What Just Happened?
Everyone else had left for the day; Vic was on the phone when the others left. Walt had gone in his office but left the door open, he was not trying to eavesdrop, he just wanted to feel close to her and let Vic know that he was there for her. The stress in her voice and the tension in her muscles told him whatever was going on was not good.
After a considerable period of time and several phone calls Vic slammed the phone down, stood up and began to pace, on her fourth or fifth turn around the outer offices she made a quick left and marched into Walt's office. He immediately stood and started to round his desk as she crossed the threshold. The look in her eyes told him something was terribly wrong. Without hesitation he walked straight to her wrapping an arm around her and pushing his office door closed with the other before folding that one around her as well.
As he held her, she clutched his shirt at his upper back, burying her face in his chest. Walt could feel her trying hard to tamp down her anger. After a couple of minutes he risked asking, "Talk to me?" She made no attempt to say anything; he felt her chest move with repeated deep breaths. He stroked her back and allowed her some more time to collect herself. As he held her she relaxed her hold on the fabric of his shirt and slid her hands down to rest at his lower back. He tried again, "What's wrong, Vic?"
She turned her head to the side so he could hear her better and tried hard not to cry, "I'm losing my house Walt I've tried everything I can think of and there's just no way for me to keep it. Between the divorce and several credit card bills that had to be paid off, even though they were mostly Sean's, I just can't do it. I only have 45 days and I have to be out. There's nothing left to do."
Walt held her, thinking he shouldn't because she was his deputy. His mind held strong to that assertion and waged a battled with his senses. She was his deputy – but he could hear the pain in his friend's voice. He was her boss – but he felt the desperate need for comfort as she clung to him. Vic worked in his office – but he saw the hurt in her eyes. His head titled and he leaned his face against her hair. They were colleagues – but he could smell the sweet spicy combination of shampoo, perfume, and Vic; mingled in an all too alluring scent. Walt straightened and reached to lift her face with his index finger placed under her chin. Vic trusted him as her boss to look out for her – but he tasted her lips. That's all, he tasted her lips, and the battle was over.
A compulsion to immerse her senses in his comfort and support overtook him. Walt drew his arms firmly around Vic and cradled her body to his as he sought to relieve her pain; comfort her in any and all ways that he could.
Walt and Vic had gone from a comforting hug to a deep passionate kiss, neither quite sure just how that had happened. Walt broke the kiss and held his lips mere millimeters from hers; his voice deep and ragged, "We shouldn't be doing this."
Vic couldn't say anything, she had always thought kissing him would be something special, but she hadn't expected kissing him to be of earth shattering proportions. She was mesmerized by the experience and nearly consumed with a desire for more; even though she wasn't sure she could handle much more at the moment.
In response to his statement Vic started to move from his embrace. Walt's arms drew her back and held her firmly to him while his mouth made another detailed and thorough exploration of her mouth. Vic pressed against him, holding his head to hers confidently as she matched his explorations with her own highly focused efforts.
Knowing he had already expressed his concern once, Vic put her all into kissing Walt and absorbing every sensation she could from the intimacy; fearing it might be her only chance.
They were both panting and gasping for sufficient air when they parted. Vic realized she had never had any man kiss her in such a way that she could not manage to inhale through her nose to maintain the kiss. Walt had literally taken her breath away. That could not be the only chance she would ever have to kiss him, it just couldn't be; she would see that it wasn't.
Walt turned her back toward the couch and pushed gently, she allowed herself to fall into the cushions and was pleased when he dropped down next to her and had not retreated behind his desk or further away. They were quiet a long time, neither one touching the other but sitting close enough to feel the heat rolling off the other's body. Vic had no clue what to say or how to address the situation, and since Walt had stopped them both times she left the ball in his court; even though it was likely be a long wait. Continuing to sit in silence they slowly returned their breathing to a normal pace.
After several minutes Walt turned his head to face her, his expression one of bewilderment and awe, "What was that?"
Vic returned his look with a similar expression and snorted a short chuckle, "I'm not exactly sure. Would you classify that as kissing?"
"Nope. Too simple a word."
"That's what I thought."
They were silent and looked away from each other, as the silence grew slightly uncomfortable; one thought thrummed in Vic's mind. After several minutes of the mental torture, she voiced it without looking at him, "What just happened?"
Walt surprised her when he answered without hesitating, "I think everything just changed."
"Yeah."
"You okay?"
"Yep. You mad?"
"No! Are you?!"
She turned to look at him and smiled warmly, "No, no, not mad."
Walt gave her some time before prompting, "What?"
"Confused? A little worried. Kind of excited. And…"
"And?" he coaxed.
"And I wouldn't mind doing that again." She confessed but turned her eyes from him and her voice trailed off as her nerve faded and a deep blush infused her cheeks.
He reached over and held her hand, "Me too."
Vic turned to him in surprise, "Yeah?"
He lifted his other hand to her face and stroked the backs of his knuckles gently along her cheek, "Yeah." Walt leaned over and brushed his lips to hers lightly and briefly and then leaned back, "We've got a lot to talk about."
"Yep."
"Okay Coop'" he chuckled at her and she leaned over to bump his shoulder with hers.
"Hey, I learned that from you."
He gave her a proud smile, "Yep."
She laughed at him, "Only you could be proud of getting someone to talk less."
He joined her laughter, "Maybe."
She batted her eyelashes at him and gave him a silly grin, "Ooo, a great big two syllable word."
He just smiled and kept his syllables to himself as he stroked her fingers with his thumb.
She squeezed his hand, "When and where do you wanna talk about this?"
"Now and here?"
"Okay but why here?"
"Because I think it'll help prevent us from doing more than talking."
She smiled knowingly, "Good idea."
"I have one of those once in a while." He said as if it were a new revelation to him.
"I know. That kissing, whatever it was, a while ago was definitely a good idea"
He smiled broadly at her, "Yeah?'
"Ohh yeeaahh," Vic held his eyes so he would know she was absolutely serious despite the joking tone. "I just need to know one thing before we talk about this any further."
"What's that?"
"Before when you said we shouldn't be doing this, did you mean we shouldn't be doing what we were doing or we shouldn't be doing it where we were doing it?"
"Where," Walt let out a heavy sigh, "definitely where."
"Okay good." Relief permeated her words.
"Vic if I promise to keep my hands to myself would you let me kiss you again?"
"I'd let you kiss me even if you didn't keep your hands to yourself."
Walt leaned in and Vic met his lips with hers. It was a soft gentle kiss but began to deepen quickly. When it did she moaned and placed her hands on either side of his face. He kissed her just a couple of seconds longer and then reached up and pulled her hands away from his face as he leaned back, "We are still here," holding firmly to her hands as he gave her a stern look that morphed into a slight grin.
"Whhaat? I didn't promise." She said in mock defense.
"Well I'll make you promise before I kiss you again."
"Well, if you're gonna kiss me again then I'd promise."
"Oh we will kiss again."
"In that case, I promise."
They exchanged smiles at the thought of sharing future kisses and fell into a comfortable silence.
A few minutes later Walt almost blurted the thought he was compelled to share, "Vic, I'm not a man who can handle a casual affair."
She sensed by the way he had said it that he was trying to keep his nerve up. Turning to him she smiled warmly and agreed gently, "No you're not. You're the man whose wife passed away and who thought calling another woman was cheating."
He gave Vic slightly sheepish look and said, "Sorry."
She clamped both of her hands over his and looked deeply into his eyes, "Don't ever apologize for being you. And don't ever be sorry for that. That was one of the most romantic things I've ever heard any man say. Actually, I kinda envied Martha at that moment because she had been loved by a man who felt that way."
Walt blushed but continued to allow her to hold his gaze and whispered a faint, "Thank you."
She smiled at him again and let his words sit for a moment before prompting, "Now what were you saying... You're not a man who can handle a casual affair, and…"