As a note to my readers here is a link to the music that is played while Tintin and Haddock Dance.

On youtube and look this piece of music up - Carlos Gardel - Por Una Cabeza

Once the Captain was calmed down we continued up the spiral staircase because the Captain wanted a drink. The place seemed fairly normal as far as individuals interacting with one another. The place seemed really nice. I noticed different crowds of folk, some were rich, some were not as rich, but each one seemed to have their own inner circle. I was fascinated by it. I knew my bosses knew about my relationship with the Captain but I didn't know what they would think if they saw me in such a place. Mr. Silk was an odd individual and always has been with and odd one with different fascinations. When I went back one day and read his case file down at the main precinct in Brussels, I discovered how he seemed to have a compulsion to collect things. Now that I knew this aspect about him, and it kind of made him a bit more on the creepy side; but, who am I to judge? There were ups to this outing and the Captain surprised me, it was different but wonderful!

"Give me a nice triple shot of whiskey" I need it to calm my nerves Haddock complained.

The bartender was a slim looking feminine guy with a long black coat and a fluffy white shirt underneath.

"Of course, the customer is always right" the bartender winked at Haddock handing him the glass slightly rubbing Haddock's finger.

"Why thank you young man" Haddock nodded ignoring the subtle advance yet flattered even though he had absolutely no interest in him.

Tintin didn't notice as he was too busy still taking everything in.

"Here's the money" Haddock said paying for his drink. "So do you gents want drink too?" Haddock offered Thompson and Thomson.

"Um…why…um…" Thomson wanted to say yes.

"What he means to say is…yes we would" Thompson finished.

"Exactly Thompson!" Thomson agreed.

"Give me two more double shots would ya?" Haddock nodded taking a sip.

"Sure thing daddy" the bartender said a bit more flirtatious.

Tintin rolled his eyes but ignored the attempt as Haddock handed him more money. The bartender rubbed Haddock's hand slowly as he took the money.

"Feel free to let me know if you need anything…anything at all…" he smiled seductively.

"Do you want anything Tintin?" the Captain asked getting real close to him.

"I don't know yet, but you go on ahead I can buy it" Tintin shook his head.

"Nonsense!" Haddock said taking out a couple bills and placing them in Tintin's hand.

"Now you buy whatever ya want love we'll be waiting for ya" Haddock said gently kissing Tintin on the cheek drawing severe scrutiny from the bartender.

Thompson and Thomson took their double whiskey shots and followed the captain off.

"What about you?" the bartender's mood changed looking a bit condescending.

"I don't drink thank you, tonic water if you don't mind" Tintin shook his head.

"Try the soda parlor" the bartender scoffed.

"What?" Tintin asked having trouble hearing him.

"Nevermind...fine then…" the skinny bartender moved on to the next two men hanging all over each other getting their drink first, making Tintin wait almost five minutes.

"Oh, here you go… ten Francs please" the bartender said a bit snooty.

"Ten francs for a tonic water? Are you sure?" Tintin asked a bit suspiciously.

"Look where you're at, now are you going to buy it or are you going to stand there wasting my time?" the lanky bartender cocked his head a bit arrogantly.

Tintin took out the money reluctantly and put it down on the counter and took the drink.

"What a rip off!" Tintin commented as he walked away.

"Those the prices pretty boy, if you don't like it leave!" the bartender commented back as Tintin walked away.

Tintin ignored the bartender's attitude and just followed his companions down the spiral stair case which was made of a dark cherry wood.

"Tintin what took you so long?" Haddock asked a bit curiously.

"That bartender charged me ten francs for a tonic water!" Tintin complained.

"Why that no good pickpocket! Scoundrel! Con-artist!" Haddock's temper began to flare again.

"Calm down Captain, I'm not stooping to that person's level. Just let it go" Tintin nodded.

"He'd better not try it again!" Haddock waved his fist a bit more threateningly then took another long drink.

The Detectives continued drinking their whiskey as they realized the bartender poured them both more than a double shot and realized Tintin's glass was just nearly a bit more than half full. They found a table empty and they had a seat and proceeded to drink.

"So Thompson, Thomson, how long have the two of you been coming out here?" Tintin asked a bit awkwardly.

"Well to be precise…" Thompson thought for a moment.

"About eight years" Thomson finished.

"Wow, this place has been here a long time" Tintin was amazed.

"Oh yes, It's been here almost eleven years!" Thompson replied.

"Eleven long years" Thomson echoed.

Tintin was quiet for a few minutes taking in the rest of the place and looked down the long dark corridor again. It was lit with red lights and suddenly Tintin became curious.

"What's back there?" Tintin said finishing his tonic water.

"Oh well…to be tactful about this…" Thompson said.

"You see Tintin… it's kind of like this…" Thomson finished a bit awkwardly.

Haddock finished his more than triple shot and put his glass down.

"I think what they are trying say Tintin is that it is a place for… um…you know…romance kind of things lad" Haddock tried to be classy about it.

"Romance?" Tintin looked a bit strangely at his trio of companions. "Can you show me?" Tintin asked innocently.

Thompson and Thomson both looked at Haddock helplessly and Haddock cocked an eyebrow then responded. "Now you may see some things that may be a bit much for you lad. I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

At that moment a string quartet accompanied with the shiny black grand piano began playing. Suddenly couples began go out on the ballroom floor.

"What's everyone doing?" Haddock asked caught off guard.

"I think they're going to dance" Tintin replied as people paired off. Mostly couples of men with a couple of women couples and a couple man and woman partners.

"Thomson…" Thompson smiled.

"I was thinking the same thing!" Thomson smiled as the two Detectives got on the dance floor and began waltzing to the music.

Haddock sat there watching as the Detectives took turns taking the lead.

"Captain, are we going to dance too?" Tintin asked suddenly to Haddock's surprise.

"I thought you were nervous Tintin. I'm not a good dancer…" Haddock replied.

"Well, considering our situation, I feel a bit better now. Don't feel bad Captain, I'm not a great dancer either" Tintin smiled rubbing the Captain's hand.

"I hate it when you do that to me" Haddock started to smile. "Alright, just one dance after this piece, waltzing just isn't my cup of tea lad" Haddock.

"I would love to hear a tango" Tintin said suddenly. Haddock cocked an eyebrow.

"A Tango you say? Blisterin' Barnacles do you know?" Haddock suddenly regarded Tintin again.

"About what?" Tintin suddenly looked confused.

"I did take those Tango lessons when we were in Spain with Calculus during that whole affair with the blue oranges" Haddock mentioned.

"Oh you did after all that begging I did?! This should be great!" Tintin smiled in amazement at Haddock.

"You see, so your Captain can still surprise you eh lad?" Haddock said a bit cocky.

There was a small break in the music as Haddock stood up and offered Tintin his hand.

"Come on lad, let's show them how it's done" Tintin was suddenly taken aback by Haddock's sudden confidence and somewhat turned on by it as well, and just reached for Haddock's hand without saying a word as Haddock led him onto the dance floor. The other couples repositioned themselves as the musicians got ready for the next piece.

Almost as if a magic spell took over, the music started and it was a piece which they had only heard a couple of times back in Spain. It was Por Una Cabeza by Carlos Gardel. Haddock gripped Tintin's thigh and held his other hand up high as they began to try to Tango. It was a bit clumsy at first, but by the second time the piano came in aggressively, Haddock and Tintin were feeling it in full swing. Their bodies seemed to react perfectly to one another and the music. Tintin was lost in Haddock's bright blue eyes as Haddock found himself entranced by Tintin's brilliant green eyes. Neither of them noticed, but many other couples watched them with admiration as they moved in meter with the music and seemed to somehow know the right steps and movements. Tintin was amazed at how well Haddock led them. Thompson and Thomson were amazed both wondering how a sea faring man would have such an interest in such artistic knowledge let alone to learn. They knew this was a moment to savor to see the sensual side of the Captain. Both Haddock and Tintin were lost in the melodic rhythmic movement of their dance, the music, and the spark of romance that seemed to electrify both of them once the romantic esculation in the music resurfaced and peaked. The end of the piece was coming and Haddock rolled Tintin onto his other arm and bent over for a romantic kiss as the music finished. For those magical moments, the world seemed to melt away leaving Tintin and Haddock in the midst of a fantasy that would leave them in eternal bliss.

The other couples including both Thompson and Thomson gave both the Captain and I a loud applause at our sudden graceful and artistic expression, which I have no idea where it came from. The Tango lesson I took for the couple weeks we ended up staying in Spain on the Professors account seemed to come back quickly somehow. The Captain and I were both breathless at not the attention but the sudden magical feeling that seemed to take hold. After the Captain and I looked at each other one more time, we were suddenly aware that we had taken the spotlight. I really didn't want the attention but to feel so accepted like that was a wonderful feeling. I would never forget those fantastic moments with the one I love.