(Untitled)

[trigger_man]

Jack comes in from a quick run outside, his nose and cheeks red from the cold.  The cold is the very reason that the run was a quick one; even as long as he's been in the bar, he still isn't used to colder climates.

After a quick stop in his room to change, he heads down to the bar for a drink.  However instead of a hot cup of coffee, he gets a note

Comments

[fanofthegenre]

"I'm almost afraid to order something," Beckett pipes up, slipping into a seat down at one end of the bar.

She doesn't need to get a look at Jack's face to call his mood; the tension in his shoulders signals enough for her.

[trigger_man]

"At least if you order something simple, I can't screw it up," he says with a wry expression.

[fanofthegenre]

"Can you screw up a hot chocolate?" she replies, meeting his gaze and holding steady.

"It's cold enough out there to demand something warm."

[trigger_man]

"I could probably manage to not screw that up."

And in a minute, there's a hot chocolate in front of her!

"I think so far every year I forget just how cold it gets here."

[fanofthegenre]

"Are you complaining?"

There's something about the chill that she likes. If anything, it just provides the excuse to get in and get warm afterwards. She cups her hands around the mug, enjoying the warmth against her palms.

"You look like you've just come in from all of it."

[trigger_man]

"Yeah, I'm complaining. It's cold, and I just got in from a run outside. I just wanted to warm up so I could feel my fingers and toes again."

[fanofthegenre]

She's biting back a smile at the sight of that look on his face.

"And Bar suckered you into sticking around?"

[trigger_man]

"Pretty much. It's been a while since my last shift so I guess she figured I was due for one."

[fanofthegenre]

"It hasn't been that bad so far, has it?"

She leans over to glance down the bar, one side and then the other.

"I could always help you out with the rowdier ones."

[trigger_man]

"I think I can handle any troublemakers, but thanks," Jack says with a Look.

[fanofthegenre]

Two can play that Look.

"You sure?"

[trigger_man]

"Yeah, I'm sure. I was in law enforcement for quite a few years, you know."

[fanofthegenre]

"Well, it never hurts to have a little back-up," she counters, hiding her smile behind another sip of cocoa.

[trigger_man]

"No, it doesn't," Jack says with a small smile of his own. "How've you been?"