XxX

"Nigel!"

The towering Brit had just stepped off the lift, his arms brimming with reports, when the distraught M.E. accosted him, her eyes caffeinated and curls crazed.

"And good morning to you too, Jordan." Nigel grinned, catching his coffee before it could fall from its precarious perch.

Jordan trailed beside him, fidgeting with her hands, "What are you doing tonight?"

"Probably grabbing take-away and hiding in my room from my flatemate's cats."

Her smile was too relieved as she popped in front of him, forcing him to stumble, "Want to come over for dinner at my place instead?"

"What's the catch?" Nigel rose a skeptical brow.

She tried to act all innocent, failing miserably, "Oh, nothing big, just an old flame's in town. He stopped by last night, tried to relight the spark or whatever," Jordan tried to smile, "And I…well, you're going to find this really funny, but I sort of…kind of told him I was seeing someone… and he wasn't home last night because he was on nightshift at the morgue…"

"Ohhh, so, I'm the poor sod you knew you could count on to be free tonight?" Nigel snorted, not really angry.

"No!" She scoffed, as if that were the most offensive thing he could have said.

"Bug and Garret said no?"

"Pretty much. I even tried Jerry in security."

With a sigh, Nigel dropped his towering stack onto his desk, "What time's dinner?"

Jordan was beaming, "Tyler will be there around 7 so you should get there before then. I was thinking you could pick up some of your things after work, you know, to make it look like you live there. Clothes, books, whatever."

Nigel fell back in his chair, "Alright."

"Thanks, Nige!" She quickly kissed his cheek and headed out to start her shift.

He waved her off, amusement capturing him as he shook his head. When would he ever learn to say no?

XxX

Nigel awkwardly stood at the door, balancing his things as he had the stack of reports that morning. The door flew open, and relief instantly replaced Jordan's panic. She had already grabbed one of his bags before he had stepped over the threshold.

"Throw your clothes in the bedroom." Jordan ordered as she placed his books and CDs on the shelf.

Nigel did as he was told before pulling out the rest of his things, he had even brought his shaver to really sell the look. He grinned, somewhat enjoying their little ruse and wondering if they would be able to pull it off.

"Um, Jordan?" He called, tossing his toothbrush beside hers, "What's our story?"

"What?"

He chuckled, "Our story, Tyler is going to ask how we met, how long we've been together…" Nigel headed out to the living room where Jordan was hurrying to unbox their dinner and make it look home made, "He's going to question what someone like you is doing with someone like me."

"Ouch." Nigel wasn't sure, but he thought he saw a flicker of hurt cross her face. He wondered if she hadn't realized his comment was self-deprecating in nature. Of course, Jordan being Jordan was quick to recover, "Hooked up at the office Christmas party and the sex was really good?"

Nigel stashed the takeaway bags in the bottom of the trash, "How about the truth with a dash of lies, we've known each other since you first worked at the morgue a few years back, but things sparked during our trip to Mississippi? That way we don't have to worry about details tripping us up."

"Sounds good." Jordan nodded, moving to set the table, "So, we've been together a little over a year, things are looking pretty serious, and, if we're lucky, Tyler should be buying his ticket for tonight's redeye before dessert!" As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Jordan grinned, "Showtime!"

Nigel brushed back his hair, inhaling steadily, as he followed her to the door. He awkwardly lingered back, his towering height adding to the predicament, until Jordan turned to him, almost as if to present him.

"Nigel Townsend." Nigel stepped forward, offering his hand.

"Tyler McNamara."

The man was exactly what Nigel pictured, and he could barely contain his amusement. Tyler was the typical Californian; gelled, sandy hair, pooka shell necklace, purposely tattered clothes. Every girl's spring break dream. It honestly left Nigel curious as to why Jordan hadn't just enjoyed herself this weekend and bid adieu to SoCal on Monday.

Dinner went off without a hitch. Nigel's winning smile and charm was on point and the evening flowed naturally. It was instinctive for Nigel and Jordan to lean into each other, having always been ones that preferred physical affection, and the two misfits' natural comfortability with one another sold their story completely.

Nigel grinned into his wine when Tyler had returned from a trip to the loo, looking a bit surprised at how well-lived-in Jordan's apartment was. There was even, dare he say it, a hint of jealous on the naturalist's face. Nigel tried not to pat himself too hard on the back for that, though Jordan did slyly toast her glass to him.

By the end of the night, Nigel had all but won Tyler over, and Jordan had even forgotten their little ruse was just that.

That was, until Tyler asked if he could crash on their couch since he had booked a flight for seven and didn't want to pay the extra night at the hotel. All which suggested that he really had been counting on Jordan lying about a boyfriend and hoping he'd be able to spend his final night in Boston in her arms.

"Erm…" Nigel turned to Jordan; his eyes frantic.

Jordan, on point as ever, smiled, "Of course, what are friends for? We should actually turn in too, we have to head in early and finish up the Johnson-Williams case."

Panic seized Nigel as he looked for a way out, but his thoughts refused to come up with anything cleaver so instead he nodded and played along, "Y-yeah, right, the Johnson-Williams case…" He gave her a look but Jordan just smiled back.

Tyler was soon set up with the extra pillow and blanket and Jordan, followed by a plodding Nigel, headed for her room after bidding goodnight.

Nigel wrinkled his nose when she closed the doors, wondering why she even had "doors" when it was really just a panel of clear and orange glass panes. Remembering his part, he headed for the loo to brush his teeth and get ready for bed.

He caught sight of Jordans' reflection in the mirror as he finished up, "You seem like a boxers type." She lounged against the door, a pair of shorts and a tank top in hand.

"Actually, I don't sleep in anything." Nigel smirked, "Though seeing as we have a guest, I'll find something to throw on."

"How chivalrous of you." She winked playfully as he headed out, leaving her the loo.

Nigel tugged on a t-shirt and swapped his jeans for a pair of joggers. Eventually he found himself standing beside the bed, staring at it. He'd heard of method acting but this was going a tad far.

A knock on the glass caught his attention and Nigel turned to see Tyler lounging against the door, "Hey, man."

"Hey." Nigel threw back.

"I hope you know how lucky you are." Tyler grinned his too-white smile as he ventured in, "I…I never thought Jordan would be able to settle down. She's always running, just picking up and taking off without so much as a goodbye, but she must really love you." Tyler nodded, trying to be the bigger man, "And I can see how happy you make each other. I guess, what I'm trying to say is, I'm glad she's finally found someone she can run to instead of from." He tried to smile, accepting defeat graciously.

Nigel returned the gesture and Tyler head back out, returning to his place on the couch.

"Did I hear Tyler come in?" Jordan popped open the door.

"Yeah, just saying goodnight." Nigel brushed off with his signature grin, "Um, do you have a preferred side?"

"No, do you?" She grinned as she set her alarm.

"Nope. Left is fine by me." Nigel popped into bed and turned off his light.

"Eager to get to sleep so we can solve that pressing case tomorrow?" She chuckled.

Nigel smirked, knowing there was no Johnson-Williams case waiting for them tomorrow, and smiled as he settled in. Surprise dawned on his face as Jordan snuggled into his side. His brow peaked as he looked down at her.

"In case Tyler needs to pee or something in the middle of the night." She excused, nestling her head into the crook of his arm, her other arm resting across his chest, "Gotta make it believable."

Nigel just shook his head as he grinned, "Night, Jordan."

"Night, Nige."

XxX