Miracles and Wishes
Summary:
Set after "I hate Beyoncé". Related to episode 2 season 2 titled 'An Unholy Death'.
Richard Poole and Camille Bordey are strolling through the wild garden surrounding the small pond once considered miraculous. Richard has asked, no, rather begged Camille to spare him at least a few hours from the activities that can only be practised in his shack. He is happy, but he would certainly need a break to keep up with her demands. And Camille remembered the miracle waters that once belonged to the convent. This is no longer the case. The murder was too much of a blow and the land was set aside as a public promenade maintained by the local government of Saint Marie.
Chapter Text
Work Text:
The tremendously serious, stuffy and reserved DI Richard Poole is strolling with the tightly embraced DS Camille Bordey. Both are calm, she more smiling than he.
But he feels tremendously relaxed, calm and...happy. Perhaps it helps that, at this time of night, they are strolling through the garden surrounding the small expanse of water that was once considered miraculous.
Camille and Richard know that this is the time when the nightlife starts in the paradise of Saint Marie and they didn't want to meet anyone.
Richard just stares at her, until finally he can't help but ask her, out of curiosity:
"May I know why you keep smiling like that?"
She gives him a kiss on the cheek and replies:
"Because I'm happy, Richard and because...I can't help your face when you were begging me to please go out and do something, anything." She stops talking to look at him tenderly and continues: "I'm sorry, I just still can't believe we're finally together."
He smiles, takes a step further in the direction of the small pond and replies:
"I swear I was starting to feel exhausted. I'm very happy too, really. But recognise that everything that has happened is the most extraordinary thing that has happened in my life in a long, long time." He stops
suddenly and asks Camille:
"Is that why it occurred to you that we came to this place, Camille? I know it must be considered a miracle, and certainly a big one. But you know how I feel about it."
She continues to hold on to his arm as she forces him to continue walking towards the edge of the lagoon.
"I know, my love. Remember when you kept insisting to me that that water was a fraud while showing me your psoriasis-ridden hand?"
He nods.
"What I never told you is that I was already beginning to be attracted to you. Well, I was probably already crazy about you. Anyway, when I crouched down by the shore and began to cool my arms and hands with that water, it wasn't the healing of your hand that I was wishing for that to happen."
Both are silent.
Richard was about to ask her what she asked for, but he can't help remembering how naturally she washed her arms and hands. He remembers how he stared at her trying to hide the fact that, what to her was a natural movement, to him was pure sensuality.
Perhaps that is why, at that moment, he decided to show her that he was not a cold crime and problem-solving machine, but a man who could feel. Above all, a man who was deeply attracted to her.
"Camille, you have to know that I lit that candle for you. I was very grateful for that wonderful breakfast you gave me. But you will understand that lighting the little candle means much more than a simple thank you. I cared about everything you said, everything you confided in me. To show you that I appreciated the trust you placed in me. Of course I was only thinking of a good friendship. At that time I didn't dare, almost not even in my dreams, to aspire to more."
She turns around, wraps her arms around him and whispers:
"Then my wish began to come true, Richard. What I asked for at that moment, and for the record it was totally spontaneous, was for me to stop being invisible to you. I wanted to reach into your heart so that you would see me as I already saw you."
He kisses her gently.
Then he pulls away just enough to whisper in her ear:
"I'm afraid I'm a hard nut to crack. If you count the months it's taken me months to come around..."
She gives him an affectionate slap on the backside and they continue walking. It's a beautiful night and the only sounds they hear are the birds that take over the jungle at nightfall.
He decides to explain further.
"Of course, you don't know the conscience problems you were causing me."
She is shocked and flattered.
"Why, my love?"
"Try to understand. At that time all this belonged to the convent. Therefore it was a sacred place. And, when I saw how you approached the water and what you were doing... I can only tell you that the dreams, dreams that I couldn't avoid, were enriched in an alarming way. Back then all this was sacred, Camille!"
She begins to laugh out loud.
"But Richard, that's all flattery!"
"Whatever you like. I don't consider myself a religious man. But the nature of those dreams made me frankly uncomfortable."
"That speaks well of you, Richard. And about me. And I love it. "She looks around and comments:
"You said that back then all this was sacred. In a way it still is. Did you know that many people still come here with various ailments hoping for a small miracle?"
He looks at her and snorts with some contempt.
"Camille, how can people be so incredulous, it's all been proven to be a fraud!"
"The DI is out," Camille comments sympathetically. "Don't forget that my wish, my deepest wish, was fulfilled."
They walk on in silence. Certainly in this place they can enjoy a special atmosphere.
They both know that it won't always be like this, there will be stressful days, arguments over the tension of the cases or over the smallest matters.
Of course, this is an excellent start. It´s true that he begged her for some quiet time, for peace. It was obvious that what he was asking for was time to talk, to put his thoughts in order, the tremendous change they had gone through. Time to process it.
Camille needed it too, and she let him know it.
"You know, Richard? At first I won't deny that I went a little crazy in the shack. But now I recognise that talking has been good for both of us. This is wonderful but we're going to need time to adjust without losing any of what we've achieved."
"Without forgetting the work, Camille."
"We'll get there," she bets confidently.
He stares at her and comments, remembering what he said earlier about her disbelieving mind about religion in general:
"You know me, Camille. I know I've told you before that I don't believe in everything, but there are times when my disbelief wavers, my love." He wants to get used to calling her that "Sometimes I can't help thinking that something or someone exists up there or around us. I swear I still find it hard to understand that someone like you would notice someone like me. You asked for a miracle and I've already got mine."
Camille rolls her eyes. She doesn't know if she will ever be able to convince him of his worth - she would kill all those who have tried, almost successfully, to destroy him self-esteem in such a way! Precisely him, who is worth so much more than almost all of them put together.
She decides to confide another confidence in him:
"Richard, you are a wonderful observer...for the Station's cases. But on the other hand, you're so blind to almost everything else. Do you know what Dwayne and Fidel talk about when they go on patrol in the market?"
"I'm afraid to ask you." Richard is really afraid.
"He told me that neither of them would dare tell you anything I'm about to tell you, because it's so personal. They consider themselves your friends and all, but Dwayne made a point of telling me that they've been laughing a lot at the looks I give you at work, in La Kaz, when we're driving to a case in the Jeep or walking around...Richard, they notice everything."
Richard freezes, turns pale and replies in return:
"Shame on me! Then your mother will kill me. Because they sure as hell notice how I look at you, too. And thank goodness they can't get into my dreams!"
She continues to force him slowly towards the edge of the small pond and, laughing, replies:
"No, that's my privilege. You better hope I'm the only one who has access to that classified, private information. Just a bit of advice. For your personal integrity."
Then they both bend down, at Camille's express wish, and both dip their hands in the water. Richard reluctantly and obliged by her, of course. God only knows how many strange living creatures inhabit those waters.
She comments:
"When I wished for what we already enjoy right now, I was alone. Or so I thought. Now we are together and we both have to be grateful. By the way, I think we've talked and walked enough. It's time to go back to the shack."
Richard lets out a small grunt.
Notes:
My Valentine's Day of that year. Enjoy it!