S2 E7 - Just Looking at Him

Part 1 of 2

"Sergeant… Camille… a moment. A moment, if you please. May I speak to you for a moment, please?"

Camille halts her charge out the door. Mostly because he is standing in her way. He had ducked in so quick that she'd almost run into him. She drops her eyes, begins rummaging in her purse, "Sure."

He watches her for a half minute or so. She keeps rummaging. Finally her says, "You've been very reticent lately and I'm beginning to get the impression that…"

"That what?" Her eyes never leave her bag and she never seems to find what she is looking for.

"That you're upset with me about something."

"Why do you say that?" Eyes down, hands sifting through whatever detritus is in her bag.

"Well, for one thing this is the first time all week that I've managed to speak to you alone."

"So? I've been busy!" Now she is unzipping pockets and searching there too.

"Yes, I've noticed. So busy that the minute I enter a room you leave it! Also, you won't look at me. In fact, you've kept your back to me all week. What's wrong? Have I offended you in some way? Some way more than usual, I mean?"

"No. You continue to be your usual circumspect self. Nothing is wrong." She gives up searching and stands with head down. Tense. On edge. Expecting a fight.

He scoffs softly, "One thing you've taught me is sarcasm… and that is definitely sarcasm!"

She lifts hot eyes meet his, challenging, "So what? Are you going to fire me for being grumpy?"

He winces, sighs deeply, sadly, "No, of course not, but I really wish you would tell me what's on your mind. Unless you don't think I can handle it. In which case, I apologize for intruding on your thoughts." He turns away, a man spurned.

She bites her lip, torn between admitting the truth or saving her dignity, "Um…"

He stops, turns his head to listen.

"Well, it's nothing you've done, exactly. It's more about something Amber Collins said to me during our interview that has upset me a bit. I shouldn't have let her get to me. Look, try to forget it, OK? I'll get over it and be back to normal soon. Sorry if my manner upset you." Now she looks genuinely contrite.

He thinks for a moment then nods and goes back to his desk.

She sighs and sits back in her chair. Oh, that went well! Stupid, stupid, stupid. Now I have to pretend I'm not on edge! AND I have to start looking at him again or he'll definitely know something is up! Head in hands, she slumps at her desk and Amber's voice is once more ringing in her head…

… he couldn't work properly with me sitting there watching him. He said it was unnerving, me staring at him. But you know, it wasn't like I was making a noise or anything. I just liked being around him. I loved him. I mean, you don't have sex with people you don't love, do you? Do you? Do you? DO YOU? Over and over in Camille's head like a death knell - the plaintive voice of a young woman spurned and at a total loss on how to handle it.

Camille groans. How DO you handle it? How am I to handle it? I've never been spurned in my life! I'M the spurner… never the spurnee! She sits up a bit straighter, hot anger flushing through her system as she eyes the man across the room. What makes HIM so special, hmmm? It's not like I can't get through the day without gawking at him like a love-sick teenager! She glares at him in defiance.

He is focused on some file on his desk, his left hand massaging his brow, his mouth set in a slight frown as if something is bothering him. His eyes are SO green! Even when he isn't looking right at me, they are still so green! And his finely tapered fingers…

Oh, yes, she remembers how their hands had collided at the whiteboard while posting photos. And their struggle at the Meteorology Lab door where his hand had gleamed so pale beside hers! And how the book had sat in his hands while she'd forced herself to lie still behind him and feign sleep.

She remembers ALL of it plus so many more instances. So many many instances that have come and gone without a single hint how he feels (IF he feels anything at all!) for her. Her anger is gone. She is floating in a dreamy kind of fugue that is more and more her new normal these days.

Just as he looks up, she snaps her eyes down onto her desktop and fumes. Stop it! He's oblivious but not stupid! He's going to figure it out sooner or later. Her eyes dart back to him. He's back to checking his facts. As she watches him, just enjoying being in the same room with him, she can't help wishing he'd figure it out right now! Then her torture would end. One way or the other, it would end.

With a sigh, he slaps closed the file, sits back in his chair, crosses his arms, and looks up so quickly that he catches her in mid-gawk. She ducks her head and attacks her work, hoping nothing was showing on her face when he'd caught her watching him.

After a few minutes he rises and brings the file to her desk. She braids her fingers in front of herself and looks up at him, "Yes, sir? Do you need my help with something?"

"Well, yes, I've gone over Amber's file. I can't find anything to cause this upset. Care to enlighten me?"

She is sure her panic is flaring in her eyes! She swallows and says as calmly as she can manage, "Um, no, not really. It hasn't anything to do with the case. It was more of a… a personal nature. You know, girl to girl? That sort of thing. I'm not really surprised you didn't pick up on it. It's not a guy-thing."

He gives her an expectant look but then sighs when nothing more is forthcoming, "Oh, I see. Well, the only comment of a personal 'girl to girl' nature that I DID pick up on is that Leo didn't like her staring at him while he works. Is that the instance you are referring to?"

Camille freezes, eyes glued to her desk-top.

End – part 1 of 2