Agent Chetiri

Chapter 11

So it's true, when all is said and done, grief is the sole price we pay for love.

-E.A. Bucchianeri

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(December 27, 2013- 9:30 AM)

Alexa was not there that morning.

She was uncharacteristically late and Q was really beginning to worry for her well being. The day before, she had been rather disconnected, like her mind was jumping from place to place and she was constantly thinking about something. It had gotten to the point where everyone else had noticed her demeanor and it affected her work greatly. There was something different in her eyes now and she looked troubled when she thought that nobody was looking at her. Her emotionally strong façade was wearing thin and she was more vulnerable than ever before.

Q remained at his desk and decidedly gave her another hour to arrive. Maybe something had come up, like it had a few days ago. However, her seat remained empty for a full hour that soon turned into four, before finally turning into a full fledged six hours of absence.

Q had stared at it throughout the day, feeling a pang of guilt and a little bit of frustration. What had he done wrong? He was trying to make something work, at least, but it seemed that she was now unwilling to try. What had made her change her mind? Had he merely disheartened her or had he inadvertently crushed her hopes, along with all chances of being with her?

He finished his paperwork before heading to the break room to grab a cup of tea. Q went in and spotted Joy, who was talking quietly with Eve. They did not glance at him as he walked in, apparently not noticing that he was even there.

"-'m telling you, there's something wrong with Alexa. She seemed so...out of it yesterday," Joy said.

"I saw her. She wasn't acting like her usual self. What do you think happened to her?" Eve replied.

"It might have something to do with what happened at the party the other night," she muttered.

"Oh! You're right. I saw that. It was rather sweet of her, wasn't it?" Eve said.

"Maybe Q doesn't like her back. I would presume that Alexa doesn't take rejection well, given how shy she is," Joy said.

"That's also true. Q does have a tendency to over think his emotions," Eve remarked. Q merely rolled his eyes and stirred the tea in his mug.

"Ladies, you do realize that I'm standing right here, don't you?" he said casually as he leaned against the counter. Both women looked up at him with startled eyes and Eve glared at Q.

"Q! What have you done to Alexa this time?" she said as she poked a finger at his chest.

"You basically said it earlier," he said.

"Well, tell us what really happened," Eve said, folding her arms across her chest.

"It's a long story, actually. However, to put it in simpler terms, she and I kissed at that party and I was going to tell her that I didn't know how I felt about her, but she cut me off," Q said as he took a sip of his drink.

"Oh, Q! You were actually going to say that?" Joy groaned.

"I now realize that it wasn't the right thing to say," he pointed out.

"So that's why she's been so out of it lately," Eve grumbled.

"Actually, the kiss was only half of the equation. Something happened yesterday that made her very upset and rather scatterbrained and she refuses to tell me what it is, much less speak to me," Q said.