~~Carson's POV~~
At the click sound from Ashley's seatbelt, I started the engine and revved off shortly after. It was never meant to be smooth, but it was going to "sail" eventually.
We got to Amelia's in no time, and Ashley showed hesitative signs when it was time to alight. She took her hand to the door's handle but paused abruptly.
"You okay?" I asked tenderly.
"I'm fine," she responded brusquely without sparing me a glance before pulling the handle and getting off eventually.
Studying her adjust her hair and clasp tightly her bag-pack's handle over her shoulder, through the raised window from a pretty low vantage, I wondered whether or not it felt right to make her do this simply because she'd been in her shoes. Our ride down here was merely characterized by the sound from the stereo. Ashley was usually quiet, but something felt different this time. For all I knew, she may have been going through a struggle no less. But as usual, she'd lock up and would rather jump into the ocean and drown herself to death than let others stare at her with pity. Trying to phantom just how much this beautiful soul had to keep bearing solely was mentally exhausting. I shrugged to effectively shake off these thoughts. The Ashley I knew wouldn't appreciate the thoughts sweeping through my head right now. She was witty and somehow could tell when one felt "pity for her so I repaired my expression the best I could before alighting the vehicle.
"Hey, Captain." Griffin sprung to his feet the moment we materialized through the doorway and approached us.
"Hi," I responded, and then his eyes drifted sideways to Ashley. He raised his hand in a gestural greeting to her unresponsive at the time, her expression remaining impassive.
I broke free from her side view with the clearing of my throat. "Ashley this is Griffin, my colleague." There was no need for an introduction as the duo had met sometime before now, but I just had to say anything to ward off some awkward air around us.
"And oh, here's Sawyer!" I gestured actively to him who just walked in from the hallway. "Griffin, Sawyer, this is Ashley. Ashley, these are my colleagues," I said in conclusion.
Veering to me with zero twitch to her expression, she asked: "And Amelia?"
I raised my eyes, swaying then to the duo who gave me a reassuring nod. They didn't mind her unwelcoming nature, and I could go on with the business of the day, their gestures said.
"Mrs. Davies got up a few moments ago and went to check on her. I was there with them until I heard voices," Sawyer briefed, attracting all six eyes to himself.
"Shall we?" I beckoned Ashley, gesturing the hallway.
I watched her chest heave, and for the time it took to fall with an exhale through pouted lips, I exchanged glances with my teammates. There was doubt already erupting in Griffin's eyes. "Will she be able to do it?" he let his visage ask, inciting a reassuring nod from me. "Relax," I mouthed.
Ashley's footfalls were what disengaged us. By the time we all veered to her, she was already halfway to the hallway.
"Alright, I'll see you," I said to them briskly before pacing to meet her up. I led her to Amelia's bedroom.
On getting there, I knocked twice and immediately got entranced with Ashley's view at the umpteenth time I heard a sighing sound. She must really be going through a ton, I thought. Was it that tasking to meet with her?
"Ashley, you don't have to…"
"Come in!" A hailing voice from the other side cut me short.
"Ashley, you don't have to do this," I completed either way after a brief silence spawned from the hail. True, I thought I was doing her a favor by finally giving her a part to play but the opposite seemed to be the case. I wouldn't want to shove her unnecessarily into a corner.
"The door's open, come in!" the voice came through again. This time Ashley raised her stoic eyes to me, effectively asking if I was going to keep dawdling or move aside. Standing between her and the door, I turned around to open it for us to go in.
"Detective Carson," Mrs. Davies called softly from quite a distance beside the curled-up form.
"Mrs. Davies, this is Ashley." I gave her a mild pat from behind to introduce. "And Ashley…" I returned her stare, "This is Mrs. Davies. And over there is Amelia," I concluded, gesturing to the mother and daughter.
Mrs. Davies nodded toward Ashley, automatically shoving my attention to her who mirrored her reaction. Was just trying to make sure she wasn't as frosty as she was out there.
A moment's quietude befell us until I remembered I had to excuse Mrs. Davies to give Ashley space as she wouldn't try so herself. I cleared my throat to tug Mrs. Davies' attention. She swayed her eyes to mine, and I tilted my head slightly to the side, motioning her to step aside.
"Oh," she mumbled audibly before moving toward us instead. While Ashley slowly advanced toward Amelia, we watched in silence.
"Hi," I heard faintly when she placed her hand warmly on Amelia's shoulder. The moment they made eye contact, low intermittent sobs ensued. Ashley's presence was obviously taking effect on her. Wasn't wrong after all when I presumed she'd be recognized quickly.
"I…I see him," Amelia whimpered, looking up at Ashley with meekness made evident in her eyes. "I… I…"
Before she could finish, to my greatest awe, Ashley pulled her into an affectionate embrace Amelia was forced to return. Ashley shut her eyelids tightly, a liquid trail sourcing from them, spanning through to her cheek. Before long, the duo immersed in each other's bosoms were wailing intensely.
A satisfied smile curved my lips at the tearjerker. I believed in her. Regardless, the warmth that had displaced the impassive look in her eyes when she walked up to her initially went a mile in further convincing me she could pull it off. Turned out I never lost faith in the once compassionate sweet girl she used to be. And with the view before me, that Ashley was bound to return someday. I vowed to make it a reality by first bringing the culprit to justice. He'd ruined so many lives to be allowed freedom to roam the streets.
A sobbing sound snapped my line of thoughts, nudging my attention to the advanced lady standing beside me. Although her face was inclined the other way, it was quite easy to tell she was on the verge of bursting into tears.
"I'm sorry," she whimpered and excused herself hastily.
I raised my knuckle responsively to the crawling sensation I felt on my cheek and huffed, holding it up to see the droplet on it. I'd joined the trend without even realizing it.