Destined

Thirty One

The night sky was darker with rain clouds. I wasn't wearing shoes but I kept trudging into the forest like I had some sort of plan. Even when it started raining, I kept walking. I was numb and cold and wet but I didn't turn around. I don't know how long I walked, but it seemed I must have been moving in the right direction because I finally found myself behind Vince's house. I didn't have the pride to not knock on his door, so I went out to the front and did just that, my shorts and large tee, soaked and dripping.

When Vince opened the door to my wet, distraught self, his expression was one of shock, as expected, and more surprisingly, relief.

"Kristina," he said and pulled me into his house without question.

I refused to be pushed back into my memories at the sound of my name. He grabbed a blanket that was on the throw of his sofa and draped it around me.

"God, you're shaking," he said and rubbed his hand up and down my arm, picking up his phone at the same time.

I saw him press redial and place the phone to his ear. "Hey, she's here, yeah, okay, give us a moment," he dropped his phone on the sofa. "Your friends were looking for you," he said and I frowned.

I'd just walked out of the house, without my phone or anything, and walked to Vince's house in the rain without thinking of the consequences. Or about their concern.

"Come with me,"

He led me through the hallway and into a bathroom and grabbed a bathrobe and towel. My body was shaking, from both cold and mental exhaustion. I couldn't seem to focus on anything for long.

"Hey," he said making me look at him. "Whatever happened, it's over, you're okay, you're safe, but I need you out of these wet clothes before you catch a cold, okay?" I nodded and he left.

I shed the blanket, then stepped into the shower cubicle without taking off any of my clothes. I stood frozen in the shower, unable to do anything but stand under the nozzle. How had this happened? I couldn't hold it in any longer and after one treacherous tear, the sobs began. Heavy, heart wrenching sobs that I could no more stop than I could stop breathing. I dropped to my knees and then sat down on the cold shower floor, crying. All the angst, shock and hurt from the last few months attacking me at once. Roger's death, the investigation, Celine, Vince, Liz, Professor Darke, I couldn't breathe, couldn't cope with it all. Suddenly, I felt like I was sinking.

Vaguely, I could hear Vince knocking on the door, but I couldn't bring myself to answer. Not even when I heard him call my name did I speak. Next thing I knew, he was kneeling before me, on the shower floor, also fully clothed except for his shoes. He reached up for the knob and turned it. Immediately warm water came spraying over us, drenching him as well. He pulled me up and wrapped an arm around me and let me cry into his chest as the water warmed me up.

"You're okay," he whispered.

And somehow, like his words were magic, I immediately felt better. Well better than succumbing to full blown tears and hiccups.

I looked up at him, through my tears and water and I couldn't help but ask, "Why did you lead me on? Maybe it's me. I mean, I know you're used to the likes of Reese and I'm just... well me. And that's probably not enough for you, I understand that, and I don't hold it against you. I know I'm not perfect but why..."
"Oh Kristina," he took my face in his hands and kissed me, shutting me up.

The kiss was slow and gentle and every now and then interrupted with the water spray but it had my heart beating a mile per minute and I was sure I'd pass out. He pulled away, all too soon in my opinion, and leaned his forehead against mine. My eyes were closed and I was afraid to open them, afraid to find that I had been imagining it all.