Doctor Who - Swallow Your Foolish Pride
Title: Swallow Your Foolish Pride
For: whoverse30
Disclaimer: Doctor Who and its characters don’t belong to me, if they did I’d be filming this not posting it.
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Liz Shaw / Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Prompt: #18 - Love
Word Count: 1,250
Summary: There comes a time in all Liz/Brig adventures where the inevitable happens. It's time for Liz to return to Cambridge.
Author’s Notes: I've expanded the music titles into the 60's with this one, simply because with this fic the song "Tell Him" was in my head.
--
She leaned heavily on the desk as she read the file lying open in front of her. The toe of one white knee-high boot tapped absent-mindedly against the heel of the other, the white leather stretching up her slender calves to reveal creamy skin. A perfect stretch of thigh was presented before disappearing beneath the impossibly short dress that seemed to be all the rage in London. Every curve was perfectly displayed for anyone who happened to be looking.
“Enjoying the view Brigadier?” Her deep voice broke through the silence, though she remained solely focused on her work.
He hesitated momentarily, only partially startled that she’d known he was standing there. Though the fact that he’d been caught assessing her finer attributes was embarrassing. “Miss Shaw,” He greeted her, trying to look past her appearance. “The Doctor’s not around is he?”
A burst of laughter rang out through the lab and she finally looked up at him. “There is nothing exploding or burning,” She pointed out with a mischievous smirk. “I think it’s safe to assume he’s not here.”
“Ah,” Crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded. There was really no more to say, he wasn’t entirely sure why he’d walked down to the labs anyway. The Doctor had taken Bessie for a drive, testing some new oil he’d been working on, and had informed the Brigadier of his plans an hour earlier.
“Was there something else you wanted Brigadier?” Liz asked playfully as she took a few steps towards him with her hands clasped behind her back. The only other sound in the room was the click of her heels on the floor. When he presented her with no response, she closed the distance between them and rested a hand against his chest. “You really are terrible at this Alistair.”
“I am?”
She laughed again, her eyes glistening as she looked at him. “You knew the Doctor wasn’t down here and that I’d be alone this afternoon,” Her hand slid up to his shoulder, fingers dancing along the edge of his collar. “What was it you were saying last night? Something about finding it hard not to kiss me whenever we’re alone? Honestly, Alistair, if that’s why you’re here then you’re not very good at getting what you want.”
“Is that so?” He dropped his arms, hands landing on her hips, and pulled her against him forcefully. “I must say, Elizabeth, I didn’t know you were such a tease.”
The playful smile on her lips faded into a seductive smirk as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his ear. “I do have a lot of work to do,” She hissed. “So I suggest if you want me, Brigadier, then take me.”
“With pleasure,” He chuckled, his arms sliding around her waist as their lips met. A slow sensuous kiss followed, allowing them both to forget the horrors they continually faced for just a moment. Their lips parted and his eyes were open in an instant, watching her with interest as her own eyes remained closed. She looked so beautiful.
The tip of her tongue appeared and traced her lips gently as her eyes fluttered open. Looking into his eyes, she smiled brightly. “Brigadier - if you’re not careful people may think you’re in love,” She warned him light-heartedly.
“Is that so?”
“It is indeed,” She raised an eyebrow, always ready to challenge him. It was a pastime she relished and wouldn’t give up any time soon. When he made no effort to correct her she frowned slightly, studying his expression carefully. “Are you in love with me Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart?” Her normally low voice took on a husky quality as she moved into more serious territory. Their relationship, or whatever it happened to pass as, was still too fresh - too fuelled by passion - for either of them to begin organising their lives around one another. But deep in her mind she needed an answer. She needed to know what they were and where they were going. The Scientist inside her wanted to know and understand every little detail of what was happening between them.
As they stared at each other he moved his hand to her cheek, caressing her smooth skin gently. He captured her lips in a delicate kiss, slowly reeling her in once more. The words he wanted to say to her escaped him. In all honesty he’d never been one to discuss his emotions. He was, after all, a soldier. But when it came to the insubordinate redhead there was something more there, something that had manifested in the form of simple stubborn bickering and grown to fully-fledged arguments. Maybe it had been the passion in them all along, a passion that had been misdirected since the first time they met. Whatever it was between them it was there to stay, that much he was sure of. “Tell me,” His rough voice spoke against her lips. “Ignoring protocol, would it be so bad if I was?”
She pulled back only a small distance, his hand on her lower back keeping her close. “I’ve been considering returning to Cambridge,” Her honest answer was laced with regret, her voice wavering somewhat. “You and I both know all the Doctor requires is someone to pass him his test tubes and tell him how brilliant he is. No doubt you could hire someone that fits merely those specifications, paying them a considerably lower wage than you do me, and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference. Enthralling as this position may be, my talents can be put to better use if I return to Cambridge and continue with my research.”
The grip he had on her tightened as he tried to determine whether her confession was good or bad. “Liz...” He said quietly, tipping her chin up to make her look at him. There was a deep sadness in her eyes he had never witnessed before and hoped never to witness again. “The question was - would it be such a bad thing if I was in love with you?”
“I...” Momentarily she was stumped, thinking it through logically.
It was almost as if he could see her brain working, and he could imagine exactly where it was leading her. She was so very practical. “I love you,” He told her honestly in an attempt to ease her mind. “As much as I would prefer to have you here with me every day, I am well aware that the Doctor does not always give you the opportunity to meet your potential. You’re an intelligent woman, Liz, and you should return to Cambridge if you feel it’s the right thing to do.”
“If I return to Cambridge then...”
“Then we would no longer be working together,” He finished for her quickly.
It was then that she smiled, the real genius behind the decision suddenly lighting up like a Christmas tree. She hadn’t even thought about that one very important detail, too concerned with the fact that she would be moving away from him. But the truth of the matter was if they weren’t working together there was nothing stopping them from pursuing their relationship further. Distance was definitely not an issue and they could always work around their schedules. “There would be no restrictions on our relationship,” She said, half to herself. “No protocol to follow.”
“Are you in love with me Elizabeth Shaw?” He asked with a devilish smirk.
“You really have no idea,” She responded with bright grin.
For: whoverse30
Disclaimer: Doctor Who and its characters don’t belong to me, if they did I’d be filming this not posting it.
Rating: Teen
Pairing: Liz Shaw / Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Prompt: #18 - Love
Word Count: 1,250
Summary: There comes a time in all Liz/Brig adventures where the inevitable happens. It's time for Liz to return to Cambridge.
Author’s Notes: I've expanded the music titles into the 60's with this one, simply because with this fic the song "Tell Him" was in my head.
--
She leaned heavily on the desk as she read the file lying open in front of her. The toe of one white knee-high boot tapped absent-mindedly against the heel of the other, the white leather stretching up her slender calves to reveal creamy skin. A perfect stretch of thigh was presented before disappearing beneath the impossibly short dress that seemed to be all the rage in London. Every curve was perfectly displayed for anyone who happened to be looking.
“Enjoying the view Brigadier?” Her deep voice broke through the silence, though she remained solely focused on her work.
He hesitated momentarily, only partially startled that she’d known he was standing there. Though the fact that he’d been caught assessing her finer attributes was embarrassing. “Miss Shaw,” He greeted her, trying to look past her appearance. “The Doctor’s not around is he?”
A burst of laughter rang out through the lab and she finally looked up at him. “There is nothing exploding or burning,” She pointed out with a mischievous smirk. “I think it’s safe to assume he’s not here.”
“Ah,” Crossing his arms over his chest, he nodded. There was really no more to say, he wasn’t entirely sure why he’d walked down to the labs anyway. The Doctor had taken Bessie for a drive, testing some new oil he’d been working on, and had informed the Brigadier of his plans an hour earlier.
“Was there something else you wanted Brigadier?” Liz asked playfully as she took a few steps towards him with her hands clasped behind her back. The only other sound in the room was the click of her heels on the floor. When he presented her with no response, she closed the distance between them and rested a hand against his chest. “You really are terrible at this Alistair.”
“I am?”
She laughed again, her eyes glistening as she looked at him. “You knew the Doctor wasn’t down here and that I’d be alone this afternoon,” Her hand slid up to his shoulder, fingers dancing along the edge of his collar. “What was it you were saying last night? Something about finding it hard not to kiss me whenever we’re alone? Honestly, Alistair, if that’s why you’re here then you’re not very good at getting what you want.”
“Is that so?” He dropped his arms, hands landing on her hips, and pulled her against him forcefully. “I must say, Elizabeth, I didn’t know you were such a tease.”
The playful smile on her lips faded into a seductive smirk as she leaned forward and brushed her lips against his ear. “I do have a lot of work to do,” She hissed. “So I suggest if you want me, Brigadier, then take me.”
“With pleasure,” He chuckled, his arms sliding around her waist as their lips met. A slow sensuous kiss followed, allowing them both to forget the horrors they continually faced for just a moment. Their lips parted and his eyes were open in an instant, watching her with interest as her own eyes remained closed. She looked so beautiful.
The tip of her tongue appeared and traced her lips gently as her eyes fluttered open. Looking into his eyes, she smiled brightly. “Brigadier - if you’re not careful people may think you’re in love,” She warned him light-heartedly.
“Is that so?”
“It is indeed,” She raised an eyebrow, always ready to challenge him. It was a pastime she relished and wouldn’t give up any time soon. When he made no effort to correct her she frowned slightly, studying his expression carefully. “Are you in love with me Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart?” Her normally low voice took on a husky quality as she moved into more serious territory. Their relationship, or whatever it happened to pass as, was still too fresh - too fuelled by passion - for either of them to begin organising their lives around one another. But deep in her mind she needed an answer. She needed to know what they were and where they were going. The Scientist inside her wanted to know and understand every little detail of what was happening between them.
As they stared at each other he moved his hand to her cheek, caressing her smooth skin gently. He captured her lips in a delicate kiss, slowly reeling her in once more. The words he wanted to say to her escaped him. In all honesty he’d never been one to discuss his emotions. He was, after all, a soldier. But when it came to the insubordinate redhead there was something more there, something that had manifested in the form of simple stubborn bickering and grown to fully-fledged arguments. Maybe it had been the passion in them all along, a passion that had been misdirected since the first time they met. Whatever it was between them it was there to stay, that much he was sure of. “Tell me,” His rough voice spoke against her lips. “Ignoring protocol, would it be so bad if I was?”
She pulled back only a small distance, his hand on her lower back keeping her close. “I’ve been considering returning to Cambridge,” Her honest answer was laced with regret, her voice wavering somewhat. “You and I both know all the Doctor requires is someone to pass him his test tubes and tell him how brilliant he is. No doubt you could hire someone that fits merely those specifications, paying them a considerably lower wage than you do me, and it wouldn’t make the slightest difference. Enthralling as this position may be, my talents can be put to better use if I return to Cambridge and continue with my research.”
The grip he had on her tightened as he tried to determine whether her confession was good or bad. “Liz...” He said quietly, tipping her chin up to make her look at him. There was a deep sadness in her eyes he had never witnessed before and hoped never to witness again. “The question was - would it be such a bad thing if I was in love with you?”
“I...” Momentarily she was stumped, thinking it through logically.
It was almost as if he could see her brain working, and he could imagine exactly where it was leading her. She was so very practical. “I love you,” He told her honestly in an attempt to ease her mind. “As much as I would prefer to have you here with me every day, I am well aware that the Doctor does not always give you the opportunity to meet your potential. You’re an intelligent woman, Liz, and you should return to Cambridge if you feel it’s the right thing to do.”
“If I return to Cambridge then...”
“Then we would no longer be working together,” He finished for her quickly.
It was then that she smiled, the real genius behind the decision suddenly lighting up like a Christmas tree. She hadn’t even thought about that one very important detail, too concerned with the fact that she would be moving away from him. But the truth of the matter was if they weren’t working together there was nothing stopping them from pursuing their relationship further. Distance was definitely not an issue and they could always work around their schedules. “There would be no restrictions on our relationship,” She said, half to herself. “No protocol to follow.”
“Are you in love with me Elizabeth Shaw?” He asked with a devilish smirk.
“You really have no idea,” She responded with bright grin.