Time jump, see if you can figure out to when…
Nine year, nine incredibly taxing years had passed since that late November ninth when she found Raglan waiting for them on the doorstep. Where was she now? She was putting on a brave face for Lanie and the boys, the sound of music reverberating through her thin body, making her quake.
Holidays were never her favourite time, really they sucked. Holidays were time for family, which was something Kate lacked. Sure she had her Dad but he spent holidays with his AA buddies now, less temptation he called it. So she was left to face the gaping hole in her heart alone. Most years she managed to escape the parties, she would stay at home and watch the ball drop on TV but this year Lanie had insisted on dragging her to the party.
Lanie was worried about the detective, and her worry only increased every time Kate declined an invitation. She was getting more and more shut off, even if she was trying to get over everything to do with her mother's case. In order to push it to the back of her mind Kate had to let go of all her emotions and ties to other people, because letting herself think about things would invariably lead to her thinking about her mother and the case, it was her own personal Pandora's Box.
As the countdown began Kate made her way to the edge of the crowd where everyone was jostling to get near the window for a decent view of the fireworks. On the edge she felt safer, she could get away if she needed to.
Slowly the countdown fell, Kate tried to join in, her voice was raspy from a long day and the lump in her throat wasn't helping. As the fireworks exploded on the dark night sky Kate felt random arms wrapping around her lightly and lips met her cheek quickly only to be replaced by set after set, she went about the obligatory offerings of well wishes automatically.
In a daze she wished Lanie the best for 2009 and told the ME that she was going to head off, killers didn't sleep after all and she was on call. Lanie wished her a slightly tipsy happy New Year and told her to stay but Kate declined, not wanting to get too caught up in the celebrations. As she walked away Kate heard the ME yelling to her turned back, 'next year I'll make sure that you have a reason to stay Katherine.'
Kate turned and laughed, letting the ME know that she was challenging her to do just that. Smiling slightly Kate made her way out the door, the feeling of helplessness wasn't as strong now, she had just made it through the change of a New Year without shedding a tear or two. Maybe 2009 would hold some hope after all.
Short but I just wanted to write it since it was the year that Rick joined her, I think…