Chapter 4
AN: This takes place sometime not terribly long after the end of Engraved Invitations...
Oh I've got reservations
About so many things
But not about you
"Reservations", Wilco
They found themselves later that night in a tangle in the middle of the bed. She didn't want to let go. He didn't seem to mind.
"You ok?" she asked, softly.
"Mm-hm," he said. "You?"
"I'm great," she said, smiling a bit.
"It was ok?" he asked, shifting a bit so he could see her face.
"It was plenty ok. More than ok," she said, nodding.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Didn't you think so?" she asked, raising her eyebrows at him.
"Well, yeah, but…"
"No buts. It was good, Tim," she said firmly.
"Ok," he said, subsiding. "Um, now what happens?"
"Well," she sighed. "I have to go to work tomorrow. Later today, that is," she said, catching sight of the alarm clock on the night stand. "But then…"
"But then, maybe I can…I don't know, take you out?" Tim said, tentatively.
She laughed. "You're going in the reverse order. It's supposed to be dinner, then bed."
"Who said there wouldn't be bed afterwards?" he said, quirking an eyebrow in her direction.
"True," she said, happily. His sense of humor had obviously finally come to his rescue. She was glad- Tim was so much more fun to be around when his sense of humor was intact. "So, yes, you can take me out after work tomorrow. Today."
"All right, then," he said. "We'll do that." He was quiet for a long moment. "Cal?" he asked.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Um, were you…are you…do you…I mean, are we going to…I don't know, tell people?" he asked.
She paused. Tim was such an intensely private person that she had a feeling that he would rather they not tell anyone about this. But while she didn't tend to parade her own private life around, she didn't want this to be a secret, either. "Well," she said, slowly. "What did you think?"
"I don't know," he said. "I mean, I have to tell Alexx. She'd kill me if she found out somehow and it wasn't me that told her. But I don't know the rules about this thing- I don't mind telling H or anything, but I don't want to put him in a bad position if he knows, either…"
"No, it's fine. There's no regulation about relationships, really, unless it's a superior and a subordinate situation. We're the same grade, so it doesn't matter, unless we're inappropriate at work, which I don't really see happening," Calleigh said. "Besides, it's up to our superior's discretion, and I don't really see Horatio having an issue with this. Hell, he's probably going to be thrilled."
"You think?" Tim asked.
She nodded. "Two of his favorite people being happy? That's the sort of stuff Horatio lives for."
"True," Tim admitted. "Ok, then. I don't want to make a thing about it, but I don't really like the idea of sneaking around, either."
"Good. I don't either. We don't have to make an announcement or anything. We can let people figure it out on their own. But I will tell Horatio," she said.
"And you're ok if I tell Alexx?" he asked.
She laughed. "I expected you would whether we were keeping it a secret or not."
"Oh," he said.
"It's ok, Tim. She's one of your Moms, after all," she said.
He laughed a little at that. "Yes, yes she is." He pulled her closer. "I'm glad you helped me out."
"I'm glad, too," she said, leaning her head against his chest. She took a deep breath, just inhaling his scent. It was lab chemicals and soap, aftershave and baby shampoo ("it's cheap and it doesn't hurt my eyes"), and all very uniquely Tim. It made her feel safe all of a sudden.
"I'm sorry it took so long," he said.
"No, don't," she said, drowsily. "I mean, yeah, it would have been nice to have sorted this all out sooner, but realistically, you couldn't have."
"Still…"
"It happened the way it did. We can't change it now," she said. "And who knows? Maybe we'll be glad this is how it happened in the long run. Quit beating yourself up and go to sleep, Tim," she yawned.
"Ok," he yawned. "Wake me when you go?"
"Of course," she said. "Possibly in a nicer way than I usually do."
"Mm, that could be nice," he said. "Ok. Going to sleep now."
"Yes, sleep," she said, closing her eyes and smiling. Yes, I think this is going to work out just fine, now….
