He'd been to war for Christ's sake, talking to a girl couldn't be that hard. But they'd been coming to the same cafe every morning for the past year. Each was acutely aware of the other, but neither seemed willing to speak. So they both had their breakfasts in solitude, looking when the other wasn't. It was a trade off, comfortable but wildly uncomfortable all at once.
There was nothing remarkable about the day. His plans were to eat, run some errands, and get some much needed sleep after a long night shift. A long night shift that hadn't gone particularly well, truth be told, hence the stack of pancakes he was inhaling, his brain overwhelmed with the words of his sergeant. It wasn't the first time he'd messed up and it probably wouldn't be the last.
He looks up when she walks in, drenched but not downtrodden, something he'd noticed was a rarity for her. He looks back down to his pancakes, expecting her to move past him to the counter before she finds her usual spot where he'll steal his glances like he usually does.
"Rough night?" A voice asks and it takes him a moment to realize it's speaking to him. He looks up and wonders why he isn't saying anything. But she smiles easily, like he's seen her do before. She's conversed with countless people before his own eyes, but she's never started a conversation on her own. Not until now. "Mind if I come back?"
"Yes," he finally finds his voice, following it up quickly with a "No, I mean please." He spreads his hand towards the empty seat across from him, dropping his fork in the process and undoubtedly looking like an idiot. She giggles quietly, draping her coat around the seat. Trying to slow is heart is easier said than done, especially when she looks back at him from the counter, her arms wrapped about herself, with a smile.
She pays for his pancakes, insisting that today can be better than the night, and leaves with the extra coffee she usually does, explaining that it was for her roommate who was less of an early riser than the two of them.
A few weeks later, he's incredibly surprised to find her face looking back at him across the squad room. It's rookie day, the second one he's been apart of, including his own. It's always a surprising kind of day, but never in a thousand years had he expected this.
"Cam?"
"Stark," she grins, like there's nothing out of the ordinary happening. He blinks, half expecting that he's dreaming, that maybe the day hasn't actually started yet. Except he'd already seen her today at their cafe and they'd already talked, which, honestly, made what was happening now even more confusing than usual.
"Why didn't you say?" He lets his not quite formed question hang in the air. Now she's trying not to grin so widely at him.
"You didn't ask," she answers and he can tell she's biting at the inside of her cheek with the effort.
"I," he pauses, noticing another girl standing just off to the side looking for all the world like she's reading to pounce into the conversation, "genuinely can't believe you didn't tell me." He turns his head slightly with a squint and she lets her grin overwhelm her face again, knowing he knows. "That's why you talked to me that day, isn't it?" It's accusatory, but she doesn't mind.
"Let me tell you it took more than a little convincing on my part," the other girl's finally joined the conversation. "Sammy."
"Sammy," Cam echoes, "My-"
"Roommate," he smirks lightly, resting his elbow on his holster, his fingers gliding over his belt buckle. "So you did tell me the truth about something."
"Hey," she sounds indignant, "I never lied. I just didn't tell you everything, which is perfectly reasonable around strangers, come on."
"Okay, I know I'm never awake early enough for your morning rendezvous, but if you," Sammy points her finger at Stark, "don't ask this wonderful girl over here out before the day's end, I'm banning conversation between the two of you. I'll settle for a different morning coffee if need be."
"Damn," Cam gives half a laugh, though her heart's racing, and she's sure she's flushing. She's hoping he'll take Sammy's ultimatum at face value because if there was one thing she was deadly serious about it was her morning coffee. He's about to offer breakfast, because it's what they do anyway, and the flush on her cheeks is more than enough persuasion.
"And don't, please don't say you'll have breakfast. That does not count and you know it." Well, this roommate of hers sure was a spitfire.
"Okay then," he turns to leave, and he can almost feel the disappointment and distaste coming from each of the women behind him before he adds, nonchalantly over his shoulder, "I'll be taking you out after work, don't you disappear on me."
Sammy never lets her live down the whisper of "never" as he walks away.
--
Sammy's life the past few weeks probably could've been a bit more dull, but she couldn't really see how. She was stuck down in the subway with one of the lesser likable officers from their precinct, desperately wishing she riding shotgun in the patrol car like usual. At least she wasn't sitting at the precinct doing paperwork, as she and her partner had been swamped lately. Cam had volunteered to finish it, and she hadn't put up much of a fight. They knew one another's strengths, after all.
Having finished the paperwork, all that remained was convincing the sergeant that putting them back together was the best idea. Usually that wasn't an issue, partners were partners, that was that. The problem was he didn't want to show favoritism. But her old threat of banning them from speaking wouldn't really hold anymore, given their new status as engaged.
So she'd left the precinct that morning to the sight of her partner slipping into his office with a certain look of determination in her eyes. If anyone had a shot of changing his mind on anything, it was Cam.
But here she was in the subway, hands in her coat pockets with the cold setting in.
"Excuse me, ma'am," she's half tempted to roll her eyes before she catches sight of the man who's addressing her. "I, uh, was wondering if you could direct me toward Grand Central."
As much as she hated being down here, there were certain aspects that could make it all worth while. She gives him directions, but he doesn't take off immediately. She doesn't mind.
"Visiting?" She asks, because his accent made it quite clear he wasn't from around here.
"Oh, no, just moved, actually," he replies, lifting his brow. "Kind of a terrifying place, isn't it?"
"It's not so bad," she smiles, he smiles back.
"Hey, Sammy," Cam's all but running down the stairs, but she stops short upon seeing the two in conversation.
"Your boss?" The stranger asks. Sammy laughs.
"No, my partner. Maybe. She could be considered and extension of my boss, I suppose." He looks a bit lost, so she shakes her head, "Long story."
"Maybe I could hear it sometime?" He asks. What the hell, she thinks, putting her number in his phone.
"Don't use that for emergencies, I'm not your personal police officer," she warns, jokingly.
"I assure you I'd never do such a thing, ma'am," he grins and she thinks she's seen the sun.
"Sammy," she manages. He grins, taking her offered hand in his, which she is pleasantly surprised to find are quite warm.
"Wilson." There's a pause.
"Well, I guess I should see what she wants," Sammy trails off.
"Yeah," he looks down at his phone, "Yeah, I ought to get. I'll call you."
"Yeah," she smiles, "Good luck, Wilson." She laughs a little as she hears a 'you too.' He'll later explain he always thought officers could use all the luck they could get.
"You ask him out?" Cam asks, blowing hot air on her hands in an attempt to warm them.
"He asked me, actually," Sammy replies, sticking her tongue out.
"Of course he did, you're a fucking catch."
"You say that, but I'm not the one with a couple hundred dollars worth on her left hand."
"Oh, come on, I swear if you were the morning person, you'd be married to Stark already," Cam puts her hand to her chest, her voice insinuating it's a truth that can't be denied.
"Girl, please, that boy is stupidly in love with you," Sammy replies. Before Cam can answer she follows with, "I admit he's good to look at. He can sing. We get along swimmingly. But I have no desire to have my mouth anywhere near his, I promise." Cam gives her a look. "Okay, very, very little desire."
"Hey, I expect everyone to be a little bit in love with him, he's perfect," Cam sighs. Sammy wants to sigh, too. Maybe, maybe this Wilson could give her something like that. She wasn't exactly betting on it. But you never knew. It was enough to keep her from responding that he wasn't perfect. "Speaking of, our sergeant has seen fit to reinstate our partnership."
"Meaning you got a little persuasive," Sammy suggests.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, please," Cam shakes her head. Sammy's eying some boys who've been lingering around the corner. She hits Cam's shoulder lightly.
"This ought to be fun," she grins, already moving toward them.
"Yeah," Cam's less enthusiastic, "I've got your six."
Wilson particularly enjoys hearing about the chaotic scramble on the subway floor the next night.
--
It's been a long day, truth be told, and she was more than a little bit exhausted. She's drifting off, not even choreography can't hold her attention anymore. Sammy's on the couch with Rayray in her lap, stroking him as she looks over some paperwork. Cam's just left, as Walt's barking at alerted everyone, including their neighbors, that Stark was home.
"Hey, why don't you go to bed?" Sammy asks, throwing her file onto the coffee table. The cat doesn't react in the slightest.
"Yeah," Julia answers, but she doesn't move. "I have to decide about that Lindy class before morning, though."
"You said it could get you a lead, right? Wasn't that what we were talking about yesterday?" Rayray's purring now, and it almost makes Julia even more tired than she already is. She nods.
"It's just," she sighs, "I'm so tired, anyway."
"Yeah, but your show'll be over after tomorrow night, then you'll have more time," Sammy stands up, which Ray's less than pleased about. "You've got this, Julia."
"Let's hope," Julia laughs as Sammy chases the cat down, before they both head off to bed.
After rehearsal, Julia heads for the bulletin board with the class postings. She still debates with herself internally, but knows she wouldn't forgive herself for missing out on the chance. So she writes her name down and discovers one of the boys from her show, she thinks his name is Lee, waiting behind her.
"Oh, sorry, didn't mean to be in your way," Julia feels like she's vomiting words. He was rather attractive, after all.
"No, don't worry about it, I'm not in any hurry anyway," he smiles and she can feel her knees getting ready to give. They weren't exactly the strongest knees anyway. "Lindy?"
"Yeah," she manages a smile. "Maybe I'll see you there?"
"Yeah," he answers, verifying his name with a flourish across the board. "Save me a dance?"
"Sure." He smiles again and offers a "see you around, Julia." She thinks her heart might have stopped.
