Title: The More Things Change

Author: Michelle

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: See Part 1

Part 58: Orders

Stiles headed straight for Matt's office when he got to the Agency; it was empty. He was still tired and bruised and could now add hangover to his list of ailments. Stiles wanted someone to pay for his "suffering," and Matt seemed like the perfect person. He wasn't entirely convinced that Matt wasn't somehow responsible for the equipment malfunction that kept Stiles out of contact.


Matt sauntered into OTS and sat down in Lex's chair. "Hey beautiful. How about lunch with an old friend? You look like you need a little cheering up."

"Not now, Matt, actually, not ever. If it isn't work related, we have nothing to discuss."

"You've got to eat."

Terri leaned in and whispered, "My husband thinks we slept together." Matt had a hard time keeping a straight face. Terri noticed the slight upward curve of his lips. "Do you have something to do with that?"

The smile faded quickly. "No, Terri. Absolutely not. I care about you. You know that. I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

"After that stunt you pulled at my house? Matt, just...never mind. Please go away.I have work to do."

"Alright, I know you're upset right now, but remember, I'll be here whenever you need me." 'When you finally leave the jerk, I'll be right here waiting.'


Chance and Carl bumped into Stiles in the hallway. "Afternoon Stiles, I'm surprised you see you this morning. I was under the impression you were off duty today."

"I am."

Chance knew exactly why Stiles was there. "Carl, why don't you go ahead, I'll catch up."

Carl looked at Chance suspiciously but left anyway. "The meeting starts in 10 minutes." When it came to those two, Carl knew he was sometimes better off in the dark.

"You just came from Matt's office, didn't you?"

"This doesn't concern you."

"Un un, I'm not going to let you barge in there and get yourself fired. Despite what you said last night, I know you want your job." Chance took Stiles by the arm, "Come on."

Stiles snatched his arm away. "No. I came here to see Callan, and I'm going to see him. Where is he?"

"I don't know. SI my office. Now!" When Stiles didn't budge, Chance was more forceful. "That's an order!"

After a short staring contest, Stiles swent in the office, but he refused to sit.

"Have you talked to Terri?"

"I came to see Callan."

"Look, I know how you feel about Matt, but before you do anything stupid, talk to Terri."

"I don't have anything to say to her, but I have a lot to say to him."

"Stiles, I'm not asking I'm…"

"You're ordering me to talk to her? I don't think that qualifies as an order I have to obey."

"You're scheduled off today, which means you're here unauthorized. You've threatened the Homeland Security Liaison for Central Intelligence. You're a danger to this office and from the looks of you, to yourself. Yes, I can order you to talk to her. Let's go!"

Stiles got up begrudgingly, throwing Chance as much hostility as he could. On their way out of the office, Chance ran into Bailey. "On your way to the meeting?" She didn't immediately notice Stiles who was lingering in Chance's office.

"In a few minutes."

"Stiles, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing"

"We're on our way to see Terri."

"He ordered me to talk to her." Stiles said with a great deal of sarcasm.

"Good, I'll walk with you. You two need to straighten out a few things."

"You too?" Stiles rolled his eyes. "I should have known. First Joshua calls me, then him," he pointed to Chance. "Did you know?"

"Know what?"

The elevator opened as Stiles responded to Bailey's question. "That your brother was sleeping with my wife? I look like some kind of fool thinking Terri was going to come back to me. I can't believe how stupid I've been!"

Jackson's eyes got big as he heard Stiles. He looked around and cleared his throat. Chance was the only one to notice his presence; Bailey and Stiles were too engrossed in conversation. Chance looked at Jackson and shrugged; he'd said enough for the moment.

"Stiles, you've got to talk to her. She told me she wouldn't sleep with him as long as you were married. She said she didn't sleep with him when you were away. I just talked to her."

"Now she's turned into to a liar as well as an adulterer! I saw him sitting on her bed; a towel barely covering him."

Bailey stood there stunned. She looked at Chance to gauge his reaction; she could tell by the expression on Chance's face that this wasn't new information to him. "There has to be a reasonable explanation; they both told me nothing happened." She didn't want to believe that both Matt and Terri had lied to her, but it was beginning to look that way. The three of them were walking off the elevator as Stiles yelled,

"Nothing, like they slept together in my house!"

"You want to lower your voices? As much as it's seemed like it today, this isn't "As the CIA turns." Jackson admonished as the four of them walked toward OTS. No one said another word until they entered the department.

After Terri's curt dismissal, Matt patted her on the shoulder and stood up. He was turning toward the door just as Chance and Stiles walked in.

When Chance saw Matt with Terri he turned to push Stiles back out the door, but he was too late, Stiles had seen them too. Stiles pulled away from Chance and went straight to Matt. Matt never saw him coming.