(I think this chapter was the hardest to write. So many ideas, some I had
from the beginning others sprouted along the way. The whole
misunderstanding thing was a theme I wanted to work with and at the same
time I rediscovered my old CDs by Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark. "Very
Close to Far Away" from their last album "Universal" (1996) spoke of
misunderstanding and I realized that it would be great for this story, in
my opinion anyway and the title also I thought symbolized Dylan and the
Thin Man's relationship from the kiss on the roof. Ok that is enough on to
the story ..)
*-*-*-*-* Andreas happily sat down and the others did as well. "I guess I'm missing something," said Natalie. "What happened here?" The Count laughed and looked at Anthony who stood away from them by the fireplace. Anthony took out a cigarette and began to smoke.
"I suppose since our assassin friend won't tell I'll have to. Won't you join us Anthony," he asked the quiet man. Dylan scooted over to make room for him but he looked at her with unemotional eyes and didn't move just took a drag from the ever present smoke. "I suppose that is a no. So you want to know what happened." The Angels, Bosley urged the Count to go on. Hr. Brandt just nodded. Andreas took a breath and began, "I'll give you the short version. This afternoon, Anthony paid me a visit at the hospital. He explained he had come to kill me."
"Anthony explained," asked Alex.
"In writing he did. He handed me a note. I of course didn't believe him; I thought it was a joke, what assassin in his right mind tells someone in writing before doing it. So I asked him why he didn't just kill me."
"Why didn't he," asked Natalie looking at both men.
Andreas looked at Anthony and then at the redheaded Angel. "A crazy little thing called love." Dylan looked up at Anthony but he refused to meet her eyes he seemed very interested in the Count's portrait that had small streams of scotch still dripping down it. "Of course," continued Andreas, "he was concerned. Not for my well being necessarily but for his own. It seems he is the fellow who killed my sister the night of the fox hunt dinner in the stable."
"But she attacked me," said Natalie in Anthony's defense.
"I am aware of that and that is the only reason that I agreed to this whole scheme of his. Although he wasn't truly apologetic- I suppose an assassin can't be- but he seemed to have your best interests at heart. Your friend is very clever. He promised to bring Katja to justice if I would over look his trespasses. He came up with the fake will idea, suggested I call Herren Brandt and Kamp and we keep everything as natural appearing as possible. I was doubtful but he seemed to know Katja quite well and convinced me that she wanted my money more than anything else. I was having my doubts of course that Katja even knew him until she made that blunder about his sword. She couldn't have known that unless she hired him. So there you have it. The plan fell together, the criminal has been taken away and we all live happily ever after." Andreas clapped his hands together, "I hope that you will all be joining me for dinner tonight." He looked around the group in front of him hopefully.
"Sounds great I am starving," said Dylan whose stomach let out a large growl. She hadn't had either breakfast or lunch. The other Angels also readily agreed.
"What about you Dieter? Won't you join us?"
"Naturlich!" (Naturally!)
"Good then I will tell the cook seven for dinner," Helga said and stared off towards the kitchen.
"Helga," Andreas called after her, "I believe you mean eight." She turned and looked at him, "You are my mother." Helga walked over and hugged her son and went off to the kitchen. Andreas stopped and looked around. He turned to Dylan and said, "Dylan, It looks as though Anthony has left."
"What? When?"
"Just now, go to him. He really does care about you." Dylan went the way Andreas pointed and didn't find him. She noticed the French doors were open and went outside. She walked around taking in the vibrant pink of the setting sun and found Anthony in the rose garden. She walked up quietly behind and watched him pick a red rose and place it in his lapel. "Hi," she said startling him.
Anthony looked at her with quiet pale eyes. She noticed the medallion around his neck and realized why he was being standoffish. "I see you found the medallion," she stepped up to him and held the amulet in her hand. Pushing her hand away he turned from her. "I suppose you heard what I said too." He nodded. "You have to understand, I thought you killed the count." He turned back to her his eyes angry then he softened when he saw the worried look on her face. He stepped close to her, his hand as quick as a striking snake, snatched a piece of hair. "Ouch! That hurts," she said rubbing her head. "Ask next time." Instead of inhaling the scent of it and trailing it over his face indulging in the silky texture he dropped the lock and took another step closer to her.
Dylan watched him her green eyes never leaving his blue ones. They reminded her of the color of the sky a dawn on the horizon just as the sun started to rise. So much emotion was in them she didn't dare move. Anthony lowered his head and nuzzled his face into her hair where he had stolen a piece. He could feel his fine aquiline nose and feel his breath like a spring breeze against her scalp. He reached a hand around her back and held her close to him. "Anthony," she breathed her voice coming out as no more than a whisper.
"Sshh," he hissed into her hair. She was amazed at how erotic this seemed to her, weird but kind of sexy never-the-less. A few seconds later he pulled away, eyes closed as though he was trying to hold on to the memory, his hand still firmly planted against her back. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She recognized the look from the rooftop a second before Seamus skewered him, he was going to try to speak and she knew it would be more than a whispered phrase.
She smiled at him encouragingly. There was so much he wanted to tell her, things he had kept bottled up for years, things he couldn't even write in his own journal, so many things he could barely decide. Dylan noticed a look for frustration cross his face. "You can tell me," she said trying to be encouraging. Instead he sat down on the stone bench that was near a small cement bird bath. She sat next to him, "Take your time." Without looking up from his hands, without thinking said, "I don't want time I want you."
His voice was soft and rough, tinted with the accent from his childhood. She realized he hadn't even noticed he had spoken. "I want you too," she said placing her arm around him and leaning her head on his shoulder. His head shot up and he stared, "Did I say that out loud," he wondered silently. He decided to try again, "Dylan." he wanted to go on but instead he kissed her. Gently at first, still not sure if it was what she wanted. His doubts didn't last long as she began to kiss him back with the same intensity they had shared in his room. Like before he was the first to break away. He pulled back and looked at her, her eyes closed, full lips parted, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
It took Dylan a second to realize he had stopped. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was staring at her, she felt a blush climbing up her neck as his gaze made her feel as though she was his lunch. "What's wrong," she asked. Just as he was about to try to answer Bosley called, "Dinner time kids." "Damn," said Dylan softly. Anthony raised an eyebrow at her, stood and offered her his hand. They walked together into the dining room, everyone else was seated.
*-*-*-*-*
After dinner the Angels, Bosley and Anthony headed back to the bed and breakfast. Anthony rode with Dylan having returned the green Jaguar to Andreas. The ride to the inn was quiet. Neither spoke a word, Dylan reached over and turned on the radio. She flipped through the stations and came upon NDR2, it was playing an older song but the words caught her ears:
I'm very close to far away
And I cant hear the words you say
So take what you can take what you find
Take it all into your mind
I'm very close to letting go
Even closer than you know
I need what you have need what you give
I need your love to make me live.
Heart is full of angry things Spinning wildly out of phase So talk to me now Talk to me slow Say the words I told you so.
I know you don't believe me
or all the things I say
but if you'd just receive me
was very close to far away
I'm very close to far away
and I can't hear the words you say
so take what you can take what you find
Take it all into your mind. I know you don't believe me
Or all the things I say
But if you'd just receive me
Were very close to far away
I'm very close to far away
And I cant hear the words you say
I need what you have need what you give
I need your love to make me live
I'm very close to letting go
Even closer than you know
So take what you can
Take what you find
Take it all into your mind
She realized it was like her and Anthony, how she didn't listen to him today, assumed the worst about him. She glanced at her passenger who had his chin on his hand staring out the window into the starry night. She wondered if he heard the similarities too. As the song ended she parked the car across the street from the inn, where Anthony had parked the jag earlier in the day. He stepped out and opened her door for her. "Thanks," she said. He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her up to her room.
"Well goodnight," she said as the hesitated in the patch of no-man's land between the two rooms. Anthony nodded at her in reply to her goodnight. Dylan watched him watch her both waiting for the other to enter their designated room. "Goodnight," she said again. Once again he nodded. They stood there still looking at each other. Finally Anthony made the move, turned, unlocked his door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. Dylan sighed and entered her own.
She didn't know what to do it was such an awkward relationship. Normally she wouldn't have shied away from inviting the guy she was interested in into her room. She certainly hadn't had a problem with sleeping with McCadden. Dylan cringed at that memory. She showered, changed into a tank top and pair of shorts, brushed her teeth and climbed into bed.
Anthony opened the window to his room. It had to be at least 90F inside and sticky. He stepped into the shower and thought about the day, about Dylan, his angel. He was in love. He didn't know how or why it happened but it did and it frightened him. She frightened him. There was something about her intensity that he had never encountered in anyone else before, yet it was also what drew him to her. He stepped out of the shower dried off and pulled on a pair of dark blue silk pajama pants. It was too hot for anything else.
He had just started to fall asleep when he heard a soft knock at his door. He turned on the small table lamp, got out of bed and opened the door. Standing there on the other side was Dylan. The first thing he noticed was that her hair was damp from the shower she had taken, then the fact she was standing there barefoot in her sleeping attire. He gave her a questioning look and an eyebrow went up. "I couldn't sleep," she stated simply. He stepped back and let her enter.
As she lay in her bed staring at the ceiling she realized she missed him. Before she knew it she had gotten out of bed, left the room and knocked on his door. She thought that she would just knock there would be no answer and she could go back to her own room feeling like she had tried and that would be that. She hadn't expected him to open up but he did and stood there wearing nothing but pajama bottoms. She scanned his chest which while not overtly muscular like Seamus' was well formed from training. She saw several scars he had received over the years from various injuries, but none stood out like the large one towards the center of his chest that was still a fresh pink color.
Anthony looked at her questioningly. She gave him a small smile and said, "I couldn't sleep," then she smacked herself mentally. "God that sounded so stupid," she said to herself. But Anthony had moved out of the way and allowed her to enter. She stepped inside and remembered how they had fought and made up that same afternoon. It seemed like a life time ago. She turned to speak to him and practically ran into him. She gave a nervous laugh, but her eyes caught his. There was nothing remotely humorous reflected there, just seriousness. She couldn't help herself; she placed the palm of her small hand against the pink scar on his chest. He startled at the warmth of her hand against his skin. With a finger she traced the old wound. He closed his eyes, and enjoyed her ministrations. She leaned forwards and kissed it. "Dylan," he whispered then kissed her gently.
"What," she asked concerned that she somehow offended him.
"Sleep," he said and glanced at the bed. She sat down on the edge of the bed and watched him climb in from the other side. They laid down together and she backed up snuggling against him. There was no sound except for their breathing and the occasional croak from a frog outside. Dylan fell fast asleep.
Anthony lay awake for awhile wondering at the beautiful woman in his arms; sadly knowing that for now it could not be. He laid there until two am then carefully climbed out of bed not to wake her and got dressed. Dylan snored loudly and he had to smile at that. He cut tendril of hair and kissed her good bye.
*-*-*-*-* Dylan woke the next morning to the birds chirping outside the window. "Anthony," she called looking around the empty room. There was no answer. She got out of bed and noticed that the laptop on the desk was gone, she opened the closet and dresser drawers and everything had been cleared out. On the mirror of the dresser hung the medallion and a note written in his elegant script, "My love, never doubt me. We'll meet again -Anthony" She knew she should be angry but she had a feeling he was right they would meet again and then watch out.
*-*-*-*-* Andreas happily sat down and the others did as well. "I guess I'm missing something," said Natalie. "What happened here?" The Count laughed and looked at Anthony who stood away from them by the fireplace. Anthony took out a cigarette and began to smoke.
"I suppose since our assassin friend won't tell I'll have to. Won't you join us Anthony," he asked the quiet man. Dylan scooted over to make room for him but he looked at her with unemotional eyes and didn't move just took a drag from the ever present smoke. "I suppose that is a no. So you want to know what happened." The Angels, Bosley urged the Count to go on. Hr. Brandt just nodded. Andreas took a breath and began, "I'll give you the short version. This afternoon, Anthony paid me a visit at the hospital. He explained he had come to kill me."
"Anthony explained," asked Alex.
"In writing he did. He handed me a note. I of course didn't believe him; I thought it was a joke, what assassin in his right mind tells someone in writing before doing it. So I asked him why he didn't just kill me."
"Why didn't he," asked Natalie looking at both men.
Andreas looked at Anthony and then at the redheaded Angel. "A crazy little thing called love." Dylan looked up at Anthony but he refused to meet her eyes he seemed very interested in the Count's portrait that had small streams of scotch still dripping down it. "Of course," continued Andreas, "he was concerned. Not for my well being necessarily but for his own. It seems he is the fellow who killed my sister the night of the fox hunt dinner in the stable."
"But she attacked me," said Natalie in Anthony's defense.
"I am aware of that and that is the only reason that I agreed to this whole scheme of his. Although he wasn't truly apologetic- I suppose an assassin can't be- but he seemed to have your best interests at heart. Your friend is very clever. He promised to bring Katja to justice if I would over look his trespasses. He came up with the fake will idea, suggested I call Herren Brandt and Kamp and we keep everything as natural appearing as possible. I was doubtful but he seemed to know Katja quite well and convinced me that she wanted my money more than anything else. I was having my doubts of course that Katja even knew him until she made that blunder about his sword. She couldn't have known that unless she hired him. So there you have it. The plan fell together, the criminal has been taken away and we all live happily ever after." Andreas clapped his hands together, "I hope that you will all be joining me for dinner tonight." He looked around the group in front of him hopefully.
"Sounds great I am starving," said Dylan whose stomach let out a large growl. She hadn't had either breakfast or lunch. The other Angels also readily agreed.
"What about you Dieter? Won't you join us?"
"Naturlich!" (Naturally!)
"Good then I will tell the cook seven for dinner," Helga said and stared off towards the kitchen.
"Helga," Andreas called after her, "I believe you mean eight." She turned and looked at him, "You are my mother." Helga walked over and hugged her son and went off to the kitchen. Andreas stopped and looked around. He turned to Dylan and said, "Dylan, It looks as though Anthony has left."
"What? When?"
"Just now, go to him. He really does care about you." Dylan went the way Andreas pointed and didn't find him. She noticed the French doors were open and went outside. She walked around taking in the vibrant pink of the setting sun and found Anthony in the rose garden. She walked up quietly behind and watched him pick a red rose and place it in his lapel. "Hi," she said startling him.
Anthony looked at her with quiet pale eyes. She noticed the medallion around his neck and realized why he was being standoffish. "I see you found the medallion," she stepped up to him and held the amulet in her hand. Pushing her hand away he turned from her. "I suppose you heard what I said too." He nodded. "You have to understand, I thought you killed the count." He turned back to her his eyes angry then he softened when he saw the worried look on her face. He stepped close to her, his hand as quick as a striking snake, snatched a piece of hair. "Ouch! That hurts," she said rubbing her head. "Ask next time." Instead of inhaling the scent of it and trailing it over his face indulging in the silky texture he dropped the lock and took another step closer to her.
Dylan watched him her green eyes never leaving his blue ones. They reminded her of the color of the sky a dawn on the horizon just as the sun started to rise. So much emotion was in them she didn't dare move. Anthony lowered his head and nuzzled his face into her hair where he had stolen a piece. He could feel his fine aquiline nose and feel his breath like a spring breeze against her scalp. He reached a hand around her back and held her close to him. "Anthony," she breathed her voice coming out as no more than a whisper.
"Sshh," he hissed into her hair. She was amazed at how erotic this seemed to her, weird but kind of sexy never-the-less. A few seconds later he pulled away, eyes closed as though he was trying to hold on to the memory, his hand still firmly planted against her back. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She recognized the look from the rooftop a second before Seamus skewered him, he was going to try to speak and she knew it would be more than a whispered phrase.
She smiled at him encouragingly. There was so much he wanted to tell her, things he had kept bottled up for years, things he couldn't even write in his own journal, so many things he could barely decide. Dylan noticed a look for frustration cross his face. "You can tell me," she said trying to be encouraging. Instead he sat down on the stone bench that was near a small cement bird bath. She sat next to him, "Take your time." Without looking up from his hands, without thinking said, "I don't want time I want you."
His voice was soft and rough, tinted with the accent from his childhood. She realized he hadn't even noticed he had spoken. "I want you too," she said placing her arm around him and leaning her head on his shoulder. His head shot up and he stared, "Did I say that out loud," he wondered silently. He decided to try again, "Dylan." he wanted to go on but instead he kissed her. Gently at first, still not sure if it was what she wanted. His doubts didn't last long as she began to kiss him back with the same intensity they had shared in his room. Like before he was the first to break away. He pulled back and looked at her, her eyes closed, full lips parted, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
It took Dylan a second to realize he had stopped. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was staring at her, she felt a blush climbing up her neck as his gaze made her feel as though she was his lunch. "What's wrong," she asked. Just as he was about to try to answer Bosley called, "Dinner time kids." "Damn," said Dylan softly. Anthony raised an eyebrow at her, stood and offered her his hand. They walked together into the dining room, everyone else was seated.
*-*-*-*-*
After dinner the Angels, Bosley and Anthony headed back to the bed and breakfast. Anthony rode with Dylan having returned the green Jaguar to Andreas. The ride to the inn was quiet. Neither spoke a word, Dylan reached over and turned on the radio. She flipped through the stations and came upon NDR2, it was playing an older song but the words caught her ears:
I'm very close to far away
And I cant hear the words you say
So take what you can take what you find
Take it all into your mind
I'm very close to letting go
Even closer than you know
I need what you have need what you give
I need your love to make me live.
Heart is full of angry things Spinning wildly out of phase So talk to me now Talk to me slow Say the words I told you so.
I know you don't believe me
or all the things I say
but if you'd just receive me
was very close to far away
I'm very close to far away
and I can't hear the words you say
so take what you can take what you find
Take it all into your mind. I know you don't believe me
Or all the things I say
But if you'd just receive me
Were very close to far away
I'm very close to far away
And I cant hear the words you say
I need what you have need what you give
I need your love to make me live
I'm very close to letting go
Even closer than you know
So take what you can
Take what you find
Take it all into your mind
She realized it was like her and Anthony, how she didn't listen to him today, assumed the worst about him. She glanced at her passenger who had his chin on his hand staring out the window into the starry night. She wondered if he heard the similarities too. As the song ended she parked the car across the street from the inn, where Anthony had parked the jag earlier in the day. He stepped out and opened her door for her. "Thanks," she said. He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her up to her room.
"Well goodnight," she said as the hesitated in the patch of no-man's land between the two rooms. Anthony nodded at her in reply to her goodnight. Dylan watched him watch her both waiting for the other to enter their designated room. "Goodnight," she said again. Once again he nodded. They stood there still looking at each other. Finally Anthony made the move, turned, unlocked his door and stepped inside, closing it behind him. Dylan sighed and entered her own.
She didn't know what to do it was such an awkward relationship. Normally she wouldn't have shied away from inviting the guy she was interested in into her room. She certainly hadn't had a problem with sleeping with McCadden. Dylan cringed at that memory. She showered, changed into a tank top and pair of shorts, brushed her teeth and climbed into bed.
Anthony opened the window to his room. It had to be at least 90F inside and sticky. He stepped into the shower and thought about the day, about Dylan, his angel. He was in love. He didn't know how or why it happened but it did and it frightened him. She frightened him. There was something about her intensity that he had never encountered in anyone else before, yet it was also what drew him to her. He stepped out of the shower dried off and pulled on a pair of dark blue silk pajama pants. It was too hot for anything else.
He had just started to fall asleep when he heard a soft knock at his door. He turned on the small table lamp, got out of bed and opened the door. Standing there on the other side was Dylan. The first thing he noticed was that her hair was damp from the shower she had taken, then the fact she was standing there barefoot in her sleeping attire. He gave her a questioning look and an eyebrow went up. "I couldn't sleep," she stated simply. He stepped back and let her enter.
As she lay in her bed staring at the ceiling she realized she missed him. Before she knew it she had gotten out of bed, left the room and knocked on his door. She thought that she would just knock there would be no answer and she could go back to her own room feeling like she had tried and that would be that. She hadn't expected him to open up but he did and stood there wearing nothing but pajama bottoms. She scanned his chest which while not overtly muscular like Seamus' was well formed from training. She saw several scars he had received over the years from various injuries, but none stood out like the large one towards the center of his chest that was still a fresh pink color.
Anthony looked at her questioningly. She gave him a small smile and said, "I couldn't sleep," then she smacked herself mentally. "God that sounded so stupid," she said to herself. But Anthony had moved out of the way and allowed her to enter. She stepped inside and remembered how they had fought and made up that same afternoon. It seemed like a life time ago. She turned to speak to him and practically ran into him. She gave a nervous laugh, but her eyes caught his. There was nothing remotely humorous reflected there, just seriousness. She couldn't help herself; she placed the palm of her small hand against the pink scar on his chest. He startled at the warmth of her hand against his skin. With a finger she traced the old wound. He closed his eyes, and enjoyed her ministrations. She leaned forwards and kissed it. "Dylan," he whispered then kissed her gently.
"What," she asked concerned that she somehow offended him.
"Sleep," he said and glanced at the bed. She sat down on the edge of the bed and watched him climb in from the other side. They laid down together and she backed up snuggling against him. There was no sound except for their breathing and the occasional croak from a frog outside. Dylan fell fast asleep.
Anthony lay awake for awhile wondering at the beautiful woman in his arms; sadly knowing that for now it could not be. He laid there until two am then carefully climbed out of bed not to wake her and got dressed. Dylan snored loudly and he had to smile at that. He cut tendril of hair and kissed her good bye.
*-*-*-*-* Dylan woke the next morning to the birds chirping outside the window. "Anthony," she called looking around the empty room. There was no answer. She got out of bed and noticed that the laptop on the desk was gone, she opened the closet and dresser drawers and everything had been cleared out. On the mirror of the dresser hung the medallion and a note written in his elegant script, "My love, never doubt me. We'll meet again -Anthony" She knew she should be angry but she had a feeling he was right they would meet again and then watch out.