Kelly was awoken from a sound slumber by the telephone on her bedside table. A glance at the clock had her fearing the worst, and she answered expecting the dire news that usually would accompany a call coming at four in the morning. "Hello?"
"I kissed her."
"Greg, are you drunk? And do you have any idea what time it is here?"
"Yes. And... oh, shit. Yes. Sorry."
"Language..." she reminded him warningly, switching on a light and moving the phone to her other ear.
"But I kissed her."
Kelly suddenly felt a little sick to her stomach. She swallowed. "You kissed Cuddy?"
"Yeah," he slurred. "And then I ran like hell to get out of there."
"Okay. Um... Did she kiss you back."
"Did she ever."
She had selflessly encouraged this, especially when he'd seemed to withdraw part of himself from her. She'd chastised him about being an ass to Cuddy. She'd called him out on his attraction and assured him of Cuddy's when he'd complain about things she'd done recently. She'd dared him to make a move.
And apparently she hadn't meant a word of it.
"Well... Well, that's good, isn't it?" Breathe.
"That's what I was hoping you could tell me."
There was so much she could tell him. "Sounds to me like you're too drunk to remember much of this conversation in the morning, there, partner. Maybe this should wait until you've sobered up and I've gotten some sleep." As if she'd be able to sleep tonight.
He mumbled something unintelligible and laughed to himself.
"Greg, go to bed."
"Okay. But Kelly?"
"Yes?"
"I think I'd rather be kissing you."
And at that drunken confession Kelly was assured that not all was lost. Which was good, because since he'd left she'd felt rather lost without him.
"Then maybe you'd better do everyone a favour and keep your lips to yourself for awhile, at least until you've got that figured out."
"Maybe."
He yawned loudly and in her imagination she could smell the alcohol on his breath. "Greg, honey, go to sleep. I'll talk to you later."
And when she hung up, she found that she was able to sleep after all, perhaps even more soundly than before. The kind of sleep that is a side effect of hope.