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December Continued

Darien watched in amusement as Alyx yawned for the third time since Eberts had begun questioning her about her report while the Official glared at her. She had decided to be suddenly very deaf every time the Official opened his mouth, even some very loudly yelled and frightening threats had done nothing to gain her attention. So Eberts had taken over for the moment and he was wavering between admonishment for her inappropriate behavior and fear that the Fish was going to take it out on him.

His own report had been fairly short and to the point, there wasn't a whole lot to say. He and Hobbes had sat in the van listening in on and recording the conversation Alyx and Geofferies had had last night, including the scene in the hallway where they'd gotten to know each other a bit better. Darien had been all business last night after the good doctor had left, part of him unreasonably jealous even though he knew better.

Alyx had accepted it without comment. Handing over the wire and giving Bobby the preliminary information she'd been able to get from Geofferies as well as confirming the lunch meeting later on Sunday. She was hoping that by being in more of a work atmosphere he would give up more of the information she was looking for with little effort on her part. But she freely admitted that there was something odd going on. Almost like there were two Kirkland Geofferies, which she said wasn't that unusual. Many people had different persona depending on the situation, however there was usually overlap and not the clear delineation that she felt in Geofferies.

She had hoped that by staying at the penthouse the dreams wouldn't follow her, but she'd hadn't been that lucky and she found herself tossing and turning, waking every hour or so bathed in a cold sweat and fear a hard lump in her throat.

Listening to Eberts she rubbed the side of her head and sat up a bit straighter, trying to convince herself she was awake and ready to face another day of work.

"You mentioned something about the lab at Novadyne. Your description is too vague to make any sense I'm afraid." Eberts commented, as he looked over the page in question.

"Sorry, vague impressions translate into vague descriptions." Alyx tapped the arm of the chair with one finger. "I know you said checking out the lab was useless, but I think the guys should anyway."

"Us? Why not you? You could probably get the grand tour if you batted those eyelashes at the right moment." The irritation in Darien's voice was obvious to everyone in the room.

"Because, the place clears out in between the tests. Geofferies and most everyone else is going to be at lunch." She turned about to look at Darien. "The one I've been invited to."

That earned her a growl of pure frustration.

"Anything in particular, kid?" Hobbes asked.

She shook her head. "I got the impression that the lab either isn't nearly as damaged as the reports implied or maybe not damaged at all." She tipped her head and went over the memory to be sure. "Its possible that's how he wishes it was. Hopes and fantasies can feel just as real as the truth and I can't always discern the difference."

"But its worth checking out." The Official stated in an attempt to wrestle control back from Alyx.

She ignored him and got to her feet. "Bobby, I'll be down in the Keep. I need to speak with Claire for a minute."

"Okay, kid. My office in half an hour." When she nodded he turned back to the Official and they all heard the door shut quietly a few seconds later.

"I'd say she's still a bit pissed off." Darien had no problems shoving the reality of the situation right up the fat bastard's face. He was still upset over the Official's callous attitude from yesterday.

The Official surprised them by chuckling softly. "So would I. Still, she got the info we need. The two of you will get into the lab while it's relatively empty." He looked from one man to the other. "Eberts, see about getting them in the door using legit credentials."

"Yes, sir. I should have that ready in about an hour." Eberts answered after a moment to consider what the job would entail.

"Good. Fawkes check in with the Keeper and make sure you're in place to move on time." the Official made it clear that was their dismissal and both men got to their feet and left the office.

"Fawkes, my office when you're done in the Keep." Hobbes told Darien in a rather gruff tome making him wonder what he'd gone and done wrong this time.

"Hobbes, problem?" Darien asked hurriedly as Hobbes was making his escape.

"Not yet, Fawkes. Now get moving." Hobbes turned the corner cutting off any chance for a reply.

Darien debating going after Hobbes but decided against it, he'd been in an odd mood since yesterday and had refused to discuss it. Strolling casually in hopes of avoiding Alyx for the time being he instead met up with her in the hall down from the Keep. She'd just turned the corner and nearly ran into him.

"Sorry." she mumbled and tried to skirt about him just as he tried to do the same and they ended up spending a couple of minutes doing that dance as they tried to get past one another.

Finally Darien set his hands on her shoulders to stop her. "Alyx, you've been dodging me all morning. What's up?"

She snorted. "Dodging you? Jeeze, you've been screaming pissed off to my senses ever since last night. Damn straight I stayed out of your way." She tried to shrug out of his light hold, but he tightened down his fingers and kept her in place.

"Okay, so I don't handle the you kissing other guys thing too well." Checking the hallway in both directions he drew her back into a nearby doorway of an empty office. "I'm sorry."

And he really was, she could feel it, but underneath was this possessiveness that made her feel icy inside. "Well, stop it. I'm having enough trouble screwing with Geofferies' head without having you mucking up mine. And its not like I have a whole lot of choices these days."

He grumbled mostly to himself. "Its just work."

"Damn straight its just work." She stepped back sensing Claire was standing just around the corner and that she knew the two of them were there. "Look, this is not the place to discuss this..."

"Good enough as any." Darien argued and pulled her closer, one hand coming up to curve about her neck. "I'll behave, just tell me you're not mad."

She sighed. "You can be such an annoying thing, you know that?"

"Persistent too." he commented with a grin. "And you wouldn't have it any other way."

Alyx flinched in reaction to those words, deja vu hitting her hard enough to cause a physical reaction.

"Hey, easy there." Darien steadied her as her knees debated the merits of forgoing their duty to hold her upright. "You all right?"

She shook her head to clear it. "Fine."

Claire stepped around the corner then, noting the concern in Darien's entire posture, the familiar way he touched Alyx, and the closeness between them. It appeared Bobby was right, they were getting involved on far more than a platonic level.

Alyx's head turned to meet Claire's gaze and the challenge in them was plain. Daring her to say one word in reprimand or admonishment, daring her to deny this had been the plan from the start.

"So it is more than just some insomnia." Claire said, moving to them. She made a point of saying nothing about the fact that Darien was still standing there holding onto Alyx and looking all protective and worried.

"Just ... weirdness is all. Like flashes of memory, just really strong and sudden." Alyx admitted. "Not all that clear though, like the dreams. The pictures are still fuzzy."

Claire nodded. "All right, but if they begin causing serious problems don't wait to come to me." Alyx nodded in agreement and Claire turned her attention to the tall man behind the tiny woman with one arm wrapped protectively about her. "You."

"Me?"

"Into the Keep with you. The Official wants me to clear you for a mission. Something about a full tank." She shook her head. "You Americans and your euphemisms."

"Full tank? Oh." Darien held out his right wrist, the sleeve pulling back enough to show his monitor was at half red and that he would need a shot before going invisible for a mission. Knowing the way things usually went for them, he'd need another one after as well.

"Why didn't he just say you needed counteragent?" Claire complained softly. She waved for Darien to precede her and he reluctantly released Alyx. "She'll be fine." Claire told him as they turned the corner "And she needs to prep for the mission anyway. You should trust her more, Darien."

He slid his mag-key through the slot and stepped through the doorway as soon as it was open enough. "I do, its just..." He stopped himself realizing he was damn near to spilling the beans about him and Alyx.

"You two have grown closer." Claire attempted to keep the comment off-handed and light as she walked to the cooler with the counteragent. Behind her she could hear Darien sliding onto the exam chair.

"I guess. We hang out after work sometimes." He was staring at his hands, which lay in his lap.

"So it's just friendship." Claire asked as she set down the syringe and lifted the rubber tourniquet. He shifted his arm and she wrapped it about his biceps.

"Yeah, friends." He turned his head to look at her. "You say that as if it's a bad thing."

She tapped the vein to get it to stand up for her and then injected the bright blue liquid into his system. "No, one can never have too many friends. I was just wondering if you'd ever consider becoming more than friends."

Darien waited until the large needle had been removed from his flesh before answering. "Would that matter? Company pier and all."

Claire removed the tubing and turned away to dispose of the items properly. "And since when have you been one to follow the rules?" she asked. When she glanced over her shoulder at him a moment later he was once again looking down at his hands.

"Never."

Alyx stood outside the entrance to Logan's Bar and Grill and grinned. Geofferies hadn't been kidding when he said it was a hole in the wall place. Stuffed as it was between an electronics repair store and a "antique shop" on the barely two-lane road of the no name town just north-east Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, but not part of Mira Mesa proper.

At one time it might have be the civilian town that had sprung up to cater to the nearby military personnel, but had long since seen its custom move further away. There were still homes in the area, enough to support the local businesses, and the small but powerful Novadyne that had chosen the empty desert nearby as the perfect place to set up shop. The locals didn't really care where the business came from so long as there was money flowing through the town.

Swinging open the door she stepped inside and allowed a second for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior. Today she was dressed far more simply. Jeans, dark green T-shirt and a black cardigan that hung unbuttoned and open to reveal what she wore to others. One of the waitresses wandered over and directed her to the back where a fairly large group of men and women were sitting and talking rather loudly.

Stopping behind the group she waited for Geofferies, who she had spotted immediately, to notice she was there. It was the dark haired gentleman next to him who noticed her first and elbowed Kirkland rather forcefully to break him out of the detailed description he was reciting about some facet of the day's work.

When his eyes locked on hers, he grinned a bit sheepishly and the catcalls began. Sliding out of the booth, shoving several others out of the way to do so, he went to Alyx and apologized. As she allowed him to seat her in the booth, between him and another gentleman she reached out to contact Darien.

*You have a go.*