Katie's Big Brother

Katie slipped in quietly, dressed in a simple pair of knit wool stockings, warm boots, and an oversized sweater dress belted over her small waist. She headed behind the bar and began to prepare coffee and tea, the light catching on the small silver chain with the clasp and link resting against her decolletage.

Seeley Booth closed the door behind him as he entered, back to the main area of the club. He rolled his neck, creating a sound akin to a heavy boot crunching in wet gravel, then turned. His blue jeans were rumpled, his leather jacket zipped against the cold of the outside. A quiet sigh, then he could see the coffee girl was here. She brewed better coffee than his previous favorite, the cart by the reflecting pool. A few confident strides and he was there, sitting at the bar, waiting. “Morning.”

Katie turned her head to the door when she heard it close, fetching down a mug and pulling a thermos from her messenger bag. “Good morning, Seeley.” She said in her normal calm, serene voice. She poured in the coffee from the thermos, a nice, smooth blend with a touch of extra caffeine. She knew he didn't take any fixings so she had set the machine to brew in a manner that wouldn't leave it bitter or burnt. “Try this.” She said as she slid the mug to him, along with a scone. She felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and pulled it out, looking at the lock screen. A soft smile curled her lips and as she turned to put the tea kettle on to heat, her fingers lightly touched the link hanging from the little silver chain.

Seeley took the mug from her hand, pausing a moment to smell the coffee before taking a sip. Not as bitter as his normal coffee, but also not as bland, better than what she usually brewed at the club. “That's… Different.” His eyes caught her fingers touching the jewelry around her neck, something new since he'd last seen her. He'd seen her with someone a few nights before, connecting the dots. “New man?” His lips quirked up in a lopsided grin. She'd always looked so stern, so bored when he'd seen her reading her books. The man he'd seen her with made her light up.

Katie turned her head and looked at Seeley a moment, pale cheeks flushed pink as her fingers touched the jewelry again. “That would be one way of putting it.” She replied kindly, unable to suppress her smile. Her gaze flicked to her book and then she cleared her throat softly. “Do you like the coffee?” She inquired, seeming a little personally invested in the opinion of a potential future customer.

Seeley couldn't help but notice the sly smile, the glance to the book. The one he'd recommended. Now that necklace had more meaning than just pretty jewelry, and his eyes sparkled in knowledge. It hadn't been that long since he'd been introduced to this lifestyle. His eyes twinkled in that knowledge, she needed that in her life. Someone who could make her smile like Bella made him smile, the way he lit up every time he saw her. He didn't pry, he simply let her revel in her new life. Another sip of his coffee when she asked. “I like it. Less bitter than my usual, but rich, fragrant.”

Katie “It's…nice…you know?” She said softly, as though they were having a simple, quiet, friendly discussion. She didn't mean 'nice' either. She meant wonderful, but while she had no problem being an open book for her Master, Seeley was not that man. Public Katie was wearing her face, despite the woman's desire to open…just a little. “When um…when my mom got sick…everything fell on me.” She then touched her neck, fingers slipping beneath long brown hair. “So…to be able to…be myself again….yeah.” She said. She smiled when he approved of her coffee and perked up a little. “The owners bailed. Tax evasion. I have…sixty days, and I'm hoping to raise the seed money to make my own dreams reality.” She actually gave him a genuine smile. Funny how a person changed when they were right where they needed to be in life.

Seeley tilted his head a little. She was opening up, warming up to company, even when he wasn't around. Even reading his suggested book, the one that had helped him grasp more of the lifestyle he'd chosen to enter. He must really be something for her to go that far, to open up that much. The man he thought looked predatory was bringing the woman out of the bookworm. He had a pang of protectiveness, worry, something he would have for a friend, for a little sister. Wait, what? She was just the coffee girl. They'd barely spoken. But she'd been around this place so frequently that she was almost a part of the furniture.

He left her personal issues alone, she'd seemed so stressed a few days ago, but he hadn't pushed then, and he wouldn't push now. That reminded him of the other man he'd seen her with. The tattoo artist. He hadn't seen much of him, but it did suddenly make him wonder which man. Coffee. “That's… Pretty rough. But it sounds like there's a silver lining. Planning on opening your own?”

Katie set her phone down and nodded. “I am hoping to. If all goes well, I should be able to.” Katie had spent the morning doing some of her own amateur sleuthing. She had found out where the owners had fled to, and while Katie wasn't normally one to play dirty, she knew if the city got their hands on the owners before they fled elsewhere or shuffled the money offshore, she'd be able to make a lower bid on the licenses and equipment in the shop. She slid a slip of paper over to Seeley with names. An address. “I don't know what your branch is. But if this were to get into the hands of the city's taxation and enforcement…” She paused a moment and glanced around. “I would greatly appreciate it. Something something free coffee and scones for life blah blah.” She actually….joked?

She couldn't be the one to turn it over to the city. She couldn't have her name attached at all. This was a new side of Katie, well, one she'd never shown. This was the Katie who had to fight and claw the things she wanted out of life.

Seeley looked down at the piece of paper on the counter. Pick it up. Leave it. Make a decision. It wasn't his jurisdiction, he should leave it alone. “Homicide.” He mentioned quietly. He could pass it on to Caroline, she'd know what to do with it. He picked it up and tucked it into his jacket pocket, not even looking at it. If he didn't know the contents, he wouldn't be involved, right? Right! “I'll see what I can do.” Too late.

Katie nodded. “Anything is appreciated.” She replied quietly, unspoken gratitude in her eyes. Maybe this particular fight had just gotten a lot easier. Heaven knew it would be a relief. She topped off his coffee from the thermos…then slid the whole thing to him. She'd brought it for him anyways. And not because she had a favor to ask either.

Seeley smiled his lopsided smile, a little softer. Less his cheeky grin, more that of a bigger brother looking out for his little sister. He could do that for her. He couldn't tell why, but it was happening. There was a tinge of regret, a memory of someone lost. The sparkle in his eyes faded as he looked down at the thermos, distracted. He took a drink from the mug, using it to gather his thoughts. “Any time.”

Katie was nothing if not observant. Perhaps not as much as her Master or Seeley, but she caught that fading sparkle. She knew it well and empathy glimmered in her eyes for a moment. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and pulled a wrapped scone from her bag and slid it over to him. “Her recipe. _{They never leave us, if you know where to see their signs.}” She said no more than that. It wasn't her place or business to pry.

Seeley's smile returned with the offer. His hand reached out and covered hers for a moment. “Thank you.” Then he lifted his hand away and took the wrapped scone from her. He still had the first she'd given, untouched, distracted by the conversation. He took a bite from it, gathering his thoughts, his feelings, pushing down the feeling of dread associated with them. “I know. It always hurts to lose a friend. A loved one.” A flicker, then that sparkle was back. The happy-go-lucky agent was no longer lost in the past, firmly ensconced in the present.

Katie looked at his hand over hers and her eyes met his. An understanding passed between them and she nodded. “It does. It's hard to move past.” She replied gently, giving him a friendly pat on his hand. Well well well, did the reserved bookworm just make a friend? It appeared so.

Seeley nodded, taking another bite from his scone. “It is. I've had to, more than I care to remember.” That flicker once more, then his facade returned to that happy one that hid his pain. “Thank you.”

Katie picked up her old-fashioned book and moved to a chair by the fire to observe and read. “Any time.” She replied quietly to Seeley.

Nate pushed the door to the club open, darting through and shutting it behind him to keep the wind out. He curled the collar of his burgundy leather jacket down, flattening down the lapels, then pulling the zip down to reveal the crisp white t-shirt underneath. He turned to see Katie in her chair by the fireplace, then turned to the jukebox, tapping in a couple of buttons, then gave it a smart rap in just the right place to make it play her song.

Seeley turned as he heard the music playing. Not his kinda thing. He went back to his coffee and scone, pulling his paper out from under his arm to start reading.

Katie looked up and 'Public Katie' cracked when she saw who walked in. She pushed her glasses up on her nose and stood, pulling another thermos from her messenger bag, her face lighting up as he played that song. There was a slight dance in her step, even lifting en pointe as she made her way to him. Gold-flecked blues peered up through long black lashes and she held out the thermos with a serene, happy smile. _{“Hello, Master.”} She murmured tenderly.

Nate watched her dance on her feet towards him. Pushing her glasses up was one of her tells that she was distracted, even doing it when they hadn't slipped down her elegant nose. His eyes darted to the thermos in her hand. He knew she would be bringing him coffee from her coffee shop. He took it from her hand and unscrewed the lid, smelling the aroma before rescrewing it. _{“Hello Kitten”}

_{“I got something you can rescrew, Master.”}

Katie actually grinned when he tested her coffee, even though she knew it was, by far, his favorite. She knew exactly how he liked it. “How has your day been?” She asked softly, smoothing the lapels of his jacket. They didn't need smoothing, she just wanted to touch the man she loved, the man who owned her.

Nate reached down to take her hand. “I'll show you. Or do you need to grab your things?” He smiled down at the tiny girl in front of him, reaching for his jacket.

Katie looked over to her bag and darted quickly over, then slung it over her shoulder before rejoining him and taking his hand. “I am ready, Sir.” She replied.

Nate pushed his fingers between hers, holding her hand firmly. _{“Don't think I didn't hear your little mumble.”} He led her to the door, pulling it open and slipping outside with His Kitten.

Katie tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear and pushed her glasses up at his words, her cheeks bright red as they left the club together.

Next: Bringing a Kitten Home