Hannah had a long day at school and stayed late grading papers and checking materials out of the library.
It was past seven when she got home and walking up the stairs past Mike's apartment, she decided to check on him.
She knocked on his door, waiting to hear movement inside. She heard none.
Hannah shrugged, not surprised that he wasn't home. She should have known better.
"Hey," someone called from behind her, "Miss me already?"
She turned to see Mike standing on the stairs behind her, looking very tired.
He was wearing a black sweatshirted hoodie with a leather jacket on top of it. He looked very, very handsome.
"Hey," Hannah returned, feeling very silly, "I was just going to check on you."
Mike chuckled, coming up to the landing of his floor. "You know you don't need to check on me."
She shrugged. "Alright then."
She started towards to the stairs to go up to her apartment.
"Wait," he stopped, "I didn't mean that. Why don't you come in for a little bit?"
Mike hurried past her to unlock and open his door. He waited for her, his eyes asking her nicely to come in.
Hannah hesitated.
"Please?" he asked, "I've had a really shitty day."
She sighed, giving in, watching him smile in relief as she came to meet him at the door.
"Thank you," he said genuinely. He hadn't thought of seeing her tonight until he saw her at his door. Now the thought of her company relieved him.
Hannah entered his apartment, seeing piles of envelopes and mail stacked on his counter, shoes by the door, and shirts draped over the couch.
"Oh, uh," Mike stammered, forgetting his apartment was in this state, "Sorry about the mess."
Hannah laughed. "It's really not that bad. It was worse when I had to take care of you last year. I had to clean this place before it started crawling."
Mike smiled. "Well then I guess it's not that bad. Sit down."
Hannah sat on the couch, crossing her legs under her, and getting comfortable.
"Anything to drink?" Mike asked, setting his bag down and heading into the kitchen, wanting to make her feel comfortable as she's always made him.
"Beer or anything stronger if you have it," she requested, "I've had a long day, too."
Mike smiled. He always thought of Hannah as invincible, too strong to admit defeat or weakness.
He came back into the living room with two beers, handing her one and settling on the other end of the couch with his.
"You wanna go first?" Mike offered, ready to listen to her for once.
Hannah shrugged. "Just a long day… lots of grading and researching and planning. I'm exhausted. You?"
Mike smirked. "I've told you too much about my shitty days recently."
Hannah smiled, leaning her head against the back of the couch. "I've never complained."
He smiled, looking at his beer and then her. It was true: she had never complained. Not once.
"I'm just…" Mike started, feeling frustrated, "I'm so goddamn mad at Ryan. I'm furious. It's starting to really piss me off."
Hannah could see the tension in his jawline.
"Everything he does absolutely infuriates me," Mike said, "I used to not let anything get to me. I used to be easy going. I used to be a good person. Now I'm just pissed off all the time."
Hannah had noticed that Mike had been more stressed, angry, and resentful. She figured that the job was wearing on him. He hadn't been this been until around the time of the subway murders.
"You're not a bad person," Hannah defended, taking a sip of her beer, "You're just… in a really stressful situation."
Mike chuckled. "That's an understatement."
"You're too young to be this stressed," Hannah insisted, drinking her beer.
"That's what beer is for," Mike shrugged, drinking the last of his, "Another?"
Hannah nodded, handing him her empty bottle.
As he got them more drinks, she snuggled into his couch, exhaustion returning to her. She yawned as he brought back their drinks.
"You can go home, you know," Mike offered, feeling guilty for keeping her there, "I won't be offended."
Hannah shook her head, taking her beer. "I enjoy being here."
He met her eyes as he sat down. "I enjoy you being here, too."
She smiled and he relaxed. Hannah was the only woman he'd had some kind of steady relationship with since joining the FBI. He didn't have time for friends and especially not dating.
Hannah, however, was the best kind of friend. She was there when he needed her but understood his work always came first. She never asked him to change or told him he was a bad friend.
"I'm glad you moved here," he said honestly, meeting her eyes again, "You keep me balanced."
She smiled. "Likewise."
She drank her beer to break the moment and he studied her. Long dark hair curling over her shoulders, framing her collarbone. He wondered how soft her hair felt. He wondered if it would tickle his chest if they laid in bed together. He shook the thought from his mind.
"So," she said suddenly, "You've been eating those dinners, right?"
Mike chuckled. "Yes I have. I even took one with me for lunch today."
Hannah grinned. "Really? Good! I'm glad!"
"It was very delicious, by the way," he offered, drinking his beer.
"Of course it was," she scoffed, "You shouldn't expect anything less."
Mike laughed, playfully touching her arm, settling in closer to her so that their arms were touching.
Mike smiled. And finally then, did he look as young as he was. He looked carefree and easy going, a brightness to his eyes when he laughed.
He watched Hannah out of the corner of his eye as she drank her beer, lips settling on the cool glass and tipping it back. He wondered what her lips felt like.
She could hear his breathing deepen and she could feel the tension between them suddenly.
Hannah had always thought that Mike was attractive, who wouldn't? He was blond, scruffy, and young. She decided that he didn't shave because it would make him look older at the FBI. His eyes were a dead give away to his age, however. His eyes were youthful and kind.
She finished her beer and put it on the coffee table, leaning back, waiting for Mike to say something.
He mirrored her actions, setting his beer down on the table, but turned to look at her.
She met his gaze.
He reached up and touched her hair boldly, tucking it behind her ear. "Thank you for coming to check on me, tonight."
Hannah smiled, feeling his fingertips on her ear. "Of course. I know you'd do the same for me."
Mike's fingers made their way through her hair, feeling the ends. It was as soft as he thought it would be. He wondered how her skin would feel.
"I should probably be getting back upstairs," she said quietly, eyes on his.
"Why?" he asked softly, "You don't want to be here anymore?"
"No," she said carefully, "We've both had long days and it's getting late."
She got up from the couch quickly and suddenly Mike felt full of regret. He shouldn't have touched her. He was why she was leaving. He felt cold.
"I'm sorry if I did something, Hannah," he said, following her to the door, confused.
"Oh no," she said, turning, "It wasn't you. It's just late."
The truth was that she wasn't sure if she could trust herself in that situation. She could feel the tension between them and it would only lead to two things: either them sleeping together and never speaking again or him not reciprocating what she felt and their friendship wouldn't be the same.
She couldn't risk either of those things happening again.
"Let me know if anything happens with Ryan," she offered, "Or let me know if anything changes."
"Hannah," Mike said, trying to stop her.
"And let me know if you need more dinners or anything," she continued, "I know you don't eat when you're on a case."
"Hannah, stop," he pressed, coming closer to her as her hand touched the doorknob.
"You know where I am and you can always call," she said as she opened the door.
"Hannah!" he said desperately, finally eliciting a response as she turned to face him, eyes wide.
She could feel his body heat against her as his lips touched hers gently, carefully. His beard tickled her chin as he exhaled against her. She wanted to touch her hands to his jawline. He could feel her almost shaking.
His hands steadied against her waist, feeling her warmth and wanting to draw it closer to him. There were few times that he felt warmth and he wanted to savor it. He pulled her closer until his hips touched hers and he felt her soften, kissing him back. Her hands fell upon his arms and he groaned into her mouth. He wanted to feel her skin on his. The feeling was all too real.
His lips left hers and she missed the touch almost immediately. He rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed. She was trying to steady her breathing.
"Thank you for checking in on me, Hannah" he whispered.
