essie1876

[essie1876]

Ooh. One of my favorite writers writing one of my favorite characters.

Don't Worry Darlin'

Okay, so here is my first imagine for Jake Seresin from Top Gun: Maverick. I had so much fun writing this and I really want to write more for Jake if I can.

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Masterlist

Summary: (Y/n) joins her boyfriend and his team at the Hard Deck bar. But when someone tries to make unwanted advances on her, Jake steps in.

(If anyone has any Jake! requests I would love to try write them)

Enjoy.

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(Y/n) looked around the bar she stepped inside with her arms pinned around her waist and her lips pressed together tightly. She didn't like walking into places like this alone.

Clubs and bars weren’t really (Y/n)’s scene, going out at all wasn't really her scene if she was being honest. She loved to be around her friends, especially when she was out with Jake and the Dagger Squad who seemed to be more like a family than work friends. They were fun and inviting and they always welcomed her in with open arms. But going out to a bar that was drastically overcrowded with strangers who had no concept of personal space and no idea how to be polite wasn't typically (Y/n)'s idea of a good night.

Being within close proximity with strangers wasn't something (Y/n) liked to do, and she didn't drink half as much as Jake and his friends. That always meant she was the sober one left to keep an eye on everyone and the situations that always unravelled.

At least the Hard Deck was preferable to a club.

The music from the jukebox wasn't viciously loud and at least all the songs were actually good and ones that could be sung and danced to. And the atmosphere in here was calmer than half the other bars in the area, and with the aviators always frequenting the Hard Deck, it meant if anyone got rowdy, they were always kept in line.

(Y/n) had watched Jake throw countless people out after they started getting disrespectful or tried to start fights.

It was different for Jake.

The crowds, the noise, the closeness and the atmosphere didn't bother him. But since he had met and got into a relationship with (Y/n), a few things had changed. Jake didn't entertain the girls who tried to hang around him and the other aviators anymore. He didn't chat up the girls at the bar or flirt his way into their bed only to leave them hanging and alone the next morning.

Whenever (Y/n) was around, his hand was almost always tangled with hers or his arm was wrapped around her waist, coiling her into his side for safety and comfort. It was a comfort for both of them to always have his hand on her hip or tucked into her back pocket or his arm slung over her shoulders so she didn't stray far from his side.

A grin spread across (Y/n)'s lips when she looked ahead past the bar and her eyes locked onto a familiar frame.

A tall, lean figure with broad shoulders that were straining against the beige button up shirt he always wore for work. Dark sandy blond hair trimmed short but kept long enough on top so that it could just about form into a wave that matched the low tide of the ocean. Those dark blue eyes that squinted badly when he smiled so widely that his grin took over the expanse of his face and made him look cheeky.

The moment his head turned in her direction, Jake's open-mouthed smile changed into a soft but overly charming look that almost had (Y/n) melting on the spot.

He leaned his hips back against the pool table, cue in one hand and his other hand in her direction, waving her over to him and the other aviators scattered around the table.

(Y/n) tucked a free strand of hair behind her ear and scuttled past the bar, hurrying past the nearby people she didn't want to get too close to. Her adrenaline started to course through her system and light her up like a wildfire when she got close and the moment she was within reach, Jake's arm was around her waist.

He reeled her into his chest and smothered his lips against her temple. (Y/n) looped her arms around his chest when she felt Jake's hand curl around her hip, giving her a gentle but loving squeeze. She felt each breath he took as he leaned further back to let (Y/n) slouch into him and his lips only parted from her temple when (Y/n) pressed her chin into his sternum so she could look up at him.

"There's my girl, you okay?" His voice was quiet compared to the roaring voices surrounding them and the jukebox playing a Queen song in the background.

"Hm, are you winning?" Her thumbs brushed over Jake's back while he tapped the end of his cue against her shoulder as if to mark his point.

"Don't I always?"

He wasn't looking for an answer and he didn't give (Y/n) time to try and respond before his head was tipping down in her direction and his lips meshed with hers. (Y/n) could taste the tang of beer on his lips that were oddly sweet and she could feel how he tried not to smile too widely and break the kiss. His touch on her hip turned firm and he leaned forward, pushing his frame into hers and subsequently tipping her backwards in the process.

Her hands shifted round from his back to cling to his shoulders just in case he leaned any closer and set her off balance.

(Y/n) could see stars twinkling in front of her eyes when they finally pulled back for air and Jake's nose brushed against hers.

She heard one or two of the guys in the group let out wolf whistles, but she paid them no mind. They were only joking around. Her fingers brushed against Jake's neck and curved round to pull at the short strands of hair at the back of his neck, causing his lips to mould together, smothering a groan.

"Do you want another drink?" Her breath hitched when Jake pushed forward into her and walked her back a few paces so he was no longer leaning against the pool table.

Jake nodded as he leaned down to capture her lips in another kiss that tasted like the cherry lip balm she always used because she knew he secretly loved the zing it left on his lips. It was that lip balm that always tainted Jake's lips in a pale hue of plum purple that Phoenix had noticed once and subsequently never let him live down.

"Sure baby. We've got a tab open." He nudged his nose against hers when (Y/n) finally stepped out of his embrace.

He could feel her eyes lingering on him as he reached his hand behind him to strum his fingers against the pool table while his tongue darted across his lips that were starting to tingle and taste of cherry.

"Hey (Y/n)."

"Hey Rooster." She dipped her head down as she passed him, feeling his hand on her shoulder while he grinned coyly at her. She could barely see his eyes through his tinted glasses but the way he flashed his teeth through his smile showed he was in a good mood as they passed in opposite directions. (Y/n) towards the bar, and Bradley towards the rest of the aviators to join them in a game.

(Y/n) was sure she could feel her partner's gaze lingering on her, scolding right through her as she approached the bar.

He knew how nervous she got and he hardly ever let her out of his sight because of it. Jake knew that while he could be a party animal, (Y/n) had her limits and if ever she wanted to leave all she had to do was say and he would wrap himself around her and follow her out.

Whatever joke had been said must have been funny for their laughter to follow (Y/n) over to the bar.

Jake didn’t know how infectious his laughter was or how melodic it sounded or how his laugh sent shivers running down (Y/n)’s spine. She had a video on her phone of them all when they were at the beach, and Jake's laugh was the best part. (Y/n) could rewind that video and listen to his laughter on repeat when he was away on missions.

Everything about Jake, his personality, his looks, his signature traits and movements and expressions, all of him was intoxicating to (Y/n). And the worst part was that he knew it too. Before they started dating, Jake liked to see how hard he could make (Y/n) blush and and see how flustered she would get around him because he knew what effect he had on her.

When she reached the bar, (Y/n) pushed up on her toes and folded her arms over the surprisingly clean bar that wasn't lathered with spilt drinks for once.

She caught Penny's eye and put in her request for a round of drinks that she could take back to the group. Her fingers strummed against the bar, nails tapping out a beat that no one could hear over the boisterous voices and the song that was about to end on the fading jukebox.

"How about a dance?"

It took (Y/n) a moment longer than it should have to realise that there was a man on her right who was now talking to her. He seemed to have slithered up from nowhere and he was standing close enough that their arms were almost touching.

He had short greasy hair slicked back on his head with a lot of wax that made him look like something out of a dance movie. His smile was almost charming with a few pearly white teeth shining through, but (Y/n) saw Jake's dimpled grin almost every day and that was worth more than a thousand smiles from any stranger here.

"Oh, no thank you." She shook her head and tried to smile politely, she wasn't here for a hook up unless it was with her very own pilot and she didn't dance with strangers.

"What about your name?" His smile stayed put on his face and he inched closer until (Y/n) could smell the alcohol on his breath and see the faraway look in his eyes. It made her wonder how long he had been here at the Hard Deck and how many drinks he had consumed.

Maybe someone had broken the house rules and had to buy a round for everyone here. Maybe a few rounds had been bought for this man and that was why he looked too drunk for his own good right now.

When she looked him up and down, she noticed he was in the same beige uniform as Jake. He was an aviator, but he wasn't from the Dagger squad and he hadn't worked with Jake, (Y/n) knew most, if not all the people that had worked with Jake since they started dating.

There was no way to respond to his question without sounding rude and (Y/n) didn't want to give him the wrong impression and make him angry. So she settled for a weak smile and a shake of her head before she glanced towards the group, hoping to see Jake's dazzling smile that could always put her at ease and make her feel better. Couldn't Penny hand the drinks over to her and let (Y/n) disappear back to the saftey of Jake?

"Come on, a pretty thing like you should be enjoying a drink with some good company." The stranger had a sturdy grip when he reached across for her wrist and gripped her tight.

He tried to twist away from the bar but (Y/n) wasn't sure which direction he was trying to pull her in. Whether he wanted to take her to a table or find a corner of the bar to have a sultry dance like some of the other couples often did when they came here. Or maybe he had strange intentions and was about to drag her outside if he could.

Whatever he was trying to do didn't work. (Y/n) forced herself not to think about the multiple options that were clearly running through the man's head. She felt her breath snagging in her throat as she yanked her wrist out of his grip and turned back to the bar when a large circular tray clattered down in front of her.

The drinks had arrived.

One look at Penny told (Y/n) she had added it to the tab the boys had open and the wary look in Penny's eyes diminished when (Y/n) shook her head and took the tray. She didn't want to cause trouble and the last thing she wanted was for Jake to rush over here and kick the guy out. As long as he didn't pursue her, (Y/n) would be fine.

She spun on her heels and took the tray, doing her best not to spill any of the drinks or topple the bottles over.

She didn't hear what he shouted after her, all the noises blurred together, the music, the shouting and the people making out in public. Everything blended into static as her eyes turned into tunnel vision, making Jake the only thing she could see.

It felt like she didn't breathe at all as she scampered over towards the group towards the back. One of the beer bottles rattled when she set the tray down on a side table and Bob reached across quickly to take said drink before it spilled. He spared (Y/n) a concern glance until she forced herself to smile and twisted in Jake's direction.

He set his pool cue down on the table with a laugh of triumph when he shot the last ball and won the game. It was always the same, once he was on a winning streak there was no stopping him.

He rapped his hands down on the wooden edge of the table but he paused and stood up straight when a pair of arms suddenly clamped around his waist like iron bars caging him in. He didn't have to look to know who was suddenly attached to him like a monkey, he had her frame committed to memory and her every touch was processed in his mind.

He could feel (Y/n)'s head pressing between his shoulder blades and her warm breaths were fanning through his button up shirt.

He waited a few seconds but when (Y/n) didn't move, he slowly manoeuvred around in her tight embrace. His hand cupped the back of her neck and his thumb swiped up and down her skin while his fingers tangled in her hair and his other arm deadlocked around her waist. When she didn't lift her head or try and look up at him and instead kept her face buried in his tightly buttoned shirt, Jake's brows furrowed.

"Hey, you okay?"

His arms moved from her waist and he gently cupped her face in his hands, tilting her head up so he could actually see her face. He needed to know if she was upset, panicking or crying because if anyone had said or done anything, they would feel Jake's wrath.

"Darlin', talk to me."

"I'm fine… just dodged a weird guy, that's all." (Y/n) hated the worry lines dotted around his face and the concern pooling in his eyes, all because she was nervous that one guy had tried to make some sort of strange advance with her.

A quiet hum vibrated at the back of Jake's throat and he lifted his head to look around behind (Y/n) as if he could magically scout out the person she was talking about. Since he couldn't see anyone watching (Y/n) or trying to walk over towards her, he figured the guy had taken the hint and disappeared. That was good, but if he came back Jake would have no problem telling him (Y/n) wasn't interested.

The concern slowly melted from Jake's face like snow fading on the grass and (Y/n) felt herself calming down immensely when he smiled and kissed her temple. His eyes locked with hers for a few seconds before he dipped down and stole a sweet kiss from her lips.

"Ah, you got a round in." Phoenix squeezed (Y/n)'s shoulder as she passed her and reached out for a drink that Bob handed over since he was closest to the drinks tray as if he were guarding it.

Jake twisted his head to the right when he heard Bradley mutter "My turn," and take one of the cue's off the wrack near the back doors that were partially open to let in the cool night breeze. His lips curved into a widespread smirk because it was clear Bradley was waiting for Jake to play a round against him. It was the way, the winner stayed on and got challenged by a newcomer and Jake did just win a game.

When he pushed away from the table, Jake pulled (Y/n) along with him just a little too quickly, causing her to stumble into his chest. Not that he minded with the catfish grin he flashed down at her. But he set his drink down on the window ledge and tossed his head back when someone flicked his favourite song on the jukebox.

"Ah, I love this one."

(Y/n) paused, tipping her head back to look up at Jake with a somewhat bewildered expression. She wondered what was rattling through his head until he handed his cue to Bob and curved both arms around her waist. "Dance with me." He murmured in her ear.

It didn't matter that there wasn't exactly a dance floor here in the Hard Deck, nor that not many people were dancing to the song. There were a few people swaying or bopping along, but Jake didn't care. All he cared about was the fact that this was his song and he had his girl in his arms.

"Here?" (Y/n) tilted her head to one side while her fingers focused on messing with the buttons on his starched shirt. She messed with the buttons while she felt his thumbs trace up and down her hips.

It didn't matter to Jake that they weren't really going to be dancing, at least not properly. He didn't care that no one else was dancing and he wasn't bothered if the Dagger squad watched. He just wanted to move to the beat with the girl in his arms.

"Yep."

"I don't dance." (Y/n) murmured, even as she looped her arms around his neck and allowed him to lean her back and sway them along to the beat.

“You do when you’re with me.” He whispered the words against the shell of her ear, getting quieter and lowering his tone with each word until (Y/n) could hardly hear him. She could feel his breaths fanning against her ear and it was making her feel hot to the touch, making her skin flush from the contact.

He pulled her closer to him by her hips and rose a brow, but his smile widened when (Y/n) leaned her cheek on his chest and let him twist them round and step from left to right. They were more swaying than actually dancing, and there wasn't room enough to move around and try doing any fancy steps or spins or twists. But this was better.

She loved the way that as their bodies swayed, Jake's head was bopping along in its own rhythm and his gelled hair fell out of sync in the process.

The way he kept murmuring the lyrics under his breath made (Y/n) smile but the way he glided one hand up and down her waist sent her heart racing even faster in her chest. Tipping her head back, (Y/n) rested her cheek on his shoulder, smiling when she felt him leaning his head against hers.

When the song came to an end, (Y/n) pushed up on her tiptoes and stole a sweet kiss from Jake's lips that left him straining his head towards her, yearning for more.

"Rooster's waiting." (Y/n) wasn't sure if her voice was loud enough for Jake to hear, but she couldn't raise it above a whisper when her voice was so close to giving out on her.

Jake pressed a lasting kiss to (Y/n)'s forehead before he took the cue back and spun on his heels to face the pool table.

A soft grin spread across (Y/n)'s lips as she took a seat out the way and focused on watching the boys and drinking her drink. Her eyes followed Jake and she couldn't help but roll her eyes every time he came to stand in front of her to take a shot. He purposely arched his back out and wiggled his hips in her direction, giving her a perfect view of his behind. And one look over his shoulder with his tongue poking between his teeth had (Y/n)'s adrenaline going haywire.

The next time he did it, (Y/n) leaned forward and hit her hand against his backside, causing Jake to lurch forward and mess up the shot. Which also gave Bradley an advantage to maybe get a few shots in and possibly win himself his first victory against Jake.

She grinned cheekily when Jake cast a joking glare over his shoulder in her direction and she pushed up from her seat to move over to him. Her hands settled on his shoulders and her chest pressed up into his back so she could attach her lips to the side of his neck.

"I'm gonna go to the toilet." When his head turned in her direction, he nodded before (Y/n) captured him in a kiss and pulled away from him. Letting him get back to the game he was inevitably going to win anyway.

She could feel his eyes on her as she walked away, merging through the sea of people until she was back near the bar.

Running her fingers through her hair, (Y/n) advanced past the bar towards the toilets at the other end. She could still hear the laughter coming from the Dagger squad, even if she couldn't make out the jokes being tossed around from this distance.

She tried to keep herself small and weaved through the small gaps she could see between the mix of people everywhere. The one thing she didn't like about the Hard Deck was how popular it was. It didn't matter what night they came here, it was always packed and there was almost always no personal space and a long queue for the toilets.

She was close to the toilets when a calloused, rough hand circled around her wrist with a bruising grip and pulled on her arm until she stumbled.

It was the man from earlier.

"Let go." (Y/n) tried not to raise her voice or cause a scene when she pulled her arm back towards her chest. But it only made her wrist burn in his tight grip and her feet fumbled beneath her when the man tugged on her until there was almost no space between them and he was grinning down at her through a shark-tooth smile that looked deadly.

"I found ya." His voice was more threatening than he seemed to imply and his words made (Y/n)'s stomach drop. She cast her eyes around the bar but she couldn't find the group of aviators she knew. They were still towards the back at the pool table and no one had ventured any closer towards (Y/n)'s line of sight.

"Get off-"

"Come on sexy, come have a drink with me." It was clear he was telling her rather than asking her; she didn't have a choice in the matter.

Did this work on the other girls he tried to pick up? Had he even tried to pick up other girls before, or was he just deciding tonight was the night and he was going to grab anyone he could and force them to be around him?

"I don't want to." (Y/n) could barely speak, she could feel her chest tightening and her breaths were becoming shallow the more he grappled to hold her close and keep her from running away. The way he grinned down at her had her shuddering and trying to back away, but she ended up backing into a wall which only enlightened the stranger and made him move even closer.

His chest pressed down against hers, pinning her between him and the wall and his hand let go of her wrist in favour of holding her hip instead.

"Yes you do."

Everything started to blur. She could barely see his face, couldn't hear what was passing through his drunken lips and no one around them seemed to realise she didn't want to be there. No one helped when she bashed her arms around at him, frantically trying to leave without any coordination in her movements.

When his hand gripped her jaw and his fingers pinched bruisingly into her cheeks, (Y/n) snapped her eyes closed and tried again to force her arms out in front of her. She tremored back against the wall and leaned her head to the side, but she couldn't try and slide down when he gripped her jaw tighter and pinned his knee between her legs.

She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, her brain was starting to shut down, she was going to faint soon.

"Oi! Get the Hell off her!"

Just as quickly as he was grabbing at her, he was suddenly wrenched away from her.

(Y/n) snapped her eyes open, her arms still bound around her chest as she gasped for air when her head started to swim. Her gaze locked onto the stranger whose eyes widened when a hand deadlocked around the back of his neck and another grabbed his bicep. As swift as anything, he was yanked backwards until his legs were swept from beneath him and he was forced to lean against the person dragging him back.

"Mind explaining why you had my girl pinned against the wall? Hm?"

Anger seethed through Jake's voice and venom was raging as pure as silver in his eyes that couldn't stop differing between the stranger and (Y/n).

He didn't like the way (Y/n) was now trembling against the wall and still had her arms cocooned to her chest like she was expecting another unwanted advance. He could see the fright pooling in her eyes and her shallow, rapid breaths made his body shake with aggression.

Who the Hell did this man think he was? What had he been doing, pinning her to the wall like that? In a bar full of people, did he really think that nobody would notice- that Jake wouldn't notice?

"Hey, chill out-"

"Not likely after what I've just witnessed." Jake had the sudden urge to lunge forward and smash this man's face into the wall he had just tried pushing (Y/n) into.

He could feel his body rattling with the desire to push him down, to throw punch after punch into him and make him regret setting his eyes on (Y/n) in the first place. But he could feel the rest of his squad gathering around. He could see Bradley giving him a certain look, a look of worry that told him not to make a bigger scene. He could see Coyote, debating whether or not it would be worth Jake teaching this guy a lesson because they could all see he was in the same uniform as them.

If Jake attacked him, he could get reprimanded for it. If they ever had to work with this guy, beating him up would make that a whole lot harder.

When his eyes glanced to the left and he noticed Bob approach (Y/n), the anger in him started to fade out and be replaced with a mixture of love and sympathy. He watched Bob gingerly take (Y/n)'s hand and steer her a few steps away from the hallway that led to the toilets, reeling her towards him so she was also away from the scene.

"Get the fuck out."

Jake dug his hand so tightly into the back of the man's neck that his nails started to pierce through his skin. His other hand moved from his arm up to clench around his shoulder and he twisted him to the right. There was no way Jake was going to walk him past (Y/n) and through that crowd to throw him out the front door. He could go stumbling out the side doors that led onto the beach.

Bradley and Coyote followed at a close distance and graciously opened the door so Jake could push him over the threshold and watch him scramble to his hands and knees. He relished in the way the stranger landed on the wooden slope rather than on the sand and it clearly sent a shock through his system and grated on his palms and bruised his knees.

The man twisted once he was onto unsteady feet, giving away how drunk he was, and he glared over his shoulder at them. He seemed to debate whether it was worth trying to get back inside the bar. But once Jake took three steps towards him and the guys grabbed him by the shoulders to stop him, the stranger thought better of it.

He turned away from them and stumbled onto the sand, advancing over on the beach in an unsteady manner, uncertain where he was going.

Once he was definitely out of sight and certain not to come back into the bar, Jake spun on his heels and made a beeline back through the crowds who were starting to mutter and chatter amongst themselves.

The music had been turned back on, Penny was serving drinks again and people were beginning to disperse back around the crowded bar instead of lingering near the toilets where the action happened.

When Jake was within her sights again, another round of trembling set in and (Y/n) pulled away from Bob's comforting presence and stumbled ahead until she was in Jake's arms. She felt his arm deadlock around her waist like an iron bar, unwilling to let her stand anywhere but right here, glued up against his chest. His other arm wound around her shoulders and when she felt his hand slide beneath her hair and cup the back of her neck, (Y/n) all but crumbled.

Her arms looped around his neck and her chest merged against his, feeling each harsh, thundering breath that Jake took to try and regulate his system.

She tipped her head down to bury her face in his shoulder, not wanting to open her eyes and see the worried, sympathising glances they were no doubt receiving from the friends gathered around them.

(Y/n) couldn't help the tears that started to soak into Jake's shoulder and she knew he felt them because he turned his head to the right and merged his lips with the side of her head.

She felt him sway them from side to side before he took a few steps to the side, pulling her along with him so they were near the wall and out the way of everyone else.

"Are you okay, he didn't hurt you did he?" He murmured against her temple while his fingers pressed deeper into the back of her neck and his other hand began gliding up and down her waist. He dreaded the answer being no because he wouldn't know what to do with himself. Jake wouldn't know whether to take (Y/n) home or turn around and hurry after the idiot and bury his face in the sand.

"Yeah, he just- he- I don't know. He didn't take no for an answer."

Her words both calmed Jake down and lit him up at the same time. How could that guy work with him? How could someone like that be in the same job role as them and work as one of them if he was so rude and aggressive once they were technically out of uniform?

He didn't deserve to wear the uniform or work with them if he treated people like that. Especially (Y/n).

"Well he ain't getting back in here anytime soon. Don't worry, Darlin' no one's getting past me." His lips smothered (Y/n)'s temple and when she finally lifted her head from his shoulder to look up at him, he curved his hand round from her neck to cup her cheek.

A soft 'thank you' murmured past (Y/n)'s lips and she leaned her cheek into his palm, relishing in his touch. He wouldn't let anyone else get close enough to do that again and if they tried, Jake would have no problem chucking them out. She was his girl, and he wouldn't have anyone upsetting her or trying to pin her to the wall like that.

"Come on, let's go home."

[essie1876]

hey there LGBTQ kids who are also Christian/Jewish! If you feel like you’re disobeying God, questioning your faith, or feel wrong and dirty for loving who you love, there’s this fantastic site I found today called hoperemains that accurately and thoroughly combs through scripture and its (many) mistranslations, validates your orientation, and basically let’s you know that you’re not pissing off God. It’s insanely thorough and after reading through every page on the entire site it’s super helpful. Go check it out!

[essie1876]

tumblr users love reading. you literally stopped for this post just because it has words in it

[essie1876]

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*rummages around like I’m in the fridge*

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[essie1876]

CRIMINAL MINDS FIC RECS - (S.R and A.H)

(Links to parts 2 and part 3)

hi hi hi! if I have put your work on this list and you'd like it removed please let me know! But these are a bunch of authors and fics that I absolutely adore and you should definitely give them a read/follow ❤️

Note: This list was so long I've had to split it into 3 parts. I will link parts 2 and 3 here once I have posted and uploaded them. Parts 1 & 2 will be Spencer fics and part 3 will be for Hotch!

If there are any mistakes you spot please let me know and please like and reblog to share these fics! thank you :)

Spencer Reid:

@pastanest - Heaven Sent... A Smile... Mean It

@sundrop-writes / @tenpintsof-sundrop - The Patron Saint of Liars and Fakes... Careful (series)

@strawbeerossi - You Think, Genius?... Just Know I Love You

@violetrainbow412-blog - Decoy... White Lies...Emergency Room

@lechemoon - The One Where Spencer Reid Doesn't Want To Just Be Your Friend

@incognit0slut - All I Need... Hypothetically

@springtyme - Sticky Evidence... Checkmate

@cherriemi - Trivia Night

@rebelliousstories - Jasmines and Vanilla

@avis-writeshq - Sparks Fly (series)

@pathologicalreid - No Sign of Danger... A Father's Daughter... Puzzling... Work Song...Separation Anxiety... Stepping Up

@astrophileous - A Well Kept Secret... Every Single Day

@reiding-writing - Forgiven... Melatonin and Oxytocin

@shewroteaworld - I'll Hold Your Weight When You Can't

@mindfullycriminal - Third

@sweatervest-obsessed - Second Chances Are For Winners p1 & p2

@irndad - In Every Other Life

@michelle-is-writing - Wedding Mornings

@alwaysmoncheri - Say Don't Go

@imagining-in-the-margins - Different Dialects... Impromptu... Not Your Backup... My Angel... My Only Chance... From The Tree... Passing in the Night...Studious Shadow...Appalachian... Pipsqueak

@foxy-eva - Morning Cuddles... Heart Language

@babymetaldoll - Spilling Drinks on My Settee & p2... Birthday Wishes & p2 ... Stargazing... The Carnivals Challenge... Baby Reid

@weird-is-life - Here For You

@boldlyvoid - Hypothetically (series)... Amethyst You So Much & p2 & p3... Professional Hair Dresser (PH.D)... Wisteria (mini series)

@mcntsee - Her Voice

@donald4spiderman - The City

@eideticmemory - Darling and Dandelion

@007reid - Coffee Caramels

@fortheloveofwonderland - A Memory Locked in the Heart

@halsteadlover - Shattered Love... My Safe Haven... First Steps

@waywardxrhea - Hearts Desire

@cookiescribble - Take Me Home

@queerpumpkinnn - Lover Boy

@reidsaurora - The Office Party

@tacticaldiary - Revelations and Reverence p1 & p2

@dreamwritesimagines - Twisted (series)

@luvingspence - His Picture In a Gold Locket

@rynbutt - Pierced pt 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

@sinfulspencer - Made of Stone... Last Breath... The One That Got Away... Coincidences

@writer-in-theory - Tell Ourselves a Good Lie... Holy Ground... To Know You... I'm Feeling 22

@literaila - This Vast Empty Space & pt2

@shemarmooresfedora - Splish Splash

@reiderwriter - The Lightbulb Moment

[essie1876]

This was amazing and for some reason I need more like this.

What's My Name

This is a new Tommy Kinard imagine, I hope you will all like it. Please let me know what you think.

Taglist: @justagirlthatlovedtoread @musicistheway @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @luula @missdreamofendless @bradleybeachbabe @woderfulkawaii @amberpanda99 @daggersquadphantom @marvel-and-chicago-fan @angryknightstatesmantrash @minjix @lyjen @kmc1989 @itsmytimetoodream @noonenuts @hiireadstuff @ashie-babie @classyunknownlover @jayyeahthatsme @sp1ritssz @dumb-fawkin-bitch @oliverstarksbae @gimatida @heart-35 @supernaturalstilinski @stefansalvatoresgf @kyky9103 @wutheringhearts2275 @gay4hotmilfs @itshamleth @chaoticnosleepinfluencer @gs29 @wh0reforsmutstuff @mel-vaz @natashamea18 @chrisevansdaughter @alexandra8484 @deena-beena-weena @targaryenluvs @shelbygeek @kpoplover-19 @marvelmenarebeautiful @gillybear17

@zoeybennett @mrspeacem1nusone @zephyrmonkey @estella-novella @shauna-carsley @dottirose @cfdhouse51 @darkfemme1

Tommy Kinard Masterlist

Summary: While they're both on shift, (Y/n) starts to become disorientated and unwell. And Tommy and her dad don't know what to do when she starts having memory problems.

Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A quiet grumble vibrated at the back of Tommy's throat and his eyes furrowed and winced in his sleeping state. The end of his nose crinkled and he frowned, confusion flooding his brain as he began to wake up.

Why was he waking up? Why did it feel like he had only just gone to sleep five seconds ago? Surely the alarm wasn't going off already?

When he blinked and tried to gain awareness of his surroundings, he groaned again. The bedroom was pitch black. It was still late into the night, or possibly early in the morning. It wasn't the alarm that had woken him. After another second, Tommy realised it was his phone quietly vibrating on the dressing table which he could hear.

Tommy's nose crinkled again when he took a deep breath and started to realise how he was laid.

His right arm had gone completely numb and he soon realised that was because his arm was beneath the pillow (Y/n) was laid on. Her neck was directly on his arm and her right hand was clutching his wrist like she thought he was suddenly going to disappear in the middle of the night.

Tommy was laid on his right side with his lips and nose pressed down against the top of (Y/n)'s head. With his height, he usually tried to stay as close to the headboard as he could or else his feet would dangle over the end of the bed.

And his left arm was secured around (Y/n)'s waist beneath the cover, his fingers subconsciously digging into her waist and hip.

With a quiet groan of discontent, Tommy lifted his head from the pillow and pulled his left arm free from the covers. His bare chest pressed into (Y/n)'s back and he took the opportunity to kiss the top of her head while he stretched across and grabbed his phone from her side table where he dumped it when he got in.

He didn't bother to check the caller ID before he answered and pressed the phone to his ear, letting his head flop back into the pillow.

"Hello?" His gruff voice was thick with sleep and two octaves deeper than usual but he didn't care. He could feel sleep ebbing away at his mind until a crisp, low voice crackled through the other end of the line and sharpened his mind awake.

"Kinard, it's Robson."

Oh God, why was his Captain calling him?

When he pulled the phone away from his ear and squinted at the bright screen, Tommy all but huffed in distaste. It was four in the morning. The Captain was calling him at four in the morning. Why? What did he want?

Didn't he know that Tommy had gotten home at half eleven tonight- last night? Just over four hours ago? He had been in bed for all of four hours before being disturbed.

"Kinard?"

"Yeah… yeah, what's up?"

"I've had two people from the A shift call in sick, a chopper should have been sent downtown half an hour ago and I've got a broken train on the subway. I need a pilot and you're on call. Can you come back?"

That wasn't fair. Tommy let his annoyance be heard in the way he growled animalistically and huffed through his nose. He hadn't had nearly enough sleep to be going back on shift, especially if he was going to be there for a while. But did he actually have a choice in this? He was on call. Whether he went in right now or turned up in a few hours after some more sleep, Tommy was still going to have to go on shift.

The sooner he went in, the sooner he could come back home and come back to bed.

"You know I'm supposed to have eleven hours between full shifts, right?" The cocky tone to his voice gave away that he wasn't about to pull the law book out here.

He could, if he really wanted to. Tommy could be petty and state that in his contract, if he had just done a full twelve, or even a twenty four hour shift, he had to have eleven hours before his next shift. It could be classed as breaking the law if he didn't get enough rest between shifts and went back in how after only four hours of sleep and of being at home.

But this was the job. This was what they had to do when they were struggling for staff and it was an extra shift. Tommy could ask to have his next shift off as a swap for coming in today. Then he could recover and spend some time at home with his wife before going back to work.

"Are you gonna pull the book on me, or are you able to come in? I'll pay you double and you can head home early, I swear."

"Double, and I work today instead of my next shift."

"Deal."

When he hung up the phone, Tommy tossed it back on the side table and brought his hand up to rub at his eyes. He'd done a good negotiation there. Usually it was rather hard to make a deal with Captain Robson. He wasn't cruel or harsh by any means, but he wasn't always as easily understanding like Bobby.

He took a moment to run his hand up and down his face and try to wake himself up.

His body was crying out for sleep. He needed rest. But he had a feeling this shift might go quick. The morning shifts usually did pass by swiftly especially if they were busy. And Tommy would clearly be up in the air flying this morning and hopefully he could spend a bit of time back on the ground. Too much time up in the air with a foggy brain crying out for sleep wasn't an ideal situation.

If need be, Tommy would swap with someone on the team and take over on the truck so he could leave the chopper.

After a few seconds, he looped his arm back around (Y/n)'s waist and began to feather his fingers up and down her chest and abdomen. He pressed his chest into her back and tilted his head down until his nose and mouth were pressed into the crook of her neck.

It took him by surprise just how warm (Y/n)'s skin felt against his touch. He could feel a layer of sweat coating her skin and she was radiating heat like a house in winter.

He pressed a soft kiss against the base of her neck before slowly working his way up, leaving open-mouthed kisses in his wake up until his lips reached the tip of her jaw. He peppered his way down her jaw and leaned over so he could peck her cheek. The touch made (Y/n) shiver, but she stayed mostly burrowed down with her face burrowed into the pillow and her hand still gripping his right wrist.

"Honey," His voice was still laced with sleep, but it was much smoother now. He let his teeth graze against her jaw while his palm pressed down against her stomach to try and wake her. "I gotta go back into work now."

Moving his hand up, Tommy let go of her waist and gently curled his hand around (Y/n)'s wrist that was clinging to his hand. He uncurled her fingers from his wrist and pulled her arm up so he could kiss the back of her hand. His touch seemed to stirr her this time. He felt her shuffle back into him and her head tilted in his direction, lifting from the pillow. But she didn't bother to open her eyes.

"Home… going home,"

Her words made Tommy frown. He couldn't be sure what she muttered afterwards, but those words were enough to make him smile and wonder what kind of dream she was having. He pecked her cheek and entwined their fingers, holding her hand against his bare shoulder while (Y/n) nudged her head back until she pushed her temple against his shoulder.

"No, no baby we're home now. You with me?" He waited a few seconds until (Y/n) finally seemed to wake up and listen to what he was saying.

When she didn't answer, Tommy leaned over with his chest pressed back down against her shoulders and he stole a kiss. The touch shocked her awake a little more and he felt the surprise in the way she gasped before her lips began to move against his own and her tongue darted across his lips.

"Babe…" Her voice was nothing more than a quiet pant against his lips and it made Tommy hate himself for agreeing to this.

He didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay right here with her, where he belonged. But if he went now, he would be gaining a full day off with her the day after tomorrow- which was technically today since it was now morning. He knew (Y/n) would be on shift today and then tomorrow she would be off and now they could spend the day together.

"I gotta go back to work honey, you gonna be okay if I go?" The thought of leaving didn't exactly sit well in Tommy's gut when he looked down at his wife.

(Y/n) had been off work three days ago with a cold and although she promised Tommy on the phone this afternoon that she had felt better today, he wasn't inclined to agree. And now he could feel her starting to sweat, despite the cold air circulating through their bedroom, he wondered if she was starting to feel unwell again.

If she didn't want him to go he would ring Robson back and try to bargain to go in later this morning if he could. He would go in the same time as (Y/n) went for her shift, if she was well enough. So he could make sure she was alright and actually going to make it through her shift.

"Hm." She nodded and pulled her hand free from his so she could run her fingers across his cheek and steal another tired, sloppy kiss from him.

He knew if she didn't feel well enough she would call in sick. When they first started dating, (Y/n) had a hard time admitting when she was unwell and tried to keep going on shift even if she felt rough or could barely keep her eyes open. Now though, she was more easy-going on herself and understood it was okay to take a break when needed.

And she would be on shift with her dad. Tommy knew his father in law would keep an eye on (Y/n). Bobby would make sure she was okay and send her home if he thought she was too unwell to carry on with her shift.

"Alright then, I'll call you when I'm coming off shift."

(Y/n) grumbled quietly when Tommy's warmth suddenly disappeared from behind her. She no longer felt like she had a full length hot water bottle pressed up against her. There wasn't a secure arm around her waist or a face tucked lovingly into the crook of her neck.

She felt cold and alone and suddenly unsafe without Tommy wrapped around her, engulfing her in his large frame.

She could hear him shuffling around the room, getting dressed in the dark so he didn't have to put the light on and disturb (Y/n). Once he was dressed, (Y/n) suddenly felt his fingers beneath her chin and he tilted her head back into the pillow so her face was aimed up towards his.

"See you soon honey. Love you." His lips glued to (Y/n)'s and stole the little air left in her lungs while his thumb caressed her chin like he was drawing patterns on her skin. When he pulled back, (Y/n) lifted her head, trying to follow his lips and move with him until he pecked her temple and nudged her back into the bed. She needed to get some more sleep.

"Love you." She murmured softly, feeling a dull ache in her chest when his chuckle subsided and his footsteps started to become distant as he left the room.

***

Tilting her head from left to right, (Y/n) tried to get her eyes into focus and take note of her surroundings.

Everything was blurred. She was seeing double.

Nothing seemed to make sense in her mind and everything was spinning.

Her body slumped back until her shoulders and the back of her head bashed into something cold. She let her weight drop back and allowed her body to slide down until she was crouched down on the floor.

She was leaning against a fire truck. Why was there a fire truck here? Where was she? What kind of emergency situation was she caught up in to be near a fire truck? Was she hurt?

(Y/n) moved her hands and held them out in front of her. Both hands were shaking and she could see the veins popping up on her hands beneath her skin. She was burning up. Sweat was glistening on every part of her exposed skin and she could feel it making her shirt stick to her frame. Her body was overheating. Her hair was sticking to her temple and beads of sweat rolled down the side of her neck.

Her lungs burned as she tried to take deep breaths and work out what she was doing and where she was, but nothing was making sense.

You're supposed to help people.

A small, nagging voice in the back of her head tried to make sense of this, but it wasn't working. How was she supposed to help people? What was she supposed to do?

Her trembling hands moved up to cup her ears, drowning out the noises she could hear while her eyes fell closed. Ignoring the flashing lights making her temple throb and the bright midday sun that was beaming down on her like a spotlight.

She wanted to go home. Where was home? Was home near here? Home was with her dad. Where was he? Where was Bobby?

Her hands left her ears and a shudder jolted through her entire body when something on the truck slammed shut. Whether it was a hatch or a door or just someone retrieving something, (Y/n) wasn't sure. But the shockwave that rattled through the metal truck made her head pound and had her body coiling forwards.

She moved to press her hands down on the floor and slowly push herself to her feet, whimpering at how uneasy she felt when she was on her feet and how unbalanced she was. Whichever way her head wanted to lean, the rest of her body slowly started to follow until she was swaying left and right as she tried to walk forwards.

But she didn't know where she was going.

"Hey Bobby, where'd you want me?"

The tiredest smile Bobby had ever seen flooded his son-in-law's face and he watched Tommy hold his arms out at his sides while he took a look around the scene. He walked away from the truck he had just been driving and headed over towards Bobby who was sending his team this way and that to try and make sure every car on this bridge was evacuated.

At least six cars had piled up in a crash and they needed to evacuate them all and assess who needed urgent medical attention, who could walk away from this and who needed transport to hospital.

For a moment, Bobby looked at the younger man in front of him and looked around. They hadn't asked dispatch for air support. They had asked for another team and at least three ambulances, but no one was in dire need of being air-lifted to hospital.

But it clicked when he finally realised that Tommy was in the matching uniform. Dark blue shirt, thick black overalls and a black and florescent yellow jacket. He was here on ground support today. He was here as a firefighter, not a pilot.

And since this was Bobby's callout since his team got here first, Tommy's team would be taking their lead from him.

"Hey… weren't you on shift last night?" Bobby reached over to clap one hand on Tommy's shoulder before he looked around the scene again.

"I'm on call this week."

"Ah. Well, in that case, there's three cars over there who haven't been evacuated yet. Find (Y/n) and take her with you, I need everyone off this bridge."

"Copy that."

Tommy could feel the tiredness washing over him like waves lapping at the sand. But his mind started to vibrate and liven up at the thought of finding his wife. He hadn't seen her at all yesterday from being on shift and they only exchanged small talk last night when he came home and climbed into bed.

He wanted to see her and talk to her and ask if she was feeling any better. And maybe steal a kiss or two if he could.

His eyes darted around the scene as he looked for that familiar style of hair or the matching jacket that had his last name stitched across the back.

It didn't take long for his eyes to land on that all too familiar frame he had memorised down to every last mark, scar and mole on her skin. But as his eyes drank in the sight of his wife, Tommy couldn't help but furrow his brows and tilt his head to one side.

She wasn't walking properly.

For a moment, he thought she might have sprained her ankle or done something to her knee with the way she was walking. But after a few steps, he realised she wasn't actually walking like she was in pain. She was walking like she couldn't seem to hold herself upright.

Her body was leaning forwards while she had one arm locked around her waist and her other hand deadlocked at the back of her neck, scratching into her skin.

He watched the way her eyes danced across him before she went back to scouring the scene like she was looking for something in particular.

Tommy took a deep breath and picked up the pace to meet (Y/n) halfway. He stopped in front of her and reached his hands out to gently hold onto her upper arms and stop her in her tracks. His thumbs brushed up and down her arms over her jacket and he leaned his chest back and tilted his head down until his pointed chin was pressing down into his chest so he could look down at her.

"Honey, you okay?" He tried to smile but (Y/n) wasn't looking at him properly. She was constantly darting her eyes from left to right, briefly looking up at Tommy before she went back to scanning their surroundings like she didn't know or understand what was happening.

He watched curiously as (Y/n) reached her arms out and held onto Tommy's arms just below his elbows and her grip was so tight he could feel her nails digging into his jacket.

She was sweating. And shaking. And she was swaying back and forth like she didn't know how to hold her own balance.

Tommy let his hands glide up her arms to her shoulders and he carefully pushed her jacket off her shoulders. He slid the thick material down her arms and let it fall into a puddle on the floor, curving around the back of (Y/n)'s boots. He could see from how badly she was sweating and her shallow breathing that she was running a temperature and in this heat, she didn't need an extra layer to make it worse.

He pressed the back of his hand against her temple which seemed to bring her back to reality while his right hand curved around the back of her arm. Keeping her stood as close to him as possible and holding her up so she didn't wobble or take a tumble.

"(Y/n), are you with me?" His hand left her temple and moved to cup her chin so he could tilt her head up to interlock their gazes.

"You… you know my name?"

"What?"

Was she trying to joke with him? Was this another way of teasing him because he rarely ever said her name anymore. Tommy had so many pet names for her that he couldn't remember the last time he'd called (Y/n) by her name.

And both their teams knew this too. It was something Evan liked to tease him about while Bobby thought it was endearing since he himself wasn't used to calling Athena anything but her name or the occasional 'honey'.

Tommy let out a small chuckle and rolled his eyes while his head dropped down at an angle. And his thumb began to glide up and down (Y/n)'s chin, moving dangerously close to her lips every now and then.

"I think I know my own wife's name by now, don't you?"

The way (Y/n) latched her hands around Tommy's arms again made him stand up straighter and tense his arms beneath her touch. She was beginning to shake worse and when he realised she had tears trickling down her face, panic surged through his heart that started to hammer away against his ribs.

Tightening his hands around her arms, he tried to force himself to smile to try and keep her calm because he could see she was starting to panic.

He nudged her back until she was taking a few steps backwards, letting him guide her towards the concrete wall separating the two sides of the dual carriageway on the bridge. He nudged (Y/n) back until she took the hint and slumped down onto the concrete wall with a thud. Her knees trembled and her body leaned forward while Tommy crouched down in front of her legs.

"You don't look well, honey what's the matter? Talk to me." His hands left her arms to begin smoothing up and down her thighs instead.

He noticed how she didn't pull away or push his touch away, but the way she was looking at him made him feel uneasy.

Whenever (Y/n) was ill, she could cling to Tommy. Whether that be to get him to wrap her up in a hug or to cling to him for comfort or just rest her head on his shoulder for some form of touch. She would always wrap herself around Tommy and it was something he loved about her.

But she wasn't clinging to him right now. She was barely responding to him at all and it was frightening.

"Talk to me," He coaxed again, his tone gentler and quieter this time, letting her know his focus was solely fixed upon her.

"I… I don't… where am I? I don't wanna b-be here…"

"You're on shift honey, see?" Tommy reached out and feathered his fingers across the LAFD logo on the left side of her shirt before he pointed at the fire truck behind him.

What was going on right now? Why was (Y/n) confused about where she was or what she was supposed to be doing? Where on Earth did she think she was? What did she think was going on to make her this frightened and reverting back into her shell?

"You're important… someone important… I-" The shaking started to increase throughout (Y/n)'s body until she was trembling back and forth on the wall as f she was about to fall down onto Tommy's lap.

Tears jumped free from her lashes and fell down the bridge of her nose, making glistening tracks in their wake as she started to sniff and gasp for each breath.

The way Tommy pushed up on his heels and brushed the tears away made (Y/n)'s heart stutter. She reached out to cup his wrist and kept hold of him, but the fear in her eyes made Tommy want to burst into tears too.

"What's my name?" Utter panic dwelled in Tommy's voice that dropped down an octave as he stared at his wife. "Honey, what's my name?"

She shook her head.

She couldn't answer him because she didn't know the answer.

But despite not knowing his name and not placing who he was, her grip stayed paramount around Tommy's wrist, refraining him from pulling away from her. She was clinging to him even though she didn't know who he was. She was staring at him with such fear and confusion in her eyes that it made Tommy want to be sick.

There was nothing he could do. What was he supposed to do? How could be rectify this and make her remember him and understand what was going on?

"Bobby, I need some help over here."

Tommy moved one hand and waved out until he finally caught the Captain's attention and waved him over. All while his other hand stayed cradling the side of (Y/n)'s face since she was clinging to him.

There was something familiar about him. Although (Y/n) couldn't think of his name or place why she knew the person knelt down in front of her, she knew there was just something about him that was recognisable.

He was important. He was special, but she didn't know why. It was like there was a dream lingering in the back of her mind, telling her that she knew him from somewhere. His face, chiselled and handsome, was memorable and familiar but all the answers were locked up in a safe, hidden away in the depths of her mind that she couldn't delve into.

The more (Y/n) tried to think, the worse she began to feel. The more she tried to think why she was here, why she was dressed so similar to the man in front of her, why she was at some sort of crash sight. Why she was so groggy and burning and on fire and feeling sick. The more her head started to ache.

A sharp pain was igniting in the base of her skull and firing down her neck like bullets travelling the expanse of her spine.

She wanted to be sick. She wanted to close her eyes and go to sleep. She wanted to go home. Where was home? Why wasn't she back in Minnesota? This wasn't her home town, she knew that for certain.

Wherever she was, this was unfamiliar.

"Dad!" As soon as her eyes found her dad rushing towards her, relief sparked so hard in her blood that (Y/n) couldn't feel her hands anymore.

Her body bolted up from the wall so fast she stumbled into the man kneeling in front of her legs.

She felt his hands grapple to hold onto her hips, preventing her from falling onto his chest and keeping her up on her own two feet. Once she was steady again, (Y/n) pushed forward and reached her trembling arms out for her dad.

It was such a relief to have Bobby pull her into his chest that her vision suddenly went white and her mind started to blank and turn to mush. Static fizzled and popped in her ears and her body swayed forward into her dad's arms until he braced his hands on her hips and held her upright.

"Sweetheart what's the matter?" Bobby moved his hand to run up and down her back while he glanced over at Tommy for some sort of explanation.

"I wanna go home."

"She's delirious and feverish… Bobby, she doesn't recognise me or where she is." Tommy's hand reached out as if to rest on (Y/n)'s shoulder but he pulled back, thinking better of touching her if she had no idea who he was. "We need to get her down to the hospital, now."

Tommy swallowed dryly and felt his throat threatening to close up as he looked from Bobby, down to his wife, and back again.

She didn't remember him. She didn't know who he was or where she was or what was going on. The only person she was sure about was her dad. They needed to get her checked out. This had to be more than a simple cold or a fever for (Y/n) to be this confused and frightened and experiencing memory problems.

(Y/n) tucked her face into Bobby's chest and bound her arms tighter around his torso until she was almost cutting off his breathing.

He kept his left arm bound around her middle, holding her weight up for her against his chest while his right hand moved to cradle her face. He tilted her head back so she was looking up at him, and he realised how flushed her skin was and how she was burning up against him.

"Sweetheart… do you know where you are?"

"Home, wanna go home." She muttered breathlessly into his shirt, smothering her face into his chest again so she didn't have to squint in the bright sunlight or focus on anything in particular.

"Okay, let's go get you to a doctor first, hm?" Bobby leaned down to kiss the top of her head while his hand continued to smooth up and down her back.

He didn't want to pester her with questions, not when he could feel her crying quietly into his shirt. Asking questions she couldn't find the answers to was only going to distress her even more and she didn't need that right now.

He leaned his cheek on top of her head, locking eyes with Tommy while he held his radio.

"Hen, I need the ambulance prepped and ready to go… (Y/n) needs an assessment and a trip to the hospital."

They heard a bundle of responses, Hen agreeing with them, Chimney asking if he needed to call Tommy. Evan and Eddie asking what was going on and if she had got trapped or hurt out on the call.

But Bobby didn't answer any of them. He looped his arm around (Y/n)'s waist rather than her back and started to guide her away from the wall and towards the ambulance parked just behind the truck on the hard shoulder. His other arm looped around her chest and his hand began to glide up and down her back to try and keep her calm.

He could feel Tommy close on his left side, keeping (Y/n) held between them while Tommy dared to rest a hand on her shoulder. Relieved when she didn't pull away or flinch or scream at him to let go.

But as the three of them made a slow walk towards the ambulance, Tommy suddenly stopped and jerked his arms out in front of him when (Y/n) started to fall.

Her feet bent awkwardly beneath her and her body tilted to the left, bumping into Tommy's shoulder before she flagged in Bobby's arms and her mind shut down.

Both of them grabbed hold of her, stopping her from hitting the floor with a bang as she went completely limp.

Bending his knees, Tommy curved round so he was in front of (Y/n) and let her head flop onto his shoulder. He curved an arm behind her legs and one around her waist and as quickly as he could, he shifted her round and lifted her up bridal style. Her face stayed pressed against his shoulder while Bobby held her hand and placed her arm across her chest so it didn't hang down at her side.

"We need to go." Tommy watched his father in law break off into a sprint towards Hen to get the gurney from her. His panic a silent agreement that they had to go now and they had to move quickly.

Tommy's eyes darted ahead and then back down to his wife, limp, sweating and trembling in his arms like they were in the arctic instead of under the burning LA sun.

What was happening to her? And why didn't she remember him?

***

"Hey sweetheart, how you feeling?" Bobby let his gaze linger on (Y/n)'s hand that he had been holding for the last hour or so.

He slowly moved her hand so he could kiss the back of her knuckles and run his other hand up and down her arm. He smiled softly across at her, watching the way (Y/n) dragged her free hand to shakily brush across her eyes and nose and wake herself up a little more.

She pushed herself up and took a look around.

She was in a bed. She was in a hospital room, wearing a hospital gown. There was an IV taped into the back of her left hand and monitoring stickers that she realised now felt itchy and uncomfortable over her chest. And she could feel the wires rubbing against the gown and tickling over her arm.

"Cold," (Y/n) murmured as goosebumps started to prickle on her skin when she realised she was actually cold.

She watched the way her dad hung his head down and smiled while he moved their entwined hands to rest down on the bed next to her thigh.

"You were burning up so they turned the A/C on full and put a fan on, you're almost back to normal temperature now though."

It made (Y/n) feel like one of the desserts her dad made for the parties they were always throwing. Like she was starting to melt or become overcooked and needed to go in the fridge before she turned to mush.

But she felt like she was at a normal temperature now because she could register that the room was freezing cold and she was at the point of shivering.

"Alright sweetheart, can you tell me what day it is, or the last thing that you remember?" Bobby let go of her hand to smooth his palms up and down his jeans. He could feel the worry ebbing away in his chest and eating out his heart that was hammering three times as fast against his ribs.

He wasn't sure he was prepared for what answers she might give him. They didn't know if she had been suffering memory loss or if she had just been extremely confused. And they didn't know what time zone (Y/n) thought she was in since she couldn't remember who Tommy was, and she had been with him for the last five years.

It was almost frightening for Bobby to wonder what time (Y/n) thought she was in and what she might or might not remember.

When her dad let go of her hand, (Y/n) suddenly felt even colder and lonesome. She ran her fingers up and down the creases in the thin sheet that was draped across her legs and pulled up to her waist. But when she lifted her gaze, her head tilted to one side and her lips parted.

Something soft swirled in her deep eyes and her lips quirked into a smile as she reached a hand out across the room.

"Tommy…"

She hadn't realised he was in the room with them until now. Her gaze locked on her husband, stood as close to the door as he could get like he thought he might need to make a quick exit anytime soon.

He was stood with one leg crossed over the other and his body slanted at an angle while his left shoulder was pressed against the wall. He was facing the door with his head tilted down so his cleft chin was tucked against his chest. And he had his arms folded over his chest, showing off the way his muscles in his biceps tensed and how his work shirt looked a size too small for him.

But when his name passed through her lips, Tommy's head snapped to the right.

His blue eyes went wide until his pupils almost took over the whole expanse of his eyes and his lips parted, but he couldn't find anything to say.

She recognised him. She'd said his name. She knew who he was.

He pushed his frame off the wall and bolted across the room until he could collapse down on the side of the bed next to her thigh. His hands reached out for hers but her hand was already out, cupping the side of his face before he could grab her.

His fingers glided up and down her arm, ghosting over her pulse point as if to make sure she was actually speaking to him and this wasn't just some kind of wishful dream.

"You know my name." He muttered in disbelief before he turned his head to the right and pressed his lips against her wrist, kissing over her pulse. He leaned his cheek into her touch, wanting to melt on the spot when her fingers cupped his cheek and the underside of his jaw and he felt her thumb going across his cheekbone.

"It'd be a bit embarrassing if I didn't… I married you, didn't I?" Her voice was quiet and crackling from how dry her throat felt, but her words were like the softest string quartet Tommy had ever heard.

"What's the last thing you remember?"

He could of just sat there in awe of his wife and beg her to say his name over and over and over until it was the only thing he could understand and be sure of. But Tommy wanted to make sure she didn't have any gaps in her memory and that she hadn't time-skipped but still forgotten some of her memories.

"I… I was home, getting ready for work… you'd gone really early, but I- I don't remember going to work, or coming here." She could picture herself getting dressed at home. She could see herself looking at the bed with disappointment that she had woken up alone because Tommy had been called away so early.

She had barely gotten to hug and snuggle with him before he was gone again like a vague dream she could barely recall.

The relief in Tommy's eyes told (Y/n) that what she remembered was recent and she could tell he was overjoyed.

Had she really forgotten who he was? What had she said or done to him to make him worry she wouldn't remember him when she woke up? Oh God, what had she done to him?

Tears welled up in her eyes and she could barely register her dad kissing her temple, muttering that he was going to go and get Athena and bring her up before he left the room.

As soon as the door closed, (Y/n) brushed her thumb across Tommy's cheek and bit down on her lower lip to stop herself from crying. She felt her spine clicking into place as she leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against his temple. The touch almost made him jump, but the way he leaned his head back and stared up at her with those big doe eyes made (Y/n)'s stomach flutter with adrenaline.

"Baby did I, did I really forget your name… forget you?"

"Only for a moment. You knew I was someone important." The soft, intoxicating smile on his lips made (Y/n) want to smile, but all she could do was take short, puffed breaths.

"Why?"

"You got a viral infection, encephalitis. But we caught it in time, you're gonna be just fine now. And you remember us all and who you are, so no more tears, okay?"

Tommy kissed over her pulse point again before he leaned forward and moved his hands to cradle her face.

He pulled her in for a kiss, tasting the salt tears over her lips and feeling them trace onto his face when she couldn't seem to stop them. He stole the little air left in her lungs and grazed his teeth along her lip while their noses brushed together and he couldn't help but smile against her lips.

"As long as you remember me, honey, it's all good."

[essie1876]

Told my boyfriend he can go through anything in my phone EXCEPT my tumblr.

person: do you have tumblr?

me: yes

person: whats your url?

me: no

[essie1876]

I'm trying to prove a point to my brain: Reblog if you think fanfiction does not need sex to be good.

There is a trend I’ve noticed that smut fics tend to be much more popular than anything else and honestly I just want to have something to look at to remind myself and that writing doesn’t have to have sex to be worth putting out into the community.

[essie1876]

xreader fic is so inherently healing like

do you love yourself? no? that's okay this character you love loves you back. are you kind? that is why they love you. are you patient? that is why they love you. are you a coward are you shy are you brave are you bold are you bratty? that is why they love you. you are loved and you will not be punished for seeking love. you are loved and you will find it here in these words.

do you love yourself yet? no? that's okay this character can love you until you do. this character will point out the few traits you can relate with yourself (your smile, your laugh, you brattiness, your whimsy, your strength, your sorrow) and tell you that they love that about you until one day you can love it, if not yourself, too.

do you love yourself yet? no? but you're starting to accept that you can be loved? that there is something in you- your awkwardness, your bashfulness, your straightforward mind, you ability to heal, your ability to fight- that someone could look at and learn to adore? well done. you're right, this character does see that and adore it. you may not love yourself just now, just yet, but now you see right? That there is something to love in you?

[essie1876]

Coming into a fandom late

[essie1876]

I feel like a failure as an adult. I was supposed to have my student loans paid off by now. I just got paid and between my student loan payment, my car payment, my medical bills, and additional bill, I have $100 left. I got paid yesterday. I pay well over my minimum payment on my loan - have since I started paying in 2019 and yet I feel like it will never go away. I see the $6,600 on my loan account and feel like that should be so easy to pay off but it feels like the end will never be in sight. Yeah I’ve paid probably $30,000 in 2 years (not including 2020-21) but I feel like I’ve done nothing. I go to Disney in less than a month and instead of being excited, I feel the anxiety of the money I spent that could have gone to my loans. How are we supposed to live while also paying our debts. I hate the way this world is running.

[essie1876]

Wizard worm just emerged from a wizarding hole! Lucky you!!!✨🪱🪄🍀

[essie1876]

I am a little nervous at what he’s going to find.

Set Me Alight: Part 8 - The Salt and The Sea

📜Everyone has been on a Bob kick lately (I think), so this is coming right when it should! Let's see how Grace and Bob feel about all this. Shall we? 👀

‼️ - +18, Minors DNI, Strong Language, Original Female Character (s), Bradley Bradshaw x Natasha Trace, Bob Floyd x Original Female Character (This is all in their perspective), Angst, mentions of bullying, hurt, overheard fights, preventing a panic attack, frustration, and Grace being sad and done with Bullshit. 

#4.6k

Part 7 | Masterlist | Part 9

Present Day

Sixteen hours.

That's how long Bob's carefully guarded, carefully constructed walls took to crumble after all these years.

There was an inkling the night before as he settled into his tent, a feeling that knocked once or twice from the inside of his chest. It wasn't there when he woke up this morning or during the trek here to the falls.

But the second Grace raced up behind him, everyone watching Veronica climb out of the water, that feeling returned. It seemed no longer content to sit around and wait for Bob to figure out why it had. 

Grace grasped his hand, pulling herself to hide behind his body so she could stifle her giggles into the back of his shoulder. Bob couldn't help the few snorts that shook through his body either. However, he pitied Javy, watching as he tried to console his girlfriend, who was stomping her foot like a three-year-old child over the fact that her makeup had been ruined.

The both of them couldn't say it wasn't an unwelcome sight. They knew what you had done, catching you hooking something onto the loop of Veronica's jeans, knowing it was damn well meant for Jake. Though the pair knew better than to act on it, they imagined themselves holding up a fist to the air, like in the Breakfast Club, silently praising the act of Karma on your behalf.

Maybe even quietly counting tallies next to your name in Bob's traveller's journal.

You needed a win. A big win against one of those two. They weren't going to say shit about it. They only wished, deep down, they could have helped.

But when Bradley took you by the arm, leading you way, another knock, this time harder, thumped in his chest. Another followed it. And another, until that feeling morphed into what Bob could only describe as a white-hot pain, burning every nerve in the pit of his stomach.

Bob knew what was about to happen.

While there hadn't been much to discuss, Bradley had pulled all the guys together after you went to bed last night to discuss his proposal. Standing in that circle, Bob realized it had been more of a pep talk than anything else.

Everyone already had a predetermined role—some part to play in helping Nat get to the right spot. Bob and Grace merely had to act surprised, with the rest of the group save Jake, you, and Rueben, when they eventually emerged from the bush, a shiny new ring hopefully on her finger.

It was a horrible plan, he had thought then. He knew—more so than most—that involving Jake and you in such an event would only result in disaster. He even had said as much to Grace when he turned in for the night, climbing into their shared tent.

Grace merely highlighted Nat's inconsiderate behaviour regarding your feelings, turning her back to him as she settled into her sleeping bag. The action was so absolute, so final, they said nothing else about it the rest of the night.

But laying awake, staring at Grace's back, Bob couldn't help but think about it. Grace was right. With all the shit Jake and you threw at each other since the moment you two met, Nat would have to be completely stupid not to realize just how fucked up it was not to tell you Jake would be coming on this trip.

It wasn't the first time Grace brought it up, either. Bob knew how his girlfriend felt about Nat, you, the entire group, their inability to stand up for you, and their failure to separate themselves from Nat.

He'd be lying if he hadn't felt the same at one point or another.

But Bob knew why everyone didn't, why he didn't, and why, even to some extent, Jake didn't either, even if he was more verbal about it than anyone else.

From behind the scenes, everyone tried to protect you and themselves from a fallout with Natasha. Not the fallout itself but the aftermath. At that point, he had rolled on his back, trying to figure it all out from the safety and privacy of his tent.

But who was he kidding? There was nothing to figure out.

Nat's scandal was an anvil, and her history and behaviour were hanging over every person in the group by a single thread. Even in the years since it happened, since they had all left school and Grace and Cora joined the group, it still had everyone in a chokehold.

And you were oblivious to it all.

Bob wasn't sure when it happened, but it became an unspoken agreement to protect you from that truth. So they were burying it to keep the peace—at least, everyone but Bradley. Bob couldn't say what was happening inside his friend's head, nor would he ask him.

But nobody would go out of their way to upset the group's 'supposed' hierarchy—not when real friendships and relationships, whether made with Nat's influence or not, were at stake.

You had to deal with the brunt of it, and Bob would regret it every day for the rest of his life.

No kind words or assurances could help the cluster of nerves swimming in Bob's stomach when Grace hooked her arm through his. Leading him to a section of the pond free from tourists, she wanted to avoid the temper tantrum Javy and Rueben, to an extent, would have to deal with. Seeing fish in the water earlier and knowing Bob would get a kick out of trying to identify them, she welcomed the distraction.

But as the pair searched through their books to match the first fish they saw, the first shout vibrated through the air, and Bob felt like he was going to hurl.

There was no mistaking it for what it was. Nat was, for lack of a better word, shitting on you and Jake. It was loud. It was scary. And no matter where anyone went, it was impossible to block out the noise.

They stood there, staring down at the words and diagrams in their books, no longer interested in the fish, scared any movement or action would have them on a chopping block. Though her eyes blurred, Grace was sure there were no more fish to look at anyway, for they, too, would have felt the noise vibrate against the water and would have been scared away.

At least they felt like they were able to.

When it finally fell silent, Grace nervously reached for Bob's hand. She led them away from the water through a tiny gap in the bush, deep into the forest. She didn't dare stop, walking blindly for minutes until she saw a little nook encased by a massive tree.

Its branches hung low, as did those of the surrounding trees. Each covered the space in a vibrant green shade, offering a safe place from the events leading up to this moment. A giant, thick tree root rested above the ground, and Grace pulled Bob down as she sat upon it.

Neither one spoke, nervous to say anything. Birds, the wind and bugs filled this space instead. It could have been hours, though Grace started to play with Bob's fingers only minutes later. He let her slide her fingertips over his skin and grasp around each finger until she smoothly threaded each together. Over and over, she did this, never once altering her pattern or rhythm.

Grace was trying to ground herself. And for Bob, it made everything that much worse.

It had been sixteen hours to the dot since that first knock in his chest. And while Bob had admitted last night and perhaps now that the trip, the excuses, the group dynamic, Nat's behaviour—was hopelessly warped—the truth was he had known for days, months, maybe even years.

He'd simply shoved it all deep down under lock and key, partly for selfish reasons. Sixteen hours was merely all the time it took for that lock to break and for everything to come rushing back to the surface. Because while the person he loved was hurting on behalf of someone else, it was too silent in this forest, even at this distance. 

It was the lack of you and Jake tearing each other apart.

"I think something happened to Jake and Maeve," Bob said in a rough voice, finally finding the courage to speak.

Grace's hands froze, not moving an inch. She lifted her head, eyebrows knitting together. Bob didn't meet her gaze, too nervous to look away from their joined hands.

"It's too quiet," he offered softly. "Especially after that."

Grace also dropped her eyes to their hands, biting the inside of her cheek hard. "She'd be tearing into him right now. Forget Nat. Maeve would clear out the whole damn park with a single shout."

Bob nodded absentmindedly, turning his hand to mock Grace's earlier pattern, a silent gesture to let her know he had been paying attention.

"Or she'd be running off to apologize to Nat, and Jake would be seeking us out, tail between his legs."

"Nat should be the one apologizing to her."

Grace's statement was so blunt and sharp that Bob feathered his jaw. And something in that quick movement made a thread in Grace's gentle heart snap.

She tore her hand from Bob's grip and shuffled away from him further down the log. She swallowed hard, refusing to turn back and look at him as she fiddled with a ring on her finger. When Bob went to follow, naturally reaching for her like it was second nature, she shuffled again.

"No," she mumbled lowly, shying away from his touch. Bob frowned, sliding closer once again, softly calling her name. But Grace only pushed herself up from the log, her fists balled and clenched tight. "No!"

She stomped forward a few steps, not wanting to leave the found safety of their little nook. Threading her fingers through her hair, she paced back and forth, trying to count her breath.

"Grace..."

She spun wildly, her eyes narrowing, her lips pressing into a thin line, and her jaw clenching. "Don't 'Grace' me," she gritted out behind her teeth.

Bob dropped his forehead into the palm of his hand, his elbow digging hard into his knee. "Don't..."

"Don't what, exactly?" she seethed. "Don't talk about 'it'?

Bob dug his nails into the denim of his jeans - enough to feel a pinch through the fabric on his thigh.

The laugh Grace let out was bitter, morphing into a harsh shout. "Come on, Bob! Cora and I might have been the last ones to join whatever fucked up friend group this is, but Nat couldn't give two shits about Maeve! And it's this unspoken thing nobody talks about. Why?!"

"Grace..."

"Don't!" she snapped, stomping her foot, making clumps of dirt fly out in all directions. "I don't care about some fucked up unspoken agreement! I care about Maeve! Don't tell me you don't, Robert?!"

Bob finally lifted his head, though he focused on the way they came, not once meeting his girlfriend's angry stare.

"Bob, so help me... If you say no..."

"You know I do!" he rushed out, shaking his head.

"Then why don't you fucking say something?!" she cried out. "Why doesn't anyone say something?! She's suffering, and nobody does anything!"

She didn't even know she was crying hot, angry tears until she felt one fall off her cheek, a slight cool breeze marking a path on her skin.

"I wanted to. I wanted to, so badly, the first time I noticed it. And you told me not to."

Bob did, and he always wondered if Grace resented him for it.

She sighed, wiping the tears from her face. She paced back and forth a little bit, trying to calm herself down. Because Bob didn't deserve her anger, it was unfair of her to even yell at him in the first place.

Instead, she walked up to the tree, pressing her forehead into the bark, once again trying to count her inhales and exhales.

"When Bradley told me about Nat when he was going to school, I thought she was just a phase. Whenever he called to talk to Dad, I just sat back and wondered. I wondered how long it would take and what the reason behind the break between those two would be."

Grace lifted her head, fixing her eyes on a ladybug climbing the trunk. "You could imagine my surprise when he brought her home for spring break."

She placed her hand on the wood, twisting back to look at her boyfriend. "I never told you this, but I didn't like her the second I met her."

Bob lifted his head to meet her gaze. "Why..?"

"Because she thought I was a threat. That I harboured a crush on Bradley, and I would steal him from her," she shrugged.

Bob's eyes shot up his skull. "... I mean, you two grew up together... did you... ever?"

Grace audibly gagged, adding a few choking noises for a dramatic effect. "He's like my brother, Bob. What the hell?"

He held his hands up in surrender. "I had to ask."

Grace didn't address the remark when she continued, "She treated me horribly that entire week. She sweet-talked my dad and only was nice to me when he was around. Thank God he saw right through her. The second he left, he said that Carole, Bradley's mom, wouldn't have approved. I agreed."

With a narrowed forehead, Bob's mouth gaped open, bobbing like a fish. "Wait... then why did she..."

"Why did she suddenly start inviting me to stuff? It's cause I was dating you. I was no longer a threat. And she acted like she had never done what she did in the first place."

While Bob might have met Grace through work, he was surprised to learn she had grown up with Bradley. How she acted around Bradley, bore no resemblance to a long-lasting, familiar childhood friendship. However, the longer he thought about it, the more it made sense—her closed-off and quiet nature when she was around them.

That the first time they saw each other again, all Bradley could manage was a slight nod.

"Why didn't you tell me?" 

Grace only offered causally, "You'd be surprised at all the stuff that doesn't require your input. Sometimes you gotta leave people to do the lame shit they do and watch them fuck it up on their own." 

A ball formed in her throat. "But Maeve... when I met Maeve and saw what was happening, my heart broke. And she is the only exception to what I just said."

Bob knew what was coming next. Like a coward, he braced himself hard.

"You told me not to say anything when I first brought it up. But now? I can't keep doing it. Not after what she just did to them. Not after that."

"Grace... Don't..."

"Maeve is drowning, Bob! Drowning!" she shouted angrily, startling a nearby bird on a branch. "And I can't stand it any longer. We need to find her, grab her, and take her home. Take her away from all this. From Nat, from those two bitches... God, if they gaslight anything else, they could practically set the whole fucking forest on fire."

"You don't believe in swearing, Grace," he deadpanned.

"Maybe I do now!" she cried. "I feel guilty. Guilty Bob! Cause I bit my lip like a good girl when Nat just what? Uses her? Ignores her? Disregard her feelings? Like hell, why didn't she try harder to figure the fuck out why Jake and Meave are at each other's throats?! Or how those two bully the fuck out of her?"

"Maeve wouldn't tell us about Jake when we asked."

"And you don't find it strange she wouldn't?" she challenged him. "Out of everyone in the group, she didn't tell a soul. Why? Why didn't she? Why wouldn't she?!"

Grace's heart was hurting, and she knew Bob truly knew why. He had been around them longer than she had, so there must have been a reason he told her not to. There had to be.

"At first, I thought it was something everyone accepted, you know? That everyone was trying to figure out what had happened between her and Jake. I thought tensions were high because of that.

She blew out a shaky breath, Bob not once interrupting her.

"Maybe it was a fucking game they were playing with each other until they finally worked up the courage to admit they like each other enough to get into each other's pants. Cause whatever the cause, Maeve wouldn't be so goddamn hurt if she didn't care!"

Bob closed his eyes, a huff of a laugh escaping his mouth. 

"But last to join the group, right? You have to be quiet. Read the room. Get a sense of how to act and what you can say. Cause learning to fit in with new people, you have to pick up these things. The best way to get along with everyone else. Like how Maeve runs the second Jake walks into the room? How she avoids conversations about him if she can help it?"

Grace blew a raspberry out of pure frustration. "Jake was never the real issue, though. Everyone just made it out to be. Everyone should have noticed how Maeve bit her tongue as Nat walked over her opinions. How Nat derails conversations, not just where Maeve is concerned, but practically with everyone to make it about her."

Grace laughed, shaking her head. "She got the brunt of all of it, and we just... watched."

Grace finally approached Bob, standing before him, though he didn't lift his head from where it hung low on his shoulders. Had he chosen to look up, he would have noticed how the sun finally peeked through the leaves, beams of light breaking the shade, leaving Grace in their spotlight. 

"I meant, she invites us all on this trip so we can watch her get proposed to? And she doesn't bother to tell her that Jake is coming along, too? I mean... how selfish can she get?!"

"Grace, this isn't going to solve..."

"WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?!" she yelled, throwing her hands at the sky. "That ship left the fucking dock ages ago."

Bob's eyes fixed on a leaf stuck under a fallen branch at her words. Grace knew from that reaction alone that she had resonated with something within his kind, caring soul.

"I just... can't... I can't anymore, Bob. If I'm the first to take the leap and break up this group, then good fucking riddance. It needs to be done so we all can get some peace."

She slid to her knees in the dirt in front of him, her hands resting firmly on the sides of his thighs.

"How many years have Nat and Maeve known each other, and not once did Nat realize how hard her supposed best friend had been falling? How could she not recognize that, Bob? And how could she continue to force Jake and Maeve together when Maeve just wanted to escape?"

She reached forward to cup his cheek, guiding his gaze to meet hers. While silent rage resonated within them, Bob knew it wasn't meant for him.

"Why did you tell me to be quiet that first time I brought this up? Why do you still tell me, too?"

Bob gulped, forcing his eyes away. Grace stroked her thumb under his eye, encouraging him on. "I don't know what happened, baby, but I don't think it will be all sunshine and rainbows when we return to the group. Not this time. Just tell me, please."

Bob blew out a shakey breath and shook his head. "Because I wanted you to stay."

"Stay?"

He had contemplated all the reasons, stacking them up brick by brick last night, refusing to acknowledge the leverage Natasha could have used against him. But Bob had damned himself with that one word.

Stay—He wanted Grace to stay. Because if he brought this up, if he told her, there was a chance she wouldn't—at least, there was a possibility.

He lifted his chin, staring into her eyes.

Nat's so-called leverage was kneeling in front of him, begging him to tell her the truth. Her eyes were desperate, so much so that Bob knew he was possibly damned if he did and undoubtedly damned if he did not. Grace had chosen her path, and he would steadfastly follow her wherever she decided to go. 

There was no ever questioning that.

Bob reached for her sides, pulling Grace close between his spread legs. She let him, hands landing softly on his biceps before they slid down to his forearms. Bob traded his grip on her jacket to hold her hands, only to trace the same pattern she had a few minutes before.

He braced himself and took several sharp breaths before asking, "Did anyone ever tell you about Natasha's so-called scandal? Back in school?"

Grace cocked an eyebrow. "Only what Maeve's told me. Bradley and I weren't on speaking terms, and he'd never tell Dad if she had one. Though, Maeve didn't even know the complete story."

She let Bob turn her hand over and trace the lines on the palm of her hand. "But she shut me down hard after that. Saying Nat worked to put it behind her and move on, so we all should, too."

Bob scoffed. "Always protecting her."

"Bob?"

Bob hesitated, his gaze flickering away from Grace's expectant eyes. He swallowed hard, the reluctance clear in his tight jaw. Then he closed his eyes, leaning over to whisper in her ear, his voice cautious but a whisper.

Grace's eyes widened, and a gasp slipped through her parted lips at his words. She could hardly breathe as he told her the story. And when he was finished, she tilted so far back on her heels in shock that she almost fell onto her butt.

"Bob! What the hell? After everything I just told you?!"

Bob still hadn't opened his eyes, his head hung low in shame.

"I would have never left you over that! Over complete and utter bullshit? Who do you think I'd believe more? Her or my boyfriend?"

"I didn't know. I didn't want to risk losing you."

"You listen here, Bob Floyd," Grace urged, grabbing his face with both hands and forcing him to look at her. "I'm in a relationship with you. I love you. I would have never believed her if she had done that to us."

He kissed the inside of Grace's wrist, a deep weight lifting off his chest.

"God, I want to throttle her."

"I think that's why everyone doesn't call her out. Cause they don't want it to happen to them. Or at least, deep down, I never did 'cause I didn't want Maeve or Bradley to be alone with..."

Grace nodded, letting Bob know he did not need to continue explaining.

"We should try to find her, Bob. Let her know we love her and that we'd follow her. I have no idea if anyone else would besides Mickey and Cora. Hell, I'd even offer to leave with her and get drunk on her Aunt's apple cider 'cause this whole damn trip was a bad idea."

Bob huffed a sad laugh. "It is apple picking season. I bet she'd love it if we went with her."

Grace snorted. "You just want free apples so I can make my apple crisp."

With the tension from before gone and the weight of Bob's chest finally disappearing with his confession, he joked comedically, "Ssshh, don't jinx it."

Grace rolled her eyes, letting the moment pass before offering quietly, "Where do you think she is? Maeve?"

Bob regarded her for a moment before letting out a long sigh. "Considering the lack of voices, Maeve's probably tried to separate herself. Or she made a rash decision and decided to leave alone."

Grace gasped. "What about Jake?"

"Jake ... I bet 50 bucks Jake ran after her regardless."

Her face contorted into one of disgust. "What? Why? Can he not leave her alone for once in his life?"

Bob stood, wiping his hands on his jeans, before extending a hand to Grace. She took it without another word and allowed him to guide her up and off the tree. He revealed yet another truth as he helped her step over the massive root.

"Remember when I went with Bradley and Jake before Maeve hurt her wrist? Jake wanted to show us a fishing spot...?"

Grace winced. When Bob told her what happened, she instantly regretted not being out there with you. Hold up in her tent, she had been working on plans for a museum exhibit. Even if she had to do a little work, she could have at least done it in the company of a friend.

"I found out Bradley's been trying to coach Jake into mending things with Maeve. We might have been giving him some... advice."

Grace froze with her two feet atop the curved piece of wood.

"What!!?" she shrieked, making Bob wince. "Please tell me you weren't the one who encouraged him to keep up the prank thing. Bob, if you told him to scream 'there's a Bear..'."

"It wasn't me! Nor was it Bradley! We just told him to try to talk to her without anyone around. Cause things seem to go to shit when everyone else is there. He just needed to incite her to stay. Make her laugh. Talk to her like a human being!"

"Men," she scoffed, jumping down off the root. "Never go to a group of idiots to do a woman's job."

Bob froze, eyeing her carefully. "Are you calling me an idiot?"

Grace smiled, reaching up to stroke across his cheek. She kissed his lips with a quick peck and leaned back. "Hmm... my idiot, though."

She took several steps back towards the falls when she called out over her shoulder to a befuddled Bob. "You realize if we locked them in a room or trapped them in an elevator, with nobody else around, they'd probably figure it out?"

"How so?" he called back, finally following her.

"Jake obviously wants to fix it. Maeve runs. All you need to do is stop her from running. She'll give in if you provoke her enough, which Jake already does."

Bob paused, reflecting for a moment. "He doesn't think when it comes to her, does he?"

"Does she?"

When they emerged from the bush, Bob and Grace ran to the first person they saw, hoping at least someone saw either you or Jake. Nobody had. Not until a few minutes later did a couple mention seeing someone bearing your resemblance climbing the waterfall. They also mentioned seeing someone who looked like Nat go up, but she had already come back down.

Grace stared at them in horror. "I'll go get Mickey and Cora," she rushed out quickly, leaving Bob alone to start the trek up the rocky slope. As he did, a million thoughts crossed his mind.

Finding you and Jake tearing each other apart, hoping Mickey and Cora's skills weren't needed. Or the more stupidly optimistic thought - either of you was trying to find a few moments of peace.

As if.

Or perhaps it was none of those things. Maybe what awaited him above was something far worse than he could ever fathom.

But when he reached the top of the falls, neither you nor Jake were there, and Bob didn't spare the effort to take in the view. Instead, he searched the ground, kneeling when he spied several tracks in the mud.

Two sets, both inherently female, were marked along the river bank in the mud. Bob's eyes followed them until he saw a separate path of them walking back. Then he noticed another pair of tracks, the boot tread clearly belonging to a man. They followed one of the other tracks, veering quickly off into the bushes. They were noticeably disturbed, leaves and branches bent unnaturally, and the longer he followed the underbrush and mud, the more he understood what happened to the two of you.

Bob set off, knowing just exactly where he needed to go.

Can I just say I love Bob and Grace?

Tag List:

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And for those who've been following along:

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[essie1876]

Before I Knew [Masterlist] — Full Length Series

A Jake Seresin unexpected pregnancy fic

Overview: On your first night after moving to San Diego to spend more time with your brother Bob, you unknowingly have a one night stand with his teammate Jake Seresin. For the first time in his whole life, Bob has a closely knit friend group and you’re desperate not to rock the boat. But an unexpected and unplanned pregnancy upends your world, forcing you and Jake closer together, against Bob’s wishes. What will happen when you find yourself actually falling for the father of your unborn child? 

Pairing: Jake Seresin x Reader; Bob Floyd x Sister!Reader 

Overview:

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

[essie1876]

all fanfiction is funnier and sexier and vastly better-written when you read it at three in the morning, in the dark, lying on your side, tucked into bed, with screen rotate turned off. that’s just how it works. that’s just facts.

[essie1876]

[essie1876]

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