Title: Making a Connection, Chapter 5
Author: Sorsha711
Fandom/Pairing: Munch/OFC, O/E
Rating: M, for language and references to violence; some adult situations
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize belongs to Dick Wolf. Sigh!
Summary: Across a crowded coffee-shop… yadda, yadda, yadda. A Munch romance with a generous side of O/E; Post "Uncle" so Spoiler warnings if you've not see that episode
A/N --- The E/O part of the story is coming soon... I promise! Feedback welcome!
Making a Connection, Chapter 5
Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola studied his friend and partner out of the corner of his eye. He had known John Munch for over seven years and he knew him about a well as anyone could claim to know the man. It had not escaped his notice that Munch had been distracted… lost in his private thoughts a lot in recent weeks, but he had been particularly oblivious over the last few days. That those private thoughts seemed to be pleasant, even optimistic, was almost without precedent in Fin' memory and the sight of a happy Munch had been intriguing the entire squad all week. It was now Thursday and Fin wanted answers.
Munch's voice broke into his musings as his partner hung up his phone. "That was Warner. She has something for us on the Lawrence case."
Fin looked up in time to see John shrugging on his jacket. Fixing him with an assessing glare, Munch demanded, "Well… you just going to sit there daydreaming? Get your ass in gear, man. It's after 3 and I'd like to get back here in time to finish these dammed reports by a reasonable hour."
"Since when did it matter to you? You got a lady on the side you're not telling us about?" Fin challenged, rising to follow his partner out the door. Both ignored… or tried to, the sudden silence that greeted his questions as the rest of the squadroom strained to hear Munch's reply. Nobody missed the fact that Munch never broke stride as he exited the room without giving one.
Fin dove between the closing doors of the elevator. Studying the anger that had strung to life in Munch's brown eyes, anger that crackled despite the dark glasses he wore, Fin held up a hand in mock surrender. "Sorry, man. I was out of line."
"Yeah, you were."
"Who is she?"
The anger radiating off the man upped a notch, but Munch remained silent.
Fin waited until he had pulled their car out into the late afternoon traffic before commenting, "Did you think nobody would notice? You've been quiet all week… something that never happens. You haven't ranted about the government or the war in Iraq once. Hell, you were actually smiling yesterday while staring at a DD5. Can't see much there to make the Munchkin happy," Fin observed. "I add all that up and it makes me think you got lucky. Did you finally get laid, old man? I always suspected that was your problem. So… you got a new lady?"
"Keep it up and I'll be getting a new partner!" Munch bit out before turning to watch the traffic.
Used to the banter that routinely flowed between them, Fin was taken off-guard by the genuine anger in his friend's tone. "What the fuck is up with you?"
Whipping his head around to pin the younger detective with a fierce glare, Munch demanded, "I respect your right not to drag your private life into the office as free entertainment for the masses. I expect the same out of you! Got it or do I need to draw you a picture?"
Tutuola felt his own anger rising. "Yeah, I do keep my personal life out of the office, but you know what there is to know. I tell you when there is something to tell… and we rip with each other all the time without one of us taking it as an insult. Excuse me for thinking we were friends!"
Sighing, Munch felt his anger evaporate. Slumping slightly, he admitted, "Yeah… you're right. Sorry, man; I was out of line. It's just… it's too new and I'm afraid of screwing it up… or jinxing it if I talk about her."
"What you tell me goes not further; you know that… though Liv and Elliot are wondering too. They're your friends in case you forgot. And, Cap asked me last night what was up with you and wasn't happy to know I didn't have a clue," Fin chided. "He likes partners to know what's what so they can back the other's play if they need to. I won't bother to remind you he considers you a good friend too."
Munch was silent for another few minutes… long enough for Fin to think he wasn't going to answer, when he began. "Her name is Arwen Davis. She's an economist at the UN. She's 43… widowed with twin sons in college… gorgeous, smart, funny… and why the hell she's agreed to go out with me three times already is beyond me. We have another date tonight, so I want to get out early if I can." Leaning back against the headrest, John admitted, "I keep expecting her to politely tell me to take a hike… realize she could do a hell of a lot better than me."
"And you don't want that to happen?"
"If I thought I could make her happy, I'd grab her up and take her back to my place… bolt the door and hope like hell the world would let us be," he declared. "I've never met anyone like her and…"
A teasing smirk lit Fin's handsome face. "Damn! I never thought to see the Munchkin fall this hard!"
The fierce glare returned. "I haven't fallen anywhere!"
"Like hell you haven't!" Fin laughed. "You're in the deep end of the ocean and you've forgotten how to swim!"
Unable to argue, Munch returned to his study of the traffic.
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Flashback --- the Second Date
John glanced to his right as they approached her building. It was pleasant surprise to discover she lived around the block from his building. His bedroom window was high enough for him to see above the line of street trees to the southern side of her low-rise in the Hudson Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. He wondered if he would be able to see her apartment from his.
At the entrance, she shyly offered, "Do you want to come up for a glass of wine… or a cup of tea?"
John hoped he hadn't sound too eager when he quickly accepted her invitation. He had been looking for an opening to make a small 'move' before he said goodnight. He was hoping for a goodnight kiss to put a seal on their first official date.
It had been as close to perfect as he could imagine… a pleasant few hours spent wondering through the Vallard exhibit at the Met followed by a leisurely meal at a small Russian restaurant he frequented a few blocks from his… their apartments. The conversation had flowed as easily as it had the day before. They had walked slowly back to her building, their bodies brushing against each other with greater frequency… their hands finally joining.
/I was worried yesterday was a fluke and we would be uncomfortable… have nothing to say to each other after the intimacy of that conversation. I still can't believe I told her about Dad… but she told me a lot about her life too./
Holding the door of the elevator open for her to enter, he pondered/I want to kiss her, but I don't want her to think I'm expecting to sleep with her this soon. Honestly, I need a little time myself. It's been a while since I tried to date someone seriously. Another one-night stand… not that I've had many of those recently, isn't what I want./
Needing to be sure she had enjoyed their date as much as he had, he found himself asking, "Would you like to have dinner again later this week… maybe see a movie?"
"I'd love to, John. I had a wonderful time today… and yesterday," she offered, a sweet smile confirming her words.
Following her down the hall to her door, he stood at her side… close enough to see her hands were shaking as she struggled to fit the key in the lock. Reacting on instinct, he settled his hand on top of hers. "Relax, Arwen. I'm not planning to jump you… not tonight anyway."
His gentle teasing had the desired effect as he felt the tension radiating from her ease slightly. Eyes still focused on trying to open the lock, she whispered, "Does that mean I don't get a kiss goodnight?"
Following her into the apartment, he watched as she tossed the keys into a bowl on a small table near the door. Moving to her side, he gently turned her to face him. Their lips brushed softly against each others… a soft, tentative first kiss. Her small gasp of pleasure called to him and he settled his lips over hers with greater confidence… his hands cradled her face in a gentle hold.
They had lingered in that kiss for a long moment before he had reluctantly lifted his head. Her eyes slowly drifted open… her hand shifting from his chest to his shoulder to the back of his neck. A gentle tug pulled him back to her for a third, deeper kiss.
Cradling her against him as the kiss ended, he chuckled softly as she whispered, "If that's how you say good night… I can't wait to find out how you say good morning."
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Turning back from his study of the traffic, Munch admitted, "You may be right. Got any swimming tips for this old man?"
Fin grinned as he watched the uncharacteristic play of emotions animate his partner's face. "Learn to float… you've got no chance battling the current, bro. You might as well settle back and let yourself go with the tide."
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