Perfect Storm

Chapter 37 - Let Her Go

"Alright, let's go."

Kate watched as Hank, Olivia and Sam all disappeared downstairs to brief Trudy and the Bureau of Patrol as the rest of the group moved towards the locker room to change. Taking a second, Kate sat down at her desk, eyes scanning over the two picture frames situated just under her computer monitor. One was of her and Matt as children, the two of them smiling at the camera, both sporting innocent grins and missing an assortment of teeth. The other was a picture of her, Hank and Alvin taken at Trudy and Mouch's wedding reception.

She had worn a forest green floor-length dress, the v-neckline dipping low enough have Hank growling in the back of his throat when he saw her but modest enough to not cause embarrassment in front of her friends and colleagues. The chiffon material was tied at the waist, perfectly accentuating her curvaceous frame. Kate was beaming at the camera, trapped snugly between the two taller men, Hank with his arm around her waist and Alvin with his arm around her shoulders. Her eyes began to burn with unshed tears, running a fingertip over the simple silver frame. It was just another reminder of how much the man she loved had lost.

Guterra was an animal and he was likely to become unpredictable when backed into a corner. Kate had spent over ten years with a badge pinned to her chest so she knew the risks attached to the job. But when dealing with men like Guterra who had nothing left to lose, the risk was that much higher. There was a very real possibility that she wouldn't get the chance to say everything she suddenly had a burning desire to tell him. How grateful she was that he was in her life, how much he meant to her, how much she loved him.

She couldn't leave it to chance.

So before Hank returned to the bullpen, she tucked a sealed envelope under the picture of him and Justin on his desk, satisfied that he would at least know how she felt, even if everything they were facing went to hell in a hand basket. Kate had just finished fastening her black BDU pants, completely lost in thought when a gentle tap on the locker drew her attention.

"You decent?"

The corner of her mouth ticked up at the familiar sound of her partner's voice. Tugging a black t-shirt over her head, she turned to face him.

"No, but I try to be."

Her eyes softened at the sight of Kevin standing behind her, already swathed head to toe in black. Kate moved to straddle the bench separating the two roles of lockers, Kevin mirroring her movements until they were seated at opposite ends facing one another.

"How you feelin'?"

Kate hiked her shoulders slightly, letting out a long breath.

"I'll be better when this is all over."

He nodded in understanding, eyes drifting over her form before settling on her stomach.

"Everything okay with..." Kevin dipped his forehead towards her abdomen and a grateful smile tugged at her mouth.

"Doctor says everything is as expected."

"That's good." He returned her smile briefly before his face became serious once more.

"Look, I ain't gonna tell you what to do. You a grown ass woman who is more than capable of takin' care o' bus'ness. But I need you to be careful tonight, a'ight? You don' need me to tell you that it ain't just you anymore."

Kate reached forward into the space between them and captured his hands in her own, giving his larger hands a firm squeeze, looking him dead in the eye.

"I appreciate you Kevin Atwater."

The two shared a moment before Kate gave his fingers one last squeeze before pushing to her feet.