Simple Complexity

Part 5

'Holtz?'

The woman spun around almost expecting it to be Erin, but Patty was standing not far from her, and she creased her brow.

'You okay baby?' the woman said with a small yawn, she was dressed in her pyjamas and had come downstairs for a drink of water.

Holtzmann shrugged, turning back to the empty kitchen, it felt as hollow as she did, and she shrugged again. Holding in the tears she could feel, the sob in her chest, her throat.

'You hungry or something?' Patty said to the woman's silence, walking past her and up to the bench of ingredients, the engineer following.

Patty turned to her, the blonde put her hands on the benchtop, leaning on them, swaying a little.

'Ohhh...was she meant to meet you?'

Holtz shook her head.

'You hoped she would?'

Holtzmann nodded.

'Holtzy,' Patty murmured as the shorter woman suddenly crashed into her, arms around her waist and she let out a deep sob, Patty grabbing her tight. Her face squeezed against the blonde curls, and she just let the woman cry.

'Oh honey,' Patty hummed, holding her tight, 'Oh Holtz honey.'

Friday evening arrived and Erin paused before she left the lab, calling out to Holtzmann.

'See you for nightshift tomorrow?'

Holtzmann looked up from her work, nodding softly.

'See you then.' She paused, wanting to say something more, to tell Erin she'd be here if she wanted to dance again, if she wanted to watch Netflix again, star gaze again, just sit together and talk even. Instead, she smiled.

'Seeing your man tonight?'

Erin nodded.

Holtzmann looked down to her work, and inhaled, almost as if having to calm her nerves.

'Have fun 'mkay.'

Erin nodded with a smile.

'Don't stay here too late.'

Holtz grinned, not wanting to confirm that she wouldn't, and instead she looked up at Erin, hoping the woman was reading her thoughts, knowing she would be here, all night if that's what it would take, for another night together.

The Firehouse was dark as Erin returned, her heels again echoing on the cement floor, and she shivered a little, smiling as she looked up towards the second floor, the lab light on.

'Come here often?'

The voice made Erin jump and she spun around, Holtzmann appearing from the dark of the kitchen behind her.

'Holtz,' Erin said, her hand on her chest, 'what are you doing in the dark,' she almost hissed. The engineer chuckled, holding up a beer bottle, as she stepped into the light from the second floor.

Holtz shrugged, smiling to herself, not because she'd given the woman a little scare but because she was there. Erin was there. Here. With her.

'What are you doing here?'

Erin looked at the woman as she sipped the drink, the blonde's eyebrows were raised and she let out a gentle, 'Hmmm?'

Erin took in a deep breath.

'I..um...I....'

'Mmmhm.'

Holtzmann walked towards the stairs, taking another swig of her drink.