I know, I know, it's been two weeks. So here you go! Also just fun fact about the author, if you haven't guessed already, I'm a super nerd and currently studying biology. Not Marine Biology like Elizabeth, I'm terrible at swimming and blood makes me pass out, but more on the molecular level, so if I get pretty heavy on the sciencey bits it's because currently all of my life is focused on it right now. Just ask my family, somehow I can make everything about science :) Also always, I love to hear what you think!
Apologies and thanks to those who pointed out my terrible editing! I was trying to get everything finished, then it was like two in the morning and clearly editing is not my forte past midnight :)
The facility was abuzz. It always was near one of the quarterly parties, at least according Jane and Charlotte. Officially the parties were to increase staff moral and release tension, basically a way for everyone to blow off some steam and let loose. If the MCB wanted to pay for an evening of fun for her mental wellbeing Elizabeth wasn't going to argue.
Elizabeth, Jane, Charlotte, and several other female agents and researchers claimed one of the communal bathrooms for the express purpose of a stereotypical girls nights, where everyone got ready together. The group primping and preening got all the women into a festive, giggly mood. While Elizabeth had left most of her "Do Me" heels packed up in her parent's basement, she had brought one pair. The classic black leather heels were easily six inches tall, with a healthy platform. Combine with her burgundy dress that cinched in at the waist and ended just a few inches above her knee, Elizabeth's legs looked a million mile long.
One of the very best parts of party preparations, at least in Elizabeth's opinion, was that the female agents all included at least one concealed weapon in their festive ensemble. Charlotte's dark blue dress fluttered prettily around her legs, yet somehow did not expose the garter holster strapped to her thigh. Another agent, Stephanie, was sporting knee high boots, into one which she had inserted a set of long sharp knives, and the other she stowed her service piece. The heart shaped cutout in the back of Gigi's dress was also a convenient access point for the pistol stowed off to the left of the small of her back. Not that any of these weapons were visible when all preparations were complete; partially because that was unprofessional, and partially because there was some delicious aspect of being well armed and done up nicely with none the wiser.
Jane had rolled her eyes, as Elizabeth strapped on her own garter holster. "Elizabeth, I understand carrying your gun when you're in the labs, something bad could happen in there with a specimen, but to a party? Really? Are you worried someone will get too friendly?"
"I'd never shoot Collins." Elizabeth replied, carefully pulling the straps, and assuring that the holster would not tear her stockings. "But the reality is that the same dangers present in the lab are present outside of the lab, we'd just have a bit more warning. We live freaking underwater in a metal box, if that vamp on level four got out, we'd all be royally screwed." She carefully brushed down her skirt and walked over to a mirror. "Just because I put on a party dress doesn't change that reality."
"She's right you know." Charlotte chimed through a mouthful of bobby pins, carefully pinning her dreadlocks to one side. "For as many advantages as the facility location grants, it has some pretty huge drawbacks, at least to it's inhabitants." All of this came out in a half mumble, but she got her point across.
"Will said that agents are required to always be carrying their personal weapon." Gigi added, then held out two pair of earrings, "Sparkles or metal?" she asked, showing the options. Sparkles were the unanimous decision.
It was of some amusement to Elizabeth that the simulation rooms were used for the party, maybe because they were normally used by agents to train for monster encounters. But apparently the same computer code that could create a shoggoth tunneling under a village, devouring it, could also produce a grand ballroom with projection musicians performing at one end. At the moment a hologram Michael Buble was crooning that it was a beautiful day.
Alcohol was flowing fast and freely, making up for it's usual total absence from the Nautilus, and the mood of the room was boisterous and light. Agent Fitzwilliam greeted her soon after she'd entered with Jane and Gigi. Charlie had quickly whisked his wife away and, as he'd been on Nate duty, Gigi went over to her fellow hunter to ensure he behaved. "Doctor Bennet, you look radiant!" Fitz slipped an arm around her waist, "Shall we get you some champagne? I'm at least two glasses ahead of you, and I insist you catch up!" At first look, one would think the agent was well on his way to being drunk, however Elizabeth could tell, from the sharp look in his eye that Agent Fitzwilliam was not even close to being drunk, nor would be be at any time that night. It would go completely against his training.
Merriment, however, in no way went against his nature and Elizabeth laughed. They had become rather good friends since that latest unfortunate encounter with Darcy. Fitz was fun to banter with and they exchanged harmless flirting almost constantly. "You're look rather dashing yourself Agent Fitzwilliam." She smiled, taking the offered glass and surveyed the room, "It's so fun to see everyone dressed up! I mean out the the armour and lab coats, people look so different!"
"Agreed!" Fitzwilliams smiled, "Though certain people look equally as wonderful in their everyday attire." He winked, "Shall we dance Elizabeth? Be warned, I won't take no for an answer!"
"We shall." she replied, setting her now empty glass down and following him onto the fairly full dance floor. Holographic Michael Buble was now sing "Save the last dance for me". They spun around the floor, laughing and generally having a good time like everyone else at the party. Unlike most dance Elizabeth had ever attended, the men far outnumbered the women, at least 4-1, and so after dancing with Fitz for a song another agent cut in, and when that song ended another claimed her hand, and so forth.
After an hour or so of dancing Elizabeth retreated from the dance floor to give her feet a well deserved break. She joined Nate and Charlie at a table, from which they watched Gigi and Jane dance with a pair of researchers. "And how are my favorite gun nuts?" She asked settling down with a new glass of champagne and a plate of h'orderves.
"I don't like how that nerd is feeling up Gigi." Nate muttered, absentmindedly chomping down on an innocent canape.
"For heaven sakes Nate, if Doug is feeling your girlfriend up, then Harrison must be taking advantage of my wife." Charlie rolled his eyes. Harrison and Jane were chatting amiably, with practically a foot of space between them, "And don't pick fights with the researchers, it's literally the job description of 75 percent of this room to protect them."
"Gotta agree with Charlie on this one," Elizabeth nodded, "Besides Nate, you can't keep her to yourself, there are hardly enough girls to go around when everyone is sharing nicely." Nate grumbled, but did not argue.
"Should I be asking Marc what his intentions for Charlotte are?" Charlie asked, looking at the couple who were looking very cozy with each other in a far corner, oblivious to anyone else in the room.
"Nah, he's a teddy bear when it comes to her." Elizabeth shook her head, "Hopefully they get the hell over themselves and kiss already. I bet ten bucks they'll get together by the end of the night."
"I put down twenty on a week from now." Nate offered, "I figure something will happen tonight and it'll take a week of pretending it didn't happen before they decide to accept the obvious."
"Do you guys often bet on your friends?" Charlie asked, concerned.
"Don't get too high and mighty, Saint Charlie, you wife had five down on last week." Elizabeth laughed.
"She's never been good at gambling." he shook his head with a rueful smile.
After a few more minutes of chatting Elizabeth was pulled back into the floor by an eager partner. She was a beautiful sight, laughing and happy, truly enjoying the evening. Her spot at the table was replaced by Fitz, and soon enough Darcy joined the group of men. He always made an appearance, usually at the beginning of the parties, before disappearing soon after. The fact that he was here, with the party in full swing, took everyone by surprise, except perhaps Fitz, who'd begun to suspect that their dear leader was enamoured with a certain researcher. Darcy conversed amiably with those around him, though seemed a bit distracted. Caroline tried to entice him into dancing, several times, and he brushed off each attempt. Eventually she gave up, and instead sat as close to Darcy as possible and tried to draw him into a conversation about how embarrassingly everyone was behaving.
"I mean really, I know it's a marvelous party, I planned it, and for employee moral, but the level of decorum!" Caroline was saying, glaring at the center of the dance floor where Agents Hernandez and Lucas were pressed intimately against each other as they slowly swayed back and forth, the MHI hunter, Nate Shackleford, was currently in the process of claiming Gigi from her current partner, and Doctor Bennet was looking rather concerned as Doctor Collins lead her around the floor, the tempo of his steps completely off from the slow music, his leading style jerky and bombastic. "Look at Doctor Bennet, if she hadn't dodged poor Doctor Collins all evening, he wouldn't be acting so ridiculous now."
"Why is Doctor Bennet's avoidance of Doctor Collins responsible for his poor dancing skills?" Darcy asked, focused on the couple in question. "I was under the impression that you, as a modern, 21st century woman, would support another woman's choice to say yes or no to a potential suitor without retribution."
"It's just a dance." Caroline huffed, "It's hardly accepting a proposal of marraige to accept an invitation to dance!"
"That is true," Darcy nodded, "but from a managerial perspective, I'd prefer my employees do not cause discomfort to each other."
He began to stand, but then Fitzwilliam clapped a hand on his shoulder, "I agree completely Will, as Head Agent, I'll take care of this one."
Elizabeth was trying to figure out how the strange man had managed to corner her. She wasn't trying to be rude, but Doctor Collin's innocent attentions had became more pronounced since her appointment with him and she'd become increasingly uncomfortable in his presence. She'd skillfully managed to avoid him all evening, her behavior disguised as thoughtless frivolity, however suddenly Elizabeth had turned around at the bar and he was standing there. What had followed was terribly awkward as he maneuvered them around the floor, completely off time with the slow paced song being played. While she was not usually tall, her heels put her at least an inch taller than Doctor Collins, and she felt rather off balanced as he almost tried to pull her down, closer to him. She had also downed two shots that had been on the bar beside her before she'd been pulled onto the dancefloor, and was feeling their effects.
The song began to wind down and Elizabeth started to make her excuse to leave her partner, who was beginning to request a second dance, when a smooth voice cut through their awkward exchange. "Doctor Bennet, might I claim this next dance?"
Elizabeth looked up to see Fitz standing behind Collins. "Umm yes, of course." she replied quickly, before she could truly process who had just asked. She sighed in relief, "I'm sure you don't mind Doctor Collins."
"No of course not." Collins conceded, somewhat begrudgingly, "The lovely Doctor Bennet is all yours!"
Elizabeth sighed in relief as she was passed off to Fitz. After being slightly stooped when dancing with Collins, it was nice that her rescuer was several inches taller than her, and she leaned up against him as the newest song started. "I owe you big times Fitz, I thought I wasn't going to get out!"
"Don't worry your pretty, tipsy head about it Doctor B." Fitzwilliam chucked, wrapping his arms around her as she snuggled in his embrace, clasping her own arms around his waist. Over Elizabeth's head he saw Darcy looking at them, his brow furrowed while Caroline futilely tried to reclaim his attention.
"Can you blame me?" Elizabeth grumbled, "For a therapist he can certainly drive a girl to drink." she hiccuped slightly, "Maybe I shouldn't have snuck the vodka shot-zzzzz" Darcy's consternation appeared to be increasing exponentially and Fitz couldn't help being rather amused at the blatant jealousy on his friend's face. It seemed Darcy was just as enchanted with the firey researcher as He'd thought.
"Shots, plural?" Fitz laughed, "You naughty girl!"
"I repeat," she mumbled in his suit jacket sleepily, "He drove me to it." Fitz noticed Darcy abruptly stand up and stride out of the room, and smirked to himself.
They swayed gently back and forth, the party winding down around them, until Elizabeth was practically asleep on her feet. "I think it's time to get you back to your room." He nodded at a Gigi, who was in the process of supporting Nate. "You guys good?" Fitz asked.
"Yeah, I've got him." Gigi smiled tiredly, she nodded to the barely conscious Elizabeth. "Make sure you get her to drink a big glass of water, and she's got a thigh holster on, those suck to sleep in."
"Will do." Fitz smirked, "Do you know why Darcy left?"
"No, he had something up his butt." She snorted, "But the fact that he was even there that late in a party was a surprise, so maybe he just hit his limit."
"Yeah, probably," Fitz waved it off, "I'll see you guys tomorrow, though not in the morning."
"Night Fitz!" Gigi yawned, then shifted her grip on Nate. "Come on, you big lug, next time it's my turn to get wasted."
On the way to the elevator Fitzwilliam found it much easier to carry Elizabeth, as opposed to trying to guide her along on her sky high heels. When the doors opened onto the living area of Elizabeth's floor he carefully maneuvered out, and walked down the hall to her room. "Alright Elizabeth, I need you to wake up a bit." she grumbled, but stayed mostly upright as he set her on her feet.
The door slid open and Fitz led her to her bed, "Can you manage your holster dear?" he asked as she sat limply on the edge. Elizabeth nodded pulled her skirt up just enough to access the straps of her garter holster . He took off her heels and carefully put them by the dresser. She had a water bottle perched on her bedside table and he grabbed that and turned to see how she was doing.
"I- I can't get it." she pouted like a sleep deprived toddler, pulling ineffectively at the straps.
Fitz sighed and kneeled down next to the bed, "I'm being a total gentleman, promise you won't clock me for this tomorrow." He found the release catch for the holster and pulled out her M&P, stowing it in the top drawer of her bedside table. Returning his attention to Elizabeth he found her trying to pull her dress over her head, exposing her black and white polkadotted booty shorts and the harness for her holster. He quickly released the catch on her waist and tugged the thigh portion down her leg and past her foot. Elizabeth was still trying to pull her skirt over her head, fighting uselessly against the fabric.
"Let's keep the dress on, Dear. Sleeping in it won't kill you, and I don't want to give you any reason to kill me." Fitz pulled her skirt back down and handed her the water bottle, "Drink. All of it."
She sucked sullenly on the straw until it was empty and thrust it back at him. Fitz pulled her up long enough to turn down the covers and tucked her into bed, "Sleep well, Doc." he pressed a kiss to Elizabeth's forehead, "You're going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow."
Fitzwilliam grabbed her water bottle and turned off the lights. He went to the door and pressed a button to keep it open while he refilled the water bottle in the lounge kitchenette. A few other staff straggled in from the party, though most of their own accord. As he returned to Elizabeth's room he was surprised to find Darcy walking down the hall from his own room, "Will, you actually stayed for the party. Did you manage to have some fun?"
"What are you doing Fitz?" Darcy demanded, angrily.
"I'm getting Doctor Bennet water for when she wakes up." He replied.
"And what are you intentions past that?"
Fitzwilliam sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Darcy, I can promise you that I have no intentions on Elizabeth, and even if I did, she'd shoot me. She enjoyed herself a bit too much at the party and I was making sure she made it to bed. Could you please deal with your feelings for the good doctor another time, I'd like to go to sleep."
"Feelings?!" Darcy nearly stuttered, looking embarrassed, "I merely wanted to ensure a certain level of professionalism in my staff, and my second in command disappearing in a female researcher's room is not professional."
"Bullshit." Fitzwilliam snorted, "If you were policing professionalism you'd have pried Hernandez and Lucas apart on the dance floor, or stopped Shackleford from getting shitfaced. Face it Will, you like Elizabeth, and that's great. She's wonderful-"
"I do not like Doctor Bennet!" Darcy interrupted angrily, his voice rising, "If you haven't noticed most of our encounters thus far have ended in shouting. Elizabeth has no interest in me, and I certainly have no interest in her!"
"That's why you spent nearly two hours staring at her on the dance floor and glowering at her partners, you were jumping at the chance to save her from Collins, and because I helped her to her room and made sure she didn't sleep with her loaded gun still strapped on, LIKE YOUR SISTER TOLD ME TO, you assume I'm trying to take advantage of her." Fitzwilliam was too tired to deal with this childish behavior from his friend. "You're right, you obviously have no feelings for Elizabeth whatsoever."
"And where exactly was her gun Fitz?" Darcy demanded, "Did she take it off, or did you?!"
"Well considering she was at the two year old stage of being drunk, yes I removed her loaded gun and garter holster!" Fitz was fed up and didn't think talking Darcy down would be possible, might as well piss him off instead, "Sorry I beat you to the punch man! Spoiler alert, polkadotted underwear. And her ass is-"
Darcy punched him square in the jaw.
Fitzwilliam stumbled back into the doorway of Elizabeth's room, the door of which was still open. "Good one Will." He grimaced, rubbing the point of impact.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" William snarled, advancing, ready to strike again, "Don't you even think about her like that again!"
"Why? I thought you had no interest." Fitz taunted, "And she's not an agent, which means she's free game if I want to take her out for a spin." He really wanted to punch himself for saying this shit, but it was clearly getting to Darcy, so he kept going, "How do you know she wouldn't be interested in going for a ride?"
Darcy swung at him again, but Fitz dodged it, taking a step back, and further into Elizabeth's room. "Shut. The. Fuck. Up." Darcy grunted, seething with rage.
"Would you look at yourself right now!" Fitz exclaimed, exasperated, "Look at how pissed you are about a woman you supposedly feel nothing for! Just look!"
Darcy was about to respond when a sleepy voice interrupted.
"What's happening?" Elizabeth was sitting up, looking confused. Her hair was rumpled and she tried to focus through bleary eyes "I heard shouting. Why are you in my room?"
The change in Darcy was instantaneous. He dropped his fists and took a step back. "Pardon me Doctor Bennet." He shot a glare at Fitzwilliam, indicating they would be discussing this at another time, and quickly left the room.
"Fitz, why are you in my room?" Elizabeth repeated bewildered,
Fitzwilliam chuckled. "I just made sure you got back to your room alright. Here's some water."
He put the water bottle on her bedside table as she snuggled back into her pillow. "Was Darcy just in here? Because he shouldn't be. He was grumpy allll night. You don't get to sleep over if you're grumpy."
"Darcy wasn't here." Fitz lied, pulling the covers over her. It served no purpose to tell her Darcy had been there if she wasn't going to remember anyways, "Night, Elizabeth."
"Night Fitz." she sighed deeply, "No offense, but don't be in my room when I sleep, it's weird." she grumbled, burrowing deeper into her bed.
He smirked, pressed a button to return the automatic door to is usual settings, and stepping out of the room, the door sliding shut behind him. "Don't worry, I don't have a death wish."
Fitz took the elevator down two levels to his own room, shed his suit, and fell into bed. Tomorrow would certainly be interesting.