Chapitre 22: Not A Couple I

5 PM, Aug 2012- 7 Eastbourne Rd

Marco and Levi sat inside Jackson Detectives together with Joe and Michael who were both busy making calls and replying to client emails, something not unusual since their little exposure on TV the months previously. Clients had been coming more than before in Marco's delight, although admittedly there had been clients who only wanted to take selfies with the criminal psychologist. Who outright refused it with a smile.

Even the tabloids had dubbed him as the 'hot detective', something he had numerous times refuted; saying he was a criminal psychologist or just a businessman. Not only that, but he had also received several fan mails and gifts from his adoring fans. And his being a bachelor had been a constant topic online.

Sat by the foot of the criminal psychologist were Mo, a Bullmastiff, approximately 28 inches, and 135 pounds. The dog was HUGE. Marco eyed Mo cautiously, who casually laid its head on one of Levi's feet.

"Are you sure you're not dating?" Marco asked the criminal psychologist who was busy practicing one of his card tricks. The psychologist cocked him a brow, "Don't." he warned, he knew the doctor was about to say something stupid yet again. It had started getting annoying.

Marco rolled his eyes on his friend's warning and continued anyway. "C'mon and what do you call this?" Marco asked, gesturing to the giant dog.

"For the last time, Sam and I are not in a romantic relationship, Marco." He replied trying to get the message across of his friend who seems to constantly refute his statement. "Are you sure?" Marco pushed.

Levi shot Marco a look that either says, do you think I'm stupid? Or are you stupid? Most likely the latter. "I mean, you're looking after her dog while she's out of town," Marco stated, earning a confused expression from Levi, lost at the point of his argument, so Marco continued.

"How does she take her coffee?"

"Black, no sugar," Levi was baffled, but he answered anyway.

"Tea?"

"Earl Grey, with a splash of milk." and Levi gritted his teeth in annoyance.

"When will she return?"

"She's on her way. What are you trying to say, Marco! Spit it out" Levi spat, unamused with Marco's sudden interest in Sam's personal preferences.

"I am trying to make a point, Levi!" Marco argued, sighing at his best friend's ignorance. Joe and Michael pressed their lips together, holding down their laughter at their two boss' bickering. Yet again, nothing new. The topic of Sam and Levi's relationship status had been a subject of interest not only to the group but also to their friends in Criminal Investigation Department, who even have a standing bet going on.

Marco sighed "These are the facts; You spend most of your time with her when you're not on a case. You know how she takes her coffee and tea. I reckon you memorized her work schedule, don't deny it! You have divided the kitchen, organized your food and experiments, you have ice cream in the freezer, ice cream which you don't eat! She's given you a copy of her Lab key card..."

"It's for work purpo--"

"Be quiet, Levi. And you two have what Mrs. Whitehall calls, Saturday Date Night."

"It's called Game Night! and we play games and solve cold cases!" Levi argued, raising his voice in annoyance. Marco rolled his eyes as he continued to talk.

"You are doing what normal couples do, like, eat lunch and dinner."

"We discuss our experiments! I don't understand why you have to romanticize everything." Levi argued, disgusted.

"Lastly, YOU ARE TAKING CARE OF HER DOG FOR A WEEK! You wouldn't even babysit Liz for 3 bloody hours! " Marco argued, feeling smug with his observational skills.

Levi frowned somewhat insulted, then looked at the dog on the floor. "Mo doesn't wail out of the blue and is capable of doing what he's told. Come. Sit." Mo approached and sat as he was ordered and Levi commented enthused, "See!" petting Mo's head after.

"Admit it! You are a couple!"

"We are NOT a couple." Levi huffed; eyes narrowed at the GP.

Mo suddenly got up, and made its way to the door then started wagging its tail the two-man exchanged looks.

"Speak of the devil and she will appear." Levi jokes, the door swings open moments later revealing the redhead in a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and brown Doc Martens boots.

Mo leaped up at Sam asking for affection which she responded immediately.

"Buddy!!! I missed you too!!" She cooed, rubbing Mo's head and sides as his tail wagged back and forth. Levi silently smiled at the sight of her laying on the floor, the top half of Mo's body on top of her as she hugged her dog. "Yes, I know. Sorry, how have you been buddy? You gained weight! Did Levi walk you?" She said as if expecting the dog to respond.

She gazed up at Levi who was watching them on the sofa, she smiled up at him which he returned. "Was he a good boy?" She asked, and Mo barked in response. "He was," Levi replied amused. "Hey boys." Sam greeted the others in the room, who was watching her lithe body getting crushed by her ginormous dog.

"Good boy!" Sam said rubbing Mo's head as she got up and approached Levi and flopped down next to the blond Psychologist pecking him on the cheek casually like she usually does. "Thank you so much." She said, and he nodded at the redhead, in his periphery he could see the smug smile on Marco's face. As if saying, 'I told you so.'

"Right on time, by the way, Sam," Levi says seconds after, an evil grin plastered on his lips as he looked at Marco. "What is it?" Sam asked, noticing a silent exchange between best friends.

"Marco and I are having a discussion. Are you my girlfriend?" Levi deadpanned, and the redhead snorted. She turned to Marco, "God no," Sam answered instantaneously.

"Really?" Marco asked the same demeaning tone he used with Levi before like he was talking to a child or a fool. Sam and Levi exchanged knowing looks, mentally agreeing to just ignore their friend's constant prying.

"How was your week?" Sam asked Levi, Marco rolled his eyes at the two's way of 'seen zoning' him. They had enough of him constantly insinuating. Dating, as much as others would refuse to believe, had never crossed their minds.

"Mundane," Levi answered, even though they had several cases going, nothing stood out that he could consider 'fun'.

"Sickner for ya'" Sam says, using his usual Irish slang against him. "I went to Smithsonian, saw a bloody mummy, I mean it was dried up, not bloody, it was more like beef jerky. It was awesome." Sam said, grinning. "I have pictures!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, pulling her phone from her pocket and throwing it to Levi on the opposite side of the sofa without care. He caught it, opening it easily her phone didn't have a password, unlike most people, do. Revealing she didn't have secrets, at least, not hidden in her device.

Levi scanned the photos; it was indeed a mummy. Numerous photos of it. "The rest of my week was lectures. Stupid bloody lectures." Sam mumbled, drifting to sleep on the couch. Before Levi knew it, she had passed out cold, curled on the sofa. Beside her was Mo, scooted by her side.

He placed her phone on the table and looked at her. She had bags under her eyes, making him wonder if she even slept since she left. His phone buzzed a second later, revealing a text from Elle saying, "Is she there?"

Yes. He replied.

Elle sighed in the cab, Sam ditched her the second the plane landed, leaving her with her belongings. Her boss had not slept for days, she tried to help but Sam always had trouble sleeping alone.

And with Mo left in London, while they were miles away in a different country, the sleeping problem got worse.

Elle had stayed in her hotel room the fourth night, but Sam barely slept still turning and tossing under the sheets. Now, she was seated in a cab with all their things, she had to drop her boss' things in her place then she could rest. She made sure to clear their schedule for the next 2 days, in hopes that the ginger could rest, something she needed.