She was fifteen minutes late and still a little shaken when Miranda finally arrived at the station. Before she could even think about Dexter or the Baird case, Miranda located the police station's break room. She was almost done pouring herself a Styrofoam cup of coffee when Dexter appeared next to her, leaning against the counter. Miranda started, spilling a splash of coffee on the tiled counter. Dexter already had a paper towel in his hand before she had even set the cup down on the counter. He chuckled, mopping up the spill in one swift motion.
"Slow moving today, aren't we?" Balling up the paper towel and tossing it into the nearby trash, Dexter raised an eyebrow at her, resuming his place against the counter. Miranda sighed, rubbing a hand over her forehead.
"It's just…" She pauses longer than she meant to, but when she looked up Dexter was still staring intently at her, a line of concentration across his own forehead. Miranda cleared her throat. She felt hung-over. "It's been a long morning." She looked around. "We should get to work." Dexter was shaking his head.
"We don't have to just yet." The line across his forehead softened into what Miranda thought looked like worry. "I mean, you really don't look so good Miranda. Did you eat breakfast?" Miranda, who had been looking down into her black cup of coffee looked up, biting her lip.
"Well… I had like, a banana in the car on the way here. But, Dexter, we really don't have to-"
"You know we won't get any real work done with you feeling this bad," Dexter interrupted. Miranda continued to bite her lip, finally sighing.
"Okay. Yeah, we can get some breakfast." Nodding, Dexter put an arm gently around her shoulders, leading her out of the break room and through the station.
The pair sat themselves at a small diner just a few blocks from the station. As Dexter slid onto the vinyl seat in the booth across from Miranda, he smiled. This was just what he needed: Miranda was obviously shaken up about her encounter with her brother this morning and she would most likely be willing to talk about it, with the right about of coercing of course. It wasn't long before a skinny waitress with blonde hair came over, pulled a pen out of her apron pocket and asked what they wanted to drink.
"Oh, just milk for me." Miranda looked up at the waitress, laying her menu flat on the table as the waitress scribbled on a steno pad.
"And two cups of coffee. One for me and one for her." The waitress, whose nametag read 'Kat,' shrugged, pushed her pen behind her ear and walked away. Miranda gave him a look over the table. Dexter shrugged. "You could use it." He smiled charmingly and, after a moment, she returned it with a hesitant chuckle. Dexter cleared his throat, threading his fingers together and leaning his elbows on the table. He was through beating around the bush. "So. Feel like telling me what you're really upset about?" Miranda, who had been consulting her menu that was still flat on the table, looked up, surprised.
"What?" She folded her arms into her lap under the table.
"None of this vague 'long morning business.'" He paused, holding her stare for a few seconds. Finally, Miranda sighed.
"Well, okay." She cleared her throat and Dexter slid back into his seat. It had worked. "My brother showed up this morning. Which, I guess, isn't a bad thing? It's just… I haven't really seen him in a while? And the few times I've seen him in the past couple years, it just reminds me of… our childhood." Just then, the waitress reappeared and set down the glass of milk and mugs of coffee on the appropriate sides of the table. Miranda order a stack of walnut pancakes with strawberry syrup and Dexter ordered a bacon, cheese, and red pepper omelet. As the waitress left, Miranda took a sip of her milk while Dexter waited patiently, turning his head to look out the window. A man walking on the sidewalk across the street from the diner reminded him of his brother Brian. Dexter turned back to Miranda, frowning.
"And sometimes you wish that the past was just that: in the past," Dexter said, almost unconsciously. He caught himself, blinking. Miranda was nodding.
"Yeah. Yes, exactly." She reached for her milk as she talked but withdrew her hand, brushing her fingertips against the cool glass as she reached for the porcelain mug. "Just… Seeing Oliver reminds me of our… parents. And…" Miranda paused abruptly, her hands stretched around the mug of coffee. Dexter studied her intently. She had paused for a reason and now fidgeted nervously, first staring out the window and then into her coffee cup.
"Miranda? Are you okay?" Dexter was leaning forward again as Miranda shook her head and inhaled unsteadily.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She was looking out the window again, resting her chin on her open palm. Though he his view of her face was somewhat obstructed by her hand, Dexter could tell she was torn. Inside, Dexter knew he would have a feeling of great anticipation building inside of him. That is, if he wasn't such a sociopath. He knew she would tell him whatever it is she knew about her brother. At last, Miranda straightened, turning her face towards him, looking him in the eye. "Okay, I've never really talked about this with anyone, Dexter." Her eyes ran over his face seriously. "It's about my brother." Dexter sat up straighter, giving her a look of innocent concentration. Miranda exhaled, looking down at the table and then back up into Dexter's eyes. "Up until I was around twenty, Elina Consuela was my best friend and had been for the longest time. She was… she was just the best person I've ever known, Dexter. And sometimes, I really miss her. I miss her a lot." Miranda paused and Dexter waited uncomplainingly. She was starting to fill in the blanks. "My brother is a little older than me, like around three years. When Elina and I entered college, she and my brother started to date. Before she was murdered, they were having some problems. Dexter?" She looked up as if she wasn't sure if he was listening from to find him very much drawn into what she was saying. They held eyes for a second before she spoke again. "Dexter, I think my brother killed Elina." There was a paused again and Miranda jumped in her seat when the waitress set her plate of pancakes down in front of her with a clunk.
The two of them sat in silence for several minutes, situating themselves among the plates, picking up their silverware and beginning to eat. After Miranda had cut half of her stack of pancakes into triangle-shaped portions and stabbed a dripping piece of pancake with her fork, just as she raised it to her mouth, she glanced over the table. "I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you." She motioned to put the bite of pancake into her mouth, but stopped again. "I really have never told that to anyone." Dexter was halfway through his omelet.
"You didn't overwhelm me." He looked up and waited until she felt his stare on her and lifted her head to meet his eyes. They didn't talk for a very long time. When they had almost finished their breakfasts, Miranda sat back in her chair, placing her fork and knife on her plate. As she spoke, Dexter started a little and looked up at her from his dwindling omelet.
"This morning, when Oliver showed up at my door without warning, it just really shook me." Miranda turned her head towards the window again. "He wants me to go to dinner with him tonight." Dexter looked up at her, finishing his omelet, but she was still looking out the window.
"Are you going?" Miranda didn't answer at first, but turned back to him at last.
"Yes. But, I'm…" She frowned, as if searching for the right word. "I'm just a little wary about it." Miranda looked at him for a long second. "Dexter…" She paused, biting her lip. "Would you… come to dinner with me? And my brother?" Dexter sat up straighter. This was more than he had ever hoped she would be able to tell him about Oliver Cerulean. She was practically handing him over.
"Yeah." He said, almost too hastily. Miranda blinked. Dexter drew himself back. "I mean, of course, Miranda. If all this business with you and your brother is bothering you so much… then, yeah, of course I'll come with you." Miranda stared at him intently before nodding, satisfied. Dexter thought he saw her exhale.
"Okay. Yeah, good." A smile flickered across her face. Dexter had never noticed how much Miranda's smile could brighten her features. He cleared his throat.
"So, uh, what time? Should I… pick you up? At your apartment, I mean…" Miranda shifted in her seat, crossing and uncrossing her legs.
"You can pick me up at my apartment. Here-" She dug through her purse, pulling out a day planner and a pen, scribbling something down on one of the pages and tearing it out with a loud rip. "That's my address. I'll…" Miranda sighed heavily. "Call my brother and tell him to meet us at the restaurant at eight? It's about fifteen minutes from my apartment. So you can pick me up at-"
"7:45. I can do math." Dexter smiled, jokingly. This breakfast was turning out better than he could have ever imagined. "Well, we have real work to do, Cerulean. Let's get the check and go catch us some bad guys." He said as he motioned to the skinny waitress. Dexter's good mood was growing by the second.
"Yeah… let's go." Miranda was smiling too, hesitantly at first, then with growing confidence, watching Dexter fool around with the waitress as she came over with the check.
Miranda had just pulled one of the only shirts she owned that she deemed actually flattering out of the steam cycle of her dryer when there were three short raps on her door. She was standing directly across the apartment from the front door in her bra and jeans. "Just a second!" Running across the length of the apartment, she pulled the black-sweetheart-neck-keyhole-back top over her head, trying not to damage her perfectly sculpted mess of hair. Dexter and herself had only been off from a long day of work for around two hours, just enough time for Miranda to shower and coax her thick unruly dark hair into what could pass for curls. There was another set of knocks on the door. "Coming!" Miranda swung her bag over her shoulder with a bit too much force and slipped on the only shoes waiting right beside the door: patent teal, peep toe flats. They might have been too dressy, but she had no time. Hesitating at first, Miranda snatched up the half empty bottle of perfume that had been a present from someone at some point in her life and was now residing on her side table. She spritzed herself once on each wrist and then rubbed her wrists on the back of each ear. Miranda sneezed once as the smell of sea cotton with undertones of apple overwhelmed her for a split second. When she swung the door open, she was almost out of breath. Of course, it was Dexter. Right on time.
"You look flustered."
"How nice of you…" Miranda tugged at the back of her right flat and stepped out onto the landing, pulling the door closed behind her. Her keys jingled as she locked the two deadbolts.
"You also smell like fabric softener and apples. You didn't let me finish." Miranda slid her keys into her purse, looking up at him. Dexter was smiling. "Of course, all of this just adds to the fact that you look particularly amazing tonight." Miranda laughed softly at his flattery. She had never seen him in such a good mood…
"Well, thank you. You clean up pretty nice, if I do say so myself." Dexter nodded, bowing a little in appreciation.
"And a thank you to you, too. Shall we?" He motioned towards the small flight of stairs that led from Miranda's hallway to the parking lot. It wasn't until Dexter was pulling his car out onto the main road until he asked: "And where are we headed to?" Miranda had been checking to see if she had remembered her cell phone.
"Oh, yeah, uh…" She looked out the window. "You actually just keep going straight on this road. I'll tell you when to turn." Dexter nodded, leaning back in the driver's seat. Miranda pulled a tube of peach colored, mint-infused lip gloss out of her bag and smeared it on her lips. As she flipped the vanity mirror on her blinder down and smacked her lips, Dexter laughed. "What?" Miranda said, smiling.
"Whatever you just put all over your lips smells like pure menthol." Miranda laughed too and Dexter glanced away from the road for just a second as he laughed with her.
"Well, it does plump your lips and freshen your breath." She laughed, still holding the tube. "But I just love the way it tastes, all minty…" Miranda smiled to herself. "It reminds me of my dad." The air inside the car grew very still. Dexter sat quietly as Miranda stared ahead contemplatively. "When Oliver and I were little, he smoked menthols. He stopped eventually for his health, but ever since he died I've kept a pack in my apartment. Sometimes I'll smoke one, just to smell like him again." After a quiet moment, Miranda laughed to clear the air. "I'm really glad you're coming with me tonight, Dexter." She looked over at, watching him drive. He quickly glanced at her, smiling. Miranda shifted, facing forward in her seat again. "You need to take this right."
The restaurant was a hole in the wall Chinese joint, the one that Oliver had referred to as their "favorite place." Dexter opened the door for Miranda as she walked into the small, smoky dining room that smelled of soy sauce. There were only three occupied tables in the room and Oliver Cerulean was waving from one of him. Sitting next to him was the red-haired girl, looking very aggravated. Dexter and Miranda snaked their way through the tables to the pair. Oliver was still standing up when they reached him and he reached out the hug Miranda, who hesitantly patted him on the back. Dexter shook Oliver's hand and pulled out a chair from the circular table for Miranda.
"Dexter Morgan." Oliver was nodding rather enthusiastically.
"Yeah, Miri told me on the phone. I'm Oliver, her big brother." Dexter smiled a toothy grin as the three of them took their seats.
Subsidy, Dexter leaned towards Miranda, whispering, "Miri?" He was grinning. Miranda gave him a stern look. Dexter smiled even bigger. The redhead was giving Oliver a look of her own.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Dexter, Miri, this is my…" Oliver gave the girl a pointed look. "Girlfriend, Sloane." Sloane smiled half heartedly at the two of them. Dexter could feel Miranda's leg bouncing up and down next to his under the table. He rested a hand on her knee gently and the bouncing slowly stopped. Miranda looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Silence fell over the table.
"So, Sloane, what do you do?" Dexter asked coolly, keeping his hand Miranda's knee. Sloane straightened.
"Well, I work at a local nursery. I'm really into plants." Her voice was as smoky as the room. Dexter nodded attentively, looking over at Miranda.
"Very interesting, right Miranda?" Miranda nodded slowly, sighing audibly. Dexter removed his hand from her knee and slowly sat back in his chair.
"But, actually, Sloane, why don't you tell them what you've really been into lately?" Oliver prompted, nodding encouragingly. Sloane nodded back.
"Yes, well, right now Oliver is helping me with my singing career." Oliver was still nodding.
"That's right! She already has a part-time job singing at a nightclub downtown." Miranda was nodding, too.
"That's… that's great. For both of you." Miranda smiled supportively. The silence grew around the quartet. The waitress could not have come sooner. Both Miranda and Dexter ordered water with lemon, Oliver ordered iced tea for Sloane and a Coke for himself, then to Miranda's surprise:
"And let's have a round of sake for the whole table!" The waitress nodded diligently and zipped off. Dexter and Miranda stared at Oliver.
"You really didn't have to do that." Miranda frowned. Sloane loudly rummaged through her purse. Oliver just smiled.
"Oh, come on, Miri. Lighten up! We're celebrating." Dexter continued to stare at him, almost blankly. Miranda sighed.
"Celebrating what, Oliver?" The waitress appeared, swiftly setting down the drink orders and zipping off again, saying she would be back in a second.
"I'm really trying here, Miranda." All of a sudden, Oliver was serious. "Just give it a chance, okay? We used to be really close." He grabbed his tiny sake cup, a little of the clear liquid spilling onto the table. Oliver raised the cup in the air. Sloane followed suit. "Let's have a toast." A smile flashed like sunlight over his faced and Oliver was happy again. Miranda picked up her own cup, but Dexter's hands remained in his lap. "Dexter?"
"I don't drink." Oliver frowned for a second, but then Dexter lifted his glass of water.
"To a new start!" Oliver proclaimed and the four of them took a sip from their respective glasses. Miranda shivered a bit from the bitterness. She hadn't had sake in a very long time. "Hey, Dex, why don't you let Miranda have your sake? She loves it, you know." Dexter shot Miranda a smirking look. Miranda rolled her eyes, downing the rest of her sake.
The waitress came and went, taking orders and bringing them. Oliver and Sloane shared a plate of vegetarian Lo Mein noodles, Dexter had sesame chicken, and Miranda ordered shrimp in honey sauce with candied walnuts. Dexter leaned against Miranda as they all began to eat. "Walnuts?"
"What?"
"Walnuts. You had them on your pancakes this morning and now candied walnuts?" Miranda smirked as she ate, feeling Dexter lean against her.
"I just like walnuts. A lot." Dexter laughed and straightened up, satisfied. Oliver was staring at them.
"What are you two whispering about?" He smiled a little. Dexter looked up, taking a bite of chicken.
"Oh nothing. I was just poking fun at your sister…" Oliver nodded, stabbing a piece of broccoli with his fork.
"So, are you two dating or what?" Oliver said in a fake-absentminded tone, as if he had just been waiting to casually ask. Miranda looked at him sharply.
"Oliver."
"What?" Miranda gave him a look, shaking her head slightly. They kept their eyes locked for a moment before Dexter said anything, almost talking to Sloane.
"Uh, no, we are not dating. Miranda and I are working on a case together at work. The Genna Baird case." Sloane continued eating but Oliver was focused on Dexter now.
"Genna Baird? Wasn't that case cold… or something?" Dexter shrugged, smiling a little.
"Well, we found the body, so maybe we can actually catch the guy this time, you know?" He smiled kindly and ate the few remaining pieces of chicken. Oliver dropped his fork with a clunk that made Sloane jump. Oliver leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Not hungry anymore, dumpling?" Sloane looked over at Oliver, sucking a noodle into her mouth playfully, the first show of personality Miranda had seen all evening. Oliver barked harshly.
"No." Dexter set his own fork down, finished. Miranda reached for Dexter's cup of untouched sake, downing it in one gulp.
Dexter and Miranda waved as Sloane drove herself and Oliver out of the parking lot of the Chinese restaurant. Miranda leaned against Dexter's car unsteadily. The third cup of sake was making her see rainbows. "Can we go?" Dexter started, as if he had been daydreaming.
"Oh, yeah of course. Let's get you home." Miranda slid into the passenger seat shakily. By the time Dexter had circled the car and opened the driver's side door, she was in tears. He slowly slipped into the passenger seat. "Miranda?" She was shaking her head.
"I'm sorry. I'm…" She took a jagged breath in. "Sorry.." A hand covered her eyes, rubbing her brow as she shuddered with a controlled sob. "It's just…" Dexter reached over, gently resting a hand on her knee. It was the same knee he had held under the table just an hour before. Unconsciously, Miranda set a hand down on top of his.
"What is it?" Miranda was shaking her head again. After a few moments, she straightened up and stared through the windshield in front of her. Dexter waited patiently.
"Elina liked to sing, too, Dexter. He's…" Miranda took a breath in. "He's been trying to find the right girl. And now he has her. Dexter-" She turned towards him, looking straight into his eyes. "Oliver will try to kill that girl if no one stops him." Dexter was nodding slowly, his eyes skidding over her face. Miranda frowned slightly, reaching a hand up to swipe at a tear trailing down her cheek. "What?" He opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it abruptly. In one swift motion he reached a hand up, caught her jaw in his hand and pulled her mouth to his. Miranda tensed up before pressing against him, one of her hips jutting against the gear shift. After a second or two, Dexter leaned back and pulled away. Miranda settled back into her seat, sighing as she sunk into the cloth. Dexter stuck the key in the ignition and started the car. By the time they were on the main road, Miranda felt a shade of drowsiness descend. The next thing she knew, Dexter was calmly pulling her out of the car, lifting her with an arm under her knees and her neck. Miranda groaned, leaning her head against his chest. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Where are we, Dexter?" She heard the car door shut and they were moving. Being carried was surprisingly steady.
"We're at my apartment." Miranda lolled her head back, looking up at him.
"But what's wrong with my apartment?" Dexter jostled her a bit. They were going up some stairs.
"Nothing. I just don't think you need to be alone right now." Miranda nodded groggily.
"You are very nice… And strong." Dexter chuckled, swiftly unlocking a door without skipping a beat. Miranda sighed, folding her arms against his chest.
"Hey, Miranda?"
"Mmm?"
"Can you kick off your shoes?" She did so, hearing them clunk on the floor of whatever room they were in. Dexter was laying her down on a bed. "Now, you sleep here. And if you need anything, I'll just be in the next room, on the couch, okay?" Miranda frowned, trying to sit up.
"You're leaving?" She was very much on the brink of sleep.
"No, I'll just be right here, in the next room." He was standing in the doorway.
"Don't leave." Miranda's voice sounded very quiet. She sank back into the comforter, fully clothed. As she drifted in and out of consciousness, she felt the weight on the mattress shift. An arm came around her neck and she wrapped her own arm around his chest. Pulling her knees into her chest, Miranda finally drifted asleep. And she did not dream about her brother or Elina or Sloane. It was just perfect, black sleep.