A Strange Feeling

Chapter 2

Still in his office, Daniel had just informed Kate that they needed to talk.

"What is it you wanted to say, Daniel?"

"It's just, Kate, we've worked together on numerous cases and I've come to admire you...as a great agent..." Daniel cringed internally, thinking that this was harder than he thought it would be.

At least she was smiling.

"I'm a great agent, eh? Then why I am still waiting for my "World's Greatest Agent" mug to arrive in the mail?" she jested.

However, when she saw that Daniel's expression didn't change, her own became solemn.

"Wow, tough crowd, I see," she commented.

"Sorry...it's just...what I have to say is rather serious."

"Oh." Kate said quietly, then added, "Daniel, we have always been able to talk, so if you have something on your mind, just spill it."

"it's about helping you on your latest case..." Daniel hesitated a bit.

Kate looked relieved.

"Oh, if that's all you're worried about," she smiled, "don't feel pressure that you need to help me with this, Daniel. It's no biggie. I just thought you might have some extra time, but if you're bogged down in your studies-"

"Kate, STOP! Listen to me!"

His tone sounded frustrated.

Kate looked surprised, then slightly embarrassed, "Sorry. Go on."

Daniel felt bad, but he was determined to get it out despite Kate watching him with a look of unease.

"I'd like to help you on that case you've mentioned, I really do," he said, "but I can't...because...we can't go on like this."

"Like this," Kate repeated, still looking uncertain, but keeping quiet so that he could continue.

Now that he started it, he knew to end it quickly. It would be for the best. She would be better off without him as she started her new married-life to Donnie, unfettered by someone as damaged as himself.

He tried to look confident, "It's been great working with you, Kate, but people move on. I'm feeling much better about myself, I'm taking my meds at times, and I'm very busy with my studies. So I think it's best we part ways and get on with our separate lives. Please know that I only wish the best for you."

Kate had not expected this at all and her astonishment showed all over her face.

"I-I never thought there'll come a day we'd part ways... " she paused, and forced herself to recover, "...but sure, okay, alright, if that's what you want...and I'm very happy to hear you're doing better, Daniel," she then gave an assured smile, though it didn't reach her eyes, "It's been... nice working with you,too. You have proven invaluable to the FBI," and then she added purposely, looking directly in his eyes,"and you've been invaluable to me."

Invaluable to me. What did those words imply? Daniel privately wondered. There was a time when he thought something more was happening between them, but he had obviously misread the situation. After all, she didn't seem to mind when he flew halfway around the world to Paris to be with Miranda. And there was no hesitation when she became engaged to Donnie. Obviously she saw this as a three year partnership. So they began as friends, worked up to professional workers, and they will end...well, they will end.

So much for him understanding people and how the mind works. And he must be worse at understanding how their hearts works.

Daniel made himself breathe in and out, forcing his lung to work.

"I know you'll continue to solve cases on your own, Kate," he encouraged her, "as well as receive commendations and earn promotions. You don't need to drag me in on your cases any longer. You really don't."

"I see," she said at last, feeling even more awkward at what she was about to do. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out an envelope, "I guess it's best that I give you this now, then."

She gingerly placed a sealed envelope on his desk and with her index finger on top of it, she silently pushed it his way. Daniel stared at the envelope, which simply had "Daniel" written on it with Kate's writing. Then he looked questionably at her.

"What's this?"

Kate began feeling anxious, but she couldn't explain why.

"It's another reason why I'm here; actually the main reason...it's... my wedding invitation," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, "and don't worry, I'm also inviting Max, so he'll be able to drive you there."

So now she had a concrete wedding date set.

Of course she would, but the image of watching Kate walk down the aisle into the arms of another man was right now too difficult for Daniel to contemplate. A sinking feeling came to his mind as he touched the envelope she had pushed his way, his fingertip stilled on the feminine handwriting.

He continued staring at the unopened envelope. When he glanced up, he had his mind made up.

"Kate, I don't think I'll be able to make it."

Kate's heart dropped.

"But you didn't even open the envelope, Daniel, so you have no idea of the time and day of the wedding and -" she argued, but then she realized that he meant. He wouldn't come no matter what the date was; that it wasn't a matter of him being too busy, "Oh, I see. When you said this was the end of us together, you meant it. So this really is it, then... for even our friendship, isn't it?"

"Thank you, Kate." Daniel swallowed hard, "For understanding."

Kate's lips began to tremble. Holding her head up tall, she was determined to walk out with dignity.

She forced a smile, "Daniel, it's been a pleasure. Good-bye," her voice sounded shaky at the end despite her best efforts.

Then she turned around quickly before he could see her eyes begin to tear up.

And she was gone.

.

Later that night during dinnertime in her apartment, Kate was absentmindedly twirling her spaghetti as she sat opposite Donnie at their tiny dining room table.

"...So the Alvaro Hernandez court case finally wrapped up," Donnie was explaining to her, "he was sentenced to 150 years in prison after laundering drug money through purchases of condos in Chicago. The police had done a sting operation and caught him selling drug money to buy more condos. In fact, we have $40,000 in our evidence vault at work, can you believe that?"

He looked over at Kate for an answer, but she seemed almost seemed in a trance, staring into her spaghetti.

"Uh, Kate?"

"Hmm? What?" she sat up and became attentive, "oh, that's frustrating, Donnie. It'll be a tough case to prosecute."

Donnie looked sideways at her, "The case has already been tried and the man sentenced, Kate. The judge also ordered him to forfeit the money and pay 2 million dollars in fines, as well. Haven't you been listening to me at all?"

"Truthfully, very little," Kate dropped her fork, her appetite gone, "Sorry, I guess I'm just preoccupied."

"Something happened at work today?" he asked, concerned.

"Yes...I mean, no, not really," Kate sounded conflicted, but at last admitted, "actually...it concerns Daniel."

She felt rather than heard Donnie give a frustrated sigh.

"Why am I not surprised?" he asked, sounding a bit perturbed,"what happened? Did Daniel do something unconventional at a crime scene? Was he caught talking to a lamppost?"

Kate didn't appreciate the sarcasm, which came off as a put-down.

"Not funny, Donnie," she made clear, "and if you must know, Daniel ended our professional partnership today."

Donnie reached for another piece of bread and took a bite, "Oh? So what does that mean?"

"It means that we won't be working any cases together," Kate said unhappily.

"Really?" Donnie mulled this idea over, "Well, it was his decision to make. I just don't understand why that should bother you so much, Kate," he stated casually before taking a bite of his bread.

Kate looked right at him, "because his good bye included our friendship. I don't think I'll be seeing him again."

At that news, Donnie stopped mid-chewed. After he swallowed, he spoke out.

"Did he give a reason?" Donnie asked.

She didn't know how to answer this part, realizing now that perhaps she should not have confided to Donnie after all.

"He was vague. Said he wanted to concentrate on his university work."

"Okay, but, you'll see him at our wedding," Donnie pointed out.

"He said he couldn't make it. That's what I mean. A permanent end."

"Oh. That's rather sudden," he empathized with her, but his tone lacked emotion, "but you never know. Maybe you've just caught him at a bad time and he was acting out frustrations. And even if he's too busy or whatever to work a case with you, maybe in the future you'll still be able talk to him on the phone instead."

Donnie just didn't get it.

So there was no use talking about this any further.

"Maybe..." Kate tried to sound nonchalant and decided to change subject, "Anyway, Donnie, I've noticed you've been staying very late at work lately."

"I told you, it's because of this Hernandez case," he stated, "and now that it's over, I should be able to come home a little earlier."

She didn't look convinced.

"If it's not this case, then it's the next one that will keep you late; just like how I make the excuses. We've both been working late hours with no let-up in the future," Kate stated, "so let's put an end to that."

Donnie took a sip of his wine, "Just like that? How do you propose we do that?"

"We'll compromise and pledge we will come home every night by six. No matter what. How does that sound?"

Donnie made a strange face, "I just don't see-"

"Donnie," Kate was insistent, "If I can do it, you can at least make an effort. I'm doing it for the sake of our relationship."

He gave a frustrated shrugged, "I suppose."

Kate took a bite of her spaghetti and although it was flavorful, she couldn't appreciate it.

All she knew was that she now felt worse about everything.

.

A WEEK LATER

Daniel still had a whole stack of papers to correct. Max came downstairs to get a snack, for he had been watching on his portable TV up in his room.

"Hey, Doc, you want an apple?" he asked, grabbing one from the fruit bowl in the living room.

"No, but it'll be really hard for you to chew it with that gum in your mouth," Daniel told him, not looking up, his eyes still on his papers.

Max looked frustrated.

"How do teachers always know a student is chewing, even though they never look up?" Max asked as he turned back around and went upstairs, his apple secure in his hand.

Daniel sighed as he finished grading one set of papers. Grabbing the next set, he brought it to his lap when suddenly a white envelope slipped out.

He picked it up. It was Kate's wedding invitation that he had earlier dropped into his briefcase.

It was still sealed.

With a sad, wistful look, he held the envelope in his hand. Had it only been a week since he last saw her? It seemed like forever. It was much harder to adjust to life without her than he thought it would be.

"Doc! DOC!"

Max came running back down the stairs.

"What is it, Lewicki?" Daniel asked casually, "finally figured out that apples don't give you buns of steel?"

"Never mind that, Doc!" Max sounded worried, "I was just listening to the news on the TV up in my room. There's been a hostage situation at the District Attorney's office!"

This got Daniel's attention. He put down his papers.

"The District Attorney's office?" Daniel repeated.

"Yeah, they say a crazy shooter is holed up there and they think he may have some hostages kept captive!" Max further explained.

Daniel instantly wondered if Donnie might be one of the hostages.

Which would mean Kate must be racked with worry.

"Do they know the names of either the shooter or hostages?" Daniel asked, alarmed.

"The updates are coming in bits and pieces!" Max exclaimed, "they're reporting some gun shots heard from inside, and guess what? I saw Kate being interviewed! Turns out she's heading up this shooting crisis!" Max thought about it some more and added, "Come to think of it, doesn't Kate's fiance work in that building?"

"Yes," Daniel confirmed while popping out of his seat.

He had made a decision.

"Lewicki, could you drive me to the crime scene at the District Attorney's office?" he asked, as he went and grabbed his peacoat to put on, along with his scarf from the coat rack next to the front door.

Max looked unsure, "But, Doc, I thought you told me that you and Kate-"

"Now, Lewicki," Daniel interrupted him, then remembered his manners, "could you please drive me there now, Max?"

It was rare that Daniel called Max by his first name.

So that meant Daniel was really worried and desperate. But Max was already one step ahead of him as he dangled the car keys in front of Daniel's face.

"Let's go!" Max responded enthusiastically.

.

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(A/N: Just to let you know, this isn't a 'Donnie-is-a-hostage' story. No hostages in this story!)

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