Repata: A Love Story

At A Crossroads

Chapter 2

At A Crossroads

As bad as this day started, Tasha Zapata didn't expect it to end with a ray of hope, as small as that ray was. As she rides home in her taxi, her thoughts slip back to the events of this morning and afternoon.

The day began with her pretending to care about helping Reade and Patterson pick desserts for his wedding. Patterson was really worried about Tasha because she knew she felt about Reade. She was laughing and joking around to hide the pain of loving her best friend, who was about to marry someone else. Things went downhill from there.

Rich walked in the conference room and told Patterson he cracked a tattoo and he needed to show her. Tasha was glad because the conversation was no longer about Reade's wedding plans. But then Tasha's worst nightmare happened. They were about to solve the dragonfly tattoo and everything was a blur after that.

Rich and Patterson now knew enough to figure out everything about the tattoo case. Tasha realized that it was best to tell them she was involved, Borden was still alive and she had been working with him for over a year. If she let the team discover everything without her directly telling them she may never be accepted by them again. That could take her away from Reade . Tasha couldn't take that chance. She was willing to live with Patterson's mistrust although it broke her heart. But Edgar Reade meant everything to her. And he would understand she was doing her job.

The afternoon was as tough as the morning. The team tracked down Borden and the terrorist cell and eventually saved New York City from destruction. Tasha was literally exhausted and did not want to talk to anyone. Honestly, she just wanted to be with Reade. He was the only person who could calm her down. When she ran into him in the locker room she had to fight her heart. She wanted to have a drink and just be with him. But she didn't think it would change anything between them, even if she told him how she felt. She was so wrong. Tasha's conversation with Reade in the bar changed everything.

Now, Edgar Reade, the love of Tasha's life, is about to end his engagement and relationship and tell his fiancé he's in love with her. While sad for Meg, she wanted to be happy for herself and stop running from love and commitment. Then she remembers something that would surely complicate that happiness.

Just a few weeks ago Tasha accepted an assignment from Keaton to go deep under cover. She agreed to infiltrate Hank Crawford's company, HCI Global and find a way to take it down. That meant leaving everything and everyone behind, and no one could know about this. Keaton specifically said not to tell Read because he knew how much influence he had over Tasha and Keaton knew this would be dangerous. Tasha knew that it was possible that she would not make it back from the assignment. Yet she just told Reade she loved him less than two hours ago. Would that love cause her to defy Keaton and tell Reade about the undercover assignment? Would she still take the assignment? She was willing to risk her relationship with Patterson. Was she willing to lose Reade forever? At that same moment Tasha's cell phone rang. It was Meg. Of course it was.

"Tasha, I'm sure you were expecting this call." There was a real hardness in Meg's voice. She continued, "I suspected that there was something between you and Edgar the day you showed up at his apartment with his favorite beer." Tasha was torn between remorse and anger. "Meg, I'm sorry, but what do you want from me?" "I want you to know he's all yours Tasha". "He just admitted his feelings for you. I hope you really love him because it will destroy him if you're playing with his heart." With that, Meg ended the call. Tasha knew Meg was right and she had to decide between her love life and her career. Could she have both?

Tasha finally arrived at her apartment. Her slight buzz from the bar was completely gone so she grabbed a beer from her refrigerator because she always believed that more alcohol meant better decisions. At least that was the story she told herself.

She walked over and sat down on her couch. It felt like the walls were closing in on her. She began to rationalize with herself. The undercover assignment would give her the opportunity to become a CIA field officer, something she really wanted. But she only considered it because she believed she had no future with Reade. Was she impulsive for sharing her feelings? Should she have kept quiet? 

 She was about to get ready for bed when she received a text from Reade: "Tasha I spoke to Meg about my feelings for you. I talked about us. She didn't say much before she packed her things and left. I'm sure she's going to reach to you at some point. Just remember that I love you, and I choose you. I miss you already. Good night. Talk to you tomorrow. ER". Tasha's heart melted when she read the text. Of course she was right to tell Reade she loved him.

 Regardless, sleep did not come easy for Tasha.