complexguy | ★ but I'm going to be okay as long as you're beside me along the way

He watches her for a long moment, but then he has to walk up to her and try to comfort her. "Jules?" He calls out to her softly, resting a hand on her shoulder.

When she turns to him, she's so angry, but it clearly isn't at him, and she softens just a little.

"Hi," she mumbles, dropping the tool and tugging her gloves off. "I'm ready. No lingering today, okay?"

He doesn't say anything for now, just taking her hand and leading her away from the motor pool. "You okay, sweetheart?"

"I didn't say anything because I wanted to surprise you, but it doesn't matter, I guess."

She heaves out a breath. "I applied for day shift supervisor since Reggie went to construction."

And she obviously didn't get it.

"Son of a bitch," he murmurs under his breath, tensing a little. "Who'd they give it to? No one they got there is good as you, Juliet."

"Mark," she mutters. They've been working in the motor pool for the same amount of time, and she knows she's a better mechanic.

"I just wanna go home," she sighs softly. "Take a bath and eat ice cream or something. Wanna come to my pity party?"

"You know I'm there, but I'm gonna have words with them tomorrow 'cause this is bullshit," he says firmly.

"You don't have to," she says quickly.

"I love that you want to, but you don't have to, James."

"That idiot Mark's almost got us killed a few times. Took a few jeeps out that he serviced and the brakes went out." He'd never told Juliet at the time because she wasn't the supervisor, and because he didn't want her worrying. He'd spoken directly to Reggie and left it at that, but Mark damn sure has no business being supervisor.

"What?" Juliet's angrier now, but still not at him.

"Think being the only woman in the motor pool has anything to do with it? Can you just arrest Mark for something?"

She wouldn't even know for what, but she's pissed.

"Damn sure wouldn't doubt it," James breathes out tensely, eventually leading her inside when they make it home. "I'll beat him up or lock him up. Whatever it takes, that man ain't runnin' the show. You're the only one there who should be callin' the shots."

His words actually make her stop, and she looks at him, and then laughs. Not at him, and she covers her mouth. All of the stress from the day, and then here's this man who loves her so much he's willing to arrest a man who hasn't done anything other than be born.

She laughs until there are tears streaming down her face, and she wraps her arms around him. Finally, when she can speak, she pulls back to look at him, grinning.

"You'd really go punch a guy for me?"

He understands pretty quickly that she's laughing about what he said, but in a fond way. He smirks in return when she wraps her arms around him, and he leans in to kiss her. "I'd fuck a guy up for you, baby."

"Well, don't risk your job," she says softly, still smiling at him, though it's softly now, more tender.

"I know what you would do for me. When I do get a better position, it shouldn't be because my boyfriend beat someone up. Even though I absolutely want you to punch Kevin in the fucking face."

He smirks a little again, kissing the corner of her mouth. "They'll figure it out soon enough, that you're the best one for the job."

"I love you. I love you so much," she murmurs, grateful for him, for the way he loves her. Kissing him softly, she's fully relaxed now and that's because of James.

"How do you feel about squeezing into a bathtub with me?" She knows he doesn't really care for them, but he's the only reason her day's gone from shitty to a little better.

He's just so glad to know she's feeling better, and that he could help with that in some way. Kissing her again, he tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear. "All I can think about now."

Once they're both undressed, she lets him get into the tub first, and then she leans back against him.

The sigh she lets out is the most content sound, and she relaxes against him, melting against his chest.

"I love you so much," she murmurs.

His arms are protective as they loop around her, lips pressing tenderly to her shoulder. "I love you, baby. You know how much?"

"Tell me," she says with a soft smile.

There's a small bruise on the back of her shoulder, just from bumping into something at work.

He does see that bruise, and he kisses her again tenderly right there, lips lingering. "Didn't care about life before you, Juliet. All I did was survive. But you, you make it all worth it. You make me wanna be alive."

"I was just existing, you know?" she asks him quietly, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Just moving from one thing to the next. I know you understand how lonely that is. And then you asked me to stay with you," Juliet breathes out.

"For whatever damn reason, you stayed." They both know why, but it still amazes him. His hold on her tightens lovingly, kissing her other shoulder.

Juliet stays in the bath with him until the water's cold, and then she gets out, dries off, and needs him. She makes love to him, they eat dinner, and then she sleeps in his arms, breathing deep and even.

Two weeks later, Horace drops by to let her know her and James will both be going on the sub to Tahiti for supplies. She's so shocked at the casualness of it, that she can just go, that she just nods and then thinks about it until she gets home, starting dinner and waiting on James, knowing Horace probably spoke with him, too.

When James gets home that night, he watches her cooking for a moment before going to her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her shoulder tenderly.

"Tahiti, huh?"

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