Author's note: I'm starting this chapter right after (okay 10 minutes, I had to pee and I'm at work, so I had to do a little bit of my actual job) after I posted chapter 8 online, so if you left a review, I haven't seen it. I hope you liked Chapter 8. If you have any ideas or want to see something specific, let me know. I pretty much know where I want this story to go, but I'm open to ideas. Time for the thank yous. In no specific order, thank you to: God, Mofitiss, ACD, Andrew Scott's ancestors, Benedict Cumberbatch's ancestors, my ancestors, your ancestors, ancestors in general, BBC, my husband, and the inventor of caffeine. Ok, obviously at 4:30 am (right now), the inventor of caffeine is my number one guy right now, so he gets the biggest thanks. Also, a huge thanks to the National Aquarium website .org for the background information on the National Aquarium. I have tried to represent it as accurately as possible and any oversight or mistake is my own and I deeply apologize for it. It is a wonderful place to visit for all ages.
Chapter 9
Sebastian took Heather's hand and walked with her upstairs. Jim followed behind, while, ironically, staring at Heather's behind as it swayed back and forth. Stacey was waiting for them at the VIP courtesy desk. "Dr. Weire, how are you today?"
"I'm good, Stace. How are you? Thank you so much for the private tour today. I hope it wasn't too much of an inconvenience for you."
"No, of course not. Did they tell you that I'm training one of our new tour guides today? His name is Will. I think I'm going to let him lead the tour and I'll just speak up if he forgets anything, if that's okay with you."
"Okay, sounds good. I'm sure he'll be great if you trained him. Stacey, these are my friends Sebastian and Jim. Guys, this is Stacey. She and Will will be conducting our tour today. Where is Will?"
"Here he comes." Heather looked up and saw a young, tall, blond man making his way through the crowd towards them. He appeared about 18 years old and had a pleasant appearance. She saw several women looking him up and down as he approached. Heather thought he was okay, not really her taste, but not bad looking in a general, almost bland way.
"Will, this is Dr. Weire and her guests, Sebastian and Jim. They are the private tour I was telling you about," stated Stacey.
"Dr. Weire, Jim, Sebastian. Nice to meet you all."
"It's very nice to meet you too, Will. You can call me Heather if you would like. Stacey, you too. Remember, you guys only ever have to address me as 'Dr. Weire' when we're at the hospital and even then, I'm pretty flexible."
"I know, but Administration likes us to call our VIPs, especially you higher ranking members by your formal names," said Stacey.
Heather rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Ok, go ahead. I don't want to get you in any trouble. Will, Stacey said that you would be leading our tour and she was just going to pipe in if you needed any help. Is that okay? Do you feel ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be. I'm a little nervous, but I'll do my best, Dr. Weire."
"I'm sure you'll do great. Please lead the way. Jim, why don't you and Sebastian change places. Sebastian has taken this tour with me before, so he knows it well, don't you honey? Jim can walk next to me. There are a few things in particular I want to point out to him."
Sebastian opened his mouth to protest, but Jim came back and grabbed Heather's hand, shooting Sebastian a "try me and die" glare. Sebastian took his place beside Stacey with a pout.
Will started, "The National Aquarium was originally established in 1873 in Woods Hole, Massachusetts and is considered the nation's first public aquarium."
"This is one of my favorite places to visit in the city," murmured Heather to Jim. "I always leave having learned something new. It's also very relaxing to tour through here, especially the private tours." Jim smiled back at her. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist at the first exhibit. He watched as she listened to the guide talk about the transition the museum made from its time in Wood Hole to Washington D.C. to its establishment in Baltimore. He studied her face and saw the joy of learning in it. She was amazing. He knew that she had to have heard this story many times before, but still delighted in hearing it each time. Jim tried to remember the last time he felt the same way that Heather clearly felt about this aquarium. He wondered if he had perhaps lost his love of learning somewhere along the way. For a moment, he felt a pang of sadness. Jim was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't realize that it was time to move on until Heather called his name and motioned forward with her head. "Penny for your thoughts, guv-ner," asked Heather in a purposefully bad British accent.
"Just captivated by your beauty, my dear."
"Oh, Jim, you charmer. Let's go before Sebastian comes back here and throws me over his shoulder and carries me through the rest of the exhibit. He sure is acting funny. You don't think he's jealous, do you? I mean that would be ridiculous, right? I'm not stealing you away from him. I would think he would be thrilled that we are getting along so well." Jim realized in that moment that Heather just didn't see the situation for what it was. Sebastian was jealous, but not the way she thought. Sebastian loved Heather and she completely overlooked it. Sebastian wasn't jealous that Heather was taking up Jim's time. He was jealous that Jim was moving in on his girl. "Interesting," he thought. "Heather, let me ask you a question and forgive me if I'm being too forward, but since you've met Sebastian, have you dated anyone else," he asked.
"I've been on a few dates here and there, but nothing serious. Guys tend to get kind of intimidated by me for some reason, so romantic relationships don't last very long. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Just like to know what I'm getting into," lied Jim.
"Oh … um … okay … um … is it a bad thing that I haven't dated much?" Heather suddenly felt nauseous and a little panicky. She worried that she had just screwed something big up. "I mean … I know how to date … it's kind of like riding a bicycle. You never really forget. A guy asks you out. You say yes. The two of you go do an activity. You act like a decent human being. Say thank you. Make conversation. See if there is any chemistry going on. Maybe kiss a little. Try not to act like a psycho or a total slut. Um … you know … just be yourself unless you are a psycho slut and then maybe act like someone else. Like Batman. Wait, no, don't act like Batman. He's weird. Act like um … the most normal person you know. Unless you don't know any normal … people … because you're … a total … psycho … slut. Shit, this is not going the way I wanted it to. Um, okay … to sum up … yes, I have dated a little since I met Bash, but nothing serious. Two, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, per se because I think I still know how to date, you know, this … this ... rambling aside, and um … third, I need to just shut now because I have like no chance with you now, right. I have just completely talked myself right on out of any kind of sexual contact with you for good, haven't I? You probably think I'm a crazy cat lady moron who just rambles on and on. Fuck! Just, fuck!"
Jim laughed. "Heather, I don't know what to do with you. First, I'm sure that you are a great date. I'm enjoying myself right now and this barely counts as a date. Second, any guy who can't see how awesome you are is the moron, not you. Third, you promised me sex and I'm going to make sure you hold up your end of the bargain because baby, I can't wait to see what you deliver. I promise you won't be disappointment with my contribution. Fourth, Batman is not weird. He's complicated. Fifth, that mouth … tut, tut. Do you kiss your mother with that filthy mouth?"
"No, but I'd gladly suck your cock with it," whispered Heather as she pressed her body to his.
Jim was blown away. Such boldness from the redhead. Even the consulting criminal hadn't expected that response. Jim grabbed Heather by the waist and drew her in close to him. "You naughty little girl. Daddy's going punish you for your cheek. Daddy's going to have punish you good. You just wait until we get home."
"I'll be right back. Will, could we stop the tour for a moment? I need to use the ladies room. Thanks."
Heather exited the ladies room after only a moment. "Thanks for that. We can continue." She reached into her pocket and subtly withdrew a piece of folded silk. Handing it to Jim, "Here's a little something for you, sir."
Jim took it in his hand and slipped it into his pants pocket. "Is this what I think it is?"
"Depends on what you think it is. Is it my secret chocolate cake recipe? No. Is it the secret to life? Maybe. Is it my underwear? Absolutely," Heather stared up at Jim through her eyelashes. "Now all you have to do is make it through the rest of the day knowing that there is only a very thin layer of fabric between you and my quim. Think you can handle that, Daddy?"
For the rest of the tour, Jim's arm was snaked around Heather's waist. Periodically, his fingers would sneak down to the front of her pants, earning him a sharp poke in the side and a quietly hissed, "Hands to yourself, Jim." At the end of the tour, Heather shook both Stacey and Will's hands and thanked them profusely for the excellent tour. Before they exited the Aquarium, Heather asked if anyone had to use the rest room. Sebastian said, "I do, but I better not come out and find you two attached at the lips."
"Sebastian, I can promise you that you will in fact come out of the bathroom to find Jim and I attached at the lips and possibly a few other places. You are not my dad, and even if you were, you would still have absolutely no say over my sex life. I'm a grown ass adult and if I want to kiss someone, I will. Now go pop a squat so we can get on to our next destination. I am going to make a huge sacrifice for you.
