Late in the Evening
Nick knew he shouldn't have trusted Jen when she said she'd come home after finishing her report. She'd been just a bit too dismissive when he told her to review the suspect's bank records in the morning. He should have known she couldn't resist poring over them as soon as they'd been delivered at the end of the day.
Which of course led to Nick eating dinner alone in the kitchen of their house and sitting on the couch with a footie match on the telly as he waited for her to come home.
It was after midnight when Jen finally came through the front door. Nick had dozed off, exhausted from the day. But he sat up when he was awoken by the key in the lock.
"Hi, sorry I'm late. I got caught up with those bank records," she explained.
Nick smirked to himself. Of course she had. "I'm surprised you didn't stay there all night."
"I might have, if Waverly hadn't found me and practically ordered me to go home," she replied bitterly. "I was just going to give them a quick once-over. I didn't notice the time."
Nick rubbed his face with his hands, trying to be more alert so he could engage in conversation. It was a challenge. "So what did you find?"
Jen dropped her bag and jacket on the kitchen counter and came to sit on the couch with him. Her turquoise eyes were lit up with the excitement of investigation. He loved that about her.
But as she launched into a detailed explanation of the bank statements and various payments and such, Nick found himself losing focus. She went on and on, her voice gaining volume and intensity as she posited her theories. She was gesturing animatedly and practically bouncing where she sat.
Finally, Nick couldn't possibly listen to another word. He reached his hand behind her neck and pulled her to him, kissing her hard on the mouth.
Jen tensed up at the suddenness of it, but she felt Nick's lips go slack beneath hers. She relaxed and engaged in the languid kiss. This was a familiar type of kiss. This was the kind of kiss they had right as they fell asleep.
She eventually pulled away, smiling. "Nick, were you asleep when I came in?"
"You were very late," he replied sheepishly.
Jen smiled. "And you were waiting up for me?"
"Tried to."
"You could have called me to come home," she pointed out.
"No, I didn't want to interrupt. You get very focused when you're working a case like this. I know how you like to research," he teased.
She chuckled. "Yes, I do. But even so, I'm sorry to have kept you up."
"I don't like going to bed without you if I can help it," he admitted.
"You're very sweet. But you should go to bed. I'll be right in."
"That's what you said when I left the office," Nick grumbled.
"Well, I mean it this time," she promised.
Nick stood up with a yawn. "There's leftovers in the fridge if you're hungry," he told her.
"Thank you, I'm fine."
He nodded and shuffled off to bed.
"Nick?"
He turned back to her. "Hmm?"
"You know, I love you very much."
A slow smile spread across his face. "That's good."
And with that, Nick went upstairs to bed. Jen watched him go with a lovesick grin before quickly putting her things away so she could go up and join him.