Why hadn’t he called Amy first? Because he’d wanted to surprise her. Well, hell, he’d certainly gotten a surprise.
Daniel being here had put things back into
perspective, making him realise the mistake he’d been about to make. She’s on the team. No fraternizing. But he’d had this crazy idea that he’d be able
to bring Hannibal around… but maybe now, it was best that nothing
happened. She obviously wasn’t
interested anyway… He really would have
made a fool of himself.
He’d been so wrapped up in his producing; trying to
forget about her, hoping he’d dulled those… feelings - or whatever it was that it
seemed to produce when pretending to be Sam.
But just seeing Amy with Daniel in Arizona had made a few sparks
fly. The flirtatious glances, and the
playful moments they had together.
Moments Face felt he couldn’t have - not without Hannibal’s
disapproval. And the threat of losing
her from the team.
Face hadn’t seen someone give Amy that sort of
attention before and he hadn’t been prepared for his own reactions, which he
tried to hide. And he thought he’d succeeded
– most of the time. But it had brought
him to this moment. It had made him
react, rather hastily, to let Amy know his feelings. He refused to believe it was jealousy. ‘Jealousy is the root of all evil,’ the
sisters had taught him in the orphanage…. So what the hell was it?
So while Amy had been coming and going from the
kitchen, checking on dinner, Face had played ‘nice’, and had worn out most of
the conversations with Daniel. Football,
baseball, sports in general, the weather.
They’d even touched on Daniel’s time in Vietnam. His tour, sixty-six to sixty-eight. But that talk had been short. There were things you just didn’t mention
about the war.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like Daniel. He did.
He just didn’t like the fact that…
What? He was with Amy? Daniel certainly was treating her right. She looked happy. The flowers dotted around the apartment
proved Daniel was being attentive.
But was Daniel right for her? Was he planning on sticking around?
“So, how long are you in LA for?” Face played with
his glass of wine, conscious now that he needed to make it last. He’d be driving later, after all. His plans to show Amy the new car ruined. He’d wanted to share that excitement with
her. The rest of the team wouldn’t have
had much enthusiasm, except BA maybe. But then he’d probably grumble about the lack
of seats in it.
Why hadn’t he noticed the damn flowers when he’d
walked in?
His head was telling him to leave… his heart on the
other hand….
“Till the end of the week,” Daniel replied. “Then I’ll need to go back to work.”
“Ah, the day job - besides protecting wild mustangs.”
Face grinned. “Remind me what you do again?”
he asked, with a mocking edge to it, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m a computer programmer.”
“Oh, yeah right.” Face nodded. Don’t say it.
“You know, I never saw Amy falling for the office type.”
“What?” Daniel
raised an eyebrow at Face’s sarcasm. He
replied with a similar sarcastic tone. “You
think she’d prefer the type that get her shot at, put her in harm’s way?”
“No, no, no….”
Face said shaking his head, but quickly regained his composure. “I just thought that hanging around with the
team….”
But Daniel stared at him coldly, looking
unconvinced.
Face nervously chuckled as he spoke. “Hey, you don’t think I’m attracted to Amy,
do you?” Why didn’t he keep his mouth
shut? What was it - if Face couldn’t
have her, so no one else could? Now that
was just being plain childish. She
deserved a life, happiness. He’d just
wanted…. Daniel’s a good guy. Maybe that’s why Face didn’t like it. Amy had found a good guy. Someone not afraid to tell her how they felt. Someone she could return those feelings to. Face shrugged his shoulders. “I just… Uh….” Time to talk yourself out of this one, Face. “Amy
and I are just friends. I’m not
interested in her, uh… you know, in that way….”
“So, why are you still here then?” Daniel asked
bitterly, scowling. Almost immediately,
he shook his head. “Sorry, Face, I
didn’t mean it like that. You and Amy
are friends, I know that… I just feel like I’m treading on your toes or
something -”
“Forget it,” Face said, thinking Daniel had made a
damn good point. He saw Amy coming out
of the kitchen and placing the food on the dining room table. He smiled at Daniel, ending their strained
conversation.
However, Face certainly wasn’t leaving now. Not with food on the table.
~~~
“So what I was going to tell you over dinner, until
Face let the cat out of the bag,” Amy glanced at Face, then back at Daniel, “is
that Bus Carter was arraigned yesterday.
So with the A-Team’s evidence, and the reluctant help from Decker,” Face
grinned, “the case is looking very strong.”
The three of them sat eating their dinner. With the two men sitting opposite one
another, Amy could keep an eye on them both.
They seemed polite enough between them, but there was that look in their
eyes with their occasional glances at one another. Had Face said something he shouldn’t
have? And if so, what?
“I’ve already read it,” Daniel replied, after
finishing his mouthful.
“You have?” Amy said, surprised.
“Yeah, I got a paper while I was out.”
“Oh, of
course.”
“But I was going to wait and let you tell me.”
Daniel winked. “I’m sorry, I didn’t
think; I just picked up a paper.”
“Oh,” Amy shook her head. “It’s really not that big of a deal.” She saw Face roll his eyes when Daniel wasn’t
looking, so she quickly scorned him.
“I figure they won’t be that lenient on him,
either,” Face added.
“Good,” Amy added assertively, then turned her
attention back to Daniel. “So what did
you think of the story?”
“It was great,” Daniel replied, nodding. “I have to say, I was surprised seeing your
name in the paper like that. It felt
like I knew someone famous,” Daniel continued, warmly smiling at her. Amy blushed.
“Tell me about it,” Face added abruptly, breaking
Amy’s concentration on Daniel. “I wish
my name wasn’t in the paper.”
“Oh come on, Face.
You love it really. The thrill,
the chase.” Face frowned. “Besides, look at the clientele we’re
attracting,” Amy teased, grinning at Daniel.
“Decker! That’s
who I’m worried about. That man’s more
competent than Lynch, I tell you. Look
how close he got in Arizona. And he
won’t care how he gets us either. We
can’t escape from a jail cell if we’re dead.”
“He wouldn’t, would he?” Amy asked, her eyes
widening with shock.
Face grimaced in response. “And you know what this means?” Amy shook her head. “Hannibal is constantly going to be on the damn
jazz, goading Decker.”
Amy laughed, Daniel chuckled too. Yeah, he’d seen Hannibal on the Jazz and knew
what Face was talking about.
Face’s eyes widened, his expression remained serious
as they laughed. She placed a hand on
his arm.
“Face, it’ll be okay.”
“You don’t know Hannibal, like I know him.”
She squeezed Face’s arm and smiled, to which he
smiled back, his expression softening.
Seeing that everyone had finished their dinner, Amy
started to stack the plates.
“Was everything okay? I was nervous, actually. I don’t usually entertain,” she said,
coyly. “Normally too busy. Only used to cooking for one -”
“It was delicious.
I enjoyed my dinner,” Daniel said, gently placing his hand on hers. “You really had nothing to worry about.”
“Yeah, kid, it was great. I’m full.
Couldn’t eat another thing,” Face replied, leaning back in his chair, patting
his stomach. “Better not mention it to
the rest of the team, though. They’ll be
demanding that you cook for them, too.”
He winked. “Maybe for a price
I’ll stay quiet -”
“A price!”
Amy laughed. “I think I’ve paid
my price, Face. I told you in Arizona,
I’m through being suckered by you. You
never did tell me what was in that damn grease!” She playfully slapped him on
the arm and picked up the dishes.
“Ah, Amy, now is not a good time - we’ve just
eaten.” He smiled, watching her walk
into the kitchen and then looked at Daniel.
“Which reminds me - how are the archery lessons going? I’ve noticed that the old bow and arrow trick
worked, Danny,” Face said, grinning but keeping his smug expression. Daniel chuckled.
Amy returned from the kitchen with a scowl on her
face. She’d heard the remark. Although said in jest, it had annoyed
her. The amount of women he…. And she
can’t date one guy?
“So, Face, did Miss Carter get home safely?” Amy said,
sitting back down at the table. When Amy
had decided to stay with Daniel a few days, Face had offered Bus Carter’s niece
a ride to the airport, as there was room in Amy’s car.
“Who? Lane? Oh, yeah.
Yeah, we dropped her off at Phoenix Airport. Nice girl.”
“So, she didn’t happen to spend a couple of days
with her favourite cowboy by any chance?” Amy teased, raising an eyebrow. Daniel smirked, watching them both but remaining
silent, drinking his wine.
Face was about to take a sip from his glass, but
paused. “Well, she wasn’t really my
type.”
Amy laughed falsely. “Type?” she scoffed. “You actually have one? I thought all young pretty girls were your
type. She looked pretty comfortable in
the front seat of my car.”
Face looked from Amy to Daniel and to Amy’s delight,
Daniel nodded.
“She did look comfortable.”
“And you’d know how comfortable it is, wouldn’t
you, Danny?” Face said, raising an eyebrow.
“Okay,
who’s for coffee?” Amy asked, standing
up, wanting to change the subject. She
was blushing. Yeah, it had been comfortable.
There had been chemistry between them from the minute they got in her
car. It had been a change for someone to
actually notice her as a woman. Not a
member of the team, or as a reporter, but just as a woman.
Both
men nodded, and then helped Amy clear the table. They made their way into the living room, and
sat down on the couches as she served them all coffee. They chatted amiably for some time although
she could certainly sense some tension between the two men. Daniel would give Face a glare, when he came
out with something that she just took as a tease. She watched the clock on her mantelpiece - it
was getting late.
“Anymore
coffee in that pot?” Face asked, raising his empty coffee cup.
“Yes,
yes, of course.” She took his cup and then looked at Daniel. “Daniel, more coffee?” He shook his head. “Or would you like another glass of wine?”
Daniel
nodded. “I’ll help you,” he said, standing
up and walking with Amy into the kitchen.
A frown on his face, only Amy could see.
Once
in the kitchen, and out of Face’s sight, he pulled Amy into his arms for a
quick kiss. She giggled.
“You’re
going to have to start dropping some subtle hints,” Daniel said, keeping his
voice low, gesturing towards the living room.
She could tell he was getting impatient.
“I’m
sorry, I can’t, Daniel. He’s a friend.” Amy
released herself from Daniel’s embrace and poured the coffee, while Daniel
poured another glass of wine, topping up her glass, too.
Why
was Face still here? This wasn’t
painting himself in a very good light, she thought. It had to be something, but Face probably
wasn’t going to spill the beans – not while Daniel was here. She knew she couldn’t ask either; he’d only
avoid the questions. She just had to sit
it out.
She
picked up the coffee cup and her glass of wine, and sighed. “He’ll go soon, I’m sure.”
~~~
Finally, Face stood up, glancing at his watch. “It’s getting late. I’d better go.” He’d totally out stayed his welcome with that
second cup of coffee. Amy wouldn’t thank
him for this. He wondered how low her opinion
of him was right now. “Thanks for
dinner, kid. It was great. And the coffee.” He found his jacket over the
back of a chair, and put it on. “I’ll
catch up with you again, soon. Next job
no doubt.”
Amy nodded, standing up with him. Daniel stood up, too.
“Daniel, good to meet you again,” Face said,
shaking his hand. Face nodded at him,
hoping it would be accepted as an apology for being such a jerk. Daniel gave a smile that seemed friendly
enough for Face, so maybe he was forgiven.
Daniel then sat back on the couch, while Amy walked with Face to show
him out.
“Thanks for coming over,” she said, opening the front
door.
“I’m sorry. I
should have called you first.” He’d just
assumed she’d be alone.
“Nonsense.
It’s fine. You know you’re
welcome any time,” she replied, smiling at him.
Her eyes stared into his. He’d hazard a guess she wanted answers. Team.
She’s part of the team. Hopefully
she’d just think he had come over like he’d said, to check she’d gotten home
okay. He quickly turned, about to head
out of the door, but he felt her gently place a hand on his arm, stopping
him. He looked back at her.
“Face, just be careful. Decker really is on my case.”
Face nodded.
Before he could stop himself, he subtly brushed her cheek and then
walked out of the door.
Damn it, he hated that he was the one leaving.
~~~
Amy walked back to Daniel but stood, reluctant to join
him on the couch. In some ways she felt
relieved. She hadn’t wanted Face to
leave, but at the same time, she’d noticed the tension between the two
men. But this empty feeling that he’d
left, she couldn’t put her finger on.
She combed her fingers through her hair and paced a couple of steps. Did she need to explain this visit from Face
to Daniel?
“Well, that was the weirdest thing. He’s never shown up like that before.” Actually that wasn’t true. There was one time, on the boat back from
Ecuador. Then it dawned on her. Had he wanted to sleep in her bed
tonight? Had he been searching for
comfort? She swallowed. Daniel didn’t need to know about that time. But had she just let Face down?
Daniel took her hand, as if sensing she needed to
be persuaded and slowly edged her towards him.
She gave in, hoping she was hiding her anxiety and sat down beside him
on the couch. He put his arm around her
and she sighed, cuddling into him, remembering this had been something she’d
been longing to do all evening, but had kept her affection for Daniel under
wraps while Face had been present.
Daniel
took her hand and kissed it, breaking her from her guilt-ridden thoughts.
Could she continue to have a relationship with
Daniel? It wasn’t like they couldn’t
keep in touch… meet again….
“He’s
jealous,” Daniel said openly. He ran his
fingers through her hair, watching her.
For
a moment Amy stared at him and then quickly laughed, shaking her head. “Face?
Jealous? He’s got a different
woman on his arm practically every time I see him. I don’t think he has anything to be jealous
about.”
“But
they’re not you, are they?” Daniel looked her in the eye, and then gently kissed
her. She closed her eyes, allowing him
to seduce her with his kisses.
Had
Face’s comments in Arizona really been said out of jealousy? Or just teasing? Brotherly affection. Protectiveness. She knew she got that with Murdock, and
assumed Face was the same… But jealousy?
Face? She wasn’t anything
special… Not to Face. Was she?
Daniel
was wrong. Had to be. But Daniel had a way of being so wise….
She
just didn’t believe that with all the women Face could have, he’d pick
her. Besides, Face couldn’t settle down
even if he wanted to, being on the run.
Was that why he was jealous?
It
was late. Too late to dwell on it. She was tired. The wine had certainly helped relax her. She needed to stop thinking about Face and
concentrate on Daniel. The little time
they had left together.
Daniel
got off the couch and took her hand. She
giggled as he seductively led her into the bedroom with that mischievous sexy
expression she was starting to know so well.
Well,
maybe she wasn’t that tired. She smoothed
her hands across Daniel’s chest and then started slowly to unbutton his shirt
between the kisses and caresses.
Daniel’s free hand was already underneath her blouse, softly teasing her
bare skin.
Yeah,
damn it, the old bow and arrow routine had worked.
Whatever
Face meant to her, he wasn’t here tonight.
Amy had to make the most of Daniel’s affection. That’s all she knew. Because soon he’d be gone. And she’d be back to her lonely apartment, her
work, all by herself again… until they met up again, maybe?
Amy untied Daniel’s bandana and
dropped it on the floor. His shirt
slowly followed.
No,
Face couldn’t give her this. Not without
her getting kicked off the team. And
anyway, did Face actually have anything to give her?
~ End ~
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