Stranger Things
Kate/Jake implied. A short, missing scene from 7x06 'Dependent'. Something Ronnie says causes Kate to think about her relationship, or lack of it, with Jake. First time writing for L&O UK, hope you like it! xx
"Me and Jake? Come on, don't be ridiculous!" Kate took another sip of beer from the bottle on her desk, using it as an excuse not to look Ronnie in the eye. That was the problem in having detectives as friends; you couldn't hide anything from them.
"I've seen stranger things happen, Kate." Ronnie replied with a knowing smile. "Make sure you do get home and get some rest, luv." He added as he walked out of the office, thinking of his own warm bed.
Kate wrapped her fingers around the beer bottle but didn't bring it to her lips again. She was thinking about what Ronnie had said, playing the words over and over in her head. He must be crazy, surely? The thought of her and Jake as a couple just seemed insane to her. He didn't even like her as a colleague and they would probably kill each other within a month.
But as she went over the documents again and again, looking for something to prove Ruth Pendle's guilt or innocence, her brain kept coming back to it. She hadn't considered it before, but almost every interaction she had shared with Jake since they met had been like foreplay leading up to the inevitable. Had she ruined any chance they might have of being together by breaking his confidence on this case and the way she had invaded his privacy more than once.
Kate pushed the half empty beer bottle away, she wouldn't get drunk on just one bottle but she didn't want to risk lowering her inhibitions. She could make enough foolish mistakes when she stone cold sober.
She looked across at Jake's desk, neat and empty at this late hour. She remembered the way he had raged at her when he had found out what she had told the opposing counsel. It was an idiotic thing to do, she had realised too late. You couldn't be friends with the opposition when a case was still ongoing; you definitely couldn't talk to them about the case like she had with Liz.
Blinking, she held up two photographic printouts, one in each hand. It was like everything started to fit into place in one instant. She had to look from one to other several times before she was completely satisfied. She couldn't afford to make another mistake on this case.
She shuffled the papers and photographs, putting them away in their files. She looked over at Jake's desk once more and thought about calling to tell him. It was late though, he might already be asleep and resting up for another day in court. She wasn't ready to face his wrath again if she woke him.
Maybe when the case was over; when the right verdict was reached, she and Jake could go and get a drink together. As colleagues or friends first, just to see how it went but she would have to wait and see if he forgave her though. Maybe if she opened up to him and told him all about her sister, why the case was getting to her so badly, he would understand. Their previous case with Jenny Moran had affected him badly, but it hadn't changed the way he did his job.
Kate turned off the lights in the office, put on her coat and went out into the night. When she got home she crawled into bed fully dressed, pulling the blanket around her. She thought the case would keep her awake, or memories of her sister but when she fell asleep it was Jake she was thinking about.