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The Pentagon

"So does this iron box under the earth have anything to do with your little display of animosity towards that Erin bitch?" Clarence asked under labored breath. He was struggling under the thick leather body straps in an effort to maneuver his hands in their cuffs.

"Not for nothing, Clare, but you're really starting to pay attention." Annabeth answered lazily, laying as comfortably at an incline on her own matching cement slab as if she were sunbathing in Tahiti.

"Annabeth. Goddamnit. Tell me what's going on." He faced her angrily, she could hear his nostrils flaring.

"Erin Strauss has no reason to suspect that I'm not still CIA unless she recognized you as a cohort of Larry's, in which case she's got the drop on warning Grenson before Larry's had time to blackmail him into backing off this Numrich case. Why we're here, specifically, in this cell… I have an idea of who our first visitor is going to be." Annabeth chuckled quietly as she imagined the look on David's face when he finally stormed in. Surely Strauss had tipped him off?

"What is so fucking funny!? Who is coming? Are we being questioned?" his sneering tone betrayed fear, as his mind reeled at what new tortures awaited them.

"Oh I'm sure there will be lots of questions, Cherie." She didn't offer Rossi's name. She couldn't bring herself to say it. Her insides were turning to molten lava at the anticipation of seeing him again. She was acutely aware of her heartbeat beginning to race. Could she handle it? Prepare yourself, Annabeth. He can't know, he can't know anything. She closed her eyes and worked an inner dialogue to match her facial expressions, it would never do to let him finally win the bet. She smiled despite herself.

"You're a fucking maniac, you know that? Why I let myself get talked into this shit with you…" Clarence didn't finish his sentence, though Annabeth was about to retort something about him not having a choice and orders and such when the windowless metal door slammed open against the opposing wall. Annabeth started to giggle in a way that Clarence thought was deranged. She didn't turn her head to see him, but kept her eyes on the ceiling, Jessup noticed.

"Jesus Christ." Rossi said with disgust at the straps that covered her torso and legs. "Glad you're having fun, Bethy." He said more casually, as he took the keys from the guard and bent over her feet to unlock the cuffs around her ankles.

"Always." She said cheerfully, flashing a brilliant smile. David looked up at her face and smiled back just minimally, some very wicked inside joke playing at the corner of his eyes. She saw it too, and for a moment she felt her whole body relax, as though a breath she'd been holding for years was finally released. It was like a shot of whiskey slowly warming her insides for a brief moment when they locked eyes, and time stopped for her.

Jesus Christ, you're beautiful, Bethy. Rossi felt high, even dizzy. But he didn't flinch away from her scorching eye contact.

"WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!" Clarence interrupted loudly, squirming under his constraints until his neck bulged. David turned his head to glare at him as he continued to uncuff Annabeth under the guards watchful eyes.

"Calm down, Cherie." Annabeth cooed, while she rubbed her wrists. They didn't hurt, she was looking for a distraction for her trembling hands. She patted Clarence on the chest before following Rossi out of the holding cell.

David's mind registered the affectionate tone and pet name with a painful wince. He was well ahead of her in the corridor, he felt safe from her prying eyes, but it stung nonetheless. Were they lovers?

"This will do, thanks Rick." Rossi waved for Annabeth to proceed him into what was obviously an interrogation room, and she did a mock curtsey of thankfulness for the chivalry. Rossi flashed annoyance when her back was turned. This was going to be a long afternoon. He inwardly knew he wasn't at the top of his game in her presence. The sight of her after four years had already undone him. He registered many new things about her – a new swag in her step, a total confidence… somehow more beautiful than he had ever remembered her.

When David closed the door behind them, Annabeth had already seated herself opposite the door – she knew the drill. It was all part of the psychological break down – you'd have to get through the interrogator before you got to the door, and then an armed sentry was parked right outside. She smiled as though she was sharing a joke with him, once he sat. David folded his arms and regarded her quietly, outwardly playing the game while inwardly his mind reeled. It was as if he'd thought her into existence over the past few days, talking about her to JJ… He kept his eyes focused on her face, her eyes, her mouth, trying not to roam where he knew he couldn't keep cool if he did. She was just as silent, just as intent on his face, but for other reasons. He knew she was trying to get a read. Let her read. Let her see his misery at her disappearance, his shame for the way they had last spoken face to face. Let her see he loved her. Fuck, Rossi, keep it together you sound like a homeless puppy looking for love and a scrap of food.

Nothing came to Annabeth, however, except those obsidian eyes boring into her. She was laboring in effort to keep from squirming under his gaze. It was taking all of her concentration. God I'd rather be water-boarded again than this… anything but this… Say something Davey… She caught herself off guard with that last thought, and finally, David saw something flash in the muscles between her eyes.

"What?" He finally asked first. "Something just surprised you. What?"

Annabeth smiled without thinking, slightly embarrassed and yet always impressed. She wasn't one to be a sore loser, though, she could gracefully lose the first round.

"You look about the same." She evaded, a lift in one eyebrow telling him she was goading him into giving something up with his own facial expressions. Round two, then, Beth? He thought, more amused than he wanted to admit.

"What surprised you?" he bullied on.

"I was thinking about water boarding in Korea." She answered flatly. Truth, he surmised.

"That doesn't sound pleasant." He uncrossed his arms and laid them carefully on the arms of his chair, conscious that she was watching every move he made.

"The greater good." She sang, with a slight nod of her head.

"Lawrence says that bullshit, Bethy." He'd caught something near as good as a confession of association – he knew she wouldn't dare let him catch her in a lie but she'd said it without thinking. The years-long bet was going to work in his favor on this one, and then he'd make sure she'd never work with a known terrorist again.

"He says a lot of things, Davey." She mimicked his tone and use of familiar nick name. It procured the exact effect she'd hoped for – a flinch on his cheek same as if she'd held a match there. He inwardly cursed.

"So you are working for him, then?" He pressed on.

In her mind's eye she was transported 10 years ago when he'd told her, "I never ask questions I don't know the answers to." She heard herself saying them aloud, in tune with her memory.

David Rossi leaned over the table, she looked to his hands with a blank expression then back up at his face, cocked her head and said flatly. "You're attempting to cull your impatience. It's a signature Rossi intimidation tell." She smiled.

"I at least deserved a Christmas card." His tone was gruff, but it sent her back thirteen years.

"I don't understand Christmas. What the hell does TWELVE TURTLE DOVES in a Partridge have to do with anything?" Annabeth huffed as she turned up the volume on the enormous radio in Rossi's living room. In an effort to show her some normalcy, Rossi had drug the 15 year old out to get a Christmas tree, and painstakingly climbed into his attic for the ancient, dusty decorations. She'd been complaining far more than usual about the whole affair, which he endured like a champion. He knew it made her uncomfortable because it was too much of a touchy-feely family holiday and since she abhorred all things family she hated the holiday.

"I don't understand it either. You're like a dove, though. You never shut up, you're always on someone's doorstep being inquisitive, and despite being very obnoxious today, sounded absolutely inspiring singing along to Frank Sinatra. Now shut up for a minute and help me with this Star."

"Frank Sinatra is different. This is just nonsensical." She handed the star up to Rossi where he stood on a stool to reach the top of the tree.

"Shut up, little dove. Get in the Christmas spirit, or else." He had been too focused on not falling into the enormous bush to notice the flush that spread across her face at the use of a new pet name.

"From Korea?" Genuine incredulity, he read with annoyance. Her propensity to answer wittingly and without hesitation drove him to the borders of insanity and hysteria. Yet she had went somewhere for a brief moment in her mind, so she was tactfully evading again. He recognized it as easily as bacon from eggs.

"No, smart ass, from any Christmas in the last four years." His expression had changed, he was no longer playing games, he was speaking to her as frankly as if they were sitting at their diner, sharing their daily happenings over cocoa. Annabeth was taken aback, and it literally translated as she leaned as far back in her chair as she could without actually moving it. I can't breathe… oh God, just breathe.

"Say something, Bethy." He leaned in to match her leaning back. Her eyes were wide and the lines around her mouth slack, surprise, confusion? He registered. He's too close, God.. his Cologne… he's too close… breathe, breathe….

"Something about a phone call and a lawyer comes to mind." Instantly she masked herself again and it hurt David worse than if she'd slapped him and called him any name in the book he deserved. She was shutting him out… When he needed to talk to her most, she was a vault, again, just like that.

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A/N: God it's been so long since I posted anything this felt sooooo good to get back into this story a little. I love the dynamics of David and Bethy's relationship so much I can't wait to keep it going. =D Hoping someone out there enjoyed =)