So I read the description for next week and it sounds very interesting. It totally sucks that I won't be able to see that episode... or the 3 after that one. Not until 4 weeks later, anyway. So I wrote this to satisfy my curiosity or something. I don't know.
And as I have no idea what will happen in 2x16 I've been kinda vague with descriptions. I hope you enjoy though! Tell me what you think =)
Ria leaned against the wall, breathing deeply. So far, she'd managed. She'd even thought she'd make it through this case without… this… but apparently she didn't know herself as well as she thought she did.
She'd made peace with the past.
No, that wasn't right, was it? She'd shoved the past away, only keeping the good parts of it with her. Hoping to never be confronted again, but as it seemed, that was impossible.
Ria sighed. This job just made it too hard to hide anything from her co-workers. So far, she was just glad they'd asked so little. She wasn't sure if she would be able to lie to any of them.
She closed her eyes. It had been going so well lately… She seemed to have been accepted at the Lightman Group, not just by her close colleagues but by everyone. She'd managed to deal with Dupree… and now this.
"Hey."
She hadn't even heard the door open.
"Loker, get out," she told him, but her usual vehemence was missing and she knew he'd noticed, too. That was why he stayed put. Well, that and the fact that he was stubborn as hell.
"You okay?" he asked, ignoring her entirely. His voice was softer than usual, his eyes full of concern; she had to admit, with Foster and especially Lightman around, it was refreshing to see someone who wasn't hiding their feelings.
"I'll be fine," she said reflexively, not even believing herself. She could tell Loker picked up on that, too.
She sighed again. He knew she was lying; maybe it was easier to just get it over with, instead of him weaseling out every little detail.
"I just hadn't expected to see her again, okay?" she said. "I guess it's just a shock, that's all." She still tried to dismiss her feelings, this case, even as she knew Loker wouldn't buy it.
He nodded. "I get that," he agreed."
"Do you?" she suddenly asked. "Haven't heard you say much about your family. Isn't that against your principles?" She had a sudden desire for a fight, a heated argument… something to distract her.
"You never asked," he shot back, but then he seemed to realize her game and calmed down.
"Anyway, it doesn't matter right now. They're certainly not as … interesting as yours."
Ria snorted; she couldn't help it. Interesting was not the word she'd use to describe her family. When she gave no other reply, he coughed.
"Look, Ria…" he looked slightly uncomfortable and she didn't blame him. They hardly ever called each other by first names. "I get that you don't want to talk about it. But just know that Lightman's gonna want to know, and he won't rest until he does." She nodded almost imperceptibly. Of course he'd push her until she broke. She'd expect nothing less from him.
"And know that… well, you know, if you ever want to talk about it without feeling like you're talking to a human lie detector…" He didn't finish his sentence and Ria smiled at his awkwardness.
"Thanks, Eli," she said. "But I just want to forget about it right now."
He nodded again and for once, Ria was glad he didn't speak his mind. She knew just as well as he did that there's be no forgetting about it anytime soon.