TAKING ITS TOLL

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WEBB'S APARTMENT -6AM

Another two weeks had past.  They were now making the best of the situation.  They were itching to get back to work.  The spent hours comparing past cases, trying to figure out what the common link was.  They had only come up with one name in common, Mustafa Abdullah. It had been several days since they advised Connors and now all they could do was wait for a report back.  The grind of close quarters was getting to them. Zoya had just taken a shower and was in the bathroom getting ready to dry her hair, while Webb was in the kitchen making the morning coffee.

"Zoya," Webb called out.

"What is it?" Zoya yelled back.

"Where is the coffee?" Webb asked.

"In the refrigerator, it says fresher in there." Zoya said.

"That's why I put it in an airtight container," Webb said.

"Airtight only works when you have that seal-a-vacuum thing." Zoya said.

"Zoya, don't move the coffee." Webb said.

"Fine," Zoya replied. "Clay where's my hair dryer?"

"I put it in the linen closet." Webb replied.

"What was wrong with it being in the bathroom?" Zoya asked.

"I thought it would be easier," Webb said.

"Easier than what?" Zoya called back.

"Where did you put the coffee filters?" Webb called out.

"I have no idea." Zoya said. "Look in the cabinet above the coffee maker."

"Why there?" Webb asked. "That's where the mugs are."

"Then I don't know." Zoya replied. "Where is my mascara?"

"Look under the sink?" Webb said.

"Must you touch my stuff?" Zoya groaned.

"Is there anything you haven't moved in my kitchen?" Webb called out.

"Yes, your precious new coffee maker," Zoya called back. "Why are you moving all of my cosmetics?"

"I was cleaning up," Webb said. "I put everything under the sink."

"Then what's the purpose of having a vanity?" Zoya asked.

"It looks neater," Webb called to her.

"Clay, they have counseling for your problem." Zoya called back.

"What did you say?" Webb asked walking past the bathroom.

"Nothing. Where are you going with my shirt?" Zoya asked.

"I was going to add it to the laundry." Webb said.

"Why were you in my room?" Zoya asked.

"I noticed the shirt on the bed." Webb replied.

"That's because I was planning to wear it today," Zoya said. "Clay, don't do my laundry."

"What's wrong with how I do the laundry?" Webb asked.

"Nothing," Zoya said. "But I would prefer that you didn't wash my clothes. It's icky."

"Icky? Fine, you do the wash." Webb said and walked away. "By the way, I like my shirts lightly starched."

I'll starch your shorts, Zoya thought as she turned on the dryer to drown him out.

"Zoya, Zoya, ZOYA!" Webb shouted and unplugged the dryer.

"What?" Zoya snapped.

"It's your morning to make breakfast," Webb said. "I'm hungry."

Zoya just rolled here eyes and went to the kitchen. 

"Is that my shirt?" Webb asked.

"Yes, it looks better on me and you put my shirt in the wash." Zoya smiled.

"It does look nice on you," Webb replied.

While they were eating they discussed possible angles for the attempts.

"This is stupid," Zoya whined.

"Fine, we'll try a different angle." Webb said.

"Not our angle, the fact that we are sitting here." Zoya replied. "I should be out there working this case."

"We should be out there," Webb corrected.

"Fine, we should be out there," Zoya said.

"That's not really an option," Webb said.

"What happened to you?" Zoya interrupted. "I thought you didn't care about the rules."

"If you would let me finish, for once," Webb snapped. "It's not an option, right now.

"What did you have in mind?" Zoya asked.

"Let's let them do what they have to." Webb smiled. "Then we do what we have to."

"I like your style." Zoya said. "I knew asking for you as a partner was a good idea."

"Thanks," Webb said and grabbed the ringing phone. "Webb."

"Webb, it's Connors. I've got some news for you." Connors said. "Mustafa Abdullah is dead.  He was killed over a month ago."

"How was he killed?" Webb asked.

"Who was killed?" Zoya asked.

"Is that Nassar?" Connors chuckled.

"Yes," Webb said into the phone and then turned to Zoya, "Mustafa Abdullah."

"When did he die?" Zoya asked.

"Over a month ago," Webb said. "Connors, how did he die?"

"How did he die? Are they sure it's him?" Zoya asked. Webb just turned from her.

"According to our source, he died in the explosion." Connor said.

"Did they check DNA?" Zoya asked. "Are they sure it's him?"

"Would you be quiet," Webb said in a fierce whisper.

"Fine," Zoya snapped. "Just make sure you ask the right questions."

"Would you like to speak with Connors?" Webb asked.

"Actually I would," Zoya said, reaching out for the phone.

"Then go call him yourself," Webb said sarcastically. "You will probably be placed on hold, since I am already on the phone with him."

"You do realize I am the boss here?" Zoya said.

"Webb is everything okay there?" Connors asked.

"It's fine," Webb replied. "Are you sure that it was him?"

"DNA is conclusive," Connors stated. "I honestly thought he was a good lead. He's the one you've both had run ins with."

"Back to square one," Webb sighed.

They spoke for about ten more minutes with Zoya pacing in the background.  She wanted to grab the phone away from Webb, but decided to let him take the lead, this time.

"Well?" Zoya asked when he hung up.

"DNA tests confirmed it was him.  He was killed in the Casablanca bombing." Webb stated.

"That's strange, I interviewed Oshan for 16 hours he never even mentioned Mustafa was there," Zoya said.

"Go figure, a terrorist that lies." Webb said.

"You know what I mean. His brother was killed and he showed no emotion at all." Zoya replied. "Then again, maybe he didn't know."

"I don't think they had anything to do with this," Webb said. "Connors has no idea what he's doing."

"I could have told you that," Zoya replied.

"I'm sure you could have," Webb smirked.

"I want to investigate this, and lose the guards." Zoya said.

"That's not going to happen." Webb said. "There is no way we will be able to lose the guards."

"So, we can think of something." Zoya smiled.

"You realize we can get fired or worse killed." Webb said.

"Are you becoming a wimp?" Zoya baited.

"I have no problem doing things that would put my life on the line, but I am not going to be responsible for yours." Webb stated.

"Are you always so gallant?" Zoya asked sweetly.

"Most of the time," Webb smiled.

"Well cut it out!" Zoya snapped. "I don't need you to be my protector. I need you to work with me here."

"Zoya what if this has nothing to do with our jobs?" Webb asked.

"Oh, so someone tried to kill us for the hell of it?" Zoya asked.

"What if someone was trying to kill you, and set up that coffee maker as a decoy?" Webb stated.

"Or someone is trying to kill you and I was the decoy." Zoya replied.

"Either way, I don't think this is company related." Webb said.

"Well I guess we need to make a list of those who hate us," Zoya said. "I'm sure that shouldn't be too difficult for you."

"Something tells me, you could open the phone book to any page and find someone." Webb shot back.

"What ever," Zoya said walking to the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" Webb called after her.

"Do you mind if I go potty?" Zoya asked. "I promise to leave a quarter."

"It's fifty cents. I'm going to take a shower." Webb said.

"I'm going to go rent a movie," Zoya said. "At least we can catch up on the ones we missed."

"Get something good, and let Mike know you're going." Webb said.  "I'll see you when you get back."

"Not if I see you first," Zoya said mischievously.

While Zoya was in the guest bathroom, she heard the door to Webb's bedroom close.  She then heard the sound of water being turned on.  She left the bathroom and started toward the front door.  Before she got to the door, she turned around and went to the kitchen.  Grabbing a pot, she went to the freezer and filled it with ice and water.  She then quietly went into his bedroom and to the master bath.  He locked the door. Zoya laughed. She put the pot down and effortlessly picked the lock open.  Steam was filling the bathroom and she could see Webb's silhouette behind the curtain.  She put the toilet seat down and went to get the pot.  With little noise, she climbed up onto the toilet seat and in one quick motion she emptied the ice cold contents all over Webb.

"Zoya!" Webb yelled looking up. "That was mean."

"Hi," Zoya waved looking down at him. "We're even now for that flushing."

"Do you mind, I'm naked in here." Webb said.

"Yeah, I noticed. Not bad, not bad at all." Zoya smiled. "Besides you saw me."

"I didn't see anything, I turned away." Webb said. "You on the other hand are staring."

"Oh sorry," Zoya laughed as she jumped off the toilet. Wow! "Clay can I ask you a question."

"Can't it wait until I am done?" Webb asked. "I'm in the shower!"

"No, this way you're captive." Zoya said as she sat on the floor.

"What's your question?" Webb sighed.  I cannot believe this lunatic wants to play twenty questions.

"Hey this bathroom is nicer than the guest bathroom." Zoya said looking around. "That tub is huge. I may have to take a swim." Webb's master bath was a platform two-seater tub with a shower and an eight-inch ledge around it.

"I'm sure you will." Webb said. "Now, I would like to take shower in peace, would you leave?"

"Have you ever been in love?" Zoya asked.

"What?" Webb asked from behind the curtain.

"I asked if you've ever been in love." Zoya repeated.   

"A long time ago," Webb said. "Looking back now, I don't know if it was actually love."

"What happened?" Zoya asked.

"It's classified. You said a question, as in one." Webb replied. "You've asked it, now can I finish my shower?"

"I have another question," Zoya said.

"I don't believe this," Webb muttered. At this point he reached for a towel, wrapped it around his waist and was sitting on the far side of the tub behind the curtain.

"Are you gay?" Zoya asked.

"Am I what?" Webb asked.

"Are you gay?" Zoya asked again.

"What makes you think I am gay?" Webb asked.

"Well, there are a couple of things." Zoya said.

"Such as?" Webb asked. Why am I encouraging this conversation?

"You're always impeccably dressed and groomed. You're always polite and a gentleman.  You're overly devoted to your mother." Zoya started. "Your apartment is way too neat and you're on the obsessive compulsive side, your closet alone is evident of that, not to mention your kitchen.  There is also the fact that you …"

"You said a couple of things." Webb cut her off. "So if a man has manners you assume he's gay.  If he's well groomed that means he's gay. If he cares about his mother, he's gay. If he's neat, it means he's gay. If he's organized he's gay."

"Well, not separately. But if you start putting it all together, it makes one wonder." Zoya said. "You also showed little interest in Eliza."

"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I wasn't attracted to that bone collector?" Webb asked.

"That's my point, she's gorgeous and you didn't even blink." Zoya said.

"She was also boring." Webb said. "You are reading too much into things."

"Maybe I am reading into it but you still didn't answer my question," Zoya said. 

"No I am not gay," Webb replied. "Now, would you please leave the bathroom?"

"I think I need more proof," Zoya said and slipped into the shower buck naked.

"What are you doing?" Webb jumped up and asked with a guilty smile.

"Investigating," Zoya said biting her lip and pulling off his towel.

"Countess, you're a lunatic." Webb laughed and looked at the ceiling.

"Hey as long as we're going to be stuck together," Zoya smiled. "We might as well be stuck together."

"Very tempting Countess," Webb smiled with his eyes up.

"So?" Zoya smiled. "Are you going to look at me?"

"No, I'm not." Webb replied, still looking up.

"Why not?" Zoya laughed. "I think I should be insulted."

"Don't be insulted. I can't. I don't want to lose my objectivity." Webb replied.

"You've already lost your objectivity," Zoya laughed as she glanced down his body.

The water was beating down on Zoya as she stood between Webb and the shower head. He could not help but look as the water glided over her body.

"You realize this is against company policy?" Webb asked.

"Uh huh," Zoya smiled.

"We could get fired." Webb said.

"Uh huh," Zoya replied nodding her head.

"This will change everything," Webb said taking a step closer.

"Uh huh," Zoya said licking her lips.

"This could get complicated." Webb said.

"Uh huh," Zoya said biting her lip.

"AJ will kill me if he finds out," Webb said closing the distance.

"Uh huh," Zoya said putting her hands on his chest.

"You don't care do you?" Webb asked.

"En ah," Zoya sighed slowly shaking her head.

Webb pulled Zoya against him and held her with one arm.  With his other arm, he reached behind her and turned off the water.  He then opened the shower curtain and stepped out.  He turned his head and looked at Zoya.

"Are you coming?" Webb asked with a wicked smiled.

Before Zoya could answer, he reached back and picked her up.  He carried her into the master bedroom and put her on the bed.  Getting onto the bed next to her and seeing she was still wet from the shower began to blow on her body. Zoya shivered at the experience.  Webb suddenly realized that he was in total control and doubted Zoya would put up much resistance.

He replaced the blowing with his tongue and traced her body.  Zoya arched up to meet his mouth and Webb pulled back.

"Don't stop," Zoya ordered.

"Countess, my bed my rules," Webb smiled.

"What are the rules?" Zoya asked.

"You really want to know?" Webb asked.

"Just show me," Zoya whispered.

Webb explored her body and was very pleased with the moans he elicited.  He had a desire to take it slow and show her who was in charge.  However, his own needs were growing and he could not hold back.  The fact that Zoya was now making a meal out of his body was not helping matters any.  Webb had to retake control of the situation, so he turned Zoya onto her back. They were wrapped up in each other and going full force.  With labored breathing and panting, they reached the breaking point.

"Oh god, Clay," Zoya moaned.

"Zoya," Webb called out and collapsed against her.

"Wow," Zoya sighed. "I could do that again."

"So could I Countess, so could I." Webb replied.

They looked at each other and started laughing.  This was going to be an interesting ride.  They looked at the clock and saw that it was only 10am.  Opening the bed completely they slid in, there was nothing pressing on the agenda, so they might was well enjoy the day.