Chapter 20

Morgan rolled over. She didn't have the usual metal frame digging into her back through the sagging cushions of Cobra's couch. She pulled the soft blanket up over her shoulder, snuggling in. For once, Cobra and Spike's apartment didn't smell like stale cigarettes and beer.

Her eyes flew open.

She wasn't at Cobra's.

She was in Chris' once familiar living room. For a second she wanted to pretend that Sarah was in the kitchen making breakfast together. That Adam would come padding down the hall, his hair sticking up in all directions after sleep. Buck and Chris would come in after an overnight shift on the streets of Denver, Buck teasing Sarah if the bacon was burned, Chris ruffling Adam's hair before swinging him up onto his shoulders.

Morgan fought the blanket off her. She sat up, pushing back the memories of when things were easy. Before her life had fallen apart in Las Vegas.

She picked up her phone and saw three messages from Vin. Checking to see if she was ok. Saying they needed to talk. Telling her he was there for whatever she needed. She tossed it back onto the table and buried her face in her hands.

She drew in a long breath. She couldn't hide at Chris' forever. But that didn't mean she had to return Vin's texts, as much as everything in her wanted to. More than that, she wanted to call him. She wanted to see him. She wanted—

She got up, grabbing her phone. She needed to get out of there. She went to the kitchen where she had dropped her keys on the counter the night before. She clenched them in her hand, moving through the early morning light.

"We need to talk."

Morgan jolted at the voice, dropping the keys onto the tile floor.

Chris sat at the kitchen table, his hair looking like he had been running his hands through it.

She reached down and snatched up her keys. "You've said enough," she snapped. She needed to get out of there. She had no idea why Chris had come home, but she realized she never should have come here.

Chris pushed his chair back and crossed to the coffee maker. He poured two mugs, setting them on the table before going to the fridge. He pulled out a carton of cream and a bottle of caramel syrup. He poured a generous amount of both into one of the mugs before taking a seat.

Morgan looked at Chris' black coffee. Then eyed the caramel syrup. "When did you get that?" she asked.

Chris settled back in his chair. "When I heard you were back."

She felt some of her anger dissipate. Chris never drank his coffee any way but black. He had got what she needed for her favorite coffee drink and stuck it in his fridge so it would be there if she visited.

Morgan kept her distance, taking a seat on the opposite side of the table, perching on the edge of the chair. She hesitated before setting her keys and phone down.

Chris' didn't say anything more, just took a drink of his coffee. Morgan eyed him, waiting for him to speak. She slid her mug of coffee closer and lifted it to blow on it.

"Glad you knew you could come here," Chris finally spoke.

Morgan's heart twisted. She had only come to Chris' because she thought she could avoid him.

"You want to tell me what's goin' on? Why you were on my couch?"

Morgan set her mug down with a thud. "No," she answered bluntly.

Chris' lips twitched slightly. "Always appreciated your honesty."

Morgan thought back to the first time she met the man who would become like another brother to her. She had threatened his life if he didn't look out for Buck. And she had never pulled any punches with him since then. Not until everything that happened with Chad. She picked up her mug and took a sip that was too hot, but the searing burn chased away the pain in her chest.

Chris didn't say anything else. He drank his morning coffee in silence. Morgan followed suit, savoring the sweetness of her hot drink, her shoulders starting to relax finally.

Her phone buzzed and she looked at it, saw Vin's name. She ignored it, like it didn't matter. But she knew Chris saw it.

"Vin ever say anything about Charlotte?" Chris asked.

Morgan's heart skipped a beat at Vin's name before she registered Chris' question and her heart sank low. She shook her head, "We're not…Vin doesn't mean anything to me. There's no reason for him to tell me anything."

She knew Chris saw through her, he never missed anything. She braced herself to hear about some woman in Vin's past. How this woman had been everything Vin ever wanted, but broke his heart and that's why Morgan shouldn't be anywhere near Chris' teammate.

"She was awful," Chris said.

Morgan's eyes flew to him. She saw the way his lip curled slightly when he talked about her. The anger in the set of his jaw.

"She almost destroyed him."

Morgan felt her heart twist at the thought of anyone hurting the gentle man she knew she should stay away from. Felt the guilt and shame that Chris thought she would destroy Vin like this other woman had.

Chris looked at her. He must have seen the defensive anger setting in and he spoke directly. "She was nothing like you. Didn't think of others. Just her own needs. And she'd lie to get what she needed." His fingers curled into fists on the tabletop. "She told Vin her husband was abusing her." He met her eyes. "You know Vin well enough to know he won't walk away from that. He was willing to throw aside everything—his career, his friends, his life—to save her."

Morgan felt something in her sink at Chris' words. "So that's what he does," she said through stiff lips. "Puts on his cape and saves women from their violent boyfriends. Husbands," she quickly corrected herself, but she was too late. Chris' eyes narrowed and he looked at her sharply.

"That what he's doin' with you?"

Morgan shook her head quickly. She tried to look like Chris' question was ridiculous. But the thought that she was nothing more to Vin than another sad story to help sent pain through her.

She started to get up and Chris stood, crossing toward her. He didn't touch her, but he stood close enough to block her exit, looking down at her. His green eyes were dark with worry and Morgan looked away.

"Cobra hurting you?" he demanded. "Has he put his hands on you?"

Morgan quickly shook her head. Cobra didn't matter enough to her to even be considered. She hoped her denial would be enough for Chris to drop it. But she should have known better. This was a man who made a living reading people, investigating and interrogating.

"What happened in Vegas?" he asked.

Morgan knew the anger in his voice wasn't for her. She had known Chris long enough to know that. But she hated being laid bare. Him knowing what she had let happen in Vegas. That she had let Chad hurt her for too long.

"Nothing," she said. But Chris wasn't easily deterred.

"Who was he?" Chris asked through gritted teeth.

"No one," Morgan said, risking a look at him. She shook her head and rolled her eyes like none of it mattered anymore. "Just this guy I was seeing."

"And he hurt you?" Chris asked. "Is that why you left college? Why you came to Denver?" He jammed a hand through his hair. "Hell, Morgan. Why wouldn't you tell Buck? Tell me?"

It was too much. Morgan took a step back, her own jaw steeling to match Chris'. "There's nothing to tell," she insisted, her heart starting to pound, blood rushing in her ears. "It's over. There's nothing for Vin to save me from," she added desperately.

"Morgan," Chris said.

She ignored him, shaking her head, avoiding looking at him. She knew she would shatter if she saw the disappoint in his eyes. She got her keys and phone and shoved her way out the kitchen door.

"Morgan!" Chris yelled behind her, but Morgan managed to get in her car and jam it into gear before Chris caught up to her. She shoved her foot down on the gas, gravel spitting out behind her tires as she drove away. She kept her eyes forward, not wanting to see Chris in her rearview mirror, hands on hips, watching her go.

#

Vin stuck his phone back in the pocket of his worn jeans. He hadn't really expected Morgan to answer. Sitting on the steps of his apartment building, he watched the first rays of sun reach over the gray buildings and shabby houses across the parking lot.

He hadn't slept. Not when he had seen Morgan forced to debase herself—and to Ezra of all people—last night. Though he didn't know if Morgan giving a lap dance, draping herself all over a stranger, would have been any easier to take. He hadn't heard from Ezra, but he didn't imagine the other man had got any sleep either. Not after what had happened. And definitely not knowing Buck was going to be going under with them the next time they went to the club.

One of them was going to have to tell Buck.

With a sigh, Vin heaved himself up to standing, needing to walk. What he really needed was to get out of the city, go up to his cabin and not think about his job, this case, for a few days. But that wasn't an option when they were in the middle of the case.

He saw the single mom with her two little ones who lived on the second floor, heading to the bus stop. She was struggling to balance her diaper bag on one shoulder, hold her preschooler's hand, and push the stroller.

"Need a hand?" Vin asked.

The frazzled woman gave him an appreciative smile. Vin took the diaper bag from her and took the little boy's hand. "Hey, Pard," he smiled down at the little guy.

"Hey, Vin," the kid said. "I been practicin' my slingshot."

Vin raised an eyebrow. "Outside?"

The little boy glanced at his mother. "Mostly."

The woman's face relaxed into an indulgent smile. "Mostly needs to become always," she said.

The reached the bus stop just as the bus approached. Vin took the toddler she handed him and gave the little tyke a smile while his neighbor folded down her stroller.

He handed her back the baby and diaper bag as the bus pulled up to the curb.

She thanked him gratefully as she herded her son onto the bus, balancing the baby, stroller, and diaper bag.

Vin gave them all a wave and stepped back as the door to the bus closed.

He thought of Morgan. Her insistence that she didn't need help compared to his neighbor easily letting him help her with his load. It shouldn't be so hard for someone to accept help when they needed it and he didn't know how to convince Morgan of that.

More than that, he didn't know how to convince her he wanted more than just to help her. He wanted her. He wanted to know her better. To let her get to know him. To share his life with her. She intrigued him like no one he had ever met.

Vin looked across the street at the church that stood in the middle of the busy neighborhood. A place he often ended up when he needed quiet and couldn't get to his cabin.

The promised silence of the sanctuary didn't disappoint. Vin's boots against the stone floor was the only sound as he made his way down the row of worn, but polished, oak pews.

He slipped into a seat midway toward the altar. The silence settled some of his unrest. He looked up at the stained glass windows spaced out regularly around the empty room. The colors, the pictures, the message they sent. He wondered if Morgan had somewhere to go to take a breath.

"It's been awhile."

Vin slid over so the priest could take a seat next to him. "Sorry 'bout that, Padre."

Father O'Connell took the vacant space on the pew. "You've been busy with work?"

Vin felt some of the peace leave at the thought of the case and how Morgan was wrapped up in it. "Been pullin' some late nights on this one." He hesitated. "Got a friend wrapped up in it."

"I'm sorry," the priest said sincerely. "Is your friend in trouble?"

"She doesn't think she is," Vin said. And that was what scared him more than anything. That Morgan wouldn't admit she needed help.

Father O'Connell didn't offer a platitude. He and Vin sat in silence together.

"What do you do when someone won't let you help them?" Vin asked. He was used to people wanting help, even people demanding help. He thought of Charlotte, how she had manipulated and pushed and played every part she had to in order to secure Vin's help to get away from her husband. A husband she was trying to slander in order to also walk away with all his money.

The familiar anger at the thought of Charlotte didn't surface. Instead, he thought of how different Morgan was. In spite of her smirks and eye rolls, she was more sincere in every action than anyone Vin had known outside of his teammates.

"You pray," the priest answered. "You stay available. You let them know there is help whenever they choose to take it."

Vin nodded. It made sense.

The priest patted Vin on the shoulder. "And you make sure she knows how you feel," he said with a hint of a smile. He stood then, grimacing at the pain Vin knew his bad hip gave him.

"Thanks, Padre," Vin said to the priest's retreating form.

Father O'Connell waved a hand over his shoulder in response, making his way back to the church offices.

Vin sat in the dim, empty space. He thought of all the ways he wanted to let Morgan know he was there for her. All the ways she wouldn't let him.

He dropped his head into his hands, wondering what he was supposed to do.

#

Buck took a seat at a table in the back of The Saloon. Ezra, JD, and Josiah took seats, too, but Buck was busy looking toward the bar, trying to catch a glimpse of who might be working. He was looking for one special lady in particular.

He had managed to get some sleep. He had even made it back into the office at a decent hour, listening to Chris slam around in his office, Vin sit at his desk lost in his own thoughts and catching Ezra staring at him with a frown far too often. But his own thoughts kept wandering back to Inez. The feel of her lips against his. It had been better than he had spent the past several months hoping it would be.

What he hadn't expected was her compassion. How the way she listened to him with her eyes, her hand resting on him, meant just as much as that kiss. How she had offered something he didn't even know he needed.

"What're you lookin' for, Buck?" JD asked, craning his neck to see.

Buck cleared his throat and picked up his menu. "No one. I mean, nothin'."

He buried his face in his menu, pretending to care what he ordered. He waited for JD to start talking to Josiah before he looked up again. Inez was coming toward their table. When she saw him, she faltered, stopped, then whirled around on her heel and started back toward the bar.

"Inez!" he called after her. She didn't stop and Buck got up, his long legs getting tangled between the chair and the table. He managed to get free, his chair toppling over. Buck hopped awkwardly over the chair and hurried after Inez.

She went behind the bar and headed toward the door that went to her office.

Buck ignored the protests of one of the waitresses and followed Inez into her office.

She turned around and startled at the sight of him.

"I have a lot of work to get done," she stated.

Buck closed the door behind him. "I won't take long."

"You should go." Inez circled around her desk and sat down, pulling her laptop toward her.

"I will. But there's somethin' I need to ask you." Buck could tell she didn't have her laptop on, but she stared at the screen as if she was working.

"I'm busy," she said.

"You know I've been askin' you out for months now," he said.

Inez cut him off. "About last night—"

"You were a real friend," Buck said. He could tell it wasn't what Inez expected, her eyes widening slightly in confusion. "You've always been a real friend, Inez. Somethin' real special about that."

"You have a lot of friends," she countered. "JD, Josiah, Vin…"

"Not ones that I kiss," he grinned.

Inez' face fell. "That shouldn't have happened," she said.

It wasn't unexpected. Not after all the times she had turned away his advances. But now Buck was seeing things clearly. He wanted more than just a good time with Inez. She was something special.

"I think it should happen again," he said.

"Buck," Inez said, folding her hands on her desk in front of her, as if ready to discuss business. "Last night—that kiss—it was…nice." Her cheeks flushed and Buck's smile widened. He could see just how nice she thought it was. "But it can't happen again."

"And why's that?" Buck asked. He pulled up a chair and crossed one ankle over the opposite knee, waiting to hear what excuse he would need to bat away.

"I am not your type," Inez said firmly.

"And what type is that?" Buck asked. "Beautiful? Smart? Capbable? Hotter than hell?"

She pinned him with a look. "Long term." Buck's admiration only grew as she didn't beat around the bush. "I don't do flings."

Buck settled more comfortably into his chair. "Well that's real good, Darlin'. Because that ain't what I want."

Inez' lips pressed together in annoyance. "That's all you've ever wanted. There was that aerobics instructor. And the flight attendant. And that one with the…" she motioned towards her face.

Buck grimaced. Yeah, that one was an unfortunate choice. But he sobered, planting both his boots on the ground in front of him and leaning forward, holding Inez' eyes. "That's all I thought I wanted. Until I met you."

Something in Inez' eyes flickered.

"Just go out with me. One date," Buck said. He would make sure it was a date Inez would never forget.

Inez looked like she was wavering, so Buck turned the charm up in his smile.

With a reluctant sigh, Inez gave in. "One date," she said, as if she was going against her better judgment.

"One date," Buck agreed. And once Inez had the time of her life, there would be a second date.

"You need to go now," she said, opening her laptop back up and not looking at him, but looking very much she questioned her sanity.

Buck stood, but he leaned over Inez' desk so he could catch her eye. When she looked at him, he winked. "You won't regret it," he promised.

"I already do," she muttered.

Buck pretended he didn't hear that and left her office, unable to hold back his grin.

"What's got you so happy?" JD asked when Buck returned to the table.

"Everything," Buck said, lifting his menu again.

Ezra was giving Buck that look again, like he wanted to say something to him. Buck lowered his menu and waited.

Ezra glanced at Josiah and JD, then leaned forward confidentially. "We need to talk," he said.

Buck's smile sobered. "Is it about what Chris thinks you and Vin are into?" he asked under his breath.

Ezra hesitated. Before he could answer, his phone chimed. Ezra looked at the screen and his face tightened. He pushed a button and held the phone to his ear, standing as he did.

As he walked away, Buck could hear him speaking to whoever answered.

"Are you ok?"

And then Ezra was getting his keys from his pocket, promising to be there directly and heading out the door.

If Buck hadn't already had his suspicions that Ezra—and Vin—were up to something, he would have no doubt now. Whoever had called Ezra had merited a look of concern on Ezra's face that Buck had seen reserved only for the men on the team. The people Ezra considered family.

#