Chapter 1. I.C.E.

There's an insistent buzzing in her head and Molly thinks for a split second that she's having a hangover. She's sprawled practically naked on her bed save for a towel around her waist. It's only then she remembers what had happened a couple (several?) of hours ago.

The Call. The heady delusional joy of love returned and the swift descent into reality. She dared him to say it after all. And he did. Of course he did. Because he was always a sucker for those kinds of games that will bring him to the edge if it brings the other down for the fall.

And fall she did.

Stupid.

When the line went dead and her brain started functioning, she had to pull herself out of an oncoming black hole by going out for a hard run. She came home, showered, and fully intended to get knackered at the local pub. But the emotional and physical toll of the day took her out before she could even reach her closet. She wasn't 25 anymore.

Her phone stops vibrating and goes to voicemail. Upon seeing that she had two missed calls from Rosie's sitter, John's next door neighbor, she quickly returns it.

"Hi Ellen, I'm sorry I couldn't get to the phone," she says.

"Listen, sorry to bother you but John isn't picking up his phone. It's past nine. He should have been here to get her by six. Ordinarily I'd keep her overnight but I can't tonight. Can you take over?"

"Of course. I'll be there." She's always there.

It seems like she's everyone's emergency contact person nowadays. But who was hers?

Thanks for starting this! I'll be posting often as this isn't a long fic. Maybe 4 chapters. 6 with prologue and epilogue. Comments are appreciated but not required. I am finally doing my New Year's Resolution to write more.