The Thick and The Thin: Epilogue/Chapter 3
Goose41
Summary: A case may bring Angie back, but what makes her stay?
Author's Note: Neither the characters nor the premise upon which they are based belong to me.
I'm merely using them to entertain myself and others.
Pairing: Venn - Oscar Vega/Angie Flynn
Category: Angst/Hurt/Comfort/Romance
Rating: Let's be honest, teens know more than adults about this stuff.
For reader's sake: Mature (Note: Injuries and some fun)
The intrusive sound of a ringing phone draws Angie consciousness sometime later; the mattress shifting under the weight of sudden movement. Peeking through a curtain of curls, she catches a brief glimpse of her companion's broad shoulders; bare feet scuffing across the carpet until the incessant ringing is replaced by his voice, muffled by the bedroom door closing behind him.
Snatching the crisp linen of the bed sheet, Angie wraps it around her torso as she tiptoes mutely across the room in search of strewn clothing. The quiet, the stillness of the room, suffocates her in his absence; reminds her too much of their time apart.
A lull in the soft tones pique her interest, prompting her to postpone her search and investigate; the cool metal of the brass doorknob unable to calm her as the muted click of the latch reveals her partner's silhouette against the illuminated city. She can see the hard lines of tendons and muscles tighten across his back and tense up into his neck from the shadows, watching carefully as he sighs deeply when the call is disconnected.
Dropping the pile of garments at her feet, Angie's concern is immediate. Without turning, he can feel her hesitant strides; an inexplicable link between them telling him more than words ever could. If anything, he's learned the hard way how unreliable words can be. But they need them tonight; need to communicate what's been left unsaid for too long.
"This was a mistake," Oscar whispers, back still turned. The tension is palpable, hanging thickly between them.
Hugging herself tightly, Angie's chest momentarily stills as her breath catches at his words. When the burn in her lungs reminds her to breathe, she finally huffs in embarrassment and her faces flushes. Toes tightening in tension against the carpet, the dam of emotion strains within her; breaks free with the last soft snaps of stiff joints.
"I've made a lot of them, but this will never be one," Angie replies hoarsely. Shrugging the linen higher, she continues toward him; close enough now that she can make out the faint shiver that ripples through him at the sound of her voice. "You probably want nothing to do with me, but I don't want anyone else to have you without -"
Quickly turning on her, he hides it well if he's surprised by her close proximity at all. "No," Oscar growls roughly; "God, no. Angie, it's always been you. 8 A.M. coffee, 6 P.M. precinct dinners, and calls to scenes in the middle of the night - you should have been there for all of them." Swallowing thickly, he chooses his next words carefully as his words wash over her. "My mistake was never chasing after you."
Angie's vision blurs with unshed tears as she steps into him, absorbing the warmth radiating off of him in a beacon of desire and affection as she leans in closer like a ship drawn to the shore. She knows she doesn't have the right words, so she remains silent; simply listening to the air move in and out of their chests in the still of the evening.
His arms come around her, lightly at first, before folding her tighter into his embrace. Words and touches, the mere presence of him binds her tighter than any rope ever could, and harbors her in safety amidst the storms of her mind. Through the thick and thin, he weathers every crashing wave and gust of wind with quiet fortitude.
"I'm so tired," he feels her mumble into the swell of his throat. With certainty, he can say that it's not the lateness of the hour, but the energy she's put into building walls and running away that has finally caught up with her. Securing his hold, he lifts her with confidence and walks her back towards the bedroom; slowly sinking into the disheveled offering of warmth and comfort in the awaiting mattress.
The glow of the clock on the bedside table illuminates Angie's gentle smile as she rolls over him, tucking the bedding around both of them as she checks the time. Her mental and physical exhaustion fooled her mind into believing it was much later, but now she's awake. Pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, she bites back a grin as she meets his gaze once more; nails scraping lightly down Oscar's trembling chest towards the elastic of his boxer shorts with fingertips skirting near the edge as they begin to dip lower.
"I thought you were tired," Oscar quips softly; the corner of his eyes crinkling in quiet laughter.
Dropping her lips to his, Angie's mouth traces over his; her bright smile mingling with the beard at his chin. "Not of this," she whispers, as her hand disappears.
If you're in Canada, or a lucky US viewer, can I just say: I hope you are still alive! This season has been insane so far, but I'm loving every second. Thank you to those of you that read, and please review! It's food for the soul - really, it goes a long way for writers, so please review! Again, a quick thank you to my reviewers:
Skylarcat: Thank you for your review! Glad you enjoyed it, lol. Anything else I can do for you?
Dempeo4ever81: Hopefully this will hold you over until something new comes along. Thanks for hanging around and reviewing :)