"So what have we established?" Michael asked me as we walked together from his car toward the parking garage elevator that would take us to the restaurant.
I arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you hate French restaurants."
"I do not. I just said that because I needed something to say."
"All right … and you could be arrested for kidnapping Jack Davenport."
"Maybe, but it's harder since I've actually met him."
"And you've read every Ian Rankin novel ever."
"Guilty there." I looked over at him with a sly smile. "Interrogating me, Detective-Sergeant Colefield?"
He matched my smirk. "Maybe just inquiring after you. What's your opinion on Italian?"
"You're about to find out, aren't you?"
"I have a feeling I'm going to find out a lot."
*Someday out of the blue
In a crowded street or a deserted square
I'll turn and I'll see you
As if our love were new
Someday we can start again, someday soon*
****
*Here comes the night
Here come the memories
Lost in your arms
Down in the foreign fields
Not so long ago seems like eternity
Those sweet afternoons still capture me*
"It doesn't bother you?" I asked him as we walked through the Palm Court outside Academic Hall on the San Marcos campus. It was cloudy and overcast but I didn't mind that much. "That you're dating a college student?"
He shrugged. "Kirstie was a teacher. Why couldn't I make the natural progression?"
I chuckled. "It's good to know we're making progress."
"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Michael said, favoring me with a smile as he settled his arm around my shoulders. "Have I driven you crazy yet?"
"That would be Eric's job." I chuckled. "I know it's going to be hard and complicated for us. I know it's going to take some time … but I think we're off to a good start."
"That's the best thing we could ask for. Let's see where it takes us."
*Someday out of the blue
In a crowded street or a deserted square
I'll turn and I'll see you
As if our love were new
Someday we can start again, someday soon*
****
*I still believe, I still put faith in us
We had it all and watched it slip away
Where are we now
Those hot afternoons
Still follow me*
Michael's picture hadn't replaced Jack Davenport's on my desk. We weren't ready for that yet. I thought someday we might be, but not now.
"How's the wrist?" I asked Lex as we headed out on Friday night.
"It's okay," he said. "Thank God I just sprained it."
"You guys are going to miss the first pitch if you don't move," Weiss warned us from the doors. We quickly got on our way. "What would you do without me?" he quipped as we hooked up.
"I have absolutely no idea," I deadpanned, but I wasn't totally joking.
*I still believe
I still put faith in us*
****
*I still believe
I still put faith in us*
"Come on, we want details." At the sound of her voice I shot Kim Bauer a glance. She sat to my left absently twirling her pasta on her fork, obviously more interested in my life than in dinner. "How's it going?"
"Yeah, Brittany," her father said mirthfully, across from me, "How is it?"
I laughed out loud. "You really want to know?"
"Yeah," Kim prodded.
"Of course we do." Jack was treating me like a daughter now.
I just smiled. "Life is pretty good." Just then, my phone rang and I answered it briskly. "What? No, the stuffed shells are in the bottom drawer. You want me to label the freezer for you?" I ignored the Bauers' mirth and Jack's comment that I sounded a lot like Teri. "Ask Leticia. She knows where everything is… yes, of course I love you."
*Someday out of the blue
Maybe years from now or tomorrow night
I'll turn and I'll see you
As if we always knew
Someday we would live again, someday soon*
****
*Here comes the night
Here come the memories
Lost in your arms
Down in the foreign fields
Not so long ago seems like eternity
Those sweet afternoons still capture me*
We arrived at the table where Leticia and Vaughn were already waiting for us. Michael pulled out my chair for me and I dropped into it, unable to hide the wide smirk I get when things really go my way and I'm still trying to recover. "Didn't keep you waiting too long, did we?"
"Hey, after all this," Vaughn quipped, "I think you're entitled."
I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and hand me a menu."
Leticia did. "What are you ordering? Something dead and cooked?"
"I don't know. What are you having?"
"I don't know."
"Okay, does anyone know?" Michael asked the table and got the obvious answer.
I smiled at him deviously. "You've just got to learn patience, Mike."
"I deserved that, didn't I?" he said, skimming his own menu.
"You did," I said. "You live in the world."
*Someday out of the blue
Maybe years from now or tomorrow night
I'll turn and I'll see you
As if we always knew
Someday we would live again, someday soon*
****
I have three more years of college to go before I graduate. This is my third year with CTU and, I guess, my first as a freelancer for CIB. (I still have to get used to the big gun with the carbon-tipped bullets under my bed.) I've seen things most people don't even know about. I have the beginnings of a relationship and loyal friends who'll never leave me. And I'd like to think I gave something back.
Maybe all that's left is just to live.
End.
****
Acknowledgements:
As with Coventry I would first like to thank the creators of all four franchises involved: Joel Surnow & Robert Cochran, J.J. Abrams, Michael Frost Beckner and Joe Ahearne. I'd also like to thank the musical artists, from Tonic to Elton John, who were wonderful scorers for this work. But once again I owe the actors most of all: the wonderful Jack Davenport (Michael Colefield), Greg Grunberg (Eric Weiss), Michael Vartan (Michael Vaughn), Richard Speight Jr. (Lex), Kiefer Sutherland (Jack Bauer), Reiko Aylesworth (Michelle Dessler), Enrique Murciano (Christopher Gautreau), Erik von Detten (Kevin Blaisdell) and Alexis Denisof (Stephen Claire). Let me not forget Tisha, partner in crime, as ever.
Music List:
Part 4: "Take Me As I Am" by Tonic.
Part 5: "Do You Know" by Tonic.
Part 6: "Don't Dream It's Over" by Sixpence None The Richer.
Part 8: "Did We Not Choose Each Other" by Sophie B. Hawkins.
Part 9: "Head On Straight" by Tonic.
Part 10: "You Wanted More" by Tonic.
Part 13: "Weapon" by Matthew Good Band.
Part 14: "Believe Me" by Tonic.
Part 15: "Someday Out of the Blue" by Elton John.