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"What's my life's ambition?"
Lily could rival the Chesire cat, "To discover a bug species and name it after Spock."
"Right." Bug smiled in his adorably awkward way. As he revealed his board, a chorus of groans sounded from their opponents.
Garret lazed against the far wall, a wry grin on his face. Things had been practically dead – and not in the useful sense – around the morgue the past few days, so Lily being Lily had snuck in The Newlywed Game for them to while away the long hours with.
So far, Lily and Bug had won every round and Garret wasn't sure he had ever seen the little entomologist so happy. Currently they were going up against Devan with Peter and Jordan with Woody, which had drawn quite the audience to the small breakroom.
Nigel's towering frame caught Garret's eye as he made his way through the crowded room, his brow curious and eyes amused. Garret was surprised he hadn't ventured in sooner seeing as these types of games were right up Nigel's alley. Part of him wondered what Nigel had been up to instead, but Garret knew better than to ask. As long as the fire alarm hadn't gone off and the FBI wasn't on the phone, Garret was probably better off not knowing.
"What's going on, Dr. M?" Nigel asked, blowing on his steaming mug.
"They're playing The Newlywed Game. You know the one, it's based on that old tv show." Garret explained, smirking as Devan huffed at Peter's answer and wrote down a zero for their turn. They had a pool going on who would strangle their partner first: Jordan or Devan. So far, Devan seemed to be in the lead.
Nigel grinned, settling in to watch the inevitable bloodbath.
"Where is some place I've always wanted to go?" Jordan asked, it was clear she had passed the fun-stage a while ago.
"Um, ah, Vegas?" Woody guessed.
"Egypt." The response caught Garret off, and he turned to Nigel, who was fiddling mindlessly with his tea bag as if he hadn't realized he'd spoke aloud.
"Egypt, Woody." Jordan sighed, her face caught between frustration and hurt. She had obviously told him about it before, "To see the pyramids. I hate Las Vegas."
Woody tried to play it off with his boyish smile, hoping to charm his way out of trouble, "That's right."
Her eyes were dark as she read off the next question, "What did I want to be when I was little?"
"Um…pediatrician?"
Nigel snorted and murmured, "Ballerina." Garret's surprised eyes grew wider, he hadn't even known that.
"A ballerina, I wanted to be a ballerina before I wanted to be a heart surgeon. Last one," Jordan was growing exasperated after so many failed rounds and was ready for it to be over already, "What's my favorite color?"
"Blue?" Woody shrugged; Jordan wondered if he was even trying.
Nigel took a sip of his tea, "Pink or purple, depends on the day."
"Purple, Woody, it's purple." She sighed, tossing the board aside. Lily and Bug needed only one more question to win and when Bug got it right that Lily's favorite stone was an amethyst, they were all finally put out of their misery.
Jordan beelined for the coffee pot, her anger concealing her embarrassment. She had gotten all of Woody's questions right when he couldn't even manage to get two of hers. And the only one he did answer correctly had to do with him!
Jordan shooed Woody away and squeezed into the spot between Garret and Nigel. Her icy bearing thawing slightly being safely tucked between her two favorite fellas.
"You alright, luv?" Nigel asked, offering her a small smile.
Jordan, who was boiling hotter than Nigel's tea, managed a terse nod, her teeth clenched. Of course, Nigel knew not to take it personally. Instead, he split his muffin in half and offered her the larger share. With a begrudging smile, since she wasn't quite ready to abandon her anger, she accepted it and began picking at the chocolate chips.
"Anyone up for another round?" Lily asked slyly, shuffling the question deck.
Garret looked to the pair beside him, an idea stirring, "Jordan, you should go again with Nigel, he hasn't had a turn yet." Garret's eyes twinkled mischievously, "He might make a better partner for you." Jordan's expression instantly softened, and a full smile capturing her lips.
"Oh, no, I'm good, Dr. M." Nigel answered after he finished choking on his tea.
"You got all three of her last questions right. Answers even I didn't know." Garret smirked into his coffee as Nigel gave him a warning scowl.
Jordan turned to Nigel, and he quickly stepped back, "No-no-no-no-no!"
"Oh, come on, Nige!" Jordan gave her signature pout, a trait she had practiced to perfection over the years.
Nigel sighed and brushed back his hair, always the sucker, "Alright." A moment later he was yanked from the wall. Nigel fell into the smaller chair across from Jordan, his long legs sprawling out the other side of the small table. Lily handed out the first round of questions and they quickly wrote down their answers.
"This oughta be good!" Peter chuckled, hopping onto the counter.
"Jordan, why don't you start this round?"
Jordan picked up her first card, peering over it, "What's my favorite comfort food?"
"Cinnamon toast." Nigel replied, surprising even himself by how quickly he answered.
"That—that's right." Jordan gave a small smile as she revealed her board, "Next, what is my favorite sport?"
Garret smirked, knowing Nigel was pretending to take his time considering the question.
"Hockey."
Jordan practically beamed, "Right again. Last one, what is my favorite flower?"
"You hate flowers." Nigel answered, catching himself before he added that she hated them because they reminded her of funerals.
"3 for 3. I'm impressed, Townsend." Jordan winked, nodding for Lily and Bug to take their turn. Their challengers ended up 2 for 3 and next it was Nigel's turn.
Nigel cleared his throat and reached for the first card. His nerves were getting the best of him, wondering how she might fair, "What song did we first dance to together?"
"Christmas Wrappings." Jordan popped off.
Nigel's eyes grew in surprise, wondering if it was a simple guess or if she actually remembered their dance at the Christmas party a few years back.
"Right." He cleared his throat and showed the group his answer before hurrying on to the next question, "What was your partner wearing on your first date? I took this as our first meeting since we haven't—I mean, since we aren't, ya know…"
"You had on that gray knit sweater you love so much and dark jeans, and you had one earring in your right ear because I remember wondering if it was for aesthetics or…other reasons." Her expression was playfully. Garret arched a brow, apparently Nigel wasn't the only one paying attention over the years.
"Right again." Nigel was completely enamored and couldn't help his smile, "Last one," He picked up the last card, "Who made the first move?" He wrinkled his nose, "This one I—"
"I did." Jordan propped her chin up on her folded hands, giving her infamous smile.
"I—we—" Nigel tried to salvage it with a nervous smile, his face erupting in scarlet, "I put 'no answer'."
"Well, now you know for next time." Jordan was cool as ever as she scratched down their points.
Even with their one missed question, Jordan and Nigel took the win with ease. Lily congratulated them with her wide, knowing smile and before Jordan could suggest another round a call finally came in.
"Ya, I'll send someone right over." Garret snapped the cell shut and turned to Jordan, "There's a pile up in the TWT, three fatalities so far. Grab some help and head out for pick up, we'll prep for incoming." Garret nodded to Peter and Bug, letting them know they were with him, "Lily?"
"On it!" The grief counselor hopped up and rushed off.
"Well," Jordan turned back to Nigel, her favorite partner-in-crime, "Up for another adventure?"
His smile was wide, "Always, luv."
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