Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the CSI franchise. I play with the characters but unfortunately I can't keep them. Otherwise, I'd have a few of them chained to a bed in my non-existent basement and you should be glad I don't own it because I'd add so many hook ups that they would have to change its name to Grey's Anatomy j/k.
A/N: The date starts! I've been waiting a long time to get here so I'm a bit thrilled but I'd like another week of time to prepare it... It has been hectic trying to get any writing done in the middle of the celebrations, family visits, present shopping and such. Also, sleep deprivation and travelling from the North to the South of Spain after eating the grapes (in Spain we eat 12 grapes with the chimes of the clock into the New Year) aren't the most powerful motivators. This is an important chapter so I hope I don't fuck it up. You tell me. PS: I already broke the vow not to write this chapter the same day I'm supposed to be publishing it but to add insult to injury I'm taking way too long in finishing this chappie. I'm sorry T_T At least this is a bit longer than normal and that's even after I accidentally deleted a good chunk and had to rewrite it but that's no excuse. Sorry.
Thanks to my new readers and to those of you who've reviewed, favourited or followed my little fic. For those of you who've watched the last episode of "How I met your Mother", you are all adorable and hilarious ;D
Hodges' POV
The restaurant was actually quite close, just a 15 minute walk, so they decided to take a stroll. Even before taking on the Night Shift, he had been kind of a night owl but, now, going to bed when everybody was starting their day felt as natural as breathing. The sunlight rays were still weak and couldn't completely fend off against the chilly breeze of the early morning but the warm body next to his more than neutralised it.
Morgan was telling him that she was still wondering about the words that Martin Clegane or Atkins or however he was called, had shouted at her when he struck her. It sounded like he might have been negotiating some kind of ransom pay but there weren't any signs of the kidnappers making any demands... at least that they knew. It didn't fit inside her head why was Martin talking with the person who had kidnapped her daughter and not bashing his head in against some wall for example. At times it made her think Officer Mitchell might be right.
Other things were troubling her, like what information they were trying to get out of the victims going as far as torturing them. If it was simply to punish Martin for getting them on prison, why not simply kill him off when that tall muscle-y guy had seen him? Also she knew he was like a pressure cooker inside, no matter the calm façade he had on. He had so much trouble repressing it in that he had made himself bleed by clawing his own fingernails into his skin.
-"It's no use getting all worked up about the puzzle. Until you get all the pieces, you aren't going to be able to solve it so just try to channel your energies on something else"- What a Zen thing to say but it was the best advice he had at the moment- "When his police partner arrives, I'm sure things will become clearer and you'll solve it".
-"Sorry for rambling. You agree to have breakfast with me and I go on and on about the case"- she apologised.
-"I like hearing you talk"- oh, why did he have to be so blatantly obvious- " a-and I am really interested in this case. You know I love to talk about work"- and now he sounded like a workaholic.
-"About new forensic techniques maybe, not about field work"- she pointed out, apparently totally non-plussed about the earlier part of his sentence.
-"True. I don't know why you CSIs love to go to those places filled with grime and dirt"- he almost shivered at the thought of dumpster diving for evidence.
-"It can be fun. Sometimes we play rock-paper-scissors for the most disgusting tasks but I get that a germaphobe like you would have to have at least 30 showers after spending even an hour in some of the scenes"- she teased him.
-"Hey, I'm not a germaphobe"- she didn't seem impressed at his statement- "I just have a healthy sense of personal hygiene".
-"Right..."- she seemed to doubt his statement- "I'm sure you wouldn't even be able to share food with another person because you'd be scared of catching something".
-"Ermm... of course I'd be able to do that"- he answered quickly with his ego slightly bruised.
-"Nice to know"- the mischievousness of her smile disquieted him.
They chit-chatted some more until they were at the door of the restaurant and they had to disentangle themselves. He knew it had been a bad idea from the start to offer his arm but the feeling of emptiness when he let her arm go caught him by surprise. He found himself searching for a reason for taking her arm again. Damn himself.
The waiter was an older Mexican man, way into his fifties. He had an easy smile and was really fast on his feet and very agile for someone his age. As soon as he saw them, he picked two menus from a pile and, after asking them if someone else was meant to join them, he walked them to one of the available tables near a big window. The waiter pulled the chair up for Morgan before he himself could offer.
The restaurant itself was warm, decorated in bright tones of yellow, red, green, blue and orange, with Mexican art and pictures. Even the lamps were painted in such lively colours giving it a very festive atmosphere. Soft Mexican music played in the background. Apart from them, the restaurant was pretty empty, there were just three men having a hearty breakfast in one table and a couple that looked like tourists enjoying some extravagant dessert. It was a nice place but not exactly romantic and for that he was really grateful. He glanced at his menu. It wasn't his favourite food but they had some dishes that he liked well enough.
He looked up to Morgan who was really concentrated on her menu. A smile rose to his lips at the deep thought she was putting on the decision.
-"Having trouble deciding?"- he inquired.
-"I really like the Chimichanga but I wanted to try these Tacos Laguneros. The friend who recommended me this restaurant said they were to die for..."
-"Bienvenidos. My name is Mateo. Have you had time to decide? What would like to have de aperitivos?"- the waiter was back.
-"Do you like Nachos con Queso?"-he nodded affirmatively to her question- "One ración de Nachos con Queso please. What do you recommend for breakfast?"- she asked Mateo.
-"Breakfast burritos with rice are a good way to start the morning with energy and the Chimichangas are my personal favourite".
-"Oh, then I'll have the Chimichanga and some Jugo de Tamarindo"- she told the waiter.
-"And I'll have a Taco Lagunero and some Jugo too please"- he really was a suck up...
-"Good choices. Your Nachos will be here shortly"- and he let them to their own devices.
Their conversation drifted to how their parents were doing. They met so frequently that they were wondering when they would hear them announce they were moving in together or even getting married.
-"I think it might still be a bit further down the road since my mother has taken a dislike to weddings after everything that happened with Elisabetta".
-"I don't think my father believes in marriage much after his divorce with my mother either".
-"It can't have been easy to lose his wife and daughter in one go with the move to Los Angeles"- his tone was pensive.
-"Yeah and I was so angry at him for not fighting more for me to stay here. Now I feel so foolish...".
-"You were too young to understand the complicated dynamics of a divorce"- he put his hand over her tiny one trying to soothe away any remaining hurt.
The waiter chose that moment to return with the Nachos and realising what he was doing he took his hand away quickly like it was on fire.
-"No need to be shy"- Mateo said with a knowing smile"- "Couples should be able to be loving in public. What's a bit of PDA"- he seemed to be either ignoring or not understanding all the deadly glares he was sending in his direction. No way in hell he was typing him more than 12%- "Enjoy your Nachos"- he left grinning from ear to ear and mouthing something about "amor en el aire". It sounded quite ominous to him...
Morgan's POV
-"Thank the person who recommended you this place. These Nachos are scrumptious. Probably the best in the world, no, the universe!"- he proclaimed.
She didn't know if she believed his over the top statement but she was glad he was enjoying the food. She hadn't been sure Mexican food was his thing but this morning everything seemed to be working like a well oiled engine. It had felt nice to have a walk snuggled against him because it was cold of course! there was no secondary motivation... at all...
Then when they had been talking about her move to L.A. he had tried to make her feel better about it and about her long feud with her father. Then Mateo had broken off the moment. She'd dislike him if it hadn't been so funny see Hodges get all worked up about the waiter confusing his clumsy attempt at withdrawing his hand with shyness about public displays of affection.
-"Believe it or not, it was actually thanks to Catherine Willows. Her sister Nancy came here and loved the place and then Nancy told Catherine and she obviously told Sara and here we are".
-"It sounds a bit like a Chinese Whispers game but with a 100% success rate"- he dead panned.
-"Now that you say it..."- she said smiling- "I used to play that a lot when I was a kid. Once we managed to change "Let's go to Japan to have fun" to "I hope your plane will crash" or something similar".
-"Wow, I hope none of them decided to be pilots".
-"Nah. I think one is a doctor, another a hair stylist, a university Physics Professor and I lost contact with the rest of them".
-"That was a rhetoric question, you know?"- he smirked at her.
-"Hey, don't tease me"- she said and accompanied the sentence by taking the last two Nachos for herself- "To teach you a lesson"- she felt tempted to stick out her tongue to add playfulness to the gesture or to add insult to injury depending on the point of view.
As if sensing they had ended their aperitivos, the waiter appeared with their orders. A half startled-half panicky expression ran through Hodges' face for little more than a pair of seconds. It probably was due to the heart-shaped mounds of rice on their plates. By his expression, anyone would have said it was human-eating rice or a nasty collection of the love child between Varicella and Ebola Virus.
-"Here are the dishes. If there's anything wrong, don't doubt to call for me. Hope you enjoy!"
-"Everything is perfect"- she answered before Grumpy Dwarf could even think of complaining- "Thank you"- she smiled at him.
Against her pre-emptive attack, he retaliated by starting with the rice and messing up the cute little red hearts. He certainly could be pig-headed as heck.
-"If you want some, tell me and I'll cut a portion for you"- She almost felt guilty for calling him Grumpy in her head after the offer.
-"Only if you try some of mine"- she quipped back.
They had been eating while sharing comments of how tasty it was and simply enjoying the meal. No sooner were they finished that Mateo appeared like a ghost from behind her with the Menu of Desserts.
-"Wow you scared me".
-"I'm sorry señorita"- he smiled apologetically- "Do you know what you want?"
-"I'd like some sweet Enchiladas"- answered Hodges.
-"Oh, perfect. Those are two people only but I'm sure you'll enjoy feeding the dessert to each other. ¡Qué romántico!"
She hardly suppressed a giggle. If Mateo had been a relative of Hodges she'd be left wondering if he was trying to get Hodges to an early grave via ruptured aneurysm to get his inheritance early...
-"Oh, I'm sure David would love to share it. Didn't you just say you loved sharing your food just moments ago sweetie?"- Perhaps the sweetie had been a bit too much trolling.
He seemed to slowly regained his motor skills but not before the waiter had gone off to order their dessert.
He didn't say anything but he seemed a tiny bit ticked off.
-"Hey, I'm sorry I said that. I didn't want to embarrass you. It was just a bit of innocent fun"- she apologised.
-"I know"- his face softened losing any kind of hardness it may have contained- "I just think you and I shouldn't..."
He was interrupted by the waiter with a plate filled to the brims with chocolate and cream. You could barely see the sweet enchiladas underneath.
"Our cook made it special for you after I told her we had a couple of love birds"- she saw Hodges face palming out of the corner of her eye- "I'll leave you to it. Call me if you need new napkins. I'm at your service".
At this point they were the only people left from the morning rush or so it seemed so they had all the room for themselves granted the exception of the possible visits of the waiter.
-"I think I'm going to need insulin after I finish this"- he joked.
-"And me. Two shots. For sure"- she added and arming herself with courage, continued- "I told you I'm sorry if I've done stuff that has embarrassed you but that doesn't mean I don't like you or that I think a relationship between us is doomed from the start so don't assume that.
He looked surprised and shocked. Maybe not as much at the news but at that she had gotten the courage to take out the open secret. She also hoped part of the surprise was because he could sense that she truly meant what she was saying but she wasn't going to expect too much. It only got you more hurt and disappointed.
She took his silence as a chance to present her case.
-"You must have already figured out that I've liked you for a long time. You'd be blind if you didn't. I even kissed you"- he seemed ready to interrupt her at that moment so she quickly added- "I know it wasn't in the best of circumstances but the truth is I had wanted to kiss you for a long time before that and that I still do"- she felt very vulnerable confessing that.
-"Yes, I noticed some of it. I'm not completely blind. Maybe one-eyed 'though. But Morgan, I think you should look for someone better and not settle for me. I'm just too jaded and cynical. I really don't know how you could even have a crush on me"- he certainly wasn't the King of Self-esteem.
"It's not simply a crush and please don't belittle yourself David. I just can't imagine spending time with someone that's not you. When I'm with you I feel like I can be myself and I love that we always manage to have fun together with the silliest of things. I'm also really attracted to you"- she felt herself blush a little"- I've wanted to kiss you all night, no, scratch that, all week. You can try to push me away but my feelings are not going away so easily. Please trust in my judgement. I know we can work together. Please, give it a try"- she looked at him with her big blue eyes trying to convey everything she felt to him.
Hodges' POV
He felt overwhelmed by her declaration. Everything this morning had gone against his initial, vaporised by now, plans and ahaainst his better judgement but he had been having such a great time even with their eager waiter. Now Morgan had told him how she felt and was looking at him with those clear puppy dog eyes of hers. His last thought was that he should never get a dog, not because of Kobayashi Maru, his cat, but because how weak he was to puppy dog eyes, before succumbing to them.
-"I like you too. I really really like you"- saying it aloud made him realise how true this words were- "I may or may not deserve you but I want you so, sure, let's give this a try".
Morgan caressed his cheek with her right hand and leaned towards him to kiss him. It was a sweet unhurried kiss. She tasted a bit spicy from the food but underneath there was that taste he hadn't forgotten from all those months passed, only less salty this time because instead of crying she had a beautiful smile on her face.
-"I can't believe I've caught the elusive David Hodges"- she said half laughing as she gave him a peck on the cheek.
-"Hey, I'm not a wild animal to be captured" -he teased back snuggling his face in the crook of her neck and kissing her softly there. She shivered slightly. He had always wanted to see how sensitive Morgan was but now wasn't the moment so he straightened himself. Morgan looked a bit disappointed.
-"Don't worry. I'm not rethinking this"- although maybe I should, said a part of his brain that he proceed to tie up, put on cement shoes and throw of the harbour of his brain- "I just thought we should eat the Enchiladas before they get cold. Maybe we should give a romantic show to pay our extravagant waiter"- saying that he cut a small portion of the dessert dipped it in the chocolate and cream and lifted the fork towards Morgan's mouth. She seemed pleasantly surprised and quickly caught on the game.
Not much later, they turned to "awwing" noises of happiness from their waiter. Hodges made an effort not to gag at his behaviour and instead adopted an overly sweet saccharine-like tone of voice.
-"Are you enjoying the dessert my little dove?"- she had tears in her eyes from suppressing the laughter at his charade- "Are those tears of happiness at the deliciousness of the Enchiladas my sweet sweet love?
Morgan was doing everything she could to swallow the bit without choking because she was almost convulsing form laughter that she managed to cover as a coughing fit.
-"Oh, how adorable you too are. Young love is so sweet. I'm going there to get you some discounts. You have to return otra vez".
The moment he was out of ear, they both burst out laughing. It was one full minute of non-stop hilariousness. When one stopped, the other set them off again. Finally they managed to calm themselves and finish off the dessert. Mateo did bring them some discounts to use the next time they came and they asked for the bill.
-"Don't you feel kind of sorry for having tricked such a nice man?"- Morgan asked him.
-"Kinda. That's why I'm letting him a 20% tip"- he answered.
-"I should invite. I asked you to come"- she stated.
-"Well, how about we go Dutch"- it was a good compromise in his opinion.
-"Deal"- she took out her hand for him to shake and he took it and lightly kissed her palm where it was injured.
They paid, said their goodbyes to Mateo and were out of the door. No sooner had they walked a few feet along the way, that Morgan surprised him by pushing him against the wall and initiating a kiss. It started soft like the first although Morgan's hands were deeply clenching his shirt but it got rougher and hungrier. She introduced her tongue into his mouth, such a soft arousing little thing exploring his palate and tickling his teeth. He retaliated gaining momentary control and biting her lower lip gently provoking a moan that made him feel everything a thousands times more.
He wanted to learn every detail of her. He wanted to lick every inch of her body if that meant he got to hear more sounds like those she'd made but he knew they had to be back to the Lab. It was actually Morgan who had enough self control to stop the snogging session.
-"Damn it" - she took her vibrating phone out and answered a text on the offending object. "It seems Mitchell got a bit worried when I didn't immediately answer his pager. The ex-partner of Martin Atkins' plane has arrived and he is on his way to the Lab so regrettably, we should get going"- she certainly seemed annoyed at the interruption.
-"I'll wait until you finish your shift and I'll take you home. I promise to be a gentleman and only ask for a goodnight kiss"- her face lit up and that made everything perfect.
-"I didn't know you could be so smooth"- she teased- "I'll take you on the offer so no take-backsies".
So much had changed in the short time they'd left the Lab but they could still joke between themselves and that was probably the most important thing for him. He felt really alive and like 10 years younger. He couldn't believe his luck.
A/N: Again I'm really sorry for publishing this late. It's not even Thursday where I live... although it is Thursday by this website at least and that counts for something, right? right? My internal voice is asking me to stop deluding myself. I'm super tired I'm so going to fall asleep if I try to re-read it for typos so I'll do that tomorrow.
What do you think of this chapter? Did it feel forced? Are you happy they are together? Are they cute? Are they hot? Are they more boring than a 60's PSA? I totally picked one of the less romantic types of restaurants what made Hodges mistakenly feel safe. A pity I don't think I really pulled off Morgan's confession or Hodges' reaction. Well, tell me what you think on a review. I hope next week I'm a more reliable and responsible author. Have a really nice week and for those who get presents on January 5th or 6th, good luck with buying them and I hope you receive something you like a lot! See ya soon lovelies!