Chapter Text
“Pick up, pick up, pick up” , Ellie muttered to herself, listening to the ringing of Nick’s phone and feeling a slight sense of deja vu.
“Agent Bishop. I hope this isn’t a call in to work, I don’t think that it would be wise.”
“Oh, no. No, nothing like that - the B and C teams are on call, we’re definitely off-duty. No. Agent Torres, I’m sorry, I realise I must be the last person you want to talk to right now, but I could not shake - I - oh, this sounds dumb. But I don’t think Clay would forgive me right now if I didn’t - didn’t call to ask, on his behalf, if you needed anything.” She paused, and took a breath. If Nick wanted her to leave him alone, she needed to put the phone down and leave him alone. She knew that. It’s not about me, she reminded herself; it’s about what he needs, now. “Well. I’m sorry. If there isn’t anything, I’ll just leave you in peace. But please let me know if - if there’s anything …”
“Ellie.” Nick sounded choked, she thought; definitely not happy. “I’m not sure if I want to talk to you right now. But I am sure that I really don’t want to be alone … can I come over?”
“Of course! Or I can come to you if that would be easier? Or I could call Jimmy or Tim if you wanted company that wasn’t me …”
“That would be pointless.”
As Ellie took a breath to ask what he meant by that, her doorbell rang. “Hang on, that was the door, I’m just going to open … oh!” Nick stood on the step in running gear, clearly having been out in the rain for long enough to get completely soaked. Without thinking, Ellie dropped her phone onto the table by the door and opened her arms. Nick shoved his phone into his pocket and stepped into the embrace, burying his face in her neck with a strangled sob. Time stretched as they both clung to the comfort, until Nick lifted his head and drew back.
“I’m sorry, Ellie, I seem to have got you all wet.” Their eyes met and through Nick’s serious look a glimmer of heat and humour started to shine while Ellie wondered whether to react to the innuendo. On balance, she thought, this is not the time.
“I’m waterproof! But you must be freezing … luckily last time my brothers were here Rob left some sweats in the drier and I’ve still got them … here -” Nick pulled off his shoes and followed her to a cupboard where she rummaged, handing him first sweats and then a towel. “Go on. Shower. Then you can explain what you were doing in the rain … have you eaten?” At his headshake, she smiled: “Mom’s freezer mac and cheese it is, then - go, get dry.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Honestly. About the only circumstances Nick could hug me that hard and I wouldn’t even think about getting, hah, wet … and he has to say that. Pull yourself together, girl; you are not going to make anything better long-term by thinking about … that …
Ellie was just pulling garlic bread from the oven as she heard Nick start her washer-dryer - so useful, she thought, when an emergency guest is practical about it and emerge into her kitchen.
“Better? What were you doing out in the rain anyway? Wine?”
Nick hesitated. “Yeah, I guess. I - thanks - when I got home I poured a bourbon and then I thought, no, I don’t want to do that, but I knew if I stayed home I would get drunk. So I went for a run. Just as your call came, I realised I’d - well, got almost here. I wasn’t thinking about where I was going.”
Ellie looked worried. “Should I put the wine away?”
“No, no. Wine with dinner and company is fine. Bourbon on my own at home instead of dinner, that’s only for happy days, that’s the rule.”
“Good rule.”
As they ate, a veneer of normality began to settle over them - talking about how Kasie was settling in, about what on earth Becky at Goat Yoga thought she was doing wearing a crop-top to have goats scamper over her back (tiny little hooves can be sharp), speculating about whether Jimmy’s father-in-law’s new attitude to his son and son-in-law was likely to remain or to revert to the old patterns.
“Ice cream and Top Gear? I have the latest episode queued up on the DVR - and the 2004 box set in the DVD player. Apparently Jeremy Clarkson is testing the fuel economy of an Audi - I want to see him trying to drive economically.”
“Ohh, yeah. C’mon.” Grabbing the wine bottle and glasses, Nick made his way through to Ellie’s sofa, dropping himself into the corner he knew she usually sat in. Putting the wine on the table as she followed him with the ice cream bowls, he spread his arms and grinned at her. Twitching an eyebrow but otherwise declining to comment, she handed him a bowl and spoon and settled herself against his shoulder as she cued up the Top Gear.
Three episodes later, Ellie wondered how she’d got where she was - snuggled up to a fast asleep Nick who was holding her close. Given the choice between waking him by getting up, and just going to sleep … I’m glad I have smart lights in here she concluded, pulling a throw from the back of the sofa over them, switching off the TV, dimming the lights, and snuggling up more comfortably.