Wordz Press

11 a.m.
Sarah was a wreck by the time she was debriefed and released to go home. Driving Sarah's Jeep, Lena chauffeured her there, another officer following in Lena's SUV. They hadn't wanted Sarah driving and that was fine with her.

They arrived and Lena parked against the curb, turning to Sarah as she killed the Jeep's engine. She spoke softly. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather come out to my place?" "We can have dinner, sit on the deck. You might not want to be alone tonight, you know...."

Sarah pushed a hand through her hair. It felt as tangled and confused as her emotions. "I'm okay, Lena. Really. It was...it was scary but I'll be okay. You don't need to baby-sit me."

"Now that sounds like something I'd say...."

Sarah smiled wanly. "I'll consider that a compliment."

"You should." Lena smiled broadly. "You did a great job in there, Sarah. You really kept your cool. I'm proud of you." She hesitated, then asked, "Are you going to call the guy who was in the bank with you? Ray?"

Being on the team was more than just a job they were a family and Lena knew Sarah's history. Nobody's private life was actually private.

"I don't know," Sarah answered. "I thought we might get together again...then he was gone. I guess that pretty much tells me everything I need to know."

"Don't count on it," Lena cautioned. "You can't read someone else's mind, no matter how close you are."

"Maybe so," Sarah agreed reluctantly, "but we shared more than words back there at the bank, Lena. We connected. Ray explained everything that happened back when we were dating, and then we...well, we got to know each other again. I thought..." She let her words die slowly, her hopes going with them.

Lena reached across the seat and patted her arm. "Don't give up," she said. "You might be surprised by how things turn out."

"That might be true. I learned one thing from this experience, that's for sure, something valuable."

Lena's gray eyes turned curious. "What's that?"

Sarah took a deep breath. "I learned what teamwork means. Until today, I hadn't understood. We're all important, whether we break down the door or sit at a desk and get information."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you all along."

"I know that now," Sarah said.

"Well, it was a hard way to learn the lesson," Lena smiled, "but I'm glad you feel good about it now." She paused. "And don't worry about Ray, either. It'll all work out like it's supposed to. It always does."

Sarah went inside and shut her door behind her, sliding to the floor in a heap. All alone, she let the tears flow.

Lena was an incredibly smart and unbelievably strong woman, but this time she didn't know what she was talking about. Things weren't going to work out right this time.

Not for Sarah and Ray.