"You need a good code name. Something fitting," Shipwreck smiled, pretending to study her closely.
Leah had been filling him in on their assignment. She had to give him credit – he had at least let her finish before starting with the obnoxious attitude. She doubted he could stay serious for very long.
"I'm not going to be here long enough for a cutesy name," Leah mumbled, gathering up the photos and information she had on their assignment. "Besides, we've already established I'll be Layla and you're Henry for the assignment."
"You know how I got Shipwreck?" he asked cheerily, ignoring her comment.
Leah sighed. "Do I really need to hear about it? I would think it's pretty obvious."
He mocked being stabbed in the heart. "Ouch! That hurt!"
Leah found herself starting to smile, but stopped herself in time. Unfortunately, it wasn't as soon as she hoped, since his grin grew wider. "I knew you weren't as cold as you let on!"
Leah gave him a pointed look. "Look, it's a job until I get out of this joint, okay? I'd appreciate us not getting killed the first time out by doing something stupid."
He actually looked hurt. "I think you can trust me to be professional when its needed," he reassured her in the most serious tone she had ever heard come from him. "However," he added, giving her a small smile, "it's nice to unwind and not be so uptight all the time."
She ignored the intended jab and stood up. "Just have your stuff ready in time. I'll see you in," she glanced at her watch, "two hours."
He reached out as if to grab her hand, then thought better of it, instead leaving it hanging in the air. Leah sighed. "Yes?"
"Can we call a truce while we're working together?" he asked seriously. "I mean, we're supposed to be a couple, right? Maybe you can try a little harder to pretend you enjoy my company?"
She let out another sigh. "Sorry," she admitted grudgingly. "It's hard for me to trust people. I'll be okay once we're out there." It was all she could give him. Turning, she left the small conference room they'd been meeting in and left to go pack the essentials.