Korra hurried to her office, a few of her coworkers giving her an odd look as she went by. Her hair was still wet from her rushed shower, and she wasn't even positive her shoes matched. She pushed her glasses up her nose as she rounded the corner, a familiar form leaning against her door. She smiled at the sight of the takeout bag and coffee cups, praising the heavens above she had such an amazing friend.
"Thank you, you really are the best." Korra gushed as she unlocked her office door, motioning for Mako to join her.
He smirked as he sat her cup down on her desk, and dug out the burrito he'd brought her. "No worries." He tossed her car keys onto her desk.
"I was starting to panic about those." Korra admitted sheepishly as she sank into her seat, booting her computer up as she reached for the cup of coffee.
He gave her a wink as he sprawled lazily in the seat across from her. "I always have your back." He took a large bite of his breakfast burrito, and chewed thoughtfully, watching Korra boot up her computer. "So, how was last night?"
Korra fought the blush and heat that crept up her face. "Uh, it was good." She smiled shyly as she took a healthy bite of her own breakfast burrito.
"Just good?" Mako tilted his head, studying her, chewing thoughtfully on his food. "Almost an hour late for work, wearing two different shoes, your shirt inside out, and all you have to say about last night is 'it was good?'"
Korra dropped her burrito, and shoved back from her desk. She looked down, sure enough, two different shoes, and her shirt was wrong side out. She groaned as she stood and stepped into her closet. "I don't know what you want me to say." She pulled her shirt off, turned it right side out, and gave it a good shake. "It was amazing. Her body was spectacular." She tugged her shirt on and stepped out of the closet. "The way she kissed," she groaned at the thought of those ruby red lips on hers, "and shit Mako, she wanted it rough. I have bruises." She lifted the hem of her shirt to show one, then slid back into her office chair.
Mako shook his head, a large smile on his face. "Did you get her number? Name?"
"No, I," she paused, what was her name? She knew the woman had said it at the bar. She wracked her brain for it, for anything close, even the first letter. "Shit." She rubbed at her face, pushing her glasses up to her forehead. She let her head fall forward against the desktop.
"You didn't get any of it?" He leaned forward, peering worriedly at his friend.
"She told me her name at the bar, and I can't remember it!"
"Wow." Mako laughed, then leaned back in his chair, and tossed his wrapper away. "Must have been all that alcohol you had."
Korra lifted her head, and glared at him. "Fuck you."
He chuckled and stood. "I got to go. Hope you have a great day."
She waved him away from her desk. "Yeah, yeah. Go, be free." She smiled as he opened the office door. "Mako, thanks again."
"No problem Kor."
She settled into a steady rhythm as the day wore on. She completed reports, faxed forms, answered emails, and worked on her grant. Today hadn't been too bad, considering this morning. She'd even had a chance to go over the extra files that had been dumped on her from yesterday. Yes, today was a good day.
She hummed along to the station playing on Spotify as she straightened her desk, sorting through files that were still active, and those that needed to be filed away. She froze as she saw the corner of one sticking out from under a binder full of state forms. She tugged it out, Sato, H. was written in bold letters along the top. She wanted to bounce her head off the wall, she'd completely forgotten, and it was a case that had to be taken care of within a certain time frame.
She eyed the clock, looked like she'd be making up that hour she'd missed this morning. She reached for the pone and dialed the number Kya had written on the sticky note inside. She let it ring, and ring, expecting voicemail to pick up at any time. Instead, she got a breathy, "hello?"
"Hi, I'm looking for Ms. Asami Sato, daughter of Hiroshi Sato. Would this be her?" She wrote down the date and time of the call on the form in the file.
"This is she. What can I do for you?"
"Ms. Sato, I'm Ms. Street, I'm contracted by the Department of Health and Senior Services. I need to set up an appointment to speak with you about the recent case we have that concerns your father. When is a good day and time for you?" Korra's pen hovered over the paper as she waited for an answer.
"Are you the one that called the Hotline on my father?"
Korra gritted her teeth at the sound of anger in the woman's voice, she wasn't surprised by it though. She was used to being the one blamed. "Yes ma'am, I am. Which is why I need to speak with you."
"I can meet today, I'd very much love to speak with you, and your supervisor."
Korra smirked at the sarcasm and shook her head. "I'm sorry, that would have to be arranged for another day, my supervisor is actually on vacation this week." She could hear the irritation in the woman's breaths.
"I suppose you'll do. I'll be there at four. What's the address?"
Korra rambled off the address. "Sounds great Ms. Sato. I'll see you then. You have a great day." She sighed as she hung up the phone, and hoped, just in case, there would be someone else in the office around four.
Asami angrily shoved the phone back into her pocket. She couldn't wait to speak to this Ms. Street. How dare she make such a call on her father! She clenched and unclenched her fists at the steady thrum of anger. She had a few choice words for this woman.
The sound of a groan drew her attention back to her father. She watched as his brow furrowed in his sleep, and she stood, stepping to stand beside the bed. She brushed her fingers against his forehead. According to the nurse he'd just fallen back asleep when she'd arrived this morning. He tended to sleep a few hours, then wake just in time for his pain shot to be administered, and then he was asleep again.
She was anxious for him to wake. Once he woke she could find out what happened. What made him fall? Did he trip, was he dizzy? She wanted to know what had happened. Why had he lost so much weight? Why was he so frail? What could she do to help?
All these questions and more ran through her mind, and she couldn't answer them. The nurses she asked didn't know. Her father had to wake so she could find out what was wrong, but most importantly he needed to wake so she could have a chance at mending things.
She'd thought a lot about Bolin's words, and it may have taken over twenty years for her to finally realize she could have another chance with her father, but at least she had a chance. She could try, instead of just wondering what if. She leaned down and pressed a small kiss to his forehead, careful not to wake him.
A soft knock came from the door, she looked up to see Bolin smiling at her. He jerked his head, asking her to step out into the hall. She squeezed her father's hand, and went to join him.
"Hey, what's up?" She smiled at the bright-eyed man.
"Layla said you've been here since this morning. I came to take you for a walk." He smiled and offered her his arm.
"Bolin I'm fine." She shook her head and waved her hand at him.
He sighed, his face taking a serious expression. "Look, I know you want to be here for your dad, but you have to take care of yourself. Shutting yourself up in his room doesn't do you any good, especially not right now when you can't talk to him." He reached out and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Please, go for a walk with me, once around the floor?"
She reached up and patted the hand on her shoulder. "Okay."
He smiled brightly and offered her his arm again. He led her down the hall, and around the corner. "Have you eaten today?"
She nodded and smiled at his concern. "Yes, and I brought granola to snack on while I wait. If I get hungry I know where the cafeteria is."
"Hey, hey now. I'm just checking on you." He stopped outside a large glass window, peered inside, a wistful smile forming on his face.
Asami followed his gaze, and she found herself smiling as well. They had stopped outside the Maternity Ward. She looked at the rows of babies, swaddled in blue, green, and pink blankets. "You have any kids?"
Bolin shook his head. "No, not yet anyway. We're trying though, might try adopting. Opal would make such a great mom." His face brightened at the thought. "This is one of my favorite places to come. They're always so cute. I often wonder what its going to be like to look in here at my own kid." He smiled and turned to look at Asami. "What about you?"
She sighed and shook her head. "No. Never really gave it much thought. I've always been so driven and focused on my company."
He nodded in understanding as they started walking again. "That happens, and it's okay. You do you Asami Sato."
She chuckled and nodded. "I usually do. I'm often seen as stubborn and bitchy because of it."
Bolin shook his head and frowned. "I never understood that. To me," he glanced at her, made sure she was listening, "powerful women have always been sexy. Never understood why most men thought of it as a bad thing." He gestured to her. "You, you're powerful, business tycoon, kickass boss lady. It's hot. My wife, head nurse. Saves lives, gives orders, powerful, and there's not a damn thing wrong with it. Not a damn thing wrong with either of you. Yet, because some man somewhere found a powerful woman intimidating, there's this negative connotation about it."
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "Your wife is a lucky lady to have you."
"You know, I happen to think the same thing." He grinned, leading them around another corner.
Asami stepped from the back of the Lyft she'd taken from the hotel. She ran a hand down the front of her blouse to smooth it, checked her black slacks for any stray lent, then squared her shoulders and started for the doors of the building. She had arrived a little early for her meeting with Ms. Street, but a lot less angry. Her walk with Bolin had done her more good than she'd realized.
During the walk she had let her anger with the woman she was about to meet subside, and slip away. Now, taking the elevator to the third floor, she was doing a great job of not letting it build back up. She needed to go into this with a calm attitude, needed to hear her out, because in the end, this was about her father.
She took a deep breath as she exited the elevator and strode to the little reception area. She smiled at the elderly woman behind the desk. "I have a meeting with Ms. Street."
The woman smiled back and nodded. "Sure, let me page her and she'll be right out."
Asami gave another winning smile and turned to read over some pamphlets on the desk.
Korra jumped as her desk phone beeped. "Yes?"
"Ms. Street, your four o'clock is here."
"Thanks Janice, I'll be right up." Korra stood, and gave herself a quick brush over with her hands, her eyes landing on her mismatched shoes. "Shit." She thought for a moment, then pressed the button for the receptionist.
"Yes Ms. Street?"
"I'm sorry Janice, but could you send her back instead?" Korra knew it was unprofessional to not meet the woman up front, but she knew she wouldn't be able to handle the embarrassment of being caught wearing two different shoes.
"Sure thing."
"Ma'am?"
Asami turned to the woman at the desk.
"She's gotten got caught up with something, if you don't mind heading on back, second hallway on the right, third office on the left."
"Thank you." Asami gave a polite smile and started down the hall. She paused outside the office, reading the emblazoned plate, K. Street. She knocked gently at the door, drawing the attention of the dark-skinned woman at the desk, head down as she read over forms.
Korra raised her head and stood, all in one motion, she froze at the sight of the woman in front of her. "Uh, how did you know I worked here?"
Asami stepped into the office, her brow creased with confusion. "I didn't, I have an appointment." Her eyes shot wide. "Ms. Street, K. Street. Korra, I have an appointment with you!"
"No, that's," Korra picked the file up in front of her. "I have an appointment with," she trailed off, the memory of last night at the bar coming back to her. Exchanging first names before being pulled against those lips. She sighed and strode forward, stepped around Asami, shut the door, and then motioned for her to take a seat. "I'm sorry, I have to apologize,"
"Did you know before you slept with me?" Asami leaned forward in the seat, cutting her off, stared the woman across from her down. "Is this why you left without a word this morning? Do you make this a habit, sleeping with the family members of the people you Hotline? Is this some ploy to get money from me?"
Korra shook her head, a look of bewilderment on her face. "No, I had no idea who you were." She took her glasses off, set them on her desk, and pinched the bridge of her nose. "First time I ever saw you was when I gave you the coffee at the hospital," she slid her glasses back in place. "Then I saw you at the bar, and this morning I couldn't remember your name. I saw what time it was, I panicked because I was late, and I left."
Asami worked her jaw as she took her words in. "Why Hotline my father for falling?"
Korra shook her head and slipped her glasses back in place. "I didn't Hotline him for falling. I got asked to perform a Wellness check with Officer Grayson," she opened the file and looked it over for review as she spoke. "We were alerted that he'd missed some of his scheduled physical therapy appointments to help him recover from his stroke. His nurse was," she paused as she saw the look of surprise on Asami's face. "You didn't know?"
Asami shook her head as she sank back into the chair. Her father had had a stroke. He'd had a stroke and she didn't know, hadn't been called. "I haven't spoken to my father since college." Her voice cracked, and her throat burned, she felt sick. She pressed a hand to her stomach, hoping to calm it.
"He had a massive stroke five months ago. According to his nurse, Kya, he had to learn how to walk again. They thought that was why he fell, he was still unsteady on his feet, he could have lost his balance, but after further studies they discovered he'd had another stroke." Korra watched her over the edge of the file. "He didn't call you? The hospital didn't call you?"
"No. First call I got was from Officer Grayson the day he was taken to the hospital." Asami swallowed hard, fighting the bile that rose in her throat. She definitely felt sick. "Do you have a trashcan I can have?"
Korra surged to her feet, trashcan in hand. She hurriedly sat it in front of Asami and disappeared out the door. She returned quickly, water and peppermints in hand. She sat them on the edge of her desk, then eased herself into the seat next to Asami. "Is there someone else you want here? Do you want to do this at another time?"
Asami looked up into her blue eyes, she saw the sadness in them, empathy, and a touch of pity. She shook her head and sat up, popped a peppermint in her mouth, and took a drink of water. "No. Continue."
Korra bristled at the sudden switch to the all business attitude. She reached across her desk and grabbed the file. "Your father's nurse for physical therapy requested the Wellness check. Officer Grayson and I found him in the kitchen, he'd had another stroke, fallen, broke his hip. We aren't sure how long he was there."
"What do you mean by that?" Asami spat, anger starting to push to the surface.
"Ms. Sato, he missed two appointments. He has one every three days. He laid there, on his kitchen floor for that long, and that's if he fell the night before the first missed appointment." Korra reached out, her fingers resting gently on Asami's arm.
"But he could have fallen after the last one he attended?" The last of the color drained from her face. The thought of her father, in pain, scared, alone, thirsty, hungry, laying there, no one coming to help him, her gut twisted. She grabbed the trashcan and emptied her stomach contents into it.
Korra grabbed the mass of hair from Asami's face. Gathered it back in one hand and rubbed her trembling back with the other. "Shhh, it's okay. It's alright."
Asami shook her head, she sniffled, and wiped at her nose. She took the offered tissue, wiped her mouth, and then retched again into the trashcan. Hot tears flowed down her cheeks. No, it wasn't okay. She was a horrible daughter. She hadn't been there for her father. She should have. She should have reached out long ago. Maybe if she had, this wouldn't have happened.
"Ms. Sato?" Korra rubbed gently at her back, spoke her name twice more, finally drawing her from wherever her mind had wandered. She sighed at the look in those emerald eyes, she recognized it, hell she'd felt it herself, regret. "This isn't your fault. Don't think that, don't you blame yourself. No one else does."
Asami let her words slide past her, she didn't take them in. "What else happened, with my father?"
"We can do this another time, we can talk about it in pieces. You don't have to,"
"What else happened with my father?" Asami spat the words, all but growled with each one.
Korra clenched her jaw and sat back in her seat, pulling the file from her lap. "After the paramedics took him to the hospital I looked through the home, Officer Grayson escorted me. We found the living conditions to be deplorable. Because of the condition of the house, and the fact he'd fallen I had to make a Hotline call."
"I want to see the house." Asami pushed herself to her feet, started for the door.
Korra grabbed her by the arm. "Asami, I don't advise you do that at this time."
Asami let out a deep, and twisted sounding chuckle. "Now you remember my name." She pressed her lips together and turned towards Korra, jerked her arm free from her hold. "I'm seeing my father's house."
Korra nodded and grabbed her car keys from her desk. "Very well, let me drive you, please?"
Asami nodded, and gestured for her to lead the way, if only so Korra wouldn't see her knees shake.
Korra sent Mako a text message as she walked to the car. She prayed he'd be there. The drive was quick, and silent. As soon as she pulled up outside Asami was stepping out. Korra hesitated, unsure if she should go with her or not. "I can't let her do this alone."
Asami found the front door unlocked, and stepped inside. She clamped a hand over her nose as she was assaulted by the harsh stench of rotting food. She took in the sight of the trash, piled in heaps in every corner. Dishes were scattered about, bugs crawling through half eaten food. She didn't even want to know what was smeared on the walls. It was like her father had just stopped caring about the house. Stopped taking care of it, of himself too apparently.
She didn't recognize her childhood home, the home she'd made so many happy memories in. Sure, she had some bad ones, but those memories with her mother and her father outweighed the others. "I don't understand." She turned in a slow circle, not sure what she should be feeling right now.
"The whole house is like this, except one room." Korra stepped beside her, placed her hand on the small of Asami's back, then jerked it way when Asami flinched. "I'm guessing your room is down at the end of the hallway."
Asami nodded and picked her way through the house to her old room. Just as Korra had said, it was the only room that wasn't a deplorable mess. It was exactly as she had left it. "What does this mean?" She shook her head at the ridiculousness of it all.
"Some part of him knew this room was important." Korra offered as she stood in the doorway. "Asami, the tests the doctors ran," she waited for Asami to look at her. "They show deterioration in Hiroshi's brain."
"That's absurd. My father is the smartest man I know. He can't, that isn't," she ground her teeth together.
"I'm sorry." Korra could think of nothing else to say, what else was there for her to say?
Asami closed her eyes, head bowed. "Why didn't the doctor or nurses tell me any of this?"
"Procedure. I had to talk to you before any other information could be released. I apologize it took so long."
"Do you know, is there a company I can hire to clean this?" Asami looked up from the carpet, and regretted it when she saw the pity in Korra's eyes. She hated that the most. She could take hate, and sadness, but not pity, especially not now.
Korra nodded and fished her phone from her pocket. "Yeah, I have one."
Asami held her phone out for Korra to take, watching her enter the number, then shoving her phone back into her pocket. "Do we have anything more to discuss Ms. Street?"
Korra's shoulders hunched forward at the tone. "No ma'am." She had her answers as to why Hiroshi was living as he was. Asami didn't know anything had been wrong. She couldn't have, they hadn't spoken for twenty years. Korra made a few more notes in her file as she walked back through the house. "Would you like me to give you a ride somewhere? Back to your hotel?"
"I've already made arrangements." Asami didn't even give her a backward look as she walked past, head down.
Mako stepped to stand beside Korra, having parked next to her car. "Isn't that the girl from last night?"
Korra nodded as they watched Asami get into the yellow cab. "Yep, and Hiroshi Sato's daughter."