Alex could still feel the kiss. Her lips tingled, vividly remembering the feeling of Sean's mouth on hers. It made her want to be near him- maybe even kiss him again. But for that to happen, the two needed to talk. With him in and out of sleep as he recovered, and her helping the team set-up the new safehouse, however, it was difficult. They just needed a moment alone to discuss what the kiss meant. It had to have meant something. The speech Sean gave beforehand proved as much. Alex was simply too terrified to explore it.
She had to, though. That kiss and those feelings deserved to be explored. But what if it blew up in her face like the other times she tried to express her heart and have a relationship. Was that even what she wanted with Sean- a relationship. She wasn't entirely sure. It felt right, yet what if it ended in disaster. Everything always did. She couldn't risk losing or hurting him. He was her best friend's brother, after all. If things went bad, it'd be terrible.
Instead of thinking about Sean, that searing kiss, and the worst case scenario, Alex placed her focus on the team. They had always been great distractors with their jokes and stories. And as they made Ryan's safehouse more suitable for all of them, there was plenty of time to relax as friends. She could also be sent on errands to replenish the equipment, clothes, and food they lost. A moment away from the safehouse, from Sean, would be good for her thoughts. But the team had other things in mind than shopping lists. They wanted fun, and Birkhoff had a great solution for that, "Alright, Nikki. Here's a decade worth of ammunition to bully your brother with."
"I already have enough, but more won't hurt," Nikita smirked, eagerly joining Birkhoff at his new computer station. She had been waiting to watch the video of her brother the nerd had captured since he first told her about it. She had the suspicion that it was of Sean high on the pain meds they shot him with. If so, then it was going to be one of the greatest videos in existence. She could lord it over him until the day they died.
The video quickly shoved that thought out of her mind. Nikita didn't need to revisit the anxiety of losing family members again. She should just laugh at the loopy things her brother had said. She could also be intrigued by the way Alex had blushed when Sean complimented her. That was interesting. And it became even more interesting when hearing the kind words again made the young woman duck her head and grin stupidly. Birkhoff smirked knowingly at the reaction. Michael, on the other hand, eyed her over and quipped, "You're awesome, huh?"
"Well she is a You-dinov," Studying her best friend, Nikita teased. Blush bloomed across Alex's cheeks, but she didn't say anything to negate Michael and Nikita or wipe the smirk from Birkhoff's lips. She was lost in thought. Seeing the way Sean looked at her, even while high, settled some of her anxiety. Maybe it could be alright between them. When the war ended with the information Kendrick was gathering for them, a relationship between the young woman and the Seal might just be plausible.
"Your brother's an idiot," Attempting to hide her giggles with an eye roll, Alex finally replied. That didn't help her in the slightest. Nikita, Michael, and Birkhoff instantly ramped up their teasing and taunts. The nerd had the most to share after witnessing how the two interacted when she cared for him. Alex and Sean were so obvious, and yet so oblivious. Though, the latter wasn't true anymore after their too-passionate-to-have-been-around-others kiss.
Birkhoff was dying for the kiss to be brought up. Just like with the video of a high Sean, Nikita would have a field day with the information. As the sister and best friend of the idiots in love, she would bully them to death- even more so than she did when it was just a crush. However, the nerd didn't want to be the one to spill the beans. It would be so much better if either Sean or Alex slipped up and mentioned it. Unfortunately, Ryan ruined that chance for him. The analyst walked past the computer monitors, noticed the video paused on the loving look shared between the two, and finally put the dots together, "Is that why you kissed him?"
"Technically, Sean kissed her first, in the backseat of the car, as we blew up the beach house," Since the cat was already out of the bag, Birkhoff just had to add to it. He nearly bounced in his chair as he explained, watching excitedly for reactions. Whereas Michael muttered something about how that sounded like a Pierce move, Nikita stared at Alex with an unreadable expression. She was probably just processing the news of her brother and best friend. A crush was one thing, but a kiss had a whole different meaning.
Although Alex had expected Nikita to shout at her or something for kissing her brother, the silent expression she received was far worse. She could kill Ryan and Birkhoff for telling her about the kiss. Sure it was better that the fact was out there instead of keeping it a secret, but still. She didn't need her best friend regarding her with a strange and concerning look. She had enough on her plate already. Stumbling on a horrifically fake excuse, Alex attempted to escape, "What? You need me to go grocery shopping? Okay. I'm tired of takeout and popcorn."
"Coward!" Birkhoff shouted as she ran out the front door without looking back. Soft laughter took the edge off his taunt, however, making it meaningless. The others rolled their eyes and shook their heads. It was always one ridiculous thing after the next. At least they could easily move on from that moment. Nikita quickly bounced from her shock over Sean's and Alex's kiss to scoff at her best friend's retreat.
"It's alright. The look I gave her freaked her out enough. But the dumbass… Sean Mason Pierce! You kissed Alex!" Shrugging, Nikita soon switched gears and marched towards her brother. Michael, Birkhoff, and Ryan laughed. Of course her main reaction was to fuck with the two. Later, they'd have to talk, preferably after Sean and Alex did. But for the moment, continuing the fun and relaxation the team had established for the day was more important.
Nikita burst into the area Sean had cordoned off into a resting area, expecting to wake him from another nap. Instead, he startled on the cot, the phone in his hand flying towards the floor. Her next shout died in her throat as confusion took over. Who could Sean have been talking to. If it was one of his Naval commanding officers, she royally screwed up by yelling at him. However, the voice that came over the speaker was far too familiar to have come from the Navy. It came from a ghost. Nikita's insides froze. She stared at her brother with wide unseeing eyes. Her ears rang and buzzed. And her breath stopped as Jill asked, "Sean, who's that?"
"And who's Alex? Is she that girl you were talking about?" Sandy's voice chiming in was just another sound that ripped through Nikita's gut. She stumbled back a step, pressing herself into the wall in order to stay on her feet. Her gaze dropped to the phone, and some air returned to her lungs. Thank God it wasn't a video call. However, that didn't change the fact that her sisters had heard her. They heard the voice of someone who was supposed to be dead- of someone who had to remain dead in order for them to be safe. The two couldn't know what was occurring, not yet. Their innocence and lives had to be preserved.
Except, neither seemed to catch on to the fact that the woman they heard was their long lost sister. They were more concerned with what their brother was doing, which was probably why Sean had called them in the first place. He tumbled off the cot and fumbled for his phone, attempting to think of a way to cover up the situation. He should've warned Nikita beforehand, then she wouldn't have interrupted, or been so in shock. It was too late then, however. He had to do damage control, "Oh. Uh. Sorry. This is one of the agents I'm working with that I was telling you about. Agent Mears, my sisters Jill and Sandy."
"I'm so sorry for the interruption. I just thought you should know that your brother's a dumbass," Shaking all of her feelings away (including her confusion over how fast Sean had that cover ready for her) Nikita responded. She hoped humor would be her saving grace; she could slip a mask into place and play up the cover if she was sarcastic. Yet once she heard her sisters' laughter, it was all over. She wanted to laugh with them, joke like they were teenage girls again. A part of her also wanted to call Michael into the room. He had to meet Jill and Sandy.
"We already know that. What we don't know is Alex," Matching Nikita's taunt, Sandy continued asking about Alex. Sean would've rolled his eyes if he wasn't distracted by his sisters interacting. It was dangerous and risky for the three to be talking, yet neither he nor his roguish sister stopped it. In fact, Nikita drew closer to the phone as if being near it would allow her to touch and see Jill and Sandy. Hearing them wasn't enough. She needed to be back in their lives.
"She's one of my teammates. Sweet girl. Pretty smart. Obviously not that smart if she kissed Sean, though," Nikita should've walked away after apologizing for the interruption. The more she involved herself, the more dangerous the conversation became. But she stopped caring at the sound of her sisters being so happy. It was worth the risk. A bright smile pulled at the corner of her lips. The ice in her veins melted into warm bliss. For just a second, she could pretend she was home again with her family- the war was over and she was finally free.
Sean soon let himself slip into the same imagination. It was either that, or be annoyed with the teases thrown his way. Besides, his sisters all laughing together again made him excited. The war with Division really could be over soon, and they could have their family back. It wouldn't be their complete family, far from it. But the siblings would be together again. That would be beyond amazing. Even more so when Jill and Sandy could know everything, "Who knew romance was everywhere on top secret missions."
"You should see Mears and her boyfriend," Muttering, Sean attempted to get back at Nikita for her comments. He should've learned his lesson when it came to his roguish sister, however. Without much thought, she jabbed him sharply in his side- his injured side. He crumbled in pain, and she gasped in regret. She reached out to steady and soothe him, but he was already rolling through the discomfort. It wasn't that bad, "Ow, idiot. I'm a gunshot victim."
"What?" Jill and Sandy overhearing him and shrieking, however, was that bad. Sean paled, and Nikita immediately said her goodbyes. She definitely shouldn't hang around for that part of the conversation. Not only would her cover, Agent Mears, bow out once things turned personal, but she desperately didn't want to sit through her sisters' panic. Her own had been terrible enough, and she had had all of the facts in the situation. The world of secrets her sisters were forced through had to have been hell.
Before Nikita could truly slip away, though, Sean pulled her back. He wanted her to stay, and not just because he needed her help calming Jill and Sandy. She should stay. He could place the call on mute when he wasn't talking, and she could remain quiet. It wouldn't be a real interaction, yet it was as good as they could get for where they were. Also, it would hold them over until Nikita could meet with Jill and Sandy again. Hopefully, that was soon. Sean didn't want to keep lying to the twins, "It's nothing, Just a graze. Agent Jones, Alex, was actually the one to nurse me back to health."
"You're disgusting," Sandy's comment was immediately covered by Jill's question, "So you kissed her as a thank you?" Nikita bit back her laughter and stared at Sean expectantly. She needed the story behind the kiss too, after all. He sighed, slumping back onto his cot. She sat next to him, her gaze never lightening. He was going to have to explain himself sooner or later. He just hoped he didn't have to do so while tired, or while talking to all three of his sisters. As great as it was that they were somewhat together, he could go without the bullying.
"No. I kissed her cause she's awesome, and kind, and funny, and strong. She's actually a lot like Nikita. That's what drew me to her in the first place. But then she proved she was better than Nikki, so…" Once he began talking about Alex, however, Sean couldn't stop. Jill and Sandy didn't interrupt him, they let their brother rant about the girl he liked. Nikita let him spill what was in his heart as well; though, she did pinch him lightly for his tease.
He only laughed in response. He couldn't be annoyed or irritated as he talked about Alex. Nikita smiled softly at him over the fact. She had known her brother and her best friend had grown incredibly close since they spent all that time in Russia together. But she had no idea how deeply the feelings ran. She found it endearing, mostly because of how sweet and cute the two were around each other. She'd approve of the relationship, as long as she could threaten them both within an inch of their lives about breaking the other's heart. Jill seemed to have the same mindset as her, though she needed more to be truly invested, "Do you love her?"
"They just kissed. It's not like he proposed," Sandy's annoyance could be heard loud and clear over the speaker. It was too early for Jill to bring up love; all they knew was that the relationship had just started. But Nikita could glance at her brother like she wanted an answer to that question as well- was that love she saw sparking on the video Birkhoff recorded. Sean squirmed under the gaze. His thoughts were muddled and the words choked in his throat.
"I think a date should happen first," Ensuring that the phone was muted, Nikita suggested. Sean was a little too worked up over him and Alex; he was too in his head. He had to relax and realize she liked him just as much as he liked her. It was obvious to everyone else, so why not him. To be fair, however, she had somewhat been the same in regards to Michael. When strong feelings were involved, it was difficult to tell up from down.
"Really?" Eyes alight with hope and awe, Sean wondered. Nikita just groaned and nodded. Again, she was dealing with ridiculousness. At least she could listen to Jill and Sandy offer the same advice and share the same taunts over the phone. Their voices helped ground her; they gave her hope. The war would end and she'd be home. And it'd be like she never left.