The Irishman's Woman: Home at Last
by LUVINGJOVAN
John was back in his office at Quantico. He hadn't been able to find any leads on Hayes. He had a sinking feeling that Hayes probably left the States making his job that much more difficult. He sighed impatiently wondering to himself for the umpteenth time why he was really doing this. Was it for Caitlyn? Because Hayes was a sick bastard that had to be stopped at all cost? Or was it just to avoid living or feeling anything? No, he was doing it for himself. If he didn't get Hayes, he knew that a part of him would never be at peace. Besides, he had promised Caitlyn's family he would get the guy. John wasn't about to go back on his word to her family.
Suddenly out of nowhere he thought about his Angel. He could almost hear her sexy voice echoing in his head and he wanted to see her again, make love to her again. He frowned to himself when he realized that he was picturing her face, her smile, even envisioning her laugh. His frown deepened, what the hell was wrong with him? Why did this woman of all the women he ever knew keep popping into his thoughts at the most unexpected times? John decided to call it a day; he knew he wasn't going to get anything done. His thoughts had him so distracted that he didn't notice that someone had been watching all his moves and keeping track of his whereabouts.
Hayes sat in the back of his black Lincoln Town car staring out the deep tinted windows waiting for McBain's car to come out of the parking garage. He knew John's habits like the back of his hand. Being an FBI agent he had his routines down to a science. Hayes would watch John and had grown to learn his routine. First it was an early morning run around his neighborhood in Virginia, then off to the office. Mornings were spent chasing down the false leads that he had set up, meetings with commanding officers, and interviews. That was his favorite part of the day, watching John chase down the false leads all over the country. After a morning full of nothing a liquid lunch capped off the first half of his day. Long hours were the norm for John McBain so when Hayes saw the car pull out of the garage earlier than normal he rolled down the window and watched him pull out.
Hayes signaled his driver to follow John, as they pulled out from the curb a few moments later the driver tried to keep up. John went flying threw a yellow light and the car in front of Hayes slammed on his breaks stopping at the light. Hayes' cursed as his driver slammed on the breaks preventing an accident. "Damn it." He cursed hitting the back of the passenger side seat. He watched as John disappeared out of his view.
Signaling his driver to continue home, Hayes smiled to himself, he was going to enjoy what he had set up for John next. He knew that McBain thought or suspected that he might have left the country. Hayes wanted admiration from McBain, these murders had gained his him the nickname the Slasher. He prided himself on this name and his conquests over his victims. The only one that really bothered him was the murder of McBain's fiancé. She was getting to close and needed to be eliminated her death was not in his scheme of things and threw him off his game. Her death sent McBain after him even harder and he came close to catching Hayes once, but he escaped barely. McBain wasn't playing fair, Hayes still hadn't completed his task and almost getting caught by him was infuriating. What he had planned needed to be completed changing his plans would be the next best thing. It just so happened that what John had planned and what Hayes had planned coincided nicely. The next murder would throw John off his game, at least he hoped so.
Parallel parking on the street in front of his brownstone, John slowly got out of his car and scanned the street for anything unusual. The FBI agent in him always kept him on high alert. Walking up the stairs he smiled at his elderly neighbor who was sitting at her window watching the cars go by and the people walking up and down the sidewalk. Grabbing his mail he opened the door and dropped the mail on the table next to the front door.
John walked through his apartment and headed down to the back of the house to grab a beer. As he pulled the refrigerator door open the phone rang.
"McBain" he said opening the beer and taking a drink from it.
"Hey Bro, still charming the ladies," said the voice on the other line.
"Hey Mikey what's up? How's Marcie? And it's none of your business what I do with the ladies. Remember you're getting married, maybe I should talk to Marcie about that unsavory habit of yours wanting to discuss other people's love lives." John said with a chuckle. He loved his baby brother but along with him and his mom, they worried too much about him. Now with Mikey getting married, he knew it wouldn't be long before Eve McBain along with his brother and his soon to be new sister-in-law would be introducing him to new "friends".
"Okay, okay, I get the message. Butt out. Consider it done. I'm just calling to remind you about the engagement party. Don't be late"
"I won't be. I got some time off coming to me. I'm grabbing the red eye flight to Llanview tonight and I'll be able to spend sometime with you and Marcie before heading back here."
"How is
work?"
"You know I can't talk about my cases Michael why you
even ask every time we talk still boggles the mind. For being so
smart you sure have a lousy memory." John walked up the stairs and
into his bedroom. Throwing his suitcase on the bed he sat down next
to it.
"Very funny Johnny. Listen I promise you don't have to stay long at the party. I just want my best man and best bro to share in my good fortune" you could almost hear the smile in Michael's voice.
"I'm your only brother Michael, probably the only one you could get to be your best man too." He said laughing. John was happy for his little brother. He was happy that he finally found someone that completed him but also kept him on his toes. Marcie was hell on wheels thought you would never guess it by her looks. She was sweet, cheerful, with a mouth that kept talking a mile a minute. She was also stubborn, tough, and didn't back down from anyone especially Mike, probably why his little brother fell in love with her so fast. The McBain boys were known in the old neighborhood as quite the charmers. That didn't seem to faze Marcie which drove Michael quite up the wall. The one thing you could say about these two is that they weren't boring.
"Don't
worry Mike, I'll be there. I'll call you once I get settle at the
hotel, It's the Palace right?
"Yeah, we have a block of rooms
where all the out of town guests are staying until the wedding. I
can't wait for you to get her bro!"
"Me either Michael, but
if you want me there on time I should get off here and start
packing."
"Later."
"Later." John hung up the phone
throwing it on the bed he started packing his suitcase.
He was
looking forward to the break from work and being with his brother.
This was Michael's time so he put away all thoughts of
Hayes.
Evangeline's Office
Evangeline sat at her desk staring at the briefs that had piled up from her trip to Chicago. She didn't realize how much work she would come back too and started to regret taking the time away from Llanview. Leaning back in her seat Evangeline started chewing on the edge of her pen staring out into space. Thoughts of her Irishman filled her mind. She could still feel his lips grazing the outline of her neck and the way his tongue danced around in her mouth. The images that were flooding her mind, made her shift in her chair trying to push back the heat she felt rising between her legs. She had never been so forward with a man before and it was exhilarating even freeing.
Nora knocked on the door and waited for Evangeline to answer. No response prompted Nora to push the door open to her office. She saw her best friend sitting at her desk staring out into space, chewing on the end of her pen. "Earth to Evangeline," she said waving her hand in Evangeline's face.
Snapping out of her Irishman induced trance she smiled at her friend and lowered the pen back to the desk. "Hi…" she said softly.
Nora stared at her friend and
noticed the change in her demeanor and her appearance.
"I can't
get over how great you look. The trip to Chicago definitely agreed
with you," Nora said, "What did you do while you were in
Chicago?"
If you only knew, Evangeline thought to herself. She just laughed instead. "Will you stop saying that? You're making me wonder how bad I must have really looked before I took this mini vacation."
"Well all that stuff you were going
through with…"
Evangeline cut her off holding her hand up to
stop her, "Please let's not go there."
Nora looked at the beautiful woman who had become her friend since arriving in Llanview. She was stunning. Evangeline had a long thin frame that could be the envy of any model except she was lawyer. She had cocoa-brown skin and dark doe like eyes, full pouty lips and sinfully long lashes. It wasn't a wonder why Kevin Buchanan had fallen for her the moment he saw her. Thinking of Nora's fiancé, Evangeline decided to change the subject. "Nora you've been on a permanent high since the day Bo reproposed to you."
Nora laughed but gave her a stern look. "Don't try and change the subject. Do you want to tell me what happened?"
Evangeline knew it was no use. "Alright already, while I was in Chicago, I met someone."
"Someone," Nora said with a knowing smile leaning in closer to get the juicy details.
Evangeline continued as if she hadn't said a word, "Yes, I met this man. We spent some time together. We decided to tour the city together. He was smart, funny, and very handsome. It was really nice." She said with a weak smile.
Nora caught the way her friends eyes were sparkling and that crooked smile on her lips, "And….well come on! Don't leave me hanging. I know there is more I can see it in your eyes. Not to mention the fact that you have chewed the hell out of the end of that pen." Nora exclaimed.
Evangeline looked down at the pen sitting on her desk. Nora knew her way too well. That habit of chewing on things when she was nervous about something had been with her since she was a kid. Evangeline took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Nora, really that is all that happened. We had a good time and shared a great night together. "
"I don't
believe you Van. What are you hiding from me? I can see the change in
you, something is different."
"Stop saying that, nothing is
different."
"Objection counselor. Permission to treat the
witness as hostile." She said leaning over the desk.
Evangeline
rolled her eyes, "Objection sustained, Nora we aren't in a
courtroom and I'm not on the witness stand."
"Then answer my
questions. I must live vicariously through my best friend." She
said laughing.
Evangeline threw her head back and laughed, "Nora
it really wasn't much. Just our time together was nice. He, we, we
had fun that's all. But I do feel different." She said running a
hand through her hair.
"Different, different how?"
"I
don't know free, motivated, less cautious. I guess more like
myself." She said smiling. "It's weird what a couple of days
sightseeing in Chicago with a gorgeous man can do for ya."
Taking Evangeline's hand she squeezed it gently, "I'm happy for you Vangie. When will the two of you see each other again?"
"What? See each other? Never. I didn't give him my name and I didn't want to know his name when we first met. I guess that's what has made this whole thing perfect for me. I'm not looking for a relationship. I wasn't even looking for a fling. I don't regret what happened but that's as far as this will go."
Nora's look of disbelief was very apparent. "You don't want to see him again? After what you've told me about him? How he made you feel so free, and obviously put that smile on your face."
Standing from her desk she walked around towards Nora. Nora was right, he had put this smile on her face and she felt alive and willing to take on the world. Evangeline thought about the Irishman, pacing her office she thought back on her Irishman; his smile, his voice, the feel of his hands on her body. She smiled and almost didn't catch Nora's last words. "What?" she asked turning around to look at Nora who was rambling on about something.
"If he is the right guy for you…."
Evangeline came right to attention. Thoughts of the Irishman quickly left her as she realized what Nora was saying. "Hold your horses Nora. My 'relationship' with the Irishman is nothing like what you have with Bo. You're in love. I just had what you would call an instant animal attraction."
Nora was looking
at her funny, "Irishman?" Evangeline had to laugh.
"I met
him in a small café and he told me he was Irish. Since I
wasn't looking for anything serious, I started calling him the
Irishman. He seemed fine with it."
"What did he call you,"
Nora asked in a very quisitive voice.
"He called me Angel."
She said with a light chuckle.
"You're kidding," Nora said
in disbelief, "He called you Angel? Well if that isn't a
sign."
"I know what you are thinking so stop it right now. This isn't a sign of anything" Evangeline replied with a laugh. Although it was a very convincing laugh, she had to admit to herself that it was quite a coincidence that he would call her by her father's nickname for her. "Look, I know that because you're happy again with Bo, you want me to have what you have. That's not going to happen."
"Does Kevin know about this?" Nora asked a little too innocently.
Evangeline froze in her tracks. She hadn't thought about Kevin in days, not since before her mini vacation to Chicago. The man was barely a thought right now, "Kevin? What does Kevin have to do with anything?" Evangeline said a little too nonchalantly.
"Oh don't give me that, you know that Kevin is in heat over you" Nora said exasperated. Sometimes, as much as she loved and admired Evangeline, she wanted to hit her over the head. She could keep as many men as bay as she wanted but Evangeline was kidding herself if she thought that Kevin was going to accept the 'no strings attached' rule for very long. Nora loved Kevin. She still thought of him as family and they would even be family again soon. Still Nora knew the Buchanan men and she knew Kevin was beginning to get a little bit territorial with Evangeline.
"Then that's Kevin's problem. I never lied to him and I told him where things stand between us. If he wants more then I walk, simple as that."
"You could really walk away from him just like that?" Nora asked watching Evangeline move about her office.
"Please Nora. What Kevin and I have is just a casual relationship. You know me better than that, I'm no where near ready to get into another relationship with a man right now."
"So that's why…." She said staring at her.
"Yes, that's why the thing with the Irishman. It wasn't meant to be anymore than what it was. We were both lonely, enjoyed each other's company and found each other irresistible. I can't help what Kevin feels."
"Van, hun," she said walking over to her, "Don't hurt the man, those Buchanan's may talk tough but underneath that cowboy physique is a tender heart and soul."
"I know you consider him apart of your family, but
Kevin knew what he was getting into when we first started this thing
between us."
"Do you really think that?" she questioned
watching as Evangeline avoided her eyes.
"Yes I do. How about
this I will talk with Kevin this afternoon and end things with him. I
didn't know he was getting so attached."
Nora watched as
Evangeline walked back over to her desk, unbuttoning one of her suit
buttons she took a seat behind her desk. "He is getting attached,
and ending things with him will not be that easy." She said
softly.
Evangeline winked at Nora and watched her leave the office. It had to be that easy she had to end things with Kevin. Her "relationship" with Kevin had been her trying to get over him to move on with her life, to separate herself from the hold he had over her. The macho bravado those two would exude would drive her up the wall in a heart beat. Ending things with Kevin was the right thing to do and doing it sooner rather than later was even better.
Opening her desk drawer to pull out a new pen, her heart sank, he was supposed to meet her in Chicago, when he didn't show, she knew that it was best that she moved from Port Charles to Llanview. He never wanted her to go, but the bond between those two was too great for her and she couldn't stand everything that she had gotten herself into over the years in Port Charles. Did she love the man? Yes, but she couldn't stand the things that she had been dragged into. Her relationship with him was not worth her life. She wouldn't let him drag her into another love affair. "Not going to happen…" she mumbled under her breath.
"What's not going to happen?" Kevin said walking into her office carrying a bouquet of roses and a smile across his face.
