Fic: I'll be the one (7/7)
Title: I'll be the one
Fandom: Murder Call
Characters: Tessa Vance, Steve Hayden, Original Character
Prompt: 010. Years
Word Count: 1264
Rating: G (K)
Summary: He was a damn lucky man. [A series of ficlets set after "Aftermath". Based on the Deadline/Suspect novel by Jennifer Rowe.]
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Jennifer Rowe, Hal McElroy and Southern Star. I make no profit out of this.
I'LL BE THE ONE
PART SEVEN
Set four years after part 6.The house was quiet and dark when Steve came home. Locking the door behind him, he turned on the light to expose the living room, which had once been a pristine place of relaxation and comfort. Now the floor was strewn with toys and piles of clothes, the kitchen table was still set with used bowls and cups, and Tessa’s laptop and folders were spread all over the coffee table.
Sighing, Steve reined in a groan and put away his coat, bag of take-away and laptop bag before beginning to clean up the mess.
It wasn’t typically like this. Well, most of the time. And according to his mother, he couldn’t really expect anything less with a toddler in the house. There’d be good days and there’d be crazy days. Today was the latter, apparently.
Once done, Steve found his way upstairs to the second bedroom, where the door stood ajar with light and soft snores streaming out. Cracking it open a little more, he couldn’t help the tired smile crossing his lips.
Christine’s bedroom was an even worse mess than how it’d been downstairs, toys and books everywhere. A night light was on, exposing the small face tucked up against the bars of the cot, and Steve approached the cot carefully to caress the small mop of hair on the two-year-old’s head. She didn’t stir, simply sleeping on without a care in the world, a completely innocent soul with her whole life ahead of her, unaware of the bad things humanity was capable of.
It’s what kept him sane, kept him going even though he’d been close to quit Homicide several times. And even with all the additional stress of being a parent and yucky stuff to get used to, Steve felt more energised these days than he’d had four years ago. As if he’d tapped into some previously unknown source of energy that kept refilling itself with each childish laughter, each smile and each milestone reached.
He needed that. Had thought he’d never have it, and now couldn’t get enough of it. Shit might still happen, but at least he’d have this to get back home to.
Smiling, Steve planted a kiss on top of Christine’s head, then retraced his steps back to the hallway and continued to the master bedroom, where he suspected he’d find Tessa. He was right, which was become a typical thing these days. Who’d have thought?
Tessa was spread out on top of the bed, fully dressed, snoring softly. Still so beautiful in her sleep, even when clearly exhausted. Steve enjoyed the sight, though; enjoyed watching her stay in one place for more than five minutes. Although she’d slowed down somewhat after having Christine, had started taking extra precautions and get enough sleep, he still believed she could be too wired sometimes, too carried away by a case.
But telling her so was a sure way to a fight and Steve didn’t want that. They’d fought too much over that issue already. Besides, he couldn’t always let go of a case either, so they were two peas in a pod.
At least they’d both agreed that Christine, their family, came first.
Steve glanced at his watch before sitting down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently wake her. “Tess. You okay?”
“Mm…” She didn’t stir at once, coming rather groggily out of her sleep. It took a few blinks of her eyes before she could focus on him. When she did, she smiled briefly. “What time is it?”
“Almost nine. Did you eat?” Steve took her hand between his, running his thumb across her knuckles and her wedding ring, and smirked. “Brought noodles. Your favourite.”
Tessa smiled tiredly, rubbing her eyes. “Sounds great. I didn’t get to eat much. Chrissy was throwing stuff all over the place.”
“I noticed,” Steve said dryly, thinking of the stains he’d cleaned off the kitchen table, chairs, floors and walls. Maybe there was a future renovator in her; he wondered what she’d do if he gave her some paint. “You ‘right? Any nausea tonight?”
“No, I think it’s passed now.” Tessa let him help her up to the edge of the bed, then sat for a moment gathering her sense of balance before standing up. “Ough. I feel like I could sleep for a week, though.”
“That’s something I thought I’d never hear,” Steve teased, moving over to his side of the bed to take off his suit and change into something more comfortable. He caught her rolling her eyes and chuckled. “So how’d it go with Benson today?”
“Fine enough, I guess,” Tessa said as she stretched her arms and back like a cat, pulling back enough to showcase the round bump growing beneath her woollen jumper. There was a touch of frustration in her voice. “I’ll be off at four every day from now on. Benny and Chris will do a lot of the legwork, unless it’s stuff deemed ‘safe enough’ for me to handle.”
Steve met her eyes at that inflection. He knew she hated being treated like this, but that’s what Inspector Benson’s policy was like. If you wanted to remain in Homicide, you had to follow her rules. It was a whole new world of procedure and policies for the both of them, and the first time Steve had seen first-hand how some officers were met by their superiors when pregnant. Hadn’t been easy to deal with it himself, either, even though he was the supervising Sergeant now. If Benson was critical to pregnant officers, she was certainly critical to a husband standing up for his wife.
“You got through it last time,” Steve said gently, pulling on a pair of jeans and a jumper. “Besides, at least one of us gets to spend some extra time with Christine this way.”
“I know.”
Tessa blew a breath, clearly still conflicted about it all. Steve understood now, even if he hadn’t before when Christine was old enough for Tessa to come back to work. She loved Christine to pieces, but still cared about her work, about the challenge. Sometimes, that meant not being able to let it go once you were off the clock, as evidenced by the work stuff she’d left lying around downstairs.
Then again, being the Sergeant meant he could delegate tasks now and be off at four as well, unless something came up. He didn’t always show it, but he loved the freedom it gave him. His family was on top of the list of priorities; if he could, he’d be at home with Christine all day.
“Hey, cheer up.” Taking Tessa in his arms, Steve hugged her tightly and then leaned back enough to gaze into her eyes, smirking teasingly. “The noodles are waiting, Your Majesty. Can’t have you running on empty.”
Tessa grinned too, that honest, beautiful smile he loved so much and never tired of seeing. “Why, thank you, my white knight. Junior will be pleased.”
“Only the best for the mother of my children.” Steve’s smile widened and he stole a kiss, nuzzling her nose afterwards. “Come on. I’m starving and we’ve got that last ep of The Wire to watch.”
“Oh, the one where McNulty dies?” Tessa cocked an eyebrow innocently, to which Steve grimaced and poked her in her side, tickling her.
“No spoilers, please.”
Tessa just laughed, a sound so wondrous Steve felt his smile widen involuntarily. And as they found their way down the darkened hallway and staircase to the living room, he couldn’t help think he was a damn lucky man.
FIN
PART SIX
Fandom: Murder Call
Characters: Tessa Vance, Steve Hayden, Original Character
Prompt: 010. Years
Word Count: 1264
Rating: G (K)
Summary: He was a damn lucky man. [A series of ficlets set after "Aftermath". Based on the Deadline/Suspect novel by Jennifer Rowe.]
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. They belong to Jennifer Rowe, Hal McElroy and Southern Star. I make no profit out of this.
I'LL BE THE ONE
PART SEVEN
Set four years after part 6.The house was quiet and dark when Steve came home. Locking the door behind him, he turned on the light to expose the living room, which had once been a pristine place of relaxation and comfort. Now the floor was strewn with toys and piles of clothes, the kitchen table was still set with used bowls and cups, and Tessa’s laptop and folders were spread all over the coffee table.
Sighing, Steve reined in a groan and put away his coat, bag of take-away and laptop bag before beginning to clean up the mess.
It wasn’t typically like this. Well, most of the time. And according to his mother, he couldn’t really expect anything less with a toddler in the house. There’d be good days and there’d be crazy days. Today was the latter, apparently.
Once done, Steve found his way upstairs to the second bedroom, where the door stood ajar with light and soft snores streaming out. Cracking it open a little more, he couldn’t help the tired smile crossing his lips.
Christine’s bedroom was an even worse mess than how it’d been downstairs, toys and books everywhere. A night light was on, exposing the small face tucked up against the bars of the cot, and Steve approached the cot carefully to caress the small mop of hair on the two-year-old’s head. She didn’t stir, simply sleeping on without a care in the world, a completely innocent soul with her whole life ahead of her, unaware of the bad things humanity was capable of.
It’s what kept him sane, kept him going even though he’d been close to quit Homicide several times. And even with all the additional stress of being a parent and yucky stuff to get used to, Steve felt more energised these days than he’d had four years ago. As if he’d tapped into some previously unknown source of energy that kept refilling itself with each childish laughter, each smile and each milestone reached.
He needed that. Had thought he’d never have it, and now couldn’t get enough of it. Shit might still happen, but at least he’d have this to get back home to.
Smiling, Steve planted a kiss on top of Christine’s head, then retraced his steps back to the hallway and continued to the master bedroom, where he suspected he’d find Tessa. He was right, which was become a typical thing these days. Who’d have thought?
Tessa was spread out on top of the bed, fully dressed, snoring softly. Still so beautiful in her sleep, even when clearly exhausted. Steve enjoyed the sight, though; enjoyed watching her stay in one place for more than five minutes. Although she’d slowed down somewhat after having Christine, had started taking extra precautions and get enough sleep, he still believed she could be too wired sometimes, too carried away by a case.
But telling her so was a sure way to a fight and Steve didn’t want that. They’d fought too much over that issue already. Besides, he couldn’t always let go of a case either, so they were two peas in a pod.
At least they’d both agreed that Christine, their family, came first.
Steve glanced at his watch before sitting down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to gently wake her. “Tess. You okay?”
“Mm…” She didn’t stir at once, coming rather groggily out of her sleep. It took a few blinks of her eyes before she could focus on him. When she did, she smiled briefly. “What time is it?”
“Almost nine. Did you eat?” Steve took her hand between his, running his thumb across her knuckles and her wedding ring, and smirked. “Brought noodles. Your favourite.”
Tessa smiled tiredly, rubbing her eyes. “Sounds great. I didn’t get to eat much. Chrissy was throwing stuff all over the place.”
“I noticed,” Steve said dryly, thinking of the stains he’d cleaned off the kitchen table, chairs, floors and walls. Maybe there was a future renovator in her; he wondered what she’d do if he gave her some paint. “You ‘right? Any nausea tonight?”
“No, I think it’s passed now.” Tessa let him help her up to the edge of the bed, then sat for a moment gathering her sense of balance before standing up. “Ough. I feel like I could sleep for a week, though.”
“That’s something I thought I’d never hear,” Steve teased, moving over to his side of the bed to take off his suit and change into something more comfortable. He caught her rolling her eyes and chuckled. “So how’d it go with Benson today?”
“Fine enough, I guess,” Tessa said as she stretched her arms and back like a cat, pulling back enough to showcase the round bump growing beneath her woollen jumper. There was a touch of frustration in her voice. “I’ll be off at four every day from now on. Benny and Chris will do a lot of the legwork, unless it’s stuff deemed ‘safe enough’ for me to handle.”
Steve met her eyes at that inflection. He knew she hated being treated like this, but that’s what Inspector Benson’s policy was like. If you wanted to remain in Homicide, you had to follow her rules. It was a whole new world of procedure and policies for the both of them, and the first time Steve had seen first-hand how some officers were met by their superiors when pregnant. Hadn’t been easy to deal with it himself, either, even though he was the supervising Sergeant now. If Benson was critical to pregnant officers, she was certainly critical to a husband standing up for his wife.
“You got through it last time,” Steve said gently, pulling on a pair of jeans and a jumper. “Besides, at least one of us gets to spend some extra time with Christine this way.”
“I know.”
Tessa blew a breath, clearly still conflicted about it all. Steve understood now, even if he hadn’t before when Christine was old enough for Tessa to come back to work. She loved Christine to pieces, but still cared about her work, about the challenge. Sometimes, that meant not being able to let it go once you were off the clock, as evidenced by the work stuff she’d left lying around downstairs.
Then again, being the Sergeant meant he could delegate tasks now and be off at four as well, unless something came up. He didn’t always show it, but he loved the freedom it gave him. His family was on top of the list of priorities; if he could, he’d be at home with Christine all day.
“Hey, cheer up.” Taking Tessa in his arms, Steve hugged her tightly and then leaned back enough to gaze into her eyes, smirking teasingly. “The noodles are waiting, Your Majesty. Can’t have you running on empty.”
Tessa grinned too, that honest, beautiful smile he loved so much and never tired of seeing. “Why, thank you, my white knight. Junior will be pleased.”
“Only the best for the mother of my children.” Steve’s smile widened and he stole a kiss, nuzzling her nose afterwards. “Come on. I’m starving and we’ve got that last ep of The Wire to watch.”
“Oh, the one where McNulty dies?” Tessa cocked an eyebrow innocently, to which Steve grimaced and poked her in her side, tickling her.
“No spoilers, please.”
Tessa just laughed, a sound so wondrous Steve felt his smile widen involuntarily. And as they found their way down the darkened hallway and staircase to the living room, he couldn’t help think he was a damn lucky man.
FIN
PART SIX