A/N: ESD stands for Emergency Service Department. Thanks for the awesome reviews! Keep them coming please.
"…I can also tell you what I wasn't," I said pointedly to Warrick. "I wasn't a Mac Daddy wannabe we a Member's Only jacket, putting the swerve on all the ladies." Over Rick's shoulder I could see Catherine still making her coffee. She glanced back at us with a large smile as she listened to our light-hearted jokes.
"What was wrong with those Member's Only jackets? They were kind of cool back in the day," Rick defended himself straight faced. I shut the file in front of me, deciding to devote my full attention to the conversation at hand; it was much more fun. I was smirking and trying to think up some sort of retort when Sara showed up in the doorway. Figures, as soon as I finally get her out of my head…
"Hey," she said genially to the room. My smile vanished as I took her in. She looked amazing; I quickly reminded myself to close my mouth. She had changed into new clothes. Her shirt was more feminine than I was used to and I wondered whether she did it in case that tool Hank showed up again for a date. My sour thoughts quickly fluttered back. "Nick, Ronnie's got something on Liquid Man; says it's hot." I glanced over at Rick and Catherine to make sure that my bitter thoughts hadn't been too overt. I was pleased to see that neither had been paying attention to me.
"Good," I replied as I stacked and picked the files I had on the table in front of me. I jumped out of my seat and walked towards the door.
"Hey Sara, what were you in high school?" Rick decided to continue with the topic. I paused in the doorway as I passed her, leaning in over her shoulder.
She didn't even have to hesitate before her answer. "Science nerd," she had a proud smirk on her face. While she spoke I took a quick sniff of her: it was a strange combination of something uniquely Sara and obviously death.
"You changed…" I spoke normally to grab her attention. I leaned in slightly closer as I noticed the smirk had been wiped off of her face and whispered conspiratorially, "You still smell." Giving a quick exhale through my nostrils to expel some of the lingering stench trapped in my nose, I turned and strutted down the hallway. "Let's go." I called over my shoulder, not slowing down as I heard her footsteps resume a few paces behind me. I didn't need to though; she quickened her pace and soon fell into stride along beside me.
"I'd just like to point out that I'm not the only person here who smells like decomposing bodies…" Sara's comment was accompanied by a sideways glance.
"I know," I replied grinning. "I never said I didn't smell too."
"You are a cruel man, Mr. Stokes," she replied nudging me with her elbow. I was knocked off balance and banged shoulders roughly with a passing lab tech.
"Sorry," I apologized quickly shrinking under his annoyed gaze. I turned back to Sara and screwed up my face into what I hope was a stern expression, trying desperately to control an impending smile. "I'm not cruel. That was cruel. I was just trying to be helpful." Sara scoffed loudly.
"How is constantly reminding me that I smell like death helping anyone?" she quirked an amused eyebrow in anticipation of my answer.
"My subtle reminders," Sara scoffed again, "make sure that you will keep your distance in case your boyfriend shows up trying to trick you into that date. Therefore, everyone wins." I say matter-of-factly as our destination comes into view. Sara twirled her hand in the air to prompt me to continue. My smile finally broke through. "I help your very manly paramedic keep his lunch," I paused to receive the expected punch in the arm. "I help you by making sure that your ego remains in check." We had reached the Ronnie's lab.
"How very noble of you," she replied sarcastically.
I continued with the last beneficiary of my good deed, "And I help myself by keeping you out of flirting distance from him."
"Nick?" she stopped in her tracks and looked at me. I studied her face for a moment looking for any sign of hope. I found confusion and shock; not exactly the reaction I was fishing for... I quickly placed a playful smile on my face.
"You two with your dopey expressions... and high school awkwardness… well, it reduces my stomach to your suitor's level." That was the truth. Watching her potentially falling for another guy did make me sick… but hopefully she would take the comment as our normal banter and assume that I was just insulting her flirting technique. It was getting hard to come up with these double entendres. I bit my lip nervously through my cheeky smile.
"Oh, I make you sick do I?" Sara smacked me in the gut with the back of her hand, giggling slightly.
"Not you individually," I replied with a wink. I reached out and pulled open the door to Ronnie's lab and reached out to guide her through with my hand resting on the small of her back.
"Good to know," she replied with a coy grin. As I followed a step behind her into the room I saw her bashful grin bloom into a deliberate smirk.
"What? What's so funny?"
"…suitor, Nicky? How old are you, eighty?" she laughed as I gave a shrug accompanied by a sheepish smile. Back to business as usual.