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Maybe I should just tell Jake,she thought, her heart pounding suddenly faster as if echoing her sister's name had unlocked a torrent of emotions.Maybe he'll want to help me find her.
But as much as she longed for his support and understanding, she hesitated, fearing the consequences. What if he saw her as a liability, someone unable to focus on their current cases? He already knew the surface details of what was going on--she knew he had gotten them from the chief, but he hadn't gotten them from her. He hadn't gotten information on how emotionally taxing it had been for Fiona to be obsessing over her sister's disappearance for so long, to be chasing around leads all by herself. He could view her as reckless and unstable and question if she was really a good fit to be an agent. After all, Fiona needed to focus on the cases she was assigned to, not the ones from her own past.
Ugh, I'm overthinking this,she thought to herself, rubbing her temples in frustration.
Taking a deep breath, Fiona decided to put off the discussion for another day. Right now, she needed sleep, and so did Jake. They had a long day ahead of them, and they needed all the strength they could muster.
Closing her eyes, she attempted to empty her mind of its worries, concentrating instead on the soft brush of the sheets against her skin and the gentle hum of the air conditioner. Gradually, the tension in her body began to ease, and she drifted into a fitful slumber.
***
Fiona's dreams were a kaleidoscope of memories and desires, fleeting images, both light and dark. But one image emerged more vivid than the rest: Joslyn, standing at the edge of a sunlit meadow, her face alight with relief and joy as she opened her arms wide to embrace her sister.
"Joslyn!" Fiona cried out, tears streaming down her cheeks even as she smiled at the sight of her long-lost sibling.
"Everything's going to be okay," Joslyn whispered, the words carried on the wind like a promise. "I forgive you, Fiona. You can stop looking."
"No, Joslyn--I'll never stop looking!"
But Joslyn only smiled and shook her head before turning and sprinting away. Fiona lunged forward, desperate to catch up with her sister, but it was no use--Joslyn was too fast. She darted around trees and over streams, leaving a trail of laughter in her wake that echoed off the mountainside.
Fiona followed her, chasing after the sound of Joslyn's voice as she weaved in and out of tall grasses and wildflowers. The land seemed to go on forever, but still, Fiona kept running, determined to reach her sister. Soon enough, she found herself in a lush forest, the trees towering high above her head. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of leaves as birds sang their sweet songs all around her. And ahead of Fiona lay a clearing: a meadow full of golden light and beauty.
As Fiona stepped into the meadow she saw Joslyn standing at its center, waiting for her with open arms. With one last burst of energy, Fiona ran towards her sister and embraced her tightly, relieved to finally be reunited with the one person who had been missing from her life for so long--and yet here they were again together, after all these years.
"You're here," Fiona said. "You're really here."
"No, Fi..." Joslyn's voice became distant. "I'm not here. Not really."
"You are," Fiona said, trying to convince herself more than anyone else. Because she knew this was a dream, and yet in the moment, it all felt so real.
But before she could say another word, the dream dissolved into darkness.
"No!" Fiona shouted in her sleep. "Joslyn--come back! Don't go!"
Fiona shot up in bed, her breathing ragged and erratic. Her heart raced in her chest as she fought to separate the dream from reality. For a moment, she was disoriented, unsure where she was or what had just happened. Then her eyes adjusted to the dark motel room, and she remembered being on the hunt for a killer with Jake; the dream was nothing more than her own brain processing her deep-seated fears and anxieties. But Joslyn--she had felt so real.
How cruel did her subconscious have to be?
She looked at the clock on the nightstand to see that it was only two a.m. She still needed more sleep, and there were many hours before it would be time to wake up and continue the investigation. But she knew sleep would be impossible. She needed fresh air, and she needed to clear her head. Fiona got up out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and headed for the door.
As she opened it, she saw Jake standing in front of her room, fist raised as though he were about to knock. "Hey," he said, his warm brown eyes widening in surprise. He was wearing plaid pajamas, making Fiona blush. "Are you okay? I heard you shouting."
"I'm fine," Fiona replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just a bad dream."
Silence settled between them as they looked at each other. The motel hallway was deserted, save for the two of them standing there, unsure of what to say or do next. Embarrassment burned on her cheeks.
"I just... wanted some air," Fiona peeped. "You can come with me if you'd like." Jake nodded, and together they walked down the hallway and out the front door of the motel. The night air was cool, and the sky above was dotted with stars. It was peaceful out there, and the quiet helped ease the tension that had been building up inside Fiona.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jake asked, breaking the silence.
Fiona shrugged. "It was just a dream. It's nothing."
"Nothing? You were shouting your sister's name in your sleep. That's not nothing," Jake said, his voice low and gentle.
Fiona felt the tears prick at the corners of her eyes, but she fought them back. "It's just... it's hard. Not knowing where she is or if she's even alive. And then to have a dream like that... it's just... a lot."
"I know," Jake said softly. "You know I'm here, Red if you ever want to talk about it."
