Chapter 6— Backing Off
Summary: The case gets more complicated— as do relationships.

"Allie?" The familiar voice made the detective look up— it was familiar and yet one she had not heard in years.

"Natasha Zapata," Allie said as she turned around.

The two women shared a smile as they approached each other and then embraced warmly.

"It's Detective Knight to you, Officer Zapata," Allie teased as they pulled apart.

Tasha laughed and made a face. "Ugh, I most definitely have not missed that," Tasha said, "it's been too long."

"It has," Allie agreed, "how's the private sector treating?"

"Good, everything's been really good," Tasha replied.

"What... what are you doing here?" Allie then asked, quickly realizing this wasn't a social call.

"Jane, the owner... she's my best friend," Tasha explained.

"I see," Allie said.

Tasha was about to say something when an officer came over to talk to Allie. "I won't keep you, Allie, but we should definitely catch up later," Tasha said, "and you catch those bastards."

Allie nodded and smiled, "you got it."

"Weller. My office. Now!" Kurt was just stepping off the elevator but was not surprised to find Mayfair standing at her office door and calling to him— she might have been a small woman in stature, but she commanded the NYO effortlessly and when Kurt met her gaze across SIOC, the entire office was dead silent, an entire room of agents standing perfectly still.

"Yes, ma'am," Kurt replied and moved through the open space towards her office.

Mayfair watched him— glaring at him to be precise— as he walked into her office and closed the door behind him. She was sitting at her desk, and silently gestured for him to have a seat.

"How much trouble am I in?" He asked as he sat down— but his attempt at making the conversation light failed miserably as it earned him an angered stare from his boss.

"Ok, I know what I did was wrong, but—"

Mayfair put a hand up to silence him. "Do you have any idea of the administrative nightmare you just caused me?"

"I'm sorry, I—"

Once again he hand comes up to stop him. "Jonas Fischer is one of the most unbearable human beings on this planet, and I trust, I more than anyone know the urge to walk out on him when he's talking and to stick it to him," Mayfair sighed heavily, "but I am the on who has to sit through weekly meetings with him and I'm the one who now has to clean up this mess. So, I really hope that stunt was worth it because it's going to cost you."

Kurt dropped his head, preparing himself for whatever punishment Mayfair had in store for him. She knew him more than anyone and knew exactly how to punish him for his maverick move.

"We've got staff performance reviews coming up next week," Mayfair said, "I'm gonna take a break from that annoyingly tedious task and it's all on you. Dismissed."

It had been hours since the break in but the cops were still around. The detectives had taken statements from everyone that had been there at the time and the process had taken quite some time. Jane had finally said goodbye to the last of her clients, apologizing repeatedly for what had happened, and offering anything she could to help them through it.

"How're holding up?" Tasha asked her as Jane joined her in the middle of the boxing ring. Tasha had not left all day. She's kept out of the way of the investigation— bringing her laptop and following up on her work from the gym, sitting for the most part in the boxing ring where she could keep an eye on everything but still remain out of the way.

Jane sat down next to her and sighed heavily, rubbing her hands over her face before looking for a long moment at the space around her. "Fine, I guess," Jane said, "just… tired."

"The cops should be done here in a bit," Tasha said gently, "you can lock up then and go home and rest."

Jane lay back onto the floor, closing her eyes and resting her hands on her stomach. "Don't you have to be at work?" She asked Tasha.

"I'm fine from here," Tasha said, "and I'll stay here with you until you are ready to head back home."

"Have you spoken to Patterson? I haven't had time to check in on her and—"

"She's fine," Tasha waves her off, "left here and went to seal a multimillion dollar deal. You know how she is. By the way, the lead detective on the case… she's an old friend. I asked her to keep me in the loop of what is going on." Jane nodded appreciatively and kept her eyes closed.

"I just feel horrible… for everyone that was here," Jane admitted.

Tasha put her laptop down next to her and nudged Jane with her foot to make the other woman open her eyes and look at her. "It wasn't your fault," Tasha said sternly, "and it wasn't your brother's either. I just had to drill the same idea into your brother's thick head. Somehow he got it into his head that if he had been here none of this would have happened."

Jane shook her head and glanced over towards Roman, who was practically shadowing the crime scene unit as they worked around the gym.

"How's your arm?" Tasha asked gently after a moment.

Jane shrugged. She'd almost forgotten about her injury. "It's fine," Jane replied, brushing her fingers against the bandage.

They fell into another comfortable silence for a few minutes before Jane opened her eyes again and sat up. "Oh, I meant to ask you… why'd you bring Oliver here with you?"

"What do you mean?" Tasha asked.

"It was just… weird having him come here," Jane said.

"He was worried about you… and I mean, aren't you two together or something?" Tasha said.

Jane shifted uncomfortably, twisting her hands in her lap. "I don't know… we're been out a few times," she admitted, "does that mean we're together? I don't know… you haven't talked about it…"

"Well, if I were you, I'd talk about it," Tasha told her, "because as far as I saw, the guy totally thinks you two are together."

Kurt came back home relatively early, compared to when he usually arrived home. Part of his punishment meant he had spent all day dealing with paperwork and filing documents and by five he had had enough. But he didn't leave before taking Rich aside and asking him to keep an eye— using Rich's many back door channels— on the NYPD's investigation and to do some digging himself into a few things that had been bothering Kurt.

Sarah was putting away groceries when he walked in. "You went grocery shopping?" He asked as he dropped his keys on the kitchen counter after greeting her.

"Yeah," she said, "I needed to do something… I couldn't just sit still. We got sent back home after they heard what happened to us and I… well after I cleaned the bathrooms and the terrace… and burned the cookies I tried to back, I went grocery shopping," Sarah laughed but Kurt looked at her in concern.

"Are you ok?" He asked softly.

Sarah nodded and closed the fridge door. She put a bag on the counter and turned to look at him. "Yeah, I fine," Sarah said, "just everything today was…" she took a deep breath and smiled. "I'm fine, I promise," she said.

"Did you tell Sawyer?" Kurt asked, hearing Sawyer from his bedroom yell something at his video game.

Sarah shook her head. "No, I didn't," she said, "I wasn't sure if I should. I was waiting for you to come home so we could talk about it… do you think I should?"

They decided to tell Sawyer after dinner, and it went better than he Sarah had expected. He'd asked a lot of questions that between Sarah and Kurt they were able to answer. They knew it wouldn't be over just yet, but they promised Sawyer they would be there for him if he needed anything and that he needn't worry— none of them were in danger.

He was getting ready for bed when Sarah was finally relaxed enough to shift the conversation to what she had been dying to ask Kurt. Without any introductions she went straight to it, sitting down on the other end of the couch from him.

"So you met Jane, huh? Isn't she amazing?" Sarah blurted out.

Kurt gave her a sideways glance, pretty much rolling his eyes as he replied, "yeah, I did."

"So, should I set you two up?" Sarah asked as she slid closer to him, a little too perky for Kurt's liking.

He shook his head. "I thought you said she was seeing someone," he said before he quickly added, "either way, it doesn't matter. She's a victim of a case now and I am not—"

"AN NYPD case," Sarah corrected him, "not an FBI case which means it isn't an issue."

"That's not the point, Sarah," Kurt sighed, "anyway, when were you planning on telling me about you and Edgar?"

"Oh, so we're talking about that now?" Sarah replied, her shoulders falling as she lost her perkiness from just a moment ago.

"Yes, we are," Kurt said, feeling slightly more comfortable now that he had control of the conversation and it had moved away from him.

"Ok," Sarah said slowly, twisting her hands in her lap as she looked up at him, "we wanted to tell you but we weren't sure how you'd react… and things between us… they were going so well we didn't want to do anything that would mess it up."

Kurt blinked, a hurt and confused look on his face, and asked, "you thought I would mess it up for you?"

"No, no, it's just… you've never really been a big fan of the guys I go out with," Sarah admitted.

"But this is Reade," Kurt said, "you've never gone out with a guy like Reade before.

Sarah's eyes widened and she sat up. "You mean… you're ok with us being together?" She asked.

"Edgar is one of the most honorable men I know. I trust him with my life every single day so why should I trust him with yours?" Kurt said softly.

Sarah felt tears in her eyes, genuinely touched by Kurt's reaction. "Kurt, I don't know what to say—"

"Look Sarah… there are so many things… the life we lead, Reade and I… the job we have… you've already lost so much… Taylor, mom, dad… I would hate for you to have to go through any of that again… but that is a risk I know you already live with because of me so… I think its good to know that if anything were to happen to me that you would have someone like Edgar by your side… if he makes you happy… I know he can keep you safe if ever I am not there for you," Kurt said.

"Kurt," Sarah swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like I would be against it or that I would disapprove. I've only ever complained about the guys you've dated because I've always thought you were better than them… that you deserved better… that none of them deserved you," Kurt gave her a small smile, "I just want you to be safe. You and Sawyer. I just want you guys to be safe and happy."

Sarah nodded, wiping her eyes and then reached for him, pulling him into a hug before she whispered, "I just want you to be happy, too."

It was almost midnight, but Kurt was still up, reading one of his favorite crime novels, when his phone buzzed with a text message from Rich.

You up?

The text also included an obnoxious emoticon which made Kurt roll his eyes before he unlocked his phone and dialed Rich's number.

"What is it, Rich?" Kurt asked when the other man picked.

"Is that how you answer the phone? And after I sent you that lovely message—"

"I can't wait for your boyfriend to come back," Kurt sighed.

"When has that ever made me love you any less—"

"Rich, what do you want?"

"Ok, ok, take it easy," Rich said, "I have something for you."

"What do you have?"

"Well, there is … colorful guy I met online a few years ago who lives a few blocks away from the gym," Rich said, "he's what most people would call paranoid and as a result he's got over fifty cameras set up in his place pointing into every possible direction."

"What did you find?" Kurt asked.

"Let me first say that getting access to his cameras didn't come cheap," Rich said.

"Rich, what did you—"

"Don't worry, it is not gonna cost the FBI anything," Rich said, "but let's just say things got awkward in that chat room for a minute.

Kurt rolled his eyes, praying Rich wouldn't go into any details. "Did you get anything?" Kurt said before Rich could elaborate.

"You know I did," Rich said proudly, "I'm sending then to you right now."

As it turned out, Rich actually did find something on those videos and the information had sent Kurt to Mayfair bright and early. He was already waiting for her in her office when she walked in.

"I don't care how much you plead with me, I'm not taking off the performance reviews," she said as she sat down.

"I'm not here about that," he replied, "I'm here about the hostage situation at the gym yesterday."

"What about it? I thought NYPD were handling it," she said.

"They are. But there was something yesterday that I felt was off," he said before he went on to explain to her what he had learned from talking with Sarah and Jane and what he had seen.

"Ok," Mayfair said, "but that still doesn't mean anything. It's a police case, not ours."

"I asked Rich to try to look into some thing for me last night—"

"Weller!" Mayfair reprimanded.

"I just have a feeling about this case," Kurt defended himself, "and just hear me out ok? Rich found this."

Kurt grabs the tablet he had placed on Mayfair's desk and shows her a video of two men standing and talking at a Brooklyn street corner.

"This was taken a few weeks ago a couple of blocks away from the gym," Kurt says, "the guy on the left was one of the guys who were arrested yesterday at the gym and the other guy is one of Thomas Carter's men."

Mayfair watched the video, and then she rewound it and watched it again. "This is a video of two guys at a street corner," Mayfair said.

"It connects the break in yesterday to Carter," Kurt said, "it's something we can—"

"No it's not," Mayfair said, "look, Weller, I want to take that bastard down as much as you do. Nothing makes me sick more than a corrupt millionaire like him making money off the hunger and suffering of poor people. But this… it isn't something we can use."

"But—"

"No but," Mayfair said, "I suggest you take this to the NYPD. If it leads to something then maybe— maybe— the FBI can make a case for us intervening but until then stop crossing the line with this case because we cannot afford going into battle with the NYPD right now."

Kurt wanted to keep the information to himself a little longer— to get a chance to dig into it more— but unfortunately for him, Mayfair had gotten in touch with the Chief at Allie's precinct and informed him that the FBI had some information that could be of use in their current investigation.

"I thought I told you to let me do my job, Kurt!" Allie didn't bother with the pleasantries when she called Kurt after she'd received the files, "and now I find out from my boss that you went behind my back—"

"I'm just trying to help," Kurt sighed.

"No, you're not," Allie replied, "and even if you were, who says I need your help? I am perfectly capable of doing my job."

"I know, Allie, I know you are," Kurt said, feeling genuinely bad about it, "I really… I didn't mean to undermine you… I just—"

Allie sighed heavily. "Just… back off on this one, Kurt, ok? And I promise, if I need your help, I'll let you know. But just let me do my job," Allie replied.

"You don't need to drive me, Kurt," Sarah argued as he practically pushed her into the car, "I'm perfectly capable of going on my own."

"I'll just feel better if I do," Kurt said. It was the Friday after the break in, and while Kurt had kept his nose out of Allie's investigation, that hadn't stopped him from doing some more digging into Carter. The man had been on the NYO's radar for a while now but they were still not able top build a solid case against him.

But the main reason he had offered to drive Sarah to her first gym class since the break in had more to do with him wanting to ask Jane some questions than to keep an eye on his sister.

He knew Sarah's class was an hour long and he hoped she wouldn't eventually make too big of a deal of him waiting till after her class. He figured she'd eventually find out he was there to talk to Jane and hoped she wouldn't make too big of a deal of it.

Kurt spent that hour in his car, going over some documents, and when the hour was over, he made his way into the gym.

"Agent Weller? What are you doing here?" Jane said as she stepped out of the class before anyone else, "Sarah's in there just getting her things—"

"No, actually, I was wondering if I could have a word with you?" Kurt replied.

"With me? Is this about the break in? Because I thought the NYPD—"

"Well, yes and no," Kurt said, pausing as the women from Jane's class started leaving the room. He could see Sarah still inside packing her things.

"Why don't we go into the office," Jane said before Sarah could see him.

She led the way to the office and closed the door behind them. She offered him a seat and went around to grab a water bottle from the desk. "I'm sorry but—"

"Of course," Kurt said, "I'm sorry if you need time to—"

He noticed then that he had not given her time to rest after her class— and he tried not to stare as she gulped her water and then grabbed a hoodie that was sitting on the chair, pulling it over her tank top.

She sat down across from him and Kurt took a few minutes explaining how while the case was still with the NYPD, something had come up that he was hoping she could help with.

"Of course," Jane replied, "anything."

"Have you heard of Thomas Carter?" Kurt asked.

"The businessman?" Jane replied to which Kurt nodded, "yeah, I've heard of him… what's he got to do—"

"He's been illegally forcing people out of their homes all over Brooklyn neighborhoods to try and get his multimillion dollar real estate development going," Kurt said, "and he hasn't been doing things legally."

"What has that got to do with me?" Jane asked.

"Well, the gym isn't located in any of the neighborhoods he's been targeting, but for all we know he could be expanding," Kurt said, "but what I'm here about is one of his associates. This guy we believe is his number one enforcer and we have evidence showing one of the guys who took you hostage on Monday talking to this enforcer."

Kurt reached for his phone from his pocket and unlocked the screen, showing the picture of the two men to Jane.

"Do you recognize him?" He asked

Six Years Ago

Jane sat at the bar, her drink untouched in front of her, as she studied the people around her. It felt strange being back home— back to a normal civilian life. Everything was much slower and even though shed only been back a few weeks, she already felt lost, without purpose and alone.

"I heard rumors you were back," his voice broke through the loud sounds and voices around her and she turned around to be greeted by a smile on a familiar face.

"Welcome back," he said as she got up from her seat to greet him.

The hug he pulled her into was unexpected and it took her a moment to relax and wrap her arms around him.

"It's good to see you," he said as the pulled apart, still smiling, and his arms fell to his side, revealing the tattoo on his arm that had not been there the last time she'd seen him.

"It's good to see you, too," she replied, returning his smile, her gaze shifting between his face and the intricate design of the tree with its deep roots on his arm.

Jane nodded— the shiver that ran through her not going unnoticed to Kurt.

With her eyes glued to the screen, she swallowed hard before she said, "his name's Oscar… we were… we were engaged."