Testing the Waters

by Blu

Concerning Tuesday's episode about the HIV test results. My version of how it should have happened. My apologies to Tracy b/c I got stuck with that Other Thing and this provided my salvation for the night. Hopefully tomorrow before work.

**

And I

I want you to know

Everyone's got to face down the demons

Maybe today

We can put the past away

I wish you would step back from that ledge, my friend

(from Third Eye Blind's "Jumper")

**

The apartment was strangely silent once Nikolas and Emily left. Lucky was shutting down whatever he had opened on the laptop, and I stood near his bed, fiddling with my fingers.

"Are you okay?"

His voice was somewhat muffled because his back was turned to me, but I understood him before he had even finished asking the question.

< Am I okay? >

I swallowed back my desire to spill everything to him, hating to keep something this important from him, and focused on my intentions to protect him from it all.

"I'm fine. Just a little out of everything today."

< I just lied to him. >

Lucky turned away from the computer, and pierced me with those blue eyes. It pricked worse than the needle had.

"I've been getting this vibe from you. Are you sure you're all right?"

< He would choose today of all days to become Intuition-Guy. >

I flashed what I hoped would pass for a smile and settled uneasily on the edge of the bed.

"Oh, I'll be back to normal tomorrow or the next day. Don't worry about it."

"So you're admitting that something *is* wrong."

< Did I say that? Oops. >

My forced smile faltered.

"I-"

I was saved for the moment by the ringing phone.

"Phone!" I cried, leaping for the receiver. I could feel Lucky's eyes boring into my back.

< Stop watching me. >

"Hello?"

< Please let it be something to distract him. >

"Hi, Elizabeth."

< Bobbie. >

"Uh, hi."

< ? >

"Hi, honey. I called your house and your grandmother told me to call this number. Lucky's place?"

"Yeah." I risked a glance over my shoulder to Lucky. He'd stepped closer, and appeared to be listening almost as closely as I was.

"Anyway, I was just calling to check up on you. You've told him haven't you?"

"No. No, I-"

Lucky snatched the phone from my hands, darting away from me when I threatened to swat him.

"Aunt Bobbie?" he greeted into the mouthpiece. I heard her speak, but couldn't make out the words.

"Yeah, she *claims* she's okay. Why?"

He danced around the other side of the bed and back when I followed him over the top of it.

"No, she won't tell me anything, she's been quiet all day and I'm starting to get worried.

I sobered quickly. Was Lucky really worried?

"Yes, I realize I can't physically force her to tell me anything. Why won't you tell me?"

< No! >

I rose from the bed, but Lucky waved me away.

"Patient confidentiality?! So it is something related to whatever appointment she had earlier?"

I began to panic. My coat was in my hands and I was nearing the door when the phone hit the floor and Lucky's gentle touch turned my shoulders so I was facing him, and away from the door.

"Elizabeth?"

His eyes were so hurt. He looked like he was in actual pain.

"I - I need to go-"

< Need to go *now*! >

He nearly crushed me in a tight hug.

"Elizabeth?" His whisper near my ear sent shivers down my spine.

"Yeah?"

< Protect him. >

"I know I can't make you tell me - but I'm here to listen - and I don't want you to go rushing off if-"

< Protect him. >

I pulled back from him, just enough so my lips when I raised my face would touch his.

< I started it. >

I kissed him while my head sang for me to protect him and finally I pulled away, breathing hard.

"Wow."

I smiled. "Or more."

< Protect - I *get* the point! >

My mouth opened of its own accord.

"I went to the hospital today," I said, my eyes dropping. Lucky waited for me to go on. "And I had my-" I paused and swallowed hard. "Had my follow up HIV test."

< What now? >

I looked up to Lucky. His face revealed nothing, and he wasn't looking me in the eyes.

"I should have told you-"

Lucky nodded silently, his arms falling from around my waist.

"I understand." His voice was deep and husky and low. He backed towards the bed, accidentally stepping on the forgotten phone in the process. It beeped angrily, Bobbie having hung up minutes ago. Lucky bent to pick up the phone, then placed it on its hook and its stand, next to the bed. He didn't look at me.

< Is he mad? >

"Lucky, I-"

I didn't know what to say. He was obviously upset, but from where I stood, I couldn't tell his exact emotions.

"Lucky, say something."

He exhaled loudly. "What's there to say? You - you went through the whole ordeal first, alone. If you don't want to share it with me, that's your choice."

"But I *did* want to share it!"

I bit my lip, imagining I was making it worse. Suddenly Lucky's eyes burned into mine.

"Why didn't you?"

< Protect - *will* you shut *up*?! >

"Because...I thought that -- that if you didn't know, then you wouldn't have to worry."

"Yeah, only that my girlfriend isn't telling me something. And is it that she can't stand being alone with me? Because she did just happen to leave the moment we were alone together. Elizabeth, if I would've known-"

He suddenly clamped his mouth shut.

< What? >

"Lucky, I'm *sorry*."

He was standing before me now. His face made my stomach ache it was so sad.

"I'm sorry I didn't realize something was bothering you sooner."

"How is that your fault? You're not expected to be a mind-reader, no matter if you are good at gauging your *girlfriend's* emotions."

He smiled.

**

"So when do the results come in?" Lucky asked quietly.

He moved away from Liz and flopped backwards onto the bed. He locked his hands behind his head and smiled lightly. Liz sat gingerly on the edge of the bed.

"In a few days. Your Aunt said she'd track me down when they got them."

Lucky nodded solemnly.

"I'd - I'd like it if you'd be around when the results come in." Liz blushed a little. "If - if you want, I mean-"

Lucky's hand covered hers on the bedspread.

"I'd like that."

She smiled radiantly up at him. "So ... we're okay?"

He smiled a little and nodded. "You hungry?"

Liz leaned back until she was lying up close to his side. He released his clasp of his hands and lowered his arm so it was securely around her shoulders.

"No," Liz replied after a moment. "I'm not hungry. I'm still a little nauseous from earlier."

Lucky's arm tightened. "The needles make you sick?"

"No, it's the blood. Definitely the blood. Ick!"

Lucky chuckled softly. Then he sobered.

"You're okay though, right? Do I need to call Aunt Bobbie or-"

She stopped him with a tender hand over his mouth.

"I'm fine. I'll just be a little jumpy, and my stomach will be a little nervous for a few days."

"You're not going to get sick on me are you?"

"No," this said with a laugh enclosed, "I won't."

She yawned. "I might just take a little nap, here, if you don't mind."

Lucky smiled, even though she couldn't see it. "Sure thing, Elizabeth."

"Oh!" she roused herself for a moment. "Wake me up in time to make my curfew, if I sleep that long."

**

Lucky's eyes flew open. The room was in darkness. He stretched his neck around to view the clock by the side of his bed.

11:00.

Liz was going to miss her curfew.

Lucky looked down at the Sleeping Beauty beside him and couldn't imagine waking her from what little peaceful slumber she could get. He rolled away from her and slid to the floor, reaching for the phone. His fingers found the familiar numbers and dialed them by heart.

"Webber household."

"Hello, Mrs. Hardy."

"Why, hello, Lucky." She paused briefly. "Is there something wrong?"

"Uh, not technically."

"Lucky?"

"Okay, we're at my place. Elizabeth fell asleep earlier, and so did I, even though I didn't mean to, and I don't want to wake her up, because I know she doesn't sleep well anyway, so I thought maybe you could bend the rules, just this once..." Lucky's long ramble ended when his voice faded.

Silence from the other end of the line.

"Mrs. Hardy?"

"I'm here."

"I know that you may not think I'm the best influence for Elizabeth, but-"

"Lucky?"

"Yeah?"

"Just promise to walk her home in the morning. Those streets are just as dangerous in broad daylight as they are at night."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hardy!"

"Good night, young man."

"Night!"

Lucky hung up the phone and stood up from the floor. He made his way into the bathroom for a drink of water, and when he got back, Liz was sitting up on the bed, leaning back on her hands.

"Lucky?" she rasped.

"Hmm?" He stepped to the edge of the bed, wondering if he should sit down or not.

"Stop moving around so much, you're keeping me awake."

He smiled in the darkness and sat on the edge of the bed. Liz grabbed his arm and tugged him down next to her, snuggling against him.

"Now lay still," she ordered sleepily.

"Yes, ma'am."

She whispered, as she fell back to sleep: "Thank you."

**

Liz was in the middle of painting one of Lucky's walls, when the phone rang.

"I'll get it!" Lucky called out from the hallway. He burst through the door and launched himself at the phone.

"'Lo," he gruffed into the receiver. He paused and looked over to Liz. "Well, she's sort of in the middle of something. Is this important, though?" ... "Okay, hang on one second."

Lucky picked up the phone's cradle and approached Liz, who was now staring at him curiously.

"It's my Aunt Bobbie, for you," he said, a serious tone to his voice. He held out the phone.

Liz rolled her eyes at his outstretched arm.

"Lucky, I've got paint up to my elbows. I'm not touching your phone."

Lucky sighed exasperatedly. "It's *important*, Elizabeth. I don't care if the phone gets a little paint on it."

Liz shook her head emphatically. Lucky made a cute face and stepped closer.

"Here, *I'll* do it then."

He moved close to Liz and lifted the phone to her ear. She unconsciously leaned into him. His chin rested just above her shoulder; he could hear every word that was exchanged.

"Bobbie?"

"Hi, honey."

"Hi. What's up?"

"Your results are in."

"And?"

"And we're not supposed to disclose them over the phone. Can you come in to see me?"

"Of course. Now?"

Bobbie laughed. "Well, I don't want to interrupt anything between you and my nephew."

Liz flushed automatically. "Actually, I'm sort of working on something at the moment."

"A painting?"

"Yeah. I'll need to clean up my brushes and wash all the paint off, but I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Great. Will Lucky be escorting you?"

"Yes, Aunt Bobbie!" Lucky murmured.

Bobbie laughed again and said her good-byes.

Lucky hung up the phone, but remained close to Liz. She could feel his anxious breath.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"Ask me that in an hour or so."

Her silent nod did little to reassure him.

"Are you sure? I mean, it's okay to *not* be okay. I'd unders-"

"Lucky."

Her hand rested on his chest. She was now mindless of the paint that coated her fingers.

"I'm all right. You don't have to worry your cute little head."

She looked down and realized she's painted Lucky's shirtfront.

"Oh!"

Lucky looked down.

"Hey, it's no big deal," he said quickly. "This is a work shirt. Remember, I was working on the door?"

Liz frowned, wiping at the paint before she realized what she was doing. She'd smeared the paint all over the front of Lucky's shirt.

"Great!" she murmured angrily, brushing her cheek, getting paint on it too.

Lucky chuckled and grasped her wrists, circling his fingers around them gently. He tugged her closer.

"You're getting paint all over the place." His voice was low and husky.

Liz was breathing heavily. She looked up into Lucky's face and fell into his eyes.

"What?" he asked, releasing her hands and slipping his arms around her waist.

"Your eyes," she whispered. She idly reached up for his cheek, stopping herself before actually touching him.

"What about them?"

"I could just - just fall into them."

"I hope that's a good thing."

"It is."

Lucky leaned down and his lips whispered across hers. All rational thought fled her mind. Her fingers brushed against his cheek as she slung her arms around his neck. Paint went everywhere. Lucky pulled back a heartbeat later.

"We should get going," he mumbled, still holding her tightly.

"Probably."

Her whisper tickled his lips and he couldn't resist one more kiss. He finally stepped away with a groan.

"Let's get washed up?" he half questioned, turning on his heel and heading for the bathroom. Liz followed him closely. She couldn't help her grin when they squeezed into the tiny bathroom together.

They took turns washing the paint off of their hands, then helped each other with the paint smeared on their faces, only getting distracted momentarily by the close proximities.

Liz finally stepped back, satisfied, and glanced up into the mirror at the pair of them.

She broke into a grin instantly.

"What?" Lucky asked warily.

"I *did* get paint all over you!" Liz exclaimed.

"And I *said* it was no big thing."

Lucky had his shirt halfway unbuttoned before his brain kicked in and his fingers froze.

"I-" he began.

Liz's eyes were glued to the bit of skin she could see between the rows of buttons on his shirt.

"No," she interrupted, her mouth suddenly dry. "You're fine." She blushed immediately. "I mean - that *it's* fine, that - you're changing - I mean because you live here and..."

Lucky half smiled.

"I'm pretty sure I understood most of that. If you want to have one of my shirts, you can change in the here. I'll go get one."

Liz's brow puckered in puzzlement. She looked down at her flannel shirt. Speckled with paint and twin smudge marks where Lucky's hands had rested minutes ago.

"Oh. That would be nice," she muttered to herself, looking back up when Lucky returned to the tiny room.

Lucky handed over the flannel remarkably similar to Liz's and motioned to the door.

"I'll just close this on my way out."

"Thank you. I'll just be a second," Liz murmured, giving him a sweet smile.

**

Lucky was engrossed in one of the hospital's many magazines when Liz stepped from the door Bobbie has whisked her into nearly twenty minutes ago. She managed a tremulous smile at Lucky.

He simply held open his arms. She had flown into them before a heartbeat had gone by.

End.