Safe House - Tagged

[Jackson Martin]

Jackson had promised to look after Chloe and that was exactly what he was going to do as he opened the front door to his apartment. It was pretty much the OCD central for where things were tidied away, everything had its place apart from the hoover he had abandoned in the middle of the floor when she had called. He held open the door to his place as he hoped she didnt mind it at all.

It was spread across three floors so apartment was a loose fit for his place more like an open three story maze of an apartment that was taller than it was wide. When he opened the door it opened into the living room area or rather the hallway that lead to the living room area. The first floor was the bedroom with a sort of office/work space attached to it and the lower floor was the kitchen and eating area that looked out onto a lower piece of garden at the back of the apartment. It was small enough for what he needed though big enough for a few people though he wasn’t the partying type so mostly it was just family.

Then again it worked as well to give Chloe a place where she could relax and try to figure out her day so far as he tried to work out what to do or say to her as he held the door for her. “Urm are you hungry or thirsty?” He asked her as he realised he had left his cleaning half way through this his place wasn’t exactly three inches thick with dust to him it still needed a light clean. “Sorry about the mess but I’ll have it fixed in no time.” He said a little embarrassed by the sight of abandonment.

Tag:@hcassell9978

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{Spoiler}

[Deleted]

Chloe smiled and shook her head at Jackson when he asked her if she was hungry or thirsty "No...I'm good thanks, If you don't mind I think I just want to lay down for a minute and try to get rid of this headache." She let out a short laugh when Jackson apologized for the mess in his apartment, "Seriously, I don't see a mess anywhere...but I'm going to lay down, so I won't keep you from your cleaning as long as you can hold off on running the vacuum cleaner until I get rid of this headache." She pressed a gentle kiss to his lips before she added, "Oh, and so you know I'm in the mood to cuddle, so whenever you get done...please feel free to join me."

Chloe kicked off her work boots and placed them neatly beside the door before heading to the sofa and sitting down. She reached to grab one of the throw pillows before she realized that if she laid on the sofa she was going to be in the way of him finishing his cleaning. "If I lay down right here, I'm going to be in the middle of what you're trying to clean and get in your way...I don't want to be in your way." She started crying again and shook her head, she didn't even really know why she was crying. She wasn't normally the type to cry for no reason but apparently today she was going to cry at anything.

Swiping angrily at the tears on her face, she said "I uhm, think I'm thirsty after all. I'll just grab some water from the kitchen...pretty sure I remember how to get there. Do you want anything?" She stood up to head for the kitchen but quickly turned around and walked to Jackson and wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder, she sniffled "I...uhm I'm sorry I don't even know why I'm crying but I can't seem to stop. Will you just lay down with me for a little while?"

Tag: Jackson Martin

[Jackson Martin]

Jackson nodded when she said she wasn’t hungry or thirsty, well he tried he thought as he nodded to her. “Sure thing, just rest and feel better.” He said motioning to the couch or really anywhere that she wanted to be to get rid of her headache. After all this was about helping her no matter what he thought grinning as he heard her laugh. “No vacuum at all, I might annoy my sister with that but not you and I’ll hold on the cleaning too, you need your rest.” He stated feeling her kiss his lips as he grinned. “I’ll join you whenever you want me too.” He offered as he watched her kick off her work boots as he put the vacuum away.

So if anyone was going to fall over it and need the ER it was likely going to be him as he moved back to the living room as he shook his head at her. “Chloe you’re never in the way at all.” He said though when she started crying again he froze for a moment wondering if he had said the wrong thing to her. It wasn’t like he had practice with this sort of thing as he put it down to the day she had while he tried to figure out what to do for the best. If he hugged her he didnt want to make it worse or if he stayed away a little he didnt want her thinking he didnt care at all. Jackson went to get her some more blankets that he pulled down from a box as he returned to see her swiping angrily at the tears.

“No i’m good thanks but help yourself to anything in here. The fridge is stocked and the juice is in the cupboard.” He added watching her for a moment as she walked past him, maybe she was just out of sorts he thought when he felt her wrap her arms around him. Jackson wrapped his arms around her too holding her tightly. “It’s okay Chloe cry anytime you want to I’m right here and not going anywhere.” He said meaning it as he nodded, “Sure I will, like I said I’ve got nowhere else to be and you’re my concern today. Come on let’s go sit down.” He said motioning to the couch and the blankets he had placed there for her.

Tag: @hcassell9978

[Deleted]

She sat down next to Jackson on his sofa pulled a blanket up over them and laid her head on his shoulder, "I'm sorry I'm such a mess...probably the last thing you wanted to do today was spend all day getting cried on. If you'd rather take me home...I understand." She said softly as she held him tighter. She didn't want him to take her anywhere, she wanted to be with him...even if she couldn't seem to stop crying. "Thank you for being here for me today...it means a lot." She had just placed a kiss on his cheek when her phone started ringing.

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and when she saw who was calling she sighed and debated on whether or not to answer. She reluctantly swiped her finger to answer her phone "He...Hello?" She sighed as she heard Mr. Crawford talking. "Hi Mr. Crawford...yes I'm fine. Chicago is...good. Look just cut to the chase already, I know you didn't call me to chit chat and ask me about Chicago." She said rather sharply as she reached for Jackson's hand with her free hand. "No, I haven't even given a statement yet sir...truthfully I would rather everything just go away and be over with, but your son can't seem to take no for an answer." She laughed at the man on the phone before she continued, "Yes, I am absolutely sure that things between Brian and I are over...for good. Have been for awhile, I'm not the girl he wants...never could be, I tried really hard though but my best was never good enough for him. There was always something that he wanted to change, and if I wasn't willing to agree...well we all knew what happened then. Look, I'm not interested in getting him in any trouble I just want him to leave me alone...for good." She knew why Mr. Crawford was calling, it was always the same thing. He didn't care about her, even though he was good at sounding like he did...no, all he cared about was making sure that his precious Brian didn't get into any trouble. So she laughed when he asked her to make sure to include all of that in her statement to the police, "I know the drill Mr. Crawford...this isn't the first time this has happened. Just make sure you keep him away from me from now on." She sighed as she hit end hanging up on him and set her phone down next to her.

She laid her head back on Jackson, "Yeah...the phone calls have already started, don't think I'll be getting rid of this headache or resting anytime soon. I guarantee you that the next phone call will be my mother, hasn't called me in weeks but because Brian's dad called her she'll call me. Have to make sure that Brian's ok, and make sure I didn't tell some crazy story to the police. It's the same thing...every single time." The tears started again as she pulled even closer to Jackson, any closer and she would be in his lap.

[Jackson Martin]

Jackson just held her as he listened to her. He wished he could make it better for her in some way. “Chloe it’s okay, trust me there’s no place i’d rather be than with you. You can cry on me all you want but I said i’d keep an eye on you so I’m doing just that.” Jackson wasn’t in the habit of letting people go home upset or backing down on anything he said he would do. It just wasn’t like him at all which meant that if Chloe wanted to cry on him all day he was going to be there for her no matter what.

He was about to answer her when he heard her phone that she answered. Her reaction said it wasn’t exactly the most welcome phone call though when he heard the name he half wanted to get the phone and yell at the guy for what his son had done to Chloe. He sat there silently and waited until she had finished the call biting his lip a few times to stop from saying anything as he didnt want to make it any worse for her than it already was. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say to her about that other than she had to tell the truth about what had happened.

It didnt matter who the person was, hitting her was wrong and Brian needed to figure that out fast. “You just leave it to me okay, I’ll answer you phone and just tell them you’re out.” He said as he rubbed her back lightly as the tears started again. If she had pulled him any closer she would have been in his lap as he kissed the top of her head lightly. “It’s okay, it’ll all be alright.” He said softly to her. “He cant find you here or get to you at all.” He added wanting her to know that she was safe at his place.

“It doesn’t matter how crazy the story if it’s the truth, he needs to know this isn’t right. Hitting you, making you cry it’s not acceptable at any point.” He said not wanting to tell her what to do but then when it came to this he just wanted to protect her from it all. He couldnt imagine his family not believing him or taking his ex wifes side over his not that there was a side to take but still. “Chloe promise me you’ll tell the police everything... he cant hurt you like this again.” He said not wanting to see her hurt again.

Tag: @hcassell9978

[Deleted]

Chloe sighed and handed her phone to Jackson, she didn't want to talk to anyone else about what had happened...ever. She just wanted everything to be over, and she didn't want to have to deal with any of it again. She felt him kiss the top of her head and smiled into his chest, she can't remember when she last felt as safe and cared for as he's making her feel right now. Hearing his soothing words she started to feel more relaxed and loosened her grip on him. She was tracing random patterns on his chest with her index finger, and nodded when he told her she was safe.

She was listening as he said that what Brian had done wasn't acceptable, nodding in agreement. This wasn't new information, she'd known this for years but she'd also put up with it for years. She had thought that she had left all of that behind in Iowa, until she had seen him standing in the fire house. It wasn't something she was planning on having to face again anytime soon...if ever. Now not only was she dealing with it again she was dragging Jackson through the mess with her.

She was stuck in her own head and memories, trying to decide what all she wanted to tell the police when she heard Jackson ask her to promise to tell the police everything. She sighed and let out a sad laugh but remained silent for a bit. "I just want it to be over...even if I tell them everything, I can almost guarantee that all he'll get is a slap on the hand...maybe a fine and some community service, and I have to relive everything...again. I mean...is it worth it? If it goes to court, I have to go be humiliated in front of even more people... It just seems to me like he's winning either way..."

She doesn't want to make Jackson mad, but she knows Brian's dad and that he'll do everything within his power to make sure that he won't really pay for what he's done. To top it all off she's embarrassed that she had put up with being treated that way for as long as she had; she felt like she had let it happen, let it go on for years. She looked up at Jackson and sighed, "If you really think it will be worth it, and I won't be embarrassing myself for no reason...I promise I'll tell them everything, as long as you promise not to think any less of me when you hear it. I don't want to lose what we have, because of what I let go on for years."

[Jackson Martin]

After meeting her that night in the bar he never thought that her ex would do anything like this at all. Maybe it was a guy thing or maybe he just thought the best in people but right now all that mattered to him was making sure Chloe was alright. He took the phone she handed to him and place it next to him just in case anyone called for her. It was the least he could do. He could feel her tracing random patterns on his chest as he relaxed feeling her loosen her grip on him, he had honestly never felt that relaxed around someone before.

Jackson didnt mind being dragged into her stuff, honestly if he could help her he wanted too though he knew that she had a handle on it. He just wanted to know that she wasn’t on her own with it anymore. He kept a hand rubbing her arm lightly when she let out a sad laugh and then went silent. “It is over, you don’t have to see the guy and now he’s... well at least the police know now.” He said and the feds too which he was sure wouldnt just let the case go. “It is worth it Chloe, I know it wont be easy but he’s isn’t winning anything trust me. If he was he would have thought you would fold by now. He’s probably crying right about now.” Jackson said hoping that the guy was if not worse.

Jackson didnt know the family at all just what Chloe had told him but he got the cant do no wrong vibe from Brian given what he had said to him on the way in. “I do, but Chloe this is up to you no matter what I’ll be there with you.” He said not wanting her to think he would just run off because of a choice she made. Jackson shook his head as he smiled, “It will be and no you wont be embarrassing yourself for no reason.” He said as he shook his head again as he hugged her tightly.

“I promise you I wont think any less of you Chloe and you’re not losing anything because of what happened years ago.” He said as he kissed the top of her head again. “Listen I’m promising you I’m not going anywhere, bar you adding back onto your serial killer list I’ll be right here with you.” He said nudging her lightly as he was trying to make her laugh. Yes his jokes weren’t great but then anything to make her feel better he thought.

Tag: @hcassell9978

[Deleted]

Chloe relaxed and listened to Jackson as he assured her that everything would be worth it in the long run. She really didn’t know what to think, she’d never had anyone support or encourage her the way he was. It felt nice to finally have someone in her corner. She leaned up and placed a kiss on his cheek when he mentioned that Brian was probably crying, “Brian’s not exactly the crying type, and I guess there’s not going to be any easy way out of this mess…is there? I thought I had found an easy way out by moving away, but apparently he had different ideas.”

She laid her head back on his shoulder and smiled as he assured her that it was her decision, and that he’d be there with her no matter what. “Thank you…for giving me a choice. I’ve never really had one in this situation before…the decision has always been made for me.” When he turned her loose after hugging her she leaned up and kissed him. “It is embarrassing though…I enabled it…I made excuses for him, and let it happen. I never pressed the issue, so the fact that it’s gone on this long…that’s on me.”

When he promised not to think any less of her she kissed him again before laying her head back on his shoulder, she felt him kiss the top of her head and she turned and placed a kiss on his chest. She laughed and hugged him tight when he brought up her list of victims. “Thanks. I needed that.” She kissed him again before yawning and readjusting herself into a more comfortable position. “How do you do that? You always seem to know just what to do…or say, to make me feel better,” She said sleepily.

Chloe was drifting in and out of sleep, as she heard her phone ring. Knowing that Jackson would handle the phone call she snuggled into him and pulled the covers up around her and closed her eyes again. She wasn’t able to do much more than doze for a few minutes here and there because her brain was still going a mile a minute, but she was definitely starting to feel better. Chloe was enjoying the feeling of being safe and protected, it was a feeling that she hadn’t had in a very long time. That was the last thing she remembered thinking before she fell asleep.

Tag: Jackson Martin

[Jackson Martin]

Jackson grinned when she kissed him, “He’s not, he looked pretty scared to me.” He said trying to make her feel better, if he could have made the guy ten times more scared then he would have done but Brian wasn’t of any concern when his one and only concern was Chloe and how she was. “Well I’m glad you moved away because if you didnt I wouldnt have met you and the easy way... I dont know if that exists but no matter what way it is I know you’re strong enough to do it.” He said softly to her, he had no doubt at all that she was strong enough to deal with whatever came next.

He tried to imagine not being given a choice but he’d never known a situation like that before. Sure he had fights with his ex but never had he raised a hand to her or his voice for that matter. “You’ve always got a choice Chloe and I wont let anyone make that choice for you because only you can make it.” He said enjoying her kiss when she kissed him. “You’ve nothing to feel embarrassed about and you never enabled that at all. Don’t let anyone tell you that you let it happen because that’s not true, trust me it’s his fault Chloe. He did this not you and you got the strength to leave and move, that to me says a lot about you.” He explained not wanting her to think for a second any of it was her fault because it wasn’t at all.

Her kisses made him feel as if he was on cloud nine, the day was suddenly looking a lot brighter with her there. He hugged her back when he heard her laugh, “Here all week, so if you need to laugh I’ll do my best.” He stated grinning at her as he saw her yawning and he shrugged. “I don’t know really, you’re just easy to talk to and I’d do anything to make you feel better. Handstand, chocolate brownies whatever it is you want.” Jackson watched as she drifted in and out of sleep not moving an inch in case he disturbed her any.

When her phone rang he took it and answered it quietly before the call ended and he heard the knock on the door. He winced at the sound hoping it hadn’t woken her at all as he tried to move carefully from her to go answer the door as he made sure to put another blanket around her. Jackson wasn’t sure who it was as he answered the door making sure to keep an eye on Chloe in case she wanted anything.

Tag:@hcassell9978 @james

[Deleted]

James Reagan

tag: Jackson Martin @hcassell9978

words

Leaving the PD James had headed to the address he had for the kid he'd met at the Firehouse, JJ Martin. On the way there he had mulled over the happenings from the day and how he would approach the situation. Arriving he parked up, checked himself and headed up the drive.

Knocking on the door he pushed his hands into his trouser pockets, he'd left his coat in the car and was wearing his suit, his badge visible on his belt as well as his sig on his side. 

He looked every part a fed and he knew it.

notes: Joined with permission/invitation 

♡

[Deleted]

Chloe had just gotten really comfortable and fallen asleep when she heard the knocking and felt Jackson start to move. She grumbled a bit but wrapped herself up in the blanket that Jackson placed around her. Laying her head back on the sofa she rubbed her eyes sleepily as she watched him walk to the door to answer it.

She didn't know who it was, but she knew that they had horrible timing and had interrupted her nap. Chloe was suddenly very sleepy and all she wanted was for Jackson to come back and hold her so that she could get warm and comfortable again. She felt so safe when she was with him, ever since their first date she had never felt threatened. He let her make her own decisions, respected her opinions, believed in her dreams, and supported her while she chased them.

Chloe watched Jackson open the door and when she saw James on the other side looking all official with his badge and gun, she panicked a bit. Standing up she mumbled something about being thirsty and all but ran to the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and stared at the contents before sighing and closing the door. She leaned back against the counter and rubbed her hands over her face trying to pull herself together. She found the glasses and poured herself some juice, leaning back against the counter again she took a couple of sips.

Tag: Jackson Martin, @james

[Jackson Martin]

Jackson wished that he didnt have to disturb Chloe but then he hadn’t a clue who it was at the door until he saw James. Everything about the man screamed fed or cop, the suit, the badge and the gun though he half wanted to tell the man to exchange his gun for something a little lighter and easier on the belt but then he wasn’t exactly working at that moment in time as he stood back from the door slightly to let James in. “Hey Agent... Reagan was it?” He asked having always been pretty useless with names of people at least.

He looked back to see if Chloe was still on the couch though he saw her head off to the kitchen. He looked back to James for a moment, “He’s not out of jail is he?” Jackson asked as he motioned to Chloe as he went to see if she was alright. He wished there was something more he could do for her to make any of it easier on her. Then again maybe he should have just punched Brian back at the fire house and had done with the entire thing. Jackson made his way to the kitchen seeing her staring at the contents of the fridge.

He waited until she had taken a couple of sips of juice before he moved over to her. “Chloe, the agent is here.” He said though he figured she had seen that already, “It’ll be okay. Just relax, you're safe here I promise.” He said softly to her as he looked to James for a moment. “Would you like a drink? Coffee, tea?” He asked having been taught that you always offered a guest a drink no matter if you knew them or not. One foot over the door and they were practically family given that he trusted people a little more than he maybe should do.

Tag: @hcassell9978 @james

[Deleted]

James Reagan

tag

words

As the door opened and he saw Jackson he didn’t fail to see Chloe disappear into the kitchen, he removed his hands from his pockets and let the sides of his jacket slide over covering his sig and badge as he buttoned it up instantly his badge and sig were hidden. “Hey Agent... Reagan was it?”

James gave a nod stepping in and closing the door behind himself, he’d already identified himself before with these two so there was no use yanking his ID out again as he followed carefully behind Jackson - keeping his distance. “He’s not out of jail is he?” James snorted “No” he muttered though he knew it wouldn’t be long until he was unless James got a statement.

As they reached the kitchen James stood in the doorway, lingering - waiting and watchful, he could tell his timing probably hadn’t been great but when was there ever a good time for anything in these cases? “Chloe, the agent is here.” “It’ll be okay. Just relax, you're safe here I promise.” James crossed his arms across his chest and leaned casually sideways on the doorframe “Would you like a drink? Coffee, tea?” James glanced at him “Coffee’s great, thanks” he said calmly before looking over at Chloe “How you feeling? Sorry my timing wasn’t great” he added, James was in no way an intimidating man on purpose, he just tended to be sometimes without even speaking a word - so he tended to use words to take away that or try to.

notes

♡

[Deleted]

When Jackson told her that the agent was there she nodded at him and when he went on to reassure her that she was ok she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him holding him close. “I know, thanks.” She sighed softly when he offered the agent a drink, because she was hoping he wouldn’t be there that long. When James agreed to having some coffee she reluctantly pulled away from Jackson so that he could get the coffee.

When James looked at her and asked how she was feeling she leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms across her chest. “I’m ok, my head still hurts a bit… nothing that a bit of a nap won’t cure. Don’t worry about your timing, I’m not sure that there’s ever going to be a good time for this conversation.”

Chloe wasn’t scared of James, even when he had first shown up. She knew that he was there to help, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t scared of the conversation that he wanted to have. She was terrified of doing what she knew she needed to do. She didn’t want to talk about Brian or their wreck of a relationship again, ever. Unfortunately, she knew that today’s conversation was the first of many that she was going to have to have. Sooner rather than later she needed to speak with her parents and tell them the truth, she owed them at least that much.

She sighed and looked back up at James, “Ok, let’s get whatever this is over with so you can go on with your day. I’m sorry to have gotten you involved in my little mess, I’m sorry that anyone had to get involved.” She added looking up at Jackson, “But, I’d like nothing better than to put all of this behind me so that I can move on with my life… so what exactly do you need from me? Before I give any kind of statement I’d like to know that it’s going to be worth it… what’s going to happen to him? I’d rather not have to go to court if I don’t have to, I’m not interested in him spending a bunch of time in jail… I know that sounds crazy, but I just want him to leave me alone so I can move on with my life.”

She wrapped her arms tighter around herself, “I know this sounds incredibly stupid, but I’m not a vindictive person and I don’t think he needs to have the rest of his life… his future that I know he has worked incredibly hard for, messed up over this. I just wish… well I guess it doesn’t matter what I wish, because he’s the one that made the decision to do what he did… not me.”

She knew that Brian had worked incredibly hard to get as far as he had, school hadn’t come easy for him. He had to study hard for his grades, she knew this because she had helped him study, spent many hours with him with her nose buried in law books. Studied for hours on end before he had taken his exams, studied with him so much she could probably pass the test herself. She hated that all that hard work was going to waste because with something like this on his record… it was going to make it even harder for him to reach his goals.

Tag: Jackson Martin , @james ,

[Jackson Martin]

Jackson hugged Chloe back, he just wanted her to feel safe after all he didnt quiet know what to do about any of what was going on. It had taken all he had just to walk past Brian after he knew what he had done but then he went to busy himself in getting the agent a drink. He put the kettle on as he brought down a cup and went about making the drink. He grabbed himself a bottle of water from the fridge as he took a quick drink before he handed the cup of coffee to the agent as the man went about talking to Chloe.

He wanted to be there for Chloe but he didnt know what to do about any of it, he wanted her to tell the agent the truth but it was up to her what she chose and he knew he would stand with her on whatever her choice would be. Brian had crossed a line in his head, you never lifted a hand to a woman or a child, rule number one of life and how he could have done that to Chloe was beyond him. Jackson sure he had arguments with his ex wife and yes there were moments when it could have come to blows but he knew better than that, better than to even lift a hand because honestly he couldnt have lived with himself if he had done.

“It’s okay Chloe no one minds at all and I’m just glad I can be here for you.” He said smiling, he wished that she hadn’t been hurt but then he was just glad she had called him to come and see her. He could understand what she was saying, moving on with life was a good thing and he couldnt imagine being in a relationship like she had with Brian he was just glad that she could get away from it even if he had followed her to Chicago. Maybe a scare with the federal government might make him see the error of his ways but Jackson was just glad Chloe had gotten away from it.

She was far too good to be caught up in that. “You’re right he made the choice.” Jackson said as he watched the federal agent drink the coffee, it didnt matter what he did for a living or how hard he had worked for it. The guy had hit Chloe, if anything taking away what he worked for might make him see his mistake but Jackson knew it wasnt up to him which was probably a good thing given the guessed it wasnt the first time Brian had made that same mistake.

Jackson watched the agent mutter something about getting back to see what could be done about Brian and that he would call with more information once he had it. Jackson smiled as he looked at Chloe for a moment before he went to get the door for the agent as they left. He shut the door behind the man as he looked back to Chloe. “Are you alright?” He asked not sure if she was okay or even if anyone could be okay after what had been done that day.

Tag: @hcassell9978