Maggie tossed and turned. She couldn't get to sleep, no matter what she tried. With a growl, she tossed the blankets back and climbed out of bed. She paced around the room for a while before throwing on a robe. She pocketed her room key and stepped out onto the landing. The streetlights cast the landing in an orange-ish glow. Silently she padded down to room 217. She tapped almost inaudibly on the door, but it swung open. Hobbes raised an eyebrow and smiled at her, but didn't say anything. She smiled at him and stepped inside. Shedding her robe, she slipped under the covers next to Darien . He turned in his sleep and wrapped his arms around her. Maggie fell asleep with his breath warming the back of her neck.
Darien wrapped his arms tighter around his pillow. After a moment, he realized that his pillow was more substantial than normal. And warmer. And was moving. He opened his eyes and found himself looking into a familiar pair of green eyes.
"Morning," Maggie whispered.
Darien couldn't stop himself from smiling. "Morning," he whispered back.
She leaned forward and kissed him, her eyes never leaving his. "I couldn't sleep," she said when she pulled away.
Darien didn't say anything. He rolled onto his back and pulled Maggie into his arms. Her head rested on his chest, her hair spilling out over his shoulder. She dozed off listening to the comforting sound of his heart.
Darien tightened his arm around her briefly before moving his hand so he could play with her hair. The blond curls were disconcerting, but as he thought on it, he decided Maggie was a very pretty blonde. He kissed the top of her head and closed his eyes.
The sound of movement and a shower running finally drew Maggie and Darien from their rest. She stretched and yawned before sitting up. Darien reached a hand up and stroked her back. Maggie glanced over her shoulder at him.
"Morning again." She turned around, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "I've got to go back to my room to shower and change."
"Can I come with you?" Since he'd woken up with her, Darien was having trouble not smiling.
"I'm just getting dressed." She brushed her fingers over his face. He relented and let her go. She pulled her robe on and smiled at him before she left. "I'll be back in a little bit."
When Maggie came out of her bathroom in her underwear, she found Hobbes sitting at the table, two Styrofoam coffee cups and a box of doughnuts on the table in front of him.
"Thought you might like some breakfast," he said, completely unconcerned about her clothing, or lack thereof.
She raised an eyebrow and went over to her dresser. She pulled out a pair of low waist jeans and a tiny t-shirt. Once she was dressed, she towel dried her hair and took a seat across from Hobbes.
"What's up?" She pulled the doughnut box toward her and picked one out.
Hobbes shook his head. "We use to be friends, kid. What happened?"
"We're not friends anymore, Bobby?" She took a bite of her pastry.
"Are we? Where I come from, you don't run out on your friends." He pointed at her with his doughnut. "Did you think we wouldn't help you?"
She shook her head violently. "I was afraid he would hurt you too."
Hobbes stared at her for a moment. "Or were you afraid we were working for him?" She didn't say anything as she took a sip of her coffee. "Like I said, I thought we were friends."
Maggie looked down at the table. She picked at a hole in the linoleum. "I didn't think there was anyone I could trust," she whispered. "If I couldn't trust Charlie, the man who practically raised me, who could I trust?"
"You broke Fawkes' heart," he responded. "I'd never seen him so determined and focused. We've been searching for you for three years."
Maggie looked up, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "What do you want me to do?"
Hobbes reached out and put his hand over hers. "Come home with us."
"I have to go to work soon. I'm on days this week." She stood up, pulling her hand from his.
Hobbes stood up as well. "Hope you don't mind company."
She looked up from pulling on her sneakers. "I'm not going to leave. You don't need to watch me."
Hobbes smiled. "I know. But I'm not sure Fawkes is going to let you out of his sight."
Maggie set the drinks down on the table and smiled at the boys. When they showed up with Maggie that afternoon, Dean didn't want to let them in. After some argument with Steve, Maggie finally convinced Dean to let them in.
Steve stood behind the bar, a bar towel thrown over one shoulder. "I don't know about these two, Laurel ," he said when she returned to the bar.
She smiled. "They're okay. We had a long talk last night, set some things straight." She glanced over her shoulder at Darien and Hobbes. They were looking around and talking quietly to one another.
Steve watched her as she grabbed a cutting board and knife. She reached down into the cooler and pulled out a few limes. "You're leaving with them, aren't you?"
Maggie continued to cut the limes. "Yeah, I am." She set down the knife and turned to him. "If I stay here, I will only put you and the others in danger."
"Are you runnin' again, kiddo?"
She shook her head. "No, Steve. I'm going home."
"Back to California ?" She nodded and Steve suddenly looked sad. "I'm gonna miss you kid."
"That's cause I'm the best damn waitress you've ever had," she said with a smile. "And I've never broken a glass."
Steve shook his head. "You do have reflexes like a cat." He watched Darien and Hobbes move over to the pool table in the back. "It's slow in here today," he commented.
Maggie nodded in agreement. "Always is. Not too many drinkers in this town until quitting time." She scooped up the cut limes into a container and set it next to the other condiments under the bar. "Don't know why you even stay open, Steve."
"Go play pool with your friends, Laurel. I'll take care of anyone who comes in." Steve took the cutting board and knife and pushed her towards the back of the bar.
Maggie wanted to protest but didn't. Instead, she washed her hands and wandered over to where the boys were playing.
Maggie leaned against a table, watching Darien as he leaned over to shoot. He glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Hey, are you checking out my ass?" he asked with a grin.
She raised an eyebrow. "Maybe. It's been a long time since I've been able to stare at your butt. It is a good one, too."
Hobbes shook his head. "Are you going to shoot today, Fawkes?"
Darien opened his mouth to say something, but Maggie interrupted him. "We need to go."
They turned and looked at her. "What?" Hobbes said.
"Now. We need to go right now." She grabbed Darien 's hand and pulled him toward the back room. Hobbes followed, with Steve close behind.
"Kid, what's going on?" Steve asked as he followed them.
"Someone's coming and we need to go." Maggie stopped and threw her arms around Steve in a quick hug. "Thanks for everything Steve. I'll contact you if I can," she said and pushed Darien and Hobbes out the door. "Motel, now," she ordered. "I know a back way."
Maggie showed them the back way to the motel. The trio was able to make it up to their rooms without passing any vehicles or people. Hobbes headed to his and Darien 's room to pick up their bags. Darien accompanied Maggie to her room, so she could pack her meager belongings.
"I don't have much," she said as she grabbed her duffle bag from the closet. Darien swept all the clothes from the drawers and shoved them into the bag. Maggie threw the few books and other things in after the clothes and ran into the bathroom to get her toiletries. She dropped the key on the dresser and they were out the door in five minutes. Hobbes was waiting by the van.
"I thought you said no one followed you here," Maggie growled as she ran to the van. She tossed her bag into the back and climbed into the middle seat in the front. Darien climbed in behind her and slammed the door. Hobbes had already started the van and put it into gear as soon as they were inside.
"We didn't think they did. We were so careful." Darien said, watching the side mirrors for any sign of their pursuers.
"They didn't," Hobbes said in a low voice. "They must have found you another way."
"Just get us out of here, Bobby." Maggie's voice was tight and tense. Darien squeezed her hand.
Darien pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial. "Get me Monroe," he demanded when someone answered. "Alex, we're on our way home. There might be house guests." He listened for a moment. "Fast as we can," he assured her and hung up. "She's expecting us and trouble. Go straight to the Agency."
Hobbes nodded and sped up, anxious to get them all away from danger as quickly as possible.