Here we go the end of Episode 3. I really really loved the very end of it so I hope I managed to capture that moment well. Actually that conversation is in my top 10 for season 1! Episode 4 will be most likely about 4-5 parts, they are partly drafted already. (:

Bruised knuckles

(S01x03 – Part 3/3)

It got dark in no time. All the manhunt with Big Jim and co took pretty much all day. Amazing how he ended up in the front line again when really all he had wanted to do was exactly doing nothing. He didn't want to get involved; he didn't want to feel attached to the town and to its inhabitants and still no matter what he always ended up in the center of actions. The people in town were already watching him with curious eyes even people like Big Jim seemed to be interested in him. But he still had the carefully built wall around him and every time they tried to peer around he avoided them easily giving nothing away.

He was walking next to Big Jim fully aware how he tried to make casual conversation but in reality wanted to find out more about him. Well he would not get any of that. Suddenly an all too familiar car stopped next to them and he turned automatically towards the driver seat. What he did not expect was finding Junior on the passenger seat. He watched with narrowed eyes as he and Julia got out of the car and the four of them stood frozen to their spots and stared at each other in a heavy silence. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Julia was looking at him with searching blue eyes while Junior stared at him like he was the devil himself. He was not one to miss on a challenge especially not one with a crazy teenage boy. For whatever reason, Junior hated him from the first moment on. In the cabin he had been rambling around about a girl and had picked a fight with him. He honestly had acted all crazy, even know he was staring at him with eyes full of hated and challenge as if he wanted to pick a fight right there in front of everyone. Seriously, how come none had sent him to psychiatry yet? Barbie stared back at the boy with a "don't fuck with me" glare and smirked smugly as the younger boy finally looked away and walked towards the house. None could fuck with him. Barbie felt Julia's eyes on him all the way, watching him so instantly he felt like a bug under a microscope.

"Uh, maybe we should do this another time." He turned to Big Jim and throwing one last glance after Junior, he walked over to Julia.

"It is a small town, son." Big Jim said effectively stopping him on his way. Yeah, like he had not heard that today already. "And we all support the team." He added and turned on his heels to walk after Junior. What the hell he was talking about? Julia was staring after Big Jim with narrowed eyes, her suspicion evident on her face.

"What was that about?" She turned to look at him her voice heavy with disapproval. It seemed she despised Big Jim whole heartedly and was not too happy finding him with the councilman. Well he did not approve her hanging out with the crazy teenager either.

"Long story." It was all he could say, because it was true. He did not want to get involved in the manhunt to begin with but he ended up there anyway. He was not in the mood to start to explain how and why; strangely at the moment the only thing he wanted to do was going home with her, and forget all about the crappy people living in Chester's Mill for a second.

And thank God that was exactly what they had done. He was now sitting on the edge of his bed, getting off his shoes and preparing himself for a much needed shower. A small smile found its way to his lips however. Of course on the way back Julia had not been letting it go until he had told her exactly what had happened. Her disappointment over the fact he was teaming up with Big Jim had given place to admiration. As he was now undoing his shoelaces, suddenly he felt eyes on him. Even if it would not have been obvious it could have only been Julia, he would have known it was her. Simply from the way his body immediately reacted when she was near him. He looked up to find her leaning against the doorway. Her breath caught in her throat as their eyes met. It was now a natural reaction, it happened with both of them whenever they found themselves alone in a room. She shook her head to clear her mind. He would have been lying if he had said her body's reaction to his had not filled him with pure male satisfaction.

"So, that comment that you made, about me running into the fire was aggravatingly hypocritical." She said finally.

He turned back to take off his shoes with a smile on his lips.

"No, especially considering the adventure you went on with Big Jim." Oh the distrust in her voice towards Big Jim was just obvious but he was not in the mood to talk about the Big Guy. Not when talking about her was much much more interesting.

"Yeah, but there is a difference between me and you." The slight smile never leaving his lips.

"How so?" She asked. He had all kind of funny comebacks running through his mind but he decided flirting with her would just be the wrong thing to do. They had no chance at all not even for a one night stand.

"I take off after the fire is out." He said perfectly aware his comment had a double meaning. "I mean, at least when there is somewhere to take off to." And before he could just say more, go too far down the road they were so not supposed to take, he tossed his towel above his shoulder and made his way to the bathroom. But Julia did not move from the door, instead she seemed to put her foot down determined to get some answers.

"You bruised your knuckles." She said as he was about to pass her. Her comment and the undertone in her voice made him stop. He was way too aware of the fact they were standing inches away from each other, their bodies almost touching. He actually had to grab hard on the towel to prevent him to reach out for her.

"Yeah." He said, his eyes getting dark with desire as he stood so close to her. "I bruised my knuckles." he repeated his voice dropping a bit lower as his eyes draw in every part of her beautiful face.

"And you really were just passing through Chester's Mill?" she probed. "No connection to anyone here in town?" She looked like she did not notice the sparkle in the air and how it got hotter and hotter between them, but her body was reacting to his. It took him an extra effort to focus on what she was saying.

When her words finally registered in his foggy, desire filled mind he shrugged and shook his head. "Nope." A half-smile found its way to his lips. She was probing him, testing him but if he was strong enough not to give in to the desire that filled every inch of his body, it was a cakewalk not to give into her probing questions.

"Good night Julia." He said with just a bit more heat in his voice than it was appropriate. Turning on his heels he headed to the bathroom. He needed a shower, a very very cold one.

So. Please let me know what you think! As I re-watched this episode I had to realize back at this time Barbie was still pretty much the bad guy before Julia and he only acted different with her. Which, I think is really cute (: Well please leave me reviews! Romantic in Denial, knuckles99heidi thanks for staying around for new chapters it means a lot! Luvs2Ship thanks a lot I hope you are going to like them (: