| Aftershock Episode 7 |
| ** "Another 'late night' at the office?" Harvey chuckles to himself and smiles as he approaches Rachel's desk, where she has her head propped up on her hand and looks moments away from dozing off. Its late afternoon and this was when Rachel was usually at her most lively point - he was surprised to find her in such a drowsy state. "You know, there is an appropriate time and place for that..." "I'll have you know, I was up late researching YOUR part of the case, Inspector Leek." She sits up, and tries to look focused on what he set before her on the desk. "Sure you were, and I was at the Backstreet Boys concert last night with Britney Spears." She gives him her mischevious grin that he couldn't resist, they both know that even if she had dedicated part of the evening to helping his research efforts... she was occupied by someone else later on. Damn, he wonders how Nash got so lucky. Rachel leans over and shuffles through the folders on her desk and hands one to Harvey, "here. Read it and weep. I found out where the ex-wife has been hiding out since the last time we contacted her. She'll be in later." "Impressive, yes.... how did you ever find the time?" He laughs, thinking of her work ethic even when involved in a relationship. "Get a life, Leek. Don't you have another date tonight?" She smiles, but it doesn't prevent him from noticing her quick desire to change the subject from her personal life to his. "Maybe, maybe not." He loves the idea of keeping her in suspense, even though he knows Renee probably talks to her after every date and Rachel knows where their relationship stands. "I guess you'll just have to wonder." "Oh yeah, it keeps me up at night." "I'm sure it does. Read those Van Guard files and talk to me later." "Yes, sir." Rachel 'salutes' Harvey after his 'orders' and he walks from her desk smiling. Harvey hated to admit it, but the more he saw Renee, the more he wanted to be with Rachel instead, but he knew that wasn't an option right now. Rachel was with Nash and she seemed happy, and Harvey tried to be happy for her. ** "Is Captain Bridges in?" A beautiful, leggy blonde approached Joe as he stood by the SIU doors. "Uh... yeah.... come on in..." Joe stuttered to get more out, "what can we do for you?" "I need to talk to Captain Bridges, its important." Joe could tell from the look on her face she had a matter of urgency, but was in awe of her looks for the moment. "I'm Inspector Joe... Dom..inguez..., Nash's partner." He couldn't keep himself from looking at her as they walked up the stairs. "I see." She wasn't interested in Joe's help, she needed to talk to Nash right away...for her this was a matter of life and death. They approached Nash's desk. "Nash, she's here to see you." Nash looks up, also in awe of her beauty. "How can I help you?" "I'm Beth Collins, Van Guard's ex-wife..." Nash watched as her eyes started to well up with tears. "Joe, go run the reports with Harvey. I'll take it from here." Nash looks at Joe and back to Beth. "I'll be down later." Joe takes another look at the blonde beauty and walks away. Nash waits a moment, "take a seat." Beth sits down infront of him as her tears continue to flow, "I almost didn't come but I figured maybe if I came --- you could protect me?" "From Van Guard?" Nash asks, sure that he is right but he feels the need to question just in case. "I've kept quiet long enough. But,if he finds out I talked to the cops, I'm dead." A look of anger and pain filled her face, and Nash found this 'damsel in distress' to be in serious need of the SIU's help and wanted to do everything in his power to help her, no matter what. "We won't let that happen, don't you worry." Nash reaches his hand across the desk to comfort her, but she didn't look ready to tell all. "Where would you like to begin?" He looked at her, wondering if she would give away all his secrets or just those to her advantage. "I'm so afraid." She looked as pathetic as ever, waiting for assurance that Nash and the SIU would protect her as he promised they would. "Can we talk, someplace else?" "Sure, I guess if that would make it more comfortable for you." He gets up from his chair and looks towards her as she gets up. She moves towards Nash and throws her arms around him. "Thank you, Captain Bridges." He doesn't pull himself from the embrace and she hugs him tighter. "Thank you." "I'll make sure you're okay." She pulls herself away and he leads her downstairs with his hand on her back, as a sign he will protect her himself if he has to. Rachel looks towards the stairs as she walks towards Joe's desk with her latest find. She sees Nash with Beth Collins, knowing exactly who she is but wonders when she and Nash got so chummy. She knows that her relationship with Nash isn't the most stable, but she didn't know it wasn't monogamous. ** "So, what did Rachel say about the files we found detailing Van Guard's 'lucrative' investments?" asked Antwon as he looked out over the bay. "I interrupted her nap." Harvey smiled, thinking of the workaholic herself taking a cat nap on the job. "What?" Antwon laughed, he couldn't easily imagine Rachel (of all people) sleeping on the job and passing up an opportunity to get the edge on a case. "Nash must have kept her out late." Harvey waited a moment before beginning, "who knows with those two." He didn't want to picture Nash with Rachel, but in Rachel's defense, "actually, she found out where Van Guard's ex has been hiding since we last talked to her and some outstanding warrant for him in Germany." "Nice." Antwon turns around and points to the SIU, "think she's up yet so we can talk about the files?" He smiles at Harvey, knowing very well how Harvey feels about Rachel. "Let's go find out." Harvey walks slowly behind Antwontowards the SIU, dreading his date that evening and wondering what the real reason behind Rachel doing all that work is. ** "So, tell me about Van Guard..." Nash looks at Beth across the table as she gently pushes her hair back behind her ears. "What do you need to know?" He was sincere and willing to help her, she had nothing to lose by telling him everything she had. "Business transactions, run-ins with the law, corrupt employees... that sort of thing." Nash knew this was his ex-wife, but he didn't know just how much he had shared with her about the business. "I can get you old books, if that would help. And some information from the family.I have some back at the house" "Let's get too it, sister." Nash stands up and pushes his chair in, waiting to help Beth up. "Didn't you say you had dinner plans?" Beth wondered, inquisitively if he was involved with someone as they headed towards the door. "Nothing I can't rearrange. We'll take my car." They walked out together, with Nash's arm around her waist. ** Rachel tries to shake off what she saw in passing as she walked through the SIU earlier, but she finds herself unable to. She has known Nash long enough to know that it's just how he is with women, a natural born flirt who can't keep his hands to himself. "Who am I trying to fool? I must be crazy to think that I could get Nash to commit..." "Rache?" 'Good God, where did she come from?' Rachel thinks to herself when Cassidy appears infront of her, seemingly out of nowhere. 'Doesn't she have work to do?' "You okay?" "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just trying to review this Van Guard case in my head. A little mindboggling." Okay. A bad lie, and she knew it. But she was desperate, it was now completely apparent that Nash hadn't told Cassidy about their relationship and she wasn't about to bring it up with her herself. She could tell Cassidy wasn't completely satisfied with that answer, and more questions would follow. Damn, she trained her too well. "Are you sure that's all?" Cassidy hadn't seen Rachel like this before, nothing preoccupied Rachel more than her work. This was awfully suspicious and Cassidy was bound to get to the bottom of it. It was almost as strange as her father's sudden mood changes recently, funny how they had been on the same bizarre track. Cassidy had her thoughts, but knew if something were going on --- she'd be the first to know it, after all, it was her partner and her father. "Yes, I'm sure. I just have a lot on my mind. Between work and my parents, I've got a lot to deal with." Another bad lie, come to think of it --- Rachel cannot even remember the last time she called her mother, let alone spoke to her father. Not only was she now feeling guilty about lying straight to Cassidy's face, but for not calling her parents either. This was not going to be a good evening. "You want to grab a beer and talk about it, I'm out of here as soon as I finish up the files?" Cassidy was bound and determined to find out what has been going on with Rachel, this was just too weird... even for it being Rachel, who already was more than a Pandora's Box. "Yeah, I'll meet you downstairs in twenty minutes." She really didn't want to go out, especially with Cassidy. It was all out of fear that she might say too much or just imply the wrong thing. But, she didn't want Cassidy to have any reason to be suspicious either by her not going. Cassidy walked down the stairs to finish filing, leaving Rachel to stew in her thoughts. ** "I'll walk you up." Harvey looks across the front seat of the PT Cruiser at Renee, who is hoping Harvey will finally want to join her for a 'nightcap.' "Only if you come in for a nightcap" Renee sweetly pleas, as she watches Harvey nervously tapping on the steering wheel. "I'd love to, but I've got an early morning tomarrow and it's getting late. You know that Rachel likes to get to business early." What a lie, and he knew it. It was just after ten and she was certainly attractive and desirable, and any other man and his place would've jumped at the offer... but she just wasn't who he was looking for. He could see the disappointment in her eyes, "raincheck?" "Sure, anytime." She leaned over and kissed him, and had her hand on his thigh. Renee was pleased that Rachel had paired them up --- even if Harvey was the type to take things slow, there was hope for them as far as she could tell. "I'll call you tomarrow." Harvey waited as she got out of the car and shut the door, wondering what he was doing. He knew he was setting her up for a fall, but didn't want to end the relationship since this was the 'best' thing to happen to him in a long time. He just wasn't ready. ** "You didn't come by last night," he pauses, "or the two nights before that." Nash studies Rachel as she sits behind her desk, glancing over the files he just tossed in her directions. He had even considered running by her place that morning on the way to work, but decided not to since Nick reassured him she had checked in while he was asleep. "Everything okay?" Nash moves towards the corner of her desk to take a seat, as he waits for her reply. He sees to easy way to overcome the roadblock in their relationship, his inability to commit. Rachel looks up at him, desperate for some type of solution to make their relationship work, but knowing the inevitable. "I know, I got out of here late and I had some things to take care of at home." Rachel hates lying and making excuses, but that seemed to be the only way to cover for her attempts to escape this sinking ship. Nash has been distant recently and she knows why, he doesn't want commitment --- just someone to share his bed. "Rache, I think we both know where this is headed. I don't know that I am ready to..." This was it, the moment of truth for him, leave it to Rachel to cut him off mid-sentence. He knows how he feels and what he feels, but he can't promise her that he or his feelings will change. She is obviously looking for more then he is willing to give at the moment. "Commit, right?" She glares at him, she clearly saw it coming. She hates the fact that she knew all along that this was how it would end yet still went along with the relationship. "Is it that you don't want to commit to me or to a solitary relationship?" Nash sees that Rachel knows him well, almost too well. Their relationship didn't have the best start, but it had potential and she was certainly willing to work at it. Nash just didn't have it in him to make it last. "Rache, listen --- it isn't you at all. If there was any way we could make this work... but I just can't make it happen right now, with you, or any woman for that matter." There it was, Nash just 'let it fly' with how he felt and now the ball was in Rachel's court, as he waited for her reply. He could tell by the cold look in her eyes and the tense and taught appearance of her body she was angry, and hurt. He didn't know if he should put his arms around her and try to comfort her after the blow or run away scared. "That's certainly reassuring." Rachel laughs, not know if that 'any woman for that matter' was intended to make her feel better or just be the 'straw that broke the camel's back.' "I guess it was only a matter of time." "We both knew this relationship would be hard, and its better to end things now so feelings can be spared in the long run." 'This damn insensitive man.' Rachel thought to herself, knowing that he was out to protect his non-commital feelings and didn't really care how she felt about this. "So we're over?" "I think it's better this way." Nash gets up and stands infront of her, placing both hands on her desk and looks her in the eyes. "For the best." "I guess it is" she pauses, not wanting to show any type of emotion infront of Nash. She didn't know whether she should be relieved that the relationship was over and they no longer were walking on 'broken glass' and being secretive or be angry that she didn't have a say and Nash was the one to walk away with his pride intact. She needed more than anything to escape the moment. "I've got to run these records down to city hall." Rachel gets up from her desk and slowly puts her jacket on, and Nash waits, still bent over and reflecting on what happened. She begins to walk away, but Nash realizes he has something more to say before he can let her go "Rache, I'm sorry about this..." "So am I." She walks away, thinking to herself 'I should've known. At least it is over with now, ended where it all began..." Nash looks up as she is leaving, and heads back in the other direction. She knows she shouldn't be surprised that it ended nearly as quickly as it began, but the aftershock of the blow was slowly setting in. ** "Hey, have you seen Nashman?" Joe looks to Antwon, who is seated behind his desk with his feet propped up. "He was here this morning with Rachel, but he left afterwords to go run some errands." "Oh. I'll talk to him later I guess." Joe looks around, "have you seen Cassidy?" "Yeah, she was just at her desk and then she went out for a minute. She and Rachel were going to talk with some people down at the pier where Van Guard kept the yacht." Joe waits a moment and thinks, "thanks. I'm going to see if I can catch her now. She said she wanted to talk to me." "Cool." Antwon wonders what that is all about, he hopes he didn't say too much about Nash and Rachel to get her thinking. Joe walks away and goes outside, finding Cassidy alone, looking off into the bay. "Hey, Cassidy. You wanted to talk to me?" Joe stands next to Cassidy, completely unsure of what she might want. She had told him it was "personal." "Joe, have you noticed a change in my dad lately? I mean, I know things are hard with Nick and this case, but...'' "I think he's just a little stressed out now. Who wouldn't be?" He looks at Cassidy compassionately, impressed by her genuine concern over her father. "Rachel has been great, for me and my dad. I just worry we're burdening her with too much." Joe wonders how much Cassidy knows. "I'm sure she can handle it, and if she couldn't --- we'd all know." He laughs, thinking about the lastime Rachel had an overload outburst. "You've been great too, my dad and I are lucky to have you and Rachel around." She moves towards Joe and hugs him, he blushes and smiles. "Thanks." ** "So what do we do now?" Nash looks at Rachel, who is busily working at her desk late that afternoon. He hadn't seen her all morning, he was assuming she was avoiding him, not that she didn't have the right. Nash waits for a reply. He knows that things between them will be hard for a while at the station, but they will improve over time. He hopes to at least preserve their great working relationship, if not their friendship as well. Rachel looks down at her desk, regretfully preparing herself for what she is about to say, "I'll have my things cleared out of here tonight." "What?" Nash looks at her in complete shock. He is totally blown away by what she has said. "You're leaving... here... the SIU?" He can't imagine what would possess her to do that. "Rachel, why?" "If that's what it takes," she waits for a reaction from Nash, "I'll need a referral, if you don't mind. I could get one from Petit, if you'd prefer not to write it." "You're not serious?" Nash had never intended for letting their relationship come to this, like the others did, when whomever it was left their job after their relationship went sour. "Nash, I don't know what else I can do. I mean, I've heard the stories Nash --- I know that its either I leave or I get fired now that we're done. I'd prefer to save a little pride and my reputation and leave on my own." That certainly didn't help how Rachel felt, telling Nash what she had heard and applying it to them. It made her feel superficial, like the women who read Cosmo's advice section and apply everyone else's story to their own. Walk away with pride? Forget it. Harvey had been right all along, knowing how it would end and what it would cost her. Nash didn't know what to do now, he'd never been pushed into this corner before. He looks at Rachel again, intently focused on her work. Feeling there is nothing more to say, he gives her another glance and walks away. As he is walking away, Rachel looks up and places her head in her hands. "Way to go McCabe." ** "Renee, listen, I like you... I like you a lot. But, I really don't think I can see you again." Harvey looks at Renee as the walk down the street towards her house, as the liveliness in her eyes seems to dim upon hearing that he can't see her anymore. Harvey felt bad for what he was doing, but he thought it would be worse the longer he waited. "Can I ask why?" She seemed truly devastated, and Harvey had no good explanation. It just didn't feel right to date Rachel's friend when he had wanted to date Rachel but never got the courage to ask. He certainly couldn't tell Renee that. Harvey hesitated, trying to search for words to make himself sound less cold-hearted and selfish. "It's just that I am extremely busy right now with this case at the SIU, working odd,late hours and when I get done --- I am dead tired. I don't want to be unfair to you." "Harvey, I don't mind waiting if that's what you're worried about." She looked at him, searching his face for a better explanation than he offered. "I'm sorry about this, I really am. I can't be in a relationship that I'm not able to truly devote myself to. I hope you understand." Harvey can't help but feel guilty as she looks at him, he reaches out his arm and sets his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Renee." "You're a great guy, Harvey Leek. And one day, there's going to be a very lucky woman with you." She takes his hand off her shoulder and moves in closer towards Harvey. She gently kisses Harvey on the cheek and walks away. Harvey stands there on the sidewalk, thinking about what he just did and wondering if it was the right choice. ** Nash walks through the SIU, passing by the empty desks. He glances at the folder he has in hand. Looking at the folder name "McCabe, Rachel E." sticks out at him. He approaches the area surrounding her desk, wondering if there's anything he can do to make her stay. He watches her meticulously stacking the papers and placing them into the file, he waits a moment and then walks up to her desk. "Here you go, if this is what you want..." he pauses, and Rachel looks up at him. "For the record, this isn't what I want." He extends his hand towards her with her folder, she reaches to grab it, but he pulls it away. She gets up from her chair, slightly irritated by his actions. "Nash, come on." Rachel can feel what's coming on, she knows he's going to try and stop her any minute now --- he wouldn't let her leave so easily. He was going to make her listen to what he had to say, whether she wanted to or not. "You're a damn good detective McCabe, and I don't want to lose you --- at the SIU... or as a friend..." Rachel looks at him, knowing exactly what he is trying to do. "Nash," she interrupts, "I can't stay." "Let me finish here, please, Rachel. I know I really screwed things up around here with this; but I am begging you not to let this end your career at the SIU. The team needs you and... so do I." Nash looks at her, wishing he had never gone over to her apartment as he did. He didn't want her to leave, but he wouldn't want her to stay and be miserable there. "Nash... I can't stay here, not under these circumstances." "And I cannot let you leave under these circumstances, now can I?" he pauses, feeling unsure of his decision to end things as he did. "Rachel, please. I know this can work. We'll try it out --- and if you still feel the same way later on, then we'll talk about this referral. Okay?" Nash smiles at her, hoping he has gotten through and she understands this was never his intent. "Okay," she pauses a moment and thinks of her next move, "I'll be by later this evening to pick up my things from your place." She gives Nash a slight smile, he takes it as an indication things will be okay. "There's no hurry." Nash smiles at her and turns to walk away from her desk. "Nash..." He turns back to glance at Rachel, and gives her his 'cat ate the canary' grin. Things might be okay afterall. ** |
 |
 |