2. Time For Action
By Rurple101
Chapter Twenty Five
"Good Morning" a warm breath whispered in her ear, his voice hoarse with sleep. Her eyes snapped open and her gaze focussed on the man who was still lying in her bed with her. Her eyes quickly scanned the facts; they had clothes on, and they were snuggled up together.
Hmm…
"Well this is awkward" she muttered, her morning voice noted.
Church snorted; slowly and hesitantly un-wrapping his arms from around the female agent.
Venice instinctively wanted to keep the security of his warm embrace but shrugged it off quickly. Yet they hadn't shifted at all from their positions.
Church was lying on the left hand side of her reasonable-sized single bed and had his arm lying on her pillow, behind her head. His other arm was at the moment, on his bare chest that was exposed from the bedcovers. Venice was lying within his personal space and her back was arched to curve into his chest.
"Halloween party tonight" he said, attempting to make small talk. His face was smoothed out, his frown lines not as prominent as they would do maybe in an hour when he'd start shouting at Caboose for doing something silly.
"Yeah" she said, moving away from him slightly as she stretched her arms and again, her bones clicked. Church winched at the sound.
"I take it you don't like that noise" she said softly, smirking as she turned to face him, placing her hands gently on his chest. Her fingernails traced his bare skin momentarily.
He seemed to be supressing a smirk himself. "Let's just say that I have snapped bones a lot more than you might want to know…by accident of course."
She rolled her eyes.
"What are you dressing up as?" she asked, both of them not bothered by the lack of personal space they were giving each other. It hadn't dawned on them yet.
He winked, and tapped his nose mysteriously. "That's my secret."
"I won't tell you what I'm dressing up as then" she retorted, grinning.
"You're dressing up?" he sounded surprised. "I wouldn't guess you were a dressing-up type."
She looked at him curiously. "What type am I then?"
He flushed and seemed to think he was in trouble. "Uh-Uh, n-nothing!" he stuttered.
She smiled teasingly at him. "I was joking Leonard, no need to panic. My self-esteem isn't that low."
Her mention of his first name made it hard for his face to remain focused as he replayed what she'd just said. The smile fighting to burst his expression failed.
"But only when people mention your scars?" he asked, his face serious. "How many reactions like Tucker's have you had in your life?"
She sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "Loads. It's amazing how much we humans judge people by appearances, even before we open our mouths." She sighed again.
Church felt like his insides were bubbling with irritation and almost-hatred. "What have they said?" he said, angrily. How dare people judge her? They don't know how kind she actually is!
She felt touched by his protectiveness of her. She patted his bare shoulder fondly kissed his cheek. "Thank you for the concern Church. I've had far few people like you actually caring rather than judging. But it's something I need to get used to."
His smile won this time, making his whole face light up at her tender peck.
"What time is it?" she asked, rolling over to grab her helmet which was lying on her bedside table. She lifted it up to her face so she could see under the time under her visor. "Half past eight in the morning!" she exclaimed in surprise.
Church breathed out happily and before he could stop himself he wound his hands round her waist, making her drop the helmet as she jumped, and pulled her towards him. She was confused by the conflict of feelings that ran around her head, pumped through her blood and danced in her stomach. She, let him settle his head on top of hers as a lover would and they both closed their eyes.
"What was that?" she murmured.
"I just wanted a cuddle for once. Tex never gives me hugs like this." He blurted out, un-thinkingly.
Unfortunately, it woke up Venice's common sense.
She gently tugged herself free and turned towards him.
"What the heck would somebody think if they walked in here now? You're hugging me (not that I object) in the way you should be holding your girlfriend who isn't me, Leonard." She scolded him.
He didn't seem to be surprised at her comment and nodded his head. "Sorry."
"I don't want to get you in the shit again" Venice told him. "Have you apologised to Tex yet? Because that might be why she isn't responding to you that much lately. You're telling her (through actions) that you don't give a crap about her anymore. So you're both distancing yourselves from each other!"
He seemed taken aback by this information.
"Why don't women tell men these things?" he asked, voicing his disbelief.
"Because most men's egos cannot handle it…and it came to me that you may be the right person to fit that stereotype Church."
Church sighed, slumping. "How do you know these things?"
He looked up, met her eyes and muttered. "And call me Leonard, not Church."
She was prepared for the question. "A, I am a woman, and B, I did an A level in Psychology. Might have been a while ago since I did it, but with other things, you mix it with common sense, Church, then BINGO, you got it." She replied easily. She pretended she didn't hear his request.
He shrugged and this frustrated her. She was going to retort when there was a knock on her door. She looked to Church and motioned for him to hide. He dived under the bed as she straightened out her bed sheets, got up, stumbled to her door and quickly fastened her dressing gown on, opening the door to see Caboose there.
"Morning Caboose, what's the matter?" she asked kindly.
He didn't look like his normal happy self. "Did I wake you up?" he asked sadly.
"I was awake already, no you didn't."
"Can I speak to you…about my mom, I- I r-really miss her." He said honestly.
Venice's heart softened as the young rookie looked so defeated. She nodded.
"Let me get dressed, and then we can talk."
He smiled timidly. She stepped forward and hugged him, squeezing his shoulders and rubbing his back. She felt him gulp sadly. She pulled back and whipped the tear that had escaped his eyelid, off his cheek. "I'll be out in a minute." He smiled, more genuinely now and she closed the door.
Church crawled out from under the bed. She looked at him and laughed gently. "You loom really funny down there."
He scowled.
"How long does Tex sleep in the mornings?"
"Like a log" he answered.
"Then I suggest that you sneak back in there and act like you were never in here" she advised. He nodded and got to his feet and walked over to her.
"Thank you for cheering me up last night" Venice said serenely. "I was kinda…errr….conflicted, you could say."
He raised an eyebrow "About Wash?"
She bit back her gasp of surprise. "Sort of."
He rolled his eyes. "No problem, I look after my team, remember. I think Caboose-" he said, nodding his head to the closed door she was leaning against. "-sees you as a motherly figure as he's afraid of Tex."
Her expression and heart warmed again. "That's…sweet of him." She said emotionally, having not thought of this already.
Chuckling, he pecked her forehead and slowly crept out of her room, trying not be caught out by someone outside. She closed the door with a snap and turned to her dresser, looking at her blissfully pleased and happy face in the mirror.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Ha ha!her heart and subconscious laughed together in harmony at her.