Disclaimers: None of this is mine
Setting: The second half of season 9
1900 local time
Al's Diner
Washington DC
"You're in love with him. Aren't you?"
The quietly spoken words were directed towards the woman sitting in a booth directly behind the speaker's. Their backs were to each other, allowing them to talk without giving anyone a reason to suspect they were actually there together.
The woman didn't answer, instead sipped at her coffee.
"Your silence is deafening." The man sighed. "At least tell me you two haven't given in to your mutual desire for each other."
"Mutual desire?" She repeated in disbelief. There was a sadness in her voice as she continued. "He thinks of me as a little sister or something."
"I've seen the way he looks at you when he doesn't think anyone's watching. I certainly don't look at my sister that way."
"You don't have a sister."
"Well then, I don't look at you that way. Trust me, the last way he thinks of you is as a little sister."
She didn't respond, just sipped her coffee, not daring to believe what he was saying.
There was silence between them until he spoke up again. "You haven' t told him anything have you?"
"Of course not!" Her indignant reply came out a little louder than she had intended.
He waited a minute to see if it would attract any attention. Nobody turned in their direction though, so he continued. "I had to ask." Even without looking at her he knew she would be nodding her head in grudging acceptance of his words. "You're too valuable in your current assignment to risk your cover being blown."
He heard something that sounded suspiciously like a snort. Before either of them could say anything else though, a waitress walked up. She glared a little at the younger woman when she saw the disposable coffee cup in her hand, indicating she had brought it in with her. He grinned into his own coffee cup, listening as his companion ordered a slice of pie with an extra scoop of ice cream. Then the waitress was standing before him, waiting expectantly for his order.
"I'll just have a refill please." He said, indicating the cup in front of him. She smiled down at him and topped him off. Picking his cup back up, he hid another grin as she walked away.
Neither of them spoke until after the waitress returned with the pie. He listened as his companion took a bite and sighed with pleasure.
"They have the best apple pie..." Then she turned serious again. "As much as I enjoy our conversations, you didn't bring me down here just for the lecture did you?"
"No. Actually, I've got a side job for you for this weekend, if you're interested." He paused, then dangled the carrot. "It would mean you'd get the chance to work with your second favorite agent."
"Aww, our first official mission together." Her voice was dripping with mock sincerity.
"Funny. So are you in?"
"Of course."
"Great. Come by Langley tomorrow and you'll be briefed." He took a final sip of his coffee and started to slide out of the booth, pausing when she spoke up.
"Is it really that obvious?"
"Only because I know you so well."
She nodded as he stood up.
"Have fun on your date Clay." She glanced over at him, smirking as she took another bite of pie. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"And that rules out what exactly?" He paused next to her booth and glanced over at her. "Watch your back this weekend."
Their eyes met and she nodded once. Without another word, Clayton Webb walked out of the diner. A minute later, Jennifer Coates slipped out of her booth, threw a couple dollars on the table to cover her pie, and left.