Chapter Three

She hesitated it the doorway of his office; he stood with his back to her gazing out the window.  "Look...it wasn't my idea," she began but stopped when he raised a hand.

"Come in and shut the door," he commanded without looking at her.

Shay did as instructed, her back to him as she quietly clicked the door in place.  She was unaware that he was standing directly behind her, having reached her in two quick strides, until he grabbed her shoulders and turned her forcibly around and pinned her against the door.  Her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly in surprise.  She knew he was angry, but she never thought he would physically attack her. 

She surprised him, and he did not like that feeling.  Hell, he was furious beyond belief and wanted nothing more than to cheerfully choke the life out of her.  Until he touched her, that is.  The sight of her partially opened lips heated his blood and he found himself wanting her all over again, as he had when he first met her.  "Damn you, Shay," he cursed before crushing his lips to hers. 

She whimpered at the invasion of his rough mouth, at first, but the whimper turned into a low moan of desire as she pressed herself against him and wound her arms around his neck and tangled her fingers in his short hair.  She remembered vaguely the promise she had made herself back those many months ago and sighed with the fulfillment of finally tasting those full lips.  His lips and mouth felt and tasted as wonderful as she had imagined.  And had imagined every night since the day she had met him.

They were both breathless when he broke the kiss, and he looked dazedly into her eyes.  "What happened to you, Shay?  Why did you leave?"  He nuzzled the soft hollow of her neck, not able to get past the thought of how good it felt to hold her in his arms. 

She trailed her hands down his shoulders to rest against the firm muscles of his chest.  "It was something I had to do, Frank.  Believe me, it was for the best."

Her words were like ice water on hot coals.  "The hell it was," he growled pulling away from her and turning his back to her, his anger returning with a vengeance.  "I searched for you for months, without a trace."

She nodded at his back; she knew he had searched for her endlessly for months after she disappeared.  Jake had informed her of his search and she had persuaded him to keep her location from Frank.  She really hadn't expected him to be so persistent in his search for her.  As Jake had mentioned in the hospital in Colombia, they had barely known each other, and for the most part, he had been unconscious.  She never thought he would have developed any feelings for her at all.

"What made you leave, Shay," he repeated his earlier question.

How could she tell him?  How could she explain she had the hospital run tests on her while he was unconscious because of her relations with Jorge?  That she had missed her monthly for two months and suspected the horrible truth that she carried that monster's child.  How did she explain that an experienced field agent made such a stupid and costly mistake? 

"Senorita?" Carlita called softly as she shook her arm.

Shay's eyes fluttered and saw the young nurse standing over her with her finger to her lips in a gesture of silence and pointed to the man sleeping next to her.  She turned her head slightly and smiled at him.  He looked so peaceful, and so much more alive than he had in the few days she had known him.  She eased herself from the bed, careful not to wake him, and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.  "Sleep well, Agent Donovan."

Carlita led her from the room and into the hallway where Dr. Hernandez met her.  "Senorita Dumas," he said, taking her elbow and leading her to another room, where her father sat waiting.  "The test results are positive, my dear.  You are pregnant."

Shay lost all composure and collapsed into the waiting arms of her otherwise despised father.  He cooed to her softly and told her everything would be all right.  She would see; he would take care of everything.  Anything Shay wanted, he would make sure it happened.  Shay had told him she wanted to disappear while she decided what to do about the baby; that was just what her father arranged.

It didn't take her long to decide she couldn't deal with an abortion, but she also wasn't sure if she could keep a child born from a man as despicable as Jorge.  That decision wasn't made until the first time she felt D.J. move within her womb.  Her heart had lurched that day, and the amazing fact that she was carrying new life within her took hold and would not let go.  No, this was her child, and her child alone, and she would not give it up.

The sound of his throat clearing brought Shay out of her reverie.  "I received some news that night...the night I fell asleep in your arms.  I...I needed to get away," she explained elusively.  "Daddy arranged for me to stay in France for awhile.  Some friends of his have a chateau there.  I waited there for reassignment.  When the DEA couldn't find a suitable position for me, I was transferred to the FBI and have been in Atlanta profiling for the VCTF."  She shrugged heavily, as if she had just explained the world away.

"So, basically, you aren't going to tell me why you left?" he asked, the hurt and anger still clear in his voice.

She went to him and touched a soft hand to his cheek.  "There isn't anything to tell.  I needed time to get over what I had been through."  Her thumb grazed his bottom lip enticingly.  "Although I thought about you every damn night and how much I wanted to be in your arms."

"Sure, Shay," he commented wryly.  "So much so that you stayed away from me for thirteen months."  He shook his head and pushed her none too gently toward the door.  "Go on, get to work."

He was dismissing her! Although a part of her understood his anger and perhaps his hatred toward her, the out and out hellion in her was none too happy with being dismissed as though she were nothing but a piece of lint on his sweater.

"Fine." She tossed her hair as she turned about, slapping him in the face with it and causing him to grunt.  That gave her a slight amount of satisfaction as she noisily flung the door open and let it slam into the wall.  Two can play this game, Agent Donovan, she thought as she clamored down the stairs.

************

Monica had given her the grand tour when she came downstairs; that is, after everyone got over staring at her as she came cussing down the stairs.  She was shown all the equipment by Cody, who, she discovered, was overprotective of his "children". 

They were taking off early to head for "Dave's Place" the local bar they frequented to celebrate Monica's engagement and give her a send-off.  Shay begged off, not wanting to intrude on the close-knit groups of friends.  Instead she seriously intended to give the punching bag in the gym a workout.  

She watched as Frank descended the stairs and joined his team; she bade the group farewell and headed to the gym.  She found the sports tape Alex always kept nearby and wrapped her hands and feet.  She shrugged, since she was alone and didn't bring a change of clothing with her; she stripped down to her black sports bra and boxers.  She needed something angry sounding...to fit her mood.  Digging into her handbag, she pulled out one of the CDs stashed inside.  Ah, yes...Nickelback's "Silver Side Up" would do nicely.

She put the CD in the player and cranked up the volume.  Yes, this would do just fine.  She took a few seconds to stretch her arm and leg muscles before she launched her anger at the pathetic bag.

'He's drunk again
It's time to fight
She must have done
Something wrong tonight
The living room
Becomes a boxing ring
It's time to run
When you see him
Clenching his hands
She's just a woman
Never again'

She took up a boxer's stance facing right, standing lightly on the ball of her foot, and launched into a few left jabs, her heel barely touched the floor as she rocked back and forth into the jabs.

'I hear her scream
From down the hall
Amazing she can
Even talk at all
She cries to me
Go back to bed
I'm terrified that
She'll wind up
Dead in his hands
She's just a woman
Never again'

Left jab.  "Dismiss me, will he?" she groaned, adding a right cross, followed by several left jabs.


'Been there before
But not like this
Seen it before
But not like this
Never before
Have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never again'

Left, left, left...right cross  "Kiss me and then kick me the hell out of your office."  Uppercut. 

'Just tell the nurse
You slipped and fell
It starts to sting
As it starts to swell
She looks at you
She wants the truth
It's right out there
In the waiting room
With those hands
Lookin' just as sweet as he can
Never again'

She switched her stance, facing right.  Right jab. Right. Right. Left cross.  "I'd knock you into next week if you were here right now, you sorry sonofabitch."  Right, right, right...left cross.

'Seen it before
But not like this
Been there before
But not like this
Never before
Have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never again'

Frank had returned to the nest.  A stupid thing...forgetting ones car keys.  He heard the loud music from the gym and wondered what Shay was up to.  He leaned in the doorway, listening with a mixture of amusement and satisfaction to her grunts, groans, and the varied cusswords obviously directed at him. 

Left, right, left, right...right kick.

'Father's a name
You haven't earned yet
You're just a child
With a temper
Haven't you heard
"Don't hit a lady"?
Kickin' your ass
Would be a pleasure'

"Hell, yeah, it would!" she answered the lyrics to the song, stepping back far enough to deliver a right roundhouse kick to the bag.  "Thirteen months of lusting after the man...kicks you out of his damned office..."  left, right, left...left kick.  "After he sets your loins on fire with a kiss that would melt the whole of Antarctica."

'He's drunk again
It's time to fight
Same old shit
Just on a different night
She grabs the gun
She's had enough
Tonight she'll find out
How fucking
Tough is this man
Pulls the trigger
Just as fast as she can
Never again'

"Nice song," he yelled sarcastically over the screaming music.  "Nice boxers, too." 

Shay held her stance, fists up.  "Thought you left," she said angrily, almost calling him an obscene name, but decided to hold her tongue.

"Forgot my keys," he said.

"Sure, sure.  Get 'em and go.  So I can get back to betting the crap out of this bag...which is a sorry substitute for what I'd really like to beat," she growled, eyes blazing.

'Seen it before
But not like this
Been there before
But not like this
Never before
Have I ever
Seen it this bad
She's just a woman
Never again'

He walked over and shut off the music.  "Personally, I'd like to see if the opening in those shorts works, or if it's just decoration," he said, pulling her roughly against him.

"You bastard," she swore before his lips claimed hers.

"Mmm...yes," he answered, pulling away slightly.

"Yes what?" she asked, breathless.

"I feel very much like a bastard right now," he replied as he pushed her away, turned on his heel and headed for his office to retrieve his keys. 

Shay listened as the outside door slammed and she was alone.  She hugged the punching bag with her left arm and punched it with her right.  "Damn, damn, damn," she yelled until her energy was spent.  He was toying with her and she was letting him.  Damn.

************

Donovan sat outside in his SUV for several minutes, attempting to get his body under control.  Well, at least, that certain part of his anatomy that responded entirely too readily to the sight of Shay's body that glistened irresistibly with perspiration.  Lord, she was beautiful.  She was far too tempting, as far as he was concerned.  This was a situation that was not going to work out well for him.  It would take all his concentration to keep his mind on his work while she was around.

He put the key into the ignition and started the engine.  He could use a stiff drink right about now.