| "Wait and See" | ||
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Safehouse 2 April 27, 2008 2350 hours Paige stretched her arms over her head, watching, and waiting for those that traveled in the vans to come out. Actually, she was only waiting for two...Sara and Baz. Jordan had parked next to her and stood there watching as well. Baz and Sara finally came out walking across the parking lot to the awaiting Paige and Jordan. Baz grinned as he approached, "Alpha Team unites and defeats the evil lords of darkness." The three women smiled as the group hovered near Jordan's car and away from the others that were making their way into Safehouse 2. "You ok?" Paige asked Baz quietly taking his hands so she could inspect them. "That sand is actually...quite sharp," he wrinkled his face up. "I had some scrapes or whatever and they are mad filled with shit now." "I'll just have to clean them up, then we'll get a better idea of what needs to be done," Paige smiled assuredly. "Cool. You know Gray did nothing but brag about how great we did the entire way here..." Baz grinned again. "Let's go Alpha," Gray interrupted them. The tone in his voice was not mean, far from it actually, and so they all fell in behind him and made their way upstairs. Paige stopped Gray once there, "I'm gonna clean his hands up and then we'll be out." Gray nodded, "that's fine, if we need anything clarified we'll get it later." "Great, thanks," Paige smiled leading Baz off into one of the back rooms. Because no serious injuries had occurred, Gray, thankfully, must have sent the surgeon and two techs back...well, back to wherever they came from, because the exam rooms were dark and empty. Paige flicked on the light gesturing for Baz to sit whilst she collected what she would need to clean his hands. She filled a small basin with warm water and placed it on the bed next to him. "Soak them for a bit," she said as she began examining him. "Anything else hurt?" she asked as she picked up his chin. "No mom, I'm fine," he teased her. She narrowed her eyes, "one day you'll appreciate me." He snorted at her, "hope not." She looked at him for a moment then they both giggled softly. "Lip healing nicely," she commented pulling on his mouth, "how's the ribs?" "They're fine, relax," he said as his voice bordered on being serious. Paige stood in front of him studying him as his eyes clearly held some questions, some doubt about something. She broke his gaze and retrieved some towels and cloths and placed them over his legs. She gently pulled his hands out of the water. She frowned as she began coaxing the bits of dirt and sand out of the multitude of scrapes and cuts on his hands, wrists, and forearms. "Christ, Baz, look at these..." she shook her head amazed at the number of cuts he had, more suddenly appearing as she cleaned away the dirt. "Looks like you were playing with razor blades...was everyone else like this?" He shrugged, "those of us that were digging, yeah, I guess." She whistled softly and pulled the flexible light closer to his arms; then retrieved the rolling stool and sat down on it intent on spending some time with this task. "You look really tired," he commented easily. If she had a nickel for everyone who said that to her she'd be rich. "I am," she mumbled back never breaking her motions. There was no sense in trying to deny something so obvious. "How close are you with Jordy?" he asked quietly. That's from left field, she thought. "Close? I dunno, pretty close..." she mumbled, trying to concentrate on his hands. "Like close enough that she would tell you who she's sleeping with?" he ventured carefully. "It's whom not who, and I guess it would depend on the person...why, what's up? You sleeping with her?" she grinned and looked up at him. Her smile faded as she looked in his eyes seeing the stress of something clearly bothering him. "What?" the alarms started ticking off in her head as her mind began the task of running hundreds of scenarios, plausible or not, of what could be wrong. "I'm worried about Jordy," he said finally, clearly struggling with what exactly to tell Paige or not. "Why are you worried about Jordy?" her eyes narrowed slightly. "Well," Baz squirmed a little bit, "it's the mission...she...I..." he paused taking a breath, "Tommy was telling a couple of the guys how he got with Holly...you know, Jordy." "And?" Paige questioned. "And...he wasn't bragging about it...he said they clicked, they connected, that it was something more than just fucking a chick." Paige took a deep breath, "oh." "I found out Jordy bought one of the runners in and that it was Tommy..." "That's correct," Paige nodded her head. "...and if she was sleeping with him...and it meant something...and now she just..." "Betrayed him," Paige said finally getting what Baz was driving at. "Exactly. Now I'm worried about her...I mean...you can't just talk with someone all the time, have a relationship like that, even sleep with them, and not feel anything for them..." "It was a mission Baz, not a relationship..." "No," Baz shook his head, "you can't sleep with someone that way and not have it affect you..." 'Sure you can,' her mind whispered, as she pushed the thought quickly away. "Come to think about it...she was acting kind of off." "See? Even you noticed it...I dunno. I'm worried about her...should I talk with her, just make sure she's ok or see if she wants to talk?" He looked to Paige hopefully. "Think she'll even talk to me about something like that?" Paige took another deep breath, "I dunno...she might...it might be better with you since you knew Tommy. It's worth a try." Baz nodded his head deeply. "It won't hurt to ask." "You'll let me know?" "Yeah, no prob," he said softly, resigned to do his part for the team, and for what he believed to be a potential problem. Paige thought about them while she finished cleaning Baz's hands. How close was she with Jordan? Sure, they had some history together, a few missions, a plethora of injuries, but they weren't super close. Paige felt comfortable around her, a rare commodity these days, and would ask Jordan for help if she needed it...but how close was that? Not as close as she was with Sara...but then they had been through so much more together. Why hadn't she noticed something was wrong sooner? Was she too wrapped up in her own drama to be considerate of her teammate? But she had seen the look, the gestures, and the hesitation in Jordan and she chose to sit on it, to wait and see. Since when had the 'wait and see' attitude become part of her makeup? She mentally shook herself. What the hell was she thinking? Alpha was the only solid thing she knew right now. It was the only foundation she could use to rebuild herself in this new environment...and she had to protect it. "I'll tell you what," Paige said. "Try talking to Jordy since you obviously know she slept with Tommy. If it doesn't work out or she doesn't want to talk, call me, let me know, I'll try." Baz smiled, "that would be awesome...I feel better knowing you'll back me up." Paige looked up and smiled, "we have to stick together...its all we have out here." "I know," he said quietly. "We should go out...just the four of us. Get some bonding going," he suggested. "That would be cool," Paige said though she felt a twinge of nervousness. Out. 'Out' was such a big place. So many people were in the 'Out'. So many stalkers could hide in the Out and go unnoticed, unsupervised, or worse...if she was Out...maybe He would get in her apartment... "Paige?" She shook her head, "yeah, sorry, daydreaming." "Ok, so there will be no day dreaming when you're doing medical stuff on my hands, got it?" he said smiling. She smiled, "nay to worry, I've done this at least two other times." "Great," he said rolling his eyes. She finished cleaning the last of the cuts and wrapped both his hands and wrists lightly with some gauze. "I look like the Mummy," he said in a threatening voice, waving his hands in the air. "You're an ass, c'mon, let's go see how the debriefing is going," she said getting up and quickly cleaning the small mess she made. They walked quietly out to the main portion of the floor. Riley was busy talking and pointing to some overheads that were up on the screen. Paige glanced at them briefly noting they were the ones they had looked at earlier. Most of the people in the room sat at the table nodding and writing notes. Sara was busy with the computer and Jordan was leaning precariously far back on her chair looking utterly bored. Joshua stood near the back, leaning on a table. Paige noticed he rubbed his arm, his alleged injured arm, absently. She shook her head slightly; apparently he too had to have bounce sometimes. He managed to get both of their attention and they walked over. Paige, though she did not necessarily want to be near him, at least felt better with Baz between them. Those two just grinned at each other as Joshua pointed at Baz's hands with a smirk. "She just likes to show off how good of a medic she is," Baz whispered to Joshua, loud enough so she could hear. She made a face at Baz and returned her attention to Riley who threw a nod in their direction. As the debriefing wore on she could feel Joshua continuously glancing at her as Baz, between them, fiddled with his hands. She had to more than once grab his arm and shoot him a look telling him with her eyes to leave them alone. Then he would sigh and pout staring at his hands, thoroughly not listening nor interested in the debriefing going on, before he would start again and the scenario would repeat itself. After the debriefing was over and it was clearly established that Alpha Team kicked some serious ass, SH2 was slowly abandoned. Sara cleaned up the computer equipment and sorted out last minute details with Riley in regards to the video and pic images. Jordan still sat in the same chair precariously leaning back but at least didn't look bored anymore as Sara and Riley seemed to make it a point to keep her in their conversation. That, and one of Riley's men, who seemed to be pretty decent eye candy, sat next to Jordan engaged in the conversation as well. Rebecca, Gray, Jackson Wellington, and Joshua huddled near the front chatting about something or another. Baz and Paige watched the scenes quietly, except for the occasional swat at Baz's arm when he started fiddling with his hands again. The PTBs finally were calling it a night as they said their good byes and proceeded back to New York. Joshua talked with Riley then for a little bit before saying his own good nights. Riley once again thanked the Alpha team and him and his partner finally left. (0230 hours) So, it was just the four of them now. There was a small lounge type area near the back, opposite the med section. It wasn't much, a small fridge, couple couches, a tv with no reception and no cable yet, and a small table that didn't look strong enough to hold up a magazine. They did find a radio, however, and tuned in the local rock station as they talked. Sara had bought some beer and pretzels with her, anticipating it would seem, their success. Paige thought she should be hungry after haven't eaten in like...forever it seemed. But just looking at the pretzels made her feel queasy. The stress and fatigue was playing with her appetite, the one thing she thought was untouchable. "To Alpha," Sara said holding up her beer as the others followed suit. "To Alpha," they echoed. "May we rise to defeat all evil and darkness and bring peace to the land," Baz said in a deep voice. "You are such an ass," Paige said grinning at him. "But fuck it, peace to the land." They all giggled and drank their beers leaning back and kicking their feet up. They talked for a bit, about nothing important until the conversation started to fade. "We so kicked ass tonight," Sara said smiling. "Speaking of kicking ass," Baz said getting up and getting their attention. "New club opening in the city, Club Samovar, right in Manhattan. I think we should go and you know...hang, just the four of us." The girls responded immediately with grins and so it was decided they would go out this Friday night and celebrate their ass kicking performance and let off a little tension. It was drawing on 4 am and Paige got up stretching. "I am fucking exhausted...I have to get home..." (to guard the doors) "to feed my fish." "Your fish? Are you kidding me? Stay, you can crash at my place," Baz said chewing on a pretzel. She stuck her tongue out at him, "chew with your mouth closed, you're disgusting. And no, I'm going home to sleep in my own bed, though I thank you for your offer." Baz shrugged, "don't forget about Friday." "I won't and leave those bandages alone. Later guys," Paige said as she exited the lounge. Paige noticed the headlights flick on behind her as she pulled out of SH2's parking lot. "Fuck," she muttered knowing who it was that now followed her. She drove conservatively to her apartment trying to prolong the inevitable as long as possible. She entered her complex finding a spot near her apartment, grabbed her bag and stood leaning on the black mustang convertible. Joshua parked his truck and got out shouldering two bags, one she knew was his clothes as he apparently planned on spending some time with her, and the other housed a laptop. Apparently he would be doing some work as well. She watched him, a bored expression on her face as he approached. Or perhaps it was the exhaustion, the fatigue, induced by her paranoia that covered her face. "You all right?" he looked, concerned, at her. She nodded her head pushing herself off the car and sauntered past him. Sleep. She focused her thoughts on sleep. Hell, even her Bathroom Tigers, usually intrigued when Joshua was about, were resting comfortably in their little stalls. They were not, it seemed, very concerned with him being around. She let them both in not bothering to even turn on a light in her apartment. She glanced warily at the glass doors as she dropped her bags near the table. She pulled her sweatshirt off and tossed it on the couch still watching the doors, noticed the blinds, and earnestly tried to remember if she had closed the blinds when she had left yesterday afternoon. Had she? She kicked her boots off and went into the kitchen. Joshua and what he was doing was not of her concern. She forced herself to survey him as he busied himself searching through one of his bags by the couch. She wouldn't be able to watch the doors now. Disappointed, she dropped some food in for Michael the Fish and with one eye longingly on the drawn blinds walked into the bathroom. She undressed methodically, her mind starting already to pull her away, took a quick shower, and wrapped a towel around herself. The Bathroom Tigers were awake now as she shuffled into her bedroom, becoming more unaware of him or what he was doing. It was the code. That was most important to her at this moment, crunching the data, looking for the primers that would unlock the code that held her Bathroom Tigers captive; that fascinated them and taunted them with its strings of numbers and letters, throwing them bones once in awhile; teasing them. In return the Bathroom Tigers, her curiosity, demanded all her attention and all of her energy. She wondered if this was the cause of her zoning out and losing time? She pushed the door shut, but not all the way, then crossed the room wondering why she hadn't thought of this before. She tugged at the dark navy blue curtain the slightest bit and parted the blinds. She watched the docks, though from this room, they were even less visible and only the first four boats of D-dock were in view. She tipped her water bottle back taking a deep drink never taking her eyes off the dock. She couldn't feel it, him, whatever it was, that usually bothered her at night. Perhaps the Stalker had taken the night off as well. Or, she furrowed her brow, Joshua's presence scared him off. Now that certainly bordered on dangerous. She continued to watch though, and she changed, did not move now, barely breathed, as her thoughts, coming alive, began fading her vision out consuming her consciousness. She was unaware of the docks, back to giving her energy up to the Tigers so that they might discover the primer and read the code and feed. Then, and only then when the primers were uncovered, would they let up on her. She didn't hear the soft squeak of the door as Joshua entered the room. She didn't hear him, at first, when he said her name. "What's wrong?" She heard his voice this time and narrowed her eyes, focusing them, processing what had been said to her. Wrong. He had asked if something was wrong. She had to take a moment before glancing at him, "nothing's wrong," she said quietly. His face was filled with concern as he questioned her again with his eyes. She just looked at him, really, what was there to say? He had caused all this. It was his fault. Why didn't he realize this? Or did he, and he just chose to ignore it...to wait and see? Would he address it later? "You seem..." he shook his head, his face twisting slightly in confusion, "distant..." He reached a hand out to brush the hair off her shoulder. Just that small touch elicited a response. She wanted him. The feeling passed over her so tremendously she had to take a breath. Where had that come from? His blue eyes watched her intently as he attempted to read into her reaction. She could see what he wanted, what he would clearly give if she asked or gave the slightest consent. "Something interesting out there?" he tipped his head towards the curtain she was still holding. She let it out of her grasp slowly and smoothed it back into place, shutting out what little light the dock offered. "No," she said softly. He closed the distance between them grasping a hand full of her hair gently and kissed her. She responded to him expecting such an advance. He broke the kiss, "mind if I stay?" he questioned her. She almost smirked at the request but held her composure. "If I said yes...would you leave?" He shook his head, "no," he said simply. She sighed, why did he even bother asking? She reached for his hand and pulled him towards the bed. She pushed him down so he was sitting in front of her. Baz's words echoed a warning in her head, 'you can't sleep with someone that way and not have it affect you'. 'Not me', she convinced herself, 'it's a distraction, an escape from the Bathroom Tigers for a little while...it's just sex'. She undid the towel letting it drop to the floor and stood naked before him. She gave him a moment to take her in. "I can't sleep," she finally whispered. He reached for her pulling her down towards him... Return |
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