Page 17 of Dr. Roz Harrington
Roz looked up when Sam knocked, her eyes flashing with surprise before settling into something softer. “Captain,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “What brings you here?”
Sam hesitated, her usual confidence wavering. “I wanted to go over Ben’s case and make sure I’m not missing anything.”
Roz arched an eyebrow, but she nodded, gesturing for Sam to sit in the chair across her desk. As Sam stepped into the room, the door clicked shut behind her and the air shifted.
They talked about Ben for a while, their conversation professional on the surface, but the undercurrent of tension remained. Every word, every glance felt heavier than it shouldhave, and when the topic drifted away from Ben, neither of them tried to steer it back.
“You’re tense,” Roz said, her tone light but probing. “Rough day?”
Sam huffed a laugh, leaning back in her chair. “You could say that.”
Roz studied her for a moment, her gaze piercing. “You don’t always have to carry it alone, you know.”
Sam’s breath caught, the vulnerability in Roz’s voice catching her off guard. She opened her mouth to reply, but Roz stood, stepping closer. The space between them felt too small, the tension too thick.
Roz’s hand brushed against Sam’s as she reached for a file on her desk, and Sam’s pulse spiked. For a moment, Roz hesitated, her green eyes locked on Sam’s. Sam thought she was going to kiss her again, thought she might let her.
But a knock at the door shattered the moment. A nurse poked her head in, and Roz stepped back, her expression neutral once more.
Sam exhaled shakily, her body still humming with tension as she stood. “I should go.”
Roz nodded, her voice steady. “Of course.”
But as Sam walked away, she could still feel Roz’s gaze on her, and she knew this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.
That night, her apartment was quiet, the soft hum of the refrigerator the only sound as Sam sat on her couch, staring at her phone. The last text from Roz was still glowing on the screen, taunting her with its simplicity and weight.
Roz:“I want to see you.”
Sam’s thumb hovered over the keyboard, her heart pounding so hard she could feel it in her throat. She glanced around her apartment, as though searching for an excuse to ignore the message, but her mind was already made up. She typed quickly, almost instinctively.
Sam:“241A Graft Street”
The reply came immediately.
Roz:“Be there soon.”
Sam exhaled sharply, setting the phone down as if it had burned her. She stood, pacing the living room, her fingers running through her hair. This was a terrible idea, she knew that. But no matter how many times she tried to convince herself to stop and think about it, she couldn’t.
Roz was coming.
She straightened the throw blanket on the back of the couch, adjusted the pillows, and then cursed herself for caring about how her apartment looked. She paced again, her nerves electric, the minutes stretching out into what felt like hours until there was a knock at the door.
Firm, deliberate, but quiet.
Sam froze, her breath catching in her chest. For a moment, she thought about not answering. But then she moved, her feet carrying her to the door almost against her will. When she opened it, Roz stood there, framed by the dim glow of the hallway light.
Her pink hair was slightly mussed, as though she’d run her hands through it on the way over. She was still in her leather jacket, her eyes locked on Sam with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They just stood there, the air between them crackling with everything they hadn’t yet dared say.
“Hi,” Roz said finally, her voice low, almost hesitant.
“Hi,” Sam replied, her throat dry. She stepped aside and Roz walked in, her movements measured, deliberate. The door clicked shut behind her, and the sound seemed to echo in the stillness.
They turned to face each other, standing just a few feet apart. Roz’s gaze swept over Sam, lingering in a way that made her feel both exposed and exhilarated. The tension in the room was thick and palpable, and for a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Roz stepped forward, closing the distance between them in one fluid motion. Her hand came up, brushing against Sam’s cheek, and Sam’s breath hitched. There was no hesitation this time, no careful calculation. Roz’s lips found hers, and the kiss was anything but tentative.
