Mouse walked down the district steps, hearing a notification from his phone, he stopped and stood on the bottom step, pulling it out of his pocket. As he scrolled through the list, he heard a voice calling out, "Wait!"

He looked up to see Nadia running out to the street after the bus only to miss it as it drove away.

"Oh, come on! You couldn't wait just a minute longer!?" she yelled after it, struggling to hold onto her purse, phone and an armful of books. She mumbled under her breath, her face red from the attention she was attracting. She suddenly lost grip of the books and they fell to the ground.

Mouse chuckled at the sight of her bending down, mumbling and cursing, trying to catch papers being blown by the wind and her hair all frazzled.

He briskly ran over to her, kneeling and asking if he could help. Before she could answer, he had already gathered what papers were left into a neat stack and handed them to her. "Miss your bus?" he asked, with a small smile escaping his the corner of his mouth.

"I have to be at the Olive-Harvey Community College in 15 minutes", she said, her face red with anger and frustration. "I have a test tonight, it means my entire final grade. If I miss it, I'll fail." she went on, trying not to cry.

His smile faded when he saw the seriousness of it, "I can give you a ride".

"Oh I couldn't ask you to do that. You've probably got somewhere to be." She said, pulling out her phone, "Maybe I can call Erin."

"Well, I will admit I did have plans", he said, looking down the sidewalk as if he was looking for someone. "I was going to go home, sit on my couch and drink a beer", looking back at her and smiling, "but I'll have to admit driving you to college sounds a whole lot more fun."

She laughed, "I would really appreciate it, Mouse."

"No problem, come on, I'm parked over here."

The ride to the college was quiet. They exchanged a few pleasantries about the weather and the cases Intelligence were working on. "Class is going to start in two minutes" she said, as they pulled into the parking lot. "Again, I really appreciate this, Mouse. I owe you one", she said as she hurriedly got out of the car.

"It's really fine, Nadia. I don't mind." Mouse told her.

She turned and began to run into the building when he called after her, "Nadia!"

"Yeah?"

Mouse hesitated, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

"Hey, you, uh, um, wanna get drinks sometime?" He grimaced, "No, not drinks, um, I mean, coffee?" He took a short breath, this time less mumbled and with more kick to his tone, "Would you like to get coffee sometime?"

She stopped and smiled nervously. No one had ever asked her to coffee before. It was always drinks and sometimes not even that. She thought to say no and was almost ready to say just that when he added, "Tomorrow, after work, maybe?" His face was written with hope that she would say okay.

She smiled and nodded, "Sure, that would be nice, Mouse.", then turned and ran inside the building.

Mouse put the car in drive and drove out of the parking lot, he went about four blocks when he had a thought. "How the hell is she going to get home?" He looked at his watch, it read 9:45 PM. He started to think of the dangers that a young woman could run into heading home this late in the streets of Chicago, his mind playing out different scenarios, "Dammit", he whispered to himself as he pulled into a store parking lot and turned around.

People began to file out of the building and Mouse sat in the dark car, looking for Nadia among them. As soon as he saw her, he honked his horn and she came over to the car as he rolled the passenger window down.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised that he was still there, "You waited here the whole time?"

"Ah, I didn't have anything better to do so I thought I'd hang around here and give you a ride home."

"Thanks, but you really didn't have to do that, Mouse." she said, getting into the car and buckling her seat belt.

"Well, quite honestly, I didn't like the idea of you going home alone this late at night. Lots of weirdos out and about, you know." He said.

"That's very sweet of you."

He pulled into traffic, "Um", he chuckled , "I actually don't know where you live."

"It's the other way", she smiled, giving him the address.

As he pulled and turned into the right direction, he asked, "How was the test?"

She groaned. "I studied really hard but when I was taking it, I started doubting my answers."

"You know, I've seen how hard you've been going, juggling work and study. I'm sure you aced it."

"Thanks for the encouragement."

"When will your results be in?"

"Tomorrow at noon. The college texts us the results."

"Texts?"

She nodded. "Way of the future, I suppose", she scoffed.

Pulling into the empty parking space in front of her apartment, "This it?" he asked, pointing up to the apartment door.

"Mmm-hmmm."

"Well, I guess I'll see you at work then?"

"Bright and early!" she said, smiling as she grabbed her things and got out of the car.

"We still on for coffee, right?" he said smiling, as he started up the car.

"Looking forward to it."

"Hey, Nadia, you need a ride to work in the morning?"

"Oh, thanks but Erin drives me."

He nodded, "Have a good night."

"You too."

He waited, making sure she got inside safe and then pulled away. As he drove back to his apartment, he smiled, anticipating what the coffee date would bring…

The next morning was business as usual. He sat at his desk, running background searches on the suspects of the cases that were on the unit's plate. His stomach began to growl, checking the wall clock, he saw it was about lunchtime so he logged out of the computers and headed to the snack room. He passed Voight's office, it was empty and turned into the main room which was empty as well, everyone was probably out chasing down leads, he thought to himself. At the head of the room, Nadia was working at her desk, concentrating so hard that she didn't notice as he strolled by. He passed her, keeping his eyes on her, but she didn't look up from her work. He stopped and took a step back, whispering "Hey." Her eyes shot up and she smiled upon seeing them. Dropping her pen, "Hey, Mouse."

"Did it come yet?" he asked excitedly.

She furrowed her brow, as if she didn't know what he was getting at, "What?"

He groaned, "The text! The results! Did you get it yet?", he said with even more anticipation.

She shook her head.

He sighed disappointedly, "Oh."

"Well, I'm headed to the snack room to get some chow, you want to come with?"

"I'd like to but Sergeant Voight is expecting these papers to be on his desk by the time he comes back. I gotta get it done."

Mouse nodded, "Bring you back a bag of chips?"

She chuckled, "Thanks."

"Any particular kind?"

"Doesn't matter to me as long as it's food, I'm starved."

He started to step away, when they both heard a notification from Nadia's phone. "That's it!" he said, turning quickly and standing by her desk.

She checked it and nodded.

"Yes, yes it is." She nervously said as she dropped her phone on the desk.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm too scared to check." she quietly said, staring at her phone.

Mouse hesitated, "Would you, um, like me to check it for you?"

Nadia looked up at him and nodded.

He took her phone, sitting on her desk, opening the message.

He stared at it for a moment. Nadia tried to read the expression on his face but she couldn't make it out. She finally spoke up, "Well!? Did I pass?"

Mouse set the phone face down on his leg, "Nadia, you worked so hard and I.."

She cut him off, "Oh, God. I failed."

"What!?" Mouse said surprised. "No! You passed!"

He turned the phone to her and she read the text. Total grade of 95.

"I passed!"

She jumped out of her chair, hugging Mouse and laughing, "I can't believe it!".

"I knew you'd pass, Nadia." He said, smiling. "I'm so happy for you."

The members of Intelligence started to leave for home, one by one, another case solved. Mouse walked over to Nadia, helping her with her coat. "Any place in particular you wanna go for coffee?"

She shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not picky." As they turned to walk down the stairs, Mouse caught Voight watching them, sipping from a coffee mug while standing in his office doorway. Mouse made like he hadn't seen it, remembering what Voight threatened Jay with if Jay had tried anything with Erin. He imagined Voight's voice, echoing, "You like working in this unit, you keep it in your pants".

He thought to himself, "Maybe Voight wouldn't mind." but then he brushed off the thought. "It's just coffee." Mouse really wasn't sure what was going to happen, he liked Nadia but didn't see her like that. She was special, he knew that much.

Nadia's voice drew him out of his deep thought, "Are you always this quiet?"

"Hmmm?"

She laughed, "I've been rambling since we left the station and you've barely said a word."

'Oh. Don't take it the wrong way. I'm more of a listener."

She nodded, "Ah. I see."

Silence overtook for a few minutes until they arrived at the coffee shop. Mouse got out quickly and opened her door for her. They walked in, the shop was quiet. Just a few people sitting in the corner booths, fixated on their phones and laptops.

"What'll you have?" the barista asked, with an impatience to her tone.

Mouse motioned to Nadia, "Decaf latte, please"

"And a triple espresso for me, a splash of milk" Mouse added.

The barista nodded and began to make the drinks.

"A triple espresso?" Nadia said, surprisingly, "I take it you don't plan to sleep tonight?"

He laughed, "Caffeine doesn't bother me. I can drink this and tonight I'll sleep like a drunk baby."

She laughed, "A drunk baby?"

Hearing her say the same phrase made Mouse laugh as well and he shrugged his shoulders.

They began perusing the choices of baked goods and flicked through the gift card stand when the barista gave a quick whistle, "Here ya go."

They took their drinks and took a booth, sitting opposite from each other.

Running his fingers over the lip of his coffee cup, Mouse enthusiastically said, "So…where you from?"

She chuckled, "Chicago, born and raised."

"Decotis, is that…Italian?", referring to her last name.

She shrugged, "I don't know for sure. Years ago, someone told me it was Scottish."

"Ah"

"Your parents or, erm, family…" Mouse haltingly began to ask,

"I never knew my parents.", she said quietly, staring into her drink. "My case workers said they both died. They were drug addicts, I guess. I don't have any siblings that I know of." Her voice trailed off.

Mouse started to kick himself inside for asking a delicate question, he knew the kind of past that she was coming out of.

"My past is no secret. Everyone knows." She said, looking at him straight in the eye.

He stammered.

"But I'm not going to let it define my life. I'm straight now. I want to be a cop", she stopped, "No", she chuckled, "I am going to be a cop."

He smiled, "I know you are."

She was surprised at his remark.

"Nadia, we all have secrets. I don't judge you by the rumors that go around. Whatever you want to tell me about your past, whatever you want to keep to yourself, it's up to you. It's your right and I respect that. "

"Thank you, Mouse." She whispered, her eyes falling back to stare in her cup.

A few minutes passed with them just sitting and sipping their drinks.

"So, why Mouse?"

He leaned back in the booth chair, smiling and shrugging his shoulders. "A nickname I picked up when I did my tour that ended up sticking with me."

She nodded, not wanting to pry any more but Mouse picked up that she wanted to know more.

He sighed, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. "I was really quiet. Light footed. I could sneak up on anyone and they wouldn't hear me coming. Quiet as a Mouse.

She smiled, "Ah, I see."

"So, what's your real name?"

"Greg."

"Greg", she repeated, to hear how it would sound rolling off her tongue.

"I like it."

He smiled, "Greg Gerwitz."

"Nice."

"So where did you serve?"

"Afghanistan. Korangal Valley."

"Were you like, Army or…?

He nodded, "Rangers."

"With Jay?"

He nodded again, "Two tours."

"Wow" she whispered.

"Did you…", she hesitated, "Oh, never mind."

"See action?" His eyes following hers,

He nodded yet again. "Me and Jay, we still," he inhaled sharply, "Sometimes we're still over there, in our heads."

"Like PTSD or something?" she asked quietly.

"Mmm-hmm."

Mouse looked at her a moment. He was surprised at himself for telling her that. He hadn't told but a handful of people that he had suffered from PTSD. A handful of people, he thought to himself, even less than that. Jay, his Army doctor and his mother. That was it. He didn't know why he was sharing it with Nadia but there was something about her that made him at ease. His heart and his mind felt at peace.

Time passed and they were both deep in conversation when the barista finally came over to their table, "Hey, lovebirds. You gotta take this date somewhere else, we're closing up."

"Already?" Mouse asked, surprised.

"It's 11 o'clock", the barista snapped back.

"We've been here over three hours!" Nadia exclaimed.

"Blabbermouth", Mouse said, looking at her with a smile.

She gently hit his shoulder, as they both walked out.

Mouse was enjoying Nadia's company so much that he took his time driving her back to her apartment. Nadia noticed that he was driving well below the speed limit but she didn't mind. They weren't holding up any cars and she was enjoying herself with Mouse.

Mouse, again, got out quickly and opened the car door for her. "Thank you, Mouse." She said, getting out.

He bowed his head very slightly, "Manners maketh man", he said, a cheesy grin across his face.

A surprised look came across her face, "A Kingsman fan?"

"You too!?" he asked, excitedly.

"Mmm-hmm. One of my favorites. I love watching movies", she said.

He nodded, "I'm a film buff."

"I got Jay into all the Marvel films and I think he's now secretly a Star Wars fan but he won't admit it."

They laughed, reaching the top step and standing in front of her apartment door.

"Well, maybe we'll have to catch a movie sometime, then?" Mouse mused.

"I'd really like that sometime, Mouse."

"Me too, Nadia."

"I had a really good time tonight too."

He nodded, "Me too." He played with the key ring on his car keys, nervously as she tugged at the sleeve of her coat, shuddering.

"It's getting cold." she quietly laughed.

"You better get inside, then." He said, looking up at her, their eyes meeting.

They were both nervous and hesitant.

Should I invite him in? Nadia thought to herself, No, I don't wanna ruin this. Every other guy I've ever met just wanted to get with me. They'd buy me drinks and then just wanna get out and go someplace. This guy is the first one to ask about me and wanna get to know me and not want to screw me over. I don't wanna mess this up, she thought to herself.

"Goodnight, Mouse."

He took a step towards her. She wasn't sure what he was about to do but her breath left her as he gently placed a kiss on her cheek.

"Goodnight, Nadia." He whispered, turning away and leaving, before she could say anything.

-end