Chapter Three

Reno found Rude waiting outside the bar when he arrived at about half past eight that evening. "Looking sharp." He smiled, patting his friend on the back as they headed inside. He nodded, looking Rude over. The loose pants and shirt made him look like he belonged. It was Tseng he was worried about. If he arrived looking all brisk and businesslike as he usually did he was going to look incredibly obvious.

"I'll find somewhere to sit..." Rude told him, heading toward a corner, while Reno sauntered toward the bar. They may as well get started on blending in. Upon sitting down opposite Rude at the table his partner had chosen near the back, he pushed a beer toward his friend and looked around.

"No sign of Tseng and Elena...?"

"Not yet."

"Right... Well, I don't see the guys from earlier in here either..."

"We're early."

"Yeah..."

It was about ten minutes later when the door opened and Elena strode in. Reno watched her look around and spot them, before she headed right for them.

"Damn, Laney." He smirked when she reached the table. "You're looking exceptionally sexy this evening."

"... Wasn't that the idea?" she asked, placing her purse on the table.

"Well, I suppose so."

"Then what's your problem?"

"I don't have one." He smiled, looking at her. His smile widened when he noticed the faint blush begin to stain her cheeks.

"Great. I need a drink." She picked up her purse and got up, heading toward the bar. He blinked when Rude looked at him.

"What? It was a compliment."

When Tseng arrived, he'd gotten halfway across the room toward them before Reno even noticed him. He seated himself at the table and looked at them silently. Reno looked him over.

"Tseng. I got you a drink." Elena said as she returned and placed two glasses on the table before sitting beside him.

"Thank you."

Reno continued to look at Tseng. "What?" the dark haired man eventually sighed.

"Would you take the hair out?" he said almost exasperatedly.

"Why?"

"Because you look..." he blinked and leaned forward to whisper the rest of his sentence, "...like a Turk."

Tseng regarded him silently for a moment before reaching up and pulling the small piece of leather from his hair. Reno watched the dark tresses fall about his face and raised an eyebrow. Tseng looked much softer now. More at ease.

"Better?"

"Ohyea." Reno nodded, "I bet you make women jealous with that hair."

Tseng blinked, his drink halfway to his mouth. Reno just grinned. "While you're at it... That shirt..."

"What's wrong with my shirt?" Tseng looked at him. Reno looked back at him.

"Nothing... It's a fine shirt." He replied, his eyes moving over the crisp white fabric. "But... The buttons. Undo them. At least three."

Tsengs fingers traced the buttons up his shirt. He sighed and undid the top three.

"There, now." Reno said, lounging back in his chair comfortably. "A glimpse of chest never hurt anybody. Just ask Elena."

The small choking sound from Elena had Reno's eyes flicking straight to her. He tried to hide his smirk as he watched her try and work out if he were referring to the amount of cleavage she was currently displaying or her appreciation of the fact that she now had a view of Tseng's chest. He didn't know what she decided on, but she went bright red.

"Hey, Laney." He smiled, "Why don't you come sit next to me?"

"Uh..." she blinked, looking at him. "I'm fine next to Tseng."

"I'm sure you are..." he looked at Tseng "Don't you think Laney is looking fine tonight?"

Tseng looked at Elena. "Very appropriate." Elena went even more red and stared hard at the table. Reno smirked and then looked past her to where one of the men he'd seen earlier in the day had walked past them.

"He's one." He said, sitting up slightly. As if someone had flicked a switc

h, Tseng sat up straight, his dark eyes following the man across the room. Reno looked at him. "You might wanna relax, yo."

Tseng leaned back in his chair.

"Just try to look like you're here to have a good time." Reno offered.

"If I were looking for a good time, this would not be where I'd come."

Reno couldn't resist a snigger. He looked at Rude who also smiled. Tseng sighed.

"Right." Elena said, getting to her feet. "I'm going to actually go see what I can find out..." She picked up her glass and walked slowly across the room.

"... she purposely walkin' like that, yo?" Reno asked, watching the way her hips seemed to sway more than usual.

"Probably." Tseng replied, his eyes also following her.

"Right, well, I think I'll go blend in, too." Reno got to his feet and headed for the bar. He slid onto a stool and spun to watch the room. He watched Elena as she went over the group of men by the wall and smiled at the one Reno had identified as one of the men he'd seen earlier in the day. He couldn't see her lips so she didn't know what she said when she leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. He guessed it must have been good, though, as the guy laughed loudly and wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her in close to himself.

He forced himself to look away. It wouldn't do for someone to notice Elena being watched as she tried to integrate herself into that little group. He glanced back over as someone pushed another drink into her hands. "Don't drink it, Laney." He murmured. He sighed when she raised the glass and took a sip. Tomorrow, he was going to have a talk to her about accepting drinks from randoms in places like this. For now, he'd just hope that there was nothing that could hurt her in that glass.

When someone sat on the stool next to him, Reno spun to smile at them. "Hey."

"Hi." The man replied.

"Seems like there's a bit of a party going on in here." He said, resting an elbow on the bar as he looked the guy over. He wasn't one of the ones he'd seen before, but he still might know something useful.

"Yeah. I guess."

"Someone's birthday, maybe."

"A job well done, I think." The guy replied, downing his drink.

"Oh yeah?" Reno asked, gesturing to the bar keeper for another drink. "What job?"

The guy shrugged, "Dunno. Happens from time to time."

"Must be important."

"No idea."

Reno nodded, deciding against pressing this guy. It was clear if he knew anything he wasn't about to say so. The guy collected his next drink and walked away. Reno surveyed the room again. He didn't think this was going to work as well as they'd hoped. It was clear that some people in the bar were here simply to have a good time, and there were those who were here for some other purpose. That group seemed to be keeping to itself. He didn't think he would be able to just chat one up. But Elena...

He looked at her again. If she played it right, they may just talk in front of her and she could just listen and report back. He frowned when she sank into a chair, looking slightly dazed. Casting a glance toward Tseng and Rude he noticed them watching her too. He watched the guy who had been holding onto her push her drink back into her hand and help her take another mouthful. Sliding off his stool, Reno went back to Tseng and Rude at their table.

"Elena..." Rude said quietly.

"Yep. They've given her something." Reno replied softly. He sat down and looked at Tseng. "What do you want to do?" he asked.

"Just watch..." Tseng murmured, "She may still be able to learn something."

"Not if she's unconscious." Reno replied hotly.

"She's not."

"Not yet." He looked back to Elena to watch the man standing over her trace a finger down her throat and across her shoulder, taking the strap of her red dress with it until it hung uselessly off her arm. "Yeah, no." He got to his feet.

"Reno, sit." Tseng ordered.

Reno blinked at him. "I'm not going to sit here and watch Elena get ... molested."

"You'll do what I tell you to do." Tseng replied calmly.

Clenching his teeth, Reno sank back into his chair.

"How long are we going to watch this?" Rude asked stiffly.

"Until I say otherwise." Tseng replied.

"Then say otherwise..." Reno growled, "Because I'm about to go over there and kick that guy's teeth in."

Tseng's dark eyes suddenly flicked to Reno, piercing straight into him. "You will not move from that chair until I say you can. Is that clear?"

"Yes." He murmured.

They all then watched as Elena was helped to her feet, and then half walked, half carried out the door. Tseng was the first to his feet. "Move."

By the time they got out on to the street, Elena and the two men who had taken her outside were gone. Reno swore.

"Find her." Tseng ordered. Reno bit back a stinging remark and moved further up the street. Rude immediately took off the other way and Tseng looked around.

Hearing a soft laugh from the darkness, both he and Tseng moved toward a shadowed area of the street and discovered a mostly concealed alleyway. Glancing at Tseng, Reno headed down it first.

"Lemmego." Elena's voice came out of the darkness and Reno froze for a moment.

"C'mon, baby. Don't be like that..."

"Yeah, come on, we're your friends..."

"No..."

As they crept closer, they saw Elena leaning back against the brick wall, clearly struggling to stay on her feet with two men before her.

"C'mon, sweetheart, you were all friendly inside..." The first man moved toward her, his hand outstretched when Elena swung, punching him in the face as hard as she could and immediately losing her balance and falling against a nearby bin. The man fell back against the opposite wall, holding his face and howling something about a broken nose while the second man laughed loudly.

"Oh, feisty. You're gonna be fun."

Reno watched as the second man moved toward Elena, bending to reach for her again. Before he could touch her, Reno stepped closer and grabbed a handful of the man's hair before bringing his knee up hard into the guy's face. He then tossed the guy backward onto the damp ground where he lay unconscious. By now, the first guy had gotten to his feet and came at Reno with some sort of metal pipe. Reno easily knocked the guys hand away and snapped his arm easily at the elbow. His screams echoed up and down the alleyway as Reno then tossed him to the ground out of his way.

Turning, he saw Tseng down on his knees beside Elena. "She okay?" he asked, moving closer.

"Mmm." Tseng replied, lifting her into his arms and getting to his feet.

"Tseng..." Elena murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck. "They... put something... in my drink."

"I know. You're okay." Tseng replied softly, "We're taking you home."

Reno watched her lay her head against Tseng's shoulder as her eyes closed. He then followed Tseng out of the alley. He waved to Rude who hurried toward them up the street, and then they headed home. Elena didn't open her eyes again until Tseng was pushing her door open with his foot. Reno flicked the lights on and watched as the dark-haired man lay her on her couch.

"She may need to be checked over..." He said. Tseng shook his head.

"I don't think so."

"I'm fine." Elena murmured. "Just wanna sleep..."

Moving closer, Reno watched her eyes flutter closed again and he shifted his attention to Tseng.

"You go home." Tseng told him. "I'll watch her."

"Okay." Reno nodded and headed back over to Rude who was waiting by the door. Casting another glance back at them, he followed his partner out the door and back onto the street. "Hope she's okay." He murmured.

"She will be." Rude replied simply.

"I don't know how Tseng waited that long..." he began, "We were almost too late as it was..."

"He knew what he was doing."

"But if Elena... I mean, it's Elena..."

"She's a Turk,"

"I know..." he sighed. Rude clapped him on the back and they continued up the road.

Tseng knelt by Elena silently. His eyes moved over her as she lay still on her couch.

"Elena." He murmured, touching her arm. She stirred softly and he pushed a lock of her blonde hair gently away from her face. When her eyes did not open, he held the lock of hair gently between his fingers, surprised by how silky it felt. Letting out a slow breath, he tucked it behind her ear. Then, moving his hand lower, he pulled the strap of her dress back up onto her shoulder. His eyes moved over her again. Reno had been right. She had looked wonderful this evening. That gorgeous red dress had suited her body perfectly, and he wished he'd had more frequent cause to see her in such things instead of her daily uniform. Rocking back on his heels, Tseng pushed such thoughts from his mind with agitation. He had no business thinking such things.

"Elena." He said again, a little more loudly.

"Mmmm..."

"Do you want to get into bed?" he asked. "You'll be more comfortable."

She gave a half nod, unable to do more. Going down on one knee, Tseng lifted her into his arms once more and carried her up the narrow hallway to where he was assuming her bedroom was. Finding a large bed in one room he carried her over to it and lay her down gently. She didn't move.

"Elena..." He watched as she still didn't move. He frowned and checked her pulse and her breathing before coming to the conclusion that she was now out cold and would unlikely wake again before morning. Looking her over again, he noted just how tight her dress was. She would be far more comfortable without it. With that thought, he stepped away from the bed. He couldn't take it off her. Annoyed with himself, he thought about how Reno and Rude would have taken her dress off without a second thought. It was what she needed and they wouldn't have hesitated at all. There would have been nothing sexual or inappropriate about it, just straight business. However, he knew that if he took it off, he would certainly be looking at her. What was wrong with him?

Sighing, and pushing his hair back, he decided he could at least compromise. Rolling Elena gently onto her side, he unzipped the back of her dress slowly. Managing to at least resist the urge to stroke his hand down her soft skin, he rolled her onto her back once more. This way, he could leave her dress on but allow her some free movement as it was now looser than before. Satisfied with that, he picked up the folded blanket from the bottom of her bed and laid it over her. Heading back toward the door, he pulled it halfway closed and went back out to sit on the couch.

"Shouldn't have waited that long." He muttered to himself, running his hands over his face. He was responsible for Elena. He was the one meant to look out for her. But he'd been so focused on getting information. He closed his eyes as he tried not to imagine what could have happened if he'd waited even a moment longer.

Sighing, then, he took his shoes off and turned to lie along the couch. He would stay here until morning to see how she was. That was the responsible thing to do. At least, that's what he was telling himself.