Alex's first encounter with Rose.
Alex stares at her watch again, twenty minutes late. This isn't like Maggie. She glances around the bar for what must have been the tenth time in the last few minutes.
No sign of the brunette beauty.
Her hands fidget with an untouched beer, pealing the condensation-moistened label. Had she done something wrong?
Alex runs her hand over her jean pocket finding it empty. A split-second panic fills her before she remembers the mangled pieces of metal currently taking up residence in her office trash can, yet another reminder Kara's excitement being incompatible to her strength.
She couldn't fault her sister much; the picture of the engagement ring was nearly perfect. Full perfection could only truly describe the ring once it takes its place on Maggie's finger.
Alex had been forced to live without a phone for most of the day. Unable to bite her pride enough to ignore Winn's taunts about the love she felt for her phone, Alex had vowed to go without the device for at least the night. Her home phone would finally find a use, and really, she would see Kara throughout work and Maggie for dinner –and hopefully the rest of the night- after; No phone was truly necessary.
She had been doing well throughout the day; The melancholy of not being able to message Maggie throughout the lesser involved moments of the morning, had been watered down by her promise of visiting the precinct around lunch, in person calls were always the best -especially with Maggie's enforced desk-duty. Apparently, getting kidnaped and shot in a relatively short period of time warrants a week's break; Maggie did not agree, if her irritation was anything to go by.
The precinct had been abuzz when Alex parked her bike and strode in. People and papers filled nearly every inch, in stark contrast to the tidy and monochromatic nature of the DEO.
She had walked passed a few nervously fidgeting people sitting in the lobby chairs, before making her presence known to the gum-popping blonde settled at the desk. Her hands worked quickly, typing and flicking pages, only looking up once the folder could be snapped closed.
With a kind smile on her face, Alex had asked to speak to Detective Sawyer, flashing her FBI badge when a blank stare was her only reply.
A look of recognition had crossed the woman's face before a whispered, "Alex" could be heard from under her breath. She thought and eye roll had accompanied this whisper but cast the thought aside as she glanced down the hallway leading to Maggie's desk.
"She's out at the moment." Was her only acknowledgement before the woman grabbed for -and slapped down- another folder.
"Can I leave a message?" Alex had asked, eyebrow quirked
"Sure." The woman replied, voice far too sweet to be truly kind. A memo sheet was handed to her on which she wrote the predicament -excluding the ring and superpower portions for obvious reasons. She'd tell Maggie of the phone crushing incident at dinner where noisy eyes couldn't read.
Alex had slid the pen and pad back, after ending the note with the time and restaurant in which she sat now.
Thirty minutes late. The minute hand had finished its creep toward the six; her mind began to stress once more.
Maybe something happened? Could something have happened? Damn it, Winn!
No, no. She tries to calm herself, She's on desk duty, nothing short of an apocalypse will allow her to break it.
Calming a bit as her rational side regains control, Alex decides to head to the precinct. Perhaps she'd gotten absorbed with paperwork; It happens to the best of them.
The muffled slam of her nearly full bottle settled on top of various bills meant to cover her tab, is long forgotten by the time Alex pulls up to the now darkened precinct for the second time.
Breezing through the door, she's washed in the silence and florescent filled lobby. Fidgeting people no longer line the walls, the desk no longer holds a moody secretary, the place seems to have lost its humanity; Closed up and tucked away until morning light.
With no secretary in sight, Alex readies her badge and begins her walk in the direction of Maggie's work space. A few detectives and officers scurry about; Effortlessly switching on her professional air, Alex is met with no resistance or second looks.
Desks are strewn around the floor, some huddled together, others singular in placement. The florescent lights combine with the eerie near silence of the building to make Alex's stride just that much quicker.
She never did like silence.
Laughter bubbles through the air, high and flirty. Alex continues in her steps taking a moment to look around in an attempt to find the voice. Seeing only empty desks with a few scattered silent workers, Alex keeps an ear out as the now half-whispering voice grows closer.
Finally, she finds herself steps away from the corner cubicle-type office Maggie had secured. Her humored request to know who was flirting on the job catches in her throat as notices her girlfriend is not alone.
The secretary from earlier lets out another laugh, moving from her spot beside the filing cabinet to lean over Maggie's desk. Alex may not work for the department but a dress code must exist, right? The low cut of the woman's shirt combined with her position left little to the imagination.
Tension leaves Alex's body as she notices Maggie's eyes glued to her computer screen, fingers move quickly over the keyboard. Maggie is amazing at a lot of things, Alex would know, but typing without glancing toward the keyboard is not one of them.
The laughter is met with a noncommittal hum, as she shifts the report to another page. Alex smirks at her disinterest; Unfortunately, her knock of entrance is stalled by a blurted question from the blonde.
"Dinner?" She asks, leaning her hip on Maggie's desk
Now, Alex isn't one to jump to conclusions. Her work is based on evidence and fact; However, the woman's tone and actions combined were a clear sign that the jealousy bubbling in her stomach was not solely a gut reaction.
"Thanks for keeping me company, Rose, but I need to head out as soon as I'm done. Alex is supposed to stop by later." Maggie's reply creates a sour expression on the other woman's face.
"I'm sure Amy can keep herself busy."
"It's Alex, actually." Alex says, stepping beside Maggie's seated form
Maggie's beaming smile almost outshines the eye roll from Rose; However, the jealousy churning in Alex's stomach was sure to catch it.
"Of course." The words are spit out into the air-conditioned room
"Hey babe," Maggie replies, glancing up at Alex, "I'm almost done, you haven't been answering your phone. Busy day?"
"Yeah, a bit. I actually came by around noon. Rose, here, said she'd give you my message." Alex replies eyes switching between a glare toward the blonde and soft smile toward her girlfriend
Maggie quirks an eyebrow, eyes moving toward Rose in confusion. "I was here at noon."
"Oh, right, it must have slipped my mind." Rose backtracks, swaying back s bit at the possessive glare Alex aims her way
"Must have." Alex answers, steel in her tone.
She relishes the heavy tension building within the office. The way Rose's nerves are all but frayed. She can barely keep her smirk in check.
"And, done! Ready for dinner, love?" Maggie asks, eyes finding Alex's as she shuts down her computer, pushing her wheeled chair from the desk.
"Chinese on me." Alex promises, grabbing Maggie's jacket from the hook behind her, she holds it out for the woman to slip in.
Maggie's megawatt smile is all the answer she needs.
"Have a nice night, Rose." Maggie throws over her shoulder as they walk from the room
Rose.
Alex will remember that.