*ON HOLD* Control | An Edward Nygma Story

Chapter 14

Lauren had been delivering a report to a detective on the main floor when she saw Edward walk through the front doors. A small smile passed over her features as she saw the calm expression on his face. It seemed he had settled things with his alter after a little talk. She dropped off the report before hurrying over to him.

"Edward... Are you okay?" She asked.

He smiled at her, something she hadn't seen him do since their date night. "Right as rain," he replied in an even tone.

"That's great," Lauren said, surprised by this sudden transformation. "I take it things went well with your other half?"

"Yep. Absolutely. He's as quiet as a morgue," he answered.

Lauren stifled a laugh. "A little soon for gallows humour, don't you think?"

"Well, we do work with the dead. I think it just comes with the job."

The two of them shared a little laugh at that. Lauren looked up at Edward, beaming at him.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Edward. I was really worried about you," she said.

Edward took her hand in his, giving it a little squeeze. "I know you were and I'm sorry. I wasn't...right, you know?" He tapped his head, letting out a chuckle. "But I'm okay now, really."

  "It's good to hear you say that," Lauren said. She squeezed his hand in return, dropping her voice to a whisper. "If you start feeling anxious again, come talk to me, okay?"

  "Will do," Edward said, smiling.

  He gave Lauren a kiss on the cheek before breezing off to start his work. Lauren simply stood there for a moment, her fingers ghosting over her cheek. She sure didn't expect that kind of PDA from a guy as shy as Ed. Shaking her head free from her thoughts, Lauren resumed her work, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she went.

/ /

  It was late afternoon and Lauren was rummaging around in the archives room, desperately searching for an old case file that she thought might have a connection to a current one. She was so engrossed in her work, surrounded by the tall bookcases, that she didn't even realize someone had entered the room.

  "What are you looking for?"

  Lauren yelped in surprise, whipping around to see Edward standing at the end of the bookshelf. She let out a little chuckle, putting a hand to her heart to slow its racing beat.

  "You gave me a good start, Ed," She said breathlessly. "I'm just looking for the Gregory Day file. I think someone's copying his M.O."

  "I assume this is concerning the John Doe that we looked at today?" Edward asked, joining Lauren in the narrow gap between shelves.

  "You assume correctly," Lauren replied, turning her attention back to rifling through the numerous boxes and files. "The brutality of the murder reminded me of Day, even if it wasn't committed on a holiday."

"Go on," Edward said, shuffling closer. Lauren didn't notice.

"It seems to me that someone is looking up to Day. Not for the theatrics, but the methods. It's clear they admire the way he killed," Lauren continued.

She was about to go on, but stopped as she felt Edward's hands snaking around her waist. Her hands stopped, poised over a pile of files.

"Edward...?" She questioned in a quiet voice.

He was silent. She felt his lips on her neck, placing soft and sensual kisses. Feeling her pulse spike, Lauren tried her best to keep calm, fighting the desire to lean into him.