Up On The Roof
Written by Tam

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Written for the Pairing Game Challenge

Detective Tim Bayliss stood gazing silently out over the view from the Baltimore police station's roof top. A cold breeze caused him to pull his knit scarf a little tighter around his neck and the collar of his wool coat up higher. The breeze tossed his brown locks around and cause them to dance about his face. He pushed his wire framed glasses up on his nose and sighed deeply.

Tim was probably the most fascinating detective on the Baltimore Police Department's Homicide unit. And not just because he was dashingly handsome. He was a wonderful combination of boyish charm and innocent mixed with adventurous virility. When Tim first joined the department, from the mayor's security detail, he was eager but naive. Six years later, he was a little less eager and a lot more worldly.

For a moment Tim was deep in his thoughts, then heard footsteps approach from behind. He didn't turn around. He didn't have to, he knew who was standing there. He could hear her breathing. She stood close to him.

"Tim, I'm sorry..." She said softly before he cut her off.

He turned his head but not far enough to look at her, tough his eyes shifted to the side for a moment. "No, Terri, don't." He said then look forward again.

She watched him for a moment and said nothing. She looked around then closed her eyes and shook her head. "Please Tim. Hear me out." She pleaded.

Detective Terri Stivers was one of the few female detectives to make it to the Homicide Division. She was a lovely, petite but impressive. She was a dedicated and efficient detective who had made a name for herself in the Narcotics Division and Sex Crime Unit as well. Terri might have been petite in size but she was soaring in ability.

Tim slowly turned to her but didn't look at her. His eyes were cast down, staring at the ground. Even so, he towered over her. Terri reached up and tried to push his hair back but the breeze blew it around some more. He looked up. Their eyes met and for a moment they gazed into each other's eyes. Terri laughed nervously and quickly looked around the roof top, then back at Tim.

"Alright Terri, I'm listening...Go ahead and tell me...Tell me I'm being foolish." Tim's voice was low and soft.

Terri started to say something but stopped. She bit her lip and thought awhile.

"Look! I know what you're going to say so just forget it." Tim said, his voice etched with pain. He tried to walk around her.

Terri grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back."Whoa, Tim. Wait a minute!...You don't know what I'm going to say." Terri's voice sounded a little angry.

Tim stopped and looked at her. "Alright Terri... What is it you want to tell me?"

Terri nodded, "Alright." She let go of his sleeve and took a deep breath and exhale. She turned to him. "First Tim, I don't think you're being foolish...I think you're being sweet, and sensitive, as always." She smiled and leaned forward looking up at him. He smiled. It was the response she wanted. "But you and I both know, it would never work Bayliss." She raised her brows. "Right?"

Tim shook his head. "No, I don't know that Terri." He bent down and stared into her eyes. "I don't know how you could know that, if we never give it a try." Tim gently grabbed her by the shoulders. "We have fun together...Don't we?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "What about the time we spent most of the night dancing?... And that time when a bunch of us went to that basketball game, and you and I left together afterwards and went to that little coffee house... We had a great time. Didn't we?"

Terri laughed. "Yes, Tim, we did. But we were just friends having fun together... You know that."

Tim released his hold on her shoulders and stood up straight. He gave her a solemn look. "And what about last night? Were we just friends then?"

Terri closed her eyes then opened them. She looked up and caught Tim's gaze. "Tim... We... Last night just happened. Don't ask me why, I don't know, it just did." She began to pace around.

Tim watched her. "Last night happened because we wanted it to. We couldn't stop it. We didn't want to stop it" He attested.

Terri stopped and looked at him. "We both had a little too much drink or something," she replied, trying to make light of a tense situation. She started to pace again.

"Bull!" Tim almost yelled.

Terri stopped. Her eyes widened. "I was drinking ginseng and you weren't having anything strong, remember?" Terri looked embarrassed.

Tim looked at her and studied her face. He threw his head back. "Oh I get it!" He laughed then placed both hands on each side of his face. "I get it! You're embarrassed ... is that it?" He dropped his hands and took a couple of steps toward her.

Terri backed away. "Stop it Tim!" She said then tried to walk around him.

He stood in her way. "Are you embarrassed about last night?...You regret what happened? What *we* did?" His jaw tightened as he fought back his anger.

Terri tried to walk around him again. "Move Tim!" She said and tried to push his body away from hers.

Tim grabbed her wrists. "Not until you answer me Terri... Do you regret being with me last night?"

Terri pushed away from him and stood there quietly for a moment. She looked around then up at Tim. "I don't know!... I don't know how I feel Tim... Satisfied?" She turned from him.

Tim watched her. For a moment he didn't say anything. Then he walked over and stood behind her. "Let me tell you how I feel... Last night was incredible!... It was great!... I haven't felt that alive in a long time... I haven't felt that wanted, in a long time Terri. And I don't just mean physically... We talked for hours before it happened. We held each other for hours afterwards... Doesn't that mean anything to you?" He pressed his body against hers and closed his eyes.

Terri felt the warmth of his body. She wanted to move away from him and she didn't want to move. The feel of Tim's body against hers caused her remember the previous night when the two of them found themselves all alone on a friend's boat, after a party.

A friend of Tim's had let him use his boat while he was out of town for the week. Tim decided to have a little party to unwind. He invited only a few of his coworkers and friends, who showed up, had a good time and then left.

Terri had been one of the invited few. Her and Tim found themselves talking a lot at the party and after everyone had left, Terri stayed behind to help put things away. She and Tim talked some more. Then danced. They looked a little funny dancing together because Tim stood about 6'5 and Terri about 5'2, but they danced well together. When a collection of "slow love songs" played on the CD player, Tim and Terri found themselves responding to the "mood of the music." Soon they were in the boat's cabin below and in the "throws of passion."

Terri closed her eyes and savored the moments. She sighed deeply. "Ohhh Tim!" This isn't fair!" She turned to him.

Tim was grinning. He bent down and took her by the waist and pulled her up to him, kissing her passionately.

Terri pushed him away. "No! You're messing with my head Bayliss!"

Tim laughed. "I thought I was kissing you," he teased.

Terri shook her head. "Be serious Tim."

He smiled. "I am."

He looked into her eyes. "I meant what I said earlier Terri. You know... when I told you I wanted us to start seeing each other and see where this goes."

"See where this goes?" Terri repeated.

Tim nodded.

"Listen to me Tim," she said and stepped up to him. "Last night *was* incredible... Believe me, I have never felt like that before... I thought I would go..." She stopped. Tim was grinning again. Terri frowned. "Take that grin off you face!" He laughed. Terri continued, "But just because we spent a wonderful night in each other's arms doesn't mean that we were meant to be... You know what I'm saying?" She finally asked.

Tim thought a moment then nodded. "Yeah. You're saying you're scared."

Terri shook her head. "No Tim, that's not what I'm saying! I'm not scared... I'm just not sure." She said sounding exhausted .

"You're not sure of what?" He asked.

Terri walked around him and started to pace again. Tim turned and watched her. "I'm not sure about you and me. I'm not sure I want to see where this goes."

Tim looked puzzled. He walked over and grabbed the sleeve of her coat. Terri stopped. "Why not?" He asked.

Terri looked around and tried to avoid Tim's gaze.

"Why don't you want to see where this might go Terri?"

She looked up at him. Suddenly her expressive turned from one of slight frustration to one of anger. Tim was taken back for a moment. "Look Tim, I don't want to talk about this anymore. What happened last night was last night. That's all there was. That's all there going to be."

Although Terri tried to conceal it, Tim could hear the anger in her voice. "You're angry we slept together?" He asked as he walked toward her.

Terri put her arm up and waved him back. "No, Tim don't!... I'm not angry." She said. She bit her lip.

"You are. I can hear it in your voice." Tim protested.

Terri looked at him then averted her eyes to the side. She took a deep breathe and exhaled. "It's really cold out here. I'm going back inside." She turned and started to walk toward the door that led to the squad room.

"Is it because of the rumors?" Tim called out. Terri stopped and stood still. "It is isn't it?" Tim put his head down and looked at the ground.

"Are they true?" Terri asked without turning around.

Tim looked up. He thought how he wanted to answer her. He decided to give her a simple and honest reply. "Yes. They're true. At least the part you're asking about is.

Terri closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. She turned to him. "Then how can you ask me to give 'us' a try?... I'm sorry Tim..." She walked up and stood in front of Tim. "...I sorry but I don't be a part of that. I need a..." She stopped.

Tim raised his brows. "You don't want to be a part of what Terri?...I'm not suggesting any threesomes... You need a what?... A real man?... Didn't I prove all that last night?"

Terri felt frustrated and angry, angry at herself. She reached for Tim's hand, he pulled back from her. Terri saw the hurt in his eyes.

"Maybe you're afraid, I'll give you something?" He asked with a slight nasty tone in his voice.

Terri frowned. "Tim! No!" She said as she tried to assure him.

"I'm very careful. Remember?" He said in a low voice.

"Shut up Tim!" Terri yelled.

Tim shook his head. "I was wrong. I thought you and I could have something special. I thought you understood me." He laughed bitterly. "Oh man!" He pushed his hair back with his hand. "I am a fool!" He laughed again. "You know what? You're right, it's cold out here. I'm going inside." He backed away then turned and started to walk toward the same door Terri was headed for.

"Oh no you don't!" Terri yelled as she rushed over to him. She grabbed at his arm. Tim pulled it away. Terri ran and stood in front of him trying to block his way. Tim tried to walk around her. "No, you don't!" She put her hand up against his chest . "I didn't mean those things... I didn't even say them. You did!" She reminded him.

"You didn't deny them!" Tim snapped back. He tried to walk foreword.

Terri held her hand against his chest. Tim gently lifted her up by her waist and turned and let her down to the side of his path, but when he did Terri held onto him, her arms around his neck. She pulled Tim's head down and kissed him. Tim looked at her. He was confused by her kiss.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked still bent over by Terri's hold on him.

"I don't know... I mean I'm not sure... I mean..." She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. "Tim all I know right now is that I do want to be with you. I want to see where this goes if it goes anywhere... All that other stuff confused me and yes, I'm a little scared...about a lot of things... When I said I don't want to be a part of that, meant all the nasty rumors... What I need is someone who's going to be with me and only me if I'm going to be with him and only him." Terri slowly slid her arms from around Tim's neck.

"No!" Tim pulled her back to him. "No, don't let me go. I want you to hold me like you did last night. Kiss me like you did then." He gazed into her eyes and smiled.

Terri smiled. "Come here Bayliss!" She said then lifted up on her toes and slipped her arms back around Tim's neck. She kissed him passionately.