Alvin paced around the venue hallway, in his dress uniform, waiting for Caitlin to arrive. Even though she was his +1, she had been asked by the Deputy Chief to give a speech to the recruits prior to them going to the Gala. It hadn't been really a speech, more a set of rules and guidelines for them to keep in mind as they found themselves with high members of Law Enforcement. He hadn't seen her since she had left the District earlier that day and he was impatient to see her.
The Deputy Chief walked in followed by some of the instructors and the recruits. After they had all entered he wondered where Caitlin was. He then heard the door reopen. His eyes grew wide and his heart literally skipped a beat from what he saw.
Caitlin was standing a couple of feet away from him in the most beautiful gown he had ever seen. The long gown was navy blue to match with his dress uniform. It was strapless and had a sweetheart shaped neckline with matching beading and she was holding a navy clutch. Her hair was down with natural waves and she was wearing very light make-up.
He walked over to her. "You are breathtaking"! he said as he pulled her in closer into him.
She blushed and he loved it. She put her hand on his chest. "And you look dashing and sexy in that dress uniform". She had never seen him dressed liked that and even though he did look sexy and stylish, she still preferred him in his casual attire, it fit better who we was.
He put his bent arm out. "Shall we"?
She smiled at him. "A bit too formal don't you think"?
He laughed. "I guess you're right". He opened his hand and waited for her to place hers delicately in his before closing it. Her hand was not much smaller than his and fit perfectly. They walked into the reception hall and paused momentarily to find the rest of the team.
The tables had been set up by district. Caitlin recognized a few from District 21 but most of the seats where empty. Some people stopped their conversations and looked at them, mostly the men who nodded in their direction either in approval or acknowledgement, Caitlin couldn't say.
"Shall we head over to the bar? I think we'll find them over there and we can get something to drink at the same time", said Al.
As they made their way towards the bar, people moved aside to let them through.
Trudy nudged Hank. "So, it was true"! she said as she caught a glimpse of Alvin and Caitlin walking towards them hand in hand.
Hank turned around and watched this beautiful woman that was his niece walking in their direction with his best friend at her side. He realized, again as he watched them, how perfect they were for each other. He smiled at Trudy. "Wasn't my place to say".
She narrowed her eyes. "And you're OK with this"?
"It took some time, but yeah. I'm more than OK with this".
Trudy gave a sigh of relief. "Oh good. Then I won't feel bad about saying that they compliment each other really well"!
Trudy opened her arms wide and took Cat in for a hug. "Sweetheart, you look beautiful"!
"Thank you".
Caitlin hugged Hank as Trudy discreetly took Alvin aside.
"You do know that, that young woman is a rare precious diamond, don't you"?
"Trust me, I know".
"Good, then I won't have to threaten you. I don't know what your intentions are but don't wait too long because after tonight, a lot of men are going to wish they were in your shoes and some of them have no scruples"!
He nodded and quickly glanced around the room and noticed what Trudy was seeing. A few men from the other districts were ogling at Caitlin. But he didn't care, he was a confident man and she had chosen him. They could stare all night if they wanted, in the end, she was going home with him!
"Trudy? Where's Randy"? asked Caitlin realizing she hadn't seen Mouch anywhere.
"Couldn't get off duty. He'll be a bit late".
"Oh, that's a shame".
Kim and Adam walked in followed by Jay and a brunette no one had ever seen. Kim was wearing a black halter dress and the unknown brunette a red off the shoulder dress. They quickly joined Hank, Trudy, Alvin and Caitlin at the bar and Jay introduced the brunette as Stacey Epstein. She was a bit younger than them and hanging on to Jay as if her life depended on it. She was obviously nervous.
Caitlin looked at Kim, Trudy and Stacey. "Why don't we go find our table and let the men finish their drinks"?
Kim nodded in agreement. "Great idea, my feet are killing me"!
"I'll stay here", said Stacey.
Unluckily for her, Trudy hated leeches and women who lacked self-confidence.
"Don't worry, he's not going anywhere", she told Stacey as she grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away from Jay. Kim and Caitlin laughed as they followed Trudy and a resigned Stacey.
When all the speeches had been given and the dinner finished, the mayor and his wife along with the Chief and his wife opened the ball. Little by little other couples joined them.
Alvin stood and put his hand out towards Caitlin. "Dance with me"?
"I'd love to", she said as she stood.
Alvin quickly looked at Adam and nodded in the direction of the dance floor. Things had been tense the rest of the day between Adam and Kim and he was out on a mission to fix it.
Adam stood and looked at Kim. "Let's go dance".
Alvin rolled his eyes at Adam's lack of romance and led Caitlin to the dance floor. He pulled her in close and she put her arms around his neck. As they swayed and looked into each other's eyes, the world around them vanished. He kissed her softly caught a glimpse of Hank leaving the hall entirely.
"Did Hank mention he had to leave before the end of the gala"? he asked Caitlin.
"No. I don't think so why"?
"I don't know, seems like he just left".
"I wouldn't worry. If it's something important or related to work, you would have been the first to know".
"You're right. No more talking about Hank". He paused for a moment to separate the two subjects. "I am one of the luckiest, if not the luckiest man in the world. The more time passes, the more I realize I can't imagine my life without you in it….", he paused for a while. "Meredith"?
Caitlin suddenly stopped dancing. Had he just called her Meredith? "Meredith"? she said letting go of him and taking a step back.
Seeing his face change, she turned around and saw Hank and Meredith walk into the reception hall, hand in hand and head towards the dance floor. As they started to dance, Caitlin most probably as Alvin realized the proximity between them, how they were looking at each other and she realized this was not platonic.
She saw Al take a step forward. She put her hand on his chest and looked at him. "Al, don't. This is not the time or the place. Let's just go, Ok"?
He abruptly removed her hand from his chest. "I need answers"! he said as he walked past her.
Al arrived by their side and looked at Meredith then Hank. "You do remember that I was married to her"?
Hank and Meredith stopped dancing. "Alvin", said Meredith gently.
"I'm talking to Hank", he replied harshly.
"Yes. I remember", said Hank calmly.
"So this is what? Retaliation for my being with Caitlin"?
"That's got nothing to do with this. I have fully accepted your relationship with Caitlin".
Caitlin arrived next to Alvin.
"So, because you have fully accepted my being with her, I need to do the same about this"? said Alvin slowly raising his voice causing a few people to stare in their direction. He turned his attention to Meredith. "I was respectful and I came to tell you about Cat and I and you go and do this behind my back"!
Meredith looked at Caitlin then at the floor. Caitlin gently put her hand on his arm. "Al, let's go home. We can all talk about this some other time".
He looked at Hank and Meredith and without even paying attention to Caitlin, he stormed out of the room and out of the venue. He got in his car and headed to the closed bar.
Caitlin stared in the direction he had left, eyes filled with tears and anger.
"I'm sorry", said Hank. She turned towards him. "Coming from you, I wouldn't be surprised", she then turned to Meredith, "but you, you owed him that much to tell him".
Once again, Meredith said nothing but looked at the floor. She was feeling guilty and as Caitlin walked away, she really could have cared less.
As she sat in the cab to take her home, Caitlin tried to call Alvin on his cell, but he didn't answer. When she arrived home a little before midnight, she changed and sat in the sofa. She tried his phone again a couple of times. Although she was angry at Hank and Meredith, her anger grew towards Al. He had ignored her, left her there, wasn't picking up his phone, wasn't home and was probably getting himself drunk! So much for not imagining his life without her in it! At around 2 in the morning she gave up calling and waiting. She grabbed an extra pillow and blanket from the linen closet and placed them on the sofa. Hurt, mad and sad, she locked the bedroom door. There was no way he would sleep in their bed, sober or not!