“Mind and Heart; Body and Soul”

by Kazroo

Part 5

"TGIF"

Jane's eyes were beginning to glaze over. For a week, she and Sam had been stuck behind their desks, staring at the computer screens, and doing paperwork or research for other detectives.

"Hey, you still with me?" Sam asked to bring Jane out of her brain freeze.

Without moving or looking up, she answered, "Yeah."

"You know it's Friday, right?"

Still without moving, Jane's lips curled into a smile. She shifted her eyes up until she met Sam's eyes.

"Oh, I know that smile. You need to get away from that screen before any more brain cells melt."

"Sam."

"I'm serious. You've got that 'look'."

"What 'look' is that?"

"The 'computer overload' look. You've spent five straight days glued to that screen. You need this weekend."

"Weekend, oh, I love that word."

Jane smiled even wider, and looked off into space.

"Now that smile, I don't want to know what that means."

"I'm just glad to have a couple of days where the word 'desk' isn't involved. It's been a long week."

"Only one more to go."

"You had to mention that?" Jane responded, her smile now half of what it had been.

John had spent the first two days of the week waiting for Jane in her apartment. The second day, Nicky wasn't there to supervise, and Jane came home to find the ever-curious John had left the refrigerator door open, left a faucet on, and had taken the laces out of some of Jane's shoes. After cleaning the consequences, Jane had been too tired for anything else.

Jane made it to her room, intending to change for bed, but the bed called to her, and she just melted back into it. John soon followed, looking for where she was.

"Jane?"

"Sorry, John. This desk job just puts me to sleep. I wish I felt more awake."

John snuggled up next to Jane, prompting a warm, sleepy smile on her face that she made sure John saw.

"Thank-you."

"For what?"

"For being so sweet."

John was just glad to have her near, but he wasn't tired.

The next two days, John moved from building to building, roaming his urban jungle. The city was more quiet and courteous than normal. No one needed his help.

The first night of these two, John headed to Jane's apartment at sundown. He slipped through the window into Jane's bedroom. He approached the bed where Jane was laying, and looked down at her. She was already asleep. Disappointed, John sat on her bed for a while, hoping she'd wake. When she didn't, John headed off to his jungle room, and restlessly spent the night taking in the sights and smells of the city from the terrace outside his garden.

On the second night, he arrived before sundown, hoping that Jane wouldn't be asleep yet. As usual, he entered through Jane's bedroom window. The door between Jane's room and the rest of the house was closed, and as John approached the door, he heard five or six voices, all female. Hoping to find Jane home already and among them, he ventured into the hall, and spotted Nicky in the kitchen.

"Hi, John. Jane's not home yet. You wanna join us?"

"What are you doing?"

"We're taking a pizza break from studying - you want a piece?"

Nicky thrust a slice toward John. He sniffed it and recoiled, the look on his face saying it all.

"Not your thing - I get it."

"Nicky, I was looking…" was all one of her friends got out upon entering the room before noticing John there.

"Well, well, never mind what I was looking for…Hi I'm -"

"Knock it off. He's here to see my sister - you know - the cop."

Nicky left the kitchen thinking she had stopped her friend from the train of thought she was on. She watched Nicky get out of sight, and turned her attentions back to John.

"Hi," she said seductively, which was totally lost on John.

"Hello," John replied innocently.

She moved closer. As she reached John, she put her hands on his chest. John retreated, trying to keep some space between them, until a wall stopped his progress. She got closer still. John knew he shouldn't hurt her, but he was feeling trapped. He put his hands up defensively. His eyes were as wide as saucers, and his mouth was slightly open. She was touching him, and talking to him in that same seductive tone.

"I wouldn't mind a walk on the wild side, if you know what I mean," she said, stroking a finger down the front of John's shirt.

John didn't understand, in fact he was scared. He slowly sidestepped, sliding against the wall, but she cut off his retreat and put her hand on his biceps, pinning him against the wall.

The apartment door opened, and John heard Jane greet Nicky and the rest of her friends who were quizzing each other and answering with mouths full of pizza and highly caffeine filled beverages.

"Jane!" John yelled out.

Jane quickly made the turn into the kitchen, and saw the girl with her claws out. She stepped back and aside when Jane entered the room, and John moved quickly to Jane and held her tight. As Nicky's friend passed by John to rejoin the group, he leaned away from her. Jane felt him shifting.

"Is everything OK?"

"She's scary."

Jane pulled back and looked at John.

'What did she do?"

"She would not let me leave, and she kept touching me, saying things."

"Yeah, I know her type, John. You're right - she is scary. Would you like to go to my room?"

"Yes."

John began to head for Jane's room.

"You're not coming?"

"In a minute, I need to talk to Nicky."

"OK."

Jane peeked into the room with Nicky, and signaled for her to come into the kitchen.

"I know I didn't ask, but Megan was going to let us study at her place, but it's being tented and sprayed for bugs, so we needed a place."

"Is Megan the little claw monster I just had to save John from?"

"I told her to leave him alone."

"Well, she didn't - I'm wondering if you might want to check her 'bug' story. Now I've gotta use what little energy I've got left un-scaring John."

"I'll get them out as soon as possible. I'm sorry. Tell John I'm sorry?"

"Sure. Thanks. It's not your fault."

Jane got to her bedroom to find Megan hovering, about to turn the knob.

"May I help you," Jane asked.

"I was looking for the bathroom."

"Back to your left."

"Oh."

Once in her room, Jane said, "God help the one she catches."

A nervous John awaited. Soon after Jane entered the room, John attached himself to her, and exhaled deeply, the warmth of his breath carrying to her neck.

"I missed you," John announced into Jane's hair. He began to kiss her neck.

"Oh, John, I missed you too, but I'm too tired. I know what I said, but desk duty is exhausting. I don't know why since you don't get to do anything, but it is. Will you just hold me again tonight?"

John unwrapped himself from Jane, planted himself on the bed, smiled broadly, and pounded his palm on the mattress as an invitation. Jane locked her bedroom door, took off her badge, unloaded her gun, and sat on the edge of the bed to remove her shoes. As she rolled back onto the bed, John's arms enveloped Jane.

"Jane?"

"Yes, John?"

"What was she doing? Nicky's friend."

"She liked you, and she was trying to find out if you were interested."

"But I have you."

"Maybe she didn't know that."

"Nicky told her."

"Well, some…people…won't accept that someone is taken. Some don't care if someone is taken, and sometimes they like someone for the wrong reasons."

"Like what?"

"Well, it's hard to explain. How did you know I was the one you wanted?"

"Your smell," John said sniffing Jane from shoulder to hairline. She could feel the tip of his nose drag lightly up her heck, and it sent a tingle down her spine. John felt the shiver in Jane, and he smiled. He drew the hair back from her face, and looked into her eyes.

"You are tired. Sleep now. I'll keep you safe."

John's sweet, reassuring tones, and just feeling his body warmth were enough, and Jane soon fell deep asleep.

Back to Friday in the police station…

Jane's far away smile returned.

"This week has been a killer. It's hard to believe it's Friday already, but I'm so glad."

"Didn't we just cover that topic?"

"Like you said, Sam, desk duty kills brain cells, and put the rest to sleep."

"How's John been doing?"

"Keeping a low profile."

"That's good, right?"

"Well, good for the city, and good for John, not so good for my apartment."

"Why hasn't he been in that jungle-like room at Kathleen Clayton's?"

"For the last few days, he has been. He started out at my apartment because he wanted to be there when I got home. It wasn't the best idea."

"So, you and John have any weekend plans?"

"John and I had weekday plans, but I kept falling asleep."

"That's not good."

"Tell me about it. But it's the weekend now, and I'm not wasting it," Jane commented, getting up from her desk.

"See you Monday then?"

"Yeah, but I still have to see Dr. Maloney in the morning."

They both got their coats and headed out for their weekends.

On the drive from work, Jane recalled her morning conversation with John.

"So, you'll be at Kathleen's this afternoon?"

"Yes. You'll come?"

"Absolutely."

John smiled, and kept beaming at Jane. He was irresistible with that look on his face. Jane gave him a quick kiss.

"See you this afternoon."