- Chimera of Life -

Story Five: Righteous Mirage

Chapter Seven By Heartfire

~*~

Her day started with a daffodil and a note… How Jessie was able to bring that inside her room without her noticing, she could only blame on… having a long, but wonderful, night.

            Don't worry, I checked for worms.

It was unsigned but who else would give her something like that atop her pillow? There was just something to waking up in the morning and feeling refreshed, ready to work… happy…? Surprised and… a bit raw from sex... She knew she had accomplished something and she liked it.

'Well… time to go to work…' She brought the daffodil near her nose once again to give a small sniff then couldn't help that smile that lighted her face… but by the time she reached her door, she was able to school her expression to her usual one.

…

A finger tapped her chin lightly while she waited for the records to show her that woman. Dorothy leaned down and stopped the files then went back a couple of times…  The computer screen showed the woman's stats and picture… It was the same woman Trowa was talking to…

Midii Une…

'I wonder if she is of any relation to Lady Une…' Her stats gave Dorothy a clearer description of the woman, especially since she was too far away to see Midii's eye color and be sure of her height… She came in two weeks before Trowa, or rather, Tristan, was brought in…

'So how come you two seem to know each other?' Fingers tapped their dance over the keyboard in lightning speed as she cross-referenced everything about Midii Une… By mid-afternoon, she found something she should not have been surprised about…

Miss Midii Une was a ghost…

'Almost like Trowa Barton…' Dorothy leaned back on her chair. 'Could it be that they met before? If so… What? Is she an ally or an adversary?'

Trowa seemed to not trust her, with the questionable way he acted towards her… then again… it could have been… Her eyes glittered as ideas poured in her head. 'Lovers… he's jealous… she did something he didn't approve…' There were numerous reasons and-

Her stomach suddenly growled and the feel of hunger struck her. Dorothy looked down at her stomach with a frown.

"Ms. Catalonia, we are closing the room."

Dorothy glanced up and saw the person in charge of the room for the day… So… she'd been there for the whole day?! 'Dinner was probably over by now…' She may look waiflike but she was one big eater…

A bit angry with herself for missing an entire day of sustenance, she nodded curtly at the man and then walked out of the room.

'Midii Une… why does her name sound familiar?' She took out her cardkey then inserted it. Her door opened instantly and the smell of food nearly knocked her down.

'What the-' Her gaze fell down on Jessie, sitting on her chair near the table with two plates of food and grinning at her.

He saw the surprise in her eyes before she was able to hide it and loved the feeling that he was the one who gave her that look. "Evenin'…" Jessie stood up, walked to Dorothy and took her card then reached for her hands. Her eyebrow rose at him but he only smiled at her and gently pulled her inside.

The door closed with a hiss…

'What's he doing in my…' The thought disappeared when she remembered last night.

"I didn't see you during breakfast, lunch, or dinner so… I thought you might be hungry and smuggled out some food… I wasn't sure which ones you like but you have two plates to choose from and I've already heated them for you."

She glanced at the plates once again when his hands motioned to them. Meatballs in thick sauce with bread and salad as a side dish and the other was seasoned chicken with mashed potato and gravy… Actually, the food in the Center came as a surprise to her… they were healthy and delicious. A warm feeling enveloped her… Never in her life had anyone done anything so thoughtful as this… it was… touching… 'Oh darn!' She shouldn't feel that way or else!

"I choose both." Dorothy sat down on her chair and willed her hands not to grab for the plates.

Jessie smiled as he watched her sit gracefully, primly, on her chair, then arrange her skirt to have the lines perfect and not askew… Her methodical action was something he wasn't used to… even though he grew up with four other girls but… they weren't this… formal. He saw her reach for the food and a pleasant thought came to mind. "Wait."

Dorothy looked at him and frowned, unaware of what he wanted her to do.

He didn't know why he was doing this… he certainly had never done this before but… the thought kind of appealed to him. Jessie pushed the plates away from her reach then sat down at the edge of her desk. He could feel Dorothy's frown on him and that made everything more interesting. "So, which one do you want first? Meatballs or chicken?"

"I was aiming for the meatballs." One moment she was feeling soft for this moron, the next- the moment he took away her food- she felt the urge to pierce him with a fork… a very sharp fork.

"Good." He pulled the plate closer to him then started cutting the large meatballs.

Dorothy frowned, truly unaware of what he was doing that when he turned around with that small piece of meat on his fork and a smile on his face, she could only glare at him.

"Open wide." From that frown of hers… he had this distinctive feeling that no one ever did this to her before—Great!

"What do you think you're- mmphf!" The fork was suddenly in her mouth before she could evade it.

"Good… Are you ready for the next one?"

Oohh!! She wanted to glare at him… to frown at him… to sock him but… with that sweet smile on his face… and well… being fed… she found herself not having the heart to do it.

To his surprise, after the initial glare, Dorothy's arctic eyes softened to that of warm sky blue and a smile hinted upon her chewing lips. He leaned down and kissed her cute little nose. "Sorry, can't help myself."

Dorothy stopped a grin and languidly leaned against her chair's backrest. "Well… I rather like it… Is that part of my food service?"

"If you want it to be." Jessie reached out to touch her hair and felt that slow arousing feeling course through him.

Dorothy faked a shocked look. "Why Jessie Matthew, you surprise me… I never knew you were so agreeable." She almost laughed at the sudden disgust on his face.

"Only when I want to be… By the way, Dorothy… could you do me a favor?"

Her warm feeling disappeared… 'Treading on choppy waters here…' She crossed her arms over her chest and forced herself not to look at his smile. "A favor from an enemy is dangerous."

Her sudden change was offset by what he had said… Of course she'd suddenly be on guard. He tried his best to keep his smile, made it warmer, if it were possible, and shook his head. "It's not what you think… I just want you to stop calling me that terrible name and call me Jess instead."

It was the least she expected and that slow smile appeared on her lips once again. "Give me my food and my service then I'll think about it… Jessie…" The emphasis on that name made him wince once again and she almost couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her lips.

"You are one demanding little brat." Jessie offered the other quarter of the meatball.

"Of course I am." She opened her mouth and took it in. 'Always had been…'

Jess leaned down and caught her lips in his, once again, surprising her. "I like it…"

The food lay forgotten as her hands slowly reached up for his head… to entwine her fingers through his thick hair… and a different kind of hunger engulfed them…