Two souls One Heart

Chapter 15

To catch a killer, you have to think like a killer.

Athena was making her way to her office looking down at the tablet in her hands, reviewing the newest evidence Sheldon discovered when Lindsay walked right past her. Athena looks up seeing Jo standing at the end of the hallway in her and Lindsay's office and Mac not too far from her. The both of them look at Lindsay who walked past them. Athena turns around making her way towards Lindsay. She had to jog to keep up with her but after a moment she realized where she was heading and slowed down. After a moment Athena came to a stop in front of her office door seeing it open slightly. She walked in, seeing Lindsay standing by the windows in her own thoughts.

"You know this used to be my escape place, but I guess I can share." Athena said, closing the door behind her before walking towards Lindsay. She stood next to her looking out over the city with her friend.

"I'm glad you are back." Lindsay said after a few moments of silence between the two of them. "We all missed you, I missed you especially. With Stella being gone and you it felt empty without you two here."

"How is Stella doing? Have you heard anything from her?" Athena asks as Lindsay nods her head trying to keep the tears at bay.

"She actually sent a package. Saying New Orleans is great and she misses us dearly sending love. And congratulating me on my medal."

"Right I heard what happened in the news and from Adam mostly." Athena said as Lindsay nodded her head before looking back out the window. "Are you upset over the letter or the medal?"

"A bit of both."

"You wanna talk about it now or after we get some coffee?" she asked as Lindsay smiled slightly.

"Now it's fine. Coffee later."

"Good but please, not the breakroom's coffee. Those things will kill you." Lindsay broke out in a chuckle before nodding her head in agreement.

"Promise." she said before gathering her thoughts.

"You know what Mac will say?" Athena spoke up first as Lindsay looked towards her. "No matter how mentally tough you think you are, or how justified you were, killing another human being is going to affect you."

"That was very much on point." Lindsay said with a smile playing on her face before looking down at her feet.

"There's no shame in it, you know." Athena spoke up slightly as Lindsay looked back towards her.

"Till today, I didn't feel anything."

"What changed?"

"Mac putting the medal around my neck." she said, pausing for a moment. "For the first time since the shooting, it took me right back to that moment. Shane Casey came into my house. He threatened my family and I killed him. I'd do the same thing a hundred times over. I never felt scared before that. I- I never cried. I never thought about how much danger we were in. I just did what I had to do."

"Nothing prepares us for that kind of terror. There's no book on how we deal with it afterwards."

"We never went back to that apartment. I never took a day off work. I just swept it all to the side like it never even happened." she said before looking right at Athena, turning her body. "What if I can't deal with it, Athena."

"You already are. It's happening. This is the beginning of coming to terms with it. It's what makes you stronger in the end. You'll get through this, Lindz."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you are a warrior, and you have people all around you who love and support you through everything. And if there is one thing, I learned is that the spirit of a warrior can never be broken." she said as Lindsay smiled nodding her head before she stepped forward wrapping Athena in a warm hug.