Chapter Text
“Nice place, now I know why so many people go for the SAC position, it comes with a pretty nice pay cheque.”
Isobel hummed, “You say that, but, I am rarely here. However,” She paused, shrugging off her coat. “It’s a great place to clean when I am avoiding emails and paperwork.”
Jubal chuckled, “Fair enough,” She looked around some more, spotting the personal touches she had dotted around, photographs, personal and cityscapes, the candles that had never been lit, the laundry basket peeking out the laundry room door, hints of Isobel, hints of who she was when she put down the title.
It made him want to grin. He was in her space. She was letting him in.
“Would you like the tour first, or coffee?”
“Coffee, if you don’t mind,” He wanted the tour, but he’d come here for a drink, he wanted that with her. “I think both of us could do with the caffeine boost after today.”
“People don’t usually pick coffee first, but I’m not complaining.”
He followed her through to the kitchen, white set countertops and black accents made him feel underdressed, yet that was forgotten when he saw Isobel love with such ease and grace. Without her heels, completely safe in her surroundings.
He wanted to wake up to this every morning.
“I had orange cabinets and a blue hallway when I lived in LA. Not my choice, but the landlord wouldn’t let me change it. Decided I wanted something simple when I lived here, but sometimes I miss the orange paint.”
Jubal raised an eyebrow.
“Come on,” Isobel shrugged, “we all judge people’s homes when we first go, don’t we?”
“I think I'm judging your place in LA.”
Isobel laughed, “And so you should! I’ll find photos one day and you can see the rest of the place. My friend said it was a good place, it was wild, like me,” she paused, “this place, not so much.”
“Is wild the best word to have attached to you in the FBI?”
Isobel handed him a cup of coffee, shaking her head, “Oh, absolutely not,” she shrugged, picking up her own mug, a yellow one, with blue and pink polka dots, “But I guess it’s better than boring, right?”
Jubal chuckled, “I like this ‘at home, Isobel.”
She caught his eye, her cheeks blushing just a tiny bit, “I like her too, she’s a bit more laid back.”
Jubal took a chance on his next sentence, biting the inside of his lip - were they flirting? “I hope I get invited back so I can get to know her better.”
Isobel took a sip of her coffee, averting her gaze for a moment, “Say nice things about the decor and I’m sure you’ll get a dinner invite.”
Jubal had never wanted anything more, and he’d only just stepped into her kitchen. He saw her differently, she was lighter, happier and more like the woman he’d met on her first day. God he wanted that woman back.
“Tour?” She asked nodding her head towards the staircase.
Jubal couldn’t keep the excitement out of his voice, “I’d love one.”