TITLE: House Arrest (21/35)
PAIRING: Lindsay/Cindy
DISCLAIMER: Women’s Murder Club does not belong to me. The characters do not belong to me. They are the property of James Patterson, 20th Century Fox Television and ABC. I have no problems with that as long as I can borrow them for short bursts and use them in pursuit of my own enjoyment. I am not trying to infringe. Though, I don’t know why anyone has a problem with fan fic. After all, it really is a compliment. If anyone wants to write fan fiction about my book, feel free.

(12/28– Cindy’s POV)

Lindsay’s not coming home the previous night had delayed Cindy’s research, but not foiled it. In fact, having an extra day to prepare wasn’t at all a bad thing. Not that this particular investigation required a great deal of planning. What it did require was a great deal of nerve, and her nerve had been alternating between being completely steeled and feeling pretty shaky all night. Would she even have the guts to go through with it when the moment came or would she just keep pretending to be asleep?

Of course, there was always the possibility that she really would be asleep. Although Lindsay hadn’t called again to say she wouldn’t be home, it was getting pretty late. Cindy was drifting in and out when she finally heard the door. She glanced over at the clock. 1:15. Wow, Lindsay was going to be tired. Maybe this should wait.

The sounds of Lindsay moving toward the bedroom were so quiet, Cindy could tell that she was trying not to wake her. She heard Lindsay cross the threshold. Then, all noise seemed to cease at once. Somehow, she knew if she were to open her eyes, she would find Lindsay standing at the edge of the bed, looking down at her as if she were Goldilocks. All she had to do was keep her breathing steady and try not to twitch.

After what felt like forever, Lindsay finally started moving around again. Cindy heard the switch for the bathroom light before the soft gleam leaked in through her eyelids. A minute later, the shower started running. And that was just too much temptation.

Cindy cracked open one eye. Through her one-eyed squint-o-vision, she could see Lindsay step out of the bathroom, pulling her shirt over her head. It occurred to her that Lindsay thought that she was asleep and this was an invasion. Then it occurred to her that she may not have this opportunity again. So, when Lindsay turned her back to her and unfastened her jeans, Cindy fully opened both eyes and gave Lindsay’s showcase her undivided attention.

Lindsay’s jeans slid down her very, very long legs to the floor, and she reached back and unhooked her bra, letting it slide down off her shoulders. Suddenly, there was a lot of skin showing. Only long dark hair and surprisingly girly black lace panties were keeping anything hidden. Well, except for the white tube socks.

But that was it. The show was over. Lindsay reached down and picked up her jeans and disappeared into the bathroom without any further clothing removals. As soon as the door closed, Cindy exhaled the breath she didn’t know she was holding. Those nerves, which had been at their steeliest just before Lindsay got home, were now feeling pretty shaky again. Not shaky enough to get her up out of the bed and out onto the couch though. This definitely should not wait.

When Lindsay came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, Cindy wisely kept her eyes closed while she heard Lindsay getting dressed. Then, when Lindsay came over to the bed, she waited. She liked to think she had considered every possibility, and there were two ways this could go. She knew Lindsay pretty well, so when she heard the movement of one of the pillows, without any movement of the actual bed, she wasn’t surprised.

She opened her eyes and only let Lindsay get two steps in the direction of the door.

“You’re not going to sleep in here?”

Lindsay stopped and looked back at her, but it was so dark in the room, Cindy had no way of knowing what she was thinking, so she had no way of knowing what she was going to do. Again, there were two ways it could go. One way, the plan continued. The other, it was over before it really even began.

She was extraordinarily relieved when Lindsay took the two steps back to the bed, put her pillow back up by the headboard and slid under the covers with her.

She let Lindsay get settled in, and tried to drum up those nerves again.

“Cold?”

“A little,” Lindsay answered, which was a big relief.

Lindsay could have said no. Cindy had considered this. She had a response prepared just in case, but while, “Well, I am, so can we cuddle anyway?” had a nice porno ring to it, it did seem kind of forced.

Cindy responded by sliding across the bed to where Lindsay was hugging the edge. She slid her arm beneath Lindsay’s pillow and laid her head down next to Lindsay’s. The other arm she slid across Lindsay’s waist. Lindsay jumped at the contact. That was a good sign.

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Uh… We found some fibers on the bottom of the…”

Cindy rubbed her thumb slowly up and down on Lindsay’s side where it was resting. Lindsay seemed to lose track of what she was saying. That was a good sign too.

“…the… um…the c-couch. The… the husband was k-killed there, and we thought that maybe the g-guy’s foot went under and it did. The…the lab won’t run it ‘til morning.”

“Doesn’t it hurt you to be so gifted?”

Lindsay’s breath was undeniably shaky as she laughed, and when she finished, Cindy could hear her swallow. Both good signs.

“Are you tired?”

“Yeah,” Lindsay breathed.

“Okay.”

She’d done enough research for one night. And now for a big finish.

Cindy lifted her head and looked down at Lindsay. She could barely see her eyes.

“Night Linds,” she whispered and dropped her head until she felt her lips touch Lindsay’s, which came as quite a surprise, because she’d actually only planned to kiss Lindsay on the cheek “close to” her mouth. Apparently, the urge to go for it hadn’t been buried quite deep enough. Because it was the middle of the night, she was in Lindsay’s bed, and her lips were definitely very much against the brunettes. She was lightheaded, she was turned on, and she was apparently an idiot who couldn’t keep her lips to herself.