26 October 2007 - Morning

[amber_v]

Amber slept soundly. The previous night had taken its toll on her, what with all the physical activity from the sex marathon and, perhaps even more draining, the unexpected emotional intensity she'd felt for Eric. It'd been a lot to take in, and in so brief a period. But she slept better than she had since before she could remember, smooth and tranquil like a night sky in the wilderness.

Her alarm clock’s strident buzzing struck her from sleep and, fuzzy on everything, including her own name, Amber groped in the darkness to grab the noise and shut it up. A warm, large barrier got in her way and she had to sit up, thinking with all her might about where she was and what was happening. She was Amber. This was her bed. The thing she was pressing buttons on was her alarm clock.

And, her expression softening as she remembered, this person next to her was Eric, the guy she’d taken home, on a whim, and fucked. And liked. How strange it was to reflect on last night, with the distance of a few hours’ worth of sleep. It seemed so far away, like it’d all happened to someone else; it certainly didn’t seem like something she’d do. The one-night stand part was more than usual for her, but waking up the next morning caring about the stranger in her bed, that was new. Weird. But nice, too. Much better than the annoyance she normally felt, the same one that made her kick her partners out of her apartment as soon as she could.

Her alarm clock read 6:31. Amber clicked a few more buttons before sliding back down over Eric and giving him a light good-morning kiss. His breath stank, as did hers, but she couldn’t care less. “Woke up yet?” she teased. “My alarm clock will go off in nine minutes, and then I’ll have to go get ready for work. Until then—“ She kissed him again, licking his lips this time. She was too tired be horny, but there couldn’t possibly be a better way to start the day than with a bit of kissing and fondling.

Comments

[amber_v]

She nodded; Eric had mentioned starting a new job. PPTH seemed transfer-happy, if it kept moving its employees from one section to another. Amber remembered that Cameron and Chase had originally worked for House before going on to their current departments. Then again, working long-term for House would be tough on anyone not made of nails, and the hospital probably hadn’t wanted to lose good workers.

He’d also heavily implied he was miserable about this next project he was taking on. Who knew, maybe Amber could make him less miserable while he worked that job. Not that she’d do it out of the goodness of her heart, but they’d been raising each other’s mood so far. It wasn’t a stretch of the imagination to think they could keep it up for longer. And from the way his expression fell, as if the mere thought of what was coming depressed him, he’d need someone to cheer him up.

Amber picked up her plate and bit into her bagel; it was almost, but not quite, as fantastic as the coffee. It’d be worth seeing more of Eric, if everything kept on tasting so much better after having sex with him! So she grinned when he asked her out, flattered to be invited and pleased that they were on the same wavelength. If he hadn’t done so first, she’d have asked to see him again. “Oh, that’d depend,” she teased flirtatiously, raising her eyebrows. “Where would you take me?” She had her favorite restaurants, but she was curious about his choices for their date.

[eric_foreman]

Foreman couldn't help returning Amber's smile. She'd accepted his explanation and wasn't digging for more details, and in his relief, he felt even more eager to choose a place that she'd like. "What, don't you trust me?" he asked. "Last night I didn't say it depends before I followed you." Well, he sure as hell hadn't been hesitating when there'd be a chance that he could forget his problems for a night. That had turned out pretty close to perfect.

He did have a few restaurants that he picked when he had a date. It didn't happen that often--he was busy most of the time--but Foreman didn't find it hard to pick up women for a casual affair here or there, relationships that didn't affect his work or last a particularly long time. It usually worked out well; he had the chance to let go of his frustrations and work tension with someone who didn't know exactly how crazy his boss was. Foreman took dates to restaurants where he'd gone often enough to know the service and the food was good, and where he'd tipped the maitre d's well enough over the years that they discreetly provided better wine or complimentary appetizers, and picked tables for him well away from the bathrooms or the kitchen.

"How about Ma Cabane?" he asked. "Do you know it?" It was fancier than where they'd been last night, and Foreman guessed that Amber's tastes were similar enough to his--he'd enjoyed her bar last night--that she'd appreciate it. "Or," he said, grinning, "we could go to Shank's." The sports bar had greasy food and blaring televisions, but it had good beer. Sometimes Foreman went there with Cameron and Chase, but they'd never gone there much as a couple, so Foreman thought he'd be safe enough not to run into them. Amber's pick would tell him a lot about her: whether last night's quiet jazz music and subdued lighting really was her style, or if she'd jump at the chance to do something more lighthearted. Foreman could enjoy both, on occasion, and he wondered if Amber was the same way.

[amber_v]

"My standards are higher," Amber winked. While it was true she had high standards, she also trusted him to come up with good options. If Eric hadn't already earned her interest and respect, he wouldn't be here right now to ask her out.

She bit into her bagel and chewed as he suggested a couple of places, watching him. The way he brightened as he named Shank's didn't escape her attention. "Oh, tough choice." At Ma Cabane she could dress up, using her more elegant dresses that tended to rot in the back of her closet. They had great food there, subtle and delicate. And Eric, he'd fit right in, as if he were in his own home.

But Eric fitting in was the problem. He played the gentleman too well, to the point of hiding himself. No way was Amber going to encourage that tendency! "But I’m more in the mood for Shank's. Who knows, maybe you can take me to Ma Cabane some other time." While she didn't care for sports, a laid back evening could be fun, getting lightheaded with beers and learning more about each other. Hopefully she’d get a glimpse of his relaxed, natural side.

"Wait a sec." She swallowed the last of her bagel and hurried to her desk in the living room. From there she pulled out a business card from her latest set: Amber Volakis, Diagnostics Department at Princeton-Plainsboro. Holding it out to him, “There’s my number, call me if anything happens. You should give me yours, too. House might make us pull an all-nighter swabbing the hospital rooms for mold, or whatever other project he gets into his head. If he does, we’ll have to cancel—though if you wanted to, you could join in on the swabbing.” Amber grinned at this last bit.

[eric_foreman]

Foreman raised his eyebrows, surprised at Amber's choice. He'd offered Shank's as a joke, or a test, although he had no problem with the place. Amber had wider interests than he'd thought, but that was hardly a bad thing. There would be more to learn about her, more interesting things to discuss. He finished his bagel and washed it down with his coffee as she went off to the living room, so that he'd be ready to leave when she was.

When Amber came back and presented her business card to him, Foreman nearly froze again. He managed to smile at her joke, although he couldn't see anything the least bit funny about being House's lackey, ordered around to perform pointless tasks just because House was on a power trip that had nothing to do with their current case. But that wasn't the worst of the problem. Amber had given him her card, but even though Foreman had a stack of his own in his wallet, he couldn't give one back. He'd been an idiot, arrogant as hell, and he'd gone out and gotten new ones--Amber must have done the same--only his read Head of Diagnostics, Mercy General Hospital. If he handed one to Amber, the questions would start, and Foreman was sure she'd cancel tonight--probably cancel knowing him--if that was how he told her what his new job was. He wanted to do it this weekend, but Sunday would be soon enough, at some point when they were both relaxed, not about to rush out the door. "Do you have a pen?" he asked as he tucked her card into his pocket. "My home number just changed." That was true, since he'd moved back to Princeton, and Foreman would most likely be there in the afternoon, since he didn't have much planned beyond the gym and maybe getting some groceries. He'd want to clean, too, and get things ready, just in case the opportunity came to ask Amber up after their date. "I'll give you my cell, too, but that's probably where I'll be."

[amber_v]

"Sure," Amber said, nodding to the pad and paper next to her kitchen phone. She then glanced at the microwave clock: time was up, she had to be out the door. "I get off work at five, but I'll need to come back here and change. And clean up." She glanced behind her shoulder to beyond the kitchen. She'd left her clothes all over the living room, not to mention the unchanged bed sheets. While not happy about abandoning the mess, it'd have to wait. "Pick me up here at six." They’d gone in separate cars last night, but that was because they hadn’t known what to expect from each after five minutes’ conversation. …They hadn’t talked much more since then, but now they had more to go on, and Amber was certain they’d leave Shank’s together.

“Okay, this is it, I gotta go.” Stepping right up to Eric, she held his face between her hands; his breath smelled of the breakfast they’d just had. Amber smiled grand and wide, like she’d just been announced the winner of a contest. “I had a great—no, a fantastic time. And I can’t wait to see you again.” Slowly she brought her face to his, brushing their lips at first, then kissing him lightly. It wasn’t true that she couldn’t wait—if that were the case, she wouldn’t be heading out—but it almost was.

A few seconds of very, very pleasant kissing, and then it was time. “I’ll see you later.” Amber strode to the living room, her heels clacking against the wood panels, to get her keys and wallet.

[eric_foreman]

Foreman scribbled his numbers on the pad of paper Amber offered. She was already in a whirlwind, grabbing her things and starting for the door. Foreman followed her, pulling on his suit jacket--hopelessly wrinkled--and his overcoat, pulling them on. "I'll be here," he promised. If he was picking her up, and if her plans to clean meant anything, then he might want to be a bit more prepared this evening. He'd bring a change of clothes, something casual enough for a weekend, as well as his shaving gear and deodorant; a few things that he could keep in his car, but that would be there if he spent the night again. He was pretty damn sure he'd be spending the night again. Maybe as inventively as last night. Maybe just talking, if he could steer Amber away from thinking about work. With the excuse that it was the weekend, he thought that he could ensure that they picked safe topics.

The next thing he knew, Amber was reaching for him, cupping his face. Foreman let his hands fall to Amber's waist, bringing her close for a moment as they kissed. "Me too," he said. He wanted to tell her to blow House off if he started making stupid demands, but it wasn't worth the fight. Not yet. "You're amazing." The compliment dropped from his lips easily, but it was true, and Foreman smiled, stepping back so that Amber didn't have to take it too seriously if she wanted to keep things light.

He followed her to the front door, and then headed for his own car. He sat behind the wheel for a moment, taking a moment to simply breathe and realize that he'd stumbled into something--hell, if the word fit, he'd use it--amazing. Chuckling to himself, Foreman started his car and headed for home. He only hoped he could manage to keep this together long enough for Amber to forgive his lie.