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She might be safe now; but she doesn’t feel safe. She stills feels the barrel of the gun pressed against her temple; feels their arms on her as they roughly shove her in the car. She hears them bark in Arabic at her; feels the fear of dying, of never seeing her wife again.
When Kate decided to go back into the field again she hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t been prepared for this. She knows the risks of the job; she had even said so to Price.
She knew the risks; she should have been prepared. This shouldn’t be a big deal; that’s what she keeps on telling herself. She didn’t get hurt; the team had come for her before anything could happen. She is safe.
Yet here she is; sitting on the floor of one of the safe houses belonging to Farah’s army.
Her back’s against the wall and she got her knees against her chest. Her body’s trembling as she desperately tries to fight off the memories and the fear.
All she can think of is what could have happened. If her friends hadn’t found her when they did she could have gotten killed. Or worse, most likely tortured for information and probably even raped.
Kate shudders at that thought. She will forever be grateful that they came for her. Price, Gaz, Nikolai; Farah. The young woman had gathered her army as soon as she heard what had happened.
Kate owes her. She owes them all.
She hears footsteps approaching her position and quickly wipes away the tears that have been threatening to fall. She looks up to see Kyle Garrick in front of her; he’s watching her with concern in his eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, sergeant.”
The words come out a bit harsh and she notices the way Kyle bites his lip; insecurity all over his face.
She sighs. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m just... tired.”
“It’s alright, don’t worry about it. Do you wanna be left alone?”
She shakes her head at that. She might not want to talk about what happened but she can’t be alone with her thoughts. Her brain is slowly driving her insane.
“Is it okay if I sit with you?”
She nods and he sits down on the floor next to her; so close their arms almost touch.
“What can I do for you, Kyle?”
He shrugs. “I just came to check on you. It’s not every day you get kidnapped after all, is it?”
She lets out a laugh at that. A laugh that is almost a sob. Almost.
The sergeant grabs her hand and holds it in his as he looks at her.
“You wanna talk about it?”
“No, not really.”
There isn’t even much to talk about she thinks. She’s grateful for his offer but talking about it is the last thing she wants to do. She just wants to move on and forget it ever happened. The problem is; her brain isn’t letting her do that.
Kyle just nods at that. “Just know I’m here if you change your mind.”
Kate fights back her tears once more as she tells him she will. The sergeant doesn’t push the subject any further and she feels like hugging him.
Instead she thanks him from the bottom of her heart for saving her life.
The sergeant just smiles at her. It’s that kind-hearted gentle smile he so often has on his face.
”No need to thank me. You’d do the same for me.”
She nods and squeezes his arm. “I would.”
There’s no need to even think about it. The 141 has grown to be her family now.
She’s always liked the sergeant. Despite his young age he’s a great soldier and he’s proved many times he’s an amazing friend as well. Always putting the needs of others before his own.
She’s proud to call him her friend.
Kyle smiles at her softly. “See? Besides, you barely needed any help. Didn’t know you could fight like that.”
There’s an underlying cheekiness to his tone and Kate can’t help but let out a laugh; a genuine one this time. She knows what he’s referring to; her tumbling out of the car with an enemy who she broke the neck off. She had been running on pure adrenaline in that moment; fear and anger running through her and she just felt the need for revenge on the guy who had pressed the gun to her temple.
“I have to admit, it’s been a while since the last time I had to do that.”
“You still haven’t lost your touch ma’am.” The sergeant is laughing too now and she can’t help but joke with him.
“Don’t ma’am me.”
Kyle just smiles at her cheekily. It’s obvious he remembers that conversation as well.
Being out in the field with him and Price had felt good. Not only that; it had felt right.
She finally puts an arm around the sergeant; drawing him in for a hug.
He returns it and wraps both his arms around her in return. It’s an awkward hug because of how they’re sitting, but it’s still important.
“I’m glad we found you.” Kyle whispers into the hug and she gives him one final squeeze before letting go.
“So am I.”
They both go back to their original positions with their backs against the wall.
It doesn’t take long before a very familiar voice breaks the silence.
“I was wondering where you two were.”
Kate looks up and the first thing she notices is a hat and a moustache. Price.
She smiles at him as he walks towards them with a smile of his own.
“Mind if I join?”
Kate shakes her head with a smile still on her lips as she motions for him to sit down.
He sits down next to her and just sits there for a while; without saying anything.
It’s a comfortable silence and Kate just basks in it.
The captain smells of Villa Claras; the cigars he always smokes. He smells of Price; of safety and she leans against him, resting her head against his shoulder.
It only takes a second before an arm is wrapped around her shoulders; drawing her in closer to Price’s side.
“Try to get some rest now.”
The captain mumbles into her hair and the tears she has managed to hold back until now falls down her cheeks. At first it’s just the tears and then there are sobs wracking her body and she’s crying against the captain’s shoulder.
All the emotions she tried to hold back before are rushing up at once now and she doesn’t know for how long she cries.
All she knows is that Price’s presence and the arm around her keeps her grounded, warm; safe.
She can feel Kyle on her other side; his hand rubbing small circles on her back.
Kate thinks she couldn’t wish for more right now. The way her friends are both sitting there with her; shielding her and grounding her from the memories without actually making her talk about it is heart-warming. The way Price is holding her through it while telling her to just let it out, that she’s okay. That’s exactly what she needs right now.
They just keep sitting like that with her, even after her tears have dried. They don’t rush her; don’t force her to talk, they’re just there.
She closes her eyes and lets herself fall to sleep. She is safe now. She feels safe now. That’s all she needs.