Summary: I'm exploring the nuances of Rachel's and Janet's friendship, and other people's reactions to it.
Chapter: Pub
Members of syndicate 9 meet in a crowded pub and Rachel is quite embarrassed because of a tipsy Janet.
AN: This is my first fanfic in English, and at least two more chapters are in process. Thank you HedgieX for beta! Still, all the mistakes are mine.
"It's such a waste! You and Rachel, you seem to start pawing one another every time you get hammered." Kevin's drunken comment made Janet take a long look at him. She articulated very clearly, which actually didn't make her sound less tipsy:
"Shut up, Kev. It's FULL in here, that's why I'm sitting on Rachel's lap. I'm not sitting on her FACE, if you can tell the difference." Kevin stared at Janet, completely taken aback, trying to come up with something witty.
"Wow, Scotty, you seem to get quite aggressive, when you are pissed. But what if I was sitting on, let's say, Pete's lap, you'd react too, wouldn't you?"
Janet grinned cheerfully at him. "I wouldn't mind you doing that, Kevin. Just go ahead, if you feel like it!"
Rachel tried to look unconcerned and went on talking to Lee, just giving Kevin a quick 'you moron, mind your own business' look. But she couldn't help thinking that Janet had gone on thin ice and wondered where she was going to be by the time they had emptied the wine bottle. Janet was already more than tipsy, Rachel could tell that from her choice of words. Usually Janet kept up to a certain level and used her (surprisingly wide and rich) vulgar repertoire only on special occasions, and never when her family or male colleagues were around. Rachel was sure that Kevin would not leave the topic there.
"Move your arse, Janet. I gotta pee." Rachel pushed Janet aside.
"Why so crabby, pal?" Janet gave her a very warm smile and Rachel couldn't help smiling back at her. Rachel left her sitting alone on their shared chair and hoped that they would have found a bigger table by the time she was back. They hadn't, and Janet didn't just settle on her lap, she even leaned back and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. If it hadn't been for the comment from Kevin, Rachel would have enjoyed it. Well, at some level she was proud of Janet who didn't seem to care what some idiot like Kevin thought of her. She was proud of Janet who dared to squeeze her in public, tipsy or not. It was not typical of Janet to be provocative, but when their friendship - or whatever it was - was at stake, she spoke her mind, and a bit more. She had been like that in front of Gill, oh god Rachel didn't want to think about that incident, and now this with Kevin.
Rachel wondered if she should stop drinking to be able to control Janet, or drink more, in order to stop caring about it at all. Kevin had shut up for a while, but his eyes flickered continuously around Janet and Rachel, obviously trying to work out a stunningly stupid remark. Rachel decided not to care. Kevin had no right to spoil her evening. She decided to enjoy the lovely, warm weight of Janet's bum on her thighs, inhale the smell of her hair and perfume right next to her nose. Janet's arm touched her neck and hand caressed her bare upper arm every now and then. It was seemingly thoughtless, but Rachel got little shivers, not really exciting, but very pleasant. She knew she'd say yes, if Janet suggested 'a cup of tea' afterwards. At least Rachel would make sure that they'd have a chance for a quick snog. When she thought about that, she saw Gill through the window, coming over the street.
"Let's get a chair for Godzilla." Rachel tried to chase Janet on her feet. Kevin thought this was his chance.
"Look at you! Are you afraid of her seeing you like that, coming with her torch and so on?" Kevin gave a meaningful look at Pete's direction.
"Oh just shut up, Kev! Don't be daft." Rachel tried to sound purely bored, not having least concerns for Gill's opinion. Janet didn't let Kevin go that easy. Now standing by the table and leaning sneaky towards Kevin, she announced:
"I can tell you that actually I'd fancy a quickie with Rachel right now and it was nice if you could tell that to Gill. That we've gone snogging and will be back sooner... Or later". Her words had the wished effect on Kevin, he went quiet. Janet pulled Rachel with her through the crowd towards the door. They passed Gill at the door.
"Going for a fag?" Gill asked.
"And for a shag, if I'm lucky". Janet's face was deadpan, and so was Gill's when she told them to have fun.
"You're mad, Janet! What's driving you tonight?" Rachel exhaled some of the smoke right into Janet's face. Janet didn't step back.
"Sorry, I might be a bit tipsy." Janet didn't look like being really sorry. She didn't look that tipsy either, shivering in the cold and looking Rachel teasingly in the eyes. Rachel tried to maintain her annoyed tone. She was half pissed off, half thrilled. "You're mad, Janet Scott, did you know that."
Janet smiled. "Maybe. But I just can't help myself, it's so lovely to get that kid quiet for a second, and trouble his thick head."
"I didn't mean just Kevin. You wicked lady, you just enjoy too much squeezing me. I've got nothing against it, but when it's the lads and Gill... I just get confused. Nothing like being ashamed, don't think that. I've just kind of liked having some secrets only with you." Rachel noticed that her voice wasn't as steady as she had wanted it to be.
Janet looked guilty. "Sorry if I ruined that. But obviously, it has not been a proper secret, because Kevin was already hinting at it, and it wasn't the first time. And Gill knows anyway."
Rachel shrugged. "You're right, but…" Rachel didn't know when it had happened, but Janet was now standing right in front of her. "Please Janet, it's fine you don't care, but I do care. A little anyway." Janet was now so close that Rachel could feel her breathe on her throat.
And there it was. It was Rachel who started kissing Janet hungrily, not the other way round. Janet's old trick, she always knew how to get to her if she wanted. It didn't happen often though. They could work for days and weeks and even spend time together, and there was no sign of mutual or one-sided attraction. Maybe it was part of the thrill, knowing that it was there, safe for some nice moment, but not now. Everything was fine without "it", but "it" was OK too. Like now. It usually happened like this, Janet chasing and teasing Rachel, getting the impulse god knows from where, and Rachel being reluctant, or trying to be. Well, pretending was not her best skill. But often she really was more or less hesitant.
Rachel knew from previous experience that she would go along willingly if she ended up touching or kissing Janet. If they just got into it, it worked well, it was the most natural and lovely thing to do. It would be at least comforting, sometimes even exciting. Not that wild, though. But she didn't feel like it beforehand, not really. The thought of it wasn't anything unpleasant either. Janet was just something so casual, so everyday business, not exactly exciting. Not even when Rachel tried bringing in mind some of their encounters which sometimes had led to... Well, Rachel could actually say she had shagged Janet. It had been sex. Not just cuddling and fooling around. In a way, it reminded her of her early history with Sean.Rachel had ended up shagging him every now and then over the years. It had always been clear that it was not going to be anything serious. Or actually it had been drop dead serious, because it had been a great friendship, after all.
It was Janet who pulled apart. They were both breathless. Janet grinned jubilantly. Rachel raised her eyebrows. "What?" Janet smiled even more cheekily, knowingly. "Ok, yeah, I know, I'm easy."
Janet laughed at her and then asked in an exaggeratedly persuading tone: "Will you forgive me, embarrassing you in there?" "No." Janet's warm hands wrapped around Rachel's waist, gentle blue eyes making her feel so special and loved all of a sudden.
"No. But in order to avoid more public embarrassment, I'm taking you to my place very soon."
"Sure, pal." Seeing Janet's sparkling eyes was actually as good as kissing her. Rachel had first mistaken Janet for a more serious and guarded woman, but she had been completely wrong, and when it came to their private 'thing' she was even more reckless than Rachel. "Now please, Jan, no big show in the pub."
"You bugger up my plans, pal."
They went back inside to collect their handbags. Kevin whistled, Rachel flicked him a quick V.
"Oh there you are!" Gill appeared behind their backs, coming from the bar. "I was afraid I'd have to spend the whole evening with these people."
"I'm afraid you have to, we were just about to leave." Janet smiled apologizing.
"Hell no, you're not going anywhere. I just arrived, that would be highly inappropriate." A silent negotiation went on between Rachel and Janet. Janet's eyes seemed to agree on being civil in front of Gill, understood to serious plea and worry on Rachel's face.
Kevin tried to be cool, but he still seemed to be shocked, trying to figure out if there really was something going on, or if Janet was just playing silly buggers with him. Had Janet really wanted him to say the quickie-thing to Gill? He had a vague hunch that there was a dog buried in that, but he couldn't tell which way. Now there were enough seats, one for every woman, and man. Janet and Rachel were still sitting side by side, but nothing was really happening - or Kevin did not see what was going on under the table. Probably nothing. But then he couldn't believe his ears, again.
"Rachel, I'm sorry, I'm going home, I'm too pissed and too tired now for that shagging thing at your place. Tomorrow perhaps?" Janet was on purpose speaking quite loudly, so that at least Kevin could hear. He was holding his breath. Rachel was quite pissed now and could keep a poker face for once.
"Ok, if you say so. Let's get you a cab, then." Gill had obviously been listening. "I'm leaving too. Good night, lads."
They stood outside the pub, waiting for a cab. Rachel couldn't tell how serious Gill was, bollocking Janet:
"You are really pushing poor Kevin over the edge! I should send you to a diversity class because of harassment. I mean not for harassing Bailey, which might be happening too, but for causing Kevin some serious trauma. I don't care what you two keep up to, but I tell you not to troubleDC Lumb's limited understanding any more.
Inside the cab, Rachel wondered how on earth she had been eager to take Janet to her flat just two hours earlier. Janet who was now telling some boring story about her boring husband and boring mother. Rachel had heard it already, at least once. Deep down Rachel knew that it would have been a nice thing to do, taking Janet with her two hours ago. Maybe that would have ended up in bed. Or just cuddling on the sofa, forgetting all the worries. But right now it seemed all very distant, she was not in the mood at all. And neither was Janet. What a relief.
