Aiden sat in the break room, absently stirring a tiny straw through her coffee with one hand while pinching the bridge of her nose with the other. She was early, way too early, he shift hadn't started yet and wouldn't for a while, but there was no way she could have stayed in that apartment a second longer. Not that an empty break room was any better, but at least there were occasional signs of life at the crime lab. She couldn't say the same for her apartment.
The pounding in her head was growing steadily worse. In frustration, she shoved aside the folder containing her current case and lowered her forehead to the cool wood of the table. How long she stayed there, in a state between sleep and wakefulness, she didn't know, but suddenly she was wakened by the sound of her name. She sat up, startled, and saw Mac standing across from her.
"Are you ok?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in a way that was just so totally him.
"Yeah…yeah, I'm fine." She smiled, trying to reassure herself, as well as him. His lips pressed together momentarily, his expression letting her know he didn't quite believe her.
"How's the rape case coming?" he asked, letting his eyes slide over the folder before he turned to pour himself a cup of coffee. She laid a hand on the folder, fingering an edge.
"We have a suspect, just waiting on the warrant."
He nodded and then brought the cup to his lips, giving her a chance to elaborate. She didn't. Instead, tears came to her eyes.
"Aiden?"
There was urgency underlying his tone, putting an edge on his voice that she wasn't sure she'd ever heard before. She reached up, brushing away the tears with an irritated flick of her wrist.
"I'm ok, Mac. Honestly."
He gave her that look again, the one that said he didn't believe her.
"If this has anything to do with the case then you need to tell me what's going on."
How could someone sound so stern and comforting at the same time? She set her lips and tried to keep her eyes blank, pulling on her tough exterior like a familiar jacket.
"The victim," she stopped, swallowing before she continued. "The victim is a girl I knew in high school. We were friends. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to pull me off the case."
He started to speak but she cut him off. "I promised her I'd get him, Mac."
He didn't say anything then, just stared at her until she abruptly stood and, grabbing her mug, walked to the sink, where she dumped the last of her coffee down the drain. She set the mug to the side and turned, crossing her arms belligerently, as though daring him to take her off the case.
"Do you feel you can remain objective?" he asked.
"I have to," she said, shrugging.
"Then keep your promise," he said, setting his own mug on the counter and heading for the door. He turned back around. "Aiden?"
She looked up at him.
"Just let me know if you need…anything. Ok?"
She gave him a half smile. "Thanks, Mac."