California

Chapter 10

I walked into the lobby to find a client I've been dealing with for over a year waiting. A drug addict and dealer who got himself into a lot of shit and is facing quite a bit of jail time.

"Hey, I didn't expect you to show up with everything going on."

He stood up. "Uh hey Ms. Valentino. I know it's crazy out there but.... I didn't know what's going on with the court system and all... I really don't want to get a failure to appear because I assumed the world coming to an end would cancel court..."

I stifled a laugh. "That's understandable... I guess. But no as far as I know, court is going to be the last thing on anyone's mind until this clears up. Be careful out there though, okay? It's dangerous to just be walking the streets."

"I will, Miss Valentino. Thanks." He waved and walked out the door.

"Really?" I heard Tasha's voice behind me. "People are dying all over and he's worried about court?"

"He was high as a kite. I'm not surprised."

She was walking with me back to the lab when I heard Bucky and Steve talking in hushed tones in the break room.

"I'll catch up." I told Tasha, who nodded and continued walking.

Is eavesdropping good? No. But am I going to do it anyways? Yes.

"She finally told you the truth and you're barely speaking to her." I heard Bucky state.

"I know. I was going to, but then I heard Peggy on the video chat and I just didn't know what to do. You know we have feelings for each other. Nothing like what me and Charlie had, but still. It isn't fair to either one of them to make a decision so quickly without being able to actually talk to Peggy. Plus... I think she's with that Jake Riley guy. The way she was looking at him when she saw him on the screen, something's definitely going on there."

"So why don't you ask her? And maybe tell her the truth... you like Peggy but you still want to be with her and you don't know how to handle it."

"I don't know, Bucky. Right now there are more important things to be worrying about."

I heard some shuffling and didn't want to risk them walking out and catching me so I silently dashed back to the lab.

"Charlie? Why do you look like you're running from someone?"

I glanced back at Scott who caught me looking around the corner when I made it into the lab.

"Shh I was just being nosy. So what are you guys up to?"

He chuckled and shook his head. "They're just waiting to hear back from the doctor." He leaned close when I stepped up beside him. "So who were you eavesdropping on?"

I nudged him with my elbow. "No one!"

"Everything okay with that client of yours?" Bruce asked, looking up when I squealed at Scott.

"My beloved junkie was worried about court. He said he wasn't sure if the end of the world would excuse him from missing and he didn't want to go back to jail."

The room filled with giggles and a few shook their heads. Some people can be ridiculous. I plopped down in a chair beside Pete who was typing away furiously on the computer.

"What ya doing?"

He shifted his eyes from his computer to me. "Working."

"On what?"

"Good grief Charlie. I'm checking to see if the Koreans are planning any more attacks."

"Isn't that Steve's job?"

"Yes. Yes it is. But Peter here is too stubborn to listen." Steve's voice made me jump since I didn't know he had even walked in the room.

Pete shrugged. "You've been busy. Just thought I'd help."

"Anyone know where Syd is?" I pushed myself out of the chair.

"Her office." B.B. chimed in, never looking up from her microscope.

I made my way to my best friend's office to see her hunched over a stack of papers.

"You look deep in thought over there."

She leaned back in her chair and sighed. "I'm just worried about my clients. Some of them live in the cordon. I almost wish my appointments would show up today like yours so I could know they were okay."

Her job involves a range from testifying in court, to speaking with inmates, to helping victims. Some of her clients from what I know have had a great deal of trauma in their life and she cares deeply for them. A curse and a blessing, her big heart.

"Have you tried calling them? At least the ones scheduled today?"

She nodded. "No answers or call backs. I don't know. I know we have other things to focus on but I just wish this was over already."

I sat down in a chair on the other side of her desk. "I know. Trust me, so do I. I hate our friends are in there doing such dangerous stuff."

"Have you talked to Steve much about everything from this morning?"

I shook my head. "No he hasn't brought it up. I did overhear him and Bucky talking though. He apparently has something going on with Peggy and doesn't know what to do. Plus he thinks I'm dating Jake."

"Aren't you?"

"No." I said abruptly. She scoffed but didn't reply. "Not technically." I sighed out. "I do care for him though and don't know how I feel about Steve."

"You guys have history. It's understandable if you still have feelings for him. But it's also understandable if you don't want to be with him again. You two went through a lot and it's been a long time. Feelings change. People change. It's okay to move on."

"Thank you doctor. I look forward to our next session." My tone was sarcastic but my face revealed I was joking. She laughed and threw her pen at me.

"I'm going to have to start charging y'all."

We stood up and started out of her office. "Hey you'd make a hell of a lot of money."

"You're not wrong."