Chapter 19 A New Plan

As Brenda came closer to where Dylan and Olivia were standing, she felt his stare. It pierced through her soul and she caught his eyes lower themselves and set on Mike's arm wrapped tightly around her waist. She stood in front of him when his eyes met hers again.

"Hey Bren." Dylan said softly.

His voice, something Brenda loved. It was sexy and soft and mysterious and it was something she never got out of her head. The way he said her nickname that other people called her but it didn't have the same meaning as when he did it. Brenda stood quiet, its like if she opened her mouth to speak no words would come back anyway.

"Hey…I am Mike." Mike held out his hand.

Dylan looked down at Mike's hand and then at him briefly. He reached out to shake his hand but he found Brenda's eyes again, "Dylan." he introduced himself.

Mike looked at Brenda quickly knowing the name well. "Dylan?"

Brenda took a deep breath as she looked up at Mike. His eyes told a different story, he gave her a look of confusion and fear.

"We caught a little of the rehearsal you were great." Dylan said trying to break the silence.

Brenda still stood silent, she swallowed hard, "What are you doing here?" she finally got out.

"Can I talk to you for a second…alone?" Dylan asked as he looked at Mike who by now was staring at him. The glare had jealousy written all over it and it gave Dylan some satisfaction that it was there and that Mike knew who he was and seemed bothered by his presence.

Brenda began to shake her head as she uncomfortably looked at Mike again, "Go ahead." Mike said calmly.

Brenda gave him a small smile, "I'll be right back." Brenda began to walk away as Dylan followed. She turned around out of ear shot from Mike and Olivia and crossed her arms. "Dylan." Brenda shook her head scared to death to know what was going on.

"You…look beautiful." Dylan said softly as his eyes looked her up and down.

Brenda cleared her throat, she knew the look well, "Dylan…cut the crap, what's going on…why are you here?"

"Olivia said I could find you here."

"Ok…but why are you in London?" Brenda's tone changed as she found herself annoyed.

Dylan took a deep breath glancing to the side seeing both Olivia and Mike staring at them. "Jonesy…found Erica." he said honestly.

"Is she alright?" Brenda said concerned.

"I don't really know, she is living here in London with Kevin and Suzanne, about 15 minutes from here."

Brenda took a deep breath, "Oh…so that's why you're here." Brenda regretted her tone after she heard herself, her tone expressed sadness and she didn't want to give him the satisfaction. It figures the reason he had come had nothing to do with her.

Dylan slowly gave her a nod and looked down, "So…that guy Mike…he is your boyfriend?" Dylan glanced back at her.

Brenda looked at Mike, knowing that he was freaking out inside, "Yeah…Mike is my boyfriend."

"Is it serious?" Dylan wasn't sure why he asked.

"Dylan…don't do this." Brenda shook her head.

"Sorry." he apologized quickly, "I am staying at the Bentley Hotel, Jonesy is here and…I came to ask for your help." Dylan quickly got to the point. "Will you help me get Erica back?"

Brenda looked over at Mike quickly and back at Dylan, she slowly nodded her head agreeing to help him. As Dylan and Brenda took a cab to Dylan's hotel he had thought of their reunion. It wasn't what he had hoped. Something told Dylan that the climax of his arrival had yet to come out. There was only so much Brenda could do or say in front of Mike. After all four of them had an awkward walk back to the dorm hall, Dylan had to wait patiently as what Dylan had assumed was some sort of explanation to why she was leaving alone with him to go back to his hotel. Dylan looked over at Brenda who was sitting silently looking out the window of the cab.

"Thanks for doing this Bren." Dylan said quietly.

Brenda slowly looked over at him, "I am doing it for Erica."

Dylan nodded looking straight ahead, he looked down sadly, "You never wrote me back."

Brenda with out looking at him, "You had a ticket to come here and you never came." she snapped back.

"I know." Dylan looked over at her as she met his stare, "I was scared." he admitted.

"Of what? Scared to be with me?" Brenda seemed hurt.

"Scared…" Dylan hesitated, "I would see you how I saw you today. With someone else, someone else in the place I want to be in, moved on, happy…over me." Dylan kept his eyes on her. "And I guess I had a right to be huh?"

Brenda looked away as the cab came to the front entrance of the hotel. She watched Dylan pay the driver as they both got out. They walked through the lobby and came to the elevator. Brenda and Dylan both reached out to hit the up button. Their hands grazed each other and Brenda pulled away quickly as she allowed Dylan to hit the button. Brenda felt his eyes on her the whole time as more people came and joined them in waiting for the one elevator the hotel had. As the door opened, Brenda allowed an older man and women to go in before her. They filed in and Dylan hit floor 22. More people rushed the elevator as a man held the door open. Soon the elevator was full and Brenda scooted closer to Dylan making room for the added people. She felt his body against the right side of her back.

Dylan glanced down feeling Brenda close to him, he lowered his head bringing his face close to her. He leaned in and took in her scent. Brenda felt him close to her as she closed her eyes. He was so close to her she practically felt his mouth against her skin as his hot breath sent chills down her spine. Slowly she felt his left hand move gently around her waist, pulling her against him. He waited for a reaction and when he didn't get a negative one he kept going. His hand felt the top of her jeans, he softly caressed her bare skin as his finger tips ran in between the top of her jeans and the bottom of her shirt. The doors opened as it brought Brenda out of her trance. She watched as half the group left the elevator. Dylan's arm tightened around her waist keeping her close to him even though there was room to spread out now. When the last person left on the 18th floor, the doors closed as the elevator started again to the 22nd floor. Brenda slowly turned her head to look up at him. She knew the look and she missed it. It was hard to turn down but she knew she had too, as Brenda saw Dylan starting to lean in a bit she turned her head as his lips hit her cheek instead. Dylan lingered for a moment and began to whisper in her ear, "I missed being close to you." Brenda exhaled and her eyes closed again.

The door opened quickly and Brenda was the first one to move toward the opening. They didn't say anything to one another as they walked the short hall to Dylan's hotel room. Dylan stuck his key in the door and as it beeped, Dylan pressed down on the handle. Before pushing the door open he stopped and looked at her.

"Come on Dylan…open the door." she said almost worn out. His advances, his touch, the feeling she felt when he was close to her was overwhelming.

"What am I doing?" he said innocently.

"You know what you're doing…and I am here for one reason…to help your sister."

Dylan swallowed hard and slowly gave her a nod. He pushed the door open and held it letting Brenda in. Dylan and Brenda walked into the sitting area of the room to find Jonesy on his laptop. He looked up with a smile as his eyes ran down her frame. She moved closer to Dylan by instinct as she felt uncomfortable for a moment. Jonesy got up and moved in closer to her.

"You must be Brenda." Jonesy kept his smug smile and held out his hand.

Brenda gave him a sweet smile and shook his hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Well Dylan…you were right, she definitely is pretty enough." Jonesy held out his hand motioning Brenda and Dylan to take a seat on the couch across from him.

"So what exactly do you need Bren for? Now that she is here, I think its time you fill me in on the plan." Dylan said as he sat close to Brenda, she may only be there because of Erica but Dylan hadn't seen Brenda in months and he was actually enjoying the fact that Brenda would have never told him no in regards to Erica. Dylan was fully aware how much she adored Erica and his sister felt the same about her. She was always hinting around how much better she liked Brenda than Kelly, how she thought they belonged together and how she didn't understand why they had ever broken up. For an 11 year old, that said a lot that she was that observant considering how inexperienced and young she was. Dylan didn't have a problem admitting to himself he was enjoying this more than he should be. Also Brenda might have known that the only reason he went to London was for Erica but what she didn't know was that Dylan needed her more than anything right now and she was the only one that could provide the support he needed.

"Well…Brenda and I will be checking in as Mr. & Mrs. Smith, there is a upper class hotel within walking distance to Kevin and Suzanne's home and they frequent it a lot for dinners, and other hotel amenities. So what I need Brenda here to do is pretend she is my wife, and charm the socks out of Kevin. I have been keeping my tabs on him and he is not a happily married man, he hits on anything with a pretty face and tits, so he should be easy to get to. What we will need her to do is get him to trust her, get him to open up to her so he spills the information about that bank in the Cayman's…got it?"

Brenda and Dylan looked at each other quickly both thinking the same thing.

"What? You can't handle that doll?" Jonesy said sarcastically seeing the concern in both their faces.

Brenda shook her head, "No…of course I could." She almost took offense Jonesy didn't think she had it in her. "But I can't do that…Kevin and Suzanne have met me, I cant waltz in there pretending to be someone else. I mean they may not remember who I am but Erica indeed does know me and well why risk it." Brenda shrugged.

"Damn it Dylan…you never said Brenda knew them, I should have known not to work with amateurs..."

"Hey…" Dylan got up and yelled, "You never said anything about what exactly she would need to do. What makes you think I would even allow her to pretend to be anything even remotely close to a wife to you? If you would have told me the plan I wouldn't have even considered Brenda for the part. There is no way I would let her shack up with you in that hotel…"

"Ok." Brenda got up and got between the two men, "there is no point in arguing about it now. What are we going to do? What about Olivia?" Brenda turned directing her question to Dylan.

"Oh hell no, not Olivia, her father would murder me. I was there when that beauty was born, we can't pretend to be married, she is like a daughter to me, that's just wrong." Jonesy sat quickly putting his feet up on the coffee table. "What about that fox that was at your house when we met? She will most definitely do, she is pretty, sexy and she definitely has the attitude to pull it off." Jonesy looked at Dylan as Brenda's head whipped around looking at him as well.

"Who?" Brenda said glaring at him and Dylan sneered hearing the sarcasm in her voice and liking it.

"Val…she would do it." Dylan nodded looking back and forth between them.

Jealousy rushed over Brenda but she tried to hide it. Her insecurity involving Valerie and Dylan together shouldn't come between the important factor, getting Erica back. Brenda instead swallowed her pride and gave him a nod, "Val…would be good." She agreed.

Dylan then moved to the phone and dialed collect calling the Walsh house, "Please answer…please answer." Dylan whispered not wanting anyone but Valerie to actually pick up the phone.

"Hello." Valerie said picking up the phone.

"I have a collect call from…Dylan, Val don't hang up...do you except the charges?" Dylan's recorded voice played through the phone.

"Yeah." Valerie rolled her eyes still mad at his comment from days early. "What Dylan? I am still pissed at you."

Brenda walked closer to where he was on the phone as she eased dropped.

"Val…I know I am sorry, I didn't mean it." Dylan said trying to calm her.

"I am sick of the way you treat me, I would do anything for you and you just say whatever you want to me, you have no filter, you don't care if you hurt my feelings, I am not sleeping with anyone Dylan and that comment, even though you didn't actually say it, hinted to the fact that you thought I was a slut…and you should talk." Valerie raised her voice.

Dylan took a deep breath making eye contact with Brenda. He knew she was listening and the faint tone of yelling could be heard from the phone. "Valerie…listen to me…I need to you come here. I need your help."

"Oh now you need my help…you didn't want me to come on your trip but now it's a different story?"

"Val…shut up and grab a pen." Dylan yelled. "I am going to set you up for a morning flight to London, Jonesy found Suzanne and Kevin and they are here, I need your help…I will owe you." Dylan calmed his tone.

Valerie sighed, "London? Why don't you ask your precious Brenda?"

Dylan shook his head, "You know what, fine…if you don't want to help me then don't. I am sorry about the other day. If you are going to be a bitch then forget it. See ya around." Dylan heard Valerie call his name as be began to set down the phone to hang up.

"Dylan…what airline?" Valerie said defeated. If Dylan truly needed her help she wasn't going to say no.

Brenda paced around the hotel room as Dylan rambled on about flight times and airlines. She caught Jonesy's eye watching her, she sat across from him and stared back at him, "What?" she said short.

Jonesy shrugged, "It's just nice to meet you. He has been talking about you non stop. I thought he was going to have a heart attack before he actually met up with you. I had a feeling…besides Kevin and Suzanne knowing who you are, I had my doubts about getting you involved with this. It isn't dangerous per say but you could just tell by his actions and words, he cares about you too much. I am sure we would have been a hell of a team though." Jonesy gave her a wink and laughed out loud as he leaned back against the couch again.

Brenda smiled back and shook her head, he had creeped her out at first but he was harmless, a pervert maybe but harmless. Brenda looked over at Dylan, him being there was scary for her. She couldn't remember a time when she wasn't in love with him and now…she was finally trying to be happy, she was trying to move on and just when she was starting to get comfortable with Mike, he shows up. Out of no where, his touch still sent her senses into overdrive, he still made her stomach flip with butterflies and she still saw that spirit and love in his eyes she had missed so much. She yearned for it, with every letter she had received from him it was like a peak into his heart. She had truthfully read over that last letter probably 100 times. Dylan telling her that he would never let her go was heartfelt and sweet. And even though she was trying to distant herself from him, the only thing it did was bring her heart closer to him. Brenda didn't care how she felt about him, she didn't care that he was in London. She wasn't going to give in to him like she had always wanted too. She was with Mike, she cared about Mike and he was sweet to her, he kissed the ground she walked on. The return of Dylan McKay wasn't going to ruin what she had shielded herself from for as long as she could remember...falling in love.

Dylan stared at her as he finished his phone call with Valerie. He gave her a soft smile as he hung up. "Alright she is in; she will be here late late tomorrow night. The time change messes everything up."

Jonesy got up and slapped his hands together, "Ok well then…let's go out. I am starving, Brenda call up Olivia, tell her to meet us at Light Bar on St. Martin's Lane. It's a great pub, there isn't anything more to do tonight."

Dylan got up walking over to them, "Sure…I could eat." He said looking at Brenda.

Brenda glanced at him and then looking down, "I should go…you guys don't need me anymore anyway." She looked back up at Dylan. He sensed her hesitation, her nervousness and the fact she didn't want to go home.

"Come on Bren…you can tell me about the play, have some dinner, a couple drinks…please. Someone besides Jonesy here is going to have to have a few for me, it's only fair." Dylan gave her a half smile, the one that made her automatically want to take off her clothes and jump him. Before her thoughts got too carried away Jonesy spoke fortunately.

"Now how can you say no to that, besides…Olivia will come and that girl owes me a drink anyway. Besides we will need you after Val gets here, you will be responsible for Dylan. I am going to need your eyes and ears at that hotel. She will be wired and Dylan here needs to stay out of sight out of mind. You will be watching the surveillance and writing down any hints Mr. Cavendish gives Val regarding the bank. It's going to be a slumber party ladies and gents…so Brenda…you're not off the hook yet." Jonesy smiled at her and went to the back bedroom.

Brenda took a deep breath as her and Dylan stared at one another. Great…alone…in a hotel suite with Dylan…Valerie…and Jonesy, can't wait. She thought sarcastically. Also Mike was going to be thrilled she was staying the night with Dylan, whether is was literally with Dylan or not. She could hear it already; she got a preview of the green monster before as she tried to explain he had nothing to worry about, Dylan was just an old friend and she cared a great deal about his sister and wanted to help. An old friend…he was never just an old friend. Whatever she told Mike was going to be a lie and she hadnt even talked to him yet. Spending the night in a hotel room...alone...with Dylan and telling herself to stay clear of all advances was terrifying to her and she wasnt exactly sure how she wqs going to do it.

So who likes the London storyline so far? That should be interesting, maybe a little action and suspense, which is a change from my other stuff. Of course stay tuned for B/D angst and Brenda's inner battles of staying faithful to Mike. Some intense drama, bringing you back a little to the Isn't it Romantic pot throwing scene. So there is some stuff to look forward to. Please review let me know what you're thinking. Pretty please with sugar on top.