Note: Since there is a lack of interest in this story...be forewarned that as of right now, it will be my last WAT story.

Chapter Fourteen: Hillbilly Shoes

He caught the amused twinkle in her eye and knew that he was never going to live this down. At least he should consider himself lucky that she didn't take a picture with her camera phone. If the others could see him now…they probably wouldn't even recognize him. He shook his head. The things he did for love. He just prayed that they actually worked and that he got Danny back in one piece. And that Danny wouldn't be mad with him when he found that Rafi knew about their relationship. Though when he really thought about it, having your brother know you're in a gay relationship seemed little compared to being kidnapped. He could only speculate what they were doing to Danny and the images in his mind were never pleasant.

Sam giggled. "This is priceless…I think I'm going to remember this day forever."

"I'm surprised you haven't taken a picture yet."

"Oh," she smiled brightly, "can I?"

"No, knowing you you'd find a way to use it as blackmail."

She giggled again. "Never."

"Please…" Martin rolled his eyes. He wasn't too happy with his appearance at that moment. Rafi had given him the make-over he needed to fit in with the seedy underground. He found himself wearing jeans that were old and worn with stains he didn't want to think about; they even had a tear over one knee. His shirt was a plaid button down, something akin to what a lumberjack might wear. Something he'd never worn before in his life and the fabric was making him itchy. Rafi messed up his hair and made him get dirt under his nails. For added measures he even smudged a bit across his cheek. He felt dirty and….a shudder passed down his spine. If only Danny could see him now. At least he would get to hear the sound of his lover's laugh.

"I like the footwear, nice touch," Sam said, her comment directed at Rafi.

He smiled. "I do good work, don't I?"

"He's never looked so….human. His father wouldn't even recognize him."

"In that case, take a picture. Let me give the old man the shock of his life," Martin grumbled. Somehow he was going to have to learn to walk in his new shoes. Rafi had brought him a pair of old workboots that had mud caked on the soles. Martin was used to wearing dress shoes at work and sneakers in his off time. These were definitely different. And the fact that Rafi wanted the laces loose only made the agent worry that he was going to trip and fall flat on his face. Once again he amazed himself with the lengths he would go to get Danny back.

Sam looked serious. "You know, if Jack and Victor find out about this…"

"I am a dead man. Or at least my career is over."

"Is it worth it?" she asked.

He didn't even have to think about it. "Yes."

"That's good to hear," Rafi spoke up. "Because you may end up doing things that you don't exactly agree with."

Martin nodded in understanding. He was going into the underbelly of society, a place his father always tried to keep him away from. There was no telling who he'd run into or what type of situations he'd be presented with. Though the adventure was alluring he couldn't help but feel timid. There was always a chance that this wouldn't work, that it would all be for nothing. But he couldn't allow himself to think like that, it wouldn't do him any good.

Sam checked her watch once again. "I'm gonna go, leave you guys to…whatever. I'll fabricate a story for Jack but you do know that eventually he's going to make you tell him the truth."

"Just give me time to find Danny…"

--

Sam rode the elevator in silence, trying to get the image of a dirty Martin out of her mind. She couldn't recall the last time she saw her fellow agent look so human. He came from money and though he declared he was nothing like his father there were things about his life that spoke of his rich upbringing. Like the way he dressed. She could recall seeing him in jeans but even then he always looked neat. Hell, he'd go out jogging when they were dating and his jogging suit was lovely. When he came back he still managed to pull off the I-come-from-money-look. She'd been rather envious of him. When she went for a run her hair always clung to her neck and her cheeks and she looked like some sweaty monster. She shook her head. Now was not the time to let her mind wander. She had to come up with a lie for Jack.

Finally knowing the truth about Martin made her feel calm. She could tell while they were dating that something was off, something hadn't been right. At the time she'd been unable to put her finger on exactly what it was but when Martin began talking about a new lover without giving too much away, she figured it out. And surprisingly, it didn't bother her in the least that a man she'd slept with preferred guys. Many gay men ended up getting married before realizing how they really felt. She still loved Martin, but she wasn't sure that she ever loved him the way he clearly loved Danny.

Or the way she'd loved Jack.

Who was waiting for her when the elevator doors opened. "Jack," she said slightly startled.

"Did you find him? You were gone long enough."

"He wasn't home," she said.

"Then where was he?" her boss asked.

She thought about how he would react if he knew the truth. He would go storming passed her, ranting and raving in anger at how stupid the young Fitzgerald was and how his father would be pissed. Then she wondered how he would take the news that Martin was with a guy. She didn't care. The point of her returning to the office had been to help delay Jack's finding out the truth. "He was out playing basketball. Said something akin to not being used to being cooped up all day. He does seem to be doing fine, though. I think maybe the arrest was an isolated situation and won't happen again."

Jack narrowed his eyes. "You're not telling me the whole truth."

She sighed. "All right, I'm not. We stopped to have some coffee. There, happy now?"

She didn't give him a chance to answer her. She stepped around him and headed toward her desk, expecting him to follow and badger her for more information. She was happy when he didn't.