Chapter 2 – Difficult Questions

Climbing the stairs to Tony's office was taking far too long for Michelle's liking; she took them two at a time as her heart raised with excitement. Calm down! This was probably just a work discussion, she reminded herself. No - it could just be work or he'd have said it over the phone…

She knocked softly before peering round the glass door at Tony, he beckoned her in and Michelle's breath caught in her throat. How could he always look so amazing? Totally in control, the rock in every situation, if only he would be her personal rock.

Tony tried desperately to look busy, so this would seem like a normal, work related conversation, but he couldn't seem to draw his eyes away from hers. She made him nervous just being in the same room as him, how could he ever pluck up the courage to ask her out?

"You wanted to see me?" she said and smiled – that same smile that had captured his heart so many months before.

"Yeah, I… uh…" Michelle raised her eyebrows slightly, Tony wasn't normally this unsure around her – maybe this was really it.

"I wanted…" Just say it, Tony thought to himself angrily; "I… need you to update division. Chapelle wants a progress report on the attempt on Palmers life."

"Oh, ok. There hasn't been any major progress since yesterdays report though Tony, are you sure?"

"Yeah, just tell him that, thanks Michelle."

She felt punched in the stomach, maybe she was being unreasonable but it felt like he was giving her mixed messages – they'd been getting so close, then there was the kiss and now nothing, a purely work relationship - when Michelle wanted so much more from him.

She turned to go and Tony kicked himself – if he never asked her out he would never know how she felt about him, and if he waited too long she might even find someone else. Fear spiked his system, Michelle with someone else would be too difficult to bear, and it wasn't as if she didn't like him – they had kissed for crying out loud!

"Wait Michelle!" she spun round to face him in the doorway, "Are you… I mean, would you…" he grinned lamely at her, "I just wanted to say: if you're free, and only if you want to, that I'd like to take you out for that dinner and a movie I promised."

Tony stood, as though frozen waiting for her answer, knowing it would either make his day or break his heart…

Michelle felt the excitement return, as his words sank in slowly, like a distant daydream; did Tony just ask her out? Her answer was obvious but verbalising it without sounding overly keen would be more than difficult.

"Sounds good," she said, the enthusiasm clear in her voice, as she stepped back into the office and allowed the door to close behind her. "When?"

"I was thinking tonight?" Tony said stepping towards her, "Unless that's too soon?" he added quickly.

"Yesterday wouldn't be soon enough," Michelle admitted quietly, and they both smiled awkwardly at each other.

They were saved seconds later from the silence that had fallen in the office by the ring tone they all love so much. Tony lent over his desk, removed the phone from its cradle and put it to his ear.

"Almeida."

"Tony its Jack, you need to come down here right now, we have a situation unfolding, is Michelle with you?"

"Yeah she's here Jack, what going on?"

"We need you and Michelle down here on the floor as soon as Tony – I'll explain everything then."

"We'll both be right down."