The days that followed that night were a mixture of cautious recovery and a slow return to my normal routine. It was now the morning before I was hopefully scheduled to return to active duty. Dr. Toretto was scheduled to check me over. I awakened from my bed earlier than I thought I was going to. The bright Miami sun greeted me as I opened the blinds of my apartment. That should have made my day a little better, which I will admit, it did. I walked over to the coffee maker and hit the button to begin brewing. A few moments after the fact, a knock came from the door. That made me smile, I laughed, I knew exactly who it was.

  "Come in Jacob, it's opened, you know that." I said as I made my way over to the kitchen table.

  I heard the door open and footsteps approach behind me, I spun myself around to see Jacob, stood next to the table with a bag and a coffee for himself.

  "How'd you know it was me?" He said with a bit of sarcasm etched in his voice.

  I laughed, "Let's see, I've been out of action for how long now? Oh I don't even remember, all the days are a blur. Anyway, every day since I came home from the hospital... Before your shift begins, you come over with donuts and coffee and inform me of what new drama is going on at the precinct. It's kind of obvious Flint." I laughed again as I emerged from my seat to grab my coffee from the counter.

  He laughed as well, "Touché." He said as he sat the bag onto the table.

  "How's the shoulder?" He asked as he took a donut out of the bag and took a seat at the table.

  I sighed, I knew sooner rather than later, I'd have to come clean to him. "I had a bit of a setback..."

  Jacob's eyebrows rose in shock, he cleared his throat which still had a piece of donut in it that he had begun eating. "What happened? Are you alright? Well, clearly you are alright but still, what happened? Spill it sister." Jacob said as he got all curious.

  I tried to hide my smile from him. I hesitated for a moment before I continued. I glared my vision over to Jacob, that same old shocked look on his face just like the moment where I woke up after getting shot. I knew then and there I had to confess. I sighed again.

  "Ugh, fine, you drug it out of me. Last week, I tore the wound back open." I began.

  Jacob's jaw dropped even further.

  "It had been bothering me a lot from days prior, but I didn't think a single thing of it. To be completely honest. I was use to pain. I was used to having a handicap. I was in the middle of preparing a sandwich for myself and all of a sudden I started bleeding again. I called 911. Dr. Toretto was the one who responded.

  Jacob's expression turned from shocked to surprised. "Darius right? Ohhhhhhhhhhh, how'd that go?"

  I couldn't help but smile at the memory of the extreme care I received from Darius had over me that day when he fixed my injury. I looked back over to Jacob.

  "He came over, stitched the wound back up and reapplied the bandages. That was all."

  "I should be expecting him later on, to reevaluate if I am ready to return to the field."

  Jacob's eyebrows shot up once again, he shot a sarcastic smile over my way. "Oh! Speaking of work..." He pulled a file from his bag and slid it over to me. "I thought you might want to take a peek at that." He said as he took a sip from his coffee.

  "Well well... What do we have here?" I asked as I opened the folder to find the name MARCO DIAZ one the first sheet of paperwork.

  "Marco Diaz." I said out loud, I looked back over to Jacob.

  "Marco Diaz. We've gotten plenty of info on him and his connections to the organization of Walter Ortega. This right here partner, is big." He said as he laughed.

  I nodded at what he informed me. I then opened the folder and my eyes scanned the pages. Names, dates, transactions. All connected to one man. Ortega. My mind raced as I fully connected the dots, realizing the full extent of Ortega's organization.

  "You're right. You're right. This could be exactly what we need to take down Ortega for good." I said, a hint of hope evident in my voice.

  Jacob nodded, his expression ecstatic. "But, it's not going be easy. Some of these names. They're big. Big fish Iz. Politicians, high-ranking officials. This goes way deeper than we thought."

  I laughed at his comment. "First of all, don't you and I love a challenge? Second, good. It won't be easy. But one way or another we'll take them down, whether that be one by one or all at once. This ends now. After everything that man has put us through with trying to catch him and everything he has put me through after shooting me? I'm ending this."

  Jacob nodded, he began to clap. "That's what I like to hear! But, we have to be smart about this. One wrong move, and they'll come after us."

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  I nodded, I understood the complexity of the situation. "We'll need to be careful. You're not wrong. Plan every step. No matter what, this is ending one way or another if I have anything to say about that.

  Jacob nodded again, a determined look appeared on his face. As we discussed our next moves, my phone buzzed on the table. I glanced down at the screen to notice a message from Darius.

  Darius:

  Evening Izzy, I'll be over at around 5 PM for your checkup to clear you for returning to the field.

  I nodded at a comment that Jacob made, I tried to make it where I was listening to what Jacob spoke about related to plans with the case. I sent a quick response to Darius.

  Izzy:

  Perfect, I look forward to seeing you then Doctor.

  I sighed as I sent that, I refocused my attention to Jacob. I knew that I didn't want to come on too strong when it came to Darius even though in the hospital I came on strong when I didn't even mean to but I knew that I didn't want to sound like a weirdo and that I was dying for him to come over which I was and wasn't at the same time.

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  It was a quiet afternoon, a few hours after Jacob had finally left for his shift, I had found myself seated on the sofa engrossed in a good book. I knew what tonight meant. My shoulder had been healing well, but after the little incident. I hoped that tonight's final checkup played in my favor of returning to active duty. I glanced up at the clock which showed 4:45 PM, I knew Darius was about to show up any minute. I took a few deep breaths, I tried to calm my nerves. The apartment was still, the late afternoon Miami sunlight casted warm patterns on the walls. Just as I was fixing to check the time again, a knock came from the door.

  I placed the bookmark in my book, my breathing increased by the minute. I walked over to the door and opened it to find Darius stood there, his familiar warm smile immediately put me at ease. "Izzy." He said, he then stepped inside. "How's the shoulder doing?"

  "Better." I responded casually, "Still a bit of throbbing present but nothing I cannot handle. I'm a police officer for goodness sake." I said as I laughed a bit at my own comment.

  "Dr. Toretto. Better," I responded casually, "Still a bit of throbbing but nothing I can't handle."

  "Good to hear, very good to hear. Especially after the last time you and I saw each other." He said as he set his bag down on the coffee table. "Shall we begin the checkup?" He asked.

  I nodded as I walked over to the couch. I sat down, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. Darius unwrapped the bandages very gently, his fingers were careful and precise. His touch was nothing more than professional but there was an underlying tenderness that made my heart flutter with anticipation.

  "Wonderful. Sensational." He said.

  I was afraid to speak for a moment.

  "Do I take it as good news?" I asked cautiously.

  "More than good news. The wound looks good." He said as he continued to examine the stitches. "No signs of infections, it looks to be healing wonderfully."

  Those words made my heat flutter. Darius began to reapply everything after further examination.

  "Soooooooooooooooo?!" I asked as I tried to keep the eagerness out of my voice.

  He smiled at me as he completed the reapply and put away everything in his bag. "You look to be healing very well. Is there something else?"

  My jaw dropped, I looked over to him with a shocked look on me face. "You know for sure what so means in this case scenario! Am I cleared to return to work or what?" I asked, I punched him lightly in the shoulder.

  Darius laughed at my demeanor. His eyes met mine, A pleasant smile on his face. "I was teasing you. I know what so means." He'd laugh again.

  "You are cleared to return to work. Just make sure to take it easy at first. Don't push yourself to hard." He confirmed with another smile, our eyes locking onto one another for a moment.

  I couldn't hide my relief and excitement towards the good news. I wrapped my good arm around Darius. He returned the embrace which made me smile. After a few moments, I pulled away, a tad bit embarrassed.

  "I am soooo sorry about that... Guess I got a little too excited." I said as I gave him an awkward smile.

  "Don't bother the apology. It's perfectly fine that that's how you feel. I understand the excitement. Believe me. I'm not in the same field but if I had anything happen to me like you did and I was stuck in the house. I'd probably be going a little stir crazy." He said as he finished putting tools back in his bag. He took a look at me once more, he looked as if he wanted to say something.

  "I-..." He stopped. I looked over to him in the eyes as his cautiousness piqued my curiosity.

  "Yes Darius? Is there something that you'd like to share with the class?"

  He sighed. "Ugh, fine... You dragged it out of me. If you're not busy... Do you maybe- I don't know... want to have dinner Saturday night? I know a little Italian place downtown. We could celebrate your return to the force! If it's a no, believe me, that's completely fine. I-..." He'd pause, He smiled awkwardly like I did prior.

  "Let me uhh, shut up for now." He finished his statement.

  I smiled at how cute him being embarrassed was.

  "That's so sweet Darius... I'd love to." I said with a genuine tone in my voice.

  "Really? You mean it? I don't want to make it seem like my embarrassment swayed you or anything..." He said softly.

  "I mean it." I said genuinely again.

  His face lit up when I confirmed it.

  "I'll pick you up at 6. Goood luck tomorrow Detective. I know you'll do great." He said finally as he picked up his bag and began to exit my apartment, he shot a final smile back at me.

  I walked him to the door. As I closed it behind him, I couldn't help but scream in excitement. Not only was I cleared to return to work. But I am now going out to dinner with my handsome physician.