Though the Monsters

Chapter 6

Home is Where the Cat is

Has anybody ever come home after being away for an extended period and found something completely unexpected laying across their couch? Well, that's exactly where Hadlee and Harrison were as they peered at Sawyer who was spread across the middle of the couch in their apartment.

"When did this happen?" Harrison asked, pointing to the cat.

            Maggie laughed and came to stand beside the Reid siblings.

"About a month ago. He kept following Jethro at the tower and me when I visited so Hoppo asked me if I could take him home. I agreed but then he would just bat at some of the things I had of yours in my apartment. Your sweatshirt, a couple of your t-shirts, that kind of thing," Maggie said pulling on Harrison's sleeve gently. "So I brought him over here and he seems to be perfectly content. So here he has stayed."

"Huh." Harrison said, not entirely knowing what to say.

            He looked at Hadlee who was ranging between confused and excited.

"He's been sleeping in your room, Hads." Maggie said.

            Hadlee kneeled next to Sawyer and ran her fingers through his soft fur and he purred.

"I missed you too buddy." She said.

            Hadlee stood and scooped Sawyer up into her arms.

"You sir, are coming with me." She said pulling her suitcase down the hall behind her.

            Her bedroom door was cracked, undoubtedly for Sawyer to go in and out as he pleased. It was almost like she was entering unknown territory, but everything was just as she'd left it. Her bed was made, her desk still mildly cluttered, her nightstand bare save for her lamp. Sawyer jumped out of her arms and onto her bed. It was obvious where he'd been sleeping since there was a Sawyer-sized divot on top of the pillows. Hadlee sat on her bed and ran her hands over her legs slowly.

"Home," She told herself. "This is home."

~~~~~~~

"Hadlee, Maggie and I were thinking about going down to the prom for a late lunch, do you wanna come?" Harrison asked.

            Hadlee had curled up on the couch with one of her books when Harrison leaned over to ask.

"Isn't it raining?" Hadlee asked, furrowing her brow.

            Harrison chuckled.

"Yeah, but it's gonna be doing that more and more since Winter is almost here. Might as well get used to it." He said.

            Hadlee bit the inside of her cheek anxiously but nodded anyway.

"Yeah, I'll come." She said.

            Maggie looked over and smiled kindly.

"You don't have to. We can always bring back something for you." She said, giving Hadlee a way out if she wanted it, but Hadlee wasn't going to back down.

"I'm sure." She said.

"Okay, we'll drive down there so we won't get too wet. I also need to stop by Hoppo's office to pick up a couple of things," Harrison said pulling out a raincoat from the front closet and tossing it to Hadlee. "That one should fit you until you get one for work."

            The drive to the prom, though short, had Hadlee reeling. She had promised herself that she was going to be more open with how she was feeling, and not bottle things until they exploded. For too long Hadlee had opted for being the quiet one instead of being the one who talked through things when it was needed, but no more, she'd hurt too many already. She prayed that she wouldn't see any of the boys, she didn't think that she could handle that quite yet, but she knew that was unlikely. Harrison parked the car as close to the café as he could so they wouldn't have to walk in the rain for very long.