Title: Take My Hand (And Show Me The Way)
Fandom: NCIS:Hawai'i
Characters: Lucy Tara, Kate Whistler, Jane Tennant, Kai Holman, Jesse Boone, OC's
Category: Angst, Drama, Romance, Angst with a Happy Ending, Angst and Fluff
Rating: R
Word Count: 2,243
Summary: Set sometime between 1x11 but before the hug and apology in 1x17. Kate is out enjoying her day off and gets pulled into an undercover mission Lucy is working on. To their mutual discomfort, they have to pretend to be a couple - FOR THE MISSION. That's right, y'all. It's a fake dating AU.
Warnings: Canon typical violence, etc.
Notes: Many thanks to Satan for beta'ing this for me, and pointing out all my plot holes. Also for helping me - okay, give me - the title. It's very much appreciated.
"There's no food in here," Kate announced after a brief tour of the refrigerator and kitchen cabinets.
"We can get takeout," Lucy said. "This isn't one of our usual safe houses. They didn't have time to stock it with food before we needed to use it today."
"No reason why we can't go get some groceries ourselves," Kate suggested. "We don't have anywhere else to be for the rest of the night."
"You don't think we should hang out here in case they come by?" Lucy asked, hopefully.
"I think," Kate said, measuring her words carefully. "That they're not supposed to know where you live, because you haven't officially brought them here yet and they have your cell number if they want to get in contact."
"Are you bored?" Lucy asked finally, taking a long look at Kate.
"Maybe," Kate admitted. "It's not like we can do any work here. It's an unsecured site and it would blow our cover if they came here and found any NCIS or FBI files."
"You know, Whistler, life isn't all work," Lucy countered. "There's always fun. We could relax and watch some TV. Read a book. Get crazy. I mean, I'm sure you've had fun at some point before."
Part of Kate wanted to point out that she and Lucy had definitely had fun together in the past. The part of her that wanted to not piss off Lucy suggested that maybe it wasn't the best idea. Instead, Kate sighed. "I kind of assumed you wouldn't want to have fun with me."
Lucy's usually mobile face froze for a moment. Then she shrugged. "Well, on that note, let's go get some groceries. But you're cooking."
There was a brief disagreement when they got inside the store as both women reached for the grocery cart at the same time. For a moment, Kate thought Lucy was going to wrestle her for it, but the moment their fingers brushed, Lucy yanked her hands back and held them up in the air.
"We've been dating for how long now and we still can't agree on who gets to drive the cart?" Kate asked in a low voice, intended for Lucy's ears alone, even if it wouldn't have been noteworthy if anyone had overheard them. To Kate's ear, it sounded like the friendly bickering of any other couple. If only that was what it was.
"It's the fun part," Lucy whined. "That's why I wanted to drive."
"Do you know what we're getting?" Kate asked. "Because apparently I'm the one cooking. And if I'm the one cooking that means I know what we're getting so I get to drive."
Lucy huffed and rolled her eyes. "You're so logical all the time."
There was a flash of motion that Kate caught out of the corner of her eye, a flash of tawny dirty blonde hair the exact color of Jennifer's. She couldn't be certain, but if it was, then she needed a way to remind Lucy of what they were really doing here, playing a part. "I thought that was what you loved about me, honey. " The endearment came out sounding less than endearing.
Lucy stared at her for a long moment. The look in her eyes was one Kate couldn't quite place, but the hurt in them was plain to see. It hurt Kate's heart. "There are a lot of things I love about you, honey, but that's not one of them."
Kate forced herself to laugh like this was all a joke to her, a teasing conversation they'd had a hundred times before. She made herself move and started pushing the cart towards the first aisle. "So what do you love about me?"
"Your hair," Lucy said, without a second's hesitation. "You totally have princess hair."
"I do not," Kate contradicted her, just as instinctively. She came to a stop in the middle of the aisle to glare at Lucy. "What are you even talking about?"
"How can you say you don't if you don't even know what it is?" Lucy asked her, arching an eyebrow at her as she raised up on the tips of her toes in challenge.
"I'm no princess," Kate demurred, looking down and wishing she'd brought a list with her that she could look down at and ignore Lucy with.
"I didn't say you were," Lucy said easily. "I just said you have princess hair." She raised her hand slowly to push a lock of Kate's hair, worn down today, behind her ear. "It's long and flowing, golden and thick, like most of the princesses in Disney cartoons. It does that thing where it frames your face like a halo when it's down," Lucy added with a laugh. "And it looks amazing even when you have it in a ponytail. Totally badass."
"I…don't know what to say to that," Kate said with a little awkward laugh of her own. "Thank you, I guess."
"You're very welcome," Lucy said with a little smile. "Now, what's on this list of yours? Or are you just making this up as we go along?"
"We need a protein," Kate said as they came to the meat aisle, trying to refocus on what they were doing and not what Lucy had just said to her. It was easier than overthinking everything.
Lucy snorted. "You sound like Gordon Ramsey."
"I may have watched a few episodes of Master Chef," Kate replied stiffly. "There's nothing wrong with that."
"Nothing at all," Lucy agreed, but she was still laughing. "It just makes me wonder what other trashy reality shows Kate Wilson watches."
"Master Chef isn't trash," Kate defended her viewing habits. "Not like some other shows."
"Suuuuuure," Lucy drawled. "Keep telling yourself that. So, what are we getting?"
"I was thinking steaks," Kate said, reaching for a package in the refrigerated section.
"No way," Lucy said immediately, so quickly and forcefully that Kate thought maybe she was teasing again.
"What's wrong with steaks?" Kate asked, starting to feel irritated. If Lucy was going to argue with her every step of the way, this was going to take forever.
"I'm from Texas. Barbecue and grilling is our thing. You won't cook them right," Lucy said plaintively.
"So you cook them," Kate said, folding her arms over her chest and staring back at Lucy. "If you're gonna be so picky."
"We don't have a grill," Lucy said cagily.
"There was one out on the balcony," Kate countered. "I saw it when I was checking out the kitchen."
"Fine. I don't know how to cook," Lucy admitted defensively. "Are you happy now?"
"You're full of surprises but you're forgetting, I've seen your refrigerator. I already know you live on takeout," Kate pointed out. "I don't know how you do it."
"You're one to talk," Lucy shot back. "Since when do you cook? I know the hours you work."
"Lucy," Kate hissed, scandalized that Lucy had referenced their jobs here in public, where they could be overheard. Even if she hadn't said what their jobs were.
"Relax, Kate," Lucy said, with a dismissive wave of her hand. She tucked her other hand in the crook of Kate's arm and leaned closer to her. "I'm not gonna blow this." The warmth of Lucy's breath against her neck sent a shiver down Kate's spine.
Kate tried to ignore it and focused on what they were doing. "So what do you want to eat?"
"It's up to you," Lucy said and laughed as Kate gave her a disgruntled look.
"I told you what my choice was and you said no," Kate pointed out.
"I'll be good, I swear," Lucy said solemnly.
"You don't know how," Kate countered but her eyes were smiling.
Lucy slapped her arm weakly but she tucked her other hand over Kate's arm and leaned into her. "Maybe not, but you like that about me."
"I like… some things about you," Kate admitted, playing along but wishing she could say that to Lucy as herself, not as the role they were playing. They had never even done something as simple as this together before. "But not that."
Lucy faked a gasp and held a hand to her heart. "Fine. Be that way."
"Thank you," Kate said dryly. "I will." She picked up a package of fish filets that advertised itself as freshly caught that day. "Does this work?"
"Sure," Lucy said. "Now what else are you feeding me?"
"Asparagus," Kate said firmly, pushing the cart into the produce section and claiming the nearest bunch she saw.
"No way," Lucy vetoed, picking the offending vegetable up and putting it back on the shelf.
"Yes," Kate countered. "It'll go perfectly with fresh, steamed fish."
"Kate."
"Lucy," Kate said, just as firmly, refusing to give an inch this time. They stared intently at one another until Lucy finally looked down.
"Fine."
"Thank you," Kate said. She hesitated and then leaned in and kissed Lucy softly, gently on the cheek.
Lucy froze like a deer in headlights. "Kate," she whispered weakly.
"Sorry," Kate murmured back just as quietly. She couldn't meet Lucy's gaze any longer and turned to grab the asparagus again, but instead she grabbed broccoli. It was a weak apology at best but it was a vegetable she knew Lucy liked. She just hoped they were still maintaining their cover well enough for anyone that might be watching them. They finished the shopping and checked out in silence.
Lucy made herself scarce when they returned to the apartment, taking a beer and disappearing further into the apartment while Kate worked on dinner. They traded words only when necessary and Lucy's absence made it unnecessary.
When Kate had finished cooking and plating, she stuck her head out onto the balcony where Lucy had finally landed. She didn't go out any further, wanting to give Lucy plenty of space. "Dinner's ready."
"I'll be in in a minute," was Lucy's clipped reply.
"Okay," Kate said. She wanted to add a warning about it tasting better while it was hot, but something told her Lucy wasn't in the mood to hear it. "Lucy-"
"Kate," Lucy said, putting down her beer and rising to her feet. "I know I dragged you into this, but can we just not talk about anything until we're done with this? We're both professionals and I need to keep this on a professional footing."
The implication that Kate might have been anything but purely professional stung. Even if there had been moments between them that had felt like Kate Whistler and Lucy Tara not the personas they were portraying. "Of course," Kate said, not bothering to keep the hurt out of her voice. There were a lot of things that Lucy could question her about, but professionalism should never have been one of them. Kate's colleagues might not have liked her, but she had never been accused of being unprofessional before. "The mission comes first. Always."
"Right, the mission," Lucy repeated. "I'm glad we're on the same page then." She brushed past Kate and headed for the small table where Kate had set out their food. She sat down and then arched her eyebrows at Kate. "You coming?"
"Yes, I mean, of course," Kate said, following her to the table. She was waiting for Lucy to say something, do something more, but all Lucy did was dig into her food.
"This is really good, Whistler," Lucy said, wiping her mouth on her napkin before putting it back in her lap.
"You don't have to sound so surprised," Kate muttered, taking a bite of her own food so she had an excuse to look away from Lucy. The quiet of the evening was starting to settle in as was the reality that there was no barrier here between them to break the tension, no matter how dedicated Lucy had suddenly decided to become to professionalism.
"I just didn't know you could cook," Lucy offered after a long moment.
"I know how," Kate said. "I just don't get many opportunities with work." Kate tried a little smile. "But today was supposed to be my day off and I didn't want any more takeout. I get tired of it sometimes."
"It's been a while since I've had a home-cooked meal," Lucy admitted. "I think it was the last time I was over at Jesse's."
"What are we doing, Lucy?" Kate asked suddenly, cutting into the conversation. "I thought we were keeping this strictly professional? And now we're chatting about our personal lives."
"Colleagues talk about personal lives," Lucy said, but it was apparent in her voice that she knew her excuse was weak.
"Then let's talk," Kate said, setting down her fork and folding her arms over chest. "We can talk about-"
Lucy held up her hand immediately. "Please stop. I shouldn't have said anything. I was just… there was something I didn't want to tell you."
Kate stopped the instinctive 'what now?' that wanted to spring to her lips and just waited for Lucy to get on with it.
"I told you Jesse and the team put together this apartment on pretty short notice today," Lucy continued after a moment, picking at the fish on her plate with her fork for a moment before she looked back up at Kate. "I didn't have a chance to look around until you were cooking. This apartment was supposed to be for me and my girlfriend. There's, uh, there's only one bed."
(3/12)