-10:36 PM -
They were sitting in front of each other, working very diligently, not talking, not ignoring each other, but with no acknowledgment either. She was about to bolt for the door, he could tell, dot the Is and cross the Ts on this final report and she would be gone for the night. He was going to ask, but then thought better of it. She stood suddenly, pushing her chair back somewhat violently, grabbed her coat and headed out. He opened his mouth, about to wish her a goodnight when -
"Detectives," Ross barked, stopping Eames in her tracks, who suddenly looked like she was about ready to make a run for it. They followed Ross into his office, awaiting their fate.
"A stakeout? Tonight?"
"We have a reliable source that says Jacobs will move the stolen art to a new location, tonight." Ross waited for a protest and when it didn't come, he handed Goren the address.
Eames scoffed, rolled her eyes and left the room muttering: "I don't believe this."
Ross looked at Goren: "Good luck."
"Yeah," Goren waved his hand above his head and followed Eames out of the office. He met her at the elevators; she rubbed her temple with her finger as they stepped inside silently, together, alone.
- 11:22 PM -
Yesterday they maybe would have secretly welcomed a stakeout. Alone, together, chatting about nothing of any particular consequence, his random factoids making her laugh softly.
Yesterday he would have eagerly supplied her with coffee in an effort to keep her warm, awake and happy.
Yesterday they maybe would have exchanged tiny, knowing glances with each other all before they would have seen their target and sprung into action.
Yesterday maybe all of this would have happened, while they were still old partners.
Today, on this night of celebrations, while people danced in the streets around them, they sat together in a car filled with a damaging silence, waiting for something to happen.
- 11:59 PM -
The car was cold. Eames wished that she had some coffee, she wished that Bobby would speak to her, that it was midnight already and that all these people would just please go home. She wished, she wished, she wished...
"I don't think he's gonna show." The sound of his voice made her jump.
"Ya, well, even if he did, we wouldn't know it was him with all these people around. He's got the perfect cover."
He looked over at her, and she looked back, then away, then back again after she had processed his serious expression. Nothing needed to be said. He simply took her hand and she squeezed back, smiling, nodding, allowing this moment to be their moment. The moment that they both so desperately needed.
Eames shook her head, resisting, and suddenly pulled her hand out of his grip. "You know, we need to figure this out before the New Year and we've only got about 30 seconds --"
He reached over and pulled her into him.
He kissed her.
And all the world exploded into celebration.
-- 12:00 AM -
He kissed her, he was delighted when he felt her hand on the back of his head, pressing him into her. She pulled back slightly. The air between them was warm. She trembled, like Cinderella struck by midnight. He smiled; his hands were on either side of her head, his thumbs on her cheeks beneath her eyes. He gently pressed his nose to hers. She covered his hands with her own, and realized he was shaking himself. She smiled slightly too.
"Ok. I think we figured this out."
He laughed and pulled her back to him.
And she let him.
Outside, the world danced, celebrating the new year that had just begun, forgetting yesterday's year that was.
Inside, two people, old partners, renewed friends and now new lovers found themselves together, at long last, in celebration.
A/N : Hi-chan thanks her Ichi-chan for all of his imput. This was written for LJ's Thursdays 100 Plus Celebration challenge.
