Title: Heart Bugs - Chapter Four
Pairing: Erica/OC
Rating: PG-13 for now, will jump to R/NC-17 later
Summary: A first date. And then a second one!
Disclaimer: I do not own Grey's Anatomy, nor any of the characters in it. Everything in this story is fictional and I am not making a profit from this.
A/N: Trudging along. This chapter ended up super long, but I think that's just the way I write. Thanks to the people that have commented so far, it's fun hearing what you guys think.
Erica found herself standing in front of her closet for the second time in as many weeks, unable to decide on an appropriate outfit. She popped an antacid as she thought to herself that all of this socializing was really rather nerve wracking. She wasn't the type to try on thirty outfits, or make piles of yeses, nos and maybes. She simply stood in front of her closet, eyeing different shirts and dresses, weighing the merits of each one and beginning the process all over again when she had mentally accounted for her entire wardrobe.
I really should have asked where we were going tonight, Erica thought. I don't want to overdress, but there are some pretty nice restaurants in this city.
After an hour or so in her bedroom, Erica had settled on khakis and a deep royal cotton top that Kate had picked out for her. Even in May, it was beginning to get warm in DC and Erica figured she might as well be comfortably dressed since she was already nervous about everything else. She let her hair fall in loose curls, figuring the humidity would wreak havoc on straightened hair anyway. Erica Hahn was logical through and through, even down to the details of a first date look.
She found herself wandering from her kitchen, where she grabbed a glass of water, to her living room where she tried and failed to read a magazine article. For ten minutes she simply paced up and down her hallways, not doing anything in particular. She unconsciously chastised herself for getting ready too early and therefore giving herself too much time to think. She thought about the time she had spent in that one restaurant in Seattle waiting for her Callie on her first date. That night she had been nervous. Everything had been new and the steps they were making had thrown Erica into a different world, headfirst. She had already moved on to her second glass of wine by the time Callie had even gotten there, and it was only when she realized that Callie was more nervous than she, did Erica relax that night.
Erica snapped back to the present as she ran her fingertip around the edge of her water glass. She was nervous again tonight, but for new reasons. Unlike Callie, whom she had developed a friendship with, she knew little about Marsh. And while getting to know new people always made Erica uncomfortable, there was something about this woman that immediately put the doctor at ease, even as it made her heart beat a little faster. This woman seemed calm, confident, solid. She seemed genuine and familiar in a way that Erica definitely didn't understand, since it usually took Erica a great deal of time to get to know someone.
She supposed it didn't hurt that she was also attracted to Marsh in a way that was easy to admit. She was just below Erica's height, lean and toned from head to toe. Erica thought about the way she worked outside and how it probably kept her in shape. She wondered if she did anything else, like running or biking. As a heart specialist, Erica knew she should be spending more time working out herself, but with a schedule like hers, she was usually content to maintain her heart health with a strict diet. As Erica's mind began to wonder what Marsh would look like in running shorts, she heard a knock on her door.
"Hi," Marsh greeted Erica as she stood on her front porch, smiling widely at the blonde. She wore simple, loose khakis that fell just below her knee, brown sandals and a brown tank top. It was simple and fit her. Her curly hair, which Erica had really only seen in an unruly state up until then, was calmed down into soft, loose curls. Marsh had on silver jewelry, including a necklace interesting enough to make Erica make a mental note to ask about it later.
"Marsh, hi. Let me just grab my bag and we can go," Erica replied, hoping she wasn't red from the wandering thoughts she was just experiencing.
"Sure."
Erica locked her door and the two women began walking down the sidewalk together. They got halfway down the street when Erica realized they were not walking toward a car.
"Wait, how did you get here?" Erica asked.
Marsh chuckled, "I walked over, we live in the same neighborhood actually."
"Oh, well that's lucky, I suppose," Erica considered.
"I think so." Marsh looked over and caught Erica's eyes this time. The two women shared a glance and reactively smiled. Marsh had actually been quite delighted to learn that Erica lived only a few blocks away. While she was still a scientist and by no means an overly spiritual person, she did tend to believe that things happen for a reason, and couldn't help thinking that about Erica. "I'm actually a few blocks back in the other direction, toward the zoo. Have you been there yet?"
"I haven't. Actually, there's a lot I haven't done here yet in DC."
"Well, we're definitely going to have fix that. The pandas are probably the best thing about this city. And the elephants. And the giraffes!" She paused, not wanting to scare Erica off this early in the evening. "Sorry, I'm kind of an animal nerd."
Erica was laughing, "Not at all. I'm sure I would love it. My mom used to bring my brother and I to the zoo as kids. Those are some of my best memories of the three of us."
"Great, so the zoo will be lesson number two in neighborhood appreciation. And this will be the first." Marsh stopped and gestured to a small restaurant right in front of them. Erica hadn't even realized where they had been walking, but it couldn't have been more than a half mile from her house.
"Wow, I've never even noticed this before."
"Well, I love it and hopefully you will too."
They sat at a small table by the window. Erica kept watching as people walked past on the late afternoon sidewalk. There were families, couples, runners, dog walkers and everywhere in between. Marsh kept watching Erica's face as she stared out the window. There was something about the blonde that she couldn't place her finger on, but that she was already drawn to. Something about the way the very simple seemed to intrigue her. The way little things could affect her. Marsh could already tell she was strong, confident. She knew enough academics with type A personality to recognize it, but she also saw that Erica had a lot below the surface. She saw flashes of this softness burst through at various times like these, when Erica was doing little more than people watching.
Erica turned back to her date to realize she was being stared at. "Sorry, I seem to be spacing out. It's been a long week," Erica apologized sheepishly, embarrassed to know that Marsh had been watching her so intensely.
"Don't be. It's cute."
"Cute?" Erica used her trademark Hahn raise of the eyebrows to hopefully intimidate the brunette. "I'm pretty sure I haven't been called cute in years."
"Well too bad. You're cute, deal with it," Marsh challenged right off the bat.
The server came and took their drink orders, some brown ale for Marsh, who ordered like she came here often, and obviously a glass of red wine for Erica.
"So you're a wino, are you?"
"Maybe, what's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," Marsh laughed, "But are you one of those people who actually knows your wines, because I have to admit, my knowledge covers the difference between red and white and that's about it."
"I know enough," Erica contemplated, "to make it through a wine tasting and look like I've been around the block. But I certainly wouldn't call myself a wino as you so eloquently put it."
"That was a term of endearment, I promise. I went to Napa a few years back with a couple friends of mine, and man did we have fun, but I think it's safe to say I learned nothing. Except how to drunkenly talk my way out of a farmer calling the police after catching me picking grapes in his field." Marsh looked into the distance, recalling the memory with a fairly proud look on her face. She caught herself, "Not that I make it a habit of trespassing. Or stealing. I'm actually a pretty decent person, I swear."
Erica's eyes were wide with amusement as she listened to the younger woman ramble. "It's ok, Marsh. I believe that you're more than a 'decent person,'" Erica assured. "Plus, everyone has a few of those crazy stories, right?"
"Well, I don't know Dr. Hahn. What are your crazy stories?"
Erica stared at Marsh for a beat, looking into her eyes. Here she was on a first date, already talking crazy stories, of which Erica certainly had a few, but also which she rarely shared with many people. There was something behind Marsh's eyes that made Erica want to tell her stories, to talk about herself, to share it all. And that, Erica realized, scared her more than a little bit.
"Patience is a virtue. I don't give up all my good stuff that easily."
"Ah, I knew you were a tease."
Erica blushed, but was spared the rest of their teasing conversation by their server's arrival to take their orders. They ate and made small talk. Marsh told Erica about some other great little spots in their neighborhood, Erica making a mental note to do some more exploring now that it was nice out. The talk came easily and comfortably. There was a definite electricity to the evening, but the two women embraced it, alternating between sharing, eating and laughing.
"So I have to ask," Erica began, "and I ask out of sheer curiosity, with no implied judgment," she added. "Why entomology? Why bugs?"
"No judgment, sure," Marsh questioned, but continued, "It definitely wasn't my first choice. I studied straight biology way back when. After college, I traveled to Africa because I really didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I ended up connecting with a researcher studying malaria over there, fell in love with the science of insects and the rest is history. My work now is all about conservation and cleaning up the Chesapeake. It's," she searched for the right words, "satisfying."
"I know what you mean. I love being able to do something where I make a difference. As clichéd as that sounds."
"Yeah, I'm finishing up a three year project right now. Mostly putting the final touches on my analysis. With any luck, I should have a publishable paper in a couple of months!"
"That's excellent. Although, personally, I hate that whole period of submitting to journals and rewriting and whatnot. I'd rather just be doing surgeries, but it's part of the game."
"A game you're certainly at the top of, I hear," Marsh said.
Erica raised her eyebrows again. She was proud of her reputation, and usually the first to boast that she was at the very top of her already elite field. However, in this moment, Erica found herself wanting to be modest. Proud, but modest.
"I'm a researcher. I obviously googled you," she laughed, adding, "I hope that's ok, and not too creepy. I mean, I just wanted to see what kinds of cool doctor things you did. I wasn't out searching for personal information, because that would be weird. It was just a quick search and scan and - "
"Do you always ramble when you're nervous?"
"Yes! See, you already understand me," Marsh laughed out loud, and Erica soon followed. "So anyway," she drew out the word, trying to move on from the little bit of awkwardness that she actually expected more of on a first date. "You mentioned the other day that you were making two of your students battle in a fake competition?"
Erica finished the wine in her glass as she nodded. "I am, but I swear I'm not that evil. The annual cardiothoracics conference is coming up in a few months and I'm bringing both of them, but they don't know that yet. I told them I'd pick the best surgeon after a couple of months."
"Not evil, sure . . ." Marsh joked.
"These two are talented, they'll make great surgeons one day. I'm just trying to push them. See what they're really capable of," Erica defended. "Don't worry, I'll end it before they start going too crazy," she added with a smirk.
"No, I know what it's like. I feel the same way about the grad students in my lab. They're not technically mine, we have another director who is their actual advisor, but I work with them on a regular basis. They're talented kids," she said fondly. "So, are these conferences fun?"
"Oh god no. They're usually terrible and boring and full of surgeons with huge egos trying to brag about their accomplishments," Erica answered. "But . . . I'm the keynote speaker this year, and it'll be the first one for my residents."
"Ooh, keynote. Impressive Dr. Hahn. Is it here in DC?"
"No, actually this year it's in Las Vegas."
Marsh lit up, impressed, "Vegas! That sounds fun. Have you ever been?"
"Once, right after med school. A friend that I graduated with had an uncle who owned a casino. He paid for us all to go out there and stay for a week. It was," Erica paused, "One of those crazy stories."
"Oh come on, spill. I told you about my shenanigans with friends. It's only fair." She crossed her arms in front of her chest, not willing to take no from the blonde.
Erica hesitated but then took a deep breath and began. "Ok, well one night the guys we were with, including my boyfriend at the time, thought we needed to go to a strip club to complete our Vegas experience. I, of course, had never been before. It was crazy . . . just . . . girls everywhere. I eventually drank enough to feel comfortable, but then my one friend, Chris, decided to buy me a lapdance without me knowing. And all of the sudden, there was this woman just about on top of me, shaking things, doing things. I was so embarrassed, I ran out. They never let me live it down."
Marsh was smiling wide as Erica finished her story. "I'll say it again, that was cute."
"Cute? Cute is definitely not the word I would use to describe that night of my life."
"Well, the way you told the story was cute at least." At this point, Marsh reached out and placed her hand on top of Erica's, which had been resting on the small table. "So you said boyfriend, you weren't out yet in college?"
Erica tensed up immediately and pulled her hand back in response. "Um . . . so I guess this is the point in the date where I tell you that I'm pretty new to this."
Marsh scrutinized the woman in front of her, not quite believing that Erica hadn't been out years. She seemed confident, but at once, Marsh realized that this was one of the insecurities that she had seen in pieces so far from Erica.
"How new?" she pressed.
"Well . . . I've only really been with one woman . . . And that wasn't even a year ago." She paused, but couldn't quite find the words to finish her explanation. "I don't know . . . unless you're not ok with it, it's probably terrible first date conversation."
Marsh realized that Erica was becoming flustered and unnerved. "Hey, it's ok." She reached out and grabbed her hand again, this time not letting go. "I don't have a problem with it at all. And, as far as first date revelations go, I should probably tell you that it's been a while since I've dated anyone, actually."
"Really?" Erica asked, wondering how a woman like Marsh remained single.
"Yeah, it's been . . . almost five years now," Marsh admitted, not letting the surprise or question in Erica's eyes go unnoticed. She continued, "Also a long story and definitely not first date appropriate."
Erica let herself relax, looking at Marsh and feeling her hand on her own. This woman was not trying to push anything, own anything, or pretend at all. She was being honest and slow, she was letting Erica be exactly who she needed to be. And it wasn't out of delicacy to Erica's persona, it just was who she was. Which, Erica realized, as her thumb began tracing patterns over Marsh's hand, she already liked.
The two women paid their bill, Erica not allowing Marsh to pay for the entire meal. They began walking down the street again, with Erica thinking they were taking a different way home, although she couldn't be quite sure since she had not really been paying attention on the walk there. She realized how unusual this all was for her. Not the first date in general, or the fact that it was a date with a woman. After Callie, she had accepted the epiphany rather easily; she was Erica Hahn, and whatever she did, she did all the way, headfirst, and with little doubt. No, it was the fact that she had let someone else lead tonight. And while it was simple enough, Erica knew it already meant something, that she would let another person, this person, Marsh, take over some of the control.
They walked together, more than relaxed, enjoying the setting sun to their west. It was a perfect spring evening in DC and both women were smiling. Marsh kept feeling Erica's hand brush up against hers, wondering if it was accidental, since she suspected the blonde's vocabulary didn't include the word accidental. She smiled as they walked past different kinds of people, some of them checking out the two women. Marsh wondered if Erica knew they were being noticed, a little worried that it might make her nervous. But if she did catch the glances, most of which were good, she didn't seem to care anyway. The surgeon seemed at ease, and Marsh already appreciated that Erica was being herself, allowing herself to open up and share some of that softness that Marsh already knew was hidden under a tough gal professional skin.
Marsh decided to take a chance and as they were walking past a large, old hotel with expansive gardens all around it, she grabbed Erica's hand and pulled her off the street. She started to guide her toward the back of the hotel, where the gardens were even more expansive and in full bloom, owing to the late spring month.
"Hey, where are we - "
"Just come here," Marsh demanded as she finally led Erica to where she wanted. They stood at the back of the gardens, where there was nearly an orchard of cherry blossoms all surrounding a decent sized pond. There were benches and small paths throughout the grounds, and Erica immediately wondered how a property this size remained in a neighborhood like this. It was gorgeous though, and Marsh knew Erica felt the same way as she looked all around.
"Wow, this is beautiful. I never knew this was back here." Erica exclaimed.
"Yeah, this is one of the hotels the White House uses when they want to impress people who are visiting. After the scientist I worked with in Africa completed this big study on malaria, the president at the time flew him in to award him a new grant and he stayed here, along with one of the African presidents. Now I come here all the time, it's a good place to sit and think."
Erica's face showed she was impressed as she realized that entomology did have its perks.
"It's really . . . "
Marsh cut Erica off mid-thought as she grabbed the blonde's waist and pulled her into a kiss. It was incredibly soft and for a few moments, the only feelings Erica could register were the softness of Marsh's lips, the feeling of her hands at her sides, and the smell of her gentle perfume mixed with the flowers in the garden. Erica reciprocated, letting her hand come up and sit on the brunette's hip. It was relatively short and innocent, but it was perfect.
They broke and Marsh grabbed Erica's hand, leading her out onto the street again. They didn't say anything again as they walked back to Erica's house, they didn't have to, and Erica realized how much she enjoyed the silence with this woman. She also realized she probably had a pretty big smile on her face as she noticed Marsh kept stealing glances her way. As they arrived at Erica's front porch, their peaceful moment was interrupted by a loud vibration. As Erica reached into her purse for her pager, she realized that it had been Marsh's cell phone instead. Secretly happy she did not have to go into the hospital tonight, she frowned as she saw Marsh's face drop.
"Is everything ok?" Erica asked, genuinely concerned.
"Oh, yeah. My friend Laura is performing tomorrow and our other friend was supposed to come with me to opening night, but she just canceled, looks like her kid is sick."
"Oh, that's a shame," Erica replied.
"Hey, would you want to join me? I know this is only our first date and tomorrow is, well, tomorrow, but I had a good time tonight. I mean, that is if you don't have plans already, it is Saturday night and you probably have things to do, but Laura is pretty good and - "
This time it was Erica who leaned in and cut Marsh off with a kiss. She brought her hand up to Marsh's face and smiled as she realized how well this worked to cut off Marsh's nervous rambling.
"I'd love to go," Erica said confidently as she pulled back. "Turns out I do have some things to take care of at the hospital tomorrow, so maybe let me know when and where and I could meet you there?" she offered.
"Sure, I'll send you the address. I really did have a good time tonight, it felt nice to relax," Marsh said, blushing even as she was reaching out to grab Erica's hand.
"Me too, surprisingly," Erica said honestly.
"Oh really? Thought I'd be boring or something," Marsh asked, a little surprised herself.
"No no," Erica turned a little red. "That's not what I meant. I'm . . . not usually good at this stuff, dating stuff." She regained her composure. "But this was nice. And I'm looking forward to tomorrow," she added.
"Good, well, I'll see you tomorrow." She walked down toward the sidewalk, dropping Erica's hand at the last moment she could. She turned back a few steps later and said, "Oh and Erica, I think you're pretty good at this dating stuff."
"So have you guys moved in together yet?" Kate said as she entered the Erica's office, where she was finishing up some paperwork Saturday afternoon.
"Excuse me?" she greeted her friend.
"Oh come on, isn't that what you people do?" Kate fell into one of the comfortable chairs in front of Erica's desk. She often came in here and complained about not having her own office, to which Erica always replied that she would get one when she was she was a big important head of a department.
"You people? Really, Kate?" Erica shook her head at Kate's lack of tact, thinking that if she didn't know the woman better, know that she had a huge heart, she would never give this surgeon the time of day. "And no, we're not moving anywhere. It was one date."
"Oh, I'm kidding, E. But how was it? I want all the dirty details!"
"No dirty details to be had. Not that I would tell you anyway. Just because you're married and have to get your kicks vicariously through friends - "
"Uh, my sex life is fantastic, thank you very much. Josh and I have ridiculous amounts of hot, hot sex. All the time," Kate tried to give Erica her best bedroom eyes, as Erica stared at the woman, unaffected. "But, seriously, how did it go?"
At this, Erica broke out into a slight smile. Kate reacted, "I knew it!"
"It went really well. We just had dinner, walked around, turns out she lives right near me, and talked. It was nice."
"But you two didn't rip each other's clothing off?" Kate looked genuinely disappointed.
"Uh, no," Erica said, shutting her down. She added softly, "There was some kissing, but that was it."
"Oh, Erica, always so wild. At this rate, maybe we'll have some over the clothes fondling by Christmas time."
"You're terrible, Kate."
"No I'm not. You love me. So are you going to see her again," Kate asked. "Or were you all awkward at the end of the date and she ran away and now it's weird that you live so close."
"No, you really are an ass. But we're going out tonight, actually," Erica said, smiling despite herself. She really was looking forward to tonight, the balance of nerves and excitement tilting even more toward the latter in expectation of their second date.
"Oh wow, that's quick. You must really like her. It took you months to be able to stand me for two days in a row."
"I mean, this is only a second date. I don't want to get my hopes up or anything, but yeah, I do like her. She seems . . . sane," she considered her words, "Wow, did I just get excited about this woman not being crazy?" She laughed. "I guess it really has been a while."
"Hey, it's ok to get your hopes up, Erica. You deserve it. And you deserve and nice, sane girl, even if she does ramble a lot and refuses to take her clothes off on a first date."
"Thanks, I think. And I consider the clothing staying on to be a good thing."
"Aw, how cute. Ok, as much as I love discussing your non-love life, I actually came up here to tell you my brother and James are having their restaurant party next weekend. And they're demanding that you come. Of course, they still want to set you up with one of their friends, but I imagine you could bring Rambles. That's what I'm gonna call you guys, Rambles and Mumbles."
"Why am I friends with you again?"
"Because I'm the only surgeon in this hospital that will put up with you. And because you love me," Kate smirked at Erica as she got up and stretched. She ran a hand through her short blond hair and continued, "So next Sunday, 9 o'clock, you're coming."
"I'll have to recheck my schedule here, but yeah, why not." Erica smiled up at Kate, unconsciously thankful for the smaller blonde. She had really been a big part of making this city a home in the past year. She was crass, over the top and brutally honest but for some reason, with Erica, it worked.
As Kate grabbed the door handle to leave, she turned quickly and said, "And Erica, I really am happy for you, ya know."
"Thanks, Kate," Erica replied. Kate nodded and left, leaving Erica to finish her remaining work and think about her second date with a certain cute brunette.
Erica and Marsh were standing at a high table in the lobby of a small theater in U St. neighborhood of the city. They were each enjoying a glass of wine, chosen by Erica as a mini lesson in the libation, before the doors to the theater opened. Erica had spent slightly less time picking out a wardrobe tonight, but was glad she dressed up after seeing Marsh in a skirt and blouse. As people started filtering in to the waiting space, Erica noticed the diversity in the room. She had already learned that she was about to see a small string ensemble performance, which was pleasant to learn after Erica realized that she had agreed to tonight's date without knowing exactly what they were attending.
"So then, how do you know Laura?" Erica asked, sipping on her wine, again in wonder of how easily the talk came with the brunette.
"We met in college, we were actually in orchestra together."
"What do you play?"
"Piano. I've played since I was three, my mother was a music teacher," she paused just a moment. "You know, most people actually ask if I play right off the bat."
"Really?" Erica was confused.
"My last name," Marsh said, continuing on after noticing the blank look in Erica's eyes, "Stravinsky? The Russian composer? No?"
"Sorry, I never quite got into music. I was forced to play the flute for a year in grade school, but I was so atrocious my mother let me quit. Only thing I've ever quit to this day," Erica laughed. "So then, is there a relation?" Erica asked, actually intrigued.
"No, actually. My background is Eastern European and Italian, not Russian. But sometimes I'll lie to people, especially snoody people in the music world," Marsh revealed.
"So let's see, you lie, you steal from innocent farmers, you stalk potential dates online . . . I don't know if I like the sound of this." Erica said, her Hahn eyebrows in full force.
"Hey!" Marsh went to swat Erica on the arm, but somehow it turned into her slowly dragging her fingers along Erica's arm, bare in the off the shoulder dress she was wearing. "I just happen to be very upfront about my weaknesses, but I still stand by the fact that I'm a decent person."
Erica smiled, more than a little thrown off by the minute amount of contact. "I'm kidding. And I think I want to hear you play sometime."
"Haha, yeah I don't get to play very often these days," she looked at Erica, eyes becoming darker and more suggestive, "but yeah, maybe."
Erica thought about listening to the brunette play and wondered if she had her own piano. Kate and Josh had a piano in their place, but it was more of a joke since neither they nor anyone they knew could play it. It had been inherited from Kate's aunt years ago, and she didn't have the heart to get rid of it. In thinking about Kate, she remembered her brother's restaurant.
"Hey, my friend Kate from the hospital," Erica said as Marsh nodded her remembrance of the woman. "Her brother opened up a restaurant in Dupont Circle recently and they're having a party to celebrate next weekend. Would you be interested in joining me?" Erica asked.
"Ooh, yeah, that sounds fun. And you are doing an awesome job filling in as my date tonight, so I'd be happy to reciprocate."
"Well, I'm already enjoying myself too much to consider this a favor," Erica smiled.
The doors to the theater opened up and slowly everyone began filing into the small theater. It was general admission, but Laura had reserved two seats for Kate up front and center. The performance was amazing, Erica had to admit. She was the first to admit that classical music stumped her, but this was different. It was smaller and more intimate than she thought a classical performance would be. The music went from lively to intense to bitingly sad and emotional.
Marsh pointed Laura out at the beginning. She was a small framed Asian woman, also in her late thirties, sitting behind a large cello. Erica found herself watching the woman throughout the line-up of songs. In the middle of a slow, drawn out part of a song perhaps twenty minutes into the concert, Erica felt Marsh's hand rest upon her own, along the armrest between them. She jumped a little at the contact, but after looking over at Marsh's small smile, she relaxed and the two women held hands for the remainder of the performance.
"So she teaches nine months out of the year, at a public school here in the city. It's a pretty tough school, and they've tried to cut the music program there a number of times, but she loves it and she's always pushing to keep it alive. I always tell her it's very Sister Act." Marsh and Erica are in the lobby again after the show, waiting for Laura to come out from backstage. "But writing is still her passion and this show has been her baby for months now. She wrote and arranged most of the music and spent a while pulling all these musicians together. I'm happy for her."
"That's amazing. I was impressed tonight, definitely not what I was expecting."
Marsh was just about to ask Erica what she had been expecting, when the doors opened and Laura emerged, rolling her giant instrument case behind her.
"Marsh!"
"Laura!"
The two women hugged as Marsh instantly began to tell her how proud she was of the amazing show.
"And this is Dr. Erica Hahn," Marsh said, using an extended hand to present her date to her old college friend. "Erica, this is Laura Chen."
"It's a pleasure," Laura said, instantly looking back at Marsh with wide, suggestive eyes. Marsh caught the look and just shook her head, as if to say don't, not here, not now.
"That was great, I was just telling Marsh how impressed I was. This isn't something I would end up seeing on my own." Erica said.
"Well thank you. I couldn't be more thrilled. I'm still on such a high."
"You kind of made me miss performing tonight," Marsh jumped in.
"Well, come to the afterparty and maybe you and one of my musicians can get together and plan your own comeback show."
"As fun as that sounds, I have to be out in the field tomorrow, so how about a raincheck. Maybe we could catch up some day this week," Marsh offered.
"That sounds great, I'll give you a call tomorrow." She turned toward Erica, "It was nice meeting you, Erica. You two have a good night."
During the ride back to their neighborhood, Erica became impressed with Marsh's driving ability in a city that, to her, was a nightmare to drive in. They wound their way through the neighborhood streets with ease, stealing quick glances at one another along the way. At this point, Erica was truly proud of herself, and not in the way that she usually was in the hospital, in the OR. She was taking a leap here, a second leap on this new adventure she had started with Callie so long ago. Part of her wanted to run, wanted to be alone. It was easier that way, but yet here she was on a second date in as many days with a woman. A woman whose company she was very much so enjoying.
They reached Erica's house and Erica was both relieved and nervous when Marsh automatically got out of the car too and followed her to her doorstep. Part of her was transported back to high school, when boys had awkwardly walked her home, neither of them knowing if a goodnight kiss was wanted or appropriate. But this time, there was no awkwardness, no fumbling small talk.
"I had fun tonight," Erica began, "I mean it, this isn't something I would normally do on my own. It was . . . refreshing."
"Good, I'm glad," Marsh replied, leaning in and wasting no time giving the blonde a goodnight kiss. The kiss was soft at first, both women delighting in the feeling of soft lips against soft lips. Then Erica leaned in slightly, adding pressure while cupping Marsh's face with her hand. Marsh's hands found their way to Erica's hair, bringing the blonde impossibly closer. Her tongue traced a light line along Erica's bottom lip, at which Erica opened her mouth, inviting the brunette in. There was a gentle politeness to their embrace coupled with a growing intensity. Marsh's hands began to travel across Erica's back as Erica used her tongue to pointedly explore Marsh's mouth.
The two women pulled back for a moment to catch some air, and Erica laughed as she timidly dropped her head against her chest. "Wow, I feel like a teenager, making out in front of my mom's house."
"I know. Isn't it fun?" Marsh challenged, completely honest. "Like we might get caught?"
"Well, if we stay out here long enough, we could get caught. By my neighbors," Erica laughed. "Or you could come in . . ." she offered.
This time Marsh blushed, turning her head. "I'm not sure, Erica - "
"Just for a drink, just for a little," Erica assured. "No funny business, I promise," she smirked.
Marsh relaxed and answered, "Sure."
They walked in and Marsh took in the atmosphere of Erica's home. It was warmly decorated, in jewel tones and with art that looked like it had been picked out specifically and with thought. It was neat and orderly, but then again, she expected that from a surgeon. She watched Erica disappear into what she assumed was the kitchen and return shortly with two glasses of wine. I might just have to learn a little about wine, if this goes anywhere, Marsh thought. She supposed she should learn a little.
"So, I was just thinking that I'm not sure I want to wait to see you until Sunday."
"Oh no?" Erica asked.
"Nope, but I am going to be up at the University every night this week." She hesitated, but then offered, "Maybe you could come up and visit me? I figure, I've seen the hospital already, maybe I could show you some bugs," she only half joked.
"That sounds nice," Erica replied, "I think I have a light week coming up, so that works out."
The two women enjoyed their glasses of wine, letting the remainder of the evening hours fly by. Before they knew it, the clock was drifting off into the early morning hours. Marsh was delighting in how the composed woman was opening up to her and Erica was surprising herself by how easily she was sharing with Marsh. The conversation came full circle when Erica again mentioned that she wanted to hear Marsh play, to which Marsh warned that she really hadn't played in a number of years.
"So, if you didn't get into music, what else did you do in high school? And college?" Marsh asked.
"Well, I grew up in a fairly small town in Rhode Island, so there wasn't much to do. I ran the student council and was captain of the cross country team in high school. Um, yes, I like to be in charge," she added, noticing the look on Marsh's face. "When I did my undergrad at Stanford, I kept with the running, but in all honesty, schoolwork began to take over most of time. And by the time I was in med school here in Baltimore, there was no time left for anything else besides medicine. It's been that way for a while now. I still have interests, but they become easy to push aside in the face of my schedule and all the work."
"Hmm, a runner, I wouldn't have thought that."
"Well, there's still a lot you don't know about me," Erica smirked, knowing that flirting was still in the realm of things she was pretty good at, despite her awkward nature. Flirting was all about confidence, and that was in no short supply with Erica Hahn. "Oh, and I could kick your ass at darts any day of the week," she added.
"Ooh, I'll take that as a challenge. I was known as quite the darts player at our local bar down at Virginia Tech," Marsh said as she pulled up along the curb outside of Erica's house.
"So that's where you did undergrad?" Erica asked.
"Undergrad, graduate school after Africa, and then I taught there for about ten years. I grew up around here, so it was just close enough and just far enough away."
"Wow, that's a lot of time spend in one place. Whatever brought you back up to DC?" Erica asked, fingering the wine glass that she had decided should remain empty at this hour.
"Uh," Marsh stuttered slightly. "A lot of things, ya know. It was . . . uh . . . complicated."
"Oh," Erica replied, worried that she had struck a chord with the younger woman. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to - "
"It's ok, just . . . you know," Marsh rambled, her nervous tell leaking out.
Erica didn't know, but wasn't about to press. Nor did she want to. She certainly understood about being reserved, about having personal stories. She was concerned that Marsh seemed uncomfortable however.
"Well, it's entirely later than I planned on staying out tonight," Marsh said quickly, standing up and adjusting her outfit. "Especially considering I have to be in the field tomorrow."
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Erica said, following Marsh to the front door, and out onto her front porch as the brunette turned around to say goodbye.
"So . . . I'll see you some time this week?" Erica asked, still more than a little worried that Marsh seemed suddenly thrown off.
"Oh, yeah, I'll call you and let you know." She hesitated and then looked up at Erica, who seemed to be standing there worried. "Hey, I really don't mean to leave abruptly. I just know that if I stay any later, there's a good chance of me falling asleep on your couch," she laughed nervously, half lying, but wanting to make sure Erica knew it wasn't her fault.
She stepped back toward the blonde and tenderly placed a soft, firm kiss on her lips. The kiss lingered, both women's minds firing rapidly despite the calm embrace.
"Goodnight, Erica."
"Night, Marsh, sleep well," Erica said as Marsh walked off, not quite sure what just happened. She trodded back inside her house, mostly thrilled at another great date but doubting all of it now after Marsh's quick exit. At this point, however, Erica was exhausted and was still simply not enough of a girl to get overemotional this quickly. She would sleep and think about it in the morning.