A couple days later Jenai sat on the Church step after Callen�s funeral. She didn�t go to the cemetery with everyone else and just stayed behind. It was about two hours after the funeral and she sat alone watching the people go by. She took a piece of paper from her skirt pocket and unfolded it.
She looked at it and started reading, Sunny days/rainy nights/through it all/you stayed by my side/Crying eyes/broken hearts/through it all/you stayed by my side/Happy moments/millions of smiles/through it all/you stayed by my side.... The wind blew it from her hands and she quickly ran after it. She ran a few feet then it stopped. She bent down to pick it up and bumped heads with someone.
�Oh!� She looked and saw Nickolas.
�Hey,� Nickolas said.
�Hi.� She picked up her paper and stood up.
�It�s been a couple days.�
�Been busy.�
�I didn�t see ya at the funeral.�
�Funerals aren�t my thing so I stand in the back and don�t make a sound.�
�Dani was looking for ya at the cemetery.�
�She knows I don�t go to those places.� Jenai folded up the paper and stuck it in her pocket. �If you�ll excuse me, Detective.� She walked by him and he looked at her. She walked a couple feet and said, �Prick.� She stopped at the crosswalk and waited.
�I�m sorry about the other night,� Nickolas said and Jenai didn�t even look at him. �Dani and I were talking and I lost track of time.�
�Yeah that happens when you�re fucking.� She started crossing the street and Nickolas followed.
�I�m sorry if you�re upset.�
�I ain�t upset, because everything�s cool. It�s not the first time I was stood up and won�t be the last.�
�I had no intentions of standing you up.�
�You were just more interested in banging an old friend than taking the time to get to know a new one.�
�It wasn�t like that.�
�Oh really? Then what was it like?� She stopped and looked at him.
�I told ya; we were talking and lost track of time.� She shook her head and walked away. �JJ!� He went after her. �Why are you so upset? We just met and it was one lousy date; if ya want to call it that.�
�One lousy date? God you cops are all the same; you have no feelings about anyone.� They stopped and looked at each other. �Maybe to you it was just one lousy date, but to me it was, like, the millionth lousy date. I was stood up so many times since I started dating that I ran out of body parts to count them all. I�m at that point where I can�t stand it anymore and I�m going to soon start thinking about going back to my ex who dumped me for Miss Fake Tits. I mean, he actually cares about me, but the problem is he�s a cop and I hate cops.� Nickolas looked at her. �I thought I could actually like you for being a cop and you were going to be different, but I was wrong. I realized that the other night. All cops are the same no matter who they are.�
�I�m not like other cops. I do care about others and love to help them.� Jenai only looked at him. �That�s one of the reason�s I became a cop.�
�Ya know what pisses me off about that day? I was actually worried about you when you were shot at, but you didn�t even have the decency to call me that night.�
�I�m sorry; I didn�t mean to upset you.�
�I got places to go.� She walked away and Nickolas watched her.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Hey, JJ,� Dannika said as they hugged and Jenai looked around Callen�s apartment at the people. �I didn�t think you were coming. I didn�t see ya at the funeral or cemetery.�
�I ain�t staying long,� Jenai said. �Ya know these things ain�t for me.� She sighed. �I was reading that poem Callen wrote and knew I had to pay my respects.�
�You didn�t have to come, because I understand.�
�Are the others here?�
�Somewhere.�
�Hey,� came an all too familiar male�s voice and Jenai didn�t even bother looking.
�Hey, Nick,� Dannika said hugging him.
�Excuse me,� Jenai said walking away.
�Hey, Beautiful.� Jenai looked to see Howard.
�Hey,� Jenai said hugging him.
�Are you alright?�
�Yeah.�
�Nobody�s seen ya since Friday.� She shrugged. �We heard what happened though and we�re glad you�re ok.�
�Thanks.� She grinned. �So when is Alex opening up business?�
�He�s thinking about next Friday, but wants to meet with you ladies first.� Jenai nodded. �He doesn�t want it to be too soon for ya�s.�
�Right.� She sighed. �Whenever�s fine with me really. I hate the whole death/mourning thing. Excuse me.� She walked away and went into the kitchen where it was empty. She looked out the window and got the piece of paper from her pocket. She unfolded it and read over it a couple minutes, as tears went down her cheeks. She went to walk out, but stopped when she saw Jakob. They looked at each other a second then she hugged him.
�It�s all right,� Jakob said.
�No it ain�t,� Jenai said. �Everyone I love leaves me and it ain�t fair.�
�I�m still here.� She looked at him. �I ain�t going anywhere.�
�Will you take me home?�
�Sure.�
�I can�t be here.�
�Let�s go.�
They walked from the kitchen and heard Dannika, �Sad crying eyes/broken hearts/through it all/you stayed by my side�� Dannika looked at Jenai and she looked at the paper in her hand.
Jenai took a breath and said, �Joyful tears/and finding true love/through it all/you stayed by my side/through the miles/through the storms/through it all you stayed by my side�� Dannika joined her, �Sisters always/friends forever/through it all/you stayed by my side.�
Dannika added, �A poem by Callen Mae Michaels.� Everyone clapped and Nickolas looked at Jenai, as Jakob put his arm around her. �Callen was and is the greatest sister I�ll ever have. I�ll miss her greatly, as well as everyone else. She was��
�Let�s get out of here,� Jenai said.
�Alright,� Jakob said leading her to the door.
�I can�t deal with this.�
�I understand.�
�It just brings back too much.� Jakob nodded and they walked out the door and by Nickolas. They walked to the elevator and Nickolas watched them. He watched them get onto the elevator and then walked over, getting out his walkie-talkie.
�Yo, Sarge,� Nickolas said into the walkie-talkie.
�Talk to me, Carter,� Kevin said. �Are you still on Jenai?�
�Uh, yeah, she�s leaving with Underwood. Do you still want me to follow her?�
�Yeah; I want to know all her whereabouts.�
�Right.� He walked to the stairwell and jogged to the bottom. He went outside and saw Jenai and Jakob at Jakob�s car. He walked across the street to his own and watched.
�I know how hard these things are for you,� Jakob said.
�Yeah,� Jenai said. �Callen was a sister to me after Brianna died. I basically lost two sisters. It�s like someone of a higher force is working against me or something.�
�Don�t be silly.�
�Maybe I should just stay away from people.�
�This ain�t your fault.� She just looked at him.
�Hey, Underwood,� came Christopher�s voice over the walkie-talkie.
�Yeah,� Jakob said.
�We just got a lead on that drug bust. Meet me at pier 19.�
�Alright; I�ll be there in ten.�
�Alright.�
�I�m sorry,� Jakob said to Jenai.
�It�s alright, because it�s your job,� Jenai said. �I can get a cab.�
�Are ya sure?�
�Mm-hmm. I�ll be fine.�
�Ok. Change that bandage too.� Jenai looked in the store window at her reflection and saw the bloodstain on the bandage. �Be careful.�
�You be careful.�
�Always.� He kissed her and got in his car. She watched him drive off and sighed.
�Shit.� She looked around and noticed everyone watching her. She spied Nickolas going back across the street from his car and she started crossing herself. She got halfway across when the heel on her shoe broke. �Damn it.� She bent down to take her shoe off and didn�t notice the car coming towards her. She didn�t notice anything until she was being thrown across the street. �Ahh!� A car sped off and Jenai looked at the person on top of her. �What are you doing?�
�Saving your life yet again.�
�I saved my own life the other day, Detective Carter.�
�Do you have a death wish?�
�Are you following me?�
�Why would you think such a thing?�
�Why don�t you get off me?� He grinned and slowly got up. He went to help her up and she pushed him away. �I can take care of myself.�
�Of course you can.� She stood up and dusted herself off. �Do you have a death wish?�
�You ripped my new skirt.�
�It could�ve been worse.�
�But it wouldn�t have been from you.�
�Just saving the Sergeant�s wife�s friend from sudden death.�
�Well she doesn�t need your help or any help.�
�Are you all right?�
�I�m fine.� She left out a disgusted sigh and Nickolas shook his head. He got a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped away the blood going down Jenai�s chest. She looked at his hand then at him. She put her hand on his and stopped him. They looked at each other, wanting to kiss, but didn�t. �I said I was fine.�
�Are ya sure?�
�Yeah.�
�Do you need a ride?�
�I can get a cab.�
�I don�t mind.�
�You have work.�
�Right.�
�Plus you have a girlfriend.� She moved his hand and took the handkerchief. �And you�re a cop. Excuse me.� He watched her walk away then walked to his car. He got in and watched her get in a cab then followed the cab.
CHAPTER 8
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