Aftermath's Grand Adventure ended just as a dinner party was starting. Here's the next installment. Thanks to all who've read the series. As always, reviews and critiques are welcomed. I own none of these characters.
Harold Finch pushed his chair back and smiled.
"Ms. Shaw, Ms. Groves, that was magnificent. If I didn't know better, I'd think we were at a four star restaurant. Spinach salad, beef tenderloin to die for, twice baked potatoes- I haven't eaten like that since Grace and I were in Europe. No offense to the hospital's food, Dr. Tillman."
Dr. Megan Tillman turned her head at her name. She had been sneaking glances at Elizabeth all evening and, after her third Scotch, the glances were lasting longer and longer. She was feeling a pleasant buzz and, had anyone commented on it, would have blamed the liquor for the flush that positively glowed from her cheeks.
Not from her proximity to the hot and intriguing lady sitting next to her.
Elizabeth's knee brushed up against the doctor's leg as she turned to Shaw. Reaching across Dr. Tillman to pat Shaw's hand, she accidentally grazed the front of Dr. Tillman's blouse and smiled at her.
"Shaw, Root you guys have really come a long way. This was amazing and your house is beautiful."
Shaw smirked, not fooled by Elizabeth's gesture and opened her mouth to make a comment almost certainly laced with innuendo. Root, sensing it and the potential danger, chimed in before Shaw could reply.
"Sameen and I fell in love with this place when we first laid eyes on it. Actually, she fell in love with it first, but I agreed instantly when she showed it to me. It's like both of them knew this was the perfect place for us."
As Shaw looked over at Root, she saw the message in her eyes. Leave Elizabeth and Dr. Tillman alone. Shaw smirked, shrugged and nodded at Root. As Root rose to clear the table, she asked if anyone wanted coffee or to freshen their drink. Shaw also rose to her feet.
"Let me help you babe. In fact, why don't you take our guests into the living room and let me handle the dishes and drinks?"
Root smiled at her. "I'll help you with the first load, then bring the drinks back."
Shaw nodded and began to gather the dishes. Harold and John rose from the table and each grabbed a handful of dishes. Harold looked over at Elizabeth and Dr. Tillman.
"John and I rode out in a separate car and I think we're both ready to head back to the hospital. This was wonderful, I hope we can do it again when Grace returns from Europe."
Root smiled, "Of course, Harry, you all have a standing invitation here. In fact, if you want, you can stay the night any time you want or possibly need to due to excess alcohol consumption." She glanced at Dr. Tillman and winked. John shook his head and coughed to cover a laugh- both at Root's reference to Dr. Tillman's state and at her wink, which was pure comedy to everyone except Sameen who, for some unexplainable reason, got a lump in her throat every time Root winked at her.
Fortunately, she had already headed for the kitchen. As John and Harold headed for the basement and the garage, Root said, "Just a minute, I'll see you out."
John went into the kitchen, walked over and hugged Shaw, then Root. "We're adults, sweetheart, I'll even put the garage door down when we leave." Returning to the dining room he smiled at Elizabeth and the doctor. "Goodnight ladies," John added to Elizabeth and Dr. Tillman.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded. Dr. Tillman giggled and glanced at Elizabeth again, cheeks flaming.
"I hope so."
The two men smiled and headed for the basement.
Root returned to the dining room with the Scotch in one hand and the wine in the other.
"Elizabeth, there's more Heineken in the fridge in the basement. Maybe we should head down there."
As they headed to the stairway, Root called over her shoulder.
"Sam, we'll be at the bar."
"Be there in a minute."
….
Two hours later, Root yawned and looked at her friends.
"This has been fun, but I think I need to go to bed. Sam, I think our friends should stay the night- don't you?"
"I'm not letting them drive after all this." Shaw indicated the empty Scotch bottle and several empty beer bottles. "I'll get them set up and be up in a few minutes."
"Don't take too long, Sameen."
The two shared a look that could have ignited a four-alarm fire in an oil refinery. Root's neck tinged slightly pink as she headed up the stairs. Elizabeth glanced at Shaw, noticing the flush that was creeping up her face, and decided to ignore it.
She had other things on her mind.
Shaw walked over to the "guest suite" which consisted of three doors beyond a small sitting area.
"The middle door is the bathroom, each bedroom has clean sheets and the beds are already made up. We have bathrobes in each closet, but we don't have any nightclothes. Sorry, but we're not Bed, Bath and Beyond."
She rolled her eyes. Elizabeth, smirking, leered at Dr. Tillman.
"It's OK Shaw, I never wear anything to bed."
Dr. Tillman's skin (amazingly) blushed even more. She glanced at Elizabeth, then at Shaw, then her eyes glazed over momentarily. She tried to speak, then cleared her throat and began again.
"I'll be f… fine."
Shaw finished cleaning off the bar and walked around to where their two guests were still seated. Wrapping an arm around Elizabeth, she briefly brushed her lips on her cheek.
"Tread softly tiger," she whispered in Elizabeth's ear. Turning to Dr. Tillman she smiled and hugged her newfound friend.
"Goodnight, doctor, I can't tell you what a godsend you are to us all."
"Goodnight, Ms. Shaw, I… I…" Whatever the doctor wanted to say was apparently lost in the alcohol induced fog several Scotches over four hours had created. She appeared lucid, but complicated thoughts weren't going to be making it out of her mouth until morning. She simply smiled and returned the hug.
As Shaw headed for the stairs, she couldn't help a thought from flashing through her mind.
Oh to be a fly on the wall.
….
As Shaw disappeared up the stairs, Elizabeth looked over at Dr. Tillman. Both ladies were still seated next to each other at the bar, drinks in front of them. As the doctor's eyes came up to meet Elizabeth's, she saw something and, finding both her voice and her courage, stared into her companion's eyes.
"So…. where is this going, Elizabeth?"
Ellie locked eyes with Tillman, but didn't speak. She didn't want to scare the doctor, but she also knew she wasn't the one who had to make a decision. After a moment (an hour? a day? an eternity?), the doctor smiled and raised her eyebrows.
"What's the matter? Cat got your…"
She never finished the sentence as Elizabeth's lips converged on hers- softly at first, then with a fury that surprised them both. Minutes later, as they both came up for air, Elizabeth drew back, and with a smirk, said,
"Your place or mine, doctor?"
Dr. Tillman, feeling emboldened, stood from her chair and took Elizabeth's hand.
"I really don't care, but if we're going in there, you better start calling me Megan."
Elizabeth stood and wrapped her free hand around Megan's neck. As she drew their heads together, she spoke softly, barely above a whisper.
"Then, call me Beth."