She hadn't wanted to come to this gathering this evening, but Steve had made her, telling her it was an excellent way to get to know her new colleagues now that she was back at AC-12. "You never know, mate, you might actually enjoy yourself," he had told her.
And despite her misgivings, Steve had been right. It had actually been a really nice evening. Dinner and then because everyone was having such a nice time and didn't want the gathering to end, a club. Kate and the rest of the AC-12 ladies were currently in the middle of the dance floor enjoying the music.
The place was heavily packed and with all the flashing lights, Kate was getting quite warm. She leant over to Chloe who was beside her on the dance floor and mimed having a drink. "Can I get you anything?".
"I'll come with you," Chloe replied. She was also rather on the thirsty side. The two women made their way off the dance floor, carefully manoeuvring themselves around the dancers. "I'm just going to the ladies," Chloe said. "I'll meet you at the bar,".
"What can I get you?" Kate asked.
"Just water I think," Chloe decided before walking off.
"Two pints of water, please," Kate said to the bar man once she had made her way to the bar. She'd had enough alcohol if she was honest and really needed to rehydrate. The bar man went off to get their drinks and it wasn't long before two pints were placed in front of Kate.
"Sorry," Kate heard to her right as a man pushed his way to the bar. "Hey barman, you haven't got a plaster have you? I've cut my finger on a broken glass," he explained. Kate could see blood dripping from a finger as he spoke.
"I'll have a look mate," the barman answered before disappearing behind a door. Wanting to provide some assistance, Kate looked in her small clutch bag. She usually carried lots of bits of crap around with her and there was a chance she had the required piece of first aid. Rummaging around she couldn't find one but did have a small pack of tissues.
"Better than nothing," Kate said as she handed him them.
"Thanks," the man said as he gratefully accepted Kate's offering. Tearing open the pack he took a tissue and wrapped his finger tightly in it before returning the pack to Kate.
"Keep them," Kate replied.
"I'll be fine with this," the man explained, "and besides, it looks like I might have a plaster," he continued as the barman reappeared with a fabric strip in his hand and gave it to him. "Cheers, mate," the stranger said before quickly applying the band aid to the cut. "So you having a nice night?" the man asked Kate once he was finished.
Kate caught his eyes dipping to her chest and she looked down. She was resting on the bar and her V- necked top was hanging loose giving him a perfect view of her lace covered breasts. She cursed herself as she glanced down and saw her nipples were clearly visible. Kate instantly stood upright, embarrassed. Why had she worn that bra? The stranger realised he'd been caught looking and resumed eye contact with the women. "Yes thanks," she replied curtly. Chloe appeared behind her.
"Thanks," Chloe said as she took a grateful sip of her drink.
"You together?" the man asked, pointing between Kate and Chloe.
"Work do," Kate explained briefly not wanting to give much away. Something about the man was giving her bad vibes.
"Ladies night?".
"Yeah. The men have been told to stay at home,".
"You have one waiting for you?".
"Yes I do," Kate lied, hoping the man would get the message she wasn't interested.. "He's on taxi duty tonight. Ready to pick me up when I call,".
"Looks like he's treating you well,".
"We've been together ten years so he's doing something right," Kate said.
"What's his name?".
"Steve," replied Kate.
"Well Steve is a very lucky man," the stranger said before leaving the two women alone and turning his attention to the women on the other side of him.
Kate turned back to Chloe who had a little smile in her face. Since she had met Kate and seen her and Steve work together, she frequently wondered exactly how close they were. Now here Kate was, telling strangers that they were in a long term relationship.
Kate thought she knew what Chloe was smiling about and leant in close to her ear. "Please don't tell him I do that," she begged, knowing Chloe would know who she was talking about without mentioning Steve by name. "God knows what he'd do if he found out I pretend I'm dating him to get rid of men,".
Chloe smiled. "It seems to work though. He's moved on pretty quickly," she nodded to the man now flirting with a blonde.
"I know. Thank god. He was a bit of a letch. Caught him staring at my tits!" Kate explained and Chloe pulled an unimpressed face. "And I choose Steve as my fake partner because I know him really well. Any question and I can answer it truthfully about him," she said before taking a welcome drink herself.
"Any question?" Chloe asked with a glint in her eye.
"Ok, not any question," Kate amended, realising Chloe's mind had gone in to the gutter. "Cheeky!" She scolded before picking up her glass. "Let's go back and find the others,".
They made their way back to their colleagues and resumed their dancing. It wasn't long before Kate didn't feel great. The room was spinning and she was feeling increasingly disorientated.
"You ok?" Chloe asked. She was beginning to notice that's Kate's movements were becoming quite disorientated.
"I don't know," Kate replied. "I feel weird,".
"Do you want to go sit down?". Kate nodded and Chloe took her hand and started to lead her to a spare table. "Here you go," she said as she helped Kate into a chair and made to sit down herself.
"You go back out on the floor," Kate said. "I'll be fine in a minute,".
"You sure?" Chloe asked.
"Of course," Kate replied. She watched Chloe head back to their colleagues whilst she took another sip of water and hoped her dizziness would pass.
Despite finishing her water and sitting down, Kate began to feel worse. The place was spinning and all she wanted to do was lie down and go to sleep. "Are you ok?" someone asked her as she struggled to focus on the person speaking. She eventually recognised him as the man from the bar earlier.
"Yeah, I thin so," Kate slurred.
"I forgot to ask your name earlier,".
"Kate,".
"Hi Kate. You don't look so good,".
"Don' feel good... Thin I need Steve," Kate managed to get out after realising she needed help.
"I can take you to him," the man said as he hoisted Kate out of her seat. She was unsteady on her feet and he needed to wrap his arm around her waist to keep her upright as he led her to a quiet place away from the noise.
On the dance floor Chloe glanced over to Kate only to find her seat empty and she grew concerned. Scanning the room she thought she saw her with the man that had been talking to her at the bar earlier. Kate was leaning on him heavily as he led her somewhere.
Chloe's instincts kicked in and she knew Kate needed her help. Excusing herself she went after Kate and caught up with her in a corridor. The man had her up against the wall and looked to be attempting to remove her jeans whilst Kate stood passively by.
"What the hell is going on?" Chloe asked.
"Taking me t' Ste' ," Kate slurred. Chloe looked at her and realised she wasn't well.
The mention of Steve spurred Chloe into action. She took her phone out and dialled Steve's number. "I'll phone him. Did we mention he's a police officer?".
The stranger looked aghast and ran leaving Kate to slide slowly down the wall until she collapsed on the floor in a heap.