Disclaimer: dido

Chapter 4: Hand in Australian Hand

"So, how about that lunch that I owe you?" Bobby sat on the corner of Tara's desk.

She looked up at him with wide eyes. "You honestly think that I'm still going to go out with you after the stunt you pulled?"

Rolling his eyes, Bobby sighed, "I told ya, sheila, I did not booby trap your car, house, drink – well, okay I sabotaged your coffee but that was it." Bobby held out his hands in front of him.

Tara scrunched her nose, "What was in there?"

"Mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, tomato juice and junks, caramel sauce, melted peanut butter, umm," Bobby rattled off the list of random foods, all of which were dumped into that fateful cup of coffee.

Tara looked at him in pure disgust, "You were going to give that to me?" she asked incredulously.

"Uh…yeah."

"I'm suddenly not very hungry, Bobby. Maybe another time." Tara stood up and left the bullpen. She was in the hall walking towards the elevators when she felt a strong hand grip her slender arm.

"Tara, wait," Bobby pleaded, "I understand that you're mad at me-"

Tara held up a hand to stop him, "Bobby, I'm not mad at you, giving each other gross food is just part of the game. I wouldn't be playing if I couldn't handle the consequences of being on the opposing team, alright? I was serious; all that stuff you put in that drink," she literally shuddered, "it really ruined my appetite. And when I say 'really', I mean I have no desire to eat or drink anything until someone whacks me on the head with a two by four and I loose all my memory. Okay?"

Bobby bit his bottom lip, "So you're not mad?"

Tara swatted the man's arm with the back of her hand, "Of course not! I'm a big girl, Bobby. I can take you and the guys on, no problem." She smirked, "Besides, if you haven't noticed, I've, uh, sort of been, well…kicking. Your. Butts." Tara's sneer grew with every word.

Bobby made a face, "So nice to know you're being a good sport about it." To his dismay the sarcasm that was evident in his voice furthered Tara's gratification.

Lucy came up behind them, "Tare, you ready for lunch?"

"Where were you planning on going?" Tara asked the dark haired women.

"The pizza place down the street."

"Yummmm." Tara drooled.

Bobby looked at her oddly, "You just said-"

"I know what I said," Tara exclaimed, "but pizza is just sooooo goooood." She moaned. With renewed energy Tara straightened and turned back to Lucy, "Let's go." Tara flashed a quick smile and walked past Bobby towards the other set of elevators across the hall, leaving him bewildered.

Bobby watched as the two women were accompanied by Sue and Levi. Tara said something, causing the women to throw their heads back and laugh s they had never done so before. With his jaw slack and frowning eyebrows risen, he realized that he was still holding his hand out, confused. Bobby loosened the muscles in his arm and his hand dropped, the other one still in his pants pocket.

Myles and Jack turned a corner, coming into view. They passed the overzealous trio of women – well, they more accurately were plastered to the walls of the hallway by the group who didn't even seem to notice the two men. As they pealed themselves from the wall and approached Bobby, they wore a look of pure bewilderment, matching Bobby to a tease. The three men all stood in the same position– one hand in their pocket, the other uselessly hanging by their side, their mouths open in perplexity – as they watched their coworkers enter an elevator. The doors closed as the women animatedly conversed in a conversation a linguist wouldn't understand.

Jack raised his hand and with a tilted head scratched the hair merely a centimeter above his ear, then resumed his former position.

With a frown Myles finally broke the silence, "There are three possibilities here, A) Britney Spears just became president of the United States, B) there's a huge gap in Health Class, or C) I really missed something."

The elevator doors glided open and D stepped out, the confused frown unmistakable. He stopped in front of the three men. "Hey guys, what's up?"

"Contemplating the universal gap between and female," Myles answered.

D shook his head, "Mm-mmm, don't do that, it's hazardous to your health. Trust me." The dark man turned around and began walking to the elevators. Without so much as an attempt to turn his head he called, "You amateurs want food or not?"

Bobby, Jack and Myles instantly followed D as he held the doors open for them.

"I thought we were gonna inhale pizza drowning in grease," Tara complained with a pout. Sue and Lucy kept their arms linked around Tara's elbows, pulling her towards a 'formal wear' clothing store, the wind working against Tara's favor, practically throwing them through the glass doors.

Sue and Lucy released Tara, well, almost, they still kept a loose hold on the blonde. "Perfect weather for Mary Poppins wonnabes today." Sue lightly shook her body, enjoying the comfortable temperature the dim store offered.

Tara's lips pursed together as she crossed her arms. "This doesn't look like my pizza place."

Lucy and Sue rolled their eyes simultaneously. "Dome on Grumpy," Lucy pestered as her and Sue pushed Tara further into the building, "nobody likes a 'glum chum'."

A cheerful attendant approached them, "Can I help you with anything ladies?" she asked with a broad smile.

Tara grumbled, "Only if you sell pizza."

The lady laughed lightly, "Sorry, I'm afraid we don't."

"Don't pay any attention to her," Lucy swatted Tara's arm.

"I'm Kara. If you need anything just let me know."

Tara said, "Actually, if you can get me out of here and away from these two it would be really appreciated."

"Ahh," Kara nodded knowingly, "hostage situation?"

"Major."

Kara laughed, "if there's anything I can do to make this experience a little less traumatic let me know."

Tara opened her mouth to speak but Sue beat her to it, "Thanks, we'll keep that in mind."

Kara gave one last smile before turning back to the front counter.

"Can you please let go of me?" Tara huffed.

"Only if you promise not to run away," Lucy warned.

"Fine." Tara glared at the two women. Lucy and Sue exchanged glances. Slowly their grips on Tara's arms loosened.

"Okay, where to start?" Sue asked.

"I think we should start over there," Lucy jerked her head to the direction she meant.

Tara watched them converse, slowly and quietly backing up as she did so. She bit her lip, desperate not to make a sound. When Tara thought she was far enough she spun around and dashed to the exit. The second she put her left foot in front of her right Lucy and Sue noticed.

They sped after her, quickly catching up just as Tara grasped the door handle. The friends clutched Tara's arms and dragged her back into the store. "You guys haven't even told me why I have to be here."

Lucy said, "To win the war of womankind against the idiots we call men."

"But why do I have to dress up all nice and fancy?" Tara cried.

"Bobby is going to ask you out for dinner," Sue explained, "he asked you to go out for lunch with him twice. Since that didn't work out…he's going to swing for the knee high pond a mile past the fence."

"All you have to do is make him think that you're ready to hang all this up and walk away," Lucy continued for Sue, "hand in Australian hand."

Tara stared at them for a while, then suddenly her head flew back, "Ohhhhhhhhh! I sooo get it now!" She grew a smile, "Well, what are we standing around here for? We have a dress to find and buy!" Tara took off, searching for the secret weapon.

Sue and Lucy rolled their eyes.

"All you have to do is make her think that you're ready to hang this up and walk away," Myles said, with an unusual twinkle in his eyes, "hand in Australian hand."

"Don't get me wrong," Bobby said, "but since when are you a soldier in the war against 'Scully and Friends'?"

"You want my help or not; besides, I understand that with your final operation you will need as much help as you can muster."

D shrugged, "He's got a point."

"So, when are you asking Tara out?" Jack questioned.

"Today. When she gets back from lunch."

"You think she'll say yes?" Myles said skeptically, crossing his arms.

"Whose side are you on?" Jack said.

"No kidding, if you're going to help you have to learn to be positive for a few days. Do you think you can handle that?" D inserted.

"I'm not being a pessimist, it's called reality." Myles argued. "But nevertheless, for the sake of your egos, I'll try to be slightly optimistic. Okay?"

"Whatever, mate," Bobby smirked when Myles rolled his eyes, "does anyone have any ideas as to why it's taking the sheilas so long?"

"No idea," D shook his head.

"Probably ranting and raving about the newest shoe fashions," Jack mumbled.

"Well, whatever's going on," Bobby checked his watch, "we should probably get back to the office."

Lucy touched Sues arm, "Have you seen Tara?"

"No, I can't find her anywhere," Sue frowned. "I knew she hated dressing up but isn't this a little crazy, even for Tare?"

"Yes it is. You think maybe it has anything to do with the fact that it's for a date with Bobby?"

"Probably the only reason she's hiding from us." Sue put her fists on her hips. "We have to find her."

"I know." Lucy's eyes lit up, "But, uh, do you know her dress size?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Then we don't even need her here."

"That's right," Sue grinned. "Let's just find a dress and then we can leave. If Tara doesn't want to show herself then she can walk back the office."

"I already found a few that I think would kook adorable on her, no doubt."

"Great. Show me."

Tara stuck her head out of change room. She looked around; Lucy and Sue were nowhere in sight. She tiptoed out and hoped to the closest rack of clothes, hiding behind it. Tara assessed her surroundings again, she was still safe. She ran to the next rack but stopped abruptly. Tara heard Sue and Lucy's dynamic voices. Are they trying to find a dress for me? Without me? Tara vigorously shook her head, as if clearing cobwebs. She continued her way to the large doors.

She grabbed the door handle and pulled the door open, wincing when the elegant ring sounded throughout the store. Tara dashed into the windy outdoors. She jogged down the sidewalk until she was sure that Lucy and Sue weren't going to follow her. In a few minutes of speed walking Tara reentered the bullpen, where she was greeted by an interesting site before her.

"Who and what are these for?" Tara asked, cautiously stepping towards the bouquet of flowers as if they would suddenly morph into a deadly weapon.

"Those," Bobby said, striding to Tara, "are to you, from yours truly. My way of formally asking you out to dinner, if you'd accept my invitation. I know you think that a dozen red roses isn't original enough, so I settled for a bakers dozen of purple daisies."

Tara lightly fingered the daisy petals, then bent to smell them. Closing her eyes she inhaled through her nose, enjoying the fresh scent they offered ever so elegantly. Straightening, Tara looked at Bobby suspiciously. "Just to dinner? You? Special Agent Bobby Manning with the FBI, are asking me out for a simple dinner? No strings attached?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Well, not there is one catch."

Tara raised her eyebrows, "And that would be…"

Bobby's smirked instantly grew into a broad smile.

A/N: I would like to really really thank 'Kate' and 'jesus chick' for their reviews, you gals have been the most faithful reviewers I've had and that means so much to me. Thank you so very very much! Luv ya gals!