Cat's out of the bag (Nate)

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Nate absentmindedly stroked Raya's hair as he read to hera chapter of '20,000 Leagues under The Sea'. He was to the part where the Giant Squid had attacked the ship. After about twenty minutes and his voice began to ache from reading aloud, he looked down to see that Raya had fallen fast asleep in his arm. He smiled and continued reading the rest silently.

The hours dolled on uneventfully, and for the briefest of moments, Nate had craned his head back to rest against the couch and shut his eyes.. He didnt sleep, but he actually felt relaxed for the first time in years.

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It was about seven-Ish in the morning when Raya finally woke up. She sat up slowly and stretched her arms. She looked around with her eyes, wondering how she got here, when she saw Nate's arm around her.

"Oh right, forgot I fell asleep here." she explained with a laugh, before she laid back down, yawning. "So what are we doing today?"

She mainly was asking to figure out what the plan was. If he had any plans that was.

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Nate smirked down at her and helped her sit up as he arched and stretched his back with a yawn. Sadly it was a monday and that meant Nate had to be heading to work soon. He slowly came to a stand and rolled his body back to send a ripple of loud pops down his spine. "Well as for myself, I've been called in. Apparently something happened at a warehouse. I might be gone most of the day."

He smiled at her softly as he picked up a clean shirt, jacket and tie. "You can come and go as you like. If you need to make a visit somewhere, just ask James.. He's got a car if you need it... Just.... think you can stay out of trouble?"

James poked his balking head around the corner in her night dress and Nate gathering clothes. he did a lewd eyebrow wriggle at them and walked away. "James... NO!"

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Nate smirked down at her and helped her sit up as he arched and stretched his back with a yawn. Sadly it was a monday and that meant Nate had to be heading to work soon. He slowly came to a stand and rolled his body back to send a ripple of loud pops down his spine. "Well as for myself, I've been called in. Apparently something happened at a warehouse. I might be gone most of the day."

"What, like someone smuggling stuff they shouldn't?" Raya asked, curious about what was going on. "If you need me to, I could ask around."

She watched him as he got up.

He smiled at her softly as he picked up a clean shirt, jacket and tie. "You can come and go as you like. If you need to make a visit somewhere, just ask James.. He's got a car if you need it... Just.... think you can stay out of trouble?"

"Will do, I might just explore or something. Maybe figure out what to call my cat." She smiled back at him, shrugging at his question. "No promises."

James poked his balking head around the corner in her night dress and Nate gathering clothes. he did a lewd eyebrow wriggle at them and walked away. "James... NO!"

Raya felt her cheeks flush as soon as she got what James was hinting at. Sure Nate was really cute, but she hardly knew the man. Plus, as far as she knew... He only thought of her as a friend. "Did he think we..."

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"What, like someone smuggling stuff they shouldn't?" Raya asked, curious about what was going on. "If you need me to, I could ask around." She watched him as he got up.

He shook his head solemnly, "They're calling me in for a murder scene.. six dead outside of a warehouse.. They're thinking it looks like a deal gone bad... But my partner suspects it's something else.. That's why they're calling me." he lightly rolled his eyes. "They only ask for me when things don't add up and they're too stupid to look at the small details" He smiled softly at her, replying to the next part of her question. "If you do, just be careful. I know you can be resourceful, but... Just be careful, okay, kid?"

"Will do, I might just explore or something. Maybe figure out what to call my cat." She smiled back at him, shrugging at his question. "No promises." Raya felt her cheeks flush as soon as she got what James was hinting at. Sure Nate was really cute, but she hardly knew the man. Plus, as far as she knew... He only thought of her as a friend. "Did he think we..."

"Probably not. James just likes to muck about. I'll have to find some pictures of him when he was younger. He was a ladie's man.. There was a rumor that he and my grandmother.. had a thing... going..." He cleared his throat, obviously disturbed by the idea

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He shook his head solemnly, "They're calling me in for a murder scene.. six dead outside of a warehouse.. They're thinking it looks like a deal gone bad... But my partner suspects it's something else.. That's why they're calling me." he lightly rolled his eyes. "They only ask for me when things don't add up and they're too stupid to look at the small details"

Raya giggled at his answered, finding amusement in his annoyance with some of his co-workers. "Obviously, they aren't looking for the smaller details."

He smiled softly at her, replying to the next part of her question. "If you do, just be careful. I know you can be resourceful, but... Just be careful, okay, kid?"

Raya raised an eyebrow at him calling her 'kid,' she wasn't a child in anyway. At least not in her mind. "First off, not a kid. Second, I usually am."

She gave him a reassuring smile, even if she wasn't so sure she was entirely all that careful. Considering how much trouble she could get herself into within about sixty minutes. However, if she put her mind to it, maybe... Just maybe, she might actually have a day where she wouldn't have to hide from whoever she messed with.

"Probably not. James just likes to muck about. I'll have to find some pictures of him when he was younger. He was a ladie's man.. There was a rumor that he and my grandmother.. had a thing... going..." He cleared his throat, obviously disturbed by the idea.

Raya tried not to laugh, quickly replying. "That would be interesting. Might be cool to see him in his younger years." It was going to be interesting, being in a new house, alone with James. Well she supposed she could try to get use to the older gentleman.

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Nate wasn't sure exactly what possesed him to do it, but he gently held the back of Raya's head and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He then smirked and placed a hand on her shoulder with a light squeeze before taking a step back. "I know you're not a kid, Raya. You dont have to get defensive, kitten."

At the current point in time, he was unaware just how ironic his nickname for her was. "Oh.. and a heads up, if you need me, you know my cell.. but there's a good chance I could be gone the rest of the day for this one."

He then made his way out of the library and down the stairs, grabbing his suit jacket from the back of the couch and heading out the door, he seemed in a big hurry.

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Nate wasn't sure exactly what possesed him to do it, but he gently held the back of Raya's head and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He then smirked and placed a hand on her shoulder with a light squeeze before taking a step back. "I know you're not a kid, Raya. You dont have to get defensive, kitten."

Her cheeks flushed a dark red from feeling her detective's lips on her forehead. Then proceeded to get even darker as he called her 'Kitten.'. If only he knew, just how much like a kitten she actually was.

At the current point in time, he was unaware just how ironic his nickname for her was. "Oh.. and a heads up, if you need me, you know my cell.. but there's a good chance I could be gone the rest of the day for this one."

"Got it." Raya said with a nod, as she watched him leave the library. Finally managing to say as the door closed behind him. "Be safe!"

Realizing she had chosen to say that just a bit too late. She hid her face in her hand, then with a quick rubbing of the eyes. She got up to go to her room to perhaps catch a bit more sleep, and then to get dressed.

---

After a few hours, Raya was wearing a plain white wife-beater, and a pair of loose jeans. Along of course with her trusty brown jacket.

It was nearly dark out, and she had an appointment to keep. With a quick note to tell James, she was off, she had walked out. Off to meet her informant.

Though as she walked to her meeting location, she couldn't help the bad feeling that ran up her spine. And to make matters worse. It had starting to rain.

---

Raya winced in pain, as she put pressure on her right side using her rolled up coat as a way to stop the bleeding.

She was sitting in an alley, soaking wet from the still falling rain. In pain due to the double crossing moron with a gun. Oh! And bleeding from getting shot a second time. Luckily, this time it was a through and through.

With a shaky hand, she slowly managed to get her phone out of her jeans pocket. Dialing Nate's number as best she could, having to redial it since she screwed it up by adding a seven.

"N-Nate.." Raya started, as she attempted to calm herself down. "I'm at that alley where I broke my nose... I.. I need help."

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It was considerably late that evening. And a lot had happened. There had been an altercation in the investigation and his partner, Will had been shot. The man was alive but in critical condition. Nate was wracked with guilt. The bullet had been meant for him, but Will have valiantly stepped in the way to save his partner. Nate cursed at himself as he left the hospital to head to Will's home to inform his young wife what had happened and to offer his condolences.

He and will have been partners for five years, and he was the closest thing he'd had to a friend save to a Time Lord or two and Raya. It had begun to pour down rain as the squad car stopped in front of Will's home. He drew in a slow breath and made his way up the walk way and rung the bell. It had been once of the hardest things he'd ever had to tell someone. That their husband was in the hospital fighting for his life because he'd taken a bullet to save his partner.

He escorted Kate, Will's wife, to the hospital so she could be with him through the surgery. Nate had also planned to stay until his cell phone went off. He saw that it was Raya and immediatly picked up, his voice a bit grim at first "Hey. This.. really isnt a good time" but then heard the waiver in her voice and a slight sob.. "N-Nate.." Raya started, as she attempted to calm herself down."Raya? What's wrong, where are you??" "I'm at that alley where I broke my nose... I.. I need help."[/b]

Nate drew in a deep breath and left the hospital "Stay on the phone with me, Raya. I'm on my way.. Just keep talking to me. What happened?"[/size]

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He saw that it was Raya and immediatly picked up, his voice a bit grim at first "Hey. This.. really isnt a good time"

"N-Nate.." Raya started, as she attempted to calm herself down.

"Raya? What's wrong, where are you??"

She could heard the worry in his voice, and considering on how it sounded when he answered the phone.. Raya figured he must have had a really bad day so far. "I'm at that alley where I broke my nose... I.. I need help."

Nate drew in a deep breath and left the hospital "Stay on the phone with me, Raya. I'm on my way.. Just keep talking to me. What happened?"

"No problem." She managed to reply through her teeth, as she adjusted her sitting position. Feeling the sharp sting of the wound on her side, causing her to inhale rather quickly. "I was following up on a lead. This buddy of mine... Lucas... He w-was suppose to."

She had to pause for a second to fixed her jacket over her wound. She guessed she was lucky, considering that the bullet that caused the wound, wasn't still inside her. And that the guy who shot her had terrible aim. Though, not so luckily, she had a good gash just above her hip.

"He was s-suppose to get me some Intel o.. on some of the local gang activity." Raya continued, sniffing to temporarily stop her nose from running. "cause maybe... t-they were doing some sort of... s-shady business deals.."

"It was a set up.." Raya explained, as she felt tears run down her cheeks. She looked up towards the sky, wondering if it could possibly rain any harder....

Apparently, it could.

"I'm c-cold... And it's... It's raining... And it's d-dark..." Her throat was feeling sore, as she kept talking. She could feel the goosebumps on her arms. "J-just... Get here soon... P-please?"

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Nate calmly tried to keep Raya talking on the phone with him. If she was seriously injured, he didnt want her going into shock, and was trying to keep her mind busy. It was something he did many times in hostage situations. Although his voice seemed smooth and steady, his heart was racing.

After about 15 minutes, Nate got fed up with the traffic, flipped on his lights and siren and sped through the traffic lights to get to her. It was a reckless thing to do with the rain pouring down the way it was, but as he rushed to go to her, images of his sister kept emerging. He was not about to let something happen to Raya. If she died, it was on his hands. He felt responsible for her because he'd given her the job of being an informant.

Fortunately, once he'd put the lights on, other cars moved out of his way making his journey a short one. The car came to a screeching halt near the alley way. He shot out of the car, not bothering to close the door behind him. He ran down the alleyway until he found her. The blood on her side, running down her hip and over her leg made his chest tighten. That was two people today that had taken a bullet because of him.

He knelt down beside her and immediatly examined the wound. One of the other jobs he'd taken before becoming a detective was forensics, and to take forensics, you had to have some medical background. He applied pressure to the bullet wound to try and slow the bleeding before looking into her eyes. "Raya... I am so.. so sorry. I'm going to have to pick you up.. And then I'll take you to the hospital. I dont think it's serious but.. you've lost a lot of blood"

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He knelt down beside her and immediatly examined the wound. One of the other jobs he'd taken before becoming a detective was forensics, and to take forensics, you had to have some medical background. He applied pressure to the bullet wound to try and slow the bleeding before looking into her eyes. "Raya... I am so.. so sorry. I'm going to have to pick you up.. And then I'll take you to the hospital. I dont think it's serious but.. you've lost a lot of blood"

"It's.." She flinched as he put extra pressure onto her wound. "It's fine.. Not your fault." Looking back into his dark green eyes... While he attempting to remain calm, his eyes revealed just how scared he was. Even if it was just for a second. But scared of what?

"I... Want to go home..." Raya told him, a pleading look in her eyes. "P-please... Nate, let's.. Let's go home. I c-can.. Get fixed up there."

She really didn't want to go to a hospital right now. Considering all her previous 'battle scars', and if they did an x-ray... Who knows how many ribs healed semi-incorrectly... And on top of that, she didn't care for the smell of hospitals.

"All I really.. I-is some fishing wire.. A-and a sterile needle.." Raya explained in a rather weak voice. Wiping her eyes with her forearm.

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Nate sighed with a groan at her request as he hoisted her up into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead and rushed her into the car. He reclined the seat back to try and make her more comfortably, rushed around to the other side and gunned the engine, leaging the light on as he rushed them home

---

Once to the house he, again, carried her, to the house. He sighed as he looked at her bringing her into the kitchen. "I asked you to stay out of trouble, Raya." He wasn't scolding her... Not exactly... but he was still a little annoyed.

He swept his free arm along the island counter top to knock the few items there to the floor to to give her a place to lay while he tended to the bullet wound. "I need you to take your shirt off.. JAMES!! Bring my med kit, will you?"

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Once to the house he, again, carried her, to the house. He sighed as he looked at her bringing her into the kitchen. "I asked you to stay out of trouble, Raya." He wasn't scolding her... Not exactly... but he was still a little annoyed.

Raya looked down, holding onto him as her tears kept falling. Mostly from the pain, partly from guilt. She hadn't meant to get shot. Heck, she didn't mean for it to turn out the way it did.

"I.. I'm sorry.." she apologized, even if normally, she might have argued it wasn't her fault. It was just she really didn't feel up to that.

He swept his free arm along the island counter top to knock the few items there to the floor to to give her a place to lay while he tended to the bullet wound. "I need you to take your shirt off.. JAMES!! Bring my med kit, will you?"

With a short nod, Raya started on getting her tank top off. Her hands were shaking as she tried to carefully pull the use to be white shirt, (now had a mixture of blood and rain water,) off her body.

With her shirt off, it was quite plain to see the scars from her previous runs into trouble. Until now, they were easily hidden by a simple shirt. Most of them had nearly faded away due to the years that went by. Aside from the old bullet wound, on her right shoulder from nearly three years ago.

"N-Nate?" Raya asked quietly, as she laid back on the counter. A slight shiver from the cold countertop, as her skin touched it. "I'm.. Going to.. To be alright... Right?"

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When Raya asked him if she'd be alright, he couldn't help but smile as he passed his hand through her hair. "It looks like the bullet went all the way through. I just need to stop the bleeding and patch you up. You'll be just fine" Those dark mossy green eyes looked into hers trying to be soothing.

James came jogging in, a first aid kit in one hand and a few towels draped over his arm. It was apparent from Jame's reaction, he thought that Nate needed the kit for himself because James stopped and averted his eyes when he saw Raya, a light trace of red creeping over his face. Yes, he was playful and acted like a pervert, But he actually considered himself a gentleman. He gently draped one towel over her upper torso to give her a little sense of decency and rolled another towel to give Raya a pillow.

He then winked and gave her a double thumbs up to reassure her that she was in good hands. Nake chuckled and pointed to Raya's wound. "Okay, I need you to apply pressure here for me. This might not even need stitching." His eyes wandered over her other scars. She looked as rough as he did. He gently applied the iodine to the bullet entrance and exit wounds. It was a powerful disinfectant that wouldn't sting. After a few moments, the bleeding had subsided and Nate sighed in obvious relief. He took a gauze bandage and taped one firmly to each wound and helped her sit upright so he could take the gauze wrap and secure the bandages in place.

He smiled and kissed her forehead before looking at her "There.. should patch up just fine. Now.. Bed.. That's going to need a day or so to heal. Come on" and he gently lifted Raya into his arms to he could carry her upstairs.