Part 3 in the 'A Beautiful Lie' Series

Title: One More Lie

Author: Billy

Summary: Amy gets a surprise, but will Face help her out? And what will Murdock think? Set just after Bad Day On The Border. Sequel to A White Lie

Ratings: PG-15

Disclaimer: I don't own the A Team and I've not made a penny from this; I just do it for the jazz!

Copyright: July 2008

Chapter 1

Glancing at her watch, Amy answered her office phone in her usual fashion, while busily looking through some paperwork on her desk. It wasn't quite nine-thirty in the morning. "Amy Allen."

"Hi! Amy!"

"Hello?" The voice was familiar but she couldn't quite picture who it was. The line was crackling, which didn't help.

"It's Courtney."

"Oh, hi." Realisation kicking in. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. I'm at LAX and thought I'd see if you could pick me up."

"You're at the airport?" Amy instantly dropped the papers and sat up straighter.

"Yes! Surprise!"

"You're not in New York?"

"No! Where would be the surprise in that? Thought I'd catch a late flight and get here early, for a long weekend." Amy shook her head, with a smile creeping over her face as she listened to her friend. Of course, this is Courtney. "So can you come and get me, or shall I get a cab? Or you could send Sam?"

"Sam?" Her smile dropped.

"I'm dying to see you two lovebirds again - might cheer me up. It feels like it's been too long. How is he, by the way?"

"Er... Sam's fine," Amy lied, although it wasn't technically a lie; Face was fine. Shit. She tried to keep the worried tone out of her voice. How was she going to approach Face with this? Surely after all this time, he wouldn't want to do this, would he? What was it, nearly two months now since the wedding - since Sam?

Things were back to normal with them. Although things had always been normal, Face was back to treating her the way he always treated her, just one of the guys, one of the team. No special treatment. Would he do this?

Courtney was chatting away in the background, but Amy really wasn't listening, instead wondering if she should just come clean with Courtney. She hated lying to her.

"So, you gonna pick me up?" Courtney finally asked.

"Of course, of course. Just let me finish up a few things here, make a couple of calls, and I'll be there soon. I'll find you in arrivals." Amy put the phone down, grabbed her purse and hurried out of the office, making her first port of call a more private phone and one that wasn't likely to be bugged.

XXXXXXX

Face started to wake from his sleep; the woman beside him stirred and sleepily groaned. A pleasant feeling drifting over him, memories of last night's activities, with a beautiful, persistent, sexy woman. They hadn't slept till late - well technically, till early that morning.

He let out a pleased sigh as he gently stroked Cherise's back as she lay in his arms. The 

pair of them tangled in the bed sheets. His mind drifted back to last night, and he hoped things would continue like that today. But he needed to make some plans for today with her. Couldn't spend the whole day in bed, could they? Although she'd said she had something going on today, but what it was had slipped his mind. Oh, an audition. She had an audition.

The phone beside the bed began ringing, bringing Face out of his thoughts with a start.

"Templeton, don't answer it," the brunette whispered, brushing a hand softly across his stomach, pulling herself tighter towards him.

Only four people knew they could reach Face at this apartment. It could be important. Then again? Ah, hell he'd better answer it. If it's anyone else, he can say they've gotten the wrong number.

"Sorry, honey, but it might be work." Although, if it was Hannibal, he'd better have a damn good excuse; he'd promised a couple of days down time. Face peeled an arm away and leaned out of the bed.

"But you said you had the weekend off."

"I know, I know. But sometimes they need me if there's an emergency." He picked up the telephone. "Hello," he wearily answered.

"Face?"

"Speaking." He recognised the voice, but didn't think Cherise needed to know who was on the other end.

"It's Amy. I, uh, need to ask a favour." She sounded hesitant, nervous. Something had her rattled.

"What can I do for you, Kenny?" He rubbed an eye trying to wake up.

"Kenny? Oh, er... Courtney has just showed up."

"What?" He slowly sat up in the bed.

"She thought she'd surprise me." He could hear the sarcastic tone in her voice. "She's at LAX now waiting to be picked up." She paused, hesitating again. "She was asking about 'Sam'."

Cherise was starting to wake properly, sleepily moaning, and was making sure she was getting Face's attention. She'd moved up so she could playfully kiss him around his neck.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you're..."

"It's okay." Face groaned. Oh boy, why now? Why me? But Cherise - they'd only been together a few days, since returning the boat from Mexico. He didn't want to burn this good thing he had going, but this was... Amy. And he had promised.

"Face?"

"Okay, what do you need me to do?" Face said patiently, trying to listen to Amy but watching Cherise in his bed. Her hands were starting to wander, and she had mischief in her eyes as she looked up at him, a sly sexy smile across her face. She was doing her damndest to make him hang up the phone.

"I don't know. What do you think? I suppose you could head over to my place and leave some of your stuff there, so it looks like you stay over."

"Uh, huh. I can do that." That probably made sense. He let out an uncontrolled groan as Cherise moved lower with her kisses, automatically arousing his body.

"Er... should I call you back?" There was an embarrassed edge to her tone.

"No, no." Could she hear the pleasure Cherise was giving him, now working her kisses on his inner thigh? "Massage, I'm having a massage," Face groaned. "Terrible back trouble lately. Working out a few knots in my back."

"Is that what you call it?" Rolling his eyes, he could hear the sarcastic tone in her voice. Amy knew him too well. Too well...

"Face, are you sure about this? If you're busy, I can make something up, like you're away this weekend on business or something." She still sounded anxious.

"No, no, I'll do it. I promised. How long have I got?"

"Maybe an hour, by the time I've collected her..."

"An hour?" He glanced at the clock beside the bed, checking the time. He put his hand over the phone. "Cherise, honey, can we not do this right now?" She looked up, the devil inside of her. Face frowned, trying to listen to Amy and deal with Cherise at the same time.

"I'll try to take longer, but how long can I drag her around LAX? And then you don't need to turn up till around dinnertime, like you've been at work, right?" she continued, ignoring his concerned tone.

"Okay, okay." He swallowed, trying to keep in his gasps as Cherise went to work on him, arousing his body.

He was relieved when he heard the phone click as Amy put the phone down and he did the same. He relaxed back into the pillow, sighing, letting Cherise do her thing. An hour. He had an hour.

Shit, he really didn't have time for this. He groaned. Why me? Always me.

He tried to pull himself gently away from her. "Ah, Cherise, honey, I gotta go." Did this woman rest? Oh boy, he could easily stay in bed... letting this sexual feeling shroud him. No. Get up.

"Where?" she said, straddling his body. Everything about her was asking for sex.

"To work." He stroked her cheek, trying to give his most convincing serious, apologetic look.

"Work?" She purred into his ear, "But I thought you had the day off, Templeton?"

"I did, I did." Face playfully turned her over, so he was now on top of her. "Something urgent has come up."

She looked innocently into his eyes. "I can see that, Temp." She tried to kiss him again, but he pulled away.

"At work! At work!"

She giggled, reaching around his neck, trying to pull him down on top of her.

"I'm sorry, but I might even have to go away for a couple of days." He stroked her arm, her face. She just looked back at him, playfully wrapping her legs around his body.

"Do you have to go right away?"

No, he didn't. He could stay, make love, again, with this beautiful woman... but he only had an hour. And he really liked to take his time.

"Cherise, honey, I'm sorry, I've really got to go." He kissed her passionately and then regretfully, prised himself away. She scowled, unhappily, sitting up in the bed, pulling the sheets around her.

"Look, if I don't have to go away..." She frowned at him, showing her unhappiness. "I don't know, yet. It might be the weekend, or just today. But if it's just for today, then I'll come over to your place tonight." He winked. "I promise. And I'll make it up to you." He gave a sly smile. "But I just can't help it. When my boss says jump, I have to ask how high. That's how it is. He wants me to meet a client. It could mean big funding on our next picture. He didn't run through the details, but it's urgent. I'm sorry." He kissed her hand, and when he saw she become more receptive, he kissed her lips.

"You've got a lousy boss."