Bruised Egos

Robert/Holly

PG-13

~Summer 1996~

"You cannot reassign me!" Robert Scorpio bellowed at his superior. "I've been working on this case for months! And I don't want another partner. I don't need another partner. They do nothing but hold you back."

"I suggest you cool it, Scorpio." the balding, fat man replied. "You're being reassigned and you're getting a new partner. If you cannot work together with someone then I'll have no choice to send you back out as a sniper."

"No!" he argued. "This is bullshit, Fox, and you know it."

He stood up behind his desk. "Your partner will be here shortly." he said, heading for his bar. "Have a drink and try to relax. If you and Hamilton can't make this case work then you're back sniping and she can take your place."

"She?" he asked, loudly. "My new partner is a she?"

"Yes."

"I will not work with another woman." Robert said, following him to the bar. "A woman is what got me into this mess in the first place. An ungrateful woman at that."

Fox took a sip of his liquor. "Anna Devane." he sighed. "She should have been killed after her first treason." he said, reflecting. He slapped a hand on Robert's shoulder. "Hamilton's not like Devane though. She's just as smart as she is pretty. And very loyal."

"That's just what I need." he sighed, under his breath. "Another bloody distraction."

"She's climbed the ranks quite quickly." he said, taking another sip. "She was working for another organization before we recruited her. She still has some things to learn though. I'm sure you can help her out a bit. Show her the ropes so to speak."

Robert poured himself a drink. "Yeah, I'll give it my best shot."

"Hamilton is very promising." Fox commented. "I foresee her being one of the best agents out of this organization."

"You keep build this dame up like she's wonder woman or something." he said, taking a long drink. "I hope she doesn't crash to the ground and take your expectations with her."

There was a slight knock on the open office door. "You wanted to see me, Fox?"

Robert, with his back still to the door, took a deep breath. This was all he needed. Technically he didn't need any of this. Not a new assignment, not a woman partner. "And a damn bloody pommie at that." he bit off, turning around. And then suddenly there was complete silence.

"I have a few choice sentiments for an Aussie as well." Holly said, bluntly. "I suggest you learn to hold your tongue, sir."

"What the hell is..."

Fox placed his hand firmly on Robert's shoulder. "Scorpio, I'd like to introduce you to your new partner, Sutton Hamilton."

"Sutton." he breathed out. "That's an interesting name for a lady."

"Now, Scorpio." Fox exhaled, walking over to his desk. "I'm sure the two of you can discuss pleasantries later. You have to leave something for small talk. I want to go over this new case with the both of you. Time is of the essence here."

Robert looked at Holly. "What the hell is this?" he said, hushed. "WSB?"

"You look marvelous for a dead man." she bit back. "You have your secrets and I have mine."

Fox moved a few things around on his desk. "You mustn't take anything off of Scorpio here, Hamilton." he told her. "He's like an old dog, he doesn't think he can be taught new tricks, but I have a feeling the two of you are going to make a hell of a team."

A glimpse of the past shot through Robert's mind. "I guess we'll have to wait and see.' he replied. "I still don't like the idea of this." he said, looking at Holly. "I would hate to see a hair get harmed on that pretty little head of yours."

"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

Fox laid out the file before them. "You see these two men." he started. "There's names are Tilden and Harper. They've been staying in an apartment on..." he went on giving out details and such. "Good luck, you two."

~1531 Leicester Street Apartment 3C~

The entire ride over in the car was completely silent. The ride was long and the tension in the car so heavy that it almost strangled them both. Still neither one of them said anything. Neither one of them could. They didn't have any right to say anything to each other about the circumstances. Robert put the car in park and threw open his door, not caring that he hit another parked car. He got out and then slammed the car door shut.

"This is a nightmare." he mumbled. "One big, long nightmare."

Holly quietly closed her car door. "I think if anyone is entitled to some anger it's me."

"You pretended to be dead first." he said, opening the trunk and taking out a bag. "You have no right to be mad because I did the same thing. In fact we weren't together so you don't have any right at all."

She grabbed the second bag. "I stayed away because I didn't want to disrupt your happiness." she snapped. "And the WSB sought me out, not the other way around."

"I have my reasons for staying away." he said, slamming the trunk. "And since when does the WSB hire con-artists?"

"That was a low blow." she retorted. "But if we're going to compare notes here I think we should get them right."

Robert handed her the bag in his hand. "Here take these upstairs." he said, glancing over at the flashing lights from the liquor store. "I'll be up in a few minutes."

"Where are you going?" she asked, her anger rising. "We're on a job here, Scorpio."

He started walking. "Relax, Sutton." he replied. "I'll be up shortly."

Holly stormed off toward the apartment. "Fine!"

The apartment was dingy and dusty, broken furniture and glass scattered about. Green plush carpet from what she assumed to be from the seventies covered areas of the floor. Cigarette burns and stains peppered throughout until it reached the linoleum of the kitchen which was cracked and peeling up. She flipped on the light switch, watching as it flickered and cracked before dimming. And it was hot. Sticky hot.

"Not as bad as the last place." she sighed, shutting the door behind her. "The last place had rats." she mumbled to herself. "The last place didn't have Robert."

She made her way into one of the bedrooms. She looked around and then placed the bags on top of the desk. The linens on the bed appeared to be fresh. How thoughtful. How very thoughtful. A clean bed to not to take her husband in. She walked over to the bathroom and flipped the switch. And then just as quickly flipped it off. Decent she decided. Hopefully they wouldn't be there all that long.

Robert came through the door about twenty minutes later. Holly heard the door shut behind him and then the clicking of locks. He had a brown paper bag under his arm. He wanted to avoid conversation at all costs. He wanted to avoid yelling and screaming and feeling. Instead he would simply try and numb a little of the pain he was feeling. A little of the pain they were feeling.

He removed the bottle from the bag and sat it on the counter top. "Care for a drink, Sutton?" he called out. "I thought that it might take the edge off a bit. It's bloody hot in here. Can you open a window or something?" He opened the cabinet door to find nothing but cobwebs inside. "I guess we'll have to drink it from the bottle." he said, picking it up and opening it as he walked toward the bedroom. "What's a little saliva between partners?"

Holly was standing by the window, glancing out through the curtains and into the apartment across the street. "I'm damn good at my job." she said. "I wouldn't he here if I wasn't."

Robert flung the bottle cap across the room. "I'm sure you are." he replied. "I just don't understand why you're here. Why you would pick this line of work?"

She glanced back at him. "I wanted to save the world." she said, turning her attention back to the other apartment. "And I thought that if I lost my life for a good cause that it would be worth it in the end."

He pressed the bottle to his lips. "The world can't be saved, Sutton." He downed a long drink of scotch relishing the burn as it slid smoothly down his throat. "Believe me I know. It's every man for himself."

"I guess that makes you some sort of vigilante." she replied. "Apparently you've all but thrown on a cape and called yourself batman. I hear this is your last chance."

"You have to do what you have to do in order to survive." he said, taking another drink. "Sometimes that means taking things into your own hands. Especially to save others."

"Speaking of saving others." she started. "How's Anna?"

"Dead." he replied, taking off his suit jacket and throwing it across the bed.

"Damn." she exhaled. "All that for nothing. Tell me, Scorpio, did you know that she had turned back into double agent before you went to rescue her or was that after?"

"This isn't about Anna." he said. "I've made my choices all on my own."

"I guess she wasn't superhuman either." she said. "I guess none of us are."

Robert took swig of the liquor. "Why so bitter?"

"Bitter?" she asked. "If I'm bitter it's because life has made me that way. Too many disappointments. Too many failures. I've lost more than I'd ever like to admit."

"A bit jaded as well." he said, handing her the bottle. "Am I the reason you're like this?"

tbc...