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Title: Chinese
By: Sarcastic Realist
Pairing: Elle/Gideon
Rating: PG
Note: My first CM fic, but don't go easy on me just because of that. I know it's short, but making it longer would have ruined it.
Summary: He knew she would pick up. She always picked up. He knew she would pick up and yet when she finally did, his prepared speech flew out the window...

***

It's not that hard, Jason; five words. Are you free for dinner. You've done much more difficult things in your life time. This isn't that bad.

Special Agent Jason Gideon sighed, using the index finger and thumb of his left hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. Yes it was; much harder than it sounded. Especially for someone like him.

Are you free for dinner?

It could really be that easy?

What do you have to lose?

What did he have to lose? Respect?

"Respect," he muttered under his breath. "That's it."

The voice in his head merely scoffed at him, mocking.

Slowly, he reached over with his other hand and picked up the phone, and as he balanced it on his shoulder, a dial tone echoed in his ear. He dialled quickly, a half-smile appearing on his lips as he punched in a number he had long ago memorized.

Time seemed like an eternity between each ring, and he breathed in shallowly, waiting.

Pick up, pick up, pick up…

"This is Elle."

He knew she would pick up. She always picked up. He knew she would pick up and yet when she finally did, his prepared speech flew out the window. His mouth was open; he was ready to speak, and nothing came out.

"Are you free for dinner tonight?"

There. It was over and done with, and he could crawl back into his shell, his safe haven, his castle. He exhaled, bracing himself for- what, he didn't quite know. All he was sure of was that he felt an unwarranted amount of relief that she was alive and well, for being her boss, and he wasn't convinced he liked that feeling; if it was right.

"Gideon?" She sounded confident she had corresponded the voice with a familiar face. "Uh… sure. When?"

"I can pick you up at seven," he heard himself say, "If that works for you. You like Chinese, don't you?"

Her hesitation pushed him off the edge of a cliff and caught him a split second before he crashed to the ground.

"I love Chinese."

FINIS

***