Chapter Ten: Shoosh!
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JESS POV!
I woke the next morning to find Ryan hovering over me, half-smirking. I furrowed my brows and pulled the cover over my head. Couches were actually quite comfy. He smelled...clean. My kind of clean. Was that...
"Are you wearing my lavender soap?"
"Yeah. I didn't read the label."
I pushed the cover down, laughing to myself. I stretched. "You sleep all right?"
"I slept great, thanks. You?"
"Amazing! I felt a lot better with someone in the house." I smiled. "Thanks again, Ryan." He was about to reply but my phone started ringing. A plain old, ring. Like and old phone. Delko. "Hello...?"
"Hey, Jess, it's Eric here. Is Ryan with you? We can't get a hold of him."
"Oh, uh, yeah...he-he's giving me a lift to work today. Ryan, where's you phone?"
Ryan frowned. "I dropped it, this morning."
I sighed. "He dropped it."
"Well, tell him to buy another one!" Eric scoffed, laughing. I smirked.
"Will do...see you, Delko."
"Yeah, take it easy." And with that, he clicked off. He sounded concerned.
"Did you drop it? If so, how?"
He sighed. "It was beside me, in your bed...I got up this morning and it kind of...fell on the floor."
Strange. "Okay." I got up and quickly moved the make-do-and-mend bed. "Well, I'd better go for a shower. I can see you've already availed of that service." I giggled.
"Yeah, I'm gonna get some breakfast. That okay?"
"Sure, Ryan. You don't have to ask, you know." I touched his arm. Why? Why did I just do that!? Contact like that is not proper for the workplace. Then again...this is my house.
"Thank you..." He mumbled and headed off to my kitchen. I couldn't believe there was only one bedroom in this huge, amazing house. Awful. So, I had a shower, fixed my hair and got dressed. I brushed my teeth and grabbed a slice of Ryan's toast. Man, he was a master of the toaster. "Are you nearly ready?" He looked up from my couch. I jumped. I thought he was in the bathroom. If not...who was in there? Nah. No one. Probably. Hopefully. Ugh. I hate this house.
"Yeah...let me get my..." I frowned as my coat wasn't where it should've been. Ryan finally stood up and came over to me. "Coat?"
"I'll be in the car..." Ryan started out the door. I halted him.
"Wait there!"
He frowned and put his hands on his hips. "What?"
"Nothing. Let's go." I pulled him out of the door and made sure to lock it behind me. I would definitely sell this place today. And definitely buy a new house at lunchtime. Or maybe rent one...yeah. That would be better. Myself and Ryan drove along. Quietly. Too quiet, if you asked me. I bit my lower lip and looked over at Ryan. "Are you always this quiet?"
"I'm not quiet. I thought you were the quiet one."
"Oh." I frowned and stayed quiet until we got to the lab and parked. I opened my door. We walked up to the door and I had this, horrid, awful feeling in the bottom of my stomach. "I-is this...are you being quiet...intentionally? Cause I kissed you?"
Ryan laughed. "No...and I kissed you." He held the door open for me. I folded my arms, not budging.
"I...refuse to accept that! I kissed you!"
"No, you didn't!"
"I did, too!"
"Yeah. Maybe you dreamt that you kissed me..." He examined his hands, teasingly. I bit my lip in an attempt to stifle my laugh. No good. I walked into the lab. We were greeted by Horatio and a very worried Alexx. "Uh-oh." Ryan mumbled behind me.
"What is it, H?"
"Ramirez." Horatio frowned. Alexx pulled me into a hug. Oh, not a good sign. When someone hugs you as soon as you enter a room, not a good sign!
"Alexx?" I asked.
"He got another victim."
"Well, who?"
"Himself."
"What?" I frowned, although I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Was that a bad thing? He killed my dad...and all these years...I've been terrified of him. In case he got me, or my mom. And now...I didn't feel scared. I nodded. "He shot himself?"
"In the chest. We wanted to tell you before you got here...maybe you want the day off, or...?" Alexx rubbed her hand over my back in an attempt to sooth me. I didn't need to be soothed, though.
"No, thanks, Alexx. Uh...wow. So, no need for court?"
"No." Horatio placed his hands on his hips, looking at me concernedly.
"Well, then...we'd better start on another case, right?" I smiled, genuinely! And then everybody walked over to the break room with me. I stopped and turned around. I raised my eyebrow at them and continued on. Ryan started after me. "Before you ask me..." I laughed. "I'm fine, Wolfe. Seriously. I'm hap- well, not happy about Ramirez shooting himself, but I am happy about not having to constantly look over my shoulder." Ryan sat me down and sighed.
"Horatio told me to chat to you...make sure you're okay. So..." He smiled. "I guess you're okay."
"I will be better when I sell my house."
"I like your house. Nice bed."
"What?" Calleigh Duquesne shot up from behind the counter. I jumped. I had to start checking for random people whenever I go into the break room. Besides which, such a cliche. Ryan groaned.
"Nothing. Forget I said anything." He stood up quickly. I placed my hand in the air.
"Actually, Ryan stayed with me last night...uh, I have this weird feeling about my house. I-it's too big, and way too creepy. I slept on the couch, by the way."
She nodded. "Right." Then a massive smile crossed across her lips. "You two are on to something here..."
Ryan scowled. "Calliegh, don't you have something to do?"
She grinned. "Why, I don't believe that I do, Ryan. But, I might as well leave you two love-birds on your own." She swanned out, and I turned bright red.
"Uh...so...I'll chat to you later, then?"
"Yeah." Ryan cleared his throat and walked out of the room, quick-smart.
Suddenly, I had a strange sensation in my stomach, like a disappointment sort of feeling. Maybe kissing Ryan Wolfe wasn't my best idea. But it certainly was fun.
A/N: Ooh, I'm building up to something good! I can tell!!! Oh, I should know, shouldn't I? Please R&R. Squee! JauntyChick XOX.