This chapter honestly came out of nowhere. I suddenly had a desire to make a little piece of a pre-established relationship. Also, how come Cal's one of the few Tim's characters who doesn't smoke, with the lifestyle he has? Unbelievable…
There are days when the weather seems to collude with whatever is going on in your life, manifesting your thoughts into actions. This one was no exception. Exhaling and inhaling the chilly city air, swallowed by fog, he reached out to touch his coat pocket. The contents of it brought a small smirk to his face. A little chocolate bar—he didn't even remember how it ended up there—but he kept it for her, supplemented by a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. Maybe it's perfect timing. The rain dripped slowly but irksomely, though it held a certain beauty to it that he quite struggled to fathom. Covered by a roof, he stood outside their office building, hesitant to go home. Just as he was about to drag on a cigarette, he heard footsteps that were unmistakably hers, and not long after, a voice he grew to love so badly, strained with exhaustion and grief.
"Since when are you smoking again?" She asked wonderingly, stepping closer to stand beside him.
"Oi, love, I didn't manage to find you. Thought you left."
"No, I needed to take care of some things first." She gave him an apologetic smile, a flicker of sadness in her eyes.
"They're not mine. I borrowed," he said, breathing out the smoke.
"Oh, of course," she chuckled. "Share with the class then."
He watched her take a cigarette out of his hand, a simple brush of her skin against his sending shivers down his spine.
"You never cease to amaze me, Foster," he grinned.
"What? Like I can't have some fun?"
"You can have all the fun in the world, darlin'."
They stood in silence for a while, wordlessly passing a butt forth and back, until she elaborated.
"Freshman year of college. I was going through a rough patch in my life and my relationship was falling apart, so I figured, there's a first time for everything. I got sick of the smell pretty fast, though."
"I wish I'd met you in college."
"Why's that?" She turned to him, being mere inches away from his face.
"Knowing you for all the years I have, I could only imagine how magnetic you were then."
"You're saying I'm not now?" She nudged him playfully before putting out a cigarette.
"Nah, pulchritudinously effulgent."
"Smooth talker, as ever," she ran her hand over his chest. "Cut down on your smoking, your heart is racing."
"It's not because of that, love."
In moments like this, it always became agonizing to control herself. She swallowed nervously, summoning all her strength to remind herself of a damn line she had created but hoped to have a pair of scissors to cut it. Neither the time nor the setting were in their favor.
Cal waited while Gillian retreated to throw away a stub, getting ready to open his umbrella for them to step outside. She drew her hand through his arm when she returned, preparing to witness the puddles.
"Is Alec home?" He inquired, anticipating a negative answer.
"No, he has to stay late tonight. Some work emergency," she sighed.
"Do you want to have dinner at my place?"
"Are you going to coddle me every time we have a case with the children involved?"
"Depends. I also cook, so you lucked out here."
She giggled, the simple sound of her laughter making him proud that he sparked it.
"Lead the way, chef."