Closure Part 21
Authors note: I've been asked if I write anything else other than Siophie fic, and yes I do. I write Naomily fic at http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2216914/unknownstuntman.
Authors note 2: My proof reader, bless her, tolerates a lot from me, if you like this couple, check out her YT channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/spofmonster. In-between proof reading for me, she puts a lot of effort into them. Leave her some reviews if you feel like it. Ta ;) She has some great videos too.
Authors note 3: Not sure when I can update next week, but I'll try best.....
x-0-x
Friday was spent car shopping. I ended up with Gerry as company. Appreciating his easy going Irish nature and accent as we spent a day irritating car salesmen as we asked all sorts of stupid questions and took cars for a test drive. Only stopping for a pub lunch where, bless him, he delicately danced around the Sophie subject and I not so delicately admitted I didn’t really actually know what I was going to do, but Claire was right. Gerry had just winked at me and gripped my hand for a few seconds before changing the subject back to cars as he shovelled food into his mouth. See? That's what I loved the most about my team. They just knew me, they GOT me and knew me well enough to know when to stop pushing.
I fell in love in the afternoon. Not with the lovely saleswoman Sara (I think Gerry had his eye on her, his Irish charm went into overdrive), no, I fell head over heels with a metallic grey Nissan Quasqai. I think it was love at first sight (for me and Gerry). Sara the nice saleslady couldn't believe her luck with me. I was pretty much happy to buy it then and there, my job security as a copper giving me good credit, thank god I'd paid back the student loans I'd needed when I went to Lancaster, no loans, no real debt except for my flat rent. I'd managed to fall on my feet. Filling in the forms, my faithful old car would be taken off me and a nice new shiny metallic grey Quasqai would be mine when it was delivered.
I came away with loads of paperwork, Gerry came away with Sara's phone number. We were laughing all the way home as he dropped me off and gave me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before he offered the now obligatory shoulder to cry on if I needed it before dodging my hand as I tried to slap him.
Ignoring his playful ruffle of my fair hair, I dodged out of his beast of a truck and headed home, waving out of my window that I was home safe, laughing as Gerry finally left. I may be a copper and more than capable of handling myself, but the boys still treated me as a kid sister, even though Gerry was only three years older than me, and Dan was six years older than me.
Grabbing a bite to eat, I considered going to the Village for a few drinks, I was known well enough as a local by other locals and door staff and knew I’d have a good time even by myself, but checking my watch and feeling weary still, I ended up sprawled on the sofa watching shit TV and emailing my friends round the world to tell them of my new car, avoiding an update on the Sophie front with everyone but Ben.
Ben I always told everything to. Always had since the first day we met I guess. Eventually deciding to go out tomorrow night instead, I fell asleep on the sofa. Finally moving into my bed when I was woken up with a stiff neck at four am, only to fall asleep thinking about those fucking blue eyes again.
x-0-x
I was pretty grumpy when I woke up. My dreams had been insane. A mixture of pretty damned erotic involving almost every woman I’d been involved with, (not THAT many since Sophie, but enough, I'd not been a nun, lets leave it there.) Combined with those sort of dreams were the images of the me bursting into a house to save Sophie from a violent burglar which was intermingled with dreams of me being abandoned in a jail cell all alone.
So, I was grumpy. You'd be too if you were alternately turned on and horrified all in one night and woke up sweating and irritated with yourself.
Grabbing my trainers I fell back on my normal routine and went for a run, blowing the cobwebs and bad mood and feelings out of my system, before returning and grabbing a shower while my emails loaded up. Cup of coffee and bacon sandwich in hand, I sat down on the sofa with my laptop, spotting the email I wanted, a reply from Ben.
Opening the mail, I smiled as I saw a big beaming smile on a photo he sent me, sitting with a nice new shiny trophy he'd obviously won. Reading his answers to how his past week had been and generally chatting about his life and career plans for maybe returning the UK or maybe staying in the US, I got to the bottom of his email and his parting shot about Sophie. Talk to her. Just to talk to her and have it out once and for all, at least then I'd be able to finally box off the experience and forget about her.
I sat close to the little balcony I had in my front room, doors open, enjoying the sunshine, cup of coffee I hand. I'd been quiet and still for the afternoon, simply enjoying my down time and people watching the folk outside. Checking my watch, I finally made a move, realising it was getting late to be going out. Grabbing a bite to eat and getting ready, I headed off to the tram stop to make my way to the Village for a couple of quiet drinks.
x-0-x
I'd managed to grab my favourite seat in Vanilla. Sitting in a secluded corner close to the bar where I could watch all the comings and goings as women entered the lesbian club. Sipping my drink and listening to the banter of the bar staff as they play squabbled I relaxed as they made me join in for a while. I liked this place. Michelle had brought me here not long after I'd moved to Manchester, and I was a regular, knowing the staff and other regular visitors who came in, like me, to chill out and occasionally dance and maybe pull. I was happy enough to just come here and chill, knowing I could eye up any women in here and not have a pint thrown over my head. I'd been there for a while and was thinking of making a move to go home. I'd relaxed and enjoyed myself, dancing with a few women and even being given a couple of phone numbers. I just relaxed and chilled, and was pleasantly buzzed, watching and laughing at the antics of a few of the gay men who'd come in with their friends, showing off their dance moves.
I spotted them before they spotted me.
Moving my chair back further into the background where I was fully hidden by the shadows, there in my view was Katy with Ches, his ginger hair shining brightly under the lights, and behind them, Sophie....and some taller, short haired brunette...holding hands?
My eyebrows went up a few notches.
Well well, Katy had said I needed to talk to her myself. I took a drink from my glass and carried on watching them, even more surprised when the taller brunette started flirting with everyone in the place, and I mean EVERYONE. Lesbian, straight, male, female, she was pretty damned shameless. I was amused at her antics, and fair play to her, she was a pretty good dancer and wasn't too bad to look at. She got close to my table more than one time and I caught a glimpse of her stunning blue eyes as she went past. So. Sophie still had a thing for blue eyes. Looking at her watching her date dancing with everyone she didn't look pissed off (I would), in fact she looked sort of embarrassed and amused all at the same time. Katy and Ches also laughing at the flirty woman's antics.
I'd finished my drink and really wanted to make a move away from them, I'd been out for a few hours and had had a good night, I didn't want a scene. Waiting until they'd either gone to the toilets or their backs were turned, I couldn’t see Sophie's date, but I’d take my chances.
Waving goodbye to the bar staff, I made my way towards the exit, skipping past Katy and Ches without being spotted. I'd got to the door and was almost out when a sultry voice stopped me and a certain short haired brunette stepped in front of me.
“Well hello there, and how did I miss dancing with you?” I smiled at the brashness of the woman, pretty sure those vibrant blue eyes got their way often enough, with their devilish twinkle. Sophie letting her flirt and dance with everyone in sight proof of that obviously. Unable to help myself from smiling at the woman’s sheer cheek and boldness, I stepped back a little, giving myself some space.
“Maybe next time, when you're not with your girlfriend,” stepping around her I made the stupid mistake of looking up at the stairs to the toilets where Sophie was standing there watching us, her face unreadable.
“Sian?” The unreadable expression disappeared and even I could see the hope and joy, yeah joy in her eyes. “PC Powers...Sian... please. Stay for a drink with me. Please.”
Oh shit, I’d tried avoiding a scene, really I had, but when Sophie's girlfriend stepped back in front of me and started screeching “Sian? Sian? THAT Sian?” I saw the twinkle in those bright blue eyes turn hard and knew well enough to make a sharp exit before things turned nasty and I got thrown out of one of my favourite clubs.
“Yeah, I imagine I AM that Sian, so I'll just be going before things get ugly OK?” There were too many people around, too many people staring and it reminded me of university all over again, especially with Sophie, Ches and Katy being here.” Making my way out of the door, I turned and looked at Sophie's date “and everything she ever told you about me is probably wrong love, you don't know the half of it.”
And with that I managed to get out, past the door staff who gave me a sympathetic nod and getting a good few yards away from the entrance before leaning on the canal wall and taking deep breaths, staring down at the dark canal water, affected by the event more deeply than I thought I would be. The fact I’d had more than a few drinks clouding my thoughts.
“Sian......”
I looked to my right and yup, there was Sophie. I sighed, she must have followed me. “Sophie.”
“Are you....” she shuffled forward, stopping when I glared at her. “Are you OK?”
I turned and leaned my back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest. “Yeah, I'm fine. A bit amused your girlfriend was flirting with everyone” I shrugged, “but hey, you know. Shouldn't you be pissed with her or something? You know, watching her flirt with everyone?”
I was surprised when firstly Sophie burst out laughing and secondly, she came and leaned against the wall next to me. Ignoring my 'fuck off vibes'.
“My 'girlfriend' as you so sweetly put it is my sister Rosie. We're not like that in my family you know,” she curled the corner of her mouth into a half smile. “ I love her, but not THAT way PC Powers.” She fully smiled. “She's very supportive of me and loves causing havoc in the Village apparently.” She laughed, “I thought you were a good copper PC Powers.”
I didn't want to smile, I wanted to scowl and carry on bring angry, but my brain was laughing at me again telling me life was too short and I ended up smiling at my ex lover instead. Shrugging my shoulders affably at her I replied. “Well, you DID walk in together holding hands and stuff you know. Ches and Katy there like a double date. It's a decent assumption.” I sighed. “I'm off duty Sophie, call me Sian alright?”
“You know what they say about assuming things. Makes an ass of you and me...” she smiled before looking at me again. “Please come and have a drink with me. Talk to me Sian, you need to know some things about that time.” She paused and copied my stance, arms crossed over her chest before she continued, her voice quieter but thick with emotion. “I've missed you so much.” Taking a sly look at her, I saw her playing with her wrist and sure enough, Katy was right, the bracelet I'd bought her for our first (and only) Christmas together was sitting there on her wrist. She was twisting it around, playing with the links. I threw my head back and looked at the stars, and finally made the right decision and stopped being an arsehole, even though part of me still wanted to tell her to fuck off.
“OK.”
I really could have made a habit of laughing at her facial expressions. This one cycled through expected disappointment, self loathing (I think), shock and finally, utter utter joy. I gave a gentle smile at the final look, realising one simple word from me had placed that look there, and my next one would probably destroy it...
“But...” I watched her face crumple, “Sophie, you're friends with a witness to a case I’m involved with. I'm Katy's liaison officer. We will have a chat, I promise, but it'll have to wait until after the case alright? I looked at her, willing her to understand I couldn't let our much needed talk jeopardise locking up a complete nasty bastard and getting him off the streets. Since joining the force I’d learnt to sacrifice certain things and this would be another one, but hopefully not for long.
She nodded at me, returning my small smile, “well, you know where I live and I have your number, so I guess we won't be disappearing any time soon?” I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“No, I won't disappear Sophie, I'll be in touch OK? I promise. I need closure on a lot of things, I guess you do to so we can both move on.” I watched her face crumple. Oh for fucks sake what had I said now? I looked up to see her sister hovering close by, giving me uncertain looks. “Look, I'm tired, I'm off home, I'll leave you and your sister to have fun tonight, I'll be in touch, I promise.” I eyed Rosie up, she didn't look particularly friendly towards me, but hey, I'd dealt with Lee before I’d even become a copper, so I wasn't too worried now I knew who she was.
“Give me your phone.” I raised an eyebrow at the command, but did as I was told. Sophie fiddled with it for a minute before handing it back to me. “There, now you can at least maybe text me?” she looked down, before looking back up again. “If you want to.”
Smiling, I managed to restrain myself from touching her (just) and headed off home, texting Ben on my way to catch the tram to let him have an update. Fucking hell, I hoped I didn't disappoint him. It was a start.
A small one, but a start none the less.
Authors note 2: My proof reader, bless her, tolerates a lot from me, if you like this couple, check out her YT channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/spofmonster. In-between proof reading for me, she puts a lot of effort into them. Leave her some reviews if you feel like it. Ta ;) She has some great videos too.
Authors note 3: Not sure when I can update next week, but I'll try best.....
x-0-x
Friday was spent car shopping. I ended up with Gerry as company. Appreciating his easy going Irish nature and accent as we spent a day irritating car salesmen as we asked all sorts of stupid questions and took cars for a test drive. Only stopping for a pub lunch where, bless him, he delicately danced around the Sophie subject and I not so delicately admitted I didn’t really actually know what I was going to do, but Claire was right. Gerry had just winked at me and gripped my hand for a few seconds before changing the subject back to cars as he shovelled food into his mouth. See? That's what I loved the most about my team. They just knew me, they GOT me and knew me well enough to know when to stop pushing.
I fell in love in the afternoon. Not with the lovely saleswoman Sara (I think Gerry had his eye on her, his Irish charm went into overdrive), no, I fell head over heels with a metallic grey Nissan Quasqai. I think it was love at first sight (for me and Gerry). Sara the nice saleslady couldn't believe her luck with me. I was pretty much happy to buy it then and there, my job security as a copper giving me good credit, thank god I'd paid back the student loans I'd needed when I went to Lancaster, no loans, no real debt except for my flat rent. I'd managed to fall on my feet. Filling in the forms, my faithful old car would be taken off me and a nice new shiny metallic grey Quasqai would be mine when it was delivered.
I came away with loads of paperwork, Gerry came away with Sara's phone number. We were laughing all the way home as he dropped me off and gave me a quick hug and kiss on the cheek before he offered the now obligatory shoulder to cry on if I needed it before dodging my hand as I tried to slap him.
Ignoring his playful ruffle of my fair hair, I dodged out of his beast of a truck and headed home, waving out of my window that I was home safe, laughing as Gerry finally left. I may be a copper and more than capable of handling myself, but the boys still treated me as a kid sister, even though Gerry was only three years older than me, and Dan was six years older than me.
Grabbing a bite to eat, I considered going to the Village for a few drinks, I was known well enough as a local by other locals and door staff and knew I’d have a good time even by myself, but checking my watch and feeling weary still, I ended up sprawled on the sofa watching shit TV and emailing my friends round the world to tell them of my new car, avoiding an update on the Sophie front with everyone but Ben.
Ben I always told everything to. Always had since the first day we met I guess. Eventually deciding to go out tomorrow night instead, I fell asleep on the sofa. Finally moving into my bed when I was woken up with a stiff neck at four am, only to fall asleep thinking about those fucking blue eyes again.
x-0-x
I was pretty grumpy when I woke up. My dreams had been insane. A mixture of pretty damned erotic involving almost every woman I’d been involved with, (not THAT many since Sophie, but enough, I'd not been a nun, lets leave it there.) Combined with those sort of dreams were the images of the me bursting into a house to save Sophie from a violent burglar which was intermingled with dreams of me being abandoned in a jail cell all alone.
So, I was grumpy. You'd be too if you were alternately turned on and horrified all in one night and woke up sweating and irritated with yourself.
Grabbing my trainers I fell back on my normal routine and went for a run, blowing the cobwebs and bad mood and feelings out of my system, before returning and grabbing a shower while my emails loaded up. Cup of coffee and bacon sandwich in hand, I sat down on the sofa with my laptop, spotting the email I wanted, a reply from Ben.
Opening the mail, I smiled as I saw a big beaming smile on a photo he sent me, sitting with a nice new shiny trophy he'd obviously won. Reading his answers to how his past week had been and generally chatting about his life and career plans for maybe returning the UK or maybe staying in the US, I got to the bottom of his email and his parting shot about Sophie. Talk to her. Just to talk to her and have it out once and for all, at least then I'd be able to finally box off the experience and forget about her.
I sat close to the little balcony I had in my front room, doors open, enjoying the sunshine, cup of coffee I hand. I'd been quiet and still for the afternoon, simply enjoying my down time and people watching the folk outside. Checking my watch, I finally made a move, realising it was getting late to be going out. Grabbing a bite to eat and getting ready, I headed off to the tram stop to make my way to the Village for a couple of quiet drinks.
x-0-x
I'd managed to grab my favourite seat in Vanilla. Sitting in a secluded corner close to the bar where I could watch all the comings and goings as women entered the lesbian club. Sipping my drink and listening to the banter of the bar staff as they play squabbled I relaxed as they made me join in for a while. I liked this place. Michelle had brought me here not long after I'd moved to Manchester, and I was a regular, knowing the staff and other regular visitors who came in, like me, to chill out and occasionally dance and maybe pull. I was happy enough to just come here and chill, knowing I could eye up any women in here and not have a pint thrown over my head. I'd been there for a while and was thinking of making a move to go home. I'd relaxed and enjoyed myself, dancing with a few women and even being given a couple of phone numbers. I just relaxed and chilled, and was pleasantly buzzed, watching and laughing at the antics of a few of the gay men who'd come in with their friends, showing off their dance moves.
I spotted them before they spotted me.
Moving my chair back further into the background where I was fully hidden by the shadows, there in my view was Katy with Ches, his ginger hair shining brightly under the lights, and behind them, Sophie....and some taller, short haired brunette...holding hands?
My eyebrows went up a few notches.
Well well, Katy had said I needed to talk to her myself. I took a drink from my glass and carried on watching them, even more surprised when the taller brunette started flirting with everyone in the place, and I mean EVERYONE. Lesbian, straight, male, female, she was pretty damned shameless. I was amused at her antics, and fair play to her, she was a pretty good dancer and wasn't too bad to look at. She got close to my table more than one time and I caught a glimpse of her stunning blue eyes as she went past. So. Sophie still had a thing for blue eyes. Looking at her watching her date dancing with everyone she didn't look pissed off (I would), in fact she looked sort of embarrassed and amused all at the same time. Katy and Ches also laughing at the flirty woman's antics.
I'd finished my drink and really wanted to make a move away from them, I'd been out for a few hours and had had a good night, I didn't want a scene. Waiting until they'd either gone to the toilets or their backs were turned, I couldn’t see Sophie's date, but I’d take my chances.
Waving goodbye to the bar staff, I made my way towards the exit, skipping past Katy and Ches without being spotted. I'd got to the door and was almost out when a sultry voice stopped me and a certain short haired brunette stepped in front of me.
“Well hello there, and how did I miss dancing with you?” I smiled at the brashness of the woman, pretty sure those vibrant blue eyes got their way often enough, with their devilish twinkle. Sophie letting her flirt and dance with everyone in sight proof of that obviously. Unable to help myself from smiling at the woman’s sheer cheek and boldness, I stepped back a little, giving myself some space.
“Maybe next time, when you're not with your girlfriend,” stepping around her I made the stupid mistake of looking up at the stairs to the toilets where Sophie was standing there watching us, her face unreadable.
“Sian?” The unreadable expression disappeared and even I could see the hope and joy, yeah joy in her eyes. “PC Powers...Sian... please. Stay for a drink with me. Please.”
Oh shit, I’d tried avoiding a scene, really I had, but when Sophie's girlfriend stepped back in front of me and started screeching “Sian? Sian? THAT Sian?” I saw the twinkle in those bright blue eyes turn hard and knew well enough to make a sharp exit before things turned nasty and I got thrown out of one of my favourite clubs.
“Yeah, I imagine I AM that Sian, so I'll just be going before things get ugly OK?” There were too many people around, too many people staring and it reminded me of university all over again, especially with Sophie, Ches and Katy being here.” Making my way out of the door, I turned and looked at Sophie's date “and everything she ever told you about me is probably wrong love, you don't know the half of it.”
And with that I managed to get out, past the door staff who gave me a sympathetic nod and getting a good few yards away from the entrance before leaning on the canal wall and taking deep breaths, staring down at the dark canal water, affected by the event more deeply than I thought I would be. The fact I’d had more than a few drinks clouding my thoughts.
“Sian......”
I looked to my right and yup, there was Sophie. I sighed, she must have followed me. “Sophie.”
“Are you....” she shuffled forward, stopping when I glared at her. “Are you OK?”
I turned and leaned my back against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest. “Yeah, I'm fine. A bit amused your girlfriend was flirting with everyone” I shrugged, “but hey, you know. Shouldn't you be pissed with her or something? You know, watching her flirt with everyone?”
I was surprised when firstly Sophie burst out laughing and secondly, she came and leaned against the wall next to me. Ignoring my 'fuck off vibes'.
“My 'girlfriend' as you so sweetly put it is my sister Rosie. We're not like that in my family you know,” she curled the corner of her mouth into a half smile. “ I love her, but not THAT way PC Powers.” She fully smiled. “She's very supportive of me and loves causing havoc in the Village apparently.” She laughed, “I thought you were a good copper PC Powers.”
I didn't want to smile, I wanted to scowl and carry on bring angry, but my brain was laughing at me again telling me life was too short and I ended up smiling at my ex lover instead. Shrugging my shoulders affably at her I replied. “Well, you DID walk in together holding hands and stuff you know. Ches and Katy there like a double date. It's a decent assumption.” I sighed. “I'm off duty Sophie, call me Sian alright?”
“You know what they say about assuming things. Makes an ass of you and me...” she smiled before looking at me again. “Please come and have a drink with me. Talk to me Sian, you need to know some things about that time.” She paused and copied my stance, arms crossed over her chest before she continued, her voice quieter but thick with emotion. “I've missed you so much.” Taking a sly look at her, I saw her playing with her wrist and sure enough, Katy was right, the bracelet I'd bought her for our first (and only) Christmas together was sitting there on her wrist. She was twisting it around, playing with the links. I threw my head back and looked at the stars, and finally made the right decision and stopped being an arsehole, even though part of me still wanted to tell her to fuck off.
“OK.”
I really could have made a habit of laughing at her facial expressions. This one cycled through expected disappointment, self loathing (I think), shock and finally, utter utter joy. I gave a gentle smile at the final look, realising one simple word from me had placed that look there, and my next one would probably destroy it...
“But...” I watched her face crumple, “Sophie, you're friends with a witness to a case I’m involved with. I'm Katy's liaison officer. We will have a chat, I promise, but it'll have to wait until after the case alright? I looked at her, willing her to understand I couldn't let our much needed talk jeopardise locking up a complete nasty bastard and getting him off the streets. Since joining the force I’d learnt to sacrifice certain things and this would be another one, but hopefully not for long.
She nodded at me, returning my small smile, “well, you know where I live and I have your number, so I guess we won't be disappearing any time soon?” I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“No, I won't disappear Sophie, I'll be in touch OK? I promise. I need closure on a lot of things, I guess you do to so we can both move on.” I watched her face crumple. Oh for fucks sake what had I said now? I looked up to see her sister hovering close by, giving me uncertain looks. “Look, I'm tired, I'm off home, I'll leave you and your sister to have fun tonight, I'll be in touch, I promise.” I eyed Rosie up, she didn't look particularly friendly towards me, but hey, I'd dealt with Lee before I’d even become a copper, so I wasn't too worried now I knew who she was.
“Give me your phone.” I raised an eyebrow at the command, but did as I was told. Sophie fiddled with it for a minute before handing it back to me. “There, now you can at least maybe text me?” she looked down, before looking back up again. “If you want to.”
Smiling, I managed to restrain myself from touching her (just) and headed off home, texting Ben on my way to catch the tram to let him have an update. Fucking hell, I hoped I didn't disappoint him. It was a start.
A small one, but a start none the less.