A New England Gentleman
A/N: At this point in time- late season 2 post-Chris Brody, Nathan is interim chief (again).
"Well I'm glad we ran into each other," Audrey smiled as they walked out of The Grey Gull, fed and happy and deliberately ignoring Duke who was still shaking his head at them.
"Yeah me too, maybe we should make a regular thing of it Parker, I could use a running buddy."
"To be honest I'm not sure I'd survive doing that on a regular basis," Audrey admitted grudgingly.
Nathan self-depreciating shrug and thrust his hands in his pockets, "Well we don't have to make it a race next time, you set a good pace, I could do with having someone to keep me in check, but I know it's not like we don't see each other at work…"
"Worried you're boring me?" Audrey teased. "No we should do this again, doing things alone is a hard habit to break but I'd sure like to try."
"Great," Nathan agreed, grinning.
"Do you want a lift back to town?" Audrey offered nodding at her car.
"No I'm fine, I planned to run back but after that breakfast I might just walk."
"I don't blame you. I think Duke is trying to fatten me up."
Nathan smiled but knew better than to comment on that, to admit that he hadn't noticed a single extra pound anywhere it wasn't meant to be would give away way too much about how aware he was of his partner's figure. They lingered awkwardly. "So, have you got plans for your day off?" Nathan asked.
"I was going to go into work and do some paperwork," Audrey admitted. "Just for an hour or so."
"Yeah me too," Nathan laughed. "But I'm the chief, what's your excuse?"
"Just a sucker for punishment," Audrey grinned. "But if it's just between you and me partner, and you promise not to tell the chief I may have gotten a little behind on my paperwork while I was seeing Chris so it wouldn't hurt to catch up a little, start the week fresh," Audrey added with a conspirator wink.
Nathan smiled and played along, "Okay partner, I'll keep it between us, I wouldn't want you to get into trouble."
"Yeah I hear the new guy's pretty tough," Audrey teased.
"Oh he's the worst," Nathan agreed. "So I might see you there in a couple of hours?" he asked lightly, an eyebrow raised in expectation. "Maybe we could even do something after, I think some people actually go to the movies on their day off, you know regular people who don't think paperwork is a fun way to spend the weekend."
"Hey at least I don't play golf or decoupage!" Audrey countered, "But a movie would be fun. You're not asking me out on a date are you Wuornos?"
Nathan looked up from under guilty lashes, "Well if the chief asked that would probably be inappropriate…"
"Highly," Audrey teased her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"But as your friend…It could be a date thing… if you wanted it to be," he added the last part quickly. "That wouldn't be so bad would it?"
"That would be nice," Audrey smiled, a moment of seriousness between them.
"Great," Nathan agreed readily.
"Hey if it's a date you have to pay, I'm going to need to save some money after paying for that breakfast," Audrey teased, and the tension between them see-sawed again.
"Sure," Nathan smiled. "New England men know how to treat a lady you know," he pretended to tip an imaginary hat to her like an old time gentleman.
"Oh Mr Wuornos, bestill my beating heart," Audrey mocked right back at him, clutching her heart dramatically.
"Text me when you're ready to leave and I can pick you up?"
"I don't know, the last time a man gave me a lift it didn't work out so well," Audrey said warily.
"But if I get called into work you're coming with me," Nathan teased. "And Brody was a jerk. Put it behind you Parker, you've grieved long enough."
"We only broke up," she glanced at her watch, "three hours ago."
"Yep definitely longer than that loser deserves," Nathan grinned.
Audrey punched his arm playfully but said agreeably, "Thanks partner."
"No worries, anytime you need someone to insult Chris Brody to cheer you up just give me a call, happy to help."
"I think I'll be okay, to be honest I'm not exactly heartbroken."
"Just remember to tell Dave and Vince before they declare you Haven's hottest new couple."
"Oh they wouldn't."
"Have you seen the social pages in the Herald? I think last week they covered a kindergarten wedding between a five year old and her teddy bear," Nathan scoffed.
"With everything that goes on in Haven they still struggle to find something to print."
"With everything they don't print about what goes on in Haven they still struggle to find something to print," Nathan countered.
"It's kind of sweet though, like most things in this town," Audrey remarked, as she headed up the steps to her door, leaving Nathan to wonder if she meant that as a pointed compliment or if it was just a general expression of affection for her new town. "Well see you later, you know where my door is," she added with a wave.
"Sure," Nathan agreed, waving back before he thrust his hands back into his pocket and began the walk back down the beach. He had a lot to think about and although he couldn't feel the sun on his skin or the breeze ruffling his hair, he could feel nervous butterflies dancing in his stomach.
A/N: A bit light and fluffy, but if you've read my stand alone The Lost Boy, I'd had enough dark and serious for the day and I love how this show is such a blend of genres.
