Strangers, Friends, and Acquaintances
Summary: Lessons Mike learned, and some of his thoughts during and just after the season of finale, and his return Graceland.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except an over-active imagination, especially not the excerpt from the end of the season finale. Hey, look at this! A second chapter!
A/N: Okay, so Graceland? Is awesome. Jeff Eastin is a freaking genius. And I couldn't help myself. I had to write this. Enjoy.
Chapter 2
It had been three days, and Mike was still unsure about what was really going on. Briggs had given him a mini pile of information, but he still didn't understand why the man had called him back from D.C., or why he wasn't sharing this information with his roommates. It was head-bashingly irritating.
It was no wonder that he was finding solace in a bottle of Jack.
0
On Mike's second morning in Graceland, Jakes came back from his assignment and found him alone in the kitchen after going for a run.
"Ah, so the rumors are true. Levi came back for a visit."
Mike smirked slightly. "Miss me?"
"No", DJ said flatly.
He grinned. "What, you want another new rookie in here drinking your orange juice?"
"Point taken. So, you had vacation and decided to come back here?"
"Not exactly", Mike grimaced, glancing around the kitchen for signs of the other housemates. "I took a vacation. Briggs called."
"Should I be worried?" Jakes said roughly.
"I don't know yet. I'll let you know when I figure out what's going on."
"Great."
0
He'd checked in with the director that afternoon, and by the time he was done, Graceland was free of its occupants. He figured Briggs and Johnny were out in the water, so half an hour later he was drinking in the kitchen.
Mike was a third through the bottle when he heard a voice behind him.
"Alcoholics and sad people drink alone, Mikey."
Charlie.
He snorted a bit derisively. "Feel free to join me."
She sighed, looking a bit concerned, and leaned on the opposite side of the island. "Mike-"
He nudged the bottle in her direction with one finger.
"Alright, no talking", she agreed softly. Charlie grabbed the bottle and took a drink.
Twenty minutes later, he groaned. "It's hard, Charlie."
"Can you tell me?" she asked quietly.
"You don't want it", Mike said flatly. "Once you know something, you can't pretend anymore."
"Are you happy in D.C., Mike?"
"It's different than I thought."
"That's not an answer", she pointed out mildly.
"I don't have a better one", he sighed.
She glanced at the bottle that was more than half empty. "Okay, I think you've had enough of that. You're going to regret this tomorrow."
She rounded the counter to propel him in the direction of the living room.
"Charlie, you don't-"
"Hush", she murmured. "Come on."
She settled in the corner of the couch, pulling him down on the cushion next to her, laughing under her breath when his head dropped on her shoulder tiredly.
Dusk was casting shadows throughout the house, but she made no move to turn lights on.
"What can I do?"
"You can't fix everything, Charlie", he sighed.
Eventually, his head settled on her thigh, and he fell asleep, her fingers playing in his now short hair. She frowned a bit, and closed her eyes, relaxing further into the cushions, wanting to just rest her eyes a bit after being out the night before.
0
Nearly an hour later, Paul came back from surfing with Johnny. Johnny nearly giggled at the sight on the couch and then took the opportunity to get the first shower for once. Briggs frowned and went to change before dealing with whatever had happened in his absence, ignoring the smell of the Pacific lingering on his skin.
Once he had changed out of his wetsuit, he made the call for take-out, and then went back to the living room.
He stood there silently for a moment, having an uninterrupted moment to study the woman that defied any label. He didn't have words for what she was to him, but he cared about her.
He'd loved Lisa. He refused to allow himself that luxury with Charlie.
Besides, he knew she would probably end up hating him when this was all over.
Right now he would take the knowledge that her trust in him was restored for the time being.
He needed her to trust him so he could keep her safe… but he still felt a bit guilty about it.
Briggs laid a hand on her shoulder. Only idiots shook Charlie to wake her up. He preferred his limbs intact.
She woke up instantly, remembering Mike was still using her for a pillow. "Hmm-? Paul? How long was I asleep?"
"No idea", he answered softly. "It's almost six."
"Damn. I didn't think I was that tired."
"What's going on?" he asked, gesturing to Mike.
She sighed. "I don't really know."
"Chuck-"
"I don't know", she repeated softly. "He was working on a bottle of Jack when I got home. He wasn't in a talking mood. I think you'd know better than me. You asked him to come here, didn't you?"
He sensed her irritation with being kept out of the loop, and sighed. "I'll tell you when I can, alright?"
She frowned but nodded. "Dinner?" she asked finally. "I'm not cooking."
"I called for take-out", he chuckled. "And you're lucky Johnny wanted the first shower so badly, or he'd be giving you two all kinds of shit right now."
Charlie opened her mouth to say something, but snapped it shut abruptly before getting her bearings. "Great", she muttered flatly. She felt a hand curl around the back of her knee, indicating that Mike was somewhat alert, if not awake. She appreciated the warning. "Can we finish this later? I'm gonna peel him off of me before Johnny gets back."
"Need help?" he mused.
"I've got it."
0
Dinner that night was boisterous and loud as usual.
Charlie's only pause was to throw a set of chopsticks at Johnny for not being able to keep his mouth shut. She watched Mike discreetly as she spun her noodles, but saw no trace of the bitter agent that she had spoken to in the kitchen earlier. She absently wondered how much it cost him to flip that switch when it was personal.
And Paul… was Paul. He tended to push emotion away from the job. She knew that he had to make calls that would get them home safe, but sometimes it felt like they did way too many 'hail Mary's'.
Her curiosity and need to know grew stronger.
Mike was working for the deputy director in Washington, D.C.
If Briggs had called him back to Graceland… it meant something was going on, and he blatantly didn't want their team involved.
Charlie was worried.
00
A/N: Okay, so I'm not sure where else to go with this… But there is potential. I need to do some research, I think. Let me know what you guys think.