[Izzy Montoya] She is not accustomed to asking for help. She doesn’t like to think she needs anyone but herself in any situation, even though its been proven time and again that she does – just like everyone else. Last nights events, the culmination of all their investigating, of searching high and low for a serial murderer resulted in his arrest, one cop dead, and one woman rescued. Understandably, for those precious few that know of Izzy’s past, she was unsettled, and Derek wisely made sure she was not left alone. He helped her shower. He held her while she trembled and shook and could barely hold herself up after the adrenalin wore off. He helped her to bed, and curled around her, giving her a cocoon of safety to finally sleep in. He remained close while she slept – writing his report, staying in the apartment, keeping the sens eof his being *there* enough that she remained asleep. He came to bed, and held her, soothed away the nightmares and slept himself, at last.
And for the first time in weeks, Izzy wakes up before he does.
She wakes slowly, disorientated, until she realizes its because he’s on top of the blankets, and still mostly dressed. She studies him for a long moment from this vantage point, reaching out to smooth back a lock of hair from his forehead, to trace the line of his jaw – tenderly, now, while he cannot see it. Only when her bladder complains does she finally slip from the bed, careful not to wake him up, and goes about her morning business.
She makes coffee, and surveys the oddities of having actual food in the house. She wrinkles her nose as she contemplates the possibilities, and finally settles on a banana and yogurt. With her snack in hand, she heads to the living room, pausing as she passes the computer, where his report remains. She’ll have to add her own report later, but for now, she ignores it, and turns on the news instead, softly, not wanting to startle him awake…
[Derek Anderson] The news talks about last night’s event of course, amongst many other things. She learns nothing more as she’s expected to interrogate the man eventually to get his confession, and hopefully the location of the other victims. Some time pass, in which she can choose to read Derek’s report. If she does, she’ll find it precise, coherent and honest. Only her abiliy to see in the past has been omitted. The rest was all there.
After a few moments, she hears movement from the bedroom, then in the bathroom. The toilet was flushed, water turned on than off and finally he emerges after a quick stop in the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He was still dressed in his pants and moves to sit beside her, his skin touching hers. He doesn’t put his arms around her possessively or protectively. In fact, he doesn’t even ask how she’s doing or if she was all right. Yesterday was yesterday. Instead he simpyl says
“Anything interesting on the news?” He steals a bite from her banana as he lsitens to her answer.
[Izzy Montoya] She does read his report, and finds it acceptable – he didn’t miss a thing, but what they want to remain hidden. He’s up and about then, and she listens to the way he moves about the apartment like he belongs there, and lets that thought sit and simmer for a moment before she swallows it with another mouthful of scalding coffee.
He’s merely shirtless, and acts as if nothing has changed since last night. He steals a bite of her banana and asks his question – and she quips. “Banana’s have been discovered a s a leading cause of sterility.”
Ah. Girl’s got jokes this morning…
[Derek Anderson] He seems to think about it and then took another bite “Good thing you don’t want kids then” He grins, nudging her slightly. He drinks some coffee, stretching his legs under the living room table “I feel drained. I didn’t know homicide investigations would be so hard you know? Imean, it went well enough and we found the guy but..I don’t know. It took a lot out of me.”
He shrugs, his eyes looking at her “I wonder what now?” He lets the words hang. It could mean so many things. Them, today, the job…He let her think about it before adding so she doesn’t have to guess what he wanted “Do I go back to my old job? Do I transfer to homicide? Do I stay at my precinct?”
[Izzy Montoya] She smirks at him as he comes to the conclusion its good she doesn’t want kids, and relaxes. She watches him as he stretches, and gets comfortable. She nods, slightly. “It’s not easy. It doesn’t get fuckin’ easier either, though it’s not ever case i flip out about, either.” It’s an acknowledgement of how much he did for her the past weeks, and most especially last night. It might be the only acknowledgement that he gets – at least for now.
Though he wonders, aloud.. and she waits until he clarifies. “It’s up to you.” a beat. “I wouldn’t mind havin ya as a partner though, if that factors in.” And Izzy Montoya never works with a permanent partner. Ever. So it should say something, to him at least.
[Derek Anderson] He smiled to her “Well, I guess I’ll have to ask for the promotion, see if there’s a spot opening at your precinct and all that. I have to admit, I like working with you. It flows well, we understand each other and well I don’t think we step over each other’s toes and all. Always a good thing.”
His hands moves to rest on her thigh, caressing it gently. He doesn’t come back on last night, even if she has mentioned it “I think I could handle it though, being homicide. And despite your grumpy exterior, I’ve noticed oyu care for every victims you come across. If I end up like that, I guess it’s not too bad then” He smiles at her
He finishes his coffee “What would you like to do today? I feel liek staying inside and do nothing…or well onthing thati nvolves gonig out”He grins at her “That is if you want me around. Case is over..maybe you’d liek some time alone..or you know..someone else”
Yes, the discussion was dangerously coming close to a subject that maybe both weren’t ready to broach..then again..maybe it was time to face how things were.
[Izzy Montoya] She offers him a lopsided little smirk as he says he’ll check into it. Then she outright scoffs at the idea she has a grumpy exterior. She’s a bitch through and through, really, and anything else must be an illusion – right? Right. [so not]
Then he comes awfully close to addressing the elephant in the room, and she lets her hand fall to caress against his against her thigh, lightly. “Definitely stay in.”
That, for starters. Then, she drinks her coffee as she tries not to think about the questions he’s bringing up, that they’ve both avoided facing, that they probably should talk about. She doesn’t do this talking serious shit thing very well. Almost as well as she does commitment.
She clears her throat lightly, and then takes another drink before she dares say anything. Then – she dares to speak, but doesn’t look at him while she does it, watching their hands on her thigh instead. “I…” stop. her brow furrows tightly, and she tries again. “I don’t want anyone else.”
[Derek Anderson] He smileswhen she mentions the staying in. He liked that idea a lot. Hand caresses hand caressing thig for a moment as both are silent with their thoughts. She thinks about what he had kinda teased her about and her words comes out slowly, honestly and he knew she was serious. His hands turn over and his fingers intertwined with hers, closing around them.
“I don’t want ayone else either Izzy. Not even remotly. I liek being with you, how the last few weeks have been. I..don’t want to move in, offcially..I want to keep my appartment..in case. But”He paused..takes a breath..ok big step here “I don’t liek the idea of going back to it, unless you were to be there.”
He look thoughtful “I know it sounds like..something we said it wouldn’t be..but “He shrugs “It’s just the way things are. I liek waking up beside you, because it means I have fallen asleep with you.”
[Izzy Montoya] He turns his hand, and laces their fingers together, and she clasps it – and somehow this… this simple act.. is more intimate than anything they have shared so far. It’s an admission, it’s a revelation, it’s… a step. A big one. An acknowledgement of something bigger than the both of them – and a willingness to check into the reprecussions of it all…
He doesn’t want to go back to his place – unless she’s there, and she scoffs, slightly, with a lopsided smirk. “I hate your place.” It’s on the 5th floor – and that’s enough – though it’s said with a teasing undertone, almost.
She nods, slowly, though, as he continues, and finally looks up to meet his gaze. “I like it too. And not just because you feed me.” She takes a breath, and nods. “So stay. Even if you don’t transfer….”
It’s a repeat of what she asked for last night, needing him in ways too deep to even comprehend, needing him to be there, to steady her, to hold her so that she felt safe enough to let go, to let the emotions free instead of keeping them bottled inside. “… stay.”
[Derek Anderson] He grins slightly when she tells him about his place “Pff you jsut need ot get in better shape” He says, teasing slightly, fingers tightening slightly their grip on her hand, brieftly, an affectionate gesture. Thumbs caresses the back of her hand as he look at it, then up at her when she asks him to stay.
They didn’t say everything out loud but that word, stay, meant everything it seem. It meant she wanted him, no one else and definatly not only professionally. She wanted him in her bed, in the morning, in the evening, in most if not all apsects of her life. And he wanted her in his as well.
His other hand reaches to brush her cheek slightly. He looks if her coffee mug is empty, if yogourt and banana were done and then simply kissed her. Deeply, tenderly at first, slowly, enjoying the taste of her lips, their softness. Then his tongue darts past his lips to seek hers. His hand leaves her cheek at the same time hte other one disangage from hers. They reach under her and lifeted her up and move her so she was straddling him, never breaking the kiss that was gaining in intensity.
His arms surrounds her waists, holding her possessively this time, against him.It was the first time she mgiht have trouble ot get away from his arms. He doubted she would want to right now. He jsut wanted her..all of her..all day long, to celebrate? make their choices more official? to assure himself that it was really happening? It didn’t matter the way, what mattered was that he wanted to be with her, no one else, doing nothing but pleasuring her sexually and then jsut gently with his body against her..until they have ot eat or sleep.
[Izzy Montoya] Her cup empty, the meager breakfast done, he reaches for her and caresses her cheek, giving her enough time to set her coffee cup aside. He kisses her – and it’s different. It’s tender, it’s slow, it’s soft… and she returns it just the same…. It touches her in the same way his other kisses do – though with something… more. and it grows.. in intensity, in desire, in passion. He pulls her into his lap, and holds her tight enough that she likely couldn’t break free – at least not easily.
Difference is – she doesn’t want too.
He’s possessive, and she slides her arms around his neck, her fingers teasing along the back of his neck, into his hair, as she holds him into that kiss, into this moment.
She doesn’t want to be anywhere else, there is no one else… not now. Maybe not for a very long time. Sealed with a kiss, and with her body pressed against his…
[Derek Anderson] The spent the first day of possibly..if both believe in ever after..the rest of their life. It owuld be romantic, something both weren’t, at least overly. Izzy wasn’t the type of flower and chocolate girl so things were different than with most girls. Yet, they both managed to do things they considered sweet or romantic. Like tonight. It’s been a week since they caught a serial killer, six days since they admitted they wanted to be together, strings attached and it has been a good week.
Derek hasn’t changed anything much. He was the same guy. Got up first, made soem breakfast and coffee, enjoyed showering with her around, then went to work, came back later, cooked 3 nights out of 5, bringing take out on the other two and they had spent their evening talking, drinking in or out but not getting drunk and definatly fucking..or having sex quite a lot.
Tonight was different though. It was the night of a promised date: dressing up, going somewhere nice, drinking, eating…be a regular couple. Which mgiht be the first time they openly do it. He showered late in the afternoon and went ot dress himself in a dark suit with a charcoal grey shirt. The suite fitted him well and helooked as handsome as suual..maybe one if you enjoyed a man in a suit.
He waited for her in the living room, relaxed, looking forward to this night with..his girlfriend?? Nah..with Izzy.
[Izzy Montoya] It had been an interesting week, to be sure. Not much had changed – but everything had. Now the expectations that he’d be there every night was something that was ok to have, to assume. If only for (ever..) now, it meant they were together, a couple. For better or worse.
He still feeds her, she still works too much, he makes sure they talk, almost as much as they fuck – and even that has a slight new flavor.. that of commitment, though they’ve not really said the words exactly. It’s there though, and it’s.. good. It’s been good. Even Izzy can admit that.
She takes her time in the shower, and after he dressed, she went so far as to kick him out of the bathroom. She’d promised him a big night – well, she lost a bet. same difference, really – and she means to give him exactly that. She takes time with her hair, soemthing she rarely does. She wears a bit of makeup – something she rarely bothers with. And she slips into something purchased just for him, just for tonight.
When she slips on the dress – even she has to admit she looks fantastic. It hugs her lean form, gives the illusion of curves and delights found underneath, it catches the light – and unbeknownst to her – matches his in color perfectly.
When she finally steps from the bedroom, she takes her time, making sure that there’s plenty of time for him to appreciate the efforts she’s put into dressing for him tonight. She even poses and arches a brow…
“Well?”
[Derek Anderson] He watches her, blinking a few times then archs a brow “Who are you and what have you done with Izzy?” He asks with suspiscion then his face breaks into a big playful smile “Wow” He says, honestly and not adding anything for hte moment. Letting the sinple word express how gorgeous he found her. How much he appreciated the time and effort she put into looking more..feminine. Not that she was butch but she usually was more of a tomboy. I really hot tomboy though.
He moves toward her, his blue eyes locked with hers. He passes his arms around her waist, holding her against him. A little more tightly than before sunday btu still giving her soem space if she ever wanted to back off. Not that he wanted her to. He wanted her all to himself now. He had no intention of losing her. He kisses her softly, taking his time, appreciating how good she smell, felt against him.
Once they broke it, he whisper in her ear “You are the msot beautiful woman I”ve ever seen” Maybe it wasn’t absolutly true..beauty had many variants and was subjective to how one felt at a certain moment…but right now, in her ear, it sounded like the most honest thing he has ever told her. In his eyes, tonight, she definatly was that woman
[Izzy Montoya] He looks at her – and tells her she’s beautiful, the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen, and in that moment, she believes him, for the simple reason that right here, right now, it is the truth as he sees it. She lifts her lips to his, sliding an arm around his neck as he kisses her, moaning softly as she presses against him…
“Keep that up, and you’ll never see what else I have in store..” There’s the promise that she’s gone all out, as written in the bet itself. She pulls back, lifting to kiss him briefly once again, before she turns and heads toward the door, looking over her shoulder and offering him her hand.
When he takes it – because he will – she leads him out the door, and not to the stairs, but the elevator. No way is she walking down three flights in THAT dress. She takes a breath, and her hand tightens in his, but she steps into the elevator, lifts her chin, and breathes… just breathes.
She takes another calming breath when they reach the lobby, and pretends not to notice Jerry’s jaw dropping stare as they walk past to the door – where a limo is waiting.
All out. As promised.
[Derek Anderson] He smiels at her words “Hmmm it’s very tempting to stay here, but after the time you spent on your looks tonight, it’d be a shame not to enjoy a night showing off with you at my arm” He takes her hand, without hesitation and walks with her, surprised when they stopped at the elevator.
Inside it, his arms surrounds her loosely. He wanted to comfort her not make her moreclaustrophobic. He kisses her neck and whisper in her ear “I’m so bringing you back up the stairs in my arms when we get back” He offers her his arm, ignoring Jerry’s look. She was his and he was hers. And somehow he expects more than one person will have the same look, for different reasons, when they learn about it.
He looked at the limo and whistles softly “You did things in style”He smiles and opens the door for her though. She might be taking him out, he would be the perfect gentlemen for her anyway.
[Izzy Montoya] He surrounds her in his arms, offering her the safety of knowing exactly what she needs – which is part of their connection, of what they instinctively are for each other. Her smirk is dangerously close to a smile as she looks over her shoulder at him, and then takes his arm.
Her smirk softens farther when he appreciates the ride she’s procured for them this evening. He opens the door, and she reaches up to caress his jaw, gently, appreciatively. She slips into the limo and arranges her skirts about her legs, and settles in comfortably. It seems the driver knows where they are headed, as once they are secured, she doesn’t have to give anything away by telling him where to go.
Instead she is able to concentrate on Derek. “You clean up pretty fuckin’ nice, too, by the way.” Ah, there’s Izzy. She’s still in there…
[Derek Anderson] He smiles to her, watch her get inside the limo then sits beside her “Well thank you, I’m glad you noticed”he said with an amused smile. She wasIzzy and he wouldn’t want her to be anyone else. He had learned to know what she really meant when she talked. No matter the tone or words she used.
His hand reaches to play with her hair a little, not messing up with it, just enjoying the feel of it on his fingers. “here are we going? Or is it a surprise?”He asks, leaning to kiss softly her exposed shoulder. They weren’t a typical couple..they weren’t really in lvoe weren’t they? Even if they were together, it wasn’t a head over heell forever thing right?
But it definatly felt that way to him…and with the setting tonight, it was hard not to act the part.
[Izzy Montoya] She tips her head so that he has easier access to her bare shoulder, chuckling softly. “It’s a surprise. Something you’d never think I’d do…” Like, get dressed up, ride in an elevator, rent a limo, take him for a night on the town…
…be in a committed relationship…
She slides her fingers along his thigh, caressing lightly, as she watches the buildings get taller as they head into downtown, and shockingly, the Limo pulls up to the tallest building in chicago.
That’s a lot of stairs…
… that she has no intention of taking. But the limo stops, and the driver opens the door so that they can exit the vehicle.
Once they’ve stepped out, she takes his arm again, and follows the red carpet inside, straight to the elevators. She’s really is going all out. “They say the view from the Signature Room can’t be beat. I’ve never fuckin’ seen it.” She takes a deep breath, and nods. “So, what do ya say, champ? Keep me breathing for 95 stories?”
She winks up at him, and presses the button, the elevator doors opening almost instantly -fortunately before she loses her nerve….
[Derek Anderson] Hesmiles when she teases him by being vague. The limo stops and they steps out, Izzy taking his arm again. He smiles and look up “You are full of surpises”He tells her, impressed. He leads her inside and then she takes the lead toward the elevator.
“I’m sure it’ll be amazing form there. Thank you” He say, following her inside the elevator and others around or not, he turn her toward him and kisses her softly, holding her, breathing slowly, his chest against her, the kiss lasting until they reach the top floor. If peopel were offended, jealous or aroused, he couldn’t care less. It felt good and Izzy needed the distraction.
They steps out of the elevator and he look at the place with amazement “Wow..you’re a keeper” He says with a playful grin.
[Izzy Montoya] She just offers him that little lopsided smirk again, and turns toward him, willingly, so willingly, when he pulls her into his arms in the elevator. Her hands slide under his jacket, to the small of his back, clenched tightly for the first floor, the second, as she fights to push aside the reality of the moving coffin sized room, and lose herself in his kiss…
…her hands relax, slowly, as he holds her, breathes with her, the kiss tender and exploring, intense without overwhelming, leaving her breathless and warm with the desire that always ignites when so close to him. If others are jealous – good. They should be so lucky as to make such a handsome couple, or to have someone willing to put themselves out there in order to help her through her terror…
Her wildly beating heart, by the time the doors open again, has more to do with him than the ride.. and when she steps back to the relatively stable ground of the restaurant floor, she takes a slow breath. “….whew.” And she means it in a good way.
He grins at her, and she chuckles, softly, as the Maitre D comes to greet them, and lead them to a secluded table with a fantastic view, champagne already open and waiting. “We’ve dinner here – then up one more floor for desert and dancing… Someday I’m gonna make someone one hell of a good husband.” She winks, and slips into her seat with something that’s so close to a grin, it’s only doubted because it happens so rarely…
[Derek Anderson] He follows the Maitre D his arm around hers, or her waist if she didn’t offer her arm. He sat, facing her, looking at the view, appreciating it for a moment before his attention stops on an even better view. Her. One hand reaches for the champagne glass, the other rests on one of hers if it was on the table.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll be a good husband” he says with a playful smirk. He raises his glass “I like what you’ve planned for the evening, really. This is by far the best bet I”ve won” He smiles “To what should we drink tonight?”
He looks liek he was truly enjoying the evenign so far even if it was jsut starting. It wasn’t something he had expected when he had slept with her the first time. Nor when they had started to be together more regularly, not even when he had won the bet. But it felt good, it felt right and there’s no way he’d be elsewhere tonight.
[Izzy Montoya] She lets him keep her hand, resting on thet able, even as their champagne is poured and he agrees she’d make a fabulous husband. This is the best he’s won – and she counters with “So far. I still have those three days…”
…is that a treat? Maybe a promise…
Probably both.
She lifts her glass when he asks for a toast, and she thinks a moment, before shrugging her bare shoulder slightly. “New beginnings.” Theirs, presumably. It’s definintely not what either of them had planned, but it felt right. And she finds she is enjoying surprising him…
[Derek Anderson] -pause-