TITLE: The Curious Ailments of Sam Swarek
AUTHOR: mahtra
CHAPTER: 3
RATING: T for adult themes and language
UNIVERSE: AU, post 4x01 'Surprises'
SPOILERS: Through 3x13, some relationship spoilers for S4.
PAIRING: McSwarek
SUMMARY: Sam's happy with Marlo. It looks like Andy is finally moving on. Everything would be perfect, if it wasn't for this feeling that he can't breath.
DISCLAIMER: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. No copyright infringement is intended. References to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.
LINGUISTIC DISCLAIMER: I am not a native speaker and have never been across the Atlantic. I hope that my syntax and grammar are understandable in general, but I will make linguistic and cultural mistakes from time to time. I count on you to point those out. Especially with this chapter I had a lot of problems. I never got the style right and tried rewriting it several times. It only made it worse. So I am updating against my better judgment now. But I really want to update Chapter 4 before I am off traveling.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: I would like to thank CMT1992, linda p, Goggiebe, belcheto, jh126, shippersgonnaship, SRyan1985, ariel133, coffeelover328, laugh32, bacio4hope, BekaRoo, SMChick, CM-x-SN-x-HP-x-roxmysox and the Guest reviewers for their feedback. And I never expected to get so many Follower and Favorites for a story, that I made up late at night. But please continue with your reviews, I really want to know what you guys are thinking about this little story.
He honestly didn't want to eavesdrop. Just the opposite. He tried to give the two of them some privacy. Unfortunately there is only so much one can distract oneself with in a empty hallway. He tried to concentrate on the fly buzzing around the fluorescent tube on the ceiling above him. Unfortunately it doesn't do much more than blind him temporarily. He overhears the conversation, not to say shouting match, anyways and it makes him slightly uncomfortable. They are both in the kitchen and must anticipate, that someone might want to get a coffee at any given moment. Still they air their dirty laundry there.
So far the risk of being overheard has never stopped them from fighting. He's got the feeling that Collins and Peck are at each other's throats constantly ever since he came back. With the frequency with which they fight it is almost impossible not to get caught between those two. Talking to both of them at the same time is a little bit like playing Minesweepers. There are hidden bombs everywhere. Right now he is not in the mood for any more of their crap. Right now he just wants something to drink.
So he waits in the hallway for the two lovebirds to finish their latest argument. Unsurprisingly it is once again about McNally. According to Peck Collins has a thing for McNally. Has had it for a long time. Supposedly even before these two went under together. Collins tries to reason with Peck, but she is pretty sure of it. It sounds like she counts it off at his fingers. How he makes the wrong breakfast. How he forgets about her medical history. How is so dutiful, that he has no problem ditching his girlfriend for a job with Andy. The list goes on and on.
Sam wonders if Collins knows about McNally's new guy; if he has any scoop on him. But he shuts that line of thinking down quickly. It's not his place any more. Even if it is not out of jealousy but protectiveness, he has to let her live her life. He can't get involved in it anymore.
But just like Peck he has wondered what the deal is with Collins and McNally. It seems like Peck is pretty sure that Collins wants to be with McNally. That part he gets. He has seen the signs himself. What he doesn't get is why she doesn't break up with him. Why would she to hold onto their relationship if he's in love with someone else anyway? But that is none of his business. If he'd want to analyze relationships he would have bought a gossip magazine. Work is the place where you are supposed to stay professional.
And this constant fighting at work is really getting on his nerves. Peck's behavior is childish and highly unprofessional. He wonders silently why Frank hasn't written her up yet. Maybe it's her family connection. Whatever it is Sam doesn't really care. He just wants them to shut heck up. He is not in the mood for any drama. He has a heavy caseload today. Maybe he should brief Peck about McNally's boyfriend. Hearing about the phantom looks between Collins and McNally gives him a headache.
Already his body feels like he's been run over by a truck. Not only has he not slept well, but the heartburn he has had ever since that credit card scam two weeks ago: it's still lingering. Yesterday Marlo has finally had enough and called her cousin. He managed to squeeze him in this morning before he opened his practice. But apparently the symptoms he described are not consistent with acid indigestion or heart problems. His lungs sound good, too. From a medical standpoint he should feel like on the top of the world. Unfortunately he doesn't feel like that at all. He doesn't know what it is, but he feels off. Has for some time now.
He only goes to work, because he needs to. He hasn't been very motivated to go in for a couple of days now. It's never before been like this and he has no idea why. Nothing has changed at the barn. The cases are your average domestic violence and thefts. Some assault and robberies, some B&Es. Same old crap he has always dealt with. On any other day, he would be finished by now. So why is he missing his motivation all of the sudden? He can't explain it.
He has finally tuned out the rookies and is deep in thought, when he hears the wolf whistle. Looking up is more of an reflex than interest. But he is surprised to see Salvadore stare and Micheletti cross his hands in front of his crotch. He's even more surprised to hear Epstein call "Looking good, McNally." after her as she walks don't the corridor towards him.
Not that she is not looking good. She is definitely beautiful and she is wearing a new dress. At least he thinks it's new. He has never seen her in this one. But the dress is quite modest for McNally's usual taste. It ends only an inch or two above her knee and she isn't showing much cleavage. Nothing that would explain these reactions from the guys.
He shakes his head and leans his back against the wall. Once more ready to wait out Peck's newest theories, his eyes go upwards again. Searching for his old friend the fly. It's still there. As stupid as ever. It's still circling the light, even though by now it should have realized, that there is nothing there. No food, nothing worth staying around for. Still the stupid thing is all over the tube, running all over the length of it. It's probably going to die, trying to get any closer to the light. It will probably starve to death. No sustenance can be found there. Or maybe it will die of thirst first. Because the lamp will inevitably dry it out with the heat it creates. There is no happy ending for the fly. He is dubious that it will be able to live its whole life span, because he is pretty sure the fluorescent tube will be its torturous death.
He can hear the clicking of the heels as she comes closer. So he lowers his gaze from the ceiling to meet her eyes. They can be civil towards each other. They can greet one another with a simple nod. That was the whole point of letting his feelings go. So that he can work with her without going crazy. Because she sure has the ability to drive him mad. Correction: Had. She had the ability to drive him mad. He is over that. Now she is only a coworker with some crazy ideas. Ideas that are none of his concern anymore.
She gives him a small smile as she walks past. Maybe it's just looks like it, because he can still see bright spots, but he is pretty sure her eyes sparkle. Against all better judgment he lets himself get drawn in. And lets his eyes follow her. It's then that he understands what the other guys were admiring. The dress she is wearing is dipping low in the back. Seriously low. A whole lot of soft skin is exposed. Still it doesn't look cheap. She would call it classy, he thinks.
What makes the outfit even sexier are her stockings. Stockings with a seam. He knows these stockings. He has seen her wear them before. They go with a garter belt.
The raised eyebrows he sports are involuntary. It's really none of his concern if she and the new guy are already sleeping with each other. He really shouldn't wonder if she can fall asleep in his bed, because he doesn't care what McNally is up to in her free time.
Right now he cares more about an Aspirin. It seems like his staring into the light has given him a headache.
Painkillers and reviews are very much appreciated.
