Cold Case

"Torn Between Love & Hate"

Chapter 1

October 7, 2008.

It's the middle of the day, in Lieutenant John Stillman's office, John is standing behind his desk, adjusting his glasses and Detective Kat Miller leaning against the doorframe, arms folded, not really wanting to come deep into the room.

I can't deal with this right now. I just want to go home, see my daughter, just…I don't know. Kat sighs, not wanting to show her exhaustion, not knowing that the case has been officially solved since Lilly got the confession.

Stillman gestures his hand towards the chair in front of his desk. "Miller, please sit."

Kat hesitated for a moment, being the type that doesn't like to be told what to do, but after all, it was Stillman. Stillman, the man who gave me the opportunity to become Homicide. The man who ask me no questions when I told him I couldn't stay late on Wednesdays. She unfolds her arms and walks over to the chair in front of her boss' cluttered desk.

Stillman adjusts his glasses, not really want to do what he's about to do, but is he feels that it's necessary. "Miller-"

Kat cuts him off. "Boss, I'm sorry on how I reacted in there. I shouldn't have let my emotions get the best of me, not in there."

Stillman shakes his head, the feeling of guilt pressing against his mind. "No, I'm sorry. I've put the case's interests before on of my detective." I should have taken her thoughts into consideration. Personal interests were bound to overcome. "Kimberly Miller was a prime suspect in this case. I wanted you to lead this case because you were the most familiar with it." He walks around his desk and sits on the edge, balancing on one leg, and sighs. "I want you to take some time off, for at least two weeks." Vera came to talk to me

Kat's eyes look square into her boss'. Are you serious? Vera? I swear that son of a bitch can't keep his mouth shut. I actually trusted him that night. I guess my mistake. I can't just leave right now. "I just can't leave, we're right in the middle of a case. I can't just-"

Stillman raises his hand to cut Kat off. "The case is closed. Patricia Dermick confessed to Detective Rush not too long ago."

Kat's body relaxes a little, looking down, and tears stinging her eyes. The sound of someone saying that the case was over was something she wanted to hear. The fact that her little sister wasn't the murderer was something even more satisfying, whether she wanted to show it or not. "Good."

Stillman reaches forward, holding his arm on Kat's shoulder for comfort. "Go home, rest okay Miller? You've had a hell of a few days."

Although Kat was ready to fight for her chances to stay, indeed her boss was right. Even though it was just a few days, it was the most horrible days of her life, today possibly being the worst, so she decided to go home. Without a word, she nods and gets up silently leaving the room, catching her tears before falling out of eyes. Any sign of weakness to anyone would be a bad decision in the long run.

Ten minutes later, Kat is at her desk with a small white box, packing a few items she didn't want to leave for two weeks. She heard footsteps coming her way, stopping in front of her desk. Knowing exactly who it was, not really wanting to talk to 'em either. She looks up in front of her and saw that Nick Vera looking at her, her actions.

I don't know why he's looking at me like that. He knew what was going on. He knows why I'm packing. The least he could have done was talk to me first. All Kat could do was nods, getting one in return, grabs her box and walks off, figuring there was nothing left to say. But when she reached the elevator, pressing the needed button, someone else apparently had other plans.

"Miller!" She turns to the recognized voice, seeing Nick jogging towards her. Is Fatass really jogging? He stops next to her, out of breath but trying his hardest not to show it, causing her to roll her eyes in slight amusement. Figures. She faces back at the elevator, hopping that it'll open any minute now. As if on cue, it does and she steps in side the empty elevator and tapping the close button over and over, but Nick slips inside right before it closes. They sit in awkward silence, one not wanting to make the first move on talking, the other not wanting to talk at all.

"So where is everybody?" Kat asks looking over to the side. Making casual talk won't kill me after all, I am stuck in here with this loser.

Nick clears his throat, actually surprised that she said anything to him at all. "Um, they went to Geno's, then heading for Jones' for drinks. You coming?" Come on Miller, say yes. You could use the time out.

Kat, still looking away, shakes her head. "No, I'm just going home. I got other thing to do." She lies, hoping the subject would be dropped. The doors open and she walks off with Nick behind her. "Is there something I could help you with?"

Nick catches up to her side. "No, just curious on what you had planned that's all."

Kat stops abruptly, as well as Nick, shooting him a glare that he finds amusing and fearful at the same time. "None of your damn business." She walks away, out the building, leaving Nick standing in the spot they just were.

Just wanted to see if my friend was okay. Nick walks out, knowing that these two weeks without were going to be quite odd.