"Hello, Sara." Nottingham’s familiar voice caused the young woman to turn her head suddenly. She saw the black figure standing behind the park bench. "How are you?"

"Don’t give me that bullshit, Nottingham!" Sara snapped, standing suddenly. "Did you kill that hooker?"

"What hooker?"

"Jake said he saw you. He said you killed the hooker!"

Nottingham looked into her green eyes. "I’m surprised he could be so observant, having spent such a long and, no doubt, exhausting night."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"I saw you leave his apartment last night."

"Jesus Christ what is it with you two?" Sara demanded. "Why the hell does it matter who I’ve slept with? And my sex life is not on trial here! I want to know if you did kill that whore!"

"Why would I kill a whore, Sara?"

"I don’t know you tell me."

His calmness was starting to annoy her. "What makes you think I would kill a common whore?"

"I don’t know of a lot of people who carry swords around New York City. Not to mention the fact Jake saw you do it. And right now you’re one of the only freaks that comes to mind."

"I wouldn’t put too much credence in Det. McCartey’s accusations, Sara. He will say anything to have you. Don’t you know he is in love with you? It’s his love for you that is clouding his mind and causing him to make foolish mistakes. I am trying to protect you, Sara." She stepped back shocked by his statement.

"What are you talking about?"

"Sara," Nottingham spoke as if he was addressing a young child. "It’s obvious that Jake’s love for you is growing, but beware. When you forced the witchblade to heal him it increased his rage and decreased his ability to control it. That is why I have been watching him, to make sure he does not hurt you. I only want to help you."

"Thanks, but I am a big girl. I think I can watch out for myself." Sara shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket and walked away.

"Sara, please be careful." Nottingham warned.

****

Jake rubbed his eyes, and let out a groan as he sat at his desk pondering his stupidity. Days had passed since his inappropriate comment and he had not seen nor spoken to his partner. Jake knew he had to confess his mistake, but he wasn’t fully prepared for the extensive apology that such a comment required. Sara had not called him nor had she shown up for work and people at the station were starting to talk about their love quarrel. It annoyed him how rumors passed so easily amongst his colleagues. They always had to stick their nose into someone’s business. He wondered if it was the nature of the beast, or did every work environment suffer from such ideal gossip.

"Trouble in paradise, McCartey?" asked an officer, as he stuck his head in Jake’s office.

"Shut up, Fisher." The elder officer laughed and left. Jake looked across his desk to see Sara’s empty chair and a pile of files, which had been collecting since her untimely vacation. Dante continually warned him that if his partner did not show up she would lose her job.

Nervously Jake tapped his pencil on the edge of his desk, pondering his next move. He had to make peace with Sara or nothing would be resolved. Whether Jake liked it or not, their relationship had changed and he needed her as much as she needed him.

Jake stood up and grabbed his jacket, which was hung on the back of the door. He was going to find his partner and apologies. Quickly, he walked through the station, hoping no one would stop him with a case or question him about Sara’s whereabouts. Once outside he dialled her phone number, hoping he would catch her at home. However, much to his dismay, her answering machine picked up.

"Hey, Sara it’s me. We’ve got to talk. I’m coming over. Bye." It was short and sweet, but he did not want to get into the messy apology over the phone. He stuffed his cell phone into his pocket and looked up to see Nottingham standing before him. "Jesus Christ. What the hell do you want?"

"Your death." It was a simple and truthful answer. For a moment Jake was caught off guard allowing Nottingham and opportunity to punch him. Jake’s head snapped back and his hand ran under his nose, wiping the blood from his face. "I’m warning you to stay away from Sara." A knife appeared suddenly in Nottingham’s hand and he thrust the weapon into Jake’s stomach. Jake gasped as he felt air rushing out of his lungs.

Nottingham stepped closer to his opponent and move the knife around. Jake could feel his hot breath upon his ear, as he muttered softly: "She’s mine."

Suddenly a shot rang out and Nottingham’s stumbled backwards. He had been struck in the side. It wasn’t a fatal wound but it gave Jake an opportunity to gain the upper hand. "You’re a sick son of a bitch," Jake growled, finger resting on the trigger. Anger overwhelmed Jake and he wanted to kill Nottingham more then anything in his life.

Nottingham gave him a cocky smile. "Do it." He was daring Jake to shoot. Jake’s finger tightened against the trigger, but he began to lose focus and felt dizzy. "You’re a fool." Nottingham said and everything went black.

***

"What the hell?" Jake grumbled, as he slowly woke. His body ached and he felt ill. As he opened his eyes he looked around to discover he was in an alley. He lay motionless, attempting to recall the events. As Jake sat up, a putrid stench reached his nostrils. He gagged, noticing he was lying within garbage. A rat crawled up his leg, which he knocked away. With great effort Jake was able to stand, but not on his own strength. He leaned against the building and looked down at his stomach where Nottingham had attacked him. His shirt was blood stained and torn, but the wound was no longer visible. Jake’s head fell back against the building and he took a deep breath. He felt very weak but he attempted to walk, despite his condition. Jake managed to take a few steps, stumbled, then fell to the ground. As he lies on the cold, dirty concrete, he realized he was unable to walk. Jake reached into his pocket for his cell phone, only to find it missing along with his wallet. He groaned, realizing some homeless man decided to take advantage of him as he lay unconscious. The young officer rolled onto his back and gazed upwards towards the darkened sky. He attempted to yell, but was unable to do so.

"Great," he thought. Jake closed his eyes.

***

Sara held her coffee, trying to warm her hands as she sat in a small diner. The place was empty save for her and an elderly man who looked as if he never slept. Most sane people were asleep at 4:25 in the morning. The waitress behind the counter mindlessly tapped her foot and chewed her gum like a cow, giving the appearance that she was annoyed to wait on customers at such an hour.

It had been a few days since Sara had gone home to her apartment. She figured Jake would be waiting for her, and she was unsure how to approach him. At times she cursed herself for having saved Jake. Maybe Danny was correct; maybe she shouldn’t have saved him. If Sara had never forced the witchblade to heal Jake they wouldn’t be connected. Life was much simpler when she didn’t have to baby-sit Jake.

Sara took a sip of her semi-warm coffee as her mind raced. "Sara." She looked around the diner, wondering who was calling her name. The elderly man was eating his scrambled eggs and the waitress was still chewing her gum like a cow. "Sara." The voice was very faint. As she stared off into space Sara saw an alley plus she had the sensation of being cold and weak.

"Jake?" she muttered out loud. Suddenly it hit her that Jake was in trouble. Sara quickly reached into her pocket, threw down a bunch of change and ran out of the diner.

She closed her eyes. "Jake where are you?" She could feel his presence drawing her in his direction. Sara ran through the empty streets, following the strange sensation she was receiving. The young woman looked around, noticing she had entered a seedy section of the city.

"He’s over there," Danny said, pointing down an alley.

"Thanks." As she walked further into the alley Sara saw Jake’s body. "Shit." She kneeled down and hastily checked for a pulse. Jake did have a weak one. She shook her partner but he did not respond. "What’s wrong with him?"

"He was attacked." Danny said, standing over them both. Sara noticed the tear in Jake’s shirt but did not see a wound. "He is healing." Danny reassured her, but his words did not seem to have a calming effect. "Jake received a fatal wound, it will take time for him to completely heal."

"How long?"

"Sara, you must move quickly. You are in danger."

Sara looked up, but Danny had disappeared. "Wonderful." She groaned and thought about her options.

Jake slowly opened his eyes. "Sara?"

"We have to get out of here." Sara helped Jake up, allowing him to lean his body against hers. She allowed him to use her as a crutch and together they slowly walked out of the alley.

***

As Jake walked through the station he was astounded that he had slept for three days straight. His slumber must have aided in the process to heal him because there were no visual scars of his attack, nor was he in pain. However, as he moved through the station, people would stop their work and look at him with odd expressions upon their faces. They would then turn to someone close to them and begin to whisper. Jake wondered what was going on.

Jake stepped into his office and suddenly realized why everyone was whispering and staring. He glanced down the hall, to see everyone continuing to look at him, then they turned away suddenly. Annoyed he walked into his office and closed the door.

"Hey," he muttered, realizing it was a pathetic greeting.

"Hey." Sara did not look up from her work and continued to write. Jake sat down feeling very uncomfortable. He was aware that he needed to say something but was hesitant. Finally, Jake gathered up the courage to speak.

"Sara, I’m really, really sorry. I never meant to say it. I just lost my temper and well, it was the stupidest thing I’ve ever said in my life." Sara continued to write, and Jake searched for additional words to expresses himself. "I mean I wasn’t thinking. It’s just I know what I saw and…. "

"Don’t worry about it Jake." Sara did not look up from her writing. He was worried about his comment and how it would impact them. Jake wanted to talk.

"I am sorry, Sara. I never meant to hurt you. I wouldn’t do that. You have to believe me." Sara continued to remain silent. He realized he could apologize until he was blue in the face but Sara would not speak of the incident. So, he decided to change the topic. "Thanks for helping me."

"You’re welcome." There was a pause and then she spoke again. "We have a lot of work to do, Jake. I think we should try to catch up. OK?"

"Sure." Jake reluctantly reached for a file and opened it.

As Jake mindlessly sucked on his bottom lip, he glanced across the desk to see his partner diligently writing. He began drumming his fingers across his desk, wondering if he should proceed with a subject that had been bothering him for some time. Jake did feel more comfortable talking to Sara now, for some issues had been resolved.

"Stop."

"What?"

"Tapping."

"Oh, sorry. Um, Sara, I’ve got to ask ya something." Jake said, nervously. She did not stop writing. "Well, do you ever get the feeling that well, I know this sounds kinda weird, but," Jake moved closer to his desk and whispered. "That you can read my mind?"

"Excuse me?"

"Yea, you know, read minds. I mean I get the feeling sometimes I know what you are thinking and feeling. Do you think," Jake looked around the room, "that it has something to do with the witchblade." Sara placed her pen down, but she managed to divert her eyes from Jake’s.

Sara was aware the subject would arise sooner or later; she just hoped it would have been later. For a while she attempted to deny such a bond existed. She would convince herself that Jake was simply picking up on vibes or thinking along the same lines as she did, as partners sometimes did. But when he called out to her mentally, as he lie within an alley, and she was able to find him Sara knew that she could no longer deny the truth.

In a very low voice she said: "Yes."

Jake sat back, smiling. "I knew it." There was a pause. "Hey can you read my mind?"

"Yes." Jake’s smile suddenly fell from his face.

"Oh." He sat up suddenly. "So, like do you do this all the time? I mean it’s no big deal if you do but I was just wondering if you, well, you tap into my thoughts all the time."

Sara looked up at him. "Yes, I know what you were thinking about last Tuesday." Jake’s face went blank.

"You do?"

"Do you even remember what you were thinking about?"

"I’ve got a pretty good….I mean no." Sara raised her eyebrow at him.

"Relax Jake, I can’t get into your mind all the time. It seems that we only have a link if the other is in trouble or we want to contact the other." Jake breathed a sigh of relief. Sara stood up and walked over to the door, then turned around. "But I do know what you think about when you are in the shower," she smiled and walked out of the office.

"What?" Jake nearly fell out of his chair as he scrambled to his feet. "Sara what are you talking about?" He chased after her. "I don’t know what you are talking about."

Sara stopped. "Jake, its OK, I hear all guys do it."

"But I didn’t do anything!" He protested, hoping to redeem himself, as he quickly tried to recall if such an event took place.

"Jake, relax, I have no idea what you do in the shower. Are you blushing?"

"Blushing?"

"Pezzini! McCartey! Get in here now!" Dante yelled, as the two walked by his office. Jake glanced at Sara who sighed deeply. By the tone of his voice both knew they were in trouble. Jake held the door for her, motioning Sara to walk in first.