Baird/Stone
Most likely a one shot - middle of season 2
Jake was extremely interested in the increasing coolness between Eve and Flynn. On one hand, he was irritated for Eve's sake because he could see in her eyes that she wanted this relationship with Flynn to work and was frustrated that it wasn't. On the other hand, he was hopeful that he might have a chance with her in the future.
As his mama said, you have to grab on to your future with two hands. But he was also very much a southern gentleman and was willing to wait if Eve was happy with her relationship. Which, apparently, she wasn't.
Jake stared idly at his laptop. He should have been typing on his latest article as Dr. Oliver Thompson, but his intellect kept wanting to fix the problem at hand.
It was... a challenge to apply his IQ to something other than art, history and saving the world. Jake saw a fine line between moving too quickly and allowing time for natural separation between Eve and Flynn - what if they reconciled while he waited to make a move? He couldn't move too quickly though since she would need time to process the ending of her romance with Flynn. Jake didn't want to be rejected out right if she wasn't ready to be in a relationship and he didn't want to be a rebound guy. There were so many differing angles to consider when approaching his Madonna.
For the moment, he would watch and support her as a friend - continuing the arm bumps and having her back on missions. He would gradually start doing the casual things that a man does with a woman if he's interested and she's single. Nothing overt, but longer eye contact, perhaps a longer hand hold or touch on the arm to get her attention during missions, genuine compliments (which she wouldn't accept), stimulating conversation (which she would love), and hand-to-hand combat training (sharing in a common interest).
It was a sound game plan and he felt better for having thought it through.
He looked up when Eve entered the room and he smiled, looking into her eyes, unaware that it made his own eyes twinkle. "Baird," he acknowledged her with a nod.
"Stone." She smiled in response and he allowed himself a moment of happiness that she smiled just for him.
She sat in the armchair next to his and Jake decided it was time to start his game plan.
Should this be a one-shot? I might write another chapter from Eve's point of view. Let me know your thoughts! Thanks for reading. :)