On the edge of Georgetown in Washington D.C. there was a café that was named Enterprise Fine Brews. Leonard had come by the shop one day after dropping a colleague in the small town-lett. He had some time to kill before he had to be anywhere. Coffee, of course, was a staple in a federal agent's day and wanting something other than anything the Starbucks down the street had to offer (to be honest he found all their fancy brew to be ghastly) he had decided to try out the coffee in the small independent café. That first day he had come in he had been served by a happy looking young woman whose name tag read 'Nyota'. She served him quickly and with a smile wishing him a nice day after handing him his large black coffee. He had sat at a small two seat table by the window. He enjoyed his coffee while he checked his email, then upon finishing left without so much as a glance back at the coffee counter. He did have to admit, the coffee was much better than any of Starbucks' thinned liquid tar.
It was over a week before he returned after finding himself in Georgetown again. The next time he had come he was served by a boy who had a thick Russian accent and whose nameplate read 'Pavel'. Leonard has to ask for the total three times before he understood what the kid said. Pavel apologized after handing him his coffee and after a sip Leonard really couldn't stay frustrated. The seasons had changed in Washington and Leonard switched his drafty window seat up for a comfortable and unoccupied armchair that was nestled in the opposite corner of the shop. This time when he left he nodded at Pavel who wished him a pleasant afternoon and apologized again.
It turned out that his new partner Christine had a boyfriend that owned a shop in Georgetown. The small area of D.C. wasn't far off his normal route to work each day and he began a carpool arrangement with her that brought him to Georgetown everyday. Soon enough visits to Enterprise Fine Brews became a solid part of his daily routine.
Every morning he would come in and order a large black coffee to go and Nyota (who he learned actually preferred to be called by her last name, Uhura) would give it to him with a smile within thirty seconds of him walking through the door. Sometimes when Christine was running a few minutes late he would wait in the comfortable chair for her before they would both get into his car and head towards the FBI headquarters. He had offered to pick her up a coffee in the morning as well but she insisted that she was always fully caffeinated before leaving for work. Sometimes Leonard wondered just how early she got up.
He was fond of Christine. They had similar interests and the same hard ass bad cop regime. But she could also be kind and a good shoulder to lean on. The first day they met he had found out that they also shared a medical background. As he had gone to med school and aspired to be a doctor, she had gone to nurse school in hope of working in a hospital. They had both seen a lot and had a lot of experience behind them. They made a good team.
One day in the late fall something changed in his daily visit to the café in Georgetown. Instead of being Uhura's smile that greeted him at the counter, an unfamiliar bright-eyed smirk graced his vision instead.
"What can I get for you?" the handsome young blond asked him. Leonard furrowed his brow. He wasn't much for change and he had just gotten used Uhura already knowing exactly what he got and being ready for him every morning.
"Large black, double cup to go," Leonard said.
"Name?" Blue eyes glanced curiously at him after ringing up his order in the cash register.
"What?" Leonard was surprised by the sudden inquiry had been so abrupt and casual.
"For the coffee, so I can call you when it's done." There was no one else in line (there rarely was in the morning) and no one had ever asked him before. Even Uhura who had discovered his name in a short conversation they had had when the coffee maker had jammed and took her ten minutes to fix. That and the traffic made he and Christine half an hour late that day and he was more happy for the extra caffeine than ever before.
Still he decided it was too early to ask questions and just said, "Leonard."
"Alright Leonard, that will be three fifty," responded the man, whose name was printed on block capitals on one of those temporary sticker name tags on the left of shirt, Jim. As Jim grabbed a cup and began to pour his coffee Leonard asked,
"Where's Uhura?" He didn't really know why he said it, he didn't particularly care that much but Jim was taking his time with his coffee.
"Oh she's sick today, must have picked something up on the weekend," Jim grinned. "My father Chris owns the place, I'm just helping out for the day."
"Huh." Leonard took his coffee from Jim. "Thanks."
"No problem. See you around," was the thing he heard before walking out the door and to his car with a waiting Christine.
The next day Uhura was back behind the counter, looking as healthy as ever. Leonard would know, he was a doctor after all.
"Where were you yesterday?" He asked conversationally as she gathered his change.
"Oh I was taking a mental health day is all," she replied. She wasn't as cheery as she usually was. She seemed a little bit put out, worried. Leonard pursed his lips. He liked Nyota but he could tell she wasn't really in the mood to talk about whatever was bothering her. He wasn't one for personal sob stories anyhow. She poured his coffee quickly and efficiently and slipped into another cup.
"Well I'm certainly glad to have you back," Leonard said taking his coffee. "At least I don't have to wait half a year to get my coffee." Uhura laughed.
"So you met Jim? He's usually pretty quick. He used to work here when we were in high school, that's how I got this job actually. He hangs around, his guardian Mr. Pike actually owns the café." Guardian? Didn't the kid say it was his dad?
"Well he wasn't too quick yesterday," Leonard said.
"Well don't worry, I'll be around everyday for the next while," she reassured him with the first smile he'd seen from her that day. "Have a good day Leonard!"
"See you tomorrow," he replied before walking out the door.
A week later Leonard saw Jim again. He was behind the counter engaged in a lively conversation with Uhura in what sounded like French. As soon as the door closed behind him both Jim and Uhura looked his way. Uhura offered her usual soft smile and Jim grinned at him with full teeth and sparkling blue eyes. Leonard hadn't been paying close attention before but now he could see they were a fresh cerulean like he had never seen before.
"Hi again," Jim said as Leonard reached into his pocket for a five dollar bill.
"Morning," he said and nodded at Uhura who took his money and sorted his change.
"Large black right?" Jim asked, grabbing a cup.
"Double cup," Leonard replied with a nod. He watched Jim for a moment as he waited for his change and noticed the name tag clipped onto the neck strap of his yellow apron. It shone with a gold glint similar to Uhura's.
"Of course," the kid said with his lopsided grin as he snatched another cup. Leonard grabbed his change from Uhura and gave her a questioning glance to which she just shrugged.
"Are you FBI?" Jim asked as he poured Leonard's coffee, painfully slowly.
"I thought you didn't work here," Retorted Leonard who had no desire to discuss his life with some kid he barely knew at seven thirty in the morning. The blonde shrugged.
"Thought I could use some more cash. Couldn't hurt right?" Jim handed him his coffee and Leonard just grunted. As he turned to leave Jim called after him.
"Have a nice day!"
As Leonard opened the door he noticed something on the cup.
Leonard
There written on the side of his cup in bold black capitals was his name. The kid remembered his name. How about that. Leonard pretended not to feel the warmth rise in his chest against the cold autumn air.