All The White Circles (Part 14)
Jennifer
Part Fourteen: Riley
Forrest comes to my room the next morning with the news of Hostile 42's escape. It was assumed since the Hostile knocked me out cold that I wouldn't know. But I did. Buffy has been gone for over twelve hours. No sign of her at all. So I suppose she did ultimately get what she wanted.
I ask Forrest to leave. I just want to be alone and allow myself to stew in some self-pity for a while. I gave up the girl. Betrayed everything I believe and love. Now all's I'm left with is a hole in my heart and one hell of a fat lip.
I lie back down after closing the door on Forrest and pick up the book I'm trying so desperately to concentrate on. Walsh wants to keep me close while the Hostile's escape is investigated. I don't think they can prove my involvement nor do I think they suspect it. But as with so many things in my life, it's protocol.
The knock comes to my door around noontime. I pull myself out of bed and answer it to find her standing there. She looks downright exhausted. Oddly, I don't feel like pulling her close.
"We need to talk," she says.
I shake my head. "No, we don't."
"Riley please."
"I can't Buffy. I can't be driven by you. You've taken a piece of me and it controls me and I can't let that happen."
"Riley I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what happened."
"I'm sorry too. But it doesn't matter."
"It does. I wouldn't have asked if it had been anyone else."
"But you did ask. Buffy, I'm not a perfect man. I don't claim to be. But I hold myself to certain standards. And I didn't live by them the last couple weeks. I've lied to my superior officers to protect you. I helped
"I didn't ask you to protect me."
I chuckle softly, almost incredulously. She simply doesn't understand. "No, you didn't. And maybe that's the point."
"Riley,"
"It's over now. You helped me. You got your Angel back. Lets just call it even, alright?"
She shakes her head. "Riley,"
"I'll just... see you... later..." I move from the door and close it gently before her but not without catching the look of sheer surprise on her face. I lean against it for a moment, knowing that I have just closed off the one girl... the one girl that makes me rethink my whole being.
But she knocks again. Louder than the first time and when I open the door I can see a look of utter determination on her face. "This isn't over," she says to me. "I'm not done with you, Riley Finn, not by a long shot." She then grabs the doorknob and pulls the door closed herself.
I smile to myself and then return to my bed. I look to the cover of my book, Great Expectations.
Yeah, well, maybe... maybe.
The End
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