Part IV

Before Charlie could sink too far into self-pity, the door to the room opened.

"You seem to be making this a habit, son," said Colonel Ryan.

"I'm touched," said Charlie, "that you came all the way here for me."

"Someone's got to clean up the mess you made," replied Ryan. "Carson's breathing down my neck wanting me to find out just who the hell you are."

"What was I supposed to do?" asked Charlie, instantly defensive. "Was I supposed to let those morons kidnap them? Kill them?"

Ryan was silent for a moment before saying, "You see what kind of position you put me in. A pissed off civilian with friends in high places and enough money to buy more is asking questions about you that I can't answer."

"What do you need me to do, sir?" asked Charlie, staring straight ahead.

Ryan studied the other man for a few moments before the door opened once again. Joss and Carson entered cautiously, sizing up Ryan and Charlie.

"Colonel Ryan," said Carson.

"Miss Morgan, Mr. Carson. I trust you're well," said Ryan slowly. "I came here to check on my man," he said, leaving the sentence purposefully ambiguous. "I'll debrief Mr. Grey when he's had a chance to regain some of the blood he lost. I'd like to speak to the two of you whenever you can."

Carson nodded and turned his piercing eyes to Charlie. "So now it's Grey, huh? You lied to me, kid. You lied to both of us."

"Nothing I can say will make you believe otherwise," said Charlie, carefully neither confirming nor denying.

Ryan's lips quirked. He paused before making a decision. "You asked me to find out what I could about this man," he said, with a nod toward Charlie.

"Didn't think you'd be done so fast," replied Carson. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Sergeant First Class Charles Grey, U.S. Army," said Ryan briskly. "Mr. Grey was under orders not to reveal himself."

"Whose orders?" asked Carson, already suspecting.

"Mine."

"I see."

Ryan nodded once and headed for the door. "Sergeant Grey," he said over his shoulder. "You've got an extra week's leave. Spend it at home, please. The army can't afford any more of your medical bills."

The door quietly snicked shut, leaving Charlie alone with the two civilians.

"You're into some dangerous stuff, son," said Carson. It wasn't a question. He knew all too well the responsibilities of a soldier, but he acknowledged that he probably didn't know the half of what a man like Charlie did.

"Sir." It wasn't an answer.

"You work with Colonel Ryan?"

"Yes, sir."

"So this was all a setup?" asked Joss. "You got close to me so you could weasel your way into an undercover assignment?" She was hurt and angry and damned beautiful when those emotions took control, thought Charlie.

"No," he said firmly. "You came to me, remember?"

"And the flirting? The drinks? Everything else?"

"I liked you. You're beautiful, smart, adventurous…I told Molly I thought you were the one. You'd already made me fall in love with you by the time you brought in that busted piston and calmly told me that switchblades are illegal. Hustling those guys at the pool hall clinched it."

"And what about coming here to Columbia?"

"I wanted to see you in a bikini," said Charlie truthfully, with a trace of a wicked grin. "I recognized Jake on the plane, which was my first indication that something was up. He filled me in on what was going on at the airport."

"You might have told me," said Joss.

Before Charlie could answer, he received help from the last quarter he would have expected—Carson.

"I know a bit about guys like this. Not a lot," he said with a quick glance at Charlie. "I don't think anyone knows much about them, except for them. But I know enough to recognize the dept of secrecy going on around there. I heard even the soldiers' wives don't know where they go or what they do. They never even find out how their husbands die."

So not help, so much as hindrance. "Thanks a lot, Carson," thought Charlie but said nothing. It was true, after all.

"That's no life," Carson continued, this time looking at Joss. "It's not worth it. He's not worth it."

"Don't you have anything to say to that?" asked Joss at Charlie's continued silence.

"Not really. There's nothing I can say. I can't tell you it's not true, I can't guarantee that it'll change, I can't—I won't—promise to quit. I've got nothing to give you, Joss, except myself."

Joss took a deep breath. "Guess I just have one more question."

"Yeah?" said Charlie, preparing himself for the worst.

"Want someone to keep you company for your next week of leave?"

Charlie smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."

A/N: Hi everyone! I just want to thank everyone who reviewed this story. As much as I hate to say so, it fuels the creative process!

Also, I want to take the time to disclaim any and all ownership of the characters or the show. I know it's pretty much a given, but it doesn't hurt to say it.

And finally, I want to pat myself on the back for having finally finished a story. I know it's a short one, but it's all I have time for. It feels finished to me, and that's a first.

Thanks for all your encouragement,

Li'lmissnitpick