Realizing you love someone is a scary feeling, Especially if you haven't felt it in a while. There are many types of love. But the one I have for you… it can't explain it. I want to protect you but let you fly. I want to watch you grow but hold you close. I'm scared. How can I take care of someone, when I can barely take care of myself? Maybe you don't need me to take care of you… maybe you just need me.

………………………

A month has passed since Ziah and I went to my hometown. My mother sold the house, moved to Chicago, and is happier than ever. When I talk to her she sounds more and more happy with each growing day. If she is happy I am too.

Ziah and his girlfriend sat down and talked things through. Apparently she said she has one more job to do over in London but once she comes back she will take a break and spend a few months home. I dont buy the bull shit but hey Joziah is happy so… 

“Zai!” I hear my name being called as I am working on my report.

“Yeah.” I say not looking up.

“Zai! We have a call. We need to go now.” I look up and see panic in Ziah’s eyes. I save what I'm doing, grab my shit and hurry to the car. Before I could get into the driver seat, a blonde headed bun already beat me to it.

“Zaih, what's wrong? You never drive!” I say as I fastened my seat belt.

He is silent for a moment as he pulls out of the station. My heart starts to panic as we cross over into Sector 32.

“Joziah, talk to me babe.” I whisper with panic behind my voice.

“Drug overdose.”

That's all he had to say. I know what that means, I know who we are going to see, and I know it is not good.

I jump out of the car as we pull up to the familiar home. I push my way through the tape, and saw the EMT’s pushing a stretcher with a closed bag on it.

“Where's Marcus?” I whisper. I looked around and I saw no signs of him.

“Who called it in?” I hear Joziah over the chatter.

“A boy, I think her son.” a cop named John Kelly replies.

“When we arrived and pronounced the patient dead, he took off.” One of the EMT’s said as he passed by.

“Acting that way he was, he probably did it himself.” Kelly said a bit too loud.

I shot my head in the direction of the other cop. “Zai.” Joziah said as he tried to grab me. I shake him off, walk up to Kelly, grab him by his shirt and pull him close to me. Ziah lays a hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down but it doesn't work. But my action does catch him and the officer by surprise.

“The fuck you just say, Kelly? Are you really saying it's his fault? Just because he is black and took off because he was scared. He probably ran off at the sight of you guys!” My grip tightens around his shirt. I feel him squirm with intimidation. “You are a sorry piece of shit. Deciding his fate. That was his mother, someone who he loved despite her addiction. Men like you are the reason this neighborhood hates us. Why they don't call us when they need help! The only reason he did was because he thought I would be the cop on site. Instead, he got a prick like you.”

I let go of his shirt, but now I am in his face. I am 4 inches taller so he has to look up at me. I meet his gaze, I know my light grey eyes are intimidating so I use them to my advantage. “Now tell me. Which. Way. Did. He. Go?”

The man stands there as if I have lost my mind. Perhaps I did, but at this moment I do not care.

He points toward the opposite way we came. “Ttt….that ww..way.” he stutters from shock.

“You sir, are an embarrassment. If I ever hear you say any shit like that again, my partner won't be able to hold me back next time. Suspension will be worth it.” I spit with venom in my voice. I turn to get back in the police car and wait till Ziah was in too. I tare out of the driveway, put the lights on and make our way in the direction Marcus was seen going.

………….

“Ziah, I don't see him. Where is he?” I slow down and stop the car to look down an alleyway. I sigh and lay my head on the steering wheel hoping the coolness would calm me down.

“Babe, we will find him. Do you want me to drive?”

I nod. I know I should be calm, on the force you have to be calm to make rash decisions. But Marcus is family. I need to find him.

“You need to calm down Zai.” my partner said as we took off again. “If you dont you wont think rationally.”

“Ha, it's like you read my mind or something.” I smirk out as I looked down another alley.

“We’ve been partners for what six months now? I know some of your facial expressions pretty well.” I look over at him. His brown eyes glance at me. Even though it was for a second I feel more relaxed. I felt his hand grip mine and squeeze tightly. I pull it away and he grips tighter.

“Ziah, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. Your girlfriend already hates me. She still hates me even though you told her I was a guy.”

He doesn't move and held my hand tighter. I give in. So warm, protecting, reassuring, and comfortable.

“How did she take the news of you being Bisexual?” I question, trying to distract me from terrible thoughts.

He groans, “Damn, it was ‘You can't be bi if you're with me because I am a girl’. She even threw in the ‘Why not say your straight. I mean we are together, it's not like you are going to be with a guy’.”

I slowly turn and face him. “So now she knows and what? Thinks you will fuck who ever comes along?”

“She said, she is nervous about me being with you for long periods of time.”

“Bitch. She is to controlling and seems that she only cares about her image,” I glance at him. “You know I was proud of you for telling me. I know it's not the easiest thing to admit.”

He smiles, “I am just glad you didn't freak.”

“Naw man. You are Joziah. Your sexuality only makes up a small fraction of you. If I judged you based on that, I'd miss the other sides that I have come to know.”

“I wish Bridgette thought the same way.”

I stroke his hair, “Give her time.”

I feel my stomach go knotty again. I sigh.

“You know that was pretty hot back there.” he laughs out and glances at me.

“What?'' I ask confusedly.

“You getting in the officer's face. I thought he was going to shit himself.” he laughs.

“Not the time babe.”

“Sorry. Trying to make you laugh.” Ziah said, giving my hand a squeeze.

“Thanks, but save the flirting till after we find Marcus.” I joke back.

While on the bridge I notice something. “Ziah, slow down.”

My heart sinks as I see a familiar figure standing near the edge.

“Marcus!”