Chapter 6

Tangled in the sheets, their naked bodies pressed together, they kissed and cuddled, still exploring each other. It was late, Amy knew she should be tired, but she wasn't. Her whole body buzzed, overriding exhaustion. How long had she been dreaming of this moment?

Face stroked her back, and she sighed, never wanting the soft, soothing sensation to end. She laced her fingers through his hair, never tiring from the silky feeling either. Gently pulling out of a kiss, she stroked his cheek, making him look at her. She quickly buried the urge to tell him how much she loved him. Unable to gauge where this was heading, frightening Face like a rabbit caught in headlights was not a good idea. He'd said he had a plan.

"Face, so...?" She tried to keep her eyes focussed on his.

He gently stroked her arm with his fingertips, then kissed her shoulder before answering. "From here? Uh... I say we grab any chance we can take. We could meet - not here - I'd find apartments, restaurants, hotels, and we could spend our time together that way. Is that okay?"

"We'd have to be careful. Decker is just waiting for me to make a mistake."

"I promise, I'll make sure it's completely safe. It doesn't always have to be in LA either." The palm of his hand gently travelled over the curves of her body and Amy closed her eyes to concentrating on the feeling. "It would mean some time apart, but that's nothing new."

"And what about the team?" she asked. "Hannibal? You said you'd talk to him."

"Well, uh... yes, I will..." Face gently kissed her neck. "But I was thinking... uh..." he spoke hesitantly, "you should leave the team."

"What?" Amy sat up and stared at him.

"I'd give you the stories." Face pulled himself up to sit with her.

"Two days too late!"

He frowned. "I thought this was what you wanted?" He stroked her cheek. "Us?"

"It is... but... I also want to be on the team."

"You can't have both." His stare didn't leave hers, then he cupped his hands around hers. "I mean, once I've spoken to Hannibal, and I will – I have to - he'll insist you stay behind -"

"And you! You'll insist, too!" She knew this would be the condition.

"Yes, I would rather that you didn't ride along, too, for my own sanity more than anything, but we'd still need your help, Amy.... Contacts, research.... You wouldn't technically be off the team."

"Just not on it." She pulled her hands away from his.

"You know it's too risky for you now as it is. Decker -"

"And meeting you won't be risky?"

"Like I said, I'd be careful. Choose the right place to meet."

"Face, I need to know..." She stared down at the sheets, clenching her fists around them, hating the thoughts that bombarded her head. Goose bumps rose on her arms. But she needed to understand. She looked back up and he was staring at her, waiting patiently. "I need to know if I would just be another door to knock on when you needed a bed - because I can't do that. I'd want to be something more."

"Amy, it's you. Only you I want."

She breathed hard and swallowed. "How long would this relationship last, Face?"

"Relationship..."

"I mean, before you get bored, or make a run for it when things get too heavy."

"I've been running for the last decade!" His face grimaced angrily. Although they sat just inches away in the bed, Amy realised the distance she'd just put between them. Her heart ached, but she had to know how much thought Face had put into this.

"I just mean would it be worth it? I could give up the team and then you'd take flight as soon as -"

"I'm trying to do something stable for a change. But I can see what's important to you! The goddamn story is more important to you than I am!" He was off the bed, pulling on his pants, scrambling for his clothes. His hands trembled as he partially buttoned his shirt.

"Face, stop. Listen! I didn't mean it like that." Oh Christ, what had she done? She got off the bed, approaching him, but he backed away, coldly glaring at her.

"No, I understand," he said.

She stared, horrified, unable to find the words to make him stay. He was out of the bedroom, struggling to put on his clothes. She scrambled to find something to cover herself too and ran out of the bedroom to see her front door slam.

XXXXXXX

Exhaustion had finally taken over and Amy had fallen asleep. She woke to itchy eyes and a headache. She'd not slept well. Restless sleep. But she'd slept through her alarm.

Late for work, Amy rushed around her apartment, grabbing what she needed, skipping breakfast. She applied her makeup heavier than normal, to hide the circles under her eyes. She tried to shake off the ache inside her chest. She'd really upset Face. Really hurt him. Walking into the kitchen, she found the cold coffee on the counter where she'd left it. How had last night turned so terribly wrong? She picked up the phone and dialled. No answer; it switched to the answering machine.

"Face, please call me. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Can we just talk about this?"

But now her thoughts niggled her. Last night, had she given Face the excuse he needed to back-pedal out of this? Did he have second thoughts? He hadn't really confirmed whether he wanted a relationship or not. 'Only you', he'd said. But he'd stumbled with 'relationship'. Or was that her own imagination, self-doubt, and she'd just screwed this up completely?

She knew why Face had commitment issues, other than the team's current predicament. Leslie. Had Amy hurt him just as badly? She swallowed, sickened by that thought.

Amy ran into her office, not caring how ragged she might look. "Damn! Sorry I'm late," she said half-heartedly to Zack, putting her bag under her desk.

"Oh, thank God you're here," Zack said.

"What? Why?" Amy was suddenly alerted by Zack's anxious tone.

"Eldridge wants you in his office right away. There's a Colonel Decker is here to see you."

Damn it. Amy took a deep breath, straightened her back, and headed for Eldridge's office. She could hear raised voices and feared that she'd be fighting for her freedom.

"Colonel Decker, I assure you, Allen has always worked with integrity," Eldridge said loudly, as Amy knocked on the office door. Eldridge beckoned her in. "Just because she writes stories about them, it doesn't mean anything."

"Don't you think it's a little coincidental that wherever the A-Team is, so is Miss Allen?" Decker stood in front of Eldridge's desk, the day's newspaper in his hands. Crane stood beside him.

"What can I say? I have good contacts," Amy said, trying not to raise her voice. She really needed to keep her cool. "The A-Team makes great stories. People want to read about them. I go where the stories are; they just happen to be the same place as the A-Team."

"Contacts?" Decker threw the paper onto Eldridge's desk. "Miss Allen, it wouldn't surprise me if you were in bed with the A-Team."

Amy gasped. She opened her mouth to argue.

"Hang on a second!" Eldridge spoke before Amy could, standing up from behind his desk. "I don't like your accusations about one of my best reporters."

Best? She looked from Decker to Eldridge, both scowling at each other.

"Have you got a warrant?" Eldridge stood, hands on his hips.

"I don't need one," Decker responded. Eldridge's eyes narrowed.

"Allen went to New Mexico to investigate this Sheriff Dawson." Eldridge waved at the paper, the article in front of him.

"And as you know, Colonel," Amy said, folding her arms in front of her, "Han – Colonel Smith locked me up with you – remember?"

"She'd gotten a tip from a friend - a fellow reporter," Eldridge continued, and Amy nodded. "This had nothing to do with the A-Team. So stop wasting my time, and get out of my office!"

"Fine, but listen here, lady," Decker said, scowling at Amy. "I don't believe you for one minute. I'm watching you. That's your last chance. Come on, Captain, let's not waste any more time."

If Decker couldn't get the team, he seemed intent on taking someone down who was linked to them. And Amy was certain he was gunning for her.

Once Decker and Crane had left Eldridge's office, Amy sighed with relief.

"Thanks for that, Grant," she said.

"Hey, listen. I can't keep covering your ass," Eldridge said, sitting down behind his desk. "You're a good reporter, Allen. And yes, the A-Team stories do sell papers. But I'm worried that you've gotten a little too close to this one now. Maybe you've lost your impartiality."

"Grant!" But he was right. She was too close to the team now, too close to Face. Was she able to give a fair perspective any more?

"I can't promise the next time that jerk walks through the door I can help you," Eldridge said. "Now sit down. I've been meaning to speak to you."

Amy did as she was told, sitting in the chair in front of her boss's desk. She gripped the side of the chair, too nervous to relax.

"A job's come up, and I think you'd be great at it. These last couple of years you've worked hard and you deserve it." Eldridge pulled some papers out of a drawer and handed them to Amy. "The position isn't for a few weeks yet, so I'm thinking you could work with Tawnia in the meantime. Bring her up to speed, introduce her to any contacts," he raised an eyebrow, "you may have."

Amy frowned. "I'm not sure about this." Amy read the papers - it was a fantastic opportunity. Bigger salary.

"Think about it, Allen. Give me your answer by the end of the week. But I think you'd be smart to take it. It would give you the promotion you deserve, and well, it would get you out of the city."

"The city?" she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. She looked up and stared at Grant. "More like the country. It's in Jakarta!"