Chapter 55: Fragments of Us

Jason stood outside Kate’s house, his thoughts a swirl of conflicting emotions. The breakthrough he'd just received from Oliver—about the leader of The Watchers, about the cult’s purpose—should’ve been his only focus. But as his eyes traced the lines of the house, the way the light fell across the front steps, all he could think about was Kate.

She had that effect on him.

It was impossible not to notice how effortlessly she carried herself—like everything she did mattered, even the small things. The way she spoke, the way her eyes lit up when she was passionate about something, the way she listened like the world would pause to hear your words. Jason had known her for two years, and in that time, he'd watched her work with a precision and clarity he could only admire. And there was the quiet strength she radiated, something deeper than mere competence. It was the kind of strength that left you in awe but also made you feel—just a little bit—like you weren’t worthy of being in the same room.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, reminding himself why he was here. Focus, Jason. You have a job to do. His lips tightened at the thought of the case. This wasn’t about him. Not now, not when they were so close to cracking this wide open.

But as he pressed the doorbell, that familiar flutter in his chest returned. He couldn’t help it. Kate, he thought, watching the door swing open to reveal her standing there in casual clothes, her smile effortlessly warm. Every time she greeted him, it felt like he was seeing her for the first time, and something inside him tightened.

“Hey, Kate,” he managed, swallowing the lump in his throat as he followed her inside.

"Hello, Jason." She stepped aside, her eyes meeting his for a brief moment. It was enough to make him wonder—was there something there? Of course, there wasn’t. She was engaged. She had Samuel, someone who was obviously more than just a distant thought. Jason was well aware of that.

The thought should’ve been a simple reminder, but instead, it weighed heavier with each passing second. Focus on the case.

She led him into the lounge, and he noticed her movements—the fluid way she moved, the ease in her body language. She was comfortable here, in her space, and something about that made Jason feel even more like an outsider. The kind of outsider who only saw glimpses of a life he could never be part of.

"I'm not going to the office today," Kate said, breaking his reverie. “I was thinking of asking you to visit the Yarrabura tribe."

“Hmm, that’s a good idea,” Jason replied absently, his gaze drifting over her as she settled on the sofa. The way her hair fell over her shoulders, the way her eyes softened when she spoke—it was impossible not to notice. He quickly pulled his thoughts back into the present. "Do you live alone here, Kate?" he asked, hoping the question would distract him.

Her answer was simple, matter-of-fact. "After my parents passed away, I’ve been living alone. No siblings."

Jason's chest tightened at the mention of her loss, though it was a quiet pain he didn’t dare acknowledge. Instead, he followed her into the kitchen, the casual clink of cans opening ringing in his ears.

When she handed him a soft drink, he took it mechanically, his mind still racing. "But I heard you're getting married," he said, almost absentmindedly, watching her closely.

She paused for just a second—only a breath—and then answered, "Yes. We’re waiting until we close this case before we move in together."

Jason’s hand faltered for a brief moment, his grip tightening on the can before he regained control. Of course she’s getting married. Of course she is. It wasn’t like he expected anything different, but hearing it aloud made something inside him ache in a way he hadn’t anticipated. She was already someone else's, and not just in some abstract way—she had someone.

"Samuel’s a doctor," she added, explaining that he lived closer to his hospital for convenience. Jason nodded, swallowing the pang of something bitter that rose in his chest. He focused on her words, on the case. This is not about you. He told himself again, with more conviction this time. But the truth was, it always was.

Kate smiled at him as she settled on the couch, her expression bright and eager. "Okay, now tell me why you came by, Jason." Her eyes locked onto his, open, welcoming, expectant. For a moment, he almost forgot why he was here. Almost.

He took a breath, his gaze briefly flicking down to the can in his hands. "I’ve made a breakthrough," he said, pushing past the emotions that were always just under the surface when it came to her.

"What breakthrough?" She leaned forward, the excitement in her voice palpable. Jason couldn’t help but notice how her enthusiasm lit up the room. It was almost contagious. Almost.

He exhaled, the weight of the discovery pressing against him now. "You know I’ve been monitoring Jim and Clark. Well, today Oliver found something in the recordings—a name. We have a lead on the leader of The Watchers."

Kate’s eyes widened, her attention completely locked on him. "Who is it?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, as though the gravity of what he was saying was already hitting her.

Jason leaned forward too, savoring the moment, but in the back of his mind, a part of him still couldn’t shake the feeling of being so close—to the case, to the truth, but also to the life he secretly wished he could have with her. "We do," he replied softly, his voice steady. "And we’ve also uncovered some details about their purpose. It’s bigger than we thought, Kate."

She was already on the edge of her seat, her breath catching. "This could be it," she murmured. "This could be the break we’ve been waiting for."

Jason’s smile was bittersweet as he watched her. It was easy to get lost in her intensity, the way her mind worked, how she could go from calm to razor-sharp focus in a heartbeat. She’s amazing, Jason thought, and for a split second, he wondered what it would be like if she could see him the way he saw her.

But no. That wasn’t his role. His role was right here, helping her solve this case. Just this. Just the case.

He nodded, a quiet sadness tugging at the edges of his thoughts. "Yeah. This is just the beginning."

As Kate’s face lit up, her focus completely on the work ahead, Jason had to remind himself: that this was all he could have. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.