Ch 4


When they arrived at Kat's apartment that night she was surprised to see how comfortable Pete seemed to be with the situation. He looked over everything with interest, occasionally asking questions. Suddenly spotting Kat's cat Jake trying to creep into the room Pete stopped in his tracks. Looking up at her with big eyes he asked, "You have a cat?"

"Yeah I do. Is that ok?" She asked, as the realization dawned on her that he might be allergic.

"That's great! I always wanted an animal, but Dad said we couldn't have one." Pete said staring at Jake who stood frozen in the doorway watching the pair.

Kat just smiled as she moved over to Jake and gently picked him up. "This is Jake." She said bending down with him so that Pete could pet him. Jake squirmed slightly until Pete started stroking his fur.

"He's soft." Pete smiled up at her, continuing to stroke his fur.

Just as Jake started to relax and purr, there was a knock on the door. Jake jumped out of Kat's arms and Pete looked up at her quizzically, "Who is that?"

"I don't know." She answered, crossing the living room and moving to the door. She opened, revealing a smiling Eli Loker. "Hey Kat."

"Well hello to you too." She smiled back at him, moving to the side so that he could enter.

"Who is this?" Eli asked as he spotted Pete.

"This is Pete." Kat said.

Pete looked up at him, fear and a smile fighting a war across his face. Eli smiled down at him, "Hi Pete, it's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." He said, the smile winning out.

"He's going to be staying with me tonight."

"Oh," Eli said questioningly.

"Yes," Kat said walking over to Pete and putting her hands on his shoulders, "If you would excuse us for just a minute Eli. It's time we get this guy to bed."

Pete looked up at her with pleading eyes, "But Kat I don't want to go to bed."

"I know Buddy, but it's late." She said ushering him into the bedroom. "Make yourself comfortable." She said glancing back at Eli.

Eli sat down on the couch, a few seconds later he was visited by Jake. Stroking his fur he relaxed back into the couch. Kat came out of the bedroom a few minutes later smiling at the sight in front of her. "So I see you've found a friend."

"I guess I have." Loker laughed.

Sitting down on the chair next to him Kat asked, "So to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Oh, just wondered how thing were going. I haven't gotten to see you much lately."

Kat leaned over to pet Jake, "Eli you see me every day."

"I know, but I don't really get to talk to you. We haven't really talked since you got the job."

Kat blushed instantly remembering the kiss they'd shared the day she got the job. It was true they really hadn't had a chance to chat. They'd been assigned to different cases, and with class and another job she really had no time. "I'm sorry Eli. So what would you like to know?"

"Well how are your classes going?"

She thought about this for a second. "Well most of them are going great. It's only algebra that I can't stand. Although I couldn't do it in high school either. I'm just not a math girl."

He let out a small laugh, "Says the girl who's a waitress?"

"Yes. It doesn't take much for math skills to give people back change."

"Ok, so how is the other job going?"

"It's ok." Nervousness flashed across her face quickly, but enough for him to notice, "A little nerve wracking right now, they're laying off a bunch of people. I'm just worried that I'm going to be next."

"Is it really that bad?"

"Almost half the staff is gone."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I don't know what I'll do if that happens to me. It's not like I can live on the nonexistent income from the Lightman Group."

"I wish that there was something I could do."

"It's ok; I know there's nothing you can do." She smiled sadly, stroking Jake again.

Eli covered her hand with his, "Kat, will you answer a question for me?"

Reveling over the feeling of her hand in his she looked up into his eyes, "I'll try."

"Why won't you go out with me?"

She sighed, slipping her hand out from under his, "I'm sorry Eli, I'm just not ready."