Chapter 23
A few hours after Reade's declaration the entire team and agents Novak, Bishop, Kick and James found themselves at Jane and Kurt's apartment to spend a friendly night. The atmosphere was peaceful, and everyone got along wonderfully.
"I heard you were in town for an investigation. Have you found the missing person?" the young tattooed girl asked curiously. She was near the bar with Tasha and Franck while the other agents were at the salon pursuing a conversation about the different places that their work had allowed them to visit.
"Fortunately yes, this little boy can sleep in his bed tonight and rare thing in this type of kidnapping, he was not raped. This kind of outcome is always a relief."
"I imagine. Honestly, I do not know how you can continue this job after more than twenty years of services. Especially since most of your victims are very young. It must be hard to bear especially when the missions end badly. Besides, how did Kick manage the investigation? She looked disturbed earlier," Zapata interrogated concerned. The brunette had a lot of conversations with the young consultant in recent weeks. They had shared their personal experiences and got closer.
"The investigation concerned the dismantling of Legion, so it has stirred her a little, but she is well. The more time passes and the more she manages to cope with her past. She also told me that you had been talking a lot for a month."
"Yes, I had troubles adjusting after I got back from the hospital and decided to follow your advice. You were right, it's good to confide in someone who really understands."
"Although I fully grasp this reasoning you know you can count on us, day and night," Jane remarked benevolently.
"I know it. You don't have to worry. It wasn't much, just a few nightmares. In addition to that I was not really alone," the brunette confessed, turning her gaze towards her partners. By understanding what she meant her friend laughed.
"From what I see Kick and you really have much more in common than I thought. Finally, I can't say that it is a surprise," the man stated smiling maliciously.
"So, you noticed?" the Hispanic assumed surprised. Although their collaboration lasted only a few weeks, ten years before, she immediately noticed the flawless intuition of her elder.
"You're talking about the fact that she and Bishop have been turning around for months or you're in love with your teammate. I may not be young anymore, but I am far from stupid. Can I give you some advice?"
"You can. After all, it's not like all the team didn't do it."
"We only want your happiness. After all, you are so adorable. I promise you that if you could see yourself from an outside perspective you would understand. During the lunch, he was literally in awe. In addition, after the discussion you had earlier I think you can consider that his feelings for you are real."
"I completely agree. In our investigations we rub shoulders with a large number of relatives terrified by fear and uncertainty, but what I saw in his eyes when we watched the video was much stronger than a simple friendship. Your fear is legitimate, but you must not let it prevent you from moving forward."
"You have been through so many trials with incredible courage. I remember at the beginning of my relationship with Kurt I didn't think I deserved such happiness. Do you remember what you advised me?"
"I told you to stop thinking too much and enjoy the present moment because everyone has the right to happiness."
"You're pretty good at giving advice. You should think about following them. Finally, it's not my type to give my opinion in a field that I control very badly. Ladies I will leave you to make sure they do not get James drunk because it is out of the question that I manage him drunk. Think about it please," Franck concluded by leaving to join the others.
"I understand why he had made you a great impression. They're great people. His behavior makes me think a little bit about the one that Kurt to Sarah, Patterson and you."
The two young women discussed for a few minutes when they were joined by their two female colleagues.
"I see that we have fun here. Did we miss something?" Patterson asked perkily.
"Apart from Franck who made his Franck nothing special. By the way, the thing we talked about the other time, he noticed," Zapata exhibited.
"I would not say that I am surprised. Finally, what I would like to know is what is happening. At last news, you were closer than ever?" the second blonde interrogated intrigued.
"Oh, nothing special apart from the fact that Reade wanted to play the alpha male ultra-protective. When Tasha wanted an explanation, he turned into Romeo to make a nice declaration of love, but he left right after," the computer scientist explained by taking a drink.
"You are drunk," the Hispanic remarked by talking to her colleague.
"No that's not true."
"You are well drunk and for now the water will make you the greatest good. She nevertheless summed up the situation broadly," Jane brightened to the young consultant by removing the glass from her teammate's hands.
"Haven't you spoken since? "
"Not his declaration really surprised me, and he had to take this for embarrassment because he did not give me time to answer. I know I have to go talk to him but as irrational as it may seem it's the scariest thing I've ever had to do. Even if his feelings are reciprocal and we give a shot there are about a million things that could go wrong."
"It's true and no one can guarantee that everything will be fine only I think it's worth trying anyway. If I had the chance to spend even a few more days with David I would take the risk. At the time I let my fear take over and I wasted precious time. You love each other so even if you risk dying at any time in our work it does not mean that one should not seize the slightest moment of happiness."
"Patterson are you okay?" her friends questioned with one voice, preoccupied with her speech.
"Yes don't worry. Alcohol makes me melancholic but I'm fine," the blonde reassured. They looked skeptical but did not insist on knowing that she was not in a state to speak. However, the two officers promised to keep an eye on their colleague.
"You know when Mel escaped I was terrorized. This man was literally my greatest fear."
"He was your executioner, so it seems natural to me," Tasha interrupted.
"I know, but that is not where I am coming from. I was terrorized, but I fought. It was not even for me but for the little girl he had kidnapped. A child to whom I cared and who could very well have become like me, or even worse. In this warehouse, you faced your worst nightmare, but you fought to free your family from his grip. Even if we do not know each other very well I am sure it is that we know how much feelings can be both frightening and wonderful. No one can blame you for being frightened. Only this time the only question you need to ask yourself is are you ready to fight for your happiness with the same strength you would do to save a person you love?"
"If you don't have a career with the FBI, you should think about becoming a lawyer. You're very convincing."
"Do not flap to the irony she is right," Jane retorted with a smile.
"It's true, the old habits have a hard life. I'll do it. I promise. I really need things to change. I just need to feel ready."
The four acolytes continued to discuss things and others for a long time, learning to get to know each other, without suspecting that they were also the subject of conversation of the men of their respective teams.
"You and your wife have a very nice apartment. I've seen a child's room; do you have any?" James interrogated.
"I have a little girl, but she lives with her mother in Colorado. I try to see it as often as possible but it is not easy with our jobs."
"I knew that it is true that this job complicates the privacy enormously," Franck announced.
"A private life, as if one of us has one," Bishop railed.
"Speak for yourself and then sincerely it is only a matter of choice," the young computer scientist implied in speaking of the ambiguous relationship that his two friends maintained.
"I totally agree," Kurt approved by looking at his colleague. When he saw the merry-go-round of his cadets, agent Novak laughed.
"There's nothing funny," John said.
"I find the situation rather ironic. You work in extremely dangerous conditions every day but as soon as it becomes personal it is immediately more complicated," Rich added with his usual air oscillating between provocation and general truth. The men present in the room laughed, knowing very well that the consultant was in the real. They dialogued for a good ten minutes. At one-point, Edgar was taken from a desire to contemplate his colleague. He could see that she was watching him. When their eyes crossed the two young people understood that it was time to face years of unspoken. The brunette rose from her chair and walked over to the five men.
"Can we talk?" She asked shyly.
"Of course," he whispered. He parted from the group to head towards the terrace, all under the watchful eyes of their family of hearts. He had no idea what his best friend was going to tell her, but they both knew that this discussion could change their lives in many ways.