Hey all, I hope it's okay to post this here as a newbie, but I really wanted to share my first fanfic in, well, forever! It's the first time I've written Wedges, so it may not be entirely accurate, as I need to look at the episodes properly, but this is how I picture it (and I guess it's all subjective!).
I don't know if we have to rate them before including them in the text, but it's suitable for under 13's, nothing dirty or any swearing, just pure Wedges.
I hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think - I'm drafting a second chapter as we speak
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STAY
He hated the hollow feeling in his legs, spreading up through his body and into his chest cavity. It must have been mere minutes since she had fled the locker room, tears in her eyes and what was he doing? Standing here like an idiot, waiting for an absolution. Wendy Simms wasn't going to return, not now, not ever. Hodges didn't blame her. She had pursued her dream and he should be happy for her; after all, she was a friend. A friend, he thought, his defences on alert. Why would she keep her Portland move so secret? Perching on the bench, he tried to relay the conversation through his head one more time, knowing that it wouldn't be the last time he did so.
He understood; really, he did. Wendy was probably more that correct in that he would have tried to make her stay. Hodges was used to coming last, trailing his metaphorical tail between his legs like an abandoned puppy. So in essence, he knew whatever attempts he made at persuading her that Vegas was the place to be would be useless. He may have given it one shot, one plead, one heartfelt beg for her to remain. In fact, he felt compelled to say something now, to chase her down the corridor and make some elaborate gesture that would prevent her from getting in the car and leaving the lab forever.
Somehow, his body didn't register the fight or flight instinct. He did neither, his fight was gone and his flight, he was sick of fleeing from anything remotely challenging. Her parting hug had sapped him of his emotional energy, funny considering mere weeks ago he was on a thrilling high after her lips locked with his over trace.
"Come on..." Henry was standing in the doorway, wearing the swimwear Hodges too was modelling. Henry knew. Henry had known for weeks and had kept it from him. Did he really blame Henry for Wendy leaving? He thought back to the date he was due to have, the scenarios that Wendy had conspired to prevent it and the ultimate reward. Wendy saw Henry as a friend, and he should respect that.
"Sure." He croaked, realising that the fugitive tears that had escaped his eyes earlier were probably evident.
It was too late now. Wendy was gone.
-----
Darkness felt strangely apt. The murder weapon had been discovered and Henry was riding on a wave of being the one to find it. Chatter and animation filtered through the doors to the lab and Hodges wished he could somehow shut his ears off from the incessant noise. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine the embrace again. Soon, the emotions cruised through his body, and the ever present nerves in his stomach fluttered wildly.
Behind him, he heard footsteps approaching the lab.
Every response pulsed wildly, as he resisted the temptation to spin round, just in case. Instead, he focused on the element in front of him underneath the scope, and willed himself not to shake so vehemently.
“I'm busy.” Curt, and to the point, he threw his arm out, gesturing to the backlog of evidence ready to be analysed. He realised he was fooling no one and tried to breath shallowly, so he could hear whether the owner of the slightly squeaky shoes moved. A minute passed, and Hodges realised whoever it was, wasn't going to move without a conversation.
“Right...okay...If I get fired for not getting this piece of...whatever it is...ana-”
“David, shut up!”
He turned round, quicker than Wendy anticipated, boring his eyes into hers, trying to explore for an explanation, with a million questions, none of them uttered. “I'm sorry, you were just idly chatting and it was driving me crazy.”
In her hands was a box, and he could see a frame poking out of the top; a picture of Wendy and her mother. Her fingers were trembling, her face crimson, her eyes puffy.
“Are you okay?” He mentally cursed himself for such a trite question, but strangely nothing else felt apt. “I mean, saying goodbye sucks.”
“I've said goodbye to everyone,” Wendy whispered, barely audible. The commotion in the lab opposite didn't help, but in a selfish way Hodges was glad the majority of the team were assembled around the desk discussing the case. “I was about to leave.”
Hodges took tentative steps towards her, arms spread out.
“Let me take the box to your car, Wendy,” He realised his chivalry took her by surprise. “It must be heavy with all your trash.”
A small smile spread across her face as he lifted the box out of her arms. He was close enough to smell her once more, the beautiful scent of apples that she wore so well. So often, Hodges realised, he walked around the city dreaming of that aroma. The one time he passed someone who wore the same perfume, he stopped dead in the street. He wanted to gather her into an embrace one more, but it felt inappropriate. Hodges was perceptive enough to realise that when he went to kiss her in the locker room, she had pulled away. He wasn't going to risk the same rejection again.
“Thank you, I think...”
--------
They walked, muted except for the sound of their own footsteps, to Wendy's vehicle. Hodges, biting his tongue, had a million questions that required a million answers and then some, but held back. He realised it was impossible to tell what Wendy was thinking – the snatched glimpses he got of her forlorn face yielded nothing of note. Finally, they reached the final destination.
“Thank you, David,” Wendy spoke, weakly. “I really appreciate it.”
It could have meant anything, he thought. The box, the walk, the last goodness knows how many years.
“My pleasure,” He signalled her to open the car and when the trunk flew open, he placed the box carefully in the well. “I hope you have a safe journey.”
Minutes passed, an intense stare mounted between the two and Hodges had no expectations of what would happen next. He had a list as long as his arm of things he wanted to happen, but he knew it unlikely.
“David, I-” Wendy started, and paused.
“Wendy, don't make this more difficult – You've made your decision.” Catching his breath, he realised it sounded churlish. “I mean, you've made a brave decision.”
Wendy stood, hands in pockets, an inner defence building. Hodges wanted to take her arms, wrap them around his back and just exert his emotions into her body, an act of diffusion, almost.
“It's a stupid decision,” Brusquely, she replied, shoving her hands deeper. “But you know how much being in the field means to me.”
“And how much do I mean to you, Wendy?” Words caught in his throat and he instantly regretted it. “Don't answer that.”
“I can't answer it, even if I wanted too.”
The harsh lights of the parking lot highlighted the small tears forming in her eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn't get upset,” she said, sorrowfully. “My entire life revolved around this place, around these people, around you...”
Hodges was speechless, and void of answers. He watched as drops fell from her eyes and he saw her fighting. Finally, he opened his arms and Wendy fled, burying her head into his shoulder and sobbing as quietly as she could. He savoured her smell, the feeling of her hair against his cheek, the feeling of her body close to his. He wondered if she could feel his heart dancing the quick step and he wondered whether this would be the last time he would ever hold her.
“I'm sorry...” she said, muffled by his jumper. “I need to go David, I've got to finish packing the flat up.”
She pushed away, using her hands on his chest as leverage and dropped her right arm, briefly touching his hand as she made a move towards the car door. “Keep safe, David.”
“Wendy, I-” Stunned, he was silenced.
“I'll write, David. Technology, remember?”
Stepping in the car, she slowly lowered herself down into the seat and pulled the door shut, a shield forcing his emotions out into the open, exposed. She waved weakly, started the engine and pulled out of the space and into the darkness of Las Vegas.
“I'll miss you.”
Taking a deep breath, he made his way back into LVPD.
I don't know if we have to rate them before including them in the text, but it's suitable for under 13's, nothing dirty or any swearing, just pure Wedges.
I hope you enjoy, and let me know what you think - I'm drafting a second chapter as we speak
-------------------------------------------
STAY
He hated the hollow feeling in his legs, spreading up through his body and into his chest cavity. It must have been mere minutes since she had fled the locker room, tears in her eyes and what was he doing? Standing here like an idiot, waiting for an absolution. Wendy Simms wasn't going to return, not now, not ever. Hodges didn't blame her. She had pursued her dream and he should be happy for her; after all, she was a friend. A friend, he thought, his defences on alert. Why would she keep her Portland move so secret? Perching on the bench, he tried to relay the conversation through his head one more time, knowing that it wouldn't be the last time he did so.
He understood; really, he did. Wendy was probably more that correct in that he would have tried to make her stay. Hodges was used to coming last, trailing his metaphorical tail between his legs like an abandoned puppy. So in essence, he knew whatever attempts he made at persuading her that Vegas was the place to be would be useless. He may have given it one shot, one plead, one heartfelt beg for her to remain. In fact, he felt compelled to say something now, to chase her down the corridor and make some elaborate gesture that would prevent her from getting in the car and leaving the lab forever.
Somehow, his body didn't register the fight or flight instinct. He did neither, his fight was gone and his flight, he was sick of fleeing from anything remotely challenging. Her parting hug had sapped him of his emotional energy, funny considering mere weeks ago he was on a thrilling high after her lips locked with his over trace.
"Come on..." Henry was standing in the doorway, wearing the swimwear Hodges too was modelling. Henry knew. Henry had known for weeks and had kept it from him. Did he really blame Henry for Wendy leaving? He thought back to the date he was due to have, the scenarios that Wendy had conspired to prevent it and the ultimate reward. Wendy saw Henry as a friend, and he should respect that.
"Sure." He croaked, realising that the fugitive tears that had escaped his eyes earlier were probably evident.
It was too late now. Wendy was gone.
-----
Darkness felt strangely apt. The murder weapon had been discovered and Henry was riding on a wave of being the one to find it. Chatter and animation filtered through the doors to the lab and Hodges wished he could somehow shut his ears off from the incessant noise. Closing his eyes, he tried to imagine the embrace again. Soon, the emotions cruised through his body, and the ever present nerves in his stomach fluttered wildly.
Behind him, he heard footsteps approaching the lab.
Every response pulsed wildly, as he resisted the temptation to spin round, just in case. Instead, he focused on the element in front of him underneath the scope, and willed himself not to shake so vehemently.
“I'm busy.” Curt, and to the point, he threw his arm out, gesturing to the backlog of evidence ready to be analysed. He realised he was fooling no one and tried to breath shallowly, so he could hear whether the owner of the slightly squeaky shoes moved. A minute passed, and Hodges realised whoever it was, wasn't going to move without a conversation.
“Right...okay...If I get fired for not getting this piece of...whatever it is...ana-”
“David, shut up!”
He turned round, quicker than Wendy anticipated, boring his eyes into hers, trying to explore for an explanation, with a million questions, none of them uttered. “I'm sorry, you were just idly chatting and it was driving me crazy.”
In her hands was a box, and he could see a frame poking out of the top; a picture of Wendy and her mother. Her fingers were trembling, her face crimson, her eyes puffy.
“Are you okay?” He mentally cursed himself for such a trite question, but strangely nothing else felt apt. “I mean, saying goodbye sucks.”
“I've said goodbye to everyone,” Wendy whispered, barely audible. The commotion in the lab opposite didn't help, but in a selfish way Hodges was glad the majority of the team were assembled around the desk discussing the case. “I was about to leave.”
Hodges took tentative steps towards her, arms spread out.
“Let me take the box to your car, Wendy,” He realised his chivalry took her by surprise. “It must be heavy with all your trash.”
A small smile spread across her face as he lifted the box out of her arms. He was close enough to smell her once more, the beautiful scent of apples that she wore so well. So often, Hodges realised, he walked around the city dreaming of that aroma. The one time he passed someone who wore the same perfume, he stopped dead in the street. He wanted to gather her into an embrace one more, but it felt inappropriate. Hodges was perceptive enough to realise that when he went to kiss her in the locker room, she had pulled away. He wasn't going to risk the same rejection again.
“Thank you, I think...”
--------
They walked, muted except for the sound of their own footsteps, to Wendy's vehicle. Hodges, biting his tongue, had a million questions that required a million answers and then some, but held back. He realised it was impossible to tell what Wendy was thinking – the snatched glimpses he got of her forlorn face yielded nothing of note. Finally, they reached the final destination.
“Thank you, David,” Wendy spoke, weakly. “I really appreciate it.”
It could have meant anything, he thought. The box, the walk, the last goodness knows how many years.
“My pleasure,” He signalled her to open the car and when the trunk flew open, he placed the box carefully in the well. “I hope you have a safe journey.”
Minutes passed, an intense stare mounted between the two and Hodges had no expectations of what would happen next. He had a list as long as his arm of things he wanted to happen, but he knew it unlikely.
“David, I-” Wendy started, and paused.
“Wendy, don't make this more difficult – You've made your decision.” Catching his breath, he realised it sounded churlish. “I mean, you've made a brave decision.”
Wendy stood, hands in pockets, an inner defence building. Hodges wanted to take her arms, wrap them around his back and just exert his emotions into her body, an act of diffusion, almost.
“It's a stupid decision,” Brusquely, she replied, shoving her hands deeper. “But you know how much being in the field means to me.”
“And how much do I mean to you, Wendy?” Words caught in his throat and he instantly regretted it. “Don't answer that.”
“I can't answer it, even if I wanted too.”
The harsh lights of the parking lot highlighted the small tears forming in her eyes. “I promised myself I wouldn't get upset,” she said, sorrowfully. “My entire life revolved around this place, around these people, around you...”
Hodges was speechless, and void of answers. He watched as drops fell from her eyes and he saw her fighting. Finally, he opened his arms and Wendy fled, burying her head into his shoulder and sobbing as quietly as she could. He savoured her smell, the feeling of her hair against his cheek, the feeling of her body close to his. He wondered if she could feel his heart dancing the quick step and he wondered whether this would be the last time he would ever hold her.
“I'm sorry...” she said, muffled by his jumper. “I need to go David, I've got to finish packing the flat up.”
She pushed away, using her hands on his chest as leverage and dropped her right arm, briefly touching his hand as she made a move towards the car door. “Keep safe, David.”
“Wendy, I-” Stunned, he was silenced.
“I'll write, David. Technology, remember?”
Stepping in the car, she slowly lowered herself down into the seat and pulled the door shut, a shield forcing his emotions out into the open, exposed. She waved weakly, started the engine and pulled out of the space and into the darkness of Las Vegas.
“I'll miss you.”
Taking a deep breath, he made his way back into LVPD.
