Google Doc Word count, 2546

Prompt: OPEN but winter-themed.

@Ravendipity @Saramitra_

It was winter and you stood inside your house putting on your uniform after 6 months off work.

The phone rang and you answered it. "Hello," you sighed and hung up when you realised it was your friend saying how you shouldn't be going back to work.

But you were going stir crazy staying at home and after checking how you looked, you smiled and left your home.

You arrived at your job and saw your best friend and colleague, Officer Harry Davis."Hey Harry," you smiled and held out your hand.He shook your hand and smiled, "Hi, Lee." he saidYour nickname was Lee since your full name was Leanne.You walked to the officer's room and while going around nothing was out of place or changed.You sat down and started going through the case files not expecting your chief officer to throw a file in front of you and he said, "Jones, go through this case." his voice boomed around the room.You smiled, "Yes sir."Harry went over and looked at the case, and his eyes widened, "Lee, are you sure you want to take on this case."You stood up and looked him in the eyes and put your hands on his shoulders, "Listen, I'm fine and I'm a strong woman, not some weak pathetic woman who needs her best friend to look out for her."He sighed and rubbed his head, "Right sorry."His eyes looked like a puppy who just got in trouble and they didn't understand why,You laughed and nudged him, "Cheer up, Davis you look like a puppy right now."That got a laugh from everyone.One of the guys shouted, "Yeah Davis, are you a man or a puppy?"Davis pouted so you pretended to pitch his cheeks, "Aww, cute puppy, Davis."Davis knocked you away, shook his head and walked back to his desk.

You laughed to yourself and went back through the case you had been given.Your eyes winded when you saw the same markings on the victim that were on your now deceased Husband.

Getting up held the case file and knocked on your Cheif's door."Come in."You went in and sat down, "Sir, these markings I've seen before." you pointed to the markings on the victim's neck.The chief raised an eyebrow, "Why's that then?" You instantly pulled out a picture of your deceased husband and showed the chief."See the same markings are on my husband and the victim.""Well, I'll be your right, good Job Jones, not bad for your first day back," smiled the chief."Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, but now I know the cases you can't work on."Your eyes winded, "No, please I need to work on this." "Sorry, Jones I can't allow that."You got up and left his office.But you turned back round and poked your head back in, "I need to go on my first break, I need time to process this.""Yeah, of course, I know it's your first day back but take all the time you need.""Thanks, sir, but I'll be gone for 2 hours at the most, I don't need any more leave time," you said.He nodded and said, "I understand but remember I'm here if you need to talk."You nodded and started making your way out of the police room.

As you were walking you heard Davis calling your name, "Lee, wait up!"Turning round you saw him coming towards you, "What's up, Davis?""What happened?""Oh, I released the markings on the victim are the same as what was on my husband and now I'm not allowed on the case.""Ah, I'm sorry."You scanned him and he seemed sincere but his eyes gave the full story away."You're not sorry, you didn't want me on the case anyway."He sighed, "Okay, I'm a bit relieved but it's your first day back, and, and, and I'm worried about you."You sighed when his eyes teared up, putting your hand in his, you said, "Hey, Davis, no crying, I know you're worried, but don't cry."He nodded with a wet laugh, "Right,t, you're right," he rubbed his eyes and asked you to make sure his face and eyes weren't red.You held his face. "You look very handsome, Mr Davis."

After bopping him on the nose, you left the police heading straight to visit your husband's grave.At the grave you sat down, Hey, Rob I'm here.""I really want that case but I can't do it because of you." You could hear his voice in your ear, "Lee it's alright There will be other cases."You nodded, "That's true will come back later, I have cases to work on."As you stood up, you turned and said, "I'll see you later, Rob, I love you."You went back to work.

After work, you went home and after putting your key in the keyhole Harry pulled up in his car.As he got out of the car you asked what are you doing here?"He smiled, "I know you were upset about losing the case, or I spoke to the chief and got You a case."You hugged Harry tightly "Thank you thank you thank you.""You want to come in for a cuppa?" you askedHe nodded, "Yeah."

After stepping inside, your place, Harry sat down and watched you make drinks.As you sat down you handed Harry his drink, "Thank you." he saidHe drank his drink but you could tell something was wrong, "Hey what's wrong?" you asked."Nothing," he said but his eyes teared up.You put your hand on his shoulder and said, "Don't lie to me, Harry, I know somethings wrong so out with it."He laughed wetly, "Yeah you know me too well.""Of course, I know you well we've known each other. Other for years." He laughed liking your perceptiveness."So come on Harry out with it what's wrong?" you asked.His lip quivered, It's my dog, she's not well and might not have wrong left." he said and tears started running down his face.

You pulled him into a hug and let him cry on your shoulder.Your eyes started tearing up as well because you knew exactly what he was going through.When your dog got put down you were heartbroken.It was your day off and when Rob got back in from work and told you.You sobbed your heart out in his arms for hours.Your sobs were strong and Rob rocked you in his arms while your tears strained his uniform.You couldn't hear Rob crying but you knew he was because you could feel his tears dripping onto your clothes.

You snapped now; of your thoughts when Harry said, "Lee, I feel better now can you let go?"You let him go and wiped his face.He went red and said, asked, "Do I look a mess?You laughed and kissed his nose, "You do but you're a cute mess."He moaned but smiled, "Lee please don't tease me."You laughed "Sorry not sorry Harry, you're just too cute to handle."He covered his face and shook his head."You know how to comfort me and tease me at the same time."You nodded, "Of course I do, don't forget it."

He nodded.

A few weeks later you got a call asking you to be a witness because they had caught the guy who had killed Your husband and the other victim.After you hung up, you sat for a few minutes and started to think something was wrong with you because you weren't reaching like you thought you would.

In court, the defence attorney was exactly just doing his job and was good but being a police officer you didn't like how he spoke to you.You were alright until he started twisting your words so you smiled and said, "Excuse me, sir, I know you're just doing your job but you are mad to defend this monster."You didn't like saying monster but you couldn't see much humanity in the defendant at all.You were thankful when the judge didn't Tell you off for speaking to the defence attorney.During court, you sat there and found out the defendant was found guilty and was happy when he got sentenced to a minimum sentence of 25 years.

You sat with wide eyes but you knew it wouldn't hit you too later.You got home and Hary was waiting for you, "Hi, Lee I heard the guy got found guilty congrats, you won. he saidas you got out of the car, You nodded and smiled, "True."

Since you won, You decided to go through the cupboards and look through Robert's things.While searching through the cupboard you found an old uniform of Robert's and held it in your hands.While sitting on the end of your bed, brought the fabric to your face, and you could still smell his cologne.You didn't realise you were crying until Harry was in front of you saying, your name."Lee, what's wrong?" he asked.Your thoughts about winning the case finally hit you, the man who killed your husband was going to spend most of his life in prison.You looked at Harry. "I won, Harry, Robert can finally rest in peace," you said.Harry sat next to you. "That's true, Lee, you did win."He put a hand on your shoulder and smiled.

You felt your eyes fill with tears and managed to choke out, "I miss him so much."Harry pulled you into a hug, and as soon as your head chest, went  into his chest, you couldn't stop yourself.You sobbed your heart out in his arms,and everything seemed to come out of what you had been holding back.Harry laid back with his head against your headboard while holding you, "It's alright, Lee let it out." he saidYou clung to his top and said, "Harry, it hurts."Harry nodded, "I know, Lee but it's okay to let it out."You nodded and continued sobbing your heart out.You weren't surprised when you sobbed and seemed to go on because, like other times, you knew, shouldn't have, but you held everything in until it all came out.

You always did this even as a child.

You got picked on a lot as a child but thought you could handle it all. It wasn't until Harry went to yours when your parents were out and found you sobbing in the walk-in wardrobe, and you cried your heart out in his arms for hours.

Another time was when you had just moved out of your parents your boyfriend of the time broke up with you.You didn't tell anyone, but Harry and you didn't cry until Harry turned up and found you in your room sobbing your heart out in an old cardigan of your old boyfriend's that you found.

And the last time apart from when you had your dog put down, was after the wedding, not during it but after.You were lying down with Robert, and thinking about how happy you were, you didn't realise until Robert pulled you towards him that you were crying, but once you realised it, you couldn't stop.You hugged him and sobbed your heart out in happiness.

Then after your dog got put down, you sobbed in Robert's arms for hours.

You laughed a bit at yourself, realising what you did, but that thought wouldn't stop you from doing it.So you let your tears flow freely and continued to sob your heart out in both grief and happiness.Once you finished crying, Harry wiped your face and smiled. You okay, Lee?"You nodded, "Yeah, thank you, Harry."He smiled. "Anytime, Lee," he said.You weren't a crier, but you knew you would explode again at some point, but you would have Harry with you.

The next time you let yourself go again was surprisingly only 6 months later.It was summer, but you were at Robert's grave, and it was cold, so the bitter wind attacked your skin.You went to visit your husband's grave to tell him that you had gotten a promotion and you were really happy.Even though you were happy, your tears burnt your eyes, and you did the best you could to keep them in.

You decided to get a taxi to Harry's because it wouldn't have been safe for you to drive.The whole way to Harry's, you bit your lip to stop it from quivering and keep your tears at bay.When you finally got to Harry's, you knocked on the door.Harry opened it and smiled, but his smile left his face when he saw you. "Lee, what's wrong?" he asked.Your lip quivered, and you managed to choke out an "I got a promotion; Robert would be proud." before you fell into Harry's arms, clinging to him for dear life, and you wailed.Harry's eyes widened, but he walked backwards inside and closed the door.

Leaning against the wall, he slid you both onto the mat and rocked you both back and forth as your wails continued.If anyone had a house attracted next to Harry's, they would have wondered what was wrong, but nothing was wrong; you were overwhelmed by your achievement, and thinking of how proud Robert would be made your heart squeeze with joy.

You couldn't remember the last time you cried like this; you remembered wailing in Robert's arms once when he found you at home sobbing your heart out in his cardigan because you finally let it hit you that your grandpa died, even though it was late and Robert had an early shift because you didn't. He let you sob in his arms most of the night.There was a time after that, about 6 months after he died when you turned up at Harry's in the middle of the night, and after letting you inside, he sat on the settee with you and let you sob your heart out till the early hours of the morning.Your wails turned into sobs at some point until you were left just letting out small cries.After your sobs had calmed down, Harry stood up helped you up and took you to the sitting room.

You felt bad about Harry sitting on the doormat to comfort you, but Harry tapped you and said, "Hey, Lee, it's okay."You smiled, still letting out an occasional soft sob that made your tears run down your face, but Harry wiped them away.You put your head down, muttering, Sorry, but Harry brought you in for another hug. "Don't be sorry, Lee you can cry on me as much as you want."So you continued to cry in his chest, not as hard, but your tears still ran down your face like a river.

Harry rocked you, whispering comforting words, and when you finally stopped crying, your eyes were tired, and you could barely keep them open.You heard Harry whisper, "It's alright, Lil."And you smiled before closing your eyes and letting yourself doze off.