�I�m staying in L.A.,� Jenai rebutted.
�You�re going to Kentucky, Nick�s going with you, and this conversation is over,� Kevin stated.
�Why does Nick have to go?� Jenai questioned.
�Because he is. I don�t care if you like it or not. I�d send Jakob with you, but he has his own cases. I�d send Justin along, but you�d be unhappy the whole time. Nick�s going with because he�s the most qualified on this case.� She sighed and sat on her bed. �I know you don�t want him to go along, because of what�s happening to you, and I understand that.�
�I don�t mind going to Kentucky I just don�t want Nick to go with.�
�I understand, but he�s still going.�
�Why are you doing this to me? I don�t want to be near Nick let alone spend time with him. I want him to forget the way he feels about me and move on. Spending time in Kentucky with me isn�t going to do that.�
�Why is it such a bad thing if Nick cares about you?�
�Because he�s a cop.�
�That�s not a reason, Jenai.�
�Why can�t it be? It�s better than giving the real reason.�
�And what�s that?�
�Everyone I let get close to me end up dead.�
�Kris and I aren�t dead and neither is Jakob or Justin or Marty.�
�And it�s a miracle too.�
�Don�t do this to yourself, Jenai.� She started crying and Kevin sat next to her and hugged her.
�I just don�t want Nick to get hurt.�
�He�s very careful and very smart.�
�That doesn�t matter. I was careful and I was smart, but I was shot and almost died.�
�But you didn�t.�
�I should�ve though. You guys wouldn�t be in this mess right now if it wasn�t for me. If I didn�t go after that box we wouldn�t��
�You did it for Callen and that took guts. You knew the consequences, but you still did it for your friend.�
�And I was an idiot for doing so. I put everyone�s life in danger. I put your baby�s life in danger, Kevin. If Kris was hurt and you lost your baby I wouldn�t be able to forgive myself.�
�But she wasn�t hurt and the baby�s fine. We�re all fine.�
�For now.�
�For a long time.� She left him go and wiped her eyes. �Now get your things packed; your flight leaves in three hours.� She nodded. �I�m going to get this case solved and then you can come back. I�m not going to leave you back east for a year or whatever.�
�It�s my home.�
�This is your home and we�ll bring you back. I promise you that.�
�Don�t make promises you can�t keep.�
�I�m keeping this promise, Jenai.� She grinned. �Now get packed.�
�I wish Kris was coming with.�
�She�s going back to Alabama with her parents.�
�She�ll be safer there anyway.� Kevin nodded in agreement. �I wish I could be with her when she has the baby though.�
�You will be, because you�ll be in here.� He pointed to his heart and grinned.
�I�m going to pack.�
�And I�m going to go make some calls.� She nodded and he went upstairs.
�And I�ll do what I do best anymore�think of the worst that can happen and cry.� She got a suitcase out of the closet and put it on the bed, as someone walked downstairs. She looked and saw Nickolas standing there. Neither said anything and Jenai threw stuff in the suitcase. �I know you want to say something so say it.�
�I was just going to ask how you�re doing,� Nickolas said.
�Everything�s perfect,� Jenai said and he looked at her, as she sighed. �Someone�s trying to kill me again so how do you expect me to feel?�
�I didn�t come to fight.�
�I�m sorry. It�s just that having to pack up and leave is pissing me off. I have to go to Kentucky.�
�From the location it sounds like they won�t be able to find us.�
�Hopefully.�
�If ya don�t want me to go along I understand and I won�t go.�
�As much as I would love for you not to go, Kevin said you�re the only qualified one.� She looked at him. �So were going to have to put up with each other and try to get along during the time we�ll be having together.� He nodded and watched her go through the clothes in her closet.
�So how are you feeling?�
�A little better thanks.�
�I�m glad. I was worried last night.�
�There was no need to be. I think it was just the stomach flu. I�m fine now.�
�Ok.� She continued what she was doing and Nickolas walked over to her. She didn�t bother to look at him and he sighed. �Are you mad at me?�
�Why would I be?�
�Well ya hardly said two words to me since ya told me to get lost.�
�You�re a��
�If you say it�s because I�m a cop I swear to God, JJ.� She just looked at him and said nothing. �Why does it matter if I�m a cop or not?�
�I just don�t like cops or trust them.�
�Why not? We�re doing a pretty damn good job in protecting your ass.�
�You wouldn�t understand.�
�Try me.� She shook her head and started packing again, but Nickolas stopped her. �You trusted me once before, JJ, so trust me now.� He lifted her chin so she would look at him. �Why are you so afraid to let me in?�
�I ain�t afraid.�
�I�m not stupid so don�t lie.�
�I let people get close to me and they end up getting hurt.�
�You actually believe that?�
�Yes, because it�s true. Brianna�s dead, Alexis� dead, Callen�s dead, and only God knows who�s going to be next.�
�They didn�t die because you left them get close to you. If that was the case then everyone close to you would be dead. You�re not an angel of death, JJ. God just thought it was their time.� She shook her head. �We can�t choose when someone is going to die. It�s God�s choice.�
�I just don�t want anyone else to get hurt.�
�And no one is going to.�
�Why can�t this just be over?�
�It will be.� She just looked at him and he hugged her. �You have nothing to worry about.� She looked at him. �What?� She shook her head.
�Nothing.� She sighed. �I just thought that I had a memory of something, but it was nothing.�
�Ok. Then maybe you�� She put her finger on his lips for him to be quiet and then kissed him. It was what he was waiting for the past six months and he kissed her in return.
They started to really get into the kiss when they heard footsteps and Kristin�s voice, �JJ, I�m getting ready to leave.� Jenai quickly pushed Nickolas away and started fixing the clothes in the suitcase, as Kristin got to the bottom. �Hey.�
�Hey,� Jenai said. �You�re going already?�
�Yeah.�
�Ok.� She walked over to her. �When you have the baby you call me right away.�
�I will.� They hugged. �I�m going to miss you.�
�I�m going to miss you too.�
�It�s not going to be that long so don�t worry about anything. I just hope you and Nick can get along on your little vacation you�re going to be having.�
�It�s far from a vacation, Kris,� Nickolas said. �I�m going to be doing the same thing I did at the hotel; guarding JJ.�
�You can always make it a vacation,� Kristin said. �The cabin�s beautiful this time of year. It�ll make you forget all your problems and just relax you.�
�I�ll take your word,� Nickolas said.
�Kris, c�mon before you miss your flight!� Kevin yelled from upstairs.
�Coming!� Kristin yelled in return.
�You better get going,� Jenai said.
�Right,� Kristin said. �I�ll see you guys later.� They nodded and Kristin went back upstairs, as Jenai and Nickolas looked at each other.
CHAPTER 6
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