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Special thanks to SWEEPEASPATCH for helping with the grammar!

Chapter 21

Richard glared at Kris. Great, it had gone too easy, her agreeing. He should have known. When he looked at her again he saw to his surprise that she closed her eyes quickly. He turned to see what had gotten to her. "What's the matter?" He was just in time to see Camille squeezing Nick's bicep.

"Nothing." Kris lied. "Camille was always so much better in the flirting department."She shrugged sadly. "I'm just rubbish really. I turn into this pathetic puddle. Which is probably highly unattractive. I mean, I can flirt with guys when it's fake, but when it's real..." She looked at the back of Nick's head. "Well, I just kind of shut down." She eyed Richard for a moment. "Maybe we're not that different from each other, inspector Poole. Do you think?"

Richard just looked at her. He didn't know what to say. He had never seen any similarities with the outgoing, attractive woman in front of him. But she seemed sincere now. Could it be that she too was unsure and lacked confidence in some areas?

"Not much for intimate talk?" Kris asked as she winked at him cheekily when no reaction came from the man in front of her. "Ahh well... You know Richard... I'll tell you a secret. Us woman, we are insecure too. You're not the only one who is insecure. Sometimes we need to make some distance... I don't know why..." She lied. "Or maybe I do." She admitted reluctantly. "I think it's to feel safe perhaps?"

He looked at her, intrigued. "You've seen Camille. She isn't nervous or shy. You know her."

Kris laughed at that. "God, you're so wrong." She put her hand on the table and leaned on it. "Yes, I know her. That she seems so self confident on the outside doesn't mean that she's filled with confidence on the inside." She explained to him. "We do need some sweet words too, you know. Saying out loud that you love us, instead of thinking we just know. Or thinking that it's clear. We don't understand that. Say it to our faces, Richard."

"I think you're drunk."

"Richard Poole, such a smart man. But not in all departments, are you?" She took her glass from the table. "I'll try to keep this all a secret Richard. But it'll be really hard. I don't like secrets."

He gave her an angry glare. He couldn't face Camille if she heard that he'd called her a lesbian and had tried to frighten Nick away from her. How could he ever explain that?! "You're a psychologist, for God Sakes! You have to keep secrets." He bit at her.

"Yes, but not for my friends, when it's about them." She leaned towards him. "I'll make you a deal. I'll say nothing about the lesbian thing because you will. I will give you a week before I'll tell her."

"What?!"

"I think it will be good, to clear the air between the two of you." She turned her back on him and walked towards the couple. "O, there they are! The happy couple."

Catherine shook her head as she saw Kris walk towards Camille and Nick unsteadily. The woman obviously had had too much and was in a hyperactive state now. She made a mental note to bring Kris coffee as soon as she had worked through the other orders.

"And how was it? Did he take you out surfing?"

Richard swallowed. Maybe Kris would have forgotten this conversation in a few hours. He had to make that safe bet. Otherwise he had to come up with another plan. He sank back into the chair behind him.

"Fine." Camille said with a raised eyebrow at Kris's tone. Was she drunk? Her eyes sought out Richard who was still sitting at the same table he was an hour ago, drinking his tea. He shrugged when their eyes met.

"Just fine?" Kris slurred as she plastered her body against Nick's whole back, leaving no space between them. She wrapped her arms around him tightly as she put her right cheek against his neck so she could still see Camille.

Nick looked at her hands that were flat on his chest now. He raised his brows in astonishment.

"It must have been more then 'just fine'. Look at him. He's one fine specimen." Kris's hands roamed over his arms ending at his biceps. "And sooo strong. All athletic and muscular." Her hands went over his stomach. "Who wouldn't like that?" She placed a kiss on his shoulder.

Nick raised an eyebrow in surprise as he tried to turn around and grab her wrists. "Kris!" He warned.

"Yes?" She answered innocently as she tried to loosen her wrists from his grip. The concentrated look and wrinkle between her brows made Camille chuckle.

Nick managed to turn around on his barstool. His big blue eyes studied her in astonishment. He had never seen her drunk. She was always in control. "Are you drunk?"

Richard bent forward and leaned his head on his right hand now. This promised to be amusing. At least the cozy time between Nick and Camille had been broken up now. Which made him feel very good.

Kris caressed Nick's forehead and ruffled his hair up with her free hand. "He's like a brother to me. My little brother." She said as she looked at Camille.

Nick's blue eyes scanned Kris quickly, trying to find out where this weird behavior came from. "I'm older then you." He mentioned as he shook his head and watched her in awe.

She leaned against him again. "My little big brother. Aren't you? You look at me like a sister, don't you?" She looked at Camille again. "Yes, he does." She cooed as if she was talking to a little kid.

Nick let go of her wrist.

"He's so strong and smart." Kris put her arm around his shoulders and pushed her side against his as she faced Camille. "You should really be glad with him. He's very social, funny, also empathic. And very cute." Her hand went from his one cheek, over his hair to his other cheek. "I mean.. Did you see the dimples?!" She put her finger on the dimple in his left cheek.

"Kris, stop it." Nick grabbed her wrist again and tried to get her other wrist but she seemed like an octopus, limbs everywhere.

"Good choice, Camille, good choice. You want this one on your side. He traveled all this way just for me. How thankful should I be? Such a rock star." She looked at him.

Nick narrowed his eyes at her. He didn't know if she was being sarcastic now or just over the top, but she was definitely tipsy.

Richard swallowed. He took a sip of his cold tea. He felt lonely, all of a sudden. Camille on the bar stool, Nick trying to restrain Kris, it seemed intimate. Friendly. Annoying, yes, but there was something between them. Some sort of care. Friendship. These people looked out for each other. He would never be like Nick McGarrett. Camille would never like him. She would never look at him like she was looking at Nick right now. And a woman like Kris would never talk about him that way towards Camille.

"You want someone you can talk to, don't you? And who understands you? And also. You can lean on his chest... It's amaaaaaaazing..." She put her flat hand on Nick's muscular chest again. "So big and strong, I just want to-"

"-That's it." Nick grabbed her wrists again as he stood up. This wasn't like her. He had to put a stop to it before it would get out of hand and she'd regret what she had done or said in the morning.

Camille looked at her mother who came towards them from behind the bar. "What happened to her?" It was strange to see Kris tipsy because she was always careful with drinking. She didn't want to lose control. Camille was surprised that she had right now.

"She drank something she shouldn't have. Now she's paying the price." Catherine answered business like. "Here you go." She said as she placed a coffee for Kris on the bar next to Nick.

"I'm not drunk." Camille heard Kris complain at Nick who had trouble restraining her.

"Maman..." Camille asked as she eyed her mother.

Catherine sighed. "She took my new mixture drink."

"Why didn't you stop her?"

"Because ma chere..." Catherine said as she put a dish towel over her shoulder and leaned on the bar towards Camille. "Sometimes I just like the way walls crumble and we get to take a peek behind them. Don't you agree?" And also, she hadn't even seen Kris taking her new potion.

Camille followed Catherine's gaze at Nick and Kris. Nick was trying to restrain her and get her to calm down and she was all over him, treating him like her little brother who she was having a romp with.

"And look at Richard." Catherine said as Camille looked at the table behind Nick and Kris. "He doesn't seem happy."

Camille studied Richard.

"Doesn't he like Nick?" Catherine asked.

Camille shrugged. "I don't know. I wouldn't know why not?"

"So he just was okay with Nick coming in and swooping his undercover job away?" Catherine asked as she studied her daughter.

"Of course, oui. It's what's best for the job." Camille answered as she looked at her maman.

Catherine's left brow rose in surprise. "You really don't think he has trouble with the fact that he was to play your lover and now that handsome, tall, very intense man is going to be the one who gets to be all hands on with you?"

"Of course not. You know Richard. He doesn't care." Camille answered as she shook her head. She tried to hide her disappointment.

"Then why the face?" Catherine asked as she saw Richard's long face.

Camille shrugged. "Who knows with those stiff English men." She mumbled nonchalantly as she narrowed her eyes and studied him. "He doesn't like the whole cuddling romp-thing maybe?"

Kris seemed to be ready with fondling Nick when they collided with Richard's table. She forgot Nick instantly and focused on Richard now. "Richard! It's so nice to have you here! Come and dance with me."

"No, thank you." Richard said as he became pale. Was that wild creature coming towards him now? Was he her next target? Please no!

"Is that suit really necessary? It's very hot tonight. Don't you agree?" She looked at Nick. "I'll take it off." Her hands reached out for Richard's shoulders but Camille was just in time to grab her waist and twist her around.

"Camille!" Kris uttered as her already outstretched arms hugged Camille and almost crushed her. "My sweet friend. My best best best friend ever!"

"Oui, let's get you upstairs." Just in time. She had saved Richard.

"AH nonnnn, I was just-" Kris turned towards Richard. "-Going to hug Richard."

"Non! Richard doesn't like to be touched, really." Camille quickly informed her.

"O, of course he does! Who doesn't? Camille, you should really touch him! I'm sure he would like it." Kris slurred.

Nick pressed his lips together to not laugh out loud when he saw the pale Detective Inspector turn a deep shade of red and even the DS began to color.

A nasty silence hung in the air for just a moment. But it felt like minutes.

"Just put your hands on him, there's nothing difficult about that." Kris's hand reached out for Richard and collided with Nick's chest.

Nick had stepped in. He did feel somewhat responsible for his out of control partner who was all hands on and wild at the moment. "That's enough for tonight." Nick concluded as he grabbed both of her arms now to restrain her. He felt protective of her. And suddenly an idea dawned on him. Maybe he could ask her a few questions now, and she would answer him in this state. She'd have his head for it tomorrow, but maybe she wouldn't remember? He could at least try...

"No, I'm not tired yet." Kris muttered stubbornly.

Nick uttered a groan. "What did you put in there?!" He asked Catherine who had been following the whole scene from behind the bar.

"Nothing special."

"You turned her into a touchy feely monster."

"I'm not a monster." Kris stated sadly.

"At least you're not a mean drunk. But this version of you is quite annoying." Nick shook his head. "Come on, Olaf. It's time to go upstairs." He looked at Camille who nodded. She looked at Richard in worry.

"Olaf?" Kris asked out loud, hyperactive.

"Olaf, the Snow man, from Frozen. Just like you." They heard Nick say when he tried to drag her with him.

"I'm not a man."

"No, but your nose is as long as Olaf's." Nick quipped amused as he let go of her one arm and caught her nose between his thumb and finger playfully.

"Noooo! You're mean. I can walk by myself." He let go of her and she almost got past him back to Camille and Richard. "No, you don't!" Nick stated as he grabbed her by her waist and twirled her around easily. "Up you go." He got her legs and began to carry her up in the air.

"Do you think I'm pretty?" Kris suddenly asked.

"What?" Nick uttered surprised.

"You think Camille is pretty. I saw you looking at her."

He began to laugh. "My god, Kris, are you jealous?"

"She's in love. Big time. But not with you."

"Not with me?" He repeated.

"O, you think she'd fall in love with you just like that?'

"Of course, doesn't every woman?" He quipped. He wasn't interested in Camille at all. Of course, she was a beautiful woman. But there was another woman who had his attention for quite some time now. And whoever he started dating after meeting her, they paled in comparison with her. None of the other woman came close to the one in his arms. He hated to admit it, and mostly he wouldn't. But having her so close physically now seemed to fry his brain and do all sorts of things to him.

"I didn't."

"No? But you are jealous, aren't you?" Nick wished she was. He really did. But probably no such luck. "So maybe you are secretly in love with me?" He tried with a big smile. He pushed away his feelings and made a joke out of it. It wasn't meant to be, however he longed for Kris Milano, it was just physical attraction. They were friends. That had to be enough.

Kris put her hand on his cheek. "Maybe- I have to go help them. Help Richard." She suddenly said as she slipped out of Nick's arms and before he could grab her she made her way back towards the bar.

Downstairs in the bar

"I'm sorry about that. She's usually more... Reserved." Camille was saying to Richard.

Richard cleared his throat. "She got drunk pretty fast."

"Oui. But I have to say maman makes a mean drink if she wants to. She likes to experiment."

Richard nodded.

"Are you okay?"

"O, yes, sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

She shrugged. "I thought... You didn't look so happy earlier."

"When Kris was coming after me? All hands and arms? Hugging everything in her wake?"

Camille smirked. "Before that. I..." She sat down opposite him. "Are you okay with Nick taking over your job?" She asked.

"O, yes, of course." Richard said ever too quickly. "I mean, he's better at it. With the whole undercover experience he has." And sway. He probably was a man who had sway too. And he himself had none. That was what they had all agreed on wasn't it? Even Dwayne.

"You didn't feel passed by or anything?" Camille asked carefully.

"No, why would I?" He lied.

She tried to read him but couldn't. "Okay." Maybe she had been wrong. And he really did feel relief.

Upstairs

"I'm going to-" Kris began as she walked back towards Richard and Camille.

Nick grabbed her again. "Kris, stop this! You're saying and doing things you're going to regret in the morning!"

"Ahhh, Detective McGarrett, such a savior, always there for the damsels in distress. Well, I'm not in distress and I'll never be. I don't need some..." She looked at his chest. "Big, strong man telling me what to do and I'm-" Her words got smothered by the soft lips that crushed to hers. Before she knew what had happened Nick let go of her but still stood close with his arms around her. Kris's mouth fell open slowly as she stared at him.

Nick stared back at her, first in awe. It hadn't been his meaning... To kiss her... Yes, her lips, they were so inviting, and he'd fantasized about it. But now... He hadn't been able to stop himself, and the nonsense that was coming out of her mouth, he just couldn't resist. But he had never imagined the feeling it would bring up in him. Just from one short, simple kiss. How was that possible? He'd felt pulled to her like a magnet and it had felt so right, so wonderful. Then he registered the puppy dog look on her face. He had never seen her eyes this wide. It was as if realization that he had just kissed her was just hitting her. Of all the reactions he had fantasized about in the last years, this wasn't one of them. She seemed totally frozen, flabbergasted even.

He pushed his feelings away quickly and grinned at her. "I knew that would shut you up."

Kris still couldn't respond but just kept staring at him, looking dumbfounded.

"You got her quiet? How the hell did you do that?" Camille asked surprised when she suddenly seemed to materialize out of nothing beside him.

"O, you know how simple she can get." Nick shrugged easily. "Threaten to take away her chocolate or fries will get you anywhere." He smiled at Camille.

"Is she still in there?" Camille quipped as Kris slowly looked away from Nick now. She snap clicked in front of Kris's face and shook her head surprised. "Kris? Hello? Kris to earth?" Camille shook her head when Kris just looked shortly at her and then had her eyes glued to Nick's face again, for some reason. "I'll take her." Camille grabbed Kris's arm and draped it over her shoulder as she took her from Kris. "Let's get you to bed."

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That's it for now. But there will be action for Richard and Camille VERY soon! What did you think? Please let me know.