Pedro Pascal Character Imagines

Between the Bookshelves (Javier Pena)

Summary: Javier is back in Laredo and decides to connect with an old friend.

A/N - I am soft after writing this. Also any of Javi's dialogue that is in italics is Spanish and any of Rachelle's dialogue in italics is Italian. It's explained why at the end of the story.

Javier opened the door and the bell above the door dinged.

"Just a minute!" a voice called.

She came around the corner and it was like Javier was 15 years old again. Rachelle Fineschi stood there, her dark hair a tangle of loose curls. She hadn't changed at all. "Oh my god. Javi?"

He nodded.

She squealed and ran towards him, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Hey Chelle." She laughed.

"I haven't heard that nickname in years!" She pulled back and the soft smile she gave him made him want to melt into carpet. "Oh! Let me get you a drink!" She flitted over to a coffee machine. She poured him a cup and handed it to him. "Black, like your boots."

Javier laughed. "I can't believe you remember that."

"Ti conosco, Javi (I know you, Javi)."

With how similar Javier and Rachelle looked, most would assume they were related. With their dark eyes, hair, and olive skin tones.

But Rachelle's family were Italian and Javier's Mexican. They were also fluent in each other's second languages.

The two of them were closer than friends and most people were convinced the two would get married one day.

In fact, that's why most of Laredo assumed Javier left Lorraine. That Javier was in love with Rachelle and that's why he couldn't go through with the wedding.

In reality, it was because he was leaving for Colombia. He hadn't told Rachelle about him leaving. But Chucho had assured that Rachelle wasn't upset.

Everything he'd gone through in Colombia was worth it when Rachelle smiled at him.

"Well, come on. We have a lot to catch up on!" She looped her arm around his and pulled him deeper into the bookstore.

Javier came by the store every evening. It was nice to have somewhere quiet to relax after a day of hard work on the family ranch.

Rachelle was cleaning up the shop, about to close for the night, when she found Javier asleep in one of the armchairs towards the back. He must have snuck in earlier.

A book was lying on the floor.

She smiled softly and walked over to him. She picked up the book and placed it on the small table next to him.

Javier started to whimper in his sleep and his hands twitched.

"Javi?" she said softly. She didn't dare reach out and touch him. Rachelle knew a night terror when she saw one.

Both her father and her brother experienced them after coming back from war.

"Javier," she said, her hand hovering above his face.

Javier's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

She winced at the tight grip. "Javier, wake up." She kept her tone soft and soothing.

Javier's eyes shot open and he was gasping for breath.

"Breathe, hey breathe. You're home. It's okay, Javi."

Javier's eyes cleared and he saw Rachelle. "Chelle."

She smiled. "Yeah. It's me, Javi."

Javier finally noticed that he was holding her wrist tightly. "Oh my god! I'm sorry." He let go and felt a pang of guilt in his stomach. Her wrist was already turning red and by tomorrow there would be bruises in the shape of his fingers.

"It's okay, Javi."

"No! No, it's not! I shouldn't have grabbed you."

Rachelle put her cool hands on his flushed face. "Hey, Javier. Look at me. I've been on the receiving end of flashbacks, remember?"

She'd come to school one day with bruises around her neck once. It was the hottest day on record that day in Laredo, but she'd still come to school with a cute scarf on. Javier saw the bruises and tried to confront her about it, but she'd just given him that sweet smile and thanked him for worrying about her.

She patted him on the arm and went into the kitchenette area. She came back with a cup of water and handed it to him.

He drank it slowly, the ice-cold water cooling him from the inside out. He set the cup on the side table.

"I'm okay, Javi. I promise," Rachelle assured him.

Javier hung his head and let his hands hang between his knees. "I have done so many horrible things. If you knew the half of it, you'd never speak to me again."

Rachelle knelt in front of him and put her hands on his knees. "Nothing you could ever do would make me stop loving you Javier."

Her dark eyes caught his and he could see the truth shining in their depths.

"¿Me amas? (You love me?)" Javier asked her.

"Ovviamente, Javi (Of course, Javi)."

Javier smiled hearing her reply in her family's language.

It struck people as odd to hear them talking to each other in two different languages, but for them it made sense.

Javier put a hand on Rachelle's neck and tilted her head up, brushing his lips with hers. "Te amo, Rachelle."

"Ti amo, Javi." Rachelle put her hand on Javier's where it rested on her neck and finally pressed her lips to his.

Javier knew he was going to have to leave her to return to Colombia to take down de Cartel Cali, but this time he knew someone would be waiting for him to come home.