Page 35 of Unraveling Connections

“Erm,” I pretend to think about it, “I am sure we could get a lawyer somewhere to write something up. I bet we could even get D on board. It is for everyone’s best interest, really.”

He nods, his face serious for a moment, before we both burst out laughing.

After we have calmed down, he says, “I’ve only got a little more to do, are you staying in here while I do it?”

I nod, “Yeah, if you don’t mind. I would only be sitting somewhere else if I wasn’t sitting here, and you are watching one of my favorite shows.”

“I know,” Pete smirks and then shrugs as he adds, “I can never work in silence, I hate it. I always have to have something on in the background otherwise I somehow end up more distracted. I’m not even sure how that works.”

“I get that. I hate silence,” I agree as my eyes drift toward the TV, and he starts typing. I add, “But then, for the majority of my life, silence was bad; it meant something was about to happen that I wouldn’t like. It meant I wasn’t safe.”

I feel Pete’s eyes on me and turn to face him as I wince, “Shit, I didn’t mean to get all heavy on you then.”

“You know I don’t mind.” Pete says and then sensing I don’t want to elaborate or get into it he adds, “Love you.”

“Love you too,” I reply with a smile, my gaze moving to the TV again. “Now, hurry up and do your thing. I hate technology, and it hates me. I need to get this over and done with as quickly as I possibly can.”

Peter chuckles but doesn’t bother replying and is soon back in the zone, the only sounds in the room are the TV and his tapping on the keyboard, it's strangely soothing.

I quickly become absorbed into the show, and I have no idea how long passes before Peter’s clearing his throat.

“There, all done. That’s everything split up and sent to everyone’s secure emails.” He says with a proud smile.

“You’re amazeballs, you know that?” I say.

“I know,” he smirks. “Are you working in here?”

I shake my head reluctantly, “Nope. If I do it in here, I am going to find every excuse possible in order to distract us both, which isn’t going to help anyone, and only succeeded in making it take twice as long.”

Peter smirks, “You know, I think it’s good that you know yourself so well.”

“Shut up,” I retort, and then sniff the air like a weirdo, “do you smell cookies?”

Peter tilts his head to the side as he looks at me like I’m crazy before his eyes widen and he inhales deeply. He doesn’t confirm or deny whether I am right and instead races past me.

“I get first dibs!” he yells.

“You betrayer!” I yell back as I chase him down the hallway, I dodge several of the guys, who are on their way to the kitchen too, clearly having smelt the cookies as well, and as I pass Jensen, he starts running too, keeping pace with me.

He glances at me and whispers loudly out of the side of his mouth, “Why are we running?”

“If you don’t know why we’re running, why are you running with me?” I say back, laughter in my tone.

He shrugs while running, which is weird as hell, and then replies, “Just in case.”

I skid to halt in the kitchen, my eyes glancing around and land on the cookies in Pete’s hands, taking a step toward him, his eyes widen, and then he quickly points to the side where there are plenty of cookies on cooling racks just waiting to be eaten.

“They’re over there,” Peter adds, slightly panicked. I must look more feral than usual.

But cookies.

I need cookies. Always.

Jensen follows Peter’s pointing and grins, “Right, I’ve got it now. See, I did need to run. I could have missed out on cookies.”

Rafe chuckles, as he walks over, hands me a cookie, and kisses the top of my head, since I have immediately stuffed it in my mouth like the gremlin I am.

He levels Jensen with a look, “There are plenty of cookies for everyone. I made sure that I made enough like I usually do.”

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