Title: Amends
Author: Jeanine (jeanine@iol.ie)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Warrick/Sara friendship
Spoilers: The I-15 Murders post-ep
Feedback: Makes my day
Disclaimer: If it was in the show, it's not mine.
Archive: At my site Checkmate , Fanfiction.net; anywhere else, please ask.
Notes: For the LiveJournal CSReports Virtual Rewind Challenge - episode based challenge.
***
If she didn't know better, Sara would attribute the bitter taste in her mouth to the cup of coffee in her hand but since she's sipping from a cup of Greg's finest brew, she know that's not it.
She also knows what it is - guilt, pure and unadulterated.
She doesn't want to go home feeling like that, her mother's maxim, never go to sleep on an argument, ringing in her ears, so she makes her way to the layout room, leans against the door frame for a second, watching him work. "How's the paperwork going?" she finally asks, her voice, she knows at once, too casual.
He doesn't even look up. "It's going," he says flatly. "You heading home?"
She shakes her head, even though she knows he can't see her. "I thought you might like some coffee," she says, stepping into the room.
That does make him look up. "You can't eat in the layout room," he points out, and she shrugs.
"I won't tell," she promises, laying the second mug down on the table that's covered by paperwork for the Berlin case, another wave of guilt choking her.
"Day shift?" he asks, casting a suspicious eye to the steaming mug, probably wondering if she wants to poison him.
"Greg," she replies, and surprise stamps itself all over his features.
"Sanders doesn't let anyone share his stash," he tells her, and she shrugs again.
"He lets me," is all she gets out before he hoots with laughter.
"So, you batted your eyelashes, and Sanders fell like a house of cards, that it?"
She wants to deny it, but it's true, and besides, she's laughing right along with him, and it feels good. "Hey, if you want me to take it back…" she begins, making to take the cup, and he shakes his head quickly.
"Sanders is hyper enough," he decides. "And you drink two of these, you'll be bouncing off the walls too. I'd better keep this. Better that way."
He's oh-so-serious, aside from his dancing eyes. "Of course," she deadpans. Her lips twitch as she watches him take a sip, the bitter taste in her mouth slowly lessening. "So," she begins then. "You want some help?"
He's surprised again, but he's not going to say no. "Report on Haeckel marks?" he offers, and she reaches for it, their hands meeting on the file, their eyes meeting a split-second later.
Something passes between them, and she clears her throat. "Warrick-" she begins, but he cuts her off.
"Forget it," he says. "Not like I was such a prince myself." He lets go of the file, turns away from her, and from under a pile of papers, pulls out a large bag of chocolate M&Ms. "Want to share?"
Sara blinks. "I thought you weren't allowed eat in the layout room?"
He grins. "I won't tell. Just don't eat all the green ones."
All Sara can do is laugh, reaching for a handful of candy as they get to work.