Tasha plunged into the game and the drink that night. She felt destroyed inside. She felt his heart shattered by Reade being with someone and the lack of courage to talk about how she was feeling. The past few weeks had been torture for her. She was already drunk when a man approached and struck up a conversation with her. At first Tasha let him sit next to her, but as the night went on she found his conversation boring and insistent. The latin tried to free herself by leaving the table, but he took her by the arm preventing her from leaving.

- Get your hands off her! - Tasha heard a male voice behind her. - Don't you see that it's bothering her?

- Reade? - Tasha turned and saw who was there. - What are you doing here? Go away.

Tasha was angry that Reade was there. Anger at herself for being there in this situation and anger at him for finding her. What right did he think he had to come to where she was playing and think he could do anything.

- Tasha, let's go. - He ordered seriously.

- I'm not going anywhere with you. - She angrily denied it.

- Oh yes you will. - Reade was furious. He held her tightly by the arm and pulled her out of the way and carried her away.

He took her to the car, opened the passenger door and led her into the car making sure that she fastened her seat belt.

- You have no right, Reade! - Tasha said angrily as soon as he got in the car. - Who do you think it is to disturb my night like that?

- Disturb? Tasha, what I just saw didn't look like any fun. That man didn't seem like the type of man you were supposed to date. I'm sure you didn't even know him. And in her condition he could take you anywhere and even hurt you that you wouldn't even remember the other day. - He said more worried than angry.

- And what kind of man should I go out with? - This was a rhetorical question that even Tasha could not answer.

Reade was very angry, he started the car and drove quietly until he got to her apartment. Tasha was also silent the entire way. She turned to the door and closed her eyes, feeling her head spin from the amount of alcohol ingested.

Reade parked the car and opened the door for Tasha to get out. The boy took her by the arm and helped her up the stairs to her apartment. The two entered and Reade took her to the bedroom. Natasha was so drunk that she was in no condition to change clothes, so Reade just removed her coat and boots and helped her to lie down by placing a blanket over her.

- You know you don't have to do any of that, Reade. - Tasha said sleepily. - I know how to take care of myself very well.

- We will not argue with you in this state. - Said Reade getting ready to leave the room. - I'll be in the room, in case you need anything. - He no longer seemed angry with her, in fact his last words were full of affection and compassion.

Tasha no longer had the strength to argue with him. He just closed her eyes and let her head spin until she managed to fall asleep.

Reade decided to wait until he was sure she was okay and he could go. He sat on the sofa in her living room and watched the environment. Reade had come to her house a few times and felt it was not right to stay there. He felt himself invading her personal space. But when he called and she didn't answer he was very worried, because he had been watching her for a few days and realized that she wasn't well.

After a few minutes he returned to the room and realized that she was sleeping. He approached the bed and adjusted the blanket over she. - What are you doing to yourself, Tasha? - He whispered. Reade touched the brunette's cheek, who was sleeping peacefully. He always thought she was an incredible, strong and beautiful woman. His heart was so tight for her, because she seemed to be suffering, that's why she was destroying herself that way. The boy promised himself to pay more attention to his friend and be more present for her.

Reade left the room. He turned off the lights and closed the door and returned to his apartment.

Tasha woke up in the morning and remembered flashes from the night before. She remembered the man at the casino. He stank of booze and was disgusting. She remembered Reade arriving and taking her away. Tasha was ashamed that she had been caught by him in that situation. Now the way was to take a shower and get ready to go to work. Facing Reade would be the most difficult.

When she arrived everyone was meeting in the laboratory to agree on the coordinates of the next case. Tasha and Reade just looked at each other quickly, as the brunette turned her eyes to the computer screen in an attempt to divert her attention.

The case of the day was about some cylinders of explosive gases that were stolen from the Bradley Dynamics warehouse. Kurt and Jane went in a car and Tasha and Reade in another right behind. They were both silent and Tasha hoped he wouldn't bring it up.

With Patterson's help through the communicators they were able to locate the cylinders in a port and arrest the thieves who were preparing them for shipment to Asia.

Returning to SIOC Tasha was calmer after a successful case and almost forgot what happened the night before. However, the brunette was at her desk finishing the report when Reade approached.

- We can talk? - The boy asked.

- Of course. - Tasha spoke without turning to him. - Right here? - She asked.

- No. - He replied. - I prefer to go somewhere else.

- Fine. - She said getting up.

The two went in silence to the cafe on the corner. Although the time was busy, there were few people in the place. They sat at a table in the corner and ordered an espresso for Tasha and tea for Reade. Tasha hadn't said anything since they left SIOC.

- Since when? - Reade spoke breaking the tension that had been installed.

Tasha took a sip of her coffee and looked up at him for a moment before saying. - This time... - She took a deep breath. - A few weeks. - He shrugged.

- Has this happened before? - Reade wanted to know.

Tasha was afraid to confess her weaknesses. But maybe he was the best person for that. He had been his friend for over a year and they talked about so many things. She felt she could trust him.

- When I worked at NYPD... - So she told me. All. From the start. Since Andy's death. He said how hard it was for her to lose her partner. How difficult it had been to compose himself. And she told him that she only managed to get up when she joined the FBI and found a new team.

- Tasha... - Reade hasn't spoken since she started telling him. – I... I don't know what to say. Why did you never tell me anything? I could help you.

- Look Reade, I didn't even want to tell you anything. I don't even know why I'm telling you. I never spoke because I don't think it's right to unload my problems on you. Tasha wiped an insistent tear that fell from her eye.

- And how did that happen again?

- I don't know. Lately I was feeling alone and I started going out to bars again and when I realized I was playing again. I know it is wrong. I am destroying my life, risking losing my career. - She confessed desperately. - I'm willing to change. I got the contact from a group and tomorrow I'm going to a meeting. I also asked the man in charge of gambling to raise my debt. I am willing to negotiate. - Tasha was aware of the value, but she wasn't sure.

- You are right to take these actions. - Reade spoke. - You are an incredible woman and deserve an incredible future both in the FBI and in your personal life.

- I'm not so sure. - The latin said sadly. - But I'm willing to change. I hate myself for everything I'm doing. You can't imagine how embarrassed I am about having this conversation with you. But if you hadn't arrived yesterday I don't even know what could have happened to me.

- Hey. Look at me. - Reade, who was facing her at the small table, lifted the brunette's chin gently, making her look at him. Tasha winced at the contact. She only managed to dive into her friend's brown eyes. - I am here. I will always be here for whatever you need.

- Thanks. - Tasha murmured feeling more tears wet her face.

Tasha was not proud to remember that part of her life, but even so, even those painful memories made her feel bittersweet. Reade helped her in so many ways, was present in so many ways. And at that time she felt that she would never be able to fully repay everything he had done for her. Remembering the two at that time brought back memories of a time, however wonderful, they lived.