Sorry about that last chapter. To be honest, I don't know where it came from - I started writing and it seemed the UNSUB started talking and wouldn't let me go until he let me know who and what he is. That being said, now I'm back on track with a chapter that is slowly leading up to that chapter that will start the ball rolling.
Song reference in this chapter: "It Never Rains In Southern California" by Albert Hammond
Through The Fire
Emily was pouring herself a glass of wine when the doorbell rang. Setting the bottle down on the counter, she grabbed the glass and hurried to the foyer. Checking thru the peep hole, she breathed a sigh and released the security latch.
"Hi Dave," she greeted as she swung the door open to let him in. A black flash darted past her to run into the living room and jumped on the recliner.
"Mudgie, get off the chair!" Dave ordered and took the wine glass from Em's hand. The black Lab whined.
"That's alright," she assured. Shivering against the wind chill, she closed the door. "It's gotten cold out there." Taking the glass from Dave, she sipped. "I didn't think you were going to stop by."
"Why not? I said I was going to bring Mudgie by."
"I know what you said, but I wasn't sure if that was just your way of keeping me from coming up with an excuse not to go with JJ." Em took the far end of the couch. Reaching for the remote, she turned off the TV and switched on a CD. The soft strains of Peabo Bryson filled the room.
"That was part of it. But I also wanted to see you before I flew out."
"How long will you be gone?" she asked, her finger circling the rim of the glass.
"I'll be back tomorrow night…if everything goes according to plan."
Em curled her legs under her. "Is anything wrong?"
Dave shrugged. "With the holidays around the corner, she wants to make sure that the dates for the release of the new book and subsequent signings goes off without a hitch." He sighed. "She also mentioned a workshop or two."
"You conducting a workshop?" she chided with the rise of an eyebrow. "The students will never know what hit them."
"If you're going to be a writer, be a good one."
"Don't let your arrogance intimidate them." She finished her wine and set the glass down on the coffee table. "I called Morgan."
"How is he?"
"Pissed. He's still wishing he had taken that shot when he had the chance."
"Assault of a federal officer with a deadly weapon will add another ten years on the UNSUB's sentence," Dave remarked.
"But Morgan is going to be out of the field for at least six weeks."
"What's wrong with that?" Dave asked and moved in closer. Reaching over, he pulled the clip from her hair and let the black locks fall over her shoulders.
"We are going to have to pair up until he gets back. We can't. What are you doing?" she asked as his lips trailed across her neck.
"Nothing," he murmured against her skin as his hands slowly stroked her.
"You're changing the subject," she accused. "Dave, I'm serious. We can't pair up."
"Why not?" His hands moved down to cup her breast and knead it gently.
"Because…of this." She tried to concentrate but his touch was breaking her down.
"I don't know what you mean," he replied innocently.
"We have a relationship."
"It's about time you observe it." He shifted his weight to get a better angle. "We have a professional relationship at work. We always have." His fingers released the buttons on her blouse.
"I know, but now that we're…"
Dave pulled back to look at her. "Now that we're…what?" he asked, his eyebrow rose in question.
Blushing, Em raised her left hand to show him the ring. "Engaged…to be engaged."
Brushing a lock of hair from her face, he cupped her cheek. "That's a start. Not exactly what I was expecting to hear, but I'll take any step forward that I can get."
"I don't know if we can be partnered."
"Afraid that you won't be able to keep your hands off of me?" he teased.
"Ha! I could ask you the same question. How in the world did you ever catch the bad guys with your insatiable sexual appetite?" she asked as his hand moved to the waistband of her slacks and dipped inside.
"Because I never mix business with pleasure. Maybe you noticed that I let you have your space during that last case."
"Yes," she gasped as his fingers stroked her.
"Knowing that you will be waiting for me when I get home is more than enough incentive to follow the FBI regulations."
"What are you saying?" Em's eyes searched his.
"There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you Em. Climb a mountain, swim an ocean…I'd walk through the fires of hell if it meant having you."
"Dave…"
"God have mercy on anyone who tries to take you away from me." He pulled her closer to him and molded her body to fit his. His mouth covered hers for long hot kiss.
Pulling back, Em tried to gather her thoughts. "What times does your plane leave?"
"In two hours." Dave stood and gathered her into his arms.
"But Dave…" she protested.
"I've done the electronic check-in via my blackberry and I only have a carry on. I have time to get there and catch my flight." His mouth teased her flesh. "I need a little bon voyage present before I leave."
"Mmmm," Em moaned as his hands and mouth worked in tandem. "Don't stop."
"Never," he promised and picked her up in his arms. "I know I'm going to rush this, but I will make it up to you when I get back."
"I'm holding you to it."
"Can I get a rain check?"
"I'm dog-sitting for you."
"Touché." He trailed kisses over her face. "I need you Em."
"What are you waiting for?" she challenged. His reply was to tighten his grip on her as he took two stairs at a time to her bedroom. Kicking the door closed, he put her on the bed and covered her body with his.
Downstairs, Mudgie sighed and looked up from his place on the recliner as he heard the door close. Dinner was just going to have to wait, he guessed. Sighing again, he laid his head back down.
*****
Dave pulled his clothes on as quickly as he could. Looking at his watch, he estimated that he could still bring Mudgie's stuff inside and make it to Reagan International in time. Tucking his shirt into his slacks, he looked down at the sleeping woman wrapped in Egyptian cotton sheets. A present he had given her for their 3 month anniversary. He loved to spoil her and if he had it his way, he would be doing it for the rest of his life.
Fastening his belt, he reached for his double lined Eisenhower jacket and slipped it on. Leaning over, he brushed his lips against Em's soft cheek.
"Tesoro?" he whispered in her ear.
"Hmmm?"
"I have to leave."
"I know," she replied thickly and burrowed her face deeper into the custom made pillow.
"I'll let Mudgie out and bring his things in. Okay?"
"Sure."
Dave ran a hand over her soft black hair. He wished he didn't have to go, but his job called him and he had an obligation. But he would be back tomorrow night and make it up to her.
"I'll call you tomorrow morning," he promised and pulled the covers up over her shoulders.
"Okay."
He kissed her hard and deep before breaking away. He had to leave.
"I love you," he whispered. Her answer was a soft snore. Walking to the door, he opened it. Turning around, he took one last glance at Em. Then he closed the door and left.
****
"How's Mudgie been?" Dave asked as he flipped thru the planner Eleanor had handed him earlier.
"An angel," Em answered as she put another log on the fire and replaced the grate.
"Are we talking about the same dog? Last week he ate my favourite slippers then threw them up on the patio."
"Oh God! I'm hiding my shoes." Em sat down on the couch. Mudgie came over and laid his head on her lap.
"The Vet said it was a stage, so everything should be alright."
Em shuddered. "I don't want to think about it. So, how is the weather out in L.A.?"
He set aside the planner and opened the folder filled with enough information concerning the book tour to make his head explode. "Miserable, and not because you aren't here; it's been raining cats and dogs."
"They say it never rains in Southern California," Em sang teasingly.
"Well someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that before she unleashed a tsunami," he groused. Glancing at the schedule he made his change marks in red pen and corrections in green.
"Well, she isn't giving us much of a break here either. It's colder than a witch's ass outside and it snowed last night," Em complained.
"Is that a bad thing?" he asked absently.
"I was going to take Mudgie for a run this morning, but he only made to across the street before running back inside."
"Smart dog," Dave praised. Flipping the papers, he continued to make notes. "Even he doesn't want you to go running."
"Will you be home tonight?" Em asked evenly as she scratched Mudgie's head.
"I'm pretty sure of it. I've been checking on the flights and so far everything is still on time. Why?"
"JJ called earlier and is determined that I go out with her and Will because their friend is in town."
"What did you say?"
"That I would go if I could bring you along."
Dave's pen hesitated. "What?"
"I told her that you and I are seeing each other."
Laying his pen down, he leaned back in his chair and smiled. "What did she have to say to that?"
"That it explained numerous things that she couldn't put her finger on for the past 7 months."
"Well, she's not a full fledged profiler," Dave observed. "But I thought she would have figured it out before Morgan did."
"What time does your plane leave LAX?" Her blackberry vibrated on the coffee table. Picking it up, she clicked it on and saw a text from JJ.
"In three hours. I should be there by five."
"Okay." Em texted the ETA to JJ. "I just let JJ know what time we'd meet her for dinner."
Dave ran a hand over his eyes. Texting. He was still behind on technology but whenever he tried to catch up, it kept changing. With the rate of new items hitting the market, he was never going to make it into the 21st Century.
"Well, I will see you later," he promised.
"Tell Eleanor that I said hello and to make sure that at least two of your book signings are in warm tropical locations around Christmas."
"I will."
"Bring me something back from California."
"I am…me," Dave answered.
"Smart ass."
"That I am." He paused for a moment. "Em…I -"
A beep broke in. "Dave, that's my mother. I have to go."
"Sure. Tell the Ambassador hello for me."
"Will do. Bye."
"Bye." Dave hung up the phone. In their 7 months together, he had yet to tell her to her face those three little words. He had almost told her when they were interrupted. It shouldn't bother him, but he couldn't shake that feeling that something was going to happen and he would never be able to tell how he felt.
Looking at his watch, he sighed. His plane was leaving in three hours. All he had to do was drop his dossier off with Eleanor and then head to LAX. Then he would be back home in Em's arms.