Jane signed the document and closed the file, handing it to Agent Whistler, who was sitting across from her. Since she had joined the FBI, ironically, the collaboration between Kate and NCIS had increased. The cases that the two departments worked on together tended to multiply, probably because the cooperation was going so well. A rare example of successful collaboration, as her superiors liked to remind her. Kate made it a point to keep it that way. She looked up and put her phone away before retrieving the file.
"The suspect was just apprehended by an FBI team in the north end of the city. I don't have many more details, but they are bringing him back here for questioning."
Jane smiled.
"You like that, don't you?
-What's that? Catch the bad guys?" she said, raising an eyebrow. Tennant smiled, pushed her long light brown hair back behind her shoulders.
"Your new job at the FBI."
Kate looked around at the decor as she pondered the question. Jane may have been the special agent in charge of the NCIS team, but her office was unlike any other manager's office. Most of the time they were stark, practical and the only personal touch was a family photo, or worse, the dog, alone. But here, it was quite different, the room was warm, starting with the club chair in which she was installed. The walls were decorated with photos, diplomas but also works of art. The back wall was adorned with invisible shelves on which were other decorative items, books and more photos. The low wooden cabinet was finally the only one with files, as well as the shelf in the corner. Even the computer on the imposing desk was discreet among the small plants, in short, the place had something very reassuring. Kate returned her gaze to her interlocutor.
"I prefer it to the DIA, yes. Already because I don't have to consistently take on the role of the bad cop anymore."
Jane laughed out loud, but she understood exactly what Agent Whistler meant. Her team knew that when the DIA came in the middle of an investigation, it was always a harbinger of trouble, a ton of paperwork and a long and tedious process to follow. A role that Kate had had to take on more than once and she had unfortunately had to endure the bad mood of NCIS as a result. Despite this, the young woman had done very well as she had managed to maintain a balance between the constraints of her position and the help she could give them. Enough, in any case, to be promoted to the FBI and Jane felt that it was well deserved.
"I must admit that I don't miss it either. Now at least when you show up with a file under your arm, I don't wonder what problems you bring."
Kate nodded slightly.
"There's that and then there's the more concrete side. Protecting information is one thing, and in an indirect way, it often protects people. But there are rarely bad guys to catch, more like reports to redact."
Jane nodded, it was also one of the reasons she was motivated to do this job, more than anything else. She put away the files that were lying around on her desk and recapped her pen.
"Do you have plans for tonight?"
Kate raised her eyebrows. The friendship between the two women had developed over time, especially after the investigation Jane had faced. They now easily spent time together.
"I'd love to tell you that I have an extremely full social life, but you and I both know that since my breakup with Lucy, I'm once again banned from the cool bars the team goes to.
-Thankfully there's my cool house."
They looked at each other in awkward silence before laughing. Jane shook her head.
"It wasn't so good, was it?
-Hem, not really. But don't worry, this will stay between us."
Kate stood up, and since she was tall, there was always something a little impressive about her standing up. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a very strict ponytail, as was always her professional attire.
"You can count on my discretion.
-I never doubted it."
Jane grabbed her black jacket and slipped it over her blue blouse, gathered her things and and glanced through the huge bay window that gave her an unobstructed view of the NCIS open space. Lucy was the only one still present, Kai, Jesse and Ernie had already left a while ago. She wondered for a moment if the young agent's presence at such a late hour was related to the presence of another tall, blonde agent in her office. Kate gave her a gentle tap on the shoulder.
"I have to go back to my place to drop off some stuff, do you want me to bring back some food?
-Good idea but don't take anything for the kids, they each sleep at friends' houses.
-Oh. Maybe you felt like having a quiet evening?"
Jane raised an outraged eyebrow in her direction.
"Like all alone at home depressed in an empty house? No thanks."
Kate laughs softly.
"All right, then we'll see you later."
The young woman opened the glass door to the office and walked out into the open space, slowing down a bit when she reached Lucy. Jane followed her lead and passed them.
"Have a good evening, don't be too late Lucy.
-I promise boss."
Sitting behind her desk, the little brunette continued to type on her keyboard with great concentration. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Kate understood that she would not get any gesture from her ex-partner. In spite of her attempts to renew contact and try to calm their relationship, Lucy had shown herself to be mostly distant, unpleasant and brittle. Not really a mixture to the taste of the FBI agent and she began seriously to be tired of this situation.
"Good evening.
-Thank you, you too."
The tone was not even courteous, clearly, the NCIS agent was no longer making an effort to mask her annoyance.