Her feet propped on her desk, a laptop in her lap, a tablet in her hands, and a headset hanging off one ear, Cati was so intently focused in the silence (since the team was tackling a case in the field), she nearly fell out of her chair when a voice spoke behind her.
"Now all you need is a smartboard," the man commented as she attempted to juggle everything and twist around to look at him.
Not sure what to say or not knowing who the heck he was, Cati adjusted all the electronics on her desk and stood up to face him. He wasn't sporting a badge, but his stance alerted her that he was military. He also was handsome and without a wedding ring, she noted.
"Can I help you?" she asked, fighting the urge to tug on her shirt or fiddle with her hair.
He stuck out a hand in greeting.
"Greg Gerwitz," he said with a smile, "Mouse to my friends."
Cati tilted her head. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place it. She grasped his hand and shook it.
"Catina McDermott," she said in return, "Cat to my friends." Once she had said it, she tried to stifle a giggle. It was his turn to tilt his head.
Cati waved a hand between them and attempted to take a deep breath only to dissolve into another giggling fit before finally eeking out: "Cat and Mouse".
Mouse caught onto the joke and chuckled.
Cati forced herself to take another deep breath and shook herself to settle down. She then put her hands on her hips.
"How the heck did you get up here?" she pointedly asked.
He grinned and winked.
"Old passcode," he replied. "Apparently they didn't reset it after I left."
It dawned on Cati that the blue-eyed devil in front of her was the tech she had replaced, which was why his name sounded so familiar. He was Jay's best friend and Army buddy.
At that moment, Jay and Cali chose to make an appearance as the team began to return to the station and bound up the stairs.
"Hey there, brother!" Jay greeted when he spotted Mouse. "I didn't know you were in town." They fiercely hugged, and Jay dropped an arm around Mouse's shoulders to introduce him.
Mouse attempted to hide his shock when he saw Cali, whipping his head back toward Cati before looking at Cali. Jay laughed at his expression.
"I see you've already met Cati. This is her twin and my partner, Cali," Jay introduced. Cali shook Mouse's hand and nodded.
"Nice to finally meet you, Mouse. Jay talks about you all the time," she said. It was Mouse's turn to laugh.
"The stories I could tell you about him …" Mouse kidded, punching Jay in the side.
"I'm totally taking you out for drinks then!" Cali said, grinning, as Jay rolled his eyes.
Mouse continued to be pulled into more hugs as the rest of the guys came onto the floor. Cati observed all the banter with a slight smile; it never ceased to amaze her how the team treated each other like family.
Hank was the last to top the stairs and his generally stoic face broke when he spotted Mouse.
"How are the Rangers treating you?" Hank asked as he slapped a hand on Mouse's shoulder in greeting.
"Good," he replied. "Great actually."
"Well, you've always got a spot on my team, if you ever decide to settle down in Chicago again," Hank told him. Both Cali and Cati stiffened at the offer. "I can never have too many tech experts helping keep my city safe," Hank added.
"Thanks, Sarge. I appreciate that," Mouse said.
Cati sighed when Jay exited with Mouse in tow after promising everyone they'd meet at Molly's later.
She was still getting used to being a member of the Intelligence Unit, so when her brother-in-law had said he would take Mouse back, she temporarily panicked and began hyperventilating. She wasn't ready to be unemployed again so soon.
Cali had seen her sister's distress and stealthy moved to her side, gently guiding her to her chair and quietly reminding her to take deep breaths.
The whole scene did not go unnoticed by Hank nor Mouse, who still struggled with his own PTSD, but both had subtly protected Cati by changing the conversation to avert attention from the twins.
Hank signaled to Cati that he wanted to see her in his office. She got up from her chair and wandered toward him, ignoring Cali's questioning look. He motioned she shut the door and she did so before standing at attention before him.
"Look, Cati, I didn't mean to imply that I was going to replace you," Hank apologized from where he was perched on the side of his credenza. "I'm sorry I triggered you. I value you as part of my team."
Cati dipped her head.
"I'm sorry I reacted the way I did," she said, not looking at him. "I was just thrown off when you said that."
Hank shook his head.
"You're not at fault here. I'm the one who needs to apologize. Like I said, I didn't mean to set you off," he said.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Cali finally cajoled Cati to join her and Hank and the rest of the team at Molly's to celebrate Mouse's reappearance.
Otis had pushed a couple of the tables together so everyone could mingle in close range. Cati took a seat against the wall the furthest away but still part of the group.
Hank and Cali predetermined they wouldn't stay long, but gave Cati the option of saying when they all would head home. They wanted her to feel comfortable and safe.
As it turned out, Mouse sought out Cati during the impromptu shindig and shooed Cali and Hank on home, promising to bring Cati home safe.
Nearly everyone begged off as the night wore on, leaving Cati and Mouse with Jay and Erin. Mouse noticed Cati tugging at her shirt, a sign she was obviously ready to retire from all the excitement, so he bid his brother good night, adding he would seek him out the next day before he returned to base.
He guided Cati to his rental car and opened the door for her. She eyed him strangely—as if no one had ever done that for her before—but accepted it and climbed in.
She didn't say much other than to give him directions to her home, which normally wouldn't bother him. Except it did.
"Did you not want to go home?" Mouse quietly asked as street lights illuminated her face on and off as they traveled down familiar roads. Cati shrugged, not sure what she in fact wanted.
"Do you want to go somewhere else, like an all-night diner?" he prodded.
"Or back to your place?" she shyly said, suddenly feeling emboldened as she stared at those blue eyes again.
She'd known Mouse all of a handful of hours and here she was acting like a hussy, she thought.
"Or maybe just back to my house," she quickly added, her uncertainty getting the best of her.
It was Mouse's turn to shrug.
"I'll be happy to take you wherever you want to go, Cat," he told her, unwilling to let his own emotions dictate her fate. He would definitely be happy to take her to his hotel room and into his bed, but he wasn't sure she—or he for that matter—was really up for a sudden change of pace.
"I don't want whatever this is to end," Cati nearly whispered. It was obvious they were attracted to one another, but how were they to move forward when she was dishonorably discharged and he was still active duty?
I'm not really a one-night stand kind of guy, he thought as he gave her a side glance. He also knew Hank would hide his body if he were to hurt the woman sitting next to him.
"I don't either but I'm not sure what to do here," Mouse replied with a sigh.
Cati took a deep breath and told her nerves to calm before speaking again.
"Let's go back to your place and see what happens," she decisively said.
Mouse gave in and turned the car in a different direction.
Ten weeks later …
"I'm pregnant," Cati sobbed to her sister who held her hand as they sat on Cati's bed. Cali looked to the ceiling as if seeking guidance before pulling her twin close in a tight hug.
A/N: So whatcha think? Like Ray told Peter on "Ghostbusters", this thread "just popped in there" and I had to run with it. I promise more lusty fun ahead for Hank and Cali ...