[ Caitlin does her very level best to not be the terrible patient that she usually is. The doctor, an intern really, looks frazzled and is grateful when she can breeze him through what injuries she may have, what injuries he can easily confirm.
X-rays confirm nothing being broken, just deeply bruised, and the scrapes on her hands are mostly superficial. No casts, no stitches, nothing but a prescription for antibiotics and something for the pain. And an order to follow up with her primary physician.
Cisco's a whirlwind of concern and nervous energy, nearly putting his hands on her shoulders several times before remembering himself. She knows, without him saying anything, that he's taking her home, that he's staying, and that he's already told Dr. Wells she'll be out for at least tomorrow.
She smiles in return as Eddie sits, though it falters when he speaks. ]
Boyfriend? [ She looks down the hall where Cisco had wandered off. ] Oh. No, Cisco isn't—we're just friends. Best friends and he's the only other person who still works at STAR Labs.
[It's a little shameful, that he perks up a bit when she confirms Cisco isn't her boyfriend, but he can't help it. Something in his shoulders relaxes a little, too, and he offers her a soft smile.]
Alright. Well, I'm glad he's here for you.
[He closes his teeth into his lower lip, eyes on her face for a moment.]
And he's gonna get you home safe and everything? You're not going to be stranded here right?
[ Her smile turns a shade sleepy, her eyes a little heavy. It had already been a long day when the attack happened and, now that the adrenaline is fading, it's harder to stay awake. Carefully, she lifts her head to lean back, to stretch out the sore muscles that are going stiff and would be cramping tomorrow. ]
He'll probably also camp out on my couch tonight and tomorrow, to make sure I don't try anything like... sneak work. Or get out of bed.
[Eddie's mouth curves into a bit of a smile, and he ducks his head forward, holding her eyes. She looks tired, weak, but she's stretching and moving in a way that goes to show she's still able to move freely, isn't struggling with her body too much. It's good to see.]
So you're the type to try to sneak work? Noted.
[Leaning in a little, he pauses, thinks, bites his lower lip, then takes a short breath.]
Let me give you my number? Or grab yours? I don't mean to be forward, but...it would be nice to check up on you, make sure you're okay.
[ Caitlin laughs softly, stilted, a way of admitting that, yes, she's guilty of sneaking work when she can. It's one of the few things that kept her sane after the explosion. Arranging Dr. Wells's care. Writing a treatment plan for her new patient. She almost tells him that, right now, sneaking work is mostly monitoring Barry's vitals on her tablet. But the detail is unimportant, irrelevant.
She watches as he leans closer. ] Yeah. That's—yeah. Of course. [ She nods carefully. ] Could I see that pen and paper you have?
[Eddie hands over the pad he's holding, and his pen, his eyes flicking up to her face, holding her gaze as he presses them into her hands. For a moment, while she's writing, he thinks about why he's doing this, and if it's exploitive, if he's even sure he's doing it for the wrong reasons or if it's as altruistic as he's saying it is.
Either way, it doesn't matter, he thinks. He'll keep it completely professional unless she gives him an indication it could go any other way.]
[ Caitlin writes out her personal number in neat, careful handwriting. Then, on a whim, she also jots down her "office" number at STAR Labs. Just in case, right? She'd hate for him to have a hard time getting a hold of her. It would be rude, and she was raised better than that.
She hands the pad and pen back to him. ]
Of course. I also put down my number at work. I'm sure Cisco is going to pick up a new phone for me tomorrow, but in case, you know? Obviously, you probably wouldn't be able to reach me tomorrow in that instance, but I have voicemail there, too.
[He accepts the pad and smiles, then, at the bottom of the paper, he jots down his number, writes 'Eddie' beside it, along with a little smiley face, and tears off the part of the page it's written on.
Handing it to her, he lifts his gaze and meets her gaze, the smile still in place.]
[ When she reaches to take the paper from him, her touch lingers a little longer than necessary. She looks down, away, and her smile becomes perhaps a little shy. ]
Thank you, Detective. [ She pauses. ] Eddie, I mean. Thanks.
[ Anything she might have said next is waylaid by Cisco's reappearance, coffees in tow and papers tucked under his arm. The nurse had taken him on a brief detour to fill out Caitlin's discharge papers and to give him instructions. ]
Oh thank god, [ she breathes out in relief. ] I was worried they were going to change their minds and keep me overnight.
[ As her friend ducks around the corner to grab a wheelchair (because they can't just let her walk out under her own power), she looks back to Eddie. ] If I don't hear from you, I'll... I'll definitely call.
[When Caitlin lets her fingertips linger against his hand, when she looks at him with that slightly shy expression and then ducks her gaze away, he can't quite help the way his pulse races a little. Okay. So it's not just him, and maybe she's noticed the hint of attraction too.
And it should probably be wrong, possibly unethical, all things considered, but he feels suddenly on top of the world, a little thrilled. His smile widens a little, and he's about to talk when her friend comes back with coffee and paper and distractions. After Cisco heads out to get the chair, Eddie turns his attention back to her.]
I'll give it a shot, but I would definitely like to hear back from you. And you know, you should be resting so...
[A pause, and he tilts his head, takes a breath and holds it, then takes a risk.]
I could always grab some take out or cook something for you and drop by with it, if you wanted? Cisco seems nice but he doesn't look like the domestic type...
[ She should politely decline the offer. He's been so kind and great already, and she wouldn't want to seem like she's taking advantage of that. But maybe it's the night Caitlin's had and maybe it's the way his smile makes her feel, but she doesn't want to turn it down. ]
He isn't. At all. He knows some basics, but more often than not, we get take out. And by take out, I mean "Big Belly Burger."
[ Not that she dislikes that. She just isn't fond of it enough to have it as often as Cisco and Dr. Wells do. There had been several days when she would bring Dr. Wells food from there during his recovery.
She nods carefully, taking care to not jostle the ache in the back of her skull. ]
I wouldn't want you to go through the trouble of cooking. Take out would be wonderful, though.
[And Eddie wouldn't offer if he didn't actually want to help out. So when she accepts the offer, even if she's requesting that he not cook for her, he smiles, bright and warm.]
It's the least I can do for showing up late.
[He catches her eyes, mouth curved into a warm smile.]
And god, I wouldn't bring you Big Belly Burger when you're trying to heal. You need something with actual nutrients, you know? Which is, by the way, the reason I offered to cook, and it's not much trouble at all. I like cooking.
[The smile widens a little as he looks at her.]
But if you really object, what kind of takeout do you like?
In this situation, better late than the alternative. [ Never would mean she'd likely be dead right now. Or hurt a lot worse than she is. Caitlin is just going to focus on the good, here. Only the good. ]
Well, if you're going to insist on cooking. I mean, I would hate to deprive you of an activity you like. I like cooking, too.
[ She sighs softly. ] It's one of the few things I do outside of work these days.
[He smiles, a little self-deprecatingly, ducking his head to the side and shrugging it off. Because it's true, that she might have been hurt worse or killed if he hadn't been there, but it's his job. And he does wish he'd been there sooner.
When she accepts his offer of cooking for her and says she likes it, he smiles, abruptly.]
Really? What kind of food do you like? I love trying new things, maybe I could look up some recipes?
[ There's an urge to reassure him. That, yes, it's his job, but that doesn't make what he did any less heroic or any less appreciated. She could probably try, but she'll never feel like she can thank him enough.
When he asks about food, she carefully reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ear, making sure not to aggravate the soreness in her back. ]
I... I'm not overly particular? When I cook for myself, it's usually chicken or fish with vegetables. I like Chinese food and Indian, though I can't handle much spice. Greek food is good. I'm... easy, I guess.
[It's a relief, that she's letting him do it - it isn't so much a guilt thing as it is an interest in making sure she's okay, that she's taken care of. Because maybe it sounds a bit like she doesn't have many people who are taking care of her, aside from Cisco.
And it doesn't hurt that she's really cute. Like. Really cute. Especially when she lifts her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear like that.]
Alright. I've got a few ideas. Give me a call, whenever you have time, and I'll come over to your place.
[Reaching out, he rests his hand over hers, squeezes lightly, and then releases it.]
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no subject
X-rays confirm nothing being broken, just deeply bruised, and the scrapes on her hands are mostly superficial. No casts, no stitches, nothing but a prescription for antibiotics and something for the pain. And an order to follow up with her primary physician.
Cisco's a whirlwind of concern and nervous energy, nearly putting his hands on her shoulders several times before remembering himself. She knows, without him saying anything, that he's taking her home, that he's staying, and that he's already told Dr. Wells she'll be out for at least tomorrow.
She smiles in return as Eddie sits, though it falters when he speaks. ]
Boyfriend? [ She looks down the hall where Cisco had wandered off. ] Oh. No, Cisco isn't—we're just friends. Best friends and he's the only other person who still works at STAR Labs.
no subject
[It's a little shameful, that he perks up a bit when she confirms Cisco isn't her boyfriend, but he can't help it. Something in his shoulders relaxes a little, too, and he offers her a soft smile.]
Alright. Well, I'm glad he's here for you.
[He closes his teeth into his lower lip, eyes on her face for a moment.]
And he's gonna get you home safe and everything? You're not going to be stranded here right?
no subject
[ Her smile turns a shade sleepy, her eyes a little heavy. It had already been a long day when the attack happened and, now that the adrenaline is fading, it's harder to stay awake. Carefully, she lifts her head to lean back, to stretch out the sore muscles that are going stiff and would be cramping tomorrow. ]
He'll probably also camp out on my couch tonight and tomorrow, to make sure I don't try anything like... sneak work. Or get out of bed.
no subject
So you're the type to try to sneak work? Noted.
[Leaning in a little, he pauses, thinks, bites his lower lip, then takes a short breath.]
Let me give you my number? Or grab yours? I don't mean to be forward, but...it would be nice to check up on you, make sure you're okay.
no subject
She watches as he leans closer. ] Yeah. That's—yeah. Of course. [ She nods carefully. ] Could I see that pen and paper you have?
no subject
[Eddie hands over the pad he's holding, and his pen, his eyes flicking up to her face, holding her gaze as he presses them into her hands. For a moment, while she's writing, he thinks about why he's doing this, and if it's exploitive, if he's even sure he's doing it for the wrong reasons or if it's as altruistic as he's saying it is.
Either way, it doesn't matter, he thinks. He'll keep it completely professional unless she gives him an indication it could go any other way.]
Thanks.
no subject
She hands the pad and pen back to him. ]
Of course. I also put down my number at work. I'm sure Cisco is going to pick up a new phone for me tomorrow, but in case, you know? Obviously, you probably wouldn't be able to reach me tomorrow in that instance, but I have voicemail there, too.
no subject
[He accepts the pad and smiles, then, at the bottom of the paper, he jots down his number, writes 'Eddie' beside it, along with a little smiley face, and tears off the part of the page it's written on.
Handing it to her, he lifts his gaze and meets her gaze, the smile still in place.]
Here. Just in case.
no subject
Thank you, Detective. [ She pauses. ] Eddie, I mean. Thanks.
[ Anything she might have said next is waylaid by Cisco's reappearance, coffees in tow and papers tucked under his arm. The nurse had taken him on a brief detour to fill out Caitlin's discharge papers and to give him instructions. ]
Oh thank god, [ she breathes out in relief. ] I was worried they were going to change their minds and keep me overnight.
[ As her friend ducks around the corner to grab a wheelchair (because they can't just let her walk out under her own power), she looks back to Eddie. ] If I don't hear from you, I'll... I'll definitely call.
no subject
And it should probably be wrong, possibly unethical, all things considered, but he feels suddenly on top of the world, a little thrilled. His smile widens a little, and he's about to talk when her friend comes back with coffee and paper and distractions. After Cisco heads out to get the chair, Eddie turns his attention back to her.]
I'll give it a shot, but I would definitely like to hear back from you. And you know, you should be resting so...
[A pause, and he tilts his head, takes a breath and holds it, then takes a risk.]
I could always grab some take out or cook something for you and drop by with it, if you wanted? Cisco seems nice but he doesn't look like the domestic type...
no subject
He isn't. At all. He knows some basics, but more often than not, we get take out. And by take out, I mean "Big Belly Burger."
[ Not that she dislikes that. She just isn't fond of it enough to have it as often as Cisco and Dr. Wells do. There had been several days when she would bring Dr. Wells food from there during his recovery.
She nods carefully, taking care to not jostle the ache in the back of her skull. ]
I wouldn't want you to go through the trouble of cooking. Take out would be wonderful, though.
no subject
It's the least I can do for showing up late.
[He catches her eyes, mouth curved into a warm smile.]
And god, I wouldn't bring you Big Belly Burger when you're trying to heal. You need something with actual nutrients, you know? Which is, by the way, the reason I offered to cook, and it's not much trouble at all. I like cooking.
[The smile widens a little as he looks at her.]
But if you really object, what kind of takeout do you like?
no subject
Well, if you're going to insist on cooking. I mean, I would hate to deprive you of an activity you like. I like cooking, too.
[ She sighs softly. ] It's one of the few things I do outside of work these days.
no subject
[He smiles, a little self-deprecatingly, ducking his head to the side and shrugging it off. Because it's true, that she might have been hurt worse or killed if he hadn't been there, but it's his job. And he does wish he'd been there sooner.
When she accepts his offer of cooking for her and says she likes it, he smiles, abruptly.]
Really? What kind of food do you like? I love trying new things, maybe I could look up some recipes?
no subject
When he asks about food, she carefully reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ear, making sure not to aggravate the soreness in her back. ]
I... I'm not overly particular? When I cook for myself, it's usually chicken or fish with vegetables. I like Chinese food and Indian, though I can't handle much spice. Greek food is good. I'm... easy, I guess.
no subject
And it doesn't hurt that she's really cute. Like. Really cute. Especially when she lifts her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear like that.]
Alright. I've got a few ideas. Give me a call, whenever you have time, and I'll come over to your place.
[Reaching out, he rests his hand over hers, squeezes lightly, and then releases it.]
That okay with you?