Heavy Lies the Crown 9/9
Jan. 19th, 2012 07:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistTitle: Heavy Lies the Crown
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Rating: All over R – some parts more racy than others & some parts way less.
Ch. 9 – Hot Hand in a Dice Game
I slump in the chair listening to Nora bustle around the kitchen allowing myself a smile after the most obnoxious day locked up in a room with Jen, our union rep and mountains of files and law books.
Running a hand through my hair, I give in to the brutal honesty admitting the conversation she and I have to have is going to be the most difficult part of today.
I’m going to ruin the wonderful, sweet, thoughtful surprise of her cooking dinner tonight.
It also makes me wonder what she’s got planned for tonight. “What’s the occasion?” I ask as she comes in with plates full of pasta and bread.
“I just thought a quiet night sounded better than pretty much anything else,” she tells me setting our plates down. “I opened that bottle of wine your daddy got us from his trip, but do you want something else?”
“Nope,” I answer and as she spins to go back in the kitchen, I hook a finger and snag her back belt loop. I tug her back to me and pull her into my lap. Her arms wrap around my neck and I rest my forehead against hers. “How do you manage it?” I ask, needing to know.
“Manage what?” she wonders as her lips ghost across my cheek, down the slope of my nose and then across the other cheek sending shivers up and down my spine.
“You always manage to surprise me, Nora.” I nip at her bottom lip.
She shrugs against me. “Not intended, just…if you don’t want…”
I press my finger against her lips. “I want. Thank you.”
“Good,” she kisses the pad of my finger and admits, “You’ve been distracted. It’s been a rough couple weeks. I just wanted to take care of you and maybe, kind of – I was hoping that you would tell me what’s going on.”
“I have and I can.” I push her up and suggest, “Why don’t you go get that wine and then we can eat and talk. I have a bit to fill you in on.”
She saunters away and I prop my head in my hands admiring her departure. It’s a good sign, for the amount of time that we’ve been together; I still want to sink my teeth in to her backside. We’ve had our moments, our stops and starts, our periods of lulls, but overall, she still excites me the same way. It’s still the same delicious shocks that started when I first met her, to see her walk towards me, smile or kiss me.
I pray each and every single day that those reactions won’t ever go away.
I’m not too sure what I’d do with myself if they did.
She comes back in, two wine glasses and an open bottle in her hands. I take both from her and pour her glass than mine while she sits.
Handing hers over, I raise my glass, “To a lovely meal and a better desert.”
I wink at her and she blushes as our glasses clink.
I take my sip and then tuck into my food right before a very unladylike growl sounds from my stomach.
“You really didn’t eat all day?” she asks twirling some pasta onto her fork.
“Wasn’t much of a chance,” I admit around a mouthful of food. Swallowing, I amend, “And it’s delicious. One day, we’ll get around to actually being able to spend time in the kitchen and learn to cook more than breakfast and the basics.”
“I like our breakfasts and the basics.”
“Me too, sug, me too.” I need to muster up some courage so I take my wine glass and drain in it one go. Refill it and take another healthy gulp. Her eyes are on me the whole time. I really should start talking so I set my glass down. “I was with Jen today, as you know, but I was also with another lawyer…”
“I know that,” she sticks her tongue out at me, “I do listen when you talk, regardless of who you are talking to.”
“Well the other lawyer was from the N.O.P.D. our union rep, Kostazics. We’ve been talking for the past week actually. Him, Jen and I,” I finally tell her.
“Why?” she asks her posture stiffening.
Licking my lips, I figure out where to start. “Well, I’ll get to that. First, I need to confess something.”
Her fork gets placed on her plate as she looks me over.
“I owe you an apology,” I confess, “Over the past two years, Nora, you’ve done…coming out to your mom, opening up and then…letting me know you’re ready to come out at work…I know it wasn’t easy and I’ve ignored your latest attempt at…”
“Nikki,” she stops me.
“Shh, you can interrupt me later,” I stop her this time and place my hand on the table, asking for hers. “I didn’t mean to ignore you, Nora.” She takes hold of mine and I lace our fingers together. “It surprised me and once I realized that you were dead serious, I had to start thinking about the best way to do this.”
Her mouth opens but I raise an eyebrow at her and she quickly clamps it shut. “I know you don’t care anymore, but I do. I don’t want you or anyone, Dan specifically, to get caught in the cross hairs. Also, there was an interesting development at the function last Saturday where I ran into Rosnick and Dveris. It seems that Dveris is putting together a task force to audit squads.”
Her eyes bug at this bit of information.
Good.
She knows what that could mean. The last audit they did was close to a decade ago and it vetted quite a few police officers.
“They’ll be coming to S.C.U. sooner rather than later and my aunt’s somehow managed to get into the thick of it. She seems to be quite chummy with the two deputy chiefs. So, Jen and I have been working out a plan. Something that could provide protection for us and for Dan.”
Her head cocks to the side as I run my thumb over the inside of her palm. “We’ve been going through protocol and then cases where partners got involved romantically. You and I are the same rank and that plays to our favor more than I thought it would. I spent today with Jen and Kostazics getting the finer points together. Would you like to hear them?”
She nods, swallowing the last bit of wine in her glass.
“We have a meeting tomorrow with Dveris, Commander Tisono and Dan. We’re going to go in with Jen and Kostazics while you and I’ll allocute. When we’re done, we get to sit back to let Jen and Kostazics do the rest. We’ll demand that they keep us in the same unit. We have enough working for us, living together and working together like we do, with no serious issues creeping up that they can’t reasonably argue that we’re a danger to the squad.”
“It’d be nice if we could, but you know, I’m okay if it doesn’t happen,” she tells me squeezing my hand.
I smile at her, untwining our fingers and bring her palm up to kiss it. “I know,” I say as I lay our hands back down and twist them together again, “I’m not ready for that yet. I want them to see that we work better together. Jen and Charles have put together a bit of a case for keeping us as partners, comparing solve rates things like that. I think it could work.”
She just bobs her head content to let me run this. I’m more than a little surprised at her lack of reaction. I let her sit until she finally asks, “What about the squad?”
“Really the only two that don’t know are Jesse and Georgia. I’d rather just let them figure it out on their own…”
“We may have a chance to tell them tomorrow night,” she informs me. “I swung by today and Benny wants to go for drinks tomorrow night. Georgia and Jesse, I’m pretty sure, are going.”
“Well then, we’ll tell them then.” I swallow the last little bit of wine in my glass and say, “I don’t think we should make a production out of it. Low key and quiet would be to everyone’s benefit. It will also take the wind out of my aunt’s sails. She’ll have nothing to hold over my head and hopefully, everyone will come out of this no worse for the wear.”
She licks her lips and asks, “And what’s your back up plan?”
I snort. Of course, she would know if I had one of those. I do. I was hoping to not disclose that.
“My back up plan,” I drawl, “are you sure you want to know?”
She nods.
“I’ll resign and take the decision away from them,” I tell her not surprised by the protest forming on her lips, but I stop her, “But my initial back up will be to play a little hardball. Let’s just say that if Dveris and Tisono don’t see it our way, it will end up only hurting them.”
“Okay,” she agrees so readily that I’m sure I didn’t hear her right. She stops the fork full of food from reaching her mouth before winking at me and says, “I trust you, Nikki. I love you almost as much as I trust you. We’ll play this your way.”
I hold a finger up to my lips as the phone rings in my ear. Nora’s mouth shuts and she walks the rest of the way in to the room. The Picayune under her right arm and two cups of coffee in each hand. I let the sheet fall away from my top, exposing me to the cool air and Nora’s gaze.
She wiggles her eyebrows and hands me my cup of coffee. Leaning in I kiss her cheek as the phone is finally answered, “Beaumont residence.”
“Hello, Peggy Beaumont, please?” I ask the maid of the week.
“She’s just sitting down to breakfast, your name please?” the maid asks.
“Nikki Beaumont,” I answer and can practically hear the maid cringe.
“Just one second ma’am,” she clips and sets the phone down. I pull my cell phone away from my ear and say, “Thanks, sugga.”
Nora sips her coffee and winks at me. “What time do we need to be at the station?”
“Our meeting’s at ten. We have an hour and a half before we need to be anywhere.” I put the phone back as I hear my aunt’s voice nearing.
“Good,” Nora says quickly, “I’ll go start the shower then. Hurry up, baby.”
She slips from the bed and drops her robe on the floor. I watch slack jawed as she strolls quite nudely to our bathroom.
“Nikki?” my aunt’s voice rings in my ear, but I can’t manage to get any words out. “Hello? Nikki, are you there?”
“Oh, yes, sorry,” I manage. “I was uhm, sorry, long morning.”
“It’s quite all right, dear, but I must say it’s rather unexpected of you to call. Is everything okay?” I give Peggy credit. She actually sounds worried.
I square my shoulders and firm up. “Everything is great actually. I was just calling to give you a bit of news.”
I hear our shower start and decide to make this phone call as short as possible.
“And what’s that dear?” her tone’s too sweet for my liking.
“Nora and I are meeting with our bosses today to disclose our relationship. Your little stunt on Saturday, Aunt Peggy, did not go unnoticed. Too bad you won’t gain anything out of it.”
“I’m afraid, Nicollette, that I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she plays dumb. She’s actually pretty good at that.
“I was just calling to let you know. I’m sure the gossip mills will be starting in earnest sooner rather than later and I thought that since this does, in a fashion, effect the family, I should be courteous enough to let you know.”
“Well, that’s very thoughtful, Nikki, but I’m sure I’ll see a satisfactory resolution.”
“You may, but not before I get my own. Dveris’ standing second Thursday of the month appointment will play a key role in seeing a resolution to what’s going on between us.”
She stops breathing as I let her know. My grin widens. This morning just got sooo much better.
It takes her a moment, the silence on the phone stretches for what seems an eternity before she thickly manages, “I hope it works out for you Nikki, but I need to go.”
I let her disconnect with no further pleasantries and set the phone on the night stand. Making my way to our bathroom the phone call’s forgotten.
Nora’s waiting for me.
What else really matters?
“So where are we?” Jesse asks looking at the outside of the building.
I smile and say, “Jesse and Georgia, allow me to introduce you to Nora’s and mine’s favorite watering hole, Phantoms.” Admittedly the building doesn’t look like much and from the cars parked around the building, it doesn’t look like the crowd’s too big. I understand the hesitation.
“Does it matter? We are here to celebrate,” Benny says slinging his arm over my shoulder. “We’ve got Nikki and Nora back on Monday.” He sighs and gives me a squeeze. “All is right in my little fucked up world.”
He doesn’t really know how close he came to not having me back, but that’s okay. After today, it shouldn’t be an issue and, thank God for Dveris, he actually told Dan to end the rotation schedule he’s had us on.
On Monday, Nora and I will go back to normal. Working as partners at the station and going home together as we should, as partners.
“Come on,” Nora grumps and leads the six of us into the building. Nora made sure Casey was working tonight. She was also kind enough save us a large booth near the edge of the dance floor. Nora leads us over to it and plucks the reserved sign from its top.
I usher everyone to sit and wait on Nora to take her spot so I can slip in next to her. As we settle in, a girl I don’t know comes up to us and says, “I’m sorry, but this table is reserved for a private party.”
I giggle and Nora looks the woman over. I’ve never seen her here before, but then again, it’s been nearly two months since we’ve had a chance to stop in. She’s short, athletically built and her arms are muscled, flexing and causing the tattoos on there to ripple. With hazel eyes, shaggy blonde hair and full lips, the waitress pulls off cute and impish, if imps could pull off tattooed and intimidating.
“Baby,” Casey calls out jogging up to the girl, “uh, this is the private party.”
Nora and I exchange looks at the term of endearment and cock a brow in Casey’s direction.
“Gabby Moreau, please meet my very, very good friends Nora Delaney and Nikki Beaumont,” Casey introduces us and then looks at the other patrons, “Benny and Dom it’s good to see you again, but I’m afraid…”
“Georgia Sarte and Jesse Furlan, the other two detectives in my unit,” Nora introduces everyone, “Uh, this is Casey Gerard.”
“Nice to meet you,” Georgia and Jesse parrot.
“Wow, I’m sorry. I didn’t…” Gabby trails off and looks between Nora and Casey, obviously picking up on the fact that they are having a conversation with out actual words.
It’s sad that I know what’s being said as a smile large enough to cause me concern that Casey will hurt herself breaks across her face and she asks, “Really?”
Nora grins. “Yup. Today in fact. We’re breaking the news to these two.”
“Drinks are on the house tonight, detectives. Gabby here will grab your orders.” The woman turns to me and says, “We’re going to need to catch up soon. Like tonight. I’ll be done with my shift in twenty minutes and then I can join you.”
I smile back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Casey offers one last round of goodbyes before heading back to the bar, leaving a contrite looking Gabby with us. “Again, sorry about that. She didn’t say who to look for.”
“It’s no problem,” Benny tries to put the girl at ease.
“Thanks,” she says, “What can I get everyone to drink?”
The general consensus is beer and she wonders off to fill the order.
“How often do you guys…” Georgia trails off.
“I’ve been coming here for a while, since before I made homicide. I started bringing Nikki here shortly after we were partnered,” Nora answers and she shoots me a look. I shrug and snake a hand under the table to squeeze her knee in support. “Casey’s my, uh, she’s my ex and a really good friend.”
Neither Georgia nor Jesse react one way or the other by Nora’s little disclosure, but she’s still just as tense. Although, I expect it.
Benny and Dom just sit there, smiling some ridiculously goofy smiles at us and Gabby swings by, dropping off our drink orders.
I feel a push against my shoulder as Nora motions for me to get up. Shooting her a look, I do as requested and am further surprised when she takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor. We reach the center among a small group of people as another song picks up.
The piano is slow, haunting and one I’ve heard coming from our living room stereo. Nora does love her Temptations.
Nora pulls me to her with her fingertips on my hips, flexing against my curves. She leans in and says just loud enough to be heard above the melody, “I was trying to not make this incredibly cheesy. Please don’t tell me if I’ve failed.”
I lace my fingers behind her neck and she molds to me, swaying with the melody. Her head lowers to rest on my shoulder, her mouth turns towards my neck and I hear her sing softly along with Donny Hathaway, “I've been so many places in my life and time, I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhymes, I’ve acted out my life on stages with ten thousand people watching, But we are alone yeah, and I'm singing this song for you.”
I spin us around so that my back is facing our table and hold on to Nora for dear life.
She just sings, “I know your image of me is what I hope to be, I've treated you unkindly many times, but baby can't you see, There's no one more important to me, Baby, baby can't you see through me, We are alone, and I'm singing this song for you, You taught me precious secrets, Of the truth withholding nothing, You came out in front when I was hiding, And now I'm so much better, and if my words, they don't come together, Listen to the melodies, Cause my love, ooh baby, cause my love, cause my love, ooh, Is in there, ooh, is in there hiding.”
She stops singing halfway through, but I feel her lips on my neck, working their way around and up to find my lips. The wetness on my cheeks mingles with hers and I accept her probing tongue graciously.
The piano fades out and I pull back, a little breathless and very heated. She’s all smiles as I peck the tip of her nose and say, “You do surprise me in the most delicious of ways, Detective Delaney.”
Fandom: Nikki & Nora
Pairing: Nikki/Nora
Rating: All over R – some parts more racy than others & some parts way less.
Disclaimer: Nikki & Nora along with all the other character’s from the pilot do not belong to me. They belong to Nancylee Myatt and others that I don’t know, but if in the off chance they want to get together for a chat I’m here. Then we can discuss why the excs at the T.V. station didn’t pick up the series and perhaps whap them about the face with a dead carp. It’s a just punishment for the crime. =0)
Author’s Note: And here we are ladies and gentleman. You’ll have some questions, those will be answered next week when I start posting the next story in the series, Disparity by Design. It all carrries forward, so read and enjoy this and I’ll see yinz next week.
I slump in the chair listening to Nora bustle around the kitchen allowing myself a smile after the most obnoxious day locked up in a room with Jen, our union rep and mountains of files and law books.
Running a hand through my hair, I give in to the brutal honesty admitting the conversation she and I have to have is going to be the most difficult part of today.
I’m going to ruin the wonderful, sweet, thoughtful surprise of her cooking dinner tonight.
It also makes me wonder what she’s got planned for tonight. “What’s the occasion?” I ask as she comes in with plates full of pasta and bread.
“I just thought a quiet night sounded better than pretty much anything else,” she tells me setting our plates down. “I opened that bottle of wine your daddy got us from his trip, but do you want something else?”
“Nope,” I answer and as she spins to go back in the kitchen, I hook a finger and snag her back belt loop. I tug her back to me and pull her into my lap. Her arms wrap around my neck and I rest my forehead against hers. “How do you manage it?” I ask, needing to know.
“Manage what?” she wonders as her lips ghost across my cheek, down the slope of my nose and then across the other cheek sending shivers up and down my spine.
“You always manage to surprise me, Nora.” I nip at her bottom lip.
She shrugs against me. “Not intended, just…if you don’t want…”
I press my finger against her lips. “I want. Thank you.”
“Good,” she kisses the pad of my finger and admits, “You’ve been distracted. It’s been a rough couple weeks. I just wanted to take care of you and maybe, kind of – I was hoping that you would tell me what’s going on.”
“I have and I can.” I push her up and suggest, “Why don’t you go get that wine and then we can eat and talk. I have a bit to fill you in on.”
She saunters away and I prop my head in my hands admiring her departure. It’s a good sign, for the amount of time that we’ve been together; I still want to sink my teeth in to her backside. We’ve had our moments, our stops and starts, our periods of lulls, but overall, she still excites me the same way. It’s still the same delicious shocks that started when I first met her, to see her walk towards me, smile or kiss me.
I pray each and every single day that those reactions won’t ever go away.
I’m not too sure what I’d do with myself if they did.
She comes back in, two wine glasses and an open bottle in her hands. I take both from her and pour her glass than mine while she sits.
Handing hers over, I raise my glass, “To a lovely meal and a better desert.”
I wink at her and she blushes as our glasses clink.
I take my sip and then tuck into my food right before a very unladylike growl sounds from my stomach.
“You really didn’t eat all day?” she asks twirling some pasta onto her fork.
“Wasn’t much of a chance,” I admit around a mouthful of food. Swallowing, I amend, “And it’s delicious. One day, we’ll get around to actually being able to spend time in the kitchen and learn to cook more than breakfast and the basics.”
“I like our breakfasts and the basics.”
“Me too, sug, me too.” I need to muster up some courage so I take my wine glass and drain in it one go. Refill it and take another healthy gulp. Her eyes are on me the whole time. I really should start talking so I set my glass down. “I was with Jen today, as you know, but I was also with another lawyer…”
“I know that,” she sticks her tongue out at me, “I do listen when you talk, regardless of who you are talking to.”
“Well the other lawyer was from the N.O.P.D. our union rep, Kostazics. We’ve been talking for the past week actually. Him, Jen and I,” I finally tell her.
“Why?” she asks her posture stiffening.
Licking my lips, I figure out where to start. “Well, I’ll get to that. First, I need to confess something.”
Her fork gets placed on her plate as she looks me over.
“I owe you an apology,” I confess, “Over the past two years, Nora, you’ve done…coming out to your mom, opening up and then…letting me know you’re ready to come out at work…I know it wasn’t easy and I’ve ignored your latest attempt at…”
“Nikki,” she stops me.
“Shh, you can interrupt me later,” I stop her this time and place my hand on the table, asking for hers. “I didn’t mean to ignore you, Nora.” She takes hold of mine and I lace our fingers together. “It surprised me and once I realized that you were dead serious, I had to start thinking about the best way to do this.”
Her mouth opens but I raise an eyebrow at her and she quickly clamps it shut. “I know you don’t care anymore, but I do. I don’t want you or anyone, Dan specifically, to get caught in the cross hairs. Also, there was an interesting development at the function last Saturday where I ran into Rosnick and Dveris. It seems that Dveris is putting together a task force to audit squads.”
Her eyes bug at this bit of information.
Good.
She knows what that could mean. The last audit they did was close to a decade ago and it vetted quite a few police officers.
“They’ll be coming to S.C.U. sooner rather than later and my aunt’s somehow managed to get into the thick of it. She seems to be quite chummy with the two deputy chiefs. So, Jen and I have been working out a plan. Something that could provide protection for us and for Dan.”
Her head cocks to the side as I run my thumb over the inside of her palm. “We’ve been going through protocol and then cases where partners got involved romantically. You and I are the same rank and that plays to our favor more than I thought it would. I spent today with Jen and Kostazics getting the finer points together. Would you like to hear them?”
She nods, swallowing the last bit of wine in her glass.
“We have a meeting tomorrow with Dveris, Commander Tisono and Dan. We’re going to go in with Jen and Kostazics while you and I’ll allocute. When we’re done, we get to sit back to let Jen and Kostazics do the rest. We’ll demand that they keep us in the same unit. We have enough working for us, living together and working together like we do, with no serious issues creeping up that they can’t reasonably argue that we’re a danger to the squad.”
“It’d be nice if we could, but you know, I’m okay if it doesn’t happen,” she tells me squeezing my hand.
I smile at her, untwining our fingers and bring her palm up to kiss it. “I know,” I say as I lay our hands back down and twist them together again, “I’m not ready for that yet. I want them to see that we work better together. Jen and Charles have put together a bit of a case for keeping us as partners, comparing solve rates things like that. I think it could work.”
She just bobs her head content to let me run this. I’m more than a little surprised at her lack of reaction. I let her sit until she finally asks, “What about the squad?”
“Really the only two that don’t know are Jesse and Georgia. I’d rather just let them figure it out on their own…”
“We may have a chance to tell them tomorrow night,” she informs me. “I swung by today and Benny wants to go for drinks tomorrow night. Georgia and Jesse, I’m pretty sure, are going.”
“Well then, we’ll tell them then.” I swallow the last little bit of wine in my glass and say, “I don’t think we should make a production out of it. Low key and quiet would be to everyone’s benefit. It will also take the wind out of my aunt’s sails. She’ll have nothing to hold over my head and hopefully, everyone will come out of this no worse for the wear.”
She licks her lips and asks, “And what’s your back up plan?”
I snort. Of course, she would know if I had one of those. I do. I was hoping to not disclose that.
“My back up plan,” I drawl, “are you sure you want to know?”
She nods.
“I’ll resign and take the decision away from them,” I tell her not surprised by the protest forming on her lips, but I stop her, “But my initial back up will be to play a little hardball. Let’s just say that if Dveris and Tisono don’t see it our way, it will end up only hurting them.”
“Okay,” she agrees so readily that I’m sure I didn’t hear her right. She stops the fork full of food from reaching her mouth before winking at me and says, “I trust you, Nikki. I love you almost as much as I trust you. We’ll play this your way.”
I hold a finger up to my lips as the phone rings in my ear. Nora’s mouth shuts and she walks the rest of the way in to the room. The Picayune under her right arm and two cups of coffee in each hand. I let the sheet fall away from my top, exposing me to the cool air and Nora’s gaze.
She wiggles her eyebrows and hands me my cup of coffee. Leaning in I kiss her cheek as the phone is finally answered, “Beaumont residence.”
“Hello, Peggy Beaumont, please?” I ask the maid of the week.
“She’s just sitting down to breakfast, your name please?” the maid asks.
“Nikki Beaumont,” I answer and can practically hear the maid cringe.
“Just one second ma’am,” she clips and sets the phone down. I pull my cell phone away from my ear and say, “Thanks, sugga.”
Nora sips her coffee and winks at me. “What time do we need to be at the station?”
“Our meeting’s at ten. We have an hour and a half before we need to be anywhere.” I put the phone back as I hear my aunt’s voice nearing.
“Good,” Nora says quickly, “I’ll go start the shower then. Hurry up, baby.”
She slips from the bed and drops her robe on the floor. I watch slack jawed as she strolls quite nudely to our bathroom.
“Nikki?” my aunt’s voice rings in my ear, but I can’t manage to get any words out. “Hello? Nikki, are you there?”
“Oh, yes, sorry,” I manage. “I was uhm, sorry, long morning.”
“It’s quite all right, dear, but I must say it’s rather unexpected of you to call. Is everything okay?” I give Peggy credit. She actually sounds worried.
I square my shoulders and firm up. “Everything is great actually. I was just calling to give you a bit of news.”
I hear our shower start and decide to make this phone call as short as possible.
“And what’s that dear?” her tone’s too sweet for my liking.
“Nora and I are meeting with our bosses today to disclose our relationship. Your little stunt on Saturday, Aunt Peggy, did not go unnoticed. Too bad you won’t gain anything out of it.”
“I’m afraid, Nicollette, that I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she plays dumb. She’s actually pretty good at that.
“I was just calling to let you know. I’m sure the gossip mills will be starting in earnest sooner rather than later and I thought that since this does, in a fashion, effect the family, I should be courteous enough to let you know.”
“Well, that’s very thoughtful, Nikki, but I’m sure I’ll see a satisfactory resolution.”
“You may, but not before I get my own. Dveris’ standing second Thursday of the month appointment will play a key role in seeing a resolution to what’s going on between us.”
She stops breathing as I let her know. My grin widens. This morning just got sooo much better.
It takes her a moment, the silence on the phone stretches for what seems an eternity before she thickly manages, “I hope it works out for you Nikki, but I need to go.”
I let her disconnect with no further pleasantries and set the phone on the night stand. Making my way to our bathroom the phone call’s forgotten.
Nora’s waiting for me.
What else really matters?
“So where are we?” Jesse asks looking at the outside of the building.
I smile and say, “Jesse and Georgia, allow me to introduce you to Nora’s and mine’s favorite watering hole, Phantoms.” Admittedly the building doesn’t look like much and from the cars parked around the building, it doesn’t look like the crowd’s too big. I understand the hesitation.
“Does it matter? We are here to celebrate,” Benny says slinging his arm over my shoulder. “We’ve got Nikki and Nora back on Monday.” He sighs and gives me a squeeze. “All is right in my little fucked up world.”
He doesn’t really know how close he came to not having me back, but that’s okay. After today, it shouldn’t be an issue and, thank God for Dveris, he actually told Dan to end the rotation schedule he’s had us on.
On Monday, Nora and I will go back to normal. Working as partners at the station and going home together as we should, as partners.
“Come on,” Nora grumps and leads the six of us into the building. Nora made sure Casey was working tonight. She was also kind enough save us a large booth near the edge of the dance floor. Nora leads us over to it and plucks the reserved sign from its top.
I usher everyone to sit and wait on Nora to take her spot so I can slip in next to her. As we settle in, a girl I don’t know comes up to us and says, “I’m sorry, but this table is reserved for a private party.”
I giggle and Nora looks the woman over. I’ve never seen her here before, but then again, it’s been nearly two months since we’ve had a chance to stop in. She’s short, athletically built and her arms are muscled, flexing and causing the tattoos on there to ripple. With hazel eyes, shaggy blonde hair and full lips, the waitress pulls off cute and impish, if imps could pull off tattooed and intimidating.
“Baby,” Casey calls out jogging up to the girl, “uh, this is the private party.”
Nora and I exchange looks at the term of endearment and cock a brow in Casey’s direction.
“Gabby Moreau, please meet my very, very good friends Nora Delaney and Nikki Beaumont,” Casey introduces us and then looks at the other patrons, “Benny and Dom it’s good to see you again, but I’m afraid…”
“Georgia Sarte and Jesse Furlan, the other two detectives in my unit,” Nora introduces everyone, “Uh, this is Casey Gerard.”
“Nice to meet you,” Georgia and Jesse parrot.
“Wow, I’m sorry. I didn’t…” Gabby trails off and looks between Nora and Casey, obviously picking up on the fact that they are having a conversation with out actual words.
It’s sad that I know what’s being said as a smile large enough to cause me concern that Casey will hurt herself breaks across her face and she asks, “Really?”
Nora grins. “Yup. Today in fact. We’re breaking the news to these two.”
“Drinks are on the house tonight, detectives. Gabby here will grab your orders.” The woman turns to me and says, “We’re going to need to catch up soon. Like tonight. I’ll be done with my shift in twenty minutes and then I can join you.”
I smile back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Casey offers one last round of goodbyes before heading back to the bar, leaving a contrite looking Gabby with us. “Again, sorry about that. She didn’t say who to look for.”
“It’s no problem,” Benny tries to put the girl at ease.
“Thanks,” she says, “What can I get everyone to drink?”
The general consensus is beer and she wonders off to fill the order.
“How often do you guys…” Georgia trails off.
“I’ve been coming here for a while, since before I made homicide. I started bringing Nikki here shortly after we were partnered,” Nora answers and she shoots me a look. I shrug and snake a hand under the table to squeeze her knee in support. “Casey’s my, uh, she’s my ex and a really good friend.”
Neither Georgia nor Jesse react one way or the other by Nora’s little disclosure, but she’s still just as tense. Although, I expect it.
Benny and Dom just sit there, smiling some ridiculously goofy smiles at us and Gabby swings by, dropping off our drink orders.
I feel a push against my shoulder as Nora motions for me to get up. Shooting her a look, I do as requested and am further surprised when she takes my hand and leads me to the dance floor. We reach the center among a small group of people as another song picks up.
The piano is slow, haunting and one I’ve heard coming from our living room stereo. Nora does love her Temptations.
Nora pulls me to her with her fingertips on my hips, flexing against my curves. She leans in and says just loud enough to be heard above the melody, “I was trying to not make this incredibly cheesy. Please don’t tell me if I’ve failed.”
I lace my fingers behind her neck and she molds to me, swaying with the melody. Her head lowers to rest on my shoulder, her mouth turns towards my neck and I hear her sing softly along with Donny Hathaway, “I've been so many places in my life and time, I've sung a lot of songs, I've made some bad rhymes, I’ve acted out my life on stages with ten thousand people watching, But we are alone yeah, and I'm singing this song for you.”
I spin us around so that my back is facing our table and hold on to Nora for dear life.
She just sings, “I know your image of me is what I hope to be, I've treated you unkindly many times, but baby can't you see, There's no one more important to me, Baby, baby can't you see through me, We are alone, and I'm singing this song for you, You taught me precious secrets, Of the truth withholding nothing, You came out in front when I was hiding, And now I'm so much better, and if my words, they don't come together, Listen to the melodies, Cause my love, ooh baby, cause my love, cause my love, ooh, Is in there, ooh, is in there hiding.”
She stops singing halfway through, but I feel her lips on my neck, working their way around and up to find my lips. The wetness on my cheeks mingles with hers and I accept her probing tongue graciously.
The piano fades out and I pull back, a little breathless and very heated. She’s all smiles as I peck the tip of her nose and say, “You do surprise me in the most delicious of ways, Detective Delaney.”
