A/N:This is a sequel to one of dwparsnip's songfics, Within Temptation's "All I Need." Chapter four on his Rodney/SO FF Challenge list. He didn't say I could do it but didn't expressly forbid it either, so here it is.
Word count: 562 (oops!)
Rodney and Significant Other Challenge
Go Away Little Girl
Curiosity. From the Latin curiosus "careful, diligent, curious," akin to cura "care," an emotion related to natural inquisitive behavior in human and many animal species. It is an emotion which represents a drive to know new things. Curiosity is the fuel of science and all other disciplines of human study.
For weeks now Jennifer had kept a tight rein on her insatiable curiosity, but now, with Rodney working around the clock to finish a project, she could barely sit still. The "fuel" filled her, overwhelming her restraint. Launching herself off the sofa in the room she shared with the man she loved, she headed for the transport.
The day she and Rodney had reconciled John had said something that, at the time, she'd relegated to the back of her mind for later examination. Now, with an unexpected night off, it jumped out demanding to be noticed. This demand drove her to the North Pier where Rodney apparently had a secret stashed that only John knew about. Or had pretended he knew about to trick his best friend into revealing the reason for their break-up. And it had worked with the unforeseen, by John and Rodney, side effect of Jennifer wanting, needing to know what he kept there.
Pretending she was just out for a stroll, Jennifer walked past the corridor that led to her destination. Seeing that no one was around, she tiptoed quickly down the hall weaving around the ten thousand years' worth of trash, dead plants and furniture damaged beyond repair.
Nearly tripping over a sofa cushion, she found the door she wanted. It was the only one that didn't have a thick layer of dust and a film of dried seawater on it indicating recent and frequent use.
Passing her hand over the sensor, she growled when it stayed closed. She'd seen Rodney hack into someone's room before. How hard could it be? Running her fingers over the edges of the cover that protected the crystals, she dug her fingertips into the small groove. It moved just a little giving her hope.
A grin of triumph turned to dismay when she heard a very familiar voice call her name. She turned, pink coloring her cheeks at being caught with her hand almost literally in the metaphoric cookie jar. "Rodney. Honey. Um, I thought you were working late tonight."
The physicist didn't say anything, just watched her fidget. After about sixty seconds of torturing the woman he loved, Rodney finally relented. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, you see, I was…listening while you and John were talking, you know, that day, and he said something about…" she involuntarily glanced at the door. "I was just…curious."
"Well, you can just go away, little girl. Your curiosity will not be satisfied tonight." He turned to go and in desperation she grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.
"But Rodney, we agreed that there'd be no secrets between us."
"So?"
"So…what's in the closet?" Jennifer waited impatiently but he seemed not to see her distress. Then she saw the resignation in his shoulder slump as he gave in, just as she knew he would.
"Fine." He took the cover off, rearranged the crystals and the door slid open, the lights coming on automatically. "Well, go on."
Jennifer took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold with Rodney behind her, the door closing them inside.
End
A/N: At this moment, dwparsnip is no doubt calling me all sorts of names as only a Canadian can because now he has to write the reveal of what Rodney keeps in the North Pier closet.
"Go Away Little Girl" is a popular song written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. The song is notable for making the American Top 20 three times: for Steve Lawrence in 1962 (US #1), for The Happenings in 1966 (US #12), and for Donny Osmond in 1971 (US #1). It is also the first song, and one of only nine songs, to reach US #1 by two different artists.