A-N: Ending a much longer journey than I had anticipated, I hereby give you the promised epilogue! Thank you all for sticking with me and Courtney. Hope you enjoyed, and always eager to find out what you think! Hugs JLBT
Assistance.
Epilogue.
Rain… She had not anticipated rain. Which was stupid because she was in Chicago after all, and to be honest, usually, Courtney anticipated almost anything. She wasn`t sure if it came with the job or with her personality, but she simply did. Her uncharacteristic behavior could only have to do with another anticipation she had been feeling. Putting up the hood of her sweater, she took shelter in front of a jewelry shop, hoping she wouldn't look like a robber. Actually, now that she thought of it, the rain was a perfect excuse to lurk.
Smiling, she got back to the business at hand. It was amazing to see Kalinda wait. When she herself was waiting for a date, she always got nervous, jittery. Kalinda… Well Kalinda was Kalinda. There seemed to be sporadic conversation with the bartender, and despite her confident demeanor –or maybe because if it- she was approached by some of the other costumers, male and female alike. She seemed kind, but adamant, as she refused each and every one of the drinks offered, and it made many patrons look at her with even more longing. After a while no-one approached her anymore. She just sat, in the small little bubble, the aura of mystery that always surrounded her. It was incredibly appealing.
Courtney was so focused on Kalinda that she hardly noticed Alicia`s arrival. Although not as much as Kalinda, the lawyer drew her share of attention, and rightly so. The simple red dress followed the curve of her body closely, and there was a sway in her walk that made even Courtney do a double take.
The assistant smiled, her heart pounding rapidly. She may or may not have glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention, and may or may not have pulled a pair of binoculars out of her bag.
Alicia swallowed as she, slowly, moved closer to the woman she loved. Courtney saw Kalinda feel her presence, saw her turn, saw her shock. But also saw she didn't make the link. For a moment, the confident, mysterious woman showed her pain, before sporting a resigning smile.
She watched them, for a moment angry with herself for not finding a way to follow the conversation, but she found she easily could. She knew Kalinda would first say the lawyer`s name, in the way only she could. In the way that said so much more than just the syllables. She knew Alicia would respond in kind, her voice warmer than it had been in ages. She saw Kalinda`s eyebrows raise, and could almost hear her heart skip a beat from across the street.
When she noticed Kalinda getting worked up, the assistant guessed Alicia must have said she -Courtney- wasn`t going to show. That she, Alicia, was her date for the evening. But then something she had not anticipated on happened.
Kalinda stormed out.
The lawyer stood, for the longest second in history, rooted to her spot before she turned and followed.
`Wait!`
The wind, the air, the rain, Courtney wasn`t sure what made the voices carry, but she was grateful for it.
`Kalinda! Wait!'
Courtney may or may not have gasped with Kalinda when Alicia`s fingers enveloped a delicate wrist. Kalinda`s voice sounded almost harsh had it not been for the sharp sting of panic that hinted through the tone.
'Let me go!'
'No.'
Alicia`s voice was calm, adamant and tender, and for a moment Courtney had to let the feeling roar through her chest before she realized it was pride.
`Let me go!`
The panic now sounded clearer through the investigator`s voice. But also something else. Something hoarse and constricting and painfully obvious –or was it obviously painful?- for those who knew how to listen.
'No!'
Kalinda swallowed and Courtney watched her avert her eyes, watched her try to remain the stoic woman who couldn't be touch, watched her try to hold on to the demeanor that protected her. Watched her, with every passing second, some closer to failing.
'What`s your problem?'
'You are.'
The answer, that had come within a heartbeat, made Kalinda as well as Courtney blink. All the lawyer`s emotions sounded through the words, but some were easier to miss than others. It was obvious Kalinda had heard the frustration, but not the tenderness when she answered.
'Yes, Alicia, you have made that very clear, so let me go!'
Now, successfully, pulling herself free from Alicia`s grip, it looked as if Kalinda was going to turn around, maybe even walk away. But something about Alicia –her eyes? Her demeanor?- made frehe investigatoreze. Slowly, tentatively, the lawyer took a step closer. This time not capturing, but reaching. This time not for a wrist but for a hand.
Courtney gasped when she saw their fingers touch, and Kalinda withdrew as if burned.
`I tried to, Kalinda. I tried to let you go. But I found out, I simply can`t.'
'Why the hell not?'
Kalinda`s question had been meant to come out harsh, cold. Courtney knew this because she saw, even from the distance, the distress in those dark eyes when it came out as barely more than whisper. A begging whisper at that. This time, Alicia`s reaching fingers found their match, entwined with them, tenderly.
'Because...'
Courtney may or may not have heard 3 words being whispered. She doubted if she had so herself. But maybe Kalinda had heard it as well, because she swallowed again, and now, slowly but determent, brought her gaze up and meet the lawyer's. Courtney guessed Alicia`s eyes said it all because she saw Kalinda`s grow wide. The reserve in them finally broken, they started to shine, brightly, in the light of the lantern that flickered above them. Kalinda swallowed again, and again, her battle against the tears, against the emotions that fought their way to the surface so clear in the hazy light. And then, Courtney watched her lose.
A single tear found its way down the investigator's cheek.
Alicia`s free hand pressed a lock of hair behind Kalinda`s ear, the fingertips lingering only to catch the glittering drop of water before finding the crook of her neck in a motion that was determent and hesitant all at the same time. Then, she watched how Alicia's lips, in a tormenting slow-motion searched for the ones they were meant for.
Courtney smiled as she witnessed the kiss say more than 3, or a thousand words.
She should have known.
No matter how nerve wrecking, hard, heavy, sad, dirty, painfully silent, spirited, predictable, fluid, impulsive, expensive, wet and daring…
Subtlety was highly overrated.
THE END