Several months later…
Fisher was surprised to find that his unexpected visitor was Maggie. She smiled at him when he opened the door, and he was pleased to see her looking so relaxed. It had been a long road for her to get here.
"Hi," she greeted him.
"Hi… I thought you'd be spending time with Ben."
"He said I was fussing."
Fisher laughed. "He kicked you out."
She pouted. "He told me to 'go spend some time with a friend, or something'."
That made Fisher smile. Since the day she had found out Ben was in the hospital, she had gradually accepted that she and Fisher were friends. Luckily, she had not needed consoling in Baghdad, but she had called him anyway. And as Ben recovered and arrangements were made for him to return home, she had called him more often. Sometimes just for a distraction. Fisher was glad – not only that she was allowing him to support her, but that she didn't seem to have been scared away by his almost-admission of deeper feelings. He had thought about that since and realised that he was attracted to her, and that maybe he did wonder if they could have something more than friendship. He was willing to take whatever he could get though. And if she just needed a friend, then that was fine by him.
"So you came here."
"You're the only one I've got." That wasn't a maudlin statement. She grinned as she said it.
"You know that's not true."
"Well… You're the only one I wanted to spend time with."
"I'm flattered."
"The others are all couples and I didn't want to be a third wheel."
"Less flattered."
The insult was worth it to see her laugh.
"Have you eaten?" she asked him.
"Not yet. I was just considering my options."
"Can I buy you dinner? To say thank you."
"You don't have to do that."
"I'd like to… While I didn't need your support, these last few months…"
"Of course not."
"… I'm grateful that I had it."
"Any time."
"So… dinner?"
"I have beer and takeout menus."
"Is that a 'no' or an offer to share?"
With a smile, he stepped back out of the doorway. "Come on in."
…
Several hours later…
Sitting beside Fisher on his couch, Maggie buried her head in her hands in embarrassment as she laughed. "I can't believe they told you that story. I was hoping they'd forgotten all about it."
"It's one of the only times they've seen you let your guard down. I doubt they'll ever forget it."
"I wish they would."
"If only they could see you now."
"Not a word! Or this never happens again."
"You're pretty confident that I'd choose dinner with you over a story to share with the others."
"Have I misread the situation?"
He knew she hadn't. He would choose dinner with her over absolutely anything else in a heartbeat. And he had a feeling she felt the same.
He locked his eyes onto hers and asked her, seriously, "Have I?"
Her expression sobering up a little, she told him, "I've really enjoyed tonight."
"So have I."
Deciding just to seize the moment, he rested his arm along the back of the couch and inched closer to her. But she placed her hand flat against his chest.
"We work together," she whispered.
"I noticed that."
"And I'm… 'x' number of years older than you," she said, with a small, sheepish smirk.
"I noticed that too," he smirked, back.
"Nice."
"Maggie, do either of those things matter?"
"Do they matter to you?"
"Am I currently leaning towards you with quite clear intentions?"
"I guess you are."
"Then what does that tell you?"
"That I should shut up."
And with that, the hand on his chest grabbed a fistful of shirt and she pulled him towards her.
THE END