step by step
An NCIS fic collection
by mew-tsubaki
- ^-^3
imagine: miscellany 19—home turf (this post on the sideblog: 711009871187886080/ parknight-imagines-miscellany-19-home-turf)
tags: established!Parknight, s20e10/mention of xover w/LA, loosely related to ch21 ("mug thief")
- ^-^3
Their plane lands late in D.C. and he's got two clear options. But Parker makes the dumb one to head to the office, because he doesn't want to think of going home to his plants. So he encourages Torres to head home while he grabs a taxi back to headquarters.
It's not truly the dumbest idea. After this major case and pinging from D.C. to Pearl Harbor to Los Angeles, there's an overwhelming load of paperwork to tackle. He might as well get a jump on it, Parker decides as the elevator carries him upstairs. Why put off tomorrow what he can start tonight? Sleep, as they say, is for the dead.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open. His footsteps seem so loud to him on the carpet in the mostly empty office, but this kind of quiet is nice and—
"Hey. Welcome home."
Parker picks up his head as his pulse quickens, hearing those words in that soft voice. He rounds her desk and locks eyes with Knight. "You're—You're still here."
Knight grins, on the verge of chuckling. "Yep."
He looks her up and down. Her purse is still on the floor, half under her desk, and her coat's draped over the wall where she's got her target game hanging. To the right side of her mousepad, there's an open bag of mini candies, too. "You're not even ready to head out."
"Nope." Knight steps out from behind her desk and stands in front of him. She gently tugs his bag from his hand and sets it down on the floor. Then she touches the hair at his left temple, brushing some of it back. "I couldn't be somewhere you weren't, Alden. Especially not after this case."
He squeezes her free hand. Suddenly, the idea of paperwork really does seem like the dumb notion it is at this hour, especially as jetlag settles into his bones. With a silent sigh, he sits on the edge of Knight's desk, his feet spread wide.
Knight stands between his knees and continues her ministrations, running her fingers through his hair. "So, how did things go in L.A.?"
"… …Kilbride complimented my handling of his agents in one breath and tried to trade teams in the next."
She gawks at him and her combing halts.
But Parker pulls Knight closer to him, wrapping his arms around her thighs and resting his head against her torso. "I refused," he assures her. "My team, my home—I would never hand it over, for anything."
Knight's surprise fades. Her hands rest on his back and she hums in approval. Then she hugs Parker to her and leans over him, pressing a kiss to his crown.
- ^-^3
*lol* That scene in LA btwn Parker and Kilbride was so entertaining. But I know Parker loves his team (and Knight ;3) too much to trade, for sure. Nice try, Kilbride! (Plus, Kilbride loves his kiddos, so.)
-mew! -w-