A/N: This is a long one, sorry (but not really). It took a slightly dramatic turn, but not everything can be sunshine and rainbows, right? I hope you like it. Thanks in advance for taking your time to read it. Fun and flirtation will be coming up soon, I promise. Reviews are love.
Some would argue that whisky was never a good idea, but the folks from Fifty-One and Twenty-One would have to disagree. Three shots in and the mood seemed lighter, banter and laughs filling their space. Upton was standing at the table, leaning against Foster's fishnet-clad leg comfortably.
"You can sit," Foster offered, not wanting to give herself any space from the woman but being chivalrous, nonetheless.
"I'm good here," Upton smiled, leaning nearer to her friend. "If I stand my outfit is less obvious," she admitted quietly.
"Yeah, yeah… I'm here," Severide grumbled, approaching the table in full Caesar garb. "But when I say I need a drink, I mean I REALLY need a drink," he smiled despite himself, kissing Stella on the cheek as she eyed him up and down.
"What did I tell ya?!" she piped up. "Just look at those thighs!" She smacked his leg muscle and grinned like an idiot.
"I don't need anyone but you looking at my thighs," he chuckled, stealing the drink out of Stella's hand and chugging it. "And what's up with this punk?" he asked, smacking Casey on the chest affectionately. "You look like you just came from the firehouse and I'm here in a freakin' skirt!"
"Hi, I'm Matt Casey," he grinned, shaking his friend's hand.
"You're a dick," Severide laughed.
"I'm gonna get a drink. What do you guys need?" Upton asked, looking into her empty glass as she felt the insecurity wash over her again.
A chorus of random requests filled the table and Hailey tried to keep them all in her mind: Beer. Trash can. More whisky.
"I'll come with," Severide offered. "I need all of the alcohol right now," he smiled.
"Why, baby? Are your thighs cold?" Stella smirked, pinching his leg.
"The things I do for you," he shook his head.
"Upton, can I just tell you how freakin' good you look as Black Widow," Ruzek smiled drunkenly before they had even reached the bar, checking her out with no shame.
"Yeah, Adam. You already did," Upton said quietly, covering herself again subconsciously.
"Sure, but I mean, that's really something. I didn't know you had it in you," he smirked, earning a look of disdain from Burgess that he didn't notice anyway.
"It's Halloween," Upton shrugged, trying to play off her discomfort. Kelly was ordering the drinks and she hoped to leave the bar and return to the table as quickly as possible.
"Well sure it's Halloween, but you really went all out. I'm not sure who you're trying to impress but it's one lucky dude," Ruzek grinned.
"Adam!" Burgess piped up suddenly. "It's only ten o'clock. Maybe you should chill on the beers," she said, looking into Hailey's eyes just long enough to apologise for her sometimes-boyfriend's behavior.
"Severide?" Upton said, elbowing him in the arm pointedly. "I think I need more whisky."
He nodded solemnly, having heard the conversation and sensing Upton's discomfort. Kelly might not have known the detective well, but her insecurity was palpable.
"Why don't you take these back to the table and I'll be over in a minute," he suggested, handing her the three drinks she could carry. The look in his eye let her know that he clearly received her message.
"Thanks," she smiled, taking the drinks and retreating, hearing Ruzek and Burgess argue faintly.
Upton sat the drinks down hastily before grabbing her bag, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially Foster.
"I'm going to change," she rasped out, holding her bag over her shoulder as she turned away from the table.
"What?" Foster was surprised and instantly concerned.
"I brought clothes. I'm just uncomfortable," Upton threw out, looking at the ground.
"Hailey, what happened?" Foster asked softly, pulling Upton by the hand to stand next to her.
"Nothing happened. I'm uncomfortable. I'm going to change," she spat.
"Hailey…" Foster whispered, letting Upton know that she could see through her attempt at nonchalance.
"Em, I'm fine, okay? I'll feel better when I'm out of this stupid costume," she said, overwhelmed tears lining her eyes despite her efforts to hide them.
Foster nodded, knowing Upton well enough than to push it. She knew that her friend was uncomfortable, and it was evident that something had happened to amplify it, but she would wait until Hailey was ready to talk. She watched with sad eyes as Upton retreated to the bathroom.
"Did she leave?" Severide asked, suddenly back at the table with the rest of the drinks.
"No, went to change," Foster explained, though her worry was apparent.
"That dick," Severide shook his head angrily, looking across the room to Ruzek.
"What dick?" Kidd asked, brow furrowed. "What happened?"
"That asshole Ruzek wouldn't stop talkin' about her costume. Isn't he dating Burgess? He was borderline inappropriate with her sitting right there."
"What did he say?" Foster said, anger filling her voice.
"He just wouldn't let it go. He could tell she was uncomfortable, but he's drunk and doesn't care," Severide told them.
Foster began to aggressively scratch at her thighs, torn between going to kill Ruzek, going to check on Hailey, or keep calm and wait it out. None of the above seemed like the best answer right now.
"Do you want me to check on her?" Brett asked quietly, resting her hand on Foster's.
"I think I should, but I don't want to freak her out more. She's already upset," she said quietly. "They used to have a thing, you know?" she admitted, not allowing her eyes to meet her friend's.
"Upton and Ruzek?" Brett questioned, surprised.
"Yeah. Nothin' serious, but I'm sure whatever he said upset her more than it would coming from someone else," Foster told her.
Brett nodded solemnly, understanding a little better now.
"I already get mad just at the way he looks at her sometimes, but now…"
"Go check on her," Brett interrupted, patting her hand. "Go tell her she's fine, hug her, whatever you have to do. You'll both feel better."
Foster nodded, smiling at her friend and wiping an angry tear from her eye. She stood with resolve, looking across the room to Ruzek before turning toward the bathroom.
"Are they together?" Casey asked in a mere whisper, sidling up next to Brett as Foster walked away.
"She won't admit it, but I think so," Brett told him, knowing she could trust him with her life.
"Why wouldn't she admit it to you, of all people?" he questioned, knowing how close their friendship was.
"They might not be together… yet," Brett shrugged, feeling her heart pull for her friends. "I think she's scared, doesn't want to be crushed if Upton doesn't feel the same."
"Well I'm no expert, but it seems like she does," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "Foster really cares about her, doesn't she? I've never seen her like that with someone."
"I have an idea…" Brett said, eyes wide. "If they come back here and things lighten up, I need you to help me out with something…"
XXX
The sniffle that she heard upon opening the bathroom door alerted Foster into a frenzy of adrenaline and anxiety. The stall door was shut, a black leather outfit crumpled on the floor below.
"Hailey?" Foster asked softly, not wanting to startle her friend but unable to keep the concern from her voice.
"I'm fine," Upton choked out, kicking the discarded costume with a boot-clad foot.
"That's not what I asked," Foster said, leaning against the stall door and deciding to play this the way Hailey would want. "Are you dressed?"
"Yes," Hailey answered quickly, brushing down her long-sleeved tee shirt and finally feeling more like herself.
"Can I come in?"
"You kinda did already, dork," Upton said and Foster heard the smile in her voice, finally.
"I meant into the stall, dumbass," Foster smiled back, tapping the stall door gently with her fingertips.
"I'm really fine, Em," Upton lied, unlatching the lock anyway.
As soon as Foster saw her, hair disheveled, eyes red from crying, she broke. Without another word, she pulled Hailey into her arms, into a firm embrace that she hoped would express everything that she was feeling without having to say it. Upton melted into her, accidentally knocking the pirate hat off of her head and holding soundly to the base of her neck.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Hailey rasped into her hair, not loosening her arms from around Foster.
"Okay," Foster said soundly. "What're we gonna do with your costume?" she asked, pulling away just enough to look Hailey in the eye as she kicked the leather with the toe of her boot.
"I was just gonna trash it," Upton said, standing back and wiping the remaining tears from her eyes.
"I have a better idea…"
The suggestive eyebrow raise that was sent her way did not go unnoticed by Foster. But unfortunately, this was not the time for sexy flirtation.
"We can go return it tomorrow," she grinned wildly, watching as Upton's inappropriate expectations of the idea dissolved.
"Emily!" Hailey laughed out loud, pushing Foster by the shoulder as a blush covered her cheeks. "I don't wanna be 'that guy'," she chuckled.
"What guy? The guy who bought something he doesn't like and takes it back the next day?" Foster challenged.
"No, the guy who wore a Halloween costume and then returned it," Upton rolled her eyes.
"Why not? Do you care about what the costume shop people think of you?" Foster smiled, expanding her hand across Hailey's ribs as she spoke.
"No, of course not. I just—"
"So fold it up, put it in your bag and we'll return it tomorrow," she grinned, fighting the pull that she felt when she looked into Hailey's sea blue eyes. "But right now, we have drinks waiting. And friends," Foster realised. "The drinks seem more appealing than the friends, right now," she shrugged.
Upton pulled Foster into her, resting her head on her shoulder as she clutched to the woman. Foster, though surprised, felt her heart race and swell at the contact.
"Can I just…" Hailey sniffled lightly, "can I stay here for a minute?" she asked vulnerably, voice muffled by Foster's hair and the ruffles of her pirate shirt.
"As long as you need, baby."
The second the words were out of Foster's mouth, she tensed up. She hadn't meant for the term of endearment to slip. Something about Upton made her brain work without her conscious approval.
"I'm sorry," Foster blushed, stepping back slightly. "That just flew out of my mouth…"
Upton smiled at Foster for a second before pulling her back in, resting her head as she had and holding the woman just a little more tightly.
"It's okay, Em. I like the way it sounded."
XXX
