A/N: So I thought I'd update this couple seeing as how I don't have any of the While He Was Away Series with me. That will be updated tomorrow if all goes well and my internet at my apartment is working. Then if not it should be Thursday or Friday. Anyways last chapter in this going to start moving things along rather quickly so this whole stalker thing is over with. How I'm going to do that is anyone's guess...ideas are always welcome.
Enjoy.
He stood at the doorway silently taking sips from the mug in his hand. He didn't know which bothered him more the fact that she cried herself to sleep or that they hadn't caught anyone. Normally it would have been no contest but lately all she did was cry.
Noting the time from the alarm clock on her side he knew he had to go; what he dreaded was telling her that he was still on the loose the creep who had made her like this flinching at his touch was in the wind.
He quietly made his way over to her side of the bed squatting in front of her. Pushing hair out of her face she moved into the touch and opened her eyes he smiled just a fraction knowing that they were on the right track of being all right.
"I gotta go now, everything's locked up and bolted down" her eyes widened and maybe that wasn't the best thing to say to a person when they first wake up.
"They didn't catch him did they?" he couldn't find the words and shook his head no forgetting the dark consumed him.
"No"
--
Knowing he could pick locks – he'd been practicing so he wouldn't be caught after all. Hearing the familiar click of the lock unlocking he pushed the door opened effortlessly. Turning the flashlight on he mentally committed the layout to memory he would be back later. It never hurt to know where things were in a place you were about to move into.
For the last few days he had been watching the house knowing when he had ample time to break in and leave little things – little presents for her.
Slipping the note out of his jacket pocket he left it in the kitchen the first place she would come to start the coffee pot. It was only a matter of time before he made his identity known.
--
A black unmarked sedan sat in the driveway in Nick's usual spot, Katie's car sat where it should. He pulled in behind hers and was out of the door ready to pull a gun on whoever was over at his house at 7 in the morning. He walked into the door slowly noting one of two things music wasn't playing at it's normal volume and very little lights were on – the only light being a lamp on in the living room where the occupant of the black sedan and Katie.
Brass stood pacing back and forth talking on his phone while Katie sat on the couch knees to her chest and still in pajamas. Her eyes red and puffy, something had happened. Ignoring Brass he strutted over to couch sitting beside Katie; she acknowledged him by glancing his way; no touching, no voice of hello, nothing.
Brass hung up the phone talking directly to Katie
"I'll be back in an hour" he paused only long enough to take what Nick could see as an evidence bag, the stalker had struck again and once again she hadn't told him.
"What'd it say this time?" he really wanted to ask why she didn't call him first but he kept quiet.
"He liked the layout of this place, that we could make many memories in this house" she stood walking towards the kitchen to get a glass of water.
"Why didn't you tell me first?" he stood turning so he could see her in the kitchen
"I couldn't"
"What do you mean you couldn't?" he snapped her eyes flying up to mean his as he snapped
"Conflict of interest. There's not much you could have done. The piece of evidence would have been thrown out in court" she dumped the contents of the glass down the drain leaving the glass in the sink. He put his hands on his hips, annoyed more at the situation than her.
She came to him resting her hands on his hips above his hands; he stiffened as she looked up to him.
"I was only thinking about putting this guy away" he looked down at her still aggravated
"I wanted to call you but Brass said you were on your way home" he clenched his jaw
"Please Nicky don't be mad" she pouted her lower lip trembling "I don't want to leave with you mad at me"
"Leave?" his act of being mad slowly slipping
"Brass is taking me to the shooting range"
"What?"
"Don't you need a permit?"
"I'm not carrying it on me, Brass is. The gun he's getting is registered. We're doing everything by the book. He's getting me pepper spray too. Believe me I don't want this guy walking on a technicality"
"I wish you would have come to me about this"
"It's easier for people to look the other way if I'm with a Captain of Police"
"I thought you just said you were doing everything by the book"
"I am. What I meant was they will think nothing of it if I'm with the Captain maybe think I'm his daughter or something and he's showing me how to shoot a gun, baby I promise there's nothing to worry about. I'm just taking the necessary precautions" he dropped his arms and walked away from her running hand through his hair and over his face. When did his life get so messed up? Katie watched him slightly afraid of what he might do, he'd never laid a hand on her but she'd come home to a house plate being thrown in front of her because he was angry over a case.
"When I get back we can spend the whole day cuddling or planning the wedding" she pouted and gave him the puppy eyed look and he nodded knowing she needed to get her mind off the danger at hand.
"Thank you" she walked over to him once again and stood on her tip toes to place a kiss on his cheek as she left to go get dressed.
