Title: Disintegrate
Author: Cindy Ryan
Category: missing scene for Age before beauty
Spoilers: Everything is fair game :)
Notes: This orginally was going to be a Pete pov but Claudia demanded some attention. I may still do a verison from Pete's pov This is set before
they get the lead on the camera
Claudia Donovan winced in sympathy at the ugly bruise already starting to form on Pete Lattimer's right hand.
She gently placed the ice pack on the older man's hand as they sat on a bench down the hall from Myka's hospital room.
Pete angrily moved his hand away from the ice. "It's fine."
"No, it's not."Claudia countered as she firmly gripped his hand once more and applied the ice. "You beat the hell out of that vending machine."
"It ate my quarter."The Secret Service agent replied distractedly.
"Talk to me."Claudia prompted quietly.
"What's to talk about? I screwed up."
"Pete…."
Lattimer sprang to his feet and walked to the opposite wall.
"She's dying, Claudia!"Pete replied his voice breaking as he turned away from his partner's room and looked at the opposite end of the hall.
"Don't go there."The teen stated as she stood her own eyes watering.
Pete continued on as if he didn't hear her. "I had a vibe…..hell I talked her into going out on that damn runway."
Claudia swallowed the lump of tears as she gripped her friend's arms and led him back to the bench.
"Your vibe was a warning….you warned her."
Pete shook his head. "She's my partner, Claudia. I'm supposed to protect her."
"Look at me."Claudia commanded and when Pete did she wasn't prepared for the onslaught of emotions. Fear, love, grief all warring with each other for most intense.
"Myka is one of the strongest people I've ever met."Claudia continued sniffling slightly as tears threatened to escape. "She'll beat the odds."
Pete looked down at the ice pack. "She was so frail in my arms."His voice dropped to a whisper. "She needed me and I couldn't do a damn thing to stop it."
Claudia squeezed his uninjured hand. Even seeing Myka in her present state she couldn't imagine what it had been like for Pete to watch it happen. For him to know what was happening to his partner and still be helpless to prevent it.
"She'll be fine."Claudia stated hoping the strain she felt in her voice wasn't audible. "She has to be….there's no other option."
Pete nodded and handed the ice pack back as he stood. "I failed her once, Claudia….not going to happen again. Have to figure this out….there's something we're missing."
"There has to be a way to reverse it."Claudia began not missing the fact that Pete had hastily swiped a hand over his eyes as he stood. This family could not have survived Macpherson only to be shattered by this.
Drawing Pete into a hug Claudia felt his arms encircle her. "We'll find a way to fix this, Pete, I promise."
"Thank you."Pete whispered as he pulled away.
Claudia watched Pete walk slowly back to Myka's room his footsteps heavy, his hands buried deep in his pockets.
She'd always known the bond between Myka and Pete went deeper than friendship and was stronger than family. Seeing it put to the test and strengthen was something Claudia wouldn't forget.
They couldn't lose Myka…..they just couldn't.
Blinking back fresh tears Claudia retreated to the bench. She pulled her laptop from her bag and powered it up.
"Let's do this."Claudia stated with renewed determination as she went back to work.
end