Chapter 8

A/N: I would like to say when I wrote about 'Frank giving the evil eye' I laughed for 5 minutes. The thought of Frank giving people….EVIL EYES!!!*

Grrr.

Ps thank you for WAITING for this! I am terribly sorry I made you wait!!! THANK YOU FOR BEING KIND! You may now lop off my head.

~

Four blocks from "Angelo's", 1:20 am…

The ambience of the van was tense and Cody was very tempted to sneeze or perhaps giggle for no reason. As he tweaked the listening devices he was going to put on the "Sexually Charged Duo" he continued with his train of thought 'Yes I think a giggle would be more funny, but I would probably be shot. Alright Cody, over exaggerated sneeze it is then'. As Cody took a deep breath Monica's hand caught him in the middle of his solar-plex. All of the air came rushing out of his lungs in a Whoosh. "Hey! How did you know?!" he asked as he rubbed his sore stomach and handed Donovan and Alex the small electronic devices.

"I am a mind reader," she replied with a monotone voice as she continued to look over the bio of Marcus Angelo.

As Alex placed the small beige ear piece in her ear she looked at Monica. "Ok, any further advice?"

Monica nodded and looked at the two people standing in front of her 'They really do make a great pair' she thought absent mindedly. She shook her head slightly to get her mind back on what was happening.

"Marcus is very uppity. He believes himself to be very posh and classy. He was born into poverty in "the projects" of Spain. He made his first "easy money" with drug trafficking when he was in his mid teens.' Money, wealth and power are very important to him. He is very spiteful of his parents lack of money and the fact that he had to grow up in hardship. Your best way to make a connection with him is money." Monica swivelled around to face her screen and continued "For him everything comes down to the stuff, and he prides himself for having lots of it." Monica sighed "He is a Greedy S.O.B so use his lust for it against him" Monica winced at her word choice she heard Cody snicker silently. Monica sent him a death glare and he sent her a 'Hey you said it not me!' look. Monica risked a quick look up. Alex's face was turning the colour of her pink top as she pretended to be fascinated by the computer screen and Donovan still had his "un-readable" face on.

Monica sighed and continued, "One more thing, He has a severe history of violence."

Cody sighed melodramatically, "They all do. When will we ever get on who has a history of severe love for bunnies or something?"

Monica ignored him and continued, "Not much of it has been actually proven, but the word on the street is that he extremely violent, even sadistic. In '98 he went to jail for killing one of his bodyguards with a hammer for "looking the wrong way" at his wife. He went away for only a year. He got off easily because "good behaviour" which is short for connections. Monica threw the file she had been holding down to the table "This man's dangerous guys, and you have had a very short amount of time to get into character, be careful "

Alex gave her a small smile.

Donovan groaned slightly and rubbed his face, "the meeting is suppose to be on at 3 AM." He glanced at the silver watch he found terribly gaudy that now hung off his wrist, "It is 1:30 now so we have some time' Alex and I will go in first and try and get access into the meeting, pretending to be a rich yuppie couple, Jennifer Mace and Andrew D'Arcy, who are trying to get into the big time, and a piece of the action." Donovan started a shortened version of his trade mark pace in the aisle of the van "The SWAT team, who is in waiting as of this moment, will move in once we give the go ahead."

Cody frowned, "One hour to gain the trust of a egotistical, powerful, sadistic, money hungry drug dealer? That's cutting it a little close isn't it boss?"

Donovan's face was grim, "I don't like it either but the DA wants this guy off the streets now," Donovan smiled humourlessly, "I guess we are just lucky that we have the supposed power and money he hungers for huh?"

Cody nodded thoughtfully, "No time frame too small, No bust too big, and No drug lords ego's too large!" Cody grinned, "You're like Superman!"

Alex smiled, "without the spandex."

Cody grinned evilly, "Oh you would like Frank in spandex wouldn't y- HEY"

Monica had again hit him, this time in the back of the head.

Cody saw Frank giving him the evil eye* and shut up. Momentarily.

Donovan turned his gaze to the rest of the people in the van, "Alrighty people, let's go," and he hoped out..

Alex grabbed Cody's ear in mid jump.

"Hey HEY OW!" he whined as he half stood up trying to go with Alex's upward twist.

Alex wore a self-satisfied smirk, "Cody, the next time I want shit from you," she gave him an overly cheerful smile and twisted his ear a bit harder, "I'll squeeze your head." She gave him another bright smile, "OK?". She let go of his ear and walked out of the van. Her back was turned and she missed the small smile on Franks face as he waited by the door for her.

Frank poked his head back into the van, "meet you there."

Cody was furiously rubbing his bright red ear "Yah, we'll be there boss".

Donovan smiled again and closed the van door. "Shall we go Jennifer?" he asked with a tone that Alex could have sworn sounded slightly teasing. He opened the door on her side of the silver Porsche 9-11 they had on lone from the PD impound. She slid into the bucket leather seat of the sports car and watched Frank walk around to the other side. "Seat belts," he murmured as he snapped his own into place. Alex felt a small smile creep on her face and bit back a "Ok Dad" comment.

After a short, much too quiet and very uneasy ride Donovan pulled into the parking lot behind Angelo's. The lot was almost full. The different cars, many of them expensive, were the only give away that there was anything worthwhile in the unremarkable building they were parked behind.

Alex looked at Frank dubiously, "are you sure this is the place?" A silent nod was all she got in reply. Alex rolled her eyes and got out of the car.

The wind picked up a bit and Alex shivered. What she was wearing wasn't nearly enough to keep her warm this close to a snow fall. She looked at Frank who now was standing beside her. He had a brown, leather bomber jacket on. 'Damn it! Why didn't I get a coat with this outfit?!'

Donovan looked down at her with concern in his eyes as they slowly walked across the parking lot, "Are you cold?"

Alex ground her teeth together "I am f-f-fine". Another shiver tore through her body mid sentence giving away her lie.

Donovan snorted in a very un Donovan like way and unzipped his jacket. He then wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into him, trying to block some of the icy winds. Immediately she was enveloped in his warmth and smell. She took a deep breath and leaned into him.

Suddenly unexpected anger welled up in her. 'To hell with him,' interjected her conscience 'he wants nothing to do with you remember? He blew you off! " 'no!' she fought with herself 'He just wants to protect me! Again her conscience jumped in 'he doesn't love you Alex, not the way you love him!' Alex was surprised to find she had tears starting in her eyes again . Alex stopped suddenly and faced Frank.

His face went from confused to surprised then a mixture of the two when he saw Alex's prominent anger and sadness. Frank furrowed his brow "What?"

"You can't do this Frank!"

Confusion came back into play on Franks face "Do what?!"

Alex took a deep breath trying to calm her self. No luck. "Play both sides like this!"

In the van across the street Cody and Monica, who had been listening when Alex had flipped, had their heads in their hands. Monica was softly chanting "Oh god guys not here!"

Suddenly it dawned on Cody. He handed the mike to Monica "Tell them that!" he yelled in a more than slightly frantic voice.

Monica snatched the mike "Alex! Alex calm down! Not here girl! Now is not the time!" she begged into Alex's ear, "Come on Alex you are right in the open." Monica tried using Alex's passion for her work against her, "You are going to blow your cover then this will all go down the drain!" "you know how much that will piss off Bloom?!"

Alex angrily reached into her ear, pulled out the piece and kept it clutched in her hand.

Donovan, who was still oblivious to the cause of Alex's outburst heard Monica's pleas. "Jennifer I am not sure what you are talking about but now is not the time." He said in a quiet and dangerous voice.

"No Andrew !" her tone had the same dangerously low quality, but hers was seething with loathing. "Now is the perfect time! I gotta say this before we go in there." Alex placed her hand in the centre of his chest and shoved him out of sight into the ally.

Donovan felt his anger rising, "Agent Cross, you are out of line," he retorted with a deadly hiss.

Alex's sapphire eyes flashed, "Don't you dare 'Agent Cross' me!" Every word that came out of Alex's mouth dripped with venom, "Don't you dare try to hide behind your rank Frank Donovan." Alex placed both of her hands on her hips.

It would have looked cute if not for the stark anger on her face. Frank felt his gut twist as it dawned on him 'Oh shit' he thought. But his face remained eerily stony and impassive.

Alex took this indifference look for its 'face' value. Alex felt the tears start prickling the back of her eyes again. 'He really doesn't care.' Alex clenched her teeth and continued with her new tenacity and anger. "You will not use our working relationship as a cover for anything Frank!"

"You were cold Alex. All I did was try to keep you warm, and then you start yelling and acting without tact, on the job no less." Frank fixed her with a steely glare, "You could have blown our cover or worse; gotten us killed."

Alex spoke through clenched teeth, "I acted tactless!?' Get this straight Donovan, I am not some toy that you play with whenever you're bored"

Donovan opened his mouth to interject.

If looks could kill…"Just keep your mouth shut Franklin Donovan! I am not done."

Donovan instantly shut his mouth. A look of surprise flickered on Alex's face before the look of anger returned. Alex took a deep breath, "I told you what I wanted Frank, but you said it wouldn't work, you said you were trying to protect me from criticism or your enemies. Whatever your excuse was. Fine. Sure. But do NOT use this job as a cover to get your ya ya's out with me! I am not some game that you can jump to and from the bench into. And if you ever try that shit with me again, I've got a good game for you. Its called hide and go fuck yourself, Agent Donovan."

Inside the van, both occupants had gone white. Monica had a total look of aghast on her face and whispered something that sounded like "oh shit", and Cody looked like he was ready to have a breakdown as he checked all the screens to make sure that there was nobody that was going to walk in on the heated discussion going on between his two colleagues.

Alex started to back away from Frank but was surprised when he suddenly grabbed her shoulders and pushed against the wall.

"You would do good to hold your tongue Alex." Franks spoke with much more strength and certainty than he actual felt. Inside his head was spinning and his evil conscience chanted in his head "she's right, she's right, she's right" Frank opened his mouth to yell again but saw Alex's lip tremble through her tightly clenched jaw and felt all of his resolve melt. Frank clenched his eyes shut and swallowed the lump in his throat. "What the hell do you want with an asshole like me anyway Alex?" He shook his head and brushed her cheek with his knuckle. "A guy that has made you cry more times then I want to count."

Alex scowled, "Shit Frank, my last boyfriend was a known criminal, you're a step up," she grinned lightly, "I think." She took a small step forward, "You may be able to tell me to stop smoking in the gym Frank but telling me who to lo-" Alex stuttered, "to have feelings for is not up to you." She smiled again, "besides, I still smoke in the gym. I'm a rebel, You have no control over me."

Frank looked down into her blue eyes and felt his chest tighten. I can't do this. Frank squeezed his eyes shut and said a small prayer of forgiveness for what he was about to do next. When his eyes opened again they were cold. Frank clenched his jaw. "Fine Alex, I was trying to be a gentleman, but your thick headedness has left me no choice. I don't have any feelings for you Alex, none what-so-ever. Jesus! What does a guy have to do!?"

Alex's face was white, she stared at Frank wide eyed feeling like she was going to vomit. "Frank?...w-what are…"

He put a finger against her chest and pressed her against the wall , "Sorry hun, did I break your heart?" he asked in a mocking tone, "did I destroy that prefect image you had of me? Well too fucking bad!" Frank stood back and made a tsk-ing sound, "you were a good kisser though, shit you were good!" Frank shook his head ruefully and sneered. "Too bad that phone rung, then we could have had some real fun, eh?"

Alex felt like she had just been punched in the gut repeatedly.

"Hell, you were just a nice distraction Alex. But you know what? I am actually kind of glad we didn't go any further than what we did. We kissed once and you're this clingy?! I don't need aggravations like you in my life." Frank shrugged his shoulders, "sorry babe our moment has passed and I'd like to get on with my life now." He mock saluted her just before her fist came swinging and connected with his jaw. His head snapped back and he stumbled.

Alex's eyes shone maliciously, "yah, me too." She absently brushed a tear from her cheek. "Hurry the fuck up Donovan. I'd like to get my job done and the get you out of my sight." Alex felt like such a fool as she stalked away. I can't believe that I fell for his stupid act. Like he ever had feelings for me. Just another jerk thinking with his dick. Though she knew she should cry she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing her do so. Right now she put all of her thoughts on the job ahead of her.

Donovan rubbed his jaw. He felt completely sick with himself. He hoped he did the right thing. Some how. In his ear Cody was whispering. For once there wasn't a mocking tone.

"What the hell was that boss?"

"She punched me."

"Well you deserved that but what was with all that stuff you said?"

Donovan clenched his jaw, revelling in the pain it caused, "A pissed of heart broken Alex is better than one who is constantly worried and heart broken. Its better this way."

Cody snorted, "yah but that was beyond harsh bo-"

Donovan broke in, "Cody?"

"Yah?"

"Just do your fucking job and I will do mine."

Cody sounded hurt "what ever, I hope you know what you're doing."

'So do I' he thought dumbly. Frank clenched his jaw again making pain shoot up into his temple and teeth. He knew he deserved every bit of the pain he was feeling. And more. Frank took a deep breath and walked out of the ally. Tonight was going to be hell.

~

Once again, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! The length which this took me to upload this was part procrastination and part I had NO FSCKING clue how to end it!!! Hope this is ok. …er what should I do next?

-thx Tawnie (organized chaos/the big fat lazy poo head) vdb