UNDERLYING AGENDA

CHAPTER EIGHT

Duo saw her depart from the coffee shop across the street, where he had been putting the final pieces together and watched them interact over a large cup of steaming Arabica. While he had only understood Zechs's half of the conversation, he had a pretty good idea where he might be headed and quickly hailed a taxi at the nearest corner behind him.

Headquarters was deathly quiet, basking in the moonlight when he arrived. Only the faint hum of personal computers and central air standing by greeted him as he made his way through the fifth floor lobby toward the seemingly still medical wing. He was relieved to find that she was still there, meticulously going through trainee research reports line by line with a red pencil in one hand and a cup of day old reheated coffee in the other. In her grey v-neck and jeans, she appeared to be at home there, in her element. The stool beside her stood empty.

"Anybody sitting here?"

Sally smiled, pulled it out for her without looking up from the large volume on cellular mitosis precariously balanced in her lap. "It's going to be another long one. Care to join me?"

"Love to, Sal," she said, perching herself on the stool and pouring her a fresh cup of coffee.

"Those jeans look awfully familiar."

"They fit like a glove, twin," Noin winked. "Hey, I was thinking we should man up and switch to herbal tea, girl .It's getting harder and harder to sleep through the caffeine shakes."

"Caffeine shakes, eh? Sure it isn't the thrill of coming home to that hunk of a Mission Director every night?"

"Nope," she said, sneering over her shoulder. "Shakes come after."

Flushing a deep scarlet to the roots, Sally began to giggle.

"What's so funny?"

Sally shrieked and fumbled to keep the book from toppling off her lap and managed to laugh through the fright it when she realized who it was. "Zechs, you startled me!"

"My apologies, Sally."

"That's a good start," she said, chuckling as she dropped the heavy book onto the lab table and invited him to sit down after clearing it a bit. "Didn't know anyone was still here. Want some coffee or something?"

"No, thank you."

"Okay." Sally sat back down across from him and quieted, patiently waiting for him to begin when he felt comfortable doing so.

"She was close…with you."

"Sure was. We spent several late nights a week together, here, in this very lab. Could hardly believe she continued even after you two got married. It didn't bother you, did it, Zechs?"

"No," he shook his head simply. "She confided in you."

"Yes."

Taking her hands, Zechs searched her face for any evidence of withheld information as he asked her, "Then…why?"

Sally shuddered at the sight of the desperation behind his normally stoic gaze, gripped his hands and could offer nothing more than a sincere shake of her head. "She didn't say anything to me, Zechs. Nothing that would explain what happened. God only knows...why."

Zechs released her and dropped his head into his hands. Would he ever see the end of this?

Kneeling down on the ground, she encircled her arms around him and closed her eyes. Even then, he couldn't weep. After a few moments, she pulled away and examined his downturned head. His hair and body were thinning alike. The dark circles were unmistakable at this angle, and she lifted his pallid face with the tenderness of a family physician. "How long has it been since you've slept a full eight? Eaten?"

"I don't know, and I doubt I'll ever sleep again."

"Stop that…" Sally cooed, tenderly brushing his platinum fringe to more clearly reveal his tired gaze. "You've got to pull yourself together, Zechs. What would Noin think to see you just roll over and die like this?" Motivating him to stand, Sally led him to her office where she took his blood pressure, weight (or lack thereof), and other vitals before prescribing him one last attempt at inner peace: "Administrative leave."

Bullocks, Zechs thought.

"Six weeks at the very least," she said quite seriously, smoothing the tension from his brows with comforting sweeps of her thumbs. "Won't do you any good to fight me on this one, you need the rest. Well?"

This day left him no more energy to protest anyway. "Yes, very well…"

The golden blonde smiled, "Good. I'll forward the recommendation to Une first thing Monday morning." She then noticed his manner of dress and quirked a brow. "Did you wear this to work today? Looks awfully posh."

Zechs bristled. "No. Against my better judgment I went out this evening," he looked up into her face as she paused her writing, finding curiosity written there, "with Lady Une."

Dropping her pen, Sally placed a hand on her hip. "Was it on your terms?"

"No. She asked me."

"Was it regarding your position as Mission Director?"

"After I rejected her invitation to become her lover, yes, my role as Mission Director became a more suitable topic of conversation."

"Living proof that woman once had testicles. Great BIG ones." Sky blue eyes turned stormy as she inquired further very carefully, "And?"

"Lady Une believes me to be seriously ill and unfit to carry out my duties. So, I either take administrative leave or forsake my position indefinitely." Wounding his hair into a tight fist, Zechs tossed it roughly behind his shoulders and stood. "I'm afraid I don't really care either way," he said, placing a chaste kiss to her cheek and squeezing her shoulders tenderly. "Fuck it."

"Quite the contrary, I think you do," Sally said, handing him his prescription on his way out. "Or else you'd be sleeping with Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Vindictive Ultimatum."

Zechs turned and smiled thoughtfully, "I thought her as more of Disney witch myself. Nicely put."

"Take two and call me in the morning, doc's orders!" Sally waved him off with a shake of her head and scoffed. A widower barely a year and that ol' basket case was already pawing at him. "If that isn't enough to make you turn over in your grave, Lu, I'm dying to know what will."

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