Chapter 1: A day without her

It was a day like any other at the FBI's New York Office. Almost the entire team had gathered in Patterson's Office at the announcement of a new investigation. Only special agent Natasha Zapata was missing the call and her friends were beginning to worry because it was not in her habits. They saw their Director come in.

"I just got a call from Tasha. She just warned me that for personal reasons she could not come today. So, you can start the briefing right now," their supervisor reported.
"Very well let's start then," SSA Weller declared.
"Madam, are you sure that she goes well? Even sick, Zapata only rarely misses the job so for personal reasons," Reade asked worried about her friend.
"He was not wrong," Jane and Patterson intrigued added.
"Don't worry she's fine. She just needed a few days of leave that's all," the African-American reassured by smiling at her subordinates.

After calming the anxiety of her agents, the deputy director went back to her office. She felt guilty for lying to her team. Indeed, she knew very well why the brunette was absent only she could not reveal them. The young woman had entrusted her with her secret and Mayfair had promised to keep it. She knew they were all friends and therefore they would worry about her, but she did not expect to break her promise. As long as it did not affect their teamwork, she did not say anything about the reason for the absence of the young police officer. Nevertheless, she remained attentive to their behaviors for the rest of the day. She could, therefore, see that Reade was really the most affected by the absence of his colleague. The assistant director made him come to her Office and talk.

"Are you alright agent Reade?" Mayfair questioned once the young man sat.
"Of course why this question?" He replied intrigued by this summons.
"Because since I announced that agent Zapata would not come you are distracted."
"It is true that I am worried about my teammate because she never misses the job but there is nothing more."
"Your teammate, are you serious? Listen, agent Reade, I'm not blind. I saw very well that Tasha is much more than a friend."
"This is absolutely not what you believe."
"Edgar, I don't care what happens between you two as long as it doesn't affect the team. Nevertheless, if I may say so, you should tell her what you feel I think you might be surprised," Mayfair advised smiling in a benevolent way
"Thank you, Madam I would think about it," the young agent assured surprised.
"You know agent Reade I think if I were her I would appreciate that someone comes and asks after me. Finally, this is just a guess," she suggested with an idea behind the head.
"Okay Ma'am, thank you for everything."

Once her subordinate stepped out of the office Bethany Mayfair could not help smiling. The two young people were very bright and extremely gifted for investigative work. Only they obviously did not know very well how to manage their love lives. Decidedly love was not an easy thing. At the same time what is worthwhile is never easy. So, she ended her paperwork and went home wondering what would happen between her agents tonight.

After coming out of the office of his boss Edgar sat down to his post disturbed. He really did not expect to have this type of discussion with Mayfair. How could she know how he felt about Tasha? He had not told anyone, not even to Weller, who in addition to being his boss, was a very good friend. As for Patterson, Allie, and Jane he dared not even imagine their reaction if he asked them for advice. The four young women were very close so if Zapata had feelings for him she would have told her friends. If it was the other way he would see it right away and he preferred to remain ignorant rather than lose his best friend. The young man began to type his report as quickly as possible. Despite everything, he wanted to have time to follow the advice of his boss. If her teammate had not come today it was that she was not well and in this case, she would surely need a friend. And the policeman really wanted to be there for her. Once his work ended he went into the dressing room to get his belongings and he saw Weller there.

"Have you plans for tonight boss?"
"I'm babysitting Sawyer tonight. Sarah has a date. I'm sorry," he apologized by realizing his mistake.
"Don't worry Sarah and I are over. I'm glad she's happy. She deserves it."
"It is true. What are your plans for tonight?" Kurt asked when he saw that his friend had something in mind.
"I'm going to go see Tasha. I told myself that after spending the day alone a little company would please her," he replied enthusiastically.
"Yes it's true, yours especially," remarked Weller smiling.
"What?"
"You see very well what I mean."
"I have no idea what you mean."
"You are very close. She cares a lot about you, and you, too, but hey, it's none of my business."
"She cares about me?" Edgar questioned in fear of understanding
"Listen I just told you this is none of my business, but I have known Tasha for a very long time, and I had never seen her like that with anyone. I think you really should go there."
"Have you arranged with Mayfair? She just held the same speech to me."
"Allie, Jane, and Patterson would have told you the same thing if you had asked them."
"I'm going to go but thank you."

Reade departed surprised, disturbed but nonetheless rather happy. Maybe if the team had noticed that something was going on between them is that his love was reciprocal. Finally, the young agent did not believe it too much. His teammate was independent, funny and sarcastic. The young woman was not the kind to want to settle down, to wish a quiet life in a beautiful house with a white fence. So that he wanted to build something solid, have a family, wake up in the morning with the woman he loves. That's why he never hoped. Plus, he really didn't think he deserved anyone like Tasha. She was beautiful, strong, loyal and courageous. The young woman had never let him down despite everything that had happened with the story of coach Jones and yet he had not always been tender with her. She was the best friend he had ever had. As he had told her during the Akkadian affair he could endure anything, but he would not bear if something had to happen to her. The Hispanic was different from the women with he used to date but in good. Edgar took his car and drove up to the young woman's apartment. He had only been there a few times since they worked together but he knew the way by heart. He entered the building of his teammate without suspecting the shock he was going to have.