As per usual, the review responses are at the end.
Read and enjoy!
While her weekend had seemed to fly by, she was surprisingly anxious enough to come in a half hour early to drop her things, heading straight down to autopsy. Maybe she wasn't entirely surprised, but it was better than admitting she was just a little bit afraid. She left a note on her desk so Vega and Lucas would know where she was, but she knew the first person she had to talk to was Betty. She'd kept the frequent dinners with Vega to herself, but she needed a woman's perspective before she did anything rash. She had to know she wasn't crazy, and that it wasn't just Manny's bond with Oscar talking. She pushed through the doors, glad that she caught Betty just as she was putting things down on her desk. She had just gotten in too, so they had some time.
"Well this is a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you Ang?"
She plopped down into one of the chairs in front of Betty's desk as she bit her thumbnail, giving Betty a helpless look. The other woman sat gracefully in the other chair, watching Angie intently as she made a motion for her to start talking.
"Okay, so I have this friend," she sighed, scrunching her nose at the, a friend, really?, look Betty was shooting her. She rushed on before Betty thought to interrupt her.
"And this friend has feeling for this man, at least she thinks she does. Said man has spent more time around her in a personal setting for the last…eight months or so, and she didn't want to admit there was more than friendship because he was too good a friend to lose. But she thinks she may have let him slip away before she ever really gave them a chance. What do think she should do?"
Betty just leaned back, crossing a leg over her thigh as she regarded Angie in silence. Angie supported her forearms on her thighs as she hung her head, running her ringers against her scalp before they ended up at the base of her neck. She used her fingers to tilt her head back, meeting Betty's gaze. She blew out a breath, annoyed at her sudden desire to fidget. She tilted her head to the left, hoping that would spur Betty into action. It didn't. They sat there for another few minutes before she spoke.
"So, you're telling me you and Oscar have been dating for months, you didn't know, and you're just now telling me? I'm hurt Detective"
"Really Betty? That's what you have for me?"
"Oh I have plenty, but that's the nicest thing I could come up with on the spot," she muttered, giving Angie a look as she flipped some of her hair behind her shoulder.
"Look Angie, I don't know what you want me to say"
"Anything more than that would be helpful," she grumbled, sitting up straighter as Betty leaned closer towards her.
"Fine, if you want my opinion, I think Oscar deserves a medal for that extended courtship. Eight months and you had no idea? He's good"
"Oh forget it-"
"Ang, you have to see where he's coming from. Sweetie, you're not an easy woman to admit feelings towards. Are you telling me you would have taken him seriously if he'd just said something? Or would it have been a more wrecked version of the conversation you guys obviously had?"
Betty gave her a knowing look, daring her to lie right to her face. She'd already tried and failed with Manny, she wasn't going to try again so soon. Her pride couldn't take it.
"I don't know, okay. I have no freakin' clue what I would have said"
"Well, what did you say," Betty asked, watching Angie look guilty before she shook her head.
"It might have been somewhere along the lines of, 'I don't know what you're talking about' and, 'you're a really good friend'?" she admitted, wincing when Betty reached over and hit her with her hat.
"Honestly, you pulled that? What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking it all came out of nowhere…" she trailed off, understanding Betty's point as she smiled smugly at her. She really hated it when Betty was right sometimes.
"For a detective, you're being pretty dense Angie. "
"Betts, how do I apologize to him? I know him, and he really won't want to talk about it if I try when I get back upstairs" she said, talking to the back of Betty's red-head. She was already on her office phone, her back to Angie.
"Detective Lucas, so glad I caught you. Could you send Detective Vega down to see me as soon as possible?"
Angie stared at her in something akin to horror as she looked over her shoulder at her. Betty just winked and turned away again.
"Oh good, it'll only take a minute I promise. Thanks," she answered as she hung up.
"Well, I'd say you have about four minutes to figure it out. He just walked in when Lucas relayed the message. Call me if you need me, I've got a bunch of things to do that include not being here for the next fifteen minutes"
Angie stared at her back in resentment, knowing there was no way she could avoid this forever. She still wasn't ready for when he walked in, his steps slowing as he saw her just sitting there. His face gave nothing away, and that worried her. So far, she didn't have high hopes. He angled his head in acknowledgement as he motioned around the empty room. She could see the tightness in his shoulders; knowing it was there because of her.
"You seen Rogers? Lucas said she needed to see me," he asked, crossing his ankles and arms as he leaned against the door frame. His demeanor screamed defensive, and she tried to not let that deter her. She really didn't like fighting with him.
"She wanted us to talk, and decided this was the best time. That's why you're here now"
"I don't know why, there's nothing to say," he replied, knowing what she was referring to and quickly backtracking once her sentence struck him as odd, "Wait, how does she know there was anything that happened?"
"I might have decided to confide in her about what went on…"
"Really Angie? I could have done without that-"
"What did you expect me to do?" she exploded, standing up to face him. She made sure she was within arms reach, but he didn't so much as flinch.
"About what?" he answered, shrugging at her.
"Oh don't pull that crap Vega, you asked me a question. I'm just now getting around to answering it"
"You did answer it Ang, it's fine"
"No, it's not. I lied to you"
"Wouldn't be the first time," he shot back coolly, watching the way her face fell before she shook it off. She thought they were over the whole Cross thing, but she could tell it was always going to be a bit of a sore spot.
"You're right. It was a lie by omission, and I never really said anything. But you asked why I said I was your girlfriend, and I finally have an answer"
"That's lovely Ang, but I really don't want to hear it" he exhaled, sounding tired as his shoulders sagged.
"Yeah, you really do" she whispered, her eyes pleading with him to just listen. He just looked at her, searching for something he obviously found as he crossed the room, sitting in the chair she just vacated. He waited, and she could feel his stare on her back before she moved. She turned around and sat in the chair Betty had occupied, leaning her forearms on her thighs like he was. That left their faces a little less than a foot apart as she spoke lowly, holding his gaze.
"I didn't think anything of going to your reunion with you because it was like any other night. It was you and I, spending time together. I didn't let myself think of it as anything other than just two friends, but if I had, I would have bolted. You've always been my best friend, my partner, and recently my other half. Losing you when I inevitably screwed up anything is what kept it from being romantic in my head. I'm still…wrapping my brain around it"
"Then why not just say that? I would have understood you needing some time to process. It's me Ang, I know you" he replied, moving his hands in front of him to emphasize his point. She nodded, absently putting her left hand over his right as she answered him.
"I know you do, and that's what scares me. You've seen the good, bad, and the downright horrible. I've never had to hide from you…"
"And you think that's what's going to screw us up now? The fact that I already know your flaws and have accepted them?" he asked rhetorically, raising an eyebrow at her logic.
"Hey, I didn't say it was a reasonable train of thought. I just...if we are going to do this, I want us to do it right"
"Well that depends I guess"
"On what?" she asked, intrigued at the look he was giving her. He looked content, but happily curious. She really had to communicate her feelings more often.
"On whether or not you can handle actually having a relationship with me" he said challengingly, flipping his hand over so they were palm to palm.
"It's been eight months apparently, how much harder could it get?"
He gave her a heated look, using his index finger to draw lazy patterns against the skin of her left wrist. His touch was electric this time, and she finally understood how he could have just felt what was between them. It was exhilarating, and that outweighed her fear every time. She smirked at him; his dark eyes igniting a spark across her skin that made her return the favor. She took the nail of her middle finger, drawing a figure eight repeatedly that made him stutter and pause.
"I think we may need to go out on a date to make sure it's gonna work out between us" she said sarcastically, making him chuckle as he shook his head.
"I think that can be arranged, but you have to do something for me first," he said, getting up as she remained sitting, tilting her head back to look at him.
"And what would that be…?" she questioned. He leaned down, brushing her hair away from her left ear as he spoke, lips brushing her ear teasingly. She shivered, the knowledge that everything would just get more intense from here made her stomach tighten in anticipation.
"Tell Manny he owes me twenty bucks. He had more faith that you'd figure it out sooner than I did"
She pulled away letting out a loud laugh, unable to hide her smile as she looked at Oscar again. He was smiling widely, proud of himself as he made his way out of Betty's office. It took all of thirty seconds to spur her into action, questioning him as they made their way to the elevator.
"Wait, Manny bet money on us? That little brat…"
"He's your brat Ang, and not so little anymore," he remarked, and she made a face at the truth in his words.
"Way to rub salt in the college wound partner"
"My pleasure," he replied cheekily, and she shoved his shoulder lightly as she got closer.
She grasped the inside of his left forearm lightly as they stepped on the elevator, letting her fingers slide down to his wrist. She rested her fingers against his palm, feeling him curl his fingers into a fist in his pocket, grabbing her fingertips the best he could. He turned towards her, making her face him as they stayed connected, lifting his right hand from his pocket to run his knuckles under her ear and against her jaw. The shiver he felt made him smile sweetly at her, glad they were finally on the same page, at least right now. He tilted her head just enough to press his lips gently against the corner of her mouth. He lingered there a moment, feeling her lips curve up into a smile as he started to pull back. She reached her left hand up, holding the back of his neck to keep him close as she sighed, her nose bumping his as she closed her eyes. She didn't want to see the look on his face when she voiced her last anxiety.
"I want you to know, no matter what, I'll try not to run from you. I'll run to you, or at you, but I'll always come around. Just, remind me you're always on my side, okay?" she whispered, her lips brushing his, the electricity between them explosive, and they hadn't even really kissed yet.
"Look at me Ang" he murmured, the throaty sound enough to get her to gaze back. His eyes were dark with promise, but there was also an unwavering loyalty that made the weight in her chest loosen, no longer worried he wouldn't feel the same.
"There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you. Good, bad, unbearable, nothing could change the way I feel about you. You need to know that," he answered, and it made everything they'd been through worth it. They parted as the elevator dinged, Angie reluctantly letting Oscar go as they walked to their desks.
"So…" Angie said, plopping down into her chair, rolling it over to his desk as he sat down.
"Yes Angie, is there something on your mind?" he asked, the smirk on his face incredible sexy as she tried and failed to meet his eyes, and not staring at his lips. His arms crossed on the desk, allowing him to lean closer to her as she lowered her voice.
"There's this creative writing expo for Manny's English class Thursday night. Think you can spare us a few hours of your precious time Vega?" she said, winking at him as she pushed away from his desk, assuming he'd answer her eventually.
"Already emailed him back, letting him know dinner was his choice since his story's being featured. Where's your head partner?" he remarked, leaning back in his chair, hands behind his head as he smiled broadly at her.
She shook her head, exasperated with him, but pleased that he'd already planned to see them Thursday. She really did underestimate just how close him and Manny were. She must have had a funny look on her face, because his head tilted, his question practically written across his face. She waved him off, tilting her head as well as she nodded at him before she said anything.
"You're such a pain in the ass"
So, I kind of really loved this chapter. It was the hardest to write, but I feel pretty freakin accomplished by it.
Anyway, let's get to the reviews!
Skylarcat : Seriously, you're fucking hilarious. Is it bad that I took serious pride in the fact that your coworkers noticed your reaction? Because I did. It really made that day so much better for me after reading that, so I appreciate it. It's like we were seperated at birth, I swear I've had that same reaction in public. It's nice to know it's not just me lol. I've now looked forward to your reviews, it's a sickness. But keep doing it lmao.
SchaeferTXT : Holy crap, Beautiful Mess has been on repeat since you recommended it! I've got a thing for country along with my rock and alternative, and it really helped me write the next chapter actually. Thanks for liking my work, I always appreciate when people tell me they'll continue to read. Reminds me it makes other people happy too :]
jackandsamforever : You already know man, you're awesome. Like you need to be told, but I like to point stuff like that whenever I can. I love the angst, it just fits them I think. It can't not be combative, I'd think someone was dying or something and we just can't have that. Thanks for the song rec, it was mixed into my playlist for them as I wrote some stuff when I was stuck too. Thanks again!
VioletUzumakiNamikaze : New reviewer, hello there friend! I'm glad you're loving my story, sometimes I seriously wonder if I'm doing the characters justice and it worries me. It boosts my confidence tremendously that you consider this a good multi-chapter story, reassures me I'm managing this relatively well. Thanks so much!
