I’m way out of my element here not to mention comfort zone.”

Jo tilted her head.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well for one, I somehow remember the warehouse and Ross swinging that mallet at your head, yet you don’t remember that,” he grunted frowning. “I can’t explain that and I don’t like it. I don’t like not having facts before me and being able to explain things with facts and proof.”

Jo nodded. She was sitting on the couch with her legs drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She let her chin rest on her knees. She was wearing one of Lassiter’s old shirts again. Her hair was damp and hung around her shoulders from an earlier shower. Lassiter had loosened his tie and unbuttoned the first two buttons of his shirt letting some chest hairs poke through. He’d rolled up his sleeves to his elbows and he leaned back in the chair and ran his hands over his face.

“Right now I think its best we get some sleep,” Lassiter grunted. “Good night, Miss Matthews.”

“Night,” Jo said offering him a faint smile.

Curling up on the couch, Jo pulled the sheet and the blanket up to her and closed her eyes, falling into a comfortable sleep.

**********************************************************************

During the night, Jo was awakened by loud ‘thuds’ hitting the windows. She jumped awake and pushed off her covers. The apartment was dark with the exception of moonlight pouring in from the windows illuminating the interior causing shadows to become long. She continued to slowly pad toward one of the windows. She heard the occasional rustling noise as well. Her heart was pounding against her chest as she eventually pulled back the curtains and peered out. The only thing she saw was the moonlight hanging in the midnight blue sky. Stars twinkled merrily along side it and there was a few clouds that moved by.

Then, a dark shape slammed into the window. Letting out a startled cry, she took a step backwards. A second  dark shape hit the window. She cried out and raised a hand to her mouth. 

Crows.

Another one hit, causing a red smear to streak down the window. Jo cried out when several more hit the window. She could see spider web cracks starting to form. She began slowly backing up as more and more began striking the window…but this time, the glass broke and the crows began flapping around inside the living room, flying above her head in a circle. Their beaks and nails scraped at her bare arms. She cried out and tried to protect her face as much as possible.

The noise must’ve woken up Lassiter because she heard him grunt out an obscenity. The crows talons began scratching up her wrists and forearms, as well as her face and cheeks.  They continued to come at her like ravenous wolves.

She felt Lassiter grab her and protectively shield her with his own body. The cawing of the crows echoed in her ears as he grabbed his suit jacket off the table and covered her with it before snatching his car keys off the table. The crows frantically tried to get at her but it was no use. Lassiter guided her out of the apartment through the front door. Once in the hallway, he closed the door behind him.

Jo shakily pulled off the suit jacket. She slipped her arms through the sleeves and snuggled into it. Her face had long scratches on it that was bleeding. Her arms and hands were bleeding as well.

“What the hell is going on here?” he growled under his breath as he examined his own scratches. Jo told him how it had begun.

“Okay,” He groused. “But why were they only circling around you like vultures? Normal crows don’t behave that way.”

Jo just shook her head.

“Stay here. I’m going to see if they’re gone,” Lassiter grunted.

Jo didn’t think that was such a good idea, but she just chewed on her bottom lip and gave a faint nod. Lassiter slowly peeled open the door to his apartment. There was silence in there now.

“Son of a bitch,” he growled and Jo stepped up beside him and peered over his arm.

The crows were gone, but the remnants of the attack still lingered.

*******************************************************************************

Lassiter and Jo sat side by side as the EMT’s dressed their scratches. Jo had the most on her wrist and had to have both wrists bandaged with a soft gauze. Lassiter had called O’Hara, but of course somehow Shawn and Gus always knew. They showed up with O’Hara.

“Oh my God Carlton are you alright?” she asked him anxiously throwing her arms around him and giving him a hug. Jo saw him grunt in annoyance but underneath she could see he was pleased that his partner cared so much. He awkwardly patted her on the back.

O’Hara then turned to Jo and hugged her too. Jo hugged the female detective back and leaned back against the couch. She was aware that her shoulder was resting against Lassiter’s and her arm was pressing against his. But he didn’t seem to mind or budge.

“Yeah I’m fine O’Hara,” he grunted waving a hand in annoyance. “Miss Matthews got the worst of it though. It was as if they were purposefully attacking her.”

Seeing her predicament now, and the smug and amused expression on Shawn, Jo realized there was no way out of telling them. She was going have to tell them the truth about her staying over.

“I don’t know what they were doing,” she said sadly shaking her head. “It was pretty scary.”

At that moment, Shawn cleared his throat and stepped forward. They were sitting inside the condo in the living room. Shawn sat down on the coffee table and kept a straight face, but Jo could see he was dying.

“Were you and Lassie having a sleep over?” he asked in a light tone. “Did you do each other’s hair? Cause I must suggest that Lassie go for something a bit darker with some lighter highlights.” Shawn’s tone changed into a false teenage girl’s.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw O’Hara turn her face away and hide a grin, but she also knew that Lassiter was bristling. She could feel him next to her.

“Gus you could do mine!” Shawn said flapping his arms excitedly. “Ooh mani pedi!”

Shawn reached out and grabbed Jo’s wrist, momentarily forgetting about the scratches on her arm. Jo let out a sharp intake of air. Lassiter’s arm shot out and grabbed Shawn’s arm midair.

“Let her arm go, Spencer before I decide to fling you from the balcony,” Lassiter growled dangerously.

Shawn still looked a little confused.

“Shawn,” Gus interjected. “Her arm. Its bandaged let it go dude. You seriously have a bad memory.”

Shawn quickly released Jo’s arm and she cradled it against her body. The EMT’s had left and now the condo was quiet.

“Um,” O’Hara said raising a finger. “I know everyone’s had a rough night, but I need to ask this.” She turned to her partner. “Carlton, is Ingrid staying with you?”

There. The question that probably been burning in Shawn’s mind the entire time (more than likely) was finally out.

Lassiter looked back at his partner steadily.

It was a few uncomfortable minutes before he finally responded.

“Yes,” he grumbled. “Yes she is. And before you start on me O’Hara, I know the rules and the consequences yadda yadda yadda but I felt she was safer with me…and tonight was no exception so go ahead and tell Vick.”

There was a silence that followed that again for the second time that night. Jo was looking at O’Hara pleadingly.

“Please. I’ll leave. I don’t want Lassiter to get into trouble.” She said hugging his suit jacket tighter around him.

O’Hara sighed.

“I’m not gonna tell Chief Vick,” she said softly. “And I have to agree with Lassiter. Things are happening and no one is better equipped to keep Ingrid safe than Lassiter. Plus I think it’ll be good for him too.”

“Yeah he finally learns where all the female parts are,” Shawn quipped elbowing Gus who began snickering. “Are you sure you don’t need my notes on that?”

Lassiter had a muscle jump in his jaw as he glared at Spencer.

“Keep it up, Spencer. That balcony has your name on it still,” Lassiter retorted briskly before turning to his partner. “And O’Hara, I appreciate your faith in me but this…(he motioned to the glass) I couldn’t protect her from.”

“You did,” Jo interjected quickly. “I could’ve been much worse. But you grabbed me and shielded me. You did protect me.”

Lassiter just grumbled under his breath. Making a bold move, Jo wound her arm through his and let his arm rest against her body. She pressed her cheek against his triceps and gave his arm a gentle squeeze.

She felt Lassiter intake a sharp breath of air and his body went rigid a bit. Ingrid saw the expressions of the others. They were grinning from ear to ear.

“Alright. It’s late and I think we all need sleep,” O’Hara said. “In the morning we’ll find someone who’s good with birds…”

“Ornithologist,” Gus offered.

“Right and see if there’s anything that could tell us what caused the behavior in those crows. It would help if we actually had…” O’Hara mused. “Wait.” She hurried over to the balcony and picked up one of the bodies of the crows. Ingrid turned her face away, pressing it into Lassiter’s arm. It was horrible and frightening.

“O’Hara put that thing away,” Lassiter grunted. “There’s an evidence bag in the top drawer in the kitchen. You’re right though it’s late now and I think Miss Matthews would like to get back to sleep now as we all would.”

O’Hara nodded and zipped up the evidence bag.

“I’ll drop this off,” she said softly. “Night Ingrid. Don’t worry we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Shawn and Gus waved goofily at her before they too left the apartment. Once the apartment was quiet, Lassiter turned to Jo.

“A-Are you alright?”

“Yeah,” she said hugging herself. “It was just so frightening.”

“Do you want a cup of coffee or tea?”

Jo nodded.

“Tea actually sounds good,” she said.

Lassiter nodded and headed into the kitchen. She slipped onto one of the bar stools and just watched him while he moved about the kitchen. Most people would describe him as Tony Randall meets Mr. Bean mixed with Scarecrow.  Jo could see it. Still underneath that stoic and cantankerous personality,  she found he was really gentle and sweet. It was probably a side that most people never get to see…or he never lets them see.

Lassiter grabbed two mugs and dropped two tea bags into them. He poured the hot water into them and handed Jo one. She bobbed the bag a bit and then wrapped her hands around it. The warmth from the mug began calming her nerves a bit. She took a sip. Lassiter poured himself a cup and turned around, letting his back lean against the counter. He raised his mug and took a sip, watching Jo.

“O’Hara’s right, Miss Matthews,” he grunted softly. “We will get to the bottom of things.”

Jo offered him a smile.

“I know,” she said softly.

There was a silence that followed before Lassiter spoke. He seemed nervous and embarrassed.

“Spencer…well he was wrong about what he said…” he stammered looking a little awkward. “I mean I do know….females…it’s just been a while…”

Jo winced. He looked so awkward. It was adorable and painful to watch at the same time. She shook her head.

“Stop its okay. I know what you’re saying,” she said softly.

Relief just seemed to seep off him as he took another sip of the tea. Jo finished her tea and pushed the mug toward Lassiter. She crossed her arms on the counter top and looked at him. She wondered if he was open to talk. She wanted to get to know him a bit better.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” she asked letting her chin rest on her arms as she looked up at him.

He had been lifting the mug to take his last sip when it paused in mid air and his ice blue eyes were locked on hers. He offered her a grunt which meant ‘yes’.

“May I ask what happened? I-I mean I assume you’re married and all…”

Lassiter took a moment to respond before he placed his mug into the sink along with Jo’s. He leaned back against the counter and folded his arms across his chest.

“I was once married,” he grunted. “Victoria. We divorced. She thought I didn’t want children but I did. There were other reasons as well.”

Sadness crept into Jo’s features.

“Oh that’s horrible,” she said shaking her head. “Surely you’ve dated?”

“Yeah but most women aren’t too keen on me,” he said. “Some run away.”

“I’m not,” Jo offered softly.

Lassiter’s expression went through copious amounts of emotions before he grunted.

“You will,” he groused. “Trust me. You will.  It always ends up that way. It’s late Miss Matthews. I think you should get back to sleep.”

Jo yawned and felt her eye lids getting heavy.

“I won’t leave you, Lassiter. You’re my best friend,” she muttered as fatigue overcame her and her head dropped to her arms as she soon dozed off.

******************************************************************************

Lassiter watched Ingrid sleeping for a moment, letting her words sink in.  He couldn’t tell her that he was starting to have feelings for her, other than a best friend. While he’d only known her for a short while, something was nagging him that he’d known her his whole life. He couldn’t explain it. Perhaps it had something to do with what’s been going on but she would end up leaving him. Just like all the women he’d dated. It never failed.

He could probably talk to O’Hara about this. She wasn’t like Spencer. When he lost her in is arms or he thought he’d lost her, it felt like a piece of him had been ripped out. Shaking himself, he turned his attention back onto Ingrid who was fast asleep at the breakfast bar with her head in her arms. When she’d hugged his arm, it felt like little live wires coursing through him.

He gently picked her up bridal style. One arm was wound around her back supporting her, the other underneath her legs so they dangled. She was out cold. He headed toward the couch, then paused. He turned around and headed back into his bedroom. He gently placed her down on the bed. She moved a little to get comfortable but she was still asleep. Lassiter pulled the covers up over her. He slowly reached out and touched her arm ever so lightly before his hand snapped back and he turned off the light.

He sat down on the couch and ran his hands over his face. He’d stay up to make sure nothing else happened.