"There is no way."
"I get it, sir. That's the seventh time you've said that. For Pete's sake will you let me at least try and explain?"
"What is there to explain when my answer is already no?"
Nathan's hands slammed down from the sides of his head against the kitchen table, a groan escaping his lips as he did so.
This back and forth had been going on for almost half an hour and neither side seemed to be backing down. While his father stayed more calm and collected hoping to tire his son into giving up, it only fueled Nathan's anger and made him more determined to get his way.
Rarely did his father ever seem to agree to see his side, normally he silenced him when he even asked for a favour and made him "figure it out for himself". He wanted to teach his son how to be independent, even if that meant seemingly abandoning him and any chance he had at actually acting like a father figure.
"If she wants to solve the case why don't you send her out with David?"
Nathan cringed. Of course, he should have known his father was going to bring him up. David; the star brother. The police chief. He however, had been granted the glory of working his way up to his position. Nathan had just been tossed his detective job and forced to take it. Ever since then, David had been seen as the glory son. The one who had gone to school, graduated with honors and who had worked his way to the top of his field in no time. Nathan, of course, was shoved a job that his father needed to fill and pushed behind the camera instead of in front of it. He liked to think that his father couldn't afford to send him to college, since he was supporting the two on his own, and gave Nathan the oh-so important task of "paper filer" since he blew all their savings on his first born. But, at the end of the day, it was just a hunch. But, considering his field, Nathan's hunches were more-often-than-not correct.
"You don't get it."
"Clearly I don't." He sighed, setting his glass of water against his kitchen dining table. "Frankly, I wouldn't bother explaining it to me if I were you. If I don't get something," He chuckled. "Then I don't get it. My mind's made up."
"You haven't listened to anything I've said yet." He growled, clenching his fists against the surface. How did his father dare to ponder why Nathan wanted to move out of this town so badly? Considering he was badgering him with how useless his words were, Nathan couldn't see a logical reason to stay. The only reason he hadn't left yet was because he wanted to make sure he had everything organized for a move; a location, a job, a savings account, a movers truck. He wanted it all to be ready so in one swift day he could get the hell out of there and never look back. So long father. So long old life.
His father sighed, rubbing his temples in irritation rather than exhaustion which Nathan was silently hoping. If his father ever got tired he gave up on whatever he was doing. Nathan could only hope that was what was happening now, but his father never seemed to get tired when arguing with him. He only got irritated by his son's stubbornness.
"Because what's the point in listening if my mind is already made up?"
"To listen to what I'm then going to do behind your back so you can find a way to stop me with ease?" He spat back, a small smirk crossing his lips before washing away as his father swirled around to face him.
"Pardon you?"
Nathan gave a mental eye roll before resuming. "I mean it when I say that this will benefit the company. If you refuse to let me go through with it then I'll find a way through the cracks and do it without you." He chuckled. "Then get applauded and congratulated when it works out perfectly as planned."
He could practically feel his father's eye twitch in aggravation. If there was one thing his father hated more than Nathan being cocky, it was Nathan being more popular than he was in his own company.
The older man turned allowing one eye to graze the table before resting upon his son. Nathan sat calmer, not nearly as angry now that he knew how to play his father like a guitar. Nathan didn't even need to look in the direction to know that his father was studying him.
Deciding to save both of them some time he stood, circling the table and taking his glass of water along with him. Maybe explaining his brilliance could help his father follow his intelligent train of thought.
"Hazel is the only hope we'll ever have at solving this case." He swirled his cup around in his hands, allowing a low growl to begin to form in his throat. "To think, you just want to throw an innocent girl away who not only is looking for answers herself, but could provide us with answers we need to solve this case." He forced back the bitter taste on his tounge of not calling his father a foul name, but resumed his calm stance. The only way to intimidate his father with anything was with brains and composure. "Unless you want to spend months, dare I say even years on this, I suggest you let in an insider to help figure out what happened that day."
Silence loomed in the air as the two minds churned in their skulls. Each with their own hopes of what would follow. After an eternity of blaring silence, the shuffling of clothing fabric broke Nathan's still stance.
"I'm going to make a compromise,"
Nathan forced back a scoff. His father's idea of a "compromise" was making his decision slightly less strict yet not including a word from anyone else's input. Despite this, Nathan nodded his head urging him to begin.
"I need to meet her."
"How exactly is that a compromise?"
He smirked. "To decide whether or not she can be let in as an asset."
"As a detective." He strained. Good Lord was his father hard to bargain with. Nathan stood and worked in a hurry, almost immediately after the words had left his mouth. "She's a genius, an honor student in high school. She knows plenty that the police won't and haven't ask her about. Maybe even things she didn't know she needed to give. They're holding the bodies hostage until they're examined so she can't plan the funeral." He continued to growl his list on his way to the door, mentally cursed his father and ripping his coat from the closet.
His father chuckled, snatching his beverage and bringing it back up to his lips slowly, as if trying to taunt his son hurriedly getting ready at the door. "I'll be by at six."
Nathan stopped as he buttoned up the centre of his jacket and turned. "What?"
"For dinner obviously." He must have captured the skeptical look. He continued. "How else do you expect me to meet this girl?"
"Not at all, preferably." Ripping the door open, Nathan digs around in his pocket before fishing out his car keys. His father was an idiot if he thought he was going to bend over backwards to please him and his odd need to destroy any hope and salvation he had in his life. His father, more than anything, needed to get lost.
"I'd prefer chicken." He called just as the door slammed shut with a rattle of the door lock.
But then again, he also knew Nathan would do anything to solve this case. That's why he was his star employee.
-------------
He had gotten home not even fifteen minutes after their talk had ended and was already madly cooking away, cursing himself the entire time. He wasn't sure how his father always managed to get into his head, but he applauded him for his maddening talent. The talent and power that always seemed to work against him.
Nathan was terrified. More so for Hazel's sake than anything, but he knew how his father got with these. Job interviews, family dinners, meeting girlfriends - it was always the same. His father saw them as prime opportunities to "interrogate a witness". It was never a delight to meet someone new, especially if he didn't want to meet them to begin with. Then he kicked it up to a 10. For Hazel, Nathan could already tell his father would ramp it up to a 35.
He sighed, setting down his spoon for mixing the salad dressing and snagging the phone. He had almost forgotten to call the guest of honour, and if he could help it Nathan would have as little time as possible one on one with his dad.
After madly rummaging around in his laptop bag he ripped out the small sticky note that contained the brunette's number hurriedly scribbled onto it. She had been in a nervous fit in his office and, in a desperate attempt to calm her mumbling-self down, he slipped a piece of paper onto the desk and asked her to write her information down. She had gladly done it, of course. Anyway to keep in contact regarding the case she would do.
Dialling into the phone with his messy fingers he internally groaned. He would need to clean that later. For now he needed to get in contact with her. It was a must, despite his inner clean-freak wanting to punch him in the nose for not wiping his hands first. He waiting in agony until he heard a click and a gentle voice on the other end with a shy greeting.
"Hazel, it's Nathan."
On the other end, her heart stopped and her hand froze. She had just been in the middle of filling up Lily's food dish for dinner and now was greeted with a boy on the phone? The only boy to ever call her was that one banker trying to convince her to donate her parents' money. Even then he wasn't exactly kind.
"H-Hi?" She began softly. "What's going on?"
He closed his eyes in pain, half because of the messy phone smacked against his cheek but also for the idea that this kind girl would be subjected to the wrath of his cold-hearted family. "My father wants to meet you." He finally managed to burst from his lungs, as if a balloon popping and forcing out its noise.
Hazel swore he could hear how red her cheeks were getting over the phone. "Meet me? Why?"
Nathan sighed. "He wants to meet you before figuring out if you're able to work on the case. He wants to see if you're, quote un-quote, 'ready'."
"Ready? Like a test?"
Nathan shrugged, gloomily making his way back to the kitchen to check on the chicken. "I wouldn't put it like that," That would only make her more anxious. "It's more so just to meet you and see who you are. He can't assign just anyone to a case."
Hazel chewed against her lower lip, pacing back and forth through her kitchen as Lily's confused eyes followed her. This one dinner was the deciding factor in her solving what happened with her parents. If she messed up and was signed off than it could be weeks or months before an investigation started. She already knew their department was terribly understaffed, she saw it with her own eyes at the number of empty cubicles in their office space. She had to do this and she had to do it right.
"Yeah, okay. I'll come. When?" She was trying desperately to say as little as possible to not plainly give away how terrified she was. Short, choppy, one-worded sentences seemed to work best with that in mind.
"I suggest you come a little early, so five thirty. Does that work? My boss is very punctual."
"Don't you mean your Dad?" Who exactly was she meeting today? She would assume he would call his Dad "Father" instead of "Boss". How odd. Their family really was something intricate.
"Yeah, my Dad."
"Okay, I'll be there on time."
"Wonderful. Can't wait."
While Hazel could feel her cheeks flush from the sweet gesture, Nathan meant something completely different by his words. Really, he was just thankful that someone would come and keep him sane while dwelling with his glooming cloud of misery; his father.
-------------
EDIT; glass dining table change where needed
"You know, dinner would actually be ready if you came when you said you were." Nathan shot at his father who was calmly sitting at the dining table, hands folded in front of himself.
Nathan had been madly whisking up the cake batter for dessert that night when his father had waltzed in and claimed he was ready to feast.
He was forty five minutes early.
"I just wanted to see how you make things. I wanted to watch your process."
Hazel had no idea.
Nathan had promised that she would get here soon enough that his father wouldn't be there yet and they could make a game plan of what to do and say. Now they were doomed and on their own.
His father had probably planned it that way. He would do whatever he could to make his life as difficult as possible and adored taking away the things Nathan wanted most. Like his college money. Like his dignity in the family. Even down to something as small as his partnership with Hazel. But he wasn't going to give that easily. Nathan knew that.
"My process hasn't changed."
"Good thing I came. Now you can prove that statement." Good God did he ever give him a break?
A doorbell echoed through the house and immediately the male froze. He hadn't even planned what he was going to say to Hazel yet. She was expecting to waltz into an empty household. How was he supposed to convince her that everything was going to go over well when they didn't have a plan nor any time to make one? He already hated this and, knowing Hazel, she wouldn't like this one bit either. She was so determined to do well and to work on this case all for justifiable reasons. Yet somehow, even with hearing them, his father was so against it.
"I'll get it." Nathan commented, swiping his hands against his apron and darting for the door before his father could cut in.
With a swing the door was open, and the frazzled male gave a weak smile and gestured with his hand for her to come in. Just as she was about to speak her eyes darted towards something just over his shoulder and felt as her skin drained of all colour - except for the gentle makeup she had placed against her cheeks and lips.
"Why, hello. You must be this Hazel I've heard so much about."
Her brown eyes shot up towards Nathan begging for an answer. Was she late? Did she hear the wrong time? Did he give the wrong time? She was almost certain that it was her who had messed up, not him. Nathan's eyes melted from terrified to apologetic.
"I decided to arrive early to get a better sense of your dynamic as a duo. Figured it would be better for everyone that way, hm?"
Nathan sighed under his breath, stepping aside to let his acquaintance in. "I wouldn't quite put it that way, father."
Hazel took small, frantic steps as she was drawn into the room. She slid into a handshake with the head-honcho and was swiftly guided towards the living room with an uncomfortable hand against her back.
On his way back to the kitchen Nathan couldn't help but steal a glance and scowl. His father always was a womanizer, but even Nathan knew after spending only a few days speaking with Hazel that she couldn't be interested in him or his gestures at all. She was only interested in one thing; the case. However, the male did take the moment she was being escorted to examine her attire. A beautiful red silk dress that clung to her perfectly body and waved out at the waist starting at a black ribbon. Her look was paired with a silver locket around her neck and a charm bracelet gracing her left wrist. Most of all he noted the lack of glasses against her face. Instead she had slipped into contacts. He could have sat back and analyzed all the reasons why she wouldn't have wanted to wear her glasses, but he decided to go with the idea that she felt more confident without them.
"Now Hazel, I'm curious to know why this, of all cases, interests you so much."
How was it possible that the literal moment he walked back into the kitchen his father needed to start probing her for answers that he already knew? He was testing her right in front of his eyes for her toughness. Good Lord did Nathan ever hate it. He began pouring the cake batter into it's pan and slid it into the oven faster than he had ever done before in his life. All for the sole purpose of wanting to get Hazel out of that interrogation as quickly as possible.
As soon as it was in, he darted away to his bedroom pausing in the doorframe for only a brief moment to untie his apron and to catch a snippet of their conversation.
"I assure you these cases aren't anything like they are in books."
"I know, sir."
"So, if curiosity for the realism of literature isn't your prompt, then what is?"
"Well, a few reasons. I thought Nathan would have told you?"
"Ah, well, I like to hear them from the source."
Asshole.
Tossing his apron against his bathroom door handle he made his way forwards towards his dresser and violently tore off his dirtied shirt. The moment he got home he had started cooking and hadn't given a second thought towards changing. He just didn't have the time. Grabbing a new one and a red tie he slipped both of them on and tossed a black coat overtop. It was good enough for a meal with his father. He didn't care too much to impress him anymore, he only cared for Hazel to impress.
After two quick sprays of cologne he whisked himself out to the living room. Now he just needed to find a way to get Hazel out of his father's evil, questioning grasp. "Okay, how about we sit for dinner, huh?" Nathan leaned his clammy palms against the back of his couch, gesturing to help Hazel to her feet. Taking one of her arms gently in his hands he attempted to escort her as kindly as he could to the table. He slid out her chair and placed a hand on her shoulder to help her take a seat, but the male couldn't help but lean down towards her ear, almost as if he was kissing it. "You don't need to answer anything you don't want to." He assured softly, rubbing her arm in reassurance for a brief moment before darting back to the kitchen.
Nathan only wanted to make Hazel as comfortable as possible. Many reasons led him to this gesture; for one she was the one person that could actually help him get the case off his desk and, frankly, done well. The other workers didn't exactly have a keen eye for quality. He could finally prove his Dad wrong for once in his life, but above all, Hazel needed this. She needed to know what happened to her family and he was the only person with the tools to help her get the answers she needed.
Hazel could feel her cheeks burn with Nathan touches and whispers. He had never gotten this close and comfortable with her before, not even when she was a wreck in his office. Flustered was an understatement. So many thoughts and ideas were surging through her head like a river, when really only a trickle of them were true.
He returned only a few seconds later with several plates balancing on his arms and spread them against the table calmly and with a straight, brick-like expression. He had learned long ago not to seem overly happy or excited about anything; his father would always shatter it without fail.
"Quite a feast."
"What can I say, I prepare lots." He replied calmly to his father. He hoped the more food, the more he would eat, the less he would talk. A part of him knew that it was too good of a dream to be true but it was exactly that; a dream. He could dream all he wanted.
"Dig in, please." Nathan assured with a pleasant nod towards his female guest, really the only guest he cared for, and began passing around the dishes. Salad, mashed potatoes, cheddar stuffed chicken, fresh garden vegetables, and to top it off with dessert in the oven.
As each plate was passed by and a heap was set against her plate she couldn't help but be astonished. He was an amazing chef. At least by the looks and smells of all of his food. Did he cook like this every night for himself? Quality more so than quantity.
As she took a bite a smile melted onto her face. A home cooked meal. A good one at that. She oh-so missed the amazing meals her mother used to create. Sitting at home and Googling quick, cheap dinners didn't quite compare to the delicacies of her mother.
"So, why exactly you two?"
They both paused, eyes darting back up to listen to the man speak.
"What do you mean?" Hazel asked softly, reaching for her water to soothe the burning in her throat from speaking. Despite the fact that she had only spoken with this man for about half an hour, he could strike an unbelievable amount of fear into her heart.
"Why do you two, of all people, want to work together?" He scoffed slightly, swallowing a piece of his chicken. "You seem like total opposites."
Two bites. It took him two bites before he started asking questions. Nathan cleared his throat, adjusting his napkin in his nap nervously as he collected his thoughts. The obvious answer was that it was her parents that were murdered and he was the one working the case. He knew, however, that he couldn't say that. He didn't want to remind Hazel of her hardships at a time he assured her would be pleasing and, most of all, didn't want to give his father an excuse to call her weak.
"We have a lot in common. We've learned that the past while."
"How exactly?"
Nathan scowled. While other parents would attempt to make a genuine conversation out of questions, his father asked them for the sake of getting answers, not for the sake of conversing. "We're both literature fans." Hazel said softly. "As well as mystery fans."
Nathan turned to her as she spoke, slightly surprised to see her jump in. A warm glow fell across his face as he watched her speak. She really wanted this. She wanted to speak on behalf of both of them just as much as he did. They were truly in this together, which already meant they were a team.
"We go to the same coffee shop and that's how we met. From there our love of books drew us closer. Then she told me that she was interested in the detective world. Everything just seemed to work out perfectly."
"Oh, so you think." His father smirked, pouring a glass of wine and swirling the cup in his hand.
Nathan's eyes followed the swirling, expensive liquid. "What do you mean by that?"
After taking a painfully long sip from his drink the eldest smiled, set it back against the table, and scooped some potatoes onto his spoon. Hazel contemplated her almost-empty plate. She wasn't that hungry out of nerves so naturally didn't take a lot, despite how good it was.
"You both like books, coffee and mysteries. I could pair you up with three hundred other "better" partners in New York alone. It doesn't mean this is a partnership made in heaven."
"We never said that."
"Are you trying to convince me that the reason you deserve to work together on an NYPD murder investigation case is because you both like books and hot caffeinated beverages?"
"No, you are well aware of the other reasons." Nathan spat back. He wouldn't dare. He couldn't. He wouldn't push Hazel to talk about her families lives and relations while meeting an old, bitter stranger for the first time. Everyone at that table knew that this was supposed to be a friendly meeting, not an interrogation of Hazel's family situation. Was he even aware of the trauma he was causing her? He was waving the case right above her nose. She could get it, or he could pull it away in an instant. He could dangle all she's ever wanted right in front of her face and then rip it away for what? For fun? To torment Nathan? To prove a point?
"Refresh me."
Nathan's hand clenched into a fist. He had never so severely considered punching his father in the face. Would he do that to any other client? Someone coming in begging for answers and him waving the idea that he could help them, but then ripping the hope away just for laughs? He truly was evil if this was his idea of joy.
Hazel cleared her throat and desperately squeezed the napkin in her hands, squeezing her nerves into it instead of in her body language. Nathan glanced down and noticed, his fists tightening at the view. If only his father could see what he was doing to her.
"My name is Hazel Daniels. Those were my parents. I want to work on this case," She hesitated a moment, gathering her thoughts. There were so many reasons on why she wanted to work this case. What single one could she give to prove her point? "Because I want to know what happened to them. I can't go on day to day not knowing who did it." She took a deep breath, adjusting her shoulders and trying to sit as tall as possible. Even speaking about them, feeling the passion swell inside her chest like a water balloon about to snap. She knew what she needed to say, and she knew what he needed to hear. "I know more about my parents than any other. I could help solve this case simply with my knowledge of their lives and feelings." She could feel her voice snag on the last word. She couldn't let her confidence fade now, she was doing such a wonderful job. Maybe she was even getting her point across. "I love them. I know them, and I know that I can help."
Nathan stared at the fragile girl in shock. He had to admit he never would have thought she would defend herself like that with such grace and passion. He was so worried she wouldn't say a word and his father would dismiss her as weak. But that she was; weak. He knew that. Anyone who saw her did. Her parents were murdered weeks before, she wasn't going to be able to bounce back instantly. It wasn't in her nature nor anyone else's when something like that happens. Everyone gets weak. But in this moment her weakness was her biggest strength and that was the greatest amount of courage he had ever seen. If his father couldn't see that then he, truly, was the weak one.
His father sat calmly, taking a draw from his glass before folding his hands against the table and studying at the two. He puckered her lips, the annoying moment that sparked a twitch in Nathan's eye. That was always the annoying face he made when he couldn't decide what to do, yet it always ended with something against Nathan. Finally, he shook his head and leaned back.
"Eh, I don't know." He said gruffly, tracing the bottom of his drink against the tablecloth.
Watching Hazel's shoulders deflate out of the corner of his eye Nathan couldn't help but snap. She must have gathered an unbelieveable amount of courage to face his father, of all people, and demand she get a job. Here he was again, toying with her.
"You know, you don't really have the guts to decide." He shot out, holding back from spitting into the wine glass he seemed more fixated on than the girl before him. His eyes glanced up and only at that moment did he continue. "You wouldn't know what it takes to do well at this job because you get everyone else to do your work." He huffed before pushing himself around the table and continuing. "What I do, all day, is get work off of your desk so your name looks good. Not mine, yours. All the work I do gets signed off by you and you are the one with all the praise. So." His hands smacked the glass table with such force that a single drop of his grape drink splashed onto the tablecloth, staining it in a dark red. "Who deserves to call the shots?"
Really, he could have gone down the road that by working together they would make his name look better, but he didn't want to need to throw Hazel and her parents under the bus as leeway to defeat his father. They were doing it for Hazel, her parents, and the city. Lying and claiming that it was about his father wasn't an option.
The older man cleared his throat, his eyes briefly pausing against the wine stain before returning his attention to the two that clearly wanted it. A gentle beep sounded in the distance, bouncing off and spreading its song through the sickeningly quiet room with caged thoughts and haunting silence.
The oven. Their dessert was done.
"You know what," He grumbled softly, pushing himself to his feet with his knuckles pressing against the table. "As much as I would love to stay for dessert, I'm going to run."
"You haven't given us an answer yet." Nathan spat back quickly. He wasn't going to sneak away that fast. Not if he could help it. He wanted an answer, even if temporary, now. His father sighed, a tired smile working its way onto his wrinkled and worn face. He rubbed his gruff chin for a moment before peering between the two and taking a step away to get them both in his frame of sight. He had never seen his son so determined to get something in his entire life. But, as he was busy wondering why, his son was busy plotting schemes against him. So he might as well make it quick.
"Fine. Work together." Nathan could feel Hazel's shock as if it was gripping at his arm and shaking it madly. To be fair, his shock was doing the same thing to the other. "But, if anything is to happen to either of you, especially her, it's on you. Not me." He paused, stuffing his hands into his pockets and contemplating his next words carefully. "If anything goes south, David will be on the line."
Nathan remained silent, glaring down harshly at the man. As if he ever took responsibility for any of his actual employees if they got hurt even now. Threatening them with the idea that if they were to get injured they would need to live with the guilt was like threatening an advanced placement high school math class that if they don't ace the addition test they'd fail.
"Here," Nathan began, snagging something from the table and starting towards his father who was already starting towards the doorknob. He placed a hand on the man's shoulder, pushing the wind bottle close to his chest. "Take it as a 'thank you' gift." He could only hope his father would taste his bitter words in that beverage.
The man nodded, adjusting his tie and starting towards the exit. Nathan didn't bother holding the door open for him, only slammed it shut after he was through.
Nathan rested his head against the door. Fists on either side of his head. Eyes squeezed shut. Anger coursing through his veins. It didn't need to be as painful and as horrific as it had been. His father just always liked to make it out to be that way.
He heard gentle shuffling behind him and shook his head. Poor girl was probably frazzled out of her mind. This was not at all the dinner he had planned or that she had braced herself for. For that he was truly heartbroken. He turned, releasing his fists from the door and getting ready to apologize for her trauma when instead he saw her standing half-way in his kitchen doorframe with a tray of cake in hand. She gave a nervous smile, her body tensing as if she was a freshly squeezed stress ball.
"I didn't want your hard work to burn."
His shoulders sank in relief and gave a weak smile. At least after it all the ordeal hadn't changed her perception of him or of the case she still so clearly wanted to work on. He could be grateful for that. If anything, tonight was useful for proving exactly what lengths she would go through to work this case, and just how much she was willing to tolerate and still stay. For that, he was thankful. She just so happened to be the only person he knew that was willing.
"I'll make us some tea."
-------------
"Another?" Nathan asked with a grin, gesturing to the half eaten cake sitting in the center of his now-tablecloth-free glass dining table. Hazel nodded, her hands squeezing each side of her teacup in her hands.
"I've already had two slices,"
"What harm will one more do?" He asked with a smirk. "After all, I wouldn't want my hard work to go to waste after you saved it, now would I?"
Hazel gave a grin at his remark, glancing back to his delicious delicacy. She had to admit that it was amazing. She hadn't pegged a rebellious detective to be the baking type. Clearly she was wrong.
"Let's split a piece in half then," He proposed, tilting his head down slightly. "Really I just need to get rid of one more piece so this can fit in my fridge."
Hazel, for the first time in a while, let out a genuine laugh. She felt ridiculous. She was sure it sounded stupid, but despite her embarrassment she allowed him to cut them a slice. The male beamed as he did so, pushing the pastry onto her plate. He wasn't sure he had ever heard her laugh before, or at least not as purely as that. It seemed that Hazel was always in nervous-mode or working-mode. He never got to see her happy side.
They ate silently, the male messing around with the chocolate delight on his plate and studying the girl before occasionally taking a bite. As odd as it was to think it, she was the only one to have survived one of his father's interrogation tests.
He watched her as she set her fork against her empty plate. "Thank you for sticking this out." She was reaching for her cup of tea when he spoke, leading her to hold the drink close to her mouth instead of drinking.
"I know meeting with my father isn't exactly easy, but I appreciate that you stayed."
Hazel nodded, delicately setting her cup against the table. "It's for my parents." She said softly, barely making eye contact with the man in front of her, instead she watched tea leaves dance in her drink. It had been so long since she had been able to hug them, but seeing her Mom and Dad's files and working towards solving their mystery made her feel a lot closer. As if they were just around the corner and she was off to fetch them. They felt alive again, close to her, even though deep down she knew that truly, they were forever gone.
She cleared her throat nervously and stood. "I should really get going." She mumbled, more to herself than anyone. She needed time to get out and breathe. To step away from this case and sit at home, on her couch, in her safe zone. Where she didn't feel so heartbreakingly close to her departed best friends. It was too much heartbreak for a single day. Just for a little while she needed to escape and get back to her old life of routines and silence.
"I'll walk you out." He responded quickly. He hoped he hadn't just pushed her out and away; that his last comment hadn't hurt her. He knew who she was really doing this for, he just felt the need to thank her for sticking around despite all the traumas his father was pushing onto her.
He swung in front of her to grab the door, propping it open with one of his feet as she passed through gradually and hesitantly. Not too content with herself it seemed. Nathan blamed his father for the way her eyes lost that sparkle he had seen when they had spoken earlier in his office. They had dissolved now, he could tell by the way her head loomed lower as she stepped through the doorframe.
"I'll see you later, right partner?" He asked with a sad smirk, hoping that his confidence could bring up her mood. She turned around from her departure, staring back at him with eyes wide with disbelief. Confusion. Uncertainty.
"Have a goodnight, Hazel." As he close that door he knew, he could tell by the way her eyes had beamed back at him; her sparkle was back.