She's walking on a cloud of memories, catching them one at a time to see what they contained. They rushed around like little whirlwinds of colour and sound. She is looking for a particular one.

Found it.

It was the first time she met Waverly.

Actually met her and not just stared down the street at her like a weirdo.

She shivers at the sensation she gets from the memory enveloping her.

She didn't know how she was going to keep a cool head let alone exchange words with this divine vision of a woman.

Her plan nearly went to shit when she got to Shorty's, hypnotised as she was by bare toned arms, chest peeking out of her wet tight top and a pretty face that she had recently began dreaming about.

Eyes up Haught.

Seeing Waverly preoccupied with the exploding bar tap, she thanks lady luck for giving her a chance to pull herself together. Looks away from the intense phenomenon that is Waverly. She plays with her hat leaning on the door frame, then throws out what she thinks is a smooth line about wet t-shirt competitions, smiling widely as she speaks to her for the first time.

Listens to Waverly's explanations as she walks closer, feeling like she's being pulled in by an invisible force. She places her hat down gently as she slides her hands onto the edge of the bartop. Taps her right hand once on the counter before stretching it out towards Waverly.

Here goes.

"I've been, uh... I've been meaning to introduce myself. I'm Nicole. Nicole Haught."

At least its the truth.

Even if she omitted some of it.

Can't help herself when she hangs onto her hand for longer than was necessary. Waverly didn't seem too anxious to let go either and she responds with a simple "Hi."
She's so caught up in her endearing smile she forgets to let Waverly introduce herself and jumps in with "And you are Waverly Earp."

That's not creepy at all.

Covers it up with, "Quite a popular girl around here," as she leans forward.

"Oh, you know, it's all in the smile and wave."

"Yeah."

She's in that stupor again.

Maybe she wasn't the only one. Waverly's acting a little bashful and her movements were slightly more erratic and less graceful than what she'd seen of her before. She stares at her for what felt like an eternity but in reality, just a moment. Looks away and tries to act nonchalant uttering, "Can I get a cappuccino to go?" the only thing she can think to say.

"Oh, I'm really sorry. Um, we're not actually open yet so... "

She's having trouble keeping her concentration on the conversation and she thinks she might be zoning out too much but that doesn't stop her being enraptured. She still watches the damp cloth rubbing up a tanned defined arm.

Snapping herself out of it "Oh! Right! Again, my bad. "she apologises holding her hands up in a placating gesture.

"It's just when I uh,"

It almost throws her off.

Waverly's chest tilted at the perfect angle and a glimpse at gorgeous legs.

She continues, "I see something I like, I don't want to wait. And your door was open so... "

"Right. God... Oh, God, I'm sopping wet. "

It wasn't that funny but she's glad of a reason to get rid of the nervous laughter that had suddenly bubbled up inside her.

Am I staring?

It was difficult not to when she was this close to her. Engaging her hadn't made it any more controllable. She refocuses as she's asking her something. Watches as Waverly's lively hands indicate what she means and she finds herself mirroring it, as she stumbles out an understanding "oh" and turns around. She's relieved, glad to alleviate some of the pressure she's feeling.

At first she is slow to react to Waverly's pleas for help but then bounds of her stool when she realises what she wants.

"Oh yeah. Let me help you." She stands facing her and utters, "I got you." almost giggling as she liberates Waverly from her self made tangled mess.

The background of the bar flickers out and back in.

Woah, that didn't happen last time.

Waverlys comment about the awkwardness of the situation makes her hope fade a little but they're both still smiling. Glancing down for a brief respite, she looks back into her eyes and tilts her chin forward. Almost ready to ask her out.

Waverly jumps in with a flustered, " Uh... Um... I-I owe you one. "

She sees darkness creeping in to the corner of her vision and is aware that it's not right but she doesn't want to leave, wants to stay here with Waverly. To stay in the warm painless memories.

She knows the futility of it yet she carries on.

"Alright, well, how about you buy me that cup of coffee? How about tonight? "

The bar around her distorts before rapidly turning black. She takes one last look at Waverly before it overtakes her too.

The first things she's aware of are the tubes up her nose and the metallic taste in her mouth. Then muffled beeping and a smell of disinfectant. Her tongue felt oversized and her brain groggy, but she was mildly sure she was back in the real world. Lying on her back, she can still feel the pain but it's a shadow of it's former self. It hovers at her edges patiently like it's waiting for something.

It reeks a little of déjà vu as she forces her eyes open. Even with her bleary vision she can see some of Waverly in a chair beside her bed. The rest of her was curled onto the mattress, the top of her head almost touching Nicole's side, loose strands of hair draped on white sheets, sticking out from the usually tidy bun. Her neck was at an angle that was sure to result in a crick when she woke up. She senses first and then sees their clasped hands. Before she's aware of it, she rubs her thumb softly over Waverly's in a slow back and forth motion.

Even though she was sure that some of it was due to the powerful drugs in her system, Waverly waking up was hands down, the most adorable thing she'd ever seen. She waits for her to get her bearings and when she does she smiles. She wagered it was more of a micro smile considering how swollen she still felt.

"You're awake...hey..." Waverly's gaze drops to where her thumb is still tracing patterns. Her thumb stutters to a halt, worried she's crossed a line. Raising it a couple of centimetres before Waverly stops her.

"Don't, I mean it's okay...I mean I'm the one who started holding hands in the first place." A brief view of her lion hearted eyes before they are replaced by skittish insecure ones. Knows before Waverly does that she'll change the subject.

Confirming her thoughts, the brunette blurts out, "Do you want something to drink? Obviously not alcohol it's not like we're in Shorty's, but maybe I could sneak some in it's not like you get searched coming in." One hand flying about in the air. "They definitely have water, maybe juice I can check with the nurses..." stopping only when Nicole squeezes their hands together lightly.

Trying to reply she wills her voice to work but nothing more than a half formed whisper escapes her. Waverly clumsily gets out of her chair and with a breathless "Sorry", she releases her hand. Nicole responds with an inaudible protest and wonders which part she was apologising for.

"Here's me babbling on and you can't even protest" Waverly is muttering to herself angrily, as she pours water into a glass. When she returns to her bedside, asking if she needed help, Nicole cautiously gives a small nod.

Waverly interjects with a "Slow down there tiger", when she gulps the water too fast. Takes away the empty glass and returns to draw her finger slowly over the edge of Nicole's lip catching the few stray drips. Her insides jolt as she stares into her eyes. Sees a glimpse of the her that is brazen and daring.

Waverly's hand retreats and her head dips pretending to concentrate on the floor, but she knows that her attention still sits firmly with her. Nicole wonders how to permanently tease out that side of her, the side that was only visible for fleeting instances and was always followed by a rapid retreat. The guerilla warfare of Waverly's confidence, battling between doing what she thinks is expected of her and what she actually wants to do.

"How are you feeling?" Waverly is hiding behind furrowed eyebrows but she notes the furtive glances towards her to gauge her reaction.

She opens her mouth to speak and when nothing happens Waverly tangles their fingers together.

Another jolt.

Fixated by their hands she clears her throat and tries again.

"Better. The drugs are working but I feel a bit...woozy," her voice is scratchy and low. "Thank you for saving me."

"It wasn't really me you know - Wynonna and Dolls..." Waverly begins to reply but is cut off by a sharp knock on the door. A tiny pause before Wynonna tries not to burst through the door and once inside the room gathers herself together. Looks at the pair of them.

"Did I interrupt something?"