Noah Grayson - Detective - Done With Your Bullshit

It felt like there was a glitch in the system, how both of them were back where they started, sharing the same office and working together but not being together. Strange how six years had changed them both so much and yet things felt eerily similar. She’d gotten her wish, albeit in a way she hadn’t thought would be the main cause and despite the hubbub around them during her baby shower she couldn’t help but feel a certain set of eyes on her. He was keeping his distance and when she wasn’t speaking with people about the baby or receiving gifts she was looking over at him with a wistful expression. It was all a bit much in her eyes, never liking being the center of attention and it was only when some of the crowd had disappeared back to their stations did she pick up a couple of the cupcakes decorated in pink and walk over to his desk. “Thanks for leaving me with Sandra and her twenty questions, partner.” she commented, placing the cakes down in front of him and taking one of the spare chairs. Lowering herself down, she let out a sigh of relief. 

“You seemed to have it handled quite well. Suppose it’s hard to drop kick someone to their ass in your condition.” he replied, nodding his thanks for the cupcake and placed it beside his keyboard. “How you keeping anyway? Must be nervous being so close to being due.” he added, keeping the conversation light. Gone was the festering anxiousness and guilt he initially felt when he had returned, it had taken them a month or so to get used to both of them being around each other again and although it certainly wasn’t how it was before, he didn’t want to lose her again. Even if she was pregnant with another mans child. He hadn’t even approached Luca yet, that was a stepping stone he didn’t want to reach until he was ready. But Tabitha seemed happy and therefore that made him happy. Maybe he and Tabitha could have playdates eventually, thinking it would be good for Danielle to be around other young babies. 

Pregnant. It was a turn of events he hadn’t quite wrapped his head around. After what they had gone through those years ago, now for both of them to have and soon to have babies of their own. But not together. Clearly the fates were out to get them and he hadn’t been able to really stop staring at Tabitha since his return and finding her in her current state. Pregnancy looked good on her, she seemed happy and he hated that a part of him hated the fact. Happy without him. Now Tabitha was on light duty, she was rarely in the office but some of the other officers had put together a small baby shower for her and he currently sat further away at his desk, sipping the fruity pink mocktail Sandra from HR had brought in and his gaze fixated on her. 

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part of her wasn’t even sure why she was making conversation with him. it was likely going to result in trouble. yet she couldn’t seem to stop the words from coming out. she was curious as to why someone who clearly had allergies would come into a flower shop,” work that insane?” she could only imagine how much shit that the charming police department had to handle. even if she had to admit she wasn’t sure they really did a damn thing. she was nodding and a small laugh came from her,” honestly yes,” she admitted,” i grew up in seattle so this was kind of an upgrade, a lot less rain.” she was glancing around still to see if anything caught her eye. genesis felt out of her element given everything,” so you came here to be closer to family.” it seemed like a better reason then why she had. though she wasn’t about to go into that. instead she was shrugging as she began to walk,” butterfly palm? it does look nice.” she was laughing as she went to take a closer look at it,” maybe i’ll get it.” 

He found he wasn’t even having to try making the conversation, instead his natural want to converse taking over and it wasn’t as if she were dangerous or as bad as some people in the town. If anything, there was a sort of reserved grace about her, her eyes told him more than she was letting on and he fell into step beside her and found his body relaxing some more. “Not insane, just frosty in reception still. Let’s just say not everyone is glad I’m back.” he said with a shrug, not wanting to go into major details. It was a history and pain he still was trying to sort through. “Seattle? Homicide capital of nearly the world. No wonder you moved.” he said with a chuckle. Even he wouldn’t want to go there. “Seems we both ended up out of the big cities. Do you like being here?” it wasn’t questioning, it was genuine interest and he picked up one of the potted plants, reading the label before placing it down. “I can’t advise on any more, that’s as far as my plant knowledge goes.” he added with a smirk. 

generally speaking genesis tended to fly below the radar. at least she tried to but in a town like charming it wasn’t always easy. she wasn’t sure if it was by pure luck or skill that she had never been arrested but she intended on keeping that streak going. it wasn’t hard to know who was in law enforcement. she honestly didn’t even like small talk so she wasn’t sure why she had decided to engage in any of it. she wasn’t surprised that he was obviously buying them for someone and if she had to guess it was a woman,” you do know they probably could have taken an order over the phone?” she motioned towards the clerk who was behind the counter,” might have been easier.” she was glancing towards the plants that she had been looking at. she was shrugging, biting down on her lip,” i was considering those but i was also leaning towards some bamboo, maybe both.’ she just needed something to fill up the empty space in her home,” and san diego? you traded san diego for charming?” 

He could’ve called ahead, had the florist come up with something generic and designed to be approved. But he also felt like he had to work for it. It was all good and well getting flowers, but why make it easy when he could make it harder on him and therefore in a way, gain an even better reward. “Could’ve, but I also took it as a chance to get out of the station so....” he trailed off, looking towards the plants Genesis had been looking at. He let out a laugh at her questioning of him and San Diego. “Yeah, seems crazy right? Sea, beach, all night restaurants and crazy bars for this? As corny as it is, home is where the heart is right? And Charming was always my home. Besides, it’s easier for Eden and I, being a single parent means sometimes leaning on other family members to help.” he explained with a sigh. It certainly was a lot easier having his parents pitch in, who doted on his daughter daily. “Butterfly palm would look nice.” he threw in his own opinion, pointing to one of the pots. “My sister had some in her sun room, it would take a seriously poor green thumb to make that die.” 

Kyra found it important to always have fresh flowers at her apartment, and after deciding that she needed some new ones to breathe some fresh air into the place she made her way to flor amor. It was easy getting flowers from men of course, but she had a specific vision and few shared her good taste. Who said you couldn’t buy yourself flowers if you wanted some? Looking over the orchids she noticed Noah coming in, knowing he was a cop. She made it a point to know who was law enforcement, for her own benefit first and foremeost. “If you don’t like the smell of flowers I don’t think this is the best place for you…”

“I don’t have anything against flowers, I want to be able to like them. Can’t help it if pollen and I don’t get along.” he replied, tone slightly biting. It seemed most of his life allergies had ruled over his life. “you seem like you’d have a good taste though, what would you expect if someone was apologizing to you?” No doubt people were wary of him. Six years was a long time, a new cop on the scene probably opened up a lot of different possibilities and it wasn’t as if he was fresh to what went on in the town. Keeping polite, civil conversations were all he could do until he knew which way things would play.

genesis wasn’t even sure what made her talk with him. she tended to avoid law enforcement unless there was no way out of it. her eye brows arched up at his choice of words,” so why not go a different route? then flowers?” it was hard to miss how he seemed to be looking at her a bit differently. she was shrugging as she glanced around,” for myself,” she paused,” house plants if i find one that i can’t kill.” 

There was a list in the folder he had been given when he first arrived. Detailing anyone who was a potential ‘red flag’. Whether it was offenders, repeat offenders, suspicious activity amongst other things and Noah had studied it word for word, memorising the names and faces to look out for but he wouldn’t let it be known he was currently face to face with someone on it. He relaxed his expression a bit more. There was nothing wrong with engaging in civil conversation. “Because the person in question has a particular secret love for them and this is one of many stages to get back into their good graces. So personal sacrifice is a must.” he explained with a shrug. He could put up with the itchy eyes and sniffling nose for the rest of the day it helped him in his mission. Letting out a snort of laughter at her reasoning for being there he took a couple steps towards her. “Maybe try succulents? I had a few back in San Diego. With little water you can leave them to their own devices.

Her steely gaze remained as he spoke, but her fists uncurled when he stepped away and she busied herself pushing a small Minnie Mouse figurine on Lily’s desk a quarter inch to the left. Everything was nearly as she remembered it. Her family had taken some personal items, but still photos and memorabilia remained alongside her badge and a few other odd items. Tabitha cleaned it daily, it was her way of keeping her close and she remembered the time a cleaner had moved the items away and the way Tabitha had gone on a rampage. Safe to say, no one touched the desk from then on. 

Happy was indeed an overstatement. She was furious on the inside and heaven forbid when she got Nate alone to let her feelings known. Noah’s reappearance felt like a stab to her heart and she could almost feel the burning on her scar, where she had gotten shot. A reminder of what had happened. “Join the club, we’ve been trying to do this since you bounced. But I’m sure Mr Big Shot City cop has amazing plans to drag us town hicks into the future, hmmm?”

He’d almost forgotten just how awful it was to be on the receiving end of Tabitha’s anger. She could take someone apart with a single look and combined with her words? He’d witnessed many a perp tremble. But to have it directed at him was gutting and it was clear the time and distance apart had hardened her heart towards him. It wasn’t as if he just upped and left, he’d told her he was leaving, needing to work through things in his own way. But to see the anger and hurt in her eyes was disheartening. 

He winced as her insult settled before squaring his shoulders and a breath of exasperation left his mouth. “Tab’s, please? I’m not here to upheave everyone. I saw the chance to come back and I grabbed it and I’m not going to apologize for returning home. This is my town too. I love it just as much as you do.” he didn’t think it was wise to mention she had been one of the sole reasons for doing so. “Forgetting our history for just a moment, you know we’re a good team. You move, I move remember?” he added, trying to appeal to a time when everything was better. 

genesis normally didn’t go to flor amour since she wasn’t exactly a plant person. yet she was trying to have a fresh start with a new living space. she wanted to do things differently which meant that she was going to get something to put in her new house. most of the space was empty since she had gone from a one bedroom apartment to a two bedroom house. she had just nodded to the woman behind the sales counter when she walked in. 

she was glancing around while listening to her voicemail through her earbuds. she had plenty of messages given she had shut her phone off in an attempt to get some sleep the previous night. the sound of the bell dinging made her head turn and she tugged one of the ear buds out. her eye brows arched up when she realized it was noah grayson. one of the many members of charming law enforcement and her head tilted,” not a fan of flowers?” 

The store was relatively quiet, with only himself, two others by the window stand and Genesis. He raised a brow at her question before shaking his head. “Nah. Although I have no personal hatred towards them, my body says differently.” he replied, his tone friendly even if he did survey Genesis slightly more than the other occupants in the store. “You buying for someone special?” he asked, sniffing slightly. 

Riz’s mom’s birthday was coming up, which was why he found himself at Flor Amor, already setting up an order for the flowers he was going to get her. After getting her flowers since he was a little boy when his dad still had to give him money to run off to the flower shop, he got his order down, but he still took his time after leaving the counter to look around the place that always put him in a good mood. 

“You okay there, bud?” Riz asked, his eyebrows raised at the sight of someone who was clearly trying not to smell the different aromas around them. “Guess you’re not a fan of the ‘Stop and smell the roses’ saying, huh?” He jokingly added. 

He should’ve popped an antihistamine before stepping in because despite his best efforts he could already feel the drip beginning in his nose and he estimated he had about ten minutes before a full on crying and sneezing fit took over him. Trying to take in the flowers and not just pick some random bunch he was broken out of his determination of not breathing by the jovial tone of a guy he didn’t recognize. It was crazy how much he forgot faces and names. “Ugh, I feel I should just chop off my manhood and have you revoke my man card right about now.” he replied, thinking it wasn’t overly manly to be sniffling and tearing up in a flower shop. But he couldn’t help but let a laugh escape him and he shook his head. “I wish I could, but please feel free to drop all the flower puns you own.” he added turning back to a row of flowers. “How do people even pick?” he mused out loud. 

with: anyone @charmingstarters​

If there was one place Noah tried to avoid at all costs it was Flor Amour. It was nothing personally against the store nor the stunning Italian lady who owned it nor the ever so lovely sales assistants but it all fell down to his allergies and nose which couldn’t control itself from the array of scents and aromas the store exhumed on the daily.

But he was on a mission and it was the first stage in his plan to get a certain temperamental brunette back so with a grimace he walked into the store, a tinkling bell announcing his arrival and he tried to hold his breath for as long as possible. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually brought flowers and the displays in front of him was daunting. 

“Fucking hell...” he muttered to himself, wrinkling his nose as he held his breath once more.

It was as if God was testing her and she for sure hadn’t studied. She knew she was getting a new partner, deep down she knew enough time had passed since losing Lily and although Tabitha wasn’t happy about it, she grudgingly agreed. But if she had known her partner was going to be literally her ex partner she’d of resigned right then and there. What had she done to deserve this? It always seemed a step forward for her, until something or someone knocked her ten steps back. The tension between them was thick, she wouldn’t be surprised if the others in the room couldn’t see it or feel it. Her fierce stare never left him, almost daring him to look her in the eye. But he never did.

She hated it.

When the morning briefing and announcements were over and everyone had meandered back to their offices and desks she braced herself as she made her way to her own desk. She slammed down her bag as he spoke.

“I changed my number years ago.” she retorted, before looking back up towards him. Seeing where he had placed his bag made her fists curl at her sides. “That’s Lily’s desk…” she stated, tone cold and her glare fixed. No one was allowed there.

He should’ve expected it, if he wanted to forget someone he’d change his also. But it did hurt that she had wiped him completely from her life. If he was honest, he felt he didn’t even recognise the woman in front of him and it saddened him. But seeing the furiosity in her stare and hearing the frostiness in her tone had him leaping away from the desk quickly, knowing full well she could land him on his ass. He still remembered the Taser qualification course with morbid enjoyment. 

There was only one other desk near her, dotted with another person’s personal items with another tucked far in the corner and covered in dust. Seeing the spotlessness of Lily’s desk meant only one thing and the weight landed on him even more. 

“I’m sorry....” he murmured, picking up his satchel and walking over to the small dusty desk in the corner and placed his bag down there. Of course that put more space between them and he leant back on the corner and crossed his arms. “Look, I know you’re not happy about this....I thought maybe I’d be placed with whoever has that other desk or someone else but I hope we can be professional about this....even if you hate me, I want to do good and help you clean this town up okay?” he was sincere, wanting nothing more than to wipe one or both clubs off the map. 

“If giving me the chocolate means it gets to keep you from an allergic reaction then I think it’s worth it.” Kimberly smiled. “I hope you have your EpiPen with you though, because I think today of all days people are gonna put so much stuff into their heart-shaped chocolate and cute looking cupcakes.” And the last thing she needed was having someone be in an allergic reaction, god she hoped this day will go smoothly without anybody getting hurt. “But if you want a different brand of chocolate you can go ahead and pick whichever you want from the treasure chest I have over there, I wasn’t going to eat it all anyway, I was gonna give it to other medical and responders, you know, other EMTs, firehouses, hospitals, police stations.” 

He nodded as he tapped his jacket pocket. “Always. I’ve gotten quite a good sense now on what I should or should not touch but holidays like Valentines and Christmas are just a minefield.” he replied with a laugh. “But no, you’re quite alright on the offer. Thank you anyway thought. Best leave it for the servicemen and woman who are actually working. I’d feel ever so lazy taking some and not even starting the job yet.” he added with a warmer smile. “Although having such a friendly face around is such a nice change to San Diego. I just hope we don’t cross paths too much on the job. I think the town has experienced enough.” 

date: 02/16

with: @tabithaxdaniels​ 

It was so quiet between them he could hear the sound of typing in the next office over of the desk sergeant. The morning briefing had just finished and his presence made known to the rest of the staff and the entire time Sheriff Harrington was speaking he could feel the intense stare on him of hazel eyes and he daren’t look towards her. After everyone had returned back to their respective offices and departments it left the two of them together for the first time in six years. 

He hated it. 

His desk was opposite Tabitha’s and to busy himself he placed his satchel on the table top. “I tried to call but your number was disconnected.” he commented, at least wanting to make it known it wasn’t an intentional unannounced ambush.