| Chapter 21 "He did what?!" Howie asked, sitting down on his couch in his new hotel room in Vegas. "Word is he took on a pair that had been together for almost a hundred years," Eli said, " The watcher assigned to them didn't see the whole thing, but he said Nick held his own for a little bit." Howie sighed, running his hand through his hair, "So he got bit then?" "Yes, it would've been worse if Kevin hadn't been there," Eli answered. Howie shook his head, "So I'm guessing he had the wound cleansed." "Yes, the watcher followed them to a slayers home. They were there for several hours, and he reported hearing screams coming from the house," the older man informed him. Howie stood up and paced the room, "Well, great. That's just great Eli, what are we gonna do? Brian's gonna come back and Nick, the super slayer's, gonna feel him. What then?" "Calm down Howard," Eli said, "Tracy knows what's she doing with him. He'll be able to hide himself from them, I'm sure." "What if he's not Eli? Do I stand by and watch my friends try to kill each other?" Howie retorted. "It won't come to that," Eli said. Howie sat down and looked out the window, "It better not, cause I can't let them do that." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tracy slowly opened her eyes, letting them focus. Immediately she knew she wasn't in her room. Raising her head, she looked up into Brian's sleeping face. She was laying half on her side, half on him, their legs intertwined, his arm across her waist. She quickly looked down, making sure they were both still clothed. They were, thank God! She lay her head back down on his chest, not wanting to wake him. Slowly the night before came back to her. They talked until they both fell asleep. She watched as his chest slowly rose and fell. This was the first time in ages she hadn't been woken in a dripping sweat from her nightmare. She wondered if it was a fluke, or if the company she was with had anything to do with it. She bit her lip, gently playing with Brian's t-shirt. She was going against everything she said she'd never do again. She looked up at his face once more, the face that held so much pain for her, and yet, she felt none. She studied him, from the sandy curls on his forehead, to his long eyelashes, his high cheek bones, to the softness of his lips, and down to his strong jaw. That face should have invoked anger in her, instead it stirred feelings she swore never to have again. Carefully she scooted up on her elbow, resting her head in her hand, still staring at his face. "I can't be angry at you," she whispered, "You aren't that monster." Brian stirred, nearly scaring her half to death. He opened his eyes, and she stared into the two pools of blue. They looked at her, confused. She smiled at him, "Morning, or should I say, afternoon?" He looked around for a moment, "Did we ...?" She laughed, "We fell asleep talking." He lay back in the pillow, relief crossing his face, "Oh good," then he laughed. Tracy sat up and looked back at him, "What?" The look on his face was one of pure embarrassment, "I just ... um, I was glad that I didn't miss anything." She stared at him, a stern look on her face for about two seconds, then burst out laughing. "Trust me honey, if we'd done that, you'd remember," she teased, easing off the bed. He sat up, his face turning another shade of red. "Hey, where'd this come from?" he asked, holding up the blanket that covered them. "Oh crap," Tracy said, sounding like a teenager that had been caught by her parents with a boy in her room, "Nancy." Brian watched her pace the room, muttering to herself. "Tracy?" he asked. She turned to face him, "I love Nancy, but she's always wanting to play matchmaker. If she saw us asleep together, I'm afraid she'll have the wrong idea." "So we just tell her the truth," he said, tossing the blanket aside and standing up. "She won't believe us," she said, "She'll think we're just trying to hide it." Brian looked at her with a mischievous grin. "I don't like that look Brian," she warned. He grinned even wider, "Well, we can't disappoint Nancy now can we?" "Brian Thomas Littrell, don't you even think about ....." Tracy said, pointing her finger at him. He giggled, walking into the bathroom. She followed him in, "I mean it Brian." He pulled his shirt off and tossed it in the floor, acting like he didn't hear her. "Brian, we can't do that to her. It'd break her heart if she found out we were playing with her," Tracy said as he dropped his jeans. She quickly turned around, "At least say something." "I'm taking a shower," he laughed as the water started, "If you want to discuss this further, you're welcome to join me." Her mouth dropped open, and she nearly turned back around, but thought better of it, "I can't believe you just said that." Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. Brian turned her around to face him. Tracy adverted her eyes, but it didn't escape her that he was standing in front of her in only his boxers. "I was kidding," he said softly, "I'm sorry." "I-it's Ok," she stammered, gazing at the floor. "I really am taking a shower," he said, bending down to catch her eyes with his, "See you downstairs for breakfast?" She nodded, quickly turning and leaving the room. As she walked to her own room, she could feel her face flushing. She may have been nearly two hundred and fifty years old, but she wasn't dead! And the image of a nearly naked Brian standing in front of her was going to be hard to get rid of. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Jennifer," Howie said, smiling, as he opened his door and let her in, "Was your trip alright?" "It was Ok, wow, nice digs," she said, looking around the room. He laughed, "Yeah, they spoil us here." She plopped down on the couch, "Well, everyone deserves to be spoiled. Life's no fun otherwise." "Very true," he said, not able to take his eyes off her. She was wearing jeans and a baby doll t-shirt, with pink sunglasses. "So what do you want to do?" she asked, getting up and going over to the window, peering out. He shrugged, "I'm not sure. I'm not really into gambling though." "Ohh, well we could go see the sights then," she offered. "Ok, sounds good," he said, grabbing his key card and wallet. They exited the room and headed for the elevator. Just as they approached it, the doors opened and Kevin and Nick walked out. Jennifer immediately looked at the ground, hoping she could block herself from them both. "D! What's up?" Nick asked. "We're going out," Howie said. "Elevator girl, I presume?" Kevin asked. Jennifer glanced up at him and smiled. "Kevin, this is Jennifer," Howie introduced. "Nice to meet you Jennifer," Kevin said, extending a hand. She took it, "You too." Kevin stared at her, green eyes, meeting green eyes. Howie took Jennifer's hand and pulled her towards the elevator. "Bye guys," he called. "Bye," Nick said, heading to his room. Kevin watched them get on the elevator, "Jennifer, don't keep him out to late. We have to work tomorrow." She grinned, "Wouldn't dream of it," she said as the doors closed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Nancy was busy preparing their breakfast, as he walked up behind her and grabbed a piece of fruit, popping it in his mouth. "Morning Mr. Brian," she said. He smiled at her, "Morning Nancy. Can I help?" She laughed, "No dear, go sit down." Brian walked over to the small table and sat down as she brought him a glass and his plate. "Did you sleep well?" she asked, a twinkle in her eye. He returned the smile, "Very well. Did you?" "Yes my dear, always," she answered, as Tracy walked into the room. She walked over and sat down next to Brian, as Nancy brought her glass and plate over. "Thank you Nancy," she said, taking a drink. Brian stared at her, a silly grin on his face. She glanced at him, giving him a warning look. He pouted, bottom lip pooched out and everything. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "We could have a little fun ya know? It wouldn't hurt." Tracy looked up, seeing Nancy watching them from behind the counter, a grin on her face. "You are impossible," she whispered back. He smiled, "That's why you love me." She shook her head, "No, that's not why." "So you do love me," he teased, laughing. Tracy rolled her eyes. When did he turn into a twelve year old? And why the hell was it so cute? Tracy cleared her throat, "Nancy, about what you saw this morning.." Nancy stood up straight, "Forgive me Miss Tracy, I just was checking to make sure you were Ok." "I know Nancy, but I'm afraid you might have the wrong idea," she said, ignoring Brian staring at her, "See, Brian and I were talking and we fell asleep." "Ma'am, you don't have to explain anything to me," Nancy said, blushing. "I just don't want you to think that something happened, when it didn't," Tracy said. Brian looked over at the woman, "Don't believe her Nancy, she's just embarrassed." Tracy slapped his arm, "Brian!" He giggled, "Just admit it Tracy, she already knows." Tracy took a deep breath, she had to calm down before she hurt the boy. Nancy looked from one to the other, not sure who to believe. Brian stood up, "Admit it. I take your breath away." Tracy stared at him like he'd gone looney, "You ...you do not!" He laughed, "See, you can't even speak. Just admit it, you love me," he grinned. For some reason Tracy looked like a deer caught in headlights. She stood up, "I -I ..." she left the room, never finishing her sentence. Brian turned to Nancy, "Nothing happened, I was only kidding." Nancy nodded, "Yes Mr. Brian, but I don't think she was." Brian sighed, looking in the direction Tracy went. "Crap," he muttered, "What do I do now?" Nancy walked over and patted him on the shoulder, "Go talk to her." "I'm afraid to," he admitted. Nancy smiled, "She won't bite you dear, unless you ask her to. Now go," she said, shooing him out of the kitchen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kevin waited impatiently for the door to open. "Hey man," A.J. said, letting him in, "What's up?" Kevin sat down on the couch, "I need to ask you something." A.J. sat down, "Shoot." "How much do you know about Jennifer?" he asked. A.J. rolled his eyes, "She's a girl. Howie likes her, end of story." "You don't know anything about her? Howie hasn't told you anything?" he asked. "Kevin, I am not the keeper of details on Howie's love life," A.J. said. Kevin glared at him. "Well, not this time," A.J. admitted, "He doesn't talk about her, not like that anyway. He just gushes over how much he cares for her, and how much they have in common. I think he's in love with her." Kevin frowned, "In love huh?" A.J. shrugged, "Seems like it to me man. What do you care anyway?" "You know I wanna know who you guys are with. I'm just looking out for you," Kevin said. A.J. laughed, "You know that shit don't work on me. What's the real reason?" He shrugged, "I dunno. I just get a weird vibe from her." "Dude, you need to chill," A.J. said, "I think you see demons where there aren't any." Kevin sighed, "And what if I'm not and Howie gets hurt?" "Then he lives and learns man. He's a grown up, you can't pick his girlfriends for him. Lord know's I've tried," A.J. smiled. Kevin laughed. "Now, you wanna tell me what you are out doing at all hours of the night?" A.J. asked, catching him off guard. "Nick told you ..." "And you think I'm stupid enough to believe that? I wasn't born yesterday Kevin. Something's up and I wanna know what it is," A.J. said. Kevin sighed, "Alex, if I could tell you I would, but I can't. The less people that know the better." A.J. stared at him, "That really hurts man, you know that don't ya?" "I know J, and I'm sorry, but I can't," Kevin said, getting up to leave. "Just tell me this," A.J. said, "You and Nick aren't um," he gestured with his hands, "together?" Kevin's mouth dropped to the floor, "Hell no!" A.J. held his hands up in defense, "Alright, just checking." Kevin shook his head on the way out of the room, "Jesus Alex, I swear ....." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian picked a rose from the garden, then walked into the maze of hedges. He could feel her, he just had to find her. Several of the babies walked with him, wanting to play. "Not today guys," he said, adjusting his sunglasses. It was a beautiful afternoon, not a cloud in the sky, a gentle breeze blowing. He rounded a corner, seeing her with her back to him. Her body trembled with her sobs, and he bit his lip. He approached her slowly, standing just behind her, "I'm sorry," he said softly, "I didn't mean to hurt you." Tracy sniffed, pushing the tears from her cheeks. "I was just playing, and it got out of hand," he went on, "I'm sorry," he said, reaching around her, the rose in his hand. She stared at it a moment, before she took it. He walked around to her side, "Please forgive me Tracy." She sighed, still staring at the rose, "Love isn't something to play with Brian." "I know," he said, moving to stand in front of her now, "I didn't think, it's a bad habit, not thinking." She laughed, despite herself. He took her chin in his hand and lifted her head, their eyes meeting, "I'm truly sorry, and I will never do it again." She stared into his eyes, full of sincerity, then back at the rose, "Aright, I forgive you." "Thank you," he said, pulling her into a hug. She rested her head on his shoulder a moment, secure in his arms. Then she pulled away, and cleared her throat, "Um, we need to get started." Brian took her hand, "Let's finish breakfast first, then you can torture me at will." She giggled, as they headed back to the house. Chapter 22 |