2020-06-15 - Free Bird - Kira's Release Day

Natalie returns to the Alexandra PD in casual clothes. Her work is done officially but in an unofficial capacity she’s going to make sure Kira gets into her new old home and feels safe and secure. She’s wearing her blue capris, and her loose flowers top and what might be most shocking of all to the station is the sneakers, which means no click of her heels as she comes in.

Rich Newcastle does a double take, not recognizing her “Miss Sokal?”

“Yes Officer Newcastle.” she says in tired irritation “Are you going to open the door to the cells or not? I have a client to escort home.”

“Yes Ma’am…” He looks a little frightened by Natalie even without her killer heels.

Natalaie carries a file folder and has her little black purse slung over her shoulder. She approaches the now open cell door. “Hello Kira, are you all packed up?”

Marcus had maintained his poker face when Josh Greene came into the holding area with his copy of Kira’s release papers in hand.  But even the Chief seemed happy about it as he told Kira the results of the case and the details of the plea she had agreed to.  He watched as Josh himself unlocked and opened the cell door and told Kira to pack her things .. she was going home.

Kira shook as she packed her few things.  It only took a few minutes, as she only had a couple of books.  Everything else was either property of someone else or in police storage.  In less than five minutes, a small cardboard box had been brought up with the books and things that had been given to her and she explained that she thought that the books were either Sajani’s, Patricks or both of theirs, but she could return them herself later.  The only thing she had on was the clothes on her back.  The clothes she’d been arrested in had been lost.  Josh Greene explained that the Town of Alexandra would compensate her for the loss of her things, but that left her with the prospect of going home in her orange prison jumpsuit until she was surprised by Sam Wright, who came in with a paper bag of clothes.  He explained that the police had taken up a small collection and, as soon as the order had come in Darcy Lynch had run over to one of the thrift stores and bought her jeans, a colorful short with no orange at all in it and a pair of shoes.  Kira accepted the gift sniffing, but could not avoid a couple of tears falling.  The men had left, leaving Kira alone to change.  The clothes weren’t a perfect fit, but they weren’t that far off either.  By the time she was dressed, the door opened and Naalie walked in dressed casually and asking if she was ready.

Josh Greene returned with Marcus as Natalie spoke to Kira.  “I’m glad to see you leave us.”  he told her and went into his pocket.  “This was given to me by Mint Portia a few days ago.  Your house is finished and these are the keys.”  he handed a ring with four keys on it.  Each key had a piece of masking tape on it indicating which door it went to.  FT, FB, BT and BB.  “Front door top and bottom and back door top and bottom.”  Josh explained as Kira took the keys with a trembling hand.  Josh smiled slightly as he watched her shaking.  “If you’d like I can send Marcus with you.  You two are close and it might make you feel better to have a little security at least the first day.”  Kira only nodded, a little shaky still and Josh turned to Marus.  “Take the rest of the day off.  Tomorrow too.”  he ordered.  “You can join the rest of the crew in the bullpen.”  he chuckles.  “Good luck, Kira.”

Marcus smiles openly and nods.  “Thank you sir.” he can see Kira getting a bit frightened.  “Give me about ten minutes and I’ll meet you in front of the station for the walk back to your house?”

Kira nods.  “Yes.  Please.  Thank you.  All.”  She inhales and exhales slowly.  She’s all at once happy and scared.  But at least she won’t be alone.

Natalie puts a reassuring hand on Kira’s arm, just lightly “I’ll come too. I’m not jumping on the first ferry. We’ll make sure you feel ok Kira.” She looks towards the chief and steps away from Kira. Her eyes had followed  Marcus briefly but she was still being discreet. “Chief Greene.” She extends a hand “You run an amazing station here. Probably the best I’ve seen. I don’t say that lightly. Thank you for everything you’ve done to help Kira and the case go as well as it could.” She will step away after the Chief shakes, if he does and offers Kira “Do you need me to carry anything?” She has one file folder but she could easily take something else if needed.

Josh smiles and shakes hands.  “Thank you Ms Sokal.  High praise indeed.”  he nods at Kira and heads back to his office.

Marcus keeps his discretion, not allowing any of his feelings for Natalie to show on his face.  He quickly leaves the station and heads home where he changes into civilian jeans and sneakers, but opting for a APD t shirt, on the off chance someone forgot who he worked for.  He jogged back to the station and waited just outside for Natalie and Kira in case he was needed to carry anything.

Kira watched and stepped back.  “There's these boxes …  books…” she explains apologetically.  There two of them, but the books within are distributed evenly to lessen the weight.  She pics up one of the boxes and steps towards the cell door and pauses only a moment, as if she expects to be shoved back inside.  But when she steps into the holding area, no one stops her.  “Alright ….”  she takes in and blows out a breath.  “I’m ready.”  she can feel the keys in the pocket of her new jeans and onders .. is she ready?

Natalie shoves the folder under her arm and picks up the other box of books. She’s feeling much better than she had been. Her perspiration is normal and she’s not in danger of throwing up anytime soon although certain things might make that one come back she knows. “No problem.” She says confidently and follows Kira. She smiles at the words I’m ready. Before they exit the station she notices all the officers on duty send Kira off with kindness. “Good luck Kira.” “Take care Kira.” “You got this Kira.” are words all around. Natalie almost tears up for her client and has to blink as she smiles at these wonderful folks. Marcus sure had lucked into a great workplace. Natalie looked at Kira as they stepped out the door towards Marcus “Wow...that was something.” She swallowed and gave Marcus a brief but unguarded emotional look.

Marcus sees them leaving and moves to Kira.  “Let me take that.”  he offers as he catches Natalie’s unguarded look.  He nods in the direction of her house.  “Let’s go.”

Kira lets Marcus take the box as she looks around as if she’s never seen Alexandra before.  But she has and she begins to walk towards her house.  She notes the house Brayden lives in, and that she now knows Gareth Dunham lives in.  “Natalie … There are so many people I want to know I’m out.  Sajani.  Gareth Dunhan .. he lives there.”  she points to the house as they near the corner of it.  “Well .. them, at least.  I know they whole island will probably know ome sunset.”  she manages to crack a joke.

Natalie watches Marcus take the box and then focuses on Kira who has a look of childlike wonder at her town “Well I have a phone list of your regular visitors still...we can reach out to those people. Oh and Kira...I do believe you may have a phone...in that house of yours. We’ll have to set it up a bit. Marcus can help with that I suspect.” She defaults to calling him by his first name without thinking and then inwardly swats herself. Well they were off duty right? It wasn’t unreasonable to assume people working together would use first names sometimes in a  casual context. “Yes word will get out I’m sure. Nice outfit by the way.” She compliments as she easily carries the other box of books.

Marcus nods, making note of the casual use of his first name.  “I can.”  He follows Natalie’s lead.  “And once I set up your phone, Natalie can give you the numbers to call.”  he turns the corner and heads down the street.

Kira nods.  “Sure …”  she considers the use of given names, but thinks that this isn’t formal … so why shouldn't they.  “Thanks to you both … for not making me face this alone.  Imean …”  she slips her hand in her pocket and feels the keys.  “I have a back door now?”  sh laughs a bit nervously.  “It really is like a new house, isn’t it?”

Natelie hears Marcus being informal too and suppresses a smile and then focuses on Kira “Yes….brand new. We’re with you Kira. Are you excited?” She can’t help but feel a bit excited for her. She also is ready to deal with any emotion Kira might have as this was her coming down from a lot.

Marcus walks along 3rd street and can hear the sounds of a stringed instrument.  They pass one of the brownstones here a young man is sitting on the stoop playing, casually.  He knows the man is Angel Negron and he also knows that Kira would not know him.  But as they pass, he simply nods at the man, who nods back.

Kira considers and realizes that she IS excited.  “Yes.  I am.”  they pass a man on a stoop and she stares.  Then she remembers her manners and looks away quickly.  “I don’t know him.”  her voice sounds very excited now.  “Are there new people in town I’ve never met?”  it sounds like she thinks this a miracle.

Marcus chuckles.  “That’s Angel Negron.”  he tells her and possibly Natalie as well.  “His brothers are part of the crew that renovated your house and are deconstructing the Greybar building.”  He doesn't mention the Rose house deconstruction.  Kira will see that herself soon enough.  “There’s also the Lancasters.  I’m not sure exactly here they live, but the mother, Sharon, is running the new credit union.”  he grins.  “Where you might want to deposit the money left over from the fundraiser.”

Kira’s jaw drops and she stops in her tracks.  “There’s a credit union on the island?”  she marvels and again looks around as if she’s never seen the place before.  Then Marcus continues.  “There’s money left over?  I can start a bank account?”

Marcus nods.  “I’m sure Nat will help you.”  He uses the shortened version of her name casually and fumbles.  “Natalie.”

Kira arches her brows a little distracted at the shortened name.  It suits Natalie … out of Marcus's mouth, but mostly she is still amazed at the goings on around her.  “Would you, Natalie?”  she asks.  Nat doesn’t seem to fit right in her mouth.

Natalie looks back at the man playing music on the steps and muses “Hey you don’t see those a lot.” She’s talking about the instrument not the musician. She gives the man a brief nod as well but then qualifies “It’s a cuatro. No I’m not remotely Latein American but my father knows everything with strings….he’s a violin maker.” It’s not related to anything else they’re talking about so she leaves it at that and enjoys Marcus’s encyclopedic knowledge of the island. She teases him a little “They don’t even need to take a census here...they can just ask you…” She hears him call her Nat then and blushes but only for a moment “Yes of course I can help you set up with the credit union. I haven’t booked my ferry ticket yet so it’s relatively open. We could do it tomorrow or see if they have online options.” She smiles at Kira “The internet..you haven’t been on it in awhile have you? That’ll be fun….”

Marcus chuckles.  “I’m a cop.  Occupational hazard to notice people moving in.”  he qualifies.  He looks at Natalie when she talks about tomorrow.  He doesn’t ask exactly when she’s leaving.  This is a special day and he expects he’ll learn about it later that night.  Then pass the community garden and then it’s Kira’s house.  There is a tall thin man leaning against the stoop and in a second, Marcus realizes that he is asleep.  “Mr Portia….”

Mint Portia starts awake.  “Oh .. sorry … I .. do that.  Narcolepsy.  What are ya gonna do, right?”  he clears his throat and looks at Kira.  “Hi.  You’re out.”  he looks delighted.  “Well the crew finished cleaning last night so the place is all yours.  I was just checking the garden beds front and back so I can go now.”  he nods to them and will head off if no one speaks to him in the direction of Center.

Kira sees Mint, who she’s met and avoids giggling at him falling asleep.  The narcolepsy someho amusing and scary to her.  “Thank you Mr.  Portia ..  Mint.”  he’d told her to call her that.  But then he’s gone.  Probably to find his own bed.

Natalie suppresses a laugh about the narcolepsy and offers a polite nod. When he goes she says “ The man named Mint.’ And then “I hope he doesn’t ever work on roofs….”

The sound of someone running up behind them and breathlessly calling can be heard “Kira!” Sajani Singh’s voice rings out. She’s carrying a pair of crutches and she catches up “Oh my god you’re home today!!” She shifts them to one arm and reaches out to hug her “Can I do this? Hug you? It’s so exciting.” She glances at Marcus “Charlotte’s Web Guard...hello.” And she smiles at Natalie “And my yoga student!” She looks delighted with the people walking Kira home. Sajani is in her favourite little denim work dress with a black t-shirt and black leggings under to match her black sandals. Her big colourful purse is always what stands out.

Kira turns at the name and the voice and nods, even as they hug.  “You can always hug me.”   noww?  I don’t want to keep you.  I’m sorry.”

Marcus watches the girls … reunite … and grins, taking the distraction to give Natalie a momentariary warm look.

Natalie steps back a bit after laughing and nodding at Sajani “Hello Yoga Teacher…” She offers back and when the girls are focussed on one another she catches Marcu’s look and inhales, returning it with one of her own and then whispering “Charlotte’s Web?” She had missed something about him, surely.

Sajani lets go of Kira “Oh no I’m good…..better now seeing you here.” She points down the street and then looks to the crutches “Mr. Hip surgery number two over there is my last today. I can come right back after him. Would that be ok? I can help you set stuff up. We could get pizza...oh Kira this is so wonderful!”

Marcus shrugs and explains to Natalie by replying to Sajani.  “I thought we said my love of children’s literature was a secret.”  he teases.  “Now there’s a lawyer who knows one of my most closely kept secrets.”  but he is clearly teasing, as the lawyer herself is his most closely held secret … for now.

Kira nods quickly.  “Please.  The more people I have with me in there, the better.”  she hasn’t stepped in yet.  “And pizza sounds great.  Whatever you want is fine with me.”  she defers.

Natalie looks very happy about Kira having a supportive friend. That will help ease her transition home. She gives Sajani a grateful smile and then giggles at Marcus. She’s never giggled in front of Kira before but he brings that out of her “Well let’s hope that pigs and spiders don’t come up in any depositions you need to give Officer Lawry.” Now she’s using his more formal title but clearly in jest “Because I know my EB White.” She looks back to Kira as Sajani starts to step away to her patient appointment.

“Ok I’ll be back soon. Super soon.” She laughs at the lawyer. She had always thought Natalie was a little scary but she’s actually funny when she’s not in the power suit. Sajani heads off down the street and can be seen knocking at the door of a house partway down and then stepping into it.

Natalie looks between Kira and her front door in anticipation. This was it.

Kira waves to Sajani as she leaves and is fishing for her keys when Natalie giggles at Marcus.  For a moment, she stares, but then takes in a breath and heads to the door, knowing she is willing to use the giggle as an excuse not to open the door and walk inside.  She checks the keys and unlocks both locks and pushes the door open, closing her eyes and taking in a few steps, slipping out of her new shoes.  Then she opens her eyes … and stares.

The house had become an open plan first floor.  A new kitchen greets her and that is not the only thing that makes her stare.  The furniture is almost laughably mismatched, but she sees a sort of made of logs sofa and chair, as well as a more modern coffee table.  The living room table is a folding card table with four chairs, none of which match each other.  There is a laptop on the table and an envelop on the counter.  There is a painting of a black butterfly, which she remembers as a song sung by India Tor when she saw the video of the fundraising concert.  There is a bookcase and move books than she even brought with her to return to people.  She can feel her eyes begin to fill with tears and she breathes.  “Alexandra did this … for …  me?”  she sounds as if maybe she’s walked into the wrong house .. and she hasn't even looked upstairs yet.  Then … she breaks down crying.

Marcus follows Kira inside, slips out of his sneakers and sets the box of lent books on the floor before he looks around.  He notices the half bathroom that Kira hasn’t seen yet and also the note on the counter.  He moves to it.  “Nice…”  he drags the word across the room with him and looks at the note.  “This is a lost of who donated what as far as furniture and the like.  It looks…”  and he cuts himself off and turns around because Kira is crying.  He gets why, but it’s a bit awkward for him.  Should he hug her?  Can he hug her?  Would she rather not because he is a man?

Natalie follows Kira around but doesn’t crowd her. The town has been so generous. The furnishings, the art, so personal all of it. These people gave from their hearts. She sees Kira get emotional and steps closer and also notices Marcus’s face. She can tell he wants to reach out and suspects he’s respecting boundaries, which she loves him all the more for. Natalie takes the lead and hugs Kira from one side, but sort of beckons Marcus to the other side. She just lets Kira decide before she’s fully embracing “Are you ok with hugs from us….” She asks and then qualifies “Both of us…? Any answer is valid Kira.”

Kira feels Natalie and when asked about the hugs from both of them reaches for Marcus and will pull him into a hug by his tshirt if she has to.  She cries.  “You two mean so much”  she nearly wails.  Then she sniffs.  “I’m snotting.  God…”  she looks up and around, getting ready to go upstairs when she sees the little room and curiously walks to it.  “A bathroom?”  she begins crying again, but goes into it to make use of the toilet paper.  The gooselike sound of her blowing her nose can soon be heard.

Marcus is happily pulled into the hug.  “You mean a lot to us too, kiddo.”  he drops a bunch of his professionalism just then.  When Kira finds and makes gooselike sounds from the bathroom, he laughs, richly.  It was like an ice breaker or him.  He quickly kisses Natalie on the top of the head and goes back to the kitchen looking for the phone.

Natalie shares her hug for Kira with Marcus with an oddly familiar level of comfort. “Kira, you’re very important to us too. I’m so glad we could be here.” They’ve both said we like some united front, some long lost aunt and uncle or something. She looks both happy and sad for Kira. Her journey is in a  better place but of course not over. When Kira blows her nose with a  honk she giggles again and smiles at Marcus kisses the top of her head. “It’s good to have more than one bathroom, especially when you have friends over. Then you don’t have to hide your bras when you hang them to dry in your personal one.” It’s a joke but a bit of  a personal joke to make in front of a male colleague. Maybe Kira will just think Natalie doesn’t care what men think about that sort of thing. Natalie is also glad there doesn’t seem to be a trace of mold left in the place.

Kira laughs a bit herself at the honking noise she made blowing her nods.  She tosses the mess in the small trash can and comes out.  Natalie’s joke now has her smiling. It was so like Natalie to not care what a man might think.  She now looks around again, taking another look.  “I was so scared to come back here.”  she says, softly but clearly.  “But it was all I had and I didn’t want to be homeless….  But …”  she spreads her arms, encompassing the entire house.  “This isn’t my house.  It doesn’t look the same and it doesn’t feel the same…”  she sounds unspeakably relieved.  Moving to the sheet Marcus had been reading and picks it up, scanning.  “A bed … mint plants … a stereo … gods … I don’t have to furnish this place like .. ever.”  she sighs and looks at the kitchen appliances .. the sets of pots  hanging from the ceiling.  “It looks so lived in … and .. everyone did this for me?”  she marvels and then moves to Marcus at the dining room table.  There is a laptop and a phone. Checking the sheet, she reads.  “The laptop is from Officer Wright … and the phone is from … Chief Greene?”  she sits at the table, because she thinks she might fall down if she doesn’t.  “Six months before I have to start paying for it myself ….  Jesus.  If I find something on this list from Mrs Norris I’ll know I died in jail.”  and she does, indeed read the list of gifts and their givers when those names were given.

Marcus watches her look around the house.  He had to agree with Kira, as this place looked nothing like the place he and Natalie had walked into all that time ago.  It seemed physically lighter and larger and … happier.  He takes the phone and turns it on, finding it fully charged.  “Do you have an email, Kira?”  he asks, beginning the process of setting things up for her.

Kira blinks.  “No .. shit .. can you…..”  she bites her lip.

“On it.”  Marcus replies, opening the laptop and booting it up.  Soon Kira has an email and he can start working on her phone.

Natalie glances over Kira’s shoulder at the list as well as observing Marcus setting her up electronically and digitally. “No Mrs. Norris. She’s that angry old woman I’ve heard about? Maybe it’s best she didn’t try to give you anything….some of these are funny. Who knew Officer Lynch was such a  Trekkie….oooh and lots of kitchen stuff….that’s nice.” She looks around “Pretty clock.” Then she looks to the file folder she had set down coming in “Oh there’s one more thing….it’s not as pretty but it might help you feel safe in your house….” She walks over and gets the folder. Marcus will know what’s in it. She sets it down by Kira and steps back a little. Inside are a stack of restraining orders, one for each of her old johns, every man Natalie and Marcus could find in the town who they knew exploited Kira. “I assisted...but this was really Marcus since he knew who they were.”

Marcus continues to work on setting up the phone and the computer.  “If Mrs Morris gave Kira anything the whole TOWN would assume it had been hit by a meteor.”  he snorts.  He laughs at a lot of the things on the list and when Natalie sets the list down to get the restraining orders, he picks it up again.  “Yes .. I helped.  And I also give you that bookcase and a couple books.”  he winks and scans the list.  “Hm … Gareth Dunham is listed here but it says to call so he can bring the gift over.  He scans the rest of the list and grins, then holds the list out to Natalie, so she can read the last couple of things, which are from the Alvin family and spoil the surprise which is why he doesn’t give it to Kira.  “So call Gareth and see if he can bring over your cake and ice cream or whatever it is that can’t sit here with boxing bags and mangas.”  he teases and hands Kira the phone.

Kira stares at the stack of restraining orders.  “Wow ….  No .. this .. yes.  I was afraid …  and … this is … thanks.”  She is grateful, thankful and feeling safer than ever now.  Taking the phone, Kira giggles a little bit.  Everything is funny and surreal.  “Maybe it IS ice cream and cake.”  She looks at natalie.  “I don't think Gareth can cook and the fire department gave me a fire extinguisher.”

Natalie looks happy Kira is relieved about the retaining orders and then glances up at Marcus and mouths “Thank you.” with a warm look. “I don’t know Gareth except for his name really. Shall we take bets on cake?” She had seen the dog things and taken the hint “Perhaps he bought a cake? I can’t cook but I swear the sushi place at the base of my condo building knows me by voice. There are solutions.” Just then three’s a knock at the door “Want me to get that? It might be Sajani.” She suggests.

Marcus barely avoids giving Natalie another warm look, as Kira is paying slightly more attention.  “Let me put Dunhams number in your phone here …”  he adds the contact and offers the phone to Kira.  “There you go.” he looks at Natalie.  “No gambling.  This isn’t a reservation.”  he teases and he hears the door, but doesn’t move.  It’s not his house.

Kira laughs at all of it, feeling a little euphoric.  She takes the phone and presses the call icon as she heads to answer her door.  She looks through the glass and sees her visitor, happily opening the door for her as the phone rings.  “Come on in .. it’s AMAZING!”  she tells Sajani as she moves back in the house and the phone rings on speaker, which she turned on without realizing it.

Sajani breezes in, hugging Kira again and squeals “Oh my god...look at this place!” She hears the ringing and hushes herself, still looking around as she lets go. She slips off her shoes and begins to snoop with a little wave each to Natalie and Marcus as she passes them. She squats down at the bookshelf reading the titles.

Gareth answers on the third ring “Hello?” He has no idea he’s on speaker of course.

Natalie gives Marcus a mock incredulous look and then laughs. He can say it. She waves to Sajani and stays quiet realizing Kira accidentally hit speaker as it rings three times and then a mal voice answers. She’s a little curious about this guy who she’s heard has saved Kira many times.

Everyone turns quiet and Kira realizes shes got it on speaker, but she doesn’t know how to turn it off, so she doesn’t.  “Gareth …  it’s ..  it’s Kira…”  she begins, suddenly shy.  “I’m …  out … and home …. And it said I had to call because you donated something?”  she bites her lip.

Marcus watches and it is when Kira looks a little confused he realizes the woman hasn’t had a cell phone in 6 years probably and may not know either how the call wound up on speaker nor how to change that.

Gareth lets out a little “Woot! Congrats Kira. And yes, I’m glad you called. I...uh need to go collect that donation...and then I’ll bring it by. How’s the new place...the new old place?” He gives a little chuckle.

Sajani peers curiously at Kira talking to Gareth since she’s now heard everything. She’s very curious what the man could need to go collect. She moves to the painting of the black butterfly and admires it, noting the painter’s signature as Z. The style is familiar and she has an inkling but not a confirmed idea. She notices the fire extinguisher and thinks Patrick would approve. Then it dawns on her he might actually want to drop in so she makes a plan to ask Kira when she’s off the phone.

Natalie leans down to Marcus and whispers “She’s totally going to think it’s a cake.” With a breathy laugh that accidentally grazes his cheek with her exhale.

Kira exhales.  “Alright .. see you soon …” and then he ass about the house and she inhales.  “I still think I’m in the wrong place.  It’s not my house and it is my house and … you have to see it Gareth .. please?  I’m not dying but .. I want you to come visit.”

Marcus hears the whisper, feels her breath on his cheek.  Sajani is looking at a painting and Kira is sort of looking at the ceiling inviting Gareth over.  “Then I’ll take that bet.”  he murmurs, his lips barely moving.  “In bed tonight as we celebrate over something not gin.”  his voice holds all kinds of innuendo, but he's sure no one will hear him except Natalie.

Gareth can be heard walking around, a floor creaking, some scuffling like he’s doing something like grabbing a jacket maybe. There’s a jangle of keys and he snorts “Nooo dying. I’m off duty and I’ll be there in 20 Kira. I’m curious to see what they did with your place. See you soon.” And he hangs up.

Natalie is both surprised and distracted by Marcus’s suggestion and looks at him a little too long after with a smirk and a blush. So long it might be briefly obvious before she gives a little nod and looks away, straightening up to her full height again. He had her at in bed tonight.

Sajani hears Gareth finish the call and swivels around to Kira “Hey listen...would it be ok if I ask Patrick to join us? I know it meant a lot to him to visit you and I’m sure he’d love to see you out of the cell.” She was in no way at all paying attention to Marcus and Natalie but had been trying to figure out the complex little clock while waiting for Kira to be off the phone “And have you even looked upstairs?” Sajani is delighted by this house and Kira being home in it.

Kira smiles.  “See you then.”  she tells Gareth as she call ends and she looks at marcus in time to see the last of a look.  She blinks and htinks … nahhhh … and is about to ask about how to work this modern marvel cell phone when her attention is diverted by it and the realization that she hasn’t looked upstairs yet.  “No ….”  runs upstairs, placing it on the landing before going the rest of the way up.  From downstairs all will hear.  “Sajani!  There's a boxing bag up here.”  and the unusual sound of Kira’s laughter.

Marcus missed the look from Kira, but did hear her tear upstairs and laugh.  “I’ve never seen her like this .. it’s fucking fantastic.”  he states, bluntly.

Sajani bolts upstairs after Kira, like when they were school girls “Oh my god...who gave you that?” Sajani laughs along with Kira and then tries to throw a punch at the boxing bag “Oh ow ow...I am not a boxer!” she giggles.

Natalie beams “It really is. I usually don’t get to see them this happy...my clients. I’m so happy for her.” She giggles at both Kira and Sajani “I think that was the perfect friend to come over here tonight.

Kira is upstairs now and may or may not be heard by anyone downstairs.  “That was .. Officer Taggert, I think.”  she sighs.  “I love all I got, but some of it isn’t me, you know … but it tells me how this town can come together.  It’s like … a giant I’m sorry let me help now.”  she moves into another room.  “A roll away bed?  DO I …”  she moves to the third bedroom.  “I have my own bedroom.”  she giggles and hops on the bed.  “Oh Sajani.  They furnished my house.”  she blinks.  “I mean I’m on probation for a year but …  I’m free and its all so different and I’m still happy and scared and …”  she begins to cry softly.  Both scared and happy tears.

Marcus hears the girls.  “Yea.  Sajani was the perfect person to run into.”  he shuts the lid of the laptop and looks into the kitchen.  “So … you’re leaving the island now…”  he knew this day would come.  Kira would get out of jail and Natalie would go back to Vancouver.  He knows it isn’t the end of what they were .. he’d never allow that.  But it meant there would be gaps in how often they would see each other.  That being said, they didn’t have to worry about anyone finding out about them while it could still cause a kink in Kira’s case.

Sajani nods “Officer Taggart...I get that’s how you know Sadie now. Well it’s with such kindness for sure. And you have all kinds of bedrooms….I’ll have to sleepover sometime. Do you want me to stay tonight...your first night so you’re not…” Kira begins to cry and she looks sympathetic and sits down beside her putting an arm around her “Oh Kira….it’s ok…” she pats her back.

Natalie looks sadly at Marcus “I don’t want to….but my job is there….my place is there. Come visit me...like the next day you’re off. I’ll cut you a key. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to be that far away from you to be honest…” She looks emotional and exhales.

Gareth in the meantime does a little secret knock on the back door of the vet clinic. His Chipmunk brothers know it, they taught it to him in fact. He’s wearing his regular jeans and a pair of runners, sort of multicoloured and a red t-shirt with a crumbling cassette tape under a black windbreaker.

Theo Alvin hears the knock as he is putting a squirrel in a small cage.  It has a broken leg, but it's set and will heal.  Answering the door he smiles.  “Hey Gareth! What’s up?”  he opens the door weir for Gareth to enter.

Marcus looks at her.  “I know that.”  he tells her.  “And I know where I’ll be spending my weekends from now on.”  he assures her.  He takes her right hand.  “We’ll figure it out.  I promise.” and he lowers his voice to a whisper.  “I love you.  Don’t forget it.  Ever.” he squeezes her hand and lowers it to below the table top in case the girls come back down on them.

Kira leans into Sajani.  She takes another deep and fortifying breath.  “NO.”  she says, resolutely.  “I have to get on with my life and that means sleeping here … alone.”  she clears her throat.  “Not listening to you and your boyfriend next door making the guest bed roll all over the room.”  she teases.

Sajani nods in understanding and then gasps a little as she flushes “I meant just me….you’re so bad!” She giggles and then teases back “Don’t the wheels lock? Because that’s just an accident waiting to happen…” She snorts.”That reminds me I should text Patrick...not about your rolling spare bed!” She takes out her phone from her dress pocket and taps away. Hello my Love. come to Kira’s house. She’s out. Pizza eventually. All the veggie things and olives? Pepperoni since Chris can’t see you eat it? “It’s possible he’ll be late but I know what kind of pizza he likes so we can just order. Are Natalie and Marcus sticking around? We should ask what kind of pizza they like….oh and Gareth and his mystery present?” She stretches a little after texting Patrick.

Gareth leans his inner arm against the doorframe like a swashbuckling pirate “I’m here to see a man about a dog….a grey dog?” He grins “Kira’s home.” He takes the arm down and stops hamming it up “Do you think the Grey Lady is ready to be rehomed Theo?”

Natelie squeezed his hand and made sure her arm was comfortable to keep holding hands discreetly “I won’t. I love you too.” She whispers back and then glances up “Baba is asking to meet you...this weekend. I can delay my parents and other grandparents happily but I would actually enjoy introducing you properly...maybe your grandmother could join and they could meet...for better or worse.” She laughs.

Patrick Peterson gets the text just before he sits down to play a video game.  Immediately, he texts back.  “Yes.  Freedom and meat!  I’ll be there in 5 minutes!” He sends it and checks himself.  Decent hoodie.  Check.  Nice jeans.  Check.  No holes in his socks.  Check.  He goes onto the back porch to put on his shoes, which had gotten wet in last night's rain.  One of them is gone!  “Oh for fucks sake!”  he exclaims and wastes ten of those five minutes looking for it before he leaves the apartment in another pair of shoes … Chris’s actually.  But then he is well on the beeline to Kira’s house when he’s stopped in front of the firehouse by a fellow firefighter who takes five minutes to tell him what he already knew; Gareth would be back to work in the morning with A shift.  Brice was already back in Vancouver where he belonged.  But finally, he can begin the run … knowing he said five minutes … about seventeen ago.

Marcus smiles and nods.  “G-mama wants to meet you too.  Saturday at the Sigh in White Rock because .. she said so and I don’t care if she is 81, she’ll beat my ass if I don’t show up on Saturday so she can meet you.  I’ll actually spend the night at her place so I can tell her all about you.”  he beams.  “But maybe on Saturday night you can show me what kind of luxury digs a high priced attorney lives in.”  he suggests, letting the excitement creep into his face.  He can wipe it off in a second if he has to.

Theo beams.  “Kira’s out?”  he exclaims and then laughs.  “Is the Grey Lady ready?  She sure is.”  he turns and goes to the cage of the large grey dog.  “I’m gonna miss you, girl.”  he pats the dog as he puts a collar on her that matches her blue eyes.  “But you’re gonna love your new human, I bet.”  He selects a blue leash and then moves to the wall, grabbing a blue and white tote bag that says Ayala Animal Care on it and putting in a food and water dish and a rope chew toy.  Then he looks at Gareth, offering him the tote.  “I’ll get a bag of food and we can get in the truck.”  he moves and hefts a 20 pound bag of dog food onto his shoulder.  “Simon!”  he yells.  “I’ll be back.”  and he heads out the door.

Kira watches Sajani and thinks she might be just as excited as Kira herself is.  “Yes pizza.  At least I don’t have to cook in that kitchen.  Did you see my KITCHEN?”  she pulls away a little.  “Oh Sajani, this really feels like a new beginning.  And I can hardly wait to see this mystery gift.”

Gareth takes the tote “See you Simon!” He yells He gives the Grey Lady some pats before getting himself into the vehicle and buckling in. “You guys are so awesome for this...she’s gonna love her.” It’s a short drive before they’re at Kira’s door and sees one of the Peterson twins running up. As she gets closer, Gareth can tell it’s Patrick.”Hey Peterson…” He greets and looks between Patrick and Theo “Ok shh….don’t let her find out about this until she sees her. Adn shhh Grey Lady.”

Sajani beams “I love your kitchen. We need to bake some cookies next week...all the cookies…” She smiles a little emotionally at her old friend “It is Kira...it really is….” She nods “Me too. Let me put in a  pizza order. I’ll just get lots so whoever’s around can dig in. Bonus if you have leftovers for tomorrow.” She taps at her food app and tilts her head at it.

Natalie gives Marcus a loving look “I like this plan, every part of it.” She sees his excitement and giggles at him. He was so fucking hot right now. She hears a vehicle pull up and slow down right outside and then some movement and stalks to the window. Her mouth forms an O as she sees three men and a dog. She beckons Marcus over.

Gareth knocks on the door.

Marcus sees the giggle.  Fortunately a vehicle pulls up and Natalie goes to investigate, summoning him right after.  He was about to kiss her, and damn being caught.  But he looks out of the window and sees Gareth, Patrick, Theo and a dog.  “Well that just beats all.”  he chuckles and moves back from the window as the knock sounds.

Theo sees one of the Peterson twins running up.  Gareth doesn’t help by calling him by his last name.  The twins didn’t have pets, so he never even really tried to tell them apart.  He watches Gareth knock, the bag of food slung over his shoulder.

Patrick runs up and works to get his breath.  He’s in good shape so it doesn’t take long.  “Dunham.”  he looks at the dog with a smile and offers his hand to sniff.  Then he snorts and reaches to ring the doorbell, amused that Gareth knocked.

The Grey dog sniffs the new human and lets it pet her, but then turns her head to the door.  More humans?

Kira nods.  “Yes, please.  I have money but I want to save it.”  she hears a knock, followed by the doorbell.  “That must be Gareth.  Lets see my surprise!”  she hops up and all but skips down the stairs.  She opens the door … and stares.

The grey dog sees the door open and a human standing there.  She cants her head and steps up, hopping on her hand legs.  She likes this human.  She really likes this human.

Kira isn’t bowled over when the dog hops on her and hugs it.  “Are you my surprise?” she manages, laughing and crying all at the same time.  Then she backs up and the dog enters with Gareth, the vet she knows from around and Patrick.  “Holy shit, Gareth.”  she sniffs and impulsively hugs him, crying again.  “What’s her name?”  she asks into Gareth’s shoulder.  She’d noticed immediately the dog wasn’t an obvious male.

The grey dog stays close to Kira.  It’s an automatic adoption.

Natalie had tiptoed away from the window with Marcus when the knock happened, not wanting to take anything from the surprise as it unfolded. As she watched the love bloom between Kira and the dog, her heart swelled for Kira and she found herself wiping at her eyes. This town….amazing.

Gareth looks back to Theo and then over to Patrick and shrugs “Our doesn’t work. Habit now. Michelled fixed it, and then wanted to adjust it and broke it. We don’t speak of it…” Gareth grins as the door opens and then just lets go of the leash and watches the dog immediately love Kira, both of them love one another. It’s exactly what he was hoping would happen. He walks in behind the dog as they move but when Kira cries and hugs him, he hugs her back with a  little squeeze “Well Theo and Simon have been calling her The Grey Lady but you get to decide.” He lets her go and moves into the house, kicking off his shoes. “This is Theo by the way...my brother..” He laughs knowing they look nothing alike, but it’s true.

Sajani had walked to the door behind Kira and saw the whole thing with a wide muppet-like grin. What an amazing creature and she loved Kira immediately. Sajani looked past them at Patrick and did a little hand on her heart gesture because it was all too sweet. “Wow, she’s so beautiful Kira….how do you know it’s a she?”

Kira beams and finally lets go of Gareth.  She backs into the house a bit more to let everyone in and pats the dog,  “The Grey Lady?  Rowena Ravenclaw?”  she looks down at the dog.  “I like that.  The Grey Lady.  Grey for short.”  She kneels and hugs the dog again and then looks back at Sajani.  “No dick flapping around.”  she replies to wondering how she knew the dog was female.

Marcus notices both Kira’s immediate bond and Natalie’s emotion.  He moves around her, knocking her gently in comfort.  Then Kira mentions no dick flapping and he bends over laughing.

Theo knows instantly that he’d made the right decision to home The Grey lady here … and train her as a support animal.  She even got to keep her name.  Potterheads unite!  Then Kira explains how  she knew immediately that the dog was female and he can’t help but laugh.

Patrick moves into the house and stands beside Sajani.  He laughs at the dick comment too and thinks the name fits, knowing vaguely who Rowena Ravenclaw was.  He watches Sajani for a reaction to the dick comment before he explains to her.  “I know I said five minutes .. but … and I know this sounds like a lane excuse .. but someone stole my shoe and I wasted a lot of time trying to find it before I just stole two of Chris’s.  Then someone stopped me at the firehouse to tell me Dunhan is coming back to work tomorrow …  you have no idea how happy we are to hear THAT.  and then I ran all the way here.”  Patricks arrival is usually accompanied with the story of how it happened because it’s never ‘I left the house and came straight over’.

Sajani had looked a little embarrassed at the obvious way to tell a female from  male and then giggled “But you didn’t look under….I guess when she got up on her legs….” She sighs “I swear I paid attention to biology…” She huffs a bit but is so happy for her friend “and at the risk of being an insufferable know it all...I do believe it’s Helena, not Rowena Ravenclaw.” She kisses Patrick’s cheek “I’m used to your lateness now….your show? Really? OK come on...who takes one shoe….” She wants to believe him but this one is an odd story, even for him.

Gareth laughs and laughs about the no dick comment “Could be a eunuch. Sajani you want to tell us something about Patrick there if you’re having ...confusion…” He teases Patrick because he can  “Still glad to have me back, Peterson?”

Natalie feels Marcus knocking into her and understands it as discreet comfort. The intention behind it and the gesture does comfort her, She has to laugh at the chatter about the dog and then frowns at Sajani “No...he’s not making it up. I lost ONE shoe recently, just one. Marcus says there’s something up with that.” She realizes not all these people may know who she is and she hasn’t met Gareth, Theo or Patrick, only seen some of their names, and waves “Hi I’m Natalie. I’m a lawyer but don’t hold it against me.” She jokes “Grey is a good name for her. She’s very sweet Kira.”

Kira giggles and stands, moving even further into the house.  She laughs freely at Sajani.  “Oh my god …  Hufflepuff!”  it's almost an accusation.  “Man I’ve forgotten all my Harry Potter.  Then she moves to Marcus and Natalie.  “OK, for those who don’t know and that’s probably most of you.  This is my lawyer, Natalie Sokal.  And most of you know Marcus.  They’re ….  They’re my newest friends … because .. they didn’t know  me … before …. If that makes sense.”  she still has one hand on the dog, who is sticking to her like glue.

Marcus groans and shakes his head a bit at the banter, but is very glad to see Kira acting like .. well like he’s never seen her before.  He lifts a hand in hellp, as he knows these people .. just not terribly well.  Looking at Sajani, he joins Natalie in backing Patrick up.  “It seems we have a thief in town who steals one shoe.  Doesn’t seem to be a preference for left or right … just takes one shoe and leaves the other.”  he looks at Patrick.  “You might want to file a report with your brother.”  he’s actually kidding, although that could ultimately be amusing at the cop shop.

Theo waves at the lawyer and the cop.  Then he laughs.  “I can’t tell them apart.”  he admits to the Rowena and Helena difference.  “But this girl is THE Grey Lady.”  he beams fondly at the dog watching as she shadows Kira through the room and how Kira is in near constant contact with the dog.  A good match.  “I brought twenty pounds of food, a food and water dish and a rope chew toy.”  he tells Kira.  “She’s had all of her shots.  Bring her back in about ten months for a checkup … which is on us then.  After that it’s on you because my brother does not believe in free vet care for all Canadian animals.  Yes.  He is a monster.”

Patrick feels vindicated.  “See .. I know my tales sound tall, but not ONE of them has ever been a lie.”  he looks mildly hurt by the suggestion that his tall sounding tale was actually true.  He looks at the lawyer and smiles.  “Thanks for fighting for Kira.”  he says.  “Chris speaks highly of you, so you must be good.”

Sajani mock gasps at being called a Hufflepuff “Slytherin!” She retorts back and giggles. Then she rolls her eyes “I’m probably part Hufflepuff. It’s the food thing. Now we HAVE to bake cookies Kira.” Sajani know both Natalie and Marcus from different realms and smiles at them, liking them both and what they’ve done for Kira “You’re both my heroes.” She says looking between them. She gulps a little about the shoe truth and looks humbly at Patrick “I’m sorry. I didn’t actually think you were lying. I know you don’t do that...I just thought maybe your other shoe fell under something.” She does look truly sorry. She smiles at Theo “Wow you guys set her up. Awesome.”

Gareth snorts “The one shoe bandit. Can you imagine that as a legacy? I almost one to meet them. I mean maybe it's a kid just pranking. Wish I’d thought of that one was a kid…” He laughs and then beams at Theor “Yes Simon the monster. He’s ours, we love him, even if he does have to charge money for his work.” He jokes. Then he winks at Sajani “Read somewhere that Hufflepuffs were the sexual dynamos of the wizarding world so it’s not just baking…” It’s a mild flirt but he respects Patrick so he draws him into the banter “Makes up for your one shoe.”

Natalie is cueing into the fact that Patrick is actually a twin of the guy who looks like him in the cop shop, Chris. She’s clever enough not to let on that she just put that together and is just gracious “Well thank your brother Patrick. He works for a great department.” She looks at Theo “That’s still wonderfully generous of you guys.” She then looks between Kira and sajani and reveals something a little nerdy “You say Slytherin like it’s a bad thing…” is all she has to add.

Kira beams and gets misty eyed again.  “Thank you so much Dr Alvin.  And thank your brother for me, please.  She listens to all of the banter but it is Natalie that makes the tears stop and the sunshine smile to reappear.  “What she said.”  and she nods.  “It’s been so long, I don’t even think I remember much Harry Potter.  I reread all of the books, but not the movies.”  she looks at Sajani.  “Movie Marathon?  This weekend if you two aren’t doing anything?”  she is willing to have guests … especially now that she won’t be alone at all.

Marcus watches Kira and shakes his head at the whole Slytherin thing.  He hears Natalia talk about it and makes a note to suggest they have their own Harry Potter marathon some weekend when he’s over her place in Vancouver.

Theo rolls his eyes.  “Yes, we love Simon .. the smart Chipmunk.”  he snorts and smiles.  “But you’re welcome.  Her old owner died and she needed a home.  More.  She needed a human.”

Patrick looks at Sajani with love, forgiving her instantly.  He looks at Gareth with raised browns and good humor.  “We’re on the same shift, so we know all about each other’s shoes.”  he quips right back.  “Now did someone mention meat on pizza?”  another clue which twin he is.

Gareth pats Patrick on the arm “I would love to know more about your shoes Peterson but your lovely lady might take it out on me in a yoga class.” He chuckles at Theo “Aw Theo. you were a chubby baby...I’ve seen the pictures….” He nods about the Grey Lady “She needed Kira.” He says pointedly looking at Kira.

Sajani flushes. First Gareth flirted with her and then Patrick! Her head spun around internally and she laughed “Oh my god you guys...what do you do in that fire hall?” She exhales and looks at Kira “Yes all the movies...we’re all in...I shouldn’t speak for Patrick but apparently I have to protect his…” She makes finger quotes “Shoes.” The doorbell rings and she exhales “Saved by the bell, literally”. She goes to collect the pizza and taps her card and then thanks the delivery person and starts handing them back throughout the people closest to the door. There’s a few two litre pops in the mix too and a salad. “Plates, glasses...napkins…” She chirps as the chaotic meal starts to take hold.

Natalie gives Marcus a little sweet smile while the banter distracts the others. They had done their work for Kira. She was safe now and among friends with a beautiful new animal friend to love her too. She watches Kira’s community form around her with laughter and food. This hadn’t been intended as a formal house warming but there was no denying it had become that. This house and all the hearts in it were indeed, warmed.