Catch Me If I Fall

The Detour-Chapter 3

"Oh!" says Jacob in frustration. "I've always wanted to go to London!... Queenie!"

Newt, slightly saddens by his friends showing up and leaving so quickly bends down and picks up a postcard.

"She's in Paris," says Newt breathlessly.

"Paris?" says Linda like a deer stuck in headlight.

Newt looks at her curiously, "Why did you say it like that?"

"Oh, it's just... I have business to do in Paris. Personal business," says Linda.

"Oh, okay then," he replies awkwardly. Usually Linda tells Newt personal things.

"I should get going then, I still need to talk to Theseus and tell him where I'm going," says Linda. She goes in to give him a hug which Newt reluctantly accepts. "I'll see you in Paris."

"How did you know I was going to go to Paris?" asks Newt.

"I know you too well Newt. Be safe. I'm sure we'll cross paths. And you don't have to worry, as far as the ministry is concerned last I heard you're at home," Linda says winking as she exits the door.

She runs into Jacob who is coming back inside. "Trunk girl, where you going?"

"Home to Theseus," she replies. "Where's Queenie?"

"Took off after her sister to Paris, I'm hoping Newt can help me get her back," answers Jacob honestly.

"I'm sure you'll work things out. This whole thing seems to be a big understanding, you'll go to Paris and get her back. Besides you two just look too perfect together to be split up," says Linda.

"Thanks trunk girl," says Jacob. "Wait, I didn't quite catch your name?"

"It's Linda, Linda Black," she replies.

"Well congrats on your engagement," says Jacob, who doesn't remember the conversation that previously happened.

Linda goes to correct him, but instead shakes her head and walks off down the street.

~~~~~~~

Linda quietly opens her front door with her key and turns on the light. Theseus who is asleep on the couch wakes up abruptly, he was clearly waiting for Linda to come back.

"Theseus how many times do I have to tell you that you don't need to wait up for me?" asks Linda fondly as she struggles to remove her heels.

"Only about another thousand times," replies Theseus. He wipes the sleep from his eyes and sits up. Linda goes into the kitchen and makes them both a cup of tea like she always does when she returns from a night out. She hands the cup of tea to Theseus and sits down beside him.

"How was Newt's?" asks Theseus.

"Quite interesting, two of his friends, Jacob and Queenie, from New York came to visit," says Linda purposely leaving out the fact that Newt and Jacob were headed to Paris. She tiredly leans her head on his shoulder.

"The muggle and the witch couple?" asks Theseus slightly remembering them from Newt's stories.

"Yea, they're quite mismatched, yet, at the same time so perfect for each other. It's kind of poetic in a way, it's like they were made to meet, " she says dreamily.

"Do you really believe that?" asks Theseus curiously. "That people can be made for each other?"

"Well yea of course," says Linda. "The question is if I'll ever get to meet them," says Linda with a slight slip of the tongue.

"What do you mean?"

"Well if you think about it, if there's only one person made for you, what are the odds you actually meet? And at the right time too?" she says factually.

Everything suddenly becomes too real for Theseus. Everything with his life is moving so quickly. He's getting married to Leta soon, and he would never admit it to himself but he wasn't quite sure that she was his person. His best friend and partner who has never been more than a few steps away throughout most of his life is moving two hours away. His brother still won't talk to him, and did he mention that Linda is moving two hours away? It is all moving way too quickly.

He stands up quickly. "Theseus what's wrong?"

"Everything is changing Linda, and I can't stop it, I don't want things to change, I want it to go back to what it used to be. You and me living here together having the time of our lives, my brother stopping in everyday, not having to worry about Grindelwald," says Theseus exasperatedly. His world is imploding on itself. His vision swims and he starts to hear spell casting at the back of his mind, and people screaming.

"Hey," says Linda in a calming voice as she places a hand on his arm. Theseus is gently brought back to reality.  "It's alright. Things are always changing. One day I'm sure you'll look back on things now and wish you could go back. But we have to keep moving forwards it's the only way to go," she says.

He pulls her into a tight hug, "I'm gonna miss these hugs," says Theseus sadly.

"Me too," says Linda. And unbeknownst to Theseus Linda sheds a single tear. But not for the same reason as him, her tear came from a much deeper sadness, a secret. As she thought back to Dumbledore's words she couldn't help but think of the worst case scenario.

The hug lasts fairly long, but it's never awkward.

"I'll wake you up in the morning at the usual time, 7:14 yea?" asks Theseus.

Linda has completely forgotten to mention to Theseus that she needs to go to Paris. She just isn't sure how to say that without divulging her reasons, "Um... well, I needed to talk to you about that actually. I need to go to Paris."

"Paris?" asks Theseus with surprise. "Well why don't you just go with Leta and I next week?"

"No, see I have to go this week to um... meet up with a MUCUSA Auror. Her name is Tina," lies Linda, although not effortlessly.

"Newt's Tina?" asks Theseus, who is not buying her story.

"Yes, she's out on assignment looking for Credence and I thought it would be important to find her and see what she knows," says Linda, gaining a little more traction with her story.

"Well I'll come with you then," he interjects.

"No," she replies a little too quickly. "I need to go alone, so we don't cause a scene," she says.

He nods in understanding but turns serious, "If things go sour I want you to get yourself out of there and call in reinforcements. And if I get word there's trouble I'm coming over to meet you and there's nothing you can do about that."

"Deal," Linda says smiling. The two of them turn in different directions into their bedrooms and close their doors for the night.

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