A/N: Hi everybody. I am glad you clicked on my story. I have been reading fanfics for 4 years now but I have neved writen one. This is my first fic like EVER. Be kind please. Reviews are welcome! Enjoy it!
And the idea of letting anybody close to me is terrifying for obvious reasons. But the truth, Teresa, is that I can't imagine waking up knowing that I wont see you. The truth is… I love you.
These were the words that started the fire. But " Say it again" , even though I didn't forget them. How could I?, and he kissing me for the first time, was the beginning of it all. So it is not that uncommon when I find myself on random occasions (let's face it, every day) thinking about the best and most desired moment of my life. Those three words preceded the beginning of the relationship with the man I have secretly loved for 12 years. I wanted to treasure them forever. So I did.
I may look tough on the outside but in reality I have fears too, I am human after all. Needles are my phobia. So the day I had my tattoo appointment scheduled I was anxious and as the fake, but really observant, psychic my boyfriend is, he noticed right away that something was off. I didn't want to tell him about the tattoo. I wanted it to be a surprise.
I shift for the thousandth time in the last hour or so. I hear a soft, rough sigh.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?" I ask Jane.
"Do you mean right now or an hour ago?" he asks playfully with a smile on his sleepy face.
I turn on the right side of my body and face him. He stares at me blinking slowly.
"What is wrong, Tess?"
Tess. It sounds so nice from his husky morning voice.
I shake my head from left to right and smile, so he stops worrying.
"I am still tired of the last case, it has lasted weeks and it was really tricky. The amount of coffee I had last night to wrap up the ton of paperwork is still running through my veins so I didn't sleep so well" I say.
Which for the record, is totally true. So I don't feel guilty for telling half the truth. His response is to bring me closer to his chest and start running circles on my back. I close my eyes, breathe him in and caress his soft golden curls. We both relax into each other's arms for half an hour until my phone rings.
" Let's go, sleeping head, we are going to be late" I murmur in his ear before twisting my way out of his strong grip.
The day passes fastly until 5 pm. the time I said to Abott that I had to leave for a personal thing. He didn't object. After all, I stayed after hours the night before doing the case report.
"Does Jane know? Do you want me to inform him? Usually, you both come and go on the same car"
"No," I reply rapidly, shaking my head. He throws me a weird look under his glasses and I realise how my answer has sounded. "I mean… he already knows"
"Oh, in that case you are free to go"
"Thanks, boss" I smile at him so he gets rid of my first reaction. He does.
I decide to walk to the tattoo studio, to relax a bit. As I approach the place my anxiety goes higher. "For god's sake, is just a tattoo, I have been through more pain than that. I can handle it. Besides, what level of pain can bring 3 little words?" I look up and see the place's sign. I breathe in and accompanied by the little bell on top of my head I go in.
"Hi, I am looking for Jason. I have a tattoo appointment" I say to the blonde girl behind the counter.
"Yes, of course. Can I have your name?" she asks politely
"Teresa. Teresa Lisbon" I reply
"Ok" she goes behind a door to look for her partner. Meanwhile I look around. There are a lot of designs on the walls. Chinese dragons, flowers, people… I hear the door open and I spin around.
" Hi, I am Jason. I will be the one to tattoo you today" he is the same height as me, he is quite skinny and has his long hair into a bun. His profession is reflected on his skin.
I smile and follow him to a little studio.
"Well, you tell me. What do you want me to imprint on your skin?" he starts opening packets of needles, ink and gauze. I glup at the sight of all that material.
"eh...I… I want something simple. It is a phrase. Short. Say it again." I explain.
"Nice. Could you do me the favor of laying back on that stretcher? I will be right back with the lettering samples"
The buzzing noise starts and I wince as the needle touches my ribs.
"So… do you wanna tell me about the meaning of this tattoo?" asks Jason "If you are ok with it" he adds fastly " I ask this to all my customers, especially to the ones in pain" he says with a short laugh.
I laugh as well. "Well… long story short, I have known a man for 12 years, we worked together for 10, he was away for 2...and we have always had feelings for each other but we couldn't be together. When I gave up on us by moving to Washington with the boyfriend I had by then, he confessed his love for me in a crowded plane. He was taken to a detention room and when I came in, deciding to stay, I told him "Say it again" referring to the things he told me on the plane. He leaned and kissed me. It was the happiest moment of my life and the beginning of something I have wanted for more than a decade: us as a couple"
"So beautiful… but no short at all"
" Not half!"
The buzzing noise from the machine stops.
"All done here. Do you wanna take a look?" He gives me a mirror.
I look at the black, fluid letters on my ribs.
"It looks amazing, thank you" I say
"You can't take off the plastic wrap for a week, put on this cream so it heals correctly, ok?"
"Got it, thanks"
As soon as I pass the door Jane appears next to me.
"Teresa! Hi, dear. Where have you been all afternoon? I was worried sick. I asked Abott and he told me that you left early and that you told him that I knew about it, which I certainly did not. He said that you seemed nervous. Is everything ok?"
He talks so fast he barely breathes. I keep on smiling.
"Why are you looking at me like that? What's with the smile?" he says laughing nervously.
"Well… first of all, I am okay, everything is fine, no need to worry. I am sorry I gave you a bad time by not warning you." I say as I put my arms around him.
"That's okay, love…" he says with his cheek on my head. "But where were you?"
I break free and run up the stairs "Catch me If you want to know!" I say with a singing voice.
"You bet I will!" he shouts between me.
Half panting half laughing we make it to the bedroom. I start to take off my shirt to show him the tattoo.
"Teresa… he says with darker eyes and a half smile on the face "it's not that I would complain… not at all. But isn't it too soon for that? We even haven't had dinner yet"
I turn red "you hush!" I am wearing a tank top. "Ok, ready?" I pull up the side of the fabric, revealing the surprise.
"What? No, you didn't!" he exclaims coming closer. He turns me sideway and sits on the bed. I am between his legs. With the tattoo at the same height as his eyes he stares at it, shock still on his face.
"Do you like it?" I ask nervously.
"If I like it? Of course! Wow… those words…" he murmurs softly, remembering that night.
He looks up "Teresa Lisbon...how bold of you…" he says teasingly "getting a tattoo...who would have told uh...not me" he laughs
I lift my chin proudly "well sir… you don't know everything about me"
"You are full of surprises, my dear" he embraces me and pulls me on top. He kisses me and as he runs his hands by the side of my ribs I jump back.
"Ow, Jane! The tattoo!" I complain.