NEMESIS… Chapter 2 - The Best Laid Plans…
Shane looked up to see CJ standing before him with large watery eyes. He didn't say a word; he just stared at the fallen FBI agent.
"CJ, come here." Shane whispered. He tried to block Amanda's screams from his head while he concentrated on getting free, but it was a losing battle as he continued to listen to the fight in the next room. Meanwhile CJ had made his way slowly to Shane. "CJ go get the scissors from the kitchen drawer." Shane directed. CJ quietly ran to the kitchen and for a second the fighting in the next room stopped. Shane knew that if the attacker caught CJ it was game over for them. He had to do something.
"Amanda!" He called in ragged breaths.
"Shane…Help...me." She cried in sobs. He just laid his head back down in anger. He had to get free and stop the attack in the next room. CJ quickly made his way back to Shane. "CJ cut the tape between my wrists." Shane said as he tried to sit up, but ending sitting on his knees. He forced his arms back as much as he could handle and felt CJ start to work at the tape. He felt the cuts the child was giving his wrists and felt the tape get sticky from the blood from his cut hands. He didn't care; he just needed to get free to help Amanda. He felt the tape loosen and started to pull at it. He felt it snap and his wrists were free. He grabbed the scissors from CJ and cut the tape from around his feet. "CJ you go back to your room and lock the door. Do not come out until your mom or I tells you to okay big guy?" Shane smiled at the boy. CJ just nodded his head and quietly ran back to his room. He turned the lock on the door and the attacker heard it. That was Shane's cue, it was now or never.
Shane got up and tried to find his gun, but was unable to see it. He rushed into Amanda's room. She was on the bed and the attacker was trying to force himself on her. Anger and rage filled Shane's eyes as he beheld the sight before him. Without thinking he lunged at the attacker. Taken by surprise the attacker looked up and was caught full force by Shane's body slamming into his. They both tumbled off the bed. Amanda grabbed her ripped night-gown and pulled it back on her and despite the tears in her swollen eyes and the pain she must have been in, she managed to get herself off the bed and run into the living room. She dialled 911 and then out of the corner of her eye, spied Shane's gun.
Meantime Shane and the attacker traded blow for blow. Shane had to wipe the blood from his left eye as the cut on his forehead, where he was struck with the lamp earlier, was refusing to close up. The attacker took every opportunity he could to hit Shane in each wound he did before. Although in pain Shane refused to give up. The large man rolled over Shane and placed a boot on Shane's stomach. Shane grabbed the leg and pulled the man forward. The attacker went crashing face first into the wall. He screamed in pain as he felt his nose break. Shane tried to get up and run for the door when the attacker turned around and grabbed his feet. Shane felt himself crash to his stomach on the carpet. Shane was up on his knees and turned around to counter when he came up and found himself face to face with the barrel of a 45 gun. "Your heroism was short lived pal." Yelled the attacker in an angry voice. "Now it's time to die." He cocked the barrel of the gun and Shane closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable.
BANG!
Shane opened his eyes expecting to see a large hole in his stomach. Instead he watched as the large man fell to the ground. He turned around and to his relief and surprise spied Amanda leaning on the doorframe with the gun still shaking in her hands. Her gown was torn and she had bruises all over her face, chest and arms, and despite all that she had come through for him when he needed it most, she saved his life. How in the world will I ever be able to repay her, he thought? He slowly stood up and staggered over to her. She was crying so hard that when he got to her she just collapsed in his arms. He let the gun fall as he collected her in his arms and carried her to the soft sofa to wait for the police to arrive.
"I'll be right back." He said as he went back to check on the body and get his gun. "What the hell?" He said as he felt the faint pulse. "He's still alive." He quickly grabbed her phone and called for another ambulance. He locked the door to her room and went back to sit beside her.
"Are you okay? Did he," Shane paused not wanting to ask the inevitable, "did he hurt…"
"I'm okay. How are you?" She answered numbly.
"Amanda, please I have to know. Did he…?" Shane asked with tears in his eyes.
"No, but just about." She cried as Shane let out a huge sigh of relief. "Oh my god, where's CJ?" She asked in a panic.
"He's in his room, he's safe. I told him to come out when you said it was safe." Shane said softly. "He saved us you know. He allowed me to get to you and allowed you to get free and shoot that guy before he could kill either one of us." He said closing his eyes, "or worse."
She put her hand up to his bleeding face and caressed it, "I'm so glad you came back." She said softly.
"Yeah," he said taking her hand and holding it on his face, "me to." He said softly.
"I know you can't change until the police look you over, but can I get you a blanket or something?" He asked softly.
"No just get CJ for me." She said in a trembling voice. Shane got up and walked to the boy's room.
"CJ it's me Shane, your mom is safe, it's okay you can come out." Shane said into his room door. He heard the door handle slowly turn and then CJ appeared. Shane took him by the hand and led him to Amanda.
"What's wrong mommy?" CJ asked with sad eyes.
"It's okay. Mommy is going to be just fine baby." Amanda said gathering the child into her arms and holding him. Shane slid his body in behind and held both of them. Although his hands were bleeding from the scissor cuts and his body felt like it was just the prime target of a cattle stampede, there was no way he was going to leave them. They sat there in the quiet of the house, all crying softly and saying a prayer of thanks that they were all alive. Then the front lawn lit up with bursts of red, white and blue lights as the police and ambulance's arrived.
"I'll handle this." Shane said getting up and walking to the door.
He let them in and go to work. They quickly went to the room and took care of the attacker. He was soon on a stretcher with the machines hooked up and a police escort ready and waiting to leave for Community General. A female police officer checked over Amanda and took her statement. CJ stayed with his mom. Shane was attended to by the medics and gave his statement to the police before he called Jade.
********
"What?" She practically yelled into the phone, as she knocked the clock-radio off the small table. She flipped the switch on her bedside lamp. It wasn't long before she was dressed and down to the hotel parking lot, in her car and on her way to the hospital to see Shane and Amanda.
********
"You were a very brave boy tonight CJ. Your mom is very proud of you and so am I." Shane praised the child now sitting in his lap in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Amanda opted for the stretcher since her legs still felt as though they would give way at any moment. Shane was only too happy to ride with her, so he gave up his right to lay down, although his side was in pain. CJ smiled up at Shane and hugged him. Amanda looked up at him and smiled.
"What?" He asked softly.
"I just kept thinking about what that guy would have done to you if he killed me." Amanda said with tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Shh." Shane said softly. "It never came to that." He said taking her hand, "and thanks to your bravery, I am alive to say that." He looked into her eyes and a serious look came across his face, "you saved my life you know. How in the world can I ever repay you?" He questioned.
"I'm sure someday you'll think of way." She smiled warmly at him. She closed her eyes and thought about him. Even when the man was attacking me I was so worried about what might happen to him. Oh Shane, she thought, I am falling for you.
********
"Can I see them yet?" Jade asked in an anxious voice.
"Well you can see me right now if you like." Came Shane's weary voice from behind her. She was standing in the waiting area of Community General waiting for news on any of them.
"Oh Shane." Jade said as she rushed to him and they hugged each other tightly.
"OW" Shane winced as she hugged his sore side.
"Oh man, I didn't see your bandage. Sorry." She said stepping back to look at him. The left side of his face was swollen and bruised. He had a large bandage around his muscled chest and both his wrists were wrapped from the cuts from the scissors. But otherwise he was alive, that's all that mattered. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm alive that's all that matters. Amanda," he paused, "she saved my life." He finished quietly.
"Amanda?" Jade gasped, "how is she? Is she okay?" She asked excitedly.
"Well for the most part. At least he didn't have time to assault her sexually." Shane sighed looking down. "Jade," he paused looking up.
"Yes?" Jade answered.
"I almost died when I felt helpless to defend her. I mean when I was finally free and was able to get into the bedroom, and when I saw that guy on top of her I really wanted to kill him. And I think if I had had my gun I would have without thinking. I lost my nerve to keep a calm head and think about what to do." Shane sighed and leaned his head back on the wall.
"Yeah I can imagine." Jade sighed looking at her weary partner.
"No you can't imagine." Shane said angrily.
"Actually," she paused to look right at him, "I can. When I went to Steve's and found him handcuffed to the bed and knew that Carmen was somewhere in the room with him I was so filled with anger that I lost all sense of reason and nearly got myself killed. When she was gone and I saw what she did to him I really wanted to kill her."
"What does it mean? Does it meant that we're losing our edge? Our nerve that lets us do this dangerous job, have we lost it?" He moaned.
"No Shane. It means that you now finally know the pain I felt when Carmen took Dean from me and then almost Steve." Jade sighed. Yup Shane was indeed falling hard for Amanda.
"Speaking of Dean, do you ever miss him?" Shane suddenly asked.
"I guess, I," Jade stuttered, "yeah of course I do. Sometimes." She finished taken aback by his question.
"Does Steve ever ask about him?" Shane asked.
"No. And I never have the nerve to bring it up. I don't want Steve to think that I might be comparing the two of them in some way. I love Steve. It's something I never thought I'd have for a long time. And now that I have it, I don't want to jeopardize that." Jade sighed.
"I guess then Steve doesn't know about Dean's brother?" Shane asked raising his eyebrows.
Jade was about to reply when a doctor came up to them to tell them about Amanda.
"Doc?" Shane said standing up. "How is she?"
"Ask her yourself." Said the doctor as Amanda and CJ appeared from behind him.
"Oh thank god you're okay." Shane said taking Amanda into his arms for an embrace. "And you too big guy." Shane said grabbing CJ into his arms and hoisting him into the air.
"Are you sure you can lift him up?" Asked Amanda noting the bandage on Shane's ribs.
"Yup." He said smiling ignoring the pain in his side that was telling his brain to put the child down.
"Amanda. I'm so glad you're okay." Jade said hugging her.
"Well thanks to Shane coming back I am." Amanda smiled. "Why did you come back anyways? I forgot to ask."
"Well actually I didn't plan to come back." He explained as they walked to the exit doors. "I was going to take Charles Street to the main highway, then I remembered that you said the Glenning Drive way was faster. So as I went to turn right I saw the man enter the backdoor of your place. Since I don't like competition I thought I'd go back and give him a piece of my mind." Shane half laughed.
"Well whatever the circumstances, I'm just glad that you're all okay." Jade sighed.
"Are you sure you want to go back there alone?" Jade asked. "I mean you could always stay with us tonight. We have a suite and we really wouldn't mind."
"Want to stay in a hotel tonight CJ?" Shane asked. "Yesss." CJ said with a happy smile.
"Can we swing by and pick up a few things?" Amanda asked looking down at the temporary gown the hospital had given her. "Of course." Shane answered as they walked to the Crown Victoria. Very soon they were finished at Amanda's and well on their way to the hotel.
Jade kept thinking about what Shane asked about Dean and his brother. She just didn't have the heart to mention him to Steve. She loved Steve now. And although Dean would always be her first love and special to her, it made no sense for her to dwell in the past when a beautiful future was waiting for her. She also thought about what Steve said earlier about her moving in with him. That actually scared her. Why? Asked her little voice. Because that means you actually have to commit. Shane wasn't the only person with the trouble to commit long term. She too had the same fears as Shane when it came to commitment, she could voice the words, but the actual step scared her to death. She was the kind of person who always rushed in where angels feared to tread, shoot first ask questions later. How could she put another person through that constant worry? And yet Steve seemed to want her, no matter what. I really don't deserve him; she sighed as she pulled into the hotel parking lot. They were soon up into the suite and getting settled in for the night. She said goodnight and closed the door to her room. Shane would take the couch and let Amanda and CJ have the other room. She thought about Steve and was soon asleep with a smile on her face. Outside of her room was a different story however.
"Goodnight my sweet." Shane smiled as he quickly kissed Amanda.
"Goodnight." Amanda smiled warmly at him.
"Nite kiddo." Shane smiled at CJ. They closed the door and very soon Shane was on the pullout trying to fall asleep. His dreams were not sweet, just the opposite. He just couldn't get her screams of terror out of his head. What would he have done if the attacker did accomplish his job, and killed her or raped her? That thought made him sick and he decided to put it aside. He closed his eyes and prepared for a fitful night's sleep ahead.
********
"Okay so what are we missing here?" Sighed Melvin as he read the page in his hands over and over again as he sat in Nickel's office the following morning. They had been going over the files for hours already.
"The obvious." Nickel said sarcastically. "Oh I need a break." He sighed rubbing his eyes. He eased back in his chair and started to play with his suspenders. Melvin noticed his friend was obviously side-tracked by something.
"What is it?" Melvin asked putting down the paper and taking his reading glasses off.
"What is what?" Nickel echoed.
"What is really bugging you Nick?" Melvin asked.
"I guess," he sighed as he stood up and went to stare into the rainy Washington morning. "I guess I'm just frustrated that someone as high up as Schuler fell for something so insignificant." He moaned.
"Getting paid millions of tax free dollars isn't something I would call insignificant." Melvin said with a serious tone.
"Getting paid to sell out your country isn't insignificant either." Nickel sighed.
Nickel just turned back to his friend with a serious look. "Not everyone has your loyalty Nick." Melvin said.
"And why is that?" He asked. "I mean you'd think that after events like September 11TH people like Schuler would stop and think twice about supporting those that want to take this country apart like that. I mean when did we start putting a price on human life?" Nickel practically yelled. He stepped back and regained his composure.
"When Cain murdered his brother." Came Melvin's absent reply.
"What?"
"When Cain killed Able. That's when a price was put on human life. When time started, when human life began." He said with a serious tone. "Look we have been at this all morning long and so far nothing in the board is connecting anyone there to Schuler. Can't we just close the case and let the CIA handle it?" Melvin questioned.
"What about the review board?" Nickel asked as he walked back and sat down in his large leather chair.
"The review board? Nickel, that's a bit of a stretch isn't it?" Melvin moaned.
"Look, somewhere that evidence disappeared. It left this office in tact and then 'poof' vanishes into thin air." Nickel said with a mock tone. "So unless paper has evolved to the state where it can fold itself into paper airplanes and fly to any destination it chooses, we still have a mole somewhere here that we have to find. A link that we have to break." He finished with a sarcastic smile. "The CIA doesn't do that!"
"You say it left here in tact?" Melvin questioned.
"Yeah why?" Nickel asked as he rolled down the sleeves on his white dress shirt.
"Just curious." Melvin sighed. "Can't see the forest for the trees." He muttered.
"What? What was that?" Nickel asked in interest.
"Just an old saying that means: whatever you are looking for is usually right before you, but you just can't see it." He sighed. "Until it's too late." He added quietly.
Nickel leaned back and thought about what his friend said. But who? Who would Schuler have gotten through to, in order to turn them against their country? He was still lost in thought when Mable came in. Melvin too was lost in the file he was reading and failed to notice her walk in.
Mable walked into the room and spied the two directors' buried under a mountain of paperwork. She looked at Nickel. He works too hard she sighed. She studied the way a lock of his dark hair kept falling over one eye and how he kept pushing it back. She studied how his suspenders seemed to flex with his muscles, how his shirt did little to hide his manly body. She dreamed of what he would look like with his shirt off, probably terrific. And the more she studied him the more she would soon realize that wanting would turn to obsession and obsession would turn to something else, something dangerous, something that most rash people can keep hidden away and under control. She would prove to be unlike most people.
He looked up and noticed the look in her eye's as she studied him, and he actually felt himself shudder at the thought that she was indeed studying him.
"Mable?" Nickel said causing Melvin to look up from his reading, "what have you got?" He smiled casually.
"The Rivers file you requested." She said walking up to his desk and handing him the file.
"Thanks." He said taking it from her. She drank in the scent of his cologne and quickly decided to leave before she made an even bigger fool of herself. However it was lost to both directors, as their thoughts were turned someplace else.
"The Rivers file?" Melvin asked leaning forward after Mable had left, "tell me your kidding Nick!" He stated in horror looking at the file in his friend's hand. The file on his boss, Jake Rivers, the top Director of the FBI.
"Sorry my friend," Nickel said looking into the file, "I'm not."
********
"What? Well is she okay?" Asked Mark in horror after he was informed about what happened to Amanda later that same morning.
"Yeah I guess." Said Jesse quietly. "If Shane had not gone back, then…" his voice cracked as it trailed off and he couldn't bring himself to voice the horrible words he was going to say concerning his friend.
"I know Jesse. I can't quite bring myself to say the words either." Mark sighed as he walked down the hall with his young friend.
"And how is Shane?" Jesse asked. "Nothing major. Seems Amanda took the brunt of it." Mark sighed.
"By the way, where is Amanda today?" Jesse asked.
"She took the day off. She had to take CJ to his class then I told her to take the day and try to rest, even though she insisted she didn't need it." Mark laughed softly.
"Sounds like Amanda." Jesse muttered to himself. "Hey you going to swing by BBQ Bob's later tonight?" Jesse asked.
"Sure, if that's where the action is going to be, why not." Mark laughed as they went their separate ways to do their rounds.
"I'll go and check on the attacker. Tell you what I find out." Jesse called from down the hall.
********
"Well is she okay? Is Shane okay?" Asked Steve in a panicked voice when Jade told him what happened last night.
"Could have been worse I guess." Jade said sadly into the phone.
"You okay?" Steve asked.
"Yeah. I was just thinking about Shane and remembering the time that Carmen had…" was all she managed before Steve cut her off.
"Jade," he said, "you can't keep doing that to yourself. It's not fair. You have to let it go. You have to try to put it all behind you and move on." Steve said gently.
"I know, but it's hard sometimes." She sighed.
"Well if you ever need a friendly reminder, that's what I'm here for." He laughed into the phone. Jade felt her tension melt away immediately as his warm laughter filled her head.
"Okay deal." She smiled.
"See you at BBQ Bob's tonight." Steve said before she hung up.
"Okay." She said clicking off her cell phone.
She stood in the airplane hanger in silence before joining Shane at the far end.
"Anything?" She asked him.
"Nope." He said standing up slowly. "Like the other one, this one has been cleaned from top to bottom." He said brushing dirt off his dark dress pants.
"You sure you want to be out so soon? Shouldn't you be resting?" She asked softly noticing her partner's pain.
"I'm fine really." He said as he turned to head back to the car.
"Okay, then I think we should go and visit his place of residence." Jade stated as they walked back to their car.
"Just lead the way." He said getting in.
********
"What in the world happened to you girl?" Julia CJ's kindergarten teacher and her friend asked when she spied Amanda's appearance when she brought CJ in for class that same morning.
"I was attacked last night." Amanda said softly.
"What?" Julia practically screamed. "Sit down and tell me what happened."
Amanda told CJ to go and play with the other children and sat down to talk to her friend.
"Not to much to tell really. Some rapist I'm assuming broke into my place and attacked me. If it weren't for Shane's coming back then I would have ended up in a much worse state than this. At least the attacker didn't get what he came for."
"And what is that?" Julia asked.
"Well you know." Amanda said looking down not being able to actually say the fateful words.
"Well that is good I guess. But who is Shane?" Julia asked with a smile. "Spill girl, I want all the details." She decided not to pursue the conversation as she could see it brought her friend much pain.
"Shane is well," she stuttered with a large smile. "Shane is about 6'0, he definitely works out because he's built like a ken doll, he has deep blue eyes and wavy dark hair."
"Ohh, lovin' it already." Julia teased. "So where did you find a brotha like that?"
"Brotha? Oh, actually Shane is white, Italian I think, on his mother's side." Amanda said quickly.
"White?" Julia questioned.
"Yup and he works for the FBI. A Special Agent!" Amanda finished with a large smile.
"Okay let me get this straight. You're dating some white Italian stallion that sounds like he's the ken doll re-incarnate and he works for the FBI? Damn girl!" Julia said sounding impressed.
"Yeah he's pretty special." Amanda said softly.
"Yeah-huh!" Julia laughed. "So when do I get to meet him?" Julia smiled. Amanda just laughed and smiled back.
She looked at her watch and decided it was time to go. "So you sure you're okay?" Julia asked noticing Amanda wince as she stood up.
"I will be." She smiled. "Take good care of my baby." She said to Julia. "I'll treat him better than my own two." She laughed.
A white guy? Julia wondered as she watched Amanda walked to her SUV. Well I just hope it works out, cuz girl, you got a rocky road ahead of you if you want to continue with him.
********
"Why can't I seem to hire the right people for the right job!" Schuler screamed into the empty room. "You were supposed to kill her!" He screamed into thin air. "But no you had to let yourself get distracted by Agent Marshall's do-gooder partner, Agent Phillips."
The he looked at Nickel's picture and laughed, "just because this attempt failed don't think for one minute that I won't win in the long run. Because when I finally have you at my mercy NO ONE here will be able to help you! None of your friends or family will be around to save your life, you'll be alone and I'll finally have the victory I deserve!" He shouted in anger at the maze of faces before him, but particularly at Nickel's.
Schuler just ranted and raved as he quickly paced back and forth in the small room. He looked at his chart and spied the pictures of his next two victims, Mark Sloan and Jesse Travis. "Let's hope this time is a little better." He said angrily as he started to formulate his next attack.
********
"Oh by the way I invited Cami over to BBQ Bob's tonight. I thought it would be a good chance for her to meet Jesse." Shane mumbled on the drive over to the Asian's place of residence. "What do you think?"
"I think this Schuler case is not as finished as we hoped." Jade quickly answered.
"What?" Asked Shane in horror.
"Schuler, I think there is more to this than meets the eye." She said.
"You're turning into 'him' you know." Shane said directly.
"Who?"
"Your father."
"So."
"So, your father gets paid to be paranoid, that's what he does best. You on the other hand, don't do paranoia that well." Shane offered, "trust me I know."
"I think he has been right all along." She said softly.
They continued in silence for some time until Shane broke her thoughts. "So about tonight? Cami and Jesse?"
"What?" Jade asked as had missed his earlier question.
Shane just sighed and rolled his eyes.
********
"Well I hope you're happy!" Melvin snapped as he stood up in anger.
"Sit down Melvin." Nickel said in a sharp tone.
"Did you just tell me what to do?" Melvin asked. "You can't tell me what to do. You're not my boss. He is." Melvin said pointing to the very dissected filed on his boss Jake Rivers. "I told you he wasn't involved. But no, you always have to insist on having everything done your way!"
Nickel just leaned back in his leather chair and looked at his angry friend. They always had heated debates, it was par for the course in their high positions, especially with what was usually at stake, the National Security of the U.S. Melvin would storm out of here, things would settle down and in a few days they'd be friends and allies again. Nickel knew that when it came to his job Melvin's loyalty was beyond question. He trusted him with his life.
"Look Melvin. When it comes to this case, yes I will insist on things being done my way. How in the world did you expect me to look at each member of the board and not at the man who helps appoint them? Did you expect me just to walk away from that one?" Nickel said with an angry tone.
"Yes, actually I did." Melvin said grabbing his grey suit jacket. "I did expect that because I asked you to. And I thought that my opinion counted for something. I guess I was wrong." He said in a huff as he put his jacket on.
"Only in this particular case did I not listen, you know that isn't the case most of the time." Nickel said in a calm tone.
"Listen to me very carefully Nicholas," Melvin said using his full name and leaning forward on his desk. Nickel looked up in interest, for Melvin only used his full name in rare circumstances. "Whatever Schuler is planning you can be sure of this one thing, he'll take down anyone and anything that will stand in the way of the one thing he wants the most!" He said standing up and turning to leave.
"And tell me," Nickel said standing up, "what is the one thing he wants the most?"
"To write your obituary." Melvin said firmly.
And before Nickel could reply he walked out of his office and down the hallway to the waiting elevators. Melvin got in and slumped against the wall. He and Nickel had been best friends for their whole lives. He knew Nickel's reasoning for looking at his boss, but resented the fact that he was so stubborn sometimes that he didn't listen to others. He punched the P1 button and sighed. They would be talking again tomorrow as if nothing happened, but in the pit of his stomach he was worried sick for his friend. If Nickel was good at anything it was his job, and predicting people. And if he thought for one minute that Schuler was back in the country and scheming then he could put money on it and be right. But he prayed very hard that this one time his friend would be wrong, because for Nickel to be right would mean his certain death. He reached his car and sat in silence in the front seat for a long time to come.
He turned the engine to his car and drove out as he spied Chloe's BMW parked in the director's second spot. God help you Chloe if Schuler is back! God help us all!
Damn you Melvin, Nickel silently cursed. "I was just doing my job." Nickel said resting his head on both hands and looking down at his desk. "Doesn't he understand that I just can't give it up?" He was about to answer himself when he suddenly felt two hands on his shoulders starting to rub them.
"What the?" He looked up in shock.
Mable was standing behind him and massaging his tense frame.
Chloe walked down the hallway towards her husband's office. When she reached there she heard Nickel talking loudly and then noticed Mable quickly get up and walk into his office. She decided to listen and see if her suspicions towards the secretary were justified. She heard her husbands shocked voice and had to keep her anger under control at his next words.
"What are you doing Mable?" He said twisting his body out of her grasp. He stood up to face her.
"I was, uh, I just," she stuttered her face turning red. She obviously didn't expect him to react that way. How could he be so loyal to his wife when he could have me, she cursed inwardly?
"What? Why were you massaging me?" Nickel asked in annoyance. Chloe's hearing perked up when she heard the word 'massage'.
"Are you mad?" She asked sheepishly.
"Well it took me by surprise." He said calming down.
"I heard your frustration and saw you so tense and I guess I thought you could use the stress release." She said quietly. "Was I wrong?" She said grabbing his arm and holding on, not letting go. Nickel looked down, but she still didn't pull away.
"Look it's just that…" was all he got out before Chloe decided to barge in. She walked in and saw her husband and Mable turn to face her. Mable hesitated then dropped her hold on Nickel and Nickel looked relieved beyond words.
"Am I," she paused, "interrupting something?" She said trying to act surprised and angry.
"What?" Nickel said at seeing his wife's anger. "No, Mable was just…"
"Leaving." Mable said smiling proudly. No shame either, thought Chloe. Mable walked past Chloe and muttered something that Chloe never in the world imagine she'd hear from the woman that she thought she knew. The one word that would now start them down the path of hate and envy, for the very prize of the director of the NSA himself, a prize that only one would win.
"Bitch." Mable muttered so that only Chloe could hear her. She laughed and walked out of the director's office without looking back.
"Chloe, it's not what it looks like." Nickel tried to explain. She just stood in front of him and crossed her arms. He's so cute when he's flustered she thought. Of course I believe him, but it might be fun to tease him just a bit. Makes the making up that much better.
"Well it looked like you and your secretary were sharing quite the little moment." Chloe said with certainty.
"No, uh" he stuttered, "it's not like that at all. I was just sitting at my desk, when suddenly she came up and started to massage my shoulders. I was going to tell her that I only let my wife touch me but she cut me off. Then she grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. I was so caught up in my latest argument with Mel that I didn't hear her come in." Nickel said getting up. He walked over and closed the door to his office and locked it. "Please believe me." He begged as he walked back. "You can't actually believe that I would want her in any way." He said in desperation.
Mable, who was listening at the door decided from that moment on that Chloe was no longer her friend, but her enemy. And as she listened to his words her anger began to rise rapidly.
"Sweetheart," he said standing in front of her, "I love you. I always have and I always will. I made a promise to you and have never broken that promise." He said referring to the Carmen affair. "Mable is my secretary, and nothing else. You are my life, my world. I love you and only you. It was nothing, and so help me god, will never be anything!" He finished firmly, with Mable having to back away or she would be unable to control her jealous rage. How dare she walk in on us! If she hadn't walked in he probably would have let me finish. He was going to say not here maybe back at your place, Mable tried reason in her twisted mind. But it wasn't working for reason had taken leave of her sometime before and had no intention of coming back.
Obsession is a dangerous thing if allowed to fester; and her's was well beyond the point of no return.
"Chloe?" Nickel said looking into his wife's eyes pleading with his.
"Hmm, well I guess I should be mad but," Chloe said trying to sound put off. "But I could never say no to a man in suspenders." She teased. Nickel took her into his strong arms and pulled her against him. She could feel the heat of his body start to rise as she ran her fingers up and down his chest under the suspenders, she felt him flex and knew if they didn't leave soon, they'd end up on the floor, like many times before.
"I, uh, have to finish this," he said pulling away regrettably from her warm lips and sat back down in his large leather chair. "The sooner the better." He sighed pulling his tie loose so he could breathe. Chloe just smiled as she pushed back her blond hair.
Chloe came up to his desk and sat herself down on top of his stack of files. She pulled her short skirt high enough for him to see the black garter belt she was wearing.
"What exactly," she said slowly undoing the buttons on her blouse, "did you say you had to finish?" She teased by showing some black lace of her bra. He stared at his wife's well kept luscious body and felt himself starting to lose control. "I uh," he stuttered as his eyes traveled down from her breasts to her legs and stayed on the black garters, "I, um, had to, uh," he said, his brain not sending proper words to his mouth. "Damn." He said softly.
No matter what kind of stupid little stunts you try to pull Mable, Chloe smiled, my husband loves me, and god help you if you ever try to take him from me or cross me in any way!
Nickel was still staring at her when she removed her suit jacket. He pulled his suspenders down and stood up. He brought his mouth down hard on hers and scooped her up in his strong arms. Chloe felt herself being lowered to his office floor. He undid her blouse the rest of the way and pulled off his tie and undid his shirt to reveal his well-muscled chest, lightly dusted with dark curly hair. Nickel sighed in delight as she ran her hands all over his body and he responded by showing his wife how much he loved her, and only her. There were no words needed, just soft sounds of pleasurable fulfillment.
********
Mable just stared at the locked door in jealous anger. She knew what was going on inside and felt her anger starting to take over. She had to leave or she'd do something she'd regret. Now wasn't the time. Soon, she said staring at his title, very soon.
********
"Well we're all just glad you're okay." Mark smiled across the table at Amanda at BBQ Bob's later that night.
"Well thanks to Shane I am." Amanda smiled warmly at Shane.
"Actually it was CJ who saved us all." Shane laughed.
"Well if the mutual admiration society is just about done, I am ready for supper." Jade said rolling her eyes.
"Almost done." Steve called from the background.
"So what did you find at the Asian's house?" Mark asked.
"Actually we never made it there. We started out but Donna called us back to go over some paper work. Mostly formalities, but apparently the deadline was today. So his place is the tops of our agenda for tomorrow." Shane explained.
"By the way when can we question the attacker?" Jade asked Jesse who was starting to bring out the food.
"Well," Jesse paused putting down the food tray, "he's still unconscious. His wound was quite serious, and just after his surgery when he came too and started to fight and tore the fresh stitching. So he had to be sedated and stitched up again. I'll see if he's awake tomorrow for you guys." Jesse said heading back into the kitchen.
"I guess when we talk to him we can find out why he did it." Jade stated.
"What do you mean, why?" Mark asked in a puzzled tone.
Oh no, Shane sighed, here she goes again. He looked at Jade and gave her a look that said 'don't', but she of course didn't listen.
"Well I think that…" she started but was stopped by the doorbell on BBQ Bob's ringing and Cami barging in.
"Shane!" Cami called in delight.
"Hey Cami." Shane called, "come and meet everyone." He gestured to a seat he purposely saved by Jesse.
"Hey who's that?" Jesse asked Steve when he saw Cami come in.
"Not sure," Steve said trying to balance two trays of drinks. "Can you help…" was all he got out as Jesse threw down his apron and headed quickly for the table. "Me?" Steve sighed with a smile.
"Hey Cami, how are ya?" Jade asked as she stood up and gave her a hug.
"Awesome." She gushed.
Jesse walked up to the table and transfixed his gaze on the petit bubbly girl in front of him. She was cute! Who is she he desperately wanted to know?
"Hey guys." Jesse said walking up to Shane. Shane was not lost to Jesse's instant interest as he hoped it would turn out that way.
"Hey Jesse, this is my cousin Cami." He said to Jesse. "Cami this is Jesse Travis. He works at Community General Hospital and he's also part owner for BBQ Bob's." Jesse quickly extended his hand to shake hers. She took his and shook it vigorously, getting laughs from both Jade and Mark.
"Wow what do you do at the hospital?" Cami asked smiling broadly at the cute guy before her. He's cute she thought, I hope he's single. She pushed her light curls away from her face and listened to him.
"Actually I'm a doctor." Jesse said mildly.
"Ohh like in ER?" She laughed.
"Well, uh, not exactly…" Jesse started. But Mark butted in and finished for him, "actually Jesse's the doctor in charge of the ER."
"Cool!" Cami gushed. She was about to say something when she suddenly turned around and bumped into Steve. Fortunately he only had the small tray of drinks in his hand. Two landed on him, the rest on the floor.
"Oh man." Cami said in horror while everyone else laughed. She grabbed some napkins and tried to dry him off as Jade stood up and said, "that's okay I can finish from here." She smiled at Cami. "Ah." Cami said in understanding.
Steve just laughed as Jade grabbed him by the arm and pulled him towards the back room, with Mark just watching his son and Jade with a large smile.
"I guess I'll clean up." Jesse offered.
"I'll help you." Came Cami's bubbly voice. "Okay." Jesse said smiling from ear to ear.
Mark leaned forward and whispered to Shane and Amanda, "looks like a match made in heaven."
"I heard that." Jesse said sarcastically. The whole room erupted in laugher, oblivious to the actions in the back room.
********
"Can you believe what she did?" Steve moaned as he took his wet shirt off, leaving his muscles plastered to his T-shirt beneath.
"Yeah," Jade breathed as she stared at his hard body, "too bad." She sighed as she moved closer to him. She started to rub her hands down his chest and feel his strength flex beneath her touch. Jade, like her mother wasted no time in showing the man she loved just how much she loved him, no matter the time or the place.
"Um," he stuttered as she moved in and kissed him, "I'm wet." He breathed as he felt himself start to feel dizzy from her warm touch. He grabbed her gently and pulled her into him winding his arms through her dark hair.
"That's okay, I'm going to be wet also very soon." She teased as he started to caress her soft yet firm body.
"Oh you're bad." Steve said as he gathered her in is arms and found that very soon the water didn't bother him.
Mark looked to the back and realized that Steve and Jade probably wouldn't be out for some time so he turned back to join the busy conversation at the table. It lasted well into the night.
Jesse watched Cami all night. Was she dropped from heaven just for me, he sighed? She caught him looking at her and blushed. I feel like a teenager when he smiles at me, Cami thought. It's great! I can't wait to get to know him better.
"So Cami," Jesse started, "what do you do for work?"
********
"Yes enjoy yourselves. Enjoy it while it lasts." Schuler muttered to himself as he slowly drove his rental car away from BBQ Bob's and headed towards Mark Sloan's residence.
"Enjoy it now Dr. Sloan," Schuler said as he grabbed his tools, got out of his car and headed towards the beach house. "Because very soon the only thing you'll be enjoying is an epitaph!" Schuler's sinister laugher could have been felt all the way to the East Coast.
**Dear Readers as it is hard to keep up many characters and keep them interesting plus keep you reading and enjoying the story also please let me know how it's going. Are the character's growing okay? What about the story? Still hooked? Thanks J **
