The Long Game

Part 28

Author's Note: This one is a short one. I am not sure if it's going to make you happy or sad. But with the story taking a distinct turn toward Tom in the cannon, I felt it was time we addressed the elephant in the room.

I was listening to Stay or Leave by Dave Matthews while I was writing this, I'm pretty sure it was an influence for how I pictured things going for them before the whole Tom time. Give it a listen.

Please leave a review.

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Don wasn't sure about this military guy, Major Brady seemed to be a shady character that didn't trust easily, It was acceptable in their line of business, but he seemed more hesitant than most, more caged. When they finished dinner, Don was not sure he or Liz had sold the Major on dealing with them.

Don stepped into the spray of the shower and allowed it to wash over him. His mind automatically went back to Liz, her behaviour tonight was…different. She was far more affectionate in a clingy way, not the usual way her character acted. Don swore she had a hand on his thigh the entire night, her other arm around him or touching him in some capacity. Truthfully, it drove him a little crazy. With her proximity and affectionate behaviour, he felt like a thirsty dog being given water, he wanted to lap it up but was also scared if he took in too much it would hurt him in the end. His mind kept going back to Tom, he needed to always remember Tom.

He heard the washroom door open and turned to looked at the steamy glass door version of Liz step into the room. Naked.

Don's breath caught in his throat and he wiped at his eyes to see if he was really seeing what he was seeing. She opened the door to the shower and stepped inside with him.

"You need a shower too?" He asked, surprised he even had a voice after this appearance.

"No," she said with a shake of her head.

Her body pressed against his and her lips found Don's and all worries about Tom Keen vanished as his other brain took over.

When he woke in the morning it was in a slightly damp bed with Liz literally laying on top of him. Don blinked at the brightness of the room and tried to take a breath and stop his heart from hammering. It had happened again. It wasn't just one time and she had initiated it, again. Don wiped his forehead, and his wedding ring caught the sun and reflected back into his eyes.

"Shit," he said softly. It was all about the roles, it wasn't really them.

Don sighed and looked down at her sleeping peacefully, her naked body literally draped over his with a sheet pulled up to her waist covering them from the waist down.

Don needed to…he wasn't sure what he needed to do. He honestly did not know what to do. He loved her, and he thought she cared for him. He would do anything for her. Anything. But he sensed her heart was still with Tom, and until he could occupy the entire thing, he wasn't sure he was up for this. He was too invested in them to think of this as casual. He had never been particularly good at casual sex. He had tried it and it had never ended well.

Don covered his eyes to block out the sun. They were too messed up to continue with this. He knew he was, and he was pretty sure she was. One of them needed to man up and put a stop to this until they really knew where they stood and what they wanted. Maybe he needed to be that man?

"What are you thinking about?" Liz asked him.

"I'm thinking we're too fucked us to do this well," Don answered honestly, his eyes meeting hers as she rested her chin on his chest.

She didn't seem surprised by his answer.

"You still love Tom," Don said as he looked at her carefully. "Don't argue it."

He saw her swallow hard.

"I'm not sure what I feel about either of you," Liz answered honestly.

Don nodded, it was the honest answer he had hoped for.

She shifted against him and his lower half started to come to life and betray him.

"Liz, when we are both ready for a real relationship, not one cloaked in undercover work, then I'm coming for you," Don said as he looked at her carefully, gauging her reaction. "But, until then. We both have things we need to work on."

Liz smiled at him. He sooo sounded like a man that was embracing therapy.

"I agree," Liz said as she pulled herself back off him.

He thought she was going to abandon him, but instead she inched up closer to his face, her body still pressed against him as she maneuvered herself so she was barely an inch from his face.

"I think we have so much possibility," she said softy. "But, sadly, you are right."

Don arched an eyebrow,

"We're going to mess this up before we start it," Liz said clearly. "I don't think the feelings are going away, but the intent needs to be clear. And, right now, neither of us really and truly, knows what that is."

Don swallowed hard. She was absolutely right.

"You are still the most important person in my life," she said as she kissed his lips.

Don returned the kiss and wasn't sure if her words brought him comfort or more distress. Maybe in his heart he wanted her to say the hell with Tom, you are the one I want. But he knew, knew in his bones, that would have been a dishonest answer.

"So where does that leave us?" Don asked.

"Tomorrow it leaves us back in DC, partners, and very close friends," Liz said as she looked at him carefully. "Until we are both in a place where we can be more."

"And today?" Don asked, his voice breaking with the question.

Liz arched an eyebrow.

He knew what that meant. They would still live in that space today, the space between imagination and reality. The space where he could lay in bed naked with her like this. That space.

Don rolled her onto her back and kissed her deeply, knowing it had to end, eventually, but not just yet.

To be continued….