Secret Betting: Chapter 9

By: The Confused One

A/N: Well, unfortunately, we really are almost at the end. It's true. Endings can really sneak up on you sometimes. Enjoy and please remember to review.

Finding Mike down the hall, Carolyn smiled slightly before nervously asking, "I got Alex to go back to his room. He was asleep. What did he have to say?"

Turning to face her, he smiled a little himself. He found he did love having her around. He confided, "We didn't really come to a resolution. I left him to think"

Carolyn could have about hit him. She found herself thinking, not for the first time, how exasperating he could be. This could end up very bad. Almost panicking, she retorted, "You left him like that? She's there now. If he wakes up and breaks her heart…"

Mike laughed now. He found how much she cared endearing. He tried to calm her down, "Don't worry so much. He does love her. She loves him. They'll work it out. He'll make her understand they can work separately. He seemed to be making up his mind in the right direction when I left." He suddenly stopped and looked at her confused, "Wait. You left them there alone?"

Carolyn nodded and reminded him, "He's asleep, and for some reason, I wanted to find you."

Mike smiled at the idea that Carolyn wanted to see him. He didn't allow himself to dwell on it though, and he didn't want to miss anything. Carolyn had definitely pulled him into Bobby and Alex's little saga. He couldn't help himself anymore. He had to see how things turned out. Bobby could wake up at any moment. He suggested, "We should get back."

Almost disappointed he didn't say anything about her coming to find him, Carolyn agreed, "Yeah."

The walk back was in awkward silence. Reaching the door though, they could hear Alex's voice, "It's OK. We don't need to talk about it right now. You should sleep."

Finding their place on the wall again, they listened as Bobby asked, "What are you afraid of?"

Carolyn swallowed hard as Mike, behind her, absently rested his right hand on her hip again and let the other rest on the wall. She tried to focus on Alex's reply, "Alright. Truth? I'm afraid of what you're going to say."

Mike leaned in closer. He found himself almost in Carolyn's hair. He could smell her shampoo. It took him a moment to focus on Bobby's voice, "Alex, I've been terrified, for so long to admit even to myself how much I love you. You're one of the few people in my life… that I've been able to count on. I was afraid of what loving you meant. I was afraid of losing you. I just. I didn't know how you felt. I didn't. I didn't want to ruin the best thing I've ever had in my life. I think I was just too afraid to see you felt the same. We can't just, put the Jeanie back in the bottle. I want to be with you. I know you want the same thing. I can see it in your eyes. You're more important to me than anything going on at work. I'd gladly, walk away from our partnership, to be with you."

Carolyn closed her eyes and tried not to think about the man who was breathing into her hair and sending chill bumps up and down her body. She could hear traces of hope in Alex's voice as she responded, "You're serious?"

Mike couldn't bring himself to move. It felt too good to be this close. Concentrating, he focused on Bobby's voice, "Of course I'm serious. I love you, and I can't give you up. I can play nice with others. I can make something work with someone, as long as I have you."

Carolyn took a shaky breath and lost all control. Moving out of where Mike basically had her pinned, she turned around and grabbed his face and kissed him hard.

Shocked, Mike's eyes nearly bugged out. He pulled away from her. Looking into her eyes, he admitted, "I'm glad you went to find me."

Carolyn smiled slightly. Nodding, she agreed, "I am too."

Wrapping his arms around her waist, Mike kissed her. Letting the kiss deepen, neither heard the person approaching them, till they groaned.