A/N
So I had a discussion with someone regarding the relationship between Blake and Strauss, and I still think it was the perfect setup for a past love affair, and this little thing popped out.
"If you had known what would happen," Strauss said, "with everything leading up to the Amerithrax disaster…"
She trailed off, breaking eye contact. Blake crossed her arms and leaned back in the chair. She had expected something like this to happen, and she had pictured countless ways to crush the other woman's heart, smear it on the floor and walk away, rejoicing in the prospect of revenge.
Only when Strauss stood before her, trying to speak while her voice kept catching, turning her eyes away in shame, Blake found that her own heart wasn't as hard and cold as she had assumed.
"Erin… let's not do this. It happened a long time ago. We should move on."
Strauss looked at her again.
"I need to know, Alex," she pleaded. "I need to know the truth."
"There really is no point in going over the what if's, you know that."
Strauss seemed to consider this for a moment, then she lowered her head in what appeared much like defeat.
"Yes. I suppose you're right."
She started to leave. Blake watched her with a sinking feeling, a feeling that things that could have been mended were about to shatter once and for all. It was like watching a cracked but still valuable piece of fragile art slip out of your hands and fall towards marble floor. In that situation, only quick reflexes – instinct, not intellect – might still save it.
Blake metaphorically threw herself to catch the dropped treasure before it broke beyond repair.
With eyes closed, she let her innermost do the talking.
"I'd still say yes."
There was absolute silence from the other woman, but Blake could sense her eyes upon her. She always could tell when Strauss watched her, ever since the first time they had met, back when Blake was a new recruit and Strauss her supervisor. She had been able to tell if Strauss was looking at her from across a room full of people. She had chalked it up to a crush, a bit of hero worshipping, but instead of fading, the feeling had gotten more intense. Eventually she had learned that it was mutual. They had refrained from putting a name on it, either because of denial, shame, or simply because there didn't seem to be a word that fit, but now, as a linguistics professor, Blake knew that she had loved Erin Strauss back then.
Perhaps she still did.
"Do you mean that?" Strauss asked in a small, insecure voice. Blake opened her eyes and rolled them in an exaggerated way that made Strauss giggle involuntarily.
"No Erin, I'm just joking, because that's what I usually do in serious situations."
"Well," Strauss said, and now she was smiling, "you just did. At least I hope so."
"Yes, I did. Sorry. I'm not very good at this."
"Neither am I," Strauss said. "I was going to grab a bite to eat, do you want to come with me?"
Blake glanced at the unfinished report on her desk for a moment, then stood and grabbed her coat and purse.
"You didn't even ask where we're going," Strauss said.
"Doesn't matter," Blake replied and gave Strauss a quick but alluring smile. "I'd still say yes."