Title : Midnight's drinks
Author : DiBee (di_50)
Characters/pairing : Helen/Kate friendship
Rating : K
Warnings (if any):/
Challenge : #2 Secrets
Summary : Kate has a secret, someone soon comes to uncover it, before replacing the lid...
Author Note : Wanted to write something lighter than the Helen/John. This sfaflashfic prompt definitely inspired me.
It was way past midnight, everyone was sound asleep, or so they were supposed to. There was still a light on in the kitchen, though. Helen wondered why that would be. She was suffering from insomnia, again, and had thought a tea would eventually go perfectly along with the book she wanted to read. It wouldn't be the first time that she would fall asleep over some novel or another of Conan Doyle's, and she did not mind that much, as it was infused with memories of a time, long gone but for her memories.
So when she stepped in the kitchen to see tea brewing, she wondered who, in her staff, could have had the unusual idea to drink 'water' as they called it, in the middle of the night. For all she knew, it was no better for sleep than coffee. And she knew, she was a doctor after all.
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away." She heard in her back. She turned around, surprised to see Kate, disheveled, and obviously lacking sleep. They all did, but hers was the worst case of all lately.
"If you drank tea every day since whatever age you begun drinking tea at, and you're still there, it can't hurt."
It sounded like a justification, and there was a blush creeping on her cheeks. Helen hadn't said anything, really, and was just studying the younger woman's face, a smile firmly set on hers.
"What are you drinking, then?"
"Jasmine tea. Light enough at night so that it won't keep you awake were you to fall asleep. I've made enough for two, if you'd like." It almost sounded like a truce. As far as Helen was concerned, there was no war going on. Jasmine was not her cup of tea, literally, but she hadn't tasted any for...Perhaps a good century.
"Jasmine tea it is, then" She smiled at Kate, who looked away. Was she feeling so guilty that she had to hide and drink tea at night? Really, she would never understand why people thought of tea as an undignified beverage. She hated coffee with a passion herself, but had never tried to forbid it in any Sanctuary. For one, she would have had people either depressing or quitting -the job- and her job had taught her to be respectful of other's beliefs, and habits. No matter how annoying, stinking, or tasteless.
Kate poured the clear liquid in two tea cups, and handed one to her, meeting her eyes. She had her word they would not mention that outside of the kitchen. It would stay in the room. But Helen felt like they would meet more than once in the upcoming weeks. She had many Conan Doyle to reread.