Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Melanie opened her eyes to be greeted with the bright light shining through a small opening in her curtains, causing her to shoot up in her bed. “No.” She muttered out loud, Everytime she had the early morning shift in UNIT for the past month she her alarm clock would wake her up when it was still dark. It was something the she always found annoying and made her so excited for it to be spring and summer. 

As she quickly grabbed her phone  that was still plugged into the charger and pressed the power button. Revealing a black screen with only a picture of a battery symbol with the number 20% forcing her to press and hold on the power button while kicking the quilt off her.  Once her phone turned on she watched in horror as she realised she was four hours late to work. “WHAT!?” She shouted as she jumped out of her bed and rushed to her nearby wardrobe. “Kate is going to kill me!”

Rummaging through her wardrobe pulling out, her mind slipped to her hair. Her extremely curly hair, her natural hair she had not worn out for decades. She would never have enough time to style and the more she thought about how much stuff she had to do, the more scared of Kate’s reaction. Once she had pulled out the clothes and changed into them. She glanced back to her bedroom mirror and grabbed a packet of hair baubles. She quickly tied her hair into a loose bun and rushed out of her room chucking the packet across the room.

As Melanie rushed down the stairs, her mind wandered to every possible outcome to her being this late. Yes, her alarm did not go off and her phone mysteriously ran out of charge despite it being plugged in, which made her suspect a power cut. But part of her worried that the power only went out in her house. That no one would have any clue to what she was talking about- that it would just seem like she was just running late. As the redhead landed on the last step of the staircase, her ankle slipped- causing her to roll over it and fall the rest of the way down to the floor.

Her ankle had a dull ache shooting throughout it as she sat on the floor. “This will go away soon, it will be fine.” She muttered to herself as she reached over to her chunky heeled leather ankle boots and carefully attempting to put them on. But found herself flinching from pain. “This isn’t right.” Part of her started to worry that she had actually damaged her ankle, that instead of going to work like she was supposed to hours ago she’d have to go to the hospital or worse having to take a longer amount of time off. Just because she was trying to get out of her house. As she slowly began to zip in the breathed in, in an attempt to help the increasing pain.

Once she finished getting her shoes on she quickly stood up almost struggling to keep wait on her left ankle and reached over to her keys. As she left her house and limped down the pathway to her car, her mind focused on her now injured ankle. The pain in her ankle slowly increased the more she walked on it.

“Okay one down, 600 to go...” Susan Triad muttered to herself as she watched the update percentage finally increased to 100%. Her hair looking dishevelled from the night before. A power cut all over London except from certain parts of the building. While she managed to get the computers in those areas updated and managed to take a quick nap in one of the staff lounges. The idea of Melanie being able to help her helped console her, that was until she did not show up. Even though Kate told Susan that it would be okay if she didn’t manage to update all of them, she still couldn’t help but worry. She got a list from Kate of the computers that were more important and needed than others, which made her relieved that she at least had a starting point. “I guess I should move to the War Room and tell Kate her computer is finished.”

As she walked through the corridor her mind lingered around the thought of who she was supposed to be working with - part of her felt disappointed over her unexplained absense. She thought back to the time before Sutekh when she was advertising Triad Technology, where Melanie had volunteered to help out - all the quick glances between eachother while she was getting interviewed, it made her heart feel warm.

The sound of the elevator ding snapped her out of her train of thought - unaware of the reddening across her cheek while she smirked at the memory of her and Mel. “You look happy. Sue” A familiar voice said in an almost whisper, causing Susan’s heart to flutter in her chest. While everyone always used that nickname for her for some reason it made her heart feel warm inside her chest when Melanie used it. But she wasn’t sure why.

“I was worried about you earlier, when you didn’t show up.” Susan gently stared into her eyes, watching as the other returned a faint smile. 

“Oh Sorry.” The red head answered leaning herself against the railing of the lift. “The power cut caused my alarm to not go off… I’m sorry I know I was supposed to help you update all of the computers. “

“It is really okay dear, I have only been able to update Kate’s. I was just about to move onto the one’s….” She forgot what she was saying as she noticed the blush slowly forming around the redhead’s cheeks. ‘oh’ 

They both stared into each other’s eyes as her heart sped up… ‘maybe something can happen between us’

Chapter Text

‘maybe something can happen between us’ For the rest of the lift ride that thought echoed through Melanie’s mind. But she knew for a fact that it could never happen, yes friends stare into each other’s eyes without saying a word, it’s a very platonic thing to do. But that didn’t stop the warmth in her heart, longing for something she could not have, something that was only one sided. She couldn’t understand why Susan could fall for any part of her- suddenly the lights inside the lift turned of as the lift froze in its place. Melanie slowly slid down the wall of the lift wincing from the pain. “Ow.”

“Are you okay?” Susan quietly asked, something sounding off with her voice. 

“I am fine, I fell down the stairs trying to leave my house this morning…” Melanie began to explain as she heard the sound of the other sitting down next to her. “I thought the pain would have stopped by now, but it seems to be getting worse.”

“Oh, I hope your ankle is okay.” The blonde quietly answered, her voice quietly shaking. 

“Sue, are you okay?” Melanie carefully reached for her hand, in an attempt to try and comfort her. She wasn’t sure if it was the lift being broken down, the lack of sleep she got the night before or if Sue was just scared of the dark, but she could easily tell something was making upsetting Sue.

“I- I’m.” Susan tried to answer while attempting to steady her breath. “Since Sutekh… I’ve struggled being in rooms that are pitchblack. It just reminds me off...”

Melanie said nothing understanding exactly what the blonde was trying to say, she carefully reached into her jacket pocket for her phone and turned her phone’s flashlight on. As she placed her phone against the wall at the opposite to her from the blonde and gently moved herself closer to her.

“Does that help?” Mel quietly answered returning her hand back to her hand and looked up towards her eyes. But instead of a response, all Susan did was quietly nod her head. 

Melanie placed her hand to the blonde’s other shoulder and pulled her into a hug. “Thank you, Mel.” Sue quietly answered as she placed her head against Mel’s shoulder.

“I used to be in a similar place.” Mel replied, causing Sue to look in her direction with a curious look across her face. “I still get moments where I think it, happened again.”

Mel’s eyes met the blonde’s, as her heart raced in her chest. “I am so sorry it happened.” The blonde gently placed her hand to her cheek.

“Sue, it wasn’t your fault.” Mel answered, as she gave her a faint smile and quietly stared down towards the floor of the lift. She slowly brought her legs up to her chest trying to find any form of comfort to the pain radiating from her ankle. Sue glanced over to the red-head noticing the distressed look on her face.

“You know Mel. You have such beautiful hair.”  Sue quietly said, with a faint smile across her face as she watched Mel’s face light up with her cheeks reddening. 

As Mel glanced towards the blonde’s eyes, she watched as she glanced glanced down to her lip, causing the red-heads hearts to flutter. They slowly leaned in towards each other, but as they were inches away from kissing. The lift doors suddenly opened. Forcing the two to quickly move away from each other. “Oh, Thank you Sue.”

Once they both made it to the war room, Melanie quickly sat down at a chair at one of the desks and began to update the computers. She focused on the computer’s at the desk she was sat at. While the pain wasn’t to the point where she couldn’t walk on it she rather not constantly walk around the room. As she glanced around at the how many other people in the room, her eyes stopped at Susan. The women she found herself falling in love with. Unaware that Shirley was looking in her direction, she gave the blonde a faint- yet visible smile when she looked back in her direction. “So… you and Sue.” Shirley asked, causing Mel’s eyes to widen.

“What!?” Mel managed to say, confused to what Shirley was even talking about.

“You and sue, the longing looks, the blushing!?” Shirley began to list, as Mel sank in her chair. Yes of course she had fallen for Sue, but there was no real evidence that it was mutual. 

“Oh- there is nothing happening between… us.” Mel answered, her voice sounding full of disappointment. 

“The flirting?” She suggested, causing Melanie to glance down to the floor. Yes Sue complimented her hair, the almost kiss - if you could even call it that, and there was the staring. But it still didn’t convince her that the feelings were mutual. 

“That’s just Sue being nice.”

“Okay…” Mel zoned out unaware that Shirley was now talking to Susan. She really wanted Shirley to be right, but she grew to believe the it was just the fact that Sue was nice. She was just a friend. Nothing more.

“And that’s one down, “ Susan muttered to herself as one of the computers she was updating hit 100%

“Sue.” A voice said, catching the blonde’s attention. It was Shirley. “Sooo. What is up with you and Mel?”

“Nothing really…” She answered, unaware that her disappointment was visible across her face.

“Oh I would have thought there was something happening between you.”

“She would never feel the same…” Sue quietly answered, glancing towards Mel who was staring at the computer she was updating. 

“You could ask her?” Shirley suggested. Susan knew that it was true. There was no way to find out if it was mutual without asking, but she still did not know what to even say. 

“I don’t even know how.” Sue replied resting her arms against the desk.

“Well first, you can invite her out for lunch and maybe eventually ask her out on a date, or even eventually confess how you feel. “ Shirley carefully explained. “Remember, you’ll never know how she feels if you don’t ask.”

Those words echoed throughout her mind. She could ask Mel if she’d like to have lunch together at a local coffee shop.

“Agh” A voice cried out, echoing throughout the room, getting all of their attention.

Chapter Text

Melanie stared at the update percentage as the computer update completed and glanced over towards what computer she would have to update next. She slowly stood up from her chair at the computer desk and tried to place her foot on the floor, but as her foot made contact with the floor pain shot up through her leg. “Agh” Her voice cried out, echoing throughout the room. She glanced up to see the other people inside the war room staring in her direction. But also a concerned look across Sue’s face. “I’m- okay…”

“Melanie I don’t think you are, you really should go to the hospital,” Susan began to explain walking towards her - in a warm tone that Melanie couldn’t help but smile over even with how much pain she was in. The Blonde still could make her happy. “I will even drive you there.” Those words echoed in Mel’s mind as her heart fluttered around her chest. ‘ Did she just offer to drive me to the hospital even though she still has a lot of work to do?’ It didn’t feel real. 

“She is right Mel. You really need to go to the hospital - if your foot is broken then walking around on it without getting it checked is going to stop it from healing.” Shirley added as she watched Melanie glance down towards the ground, Melanie did know that she was right. 

“Fine.” They could both see that while Mel looked annoyed at the suggestion - she knew they were right. 

===

Melanie and Susan sat quietly in the hospital waiting room, “Thank you for coming here with me.” Mel quietly whispered, glancing over to the blonde. Their eyes locked– blush forming on her cheeks.

“Of course Mel.” She answered with a smile across her face.  

“Melanie Bush. Is Melanie Bush here.” A voice asked from across the waiting room.

The time Susan was waiting for Melanie she had found herself zoning out, thinking of how she should ask Mel out on the date. When she should ask the question. She knew for a fact now that whenever it happens it will not be for a while, maybe when Melanie is healed. Or she could bring some take-out food from a local cafe to her house. But a different part of her wondered if the feeling was even mutual. Yes, Shirley was convinced. But there were other parts of her that wondered if it was something her mind just made up - not existing that long, still learning about romance. She worried that it was just something she misinterpreted. ‘Why couldn’t Sutekh have created me as a baby or even as a child.’ She thought to herself. ‘Maybe it’s just too early for me to date. Maybe I just was not built to go through everything a human typically goes through.’ It made her feel upset– how she will always feel different no matter where she would go. 

“Sue.” A voice said, catching her attention. Sue was unaware how much time had passed, how much time she spent wondering if she should ask Melanie out.

“Ready to go?” The blonde quietly asked, as Mel nodded her head. “How is your ankle?”

"It's a stress fracture. found out i have osteoporosis. It’s actually a good thing I found out" Mel blurted out calmly , causing Susan’s eyes to widen out of shock. She said in such a calm way. “I just have to wear an ankle brace for a while and make sure my ankle is rested.” 

"I'm sorry- Are you okay? How do you feel?" Sue asked gently, placing a hand to her shoulder.

“Sue, Don’t worry. I’m fine.”

===

The two of them left the car and walked up the driveway to Melanie's house, Sue stayed quiet. The thoughts that this was probably going to be the last time she'd see Mel for a while l– well until Mel’s ankle had recovered enough to return to work echoed her mind. As Melanie reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the keys to unlock her front door. “I guess I should go…” Sue began, placing a hand against her elbow.

“No. Please Stay.” Sue glanced back up to Melanie's eyes and gave her a smile with a nod of her head.

Mel quickly entered the house with Sue following close behind her and directed her to where the living room was. 

Sue sat down on the couch inside the living room watching as Melanie entered the room. They both sat awkwardly in silence breathing in as if they were about to say something. 

“I still cannot believe that last power cut happening while we were in that lift.” The blonde muttered, breaking the silence between them. 

“It was so stressful.” Mel replied with a smirk across her face which did not mimic what she was saying. “Kind of glad I won't have to take that lift for a while.” Susan noticed the slight look of disappointment across her face as she finished the sentence. ‘She's not thinking about the– she wouldn't be. Right?’

Yes. They technically almost kissed. She almost kissed her completely platonic friend and colleague. Shirley had tried to convince her that it was a good idea to ask Mel out. 

Maybe it was mutual…

Chapter Text

Hours had passed and one moment both Sue and Mel sat together talking about whatever they could think of and the next…

Sue quickly opened her eyes, glancing around confused at the unfamiliar surroundings until she saw Melanie. “You fell asleep, I couldn’t bring myself to wake you up.” Mel whispered as Sue glanced away with her cheeks reddening.

“Oh sorry.” Sue scrunched her nose in annoyance with herself. ‘Ugh why did I say that’

“Hey. It’s okay.” Mel’s voice was soft as she rested her hand gently over the blonde’s. Their eyes met, steady, Sue was almost certain that in that moment Mel could see into her very soul. 

“I, uh-” Mel hesitated, a flicker of something Sue couldn't quite place crossing her face. Sue felt her pulse quicken, heartbeat tapping louder in her chest as she waited for Mel to speak. “It’s getting late, I have a spare room you can stay in if you’d like.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Of course I am.”

After Mel had shown Sue to the guest room for the night. Susan’s mind kept going over the events of that night. The thought of Mel saying “I Uh-” Part of her wondered if Mel was going to say something else but changed her mind– that maybe she was about to admit how she felt for the blonde. ‘Don’t get your hopes up, she just thinks of you as a friend.’ She reminded herself, as she wrapped her arms around the pillow. ‘Maybe it's just not meant to be’

===

A couple of weeks later

Mel leant herself against one of her kitchen counters drinking her morning cup of coffee. The memory of Sue staying the night weeks ago echoing through her mind. “I Uh…” ‘I should have just told her the truth’ During her sick leave Susan had visited her a lot whether it was to bring her coffee, or to have take out food together. But not once could she find enough courage to confess how she felt. The thought that she’d get to see her again today made her feel like she could actually say it. Ask Sue out on a… date. ‘I can do it.’

The trip to the UNIT Headquarters was mostly quiet as Mel tried to figure out what would be the best way to say it. Whether it was straight up admitting that she was in love with her. Or Simply just asking her out on a date. As she got out of her car she glanced around at the other cars in the carpark– there was no sight of her car. “She was supposed to be here by now, I guess maybe she’s late.” Mel whispered to herself when a thought crossed her mind. ‘Sue is never late’