Look who's back, back again. Look who's back, tell a friend.
This is yet another thing that wouldn't leave me alone until I wrote it. Now I can start on my Christmas in July series and prepare for 911 smut week. Stay tuned, lovelies.
A coda to episodes 2x15, 3x17, & 4x7.
I.
It was laughable was what it was. Which was why she was in full, unapologetic laughter in the middle of this interrogation room, ignoring the annoyed look of the agents sitting across from her. She'd honestly think it was a joke if she hadn't been sitting right in front of them. But the fact that someone could actually believe that Bobby and Michael were criminal masterminds was the funniest thing she'd heard in a long time.
Ignoring the glares she was getting, she was still grinning in mirth as she was told that she was free to go. As she walked out of the door, she spotted Bobby and Michael leaning against the walls, opposite of each other. They were as nervous as one would be after being accused of a federal crime, but it was the looks they threw back and forth to each other.
It wasn't conspiratorial, more like unspoken communication. It definitely gave Athena pause, but she didn't think too much of it. They knew better than to speak aloud anyway. Any of this mess they were involved in, she was sure they had a good reason. And she'd find out later.
II.
The party whined down, all the guests were gone, save for Michael, who was helping them clean up the mess. Athena was more than happy to be home. There were no words for how much she hated hospitals. She was happy to back in comfort, with her family, while she healed.
What she was not happy about, however, was the big gaping hole in her living room. It was a controlled hole, with fine lines and sculpted edges. She recognized Michael's handiwork as soon as she saw it after coming home. She knew when she came home the two of them were behind this, somehow. Looking up, she saw the two of them in the dining room.
"So are you going out with him?" She heard Bobby ask as she got closer.
"Yep, tomorrow night. He's really-" Michael stopped when he saw her. "Hey, how are you feeling?"
"Like it's time both of you told me what actually happened to my fireplace." As she looked between both of them, a look passed between them. It was sheepish and mischievous. "Well, I'm listening."
"Well, you see-" Bobby started.
"What happened was-" Michael tried.
They looked at each other before saying, "it's a funny story," simultaneously.
Athena leaned against the dining room table, listening as they both told the story of how they took a sledgehammer to the inside of her home. As the story made more sense and less sense (how was that possible?) as they told it, there were visions of the overly complicated new fireplace that the two of them were going to build her dancing in her head.
III.
It worked out, this time. They were tracking down the wannabe surgeon and the injured woman was getting the help she needed. Michael and Bobby's spying payed off this time, but, hopefully, this would be the last time he and her husband played amateur detective.
Speaking of, as she was finishing her conversation with Elaine to update her on the situation, she spotted her husband running to meet her, embracing her, both contented with the knowledge of the other's safety. As he let her go, she watched as he looked up towards the complex. Following his line of sight, she found Michael looking at them from his telescope. Looking between the two, it was almost as if an unspoken message passed between the two before he turned his attentions back to her.
"This is not happening again," Athena told him, poking him lightly in the chest.
"Don't worry, my dumpster diving days are long over," Bobby stretched his over his head and rotated his shoulders.
"Dumpster- that's why you smell so bad."
"Sometimes, investigations take you to some weird places," Athena wasn't amused, "too soon?"
Athena just walked away with her husband following behind, more than ready to go home after the long night they'd already had.
Twelve hours hadn't passed before she was updated on the situation. She decided to use it as an excuse to go check on Michael. Thankfully, he was doing well, no doubt being heavily monitored and well taken care of by David. Athena kept her face neutral as Michael told her of the job David had found for him.
Michael had gone into the kitchen to get drinks for everyone. Athena rose out her seat, looking to make sure Michael was out of earshot. She leaned over the side of the couch and whispered to David, "so, am I to believe that your friend just randomly called and told you about her garage?"
David cut his eyes over to where his boyfriend was standing. He looked back at Athena and smirked, "more like I called everyone I knew to see if they needed something done or knew someone who did," Athena couldn't help but laugh, "if all of this mess is what boredom looks like for him, I never wanna see it again."
+ I.
Athena practically tossed them both into Michael's apartment. That look passed between them as she regarded both of the idiots in front of her. Over the years, that look has taken on a meaning, one that meant nothing but trouble. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You two would honestly be less trouble if you hated each other," she said in complete exasperation.
"Look, I really tried to stop it this time, because I knew that nothing good would come it," Bobby started to explain.
"Oh don't act innocent now. It's not like I dragged you into this."
"Yeah, you did. I was under the impression that we were going to the gym." Bobby indicated towards the workout clothing they were both wearing.
"And I didn't lie, we were going to the gym," Michael paused and looked between her and Bobby, "after I found out what my boyfriend was up to."
"So that's the reason I see the two of you skulking around downtown during my patrols. It still doesn't explain why I found the two of you in a bush."
"It was the best hiding place closest to David's practice to spy on him." Bobby confessed.
Before Michael could respond they heard, "you were spying on me?" All three of them turned to see David walking in the door.
"What are you doing back so early?"
"Really, Michael?" he raised an eyebrow, dropping his bag, and shutting the door behind him, "I thought I'd come home and have lunch with you." As David spoke he slowly made his way across the room, stopping a few feet in front of Michael and crossed his arms, "now back to my original question: you were spying on me."
Michael rubbed his hand across the back of his neck nervously, "spying is such a loaded word, I was only-"
"Michael."
"Well, can you blame me?" Michael thew his hands up in surrender. Bobby groaned inwardly at Michael's statement and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You've been acting strange and keeping obvious secrets for weeks."
David looked behind him at Bobby for a quick second before saying, "you could have just asked."
"I did!" Michael was struggling to keep his voice level, "When I first realized something was off. You dismissed it or just flat out changed the subject. But okay, since all I had to do was ask, I'm calling bluff. What are you hiding from me, David?"
David let out a dry chuckle, "okay, I can't do this anymore." He looked towards Bobby again, leaving Athena and Michael in total confusion.
"David, don't." Bobby said calmly. All eyes were on him at this point.
"I told you I was horrible at this kind of stuff when I first suggested it." David headed to the back room without any further explanation.
After David left all eyes were on Bobby. Athena didn't know what to make of the situation. The fact that this went much deeper than the two of them being involved in something stupid was worrisome. Bobby wasn't one to keep secrets from either of them, without good reason, at least.
Michael mirrored her thoughts when he said, "there'd better be a damn good reason you-"
"Bobby has nothing to do with this," David defended as he walked back into the room, "I roped him into this and swore him to secrecy."
"David."
"It's fine, Bobby. This has, obviously, turned into a whole mess and so lets just clear it up," he turned to face Michael, "I had this whole thing planned for our anniversary next week, but we can just do it now."
As David reached for into his pocket, Athena gasped in recognition. He took the small blue box out of his pocket, "this. This is what I was hiding,"
"Oh my god," Michael squeaked out as he put his hands over his face. "How did you? When? What?"
"I decided that I wanted to marry you around time you had me digging around in dumpsters with the potential of being caught by a psychopath," David laughed, "I started planning on how I wanted to ask you a few weeks ago. I had this whole thing planned, taking you out, doing this in front of all of our family and friends," he got down on one knee, "But I guess the answer matters more than how the question is asked the child," he paused and opened the box, "so Michael Grant, will you marry me?"
Tears were rolling down Michael's face and he was still frozen in obvious shock. "Yes, yes, I'll marry you. I'm so sorry for thinking… I don't know what I was thinking, but I'm sorry."
David took the ring out of the box and slid it on his finger. He rose from his feet, pulling David into a kiss while Athena and Bobby looked on with happiness for the newly engaged couple. When the couple broke apart Athena and Bobby went over to hug the couple.
Michael hit Bobby lightly in the chest, "I can't believe you knew about this."
"Who do you think helped me pick out the ring." David said. And it was a beautiful ring: a black band, with diamonds lining all around in the center.
"I'm more concerned you were able to keep this from me." Athena commented.
"Hey, the less people knew the better."
"I needed someone that knew you, but wasn't too close to where I could run the risk of it getting back to you. I wanted the surprise to be genuine for you and your family."
"Well it was definitely genuine." Athena said as she hugged David.
"Do you forgive me, Michael?" Bobby asked as he held his arms out to him.
"Hmm, I guess so. You better be glad I really love this ring." Michael said as he embraced and admired his ring.
"I did do a good job, didn't I?"
Athena shook her head a the two as they bantered, "you sure this is what you want to marry into?" She whispered to David.
"For some reason, yeah I am," Athena smiled as she leaned into David's side.
I adore the friendship between Michael and Bobby and can't wait to see how David is going to fit into the dynamic.
Anyway, let me know what you think!