The Killing Ground

calming down. Fortunately, the bullet had gone straight through her abdomen and missed all her organs.

Richard Hudson was dead. A single gunshot to the head. Once Rick realized that he was going to shoot Rebecca, he had fired without even thinking. It was only the dark and Richard’s poor aim that had kept the bullet from penetrating her heart or some other organ and possibly killing her. Jordan was furious at them for following a lead without them.

Her anger had turned to concern when she saw Rebecca. Her face was incredibly pale, and even in repose, Jordan could tell she was in pain. Jordan hadn’t left the room except to shower for the three days that Rebecca had been there, needing to be there when she woke up.

She was exhausted and not even sure if Rebecca would be happy to see her when she woke up. She wasn’t certain where they stood anymore. Rebecca had told her she couldn’t do the relationship thing. She was too distracting. Then she had held her hand and Jordan thought everything was okay. But then after their disastrous meeting with Meghan Mercer, things had gone south again.

Confusion was the order of the day, and Jordan had had three full helpings. Even when she woke up, they probably wouldn’t be discussing the subject anyway. That is if Rebecca didn’t kick her out of the room when she saw her.

“Hey kid, how’s she doing?”

Rick’s soft voice broke through the silence, and Jordan shot him a weary smile. “Same as earlier.”

Rick squeezed her shoulder. “She’s going to be okay, you know?”

“Yeah, I know.” Jordan rolled her shoulders. She was tired and sore from being curled up in that chair for seventy-two hours.

“Listen, why don’t you take a break? I’ll keep an eye on her.” Rick nodded towards the door. “Besides, there is someone outside that wants to talk to you.”

Jordan’s brow knitted in confusion. “Who would be here?”

“Matt.” Rick bent over her. “I don’t think he feels comfortable coming in here, but he wanted to come by and check on Rebecca. Make sure she was okay, and I think check on you.”

“Oh.” Jordan swallowed. Things between her partner and her still weren’t great. His feelings for Rebecca were stronger than Jordan had known, and the fact that she had started a relationship with Rebecca stung his ego a little bit. It would take a while, but she knew in time, things would get back to normal. For now, she would just tread lightly.

She ran a hand through her unruly hair and pushed herself out of the chair, sighing loudly.

Rick cupped her elbow. “Don’t worry too much. Pretty soon this will all just be a bad memory. The important thing is we finally got the right guy.”

Jordan nodded, her eyes flicking to Rebecca and resting on her face. “But at what cost?”

Rick opened his mouth to reply, but Jordan stopped him. “I know, I know.”

Matt turned at the sound of Jordan’s footfalls, a tentative smile breaking out on his face. “Hey, Jordie.”

Jordan shot him a grateful smile. “Hey, yourself.”

Matt shuffled nervously. “How is she?”

“Oh, you know.” Jordan shrugged. “Still unconscious but stable.”

“Rick said she got lucky.” Matt met Jordan’s gaze. “How are you holding up?”

Jordan’s breath caught in her throat. No matter what, Matt was like a brother to her, and when things got tough, he genuinely cared about her well-being. “I’m alright. Anxious and worried.”

“I figured.” Matt nodded towards the door. “Let’s get some coffee. You look like you could use it.”

“You saying I look tired?” Jordan asked.

“Nah.” Matt smirked. “I’m saying you look like shit.”

Jordan punched him in the arm. “Thanks, dude. Way to kick me when I’m down.”

Matt chuckled softly. “You can take it.”

“Probably.” Jordan fell in step with Matt, and they walked to the waiting room and stopped at the vending machine.

He slid a dollar into the machine and punched several buttons. He waited while the machine dispensed a Styrofoam cup, filled it with hot liquid and opened the door for retrieval. He handed Jordan the first cup and bought a second for himself.

“Thanks.” Jordan blew on her cup and took a tentative first drink. “So, did you talk to Mitchell?”

“Yeah.” Matt sat in one of the chairs, and Jordan sank down beside him. “Until Stein is convicted and put away, she’s still worried. Especially after catching the wrong guy.”

“I’m sure she’s just worried about Julie. That somehow he’ll try to come after her.”

“Hell, can you blame her?” Matt stared at his cup. “I don’t think Mitchell’s let her out of the house for months without being attached at the hip.”

“Maybe now they can finally get back to normal.”

“She said she is going to push for a quick trial and conviction.”

“What Mitchell wants, Mitchell gets.” Jordan said softly. “In this case, I think she deserves it.”

“She’s not going to let anyone mess up the investigation or the trial.” Matt nodded down the hall. “Rick says he’s handling it, but Mitchell wants us on his ass twenty-four, seven. She doesn’t want any mistakes.”

Jordan nodded. “No, I know. I just need to make sure Rebecca’s okay. Maybe you could play detective with Rick for a while. I know that’s asking a lot, but I’m not there right now.” She tapped her temple. “In here, until I know she’s out of the woods, I can’t focus on anything else.”

“Yeah, I’m on it.” Matt crumpled his empty cup and stood up with a groan. “And whatever is going on with you guys, fix it. She’s good for you.”

“You think?” Jordan stretched her arms over her head and looked up at Matt. “So, are we good?”

Matt met her gaze and held it, obviously thinking over her question. He was quiet for so long that Jordan worried what he might say. Finally, a smile broke out on his face. “Yeah, yeah, we’ll be okay.”

Jordan watched him walk out of the waiting room and smiled at his retreating form.

She knew that whatever happened, they were good and Matty would always have her back.

“Jordan.” Rick’s voice broke through the silence. “She’s awake.”

Jordan shot out of the chair and practically ran to Rebecca’s room. She took a tentative step into the room and felt Rebecca’s emerald green gaze boring through her. She stood paralyzed, trying to find her voice.

Sensing her insecurity, Rick pulled her towards Rebecca’s bedside and stepped back behind her. He pointed to Jordan and mouthed so only Rebecca could see. “Talk to her.”

He left the room silently, and Jordan laughed nervously. “Hi.”

Rebecca swallowed, and when she spoke, her voice was weak and raspy. “Hi.”

“How are you?” Jordan couldn’t hold her gaze, and she stared at her feet. “I mean, do you hurt? Can I get you anything?”

“Jordan.” Rebecca’s voice penetrated Jordan’s tough exterior and coursed through her veins like healing balm. “Sit down.”

Jordan slid into the chair silently and took her hand, caressing her palm with her thumb. Her eyes drank in Rebecca’s face hungrily. Despite her pallor, Jordan thought she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. “I’m sorry.”

“For?” Rebecca’s eyebrows knitted in confusion.

“For not telling you about Meghan, for not being there to save you.” Jordan smiled ruefully. “I fucked up royally, and I messed us up.”

“That doesn’t matter anymore. It’s the past.” Rebecca shook her head. “And it’s my fault. I didn’t call in backup.”

“Why?” Jordan narrowed her eyes questioningly.

Rebecca shrugged. “I’m stubborn and selfish. At least, that’s what Jonesy calls it. Apparently, I have a habit of doing what’s right for me and not considering anyone else’s feelings. It’s that way with work. In my relationships. That’s why I pushed you away. I push everyone away. I don’t want to do that anymore. I don’t want to push you away. I need you in my life. You ground me. I was wrong. When I’m with you, I’m not distracted. It’s when I’m away from you that I can’t think. I can’t function.”

“Stop.” Jordan put a finger to Rebecca’s lips. “You’re being too hard…on the woman I love.”

Rebecca’s eyes locked onto Jordan's, and she smiled shyly. “You love me?”