TITLE : Mummy Dearest
AUTHOR : Karen Gomes (pyrie@hotmail.com)
CATEGORY : SBR
RATING : R
SPOILERS : Probably
DISCLAIMER : All of the known characters/premises/plots belong to their respective owners. So there.
SUMMARY : A series of bizarre murders lead the VCTF team to Brooklyn, and a strange encounter brings Sam and Bailey closer than ever.
NOTES : I know, I know . . . it always starts out really slow, and then speeds up way too fast at the end. Hey, I'm still working on my momentum, okay?! grin Enjoy!
Cheers!
Gomes.
---------------- Mummy Dearest, part 2. ----------------
Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta
John mumbled as the four team members exited the taxi. "Talk about first class service." He grumbled sarcastically, and took his bag from the trunk. "What happened to the jet?" John whined, while Nathan stepped out and held the door open for Sam. He went to retrieve his bag, as did Sam. She spied Bailey's overnight bag, and picked it up, somehow feeling the warmth of Bailey just by holding it.
Bailey stepped out of the front seat after having paid the driver. "Keep the change, you deserve it for putting up with him." Bailey told the taxi driver, referring to John's bad mood. The taxi driver smiled, and drove off.
Sam walked over to Bailey and handed him his bag. He smiled briefly, then headed for the departures. "We have less than twenty minutes to catch our plane." He said, walking briskly through the clusters of passengers dispersed in every manner, creating some sort of human traffic zone. The other three agents followed behind.
They reached the gate, and boarded the plane. They managed to get four seats facing each other. Sam and Bailey both claimed a window seat, thus sitting across from eachother. Nathan sat beside Sam, and John plopped down beside Bailey.
"Thank goodness I'm not in 'coach'." John said with disgust.
"Stop you're complaining, man. If you behave yourself, maybe they'll let you get a tour in the cockpit." Nathan laughed.
"And if I'm extra good, I'll get to wear the captain's hat?" John added sarcastically. He pressed the service button and a flight attendant stopped by.
"What can I get for you gentlemen?" She asked, exposing her unnatural white smile to John.
"Coffee." Bailey answered, and the others just nodded.
"I think I'm blind." John said, squinting.
"Does anyone know why Grace backed out?" Sam asked, scanning the three men.
"There was a little misunderstanding, and the bodies were shipped to Atlanta. Depending on the time it takes to do the autopsy and how important her presence is needed in Brooklyn, Grace opted to stay and keep George company. He'll communicate with us via his technology." Bailey stated.
"Okay, so what are our duties?" Nathan asked, always the first willing to get down to business.
"Well," Bailey paused as the flight attendant came back with their coffee, "thanks." He told her politely, forcing a smile. He placed his coffee in the cup holder and stood up. He stepped over John's feet and reached into the over-head compartment.
Sam admired his body. While his arms were stretched, his suit was pressed tightly against his body giving her a lovely view of his athletic build. Her eyes roamed from his muscular legs, past his hardened torso, up to his strong arms and neck. She took a deep breath, trying to cool herself down.
Bailey sat back down and handed each agent a file. "Okay, Sam and I are going to interview the wife of Corey Jones." Despite not wanting to get close to Sam, Bailey didn't want to let her out of his site. He never knew when Jack would un-expectantly show up, so he didn't want to take that chance. Besides, even though he wanted to put distance between them, he couldn't stand to be parted from her. It was like his mind and heart were in a deep confrontation, and right now, he was sure his heart was winning.
Sam raised her eyebrow. She figured Bailey was still mad at her, for whatever reason, so she wasn't expecting to be paired with him. She thought that her boss would have partnered her up with John. She shrugged; perhaps she could spend some 'alone time' with Bailey, and find out what was truly bothering him. She studied his face, wanting to dive deep within his soul, and offer whatever aid he desired. Her eyes fell to his lips, and hers parted slowly, imagining the feeling that would occur if his came into contact with hers. She held her breath, as she tried to feel the sensation of his cool breath on her skin, licking, caressing, devouring. Her eyes half closed, she continued to memorize the form his lips took whenever he spoke, how he inconspicuously wet the bottom lip with his tongue when he got nervous. Her thoughts were interrupted when Nathan passed his hand in front of her face.
"We thought we had lost you for a second." He smiled, slightly concerned. "You okay?"
"Yeah . . ." Sam said, somewhat in a daze. She looked out the window, at the clouds passing by. "So, we're going to see Mrs. Jones." She asked Bailey, who only nodded in response. She turned her attention to John. "And you?"
John smiled. "You really zoned out, huh?" He chuckled. "I'm going to meet up with James Yule's sister and Nathan is going to see if he can find anything on Klunk by meeting with his daughter."
"Estranged daughter . . ." Nathan corrected. "And I feel I have the most interesting one. C'mon, imagine the family secrets? I mean, being estranged could harbor feelings of resentment that could lead to revenge and even murder!"
"Must everything be a competition?" John asked to a grinning Nathan.
"Hey, we all have ways to unwind."
They remained silent for the rest of the trip. Finally, a nasal female voice over the intercom boomed, ceasing John and Nathan's argument. "Please fasten your seatbelts - we will be arriving in Brooklyn very shortly. Thank you for flying United Airlines and have a nice day."
John cringed as the flight attendant walked by again, and flashed her excruciatingly white smile. "I'm sure when I'm about to die, *that* will be the last thing I see!"
"Just remember, don't go towards the bright light." Sam muttered, causing a grunt from John. She smiled, and briefly glanced at Bailey - something she had been doing on and off during the course of the flight. She noticed the corner of his lips slightly curved upward. Maybe some time away from the office will do him some good. Sam smiled, less at her joke but more because of Bailey's reaction.
***
JFK International Airport, New York
The plane stopped with a small jolt, and the team got up to leave. John groaned as he stretched, his arms dangerously close to Bailey's face. The older man raised his eyebrow, almost daring the ex-cop to come into contact with him. John's arm narrowly missed Bailey's face and Sam stifled a chuckle. Nathan was the first to disembark the plane closely followed by John. Bailey waited for Sam to go, and unconsciously placed his hand on the small of her back.
Sam leaned in, wishing to have more contact with her mentor. She scolded herself as soon as she realized what she was doing, and quickened her pace; losing contact with Bailey's hand.
The agents reunited outside the airport where Bailey rented a car. He pulled up to the other agents in a black SUV. Sam took the passenger seat, while John and Nathan sat in the back. After Bailey finished putting their bags in the trunk, he climbed into the car and buckled up. "It's a bit of a ride; I have to take the Belt Parkway, and we'll head to the Hotel from there." Bailey told the agents in the back. He grinned at John. "My apologies for the limo service getting cancelled."
John rolled his eyes and looked out the window. Sam fidgeted, and tried to look straight ahead, but her eyes kept diverting towards Bailey. She tried to admire him discreetly, from her peripheral vision. He's so handsome. She thought. She kept imagining herself in his arms, and she suddenly craved one of his patented hugs.
After forty minutes of driving, Bailey pulled to the shoulder of the road. He took out a pamphlet and looked it over. The car was silent so he glanced in the rear-view mirror: Nathan and John were fast asleep, with their heads back. He glanced over at Sam and noticed that she too was catching up on some sleep. Her head was pressed against the window and a few stray strands of hair fell across her face. Bailey reached over and gently brushed them away from her face. His hand lingered, cupping her delicate beauty until she began to stir. Bailey quickly returned his attention to the pamphlet in hand.
"What's going on?" Sam asked sleepily. It was odd to note, but something jarred her out of her sleep, yet it was not un-welcomed. She had opened her eyes with a rather comforting feeling. "Have we reached there yet?" She asked looking around.
"Nah, I think George made a mistake." Bailey said handing Sam the pamphlet. "Wellington is located in Manhattan. We're heading for Brooklyn."
"Is it that much out of our way?" Sam asked, staring straight into Bailey's eyes. She found herself drowning in his deep stare. Neither agents spoke for a very long time, instead they held each other's gaze. They were each trying to decipher the other's emotions that were blazing in their eyes.
Bailey unconsciously leaned forward as did Sam. Suddenly, their world of fantasy was cut short when a loud snore came from the back. Bailey turned his head and looked at his two agents still sound asleep. "My money's on John." He remarked playfully.
Sam let out a small laugh, for she was still rather disoriented due to the event that had just transpired or almost-transpired. How far would it have gone? Was it a 'moment' thing, or did he really want to kiss me? Did he just lean in because he lost balance or . . . " She asked herself as she leaned back in the chair. She glanced outside and observed the sunny meadows that adorned the Belt Parkway.
"I think we should just look for another place to stay." Bailey started, and gave George a call on his cell. "Georgie, hey." He paused. "How's Grace? Mm-hmm. Yeah, listen, I need a hotel address, closest one possible." Bailey let out a laugh. "Yeah, thanks for telling me that Wellington was located in Manhattan." Another pause and he glanced at Sam. "Yeah, I want to remain in Brooklyn. What about the Comfort Inn? I heard that it's reasonable, and besides, if we need to be in Manhattan, it's not a long subway ride." Bailey bid George farewell and turned his cell off.
Sam looked back at Bailey and noticed that he had made himself a little more comfortable for the drive. His jacket was off and the sleeves of his sweater were rolled up. She admired his build, and the old sweater gently hugged his defined muscles. She propped her elbow on the arm rest, and leaned her head, against the window in an effort to get comfortable again. "Next time, let's get a Winnebago!" She joked, moving around.
Bailey smiled. "Here." He leaned back and picked up his spring jacket from the back-seat. He turned it inside out, so that the soft part would add comfort, and folded it in half. "Make-shift pillow." He stated, handing it to Sam. "It's still another half-hour so you might as well join those two in Dreamland."
Sam thanked him and placed the jacket against the window. She leaned against it, and inhaled Bailey's scent. It was of a strong, masculine odor, complemented by spice and cigar memories. She fell asleep with a soft smile on her face.
***
Comfort Inn, Brooklyn
Sam was the first to wake up, still in the SUV. She glanced beside her to find the driver's seat vacated. She turned her head and noticed John and Nathan were still sleeping. Looking outside, she realized that they were parked right in front of the Comfort Inn. She tried to open the door, but found it to be locked; even Bailey's door was locked. Leave it to him to be over-protective. She commented, but was touched none the less. She stepped out, locking the door behind her, and headed inside. Once there, she saw Bailey arguing with the receptionist.
"What? We booked four rooms, not two!" He barked.
"Look, I'm sorry sir, but there must have been an error when your reservations were processed. It doesn't happen often." The young receptionist tried to explain, though she seemed a little frightened by Bailey.
"At least can we have three rooms?" He asked. He was worried about Sam having to share a room with one of the men, for he knew that he would be the lucky one picked. And he knew there was a fine line between pleasure and agony. It would be heaven to be so close to her, but hell to know that she didn't share the same feelings.
"Sir." Finally, the hotel manager came by, noticing his young receptionist's distress. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but at the moment, we have no vacancies. I can assure you that this matter will be corrected - we'll reserve the next available room for you. To accept our apologies, we offer you and your partners a free continental breakfast during your stay." The hotel manager tried to lighten the misunderstanding.
Bailey opened his mouth to tell the manager off but Sam cut him off. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you." She smiled at a surprised Bailey.
"Here are your keys, Miss." The young receptionist handed both keys to Sam, completely avoiding Bailey's gaze.
Once back at the car, Bailey unlocked his side and unlocked the rest of the locks. Sam got in and buckled up. "You didn't have to be so mean!" Sam warned. "She's just doing her job. . . at least we four don't have to share one room."
"What?" Nathan asked and nudged John to wake as well.
"There's been a little mishap, so we all have to bunk in twos." Bailey stated and drove into the underground parking lot.
"Hey, I don't mind, do you?" John asked Nathan.
"Sounds good, roomy." They laughed.
Bailey's eyes grew wide, but he kept them on the road. He felt Sam glance at him but didn't want to look back at her. He was scared to see a repulsed look upon her face. They parked the car and headed up to their room on the fourth floor.
Sam watched John and Nathan enter their room and turned to Bailey. She let out a small smile and unlocked their door. "Do you want to be in charge of the key?" She asked, dangling it in front of him.
"Nah, you keep it." He said lightly. "I'll probably just lose it." He waited for her to enter, and followed. He sighed with relief to find two double beds in the room, a door leading to the bathroom in the corner, and a small kitchenette opposite. There was a large window with a tacky peach- coloured lace curtain. He walked over and looked out, admiring the scenery. He turned around to find Sam standing awkwardly near the entrance. "Sam, if this is weird for you, I can go to John and Nathan's room and sleep on the floor, or something." He tried to accommodate things for her.
Sam shrugged, brushing the idea off. "I can't ask you to do that." She sat on the bed closest to the door. "Besides, I trust you Bail." She said sincerely.
"Thanks." He said softly and the two held a powerful gaze, each conveying a message of love, but the other too blind to decipher it. Their stare was disturbed by John and Nathan entering the room.
"Man! You guys have a better room than we do!" Nathan complained and checked the bathroom. "Hey! They have a tub!"
"What?" John squawked. "We only have a shower stall."
Bailey peered into their room and let out a pure laugh, causing Sam to smile. "Hope you guys have sweet dreams tonight!" He chuckled then put his hands up in defense. "Hey, you guys chose the room, it's not my fault there's only one bed."
John and Nathan lingered in Sam and Bailey's room for a bit, both trying to convey the messages that they wanted to switch rooms. "Sorry guys, I'm not giving up the tub." Sam smiled, and ushered them out, through the joining door.
"We'll meet in the lobby in thirty minutes." Bailey called through the closed door. "Enough time for me to have a shower." He said, draping a pair of pants over his shoulder. He ventured into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him.
Sam stared at the closed door, then stared at the beds. She was fighting an inner battle of wanting to switch rooms just so she could feel his body heat next to her, but too scared that her feelings would spill out, ruining their special friendship forever. He didn't make any moves to switch rooms either. She sighed and turned on the television, whilst awaiting Bailey to finish with the bathroom. She leaned against the headboard after having toed off her shoes. Stretching her legs, she flipped through the numerous channels.
"Hey, we have satellite!" Came John's voice from the next room. Sam shook her head and smiled. "Go back, go back, you missed the game!"
Sam raised the volume on the television, drowning out the two agents next door. She stopped at the local news.
""". . . and the suspect is still at large. So far, three bodies have been found but the missing person's list has yet to see an end. People are becoming frantic with worry and the Police Department is swarmed with missing person calls. The PD asks that citizens only call if a person has gone missing for more than 24 hours . . ."""
Sam switched the channel to another news station.
""". . . and in other news, Brooklyn's famed museum will be re-opening it's Egyptian display at a special inauguration this afternoon. Among those attending will be Valerie Klunk who has donated a large sum to the exhibition. Now, we turn to the sports . . ."""
Sam turned the television off just as Bailey exited the bathroom. "It's all yours." He stated, passing a towel feverishly through his hair, in an attempt to dry it. He was clothed in his suit-pants with a white sleeveless- undershirt.
Sam's eyes noted his white shirt and jacket draped over the back of a chair that was located in the corner of the room. Her eyes were glued to his powerful frame, his strong muscular back, and his immense arms. "Thanks." She said, a little distantly, one by Bailey's presence, and the other by the news. She walked past him and inhaled his clean scent. Stepping inside the bathroom, she cursed herself for acting like a childish little school- girl and forced herself to deal with her emotions in a professional manner. She shook her head, trying to put things into perspective. What is Valerie Klunk doing at the Museum? She was estranged, yes, but could she have killed her father, and donated the money - or part of the money. Maybe that was life-insurance." Sam arched her back as the cold water hit her body; she felt the need to cool down a bit. She stepped out of the shower, toweled off and dried her hair. She finally immerged seven minutes later, dressed in a deep burgundy jacket and skirt combo. "Bailey?"
"Yeah?" Bailey looked up. He had been watching a little television and only recently started dressing. He was just finishing buttoning up his shirt.
"I think we should check out the museum today." Sam said, sitting down on her bed. She stretched her legs out in front of her.
Bailey's eyes wandered up her shapely legs, up to her thighs, slim waist, her beautiful breasts and finally stopping at her luscious lips. He blinked and tried to focus on her eyes. "Actually, George called while you were in the shower. He had tried to contact James Yule's sister but spoke with her husband. Yule's sister Keri will be in Brooklyn today, at the museum - "
"- for the grand re-opening of the Egyptian exhibition?" Sam finished his sentence. "I just heard on the news that Valerie Klunk has made an interesting donation to the museum, for funding this display." She answered his question.
Bailey nodded. "Two out of three, not bad. We'll catch Jones after the ceremony." He grabbed his suit jacket and held it over his shoulder. Opening the door, he waited for Sam to get her purse and walk out. He locked it and ventured towards the lobby. Both agents were quiet in the small elevator. They were both aware of this sexual tension between them, but each believed that it was only present from their own side. Bailey wet his bottom lip. He knew this was going to be a trying case, but he wasn't sure if outside or inside factors would be the cause.
AUTHOR : Karen Gomes (pyrie@hotmail.com)
CATEGORY : SBR
RATING : R
SPOILERS : Probably
DISCLAIMER : All of the known characters/premises/plots belong to their respective owners. So there.
SUMMARY : A series of bizarre murders lead the VCTF team to Brooklyn, and a strange encounter brings Sam and Bailey closer than ever.
NOTES : I know, I know . . . it always starts out really slow, and then speeds up way too fast at the end. Hey, I'm still working on my momentum, okay?! grin Enjoy!
Cheers!
Gomes.
---------------- Mummy Dearest, part 2. ----------------
Hartsfield International Airport, Atlanta
John mumbled as the four team members exited the taxi. "Talk about first class service." He grumbled sarcastically, and took his bag from the trunk. "What happened to the jet?" John whined, while Nathan stepped out and held the door open for Sam. He went to retrieve his bag, as did Sam. She spied Bailey's overnight bag, and picked it up, somehow feeling the warmth of Bailey just by holding it.
Bailey stepped out of the front seat after having paid the driver. "Keep the change, you deserve it for putting up with him." Bailey told the taxi driver, referring to John's bad mood. The taxi driver smiled, and drove off.
Sam walked over to Bailey and handed him his bag. He smiled briefly, then headed for the departures. "We have less than twenty minutes to catch our plane." He said, walking briskly through the clusters of passengers dispersed in every manner, creating some sort of human traffic zone. The other three agents followed behind.
They reached the gate, and boarded the plane. They managed to get four seats facing each other. Sam and Bailey both claimed a window seat, thus sitting across from eachother. Nathan sat beside Sam, and John plopped down beside Bailey.
"Thank goodness I'm not in 'coach'." John said with disgust.
"Stop you're complaining, man. If you behave yourself, maybe they'll let you get a tour in the cockpit." Nathan laughed.
"And if I'm extra good, I'll get to wear the captain's hat?" John added sarcastically. He pressed the service button and a flight attendant stopped by.
"What can I get for you gentlemen?" She asked, exposing her unnatural white smile to John.
"Coffee." Bailey answered, and the others just nodded.
"I think I'm blind." John said, squinting.
"Does anyone know why Grace backed out?" Sam asked, scanning the three men.
"There was a little misunderstanding, and the bodies were shipped to Atlanta. Depending on the time it takes to do the autopsy and how important her presence is needed in Brooklyn, Grace opted to stay and keep George company. He'll communicate with us via his technology." Bailey stated.
"Okay, so what are our duties?" Nathan asked, always the first willing to get down to business.
"Well," Bailey paused as the flight attendant came back with their coffee, "thanks." He told her politely, forcing a smile. He placed his coffee in the cup holder and stood up. He stepped over John's feet and reached into the over-head compartment.
Sam admired his body. While his arms were stretched, his suit was pressed tightly against his body giving her a lovely view of his athletic build. Her eyes roamed from his muscular legs, past his hardened torso, up to his strong arms and neck. She took a deep breath, trying to cool herself down.
Bailey sat back down and handed each agent a file. "Okay, Sam and I are going to interview the wife of Corey Jones." Despite not wanting to get close to Sam, Bailey didn't want to let her out of his site. He never knew when Jack would un-expectantly show up, so he didn't want to take that chance. Besides, even though he wanted to put distance between them, he couldn't stand to be parted from her. It was like his mind and heart were in a deep confrontation, and right now, he was sure his heart was winning.
Sam raised her eyebrow. She figured Bailey was still mad at her, for whatever reason, so she wasn't expecting to be paired with him. She thought that her boss would have partnered her up with John. She shrugged; perhaps she could spend some 'alone time' with Bailey, and find out what was truly bothering him. She studied his face, wanting to dive deep within his soul, and offer whatever aid he desired. Her eyes fell to his lips, and hers parted slowly, imagining the feeling that would occur if his came into contact with hers. She held her breath, as she tried to feel the sensation of his cool breath on her skin, licking, caressing, devouring. Her eyes half closed, she continued to memorize the form his lips took whenever he spoke, how he inconspicuously wet the bottom lip with his tongue when he got nervous. Her thoughts were interrupted when Nathan passed his hand in front of her face.
"We thought we had lost you for a second." He smiled, slightly concerned. "You okay?"
"Yeah . . ." Sam said, somewhat in a daze. She looked out the window, at the clouds passing by. "So, we're going to see Mrs. Jones." She asked Bailey, who only nodded in response. She turned her attention to John. "And you?"
John smiled. "You really zoned out, huh?" He chuckled. "I'm going to meet up with James Yule's sister and Nathan is going to see if he can find anything on Klunk by meeting with his daughter."
"Estranged daughter . . ." Nathan corrected. "And I feel I have the most interesting one. C'mon, imagine the family secrets? I mean, being estranged could harbor feelings of resentment that could lead to revenge and even murder!"
"Must everything be a competition?" John asked to a grinning Nathan.
"Hey, we all have ways to unwind."
They remained silent for the rest of the trip. Finally, a nasal female voice over the intercom boomed, ceasing John and Nathan's argument. "Please fasten your seatbelts - we will be arriving in Brooklyn very shortly. Thank you for flying United Airlines and have a nice day."
John cringed as the flight attendant walked by again, and flashed her excruciatingly white smile. "I'm sure when I'm about to die, *that* will be the last thing I see!"
"Just remember, don't go towards the bright light." Sam muttered, causing a grunt from John. She smiled, and briefly glanced at Bailey - something she had been doing on and off during the course of the flight. She noticed the corner of his lips slightly curved upward. Maybe some time away from the office will do him some good. Sam smiled, less at her joke but more because of Bailey's reaction.
***
JFK International Airport, New York
The plane stopped with a small jolt, and the team got up to leave. John groaned as he stretched, his arms dangerously close to Bailey's face. The older man raised his eyebrow, almost daring the ex-cop to come into contact with him. John's arm narrowly missed Bailey's face and Sam stifled a chuckle. Nathan was the first to disembark the plane closely followed by John. Bailey waited for Sam to go, and unconsciously placed his hand on the small of her back.
Sam leaned in, wishing to have more contact with her mentor. She scolded herself as soon as she realized what she was doing, and quickened her pace; losing contact with Bailey's hand.
The agents reunited outside the airport where Bailey rented a car. He pulled up to the other agents in a black SUV. Sam took the passenger seat, while John and Nathan sat in the back. After Bailey finished putting their bags in the trunk, he climbed into the car and buckled up. "It's a bit of a ride; I have to take the Belt Parkway, and we'll head to the Hotel from there." Bailey told the agents in the back. He grinned at John. "My apologies for the limo service getting cancelled."
John rolled his eyes and looked out the window. Sam fidgeted, and tried to look straight ahead, but her eyes kept diverting towards Bailey. She tried to admire him discreetly, from her peripheral vision. He's so handsome. She thought. She kept imagining herself in his arms, and she suddenly craved one of his patented hugs.
After forty minutes of driving, Bailey pulled to the shoulder of the road. He took out a pamphlet and looked it over. The car was silent so he glanced in the rear-view mirror: Nathan and John were fast asleep, with their heads back. He glanced over at Sam and noticed that she too was catching up on some sleep. Her head was pressed against the window and a few stray strands of hair fell across her face. Bailey reached over and gently brushed them away from her face. His hand lingered, cupping her delicate beauty until she began to stir. Bailey quickly returned his attention to the pamphlet in hand.
"What's going on?" Sam asked sleepily. It was odd to note, but something jarred her out of her sleep, yet it was not un-welcomed. She had opened her eyes with a rather comforting feeling. "Have we reached there yet?" She asked looking around.
"Nah, I think George made a mistake." Bailey said handing Sam the pamphlet. "Wellington is located in Manhattan. We're heading for Brooklyn."
"Is it that much out of our way?" Sam asked, staring straight into Bailey's eyes. She found herself drowning in his deep stare. Neither agents spoke for a very long time, instead they held each other's gaze. They were each trying to decipher the other's emotions that were blazing in their eyes.
Bailey unconsciously leaned forward as did Sam. Suddenly, their world of fantasy was cut short when a loud snore came from the back. Bailey turned his head and looked at his two agents still sound asleep. "My money's on John." He remarked playfully.
Sam let out a small laugh, for she was still rather disoriented due to the event that had just transpired or almost-transpired. How far would it have gone? Was it a 'moment' thing, or did he really want to kiss me? Did he just lean in because he lost balance or . . . " She asked herself as she leaned back in the chair. She glanced outside and observed the sunny meadows that adorned the Belt Parkway.
"I think we should just look for another place to stay." Bailey started, and gave George a call on his cell. "Georgie, hey." He paused. "How's Grace? Mm-hmm. Yeah, listen, I need a hotel address, closest one possible." Bailey let out a laugh. "Yeah, thanks for telling me that Wellington was located in Manhattan." Another pause and he glanced at Sam. "Yeah, I want to remain in Brooklyn. What about the Comfort Inn? I heard that it's reasonable, and besides, if we need to be in Manhattan, it's not a long subway ride." Bailey bid George farewell and turned his cell off.
Sam looked back at Bailey and noticed that he had made himself a little more comfortable for the drive. His jacket was off and the sleeves of his sweater were rolled up. She admired his build, and the old sweater gently hugged his defined muscles. She propped her elbow on the arm rest, and leaned her head, against the window in an effort to get comfortable again. "Next time, let's get a Winnebago!" She joked, moving around.
Bailey smiled. "Here." He leaned back and picked up his spring jacket from the back-seat. He turned it inside out, so that the soft part would add comfort, and folded it in half. "Make-shift pillow." He stated, handing it to Sam. "It's still another half-hour so you might as well join those two in Dreamland."
Sam thanked him and placed the jacket against the window. She leaned against it, and inhaled Bailey's scent. It was of a strong, masculine odor, complemented by spice and cigar memories. She fell asleep with a soft smile on her face.
***
Comfort Inn, Brooklyn
Sam was the first to wake up, still in the SUV. She glanced beside her to find the driver's seat vacated. She turned her head and noticed John and Nathan were still sleeping. Looking outside, she realized that they were parked right in front of the Comfort Inn. She tried to open the door, but found it to be locked; even Bailey's door was locked. Leave it to him to be over-protective. She commented, but was touched none the less. She stepped out, locking the door behind her, and headed inside. Once there, she saw Bailey arguing with the receptionist.
"What? We booked four rooms, not two!" He barked.
"Look, I'm sorry sir, but there must have been an error when your reservations were processed. It doesn't happen often." The young receptionist tried to explain, though she seemed a little frightened by Bailey.
"At least can we have three rooms?" He asked. He was worried about Sam having to share a room with one of the men, for he knew that he would be the lucky one picked. And he knew there was a fine line between pleasure and agony. It would be heaven to be so close to her, but hell to know that she didn't share the same feelings.
"Sir." Finally, the hotel manager came by, noticing his young receptionist's distress. "I apologize for the inconvenience, but at the moment, we have no vacancies. I can assure you that this matter will be corrected - we'll reserve the next available room for you. To accept our apologies, we offer you and your partners a free continental breakfast during your stay." The hotel manager tried to lighten the misunderstanding.
Bailey opened his mouth to tell the manager off but Sam cut him off. "That sounds wonderful. Thank you." She smiled at a surprised Bailey.
"Here are your keys, Miss." The young receptionist handed both keys to Sam, completely avoiding Bailey's gaze.
Once back at the car, Bailey unlocked his side and unlocked the rest of the locks. Sam got in and buckled up. "You didn't have to be so mean!" Sam warned. "She's just doing her job. . . at least we four don't have to share one room."
"What?" Nathan asked and nudged John to wake as well.
"There's been a little mishap, so we all have to bunk in twos." Bailey stated and drove into the underground parking lot.
"Hey, I don't mind, do you?" John asked Nathan.
"Sounds good, roomy." They laughed.
Bailey's eyes grew wide, but he kept them on the road. He felt Sam glance at him but didn't want to look back at her. He was scared to see a repulsed look upon her face. They parked the car and headed up to their room on the fourth floor.
Sam watched John and Nathan enter their room and turned to Bailey. She let out a small smile and unlocked their door. "Do you want to be in charge of the key?" She asked, dangling it in front of him.
"Nah, you keep it." He said lightly. "I'll probably just lose it." He waited for her to enter, and followed. He sighed with relief to find two double beds in the room, a door leading to the bathroom in the corner, and a small kitchenette opposite. There was a large window with a tacky peach- coloured lace curtain. He walked over and looked out, admiring the scenery. He turned around to find Sam standing awkwardly near the entrance. "Sam, if this is weird for you, I can go to John and Nathan's room and sleep on the floor, or something." He tried to accommodate things for her.
Sam shrugged, brushing the idea off. "I can't ask you to do that." She sat on the bed closest to the door. "Besides, I trust you Bail." She said sincerely.
"Thanks." He said softly and the two held a powerful gaze, each conveying a message of love, but the other too blind to decipher it. Their stare was disturbed by John and Nathan entering the room.
"Man! You guys have a better room than we do!" Nathan complained and checked the bathroom. "Hey! They have a tub!"
"What?" John squawked. "We only have a shower stall."
Bailey peered into their room and let out a pure laugh, causing Sam to smile. "Hope you guys have sweet dreams tonight!" He chuckled then put his hands up in defense. "Hey, you guys chose the room, it's not my fault there's only one bed."
John and Nathan lingered in Sam and Bailey's room for a bit, both trying to convey the messages that they wanted to switch rooms. "Sorry guys, I'm not giving up the tub." Sam smiled, and ushered them out, through the joining door.
"We'll meet in the lobby in thirty minutes." Bailey called through the closed door. "Enough time for me to have a shower." He said, draping a pair of pants over his shoulder. He ventured into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him.
Sam stared at the closed door, then stared at the beds. She was fighting an inner battle of wanting to switch rooms just so she could feel his body heat next to her, but too scared that her feelings would spill out, ruining their special friendship forever. He didn't make any moves to switch rooms either. She sighed and turned on the television, whilst awaiting Bailey to finish with the bathroom. She leaned against the headboard after having toed off her shoes. Stretching her legs, she flipped through the numerous channels.
"Hey, we have satellite!" Came John's voice from the next room. Sam shook her head and smiled. "Go back, go back, you missed the game!"
Sam raised the volume on the television, drowning out the two agents next door. She stopped at the local news.
""". . . and the suspect is still at large. So far, three bodies have been found but the missing person's list has yet to see an end. People are becoming frantic with worry and the Police Department is swarmed with missing person calls. The PD asks that citizens only call if a person has gone missing for more than 24 hours . . ."""
Sam switched the channel to another news station.
""". . . and in other news, Brooklyn's famed museum will be re-opening it's Egyptian display at a special inauguration this afternoon. Among those attending will be Valerie Klunk who has donated a large sum to the exhibition. Now, we turn to the sports . . ."""
Sam turned the television off just as Bailey exited the bathroom. "It's all yours." He stated, passing a towel feverishly through his hair, in an attempt to dry it. He was clothed in his suit-pants with a white sleeveless- undershirt.
Sam's eyes noted his white shirt and jacket draped over the back of a chair that was located in the corner of the room. Her eyes were glued to his powerful frame, his strong muscular back, and his immense arms. "Thanks." She said, a little distantly, one by Bailey's presence, and the other by the news. She walked past him and inhaled his clean scent. Stepping inside the bathroom, she cursed herself for acting like a childish little school- girl and forced herself to deal with her emotions in a professional manner. She shook her head, trying to put things into perspective. What is Valerie Klunk doing at the Museum? She was estranged, yes, but could she have killed her father, and donated the money - or part of the money. Maybe that was life-insurance." Sam arched her back as the cold water hit her body; she felt the need to cool down a bit. She stepped out of the shower, toweled off and dried her hair. She finally immerged seven minutes later, dressed in a deep burgundy jacket and skirt combo. "Bailey?"
"Yeah?" Bailey looked up. He had been watching a little television and only recently started dressing. He was just finishing buttoning up his shirt.
"I think we should check out the museum today." Sam said, sitting down on her bed. She stretched her legs out in front of her.
Bailey's eyes wandered up her shapely legs, up to her thighs, slim waist, her beautiful breasts and finally stopping at her luscious lips. He blinked and tried to focus on her eyes. "Actually, George called while you were in the shower. He had tried to contact James Yule's sister but spoke with her husband. Yule's sister Keri will be in Brooklyn today, at the museum - "
"- for the grand re-opening of the Egyptian exhibition?" Sam finished his sentence. "I just heard on the news that Valerie Klunk has made an interesting donation to the museum, for funding this display." She answered his question.
Bailey nodded. "Two out of three, not bad. We'll catch Jones after the ceremony." He grabbed his suit jacket and held it over his shoulder. Opening the door, he waited for Sam to get her purse and walk out. He locked it and ventured towards the lobby. Both agents were quiet in the small elevator. They were both aware of this sexual tension between them, but each believed that it was only present from their own side. Bailey wet his bottom lip. He knew this was going to be a trying case, but he wasn't sure if outside or inside factors would be the cause.