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“Hey.”
Although he still smiles when he sees her face on the iPhone screen, just like she does when she sees his, OA sounds tired and the dark shadows under his eyes make Fatima frown.
“Hey, yourself.” She knows she’s not even close to keeping the worry out of her voice. “You weren’t asleep, were you?” She glances at the clock in the corner of the screen, mentally calculating the time difference. It’s late in New York but not that late.
“Probably not far off it,” OA admits, “but I’m never too tired to talk to you.”
His voice is warm, sending goosebumps up her spine and she stretches out on her couch, tilting the phone so she can still see him. From this angle, he can see her hair spilling across one shoulder and she notices his eyes tracking it appreciatively. “Long day?” she asks and he chuckles without humour.
“Maggie and I spent most of it tracking someone up and down the city who was always a step ahead of us.” He shakes his head. “I’m so sick of New York right now.”
Fatima quirks an eyebrow, asking in her best teasing tone, “Don’t they say that when you’re tired of New York, you’re tired of life?”
The tone seems to do its job because OA’s smile softens. “Well, whoever they are, they obviously don’t have a beautiful girlfriend who lives on the other side of the country. Otherwise they’d be dreaming of LA too.”
Though she knows it would never happen - New York is stamped into OA’s DNA, to say nothing of the fact that the oldest child and only son would never leave his family - Fatima lets herself dream for a moment of what it would be like to have him here with her every day. It’s a heady thought, one that makes her insides twist with want.
She can’t keep that emotion out of her voice when she whispers, “So when do I get to see you again?”
OA’s lips twist. “I already asked Jubal for some time off when we finish this case,” he admits and she freezes, sits bolt upright.
“Wait, seriously?”
“Fatima, it’s been almost a month.” Part of Fatima is surprised that he’s been keeping track, that he knows it’s been that long. The other part knows that he’s been keeping track because, like her, it feels like every day they’re apart is a thousand hours long. “I miss you so much I can’t keep my head straight.”
“I know exactly what you mean.” In some ways, it’s a relief to hear him say it. It means it’s not just her.
“You think the Admiral will give you time off?” OA holds up a hand. “I’m coming out either way, just so you know.”
Fatima grins. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow. He should be okay.” The Admiral actually seems to be quite fond of Fatima, something that Rountree’s taken to teasing her over. Fatima doesn’t mind though; she’d never admit it but she’s got quite the soft spot for the old curmudgeon herself. “You’ll let me know dates and times?”
“As soon as I know them.” He grins at her, wide and warm and Fatima fights the urge to sigh. “I can’t wait to see you again.”
“I’m already planning things we can do.” OA lifts one eyebrow, eyes sparkling with amusement and it makes Fatima laugh. “I didn’t mean like that!”
“Shame.” The look on OA’s face makes her blush. The way his eyes move down the screen makes her shift in her seat. “What were you thinking?”
His voice is lower now. Softer.
He knows exactly what that voice does to her.
“You tell me,” she whispers.
And that’s exactly what he does.