Thanks to everybody who has reviewed this so far and have been patiently waiting for updates. It motivates me to keep writing when I know people actually care about where it goes (:
Ooh and I've just realised that in the disclaimer in chapter 1 I wrote that I didn't own the characters when I do in fact own Tyler lol. Yeah I'm kinda slow…
Also, I think I should mention my Berty doodle here haha. After writing up to the fourth chapter, I wasn't sure I'd finish this story because I had no ideas or motivation to keep going. But she kept getting on my case to write more so I guess she should be thanked for updates because they wouldn't exist without her nagging lol. You know I love you really Berty *Tehe* *Bob hugs*
Anyway, now that that's cleared up, here's chapter five. Keep reviewing! x
The next night at work, Gil and Catherine were on separate cases but happened to take a break at the same time. Gil wandered into the break room to find Catherine, coffee in one hand and phone in the other. She was smiling at the message she was reading. Gil paused for a moment at the door, unsure of whether he should interrupt her. 'I wonder what she's smiling about,' he thought. Eventually his curiosity became too much to bear and he entered the room.
"Hey Cath." He broke the silence and went to pour himself a coffee. Catherine looked up briefly and gave him a quick 'hello' before her attention was brought back to her phone. He frowned a little and approached the table, taking a seat across from her, not wanting to invade her personal space. He watched as Catherine typed a message on her phone then placed it down on the table with a sigh, the smile never leaving her face. Gil took this as his cue to start up a conversation.
"So how's the case going, Cath?" He sipped his coffee, relishing the bitter taste.
"It's umm… yeah, it's okay. Brass is…" she paused trying to put the sentence together, "following up a lead as we speak." Gil narrowed his eyes. Her distracted answer made it obvious that she was still thinking about the message she'd been reading when he first entered.
"That's good," was all he said.
"Yeah…" Catherine smiled, eyeing her phone again. Gil was increasingly anxious to know what had his friend so preoccupied but didn't feel brave enough to ask. He decided to continue the conversation based on their cases.
"What-" he was suddenly cut off by the loud vibration of Catherine's phone against the table. She snatched it up, eager to read her new message. Gil stared at her for a moment, noticing how her smile grew and she bit her lip a little. He began pondering over the mystery person who was texting Catherine. 'It might just be Lindsey,' he thought. 'Or maybe Nancy.' He was brought out of his reverie by Catherine's voice.
"Sorry about that, Tyler has been messaging me all day. What were you about to ask?"
Gil felt a pang in his stomach. 'Tyler?!' He cried out in his head. 'As in boring, non-stop-talking Tyler?! Tyler the posh suit man who reeked of aftershave which, lets face it, didn't smell all that great, and had his hand-"
"Gil?" Catherine looked rather confused as Gil had been sitting there with various emotions fleeting across his eyes, yet still hadn't said a word to answer her question. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, uhh sorry," he smiled sheepishly. "I've forgotten what I was going to ask now," he lowered his head to his cup, his mind still racing as he drank his coffee.
A few minutes of silence passed between them with Catherine's phone going off at intervals. She then spoke up.
"Gil?" He looked up just about to take his last sip of coffee. Catherine shifted a little in her seat, seemingly uncomfortable with what she was about to say.
"Umm… Would you be willing to take a night off next week to look after Lindsey again?" She watched his expression. He looked a little stunned.
"I guess so," he finally blurted out. "Last night wasn't so bad." He shrugged before deciding it was safe enough to go ahead and ask where she was going, though he had pretty much already concluded it was something to do with Tyler. "Are you going out?" He held her gaze and noted how her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink.
"Yeah," she answered quietly. "I have umm… Well Tyler asked me out on another date." She smiled shyly and shrugged.
"Oh, that's good." He paused. "I thought you weren't going to see him again though. Because he talks too much," he chuckled, remembering how last night Catherine had whined about not having a chance to talk about herself.
"Yeah well… I thought I'd give him another chance. Everybody deserves one, right?" Before Gil could answer, the phone on the table between them vibrated again. Catherine smiled apologetically and picked it up. Gil stood up and brought both of their cups to the sink to clean them. After replying to the message Catherine also stood up with a sigh and approached him. She fidgeted a little.
"I have something else to ask, Gil." She watched his hands. Gil placed the clean cups on the draining board before turning to her, towel in hand, to await her question. She looked up at him, leaning against the counter. "Would you mind having Lindsey stay at your place?"
She suddenly felt very shy. Gil wasn't dumb and she knew he would realise why she wanted an empty house that night. He raised an eyebrow, which only made her feel more embarrassed. She tried to mask it.
"Don't look at me like that, Gil. Just tell me if you can manage it." She rolled her eyes.
'She doesn't hang around, does she?' Gil thought worriedly, before answering. "Yes I can, I'll settle the night off with Ecklie."
She took a deep breath. "Thanks, I owe you. Anyway, best get back to work. I'll catch up with you later." She turned to leave the break room. Gil called after her on her way out.
"You still owe me from the last time, Cath!" She turned to give him a wink before exiting the break room with a smile, leaving him smiling back and shaking his head. 'You can't help but love her,' he thought.
His head snapped up as it occurred to him what he'd just let slip through his mind.