#cat call

Erin was out the door before she even hung up with the woman on the other end of the phone call. For all of the godforsaken things that had happened in the past few weeks, one good thing had finally fucking happened. They’d found Betty. Alive, unharmed, and ready to come home. Never in her life would Erin have pictured herself speeding through town for a cat. Here she was regardless, a drumming in her chest and the biggest, hopeful smile on her face as she burst into the animal shelter. “Hi!” she started, unintentionally cutting off the receptionist she’d just spoken with before she could greet Erin in turn. “I’m here for Betty? Nichols? Erin Nichols. We were just on the phone?” The woman laughed as Erin fumbled for identification. Once she was satisfied, she grinned, Erin’s excitement more than contagious. No doubt that this was probably one of the better parts of this job. Most were lost, but some actually found their way back home.

“Betty’s just in the back. Give me just one second,” the older woman assured her. The barking grew louder as she disappeared into the back and Erin tapped her fingers anxiously against the counter. The door reopened just a few moments later and she stood straight, a smile that practically showed all of her teeth until--

“...Kaden?”

It wasn’t unusual for Kaden to be in and out of the shelter multiple times a day. Picking up strays, dropping them off, for one. And sometimes he just liked stopping by, checking in. And very occasionally, he would get a hopeful call that a lost pet was found. It almost never turned out well. Not in this town. There were usually a few he was keeping an eye out for, certain cases he was following. Usually it was for the children he had to encounter. In this case, it was for a brown and white cat. Betty. He’d asked to be called second if a cat matching her description showed up. He had driven over to confirm, maybe tell Erin if she didn’t already know.

So he wasn’t entirely shocked to see her there, eager and excited. But she sure seemed shocked to see him. “Erin,” he greeted her. Not sure why she was surprised. He kind of worked there. “You know I’m here all the time. I know you do. Considering…” Considering they’d shared brain space a few weeks ago. He didn’t miss that. At all. Odd, guess they hadn’t run into each other in person since that happened. And since she went to jail. Or since she nearly got Blanche and Rio killed. And did get Sarge killed.

Why was he helping her get her cat back again? He sighed. There was no reason to think she was a bad pet owner. He had been in her head after all. There was a lot that he’d found there that he disliked. But there was no trace of animal cruelty or even negligence. And animals did bond to people. Keeping them in their homes was usually for the best. “Heard Betty was found. Congrats.” Putain, it was so awkward. He had no idea what to say or do in this situation. “Is someone getting her or do you need help?”

“Right, of course. I did know that,” Erin said quickly. She didn’t know why she’d been surprised either. Then again, it wasn’t as if the Frenchman she was uncomfortably well-acquainted with had been at the top of her mind. It’d been a mad dash out the door, relief and excitement and Betty trumping most other rational thoughts. The longer she stood here, the quicker they trickled back in. She shifted uncomfortably in place, a thick tension buzzing in the air that nearly rivaled the hum of bad overhead lighting. “I’m good. Someone’s getting her.” She paused, uncertainty and a dash of reluctance stifling her. “Thank you again for helping, or looking out anyway. You didn’t have to but you did, and I appreciate it. Really. So, just--uh, yeah. Thank you.” It was a clumsy apology, nerves she didn’t know what to do with fumbling her words, but it was a sincere one nonetheless.

Silence filled the room again. What was taking so long? Not that she had any desire to pop back into his brain ever again but she would have wagered this was just as weird for him. The guy probably hated her, and even if she tended to disagree with him on most things, she couldn’t blame him for his contempt. Not after the fire. “We don’t have to make this a whole thing, right?” She hushed her voice, glancing at the door. “I’ll just get Betty, go, and we can keep our ways thoroughly parted. Forever, if we can help it.”

Kaden wasn’t sure if he should stay or leave. Some strange social conventions seemed to be keeping him in place, though he was sure there was no written rule for this sort of moment. He could just as easily leave and go about his job. But he didn’t. Because he was stupid. “Don’t mention it. I mean it’s sort of my job,” he said with a small shrug. “Plus, it’s better for the animal if they remain with the same owner. Some sense of stability.” There was enough of Erin that was moderately likeable that he wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt that she could provide something stable enough to keep her cat. At the same time, looking at her, all he could picture was flames, Blanche’s burns, what he’d guessed the remains of Roland Hills looked like in his nightmares. It was hard to reconcile how to feel about her.

He drummed his fist against the counter, looking away from her and was about to leave, go back to work, when he caught the pointed glance that Allison, the shelter worker at the desk, gave him. His brow creased. “What is it?” he asked her. “Nothing,” she started, going back to shuffling papers for a full half second before turning back to them. “But maybe save your argument with your ex for someplace private. That’s all,” she added with a coy smile.

His ex? What ex? No one was here other than Er-- Oh. Oh. She thought… “I don’t-- We’re not-- I never dated her. Ever. At all. If that’s what you’re--” Allison held her hands up and made a face that looked like something Blanche would do that indicated how fucking little she believed him. “It’s not what you think it--” Kaden’s mouth pulled into a thin line, finally realizing this was a hole he wasn’t digging himself out of anytime soon. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Great. This wasn’t already awkward as shit. “Where the hell is Linda with your cat?”

To say Erin was anxious to get her arms around her much too long missing furball and hightail it out there was the understatement of the century. Some sense of stability. She was sure that wasn’t a well-disguised jab, given the sincerity in Kaden’s tone, but it dug at her all the same. Stability. Her teeth clenched down, forcing yet another tight-lipped smile. Just be nice. You only have to be nice for a few more minutes. “Don’t worry - I spoil her rotten. I’m sure she’s eager to get back to her ultra cozy lifestyle,” Erin assured him, a gentler smile replacing it. For a moment, anyway.

“Oh, God. No, no. No--” she insisted, joining in Kaden’s chorus of stern declines, despite the awkward laugh that fell from her. “That’s--no,” she adamantly emphasized the ‘no’ heavily again, shaking her head. Still, she narrowed her eyes in Kaden’s direction with unearned indignation, tilting her head, then turned pointedly to the receptionist. “I’m just… not really his type, you know? I think it was because I talk just too damn much. Guy likes his silence. Kind of a black and white issue with him, but,” she shrugged. “Can’t fault a guy for knowing what he likes. Right?” The woman tried to stifle her laughter, eyes growing a little wide as Erin smirked smugly at Kaden’s direction again. Petty? Yes. Did she regret it? Not yet. One last little dig for the road didn’t hurt.

“Here she is!” The voice pulled her attention back to the door. Erin saw the disheveled, dirty fur poking out from Linda’s arms, and just like that, everyone else in the room vanished. Her eyes burned with the threat of tears, the relief and joy melting every ounce of composure. Yep. The second she was in her arms, she was babbling like every embarrassing pet owner she’d ever seen as the tears streaked her cheeks. Oh God, this was embarrassing. God, she know it. Did she care? Not one bit. “Oh, my sweet girl,” she cooed, brushing back some of the matted hair on top of her head before burying her face into the soft fur, unable to lift her eyes to the three employees watching their reunion. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she mumbled, trying not to squeeze her too tightly.

Kaden was relieved that for once, him and Erin were on the same page about something as she explained to Allison that no, they weren’t dating and never had been. But his brow furrowed as she continued. Yeah, okay she wasn’t really his type since she was a criminal but he wasn’t sure where she was going with thi-- She had to be fucking kidding. The confusions on his face shifted to annoyance. “Pretty sure that’s not it. I’m into screamers, really.” It would almost be funny if his hearing wasn’t still a little muffled from that boat ride with Regan and Savannah. “And come on, if I was into black and white stripes, you would have been a perfect candidate, Erin.” Allison didn’t exactly seem convinced by their snipping that they’d never dated. Kaden didn’t care just then. He wanted to get the last dig in. “Ah, nevermind, that’s right. They wear orange now, right?” The receptionist's face was scrunched up as she tried to put together the pieces of the conversation and it was clear she was still coming up short.

“Kaden are you into that big orange mascot thing? You know from Philadelphia I think. Is that what you’re saying?” Allison asked him, clearly concerned and a little distrubed.

“Huh? No! A mascot? What the fuck are you-- I was saying she’s a crimin--” He stopped just short of finishing his sentence. Shit, if Allison thought Erin was a convicted criminal, she might not give Erin back the cat. Putain. “I mean, not really. Never mind. Just a joke. We still never dated so stop looking at me like that.” Allison backed off and went back to shuffling her papers just as Betty was brought out. He’d never been happier to see a fucking cat and it wasn’t even his. As much as he wasn’t Erin’s biggest fan, seeing the reunion between her and her pet was worth it. The corner of his mouth pulled into a smile as he watched her hug her cat. He caught a glance from Allison and saw her waggle her brows. The look he shot back was no longer smiling. “Glad you two are reunited. I mean it,” he said offering Erin a small smile and a nod before going back to work.

Erin couldn’t help the chuckle that followed when his coworker hopped on board, or even the shocked one that followed the ‘screamer’ bit. Really? Her eyebrows rose unbelievably but decided that she could let that one slide. Seemed like Allison was getting as much enjoyment out of this as she was. Prodding the grumbly bear must have been more than a few of his coworkers favorite pastimes. No wonder he was grumpy. “You’re right,” she gestured towards Kaden, seemingly giving in. “You just need a lot more than I can provide. I’m big enough to admit that,” she smirked over in Kaden’s direction.