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"Hey, Nige?"

Nigel looked up as Jordan knocked on the wall, her infamous smirk in place, "Any fun Saturday night plans?"

The criminalist leaned back, ruffling his hair, "'Fraid not, just gonna be me and the telly. You?"

She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

"What a couple of winners we are." Nigel chuckled, toying with his pen.

"My place at eight then?"

He grinned, "Sure."

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Jordan wandered back towards the bed, having already popped open her Guinness and taken a long swig.

"Thank you." Nigel accepted the beer as Jordan snuggled back in, the cool air kissing her bare skin with goosebumps.

Her eyes wandered to her companion, wondering what he was thinking.

A few years back the pair had begun hanging out on Saturday nights if they didn't have anything else to do – maybe they'd go catch a movie or head to the bar and make up stories about its patrons, or even rummage through old cases to see if anything new could be uncovered. That, over time, had developed into a no-strings-attached arrangement that ebbed and flowed with ease as they went in and out of other relationships. They were both adults, after all, with needs. As long as they were clear on the boundaries, no harm, no foul, right?

Of course, Jordan had tried such an arrangement before with Myers, who turned out to be a DA that ruthlessly grill her on the stand the next day, but this was different. For some reason, it worked with Nigel. Maybe it was because they were such good friends before they jumped into bed together. He knew her better than anyone else ever had and he didn't push her for more than she was willing to give. She knew she could let her guard down with him because he had never given her a reason not to. And, when it came down to it, she knew he'd always be there for her. No matter what.

Now, though, Jordan worried her lower lip, desperately wanting to know his thoughts.

Nigel laughed as some antic playing out on the sitcom, completely at ease. A fleeting expression caught his face for a moment, as if he remembered something, "So, why are you free tonight? I thought things sparked between you and Woody at the inn a couple weeks back, and now with Pollack out of the picture…"

Her smile was wry, and she just buried her head in the pillows. She could still hear Nigel's laugh clear as day.

She finally chanced a peek out. Nigel took a draught, his face bright, "He didn't want to be the rebound guy."

"How is it," Jordan propped her head up, bewilderment etching her face, "That after that, you can just casually ask me about my love life as if it doesn't affect you in the slightest?" Jordan shook her head. Nigel had proven time and time again that he didn't have a jealous bone in his body, but she still couldn't believe it.

"Because I know my place." He chuckled.

"I was jealous when you were with Sarah."

The words were out before she had considered what the meant. Nigel looked to her, surprised, and she hurried to advert her eyes, scared she might give too much away.

He leaned back, at a loss of words.

Jordan had always been the one to say that this was a temporary arrangement, one where friends just helped each other out now and again. In the very beginning, when they were still figuring out if this was a horrible idea or not, she had even compared it to helping the other move on a Saturday.

Nigel had started to back off – saying he had plans or that it had been a long week – when he'd overheard Pollack ask Woody if it was alright for him to try for Jordan. He had done the same each time Woody had circled back around over the years, but with Pollack things felt different.

Of course, there had been a couple gaffs when Jordan had figured out Nigel's ploy and talked him round that her and the Aussie were just having some fun; a statement which was spectacularly disproven when Pollack showed Nigel the engagement ring a few weeks back.

But, if Nigel was honest with himself, he didn't really feel that bad for their slips. He enjoyed their Saturday trysts and hadn't really been looking for other plans for a while now. Though he had been happy for Jordan, and the last thing he'd want to do was ruin things for her, he also knew his time with her was fleeting and was determined to savor whatever time he had left with her before she eventually found her person.

With a grand sigh, Jordan rolled over on top of him, "You know, Stiles always says there is no such thing as casual sex." She rested her chin gently on his chest.

He chuckled as he played with her loose curls, "And, since when do you listen to shrinks, luv?" Jordan just shrugged. Nigel sighed, running his fingers back through his hair, "Jordan, what's eating at you?"

"I just…we…" She worried her lower lips, having never been good at this, "Do you…do you want to stay over?"

Nigel pulled back, caught off guard. It wasn't that sleepovers were against the rules per se, but he had always made a point to head home before Sunday dawned. Mostly he had done it thinking of her comfort, so they didn't have to awkwardly make their way through the morning after, which might make their arrangement seem less casual than it was.

"Sure, if that's what you want."

"What do you want though?" She pushed back.

Nigel let himself smile, "Ya, I'd like that."

Breathing a resounding sigh of relief, Jordan fell back to her side, snuggling up to him.

"So, he was that bad?" The pillow smacked his face before he'd finished. Nigel grabbed it and tucked it behind his head before she could take a second whack, a wide grin on his face. He opened his arm, inviting her back, and Jordan quickly accepted. Nigel pulled her close, kissing the top of her head, "If it makes you feel better, I was a tad jealous."

She smirked, "I knew it."

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