Too loud chimes broke through the sensory deprived peace of Kate's sleep and roused her into consciousness. All at once, her senses came back to her: the firm heat of Rick's body pressed to her back; the weight of his arm draped over her waist; the sound of his slow, steady breathing. The world around her was still dark, still quiet.
Well, except for those damn chimes.
She turned over, still blanketed by Rick's arm, and reached over his shoulder to blindly search for her phone. She felt the device, wrapped her fingers around it and went to lift it from the bedside table but forgot that it was plugged into the short charging cord. The phone was tugged from her slack grip and dropped to the floor with a thud!
The chimes continued.
"Crap," she groaned.
Rick's arm tightened around her body and he buried his face in her hair, letting out a long groan of his own. "I'll make coffee," he said sleepily.
But he was so warm, so incredibly cosy, she didn't want to move at all. Even with her alarm still sounding from under the bed; this was too perfect. And, despite his words, Rick was yet to even attempt to pull himself from the bed.
"Stay," she whispered to him. Rick hummed, she assumed simply to prove he was still awake. "Get some sleep. I'll call you later."
He mumbled something incoherent as she slipped out of his arms. She dropped to her hands and knees, searching for her phone in the dark: it had slipped behind her bedside table. Finally she found it and silenced it. When she popped her head up to check, she was fairly certain he was already asleep again so she gathered her clothing and tiptoed downstairs to get ready for the day.
Neither the cold shower or the double-shot espresso she had on her way to work made up for only getting a few hours of sleep but she was hopeful that today would be the day they break the case and that tonight she'd have more than just those few hours in Rick's arms.
Kate had finally gotten a hold of the husband, much later than she had hoped.
9am, to be exact.
Her time.
She had tried not to be bitter about that, tried not to feel as though she had wasted six hours dialling and redialling the three separate numbers they had on file for the husband - his cell phone, his Portuguese headquarters and the hotel in which he was supposedly staying - only for him to call them back from his Boston office. She had spent almost an hour on the phone to him, trying to get as much information as possible but the information he was giving her just wasn't adding up. In the end, she asked if he was able to get back to the city today so that they could talk in person.
He was due here in just a couple of hours; she needed to be ready to tear his story apart. If she was right, he knew a lot more than what he had let on during their call.
But first, she needed more coffee.
She just just finished pouring herself a cup from the lukewarm pot that had been sitting for god knows how long, when Karpowski poked her head into the break room. "Hey, Beckett."
"Hey, Karpowski." Kate took a sip of her coffee. "Got an update?"
Karpowski smiled and shook her head, no.
"What's up?" Kate asked her, placing her mug on the benchtop.
"Lover Boy is here," Karpowski sung, teasing.
But Kate couldn't ignore the excitement that jolted through her, waking her more efficiently than the bitter coffee in her veins. She looked through the break room window and spotted Rick standing awkwardly by her desk, a brown paper bag in his hand. She recognised the logo on the bag - Remy's - and a smile crept across her face.
"Thanks," she said to Karpowski, who was still smiling like a fool.
She grabbed her coffee, tipped it down the sink - it was awful, anyway - and made her way back to her desk.
"Hey, you," she greeted Rick with a big smile.
"Hey," Rick responded with a smile just as bright. He held up the bag in his hand. "Just wanted to make sure you had something semi-substantial for lunch."
She was about to argue that he didn't need to take care of her like this but he tilted his head, gesturing to the half-eaten packet of gummy bears on her desk.
"Thank you," she said, taking the bag from him. She opened it, investigated the contents and then looked up at him, disappointment evident on her face. "You're not eating?"
"I figured you'd be busy," he explained. "I didn't want to get in the way."
She appreciated the thoughtfulness and, to be honest, he was right. She had time to eat, of course, but she'd probably be scouring her case notes the whole time, making sure she had every minor detail seared into her memory before she talked to their victim's husband.
"Besides, Meredith has been pestering me all week, demanding I help her plan our big family day next weekend," he added. "I should probably stop avoiding her calls."
That reasoning she didn't appreciate quite as much, but she wouldn't let it show.
"Have fun with that," she grumbled.
Well, she tried not to let it show.
Rick smirked at her attitude, though.
"Anyone ever tell you you're a little snarky when you're tired?"
"No one has ever been brave enough," she joked and playfully glared at Rick.
"Hmm. Am I brave? Or am I stupid?"
"I haven't decided yet," she replied, trading her glare for a smirk of her own.
Rick's eyes lowered, lingered for just a moment on her lips before he met her eyes again.
"Well, uh, I better get going," he said quietly. Then he pointed to the bag. "Eat that before it goes cold," he added, scrunching up his nose as if disgusted by the thought of a cold burger.
"I will," she promised. "Thank you, again." Rick smiled and went to turn away but she grabbed his hand. "Wait."
Kate looked around, quickly scanned her surroundings. Being a Sunday afternoon, the floor was relatively deserted. Except for a few uniforms floating around and her team (sans Esposito) in one of the conference rooms, she and Rick are pretty much alone. Satisfied with the relative privacy, she leaned forward and kissed Rick; a slow but chaste kiss goodbye.
Rick hummed his satisfaction when she pulled away.
"I didn't want to push my luck in the workplace," he told her. "But I am very glad you apparently have no qualms in doing so."
"Don't get used to it," she warned with a smile. "I am a professional," she emphasised.
"Yes Ma'am." Rick saluted playfully and then sauntered toward the exit.
She watched, smile planted firmly on her face, as he got into the elevator and leant back against the carriage wall. As the doors slid closed, he winked at her and she felt her cheeks heat. Several seconds passed before she felt eyes on her. When she turned to see Ryan and Karpowski watching her, all bright-eyed with teasing grins on their faces, the heat in her cheeks intensified.
"Don't say a word," she warned, but they didn't listen.
The pair burst out into cutesy awww's and followed Kate as she picked up her lunch and strode into the break room.
This was why she kept her private life private. But as the three of them settled down at the table in the break room, she didn't feel a single ounce of regret. Teasing aside, she knew they were happy for her.
She took the basket of fries out of the paper bag and sat it in the middle of the table. "Help yourself," she told them.
Rick had a problem. A real problem, with no solution.
He was addicted to Kate.
That was the only explanation.
He had been spending all of his free time with her, sleeping beside her each night and texting with her all day long and still he needed more. He had seen her only six hours ago. Granted, it was for a mere five minutes but he shouldn't be missing her like this already. When she had called him an hour ago he had so foolishly hoped it was with news of a solved case and maybe even an invitation to have dinner together. Instead, she had asked if he could pick up her spare charger from her apartment and bring it to the precinct.
I may as well just keep one here, at this rate, she had said with a laugh.
So, here he was, once again, letting himself into her empty apartment. Missing her.
But when the door swung open, he wasn't greeted by her dark, quiet apartment. The lights were on, music was playing and a magnificent aroma had permeated the air. He looked up and saw Kate standing by the dining table with a smile on her face.
"Surprise," she sung. Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip as she waited for his reaction.
His focus dropped to the table in front of her. Two table settings, a candle centrepiece and an array of foods for them to share.
"What's all this?" he asked as he took a few small steps into the apartment, closing the door behind him.
"Dinner. You haven't eaten already, have you?"
Rick shrugged off his jacket and draped it over the back of an armchair. He shook his head, walking toward her. "No, I haven't."
"Good. I finished a little early. I mean, I'm technically still on shift but Ryan said he'd just call me if something comes up and I can finish my paperwork tomorrow..." Her words trailed off when she noticed Rick was just staring at her. "What?"
"You're amazing," he said with a smile.
His words brought a pink flush to Kate's cheeks and she dipped her head, allowed the curtain of her hair to fall over her face but he didn't want her to hide away. He curled his finger under her chin and tilted her face up.
"Honestly, Kate." He leant forward and brushed a soft kiss to her lips. "I expected you'd come home and want to go right to bed, not cook a feast! You didn't have to do this."
"Well, I wanted to. You've been taking such good care of me for a while now, I just wanted to return the favour," she admitted shyly. "It's small in comparison, really."
It wasn't, though, and Rick knew that. It was all these 'small' acts that showed him just how much she cared for him. And the way she looked at him when she was opening up to him, with so much adoration in her eyes. In this moment, his heart felt so full - like it was going to explode.
He kissed her again, couldn't help himself. He could get lost in her.
"It smells amazing," he said, pulling back once more, trying to regain some semblance of self control.
"I should warn you, I've never actually made this recipe myself," she told him. "My Nonna used to cook all these crazy recipes when I was a kid and this was one of my favourites." She pulled out her chair, motioned with one hand for Rick to sit beside her. "I found her old recipe book when I unpacked all my stuff and, I don't know, I guess I was just feeling nostalgic tonight."
"Well, I am honoured to have been invited to this trip down memory lane," Rick said as he made himself comfortable.
Kate passed him a serving spoon and he began to dish up his meal.
"I'm really glad you're here, too."