Fake Reflection

The tv played a random show, a pair of sad eyes stared blankly at it, not really paying attention to what was on. Kimmie lay on the couch, back at her original home with a blanket wrapped tightly around her. I wasn't cold today, but she felt cold, and she knew why. It's been two weeks since she last saw Matt, and it been two weeks of cold sleepless nights. She missed him like crazy, and still wasn't use to the cold she felt without his arms around her.

Kimmie hugged herself a little tighter under the blanket. She didn't even have Jasper around to keep her company. She's thought about going over there to get him, but decided against it. Things probably wouldn't end the way she would want if she did. Each day was getting harder and harder to stay away. Kimmie knew he needed time, but she didn't know how much longer she could wait. Maybe she should give up. Maybe everyone was wrong, and she was wasting her time. Maybe he was never coming back to her.

The front door opened, and closed, stirring her from her thoughts. Kimmie didn't look up when someone walked into the living room. She knew who it was. Shane has been by everyday these past two weeks just to check on her, and keep her company for awhile. Kimmie hasn't even been back to work since everything ended. She had a month worth of paid vacation time, and took all of it. To be honest, she questioned returning altogether. If that's what it took to get him back, she was sure she wouldn't.

Shane looked down at his friend with sympathy. They've been down this road before, but this time seemed worse. It was easier before, it was Kevin's fault. It was easy for her to be angry with him, easy to come back, easy to show him that she didn't need him, but this she blamed herself for. He told her not to get too close, but the last thing he was going to do was tell her "I told you so". Instead he was going to give her the shoulder she needed to cry on, the ear she needed to vent to, just like before.

Shane moved around from the back of the couch, and lifted Kimmie's legs before plopping down next to her, and resting her legs on his lap. She didn't say anything, or look at him as she continued to stare blankly at the screen. "You're going to shower before the award ceremony tonight right?" he asked kind of joking, trying to lighten the mood a little. Kimmie let out a huff. "I'm not going." she whispered. She couldn't believe they were getting honored for this. They weren't the ones that discovered Boyd and Demarco working together. They weren't the ones that brought down the cartel. Avenged Sevenfold did. Without them digging in, and getting their hands dirty, no one would have even known they were working together.

A frown crossed Shane's face, "What do you mean you're not going? Kimmie, you have to go." he said. She sat up, and looked at him with anger in her eyes. "Why? So everyone can pat me on the back, and tell me what a great job I did? When I didn't do shit, but get them thrown in jail, and pushed away the man I love because I couldn't be honest with him!" she snapped. Kimmie buried her face in her hands, and Shane let out a sigh. "You're not being fair to yourself," he said as he scooted closer, and pulled her into a side hug, "You saved his life, you helped get him out of jail, you even helped rescue him from Boyd's execution. If he can't see how much you sacrificed for him then it's his loss, not yours." he told her.

Kimmie didn't respond to him as she silently let the tears slowly fall down her cheeks. It didn't matter, none of it matter. At least that's what it was starting to seem like to her. Shane gave her a supportive squeeze, not really knowing what to say to make her feel better. Part of him was pissed with Shadows for being able ignore everything she did for him, and just toss her aside like yesterday's garbage. Part of him wished she would just take the chance with him, but he knew that would never happen. He's thought about going over there, but decided against it. He's seen how quick, sudden, and unpredictable Shadows can be. He wouldn't stand a chance. He could be a hot head sometimes, especially when it came to Kimmie, but he wasn't stupid.

Kimmie pulled out of Shane's embrace, and wiped her cheeks with her hands. "What time is the ceremony?" she asked. "Seven. It's only noon, you have time." he said. Kimmie gave him a nod. She would go, and accept their award, and then that would be the end of it. She would give her acceptance speech then resign right there. If that's what it took to get him back, that's what she would do.

The door bell sounded, and the two jumped, a little startled. Scratching was heard at the door, and soon a bark. Kimmie jumped up, running to the door, and threw it open, her face falling immediately. "Not who you were expecting?" Tammy asked with a small sad smile. "Not who I had hoped." Kimmie replied sadly. She let a small smile come out when Jasper propped his paws on her waist, and tried to lick her face hello. She greeted him with a scratch to the head before he got down, and pushed his way past her inside.

"He wasn't the only one that wanted to see you." Tammy said motioning down to the little girl holding her hand. Kimmie's smile got wider when she met the eyes of the grinning girl. "Hi Jena," she said, letting go of her mom's hand, and jumping into Kimmie's arms for a hug, "I miss you." she said hugging her as tight as the little girl could. "I miss you too." she said, looking at Tammy over Lilly's shoulder a little confused. Tammy just gave her a slight shake of her head, silently answering her question.

Shane appeared out of the living room with Jasper at his side, and Lilly let out an excited squeal when she caught sight of him, "Mommy, Micah's here too." she said pushing herself out of Jena's arms, and dropping to the floor. The girls watched with smiles as she ran inside and jumped at him. "Why haven't you told her yet?" Kimmie asked in a hushed tone as they watched Lilly and Shane. "I didn't quite know how, but I think I figured out a way to explain it so she'll understand, and you're going to help me," Tammy told her with a slightly mischievous grin, "I do have ulterior motives for being here though." she said stepping inside.

Kimmie closed the door, and looked at her slightly nervous. Tammy giggled a little at the expression on her face. "Not towards you," she said, and Kimmie relaxed, "That bullheaded Jackass at home." she finished with a roll of her eyes as they walked to the living room. Kimmie's eyes saddened, "How is he?" she asked softly. "Angry, distant, sad," Tammy started to explain as they walked in, "I never met a man more stubborn. He doesn't want to swallow his pride, and admit he needs and misses you," she told her, "But everyone can tell."

"He told me." Lilly spoke up as she played tug of war with Jasper and one of his rope toys. "Told you what?" Tammy asked cocking a brow looking at her daughter curiously. "That he misses Jena." Lilly answered, not looking away from the dog as she pulled on the rope. Kimmie couldn't hold back her smile as her heart raced with a bit of hope. "When did he tell you this sweetie?" Tammy questioned further. "Yesterday." the girl said simply finally winning the tug of war game. She threw the toy over his head, and he took off after it. "Uncle Mattie's sad. Why don't you come over anymore?" she asked looking at Jena with her big, sad, hazel-green eyes.

Kimmie let out a sigh, and knelt down eye level with her. "Because your Uncle Matt is mad at me right now," she started to explain to her, "I kept a big secret from him, and he wasn't too happy about it when he found out." Lilly looked a little confused, "What kind of secret?" she asked. Kimmie hesitated for a moment as she tried find the simplest way to explain this to her. "Well you see my real name is Kimberly Reynolds, and I'm a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department." she told her. Lilly looked at her even more confused. "Jena isn't your name?" she asked, and Kimmie shook her head.

Lilly was quiet for a moment as she let her little mind process what she was told. "Why would you keep that a secret?" she asked with pure curiosity. "Because I had too." Kimmie told her. "But why?" the girl pushed. She didn't understand why someone would keep their name a secret. How else are people suppose to know who you are? Tammy stepped into the conversation, and knelt down next to Kimmie. "Remember when I told you that there are people that think we do bad things?" she asked, and Lilly nodded, "Well cops are some of those people, and sometimes when they need to prove someone is doing bad things they have to pretend they are someone else to find what they are looking for." she tried to help explain it a little.

Lilly frowned at the explanation, "You think Uncle Mattie is bad?" she asked, not understanding looking at Kimmie. "No sweetie, not at all." Kimmie defended with a shake of her head. "It wasn't Kim that thought we were bad, it was her boss. He sent her and her partner, Shane," Tammy said motioning to him on the couch, and he gave the little girl a small wave when she looked at him, "To try, and prove it. They were just doing their job. It's called undercover. Kind of like a spy. They were just doing what their boss told them." she said and some of the confusion washed away from Lilly's face. "But we found out that it wasn't them doing bad things, and your Uncle Mattie found out who the real bad guy was." Kimmie explained further watching a smile come out on her face. "Kim and Shane even helped us bring the bad guy down, and Kim saved Uncle Matt's life from the bad man." Tammy added, and Lilly looked at Kimmie with confusion again. "And he's still mad at you?" she asked

Kimmie gave her a sad nod. "That's dumb." Lilly said bluntly, crossing her arms with a disapproving frown. The three adults couldn't help but chuckle at the girls reaction to it all. "Try telling your Uncle Mattie that." Shane mumbled. Lilly looked at him with determination on her face, "I will." she stated placing her hands on her hips. Tammy nudged Kimmie with her elbow, and ginned when she looked at her. "Ulterior motives." she repeated at a whisper. Kimmie cocked a brow curiously at her. "Time bust out the big guns, and fight dirty." Tammy said as she stood up.

Tammy held out her hand for Lilly to grab, "Come on we have a bit of a drive home," she said as she wrapped her hand around the small one, "If you're good on the way, I'll let you call Uncle Mattie a dumbass," she said with a grin, and Lilly giggled, "Tell Kim and Shane bye." Lilly wave, and said goodbye before the two headed for the door. "Don't forget your dog." Kimmie stopped them. Lilly whipped around, and her eyes lit up with excitement. "Come on boy." she called out, and he immediately followed. "Are you sure?" Tammy asked. Kimmie nodded, "I think he likes her better than me anyway." she said with a smile.

Tammy chuckled, and the three left. She had hoped Lilly would be understanding of it all. Kids are simple and logical, and she didn't know of any other way to talk some sense into this man. The team killing didn't work in the video games. She hid all the controllers one day, but he just went, and bought a new one. She hid his phone once, and he just had Jimmy locate it with the GPS. She even calls him a dumbass on a daily basis, but nothing. His stubbornness was wearing her patients thin, and this was really a last resort. Lilly uses her cuteness in her favor all the time. It was time for Tammy to use it in Kimmie's favor.

They arrived back at the house about an hour later. As promised, Lilly was good on the way home, and just sat in the back having random conversations with Jasper. Tammy helped her out of the back seat, and they walked into the house. Lilly put her hands back on her hips and stomped her way to the game room. She knew as well as everyone else that's where Matt would be. They haven't been working, and he hasn't been socializing much. Tammy followed, trying to hold back her smile as the little girl walked in, and strait up to Matt. "Dumbass." she said kicking him in the shin.

Matt dropped his controller, and grabbed his leg, "Owe, what the-I swear you're becoming more and more like your mom everyday." he grumbled trying to control his anger. He wasn't alone in the game room, and Jimmy was doing nothing to control his laughter. "She just called you a dumbass." he said between laughs as he wiped away a few tears. "I heard her." Matt mumbled before giving him a shove. "Why are you still mad at Kim?" Lilly demanded with her hands back on her hips.

Matt's eyes snapped to Tammy in the doorway. "You told her?" he asked angry. "No, I took her over there, and we both told her. She needed to know anyway." she told him, walking further into the room. Matt looked back at the little girl, and hid his anger well. "It's not as simple as you think it is, okay? Kim kept a big secret from me, and it caused a mess." he tried to calmly explain to her. "She was doing her job," Lilly told him kind of duh like, "Her boss told her to do it." Matt let out a sigh, "That's not the point. She didn't tell me, and she could have." he tried explaining to her.

Lilly frowned again, "But she helped you." Matt gave her a nod, "She did." he agreed. "And mommy said Kim saved your life from the bad man." she added. "Again yes, she did." Lilly's frown got deeper, "Then why are you still mad?" she asked again. Matt let out a heavy sigh, "I don't know." he whispered. Lilly stepped closer to him, and wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him. "Don't be mad, Uncle Mattie. I don't like it when you're mad." she told him. Matt wrapped his arms around the little girl, and rested the side of his face on top of her head as he returned her hug. "I promise I won't be mad anymore." he whispered before placing a kiss on the top of her head.

Lilly pulled away with a smile, and gave Matt a kiss on the cheek, bringing a smile out on his face. "Kim said I can keep Jasper." she told him excited. "She did, did she?" he asked receiving an even more excited nod. "She said he likes me better." she added with a giggle. Matt chuckled, and ruffled the girls hair, "How could he not?" he said before standing up. "Are you going to talk to Kim? Can she come back over? I miss her." Lilly started to ramble before he could walk away. "Slow down there little one," he told her grinning, "Let me talk to her first." he said. "Okay." she told him before skipping out of the game room.

Matt turned his focus to Tammy, not looking nearly as amused anymore. "That wasn't fair." he said. Tammy shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about." she said, and he rolled his eyes. "Yes you do. Don't play dumb." he warned. "You mean like you. Oh wait you're not playing." she shot, grinning when she heard Jimmy chuckle. Matt shot him a glare, but Jimmy didn't hide it. "Sorry man, but I have to agree," he told him, "You're making yourself miserable with your own stubbornness. It's stupid." he said. Matt hung his head a little, defeated. He was making himself miserable, and it was time for it to end.

"You know I read somewhere that she is suppose to be accepting an award tonight," Jimmy piped up, and Matt cocked a brow at him, "I've been keeping tabs in case you asked. I'm sure she would like to see you there." he told him. "Where?" Matt asked. "Marriott banquette hall, downtown LA." Jimmy told him. Matt nodded and started to leave. "Can I come too?" Tammy called after him. "No." he said over his shoulder. "Why not?" she pouted. Matt stopped in the doorway, and turned to face her with a grin. "You're grounded for using Lilly against me." he told her, and Jimmy was laughing again only at someone else. Tammy crossed her arms, and stomped her foot like a child. "That's not fair." she continued to pout. Matt chuckled, "Neither was what you did." he said before disappearing out the door.

Notes

Ah the simple logic of a child... :)
Well it took me awhile, but I did it. Because I love my readers, so much, I managed to squeeze another chapter out of my brain. Sooooo this is not the last one...the next one is :) & :(