Special thanks to wonderousplaceforanecho. The scarf thing in the previous chapter was her idea. She told me to make sure to put that in here. So I did. So there.
She ordered another Jaeger bomb. Tonight seemed like a good night to get really shitfaced and her fourth Jaeger bomb was how to do it. She knew the effects. She was a doctor. But she didn't care. She wanted to forget about everyone and everything. Especially Spencer. She found it ironic that she was trying to forget Spencer in the place that they met.
Who was Spencer to try to push them together? It had been a week since the offer of a date and Thirteen was still stuck on it.
As soon as the Jaeger hit the bottom of the glass, Thirteen's lips were on the rim. She downed the whole glass in less than two minutes. The faster the liquor was in her system the faster she'd forget. The faster she'd get reckless. The faster she'd go home with a brunette at the end of the bar. Not that the brunette had been eyeing her or showing any signs that she even knew Thirteen existed, but Thirteen knew that she could charm almost anyone into bed.
Out of the corner of her eye, Thirteen thought she saw Spencer, but when she turned her head it was the woman she was determined to sleep with. She knew, deep down, why she'd singled out the brunette. Her build, hair, and eyes were as close to Spencer's as anyone's in the bar. She knew she was repressing her feelings for Spencer. The young doctor didn't want to acknowledge them though. Acknowledging them would make them all too real.
Thirteen looked back over at the brunette, who was now looking back at her. The young doctor smiled slightly and then looked back at her drink. Or rather her empty glass. Thirteen enjoyed this routine. She played shy and coy until the woman came over and started chatting her up. Then Thirteen would turn on the charm and they'd be out the door in less than ten minutes.
"Whatcha drinking?" the brunette asked, taking the empty seat next to the doctor.
Thirteen kept looking at her empty glass, but answered, "Jaeger bombs." Thirteen slowly looked at the woman. With one smile from the other woman, Thirteen knew they were as good as gone.
She laid on the uncomfortable bed staring at the ceiling. The sex with the brunette wasn't even near as great as sex with Spencer. Thirteen mentally cursed herself for not only bringing Spencer to the forefront of her mind, but for comparing the woman sleeping next to her with the art dealer.
Luckily, Thirteen knew how to get out of situations like this without trying to come up with a lame excuse. She pushed the button on the side of her pager, making the beeper go off. It was used to turn the volume up or down, but it also made it go off.
The woman next to her woke up as Thirteen was getting dressed. "What was that?"
Thirteen waved her pager, "Duty calls."
Without further questioning, the woman rolled back over and mumbled into the pillow, "Lock the door on your way out."
When Thirteen finally pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine of her car, she was almost completely sober. It had been a few hours since her last drink and the remnants weren't affecting her much at all. She glanced up at the colonial house in front of her. She could barely make out the light in the observatory, but it was still a light meaning Spencer was still awake. Hopefully.
Her steps up the stairs were slow and deliberate. She was hoping she'd have her speech together by the time she got to Spencer's door, but she had no such luck. She was almost completely at a loss for what to say. It had been a week. Maybe Thirteen was too late. Maybe Spencer had moved on, forgotten about what she said in the locker room seven days ago.
Thirteen turned around four times, starting to leave, but then walking to the door only to walk off again, then she'd turn around again at the door. She quickly knocked before she lost her nerve and immediately wished she didn't. But she figured since she already knocked, she might as well stay. It's not like she could get to her car before Spencer opened the door and from Spencer's door you could see the entire path to Thirteen's car.
The doctor smoothed out the hair in the ponytail it was in as the locks clicked. She absentmindedly straightened her shirt as Spencer's face appeared in the small opening between the wall the door. When Spencer recognized Thirteen, the door opened all the way and Spencer offered a quiet, "Hey."
"Hey," was all Thirteen could string together at the moment.
She watched Spencer's chest rise and fall with a deep breath, then realized she was looking at Spencer's chest and how bad that could look if Spencer interpreted it the wrong way. Her eyes trailed up to the short woman's. They were just watching her. No probing, no prying, no snooping. Just watching.
Thirteen evaluated Spencer's stance. Her arms weren't crossed so she seemingly wasn't angry and she wasn't leaning on the door frame so she wasn't bored. Her hands were in the pockets of her faded jeans that started where her white v-neck shirt with blotches of paint stopped. Spencer's bare feet were a little less than shoulder width apart and her shoulders were relaxed.
Moving her eyes up at Spencer's face, she saw the Spencer didn't look expectant or impatient. She was just standing there, patiently waiting for Thirteen to say something. Anything really. Thirteen was so used to being asked questions and investigated. She was used to people wanting to know everything they could about her because she was a mystery. Spencer seemed to be okay just waiting. She didn't look apprehensive. Just…patient. The whole thing was foreign to Thirteen.
The young doctor finally realized she was analyzing Spencer and her stance way too much instead of trying to string together a list of coherent sentences.
"I…um…" Thirteen took a deep breath, closed her eyes and cleared her mind, "I'm sorry about how I was before. I'm just…this is new territory for me. Especially after my diagnosis. I've been having a hard time dealing with that and I think had you come along before or after I was dealing it would have gone a lot smoother. I'm not…blaming you or anything," Thirteen ran a hand through her hair, "I just… I know I'm heading straight for rock bottom. I just don't want to drag anyone down with me. Especially you." Thirteen look from the ground up to Spencer who had shifted her weight from one leg to the other, but was still patiently listening. "But I can't… I was hoping…maybe…can we still try this?"
She saw a smile tug at the corners of Spencer's lips and the shorter woman nod, "Yes."
Thirteen breaks into a relieved smile. The hard part was over. The taller woman put her hands in her back pockets, "So when are you free?"
"I'm free now," Spencer answered.
The doctor's smile great wider, "Great. So do you wanna go for coffee?"
"Actually I forgot to eat dinner," Spencer replied stepping inside her apartment, "You can come in, I just have to change."
Thirteen stepped into the familiar apartment and looked around. Not much had changed. There were still stacks of paper on the coffee table and paintings stacked and covered with a white sheet. She stayed near the door because she knew that she could see into the bedroom, where Spencer was changing, from the living room.
"Did you do these?" Thirteen asked, referring to the paintings leaning against the wall by the fireplace.
Spencer stepped out in a gray shirt, black jacket and the same jeans this time accessorized with black and blue running shoes. She looked to where Thirteen is looking and shakes out her hair, "No. I just sold those to a gallery in Chicago and I'm in charge of their safe transportation this weekend."
"Sounds fun," Thirteen smiled.
Spencer walks to the door and deadpans, "It's exhilarating." After Thirteen finished her chuckle she asks, "Do you want to meet there or go together?"
"We can go together," Thirteen walked to where Spencer is, "I'll drive."
Spencer locks the door before the two start down the stairs. "Do you like Mexican food?"
"I love it," Thirteen smiled.
"I know this great place do the street," Spencer added, "We could walk if you want."
Thirteen pocketed her keys, "Sounds great."
As they walked a comfortable silence settled over them. Thirteen couldn't really think of anything to say and Spencer was okay with no talking.
Two blocks later, Spencer walked up to the back of what looked like a house and opened the door for Thirteen. The young doctor hesitantly stepped closer, "This is a restaurant?"
"It's the side door," Spencer assured her.
The spicy smell of the food wafted over her and Thirteen knew Spencer was right. Right inside the door was a short hallway. On one end of the hallway were really nice tables and a chairs and faux stucco painted walls and on the other end, apparent by the noise, was the kitchen.
Spencer and Thirteen walked to a table by the window and sat while Thirteen admired the surroundings. From the side door the restaurant didn't look like much, but inside the deep wood table and chairs, the neatly dressed wait staff, and the paintings that adorned the walls showed that you shouldn't judge a restaurant by the side door.
The waitress walked over to them and smiled at Spencer, "Hey Spence, how was Miami?" Her short blonde hair framed her face perfectly and her bright blue eyes sparkled.
"Hot," Spencer replied, "But I got a lot of work done."
The waitress looked at Thirteen who was sitting quietly, "I'm Parker."
"Remy," Thirteen introduced herself.
Parker's eyes widened and a smile spread across her face as she turned to Spencer.
Spencer ducked her head and pretended to look at the menu, "I'll have a glass of the Monte Xanic and the usual."
Thirteen slyly studied Parker's reaction to her name and let out a coy smile, "I'll have what she's having."
"Great," Parker took their menus, "I'll have the wine right out."
"Bring the bottle," Spencer called after her.
"What was that about?" Thirteen asked with a playful tone.
"Nothing," Spencer quickly added, "She's insane."
The taller woman laughed as Parker returned with the open bottle of wine and two glasses. After eyeing Thirteen some more while she poured the glasses, Parker smiled gleefully at Spencer and walked off.
Thirteen opened her mouth, but Spencer cut her off with a simple, "Insane."
After a chuckle, Thirteen looked around at the walls, "Nice art in here." It sounded lame even to her and it must sound really lame to Spencer whose job it was to know everything about it.
Spencer smiled knowing Thirteen's dilemma. She added, "Yeah. They got a good deal on it."
"You know because you sold it to them?" Thirteen asked carefully.
Spencer nodded.
"What's a big bad art dealer like you doing in Princeton?" Thirteen asked looking at her wine and then looking up at Spencer.
The shorter woman seemed in thought for a while before answering, "My brother and Luke."
Thirteen smiled at the other woman's candidness. "Where would you be if you didn't have them?"
"Hypothetically?" Spencer asked, then thought about it, "The art in Barcelona is amazing." She paused to sip her wine, "But in reality nowhere feels like home unless Blake and Luke are there."
Thirteen was about to speak, but Parker returned with their food. She giddily asked if they needed anything else and Spencer in essence told her to leave. So Parker smiled at them both and then bounced away.
In a little less than an hour their food was gone as was the wine and they were enjoying sopapillas.
"These are great," Thirteen took another bite, "I can't believe I've never had them before."
Spencer just smiled and watched Thirteen enjoy her food, before paying and leaving.
The walk back to the apartment was a little unsteady because of the half bottle of wine they both had and the strength of the wine they weren't accustomed to. Spencer seemed to be fairing better than Thirteen so she helped the doctor up the stairs. Thirteen could have very well made it up on her own, Spencer just didn't want a misstep to end in a crumbled heap of doctor at the bottom of the stairs.
Spencer opened the door and let Thirteen in who, carefully stepped inside. "I don't think I should drive home."
"I don't think so either," Spencer agreed, "So I'll get you something to sleep in and you can have the bed."
"Where will you sleep?" Thirteen raised an eyebrow.
"My favorite couch," Spencer smirked, gesturing to the couch next to her.
Thirteen looked from the bed to the couch before stating, "I want the couch."
"It's not very comfortable to sleep on," Spencer stated, walking into her bedroom and grabbing a cami out of the closet.
Thirteen smiled as Spencer handed her the cami, "I looks more comfortable than your bed."
"I'll have you know my bed is very comfortable," Spencer playfully replied before going back to the closet in search of some pants for Thirteen to wear. "I don't know if I have any clean comfortable plants for you to wear."
"Uh," Thirteen thought for a moment while she changed tops, then a sly smile crossed her face, "I'm okay like this."
"Jeans can't be that-" Spencer started as she walked out of her bedroom and stopped dead when she saw Thirteen in a cami and light blue lacy boy shorts. Spencer tore her eyes away from Thirteen's legs before looking at Thirteen's amused smile, "You're mean."
Thirteen chuckled and walked over to Spencer, "Thanks for tonight. And for letting me stay." She drew Spencer in for a long sweet kiss. Spencer's hands made their way to Thirteen's neck and she stroked the soft skin of Thirteen's cheek with her thumb.
This is so much better than our other first kiss Thirteen thought, We're not drunk…much. It's not rushed. I never noticed how soft her lips are.
Spencer was the one to pull out of the kiss with a smile. She smoothed out Thirteen's hair, "Goodnight. And remember we can always switch when you get sick of trying to be nice and take the couch."
Thirteen chuckled, "Goodnight." She briefly kissed Spencer before walking to the couch.
About thirty minutes later, Thirteen rolled over again. Spencer wasn't lying when she said the couch was not comfortable to sleep on. Thirteen rolled over again. She finally stood up and walked up the stairs to Spencer's bedroom, pausing to look over the bed. Spencer was on one side, but Thirteen couldn't see her face.
"Finally give up?" Spencer's soft voice came from the bed.
Thirteen smiled and nodded, "Yeah."
Spencer started to get out of bed as Thirteen got in, but the taller brunette grabbed Spencer's arm to keep her in the bed. "Stay?"
The art dealer sunk back into the bed without further coercion.
After they settled back in the bed, Thirteen asked, "Have you been awake the whole time?"
"Yeah," Spencer smiled, resting her head on the pillow she was on before Thirteen walked in, "I wanted to see how long you'd last."
Thirteen smiled, "Who's mean now?"
"I've slept on that couch enough times to know," Spencer answered, "When Luke sleeps over, he takes up most of the bed. He likes to sleep diagonally with his arms and legs sprawled everywhere."
The doctor chuckled, "What about all the other women you bring home?"
"I don't bring anyone home," Spencer added.
"You only go home with other women?" Thirteen asked playfully, while still truthfully wondering.
"Just ones with mysterious, beautiful eyes," Spencer swept some hair off of Thirteen's face.
Thirteen blushed at the compliment. It wasn't like she wasn't complimented all the time, but most the time it was shallow complements that didn't seem like they meant anything to the person who said it. But Spencer said it like she was sincere and Thirteen could see it in her unfaltering eyes.
The doctor moved toward Spencer quickly and their lips meshed together in seconds. She moved herself over Spencer and started stroking the skin of Spencer's thigh while kissing down her neck. She wanted all of her motions to be slow and deliberate. She wanted to take her time. Because this time she wasn't dreading waking up to a stranger in the morning or having to wash the feel of the woman from the night before off as soon as she got out of bed. She wanted ever kiss to mean something.
Spencer could feel the weight of Thirteen's slow kisses. She pushed her hands up the back of Thirteen's shirt, wanting to memorize the feel of the skin under her fingers. She knew that this time it would be different.
As the midmorning sun was drifting through the windows, Thirteen took a deep breath and stretched. She looked in the bed next to her expecting to see Spencer still sleeping, but the shorter woman wasn't there.
Thirteen wrapped the cream colored sheet around herself after not being able to find her underwear or her cami. The doctor glanced in the bathroom to see it empty before stepping into the living room and looking into the kitchen that was also empty.
Spencer's keys were still on the coffee table so she was still there, There was only one other place to look. As Thirteen ascended the spiral stairs into the observatory, she found Spencer, paintbrush in hand standing in front of the canvas. Spencer was in a white cami and a skimpy pair of boxers. She moved to paint something else on the canvas and Thirteen moved closer to her.
As Spencer turned to put her brush down, she jumped suddenly seeing Thirteen behind her. "You scared me."
"Sorry," Thirteen smiled apologetically. She walked up behind Spencer and rested her chin on Spencer's shoulder. She scanned the painting before asking, "Is that me?"
Spencer bashfully looked away and nodded, "Yeah. I wanted to paint something that meant something. Something that was so beautifully raw and unguarded."
Thirteen swallowed hard and stepped away from Spencer. She took a step toward the painting. It was Thirteen laying in bed. Her hair was across her bare shoulder while a few wisps of hair fell across her closed eyes. Her hands were tucked under the pillow and she looked peaceful. The painting was very realistic, which floored Thirteen even more.
She turned back around to Spencer who was apprehensively awaiting Thirteen's reaction. "It's beautiful." She closed the space between them in a deep kiss that left them both reeling.
The soft morning light that fell over them made Thirteen's eyes sparkle when she looked back at the painting. Then she turned back to the painter and kissed her again, "Let's go back to bed."
Spencer smiled softly and nodded.
Thirteen took Spencer's hand, lacing their fingers together as they descended the stairs and went back to bed, not quite ready to start the day.
That would be the end. I hope the few of you that read this enjoyed it.