Category: Goren/Eames, drabble, warm fluff for cold winter days.
Spoilers: Maybe for the stake-out scene from "Silver Lining"?
Disclaimer: not mine.

Coffee

On stake-outs, he always brought her coffee. She had never been a morning person and the smell of the hot liquid, poured from his thermos, smoothed the transition between sleep and it's-your-turn-now. Promised temporary relief from the cold of the winter nights.

But then, one night, he forgot.

Huddled in the front seats of the car, he noticed the absence of the silver container only when he reached for it and came up empty.

When it was time he looked over to her, took in her relaxed features. He thought shortly about waiting until she woke up by herself, but knew she would protest against it.

Hesitantly he said her name. A second time, again, a bit louder. Twice, to be safe. Tried tapping on her shoulder, but the coat and other layers of clothing worked against him. Trying not to startle her, he gently touched her tousled hair, her temple, her cheek, before her eyes opened, slowly focusing on him.

The dry comment he expected from her to chase away the closeness never came.

So lost in the moment and her gaze that he only realised he was still cupping her cheek, now warm against his palm, when her hand touched his. Amazed when he felt her smile moments before it lit her face.

Then a car stopped in front of the house and seconds later they were running, chasing the perp down the street until they caught him, cuffed him, and returned with him to their car to bring him in.

They didn't talk that night.

She didn't turn into a morning person. Each morning when he woke her she still insisted on her coffee. But he found out that when he held her close, one arm wrapped around her waist, the other smoothing her tousled hair, and whispered her name against her temple, she would wake up with a smile.