A/N: Regrettably since my last A/N about my cat being annoying, she was diagnosed with cancer and only has a few days to live. So needless to say I am heartbroken but I've been finding solace in writing, so that is why I am posting today.
As much as they wanted to ignore the oven and make their way to the bedroom, they both agreed it would be better to slow things down. Being that they worked together complicated their relationship and they believed that giving into the fire of their attraction would not allow the embers to stay alive long term.
When Monday rolled around and their relationship status was a little less ambiguous, it took Rick and Kate only a few awkward moments in his office before they were making out against the closed door. The fire between the two raged while their lips explored each other in the ten minutes before some of the staff arrived.
Breathing heavily while Rick peppered her neck with kisses and love bites, Kate gasped, "this going slow thing is going to kill me. I want you so bad!"
Rick pulled away from Kate's neck and rested his forehead against hers, "God, me too, Kate, me too."
"Can you come over tonight?" Kate asked, leaving little innuendo as to her intentions.
"Yes. Definitely. There's something I need to tell you tonight and I've been putting it off too long now," Rick said as their eyes met. Kate hoped to see a look of love from his gaze, but instead saw a shadow of fear cloud his eyes. Her stomach dropped like she was riding down a big hill on a rollercoaster. She waited for her stomach to settle hoping she was only picking up his nervous energy about the status of their relationship and not something else.
The workday dragged and Kate was impatient to leave so she and Rick could talk, among other things. When five o'clock came and the two head librarians briefly parted ways in the staff parking lot, Kate rushed home to prepare for Rick's arrival at six.
Rick's familiar knock against her front door, had her heart flipping in her chest again. She debated whether to change her clothes or not, but decided to just put on a more casual and comfortable shirt instead of changing out of her whole outfit. Kate was grinning when she opened the door and expected a similar response from Rick, but was met by a somber expression.
"Come in."
The flaming desire from earlier in the day was now doused like it never existed. Rick stepped past Kate, walked to the couch in the living room, and took a seat. Kate followed and sat beside him.
"Rick, what's going on?"
Rick sucked in a breath, "I don't want to mislead you or hurt you in any way, but I need to tell you something before we continue seeing what this is between us."
Kate took his hands from his lap and gave them a squeeze. "What is it?"
"Kate, I care about you, a lot, and I've never felt as strong a connection with someone like I do with you," Rick paused like he was fighting back tears, "but I need you to know that I've been using some of my connections from my life in New York and asking people to look into your mother's case."
Kate face paled and her blood felt cold like she had been trapped in a freezer. She released his hands from her grasp as she struggled to form words, her mouth gaping, hoping a sound would escape. When her voice returned, she hissed, "Rick, what did you do?"
Rick couldn't meet her eyes, ashamed that he kept this from her. "My mother is an actress and is good friends with a lot of well-connected people, such as the mayor. I told her about you and what happened to your mother and I mentioned Captain Montgomery. My mother suggested that she could have a chat with some of her friends to get more information and maybe get the investigation rolling again. Well, she mentioned it to the mayor, who mentioned it to the commissioner, and so on until an IA cop named Gates got wind and started investigating."
Kate sat still beside him, waiting for more of his explanations.
"I asked to be kept in the loop so you wouldn't fall back into her case again if it ended up being nothing."
"How long has this been going on?"
Rick hesitated, "a couple months."
A tear, that Kate wasn't aware was present, slid down her cheeks. "You've kept this from me almost the entire time we've known each other?"
Rick shut his eyes, not wanting to see her heartbreak from his betrayal. Feeling brave enough to look at her again, he met her eyes and with as much sincerity as his own broken heart could muster, he said, "I'm sorry, Kate." He stood from his seat and took a few steps toward the front door. "If you never want to see me again, I can hardly blame you. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me…" Rick trailed off.
Kate stared from her seat on the couch as Rick opened the front door and stepped out, leaving behind only the quiet snick of his exit.
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