+18 - eps 22-27 - A case takes Russell and Brock to the brink of death. It'll be up to Gillian and the team to rescue them before they're killed by a white supremacist militia. And in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, the threat of a bio attack fo...
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Gillian took the pizza and her beer to the coffee table and sat on the couch in front of the TV. She turned it on to a national news channel but didn't even glance at the screen. She was absorbed by the list Cooper had given her. It was a complete summary of all the cases the field office was handling, with brief notes on those which might have a development before Monday.
She frowned at the fifth note reading "waiting for search results". By the end of the summary, she'd counted eighteen cases with the same comment. Damn techs. They were six, Brandon included. She could bet her right hand they spent most of their time on multiplayer campaigns in their den at the fourth floor—which was always worse than Connor's room on a bad day. The alternatives for their lack of results were more serious, so she didn't want to jump to conclusions. But she decided to look into it first thing next morning. If they were taking advantage of Cooper and most of the staff's ignorance about search times, she would put some healthy fear of God in them.
Her phone buzzed. She checked it, frowning, and picked up.
"Hey..."
"Hey, babe. I have a six-pack and a free night. Feel like sharing?"
Taylor sounded like any other day. But it wasn't any other day: it was the first time they talked after Ledger's arrest.
"You mean now?"
"Yep."
She checked the time. "But it'll take me at least an hour to get to your place..."
"Oh, never mind."
Gillian jumped on her seat when the bell rang.
Taylor chuckled over the phone. "Lower your Glock, it's me. Now be a good girl and open the door."
She disconnected instead of replying and went to the front door. Russell would have to surrender the Worst Timing of the Year Award to Taylor. She didn't want him there. She didn't want to talk about all she needed to tell him. She had almost made up her mind about breaking up with him, but didn't feel like taking on such a conversation right now.
All of it showed on her face when she finally opened the door. To a smiling Taylor, looking and smelling as to jump his bones right there on the porch, for the whole neighborhood to watch. He didn't seem to notice her frown, and didn't give her a chance to speak either. With a single move, he stepped in, pushed the door closed with his foot, took her in his arms and kissed her deep and long, until both of them were out of breath.
When she managed to get some air to her lungs, she tried to speak. But he rested a finger across her lips and shook his head, with one of those smiles meant to melt the North Pole.
"We don't need to talk. You need to listen," he whispered by her mouth, right before kissing her again.
A moment later, he led her by the hand to the family room. He picked up her beer and gave it to her on their way to the kitchen. Gillian could only follow, her curiosity growing as to slain a lion. Taylor made her sit on a stool at the breakfast bar, went to the fridge, grabbed a beer for himself and came to stand at the other side of the bar.
"You didn't mention your six-pack was in my fridge."
He winked at her and sipped from his can. Then his smile faltered, and he studied her as if looking for the right words. "Okay, here we go. I know you're thinking about breaking up, Reg. But that just ain't gonna happen. Not yet, I mean."
Gillian ducked her head, completely taken aback at such a categorical statement.
Taylor's lips pursed in a tight smile. "We're not gonna talk about it. You don't need to explain a damn thing to me, and I don't want you to lie. I was there, so that's enough."
She felt heat and cold hitting her face in waves.
Taylor came closer and reached across the bar to rest his hand on her cheek. "No strings attached, remember?" he said, his voice as warm and gentle as his touch. "Do I care for you? Hell yeah, a lot. And I enjoy every moment we spend together. But I can't love you, Reg. I don't feel any need to get any closer to you. 'Cause I cannot plan any future with you, and this ain't what I want for the rest of my life. So you don't need to worry about me. But until that uptight fool comes knocking with a diamond ring for you, we're gonna keep doing what we do best, got it?"
He laughed at the way her eyes widened. Gillian was so surprised that, for the second time that day, she was left speechless.
Taylor circled the bar and threw his arms around her, holding her tight as he chuckled. "Jeez, Reg, it's okay, you know? I've known right from the start, and it never stopped me from seeking you out."
She pushed him half a step away to shoot a questioning look up at him.
He kissed her hair. "He'll come around, Reg. But until lightning strikes, why don't you give me the kinky tour, now sonny's away?"
