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Ben’s nose woke before the rest of him, taking in the soft scent of Rachel’s hair. They had eaten their pizza and cuddled back up in the guestroom bed together. They made love again and fell asleep cuddled up to each other. Ben had only meant to nap, but snuggled up to Rachel, he slept more soundly that he had intended. He took in another deep breath before forcing himself to open his eyes. He knew that when he woke, he would have to leave, he didn’t want to let go of Rachel whose head rested on his shoulder. He opened his eyes, surprised that see that the sun was up, he had accidentally stayed the entire night. Looking down at Rachel sleeping so peacefully, he didn’t want to wake her but he had to leave. The last thing either of them wanted was for one of Rachel’s sons to walk in.

He kissed the top of her head and then shook her gently.

“Rachel, honey, please wake up, I have to leave.”

She roused slowly, and Ben found it endearing. There was a look panic when she realized it was morning.

“The boys!”

“Don’t worry, I think we are up before them, the house is quiet.”

“You have to go. I don’t want them to see us in bed together.”

Rachel shot up out of bed wrapping the blanket around her, covering her body, before she got up and walked out of the room. Ben hated having to end what had been one of the best nights of his life. He got up, fetching his clothing that had been strewn on the floor. Ben had hung his gun holster over the back of the one of chairs next to the cello. He walked over to grab the rest of his clothing and noticed the gun was missing from the holster. With his shirt still unbuttoned he raced out of the bedroom knowing, that one of Rachel’s boys must have had it. Ben ran through the house past Rachel, who was now in a bathrobe, on her way back to the guest room.

“Ben, what’s wrong?”

Ben raced up the stairs and Rachel followed knowing something had to be wrong.

“Ben what?”

He walked into Luke’s room as he saw the boy duck and hide on the other side of the twin bed. Rachel walked in behind him.

“Ben, what is going on?”

“Luke, did you play my gun this morning?”

The boy’s blond curls ducked lower so only the very tips of the curls could be seen. Rachel let out an audible gasp.

“Lukas Alexander Lawson, you answer Mr Carter right this minute!”

The little boy stood up, his shoulders slumped as tears streamed down his face. He nodded in acknowledgement that he had taken the weapon. The older two boys hearing the commotion had walked in to see what was going on.

“Luke where did you put it, just point, I don’t want you to touch it.”

The little boy pointed sheepishly to the dresser.

“It is in the dresser?”

“What? Luke took Mr Carter’s gun, no way!” Evan, Rachel’s middle son blurted out.

Rachel turned and looked at Evan who instantly went quiet.

“Lukas tell Mr Carter where it is right now.”

“I put it in the last one, on the bottom.” The boy said, now crying.

Ben pulled the drawer open. On top of a green, dinosaur t-shirt his gun sat. He picked it up, making sure the safety was still on. He let out a deep breath.

“Whoah,” Tommy said, “How did Luke get Mr. Carter’s gun? Did you go to his house?”

“Boys, downstairs now,” Rachel said sternly.

The two older boys did as they were told, knowing their mother meant what was said. Rachel walked over to Luke and picked up the little boy who was now red in the face from being so upset. Ben walked over too.

“We need to talk about this. Luke, what you did was incredibly dangerous.” Ben stopped he didn’t want to overstep, Luke was Rachel’s son.

“Lukas Alexander, you know not to touch things that do not belong to you. Even more, you know guns are completely off limits!” There was anger in Rachel’s voice.

“Daddy lets me.”

“Daddy lets you what?” Rachel asked.

“He lets me hold his gun. I just wanted to see Mr Cater’s gun. I’m sorry mommy.” The little boy began to cry again as he hid his face in his mother’s shoulder.

Ben reached out and touched the top of his head. Luke turned and looked at Ben.

“Lukas, I want you to promise me you will never ever touch any gun without an adult’s permission and their supervision. You could have gotten so hurt, or hurt your brothers or your mom.”

“I’m sorry Mr Cater. I promise I won’t do it again. Mommy, do I still get to go to the beach today?”

“We’ll talk about it after Mr Crater leaves. I want you to sit here,” she placed her son on his bed, ”I will be back up here in a minute to talk to you.”

The little boy began to cry harder, large tears rolled down his chubby cheeks, as Rachel turned to walk out of the room and Ben followed. Rachel shut the bedroom door and took a deep breath.

“Rachel I am so sorry. This is entirely my fault. I should have been more careful.”

Rachel reached out for Ben and he stepped towards her, taking her in his arms.

“I cannot believe he did that. I know he is fascinated with guns, and I could kill Rhett for letting him anywhere near a firearm. There is no way I can’t tell him about this. He is going to know you stayed here. Ben, he can’t know you stayed the night.”

“Honey, accidents happen. I think the bigger concern is that Luke picked up my gun, and took it, not that I stayed over.”

Rachel pulled away.

“You don’t know my ex.”

“Would it help if I talked to him, and explained that this was my fault?”

“No! I am going to have to figure this out and you probably have to get to work.”

“Rachel, I am the one at fault here. It isn’t right that you would get blamed. I will talk to him.”

“No, Ben! Please don’t do that.” There was desperation in her voice.

Ben knew there was more to this than he was being told. He wondered if Rachel was truly done with her ex. Why else would that be her biggest concern of the morning, not that her son was playing with a gun but what her ex-husband would think?

“Rachel..”

“No Ben, I need you to go now.”

“Okay, but are you alright, I mean will you be alright?”

“Yes, have a good day.” Her tone was distant like he had already left.

“Hey, come here.” Ben reached out and pulled Rachel back into his embrace. “It will be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you or your boys. Last night was the best night of my life, and although neither of us planned to wake up next to each other, it was by far my most favorite way to wake up.”

Rachel looked up at him. Ben leant down and kissed her, as the world fell away for both of them. His kiss brought her back, as he felt the fear slide away in her body.

“Can I call you later?” Ben asked with Rachel still in his arms.

“Yes. I am sorry this happened.”

“Just the gun part, right?”

“Yes. I am glad last night happened.”

Ben was relieved to hear that. He kissed her again and then turned to go downstairs.

Ben walked into the station an hour later showered and cleanly shaven. He had expected to see Marty already in, but then he remembered Marty had spent the night at the hospital with the victim. He sat at his desk looking over the work from the day before to review, wondering if he was missing something in plain sight. He reached in his desk drawer for his stapler, when he saw the file from Marty, that contained the information about Rachel’s ex. He could hear Marty’s voice telling him it was Rachel’s choice to tell him the story of her ex, if that is where her trauma came from.

Ben held the yellow envelope in his hand and stared at it. He thought back to this morning’s events, her fear at her ex knowing that he had stayed. Temptation got the better of him and he opened the report. Rhett Lawson, Rachel’s ex, had a long list of domestic assault and battery charges, but none that ever resulted in jail time.  The police reports made Ben seethe with anger. Rachel was named as the victim along with pictures of the injuries she incurred. Ben looked closer, reading the details of the reports and saw Tommy’s name on the last one alongside Rachel’s. Yet for all of the reports she had never pressed charges, the state had on her behalf, twice.

Ben looked further back, and read a report about an alleged rape back in college of a co-ed. It never went to trial. Ben wondered why. He logged into his computer and began to do some digging on Rhett Lawson. It appeared that Rhett’s family’s money bought their son a lot of “justice .”  Ben told himself, that if Rhett even breathed in Rachel or Tommy’s direction meaning harm, he would take care of the situation, for good. Reading the file, it now made sense why Rachel was so afraid.

“Ah, couldn’t help yourself, huh?” Marty said as he walked in, sporting a five o’clock shadow.

“There was an incident this morning.”

“Oh?”

“I’ll tell you about it later.” Ben did not want it overheard.  “Any news from the hospital?”

“Actually..”

“She woke up?” Ben cut Marty off.

“Not quite, the doctor thinks she is coming around though, most likely by tonight. They don’t know what kind of shape she will be in though. The family knows to call us as soon as she is awake, good people. It’s too bad what happened to their daughter.”

“It is. So, do you want to start with looking for Duke again or…?”

“I know that look, it is the do you want to gamble your badge look. The last time I fell for it, we both got our asses in a sling. So, no. Let’s do this one by the book Ben.”

Marty sat down at his desk and began to go over the list of the poker players that had been at Jim Danwood’s poker game. He could feel Ben still looking at him.

“Alright what was the “or” option?”

“Want to go to a poker game?”

Marty looked up.

“You are kidding, right?”

“I am pretty sure they are meeting tonight for their game at the garage.”

“How do you know this?”

“Well, these guys aren’t exactly discrete about it.”

“Ben, no way.”

“Our killer is connected to this game, I know it in my gut. Besides, let’s see if our friend Stephen Duke shows up.”

Ben and Marty pulled up just as the evening sun had ducked behind the buildings, allowing the grey Jeep that belonged to Marty’s wife to blend into one of the long shadows in the industrial park. They were only there to observe who came and went, nothing more. They watched as players arrived, some in their own cars and some driven. It was clear that these players were well connected and wealthy. They crossed names off of the list as they spotted players they knew based of pictures. In between arrivals, they grabbed license plate numbers. The last car, a black Mercedes E-Class pulled up and parked. Ben instantly recognized the driver, Rhett Lawson, Rachel’s ex-husband. His name had not been on the list. The detectives knew probably didn’t have everyone who played. Ben swore under his breath.

“What?” Marty asked.

“That is Rachels piece of shit, ex.”

“They guy in the Merc?”

“Yeah. Did you read the report you pulled?”

“Yeah, a lot of money behind that asshole. His parents own the big construction firm up on the Northside, the one that is doing all of that building in the loop. Imagine that, from construction to investment banking in one generation. More money than sense, all of these guys.”

“You know we have seen some pretty sick shit over the years, but that guy,  man. How do you hit your wife, or worse your own kid? I’d love to go over and put my hands on him, give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“Don’t worry those guys always get what is coming to them in the end.”

Ben looked squarely at Marty, knowing that wasn’t always true.

They stayed in the Jeep through the game, once again watching who came and went. There was no sign of Stephen Duke. Marty started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, he made a left out of the industrial park when he saw flashing lights behind him. Ben and Marty looked at each other and then back towards the car that was pulling them over.

“What the hell?” Marty said as he pulled over.

Two men got out of the car behind them as Ben and Marty both pulled their badges out. Marty rolled down his window, as the men approached.

“So, did you two enjoy the game?” FBI agent Yee asked.

“Shit,” Marty said under his breath.

“We were just watching, nothing more. We are looking for a suspect. We wanted to see if he would show tonight.” Ben said.

“Watching and blowing our cover.” The other agent at Ben’s side said through the open window.

“We won’t come back. We are trying to catch a serial rapist and killer here, we are on the same team.”

Yee leant on the car. “Look, I appreciate what you guys are trying to do, you cannot jeopardize my entire operation though. I have been working on this for two years. I know most of these guys are a crooked as they come.”

“We won’t interfere again,” Marty said.

“Any of these guys seem like they might be the sort that we are looking for?” Ben asked.

Yee’s partner looked at him.

“Yeah, if I were you I would look at Mark Fields, Tony Carlson, and possibly Rhett Lawson.”

Alarm bells went off in Ben’s head.

“Thanks,” Marty said.

“Why these guys?” Ben asked.

“Have you seen their records, not a giant leap. That is where I would look if I thought one of these guys was good for it.”

“Thank you. Two of those guys you just mentioned weren’t on our list, it isn’t exactly like they keep a roster, or do they?” Marty said.

“I’ve given you what I know, so please don’t come back. I don’t want to make this into an official incident.” Yee said.

“Hey, one last question. Have you ran across Stephen Duke?” Ben asked.

“I was going to ask you the same thing. I doubt he was smart enough to run off. I bet he turns up, they always do, the question is breathing or not.”

“Steer clear from here guys.”

Ben and Marty agreed, said goodbye and pulled away.

It had been a week since Ben had slept overnight in his own bed. Most nights he camped out at the hospital waiting for Serena, the victim the junkie had helped, to wake up. Her family welcomed his presence. Stephen Duke was still missing, Ben knew he would turn up eventually. The entire CPD was looking for him.

The DNA that was found on the scene wasn’t a match to anything they had on the record, nor was it a match in the national database. They were trying to follow up on the leads with the car. They were also checking traffic cameras for the car as well. Frustrations were at an all-time high, every solid lead ended with nothing tangible, and did not further their search for the killer.

Ben sat in the hallway outside Serena’s room when his phone buzzed. He looked down, seeing it was Marty.

“Hello?”

“We found the car. It is a white Ford Focus without plates, it was abandoned. We are running the VIN right now. It was parked at a rest stop off of the Skyway. He left the car back on the Southside. CSI says the car is pretty clean at first glance though. We can at least try to piece together the route from Serena’s to here hopefully, and get something from the footage.”

“All we need is one print, to connect the car to this. There are cameras all over the city, he had to drive across it to get the car down there, someone had to see something.”

“We’re on it. How is Serena?”

“She opened her eyes this evening. The Doctor said it was involuntary. So I don’t know.”

“When was the last time you didn’t sleep at the hospital?”

“I want to be here if she wakes up.”

“You mean when the wakes, not if right?”

“I don’t know.”

“You need some real sleep. I will come and sit with her tonight.”

“No, it’s okay I want to be here.”

“Have you called Rachel at all this week?”

“You can’t not call her man, and still expect to have any sort of relationship with this woman.”

Marty was right and Ben knew it. It was just that he had been so busy, the only times when he was still enough to call was too late to call her.  He wanted to talk to her. He missed her. He wanted to go home to her, but they weren’t at that point in their relationship yet.

“Ben? Are you there?”

“Yeah, sorry. I was distracted.”

“I will come to sit with her tonight. I will be there by 9 okay. If she wakes, I will call you. Let me take a shift. It’s only fair.”

Ben was quiet.

“Go see Rachel.”

“Yeah, okay. Thanks.”

“I promise I will call if she wakes.”

Ben pulled into his driveway as the last light of dusk turned into night. The light from the open tailgate Rachel’s minivan caught his eye. The trunk was full of groceries. He felt terrible that he had not called her since their date almost a week ago, he had been so wrapped up in the case. He walked across the street as Rachel came out to grab more bags. Tommy her eldest followed her.

“How many more do I have to get, I want to go back in and play my game!” He whined.

“Thomas Andrew Lawson, you will be a gentleman and help your mother with these bags!”

“But mom..”

Ben stopped just short of crossing the street, he didn’t want to intrude.

“Don’t but mom, me, Mister! Get hauling.”

“This isn’t fair! This is Dad’s job, not mine!”

Ben watched the words hit Rachel like a punch to the gut.

“Tommy, it is not too much to ask you to help me just bring them in. Be a gentleman.”

Tommy knew he had hurt his mother but he stood his ground. Ben crossed the street and walked right up to the van without saying anything. He grabbed as many of the brown paper bags as he could. Before Rachel could say anything and started for the kitchen door.

“You coming man? I will only help if you are going to help your mom.” Ben turned back at Tommy said before he walked inside.

Rachel stood there silent, not believing what was happening. Tommy grabbed up three bags and followed Ben into the kitchen. Ben set the bags on the kitchen table and went back out for more. Rachel still stood at the tailgate.

“Ben you don’t have to.”

Ben grabbed the last few bags making sure to leave one behind for Tommy. He passed him on the way back into the kitchen.

“The last trip is your man.”

Tommy trudged up and grabbed the last of the grocery bags as Rachel carried in the milk and fabric softener. Ben put the bags next to the previous ones he had brought in. Tommy came in and followed suit. Rachel followed them and set the jugs of milk and fabric softener on the counter.

“Tommy you can go upstairs and play your game again. Twenty minutes then light’s off. It is getting late. Please don’t wake your brothers.”

“Okay, can I have a snack?”

Rachel dug into one of the bags as Tommy did the same. She pulled out an apple and Tommy pulled out a box of Swiss cake rolls. He held it up, silently asking his mother if he could have one. She shrugged her shoulders.

“Fine, but after you finish one of those, I want you to brush your teeth and go straight to bed, got it?”

“Sweet! Okay, mom.”

Tommy took off towards the stairs, his socks slipping on the floor purposely. Rachel turned back towards Ben as Tommy climbed the stairs.

“Hi.” Ben said, he wasn’t sure if that was the right thing to say or not.

“Hi. Thank you for your help.”

She began to unpack the groceries.

“I am sorry I didn’t call.”

“Ben you don’t owe me an explanation.”

“No, I do. I am really sorry Rachel. We had a big break in a case and I have been sitting at the hospital waiting for a victim to wake up. I know that’s not an excuse not to call. I am sorry. The woman has been in a coma for a week.”

Rachel turned around from the pantry.

“That’s awful.” Ben could see the sadness in her face as she picked up a box of macaroni and a can of green beans out of the bag in front of him. She turned back towards the pantry. She put the macaroni on the shelf and Ben watched her shoulders slump. He walked up behind her and put his arms around her. He wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do or not. Her body was tense.

“I’m sorry I didn’t call.” He said softly.

She put the can of green beans on the shelf and reached up taking his hands into hers. She turned to face him, he could tell she was not angry, but hurt. She pulled away and turned around to face him.

“I thought it was your way of telling me that you didn’t want to do this. You know, just passive.”

“No, I want to get to know you more. I didn’t want this woman to wake in the hospital without her to know that someone was there to protect her. I have questions for her too, but most of all I wanted her to feel safe.”

Ben could see tears welling in Rachel’s eyes. She leant up and kissed him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled her into his embrace. She tasted like heaven, her tongue, and that mouth. He wanted to be inside of her but knew he had no right after disappearing for the past week. Rachel walked two steps backwards until they were fully in the pantry, kissing Ben as she moved. Her kisses were intense, his cock felt incredibly cramped in his pants. He wanted to make love to her so badly but he had to remind himself not to push, to go slow.

Rachel pulled away first.

“Sorry. I have wanted to do that since our last date.”

“Never apologize for that. Me too. Rachel, I missed you.”

“I missed you too. Ben, I want to sleep with you.”

Her directness surprised him and aroused him at the same time. He wanted to take her right there up against the wall in the pantry, but he remembered her children were upstairs. He had to go slow, she needed him to. He had not opened the report Marty had given him yet and looked into her story. He had been tempted on several occasions, but just too busy to actually do it.

“What about the boys upstairs?”

“They should be asleep soon. Will that bother you?”

“No, as long as it doesn’t bother you.”

“They’re sound sleepers. Have you had any dinner?”

Rachel pulled away, Ben moved out of the way realizing he had trapped her in the pantry. She walked back towards the groceries.

“I had a vending machine dinner.”

“Let me cook you something.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“When my parents died, I ate out of the vending machine for like a week before they passed. That is not great nutrition, let me fix you something. I haven’t had dinner yet myself. The sitter already fed the boys.”

“Only if you are already eating.”

“I am. What do you have a taste for? I have everything.” She gestured around the kitchen.

“Something easy. How about I cook for you instead?”

His proposal piqued her interest.

“You finish putting your groceries away and I will cook dinner. How does that sound?”

“Okay, only if you are sure though?”

He walked over to the pantry not sure what he was going to cook. He did okay in the kitchen as far as cooking went, but now that his skills were on the line, he grew nervous.

“How about instead, neither of us cooks, and we order takeout?”

Rachel laughed a true and genuine laugh.

“I can cook.”

“So can I.” Ben said with a smile on his face, ”but instead why don’t I put the groceries away while we wait for takeout? You can sit and tell me where things go with a nice glass of wine while you instruct?”

Rachel giggled again.

“Okay we can order takeout but I am helping put my groceries away. You have had a very long week too.”

“Yeah. Raising three boys isn’t easy either though.”

“I love raising my boys.”

“I wouldn’t think otherwise. I am just saying it can’t be easy, that’s all.”

“Well, you are right about that.”

“Pizza?”

“That sounds perfect.”

Rachel ordered the pizza as they put the last of the groceries away. She folded the last paper bag and set in in the recycling bin in the corner of the kitchen. Ben came up and put his arms around her. She laid her head on his chest. They stood there in their embrace. He kissed the top of her head. She looked up at him.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yes. I want to just make sure the boys are asleep. You can open a bottle of wine if you want. I will be right back. I just want to make sure they are asleep.”

“Okay.”

He watched her walk out of the kitchen. He wanted to sleep with her so badly. His body craved hers. He wanted to run his fingers from her shoulders down past her hip, his fingertips on her soft skin. He reminded himself that he was going to have to pay attention to her cues, clearly, there was trauma there. He was going to have to pay attention to her body, it would give away any discomfort before she would verbally.