Chapter Ten
Day Five Night
Malcolm returns to Edrisa's office to find her and JT at her desk with an assortment of rubber bands around them. Edrisa laughs when JT apparently ties one a little too well around his finger and struggles to get it off.
Malcolm stands in the doorway for a moment, watching the tender moment. Edrisa was teaching JT how to tie knots using the rubber bands.
He doesn't stand there for long before Edrisa notices him, she sends a soft smile his way. JT turns around quickly, relaxing when he recognizes Malcolm.
"What's happening in here?" Malcolm asks with a smile.
"Eddie's teaching me how to tie Palomar knot," JT explains breaking the rubber band. Malcolm shoots a raised eyebrow look at him for the nickname.
"Yea! We were going through a couple of different ones," Edrisa adds.
"Well, I'm sorry to break up the fun. But we should be heading home," Malcolm says tenderly. He sees Edrisa's face fall a bit at the prospect of another night without Justin Tanner being caught.
"I'll have a detail outside your place," JT tells Malcolm on his way out.
"Don't forget, blueberry muffins tomorrow Eddie!" he calls back to Edrisa with a smile. She gives a tight one back.
"What's this about blueberry muffins? And why wasn't I invited?" Malcolm says pretending to be hurt. Edrisa lets out a forced chuckle, her nervous energy coming off in waves.
"I promised Jo-JT that I'd bring muffins tomorrow for the team," Edrisa explains. Malcolm feels his jaw drop.
"No way! You know his real name? 'Drisa! You have to tell me," Malcolm begs. She lets out a real smile at his dramatic effort to cheer her up, it worked.
"You know I'm not going to do that," Edrisa says. Malcolm gives her an incredulous look, but lets her know he's teasing by adding a smile.
"Are you ready?" Malcolm asks tentatively.
Edrisa nods with reluctance. Malcolm holds out a hand and she immediately latches onto it, they leave together.
Dani insists on going with them to stay the night as extra backup, but they decline. Edrisa wanted a semi-normal night in with Malcolm and Disney movies. And Malcolm because he was still recovering from hurting one friend due to his night terrors.
They compromise by calling Dani when they get to Malcolms and checking in every hour. Malcolm insists that he will stay up tonight anyway.
Malcolm also insists that they take his family car back to his place. They still weren't sure if Justin knew where Edrisa was staying, but they did know he would recognize her little black volkswagon bug.
When they enter the car Edrisa notices a little black box on the seat.
"New restraints, from mother," Malcolm explains tightly. Edrisa nods in understanding.
When they arrive back to his loft, Malcolm looks around the street. He immediately spots the undercover car JT had sent.
Edrisa calls Dani to let her know they made it and Dani asks to speak to Malcolm.
"Dani?" Malcolm answers.
"Bright, I checked in with the unit outside your place and they said no one has been in or out for the hour they were there. They weren't able to do a sweep though without a key so I'd take one of them with you before getting too comfortable. You know, taking backup in case," Dani presses.
He sighs but agrees before handing the phone back to Edrisa. They chat for a bit, Edrisa confused by Dani's talkative mood while Malcolm heads over to borrow an officer to do a sweep of the loft.
An officer the size of Edrisa with the attitude of Dani agrees to go with him.
Malcolm, Edrisa and the officer are halfway up the stairs to his loft when he stops Edrisa who is still on the phone with Dani.
"Stay here for a minute, don't come up until I tell you," he says seriously.
Edrisa nods hesitantly. And Malcolm squeezes her hand before going up with the officer.
They both do a thorough sweep, clearing each room. It was a quick run through since Malcolm's floor plan was exceptionally open with little spaces to hide.
The officer follows him back to the stairwell where he smiles reassuringly at Edrisa and prompts her to come up. She confirms with Dani that the loft has been cleared and they disconnect.
Then it's just Malcolm and Edrisa.
Edrisa showers and changes while Malcolm makes dinner. He makes vegetarian burgers and fries for the pair to share. He also gathers things for milkshakes, a surprise for Edrisa.
When she comes out of the bathroom, wearing the 'Harvard' hoodie that Malcolm has deemed to now be hers. She freezes and a large grin takes over her face when she sees what he's making.
"Milkshakes!" she exclaims running over to stand beside him. Malcolm chuckles at her excitement and offers her a glass with the chocolatey substance. She takes it with many 'thank yous' and grabs a can of whipped cream from the fridge. Malcolm doesn't remember that purchase, but it was Edrisa who did all the shopping. She shakes it vigorously and when she goes to spray it on, the can malfunctions and sends clouds of foam all over the kitchen and the pair of them.
Edrisa freezes in surprise. Malcolm also freezes, until he sees Edrisa's covered face, a large blob on her nose has him laughing so hard he has to hold his stomach.
At his first burst of laughter, Edrisa is joining. The absurdity of it overwhelming them as much as the need to have a good laugh.
They continue like that for what seems like forever, but is only a few minutes in reality.
"I-I'll clean this up," Edrisa gasps between bouts. Her throat was still sore, but after a day of medication, ointments and cold compresses, the bruising was already beginning to change from the ugly purple to a yellow and brown stain.
Malcolm shakes his head and digs around for a cloth, "no-no, I'll get it."
He wipes the countertop while she cleans off the cupboard. When they finish Malcolm lets out one final laugh and Edrisa smiles at him.
"What's so funny, Bright?" she teases. He smiles adoringly before taking a towel and gently wiping the cream from her nose. Edrisa blushes a bit, realizing why he laughed.
"You're adorable," Malcolm exhales. He turns around to put the towels in the laundry, leaving a furiously blushing Edrisa in his wake.
Malcolm Bright thought that she was adorable.
They make it through the rest of dinner without any more incidents and find themselves on the couch.
Neither thinks anything of it when Edrisa folds herself into Malcolms side while they watch Disney's Dumbo. And Malcolm savors the moment Edrisa finally relaxes enough to fall asleep during "Baby Mine." His arm is wrapped around her frame and she lightly grasps his shirt.
Malcolm watches over her as she quietly dozes. He texts Dani periodically to check in. When she goes to bed, he switches to JT.
AN: This chapter was totally going to go a whole other way, but I really don't want to end this story! So I added some fluff instead... I fear the end is near though... and it's looking a little rough...
That's how the rest of the night goes. Edrisa asleep against Malcolm, and Malcolm watching over her.