I have no beta so all mistakes are mine. This was written down relatively quick without much thought to exactly what was flowing through my brain as it happened which means there will probably be several grammar mistakes along the way. Please be gentle if you do not enjoy as there is a difference in constructive criticism and just being rude.
I do not own these characters! They are property of ABC, CBS, NBC, TNT, and all those responsible for their flawless creation.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Dr. Megan Hunt couldn't help but notice the subtle wrinkles that had appeared with age. It was strange that suddenly she found herself so self conscious about such things since they had never been a bother before. Fingers glided over defined cheeks pulling the skin underneath towards her hairline just to see if a face lift would improve what she used to be so incredibly confident about.
"Mom?" The voice didn't stop the red heads actions. "You're beautiful."
Soft laughter pushed past red lips as hazel eyes glanced towards the teenager in the doorway. "You have to say that. I'm your mother."
A smile lit up Lacey's face causing Megans eyes to narrow suspiciously. "I'm not the only one who thinks so." Was practically sang as the girl turned on her heels and skipped out of sight.
Of course people had informed Megan that they found her visually appealing over the years but for some reason the compliments didn't pacify her any longer. There had been suitors as of late, exes included, that seemed to be hell bent on making her feel extraordinary about herself. Perhaps the worry stemmed because the one person she wanted to look at her wasn't. How pathetic had she become?
After pulling out of the temporary slump she allowed herself to fall into, Megan slipped on her pumps and made her way into the living room where her impatient daughter was typing furiously on her phone. How did teenagers manage to text to quickly? Megan found herself amazed with how fast Lacey could get something typed up on her iphone.
"Did you eat?"
Lacey nodded her head even though her mother was no longer in her line of sight. "Yes. I had some fruit." She replied without looking up from her texts. "You should consider eating breakfast. Coffee doesn't count."
There were times when Megan found her daughters advice endearing but before morning coffee was just no one of those. "Yes, mother." She mocked gaining an eye roll from the brunette.
"When are aunt Emily and aunt Maura getting into town?"
The mention of the women brought a smile the red heads face as she pulled a green leather jacket over her black dress. "Tomorrow." It wasn't soon enough. "You'll see them Saturday night and Sunday."
"Why can't I just tell dad that I'll see him another time?" Lacey groaned. She rarely got to see the two women. "He'll understand! I know he will."
"Lace..." Megan warned as she scooped up her purse, keys, phone and started towards the door with a teenager flailing arms in tow. "Your father asked to see you for these dates specifically. I think he has something to share with you." A girlfriend turned fiance but it wasn't Megans place to break the news. "Plus, there are a few things we would like to do that aren't possible with you around."
"Fine." The door didn't slam but was pulled shut with a force that let anyone around know Lacey wasn't happy about the predicament. "Does dad even know they're coming in town?"
"Your father was never fond of your aunts." A smirk tugged on the medical examiners lips. "Strong, confident, independent women really aren't his taste."
This confused Lacey. "But he's always dated those kind of women. And you are that!"
"And how many of those relationships worked out for him?" Megan glanced at her teenager before pulling her sunglasses on.
"Oh. Good point."
It was shortly after eight when Megan pulled into the parking garage. Before Lacey had decided to take up residency at her condo the clock would be pushing nine, sometimes after, before her car slid into the designated spot. However, it seemed rather silly to drive back home after dropping her daughter off at school for half an hour instead of just going straight to work. Mornings had never been her favorite time of day merely because people seemed to be rather grumpy due to lack of sleep or the fact they had to roll out of bed but such was life. The only person that Megan knew to be up bright eyed and bushy taled in the mornings was her boss, Dr. Kate Murphy.
Kate.
The name caused a flutter in her stomach that was not welcome. This ridiculous crush had lasted longer than any of her others proving to be quite the nuisance. It was easy to chalk the infatuation up to the fact Megan saw Kate almost daily... in delicious outfits. At first, the ginger faulted her admiration for the woman to the fashionable attire she strutted around the office in. Who wouldn't stare a little too long at outfits that seemed to be painted upon another woman's perfect body? Not even the straightest woman could stop themselves from glancing! Or that's what Megan told herself - for years. It wasn't until Kate almost died the distinction was made between admiring the clothes and the woman wearing them. Leave it to the blonde to knock a woman off her feet while laying on her death bed! It was frustrating!
Heels clicked the linoleum floor of the Philadelphia County Medical Examiners Office while green eyes went through emails on a cellular device. This path was walked dozens of times throughout the week, sometimes a day, which made it easy for Megan to do so without even looking up. Today would be easy since vacation started the next. Paper work would make the medical examiner it's bitch! While the doctor normally didn't exactly enjoy spending her day going over files, double checking findings, and signing her name today was different. Once the stacks of paper work she had been avoiding for the past week were finished Megan could leave.
The morning went by rather uneventful. Ethan stopped in a few times to ask questions, Curtis came to her with findings on a case she wasn't a part of, and Tommy kept trying to bait her into helping them with a case that rolled in earlier that morning. There was no way Megan was going to chance the case dragging on when she had company flying in the following morning.
"Come on, Megs! We can get it wrapped up by the end of the day." Begging was something that Megan often enjoyed but not today. Tommy's voice was grating on her nerves while she tried to get her work done. This man knew damn well Megans vacation started as soon as she was finished for the day. "You can't seriously be enjoying paper work."
After laying her pen down, Megan folded her hands together on top of her desk and glanced up at the man she had avoided looking at since he walked in her office for the third time today. "No. I don't enjoy paperwork which is all working on your case will give me." She smiled and shook her head. "More paperwork for me to finish before I leave."
Tommy clearly hadn't thought it all through because in that moment he stood there, hands in his pockets, looking puzzled. How else could he goad her into spending time with him? For him, Megan Hunt was the one that got away. The woman he compared all others to. The love of his life. Coming to Philly was a decision he made upon hearing that Todd and Megan hadn't worked out. It wasn't like he expected his ex to fall back into his arms but it seemed like he was getting no where even after they night they shared not long ago.
"Okay. What if I can get someone else to agree to do your paperwork? Can't you tell one of the interns to do it?" His desperation was almost pitiful.
Shaking her head, Megan leaned back in her chair and moved her joined hands to rest over her stomach. "What is this about, Tommy?" There was no way the man thought her a fool after all the time they had known one another. His suggestions were beneath her - he knew that. Dr. Megan Hunt prided herself on the work she did. The doctor didn't get all her accomplishments making others do her grunt work. "Because I can tell it's not about the case." Her brow arched.
Glancing from the woman behind the desk to the view outside of her office, the man took a few moments to work up his courage. "We slept together Megan."
As soon as the words left his mouth Megan sat up at her desk and picked up her pen to get back to work. Skin began to flush from the topic he choose to bring up at work while her stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought of how this could end. "Most ex lovers have." Slipped out playfully, trying to make light of a heavy situation.
"Megan." He moved to stand directly in front of her desk. "We slept together recently. You kissed me. You touched me. You wanted to be with me." Apparently, the man didn't seem to care that he left her door open upon entering just like the fact they were at work. The last thing Megan wanted was for someone to overhear the topic being discussed but Tommy didn't give Megan much of a say in the matter. "I still love you."
Dropping the pen again, Megan moved to rest her elbows on the desk and dropped her head into her hands. That night had been a mistake for her. After finding out the truth of her father, almost being murdered in the same room he was by the same woman, had proved to be too much. In that moment, Megan Hunt needed to feel something besides the agony she found herself in when the truth was revealed. Perhaps she should have done what most do and find a one night stand so this talk would not be occurring.
"And I know you still love me. I felt it that night."
On some level she did still love Tommy, just not the way he wanted. She took advantage of his feelings which had been weighing on her ever since. This was not a cheesy rom-com. There would be no reconciliation or the eruption of a past flame; at least not for her. Waking up in Tommy's bed the morning after was terrifying. Never before in her life had Megan felt cheap from her own actions. One night stands happened but they were under the assumption that nothing more would come from it. Falling into bed with Tommy misled him to believe they could have a future together. Megan knew he still had feelings for her. Megan knew that he wanted her back. Hell, she relied on that for comfort while knowing that she had no intention of doing anything past that. In her mind, that made her the worst kind of person.
"Tommy..." Green eyes welled up with tears as the name slipped past her lips. It was funny how she said his name several times a day during the week at work with ease but in this moment it came with a white hot pain seering through her throat. Moving her head to prop in the palm of her hand so she could look at him and instead of the desk beneath, Megan allowed her true self to show through. Something far too raw for work. A side of her not many got the pleasure of witnessing. "...I do love you."
"So why are you fighting this?" He practically yelled which was sure to get the attention of anyone roaming the hall outside of her office. Hopefully no one was wandering by.
Eyes glanced to the ceiling in an attempt to stop the tears from falling but the action proved unsuccessful. Slender fingers wiped tears from cheeks as if they were offending the world by existing, and on some level they were. "I'm just not in love with you." The words were so quiet that Megan wasn't even sure that Tommy would hear them but his sharp intake of breath proved otherwise. "I'm sorry."
"Look at me and say it, Megs." Tommy placed his hands on the edge of her desk in order to be eye level with the woman. "Look in my eyes and say it."
Love was a funny thing. It caused a persons highest highs and the lowest of their lows. Love could heal wounds and cause ones greater than a person had ever felt before. Four letters that seemed harmless until they fell from the lips of others. The feeling could rip a person apart while it made anothers life. Love. Such a silly thing. A silly thing that was going to ruin a relationships that was on the mend from past mistakes; a friendship. The feelings weren't reciprocated which would only cause torment for the once New Yorker standing directly in front of her. This may be the exchange needed for Tommy to be able to move on. Surely the dialogue would injure but wounds heal over time.
Forcing her eyes into his caused her lower lip to quiver due to the amount of emotions felt in that moment. She didn't want to hurt him. Years ago, Megan Hunt would have loved to crush the man for the pain he put her through but not anymore. "I'm not in love with you." Words laced with such emotion that a few more tears fell. "I'm sorry."
The two remained still for quite some time. Eye to eye. Heart to heart. Raw and emotional. The room was filled with such intensity it was almost suffocating. Megan felt her guilt slowly fading though her heart grew heavy. It was disgusting how letting the man down made her feel better, especially after what she had done to him. However, the heartbreak she expected to flash through his eyes was not there... she saw hope. As a smile began to spread across the Tommys face, Megan found herself completely baffled. Why would he be happy about this?
"You will fall in love with me again." His words were filled with such confidence that it left her winded, jaw unhinged. "You just need time. I get it." Before her jaw could unslack the blonde had waltzed out of her office with a pep to his step.
What the hell just happened?
Thirty minutes later, Megan stood in front of the window in her office staring aimlessly at the buildings in front of her. When had life become so incredibly complicated? Fingers burned to grab her cell phone to call one of the ladies that knew her better than anyone but they were both currently tied up. It also seemed a bit selfish to take up any of their time when she would have them to herself in just under twenty-four hours. Slender fingers gripped tighter upon her forearms as she leaned against one of the window supports. There had been a time when Megan would have said it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all; but not anymore. The pain that came with losing was far too great. Loving hurt more than anyone could even imagine. Unrequitted love was the worst of them all. Tommy was in love with her even after all these years and as much as she wanted to make him happy, and she truly did, it just wasn't a possibility. One can not simply control the heart. If Megan could direct hers it certainly wouldn't be in the hands of Kate Murphy.
"Shit." The curse came out as more of a breath as eyes widened and fingers tightened on herself. Megan was in love with Kate. The reality of the situation hit her like a freight train leaving her completely paralyzed. The years of friendships had blossomed into something much greater than ever anticipated. What she thought was a silly crush was so much more. How was she going to face Kate after this revelation? As good as she was at compartmentalizing todays events had left her out of sorts to a point she doubted she would be able to stand in front of the woman without making it known. Eyes glanced to the watch adorning her wrist to see how much longer she had before departure would be allowed only to sigh. It was only noon and the earliest she could cut out was around three.
"Great." She sighed.
"What's great?"
It seemed as if today had it out for her. If this wasn't her life there was absolutely no doubt she would be laughing at the misfortunes that seemed to be stacking up against her. Not that seeing Kate Murphy was ever a stroke of bad luck.
"Today." Megan answered honestly before glancing over her shoulder to the blonde. Did Kate always have to look so breathtaking? The Chief looked fabulous in her lavender slacks, a long sleeve light blue silk button up blouse, nude pumps, and the perfect jewelry to dazzle up the outfit. She was the kind of woman who left everyone around feeling a little less confident about themselves.
Her perfectly plucked brow arched as she continued to make her way over towards Megan, stopping only when she was a few feet away. "Sarcasm looks good on you." Kate joked with a smirk.
Megan couldn't help but smile at the sight of that signature smirk. The one that made her weak in the knees when used during certain situations. "Why, Dr. Murphy, are you saying that everything doesn't look good on me?"
The blondes head fell back with laughter as she folded her arms across her chest. "Everything looks great on you." She ribbed once her laughter dispersed.
Suddenly the red head felt as if her neck and face matched her hair. The compliment was friendly and yet she couldn't stop herself from wishing it was more. The flutter in her chest and heat in her belly reminded her why she didn't want to run into the woman just moments ago. "I'm sure you say that to all the ladies." Megan forced her voice to remain light and playful despite how she felt.
"What makes you think there are other ladies?" Kate whispered before winking.
"Funny." Megan's stance relaxed to the point her arms fell to her sides. The guilt felt after her conversation with Tommy was forgotten. "I'm sure you get all the ladies you want." Green eyes purposely raked over her boss' figure before she moved back to her desk. "Or men."
"Hmm. Perhaps." There was no denying that it was easy for Kate to find someone for a night if she wished. It wasn't until the past few years that she began searching for something more; companionship. The whole dating scene was something she had been failing miserably at for years with both men and women. "We will find out after I meet your friends."
Megan gasped as she fetched her purse from under desk. "You will not!" Things were going to be extremely awkward if she did allow the ladies to meet Kate and flirting commenced. As far as she knew, the forensic anthropologist was straight but Megan knew her friends would find out for sure if given the opportunity.
It was too fun for Kate to get Megan worked up. For years the red head did everything she possibly could to light a fire under the blondes ass which made it amusing when the tables turned. "I actually came by to see if you wanted to grab lunch. I have a few hours before my next appointment and I know you haven't left this office today."
"Are you keeping an eye on me?" Megan couldn't help but smile.
"Someone has to. Lord knows if I didn't we would all be out of jobs because you would blow through the budget!" Though teasing there was some truth to her words. "Plus, you're nicer to look at than some around here." It wasn't like Ethan was appealing to her eye.
For a brief second, Megan was reminded of her inner monologue while staring in the mirror that morning. There was only one person she wanted to notice her and she just had, even if only friendly. "Let's go eat." Was all she could say in response to the compliments.
"Great. I'll go grab my things."
A half an hour later, the two were tucked away in the corner of a french bistro not far from the office. While they enjoyed getting away from work Kate was still on call which meant she had to be able to jump immediately if needed. Small talk was made on the way about cases currently flooding in, ones they had just solved, and Laceys developments since Kate had last seen her. It always warmed Megans heart when Kate talked about her daughter despite her actions at one time. There were worse role models for teenage girls than Dr. Kate Murphy, that was a fact.
"Want to tell me what the yelling was about earlier?"
There was a part of Megan that suspected this is why Kate had asked her to lunch. Picking at her salad with her fork, Megan tried to decide whether or not she wanted to involve the woman on her most recent Tommy scandal. "Tommy is still in love with me." The statement almost came out as a whine which prompted a small smile from the blonde.
"You say that as if you didn't already know. Anyone with eyes can see that." Kate replied while pointing at the red head with her fork. "The question is, how do you feel about him?"
If Megan paid attention to body language she would have noticed Kate harden after the question left her lips and the look of uncertainty in her blue eyes. It would be hard not to notice the look of defeat or the slump of shoulders that took over the younger woman's features when Megan mentioned the man still being in love with her if they had been paying attention. However, Megan was far too interested in the contents of her salad.
Opening up to others was still new for her. It was easier to speak openly in the confines of her home rather than in public. There was something so incredibly unsettling about the idea that others could be listening to whatever was said between people. Megan did enjoy people watching but she didn't like to eavesdrop on those she didn't know - unless they were suspects or involved in a case.
"I love him." The words punched Kate in the chest but she didn't let on. "I'm just not in love with him. Not anymore." It wasn't until then that Megan glanced at the woman she was dining with. Once again, she found herself baffled by the look of hope in anothers eyes. "He seems to think he can make me fall in love with him again." And instantly she saw the sparkle of hope in Kates eyes fizzle out.
"Do you think he can?"
Suddenly this lunch seemed like much more than just two friends gossiping over details of their love lives. The atmosphere that generally surrounded their talks of dates or love interests was light and exciting whereas this felt dark and extremely intense. Green eyes narrowed as blue stared inquisitively waiting for a reply. Why did it feel like whatever she said next was going to change the dynamic of whatever relationship the two of them had?
"No." Simple and to the point. "That ship sailed long ago." Fingers reached for the water glass on the table to help subdue the rising tension in her throat.
"He's an idiot for letting you go to begin with. You might be infuriating at times but you're definitely one of a kind." Kates praise seemed to flow naturally from her lips leaving Megan flabbergasted. "I told Todd the same thing."
Todd was a sensitive subject for obvious reasons. Megan still didn't fully understand the reasoning Kate had for dating her ex-husband but she didn't push for an explanation just yet. There was something hinky about the relationship as a whole and how it ended right after Megan got more time with Lacey. That should have been a green flag for Kate, had her jumping for joy, because it meant she would have more alone time with the man she had been dating for months - instead Kate started avoiding Todd and broke it of as soon as distance had been created. The petty behavior between both women during that time had caused a rift so wide that everyone wondered if a bridge would ever be built for them to cross back to one another. However, there was something that always drew the blonde and red head back to one another even after the most volatile of arguments. It was entertaining to those they worked with how they bickered but stood up for one another without a second thought. If you pissed one off or went to far the other would be right there to put you back in your place.
Today was proving to be conflicting for Megan. Between Tommy and Kate, she found herself completely bewildered. What was she to make of Tommy's admission of love and declaration of not giving up? Now Kate was sending her mixed signals as well. Why would a straight woman be flirting with her? Okay, they flirted with one another quite often but it seemed like so much more than ever before.
"I invited you so I'm paying." Kate had handed her card to the server before the check had even been brought to the table.
"I am perfectly capable of buying my own lunch."
Blue eyes rolled as a signature was signed on the bottom of the slip. "I am well aware. You've had a rough morning and I wanted to treat you." Kate shrugged as she slid her card back into her wallet.
A warm smile spread across Megans lips. There was one way to find out if Kate was really interested in women, in her, and it could be done so simply. There was no way she was going to pass up this opportunity. "This is the best date I've been on in quite some time."
The word caused Kate to still for a small amount of time as her eyes widened. Date. The word held so much meaning. She quickly got a hold of herself and replied hoping Megan hadn't noticed her stall. "I hope you don't mind that I kiss on the first date." Was shot back playfully. Two could play this game.
Was it getting hot in here? Megan swore they turned on the heat. Rising from her chair as their bill was paid and they needed to return to the office, unfortunately, Megan moved to stand behind the chair Kate was still sitting in. Placing her hands on the slender blonds shoulder, she leaned down and fought off the warmth spreading through her core and the erratic beating of her heart as her lips were a whisper away from Kate's ear. "I don't mind at all." Was practically purred before Megan sauntered towards the car leaving a very stunned Kate Murphy in her wake.