your confidence is cracked (malachi)

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina had finished her shift two hours ago, and in the time she had left she had gone home changed out of her work clothes and shucked her way into her lose fitting gym clothes and tugged on a pair of comfortable sneakers. She had also managed to make a few phone calls for her sisters and her parents before she made her way to the gym, Tina needed to do some training and the gym was a good place as any to train. Walking into the gym she flashed a sweet smile at the young female receptionist behind the front desk before she wandered into the locker room to put her bag away, walking back out Tina had some strapping tape held between her teeth for a moment before she strapped her wrists comfortably.

She had found if she didn't strap her wrists when training she would always injure herself, sure, she could easily heal herself but it made people act a bit weird when she got hurt and then the next day was perfect as if nothing had happened. Making her way past the fitness machines Tina headed straight for the punching bags, her favorite thing to take her anger and stress out on. Seeing a man there as well Tina raised a brow a little as she let her green eyes sweep over him taking in his appearance. Moving to a punching bag she braced herself a little before she began attacking the bag as if it was her worst enemy, her hand-eye coordination was amazing and it did come in handy for work.

After a little while Tina landed a hard roundhouse kick to the bag and quickly moved her right foot back into a short fighting stance, straightening up she smiled softly feeling her heart beating hard inside her chest. It was a good feeling. Glancing over to where the man had been she grinned a little seeing him still there, shaking her hands out a little Tina made her way over to him and stopped far enough that she was out of swinging distance in case she spooked him and he swung. "Need someone to steady the bag for you?" she asked gently with a slightly raised brow, even though she was seen as technically was 'evil' according to other supernatural creatures she wasn't.

Tina was a sweetheart, or really, she was as sweet as demons could get without being a complete goody-goody. Placing her hands on her hips Tina waited patiently for him to respond to her, she had to rest of the day to spend doing what she liked and spending more time that she normally did at the gym sounded like a plan to her. "Cause, if I brace it for you, you'll get a better work out" Tina said with a grin as she shifted her feet a little, she didn't like staying still for long and already she was feeling the itch to move around and do something productive. Because standing around just wasn't getting anything done and Tina hated that. Some people said her urge to keep doing things made her a good cop, others said it was a bad trait but Tina didn't care about what others thought of her. She wasn't out to impress other people.

[Malachi Noah Morris]

It was the weekday and well, the place he worked at was having some problems, so Milo was laid-off for a little bit without technically it being called ‘laid-off’. Just some misunderstandings, some patient problems… At least he was getting pay without work, so all was good. Though this created an extremely bored Malachi. Which wasn’t a good thing at all. He wanted all the movies he owned, he played and beaten almost all the video games he had - though a few he was stumped on - for oddly he couldn’t do simple puzzles, but the more complex ones… And there was only so many tricks the dogs could learn in one day without giving him gray hair. So after filling out half of a crossword puzzle - most of the answers he googled because knowing the name of the husband in Desperate Housewives and the name of the youngest child in Honey Boo-Boo wasn’t his forte. It was then that he got a good idea… It was something he hadn’t done in a long time by himself, for the man was never off of work or if he was, he had his son with him… Why not work out? He hadn’t been to the gym in forever, though his body said otherwise. Why? Because he was a single father. Unlike most, they ate healthy, they ‘played’ way too much and he helped quite a lot of people at his work; which was like working out half the time. Though for real, not really. So, the gym sounded like a good idea for him.

What was supposed to take five minutes took fifteen thanks to the dogs wanting to go outside and always wanting to play with him. It was like they knew he was trying to leave. His son wouldn’t be back home in some hours and if he was going to stay over, he’d call. Malachi was against the modern day and age of giving children iPhone’s, iPad’s, and god knows what at the age of five - because they didn’t need it. Thirteen plus was what he believed. However, with what happened to his son, the kid had a cell phone. And a good one. If anything happened, Malachi can easily call the company and get a GPS location of it. Nothing was going to happen to his son anymore, he’d make dang sure of that. Even if he was… Different.

Finally able to leave, Malachi got into his car and drove to the gym. Of course whatever membership he did have expired, so the man renewed it. Though he knew he’d probably never use it much but if he wanted to sue it today he had to. So once that was done, Malachi took off and hung up his coat then slipped off his shirt revealing one of those men tank-tops or ‘wife-beaters’ for short. Hey, outside was winter, inside was warm and nice, so why not? Normal tennis shoes and jeans, and a small little Buddha pendant hung around his neck like a charm. So, Malachi did some stretches before going on some machines. Mainly the bowflex-like one with the pulling and tugging; working some of his leg and arm muscles as well as abdomen before getting off and letting another person have their turn. That was when his eyes met the boxing bags. Boy, he didn’t touch one of those in forever. Wrapping some tape around his knuckles and wrists since he didn’t have any gloves and they didn’t as well, just tape; he did what he could with what he had and started to box. At least he knew some of the footing and punched decently - for a human. When a girl walked over, like any male, they punched harder. Though sadly it went the opposite of what any male would like - help. But she was right. Malachi stopped to hear her then pondered for a moment. “Sure, if you want to.”

She did offer he said okay if she was sure, which she seemed like she was, so Malachi started punching the bag as she held it. His punches were swift and hard, but no expert. She was right though, he was getting a better work out with that. Though as it seemed to be right in the middle of boxing, did his cell phone in his pocket ring. It was a weird tune, sounded something like from a kids show. Stopping, Malachi turned around, pulling his cell phone out and putting it to his ear, “Yeah, Raymond?” He asked. Listening to his son talking, Malachi sighed a bit, “So how long will that take?” With a pause, he added on, “I never once met her. No. I’ll come and pick you up then. No- No, Raymond, no buts. Just give me a call when it’s about over. I’ll come and get you. Then we can go get some ice cream or something. How does that sound?” With a grin, Malachi turned around, “Okay, now stop being bad and go back to class. Bye.” Hanging up, Malachi put the cell back into his boot-cut leg pocket and walked back to the bag which was some feet away. “Sorry about that. Little important.”

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina smiled softly when he agreed to letting her brace the bag for him, moving she held onto it comfortably as he went on ahead and continued to box. Adjusting her stance a little in the middle of his punches Tina relaxed slightly when he answered his phone with had a strange ringtone, Tina of course hadn't figured out how to change her ringtone on her phone and so it was a simple standard sound of wind chimes that went off whenever her phone rang. Taking her hands off of the punching bag she relaxed a little as she watched him, giving him a gentle smile when he said sorry.

She knew what it was like to get phone when she was in the middle of doing something very important, particularly when she was a work and digging through files. When that happened especially when Tina was pulling a late night shift she got a bit annoyed but it was apart of her job anyway to be always on call. Or hell, when she got a phone when she was working out, Tina tended to let it go to voice mail if it was her family as they tended to only want to chat with her for hours and hours or at least until she fell asleep normally with her phone in her hand. But when it came to work, she always answered her phone even when she felt unwell.

"It's alright" Tina said with a light laugh and a small shake of her head before she moved away from the bag and took a step towards him, "I must seem rude not introducing myself" she said as she held her hand out towards him for him to shake. "I'm Tina Grayson" she said lightly as she used her free hand to sweep some stray strands of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail and into her face. Letting her eyes sweep over him again she frowned slightly, he looked so familiar and she searched her memories trying to figure out where she knew him from. Thinking for a moment her eyes widened a little in surprise when she thought back to the kidnapping case she had worked quite a while ago back in California, the one case she hadn't been able to let go of even when the other officers working the case had stepped away from it.

"This might sound a bit weird, but, did you use to live in California?" Tina asked as she tipped her head to the side a little as she gave him a questioning look. She knew the question could be considered probing seeing as she didn't know who the man was, but she could not help the niggling feeling she had met him once before. Tina was determined to know if he had been the father who had gotten worked up when his son was stolen, though she hadn't blamed the man for getting worked up as she knew if she had children she would have gotten as worked up as he had.

He looked so much like the father of the little boy who had been stolen and triggered the whole ordeal that sent the police into action but resulted in a group of neighbours finding the kidnapper instead. Tina had tried her hardest to keep tabs on all of the children just to know about how they were going, and now, here was was standing with one of the men who possibly was one of the fathers. "I just mean, you look a lot like someone a met once" she added after a moment with a small smile. She did not want him to think she could be a stalker. Tina was now curious about the man before her, besides his attractiveness the familiarity about him had her intrigued with him.

(take your time replying, I don't want you too feel like you need to reply straight away <333 I am happy to wait ^.^)

[Malachi Noah Morris]

Having a little gym buddy was nice, considering that the bag moved around a lot on the chains dangling like that. Someone bracing it so he could deliver more direct and harder blows was nice for a stranger to offer. Though as he got some punches in his cell phone rung. He knew who it was just by the ring tone alone. So, Malachi stepped away from the bag to talk to his son. That kid, Raymond, was the first thing on his list... Including eating. When the phone call was finished, he slipped his cell phone back in his pocket and then returned back to the punching bag, however, not without a reason why he had to back out for a moment. That was just the sort of character he was; he needed to explain himself... At least a little bit, with his actions. When he spoke, she said it was alright, but before he could get back into punching the bag, she spoke. Tina? “Nice to meet you Tina. My name's Malachi.” Short and sweet. Though he didn't add a last name like she did. He wasn't too fond of giving 'too much' information or well, important information. Call it a slight paranoia. Probably why his little child had a Samsung Galaxy.

She continued on... This time causing Malachi to grow a small expression of concern. How did she know he was from California? Though he was sure if he had neighbors there that moved here they'd know or if someone was a demon or whatever that had a computer-like mind, they'd know... Without Googling it... The information wasn't hidden on the internet but he didn't say anything about California. Which stumped him. “Uhh, yeah... I used to live there.” With a pause he added on, “Why?” When she said that he looked like someone she met once, Malachi blinked a bit; confused, obviously. He doesn't remembering seeing her before or ever... So in his mind she got the wrong person. How? It was beyond him. “So who do you know back in California?” He was a little curious. Whenever she spoke, he was ready to say it wasn't him. Though little did he know that the person she did know was him. Poor naïve little Malachi...

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Raising a brow a little when he only gave her his first name, "I am sure a lot of people have the first name of Malachi" she thought to herself. She had never forgotten the fathers name, at the time it had seemed to unique to her seeing as Tina hadn't really worked with anyone who didn't have a generic name like herself. Looking down at the ground for a moment with a small frown Tina quickly raised her head again when Malachi spoke asking her who she knew in California, "Oh...uh, just this guy who I ran into in my job. He lost his son for a while and he got on the wrong side of the police" she said with a small shrug of her shoulders before she moved and held onto the punching bag again as she looked at him with a small smile. Tina knew how to chose her words carefully, she had practice and she was good at making sure she kept quiet on particular subjects.

"I'm sure that wasn't you though" Tina said after a moment as she gave him a gentle smile, she didn't want to freak the poor guy out. She had freaked out a couple of people in her life and sure it was a bit fun she didn't need to make the guy she had just met run screaming from the gym. Rolling her shoulders a little Tina continued to hold onto the bag comfortably leaning most of her weight onto her right leg as she continued to watch him, Tina couldn't keep her eyes off of the man everything about him was enticing and he was attractive. Also, he didn't seem to be a fellow cop; or at least if he was she had never seen him around before. "Might have just seen someone that looked like you" she added gently, there honestly didn't seem to be anything intimidating about Tina. Well, nothing intimidating while she was dressed so relaxed. If she was dressed in her normal work clothes looking all neat and pressed she knew she would look a bit intimidating.

[Malachi Noah Morris]

IN THE END IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER

At first things were fine, friendly, and alright... Until she spoke after his phone conversation with his son. The words she said, the few choice ones put up a warning light in his mind. Something was now off about her. There was a little 'warning' sign that went up in Malachi's head. Something was wrong, something was up... And the next words she said, he got paranoid, and it was evident upon his expression. Some guy... In California... Who lost his child... And got on the bad side of the police... The man swallowed at those words. As she held onto the punching bag, Malachi just stood there, not wanting to punch anymore or well, be by her. The man was paranoid. All thanks to that incident in California that happened not too long ago. For months he thought he would be fatherless... It was a terrifying experience. It was something that Malachi would not wish upon anyone. “That sounds awful.” He spoke, trying to be calm but obviously... Failing.

“Yeah, can't be me.” But he had a feeling that it was him. Looking away at the other machines in the gym, Malachi sighed, “I think I'm done with the punching bg. Thanks, though.” He said, backing up a bit before walking off. Grabbing his water bottle, he walked between a few machines before sitting on the leg press; almost all the way on the opposite side of the gym. Anyone could tell something was up. Malachi wanted to leave but he wanted to exercise.... He was at a conflict alright. Drinking a bit from his bottle the man sighed and looked down at his phone. “She knows about me, doesn't she?” He kept on thinking to himself. Glancing up, he took a quick look towards her before looking back down at his phone. He already texted his son he'd pick him up later, but sadly now wasn't later. So instead he did one of his usual 'you okay' texts to him like the worried parents he always was.

DONE BY MYST ♥

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina watched him closely, everything about him seemed to change at her words. There was something about his carefully chosen words and movements that made her frown slightly, apparently being a cop for as long as she had made Tina suspicious. When he said that it sounded awful she made a small nod of her head, "It was awful" she said lightly. Raising a brow slightly Tina made another nod of her head when he said it mustn't have been him, his body language was now screaming defensive and that made Tina slightly nervous. Had she said something that triggered a memory for him? When he said he had finished with the punching bag Tina let go of it and moved slightly, watching as Malachi moved away from her Tina tipped her head to the side a little and watched him for a moment longer before she started boxing again thinking things over.

A soon as she began to feel the familiar burning sensation in her lungs she grinned a little as she stopped punching and kicking, moving away from the bag she looked over at Malachi and made her way over to him. "Hey, you alright?" she asked lightly as she watched him, she made sure she was standing far enough back to give him breathing room or if he wanted to run away from her. Honestly Tina wouldn't blame him if he packed up and sprinted out of the doors, he did seem a bit spooked when she said he looked like the guy who had lost his son. Chewing on her bottom lip a little Tina moved a bit as she tipped her head to the side a little observing him, "You seemed a little worried about what I said before" she said softly. Tina had learnt that if you raised your voice or used an accusing tone people tended to clam up, it made her job harder when her parents decided to scream at suspects and it annoyed her having to play good cop when really she felt like she should just be doing her job and getting to the bottom of things instead of tip toeing around suspects.

[Malachi Noah Morris]

Things were going too much hand in hand and were just hitting flip-switches in Malachi's mind that told him to stand down and back away - like a submissive wolf to an alpha; live to see another day, let him have what he wants, and everything was fine. Except it didn't work like that here. “I don't think I can imagine something like that...” Okay that was a little lie – it hit close to home for him, but he could play the bull crap card well, right? Maybe he reacted a little too quickly and made himself obvious that he was a little uncomfortable... For the next moment after what she said he immediately said he was done with the punching bag and started to back off. Malachi was experiencing a slight small case of paranoia, and if it kept up it would get worse. Sitting down on the sideline, he pulled out his cellphone after wiping some sweat off of his brow from the work out. His son was the only thing he had in his life and he nearly lost him once, so of course Malachi was way over-protective.

After sending his son a text, he stared at his cell phone, hoping his kid would text him back. Lucky kid – very young and had a smart-phone. Not because he was rich and a spoiled kid, but more so out of protection. GPS activated when he wishes. When he heard some words, Malachi jerked his head up and flipped his phone around, tapping on the back of the case, “Yeah I'm fine. I just need a break, that's all.” It was a crappy excuse, alright, but he tried to make it believable. Though could she see through his shell? Who knew. “Uhh yeah – who wouldn't be? With a kid being taken and all, anyone would be worried. Right?” And there was where he messed up. A kid taken. She didn't say that. She said 'lost his son'. And by the time he realized what he said, it was by far too late. “Know what? I should leave. It was nice sparing with you, Tina.”

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina frowned a little when Malachi said he just needed a break, making a small nod of her head she crossed her arms over her stomach and was about to leave before her frowned deepened when he mentioned a 'kid'. Tina remember not saying it had been a kid, when he said that he should go Tina uncrossed her arms and reached out to him so she could touch his arm gently. She didn't want him to go and she didn't want to make him upset, that was the last thing she ever wanted to do to do people. Tina hated making people upset it always made it hard to try and be someone's friend when they were bawling their eyes out and clinging to her like she was a life line. "Hang on. Look, I don't want to upset you and I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. But yes, it was a kid and I have a feeling you know that...because you were there" she said softly. Studying his face carefully she made a small nod of her head before she slowly took her hand away from him, the more she looked at him the more Tina could see how he looked exactly like the father who had lost his son. Placing her hands on her hips comfortably Tina tipped her head to the side a little as she raised a brow. She wondered if she told him she remembered him if he would flip out and run for the nearest exit. Hell, might as well try. "Now that I'm looking at you properly, I remember you" Tina said lightly as she watched him carefully trying to gauge his reaction, if he tried to swing at her Tina would take the hit. She couldn't easily ignore the fact she got hit seeing as there would be no evidence of the hit the next day, that was one thing Tina liked about being a demon and being able to heal herself. No-one ever saw the bruises she got if she ever got into fights with people.

[Malachi Noah Morris]

That was Malachi's mistake of the day: saying the word' kid'. She never said kid yet he presumed that she did. Maybe he assumed it was a kid since who would steal an adult? Correction: a lot of people. Mainly teenagers, but everyone was subject-able to being stolen like some jewelry – holding it for ransom or just keeping for selfish gain as well as amusement. Kid... He was right though. Knowing his fault and well, feeling uncomfortable about this whole ordeal, Malachi said that he needed to go and then soon started to leave. He felt uncomfortable and she was hitting all the marks. The man had to leave. Do what after wards? Who knew. But it had to be better than here. That was for sure.

When she touched his arm, Malachi's muscles tensed; not expecting that at all. Because he was there. Those words made the man swallow hard. His expression looked insecure, though not like a deer caught in the headlights... Until she spoke again. Taking her arm back, Malachi sighed, but not one of relief. “Look, lady...” He started to say, swallowing again and taking a step back – not to run off but giving some distance between the two people. “I don't want any trouble, okay?” He was extremely defensive... And obviously didn't know what to do in a situation such as this. He was a deer caught in the headlights and not sure which way to move. “Just leave my kid alone.” Very defensive. He didn't know who she was. Police officer? Neighbor? He hadn't gotten the faintest idea...

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina watched his movements carefully, she needed to know what he might do. When she felt him tense Tina quickly let go of his arm and held her hands up a little showing him she meant him no harm. "Look, I didn't mean to freak you out, okay" she said gently as she stayed standing still when he put a bit of distance between the two of them; "I was one of the officers who worked the case" Tina added softly. She could guess from his point of view that she might have been just some stalker. If she needed to Tina was more than happy to show him she was indeed an officer; moving a little Tina lowered her hands as she looked at Malachi trying to guess what his reaction to his words was going to be. Even though she was a demon, she wasn't a mind reader and that annoyed her sometimes. It would be good to know what someone was going to do before they did it.

"I haven't seen your kid since the case wrapped up, okay? I'm not stalking you or anything. Promise" she said gently, stalking someone was not something Tina condoned. Sure, lying a little here and there about her age was one thing, but stalking someone was not something she would ever do. Unless she needed to for surveillance for a case....but that was a different matter entirely. Even though she wasn't stalking Malachi or his kid she was curious as to how they were both doing, she had been buried under work and hadn't been able to keep up with the well being of anyone who had been involved in the case; work was a little evil like that at times and tended to get in the way of her best interest for people around her. And the man in front of her had been someone she had been interested in keeping up to date with and his son, but well, now she was here with him and it felt a little awkward that he might think she was just some creep. Tina knew she had walked smack bang into that, and she probably deserved someone thinking she was a creep right in that moment. Served her right for not explaining who she actually was properly.

[Malachi Noah Morris]

“I-I'm not freaked out.” It was a small white lie. He was a little freaked out and just wanted to leave. This woman was just barking up the 'right' tree and it was scaring him. His son was taken once, he would not let it happen again; not over his dead body at least. He gave some distance between the two... Just showing how uncomfortable he was. When she spoke again, the man arched a brow, tilting his head very slightly to the side. “Yeah, I can say that too.” Sarcasm or a defensive tone? Probably the latter. He wasn't trying to start anything with that but he was just saying he could say that too – it didn't mean it was the truth though – without saying that she's a liar, for that wasn't in his forte to say.

She wasn't stalking? “Sure feels like it, miss. Sure freakin' feels like it!” Yeah, he wasn't feeling any better. Just leave his kid alone. He didn't say anything about himself. Though that's what a defensive parent says... They just speak for the kid; just protecting them, and not themselves. It was stupid but that's how a lot of parents and animals ticked and tocked when it came to their 'offspring'. Like a lioness, they put themselves on the line of danger to protect their young, much like Malachi. “Then why are you here? Of all the places, of all the hundreds of miles between us, why are you here!? Let alone in the same gym as me at the same time in the same city in the same state. Why!? Explain that to me.” Yup, his defensive level was over nine-thousand.

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina quickly noted his defensiveness to her words, when he moved she stayed where she was, she knew better than to make someone feel as if they were trapped. Tina raised a brow as he continued to speak, explain to him, someone who didn't know, that every few years she needed to update her paperwork falsifying her age and that sometimes she needed to find a new place to live so than people didn't get suspicious of that fact that she didn't age. "I can't exactly explain it past the fact I got a transfer for a change of scenery, okay. I didn't even know you lived here. I don't even know where most of the people who were involved in the case now live" she said softly trying to get him to calm down somewhat.

"And as to why I picked to move here is because I've never lived here before. I thought it would be a nice change...and I visit this gym most days after work". Yeah, the way this was all going was indeed making her sound like a bit of a stalker. Thinking for a moment Tina pointed at Malachi a little, "Just stay right there, I'll be right back" she said before she jogged off to the locker room. Opening the locker that held her things Tina rummaged through her bag, grabbing a few things from her handbag she jogged back out of the locker room to where she had left Malachi; reaching him Tina held out her drivers license, a work ID as well as two cards. One with her contact information on it and the contact information for her boss. "If you want, you can give my boss a call to verafy that I am an officer and the fact I am here right this moment is complete coincidence" Tina said with a small sigh. It wouldn't hurt her in anyway for Malachi to actually call her boss.

[Malachi Noah Morris]

She touched him... And she was a stalker... At least in Malachi's eyes. At least she let go, but that didn't ease up the man. Nearly instinctively, without notice, subconsciously, he rubbed the area where she touched, as if to cleanse it or to get the 'bad' off of it. He didn't like the situation he was in and his mind was already jumping to a billion and one conclusions.... He was freaking out. At least more on the inside than outside. As she spoke, Malachi still didn't fully recall her as his mind was covering that part of his past up for the moment. She was one of the officers... Malachi immediately spoke without thinking, “So who was the head guy on the case, huh?” Trick question... Head 'woman' was more like it. Davidson. Let's see if she gets that right. Not like knowing the name of the person in charge of the case's name was would help anything. Might just make her look more like a stalker in his eyes.

The man was paranoid and obviously – he was scared. He may not fully show it but his facial expression and mainly those eyes. They showed fear, as if he saw a ghost from the past or someone dying. After all, he was human... Did he know of the supernatural world? Most likely no... At least... That was what supernatural beings would think. Sadly, they would be wrong... But that is besides the point. What she did say did make sense, but Malachi's mind was kind of cloudy and foggy at the moment. “Yeah, and I'll move to such-and-such because this guy did too, and don't worry, I can come up with a cover story as well.” Once again, he wasn't thinking before he was speaking. Nor did he really care right now.

Now what was the lemon to the water was what she said after wards. “Fine, g-give me the number.” He was quick to take that up from her alright. He still kept some distance from her but took his cell phone out once again. Thinking somewhat smart, even if they can probably trace the call – not like he cared, he star six-seven the number that she gave him. After probably about fifteen minutes – going through hoops due to it being a darn police department, he finally got through to the person he wanted and got... Information that he wished he didn't have but secretly – was thankful for. Removing the phone from his ear, he ended the call then looked over at her as if he saw a ghost but one he wanted to punch in the face... That slight expression of fear, protectiveness, and... Relief. Swallowing, Malachi took a few moments to actually speak some words – this time actually thinking before he spoke. “S-so... This is just one of those strange and odd occurrences where it's just a coincidence?” He didn't await for an answer from her, instead, he started talking once more, “Look, I... I've had it rough the past few years. I can't help but to... React in such a fashion. I'm sure you know that children mean the world to parents.” Hinting that she was a mother? Maybe. Though he didn't call her out on it. It was then that his cell buzzed – his son finally replied back to his text he sent while feeling threatened and such with Tina – wanting to pick him up then and there.

Looking down, he saw the text and quickly pointed up one finger at Tina. It might have seemed rude, but Malachi quickly called his son father than sent another text that might not get an answer as soon as he wanted. When his son picked up, Malachi walked off, though kept his eyes mostly on Tina; speaking in a softer tone as if to hide his conversation from her. It wasn't any of her business. He just told his son he would pick him up at the usual time at the usual spot and to disregard his previous text, something came up but it was resolved. His son seemed happy and Malachi promised he'd let him stay up a bit longer tonight. Hanging up, he finally put his cell phone – that's been in his hand for the longest time – back into his pocket. Slowly, he walked back to Tina though kept some distance. Sitting down on one of the weight machines, he sighed a bit, “So you know a lot about me then, huh Miss Grayson? However I know very little about you... Except you come here after work.” A conversation? Small talk? Very little.... He was just trying to be friendly. If she was 'safe' then why not... Talk a bit and waste some time?

[Tina Eliza Grayson]

Tina raised a brow when he asked her who the head man on the case had been, "The woman who was heading it was Davidson" she said with a gentle smile. "And I just got transfered here, I didn't have a say really in where I went" Tina said with a shrug of her shoulders as she watched Malachi. She stayed quiet as he called the station and Tina clasped her hands behind her back waiting for him to confirm her identity and show she wasn't some creepy stalker, slowly letting out the breath she had been holding when he finished the phone call she made a small nod of her head. "Believe it or not, sometimes someone popping up is just a coincidence. I've learnt that during my time as a cop" Tina said with a soft laugh, when he explained why he had reacted the way he did Tina held her hands up a little. "Don't worry about it, I completely understand. I can only imagine what it feels like to be away from a child" she said lightly, she had never had children though she wanted them. But Tina knew it would make her job a little harder but it was something she was willing to work around.

When Malachi pointed a finger up at her Tina made a small nod of her head and waited patiently as he spoke on the phone, she guessed his son was on the other end of the phone. When he came back over she couldn't help but give a small laugh, "Not as much as you think Mr. Morris" Tina said with a sweet smile. She barely knew anything about the man, and what she did know only pertained to the investigation into finding his son. She didn't know him personally nor on a social level. "I do indeed come in here after work. It's really the only time I get away from the station, I'm kind of married to my work" Tina laughed before she thought for a moment, "How about this, would you like to meet up for coffee some other time and you can ask me anything you like?" she asked curious if he would agree to it. Personally she wanted to get to know this man better and it would be nice to grab a coffee and have him not so worried about her being some creepy stalker.