HER

Chapter 33

Nina finally got herself to leave the house and go to work with Gina and Catherine Monday morning. After the trip to the bar for Catherine's open night, she had realized how hard it was to be around so many guys at the same time, it was scary. But then she also realized that if she stayed home and did nothing, it would remain that way till she finally got the nerve to get out and get over her fear. Tom's trial was coming up in a few days and Gina's lawyer – Jensen – was helping her prepare. She was hoping everything would go according to plan and it wouldn't take more than a couple of days to put him behind bars and begin a life where she didn't have to worry about him.

"You ok?"

Nina jumped when she felt the hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Catherine there.
"You startled me."

"I'm sorry." She said. "I called your name a few times, your pan's on fire."

Nina looked at the pan she held on the stove and when she saw the fire, she quickly shifted it into the sink near her and let out a breath.
"Sorry."

"Don't tell me sorry, you're the one who almost got burned." Catherine said. "Want to take a break?"

Nina sighed as she took in her surrounding, the other cook seemed to have it under control.
"A few minutes."

Catherine nodded and walked in front of her to the back of Marco's to the locker rooms.
"What's the matter?" Catherine asked when they were seated.

Nina looked at her and away.
"I can't stop thinking about the trail." She said. "I'm hoping it'll go smoothly but I've been having nightmares."

Catherine who now knew what had happened to Nina nodded.
"It's normal, you'll be taking the stand in front of a court room full of people and your abuser sitting a few feet away from you. I'd be a mess too."

Nina smiled at her.
"I just want it to be over quickly."

"It will and you'll be able to move forward." She said and sighed.

Nina looked at her and frowned.
"What's up with you?"

Catherine looked at her and shook her head.
"Nothing."

Nina grinned.
"I think we both needed this break."

Catherine looked at her and smiled.
"Ian's been calling me lately. He stopped for a while after I got here but then he hasn't stopped calling since Saturday."

"He might have something important to tell you."

"What could be important that he'd want me to know about? He probably just wants to check in and see how I'm doing or something. I can't..."

Silence filled the room.

"Can't what?" Nina asked.

"Can't say another goodbye to him again. The first time was hard enough, I can't be on the phone and say goodbye. I wouldn't want him to go."

"Does he know how you feel about him?"

"I left before I got the chance to tell him, it was better left unsaid." She said. "It wouldn't have meant anything especially since I was leaving."

"You could have at least said it just so he could know how you feel about him, you don't know, he maybe feels the same way."

Catherine snapped her gaze to her.
"You think so?"

"From what you've told me about him, he's smitten with you."

Catherine sighed.
"I wouldn't want to know now. I thought being back here would make me want to flee just like I did after College but I'm beginning to fall in love with Seattle all over again. I don't think I want to leave home anymore."

Nina smiled.
"And you're making it big already."

"Not really there yet."

"The video of you singing from your opening night has gone viral, what could be bigger when you're just getting started."

Catherine shut her eyes.
"I still don't know who posted that video."

"And you wouldn't, not in Seattle."

"I could ask Felix and Frank for their guest list for Friday night and meet every single one of them."

Nina stared at her, wide eyes.
"Ok, that's not stalker-ish at all."

Catherine laughed and Nina joined.
"We should get back to work."

"Yea." Catherine rose and they both made their way back into the chaos.

Ian sighed when Catherine didn't pick up his call again, he had been calling since Saturday to tell her the big news but she hadn't picked up any of his calls. He had held back from calling on Friday because he figured she'd be busy on a Friday night. But she hadn't been picking any of his calls and he was beginning to wonder if she had moved on in such a short time.

Ian had gotten a promotion and he had been surprised when he had been asked to be in charge of the Seattle precinct. Since he found out, he had been thinking how it was possible that they had transferred him to where his heart was. He wasn't religious but his mum had been, she believed there was someone greater, someone above all of the earthly things, the creator. She believed he planned things ahead of time till the very end and everyone's fate was fixed and it's just left to us to decide which path we want to follow. Ian never believed because he never understood but now, he did; he understood and he believed. He believed his fate was set based on the choices he made and he also believed that he and Catherine were meant to be. The impossible and unexpected things were happening so they could be together; he wasn't the romantic kind but once you fall in love, all that changes without you even knowing it.

He was moving ahead professionally and he was going to do it with Catherine by his side. He was going to get his girl and he wasn't saying goodbye this time. He was going to look into her eyes and tell her just how much she meant to him and that he loved her.

Plain and Simple.

Ian packed his clothes into his bag, he was leaving tomorrow. With his new rank as Captain, he had been provided with a home of his own in Seattle and a car, so he needn't worry about a place to stay or how to get to the precinct.

He was going to Seattle, he smiled at that. He would be seeing his girl soon.