Sorry for the longer wait, but this was supposed to be the last chapter when things suddenly changed and now, well, it isn't the last one.
I hope you're not too upset about that!
I do have to say that I had some plans to add Amanda's work in here (that's why I mentioned her new partner) but I decided no to. At least not the case itself.
Zara quickly ran back into the house, missing Nick's reaction.
"Whoa! What the hell are you doing?" he pulled away before she managed to reach him "what the hell is wrong with you?" he was having trouble controlling his tone "what are you thinking? Are you freaking crazy? Stay away from me, is that clear? Don't even…" he had to calm down, what the fuck was she thinking? Was her apology some kind of ploy to get him to… what? Be with her? Was she freaking insane?
Nick took a few deep breaths before walking into the house. He didn't bother looking back at her and shut the door behind him.
"Nick?" he heard Bella's voice.
"Yeah?" it took almost everything he had to keep his tone under control.
"I'm making Zara lunch, you want anything?"
"No thank you" he walked into the kitchen, Zara wasn't there "where is she?"
"I'm here dad" Zara walked into the kitchen.
"Food's almost ready" Bella smiled at the girl "Christina should be here soon, if you want to wait"
"No" Zara shook her head and looked at Nick "Grandma" she walked over to her "I think I said enough goodbyes"
"What do you mean Zara?" Bella kneeled in front of her.
"I think it's ok, I need to go back to New York" she explained.
"Are you sure?" Bella sounded worried, she was only there for a few hours, why would she want to go back to New York so soon? "you know we are selling the house, so you won't be able to come back, not like this…"
"I know, but I don't like it here anymore" Zara said and gave her grandmother a hug.
Nick was confused himself, why would she all of the sudden change her mind about staying? But he decided to just go with it, it was even better for him, he didn't want to be close or even see Christina.
"Whatever you want Zara" Nick said.
Christina walked into the kitchen and greeted them, both Nick and Zara gave her a quiet 'hey' and Nick excused himself, he had to book a different flight. He texted Amanda about the change, he decided to tell her about the 'Christina incident' face to face, she wouldn't like it.
Zara was very quiet, she gave Bella a hug and a kiss but was a little colder to her aunt. She was kinda cold to Nick too and he though that maybe this whole saying goodbye thing wasn't the best idea. She fell asleep on the plane and Nick watched her, she wasn't a little kid anymore, but at that moment she looked so small, like she would always need his protection.
Amanda picked them up from the airport, she could tell Zara was upset so she didn't ask about LA. The drive back home was quiet and Amanda exchanged a few worried looks with Nick.
Zara greeted Frannie by patting her but didn't stay in the living room long and closed the door to her room.
"I need to tell you something" Nick gestured at the bedroom and Amanda followed him there. He sat down on the bed, not sure how to say it "Christina was at the house" he said.
"Your best friend Christina?" it was meant to be a joke but Nick's expression was so serious she stopped talking.
"She tried to kiss me" he decided to just say it, he had no idea what Amanda's reaction would be, he did nothing wrong, he had no idea what would make her think it was ok.
Amanda burst out in to a laugh, this was definitely not what he had expected. Maybe a little bit of anger, or maybe questions, but laughter?
He gave her a questioning look once she calmed down.
"She tried to kiss you?" she asked.
"I don't know what she was thinking…I swear I…"
"I know Nick" she stopped him "I trust you, but she tried to kiss you?" she started laughing again.
"What's so funny?" he sounded a little hurt, relived, but a little bit hurt.
"You have a thing for women with problematic siblings" she smiled "maybe that's your type"
"You're my only type" he said quietly.
"Oh yeah?" her voice was daring.
"It's not funny Amanda, she's Zara's aunt, what am I suppose to do now?" he stood up.
"Exactly what happened?"
Nick told her about everything that had lead to her trying to kiss him and Amanda laughed again.
"I'm not her fan or anything, but maybe you should give her the benefit of the doubt, maybe the grief is making her do crazy things, or maybe she's always been in love with you, I don't know" she stood up and smiled at him.
"You know, I didn't except you to be so cool about this" he said honestly.
"You wanted me to cause a scene? Wanted me to kick her ass? Tell you to stay away from her?" she softly touched his arm "it's all your fault you know"
"What?"
"You've told me you loved me so many times that I just have to believe it now and I know there's never going to be anyone else" she gave him a playful smile "and I hope you feel the same about me"
"Now who's the sweet talker?" he teased, leaning in for a kiss.
Amanda could have come up with plenty of comments about kissing at that moment, but the only thing she wanted to do was to actually kiss him.
Zara stayed in her room most of the day, she ate something but when Nick offered to go visit Cesaria she refused. Amanda had to go to work so Nick spend the rest of the day on the couch, wondering what was going on with Zara.
"You want to go out for dinner?" he asked when she was on her way back from the bathroom.
"No, I'm not hungry" she replied quietly.
"You sure? I can call Gil, maybe he'd want to go with us, and I know abuela would love to" he tried again.
"Where's Amanda?" she asked.
"She had to go to work"
"Oh" he could tell she was thinking about something.
"Or maybe we could just watch a movie together?" he offered "or..."
"No, I'm going to text Melody" she said and shut the door to her bedroom.
Amanda called him a few hours later to let him know she won't be coming home, they got a breakthrough in one of their bigger cases and she had to stay at the station. She asked about Zara and he told she was still down.
There was a knock on his bedroom door early on Sunday morning, it was Zara.
"Everything ok?" he sat up.
"Yes" she looked around the room "can I take Frannie for a walk?"
"Sure" he rubbed his eyes "I'll be right out, ok?"
She nodded but stayed planted by the door "where's Amanda?"
"Amanda's at work, I don't know when she'll be back" he replied and Zara walked away.
He was ready a few minutes later and saw Zara sitting on the floor next to Frannie, hugging and patting her, it looked like she whispered something to the dog.
"Ready?"
He tried to start a conversation with his daughter a few times during the walk, but she wasn't interested, giving him short answers, yes and no, a few maybes. She seemed a little angry now and he decided to let it go, hoping she'll talk to him later.
The reporters had picked up on Amanda's case and it was all over the news, he knew that meant another night without her. Nick was glad Zara wasn't interested in the TV, he thought it would just worry her, but her staying in the room didn't calm him.
Cesaria came over and Zara seemed happy to see her "can I sleep at abuela's tonight?" she asked Nick after dinner.
"I'll take her to school Nicky" Cesaria said.
"Alright" he hoped humoring Zara would make her feel better "go get your things ready Zara" he said and turned to his mother "you think she's alright?"
"She's sad, but it's understandable, I'll try to talk to her again later"
"Thanks mom" Zara emerged from her room ready to leave.
"Bye dad" she didn't even hug him before leaving, just gave him a quick wave and they were out of the door.
Even though he hoped to get a chance to talk to her on the drive home, Nick had to ask Cesaria to pick up Zara because he got caught up working on a case. Olivia has been very understanding through all of this, but he had to pull in the weight like the rest of the squad. Of course his mother was always happy to help and Nick knew he was very lucky to have her.
Olivia has been briefing them on a case when Nick's phone rang, seeing Cesaria's name on the caller ID he excused himself and walked to the bunks "hey mom" he answered.
"Nicky, I'm at Zara's school" her voice was a little strained "she's not here"
