TnC
Chap 11-Personal Hell
The next day, Kate was sitting in the passenger seat of her grandfather's old car, wondering how in the world she let Riza talk her into this. She knew that if it was anyone else asking she would have never have given in. But this was Riza, and for some reason she just couldn't put her foot down and say no.
Riza had agreed to get some groceries for the two and some other essentials, besides that, she also needed to call Roy. Since Kate had no intention of ever setting foot in that house again, there was no working phone. Apparently the house was far enough out that getting electricity out there was sketchy even at best, so the house was very well set up to function very well without it, thank you very much. Be that as it may, Riza hated the idea of her friend being cooped up in the house by herself.
"Kate, please come with me."
Kate shook her head. "No."
Riza sighed. "You know the town a lot better than I do and besides, I want to treat my friend to lunch."
Kate lowered her gaze to the floor. "Riza, please, don't push this."
Riza was growing frustrated. "What's the harm in one lunch outing, Kate? It can't really be that bad can it?"
With that the conversation ended and Kate gave in. She hadn't really said a word since, which had Riza a bit worried. "We're almost there right?" Kate nodded and Riza continued. "I need to find a phone I can use to check in with Roy. Then we'll find a place to eat, if that's ok."
Kate just looked out the window at the passing scenery. "That's fine. There will be a phone booth just outside the drugstore on the left a few blocks in. I'll wait in the car."
Riza thanked her and parked the car in the drugstore's lot. She walked over to the phone booth and quickly dialed Central HQ. After going through all the channels to get to her superior officer she finally heard a click as she was transferred.
"Mustang speaking."
"Hello, Roy. It's Riza." She smiled at the sound of his voice.
.o0o.
"Hello, Roy. It's Riza."
Roy slumped into his office chair with a relieved sigh. He waved at the others into his office through the open door to get their attention as he spoke. "Riza! What took so long? We've been worried sick!' His voice dropped a bit as he continued. "I've been worried sick."
Roy watched his subordinates gather as he listened. He was genuinely relieved to finally hear from her. Riza's voice came back softly through the phone and made him smile. "I'm sorry we worried you, Sir. There isn't a working phone in Kate's house, so I had to wait until I could get into town."
"I understand, so updates won't be as frequent as I'd like them to be. " Roy answered with a tone that was reserved only for her. "How often do you think you'll be able to call then?"
"Probably every couple of days. I'll miss you in between."
"I'll miss you too. So how is she?"
"I'm not really sure to be honest, Sir. Something about being back here has her really on edge. There's something here that isn't sitting right with me."
Roy looked concerned and glanced over at Ed, who couldn't take his eyes off the Colonel. He chose his words carefully, not wanting to worry the younger man without cause. "What do you mean?"
"Well, yesterday when we arrived, I had a couple offer to hide me from Kate and get me out of town. Kate overheard and seemed to handle it well. She knew the couple. But when we got back to her house it was obviously bothering her."
Roy had just added insanely curious to the things going on in head. "Why would they do something like that?"
"I'm not really sure to be honest, Roy. They said that Kate bringing back a 'pretty little thing like me' can't be good. It gave me the creeps to be honest."
Roy glanced at Ed again. There was no way he could phrase this question without him knowing something was up and sighed. "Do you think you're in any danger?" Ed's eyes grew wide and he bit down on his lip hard.
"From Kate? No, Sir. I'm concerned about some of the locals though. Apparently whatever ill will they hold towards Kate is pretty common. I wanted to bring Kate into town to treat her to lunch and it was almost like I had to drag her. Even now she won't get out of the car."
Roy nodded and gave Ed a reassuring look. "I see. Well if the case I'm glad you're with her. Do whatever you can to bring both of you back to us." His voice grew soft again, "I'm counting on you Lieutenant."
He could hear her smile through the phone line. "I love you, Roy."
"I love you, too. Be careful and take care of yourself."
"I will, Sir. I'll talk to you again soon."
The next thing Roy heard was a click and a dial tone.
Ed looked at Roy expectantly as Roy hung up the phone. "Danger? Is everything ok? Are they both alright?" He looked as if he was about to cry.
Roy walked over and laid a hand on Ed's shoulder. "They are both fine. Just some rumors that the locals pass around I guess. They'll be ok." Ed didn't look convinced. "If it makes you feel better I want you and Havoc to keep a bag packed and ready to go here at the office. If anything happens we'll be on the next train out."
Ed gave a small smile, knowing his commanding officer meant every word of it. "Thanks, Roy."
.o0o.
Riza walked back to the car to get Kate. She was glad she had had a chance to talk to Roy for a few minutes. She really DID miss that man.
Kate saw her coming and got out of the car. "Were you able to get through?"
Riza nodded. "Yes I was it was good to talk to him." At the thought of it, Riza was again grinning from ear to ear.
Kate shoved her hands into her pockets and looked up at a nest full of birds. "Did-did he say anything about Ed?" She really wanted to know the answer, but she was afraid to ask and couldn't look at Riza while she did.
Riza's smile fell and she shook her head. "No, I'm sorry Kate."
Kate just nodded and seemed deep in thought. "It's alright. I just kinda wanted to know."
Riza decided to change the subject. "So what about lunch? What's good?"
Kate thought for a moment. "There's a little café up the street. It's nice and there's usually no one in there for lunch."
Riza thought that sounded pretty good and followed Kate as she walked around the corner.
.o0o.
As soon as Kate walked into the café she went straight to a booth in the corner and sat with her back to the rest of the room. She picked up a menu to hide behind it. She already felt eyes boring into the back of her head.
Riza sat across from her and picked up a menu. "So what do you recommend?"
"If I remember right the soup here is really good." Kate was quiet and wouldn't look up at Riza.
Riza frowned at the menu her friend was hiding behind as the waitress came up. Riza ordered first and Kate followed. Riza couldn't help but notice that Kate never looked up from behind her menu and when the menus were taken Kate continued to look toward the wall.
"What is going on, Kate?" Riza asked. "You're not yourself lately and it has us all worried. What's going on around here that has you all worked up?"
Kate bit her lip. She looked down at the table top and didn't say a word.
Riza reached over and grabbed one of Kate's hands softly. "Kate, please. Whatever it is you can tell me."
Kate just nodded. "Alright, but not here. I'm not comfortable talking about it with everyone staring at us."
The waitress brought their orders and Riza waited until she was gone. "How can you say everyone's staring? You haven't looked at a soul since we got here. Including me. Are you really that paranoid?"
Kate's voice was quiet. "I don't have to look. But you can if you don't believe me. Go ahead. See for yourself."
Riza looked up and took a quick glance around the room. Sure enough, several sets of eyes looked away guiltily. Riza was suddenly uncomfortable.
.o0o.
Riza had gone to the ladies room and stopped short as she came back, hearing a familiar voice.
"If you don't mind I'm trying to have my lunch." Kate said coldly.
"So was I, but seeing you here ruined my appetite." Riza didn't recognize this voice, although it was obviously a woman's. "But now that I know they serve the likes of you here I'll never come back."
Kate laughed a bit at that. "You have problems with serving a member of the military? Yes, that's right. I left here and joined the military. You say you won't come back? That's really too bad. They have wonderful potato soup here."
"Don't you play coy with me you beastly little thing. We all know what you're doing here. We know why you brought that other woman back with you too."
Riza could almost hear Kate rolling her eyes. "Oh, do tell all-knowing-one. What is my purpose in coming back to this shithole town with someone else?"
"You're going to use her as a sacrifice or that awful voodoo you picked up from that awful family of yours."
Kate's voice was mockingly dramatic. "Oh, no, I and my alchemy have been found out. Whatever shall I do? Maybe I should take you home with me before you can warn others."
At that Riza rounded the corner and almost laughed out loud at the scene before her. A strange brunette woman was backing away from Kate with a look of paralyzing fear while Kate stared into the other woman's eyes. Not daring to blink.
Riza bit her lip to keep from laughing. Once the other woman was gone, Riza turned to Kate. "What in the world was that?"
"Nothing much. Just an old classmate.
A/N: Sorry this chapter isn't longer. It was supposed to be but my computer did something weird while saving and I lost over half of it. So I decided to break it off here. I'll publish again soon. I promise.
