You didn't drink that, did you?
The smell of peaches filled Nicole's nose as she grasped her glass of champagne with a grip tight enough to turn her knuckles white. It was to her astonishment that there weren't shards of glass littering around her feet. Waverly's ex-boy man refused to leave the officer's side while spewing vile words at her. The scowl that was marring her features seemed to be permanent for the time being.
"You just swooped in on my girl!" slurred a heavily intoxicated Champ as he tossed back another glass of the champagne.
"Keep your voice down." grumbled Nicole angrily, her patience for the boy man dwindling. "Waverly doesn't belong to anyone."
"Blah, blah, feminism, blah..." he mocked as he ascended the staircase, where a dumbstruck Waverly stood, watching the scene play out.
Nicole frowned at the emotions swirling deep in her... girlfriend? Was that what they were? They never discussed it, what with it being a sensitive topic and all, and Nicole would be damned if she said the wrong thing that sent Waverly running from her. She frowned at the emotions swirling deep in Waverly's eyes. With a heavy sigh, Nicole downed the champagne in one go, and followed the stumbling Champ up the stairs.
Not that she really cared if he fell or not, but she imagined that Waverly wouldn't want any harm coming to her ex-boyfriend. That's what Nicole loved most about the other woman: her sincere kindness that seemed to roll off of her in waves (pun intended). The officer watched with a bated breath as Champ slurred at her boss. Nicole would like to think that the sheriff cared about her to some extent, but Purgatory was a small town, and if Champ was anything to go by, it was filled with even smaller minded people.
"Have you taken anything other than the champagne, Champ?" questioned Waverly, her eyebrows raising suspiciously. Nicole would have found the simple act hot, but her mind was beginning to grow fuzzy, and she had to blink rapidly.
Now, Nicole wasn't much of a drinker like those Earps, but she likes to think that she can handle her alcohol, so it was perplexing to her that she was already feeling a buzz after one glass. She furrowed her brows while rubbing her temples in hopes of easing her mind. She didn't hear much else of the conversation, but the second Champ advanced on Waverly, Nicole surged forward. Her fist collided nicely with his jaw, and he went down for the count.
After she whipped out her handcuffs that she was suddenly thankful that she brought, and cuffed Champ, Nicole chanced a glance up at Waverly, afraid of the expression she'd find so evident there. What shocked her was the impressed look that was being shot her way, and was that... arousal? Nope, no, Nicole killed the blossoming hope that was threatening to grow inside her chest. So with a final smile, the officer dragged Champ away as Waverly went in search of her sisters, Wynonna and the dickhead... Willa.
...
The silence that followed Bobo's revelation was short-lived, and soon there was an all-out riot. Thoughts of joining in crossed Nicole's mind, but she squashed the thought quicker than she thought of it. Wynonna was her friend, a good drinking buddy, and Waverly's sister. They'd never forgive her if she did something stupid for an antidote. Hell, Nicole would never forgive herself.
Champ was gagging and foaming at the mouth, and the sight nearly made her vomit too. Her head was pounding violently, and she slackened her grip on his forearm as he crashed to the floor. She grasped her head tightly, wishing against anything that it would cease its pounding for one frickin' minute! God, she sounded like Waverly... Speaking of that glorious angel, she was quickly approaching the redhead with Willa in tow.
"Nicole, come with me." she demanded with a tone that said there was no room for an argument.
"Sorry, Waves, but Champ's right, you're dating a cop now, and I go where the danger goes." countered Nicole in a voice that she hoped sounded even enough, but Waverly wouldn't be Waverly if she didn't sense something amiss from a mile away.
"You didn't drink the champagne, did you?" asked Waverly, fear and panic evident in her voice. Nicole wanted to lie, wanted to put her mind at ease, but she couldn't.
"I... Yes, I did." admitted Nicole in a mere whisper before a flash of pain shot through her head to the back of her eyes. Her hands flew to rub at her watery eyes, and a whimper escaped her lips.
"Nicole!" yelped Waverly, soft hands grabbing her face in an attempt to soothe the agony flowing through her head. "We need to get you out of here... Willa, come hel- Willa?"
"What I need is Wynonna!" snapped Nicole before she could stop herself. Her eyes flew open to see the shocked look on the brunette's face. "You go find Willa, and get Wynonna out of here... Don't tell me where you're going, but please, be safe."
There were tears in Waverly's eyes, but she surged up on her tip-toes, and planted a kiss firmly onto Nicole's lips. The officer gripped the other woman's arm, and poured everything she couldn't say into the kiss, hoping against everything else that Waverly would understand that even if they don't find the antidote, that Nicole didn't regret a single second of coming to Purgatory, and she wouldn't change anything... Well, if she could go back in time and stop her dumbass from consuming the champagne, she'd certainly change that.
"I'll find the cure, I swear!" promised Waverly in a wobbly voice. Nicole leaned her forehead against hers, and gave her a sweet smile, dimples and all.
"I know."
"I'll save you."
"Oh, Waverly," chuckled Nicole in a breathless whisper, "You already have."
Nicole kissed her passionately, but chastely, and shooed her away, pleading to any god that was listening that this wasn't the last time she'd ever see her.