Disclaimer: CBS and TPTB own NCIS:NO. I don't and that's why I'm poor (well maybe reason 34.)
Chapter Seven
Later that night, they managed to make it out of the house-squeaky clean and shiny. But, after all their strenuous activity, they ditched the idea of going out and ended up ordering take out and lounging in the hammock on the patio.
Percy sighed deeply. "After we eat, I really should be go home."
LaSalle's heart quickened. This day had taken more twists and turns than a hurricane; he didn't know if he could survive another. Despite Sonja's earlier misgivings, he thought she had committed to their relationship. Was she waffling again?
"Why?" It took all his willpower not to show emotion.
"I need to get fresh clothes," she said.
Ok, that seemed innocent enough. Still, he'd spent the afternoon learning that nothing was innocent where Sonja Percy was concerned.
"Well, they have been through the laundry - twice," he said kissing her forehead.
"It's not that…" she said.
Ut-oh.
"I thought it would be obvious-" she paused and he had to suppress the urge to scream "What! WHAT? WHAAATTT!
She finished, "...y'know, if I came to work wearing the same clothes I had on the day before."
"They saw you for two minutes on an i-phone," Chris frowned. "I don't think they'd notice."
"They're criminal investigators, LaSalle" she said. "They notice shit like that." She paused. "You'd notice."
He nodded reluctantly. He had to give her that, he would notice and would say something about it too.
"I would only notice, because I always pay attention to what you're wearing," he said solemnly. "And…" He added with a smirk, "I would be imagining what you would look like without wearing anything."
She gave him a look. "And see where that got us."
"C'mon," he whispered in her ear. "Is this such a bad place?"
"All I'm suggesting is a few ground rules," she said.
He nibbled on her ear and began kissing her with soft, small nips taking an anguishing leisurely pace.
"We just need to keep it low key," she murmured, eyes closed.
He stopped and looked at her, "Publicly only, 'cause as far as you and I are concerned, I'm high key."
"The highest," she nodded her head, pulled him closer, and proceeded to touch his tonsils with her tongue.
And so, they crowned their day with slow, yet intensely deliberate sex, which is the only safe way to do it in a hammock; although you still end up with rope indentations on your butt and face.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Chris grabbed a paper from the printer and had handed it to Sonja cross the kitchen table. She read it intently while munching on her vegan Esmeralda salad from Carmo.
"So wha'ja think?" he asked.
C and S Ship Rules
1 No PDA at the office or on the field; this includes kissing, hand and/or butt holding, or other non-regulation touching. If you wouldn't do it with Pride, don't do it.
"Pride. Really?" Sonja said.
"He's our boss, like a dad to me and well, like a stern, older uncle to you," he said. "Figured that was a good emotional firewall."
2. Always call each other by last names. Absolutely no pet names.
"Not even country mouse or city mouse? We did that before," Sonja pointed out. "And
Brody's the one who first called you my 'work husband.'"
2. (SP Amended) No pet names, except those established before the big bang.
"Really? The big bang?" he said.
"It's both metaphorically and factually accurate," she said.
"I think you just want to show me you could use the word 'metaphorically' in a sentence," he said.
3. No coming to work together.
"Now wait," she said. "Coming in at the same time isn't bad as long as we don't do it a lot. There would be times when we would just coincidentally come in at the same time, even if we were coming from different places, and then not trying to come in at the same time would make it more obvious that we were trying to hide something."
"Huh?" he said.
"Oh, and, by the way, are we really gonna spend every night together from now on?"
"I'm guessing no," he said.
She put down her fork. "Here let me fix it."
3. (SP Amended) If spending the night together, no coming to work together in the same car, especially wearing the same clothes as the night before.
"See," she said. "Isn't that clearer?"
"Crystal."
4. If anyone asks what's that mark on your neck say, "It's a rash."
"Really? What are we, 16? How many times do you think that'll be a problem?" She stared at him intently.
He mentally scrambled for an answer and suddenly smiled. He went around the table, came from behind her, and began to nibble and suck on her neck in the way that made her insides vibrate. "How many times do you think you can go without this?"
"Rash it is," she said.
5. Mandatory oral sex three times a week.
"Ha, ha, very funny," she said. 'Thought you'd just slip that one in?"
"Metaphorically and literally."
She threw a plastic spoon at him.
6. Keep ogling down to 20 seconds.
"Hey, self-absorbed boy, I do not 'ogle,'" she said.
"Ah see you looking my way, undressing me with your furtive glances," he said.
"Furtive glances?" she laughed. "Ok, I'll try to keep it under control."
"Thanks, Percy, because it hurts me when you objectify me like that," he said in mock anger.
She threw a plastic knife at him.
7. No dancing together at company get togethers.
"What, now we can't get our groove on at Pride's place?" She made a quizzical face. "You know that would be a red flag."
"Yeah, but if it turns to a slow song, how long can we trust ourselves to not give into temptation?" He raised his eyebrows.
7. (SP amended) If dancing together at company get togethers, make it look like a chore.
She looked over his shoulder as he read. "Better?"
He got out his phone, tapped on it, and "Unchained Melody" began playing. He offered her his hand. It only took a minute before her knees went weak.
7. (Stet) No dancing together at company get togethers.
8. Make it look like we're dating other people.
She considered throwing a plastic fork at him. "Seriously dude? Do I have to create a fake boyfriend, named Otto?"
"Otto?"
"It's a name."
"Yeah, for Hitler's dog."
"I once went undercover in a gang called Hitler's Angel's. There was no Otto, but there was a Wolfgang."
He shook his head. "We'll just make it look like we're going out separately and we're not involved with each other's plans."
"So wait, if I'm still going out, then why can't I have a hickey?" She squinted her eyes, "You Bama boys leave special marks or something?"
He crossed his arms, "For someone so concerned with appearances, you don't seem to be taking this seriously."
"Why do I have to sign this in blood or pinky swear?" She was far too amused.
Now, he was pissed, "It was your idea to set down ground rules."
"Yeah, but now that I see them written out, it seems kinda stupid," she looked at him. "Christopher, we're adults. We know what's appropriate. Right?" She took his hands swaying them back and forth.
"I was just trying to please you," he said sheepishly.
"I know, I know," she soothed him like a small child. "So, to reward you, I'm going to do something veeerrry special."
"Oh? And what's that?"
"Admit I was wrong."
A little smile played on his lips, "I'd rather if you let me give you a rash."