I managed to fit this into my WIP. LOL

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Andrej walked along the sidewalk that led into the library, intent on picking up his holds and getting home. He didn’t have any real plans what with James stuck on a stakeout and Zayne committed to taking Hilary out for her birthday. But even so, he was eager to get home, get out of his suit, and relax for a bit.

“Andrej,” he heard a voice call, causing him to slow, and look around.

Seeing Julian standing outside the café made him smile. He lifted a hand in greeting and diverted his course towards where his friend stood. Since no one was waiting for him at home, he could spare a few moments to chat. “Good evening, Julian, how are you?”

“Good,” he said. “Didn’t expect to see you during the week like this.”

“I requested a couple cookbooks online and they are in,” he said, feeling silly for this ridiculous explanation, even if it was the truth. “I am hoping to find some new inspiration in the kitchen.”

“Cook a lot, do you?”

“As much as I can,” he said. “It is much cheaper than eating out all the time.” Especially when you had someone like Zayne in your house. The boy was a bottomless pit.

“Healthier, too,” Julian added.

“Agreed,” Andrej said. “I am surprised you are here so late. The library will be closing soon and I figured you’d be doing so as well.”

“I was working on an order,” he said. “I’m usually gone by three during the week. I tend to stay longer on the weekends though because it gets busier.”

Andrej nodded, understanding the logic behind that. “Are you on your way home now?”

“Actually,” Julian said, smiling. “I was thinking of going to get dinner.”

Despite himself, Andrej returned Julian’s infectious smile. Was he tempting fate by even considering the offer he knew was about to be made? But what was a boy to do when he was all alone? “That sounds like a very good idea,” he said.

“I know you are spoken for,” Julian said, “but is there any possibility for dinner as friends?”

Yeah, he was definitely tempting fate tonight. He pulled out his phone and checked it for texts from either James or Zayne and saw nothing. No news was good news, he supposed. Meaning James was safely ensconced in a car somewhere with Jake and Zayne hadn’t pissed off Hilary either. He was good to have dinner with Julian – or anyone, really, so why was he so hesitant? It wasn’t like he was even entertaining the idea of doing something he shouldn’t.

“Mă duc în iad,” he muttered, knowing full well what his boys didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. And yet… “Yes, I think that we can do that,” Andrej said, nodding. “May I retrieve my books first?”

“Of course,” Julian said. “That ought to give me just enough time to get my stuff together. Meet you out here in about ten minutes?”

“That will work,” Andrej said.

“Ten minutes,” Julian said and returned inside to the café.

Andrej checked his phone again, worried that he was making a mistake. Still nothing from James or Zayne. Or Hilary for that matter. Shaking his head, he sent a text to the one person who wouldn’t hesitate to tell him he was being stupid.

Is it wrong to have dinner with another man while your boyfriends are otherwise occupied?

The response was immediate.

Not if it’s that damn cute barista, she texted back. Because that’s worth pissing them both off.

He wasn’t sure that was true, but Andrej was relatively certain he got her meaning. It feels wrong.

Andrej could almost hear her laughing as he read her response.

Only Andy would feel guilty for a non-date.

Now, I know more Romanian...lol

I sense drama at some point...lol

(Merci)

Is this the fic where Andy turfs their asses?

Of course I'm way behind on the Jazzy, but this reads well! Drama-rama to follow! And nicely done with the prompt!

(Set in a season 8 The Mentalist world where in glorious denial of canon, Vega survived and her crush on Cho was requited.)


“Constantly looking at the phone won’t make it ring more quickly, you know.”

Michelle’s amused voice broke through Cho’s thoughts and he grimaced as he laid his cell phone screen down on his thigh, stretching a little as the effects of sitting in the car for so long began to take their toll. “Sorry,” he said, turning his attention back to the house across the street, looking out for any sign of its occupant, a person of interest in their current case.

He intended to leave it there, but Michelle had other thoughts on the matter. “No news is good news,” she said and Cho frowned, shook his head.

“That phrase is stupid,” he said. Someone else might have taken offence at that; Michelle just leaned back in her seat and rolled her eyes. “Good news is good news, no news is no news, they’re not the same.” He flipped the phone over, saw the screen still black. “How long are these things supposed to take anyway?”

“Every baby is different, and first babies take longer.” It wasn’t the first time Michelle had said that. It wasn’t even the first time that day. Cho was suddenly very glad that when Grace Van Pelt had been pregnant, he hadn’t been anywhere near Rigsby. “They come when they’re ready.”

“Still. Jane called us hours ago,” Cho objected and Michelle tilted her head, narrowing her eyes, able to see through him like she always did.

“You’re not impatient. You’re really concerned.” She sounded surprised and Cho glanced over at her, shrugged one shoulder but didn’t otherwise speak. “Kimball, women have babies every day. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“I know.” But that didn’t help.

“But it’s Lisbon.” Michelle’s gaze was shrewd and he ducked his head, acknowledging the point.

“Yeah,” he breathed. Then he blinked, surprised, when she laid her hand on his knee.

“You’re very sweet.”

Cho shifted in his seat, even as he closed his hand over hers, indulging in a rare personal moment in a professional setting. “Don’t tell anyone.”

She squeezed his knee, chuckling. “Your secret is safe with me.”

I’d forgotten how much I loved him. And I am having fun remembering!!

I don’t get to see them every night or all of every episode but last nights season one ep was “Crimson Casanova” - the dinner dishes remained on the table until it was finished and I did not care!

That was always my favourite thing about Cho too - the deadpan one liners were hilarious. *points at icon*

I tend to go for the snarky sidekicks so Cho fits on both counts!

No news was good news, was a phrase Jimmy had heard all his life. He never believed it, since it made no logical sense to him.

"What the hell is taking so long?" he asked his best friend as Cat sat beside him in the nearly empty waiting room. "The police said he laid his bike down to keep from hitting somebody's kid who was chasing after his dog."

"Desmond was unconscious when they brought him in, so they couldn't ask him any questions," Cat told him hoping to sound reassuring.

"I know," Jimmy grumbled. "I just hate waiting."

"He's gonna be alright. He's too much of a stubborn bastard to die just yet."

"Boy, ain't that the truth," Jimmy said with a huff of soft laughter.

"The family of Desmond Richard," announced a nurse in green scrubs.

"Over here," Jimmy quietly replied with a raised hand to get the nurse's attention.

"Mr. Richard is in stable condition. He has some scrapes and bruises, but otherwise is fine," the nurse reported. "The doctor wants to keep him over night for observation, because while he did bump his head, his helmet kept it from being worse than a mild concussion. He should be awake, so you can go back and see him."

"Thank you," Jimmy said with a grateful voice.

*&*

"You've got to quit giving heart failure, Des," Jimmy remarked as he settled in the chair next to Desmond's bed.

"And me gray hairs," Cat added to keep some humor in the conversation.

"Believe me that wasn't my intention," Desmond softly responded. "But I couldn't hit that kid or his dog."

Jimmy caught hold of Desmond's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I know."

"I just want to sleep," Desmond murmured.

"Go ahead," Jimmy told him. "I'll be here when you wake up."

"I love you," Desmond sighed and fell asleep.

"Love you more," Jimmy whispered.

"I'll be back to get you guys in the morning," Cat said giving Jimmy's shoulder a gentle, reassuring squeeze. "Try and get some sleep, will ya "

"Thanks, Cat," Jimmy told her. "We'll see you in the morning."

Cat brushed a kiss against his forehead and then left.

Jimmy pulled his chair closer to the bed so he could rest his head on Desmond's lap without getting a crick in his neck and fall asleep content to still have his lover in his life.


Edited at 2019-09-04 02:44 am (UTC)

Yeah. Des is a bit of a walking accident.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Yes, it is. I had to hurt Des a little bit, but not enough tobturn Jimmy into a basket case.

Thanks.

She did not intend to ever marry again.

She refused to ask ‘why me’. Life happened. Shit happened. The world went on. There were children and family who needed her, and she’d be damned if Carl, or any man, was going to get the better of her.

But despite the next selection of forms, despite Matthew’s insistence that no news was good news…that it meant Carl was not causing further fuss or delays in the proceedings, there was still waiting to do. Today’s waiting was next to be filled by theatre business that needed taking care of as the fiscal year came to a close, grabbing a bit to eat, then heading home to the children and a shower she felt desperately in need of.