KATE'S CONCERNS

By

Ashleigh Anpilova

Set after Marine Down.
After Abby and Tony saw the caricature drawings she'd done of them, Kate is concerned.
A Kate-centric gen story.
Written: September 2008. Word count: 300.

Kate sat at her desk, biting her lip and fiddling with her pencil. She cast covert glances at Tony, but he deliberately avoided her.

She felt bad and guilty. What had she been thinking of, doing those caricatures of Abby and Tony?

Abby had said she loved the Abby-bat, but now Kate was worried Abby had just said that. What if she'd been offended? Abby was a good friend. It'd been a long time since Kate had had a close female friend; she didn't want to lose Abby.

And whatever she might think of Tony and his women chasing, he was her co-worker and despite everything, she was fond of him.

Suddenly she caught his eye. To her horror, he stared straight through her, before standing up and leaving the squad room. She watched him go as the guilt increased.

Finally, she decided she couldn't sit there second-guessing any longer. She had to go and see Abby; if only to reassure herself that Abby was okay.

"Hey, Kate. See, doesn't it look great?" Abby pointed to where the Abby-bat was. She smiled at Kate. "I really love it, Kate. You so rock. Hey, what's up?"

"Do you really like it, Abby? I mean really?"

"Of course I do. What's not to like?"

"You're not offended?"

"Do I look offended?"

"No, but . . . What about Tony?"

"Tony?"

"Yes, his drawing was - "

"So cool. He loves it."

Kate blinked. "He what?"

"Loves it, of course. He'd ask you for it, but he doesn't want to lose face."

"You're not kidding?"

"Would I kid you?"

One look at Abby's face reassured Kate. "Thanks, Abby," she said, giving Abby a quick one-armed hug.

She left Abby's lab thinking of a way she could give the drawing to Tony without either of them losing face.

Feedback is always appreciated

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