She noticed the change, but the reason why she never saw coming.

WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO IMPRESS?

Eric's Apartment, Friday night

The apartment was dark and quiet…save for the images and sounds coming from the TV and a single reading lamp on next to the couch. Eric saw, engrossed in his game of Battlefront Online, while Nell sat curled up on the other side reading a book. She occasionally stole glances at the screen or at him, smiling at him being so into his game. She took a drink of the beer that was sitting on the table before returning back to her book.

Nights like this she would find it easy to read, even with the noise of Eric's games but something was nagging in the back of her mind. Something that had been brewing for weeks and she couldn't shake.

Eric finished the round and exited the lobby. He stood up to go use the restroom leaving Nell in silence for a few moments. When he came back out he saw the controller in her hands, her fingers twirling it like she was thinking deep thoughts.

"If you want to play a round feel free." He said as he sat down.

"Nah. Not really feeling it tonight." She replied, setting the controller on the coffee table. She took a breath and steeled herself. She turned to him.

"I want to talk to you about something real quick." She said, staring into his eyes.

Eric, doing what most guys do when they hear the words "We need to talk", froze up.

"Uh….okay. What did you need to talk about?" He asked her, his plams starting to sweat.

"I want to know if you are okay." She said. "I've noticed the past few months you have been acting a little strange." She said.

"Little strange?" He repeated.

"Well, stranger." She said, giving him a reassuring smile that helped calm him slightly.

"A few months ago you asked Hetty to be trained in how to use a gun even though you hate them. You have been attempting to work out with the guys when they do combat training, you've been trying MMA workouts, and just last week you practically begged Callen to go out into the field even though the last time you did almost killed you." Nell said, her voice dropping toward the end at recalling the bad memories. "Why the change all of the sudden?" She asked him.

Eric started to stutter. "Well I just wanted to….I mean I decided I should….What I meant to say was….." He tried to force out. He signed, closing his eyes against her coming reaction. "I wanted to impress." He finally said.

"And just who are you trying to impress, Wolfram?" She asked him.

"You, of course." He answered with a defeated sigh.

"You have changed so much since you came to LA. You have become such a strong woman, driven, not backing down from anything. You've learned how to fight, how to shoot, you let nothing get you down. And I know one day you are going to leave Ops permanently. I'm just worried you are going to leave me behind when you do. I really like you, Nell." He finished.

Nell couldn't help but give a small chuckle as she took his hands and turned him toward her. She cupped his face in her hands and brought their foreheads together

"Eric Bartholomew Beale. There is no situation in the universe or multiverse that would make me leave you. We see so much evil every day that I have come to rely on you. You make me smile when I need to be cheered up. You show pride when I succeed. You are always there to comfort me when the entire world turns to chaos around us. You show me that life shouldn't be taken too seriously and that you should have fun as much as you can. I love you too, Eric. And I am the last person on the face of the planet that you ever need to impress." She whispered to him, staring deep into his eyes before she tilted his head up and captured his lips in hers.

Hungrily they devoured each other as she turned him back and pushed him against the couch. Straddling his lap she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. He responded in kind by running his hands up her back, clutching handfuls of her t-shirt on her shoulder blades. Finally the need to breath overtook them and they had to break apart. Both were panting trying to catch their breath.

"I'm not going anywhere, Eric. Not without you." She said, kissing his nose before climbing off and curling up against his side. She grabbed the controller and handed it to him with a smile before grabbing her book and opening it again. Eric kissed the crown of her head before starting another game with Nell resting against him.

Not necessarily connected with a specific episode but this does reference a lot of Eric's actions this season. I'm still trying to decide if they are going somewhere with it (knowing their track record...they aren't) but I would like to see it culminate in something. :: Steps off the Soap Box and tucks it away in the closet with the "Give us an Eric/Nell featured episode" and "We want Nerds" signs ::

Usual Plugs. Soundtrack on Spotify. Search Serotonin2501 and look under playlists for Tales from the Mission Soundtrack. A few of the upcoming episodes will have music added so make sure to follow.

Also just a few short weeks away from the cut off for the Year anniversary of TftM. Currently one person has voted so make sure to vote for your choice for the 1st Birthday episode.

Thank you for Reading, Reviewing, Favoriting, and Following