Jane woke up Saturday morning both excited and a little afraid. To her surprise, Reed, Zapata and Patterson had all agreed to go with them.
She dressed casually and headed toward the kitchen. Before she could rummage for something to eat, there was a knock on the door. Looking at the clock she was puzzled, Oliver was meeting her at the pier.
Opening the door she found her friends holding out a pastry bag.
"I thought we were meeting at the pier," Jane opened the door wider to let them in.
"We didn't know how parking was over there," Kurt explained, "So we decided to all go together."
"Great," She took the bag Kurt offered her.
"It's your favorite," He told her when she looked inside with a smile.
It was her favorite. "Thanks," She couldn't help being surprised.
"We've got you," Kurt assured her.
There seemed to be deeper meaning there…she pulled out the coffee cake and took a bite.
"So what kind of boat is it?" Zapata asked her.
"I don't know," Jane admitted.
"You didn't ask?" Zapata shook her head in disappointment.
"I don't know anything about boats," Jane argued, "Even if he'd told me, it wouldn't have meant anything."
"That's when you go to the internet and check it out," Reed insisted.
"I'll remember for next time," She promised them.
"It's a twenty foot sailboat named Freedom." Patterson told them.
Jane looked over at her in shock.
"Hey," Patterson held up her hands, "Thanks to Kurt I could probably win Jeopardy on everything I know about Oliver."
Jane looked over at Kurt.
He looked slightly embarrassed, but equally determined.
"We aren't taking any risks." He insisted.
"We better go," Zapata looked down at her watch, "Or we'll be late."
Jane took another hasty bite of pastry and followed after them.
"I've got your coffee in the car," Kurt assured her.
"Thanks," She looked up at him gratefully.
Seeing some of the crumbs stuck to the corner of her mouth, he smiled down at her tenderly. Bringing up his thumb he wiped them away with a funny smile on his face.
"Let's go," He gave her a gentle nudge.
Rattled Jane turned to follow the others.
"You made it," Oliver stood up from the deck to come over and greet them.
Jane introduced the others, "This is Patterson, Tasha, Reed and Kurt."
"Nice to meet you," Oliver shook their hands. "Come aboard."
Jane climbed aboard with help from Kurt's hand under her elbow.
Oliver did not miss this telling display.
"Any of you like sailing?" He looked at them in curiosity.
"I do," Patterson agreed.
"We'll go out for about an hour," Oliver offered, "See if you get your sea legs."
Moving over to Jane he smiled down at her. "Excited?"
She smiled up him genuinely, "I am."
Kissing her cheek, he moved over and began to cast off.
Kurt watched the exchange with pit in his stomach. Oliver could win her over if he wasn't careful. Jane wasn't used to dating. Patterson had explained that Jane couldn't even remember being on a date before Oliver. He was with her for the most part of everyday, but work wasn't the same and he knew it. Oliver was on a campaign and Jane was vulnerable.
"Anything we can do to help?" Reed offered.
"No," Oliver smiled over at him, "This boat is small enough that I can handle it alone, but thanks."
Once they left the dock the water became a little choppy. Jane stood beside Oliver while he guided the boat.
"What do you think?" He smiled at the happy look on her face.
"This is amazing," She admitted.
"Better than horror movies?" He teased.
"Yes," She assured him with a laugh.
The wind blew her hair in her face and he reached over and moved it for her.
Jane looked up at him silently. For that moment she wished things could have been different, if she wasn't who she was…and if it wasn't for her feelings for Kurt. Looking over at Kurt, she found him looking back seriously.
As always, no words were really necessary between them. She smiled at him in reassurance and he returned the smile with a warm look in his eyes.
Oliver watched the exchange and realized that Jane might have underestimated exactly how important she was to Kurt. The question suddenly became his. Did he honor the fact that she was just looking for a friend and tell her, or did he continue to pursue her? He didn't know. If Kurt left her wondering what she meant to him, then he didn't deserve her. He'd have to watch the two of them before he decided.
Jane shivered and Oliver immediately began removing his jacket. "Are you cold?"
"A little," she admitted, "I should have brought a sweater."
"Take mine," He placed it around her shoulders.
"You'll be cold," She protested looking up at him in concern.
"You can keep me warm," He teased, placing his arm around her.
She tried to take the jacket off, "We can share it."
"I'm not cold," He denied, placing it back around her.
"Thanks," She did feel warmer.
He placed his arm back around her and she jumped.
"Are you ticklish?" His smile was wicked.
Jane looked at him blankly.
When he began to dig his fingers into her sides she discovered that she was absolutely ticklish.
She was desperate to get away from him. He was relentless. Jumping up she turned to run, but caught her foot on one of the ropes and began to fall. The rail was close and for a moment she thought she was going to go over. Kurt was not going to allow that to happen. One moment she was heading for the water the next she was held tightly against his chest.
"Are you okay?" He demanded still catching his breath from the scare.
"Jane," Oliver placed his hand on her back, "I'm sorry. I should never have done that."
Kurt didn't release her, so she looked at him over her shoulder, "I know." She assured him, "I guess I am ticklish."
"Very," He agreed solemnly.
Kurt finally relaxed his grip enough that she was able to step back. He maintained an arm around her and she found it reassuring.
"You should probably forget about that," She warned Oliver.
"You're very sensitive," Oliver gave her a grin, "I will remember."
Kurt hated that he knew anything about Jane that he hadn't known, especially something so… physical and intimate.
Oliver watched the possessive way that Kurt kept his arm around Jane and knew her feelings were more than returned. That didn't really leave him any avenue. Was he going to be satisfied as her friend? Unlikely. Did he care about her enough to accept friendship when he wanted so much more? When she looked up a Kurt with an expression he would have killed for, he realized that friendship was better than nothing.
"Look at them," Patterson whispered to Reed and Zapata.
"I thought Jane was going overboard for sure," Reed admitted.
"I don't know how Kurt made it over there in time," Zapata agreed.
"Who knew Jane was ticklish?" Patterson looked at the others with a wicked smile.
"You go ahead," Reed held up his hands, "Knowing what she could do to me for even trying, I'm going to pass."
"Aww," Zapata teased him, "Are you scared?"
"Of Jane…hell yes," Reed agreed without shame.
The others laughed at his expression.
"Kurt doesn't seem to be letting Jane go," Patterson said with raised eyebrows.
"Are you surprised?" Zapata asked with a dry expression.
"Not really," Patterson agreed, "I feel kind of bad for Oliver though."
"Anyone who sees Jane and Kurt together realized the bond they have. Hell, even Rich-Dot-Com could see it and he's the most self-absorbed person I've ever met." Reed agreed.
"She did say she wanted to be just friends," Zapata defended Jane.
"Be calm," Reed soothed her, "We aren't criticizing Jane."
The rest of the trip was uneventful and when they arrived back at the dock Jane realized she'd had a wonderful time.
"Thank you Oliver," She told him with a hug, "I love sailing."
"It looks good on you," He told her with a smile. Looking at her wind tousled hair, he felt regret that Kurt had found her first.
The moved back to the dock and he turned back to the boat, "I'll text you. It was nice to meet you all."
"I like him," Patterson told the others.
"Seems like a nice guy," Reed agreed.
"If you like rich and well mannered," Tasha scoffed.
"Remembering your previous escorts," Reed teased, "I'm thinking you don't."
"Shut up," Tasha hit him.
"Did you have a good time?" Kurt looked over at Jane and remembered the expression on her face while the ocean flew by and the wind blew her hair.
"I love sailing," She admitted.
But are you staring to love the man that took you sailing? Kurt couldn't help the thought.
"Thank you for coming," Jane looked over at him, "I doubt I would have been this happy if I had ended up in the ocean."
"My pleasure," He assured her.
Looking into the back seat she told them, "Thanks for coming."
"We don't have to wait for Oliver to invite us," Zapata insisted, "We could go out like this all the time."
"I'd love that," Jane smiled at her.