Breaking Protocol, page 7
They had worked silently and as swiftly as possible, and after a couple hours of deciding what was completely trash and what might be able to be salvaged, Alex and Kara could see the end in sight.
“Why don’t you let me finish up with this little bit here, it’s clearly all garbage, and you go grab some clothing and anything else you think you’ll need for the next few days. Just remember, you probably can’t come back here until we’ve got this sorted out,” Alex suggested.
Kara nodded and turned toward the bedroom, stopped, spun around and asked, “Where will I be staying? …With you?”
“Uhhhh…” Alex started looking a little starstruck.
Shit. I hadn’t even thought of where else she might go. I just assumed she would be staying with me. What a presumptive ass!
“Well, I guess… umm… we could find you a hotel and put you up there.” She waited and then continued on, “I just don’t feel good about leaving you alone,” Alex stammered.
“Riiiiiiiiight…” Kara said with a wink. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt to have my very own, personal body guard a few steps away from where I’m sleeping.”
Alex ducked her head, chuckled, and said, “Yeah, exactly. Besides, I’ve had a rough couple of days and I don’t want to miss any checkups with my new doctor.”
Kara smiled widely and disappeared down the hall.
A few minutes later they were waiting in the alcove off the main hallway for the elevator. Alex jammed her thumb on the down button and noted that the elevator was at the lobby level. Impatiently, Alex glanced at the door adjacent to the elevator – the placard above the door read “Emergency Exit Only – Stairs”.
As they waited for the elevator to arrive, Alex heard the gentle swish of a door opening down the hall. Nearly silent footsteps made their way slowly toward the alcove.
Didn’t Kara say her neighbors were out of the country?
Alex grabbed Kara by the sleeve and lunged towards the elevator doors pulling Kara with her. The elevator doors were cold and smelled of grease.
“What?” Kara asked quietly.
“Just a second. I thought I heard something down the hall.” Alex removed her gun again, and peaked around the corner towards the doorway down the hall.
*Ca-thunk, Ca-thunk*
Paint, sheetrock and molding shattered in the wall near Alex’s head. Someone was shooting at them! Alex checked the elevator’s progress.
Floor 5. This thing is too slow!
*Ca-thunk, Ca-thunk, Ca-thunk*
More sheetrock and paint chips sprayed the ground and the corner of the wall seemed to be disintegrating before their eyes.
Alex sprang into action, grabbing Kara’s hand and dashing towards the Emergency Exit. Thankfully, the alcove holding the elevator gave them enough cover to sprint through the door without being in the direct line of fire.
They ran down the stairs, taking them as quickly as possible. They made it to the 12th floor and Alex pulled Kara to a stop. They both squished their bodies up against the wall and listened for footsteps coming after them.
Alex pressed her finger to her lips and signaled to Kara to stay where she was. Kara nodded and watched as Alex crept forward to look up towards the 17th floor.
No movement.
Just then a door below opened. Judging by the sound, it had to be at least 5 floors down. But the footsteps that followed that door opening were loud. Loud and fast. And they were headed upstairs.
Alex grabbed Kara again and flew into the hallway of the 12th floor. Clicked the down button on the elevator. It was on 14 and headed back towards them. A few seconds later, the doors opened and Alex ran into the elevator, hit the Lobby button and ran back out.
Kara just stared at her like she was crazy. “Why didn’t we take the elevator?!”
“Shh… follow me.”
At the first door they came to, Alex bashed on the door. Getting no answer, she kicked the door in and pulled Kara into the apartment, pushing the door closed behind them.
There, they waited. Kara was behind Alex. Both leaned against the wall, breathing heavily and waiting for something, anything to happen. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard and both women stopped breathing.
“Where the fuck did they go?” A man yelled.
“I dunno… Shit, look, the elevator – it’s at 4 and going down. Go… go… go…”
Then, just as quickly as they entered the floor they were gone.
Alex and Kara both let out the breath that they had been holding since the men entered the hall.
“Fancy place like this – you have a service elevator, right? And a service entrance?”
“Yes. Yes we do, just down the hall to the right and then there’s a service hall.”
“Excellent. Let’s quietly and quickly get the fuck outta here.” They both moved towards the door, “Wait.” Alex said and opened the front closet. “Let’s see here.... Yep, this’ll do nicely, I think.”
Alex pulled out a fluffy fur coat and a peacoat. “Here throw this on, annnnnd,” She said grabbing something else from the closet, “and this hat. And I’ll wear this,” she said indicating the peacoat.
“Ew. Fur,” Kara said and rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, it’s murder,” Alex deadpanned.
Coffee, Cabs, and Clothes
A few minutes later, after taking the service elevator, Alex and Kara were safely out of the building through the rear entrance. Alex put her arm out to keep Kara from walking into the rear parking area, pressed her finger to her lips, and patted the air with her hand.
“Let’s just listen for a minute,” She whispered. Both stood motionless, barely breathing, staring at the entrance to the rear parking area.
“You can’t get back here without going all the way around the front of the building when you take the passenger elevators.” Kara whispered into Alex’s ear.
“Good. Let’s get away from this building and someplace public. We’re leaving your car – it’s too conspicuous. Besides, they’re probably all over it by now.” They hurriedly stalked out from behind Kara’s building, onto the busy street, and into a nearby coffee shop.
“Okay, this is better. People. People without guns. People who aren’t shooting at us. Let’s get a coffee, grab a cab, and apparently go get you some clothing,” Alex suggested. Kara looked puzzledly at Alex, “Your bag. You dropped it in the stairwell, and I don’t think you wanna keep wearing those same clothes. Besides, that jacket is difficult to look at.”
Kara let out an exhalation that was half sigh and half laugh and put her hand to her forehead, “This week is so fucked up.”
They ordered coffees, sat down, and waited for their Uber to arrive.
Alex cautiously sipped her coffee. “Careful, it’s scalding,” she said after her initial sip.
“So, tell me something. Does this sort of thing happen to you on a weekly basis?” Kara asked.
“No. No this is a first,” Alex said staring intently at Kara. “And you, does this sort of thing happen to you frequently? I have to admit, you’re taking this all really well.”
“No. This is a first for me too,” Kara reached out and touched Alex’s hand staring meaningfully at her. They stayed like that for several minutes.
My skin is on fire…
Alex shook her head, pulled her hand back from Kara, and said, “I should really call this in. This is just getting too frigging complicated….”
“Aren’t you on leave?” Kara asked, clearly hurt that Alex had pulled away from her touch.
“Yeah, but we just had a shootout – well, technically we were just shot at…. Hmm,” Alex said.
I am so fucked right now… Damsel in distress… I’m in distress…. This whole situation is distressing… What would Bret do?
Kara cocked her head at Alex, “Deep thoughts?”
“Uhhh… yeah. I was just wondering what our next move should be after we get you some clothing.”
“I’m somewhat biased, but I’m voting for a shower.”
Just then, Alex’s phone vibrated signaling that their Uber had arrived. A fifteen dollar Uber ride and they had arrived at the mall.
“So, where do you wanna shop?” Alex asked.
“Let’s just go with simple,” Kara answered.
Kara led the way to a Nordstrom Rack and after briefly standing still at the store’s entrance, she started towards the women’s department.
Alex fidgeted relentlessly as Kara shopped.
“So, do you hate shopping or what?” Kara asked.
“Well, no. I don’t hate it. I just don’t like to do it…” Alex answered and stopped fidgeting. “Am I annoying you?”
“No, I’m just going to do this as quickly as possible. I’d like to try on these pants before I buy them though, so you’re going to have to suffer a little bit longer.”
“HA! Okay. I’ll make it,” Alex said as she watched Kara open the door to a dressing room.
Shit… she’s gonna be mostly naked in there… isn’t she? HEY… HEY… stop thinking about that. Number 1, she’s on the don’t touch list – yeah, and you keep breaking that rule… scoundrel! Number 2, you’re injured… remember? Number 3… one and two are plenty!
“Hey. Earth to Alex.” Kara said, waving her hand at Alex. “Can you get me another one of these in the next size down?”
“Absolutely your highness, anything else?”
Kara peered through the cracked dressing room door and squinted at Alex, “Yes, how about you do it while singing?”
A strip of soft, olive colored skin was visible through the crack of the dressing room door and Alex stared a bit too long at that strip. Realizing she was staring once again, she snapped into motion and said, “As you wish.” Alex could only think of Sinatra for some reason and started belting out, “Someday, when I’m awfully low, and the world is cold, I will feel a glow just thinking of you, and the way you look tonight.”
Once back at the dressing room door, she knocked and ended on, “…I will feel a glow just thinking of you....”
Kara cracked the door again – this time a little wider – winked, and said, “I bet you will.”
Alex stared, slack-jawed at this deliberately more generous view of skin and panties, turned several shades of red, and handed the clothes to Kara. Kara cackled with delight, and went back to trying on clothes.
Daaaaaaaaaaamn straight I will…
Promises, Promises
Dexter ran into the kitchen when Alex and Kara entered the apartment. “Hey buddy… anybody come snooping around here?”
Dexter cooed and headbutted Alex’s hand in response. “I’ll take that as a no,” Alex said winking at Kara. “I guess we should get you that shower, and maybe I’ll whip something up for lunch?”
“Yeah, that’d be good. I’m…”
“Lemme guess…” Alex interrupted playfully, “starving?”
Kara laughed a little and said, “Yeah, exactly.”
“Well, let’s get you in the shower,” Alex turned and started walking towards the master bath. She stopped and turned when she noticed Kara hadn’t followed her. Alex shot Kara a “What’s up” look.
“Are you going to join me?” Kara asked. She slowly put her bags on the floor and walked over to Alex. Face to face, Kara put her hands up onto Alex’s shoulders and stood a few inches away, “I think it might be time that you have a doctor’s visit.”
Damn… damn…. triple damn. Maybe… just for a minute?
Alex put her hands on Kara’s waist and pulled her gently to her body. “Oh yeah? You think perhaps some of my injuries need some special attention?”
Kara was silent. She looked deeply into Alex’s eyes and nodded once. It was a short, quick nod that said, “Definitely.” Kara stood up on her toes a little, brought her face close to Alex’s, closed her eyes, and put her lips gently on Alex’s. Alex allowed Kara’s lips to gently probe her own for a moment, until she could no longer resist and she opened her mouth enough to allow their tongues to dance together.
Kara’s hands moved up Alex’s neck to her face as their tongues tortured one another in an increasingly heated wrestling match. Alex pushed Kara into the refrigerator, shaking the fridge and causing a metal on metal clashing noise to ring out. Magnets and papers fell from the fridge as Alex mashed Kara into the fridge – pushing her body against Kara’s as if to try to fit her body into Kara.
Their mouths separated for a moment and they both started at one another. Each woman’s eyes flicking from one eye to the other, trying to read the other’s mind. Alex let out a moan of frustration, peeled herself off the Kara, grabbed her by the hand, and lead her into the bedroom.
“You need to get in that shower – lest something happen – that maybe shouldn’t happen right now,” Alex said through clenched teeth as she started pulling clothing off of Kara. First the hideous fur jacket fell to the floor. Then Kara’s overshirt.
Alex was undoing the buttons on Kara’s blouse when Kara interrupted. “It seems like you’re saying one thing but you’re actually SAYING something else,” Kara teased playfully.
Alex looked down at her hands, they were on the last button of Kara’s blouse. She could see the pink of her bra, and a three inch swath of skin from neck to navel.
And oh my fucking gawd… look at that navel. I wanna spend a day in her bellybutton. Or maybe a day in her cleavage... HEY! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING? FOCUS… YOU SEX-CRAZED MANIAC!
“Jesus. I’m sorry… I let my hands get away from me there,” Alex said and took a step back.
“It’s quite alright. I wouldn’t have interrupted but I thought you might get a little pissed at yourself if I let you continue.”
“Yeah. Here, lemme get you a towel and whatnot.” Alex popped into the bathroom, opened the linen closet and pulled out a towel. She turned around and bumped right into Kara, who had removed her pants and was now standing in front of Alex wearing her opened blouse, a bra and matching panties.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck. Now that’s just unfair.
Kara was giving her that look again. That, I want you, and I want you right now look. “I really think you should come in the shower with me – but if you think it’s a bad idea…” Kara said, floating the idea of a shower with her again.
“I… I… I would normally just say yes. In fact, I want to say yes… but if I say yes, things get more complicated.”
“More complicated than they already are? Alex, you’ve been beaten up, shot at, we’ve made out several times, and we’re both clearly attracted to one another even though you’re the police officer and I’m a witness – how much more complicated could it get?”
“Good question… But I can’t. I want to… but I can’t. This isn’t a normal situation, obviously, but I can’t just let go of all of the protocol. You are a victim – not just a witness – and I’m not supposed to be involved personally with victims,” she said, looking at Kara sadly. Then, she put on her best wolfish smile and said, “Besides, we have a lot of ground to cover, and what I have in mind for you and me… for us… would take hours.”
“Is that a promise?” Kara asked eyebrow raised?
“It’s a fact.”
Alex bent down to kiss Kara again, but Kara backed up and gestured towards the door. “Detective Connolly, I’m pretty sure that would be breaking protocol,” Kara said with a wry smile.
“Yep, I had that one coming. I’ll go start lunch.”
And More Promises
Alex turned on the television to try to distract herself from thinking about the incredibly sexy woman soaping herself up in the shower not thirty feet away.
“Let’s see what the news has to tell us, shall we?” Alex asked Dexter.
**** Channel 3 News Bulletin ****
“Here we go, Dex, let’s see what the news gods are bringing us live.” Alex stared intently at the tv as a perky blonde came on the television trying her best to look serious.
“Late last night, Symbio-Labs was broken into. So far, there hasn’t been much information released about the break-in, but we have learned that the security footage in the facility has been destroyed. Authorities aren’t saying if they have any suspects or if this ties in at all to the recent death of Symbio-Labs owner Jonathan Yazzie. If you or anyone you know has any information regarding the break-in to Symbio-Labs, please contact the authorities.”
Shit. Just what we need… another twist to this fucked up tale. Well, at least Kara isn’t a suspect in this one! Not that I think she’s actually a suspect in the other one… she’s getting shot at for fuck’s sake.
Alex got out her notepad and started jotting down the details that were available in the news bulletin.
The time and place of it all coincide nicely with when we were jumped the night before. It took place about 30 minutes after, so those thugs that roughed us up could’ve made it to Symbio in time to bust into the place….
Odd that the security footage had been deleted. How the fuck did they know how to get to the security footage…? Inside man? Maybe Mr. Yazzie?
Lost in thought, Alex started putting together sandwiches for lunch. “Whaddaya think Dex – should we make the Connolly Special? The Dagwood of All Dagwoods?” Dexter trilled and wove in between her feet. “Yeah… gotta feed her something that’ll stick to her ribs… she gets hungry really quickly.”
Uhhhg… and those ribs…. I just wanna nibble them … a little… well, maybe a lottle. Christ! Stop thinking about her…
Alex’s pants felt uncomfortably tight, in fact, all of her clothing was making her feel itchy at the moment. Quite certain that her discomfort was brought on by lust, she shook her head and continued putting on as many layers as she could think of on the sandwiches. “We need chips,” she looked around her kitchen finding a full bag of Sea Salt and Malt Vinegar, “and a pickle on the side. Damn that looks good.”
