Ch 8
A/N: OK everyone I'm not going to apologize for being sick but I am sorry for not making this chapter longer since I made you wait so long for it. I hope you like it. Only a few chapters left now.
The trip from DC to Alexandria should have only taken fifteen minutes. Unfortunately for Kat and Eli, they hadn't bothered to check the time before getting into the car. Now after being stuck in rush hour traffic for an hour, Kat sighed, looking at the clock again.
Eli glanced over at her, putting his hand on her arm, "Everything ok?"
"Not really." She sighed again. "I should never have agreed to this."
Eli took his hand away quickly looking hurt, "I'm sorry."
"No, no I didn't mean it like that," she said quickly, putting her hand on his knee. "I just mean that now I have to call in to my other job. I'm just worried. You know, with all the layoffs that have been going on there."
He placed his hand over hers intertwining his fingers with hers, rubbing his thumb over hers gently, calmingly, "I understand, but it's not like you could make it there right now anyway. It's going to take us at least another hour to get back to the city, and that's if we leave now."
"I know." She sighed pulling her cell out of her pocket. Taking a deep breath she dialed the number and waited. "Hey Kristi, can I talk to Mike for a second," she asked quickly. She waited, holding her breath until he answered, "Hey Mike, it's Kat. I'm sorry I'm not going to be able to make it in tonight. I'm stuck at my other job." She listened nodding occasionally, saying "Ok, I know," over and over. Finally she said, "I'm sorry Mike. I'll be by later to pick up my check." Hanging up she gave another sigh.
Eli looked over at her, her head was still down, looking at her phone and tears were filling her eyes. "Not good I take it?"
She shook her head, the tears spilling over onto her cheeks, "Well," she croaked, "at least I will have a little more time to myself now." She laughed humorlessly.
He pulled her to him letting her head rest on his shoulder, not saying anything, but rubbing her back gently.
A half an hour later Kat had managed to pull herself together. Looking at the clock again she clicked on the radio. "There's a big back up on the George Washington tonight. A tractor-trailer overturned causing a four lane back up. If you have any plans make sure to plan in at least an extra hour." Eli reached over, turning it back off. He watched as Kat pulled her knees to her chest and stared out the window.
Taking her hand, she looked over at him. "Kat, about the other night, I know I didn't say much, but I just wanted you to know, I would never hurt you."
She smiled leaning her head back on his shoulder. "Thank you," she said kissing him on the cheek and relaxing back.
Another few minutes passed in peace as they stayed at a standstill. Suddenly breaking the quiet, Kat's cell started going off. Looking at the screen she saw that it was Gillian. "Hey Gillian," she answered, clicking it over to speaker phone.
"Hey Kat," Gillian said sounding serious." I know you're not going to want to hear this Kat, but I really think that we need to call child services. It's been more than twenty-four hours."
"I can't just leave him Gil, I can't," she said adamantly. "It's not fair to him. He's already had two people walk out of his life without an explanation. I'm not going to do that to him again."
"I'm not asking you to. I'm just saying that the authorities need to be notified."
"You and I both know that the second we call them that's it, he's gone. I can't do that."
"Kat I realize that, but…"
Cutting her off, "Please Gil, just give me until tonight. Let me talk to this woman and see where it gets us. If we don't get anything than I will personally call ok?"
"Alright, I'll give you tonight. I'm going to take him home with me and Cal. We'll see you tomorrow. Call me if you find out anything."
"I will. Kat said hanging up the phone. Looking back over at Eli, "We have to get a lead Eli, we have to." taking his hand again.
