Sometimes things just happen and you can't get passed them. It sucks but it's true. I'm sorry.

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"We are here today to save a relationship," Dr. Wen said.

Save a relationship? There was no way of saving the relationship, Carter knew this. What happened...they couldn't come back from. Carter didn't even look at the therapist. She stared at the rows of books, wanting to tear them all from their shelves. She wanted to race out of the office and never come back.

"I know you might think this is difficult," Dr. Wen went on.

Carter almost snorted. This therapist didn't know the half of it. Difficult didn't even begin to describe the situation. She couldn't even look at him. The entire width of the couch separated them and still it wasn't enough distance. She felt herself shudder thinking about it all.

"But if you are willing to work together, I believe that we can realize that the situation is not as damaging as you believe. Are you willing to do that?" Dr. Wen asked.

Neither of them answered. The silence stretched on until Dr. Wen looked like she might be the one who wanted to leave the room. Carter would gladly welcome her departure. It would mean she could get away and try to move on.

Dr. Wen sighed. "I know it's tough. But remember that you two aren't the only ones who will be affected if you don't find some way to reconcile."

Carter hated her for having a point. There were so many people in their lives who would be hurt by the separation. Link popped into Carter's mind, his face crumpled with sadness.

"Even though I read the file, why don't you walk me through what happened," Dr. Wen said, determinedly trying to fill the quiet. "That way we can pinpoint moments that have caused this tension."

Moments? There was only one moment. They both knew what it was. Carter could see it clearly and wished she could erase it from her memory. Or at least have this entire thing over with.

"Carter," Dr. Wen said. "Why don't you start?"

Carter hated this woman. She hated all therapists. Hated how they tried to pry open her thoughts. The only therapist she liked was Eleanor but that's because she was Donovan's mother and she had to like her. But now...

"Fine," Carter said, figuring this would at least mean they could move on more quickly. "It was a standard operation. We had the warrant and planned to plant the bugs unnoticed, which meant we needed a cover." She swallowed, picturing the IT uniforms and the tall glass building. "It had to be us because well..."

Carter paused, thinking back on that day, wishing she'd fought to be on a different operation. But knew it would have been pointless, they worked well together after all. Well, they did until this point, now...

"It had to be us," Carter said, "because I'm the only one who can work with Mason."

Beside her, Mason scoffed, arms folded.

"Of course, blame this one me," he muttered.

Carter glared at him. "You were the tech guy, you were the one who had to do the bug installation, of course, it had to be you. And it had to be me because no one will work with you."

Mason snapped his head towards her.

"Rich coming from the girl who bounced between teams because they couldn't handle you."

Carter jabbed a finger at him but before she could spit out a retort, Dr. Wen stopped them.

"Let's focus. Remember we're doing this because a relationship is at stake. Not just the two of you, but Carter, you with Donovan. Mason, you with Yvette. Now, Mason why don't you continue to tell me what happened."

Scowling, Carter crossed her arms and went back to staring at the opposite wall. The whole room was a mix of neutral tones, trying to bring an atmosphere of calm. It wasn't working.

"Like Carter said, we went in as IT personnel," Mason said. "The cover was simple, we got access to the building and the computer room. I needed to reprogram some of their software, but it was going to take time. More time than we should have needed. So we had a backup plan..."

This time Carter did shudder, the memory grossly vivid in her mind.

"We would play it like we were colleagues who..." Mason winced. "Who were attracted to each other, that way if we needed a cover..."

He shook his head. "Why are we talking about this? Can't we stop working together? I think that would be easier."

"I have to agree," Carter said. "It would solve everything. Reliving this serves no purpose."

Dr. Wen sighed.

"No, you can't stop working together. The Bureau sent you here because you are good agents and have a long history of completing operations together. Reliving it does serve a purpose, it will bring to light the fact that what happened is not as damaging as you believe."

Carter wasn't sure about that and the way Mason grimaced she knew he felt the same way.

"Carter, what happened next?" Dr. Wen said.

Letting out a breath, Carter closed her eyes.

"We got into the computer room, Mason went to work. He was halfway down when he heard someone coming. We needed an excuse for why we weren't done yet. And with the hints that we had already laid out beforehand...it made sense to..."

"You know what," Mason said. "I'll quit, it will make this easier."

Dr. Wen waved him down. "What happened next, Carter?"

It took all of Carter's strength to continue.

"When the worker stepped into the computer room, he found us..." Carter shuddered and Mason cringed. "Kissing."

Despite her best efforts to wipe the memory out, Carter could still remember the way Mason's lips felt. It was disgusting.

If she was being completely honest with herself, she wasn't sure how the worker had been convinced, she imagined that they had both been grimacing through the whole thing.

"And do you believe it was necessary to keep your cover intact to have been seen kissing?" Dr. Wen asked.

"Yes," Mason admitted. "We got a reprimand but also bought ten more minutes to finish the operation."

Dr. Wen smiled encouragingly and Carter wanted to throw a vase at her.

"See, what you did was needed, it protected you, your covers, and the Bureau. I know it is hard to get past something like this, but you need to look at it from a logical stand point. You were doing your job, nothing more. Whatever emotions have arisen from the situation are normal."

Dr. Wen held onto the edge of her notepad.

"You have a good history of working together. The Bureau doesn't want to lose that over something so simple. Can you see that what you did was a cover, nothing more?"

Of course, but that didn't make it any less awkward. Carter now knew Mason tasted like black coffee and peppermint breath mints. She didn't need to ever know that.

"Carter, did you talk to Donovan about what happened?" Dr. Wen asked.

"Yes."

"How did it go?"

"He understood it was for an operation."

The was the tip of it, Donovan had talked with her for hours, wondering how she was doing, how this affected them. In the end, it hadn't changed much. Donovan knew exactly how Carter felt about Mason and knew that she never wanted to anything like that again.

"Mason, did you tell Yvette?" Dr. Wen asked.

Mason shook his head. "No. Carter told her for me."

Mason looked over at Carter and she could see his gratitude. But then he looked away and so did she.

This whole session felt uncomfortable and endless. Neither of them liked therapists, knowing they had enough issues that could be dug up.

"I would like for you both to look at each other and say that what happened was for an operation and that it was merely work, nothing more."

Reluctantly, Carter and Mason locked gazes and repeated the statement.

"Now, getting back to where you were before this is about trust. I know you have known each other for a long time. You need to remember that you can trust the other person, that you've trusted them before and you can trust them again. To rebuild that trust, I want you to tell the other how you truly feel about them."

Carter stared at Mason and saw all the history between them, finding a way to connect after the years of high school and annoying each other. Connecting over Link. Learning to work together. Finding that despite their cutting remarks, they were friends.

In that moment, as Carter held Mason's gaze, she knew what he was thinking. More than that knew he was thinking the same thing as her. Years of connecting compounded into this single moment.

Mason glanced down at where Carter's hand rested on the cushion then back up at her.

"Carter," he said but halted as if the words were trapped in his throat. "I...I want you to run away with me."

"What?!" Dr. Wen said.

Mason took Carter's hand, eager now. "I love you." She responded, leaning towards him. "Why deny what we both know has been there all along? Let's leave it all, the Bureau, this life. Say you'll start a new life with me?"

"Yes," Carter said breathlessly. "A thousand times yes. I've waited for you to say this, to tell me you love me."

Grinning, Mason pulled her up and they hurried to the door as Dr. Wen stared stunned.

"Thanks, Doc," Mason said. "We couldn't have admitted this without you!"

They ran out the door, crossed the waiting room and made for the elevators like a couple lost in a wave of emotions.

Only when the elevators doors closed did they drop hands. As Mason casually hit the lobby button, Carter absentmindedly checked the time.

"You hungry?" Mason asked, leaning against the wall.

"Yeah," Carter said. "Have you tried that new cafe down the street?"

"No, is it good?"

"Great coffee and really good muffins."

"Okay let's go there."

They watched the numbers descend in silence.

"What do you think she'll tell the Bureau?" Mason asked.

"Who cares. At least we're out of that room. And all the Bureau has to know is that we will be working fine with each other again."

Mason nodded but contemplated the floor for a moment. When he lifted his gaze to Carter, he looked serious.

"Carter," he said. "In all honestly, I wanted you to know that I...mildly tolerate you."

Carter put a hand on his arm. "Mason, you should know that there's no one I enjoy pissing off more than you."

"Thanks, that means a lot."

The doors slid open they and they exited, walking to the main doors.

"What was the 'a thousand times yes' crap you pulled?" Mason said.

"Me? Your whole speech was so over the top I didn't see how she even bought it. 'Runaway with me?' Who would ever say that?"

"Oh sorry to be over the top, but you wanted to get out of that office just as much as me! I had to come up with something."

"Yeah, but I thought you would be a little more convincing with it."

The pair pushed through the main doors into the afternoon sunlight, heading down the street to the cafe, arguing the whole way.

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Hey there darling!
(Weird 🤦🏽‍♀️ I'll not do that one again)

What did you think? Please tell me this made you laugh or at least smile! 💬🗯💭

There's something about the relationship between Carter and Mason that I completely love! They are like two bickering siblings. It's a blast to write!

Did I fool you on the beginning? Did you think it was Donovan in the room with her?

Well, I tried! 😄

Also THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK IN INDIA!!! 🥳

Vote, comment, follow because you love Mason and Carter and you love me!

Yup that's Mason and Carter for you.

Also isn't this cover so cute!!