Chapter Text
Katrina was trying to process everything that happened in her life for the last few weeks.
Her being fired was something she didn't think could happen. Not again, at least. Not especially after all the effort she had made to be promoted. She understood the reasons, though. It was sort of deserved, and If she had the opportunity to change it, she wouldn't do it. When Louis destroyed Samantha in Faye's trial, she had felt an overwhelming responsibility to step in and support her. It had always struck her as unfair that they consistently turned to Samantha for help without reciprocating.
Yes, Samantha was undoubtedly the firm's tough-as-nails attorney, but deep down, she cared for everyone more than she'd ever admit, her actions proving that she loved them. Katrina was relieved that all the harsh words were only said because it was necessary, and even though she didn’t agree, it had to be done.
Not everything had been bad. Lucy's birth was probably the best thing to happen this year. Louis was over the moon with excitement and life seemed so bright for him right now that somehow, everyone around him was just a little happier. He had been both a mentor and a friend to Katrina, and she had no doubt that he'd be a wonderful father to Lucy.
She was barely coping with the fact that Donna and Harvey were moving to Seattle when she was rehired with a new title and suddenly it was too much and she didn't know if she could handle so many changes without feeling scared. It wasn't easy to get used to the idea of not having two of the most important people of the firm anymore. As if it wasn’t enough, she was anxious about the new responsibilities she had just acquired.
The reminder that she wasn't alone came when Alex began sharing plans for Joy's upcoming party. She was almost sixteen, meaning there was a huge event on the way. Samantha was helping Rosalie in her free time with some of the details and trying to make her life as easy as possible.
As Alex poured another drink into his glass, he let out a sigh, appearing somewhat distracted. “She is excited, and we’re really nervous. We don’t have much time left.”
“Of course she is, she’s turning sixteen,” Samantha playfully rolled her eyes. “It’s going to be fine. Don’t be so dramatic.”
Alex's phone rang and Katrina was about to get ready to leave when Samantha’s voice stopped her. “Katrina, wait.” She said. “Are you busy tonight?”
Katrina smiled instinctively. Two hours ago she was sort of unemployed, and now, her biggest dream in life was right in front of her. She would have been dumb if she didn’t accept the offer, but she was surprised because it didn’t seem possible. Not after what she did.
It wasn’t that bad , they said, but she felt uneasy anyway. However, she could live with what she did to Faye, but she would have never forgiven herself if Samantha was disbarred and she didn’t do everything in her power to stop it.
“No, not really. Is everything okay?” Katrina answered.
“Yes, everything's okay.” Samantha smiled—a pure, genuine smile that she only displayed when she was content and at ease. “I was just thinking, maybe I could take you to dinner?” Katrina was taken aback; she had always perceived Samantha as the "night out for drinks'' kind of person. Besides, she wasn't that used to going out alone with her. She didn’t mind, though, Samantha was great company after all. “You don’t have to, of course. I just wanted to thank you, but I understand if you have plans…” Samantha trailed off, but then stopped talking when green eyes met her own.
“Sorry, I got distracted,” Katrina shrugged slightly, starting to feel as though she was being impolite by taking too long to respond. “Dinner would be great, thank you.” Her gaze shifted to Alex, who was still on the phone in a corner of the office, probabñy talking to Rosalie. She couldn't make out much of the conversation, but considering it was getting late, it made sense.
“Louis is busy with the baby, and you know Alex, he’s definitely having dinner at home tonight.” Samantha read her mind. “Besides, I want to talk to you about something.”
Katrina raised an eyebrow. Samantha was acting differently, yes, but she seemed happy, and with a good reason. Nonetheless, she wanted to make sure she had nothing to worry about. Lately everything was chaos and she couldn't let go of the feeling that something could go wrong at any moment. "You said everything was fine." Katrina drawled in response.
"And it is. Trust me." Samantha met Katrina's gaze with a confident yet mysterious glint in her eyes. "It's just... Personal, I guess."
“Oh, I see.” Katrina smiled dubiously, deciding to let it go. It was a good night, and they had something to celebrate, so she chose to focus on that. “We can leave whenever you want.”
Samantha nodded with a smile. “Let’s say goodbye then.” They waited for less than a minute until Alex's phone call ended, standing next to each other in a comfortable silence. “Are you leaving already?” He arched a suspicious brow when he placed his phone in his pocket.
“We are.” Samantha answered first. “I think Louis is going to be the father of the year.” She teased, taking her time as she gathered her belongings.
“That’s unfair. I’ve just talked about my daughter’s party.” Alex retorted, pretending to be jealous and Samantha chuckled.
“Don’t be envious, he deserves it,” Katrina chimed in with a warm smile, adding her own playful tone to the exchange.
Samantha couldn’t help but agree, her own smile brightening. “She’s right. Besides, you already had plenty of those years.”
“You two always have to come after me, don't you?”
“Yes.” They replied in sync. It felt good to be with them again. Katrina was sure they didn’t care about her when nobody seemed to notice she was gone, that she forgot the whole reason they were doing it all for.
For the firm.
For Samantha.
For the family they had and that cost them so much to build after overcoming such tragedies and difficulties. She’d make sure to never forget that again, cause she was part of that family and it was her job to keep them together as well.
“That’s our job, Alex” Samantha said and waited for Katrina so they could walk out of the office together.
Samantha's driver picked them up right in front of the building. She could have driven herself but It had been a long day and she could use a break and dinner to relax. It worked, because the ride was quiet but they took their time to talk about a thing or two. She even asked Katrina about her days off the firm and how she had managed to cope with that. The truth is, Katrina didn't. She just tried to forget as much as possible by trying to get another job.
It wasn't exactly hard, cause she already had a reputation and she had managed to make a name for herself in town, but still, it wasn't what she wanted and she knew she was lying when she said she didn't know if she wanted to come back. Deep down, the firm was the closest thing she could call home, at least in New York.
They arrived at the restaurant fifteen minutes after getting into the car. Samantha opened the door for Katrina, who blushed at the gesture and buttoned her coat to avoid feeling the slight chill of the night. Samantha smiled and they walked towards the restaurant.
It was a nice place. As nice and private as every other place lawyers usually went to, even if it was only to pretend. Samantha must have quite an expensive taste because she knew all of the right places to go.
A young, brunette hostess greeted them with a warm smile and asked for their reservation name.
“Samantha Wheeler.” The attorney replied kindly.
"This way, please." She nodded and they followed behind the hostess. They were shown a small table that seated two. Each were given a menu, and Samantha choosed whiskey for beverage despite Katrina’s curious gaze. She opted for wine for herself.
“Whiskey again?” She asked, her gaze still discreetly taking in the surroundings. She didn't often go out, but she recognized the place by its name. "Seems like you already had this planned, am I wrong?”
“It’s never too much. Besides, we’re celebrating, so yeah, I already had the reservation.” Samantha mumbled across the table. Her features showed she was relaxed, it was impossible for Katrina not to feel the same when she was being so kind. Not that she was rude before, but she had a different light tonight and Katrina could see it clearly.
“What would you have done if I said I was busy?” Katrina raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. Would she have tried to convince Alex to go with her instead?
“Get drunk by myself, I guess. I was being optimistic.”
That brought a smile to Katrina's face. “Good for that, then.” She said from across the table.
“Alex told me you sent him to hell.” Samantha lifted her gaze, her chocolate eyes twinkling in the dim lighting. “That’s why I wanted to talk to you.”
“I was upset.” Katrina could only shrug, her tone tinged with a mix of guilt and frustration. She gave Alex a hard time, yes, but they had to admit she had a point. “It’s just… I’m not really used to doing things like that.”
“I’m not judging you, Katrina. You are the best lawyer I've ever met." Samantha said with a soft, understanding smile. She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I wanted to thank you.”
“You have nothing to thank me for.” Katrina frowned. She could have chosen not to do what they asked her. If she did what she did, it was her decision, not theirs.
“You can’t be serious. We still have a firm because of you.” Samantha simply said. “And I can’t help wondering why.”
Katrina tilted her head. “Why what?” She asked softly. It was easy, wasn't it? She couldn't let her friends down, even if she was angry with them or felt betrayed, she still cared deeply for them.
“Why would you get yourself into such a problem to save our asses?” Samantha couldn't help but chuckle. “You stood up for me with Louis, with Faye; you even got fired because of me, Katrina. I can’t pretend that didn't happen because it did. I owe you.”
Katrina remained silent at first, not knowing what to say. Samantha didn't owe her anything. No one does. Even if they did, it was already paid, with their friendship and their support. “It was the right thing to do. Louis was an asshole for saying all those things to you, which are not true by the way, you are nothing like Faye said you were.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Samantha mumbled while trying to avoid the pit in her stomach. “What Louis said, it was true.” Samantha’s face dropped. It was like being in court all over again and she hated to remember it because not only she felt upset but hurt. She hated going back to that moment but sometimes it just happened.
“I don’t think so, Samantha. And you shouldn't either. And just so we’re clear, I was not fired because of you. That was all on Faye.”
“You hated me when we started working together at this firm, and look at us now." Samantha teased. In a way, she was trying to spin the subject because she didn't want to talk about how she felt. Although she couldn't help but be a little shocked to see how her relationship with Katrina had changed. When they worked at Rand Kaldor Zane, they were never close. There was something about this specific firm that seemed to bring everyone together.
“I never hated you.” Katrina clarified. “But... you did hate me.” She said, all the memories of Samantha being far from welcoming replaying somewhere in the back of her mind.
“I didn’t.” Samantha shook her head, her own thoughts drifting back to the day she had confronted Katrina in the ladies' room. It was a funny memory, actually. The tension could be felt in the room, and if anyone had walked in, they would have felt it too. “I just felt like murdering you."
“That doesn’t make it any better.”
“You impersonated me.” Samantha chuckled. “No, but, seriously. I’m sorry I gave you a lot of hell.”
“I was a little scared of you becoming my enemy.” Katrina confessed with an unusual touch of nervousness in her voice. “I told Donna once that people either love you or they’re afraid of you. I didn’t want to have any kind of problem with you.” She said as she busied herself with the food on her plate. For some reason she couldn't look her in the eye while saying that.
“It’s good to see you don’t fear me anymore, then.” Samantha’s voice was nothing but honesty. Katrina didn't have time to respond before Samantha continued. “I also know that Harvey snapped at you, and I’m sorry. He didn’t mean it, he was going through a lot. His mom, the case, Faye, it was too much. I hope you know that.”
“I do. I talked about it with Alex. That’s not why I was pissed.” Katrina took a deep breath, trying to articulate her feelings. “I felt like I didn't matter, you know? One second I was unemployed and the next one, they wanted me to do something that could cost me my career. It was hard for me.”
Samantha's face couldn't help showing concern at those words. She understood that feeling more than she wanted to. “I’m sorry, Katrina. You do matter, always have.” Samantha’s voice was gentle and low. Katrina thought that she must have felt guilty about what they asked her to do, but Samantha was speaking so carefully that she couldn't dare to doubt her. “I know you’re not that kind of person.”
“I try not to." She said. "Well, I tried.”
“You are not, Katrina. And that’s why I’ve always admired you. You’re better than the rest of us.”
Katrina’s breath hitched when Samantha said those words. One thing was the knowledge of the mutual admiration they felt for each other, but to say it aloud, that was something Samantha didn't do on a daily basis. "Samantha, I appreciate that," Katrina responded, her voice soft, "but I'm far from perfect. We all have our bad moments, even me."
Samantha's gaze held an unspoken question, and it was as if she could sense that there was more to Katrina's story. She thought about how little she knew about Katrina's past; the younger lawyer had always been discreet, keeping her personal history well-guarded.
Katrina hesitated as she contemplated her confession. She knew it was time to share a piece of her own story, one that she rarely thinks about these days but it happened nonetheless. "Let’s say that I once found myself at a crossroads where I did something I’m not proud of, more or less. But, I did it for Louis, so I can’t say that I regret it because maybe my loyalty back there is what got us to where we are.”
Samantha listened in silence, understanding that Katrina had acted out of affection for Louis, and that just proved how committed she was to help any of them if they needed to. "Katrina," Samantha said with a playful and understanding tone, "I'm the last person who could judge you for doing something like that. Believe me, I've been down that road way too many times myself. We do what we have to do for our firms."
Katrina relaxed, feeling a wave of relief at Samantha's understanding. She took a deep breath, the weight of her past choices lifting a bit. Katrina's thoughts drifted to how much Samantha loved the law. For her, it was more than just a career; it was her passion. In the last cases they worked on together, Katrina noticed Samantha's unwavering dedication, her genuine concern for clients, her tendency to help those in need (even if it meant being a bit stubborn at times), and how hard she worked every single one of her cases. Samantha's methods might not always be conventional, but her intentions were always in the right place.
“I didn’t do it for the firm.” Katrina whispered without thinking. Imagining that Samantha could have lost the opportunity to do what she loves most in life just sounded wrong.
Brown eyes drew upwards to meet with green, surprised. Her thoughts being a jumble of confusion and curiosity. “Then why?”
“You." Katrina said, shrugging her shoulders and taking a sip of wine. Samantha went silent for a moment before asking her to elaborate.
"Me? Why?"
“I… I don’t know.“ She murmured. “I guess you deserve more than what’s been given to you. And as your friend, well, you could say that we're friends, I had to try it.” And she wasn't lying, because that's what they do in the firm. Save each other when needed.
Samantha smiled shyly. “Thank you, Katrina.” She cleared her throat before continuing to speak. "And of course we're friends. From now on, we're all family."
“In that case, anytime.” She raised her glass to her and Samantha did the same with a smile.
“Not so fast. I'm not putting you in that position ever again.”
“You didn’t, Samanatha. I chose to. And I’d do it again.”
“Like I said, it won’t happen again. You’re finally where you deserve to be too.” Samantha took a sip of whiskey. “The youngest name partner in New York."
“Thanks to you, I am.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Samantha tried to lie. She was good at it, but Katrina knew better. At least this time.
“Louis told me, you can’t hide that from me. And I mean it, thank you.”
Samantha arched a brow. “How’s that even possible? I was with him all the time.”
“Not all the time.” Katrina corrected her. “Besides, he wouldn’t keep those things from me.”
“Doesn’t matter. You got there on your own.” Samantha knew it was quite cliché to say such a thing, but it was true. Then, she thought she saw a look in Katrina’s eyes. Fear, probably. And she had to ask even if it wasn't really her place. Or maybe it was, because they had been through enough to ask those kinds of questions, didn't they? “Is there something wrong?”
Katrina let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. “It’s not important. Don't worry.”
“If something’s bothering you, then it is important.” Samantha announced. “Look, I’m not going to push it, but you can trust me. If you want to talk about it, I’m here.” She said, leaving her glass on the table to look at her in case the blonde decided to say something.
Katrina bit her lip, green eyes moving over to the woman across the table. “I don’t know if I’m ready. Like you said, I’m young, I have a lot of things to learn and I don't want this to blow up in my face.”
“That’s bullshit, Katrina.” Samantha smiled despite the words she decided to use. “You are the smartest lawyer in this town. You are responsible, kind, and among all those things, you fight for your clients in ways I can’t even explain. We all have stuff to learn but that’s what partners are for. We’re going to be there if you need us. But if you ask me, I think you have been ready for a long time.”
Katrina couldn't help the smile that began to play on her lips nor the blush that had started to dust her cheeks. “You really believe that?”
“I wouldn’t lie to you with that.” Samantha answered. “I’m proud of being your partner.”
“Thank you, Sam.”
“You know I hate being called like that." She rolled her eyes, but she smiled when Katrina chuckled playfully.
"I know."