Disclaimer: Profiler belongs to NBC, Sanders/Moses Productions, Cynthia Saunders, Stephen
Kronish ... Not to me. No copyright infringement intended. I'm not making any money with it. It's just for the fun !


Part 3 : Cognac for two ...


They checked in at the hotel. Agent Glennborrough had booked three rooms for them, The lift brought them up.

" OK guys, see you in ten minutes in the restaurant." Sam said "I don't know about you, but I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." The two men nodded and each of them walked to his respective room.

Bailey was already there when Sam entered the dining room. John joined them a few seconds later. Sam enjoyed the dinner. The food was good. A pianist played soft melodies, making the atmosphere calm and relaxing. The conversation was light. Bailey was making efforts, entertaining John and her with good old stories from his early time in the FBI. But she could see he was tense. She certainly knew him better than anybody else in the world, not only because they were lovers, but because he was also her best friend, the best friend she ever remembered having. He hardly touched his meal, and though he kept smiling and talking, she realized that the angst that took him in Tony Walsh's bedroom had not left him since. A waiter approached their table. "Excuse me, Mr. John Grant ?". " I am." John said. "We have a call for you sir. You can take it in the parlor." John stood up. " Would you excuse me." he said, and he left the room.

" Bailey, are you OK ?
- Sure." the man said. But he realized he was not too convincing and he added : "Just a little tired. And I've got this headache that doesn't want to go. Nothing serious. What about you ?
- I'm fine. It's only ... I can't help thinking of these people, of how I would be if Chloe had been ...
- I know" Bailey interrupted. " Sam, Chloe is safe. You can't live each case as if it was happening to you personally. Your teacher at Quantico should have taught you this.
- I don't complain about my teacher ! He taught me lots of things. And not only about the FBI ..."

They both smiled and kept silent for a few seconds.

" Which number is your room ?" Sam asked abruptly.
" 106. Why ?
- Just in case. If I need some comfort tonight ..."

He looked at her intensely. No other man had ever looked at her like Bailey did. Not even Tom. She sometimes had the feeling he could read in her mind better than in a book.

John came back to the table. Sam did not need to ask who the call was from. "How is Angel ?" she asked. John laughed. "She is fine. She sends her love."

They ordered coffee. "So John, " Bailey started "how is this parlor ?" The young man understood the question right. "Perfect for a good cigar I suppose." he answered.

They left the dining room. "You two won't be angry if I leave you alone, will you ?" John said mischievously. "I got up early this morning and I need a good sleep. Good night." "Good night John." Sam answered. And John left them in the corridor. Bailey got closer to Sam and put his hand on the small of her back.

" You know, you don't have to come, Sam." he said "It's been a hard day and I would understand it if you preferred to go sleeping.
- And then, who will look after you ?" she answered smiling. "Who will protect you from all these beautiful females wandering around you ?
- You have nothing to fear !"

He was starting to relax a bit. They chose two comfortable armchairs in a quiet corner of the lounge. Bailey got a large cigar out of his jacket inside pocket and made a sign for the waiter to come.

" I'll have a Cognac." he said "Would you like something Sam ?
- I'll take a Cognac too. Thanks."

Bailey looked at her with unhidden surprise. Having a drink after dinner was not exactly her style. And she regularly teased him about this 'bad habit' of his.

He lighted his cigar. It was a kind of ceremony and Sam knew she shouldn't interrupt. She waited till their drinks were served.

"Bailey" she started "I know something happened in that room this afternoon." He kept silent. The tension had come back all of a sudden. "I thought you might want to talk about it." she tried again.

He raised his face to her, and what she read in his eyes made her shiver. He was not only tired or stressed or tensed; he was scared. After all these years chasing and escaping Jack, she had become an expert; and she sure could recognize fear when she saw it. And even if it had lasted no more than two seconds, she knew it was fear she saw in her man's eyes tonight. "Bailey ?" she said. Bailey recovered very fast.

" What ?" he laughed "Sam ! You're not trying to profile me, are you ? I told you. I'm just tired OK. And ... Well ... You know I never liked this kind of cases, involving kids. Maybe I'm not quite ready for this, after what happened ..."

His explanation was plausible. She knew how much the disappearing of Frances had been difficult for him. It was understandable that in such circumstances, handling a case of child missing was not easy. But she knew him too well to believe him. There was more than that. But he had closed up now. He had taken back control of his emotions and she would not get anything more from him tonight.

They ended the evening discussing lighter topics : weather, music, the way he planned to rearrange his library ... It was past midnight when they left the lounge. They passed before Sam's room without even looking at it and both entered in room 106. So much for appearances ... This night was theirs and they had both gone through enough trouble and pain not to profit by any chance they would have to be together.



To be continued ... R&R, Thanks.
Absolut.