Author: Joyce
Title: The Consequences of Flirting
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own them.
Note: Hey guys, I'm back. First of, I want to thank anybody who took the time to review 'Breaking and making a team.' It was very much appreciated. Secondly, I had planned for this to be the last chapter but somehow I can't seem to let this story go so I decided to write a few more chapters. I hope you guys agree with that decision. Thirdly, I hope everybody checks out 'The Underdog,' because my co-authors did an amazing job writing their chapters. It turned out to be a beautiful story so check it out! Lastly, thanks for all the reviews on this story and keep them coming. Enjoy the chapter!
Defining moments
She didn't know if he was sleeping, although his hold on her was still firm. It felt like he couldn't let her go, wouldn't let her go. When she had opened the door she hadn't expected to see him like that. Tired, sad, vulnerable. He had clung to her like she was the only thing keeping him sane and she wondered if she really was. Wondered if he ever doubted coming back to her, if the thoughts of casino's had entered his mind at all. She had let him hold her, had let him lead her to the couch where they were now. Him spooning behind her, his hold on her strong and his breathing finally back to a normal level. She moved slightly and he responded by stroking his thumb over her belly.
"Hey," he said to her, the first word he had spoken since they moved to the couch.
"Hey," she whispered back, having trouble with the fact that her back was to him, that she couldn't see him but she sensed that he needed that. Warrick Brown wasn't used to sharing his emotions and this was the only way he knew how to deal with the fact that suddenly he needed her when things got complicated. Her. Not his music, not the thrill of a bet, these days she was the only thing that could make him feel like the world was still spinning when he felt like it had stopped.
"He just broke down, Sara," he told her and she cringed a bit, not wanting Nick to hurt like that.
"But you were there for him. You helped him," she responded, hoping that the knowledge would help him.
"He doesn't deserve this," Warrick mumbled and she could only nod until he continued. "It should have been me, if there was any justice in this world then it should have been me responding to that call."
She spun around so fast she would have fallen if he hadn't tightened the already strong hold he had on her.
"Don't ever say that again," she replied with anger in her voice. "Nick never deserved this but you didn't either. It was bad luck."
Warrick sighed, still not looking at her even though she was facing him now.
"What did Nick ever do to deserve any of this? I deserved punishment, he didn't."
She forced him to look at her and was shocked by the guilt she saw in his eyes.
"You deserved punishment for what?" she questioned. "For being a kind, smart and caring man? Stop doing this to yourself, Rick."
He closed his eyes, pressing a short kiss in her hair.
"I don't know how to stop, Sara," he confessed. "And seeing him like this today...You don't know what it feels like to know that I could have been the one to prevent all that."
"You couldn't have prevented it," she said stubbornly. "Why would it be better if it had been you in that box?"
"I don't know," he whispered. "It just feels like that scenario wouldn't have hurt as many people."
"It would have hurt me," she told him in a small voice and he looked at her with big eyes, amazed by the fact that she was telling him this.
"Seeing Nick like that, I could barely stand it..." she continued, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "But the thought that it could have been you in that box.. that just scares me to death."
"Why?" he asked her and she kissed him an almost desperate way. "Because you matter to me, Warrick," she answered the question before she continued.
"So stop this, you're not helping Nick by feeling guilty all the time. He needs you right now, he needs you strength and I need you to be ok. I need you to finally accept what has happened and deal with it. What ifs won't help Nicky."
"How did you get to be so smart," he wanted to know with a small smile on his face and she just shrugged.
"This isn't about me being smart," she told him in a serious tone. "This is about me not wanting to see my guy hurting like this."
"I'm your guy now?" Warrick said with a wink and she just nodded before she kissed him again. "And you better remember that," she mumbled against his lips, causing him to laugh.
"I will," he promised her, allowing himself to get lost in her kisses.
"So, now what?" he asked her a couple of minutes later. "Are we a couple now?"
She thought about it, somehow finding the thought of them being a couple still slightly frightening.
"Do we have to label this?" she answered. "I know that you make me feel like I've never felt before but I don't know where this is going. Couldn't we just take it slow and see where we're heading?"
He just nodded, giving her a short kiss. "I can do that," he told her and she knew that he meant it. "So," he drawled. "What are you doing tomorrow? After shift?"
She shrugged.
"I don't know, sleeping I guess."
"Pfff," Warrick told her, a grin on his face. "Sleeping can be such a waste of your time. I really feel sleeping is overrated. Wanna go on a date?"
"A date, huh?" Sara repeated, pretending to think about it. "I can do a date."
"Good," he said satisfied before he got up, releasing her in the progress. "I should go home, get some sleep," he announced.
"I thought sleeping was overrated?" Sara asked playfully and he just smiled.
"Not when you're very tired and have to work in a couple of hours," he said dryly and she nodded, laughing a little.
"I'm glad you stopped by tonight," she told him. "The first time was..well, it was hot." She stopped when she noticed the proud grin on his face.
"Don't give me that, Brown," she said with a grin of her own. "I know you found kissing me just as satisfying."
He grinned some more, loving the look of confidence she was sending his way. "I'm also glad you came her after you went to see Nick," she said, changing the subject.
"Me too," Warrick agreed before he grabbed his jacket and walked towards the door, lingering there, obviously doubting whether or not he should tell her this.
"I really needed you tonight, Sara," he confessed and she had trouble haring him over the loud beating of her heart.
"Anytime," she finally managed to choke out and when he smiled her heart fluttered a bit.
"Bye," he told her and he closed the door behind him while she stood on the same spot, motionless.
"I'm in love with him," she finally whispered to herself, her voice full of awe. She walked to the mirror, checking to see if the knowledge had changed her but she looked the same.
"I'm in love with him," she said again, her voice stronger this time before she laughed at her own reflection.
"I'm so in love with him," she said for the third time, a huge smile on her face when she turned around and headed for bed. She couldn't wait to go on that date..
Tbc...
