Roots

It had been hours since the rest of the team had left for the day. Carine and Marco stayed late almost every night. They had gotten in the habit of taking coffee breaks during their late hours of the night. This night was no exception. Carine fixed two cups of coffee and brought it over to where Marco was working. She had also been introducing Marco to many new flavors and roasts of coffee.

"What is this one?" He asked as he took another sip of the coffee.

"This is a medium roast with a hint of chocolate and caramel flavor." She happily explained the flavor and the strength of the coffee she had fixed them for this evening. She wondered what it was like in Italy.

"I like this one." He replied as he finished the cup. He went back to looking at what was on the screen for a second.

"So what's it like in Italy?" She asked causing him to look up from the computer screen. He was confused at first, but then he realized that she was asking him about his hometown.

"Milan?" He asked. She nodded. Unlike Marco, Carine hasn't really stayed in one place for long. "Well, for starters its very historical like other areas of Italy." She laughed.

"A lot of great artists were from Italy." He chuckled finding out another possible piece of information about her. Carine did not give much away when it came to talking about her personal life. Marco was one of the lucky ones that she has been opening up to.

"But most of the great artists were in Florence." He reminded her. He was right but she reminded him that their art was all over. "I didn't know you were a fan of fine art, boss."

"I am! I have a lot of respect for artists." She revealed something else about herself to him. He was shocked because he didn't take her for someone that would enjoy looking at paintings.

"Who is your favorite?" He asked still trying to figure her out. She smiled which let him know that he found another interest of hers. Marco also like fine art he believe that it preserved the history of Italy in a way.

"Favorite Italian artist, or favorite artist in general?" She chuckled letting him know that she truly did like art. She thought for a minute before answering. She couldn't pick just one. "If you mean only Italian artists da Vinci, but if you mean artists in general I cannot pick just one." She replied listing a few of her favorites hoping that he didn't think she was strange for liking art.

"We should go to a museum one day." He suggested. She actually liked the idea, but knew that they would have to find time to do so with work.

"Really?" She asked thinking that he was joking.

"I'm serious." She laughed at the thought of coming up with a believable excuse to tell Dorn to let them have a day off. "What?" He asked wondering why she was laughing.

"Can Marco and I have the day off to go look at fine art?" She laughed. He couldn't help but laugh at this as well. He assured her that he would take care of that. He liked it when she smiled and wished he could see her like this more often.

"I can deal with him." She shook her head. She reminded him that it better be honest and legal.

"Only if you can get him to agree to this by being honest." She replied in a serious tone. He replied with a nod.

"Is there a lot of Art museum close to where you are from?" He asked knowing that she is American, but has dual citizenship. She nodded and explained that there were art museums all over.

"We have museums all over, but it's not the same as Europe." She explained. She also informed him that she didn't really get to enjoy a specific area for long.

"So where are you originally from, if you don't mind me asking?" He asked hoping that he wasn't prying too much.

"I was born not long after my parents came to Minneapolis from Stockholm." She admitted not knowing much about her family's life in Sweden before they came to America.

"Have you always been one the move?" He chuckled. She laughed because from what she describe it did seem that way.

"This is only the third move for me." She laughed relocating three times is more than what most people did.

"Only three? Where else have you lived?" He asked curious as to where all she has lived. She was surprised that he was actually interested.

"After I graduated from the police academy in Minneapolis, I relocated and joined the Chicago police department. I stayed there until I moved to The Hague to work here. I do go visit my relatives in Stockholm sometimes when it's not busy." She answered truthfully. She did enjoy visiting her family when she was free.

"Do you ever go back to the states to visit your parents?" Marco asked. She shook her head and frowned.

"I'm sorry." He apologized thinking that her family was no longer around. She shook her head.

"No need to be sorry. It's their fault actually." She went on about what happened, and that was part of the reason that she moved away. "My sister Klara, ended up hanging out with the wrong crowd. She eventually got into drugs." Carine explained. Another one of Marco's questions was answered. He was going to ask if she had any siblings, and he was glad that he didn't.

"What happened?" Marco asked cautiously hoping he didn't cross a line. The blonde took a sip of coffee and a deep breath before speaking again.

"Let's just say I am the reason that she was locked up, and my family hates me for it." She explained hoping that Marco wouldn't think of her as an awful person as well. He noticed that she was starting to get tense as she was speaking. He put an arm on her shoulder and assured her that she did what she had to do, and that she was not wrong for her decision.

"You did what you thought was necessary." She sighed in relief. She was glad someone would see it the way she does.

"I did what I had to do. I would much rather her locked up than out on the streets in harms way. I was just looking out for her. I was told from a young age to always look after my little sister." She went on about how she did it out of love. All her parents saw was that she put her sister behind bars. "I haven't been back to the United States since they stopped talking to me. I'm sure Klara has been free for a while now. I hope she got the help she needed." She added still feeling guilty for caring.

"If it makes you feel any better, I would have done the same thing if that would have been my sister." She was shocked that he brought up Anna. He didn't like to talk much about her since he never really got the chance to know her.

"It does." She replied truly appreciating his support. "You know there's not a day that goes by that I don't think about them. I always wonder how they are and hope that they are all doing well." She added hurt that she cares so much about them and they probably haven't thought of her in years. "Minus my few living relatives in Stockholm, its almost as if I have no one." She mumbled. Marco felt the same way until he joined the team. They were his family, and they were also hers too. He reminded her that she was not alone.

"That's not true, Carine." She looked at him confused as to what he meant by that. After a few seconds she realized what he had meant by that. "This team is a family and we all look out for each other." He reminded her. Everyone one the team helped one another out in a time of need. They also gathered outside of work. He reminded her that family isn't always blood.