Some parents... (Jorge)

>> "You are right…I'll take you up on that offer if you don't mind. I doubt I'd get any sleep otherwise."

“Don’t mind at all,” he beamed a little tiredly. The day was finally beginning to take its toll on the police detective again. Though the coffee served as a good jolt, it really was not enough to keep the man totally awake. “Honestly, I’m starting to get used to you sleeping next to me,” he said with a small chuckle.

While he knew that Gemma would never do anything silly such as go out and seek those parents herself, he did feel more comfortable with having her here at his apartment. A good night sleep might help to take the edge off of the whole incident, as well as not be taken over by a sudden need to find those people. As much as Jorge wanted to do the same thing, he knew that was not the way. He could not go and punch in someone’s face without fear of the ramifications from the law. He served the law, after all, he was not above it.

Still though, he would not have blamed her if she had run off to do something like that. Hearing a teenage girl cry every last tear she has had even since she buried such an incident as that in her psyche must have indeed been heartbreaking. When faced with such a reality of the world, the only thing you can do is either run after it, blindly with a butcher knife, or remember that you are better than that and stay your hand.

The Latter was always the hardest to do, but it was the most correct. The detective had no doubt of that.

When she finally joined him at his side, she smiled a tiny smile, one that it seemed she was reluctant to give. He returned it in just the same way, trying to not let her in on how much the story affect him as well. He was a cop…he would have to always remember that.

Silently he walked over and began to lock up his apartment for the evening, replaced his book on his bookshelf and stepped over his still sleeping, snoring dog.

>> "You know, you are really useful sometimes."

Jorge stopped and turned back to her after he heard her and smiled softly. “Well I’m glad after all these months, I’m finally more than just another pretty face to you.”

Kidding of course, he moved back over to her side, slipped her hand into his and gave it an encouraging squeeze. Leaning over, he kissed her softly before he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a warm hug. He hated seeing that this was affecting her, but other than be there for her and trying to use his police sources to the best of his abilities, there was little else he could do until the girl came forward.

So for the meantime, he hoped that the warmth of his arms was enough to suffice.