Riley could see it now as she looked down the beach and saw various American flags, including the one on Larabee's deck, standing at half-mast in the waning early morning fog. She should have noticed when she came into town but the demeanor of the people of Coronado was that of so many other military bases in that it was business as usual in time of war, the loss of so many brave men notwithstanding. She and Buck had cleaned Chris Larabee's small house, throwing out the trash and repairing what could be fixed and, as dawn began to break, the Major had gone for decent coffee and bagels while the Lieutenant was still dead to the world...or so she thought.

As Riley Goodwyn, wrapped in an old, moth eaten, plaid woolen blanket, reclined in an equally old, paint-flecked deck chair to await Buck's return she heard footfalls and watched in silence as Chris Larabee came out onto the deck, a lighted cheroot clamped between his teeth and as naked as the day he was born. The thought of clearing her throat crossed her mind but she decided to let him discover her in his own time and remained quiet. The sound of the ocean waves breaking on the shoreline interlaced with some far off shouted commands and the proper responses of early morning PT drills seemed to capture Larabee's interest while the sight of his incredibly tight ass and the way his muscles ripple as he smoked only added to the ambiance of an early morning in Coronado for Riley. She didn't know how long she would be in town and would, for the moment, simply enjoy the view.

Chris took in a mouthful of aromatic smoke and let it play around on his tongue before exhaling. His beer and whiskey soaked brain was a tad slower than usual but his hearing was still acute and he definitely heard a sigh. It was a woman's sigh of contentment and he smiled and hoped to hell it was Jen...or Joan...or whatever the hell the flavor of the week was. He turned slowly fully expecting to see one of the strippers from the Ace and was surprised to see a complete stranger wrapped up against the early morning chill.

The sight of her sparked the last few memories of the night before and he smiled. "I see you came back for your ride," he said nonchalantly and leaned back against the deck railing unashamed of his nudity or the response her presence stirred in him.

"Stand down, Lieutenant," she ordered, "My empathy for your grief only goes so far."

Buck stood in the doorway holding a cardboard tray and paper bag and added, "Chris, don't make me have to apologize all over again for you before I kick your ass."

"Nothing to apologize for," Chris said in his own defense, "I come out for a smoke every morning. It relaxes me."

"Yeah, maybe," Buck said with a snort after seeing his friend's state of arousal, " But I'll bet it pisses off your neighbors...just like it's pissing me off." The Ranger, dressed now in jeans and a tee shirt, set his packages down on a picnic table and went back into the house. Moments later he reemerged with a pair of jeans that were reasonably clean and tossed them to Chris.

The SEAL knew he should have shown a modicum of modesty and, even though he had been taken aback by the sight of a strange woman sitting peacefully on his deck, her unwavering stare and complete lack of any embarrassment in regards to the situation was like an unspoken challenge and he had wanted to show her who had the bigger balls. But Buck had a right to be pissed, Chris thought. This woman evidently meant something to him or he would never have tried to introduce her to him or let it be known that he was angry. Buck Wilmington didn't anger easily and when he did the consequences were usually painful...and bloody.

"I apologize for my boorish behavior," Larabee said contritely slipping on the jeans.

Riley didn't know if she believed him or not but had to take the apology at face value. "Apology accepted, Lieutenant," she said and Buck relaxed significantly. Lacy certainly didn't want the Major to have to beat the crap out of his oldest friend when they had only just reconnected and it wasn't like she'd never seen a penis before.

Buck handed her a cup of coffee, almost white with cream and practically solid with sugar, and grimaced as she took a sip. He held out a cup to Chris, black as midnight just like his, and the SEAL took it in his trembling hand. Buck then sat down on the tabletop, one booted foot up on the bench while Larabee returned to his place leaning against the railing.

Still not sure what to expect there was a moment of stilted silence before Chris spoke. "What are you doing here, Buck?" he asked flatly. It was a benign question but could be taken so many different ways.

"Had a few days off before I need to report to The Presidio. Thought I'd stop in to see an old friend," Buck explained between sips of coffee, "I brought along a colleague of mine to meet you."

"Is that what they're calling 'em these days?" Chris asked with a lascivious smile, his former apology all but forgotten.

"Shut up, you son of a bitch. I'm trying to be civil here," Buck said hotly but his anger was tempered with a little good will now that his friend had some pants on, "This is Agent Riley Goodwyn, NCIS."

Riley waved her hand, a smirk on her face.

Yeah, right, Chris thought and said; "I think I've seen you on TV. You're the Goth one, right?"

Buck turned to Riley in surprise but she only laughed and said, "I think he's got more than enough rope, Major." She stood up and, still wrapped in his blanket, crossed over to where Chris stood still half expecting her to throw off the blanket to reveal nothing on underneath but pasties and a g- string. "You know that show is a total goat fuck, don't you?" she asked and, extending her hand, looked him straight in the eye and added, "And I am sorry for your loss."

Chris' throat tightened as he shook her pro offered hand. There was no way this woman was a stripper. Stolen valor was something neither he nor Buck could abide and a stripper passing herself off as an NCIS agent would be a hundred steps over the line. "Pleased to meet you, Agent Goodwyn," he said and, as his tanned completion darkened even more, he added; "I sincerely apologize for my behavior of last night and again of this morning."

Riley stepped up beside him at the railing and looked out at the sea. "Apology sincerely accepted, Lieutenant," she said and nudged him with her shoulder.