Waking up next to you

Chap 1

Note: Out of all the Fictober 2023 one shots I've written for this year, this 1 just might be my personal favorite. :) It's a beautiful idea that came to me when I was trying to sleep 1 morning, and the words just kept coming to me as I shaped it, and well. It's really beautiful!

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

The first time Hetty and Granger woke up next to each other was after it was revealed that the mole was after Sam's family. Nothing real intimate happened, Granger could see that Hetty didn't really want to be alone, and he offered to stay with her for the night.

It happened again after the child bombers case, with a bit of cuddling included after Hetty admitted that she was more distressed by the case then she thought

'It's okay to admit you get scared sometimes for the team. I don't think it's weak.' Granger said.

'They came really close to getting blown up, Owen. By kids! Any one of them could've triggered any of the bombs.' Hetty shakily replied.

'But they didn't. They are that careful, and that's good. I'll admit, I was worried about them too. But everything turned out okay in the end!'

'I'm just, too old to lose any of them.'

Putting his arm around her. 'Yeah, I am too.'

The next time it occurred was when Hetty was fearing that something bad was going to happen.

'Can you stay over tonight? I don't feel like being alone tonight..' Hetty meekly asked.

'Sure'. Granger replied.

Later, in the bedroom.

'Thank you for being patient with me today.' Hetty said.

'I'm just relieved you're not sick. Is it about the mole?' Granger asked.

'In a way. What if someone ends up getting hurt? What if you get hurt again?'

'We don't know if that'll happen. Maybe we'll all be okay in the end.'

Hetty still wasn't convinced.

Sighs. 'We can't predict the future, Lange. But, we can try to feel better in the present.' Granger said, trying to help.

Hetty smirked. 'That sounded, not half bad! Where did you learn that?'

'Spur of the moment.'

And the next time it happened? It was when they had to work a late night case. Hetty wasn't unhappy at all, she just felt like waking up next to her partner.

'Mmm. Did we sleep all morning?' Hetty sleepily asked.

'Yeah. It's after 1 now.' Granger replied. 'Gotta say, I was kind of surprised when you asked me to stay over, you definitely weren't unhappy.'

'Well, maybe it's possible that, I like waking up next to someone I like.'

'You saying that, you like this? Like, actually like this?'

'That sound too foreign to you?' Hetty asked.

Chuckle. 'No! I'm just stunned to hear you admit that you like waking up to see my ugly face.' Granger replied.

'Oh come on! You're beautiful! I'm the one who is ugly!'

'Not even close!'

They both laughed.

'Is it possible that we're, both enjoying this, not just you?' Granger asked.

'I think so. Waking up next to you, feels nice actually. Maybe you feel the same about me' Hetty replied.