No Longer Alone

Chapter Twenty-Seven

*Damian's POV*

    This was all going better than I could have hoped for, excepting the dark looks aimed my way as Nicole realized she was cornered.  I would get around that sooner or later though, it was fascinating watching the different masks she would wear at different times, and the roles she would play.  With her friends at the bar she was one person, in the class another.  In the meeting she was mostly demure and passed off on recognition most people would preen at.  Humble but proud at the same time.  In the class talking to the agents and letting them get to know her, she was yet another person, more like what Alex had described as her personality in her younger years, and she had an excellent way of getting these people to relax and interact with her, yet when she was out on her personal time, she seemed to freeze out anyone that wasn't a known friend.

    Listening to her talking about her hobbies outside of work was rather eye opening and unique, she didn't hide her love of games, books, and crafts, but she also spoke about kayaking and hiking.  She had a wide variety of interests, showing more depth than most people, and her stories about her kids made her even more unbelievable to a degree.  I was actually finding myself interested in meeting these kids just for who they were now, as it sounded like they were as unique as she is.  

    As she was wrapping up the conversation I felt something softening in me, and remembered what Alex had said after meeting with her, a strong desire to protect her from that kind of pain again sinking into my heart and soul.  Seems she carried her scars and used them as a way to help others, rather than an excuse to harm others like so many people did.   

    When she turned to leave, the whole class wishing her well and asking her to visit them again, I saw a humor and joy and a second of confusion before going cold again.  

    "Shall we?"  she says, her tone still like how she was talking to her class, but her eyes, didn't change.  The walls were up again.

    "What are we doing next?"  I follow her again as she walks down the hall, I must admit it is a rather nice view from behind, watching her hips sway.  

    "I've got to check into my department and make sure that my peers are doing well.  I'm sure Bob and David are convinced that I am in trouble and are worried now.  I've got to make sure everything is fine.  I also have to work with one of my newer peers on their classes, he specifically requested help, and since he asked first, he takes priority to showing you more classes."  Her voice was strictly professional, and cool, as if she thought she could chase me off this by putting her people ahead of catering to me.  I smirked internally because I actually was more impressed with her focusing on her people than trying to use a chance to climb her career ladder through me.

    "Since we are interested in all aspects of how this department works, including the peer coaching and training you do, I am content to wait on the presentations, and if it takes more time following you to get there, so be it."  I watched her spine stiffen a touch at the mention of more time, and wondered how many more reactions I could get out of her.

    Nicole didn't respond and just continued walking towards the OJT department we had gone through before, and I watched as a few of the men walking around with the agents turned to look at her, starting to greet her before shifting their eyes to me and back to her.  One man in particular that was a little older given the amount of silver in his hair, was at the end of an aisle pausing for a second.  Something was a little off looking at his eyes, but I couldn't figure out what just yet.  Nicole paused and looked out over the floor standing next to him.

    "Everything going alright over here, Bob?"  Nicole asked, her tone once again friendly.

    "Nope, it all fell apart without you.  We were scared we weren't going to see you again."  The man, Bob, responds with a smile, barely shifting his face to look at her.

    "You barely see me in the first place, wouldn't be much of a difference."  There is laughter in her response.

    "You make a valid point there, but your presence was still missed.  I do need your help finding something though, we had an interesting situation and I need your take on how to proceed with this."  He finally turns to face her, and then seems a bit startled to see another person with her.  "Sorry I didn't realize you were already busy."

    "Oh him," she waves a dismissive hand, "he helps with overseeing training for another organization and is just observing how we do it here, just ignore him.  What's going on?" 

    Bob shrugs and heads back towards where the the supervisors all have there desks, and looking around I see a wide variety of personalities based on the items at their desks.  One has a sign up in pastel rainbows about being a unicorn, another has Star Wars themed stuff around their desk.  One seems to have a mixed variety of super heroes, skulls and dragons, and there is another desk that instead of having computer screens has actual flat screen tvs hooked up to the towers.  Bob heads to the one with the tvs with Nicole and I trailing behind him. 

    I watch as he unlocks the screens and still gets close to them, wondering exactly how bad his eye sight is at this point, but evidently he can see as he starts reading off the screen talking to Nicole about the situation.  She offers her insight, which is thoughtful, and then askes questions that make Bob see the point she is getting to. The two talking back and forth with the ease of long time co-workers, and completely ignoring me, which for the moment is fine.  

    Pulling my phone out I send Alex some instructions and start plotting another way to see her outside of work, this time in a way that she can't put those walls up if I am correct.  After receiving confirmation that all will be done as I have asked, I go back to observing Nicole working with agents and peers alike, and when one gives me a glance, she provides the same explanation time after time causing them to relax and go focus back on work.