Chapter 14
…
Kate stood nervously on the steps of Sharon's home as she knocked lightly three times and waited for the younger woman to answer.
"Kate…"
"You said just to stop by so I…"
"Of course, come on in."
Sharon stood aside as Kate made her way inside, Sharon eyeing the bag in her hand.
"Oh, I thought I would save you time and pick up some Chinese on the way, I hope that's okay dearie...I should have asked if you even like Chinese."
"I love Chinese, it smells delicious. Well, you know where the kitchen is."
Kate nodded and made her way down the hallway and placed the bag on the counter as Sharon got some plates from the top cupboard, bringing them over as Kate opened the cartons.
"So…how was your day?" Sharon asked.
"Mmmm, not too bad. Without James and Gareth there, it was a fairly quiet day."
"Usually hectic huh?"
"Just a bit, it was nice to have some time to catch up. What about you?"
"I only had two patients to attend too so I was finished early, I came home, relaxed in the bath and waited for you to arrive."
Kate looked up, two sets of brown eyes locking as Sharon leaned in and kissed her.
"We shouldn't let this get cold." Kate said, quietly.
Sharon nodded in agreement as Kate picked up the plates and followed Sharon through to the sitting room, music playing softly in the background.
…
James and Mallory sat closely together, Mallory leaning on James as they went through the properties that Kate had left for him.
"What about this one, it's just half an hour outside of London, looks like a great neighbourhood, quiet."
Mallory smiled at James as the younger man turned page after page, looking through so many possibilities for their new home as a family.
"What about this one, four bedrooms, back garden…perfect for the little guy to run around in…West Hampstead."
Mallory took the file from James and looked at the property, off street parking, big open windows for lighting. The house looked bright throughout, cream walls, wooden flooring throughout. James watched Mallory as he inspected the house.
"Well, what do you think?"
"I think…I'd like us to go and take a look at it."
"Yeah."
"It looks beautiful."
"A perfect place to raise a baby perhaps?"
"Yes."
"Do you want me to call, make an appointment to see the house?"
"I'd like that."
"I'll phone first thing…right…I think it's time we had some dinner."
"I'll cook, you've already done enough."
"Don't even think about it, you're supposed to be taking it easy."
"Cooking is hardly a strenuous task James."
"Fine, you can help."
James stood up and offered a hand which Mallory accepted without argument.
…
Kate was sitting on the couch, legs crossed as she listened to Sharon tell her about the patient's death she had been responsible for.
"It seems so long ago now but, it's not really something you ever get over you know. Patients die everyday in the E.D, its all part of the job but that little boy…he shouldn't have died."
"From what you've said, it's hardly your fault."
"I didn't do a proper background check on his medical records; I was in too much of a rush to get him to theatre."
"The mother should have told you about the allergy to the medication, she used you as a way to kill the child."
"If she couldn't keep him, she was going to make sure her ex husband didn't get him. What kind of a mother does that to their own child?"
"You'd be surprised the lengths some people will go too to protect the ones they love, in her mind she thought she had no other option…don't blame yourself dearie."
Kate placed her hand over Sharon's, the younger woman smiling back at her.
"I think we both know I always will…I can't help it. I still ought to have checked. Is that what happened to you, you were protecting someone?"
"Dearie I…"
"Sorry, I know…you don't want to talk about it."
Sharon made a move to get up when Kate grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Sharon looked back at Kate and saw uncertainty in her eyes as she looked up at Sharon. Sharon sat back down beside her, taking hold of her hand as she looked in to her eyes.
"You can trust me Kate; with whatever it is that happened to you. I won't tell anyone, I know you find it hard to share but I really wish that you…"
"I helped fake someone's death." She said quickly.
"So you didn't technically kill someone then."
"I have done…in the past."
"Kate, you don't have to tell me."
"If you're serious about me, and I still think you're crazy to be but…if you are then you should know the type of woman I am."
"Go on…"
"I worked for many years for a man names Raymond Reddington, he was a wanted man by the FBI, he was….he became over the years a very good friend…I cared a great deal about him. In exchange for his freedom, he gave up names to the FBI of some of the most wanted criminals all over the world, he got very close to one of the young FBI Agents, Elizabeth. She became someone he's do almost anything for, she got in to some trouble and became a fugitive, he helped her and helped prove her innocence but there were still many people who believed she was guilty. She and her husband got pregnant and with people still determined to kill her, I helped her get out. Raymond couldn't see that most of the trouble she was in was due to him and who he was. In the end it wasn't just Elizabeth who was at risk but her baby as well, her daughter Agnes. I helped her fake her death and I got her away from this life."
"But…something happened?"
"Raymond found out that she was alive, that I'd been the one to help her escape. I don't think I've ever seen him look so…angry, betrayed. He said to me that he would name every human being on the planet before me if asked who might betray him."
"I'm sorry Kate."
"He could have killed me, he could have put a bullet in me there and then but he didn't. I don't think he could bring himself to kill me, despite what I did to him."
"So what did he do, what did he do that was so bad that Gareth will never get it out of his mind?"
"He tortured me, beat me within an inch of my life…the punishment went on for four hours, when he was done he told me to leave and never return. I could barely move, I managed to reach for the phone, and I phoned the only person I could trust…Gareth."
"I lay on the floor for twenty four hours before Gareth arrived from London, when he found me I…there was so much blood, I was dehydrated, incoherent."
"God." Sharon whispered.
"He called some friends he knew and got me to the emergency room where they looked after me and got me back to health. When I was released, Gareth insisted that I go back to London with him and he contacted MI6 and with the Head of MI6 at the time, they got me a position there down in medical."
"What is it you actually did for this Reddington guy?"
"I was his cleaner dearie, his protector."
"When you say cleaner…"
"I cleaned up the scenes of his crimes, disposed of the bodies…to make sure no one would know what he'd done. There were a few times I killed for him if needed."
"You killed people."
"They were criminal's dearie…not that I'm using that as any kind of an excuse…but I wouldn't feel too sorry for them."
Sharon went very quiet as Kate finished telling her, Kate wishing she'd never said anything.
"I should probably go, let you digest what I've told you."
"I just need a little bit of time Kate, you understand yes."
"Of course dearie…take as much time as you need. I'll see myself out."
Sharon let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she heard the front door closing behind Kate.
…
James was just clearing away the dinner plates when the doorbell rang, Mallory getting up to answer it to see Kate on the other side.
"Kate."
"Hello dearie, sorry to just drop by unannounced but I…"
"No, come on in."
Mallory let Kate inside, noticing how quiet she appeared as they walked through to the sitting room.
"Gareth do you…oh hi Kate." James smiled.
"James…"
"James would you mind giving Kate and I a little time alone."
"Sure, I'll go email about the house."
Kate watched James leave before turning to Mallory.
"You've found a house already?"
"Yes we think so, West Hampstead, it looks nice."
"I'm happy for you dearie."
"Kate…what's happened."
"I had dinner with Sharon this evening."
"And it went badly?"
"Something like that, I opened up to her, told her about Raymond and all the things that I use to do for him and what he did to me."
"She didn't take it well?"
"She was doing well until…I told her about the people I've killed for him and how I use too dispose of his crimes."
"Oh…I'm sorry Kate."
"I should never have told her. There are some things you should never tell people and Raymond and his work, my work…that was one of them. I'm a old fool."
"Why, because you opened up or because you might actually have feelings for this woman and what she thinks about you matters to you."
"I should never have assumed she'd accept the things I've done."
"Kate, if Sharon really likes you then she'll accept all of you. She's a very open minded woman, just give her some time."
"I suppose so, anyway…how are you doing."
"I feel fine, much happier for being home. Kate thank you for what you did for me, I know I've already thanked you but I mean it. If you hadn't arrived when you did then I don't know what would have happened to the baby."
"Just promise me that you'll look after yourself from now on, James loves you both and life without you, well…I don't think he'd cope."
"I'll be careful." He smiled.
"You love him don't you?"
"Very much."
"I'm glad, it's time you both had some happiness."
…
To Be Continued…