AN: And! In honor of Valentines Day, here is a little anti-romance I couldn't resist writing ages ago. Enjoy! (Gonna be awhile before there as another update.) As usual, please let me know what you think! Reviews = love. ^_^
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Jim was just coming home from a massive dose of overtime. He'd been sitting on a witness for the last two days, and whatever drug the guy had been on? He didn't sleep because of it. Meaning neither did Jim. It was late when he got in and there was no light on, meaning Elisabeth was still at the hospital. He didn't bother to turn one on, choosing instead to crash face first onto the bed and pass out.
He'd probably only been asleep an hour when he felt Elisabeth rolling him over and pulling off his shoes. He mumbled something that could be considered a greeting as she crawled onto the small section of bed left empty of his larger frame and curled up next to him.
"How was your day?" he finally managed to get out.
"Hush Jim, go back to sleep," Elisabeth whispered, knowing he was tired if he didn't even bother to remove his shoes.
"No, no. I'm awake," he yawned. "I want to hear about something other than my day, which was a nightmare."
"Well," she started, laying her head on his shoulder, "Susan got engaged to Dr. Andrews today."
"Nurse anesthetist Susan or administrative nurse Susan?" he interrupted.
"Susan from the NICU," she replied, starting to absentmindedly trace patterns on his chest.
"Ah! Susie! The one with the cute- ow! I was gonna say nose! Geez. Do continue," he said, rubbing at the spot she had pinched.
"Anyways, we didn't even know they knew each other, but apparently they have been quietly dating for a few months now. I guess she thought everyone would think she was with him for his money and status at the hospital, but they really do seem to be in love," she said thoughtfully.
"Hmm, you could have one of those if you wanted, you know," Jim stated matter-of-factly. "Rich, intelligent, maybe even handsome if you looked hard enough."
Elisabeth laughed at his musing tone. "And if I said I was happy as I am?"
Jim got quiet a moment. "Would you ever consider marrying a bum like me?"
Elisabeth's whole body went still, her fingertips frozen on his chest. "Is that… an offer?" she asked tentatively.
"What? Of course not! Don't be silly," Jim scoffed.
Elisabeth made a disgusted noise as she smacked him on the chest and propped herself up on her elbow to click on the tiny nightlight on the wall. His eyes were closed but he could feel the burn of her glare on his face. He did a slow count to five in his head, waiting to see if the glare would subside or she would say something. When he got to five and neither happened he cracked one eye to look at her. "Ring's in the nightstand if you want to check it out."
He heard Elisabeth give a small gasp, but she remained quiet, obviously waiting for him to tell her it was a joke. When he didn't say anything else her brow scrunched in confusion and she hesitantly reached for the drawer of the nightstand. He heard her pull it open and the little sigh that escaped when, sure enough, she saw a small, blue velvet box inside. He felt the bed shift as she reached for it and finally spoke up. "Of course, you can't have it until I decide if I want to marry you."
"Jim!" she hissed through her teeth. He could just picture her face hardening as she slammed the drawer to the nightstand and flopped onto her back next to him, not touching him even though there was hardly any space for them both.
He is too tired to smirk, which is probably a good thing since he doesn't want to get walloped by the sweet-natured woman next to him. He does however drift off with a self-satisfied look on his face.
Elisabeth is not so lucky, tossing and turning most of the night. She resents Jim for being able to sleep so soundly after throwing her into a tizzy like that. At some point she gives him a good elbow in the side as punishment before finally falling into a fitful sleep around 4 am.
She wakes to the smell of Jim making coffee. Real coffee, her one indulgence from her former life. She peaks around the corner to see he is busy fighting with the food prep unit and quickly leans back in to check the nightstand drawer.
The little box is gone.
She stomps into the kitchen, trying to act normal, but coming up short and not fooling Jim for a minute.
"How'd you sleep?" he asks, handing her travel mug over the counter.
"Fine. You?"
"Slept like a rock." He watches her scowl into her mug. "Vaguely remember you coming in… I was pretty out of it. Did you say something about someone getting engaged?" he asked innocently as he took a sip of his coffee. He could see the steam rising, figured it would start puffing out her ears any moment.
"Yes, I did. But if you can't remember then its obviously a topic that doesn't interest you!" she said, gathering her things before huffing out of his apartment.
Jim waited a beat after she left, just incase she decided she had something else to say, before pulling the troublesome little box from his pocket. Flicking it open he grinned at the glittering piece within. "Oh yea. She wants you bad."