A/N: I hadn't expected to continue this but I'm having a hard time waiting for next week's episode, so writing this helps! Thank you Julianacs, Hollywoodwiz, Amber and KarenKitties for your reviews! I appreciate so much that you took the time to tell me what you thought. Thanks also to those who followed/favorited!
-:-
"So, thanks for going with me. I had a nice time. It's good to get out and...you know. Do...stuff," Chloe stuttered. She'd had more than a nice time, but she needed him to leave before she could totally freak out and relay every detail to Maze. Even though her unusual roommate would probably sleep through it.
"Me too," he said simply, hands in his pockets and a half-smile on his lips. "We'll definitely do it again sometime."
"I'd like that," she nodded, smiling. "Oh, and thanks for following me home. You didn't have to. I mean, but thank you anyway." Color rose to her cheeks.
Pierce smiled wider. Even his teeth were perfect.
"Yeah, I guess I'm old fashioned. But hey, if it's not rushing it, how about I take you to dinner Saturday? If you're not busy." He shrugged. He honestly looked like it wouldn't matter to him what she said; he would be understanding if she wanted to keep things professional and decline. But something about that was refreshing. Even Dan had pursued her while they had worked together, and Lucifer had only recently stopped trying. She ignored the pang that resonated in her chest and forced herself to smile brighter. She had successfully pushed all thoughts of Lucifer to the back of her mind for the last few hours. Well, mostly.
"That sounds nice," she nodded, folding her arms awkwardly. She knew Maze was standing behind the door, listening. Chloe bit her lip.
"Nice. Nice is...good," Pierce chuckled, his Adam's apple bobbing beneath the short beard starting to grow on his neck. She could smell the spearmint on his breath as his smile made laugh lines crinkle around his eyes. It was immensely attractive. "I'll see you at work, then. And Saturday." He started to reach out, and she clumsily took his hand, expecting him to shake it.
"I'll look—" she started, almost choking on too much air when he raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed her skin, "—f-forward to it." His eyes never left hers, and she could swear they glittered.
"Goodnight, Decker," he said, straightening, letting her know he was back to being her boss, and things would stay professional at work. She was a little glad; she had been almost sure Pierce wasn't interested in her and was still getting over the shock of him inviting himself on a date with her. She cleared her throat as he stepped back and started to turn around.
"Yeah, goodnight. See you." She waited until he was almost back to his car, and he looked back over his shoulder. She waved, unable to stop her grin. She turned and unlocked her door faster than she ever had, brimming with the excitement and contentment that always follows a great first date. With your boss. Who happens to be an attractive and accomplished lieutenant.
"Wow, Decker. I don't know whether to be impressed or embarrassed for you." She was lounging on the couch, boots digging into one cushion, a bowl of dark red cherries in her lap. She popped one in her mouth. Chloe knew she was trying to look like she hadn't been eavesdropping but she wasn't fooled. "Sleeping your way to the top like a pro. But seriously, can't you find a guy outside of work? This is three in a row, if you count Lucifer." She spat the cherry pit across the room and tossed another cherry in the air, catching it with her teeth.
"Maze, you're cleaning that up. It's gross. And no, I don't count Lucifer." Chloe tossed her keys on the kitchen counter. She went straight to the refrigerator and started pouring herself a glass of juice. "But if I did, then yeah, three guys I work with, whatever. Where else am I going to meet someone? I'm always working. Anyway, ever hear the saying 'third time's the charm?'" She cut her eyes at Maze over the rim of her glass as she took a drink.
Maze chuckled without humor. "Ever hear the saying, 'Three strikes and you're out?'" She chewed on another cherry with deliberately slow movements, and Chloe felt the warning was more sincere than Maze's usual commentary.
The leather-clad woman shook her head.
"Anyway, it's your life. Do what you wanna do. Just don't come crying to me when you find out the two of you aren't gonna be growing old together." She stood up, roughly sat the bowl of fruit on the coffee table so a few pieces spilled out, and left the room. Chloe stared after her.
She thought about following, asking what was wrong, because clearly something had Maze pissed off more than usual. But just this once, she allowed herself to let it go. Maze was a grown woman and probably wouldn't want to talk about it anyway, and honestly Chloe just wanted to tuck Trixie in to bed and spend the next hour thinking about how strange her day had been.
"Trixie?" She said, tapping lightly on her daughter's door. She cracked it open slowly, and smiled to herself at the sight. Her daughter was fast asleep, a book under her arm. The dim light from her reading night light cast a peaceful glow on her face. Briefly, Chloe envied her the innocence of restful sleep and happy dreams. She crossed the room and knelt down to kiss Trixie's forehead, careful not to disturb her.
"Goodnight, Baby."
Glancing up at the unique drawings above Trixie's bed of various cartoon women in combat with sharp, pointy things—she made a mental note to speak to Maze again—she turned and quietly left the room, pulling the door closed behind her.
The clock on the wall at the end of the hallway showed that it was well past eleven; no wonder Trixie was asleep. Chloe couldn't remember the last time she had stayed out so late for non-work related reasons and forgotten what time it was.
It had to have been with Lucifer. That night in his towering home above the city. When they'd come so close to finally...whatever. It hadn't happened. It was in the past, and that was where her thoughts about it should stay.
Once she had prepped for bed, she stretched across the mattress and let out a long, leisurely sigh. She loved bed time. She would probably not sleep well, what with her mind racing and the day's events weighing on her, but it was quiet. It was safe. There was temporary peace.
Her phone rang, buzzing and blinking across the nightstand, and she groaned dramatically. There was only one person it could be.
She answered it without looking at the name.
"Hey, Lucifer. What's wrong?"
"Why, nothing, Detective. Why would you think anything was amiss?" His voice was clear and sharp, but his tone sounded off.
"It's midnight and you're calling me. Something's wrong."
"Maybe I'm just calling to make sure you got home alright. I'm wounded you think I only reach out to you when I need something."
"Well, it's taken a while but I've finally learned how you operate." She kept her voice light so he wouldn't take offense. "Now, really, what is it? I'm in bed."
"Alone, I suspect? I imagine Pierce would be rather uncomfortable had you accepted my call if you were—"
"Lucifer! First of all that's none of your business!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice down. "And secondly, how dare you? When have I ever given you the impression I'd sleep with someone on a first date? I have a daughter who is sleeping just a few feet away—"
"I apologize, Detective. That was crude of me. I'm just...well I really wanted to let you know I'm fine. I had a thought you might not let yourself truly enjoy your date if you were worried it was upsetting me. And I don't want to ruin anything for you, so I just thought I'd let you know you don't have to feel guilty." His arrogance and cockiness leached into every word, and Chloe found herself gritting her teeth. She took a deep breath.
"I don't feel guilty, Lucifer. A man asked me on a date and I went and had a pretty nice time. It had nothing to do with you."
He was silent. Very unusually silent. It went on so long, Chloe thought the call had dropped.
"Lucifer?"
The sound of a throat clearing and a tongue clicking came through the phone, and she shook her head.
"Lucifer, I know you want everything to be about you. I know you think almost everything is. And maybe certain...things...did revolve around you for a while...but..."
"I'm a dead end, then. Is that what you're saying?"
"No, not at all." Yes. Yes, she was. She hadn't meant to and didn't realize she was going to, but there it was. "I just think there are aspects of our relationship that should be left alone, you know? It never seems to go anywhere, does it? I keep...feeling hopeful, and then..."
Her throat became too constricted to continue. She wasn't sure where this confession came from. It wasn't just because of a fantastic evening with Pierce, although that contributed. It was the entire day. Lucifer had take a knife to the chest for her. She knew the extent of his feelings to be that he valued her life above his own. Maybe he wasn't in love with her, but she was a damn good detective, and she had no doubt in her mind that she was extremely important to him. But that wasn't enough for him to overcome whatever hangups he had about going all in with her. If it wasn't enough now, it wouldn't be enough in six months, or a year...or five. Or ever.
No, that knife had missed Lucifer's heart, but it had sunk into hers. Whatever small part of her had held out hope that they would explore something more than partnership had suffered irrevocable damage. She was tired of this game, but Lucifer was not going to change; that meant she had to.
"Detective?" He asked, sounding weary, when she had been silent too long.
"You're still my partner, Lucifer," she swallowed painfully. "Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving my life. You were amazing. You are amazing." She felt tears beginning to build pressure behind her eyes. "We had a long day and we both need some rest. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Detective! Chloe—"
She pulled the phone away from her ear before she could make out what he was trying to say next, and hung up. Letting out a long breath through her lips, she wiped her eyes against the sleeve of her pajamas, then turned out the light.
The agony in his voice when he'd said her name haunted her in her dreams.
-:-
