Patty, Erin, Abby and Jillian climbed out of the black Land Rover opposite the firehouse. The car pulled away the second the door closed behind them, causing them all to jump. Patty glared after the car.
The four of them stood there awkwardly for a moment not looking at each other.
"Do you want to come up for lunch?" Patty asked Jillian, breaking the silence.
She saw no point in allowing the awkwardness to continue. Jillian wasn't here through any fault of her own.
"I need to put this away." Abby mumbled, lifting the ghost trap before hastily heading away towards the firehouse.
Erin felt anger rise in her towards Abby, she had been nothing but aloof to Jillian. Erin turned to Jillian who was watching Abby hastily leave.
"You definitely should." Erin forced herself to smile, her anger at Abby could be dealt with later.
"Oh yeah sure, I'd appreciate that." Jillian mumbled, playing with her sleeves. "If you think that'll be okay with Abby." She worriedly looked between Patty and Erin.
"It will be." Erin jumped in immediately before Patty could speak.
Patty shrugged, as Erin began to march away, and the three of them made their way inside.
Kevin was bouncing about as Jillian took her seat at the table. Telling her all about his most recent hide and seek competition. Jillian smiled politely, looking around the large room. Patty and Erin were laying down plates, cutlery and napkins having ordered takeaway.
Jillian hadn't really appreciated the scale of the firehouse the first time she visited. She wanted to explore desperately, and at the same time she knew the place would be filled with reminders of Holtzmann.
"Sit down man." Patty berated him, as he nearly knocked a plate out her hand.
The doorbell rang and Patty shoed away Kevin to collect the take away.
"I'm glad you're back." Kevin gushed, before rushing away leaving Jillian blushing.
Patty sat down beside Jillian, as Erin headed upstairs to fetch Abby, stomping the whole way.
"How have you been adjusting then?" Patty gently asked.
Jillian shrugged "I mostly just feel confused."
"Baby, it's gonna take time." Patty began before Kevin appeared clutching bags.
Abby and Erin both appeared from upstairs neither one looking at each other.
"Let's eat." Erin smiled at Jillian, sitting down beside her.
The food was dished out and the slowly the awkwardness began to fade. Erin, Patty, Jillian and Kevin falling into light conversations. Abby however remained stoic, simply pushing her noodles around her plate.
"All you guys seem to eat is takeaway." Jillian joked, "If I worked here your bodies would go into shock cause I'd make you eat some real food."
Patty chuckled. "Girl, I'd have you eating like us in no time."
"Have you thought much about what you are wanting to do?" Erin asked cautiously, she Jillian had been joking, but she did wonder if the scientist would begin work with them or jump at the mayor's offer.
"I don't know." Jillian mumbled, becoming self-conscious at everyones' eyes on her, she cast her eyes down.
"You know we'd love it if you came here to work." Patty smiled trying to lighten the tension that had suddenly risen.
"I want to at least consider my options." She smiled back at Patty. "But thanks, I'll keep it in mind."
"What type of job do you think the mayor would get you?" Erin asked.
"The mayor offered you a job?" Abby butted in before she could answer.
"Well no not really, he said he could possibly help me find something." She babbled, her cheeks flushed.
"You should definitely consider taking him up on that." Abby added turning back to her noodles.
"Yeah…" Jillian quietly replied.
The lunch turned silent. Erin felt rage at Abby rising, and the longer the silence continued the harder she found it to keep quiet, as she stabbed her salad repeatedly with her fork.
"Anyone want a drink?" Abby asked cheerily.
"What is your problem?" Erin demanded suddenly dropping her fork with a clatter.
"What are you talking about?" Abby replied monotone.
"You know what I'm talking about." Erin continued, nearly shaking from anger. "You called the mayor and you are acting like a stone-cold bitch."
"Guys…." Patty tried to interrupt. Seeing both Kevin and Jillian looking on in panic.
"No Patty, this needs to be said. We are all finding this hard, but that doesn't give her the right to act like this." Erin argued, as Abby began to get up and turn away to go upstairs.
"Don't!" Abby exploded turning back to Erin. "You have no idea, how this feels! I am doing what I think is best! I am trying to help her, not just trying to put her in Holtzmann's shoes to assuage my guilt."
Erin's mouth dropped open at Abby's words.
"Calm the fuck down the pair of you." Patty yelled getting in between them.
A door slamming made the three of them jump, they turned to see just Kevin standing looking at the front door.
"Now look what you've down." Patty sighed, turning away from them.
"Patty…" Both Abby and Erin began to try to apologise.
"I don't want to hear it from either of you." Patty sighed, storming upstairs.
Abby and Erin stood in silence as even Kevin left them alone.
"I'm sorry," Abby quietly said, going to sit down at the table, placing her head in her hands. The anger and guilt that had been building in her for days, deflated leaving her feeling empty.
Erin didn't reply but came to sit in the chair beside Abby. She already regretted what she had said to Abby. They were best friends, they should be supportive not turn on each other.
"I know you are pissed at me, but I really am trying to help her." Abby gulped through her words, trying to keep her tone level, despite the sadness swelling inside her.
"I'm sorry too." Erin murmured. "I've not been fair to you."
"It's not that I don't want her here. I….I just don't think being here will be good for her."
Erin added "Shouldn't we leave that decision to her."
Erin gently took Abby's hand, and they rested their heads together.
"I'm sorry." Erin sighed, "I just miss her, but I hate myself for it."
"Me too." Abby sniffed, the tears she had tried so hard to keep in, finally rolling down her cheeks.
The two of them sat in silence for a moment.
"We're going to have to go after her and bust her, aren't we?" Erin somberly asked, already knowing the answer.
"Honestly, I hope we never have to."
Erin slide down in the seat at Holtzmann's work station, staring out the window. She closed her eyes taking a moment. She felt glad that her and Abby had finally spoken but there was still so much that needed resolved and she didn't know if she had the strength to keep fighting. Busting Holtzmann would not be easy emotionally or practically. She knew everything about their operation. Erin doubted if it was even possible.
Erin jumped as she heard a clattering behind her breaking her out of her thoughts. Slowly she reached out to grab a proton gun, before quickly jumping up and turning on the source of the noise. there bent over, rifling through the drawers was Kevin.
"Kevin?" Erin asked confused, placing the gun down.
"Oh hi, I didn't see you there." He smiled before continuing to go through the cabinet.
"Kevin?" she sighed, "What are you doing?" He wasn't supposed to go near any equipment unsupervised, not after he burnt his and Patty's eyebrows off.
"Oh umm, well…" he stumbled over his words, wringing his hands.
"Yes?" Erin sighed, coming to stand beside him.
"She promised me once if something happened I could have her glasses, you know the yellow ones." Kevin explained.
Erin gave him a sad smile.
"I'll have a look for you." She smiled.
Kevin gave her a big smile.
"Thanks." He beamed, wandering away.
Erin started to look through the drawers when she remembered the last place she had seen Holtzmann's glasses. Sliding across the floor, broken as her ghost had left Jillian's body.
Erin shuddered at the thought of going back there. What if Holtzmann was there? What if? She could go there, get her to leave, make sure they never had to bust her ever. If not maybe she could put things to rest? Get the glasses for Kevin and start to move on?
She wondered if she should ask the others to come with her. No, she quickly decided. Abby was clearly not coping, going back would only make things worse. And Patty? Well she doubted Patty would ever let her go ahead with it.
No, this she had to do alone.