They continued to discuss the case as they returned to Ben's car and drove back to the lab. They hadn't spoken so casually, so happily, since they had broken up. Taboo dictated that neither mention the moment on the ride to the scene—yet. As they drove along, Ben reached into her purse, brandishing a pack of cigarettes. She didn't even realize that Ryan didn't know about her new habit, until she looked over, after having lit up and opened her window, to see the shocked expression upon his face. Oh, man.
His voice was almost humourously high, as he asked her, "What's this about?"
She feigned bewilderment. "What?"
"Since when do you…smoke! You're a health nut!" He was completely exasperated; this was completely atypical behaviour for her.
"Picked it up a few weeks ago." She looked over at him, took in his expression. "Oh, come on, it's not like I'm a chimney." She laughed nervously. "I go through, like, a pack every other week."
A moment of silence as he tried to figure out to respond to this girl who he thought he knew so well. "Ben!" He actually laughed. "What is this?"
"Fine, fine." She put out the cigarette, put it into a plastic bag she pulled from her purse.
"What…saving it for later?"
"No, silly. If I was saving it, I would put it back in the pack. I'm just doing my part to save the environment. When the bag's full, I put it in the garbage." She replied, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So, you'll pollute your body—which you love and cherish—but not Miami—which you hate. Of course." Ryan was known for his sarcasm for a reason.
"Geez, Ryan, I never would have imagined that it would be such a big deal." Thanks, Mom.
"I'm not angry, just—"
"It is so vital to your health that you don't say 'disappointed'." She joked. They made eye contact, and laughed together. "Besides, I'm thinking of quitting. Not that it's a big deal or anything." Was I actually thinking of quitting? Oh, well.
"Oh, yeah? Well, good for you, Ben." He smiled at her sincerely, the dark circles under his eyes seemingly gone in that moment. Say something smooth! Quick, before the moment's over! "And, uh…you look good. You're, uh…looking good." Wow, you truly do have an impressive command of the English language. Idiot!
Ben smiled sweetly, blushed a furious shade of red, then giggled. "You're too nice, Ryan. And, uh…you look…" She grimaced. "Well, you kinda look like hell today. But you usually look great!" Another laugh together.
"Yeah, it's been…I haven't been sleeping all that well lately. With the eye, and everything." A contemplative silence. "With any luck, it'll just clear right up, right?" A feigned optimism. "Don't tell anyone for now, OK? Just until I figure it out."
Benny nodded solemnly. "Of course."
He smiled gratefully. What a sweetheart. "Thanks, Ben. You're a doll." He ran his thumb lightly across her right cheek. "I mean it."