Chapter 18

Tyana apologised once more, "I'm sorry Bret, I know I should have answered but believe me, it wasn't the most of appropriate of times"

He raised an eyebrow curiously, "Oh?"

She rolled her eyes at him, "Oh be quiet. Now, I'm off to the gym for training, do I need to call you when I get there daddykins?" she asked sarcastically in a child like voice.

"No, it's not necessary. I do however need you to contact me after your first hour of training. I think by then I might have a little more information on tomorrow night. Is that ok?"

Tyana nodded and swung her duffel bag onto her shoulder, "Got it. I'll see you later"

"Bye"

She turned the communicator off and made her way to the closest gym. Tyana had always been energetic and surprisingly superior when it came to strength and battle skills but she couldn't afford to let herself slip before the following evening. Too much was at risk…too many lives, too much freedom.

The hours trickled by as Tyana trained hard and fast. Punch after punch, kick after kick, roll after roll. Everything she would need in any battle situation was practiced again and again and eventually Tyana treated her tired body to a break and slumped down the wall to the floor of the weight room. She gulped down a grateful mouthful of water and slowed her ragged breathing. Her brain ticked away, making sure the memory of the map she'd been shown three hours ago was still there, locked up safe within her minds eye. She was glad of her almost photographic memory and as she closed her eyes to envision running the route that was set for her she began to appreciate it even more so than before.

Tomorrow would be a test…

One she hoped she would pass.

***

Jeff waved good evening to Amy and continued to ride the elevator when the doors closed. It wasn't long at all until he was in his room, thinking of the night before when Tyana had been lying asleep, resembling an angel, in the bed he now stood in front of. As he thought of her he became eager to hear her voice and so found his cell phone. He found one voice mail waiting.

"Hey you" a sultry voiced ringed into his ears and Jeff beamed at the sound of it, "It's me, 'lil Ty. Anyway I called for a chat but it seems you're busy, maybe you're in the ring I don't know. Um, I guess I'll just go to the gym now." She sniffed, pretending she was tremendously upset by his absence and Jeff absolutely had to smile at that, "It you wanna talk then you can phone me tonight or whatever but I'm off to Montreal first thing Jeff so…I dunno, stay safe hun. Bye"

Jeff grinned as he closed up his cell; he had a feeling he knew where to find her. Following his instincts he grabbed his coat that he'd only seconds ago removed and fled to the gym a few blocks away. And confirming his strange hunch he found Tyana beating a punching bag brutally in the corner of one of the fairly empty work out rooms.

"Hey, beautiful" he called out happily, dumping his bag in the corner and walking over to her. She turned at the sound of his voice, her fist slamming into the large bag with a dead accuracy that shook the stuffed sack at its unexpected force.

Tyana grinned at him, fighting every little voice inside that told her to run up to him and tie herself up in his embrace and instead replied with, "Hey yourself handsome, what you doing here?"

The punching bag behind her now swayed gently, still reeling from her last blow and awaiting her next nervously. Jeff held up his cell phone then kissed her cheek as a greeting. Tyana's knees nearly buckled.

"Got your message and I made an intelligent guess…glad it worked out" he beamed back at her gorgeously and for a moment Tyana stood lost in his eyes while the only other person in the room left. It was just the two of them now.

"Well done then Jeffery. Ok, so, you gonna work out or what?"

His smile molded into a grin and he shook his head, "Nah, I'd rather just watch you—if you don't mind that is"

Tyana's eyes flashed suggestively back at him and she shook her head, 'Not at all, pull up a chair" she laughed gently and then returned to the attack on the bag. Jeff smiled once more and dropped to the floor near by.

An hour passed with the two of them either laughing and joking about or Tyana working in a deadly silence bar her huffing and puffing and Jeff staring at her with a craving. And in both situations they were perfectly at ease and very aware of each other's eyes trailing along their figures when they moved about. They fed off the attention.

"Ok, so, black or blue?" Jeff questioned, tossing her water bottle from hand to hand as she walked steadily on the treadmill, bringing her arduous work out to an end.

"Blue" Tyana answered, enjoying the simplicity of the favourite game.

"Stairs or elevator?"

"Elevator"

"Sweet or savory?"

And as she answered her lips curled, the windows to her soul sparkling with a passionate innocence, "sweet".

Jeff almost blushed at that but managed to contain himself and continue, "me or…me?"

And with his question Tyana laughed. She stepped off the treadmill and sauntered towards him with a pained contemplative expression, "hmm, that's a tough one"

Jeff laughed at her face and handed her the bottle of water while she settled next to him on the floor by the wall. He waited for her complex answer but she simply drank some of her refreshment and then took her time in placing the cap back on before staring over at him with a beautiful smile.

"Well?' he prompted playfully.

She sighed as if exasperated but then her teasing expression softened and she smiled with affection in his direction, "You". She said it in a soft and tender tone of voice that made Jeff's heart melt and his mind whiz. And just being there with her suddenly made everything so very, very right.

But as he gazed back her with a matching 'platonic' adoration Tyana's smile faded and she averted her eyes to her nails. Jeff studied her briefly while she picked away at them, a heart-crushing frown on her lips.

"What's wrong?" he questioned concerned.

And then Tyana raised her eyes to his, "Jeff there's something I want to tell you…only I'm not sure if you'll believe me and I don't want to mess this up" she explained, uncertain of what 'this' was.

He took her right hand gently and his eyes glistened with understanding, "Ty whatever it is I'll think no differently of you…I promise. So if you want to trust me with whatever it is then I'm listening"

After a moment Tyana smiled and nodded, "Ok, thank you, but this isn't the place, can I come back to yours?"