Chapter 5


Face watched, admiring Amy as she walked into the kitchen, combing a hand through her hair to tidy its ruffled look. She had his bathrobe wrapped around her, only revealing the collar of the shirt she still wore – but not the long slender legs that shirt would have accentuated. Probably for the best, he thought. Nothing worse than torturing himself over something he couldn't have.

But what he'd give to wake up to her every day….

Amy frowned at him, and he realized he was staring. He quickly snapped into action, attending to the sizzling pan of bacon.

"Did you sleep well?" she asked, sleepily, sitting on a stool at the breakfast bar, watching him. She rubbed her eyes.

"Yes. Yes, fine. You?" Face replied, only glancing at her as he busily moved around the kitchen.

She slowly nodded as she yawned.

"You look like you need some coffee." Face poured her a cup, not waiting for an answer.

Taking the cup from him, she gave her thanks with a nervous smile.

"Face… I'm sorry about last night."

"You've got nothing to apologise for." He, on the other hand, had plenty.

"But I asked you to…." Her gaze dropped to the floor not meeting his eyes.

"Hey, Amy, I didn't mind. Honest." There was his opportunity. Did he confess now or was it best left unsaid?

He couldn't confess to this... he just couldn't.

"Um… nice apartment, by the way," Amy said suddenly, eyeing the apartment. "I didn't really pay much attention last night. How do you do it?" she asked dryly, more to herself than him, shaking her head.

Now that he could answer easily. Face smiled confidently as he handed her a plate laden with pancakes, bacon and eggs, relieved she'd changed the subject. She stared, astonished at the amount of food in front of her.

"Hey, you don't have to eat it all - I got carried away. I thought you might be hungry after last night."

"Okay, thanks," she replied taking the plate.

Face watched as she started eating. She frowned at him again.

"Face, are you okay?"

"Uh, yes…" he shook himself out of his thoughts. "Sorry."

"Eat your breakfast. It's great. Just what I need."

"Good." He smiled, starting on his own.

"I have a feeling I've another long day ahead of me," she said glumly.

Face frowned sympathetically. Knowing Amy, she'd want to be in the office as early as possible to search through Al Massey's things looking for clues. Should Face remind her of his offer to help her? Or should he leave it until she asked him? Was he better off keeping his distance?

Face glanced at Amy; she smiled at him. Everything seemed to be going okay between the two of them. If she had felt Face this morning, she certainly wasn't saying. Why rock the boat? He did like how there didn't seem to be awkwardness between them when these things happened…. Not a habit he should be getting into either, he reminded himself.

Amy pushed her plate away when she had finished her breakfast. Face was pleased to see she'd eaten most of it.

"Was the breakfast okay?" he asked, refilling her coffee cup.

"You know, if I woke up with…." Amy stopped, Face nervously glancing at her. She quickly shook her head, nervously chuckled. "Never mind."

"What?"

"It doesn't matter."

Face stared at her, a smile creeping over his face. Whatever she felt, he was probably better off not knowing. But he wanted to hear what she had to say and couldn't stop himself.

"What were you going to say?" Now – was he prepared to act on what she might feel?

"Um… I was going to say, uh, you could cook me breakfast like this all the time," she said quickly.

He anxiously laughed, taking the dishes away.

"Uh… Face, I'd better get a move on."

"Do you want a shower?"

"No… No, I've got to go home and get some clean clothes anyway…" Amy said hesitantly. "I might as well shower at home."

She hurried back into the guestroom while Face cleared away the kitchen, once again left in his own thoughts.

So, did he remind her of his offer, or keep his distance?

Distance from Amy…. Is that what he really wanted? No. No it wasn't. Anyway, would it actually be possible?

He could handle this. He just needed to push these thoughts to the back of his mind. Bury them. Like he'd done before. He really didn't want their friendship to suffer. He'd rather have friendship with Amy than lose her forever.

Amy hurriedly emerged from the guestroom, dressed in the clothes she'd arrived in last night, her head held strong. Her hair was combed, bag over her shoulder and his shirt slung on her arm.

"Okay, I think I've got everything," she said, confidently, finding her shoes in the living room. "I'll take your shirt to wash it."

Face shook his head at her, taking the shirt off her arm. "Don't be silly, you don't have to do that." He walked quickly with her towards the front door, noticing her hurried pace.

"Okay, well, I better go." She stood hesitantly for a moment, before taking Face's hand and squeezing it. "Thank you, Face. For everything."

"Hey, you know you can come find me, anytime."

She nodded, as Face opened the front door.

"And, Amy, if you need any help with this, just ask, okay?"

"Okay." She nodded.

"I always carry my lockpicks," he chuckled, "you know, if you want me to get you into Massey's."

She gave a delicate smile, her eyes not properly meeting his. Her confident demeanour seemed to weaken for a moment. Was she as hesitant to leave as he was to let her go?

"Thanks, Face." Amy hastily kissed him on the cheek and walked out of the door.

Closing the door behind Amy, Face's smile dropped. There was an ache inside him he rarely felt, and always loathed, because he could do little about it.

Damn, he needed to stop thinking about her and get his shit together. This - whatever the hell this was - didn't happen to him.

He didn't let it happen.

Face needed a distraction. Picking up the telephone, he dialled, forcing a smile. Not that the recipient would see it, but they'd hear it.

"Anna-Marie… It's Michael. I'm sorry about last night, darling…. Uh huh…. So what are you doing say," Face glanced at his watch, "later this morning?"

~ End ~