Chapter Text
Sally Grissom is starting to get settled in her motel room, looking at maps, trying very hard to ignore what just happened between her and Nikhil. Turns out that is impossible because she hears a knock on her door and it is Nikhil.
"I am sorry for the intrusion, Sally, and I hope you understand that I do not want to do anything to upset you--"
"Let me guess? The motel is full?"
"The motel is full."
"Well, this is a very roadtrippy event," Sally sighs as she moves away from the door the let Nikhil in.
"Thank you. If it is any bother, I can sleep on the --"
"Oh, please. You just almost died, we'll split bed with a pillow and share. It's no big deal!" Sally realized she sounded a bit shrill at the prospect. She can't help it, she hasn't been in this situation in years. She likes it like that.
"Thank you. I promise, I will not do anything. These hands won't come near you the whole night."
"Oookay, now you made it slightly creepy."
Nikhil laughs nervously, "I did, didn't I? I am very sorry."
Sally just sighs, "Oh, well, come to bed. If we wake up around the same time, we can at least leave sooner anyway."
Sally sacrifices one of her pillows, takes her own blanket to her side and slams the extra pillow in the middle of the bed. She lays down on her side of the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Nikhil finds the extra blanket and pillow, takes off his pants and lays down on his side of the bed with the bedding.
"Good night, Sally."
"Night, Nikhil."
For a few minutes neither one of them says anything but it's clear neither one of them is sleeping.
"So... this is awkward."
"It is. Are you sure this is okay with you?"
Sally sighs and turns to look at Nikhil over the pillow, "Look, we're adults. You made a pass at me, I respectfully declined, hopefully there are no hurt feelings. Sharing a bed is no big deal. OK?"
"OK," Nikhil says and Sally nods, seemingly satistified.
But still sleep eludes them. Another minute of silence and Nikhil turns to Sally, "I must say, I would love to hear about this life you've been building in the 1940s. What were you doing in Vegas?"
Ah, a change of topic! That should work. "That was quite a trip. You sure you wanna lose sleeping time listening to little old me?"
"Absolutely."
"Alright, then. So, everyone was hard at work, trying to figure out how to prove the Timepiece actually works----".
The next morning their start time is a bit later than they planned, but the night went by without an incident. That night was instrumental in building their friendship, and both of them always treasures it.