The Bill: Corruption.

Chapter 19: Truth or Dare.

About an hour later, they arrived at a hotel on the coast where they decided to stay. Several hours later after they had unpacked all of their stuff and settled into the hotel, they were all sitting in the middle of one room playing an old fashioned game of truth or dare.

"Ok Gov, truth or dare?"

"Umm ... Dare"

"Ok then finish what we were all discussing earlier in the cafe."

"Damn, I should have known you'd ask that," commented Stephen, "Ok, as I was saying it started a long time ago. When I first started in CIB years ago, Marion here had been assigned to the same station. She was new too. Anyway on my first big case we were partnered together. We became close friends, almost like brother and sister. Anyway to cut a long story short, Marion transferred over to MIT a few years later and we haven't really seen each other since."

"That still doesn't answer the question!" stated Claire.

"And it doesn't make sense either, considering the 'good ole days' quotes." commented John.

"They don't miss much do they?" commented Marion.

"You think." Stephen replied, "Ok so that's only part of the story but come on, be reasonable."

"Ok, ok, your turn," said Claire giving in.

"Ok truth or dare?"

"Truth," answered Claire instantly.

"I was hoping you'd say that," commented Stephen, "Ok, you remember that incident in the residential suite the other day. I was kinda hoping you'd explain to me why you went beet red when I walked in cause I still don't get it."

"Erm," mumbled Claire looking around for a way out of the question, "Are you sure you want to know that?"

"Yes now go on," urged Marion, "Otherwise I'm never gonna hear the end of this."

"Ok well I guess it was just embarrassment."

"Embarrassment over what?" asked Stephen.

"Do you really have to ask? You were the one that said 'am I interrupting something?' after all."

"So I was right in assuming ... well you know?"

"Yes, now my turn, Marion, truth or dare?"

"Um, Truth."

Claire crawled closer to her ear and whispered "Is it true you fancy Stephen?"

"WHAT?" Marion yelled.

"Well is it true?" Claire said so the whole group could hear this time.

"Yes," replied Marion before hiding her head in hands.

"Do I even want to know what she asked?" said Stephen.

"No," replied Marion, "My turn ok, John, Truth or Dare?"

"Oh I don't know truth."

"Ok you're probably gonna kill me for this but, do you fancy Claire?"

"WH ... Where did that come from?" So much for keeping things quiet. "Yes." He finally answered barely above a whisper.

"Ok truth or dare Stephen?"

"Well considering the way these truths are going, I'm picking dare."

"Ooh, brave," commented Claire.

"Ok then lets see, I dare you to ... sit in your underwear to your next turn."

"WHAT, no way.  I think it's about time we was all getting to sleep anyway."

"You're just trying to get out of it.  Of course, if you prefer I'm sure I can think of something equally embarrassing."

"Ok, I'll do it; but you lot am gonna pay big time for this one."

After he'd got undressed Stephen was about to dare the next person when Claire interrupted.  "You know, I think your right.  It is time we were getting to sleep." This should be good.

"What are you up to?" whispered John.

"Well think about the dare?  If we end the game now, his next turn won't be until tomorrow at best;" explained Claire.

"Good idea," he whispered to Claire before saying, "I think she's got a point there," to the others.

"This sudden urge to get some sleep wouldn't have anything to do with my current clothes less state would it?" asked Stephen guessing what they were up to.

"Now why would we do a thing like that?" said John and Claire feigning innocence.

"You tell me.  After all it was perfectly suitable to carry on with the game when I said its time to get some rest, but now I've been reduced to wearing only my underwear, you agree that it's time to get some sleep."

"We just couldn't let you get out of doing a dare.  I was gonna agree with you straight away," said Claire. Yeah right, he wishes.

"Ok, ok, we'll all get some sleep and because the games over I assume my dare's over too," stated Stephen.

"Erm, no.  You stay in your underwear till 9am tomorrow morning," said John.

"No way, that's not fair."

"You sound like a little kid.  That's the rules, now you stick to em or I'll think up something worse for tomorrow."

"Please, please, this is bad enough."

"Good."

They all tidy up then go to bed.