The Risk Takers

Part 30 | Sherlock and Watson

Teddy sits in our small antique chair with his right ankle resting on his left knee and his chin is perched in his fingers as he silently goes over everything we just told him. His chocolate colored eyes are squinting at something behind my head but he keeps his mind closed as he processes everything. My eyes dart back and forth between him and Liam and occasionally Liam catches my eye. Finally, Teddy removes his fingers from his chin and says, "My parents probably do know of an agent that could just whack Topher all assassin like if that's what we really want to do."

Liam shakes his head, "We are not necessarily looking to off my dad we were just thinking maybe, leave all this behind? Let the C.I.A scoop him up and us move on from it. Like we had been doing."

"He kind of put us all in an odd spot with our jobs though. I know the Captain thinks we were being sneaky, so it might look bad if we just up and quit as soon as the C.I.A takes custody of Topher."

Liam nods, "Yes, I had thought about that too until the news of Ellie's dad. No one would think it was dodgy if we moved back to Texas to be with her ailing father. He's a well known enough man in Highland Park that his-" Liam glances to me before delicately saying, "death will probably make the papers. It wouldn't be lie and it would give me a good enough reason to have left L.A when I look into work out there."

Teddy slowly nods, still squinting into space as he chews Liam's words. His eyes flit to me and he says, "What about you? Topher kind of made you look highly suspicious too with your behavior at your firm. Do you think they'll give you any kind of reference when you look for work in Texas?"

I shrug, "I was doing great work before the whole John Gates fiasco. I don't know what they'll say if I were to ask for something. I did quit, I wasn't fired. Maybe I can chalk my meltdown up to pregnancy brain? I also did graduate at the top of my class from one of the hardest law schools in the country. I know that will still look good on a resume."

I know we are all still wondering if we really should just drop everything Topher did to us and walk away from it all. Or if we still need to get to the bottom of everything. I look to Teddy and ask, "Is there any way you'd like to come to Texas with us? It would be weird to have you so far away. Maybe you and Liam could get on together at a station there? Or hell become private investigators and open up your own agency."

"Now there's an idea!" I hear Harper's voice from the hallway. We all turn and watch as she glides into the living room wearing a tight shimmery cocktail dress. She looks between Liam and Teddy and excitedly says, "You two should totally be Sherlock and Watson! Screw the F.B.I that would be a way funner job!"

"Way more fun," Liam corrects but Harper takes it that he's agreeing with her.

"See!" Her eyes float over to Teddy and I see a slight blush as he smiles to her, "Good to see you again Harper," Teddy suggestively says and I will strangle him myself if he gets into bed with her. She smiles at him but then turns her focus back to me, "That settles it then! Ya'll are moving back to HP, Liam and Teddy will be the newest crime dynamic duo and Ellie will be mama bear for awhile until she finds a nanny or whatever she wants to do, and Harper will go visit lots and lots. Now that that's all done, can we discuss where you will be taking me for drinks for my last night here? I was thinking downtown or Santa Monica? I adore watching the sunset with a fruity cocktail in my hand."

The rest of us glance to each other and Liam has his mouth slightly open like he wants to say something, but then decides against it and snaps it shut. I shrug and look to them, "Continue this discussion over drinks?"

They both shrug too and that settles it. Harper excitedly claps her hands as she says, "Now Ellie you're only like what, a month pregnant? So I'm sure you can still slip into something a bit less drab. Go put on a fun dress and we'll head out!" I salute her and obey her demands. I march upstairs and both Liam and I change into something more appropriate for a night on the town.

*********

I'm leaning into Liam in a corner booth at a swanky bar in Santa Monica as I watch Harper giggle over something Teddy says to her. They are hunched over the bar in front of us ordering another round of drinks and Harper has her arms folded under her boobs giving them a nice boost. I look up to Liam and say, "He better not sleep with her. I cannot have Teddy and Harper together. That would just be weird."

"Why? She's taken your sloppy seconds before," he says with a wry grin and I roll my eyes to him, "We only kissed once Liam, years ago and even then you knew it meant nothing."

Still grinning he replies, "I know I know. But come on, I don't think the girl has boundaries and I think Teddy will settle for anything that walks at this point."

I shake my head as we continue to watch them, "He's a good looking guy with such a great personality, I wonder why a girl hasn't snatched him up yet. Teddy hasn't had a long relationship since college." I watch as Teddy grins his boyish charming smile and I don't understand how he hasn't found a suitable lady yet.

"You're right, Teddy is a good looking guy and he chooses to be with an abundance of ladies instead of latching himself to one."

I catch Liam's wink and shake my head, "Is that what you should have done? Shared your good looks with many ladies instead of the 'ol ball and chain?" Liam laughs a sarcastic "HA" but I continue, "What? Teddy may have that boyish charm but you have that sexy rugged look. Dark tousled hair, dark soulful blue eyes, tattoos over your toned bod. You could have easily been a heart breaker running rampant all over town. I watch girls undress you with their eyes all the time!"

Liam laughs again and tips his whiskey up to his lips. He finishes the small remaining amount and then looks to me, "Nope. I've never wanted that. Because if I was doing that, you could be doing the same and I would never want you to be with anyone else. Since that day I saw you in your ridiculous gym outfit in Mr. Anderson's office I knew I was done for."

My stomach warms at Liam's confession and like always, I can't believe he's mine. Harper's giggle fills the bar and we both watch as she runs her hand down Teddy's arm. I know I have no claim to him but Teddy has been my best friend almost as long as Harper has now and I don't know what I would do if something ugly happened between them.

Liam slides his hand down my exposed arm and even in a sleeveless chiffon dress, I'm surprisingly not cold yet for being next to the beach. A fast dancey beat suddenly plays over the overhead speakers and Harper yanks Teddy over to an open space where she can dance around him. She swings her long hair behind her shoulders and I watch as he grabs her waist. I look to Liam as he sees them too, "I'm afraid what's going to happen when we all move back to Highland Park together. I see Harper spending a lot more time there than at her current house in Scottsdale."

Liam nods, "She still has her little condo right outside HP doesn't she?"

"Yeah she does. And I see her Scottsdale pad becoming her escape and her buying something more permanent if Teddy hangs around long enough."

I lean my head on Liam's shoulder and we continue to watch Harper dance with Teddy. If I wasn't so emotionally drained, I would have probably pulled Liam over to dance with them. Liam and I haven't been out dancing in years. Liam rests his cheek on my head and says, "So it's settled? Are you going to call your mom and tell her to be expecting us soon?"

"Yeah I'll do that tomorrow. I'll have her start looking for a place for us. I think it would be too much if we stayed in her house."

"I agree. Well I think it's decided then. We are moving back home and leaving Topher and his insanity behind us."

I raise my iced tea to toast him, "To never seeing Topher again!" He smiles to me and clinks my glass. I cuddle further into him and we watch as Teddy leans down and kisses Harper.