"Well, that was obvious. His skin color was one of the things that gave him away." Sarah countered evenly. "If he had any common sense he would have tried to blend in a little better."
"His eyes were also giveaways." Lee added, and before Jareth could spout something off their drinks arrived. Wine for the men, club soda for Sarah since she didn't drink. Jareth had a dangerous look in his eyes that unnerved Sarah, having worked in the Agency she knew when to trust her instincts. They were telling her that the mighty Goblin King was jealous of her partner. Playing it smart she kept her mouth shut for the time being.
"You told him?" Jareth hissed as his eyes blazed a magical fire, narrowing to glowing green slits. Sarah shivered but refused to be intimidated again.
"Lee is my friend and partner." She growled back. "You only deceive your partner if the country has need of you and only you." Little did Jareth know she was speaking from personal experience. Both her and Lee have had assignments where they had to fool each other so their mission would be a success. Their latest mission was where Sarah had to play the defective to get information out of a terrorist group in China, her gift with language having been a valuable asset.
"Now isn't the time Sarah. I know you had a tough time on that case, but we have to find Caleb." Lee warned as only a superior agent can. She smiled grimly and nodded her head. He was right, there would be time later to let out her anger over hundreds of Chinese women being sold to get them out of the country, otherwise they would bring shame onto their households for being female.
"Mortal." Jareth spat. "Caleb of Shadow isn't easily defeated." Why did he always make it sound like war or a battle was going on? Was he that bored Underground?
"Defeated?" Sarah echoed with a sigh. "This isn't a war Jareth."
"Yes it is." Jareth snapped. "Caleb wants my kingdom. He's come to this world looking for you." Sarah stifled the urge to scream in frustration. He could be so damn cocky sometimes, even when he's losing.
"That still doesn't explain why you are here." Lee said flatly. Underneath the table he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, sensing her distress as always.
Jareth sighed and Sarah could actually see the Goblin King's weariness. Guilt washed over her at that moment, nearly suffocating her. She felt terrible at the fact that she was so harsh on him for being here out of worry for her and his kingdom, but also for the fact that she broke his heart. 'I broke his heart? Where did that come from? He never gave me any sign of…wait, that peach dream! He was trying to tell me he loved me. Oh, Lord.'
"Caleb rules the Shadow Kingdom, the least substantial but one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Underground. He wants my Labyrinth so he's come for Sarah in the hope of breaking me."
Sarah felt overwhelmed. Silently she laid her head back on the back of the booth, closing her eyes. Taking deep breaths Sarah pushed back the urge to hurl, knowing it wouldn't help the situation any. 'So, I have power over the Goblin King. Why me? I didn't ask for any of this.' No matter what she did over the years Jareth had haunted her thoughts and dreams. Only when she came to work for the Agency did she regain her sanity.
Jareth watched as Sarah practically fainted. If he could spare her of what was to come he would, but that was beyond even his vast powers. He never wanted to harm Sarah in any way, but her job was just as dangerous as he was and maybe even more so. 'I'm sorry beloved, you are the instrument of our destruction or our salvation.'
"So you came here to look for Sarah, yet you left your kingdom. What's stopping Caleb from taking it while you're away?" Lee asked ignoring Sarah. Jareth glanced at the brunette, worry showing through his mask. "She'll be fine."
"Natural and magical traps are always present throughout my Labyrinth and only two people know can travel it safely; Sarah and myself." Jareth replied gruffly. "And I still have no idea how she did it."
"Hello. I'm sitting right here!" Sarah sat up. "I'm not deaf."
Jareth loved the way she could be stirred up so easily, her temper nearly an equal to his. Sarah was a feisty firedrake in the body of an angel, beautifully deceptive. He always knew she was quick, even before she traversed his maze to save the young Toby. He wouldn't have turned the boy into a Goblin, wanting to keep him as an heir, that is, unless he and Sarah hadn't created one by then. Now that Jareth had a second chance he wasn't about to give up until he had Sarah for himself. He would give her her dreams and she in turn would be his.
"Forgive me Sarah, but if Caleb keeps up his present pace he could be here any day now." Jareth apologized. NOT any easy feat for someone as old as he was, but Sarah did deserve an apology. Sarah's eyes rounded and a look of shock fell across her face.
"You, you, apologized?" She mocked. "The King of Spandex apologized! The Apocalypse is coming!" She the broke out into giggles, making Jareth scowl in embarrassment. How could he be angry when she looked so cute when she laughed? 'I did not just say cute. What's the world coming to?'
"Sarah!" Lee reprimanded. "Now is no time for theatrics."
"I couldn't help it." She shrugged. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"A room at the Ritz." Jareth answered. Then in all seriousness he added, "I want you to stay with me until this is over."
Lee clamped a hand over Sarah's mouth just as she prepared to voice her objections, her outburst coming out muffled. Jareth fought the urge to rip the man's arm off. Why could he touch her like that but not him? Jareth knew her better than that human ever could wish to, and yet it was Lee that was holding his hand over her mouth. He ached for what he knew he couldn't have yet, but he would have her soon.
"Queen!" Lee said through clenched teeth, and Sarah instantly quieted. "That's better."
"I'm not staying with you in your hotel room." Jareth expected no less from the woman who had made him look like a fool in front of his subjects.
"Then I suggest a safe house until this is over." Lee interjected, eyeing Jareth as if he were some two-bit criminal from the human world. "Neutral ground."
"Fine by me." Jareth said letting himself admire Sarah's appearance for the first time since he arrived. She wore a fitted baby blue t-shirt that accented her pants suit of sapphire blue. Her deliciously long brown hair was twisted up into a French Roll on the back of her head, completely business-like and functional. Sarah wore little jewelry and what little that she did was elegant in a simple way. Small diamond studs graced her earlobes, winking in the dim light of the bar. A thin herring-bone chain was draped around her neck with a strange looking symbol on it, a complement to Sarah's deep tan skin. A simple watch was around her left wrist and a small silver band wrapped around her right ring finger. 'What's with that ring? It seems important.' Then there was her codename; Queen. How appropriate.
"As long as Lee is there I don't mind, as much." Sarah replied heavily, feeling Jareth's eyes rake her body.
"I have to go with you anyway." Lee said sensibly. "Caleb could use me to get you."
"Good, 'cause if he does something, anything to you, I'd rip his throat out with my bare hands." Sarah said sipping her club soda. Ever since her last assignment she had become extremely protective of her best friend. Lee laughed but Jareth scowled even more. His face was going to stick that way if he kept it up.
"We can use the safe house on the Potomac." Lee stood. Sarah personally liked the safe house that was on the Potomac, it having plenty of room.
"'Kay." Sarah stood as well. Then she came to a decision. "I'm sorry for jumping the gun Jareth."
"It's forgiven." Jareth looked as if her were about to choke on those two words. Rolling her eyes Sarah slid into her car, and even though she knew the way to the safe house she let Lee lead.
"His eyes were also giveaways." Lee added, and before Jareth could spout something off their drinks arrived. Wine for the men, club soda for Sarah since she didn't drink. Jareth had a dangerous look in his eyes that unnerved Sarah, having worked in the Agency she knew when to trust her instincts. They were telling her that the mighty Goblin King was jealous of her partner. Playing it smart she kept her mouth shut for the time being.
"You told him?" Jareth hissed as his eyes blazed a magical fire, narrowing to glowing green slits. Sarah shivered but refused to be intimidated again.
"Lee is my friend and partner." She growled back. "You only deceive your partner if the country has need of you and only you." Little did Jareth know she was speaking from personal experience. Both her and Lee have had assignments where they had to fool each other so their mission would be a success. Their latest mission was where Sarah had to play the defective to get information out of a terrorist group in China, her gift with language having been a valuable asset.
"Now isn't the time Sarah. I know you had a tough time on that case, but we have to find Caleb." Lee warned as only a superior agent can. She smiled grimly and nodded her head. He was right, there would be time later to let out her anger over hundreds of Chinese women being sold to get them out of the country, otherwise they would bring shame onto their households for being female.
"Mortal." Jareth spat. "Caleb of Shadow isn't easily defeated." Why did he always make it sound like war or a battle was going on? Was he that bored Underground?
"Defeated?" Sarah echoed with a sigh. "This isn't a war Jareth."
"Yes it is." Jareth snapped. "Caleb wants my kingdom. He's come to this world looking for you." Sarah stifled the urge to scream in frustration. He could be so damn cocky sometimes, even when he's losing.
"That still doesn't explain why you are here." Lee said flatly. Underneath the table he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, sensing her distress as always.
Jareth sighed and Sarah could actually see the Goblin King's weariness. Guilt washed over her at that moment, nearly suffocating her. She felt terrible at the fact that she was so harsh on him for being here out of worry for her and his kingdom, but also for the fact that she broke his heart. 'I broke his heart? Where did that come from? He never gave me any sign of…wait, that peach dream! He was trying to tell me he loved me. Oh, Lord.'
"Caleb rules the Shadow Kingdom, the least substantial but one of the most powerful kingdoms in the Underground. He wants my Labyrinth so he's come for Sarah in the hope of breaking me."
Sarah felt overwhelmed. Silently she laid her head back on the back of the booth, closing her eyes. Taking deep breaths Sarah pushed back the urge to hurl, knowing it wouldn't help the situation any. 'So, I have power over the Goblin King. Why me? I didn't ask for any of this.' No matter what she did over the years Jareth had haunted her thoughts and dreams. Only when she came to work for the Agency did she regain her sanity.
Jareth watched as Sarah practically fainted. If he could spare her of what was to come he would, but that was beyond even his vast powers. He never wanted to harm Sarah in any way, but her job was just as dangerous as he was and maybe even more so. 'I'm sorry beloved, you are the instrument of our destruction or our salvation.'
"So you came here to look for Sarah, yet you left your kingdom. What's stopping Caleb from taking it while you're away?" Lee asked ignoring Sarah. Jareth glanced at the brunette, worry showing through his mask. "She'll be fine."
"Natural and magical traps are always present throughout my Labyrinth and only two people know can travel it safely; Sarah and myself." Jareth replied gruffly. "And I still have no idea how she did it."
"Hello. I'm sitting right here!" Sarah sat up. "I'm not deaf."
Jareth loved the way she could be stirred up so easily, her temper nearly an equal to his. Sarah was a feisty firedrake in the body of an angel, beautifully deceptive. He always knew she was quick, even before she traversed his maze to save the young Toby. He wouldn't have turned the boy into a Goblin, wanting to keep him as an heir, that is, unless he and Sarah hadn't created one by then. Now that Jareth had a second chance he wasn't about to give up until he had Sarah for himself. He would give her her dreams and she in turn would be his.
"Forgive me Sarah, but if Caleb keeps up his present pace he could be here any day now." Jareth apologized. NOT any easy feat for someone as old as he was, but Sarah did deserve an apology. Sarah's eyes rounded and a look of shock fell across her face.
"You, you, apologized?" She mocked. "The King of Spandex apologized! The Apocalypse is coming!" She the broke out into giggles, making Jareth scowl in embarrassment. How could he be angry when she looked so cute when she laughed? 'I did not just say cute. What's the world coming to?'
"Sarah!" Lee reprimanded. "Now is no time for theatrics."
"I couldn't help it." She shrugged. "Do you have a place to stay?"
"A room at the Ritz." Jareth answered. Then in all seriousness he added, "I want you to stay with me until this is over."
Lee clamped a hand over Sarah's mouth just as she prepared to voice her objections, her outburst coming out muffled. Jareth fought the urge to rip the man's arm off. Why could he touch her like that but not him? Jareth knew her better than that human ever could wish to, and yet it was Lee that was holding his hand over her mouth. He ached for what he knew he couldn't have yet, but he would have her soon.
"Queen!" Lee said through clenched teeth, and Sarah instantly quieted. "That's better."
"I'm not staying with you in your hotel room." Jareth expected no less from the woman who had made him look like a fool in front of his subjects.
"Then I suggest a safe house until this is over." Lee interjected, eyeing Jareth as if he were some two-bit criminal from the human world. "Neutral ground."
"Fine by me." Jareth said letting himself admire Sarah's appearance for the first time since he arrived. She wore a fitted baby blue t-shirt that accented her pants suit of sapphire blue. Her deliciously long brown hair was twisted up into a French Roll on the back of her head, completely business-like and functional. Sarah wore little jewelry and what little that she did was elegant in a simple way. Small diamond studs graced her earlobes, winking in the dim light of the bar. A thin herring-bone chain was draped around her neck with a strange looking symbol on it, a complement to Sarah's deep tan skin. A simple watch was around her left wrist and a small silver band wrapped around her right ring finger. 'What's with that ring? It seems important.' Then there was her codename; Queen. How appropriate.
"As long as Lee is there I don't mind, as much." Sarah replied heavily, feeling Jareth's eyes rake her body.
"I have to go with you anyway." Lee said sensibly. "Caleb could use me to get you."
"Good, 'cause if he does something, anything to you, I'd rip his throat out with my bare hands." Sarah said sipping her club soda. Ever since her last assignment she had become extremely protective of her best friend. Lee laughed but Jareth scowled even more. His face was going to stick that way if he kept it up.
"We can use the safe house on the Potomac." Lee stood. Sarah personally liked the safe house that was on the Potomac, it having plenty of room.
"'Kay." Sarah stood as well. Then she came to a decision. "I'm sorry for jumping the gun Jareth."
"It's forgiven." Jareth looked as if her were about to choke on those two words. Rolling her eyes Sarah slid into her car, and even though she knew the way to the safe house she let Lee lead.