A/N: Tag to "Raising Shane".
Error In Judgement
Peyton's hand is light and yet feels like a tonne of bricks on the side of his face and he quirks an eyebrow at the sudden contact. It's uncomfortable. This situation with Hawkes is bleak and the whole team is on edge. Furthermore, the relationship he has with Peyton while great is not something he's ready for the office to know. If someone were to walk in and find them there he doesn't know what he'd do. Office relationships are frowned upon. He has always had that belief. Being caught doing something he himself doesn't approve of is a nightmare.
His lips form a thin line as Peyton speaks. He reacts to her words as he would in any other situation but on the inside his mind is far away. And then he sees a glimpse of movement, of curls highlighted by the luminescent lighting and the sunlight that pours in through the windows. Stella.
Why, he's not sure, he flinches and with one swift motion he pushes Peyton's hand from his cheek. The pain of his rejection is clear on her face and yet he's more concerned about Stella. What would she think? How would she feel?
How would she feel? Where did that question come from?
"Mac!" Stella's voice breaks him from his thoughts.
He hurriedly tries to cover. "So you find out anything else you'll let me know, right?" As soon as he's speaking the words, he hates himself for saying them.
"Uh... yeah. Absolutely," Peyton agrees. "I'll see you later."
She offers him a curt nod and then walks off. Surprisingly, the most of his distress goes along with her and relief rushes over him like cool water on skin after a hot day.
"I can't believe I didn't think of this sooner," Stella tells him. "I figured out how the GSR got on Hawke's clothing..."
As he lapses back into work mode and Stella updates him on the progress they're making on Hawke's case, he wonders. Why is he so comforted that Stella hadn't seen Peyton's hand on his face? And why doesn't it bother him more that he just hurt Peyton?
fin.