"The absolute nerve!" Kate seethed as she stormed away from the office door and into the waiting lobby, shoving her arms into her jacket sleeves. The receptionist stood up quickly and tried to catch her attention, but she was in too much turmoil to pay her any mind. Other patients shifted their legs and bags out of her way as she stomped over to the exterior door to the office unit. Her skin was tingling with the anger that rolled off of her in waves.
'You told me he was going to give up the life of crime. If that is the case where is he right now?'
She could curse the world till she was blue in the face as the words continued to sear into her brain. Who was her therapist to be giving out such brash points and condescending nonsense anyway? She let out a huff as she jerked the door open and exited into the hallway that would get her out of the building. She couldn't bring herself to care how much she might have scared the other clients waiting their turn. She just needed away from Sharon and the words that just wouldn't leave her thoughts.
'Where is he now? Where is he now? Where is he now?'
"Shut up!" Kate whispered and leaned into the wall across from the office door, thumping her head back on the wood paneling. She stared at the ceiling and willed the tears to not start up. She had cried too much and didn't want Niko to pick her up and see the telltale signs of her pain. Therapy was meant to help her, not cause more harm. Sniffling slightly, she pulled her cell phone from her pocket and typed out a message to Niko.
'You were right. Who needs therapy? Come pick me up?'
She reread the text and frowned before deleting it and typing something else out.
'All done, can you come pick me up now? Maybe we can have coffee with Galina?'
The thought of the old woman at the coffee shop put a smile on her face and caused her stomach to growl at the idea of getting a slice of coffee cake. It had been a week or so since they went for breakfast and she was missing the fun stories they would get from the woman who made the best food in all of Liberty. She watched the screen dim on the cell phone and waited for his reply to pop up. She pressed a button to make it light back up and sulked as the seconds turned into a minute, with no reply message appearing.
"Odd. Might as well call…" Kate backed out of the message and located his number, pressing the call button quickly. She glanced down the hall toward the exit and debated just walking outside to see if he was parked along the street.
"You've reached the voicemail box for the number you have dialed. Please leave your name, number, and a quick message after the tone."
Kate hung the phone up and hated the way her thoughts almost mocked her for not getting ahold of Niko. The words from her therapist bouncing around and practically laughing at how they were being proven correct. He almost never took long to get back to her when she would call him or text him. So why wasn't he answering her in their normal timeframe? Things had been rather quiet and uneventful, and she knew that it wouldn't always stay that way, but what could Niko possibly be up to that would keep him from his phone?
"I swear if Francis has him chasing down criminals, I won't be held responsible for what I do to him…" She grumbled before deciding being outside would be better than sulking in the murky hallway outside of the therapy office. Lightly she pushed up off the wall and tucked her cell phone back into her jacket pocket.
'What if he is? What if he got hurt? Or worse, is dead in some alley while you try to make sense of your violent nature?'
Her hands shook around the button of her jacket and she stilled her movements as the image of Niko being shot flitted across her mind.
"No. Stop. He is okay." The words didn't bring her any comfort and she bowed her head as the weight of the world tried to crush her down. She gulped as she tried to move past the image of him laying sprawled out on the grass back on Happiness Island, blood flowing freely from the bullet wounds. The walls started to close in around her and she picked up her pace to reach the doorway that would get her out into the bright, sunny morning light. The buttons were done up hastily before she shoved the large glass and metal door open, not bothering to look up as she essentially ran out of the building.
She slammed right into another body, arms encircling her, as they both stumbled back from the entrance to the medical building.
"Hey! Watch it!"
Kate struggled to get free from the grip that felt vice-like on her arms. The revolting laughter started up in her mind from the men in her bedroom and she fought harder to break free. To finally put an end to the never-ending vicious cycle of imagery that haunted her dreams.
"Wait. Katie? No way!"
Her eyes snapped open, she hadn't even realized she had closed them, to stare at the person who had said her name. The voice sounded familiar, but it was a distant memory that was trying to break free from the cage she placed it in. Her eyes connected to surprised, shocked, blue-green eyes set into a pale freckle covered face. She squinted slightly as some of her happier memories from her childhood floated to the forefront of her mind.
"Bobby?!" Her eyes widened as she took in the appearance of the young man who stood before her, still holding on to her arms like she would fly away if he let her go. The abundance of freckles, the bright blue-green eyes, the light auburn hair that was cut shorter than she remembered. There was no mistaking him. He still had the slightly crooked nose from when Gerry punched him for an insult.
"Ugh, please don't use my nickname. I've outgrown it." His face scrunched up as he nervously chuckled, "But yep! In the flesh! Back in Liberty City!"
"God it's been years!" She absolutely couldn't believe her eyes. She blinked a couple of times to make sure she wasn't imagining things. 'Maybe I hit my head on the door in my haste to get out of there…' The touch was starting to feel unwelcomed, and she attempted to shift out of his hold, only for him to firm his grasp.
"Summer church camp circa, what? Like 1993 or 94? Before my parents split and mom took me off to Los Santos. How's Packie? Gerry? Did Francis become that superhero cop he always wanted to be? Derrick talked about Ireland as if he grew up there. He ever move there like he wanted? Oh! And Ma! God! She always made the best cookies. Surely, she has a batch ready to go, with Valentine's Day right around the corner." He cupped her face and just couldn't stop his happiness from showing. It really was his long lost friend!
She flinched at the touch and tried to lean away from him, but his grip was rather insistent and solid, "Yeah… Um. About my family. Look-"
He noticed her body language and immediately let go of her, "I'm sorry! That was super weird and creepy. What were you going to say?" He tucked his hands into the black hoodie pockets that was unzipped over his body, shivering against the light breeze that wafted down the street. He gave her a small shy smile and tried to hide the embarrassment for being rather forward.
"Right. Um. A lot of things have happened and changed since you left Liberty. Like a lot…" She took a hesitant step back and tried to reign in her emotions and spiraling thoughts, tucking her hands into her jacket pockets. His touch had brought up a few rather nasty images and she sucked in an unsteady breath, avoiding his gaze. 'It's just Bobby. Harmless, scrapy Bobby. Just breath and focus on the conversation…'
"Tell me about it. Doctor Curtis moved to this new office. I had to take the subway just to see them. You haven't changed a bit by the way. Still as stunning as ever. I was so mad when mom said we were leaving Liberty. I was going to ask you to the eighth grade dance, but you know how Gerry is. Never would've been able to get the full sentence out." He laughed at his own joke, a small blush forming over his nose and cheeks.
"You see Sharon?" Kate tried to ignore the compliment and awkward feelings that rose with it. She didn't want to be rude, but she didn't want him to get the wrong idea. Flirting and comments about her looks from people other than Niko and their circle of friends was a red flag to her. Niko also made it a point to send a death glare in the direction of any man that gave her a second look or had their eyes linger too long. She clutched her phone in her hand as she thought about her boyfriend. 'Where is he and why has he not responded to me yet?'
"If that's the first name, then yeah." Bobby shrugged and glanced over his shoulder to the glass door that displayed the names of all the doctors that held a practice in the building.
"She's lost her damn mind. I would switch doctors." A cop car flew past them on the street, lights flashing, and siren blaring loudly. She turned to see where they were heading and felt trepidation slide down her spine.
"Oh? That bad, huh? Say, that why you were basically running out of the building?" He shifted away from the door and moved to her side, jerking his head to ask her to walk with him.
"You could say that." She grumbled giving him a side glance, not liking the close proximity, but followed his lead. She darted her eyes to the police cruiser and watched as it screeched to a halt in the middle of an intersection, blocking traffic. 'Strange. Something must have just happened around here…'
"Well, any recommendation from you is as good as gold. You were always the smart one outta the McReary lot." He threw his arm over her shoulders as they walked away from the entrance to the medical building. "Packie just didn't know when to quit. He picked the worst fights in school. Swear that kid was going to get us all expelled."
"Could you maybe not touch me?" Kate stiffened with the unwanted physical touch, and ducked out of his side hug, frowning at him. Another cop car raced by, slamming on their brakes as they got near the other car. A shudder ran down her back and she squirmed minutely against the feelings that wanted to surface.
"Since when did you ever hate my hugs? We used to lean on each other in the pews at church. We'd stay up all night in Packie's room reading from the same comic book, shoulder to shoulder. Am I missing something?" He glanced toward the police cars and adjusted his backpack straps on his shoulders. He refocused on his friend trying to figure out what had caused such a change in her, tilting his head marginally with his thoughts.
"I just don't like being touched. Okay? Personal boundaries and all. And I'm sure my boyfriend is down the street waiting for me. I called him to come pick me up." The panic tried to surface again inside, and she forced herself to not succumb to it. He had been rather touchy feely as a kid, so maybe he hadn't dropped the habit of not respecting others personal spaces. They had made it to an opening for an alley and she briefly wondered if she would have to make some lame excuse to get away from him.
"You? Dating? You can't possibly have a boyfriend. You really should leave the jokes to Derrick." He shook his head and scoffed at the absurdity of her words. Another cop car came to a stop at the street corner they were closer to and angled off to keep people from coming or going. He frowned at the sight of all the police in the area. "Come on now. Let me escort you home. It would be great to say hi to Ma again."
"I don't think that would be a good idea Bobby. Ma… Well Ma is no longer with us. Same with Derrick. As well as Pa… I think I'm going to go ahead and find my boyfriend. It was nice seeing you." Kate took a hesitant step back and watched as his features shifted into a sorrowful expression.
"I'm so sorry. I had no idea…" He held his arms out asking permission to give her a hug, his voice was soft, kind, and small.
He looked so brokenhearted over the news that it caused Kate to pause in her retreat from him. She only remembered Bobby as the carefree kid that loved to hang out with her family and her. Both of their fathers were close friends at one point and the more she thought about it, the more she was glad he moved away when he did. He undoubtedly would've been dragged into the 'family business' eventually with the way he came around all the time. But the man who stood close to her with his arms held open looked nothing like the scrawny child from her memories.
"It's okay. No need to apologize. They- well. Pa killed himself a little over eight years ago. Derrick was murdered while hanging out with Francis. The person who killed him has yet to be caught. And four months ago, some men broke into the house and killed Ma-" Her voice died in her throat and the vividness of what happened squeezed her heart painfully. The tears came of their own fruition and she looked down to her shoes to hopefully hide them from Bobby.
"Oh my God, Katie-Bear. That's just horrible!"
Arms slid around her shoulders carefully and pulled her toward his chest. The panic from earlier reared its ugly head and tripped her heart into overdrive. She felt like she was suffocating and being held down in her old bedroom. Her body locked up on her and the ability to control her limbs abandoned her. Fear was a powerful emotion and it drowned out everything else that wanted to surface to give her support. She inhaled sharply as the images tried to pry to the forefront of her mind and the smell of his cologne sent her over the edge.
"Hey now, don't you want to play? We just want to have some fun!"
She attempted to break free from the hug by placing her hands on his hips to be able to push back from him. Her fingers brushed against something hard, cold, and metal and only one single thought flitted across her panic riddled mind. 'He has a gun…'
She ducked her head down to try and see it and could just make out the edge of a holster and the handle of a black gun. Every single rational thought fled her, and she lifted frightened eyes to meet the curious ones of Bobby. He must have realized what she had felt as his own face drained of color. He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times as if trying to conjure up the right thing to say.
"Look- Katie-Bear. It's not-!" Bobby started to explain.
Kate wrenched herself from his hold and stumbled backwards, losing her footing on the sidewalk. Strong hands caught her under her arms and hauled her up to her feet carefully, turning her away from the man that caused a full blown panic attack to form. Her head snapped up to stare into the face of Bernie, relief flooding her body at the familiar face. She immediately tucked herself into his arms and hugged him with all her might, trying to hide herself away from Bobby and the gun.
"Is this man bothering you love?" Bernie's voice was deep, and his accent was detectable. Kate's eyes widened as she leaned back slightly to search his darkening glare and came to one rather daunting conclusion. This was Florian before her, not the soft hearted, fun loving, gentle Bernie. But the war hardened solider. He returned the hug gently, splaying his fingers over her back, and turned to scowl at the man who hugged his friend. He positioned himself in a way that kept her further away from him.
"Kate? Who is this? I'm sorry you saw that. But it's not what you think. Swear." Bobby took a step closer, only stopping his approach because of the threatening look he was getting from the man. He reached down and zipped up the hoodie, effectively hiding the weapon on his hip. He hadn't meant for her to feel or see the gun and he grew concerned with how she shrank away from him into the arms of the man who caught her.
"I'm someone who is going to kick your ass for daring to touch what isn't yours!" Florian was enraged. He had stayed in the alley listening in to the last few words shared between them before deciding the situation wasn't as innocent as it appeared. He had promised Niko to be shield and sword when necessary and it was by sheer luck that he found himself in the position to be able to help Kate. She was shaking uncontrollably, and it only added fuel to the fire he could feel charging through his veins. He started to reach for the pistol that was tucked into the waistband at his back before Kate's hand landed over it and she pressed herself more firmly into him. He frowned with her actions. Did she not want him to eliminate the threat to her?
Her heart and mind were fighting each other on what to do. She wanted to get as far away from Bobby as she could, but a small voice whispered out to her. It was nudging her to release the gun and let Bernie handle the situation. To see if Bernie would be as harsh as Darko, or if he would have a finesse to it. She could hear the cops running around and calling out orders on their radios. Their situation was tumbling out of control rapidly and she needed it to settle down.
'They would either shoot or arrest Bernie if he pulled the gun. You know this. Think Kate think! We need to-' A thought formed in her mind and she only prayed that Bernie wouldn't freak.
"Bobby this is my… uh. Boyfriend!" 'God help me…' She dared a look toward her old friend that was armed and could see the absolute confusion and sadness fill his eyes. The weapon on him had scared her beyond what she was capable of handling currently. Even knowing Bernie was armed was concerning. But the fact that she knew Bernie, well Florian, would have no problem shooting the man across from them in front of the cops was more troubling. She did not want someone killed over the fact that she didn't feel comfortable.
'So much death. Enough is enough… Please.'
"Boyfriend?!"
"дечко (dečko)?!" Florian had said the word in Serbian, completely thrown off by the term. He looked down bewildered to Kate's face not understanding where she was coming from. He most certainly wasn't and didn't like the slight tremor that shook him at knowing how Niko would take the news… but then again? Mischief thrived in his chest and he felt the corners of his mouth lift in a rather devious smirk. 'A little fun hasn't hurt nobody… Boyfriend it is! Eat your heart out Niks!'
"I did say my boyfriend would be waiting for me. And now here he is. So we are just going to get going now. Nice seeing you Bobby!" Kate tried to push Bernie away from her old childhood friend and toward the edge of the street or opening of the alley. The police presence and overall situation was making her want to just leave and go back to the apartment and collapse. 'And just where is Niko?! He should have answered my missed call and text by now!'
"I. I? Well." Bobby watched as the cops started to question pedestrians and he figured he needed to get going. He glanced between Kate and the man she had called boyfriend and felt jealously bloom in his chest. He shook his head at the sight they made and somehow knew that they weren't actually dating. But there would be time later to figure it all out, "I'll see you around Kate. Don't be a stranger."
Kate watched as he turned around and casually walked back toward the doctor's office building. He ducked into the door as a cop got close to him. As the panic started to fade, she started to wonder about his behavior and why it had caused her to lose herself so easily. She had been doing better with panic attacks and had even started to feel confident being out in public again, so what had caused her conquered fears to resurface so harshly? A kiss to her forehead knocked her from her thoughts and she looked up into Bernie's worried eyes.
"Dear. He was armed. Next time do not hinder me from trying to protect you." He searched her eyes and grew concerned when she only numbly nodded in response. It wouldn't have done any good if she had kept him from being able to pull the gun, especially if the other person had gone for their weapon. He nodded to a cop as they moved past them and took the time to survey the street they were standing on. It looked as if the police were trying to set up a blockade of some kind.
He would get her out of the area and try to sort out the other statement she had made. The smirk from earlier returned and he tucked her into his side, moving back into the alley to have a more private conversation. "Care to share why you called me boyfriend? Not that it's horrible or anything. But I'm pretty sure Niko will kill me… If he doesn't go after freckle-face back there first. Gross." Bernie exaggerated a shiver as he led her down the alley and back toward the door he had used to exit the building he was in earlier.
"Thank you for showing up when you did. It was like Jason all over again for a second there, even though now that I think back, he really wasn't threatening me. I feel like my own panic was making the situation worse, then I discovered the gun on him while I was being hugged. You could say I lost it there for a minute. He really is an old friend from my childhood, but the hug resurfaced some painful memories from the attack." She glanced to him as he walked them toward a metal door.
"Understandable. He touched you when you didn't want to be touched, yes? I am just glad I was there to help." He made to open the door when she grabbed his arm and turned him around to face her.
"Yes… But what were you doing in the alley exactly?" She lifted her eyebrow in a questioning manner, loving the redness that dusted across Bernie's cheeks and nose.
"Well. Since my actual relationship is rather hush hush, we have to find ways to stay hidden and secret. What better way than some rundown part of town?" Bernie shrugged his shoulders and took Kate's hands into his own, "You won't spill my secret, will you?" He searched her eyes and pleaded with her to keep his secret relationship just that- a secret. He worked so hard to maintain his relationship with the Deputy Mayor. If anyone found out, it would doom them, and would surely end in heartbreak.
"Bernie. I don't want to see you unhappy. You have seen me at my absolute worst. Stayed by my side when I cried over Niko. Have protected me. Gave your life for me and Roman. There is no way I could ever betray you. And well… Especially after, you know." Kate giggled and felt her own face heat up slightly at how awkward it must have been for Bernie when she called him boyfriend. She looked down at the ground and tried to find the right words to apologize with.
"Well, I must say. As your boyfriend, or stand in boyfriend, or pretend boyfriend, whatever it's called, I think we should just stick to safe zone PDA?" Bernie laughed as she pressed her forehead to his chest and let out a loud groan.
"I'm never going to hear the end of this am I?" Kate tried to stuff the guilt and embarrassment away. She hadn't even been thinking when she blurted it out. All she knew was she needed to defuse the situation and get them out of there. Bobby had been acting so strange, especially when the police started to show up, and the gun had been off-putting. 'Maybe he is hiding something? Or maybe the cops were called on him and he was trying to use me to get out of the area? I'll need to call Francis…'
"Oh no. Never. I plan on telling Niko he has competition now!" He laughed again at her exasperated groan as she playfully punched his arm. He was going to block her punch but figured Niko probably didn't let her get away with much. And it amused him when she got flustered.
"Bernie I am sorry. I took advantage of you. And I am very sorry for acting without giving you any warning. You are dating someone and so am I. It was wrong of me. Can you forgive me?" She lifted her eyes to meet his and tried to convey her emotions. She felt horrible about it now and realized that he would most definitely not be comfortable had the roles been reversed.
"Thank you for the apology, but it's not needed. You did what you assumed needed to be done, end of story. For most of my life I tried to fight who I am. It wasn't till I moved here to Liberty City that I felt comfortable enough to act on the feelings I'd locked away for so long. But I am not a stranger to the female form of flirting. I do spend a rather embarrassing amount of time hanging out with Tony at his clubs and the women there clearly have no gaydar." He rolled his eyes skyward and smirked when Kate laughed.
"You are dating my best friend. And I love him to the ends of the world. I swore to him four months ago that I would be shield and sword to you and Roman, and whoever else was a target and in trouble. Those oaths don't just go away. They are till the last breath. And I am starting to get the impression that I may need to change it to include companion. Dear you look beyond stressed out. Tell me what's really wrong." He wasn't completely blind. He could see the shadows under her eyes, the weight she had lost, the rather panicked reaction to the man who was armed and hugging her.
"Bernie…" She sighed his name and moved out of his personal space, turning away from him. There was so much to say and the sheer weight of it all was just unbearable. Where does one start when the list keeps growing every day?
"Katie. You can tell me. Let's have a cup of coffee and you can just let it all out." He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her back around to face him.
"At least talking to you is free and I'm not going to end up storming out of the therapist's office." She scoffed and shook her head. 'What am I getting myself in to?'
"You stormed out of your session?" Bernie took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her through the door in the alley. He figured she would be more comfortable in a less public setting than being in the middle of an alley with random people looking in their direction.
"She. I don't know. She said some things that really bothered me. Usually, I can understand where she comes from, but this time it felt wrong." Kate allowed him to guide her into a building off the alley. They stood in front of elevator doors waiting for the lift to come back down to the ground floor.
"Sometimes the things we least want to hear, is what needs to be said." Bernie guided her into the elevator once the doors opened. He pressed the button for the floor his and Bryce's secret apartment was located on.
"She told me in only so many words, that I could be scared of becoming violent like Niko. I've been having nightmares from being on Happiness Island, and maybe it's time we discuss who I met along the way." They exited the elevator silently. She watched his face for any reaction and started to worry that maybe she shouldn't be talking to Bernie about something she and Niko should be working through.
"Picking up his habits, are we?" Bernie shook his head and pulled out a key from his pocket when they stopped in front of a door. He worked the key into the lock and held the door open for her to be able to enter first.
"I don't think I am… at least. I don't know." She sighed as she moved into the apartment unit. Silently she removed her coat and hung it from one of the hooks on the wall by the door, tucking her phone into her back pocket. The place was rather small but was exceptionally clean and organized. It looked like it had been staged for photos in a home decor magazine. "This your place?" She looked over her shoulder to Bernie to see where he was.
"It's Bryce and I's temporary hideout when he has to do outreach work in Holland." Bernie hung his jacket and suit coat up before moving into the kitchen to get the coffee maker going. "Do you need me to ask questions? Or do you just want to let it all out before I interject?" He watched her as she moved around the apartment looking at all the pictures on the walls. He untucked his pistol from his waistband and placed it down on the counter, the knife following close behind.
"Darko was there." She couldn't find the strength to face him. She had been keeping his name from slipping out around Bernie because she knew how he felt about him. How both Niko and Bernie were betrayed and left for dead in the war because Darko wanted money for drugs.
"Did he hurt you in any way? Did he touch you? Did he violate any lines that he should know about?!" Bernie's voice dropped and his anger came out in all its glory. Darko was like a trigger for him. He would find himself back in their homeland, running for cover, getting shot, and mortified when his friends were killed around him. He clenched his hands around the edge of the counter in the kitchen trying to calm the rage that wanted out of him.
"Bernie. Hey! It's okay!" Kate walked over to him and forced him to release the granite countertop. She pulled him into a hug and rubbed his back, hoping to get him back to center. When he had spoken in Serbian it had scared her. He sounded so enraged and mad.
"If he harmed you in any way, I will hunt him down and kill him. Niko would have to fight me for the right to end his pathetic life." He fisted his hands into Kate's turtleneck and dropped his head to her shoulder. The anger burned brightly inside of him and he worked to let it go. He didn't need to snap in front of Kate in her current situation.
"He's one of the reasons I'm standing before you. He. God this is so difficult to talk about. He slaughtered everyone on that ship. Fought Natalya to the bitter end to be able to get me back to Niko." She leaned her head into his and let out a shaky breath, "I watched him kill people and not even bat an eye. And when he would focus on me, he acted like you and Niko do. He joked, he talked, he acted as if he hadn't just slit the throat of the man on the ground in front of us."
"Darko was very skilled in the war. He would succumb to the bloodlust every now and then." He held her a little tighter knowing how scary it must have been for her. He could briefly remember having to pull him off of people when he would get into a rage induced episode. His memories tried to resurface, and he forced them back. He didn't want to go back down memory lane anymore.
"I'm not as used to seeing death and murder as you three are. I think I was slipping into shock long before the ship blew up. The only reason I gave him blind trust was because I saw his tattoo…" She moved out from his embrace and ran her fingers over the crease of Bernie's arm where she knew the matching tattoo rested.
"So he never got it removed. Rather sick of him to carry the constant reminder that he once belonged to a group of men he gave up to slaughter. I'm sorry you had the unfortunate run in with him, and I'm deeply sorry I was not there to get you away from him." He placed his hand over hers above his tattoo. 'You shouldn't have to suffer because of our past lives…'
"He was so gentle with me. It was like he genuinely cared about my wellbeing. When Natalya struck me, he somehow got her out of the room and helped me take care of the cut to my cheek. He, I think, gave me CPR after the explosion. He did just about everything he could to get me away from her when we got to the island. Bernie, what I am having doubts over is what I did and reacted while we were fleeing. I know I shouldn't have cared for him. Even if I didn't know exactly who he was at the time. But when she pinned him to the ground and just started to beat him senseless, I reacted so violently. I picked up a tree branch and hit her over the head…" Her eyes watered and she closed them to keep the tears from falling.
"Your first. Or would be first kill…" Bernie's heart broke for her. He could understand her pain now. He had felt so sick and so lost after his first kill. It didn't feel right, even if his superior officers told him what a great job he had done and what great service he was giving to his country. He pulled her back into a fierce hug and felt the tears as they fell to the collar of his shirt. His own throat tightened as he fought his own feelings of what he was and who he wanted to be now. He wasn't the cold blooded killer. He was Bernie! Full of life and love and kindness.
"I could never! I'm not some kind of monster that takes pleasure in hurting people. My Pa beat my brothers along with doing other sick things to them. My brothers would fight so violently in the house. Everywhere I turned or looked growing up there was vile, evil, violence! It landed me in therapy at the age of eight. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I was scared to go to bed or get up in the morning to face it all. And now here I am hitting people and lashing out in the same ingrained violence that my family exudes. What is wrong with me?" She clung to Bernie and just let the floodgates open. She felt so raw after everything and just wanted to get rid of it all.
"Oh my love, nothing is wrong with you! Nothing! Look at me sweetheart." He moved her from her position and cupped her face, wiping the tears away as they continued to fall from her sad eyes, "You did what anyone else would have done. You had been violated in your home. You had been threatened at dinner. You had been kidnapped at the wedding. You were then exposed to the side of the world people aren't meant to see. You caught a glimpse into what Niko, and I survived through in the wars. You saw someone getting beaten severely. You tried to help him. And there is nothing wrong with that." He traced over the faint dark circles under her eyes and kissed her forehead.
"I had a gun on me. I should have just taken it out and shot her." Her eyes fluttered closed as he kept stroking over her cheeks, wanting to give in to the comfort that he was offering.
"You had the means to end it all with one simple pull of the trigger, and you didn't. That shows me that somewhere deep down you never wanted to kill anyone, you simply wanted the madness to stop. You are not violent. And certainly not to the level of Niko or me. And honestly. Niko may have violent tendencies, but it only comes from a place of protection. He killed a man who was trying to hurt me when we first met back up in Liberty. I could have easily, and I mean easily, slipped back into old habits, and disposed of the stalker myself. But then I would be going backwards in life. I moved here to be free and who I was meant to be. Niko never hesitated to help knowing full well what I was trying to accomplish." His eyes watered slightly with the memory. He had been so close to finding his pistol in the closet and taking care of the problem, but there was Niko, ready to take matters into his own hands.
"So I'm not becoming violent because I'm with him?" Her voice was small and sounded so broken, like she was barely hanging on by a thread.
"Heavens no! Where would such a thought come from?!" His eyes snapped open, and he tilted her face up to be able to search her eyes, wanting to know where such an outlandish thought formulated from.
"My therapist was trying to walk me through my pain and thoughts, and she suggested that maybe it wasn't the violence in my family or Darko but was Niko. She then went on to claim that I had thrown away everything I used to hold close in my life by being with Niko. But what's even harder to stomach… If Niko had never killed Lenny Petrovic, I wouldn't have been attacked to begin with." She watched as his eyes softened with her words and a rather knowing and understanding gaze was sent her way.
"Niko has made a few bad mistakes in his life. We spoke about this one. His hands were tied. Mallorie was being forced to sleep with one of the loan sharks that Roman owed. Niko found out and saw how crushed Roman had been over it all. You could say he did what he knows best. He chased down Vlad with Roman to confront him. To put an end to the abuse. It didn't end well. Vlad is at the bottom of the Humboldt. Roman took credit so don't spoil that for him and Mal. But because Vlad was murdered, they both had a hit placed on their heads. They were kidnapped by Faustin. Who then forced Niko to work for him in Vlad's place. One thing led to another and he was tasked with killing Lenny. The rest you know." He hoped that if she knew more of the history, she would be able to see that it wasn't entirely Niko's fault for the chain of events that unfolded after.
"So… Because he tried to save Mallorie? Everything fell out of control?" Kate sucked in a rush of air and felt her head spin. Things had spiraled so far out of control because he was trying to do the right thing?
"His wasn't a pleasant fall from grace Kate. He has been trying to right the wrongs ever since. So please don't hold this against him. For my sake?" Bernie stroked over the thin scar on her cheek softly and hoped that she would be able to start piecing it all together. It wasn't as simple as one murder that led to what happened. It was so much more than that. Things he knew of that he had sworn on his life to never let another living soul know. Niko had trusted him, and he would not test that faith.
'You will not be allowed to know the pain of discovering Derrick's murderer…'
"Sometimes I think we're meant to understand why things happen, and other times I think we aren't. And when we don't, that's when we start to lose ourselves. But while we start down the darker, less traveled path, we run into people who turn us right and help us up the greater path known as life." Bernie softly spoke the words as he watched her thoughts tumble around through her facial features.
"I really do overthink things at times… I love Niko so much. But I just know in my heart that this peace we have won't last. Right?" Kate this time searched Bernie's eyes for the truth and understanding she sought. She was seeing the larger than life picture now. Nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. The life she lived was beyond complicated and expanded in so many possible directions. She just needed to pick her path and take it.
"If that peace is only but a moment spent in his arms, is it worth it?" He gently smiled and tucked a few loose curls back behind her ears, "If the peace is meant to be moments between madness, is it worth walking the path of night and darkness? If only to see the sunrise knowing sunset will eventually come? Life is not meant to be set in stone my dear. They call it a leap of faith for a reason. You must jump in order to know what lies ahead. The fall can sometimes be the most exhilarating, the most important fleeting moment in your life. And I know falling into Niko's arms isn't the worst possible outcome for you." He carefully wiped the new tears away, hoping that his words would bring comfort to her.
"Don't cry Лепа (Lepa), your tears break me."
"Oh Bernie!" Kate broke down and threw her arms around his neck and just let everything go at once.
The fight for survival on the ship. Trying to figure out Darko and the confusing feelings that came with him. The yearning to see Natalya hurt over everything she had been put through. Watching Niko get shot. Waking up in the hospital and being told Niko was in critical condition and had yet to wake up from surgery. Watching her brothers finally come together to figure out a way to hide Gerry but still let him have a life. Burying Ma on a miserable snowy morning next to Pa. Knowing that her brothers were hiding their own pain over her passing.
Watching Francis drain himself to the point of passing out over making sure they caught every single person responsible for the attack on the church. Having to be questioned in a public hearing about the events that unfolded on the island and yacht. The IAA agent letting her cry on his shoulder as she relived every agonizing second of her capture. Of listening to Packie break down when he thought she couldn't hear him over her injuries and how close of a call it was on her.
To watching Roman and Mallorie hide their grief over Niko's condition from her and trying to not show their overwhelming joy about the pregnancy. To fighting off the night terrors sleeping on the couch in Niko's room only for Bernie to rush to her side and let her curl up in his lap on the recliner to cry herself to sleep over it all. Everything had just built up inside and just couldn't be denied any longer. She sobbed. She let the agony out and just clung to the one person who tried to be there for her through it all.
Kate held him tightly and tried to show him just how much she cared for him. He had been there every single day in the hospital and even after. Even when he couldn't get out of bed yet, she would visit him while he was awake. They had built such a strong and loving friendship. She would protect him as much as he did her. He was the best friend and confidant she didn't know she was missing. Bernie, the gentle spirit that bolstered her up on her darkest days. Bernie, the best friend to her boyfriend, who was winning her over every day she woke up.
"Thank- Thank you! God, Bernie. I love you! Thank you for always just being there for me. For Niko." There was no end in sight to the tears that ran like rivers down her cheeks. She kissed both of his cheeks and buried her face back into his shoulder and just held on as she extinguished all the pain inside.
"волим и ја тебе (volim i ja tebe). Everything is going to be okay now. We will all get through this. Why don't I call Niko and see where he is at? I think we all need to have a serious conversation." He hugged her to him snugly, wanting to let her know that no matter what they would all be okay. So long as they stuck together, they would make sense of it all and move on. Together. 'Oh Niko… if only you could see her now…'
"Serious conversation?" Kate lifted from her spot against his neck to question him, hiccupping from the crying. Had something been said wrong? Was he trying to scold her for her feelings?
"You did call me your boyfriend. I think he has the right to know!" Bernie beamed at her and couldn't fight the laughter that bubbled in his chest as she dopped her mouth open in shock, "None of that. You are not a fly trap." He reached out and clicked her mouth shut with his pointer finger. "I also think you need to explain who mister crazy pants was back there?" Bernie tapped her nose with his index finger and smiled to let her know he wasn't upset by anything.
"Bobby. Or as he would like to be called- Robert. Robert Welsh. His family and mine were really close when I was a kid. His parents split up when I was younger, and his mom took him to Los Santos to live. I guess he moved back to LC recently. He just was rather odd and off-putting to say the least. I only ever saw him as another brother growing up. He would fight with Gerry and Packie all the time. The four of us, Gerry, Packie, Bobby, and me would hang out at the local pizzeria playing the arcade games while Pa did whatever work needed to be done. Was a complete shock to see him all grown up. Last time I saw him I was fourteen." Kate shrugged and wiped her face trying to remove the last few tears that forced their way free.
"Sounds like a long lost flame trying to butt in where he isn't welcomed. Maybe you should let Gerry know he is around? Niko should definitely be told too. And if you don't, I will. He is my friend too and he should be aware of any potential suitors. Me included!" He smirked at her incredulous expression and moved over to the coffee maker to start a pot. That was the original reason for heading back to his secret apartment.
"Bernie! If I didn't know any better, I would say you had a crush on Niko at some point in time!" Kate gasped and moved to sit on a bar stool by the kitchen counter. She had suspected with the level of devotion and loyalty he gave Niko without question. 'As well as the random compliments and phrases he uses…'
"I'd never kiss and tell!" Bernie sang with his back to her as he placed a new coffee filter into the canister.
"That confirms it then. So, when did you know?" Kate was surprising herself with her level of comfort on the conversation at hand. With how open she felt now after spilling her guts, she figured they could talk about just anything and it would be better than the depressing thoughts that wafted away from her. She propped her elbows on the counter and placed her chin in her hands. She did feel lighter now and was getting intrigued with what Bernie would or would not reveal.
"Honestly? First time we ever held night watch together. At the time I couldn't identify my feelings or what was going on internally. Being… well. Someone like me, was frowned upon in my homeland. People like me were either killed or hidden away. It wasn't a very welcoming environment. Still isn't as much here, but it is at least easier. The war forced me to grow up around a bunch of men and it was very confusing dealing with the feelings that warred inside. Niko was calm, cool, collected, and was just there for me when I needed him." He could only shrug as he filled the canister with a couple scoops of coffee grinds.
"Did you ever tell him? Or express yourself?" Kate leaned into the granite and held her breath wanting to know if he had ever told Niko how he felt. It was fascinating to know more of their shared past.
"No. I would face the firing squad for sure. I kept that hidden deep. But I think Darko and Dmitar knew, or at least suspected. I was very different than I am now. I had to make sure I didn't slip up at all. Not only was I fighting to stay alive and defeat the enemy, but I was also fighting to stay hidden and undiscovered." He sighed heavily and turned around to face the woman who was dating his past crush and best friend.
"I'm so sorry Bernie. It couldn't have been easy. I can't even fathom…"
"It wasn't. But I am here now. And somewhat free to be who I want to be. Bryce loves me in his own special way. We may never be able to be publicly acknowledged. But I'm used to hiding and being away from the spotlight." He tried to muster a smile but couldn't bring himself to look to her eyes.
"Oh Bernie. I'm so sorry. I wish I could help you. But I have no idea what to do to make it better." Kate held her arms and tried to think of a way to help her friend find his ultimate happiness. 'It's not fair that I get to have my happily ever after and he can't…'
"You know. If anyone ever got suspicious of me and Bryce, maybe you and I could go have a few 'dates' around town?" He air quoted the word dates and had to smirk at the look of surprise that crossed Kate's features. He had definitely caught her off guard.
"Niko would never be for that…" She all but whispered out. Let alone her own brothers…
"You called me boyfriend on the street corner in front of a buttload of cops and your ex childhood friend. I think we could manage going to the opera or a restaurant." Bernie's smirk deepened at the blush that rose on her cheeks. 'Oh this is going to be way too much fun!'
"Ugh! Okay fine! If it comes to that, I'm game. But only because we know the real meaning and Niko will need to be told as well. I don't want to hurt him." She shook her head in sheer disbelief. 'The madness I get myself into…'
"Deal!" Bernie held his hand out to her and watched her carefully to make sure she was actually okay with it all. He loved to tease his friends but knew when to cut it out. It had been years and years since he felt comfortable enough to joke around.
"I'll probably regret it at some point, but alright. Deal Bernie. Or should I call you Florian while we are out on these dates?" Kate rolled her eyes and leaned over the counter to shake his hand.
"Definitely Florian! I can walk that path somewhat. You woke up something inside me as you grabbed at me. It was like being in the war and needing to protect some of our village. Dmitar had a younger sister. I broke her heart when I told her I couldn't date her. She was killed on the raid of the village. It's not something I wish to elaborate on. You know what happened to Roman's mother. I'll leave it at that." He turned to look at the coffee machine once it started to bubble and produce the dark liquid.
"I'm sorry." There really wasn't much else to say. The bits and pieces she got from their time in war had always been dark and horrible. And it always stunned her how normally Niko and Bernie could function at times.
"It's in the past. When you went into the prayer room in the church, that was who I prayed for. I may not be welcomed into the golden gates, but she didn't deserve to suffer the fate she was dealt. I was honored to join your side and pay tribute to all those I, Niko, everyone lost. Too many people suffered. I hope they all found their place in the next life." Bernie grew thoughtful for a second before shaking himself from his trance and went in search of some coffee mugs.
A banging on the door caused both of them to jump- Bernie turned going for the pistol and clicked the safety off, moving toward the apartment door, getting ready to shoot whoever came through the door.
"If anyone is home, there is a bomb threat down the street! We are going to go watch the action!" A voice called out, before more knocking could be heard a couple of doors down, the same phrase being yelled out.
"I swear this day can't get any worse!" Kate groaned out, placing a hand over her racing heart.
"Better call your actual boyfriend. I think we'd be best served to leave the area. Don't really feel like getting blown to hell anytime soon." Bernie sighed and clicked the safety back on, tucking the pistol down into the waistband of his pants. "So much for the coffee. Rain check my love."
"Wait. Bomb threat?! Francis… He'd be the closest responding high ranking officer!" Kate's eyes widened and she pulled her phone out, immediately dialing her brother's number.
"Come on. Talk and walk. We aren't safe here." Bernie turned off the coffee maker and moved over to get his coat. Helping Kate shrug into hers when she approached him.
"No answer from Frankie. He's got to be there. I'm going to try Niko again…" She paused in dialing his number to look at Bernie who was opening the apartment door. "You don't think…?"
"Oh I can almost guarantee they are both at that bomb threat. Niko has a rather ridiculous affliction in finding danger and trouble." He held the door open for her and rolled his eyes to the heavens knowing without a doubt that Niko was probably in the middle of the danger once more.
"He better not be…" Kate sighed and dialed his number again, trying to stifle the anger that wanted to surface over him getting back into the fray. The phone continued to ring before she got the same voicemail message. She ended the call and shoved her phone into her jacket pocket forcefully.
"Now don't jump too far into that line of thinking. We don't know for sure…" Bernie pulled her down the hall toward the staircase knowing that people would be flooding the one elevator the building had. But even as he voiced his words to her, he knew deep down that there was almost a one hundred percent chance that Niko had either been the cause of the bomb or was trying to defuse the bomb. They had all been given a rapid lesson in explosives while in training for the war. But it had been so long since he had need for that information.
"If Niko is there, I can bet that Packie would be too. He's got a rather scary obsession with pyrotechnics." She huffed out angrily. She thought they were all done with the crazy stunts and violence in the world. 'Clearly I have way too much optimism…'
They made the bottom floor quickly. Bernie leading her down the random halls to an outer door that lead to the street of her therapist's office. She almost couldn't believe her luck that Bernie had been in the area at the exact same time as her. There was no planning these things and she knew someone had to have been looking out for her. She felt for the four leaf clover that dangled from her neck under her turtleneck.
"Pretty sure the bomb is in that direction. So what'll it be? Front row seat to an explosion? Or should I take you back to Middle Park?" Bernie watched as people ran in one direction, cops trying to stop them and force them to leave the area. He would be more than happy to take her back to Niko's place, or even his own apartment. He was never fond of explosions but if things were going the way he felt they were heading, Niko would be in the direction of danger.
"Bernie… I have to know. If he is there… or my brother? I'd like to have the chance to say goodbye you know?" It was a rather morbid thought. But somewhere in her soul she knew they were both in the middle of the threat to Holland.
"You like motorcycles?" Bernie watched as a cop hopped off of his bike, leaving it running, to help another officer with a rather aggressive pedestrian.
"Not particularly. Whhhyyy?" Kate turned away from watching the people run off down the street to see what he was going on about.
"Well, you're about to. Come on. Fastest way to find out and also get out of the way of danger if it comes to it." Bernie grabbed her hand and pulled her across the street and toward the motorcycle.
"Bernie! We are NOT stealing a police motorcycle!" She almost shrieked the words out and only stopped herself when she realized who they were surrounded by. She looked around to see if any of the cops had noticed her or them in the chaos of the street.
He threw his leg over the seat and titled it upright, kicking the stand back, "Suit yourself. I'll just go see if Niko needs any help."
"Oh my God! I'm going to regret this so much!" Kate rushed over and climbed onto the bike behind Bernie. She hated bikes. They were dangerous, scary, and the most impractical mode of transportation.
"Niko isn't the only badass you are dating sweetheart! Now hold on!" He pulled her arms around his middle and revved the bike a couple of times. The cop turned around at the noise and yelled out to them. He released the brake and took off toward the commotion that was building.
"FLORIAN!" She screamed his name out at the top of her lungs, fisting her hands into the front of his dress shirt. She pressed her face in between his shoulder blades and held on for dear life, not liking the spike in her heartrate. The wind whipped against them and stung her eyes. He leaned over and took the turn at a rather reckless speed in her opinion.
"That's the old name for you!" He slowed the bike as the street became rather crowded with police vehicles and spectators. He watched people closely trying to figure out who was an enemy and who was just a friendly caught up in the excitement of the moment. He could tell which building held the bomb as the police had set up barriers and were keeping people from getting too close to the building in question. "Well. If I had been a betting man, I would've won that bet. There's the Infernus." He spotted the orange sports car further down the street, parked in all its splendor.
"Damnit Niko! What are you doing?!" She leaned up from Bernie's back to see where his car was parked.
Bernie stopped the bike behind a black van and kicked the stand out, "Might as well find out who is in charge…" He didn't like the scene around them. Cops were running everywhere, pulling people from the building, and rushing them to safety. A large truck was parked in front of the building and a robot of sorts was being hauled out from the back doors. Families huddled together along the sidewalks staring up in horror at their homes. He could understand their pain, knowing what it was like to be in a war-torn country.
"There is Mitt! That's Frankie's boss!" Kate hopped off the bike and took off toward the man she knew would have the answers she sought.
"Shit, Kate!" Bernie dismounted the bike and took off after her, knowing Niko would skin him alive if he wasn't actually at the scene of the bomb threat. His phone started to ring loudly from his jacket pocket, and he pulled it out seeing Niko's name flashing on the screen. He quickly answered the call, "Ah Niko! Just the man I was wanting to talk to! You will never-"
"Florian, I sent you some photos. I need your help. It's Francis. He's on an improvised field mine. You know the ones."
Bernie's soul dropped at his words. It was his worst fear, and he knew Kate would be devastated. It had sucked his chipper mood right out of him. He ran after Kate and tried to pull her back from all the cops to warn her before things got out of hand. "Well. Fuck. Okay. Uhhh. Are there side relief plates? Like the old safety mechanisms, we used?" He grabbed Kate's hand and tugged her back to him. He gave her a serious, worried glare, trying to convey what was going on without having to actually say it.
"Negative. And I'm not sure how they assembled this one. It looks more sophisticated than ours." He could pick up on Niko's frustrations and slight anger.
"Materials are easier to get around here and half of them are on sale at the local hardware stores. Let me look at the images, one second." Bernie figured this bomb would be more advanced than the ones they had all built and placed in the ground and in the middle of roads. 'This country does have better materials laying around and is rather easy to just go buy everything…' He pulled the phone away from his ear and opened up his messages.
"Everything okay Bernie?" Kate watched his face for his reaction to the call he was on. She knew he was speaking Niko's language and could only guess that Niko was the caller and was in fact in the building with the bomb.
"No darling. Niko- He and Francis. Well shit. Francis is standing on a rather clever looking landmine…" He didn't recognize the bomb in the pictures and lifted his phone back to his ear, hugging Kate when she crumbled into him. "Niko. I- That is beyond my knowledge. Do you need me to come up there?" He leaned into Kate's head and knew if it came down to it, he would charge into the building and help his friend out.
"Come up here? Where are you?!" Niko spoke English and he knew he had surprised him. He had to smirk slightly at the situation, but then he was reminded of how torn up Kate was, and his anger resurfaced inside him. He had listened to her pour her heart out and it broke him to know how much she was suffering.
"If you would have let me finish my greeting you would know that I am standing on the street with your VERY concerned girlfriend after having a rather interesting ordeal. Now I can come up there and leave her down here, or you will have to make a switch. You remember the correct weight needed to not set it off right?" Florian spoke harshly in order to get his point across. He was mad, but his anger was starting to stem from concern. He could very well lose his friend if he set the bomb off before getting out of the blast radius…
"What is Kate doing down there with you!" Niko sounded slightly panicked and angry, but he wasn't sure which was he was leaning more toward.
"Kate you better not be down there! There is bomb about to go off and you DO NOT need to be around for it!" Francis' voice screamed out over every single cop's radio, causing Kate's head to snap up from its tucked position under Bernie's chin. She ran over toward Mitt and grabbed his radio, slapping his hand off of her.
"And leave you to get blown to bits?! I don't think so!" Kate spoke harshly into the radio. Mitt tried to grab the radio back from her and she slapped his hands away again. As he went for her again Bernie got between them and pressed his hand to his chest in warning. Kate leaned into Bernie's back and looked over his shoulder toward her brother's boss, "Sorry family discussion."
Bernie pressed his phone to his ear hoping that Niko would have better news for him, "I'm making the switch Bernie. Tell everyone to take cover." Niko's words didn't bring him any comfort and he shot his eyes toward the building trying to figure out which floor he was on. Broken windows around the ninth or tenth floor caught his attention, and he could only assume the worst. The line went dead on his phone and he tucked it back into his pocket.
"Listen Katie. Everything will be okay. Promise. I'll see you in a minute." Francis' voice called out over the radio before static took over the radio waves signaling he had cut his line of communication.
"FRANKIE! NIKO!" Kate screamed into the radio, slamming it down to the hood of the cop car when she realized she wouldn't get a response. "They are going to set off the damn bomb, aren't they?" She turned frightened eyes toward Bernie and tried to ignore the panicked look from Mitt.
"Alright everyone we need to evacuate the area NOW! Let's go people!" Mitt called out and waved to the officers in the area to start evacuating the street corner. If the bomb were going to go off, he would make sure that there were no casualties, or at least as few as possible.
"Bernie, Niko! Frankie! They are in there somewhere. We have to do something!" She leaned into his chest as he turned toward her, trying to not start crying over the fear that slammed through her overworked system. 'It's too much for just one morning…'
"Not we love. Me. Stay with Mitt." Bernie made to move toward the building when a deafening explosion rocked the building, flinging bricks, concrete, and debris in every direction. He grabbed Kate and pulled her to him, ducking behind the police cruiser they were close to. He shielded her best he could as random objects fell down from the upper floors of the apartment building. The Police Commissioner huddled down next to them and looked downright terrified.
As the dust began to settle Kate scrambled out of his hold and moved around the car, clutching her chest and hair. She shook terribly and stumbled around to look at Bernie, "Oh my God. That. They? Oh Niko!" Tears started to fall from her eyes, and she collapsed down to the pavement. They had been given four whole months of rest and now they were right back into the insanity of the world.
Bernie hated seeing her cry and he took off for the entrance of the building. He would find Niko and Kate's brother. He would bring them out of the crumbling, burning building. He shoved off the police officers that tried to stop him. This was his oath. He would see it through.
"Bernie!" Kate called out to him as he disappeared into the building.
"What is your friend doing?!" Mitt yelled as he ran over to her and kneeled down at her side.
"Doing what he does best. Protecting those he loves." Kate wiped the tears from her face and accepted Mitt's hand as he helped her to her feet. She immediately hugged him and rested her cheek against his chest. "Been a while huh?" She had to laugh at the complete absurdness of their situation.
"It has little one! Was hoping to retire before having to deal with another one of these stupid hellish nightmares." Mitt smiled and returned the hug. He may not love the rest of the McReary family, but he adored Francis' little sister and loved when she would come by the station to see everyone. "How you holding up? Sorry I never got to visit you in the hospital. The city was rather chaotic at the time." He glanced down to the top of her head and brushed her hair from her face. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her.
"Eh. You know us McReary's. Bitter and fighting till the very end. I think after today I will be looking forward to simply disappearing for a month or so." She giggled at the silly notion. There would be no escaping what was going on. She figured this was just the start of the next adventure she was destined to go on with Niko.
"Well. I am hoping that this will be my last call for a while. Your brother will do an excellent job of protecting this city. You ever consider my offer to join the force? We could use someone like you running the business side of the offices. Pay is shit. But you'd be able to see Francis more and see what all LCPD has to offer people." He wanted to add that she would have more protection but felt the thought die on the tip of his tongue.
"I have. But I still don't have an answer. I loved working at the community center. It made me feel like I was really helping people. Maybe the LCPD is the next step. Maybe. I don't know. I'm still trying to figure out the past four months." She leaned out of his hug and shrugged. She had been tempted at first, but would she want to eventually be the one who put people like Niko behind bars? Or her brothers for that matter? The thought of Gerry caused her to shove the thoughts from her mind.
"Look someone is coming out of the building!" Someone shouted from the gathered crowd.
Bernie and Niko carried an injured looking Francis out of the entrance to the building, and immediately the entire street erupted into applause and cheers.
"They do like to make an entrance. Come on." Mitt guided her over to the men who were exiting the building.
"Oh my God, Frankie!" Kate saw the blood on him and rushed forward to throw her arms around his neck. 'Please be okay!'
"Oh Katie. Come on!" Francis moaned through the pain and tried to return her hug but only slouched further down in the arms of Niko and Bernie.
"Dear he is hurt." Bernie tried to get her attention and maybe get them heading in the direction of an ambulance, things were not looking good for her brother. He was pale and fading fast between him and Niko.
"Right! Sorry!" She pulled away from him and grimaced at the sight of the blood on his shirt and jacket, "How bad?" She cupped her brother's face and searched his eyes, trying to fight the image of him being shot in the church from resurfacing.
"Bad." Niko muttered not looking at her and searching for someone who could get Francis some help. He had already nearly lost Ron, he was not about to lose Francis too.
"Oh." Kate's hands dropped from her brother's face and the fight left her body. All she wanted to do was throw herself into Niko's arms and tell him how happy she was to see them both alive. But something felt different between them now. Like something was off. She sent Bernie a concerned glance and watched him flick his eyes to the side avoiding her stare, face in a rather obvious guilty expression.
"Bernie!" She seethed through clenched teeth figuring he had gone and blurted out what had happened earlier.
"It's Florian, my love." He fought the smile that tugged at his lips and kept shifting his eyes around the street, avoiding her glare.
"Can this maybe wait? I'm sure Packie would love to hear about it as well." Francis' laugh turned into a full blown coughing fit, forcing Niko and Bernie to shift him in their hold and lower him to the sidewalk. Bernie pulled out a handkerchief and wiped some of the blood that seeped from the corners of Francis' mouth.
"Francis! Good Lord." Mitt knelt down with Kate and studied the wound he could see on his side. He lifted his radio to his mouth and called out to the medical team that was scattered around the area helping people with minor injuries, "Med team, officer down. Requesting a stretcher to the front entrance."
"On your six!" crackled over the radio before several EMS workers approached them pulling a stretcher behind them. Carefully they helped Francis up off the sidewalk and lifted him on the stretcher.
Kate moved over to his side and held his hand, "I'm glad you are okay. Just next time a little warning?" She tried to tease him, but the tears obscured her vision. She had almost lost him again and it was clawing away at her inside. 'Can we not just live normal lives anymore?'
"You want me to call before or after whichever boyfriend of yours decides to save me?" He cracked a pain filled smile at her and squeezed her hand back.
Mitt shifted to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'll ride with him to Holland Hospital. I'll call with the room number once we get settled. And I'd get out of the area soon, media circus will start flocking in any second now!"
"Media?" Bernie asked as he approached them to make sure Francis was being seen to properly. He was also not liking the cold shoulder he was getting from Niko.
"I'm sure the news networks will want a statement or something from the Liberty City underground heroes." Mitt formed a small smile and shook his head, "So my suggestion is to go lay low someplace till the hysteria dies down. Till then, I'll be with our very brave Deputy Commish!"
"You flatter me!" Francis groaned in pain as the medial team started to roll him toward the waiting ambulance.
"See you folks later!" Mitt pulled her away from the side of the stretcher as his men worked to get him loaded into the back of a waiting ambulance. He patted her shoulder lightly before heading off to climb into the back of the ambulance, pulling the doors shut.
"He will be okay. The cut didn't look too deep." Bernie lightly dragged his hand down her back in a sign of support and comfort, watching her face for signs of distress.
"This is just too much sometimes…" She sighed and looked up to his eyes to see if he was just as worried as her, or if he meant what he had said. She glanced over her shoulder as Niko approached them. Immediately Bernie's hand dropped away from her and he carefully shuffled away from what could be deemed as personal space.
"So, is there something the two of you need to fill me in on?" Niko crossed his arms and shot his eyes between the two people before him.