"A Risk Worth Taking" - Chapter Six
When Hank and Layla arrived at Molly's, they found the rest of Intelligence holding down two tables in the back corner.
Layla squeezed in beside Kim and Hank sat across the table between Adam and Kevin.
"Feeling better?" Kim whispered to Layla. "Yeah, thanks girl."
Otis came by the table to check on refills. "Oh, hey, Layla. What are you doing with these guys?" He joked.
Layla had met Otis, and all the guys at Firehouse 51, the first day she moved home. A lot of them helped her move boxes and unload her U-Haul, per her brother-in-law's insistence.
"Hey, Otis! I'm helping these guys celebrate. They caught the bad guy today!"
Antonio interrupted before Otis could respond, "In large part to Layla's help!"
With that, everyone at the table cheered, causing heads to turn. Layla laughed and waved them off with her hand. "Guys, come on. I hardly did anything."
Otis, feeling a little like he was on the outside of an inside joke, said, "Well, what can I get you?"
"Um…" Layla considered for a moment. "I'll have two fingers of Jack, neat."
Otis nodded and turned to Hank. "For you?"
Layla was whispering something to Kim and didn't notice Adam and Jay smirking at each other, impressed with her drink choice.
"I'll have the same." Hank said, looking across the table at Layla, and liking her more by the minute. Otis noticed him watching her as he asked the rest of the table if they wanted refills. He was met with a loud and unanimous yes.
As Otis headed to the bar to get their drinks, Hailey said, "Layla, you should have seen C.C. cave in interrogation. It was incredible."
The others laughed, remembering. Jay said, "Yeah, Sarge was in there for like three minutes. I think that's a new record."
Adam shook his head, "No, remember that Greg Tauler guy? Boss broke him in less than three." Everyone nodded, and looked at Hank appreciatively.
"Alright, alright." Hank said, waving them off.
Herrmann came back with their drinks. "Layla," he said loudly, "Don't forget your babysitting tomorrow, so don't you need to go home like now?" Herrmann asked, looking at his watch and casting a sideways look at Voight.
Layla scoffed, "Chris it's like 9:00 PM. I promise I will be there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first thing in the morning."
"Okay, you better be." Herrmann said, pointing at Layla before walking away to take care of another table.
As they sipped their drinks, the group settled into comfortable conversation. Layla told them all a little more about herself and in turn, got to know each of them much better. After their second round, the night turned into seeing who could tell the most embarrassing story about someone else at the table - their laughter getting louder and louder until other customers' heads started turning.
Layla really felt at home among the team. She enjoyed the way they all clearly loved each other. They were a family, and she felt privileged that they'd invited her in so easily.
Glancing at her phone and realizing it was already 11:00 PM, Layla said, "Guys, it has been a blast, but I've got to get home if I'm going to babysit the Herrmann monsters tomorrow."
Layla glanced up at Hank to remind him he had driven her there, but he was already standing and reaching into his pocket for some cash.
Layla hugged Hailey and Kim goodnight, then turned to the table. "Thanks for letting me join you tonight. I guess I'll see you next week because I never got to finish the software updates."
"Can't wait." Jay said with a smile, obviously flirting, before he took a sip of his beer.
As the rest of the table told her goodnight, she felt Hank's hand at the small of her back again. As they headed to the door, he guided her through the now over-crowded bar and outside to fresh air.
Once they got outside, they stopped and stood on the sidewalk - the cold air and the quiet a welcome change.
"That was so much fun. I love those guys." Layla announced, a smile on her face.
Hank laughed, "Yeah, their alright."
Layla playfully hit Hank on the shoulder. "Oh come on, you know you love them. I think each one of them would take a bullet for you."
The laughter faded from his face and he said seriously, "I would for them."
Layla nodded, not doubting him for a second.
The pair slowly started walking towards Hank's SUV, which was parked around the corner from the bar. Layla talked mostly, thinking out loud as to what the rest of her weekend would hold - fort making, video games and breaking up fights. She hoped she could get a little time with her niece so they could do something 'girly' like have a tea party.
Layla was still talking when they rounded the corner of the building and a car backfired loudly. Immediately, Hank pushed her against the wall and covered her body with his, acting as a shield for what they both thought was a gunshot. Layla was breathing hard, panic in her chest, when Hank said a moment later. "Sorry, just a car."
Neither of them moved. They both stood face to face, breathing heavily, saying nothing.
Layla's heart was racing, and not because of the panic anymore, it was the feel of his warm body against hers. The smell of his skin, like sandalwood, leather and soap. Before she had time to process what she was doing, she leaned forward and placed her lips on his in a soft kiss.
Parting, the cold and the adrenaline causing her buzz to wear off quickly, she blushed and looked at his chest.
"I'm sorry."
Hank brought his hand up to her chin and gently lifted her face to look at him. She met his eyes and saw something there that made her stomach do flips. Something she hadn't seen in a long time - desire.
Hank leaned in and kissed her, his hands sliding around her waist. Layla deepened the kiss and was rewarded with a low, moan that caused a slow burn low in her belly. Her hands found their way to Hank's neck, the heat from his skin warming her fingers instantly.
The sound of approaching laughter and talking caused them to part suddenly. Hank wiped her lipstick off his lips with the back of his hand and Layla cleared her throat as Antonio and Kevin rounded the corner.
"Hey, I thought you guys were long gone." Antonio said, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"We are." Layla said simply, "Goodnight guys."
Antonio and Kevin looked to Hank out of instinct. He met both their eyes as if he was challenging them to ask another question. They backed off.
"Goodnight." Kevin said, and the pair watched as Hank and Layla got into the SUV and drove away.
After a few seconds, Antonio turned to Kevin. "Okay, I'm not crazy right. Did we just interrupt something?"
Kevin ran his hand over his mouth, eyes wide in amused disbelief. "Dawg, Layla's lipstick was smudged as hell."
Though they had been leaving, Kevin and Antonio turned and headed back inside to tell the group what they'd seen.
Hank and Layla rode in silence back to her apartment. When they got there, Hank helped her out and walked her to her door.
Layla had spent the whole ride home thinking of reason after reason that they shouldn't kiss again. He was her superior. He was older. He had a reputation. But after every reason, she said to herself, "So what?"
Layla put the key in the lock but didn't turn it. She looked up at Hank, her eyes dark with desire, and unconsciously bit her bottom lip. Hank couldn't help himself. He took her hand and pulled her close.
"If you want me to stop, just say so." Hank told her, looking at her face for some kind of indication of how she wanted this to go. He figured she'd been thinking of reasons why it shouldn't go any further, it wasn't hard to imagine.
Layla lifted her eyes to his and whispered, "Kiss me."
Hank kissed her hard this time, both having awoken something in each other that had long been dormant. His hands roamed her body, her little sighs of pleasure driving him crazy. Layla's hands found their way under his jacket and to his back, pulling him closer against her.
When Layla felt the urge to go for his belt buckle, she forced herself to back up.
"Okay," she said, breathing heavily, little puffs of condensation appearing in the cold air.
Hank was still looking at her with a dangerous look in his eyes. She wanted to kiss him again but forced herself to take another step back.
"We can't do this. Not like this." They'd only technically known each other for a few days.
They both stood there, breathing heavily.
Unexpectedly, guilt washed over Layla at the thought of her husband's folded flag just on the other side of the wall.
Tears sprang into her eyes as she looked up at Hank and whispered, "I'm not ready. I just need some time."
Immediately, Hank understood. He pulled Layla to him and hugged her. When he heard her sniffling, he placed a kiss on the top of her head and said, "Whenever you're ready, I'll be here."
They stood like that for a few moments, Layla grateful for his comfort and understanding.
Then, to lighten the mood, Hank said, "Just don't forget about me when Jay makes a move on you next week. He just can't help himself when there's a new girl around Intelligence."
Layla laughed and snuggled closer against his chest, mumbling, "I won't."
Finally, she pulled away and stepped back to look into his eyes.
"Goodnight, Hank."
Hank watched as she walked inside her apartment and closed the door. He waited to hear the deadbolt click before he let out a huge sigh. It'd been a long time since he'd felt this way, and if she needed to take it slow, he was on board. Because for the first time in a long time, Hank felt like he might have stumbled on something good, something happy, and he wasn't going to let it go without a fight.