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It’s the latest protest in a summer of protests, so Violet isn’t unduly worried about leaving the precinct to grab some lunch. Signs are waved, slogans are shouted but otherwise the protesters are fairly well behaved, even if some of the language thrown in her direction would make her mom reach for soap and water, all ready to wash out some mouths. She’s used to running the gauntlet there and back, and she’s actually running a little late on her return so she hurries down the sidewalk, through the crowds, smiling her thanks at the uniformed officer who’s keeping an eye on things.
It’s safe to say she never sees the projectile coming.
She feels it though, a blow to the back of her head that makes her ears ring, that pushes her forward, knocking her onto her knees. She’s dazed, only flashes of images lodging in her memory, shards of glass on the ground around her, stinging in her palms and knees, the roar of the crowd, the curse of the uniform she’d just been smiling at, his arms going around her waist as he drags her up and into the precinct. There’s pandemonium inside, uniforms and detectives streaming towards the door to make their way outside and then Dixon and Jalen are standing in front of her, Dixon’s mouth moving but Violet can’t make sense of the words. She makes out the word “ambulance” and shakes her head because she doesn’t need one, but that movement makes the world tilt crazily around her and it’s only Jalen’s strong arms around her that keep her from hitting the deck. His eyes meet hers, dark and worried and the next thing she knows, he’s scooping her up into his arms and is carrying her to the relative quiet of their squad room upstairs.
Sitting in Dixon’s office, the door closed to keep any noise at bay, helps. At the very least, it gives her the clarity to look at Jalen, notice the swatch of red staining his pristine white shirt, in the exact spot where her head had just been resting. She lifts her hand, runs it over her hair, hissing at the resulting pain, her stomach turning when her fingers come away stained red. “Leave it.” Jalen’s voice is gentle, his fingers closing over hers, bringing her hand down to her knee. He doesn’t let go, uses his other hand to move her hair and she hears him swear under his breath. “Glass in the wound.” He’s talking to Dixon. “She’s going to need stitches.”
Dixon nods, face pale, lips pressed into a thin, bloodless line. “EMTs are on their way.” Violet opens her mouth, Dixon glares at her before she can say anything. “And don’t even think about arguing about it.”
Violet’s head hurts too much to think about anything. She has just enough sense not to say that aloud. Jalen’s fingers tighten on hers. “Lieutenant…” he begins and Dixon doesn’t let him finish.
“Yes, Detective, you can go with her to the hospital.” Her eyes are on their joined hands and yes, Violet has a head injury, but it looks very much to her like there’s a smile playing around her lips. “I’m sure you’ll keep me up to date with anything I need to know. Isn’t that right?”
The last three words are carefully enunciated, a slight but significant pause between each one. Jalen doesn’t blink, doesn’t hesitate but he does move his body a little closer to Violet’s when he says, “Yes, ma’am.”
They’re in the emergency room, waiting for discharge papers, before they get to talk about it. “Of all the ways I thought Dixon might find out about us…” Violet closes her eyes, thinks about shaking her head again before thinking better of it. She’d much rather stay upright.
Jalen chuckles, but there’s a rueful twist to his lips. “I’m sorry,” he says. She blinks, because she’s not sure what he’s apologising for. “We heard someone had been hit… we didn’t know if it was a bottle or a bullet. Everyone was running outside, and I saw you, and saw the blood…” He actually shudders. “I thought I was going to lose you.” Violet has to close her eyes then, something about the pain in his voice, in his eyes, making the darkness preferable. His hand steals across hers then, warm and solid. She turns her palm underneath his, lacing their fingers together. When she opens her eyes again, she’s able to bring a small smile to her lips.
“Mom always says I have a hard head,” she quips and his answering laugh is the best sound she’s heard all day. Or at least in the last few hours.
“Thank God.” He brings their joined hands to his lips. “I spoke to Dixon too, told her I’d be taking you home… she said not to come in tomorrow but she’ll see us both in her office bright and early the day after.”
Violet takes a deep breath. “I have a set of disclosure paperwork printed off at home.”
Jalen grins. “I have one in my desk at work.” The idea that they’d both been on the same page without even discussing it makes Violet feel a little lightheaded. “Guess we’ll fill out yours.”
“Tomorrow, right?” Because her head is pounding still and tonight all Violet wants to do is curl up with him and forget the rest of the world.
“Yeah.” Jalen cups her cheek, leans in and brushes his lips across hers. It actually makes her feel better. “Tomorrow.”