A.N.: Hello readers! Finally, I have Part 4. This was incredibly hard to write. The last two episodes of the season really killed my motivation. Not to mention a nice case of writer's block hit, ugh. All I can say is thank goodness for Fan Fiction! I am retaining hope that the writers will get it right for us Cherri shippers; it can still happen as we just only finished season 2 and look how long it took other ships to become reality-Densi, Jisbon, and Booth and Bones to name a few. Thanks for everything as always! On with Part 4! I still don't own anything.
Part IV: For Your Eyes Only
"Lemme see it."
"You've already seen plenty this morning, and last night."
Merri snatches her report from the office printer and turns to head back to her desk with Chris hot on her heels.
"But I need ta see again." Chris all but whines.
Merri rolls her eyes at her partner and sits back down. He remains behind her, running his fingers along the exposed skin at the base of her neck then draws them down, tracing invisible designs down her back and towards her waist.
"Chris, you really are insatiable aren't you?" she asks, attempting to focus on her paperwork once more.
"Only for you." he replies.
Merri sits back in her chair now, effectively smashing Chris' hands.
"Wait until lunch; I'll give you a noon showing." Merri suggests, turning her head to give him a seductive smile.
"Ya'll too much. We better get a case soon" Percy adds from her desk across the room.
"We just got one. Grab your gear and let's roll." Pride tells the group as he enters the office.
Arriving at the scene deep in the swampland, the four exit their department vehicle and split up to begin their assigned tasks. Percy heads towards the body. Pride begins examining the victim's truck. Chris starts to track a set of boot prints cutting through the mud. Merri locates a set of deep tire tracks. She kneels down and begins the process of cataloging and examining them. Chris meanwhile follows the large boot prints right to the tire tracks, and Merri. Her already low rise trousers have sunk even lower while her blouse raises up as she leans more forward to measure the tread width. These actions expose a wide expanse of her silky skin. Chris is transfixed. His fingers itch to run along that skin, to trace it all the way down her thigh…
"Christopher! You find something over there?" Pride booms.
Said man nearly jumps out of his skin at the sound of Pride's voice.
"No King! It ain't nothing!"
"Well keep lookin! And get some good photos of those boot prints. A storm's comin that's gonna wash em' away!" Pride orders.
"Okay King, I'ma get on it right now!"
"Only thing you wanna be on is Merri's backside" Percy states, walking past the pair as she heads towards a bloody blanket on the far side of the scene.
A snarky comeback dies on Merri's lips; she decides to focus on photographing the tire tracks and tracing them to the end instead. Christopher sets about on his tasks as well.
After three hours of scouring the muddy scene, the four agents have gathered all possible evidence and clues as to what happened to their murdered Navy commander. Pride and Percy are loading their items into the back of the SUV when Chris approaches followed by a very unhappy Merri.
"What happened ta ya'll?" Pride asks, taking in their mud-coated apparel.
"I was tracing the tire tracks and fell in a sink hole. Chris helped me out." Merri explains.
She is coated from head to toe in the thick, rancid swamp mud. It acts as a paste, sealing her clothing uncomfortably to her body. Luckily her hair is spared, yet the humidity has it frizzing in all directions.
"Well, let's be getting back so you can get that off of ya."Pride says to his team.
He takes the driver's seat with Percy riding shotgun. Percy puts in her earbuds and zones out as soon as she is seated. Chris and Merri claim the backseats. Merri however, is very uncomfortable. The mud is drying despite the humidity and her being sweaty as well. The dried mud itches on her exposed skin. Unable to sit still she picks at her blouse trying to adjust it no avail. Her pants do not feel much better.
"Just take it off."
"What?"
"Your blouse Mere just take it off."
Pride eyes the pair in the backseat suspiciously. He is not sure what he just heard.
"Um, I don't think this' the place Chris…it's almost noon, then-
"But I know ya got a tank top on under that. A tiny, lacy pink tank top" he continues, fiddling with the mud-coated buttons on the bottom of Merri's blouse. Merri watches him for a moment, pondering his words.
"You're right. I might more comfortable" she decides as she starts for top mud-coated buttons.
"Hey now! Everybody's keepin' all their clothes on, ya'll hear me?" Pride yells back from the driver's seat.
"Yes sir" they rely in unison, and the ride continues in silence the rest of the way back to the office.
"Alright, ain't nobody in here but us."
"Yep, I know." Merri says, closing her locker.
She turns to Chris who is sitting on the wooden bench in front of the row of lockers.
"I know you've been waiting all day for this."
"Ya know I have."
Her eyes lock with his. She reaches up for the top button on her clean blouse. His eyes follow her fingers as they delicately undo the buttons one by one. Merri works slowly, deliberately taking her time, watching his fists clench and unclench and his breath grow rapid. He steps forward suddenly and reaches for the last two buttons himself.
"Nope, hands to yourself mister."
"But it's taking so long; I can't wait anymore."
"Be patient, it'll be well worth your wait."
Percy is just outside the locker room door. She had been hoping to change into her gym clothes here rather than at her gym. Yet now she is changing her plan.
Finally, the last button is undone and her blouse flaps open. Chris lets out an audible moan at the site before him. Merri draws the silk down over her shoulders one by one, revealing her well-toned upper body. The blue fabric slides down her arms and onto the wooden bench. Now, she turns so her back is to Chris. Instantly Chris pulls Merri to him, wrapping his arms deftly around her.
"Ya smell so damn good" Chris says, inhaling her delicious scent.
"You smell wonderful too."
"And ya taste even better" he continues planting soft kisses down her neck and onto her back.
"It's a work of art Merri. I still can't believe you actually did it" he continues, now tracing her back with his fingertips.
"Of course. It is perfect, flawless even. I love it and I'm happy you do too."
Now Percy is confused. Apparently what she thought was about to happen in here is not. She takes a deep breath and decides to investigate.
"Hey guys, whatcha doin?" Percy says walking nonchalantly into the locker room.
Startled, the pair jumps but stays together. Chris snatches Merri's shirt and hastily covers her.
"Percy?" Chris says, turning him and Merri around to face her. "We ain't doin nothin' but getting changed."
"Naw, it was soundin' again like ya'll were gettin' freaky in here."
"No we weren't. We were just gettin' changed" Chris explains.
"That all?" Percy prods.
Chris looks to Merri and she nods. They know the team will see it eventually. And they know Percy probably heard their whole conversation so there is no denying it.
"I was showing him my tattoo-yet again" Merri adds.
"Tattoo? That's what's had him so fascinated all day? A tattoo?" Percy questions in disbelief.
"It's not just a tattoo Percy. It's a gorgeous cherry blossom piece that drapes over her shoulder, travels down her back, and winds its way over her hip to her left thigh where it'll connect to another. And, in the bark she had my initials and ID # inscribed. It's so damn wonderful! A work of art!" Chris exclaims.
"Why a cherry blossom though?" Percy now asks.
"Cherry blossoms themselves represent, among other things, being fierce and strong but also sweet and delicate as well as beauty and seizing the moment and good luck even. Plus we are Cherri" Merri explains.
"Okay, that is pretty cool. But, wait, you guys are Cherry?"
"Yeah, you know, like Brad and Angelina are Brangelina. Chris and I are Cherri."
"Damn. Okay then. Can I see it?"
"Sorry Percy, I ain't sharing" Chris tells her firmly.
END
Note: So I think this is my longest in the series so far. This is not intentional; the piece just took on a mind of its own!