Sands let a slow smile cross his lips.. despite the pain of his wounds creeping into his consciousness.. or maybe partly because of them, he always was a perverse bastard, and besides the pain told him he was really alive.. too much living in his head was bad for him.. either one of them.

He had let his libido govern him a tad too much with that cold hearted, however hot in bed she was, Ajedrez, and it was just tough for every other female on the planet if he happened to remember that from here on in. It was purely coincidental he told himself wryly that this new found self control just happened to coincide with not being able to see how darn goodlooking any other female on the face of the planet happened to be... He allowed himself to frown for a moment at this rather depressing revelation..

Sara watched him intently, as his expressions subtly changed "What are you thinking off right now?" she asked

Sands shrugged.. "Just thinking of a few things I will never see again.. you know.. specifics.. rather than the general blanket statement.. of 'can't see that again' " he said dryly

"What specifics?" she pressed on.. despite Sands irritated sigh at this

"Oh.. the 'beautiful sunset' .. a childs innocent face.. summer flowers and bluebirds.. what the fuck do you think" he snapped

"None of those I am willing to bet" she said with a grin

"Oh a bet.. " he said.. a spark of interest in his voice.. "Well lets make this really interesting.. what are you willing to bet?" he asked with a smirk

"Your the fan of 'quid pro quo'.. how about for every question of mine you answer truthfully of course.. I will answer one of yours the same" she offered.. he was only going to co-operate if he saw this as a game he would enjoy.. she could already tell that much about him.. it also explained a lot about how he had conducted his career.. it had seemed strange before.. for an agent of such obvious intelligence and potential to have not progressed as far as their promise allowed... but on meeting him it made total sense.. he didn't care who he pissed off.. or what HQ's aims were.. he was playing this for his own personal amusement... not that this latest result was part of the fun .. ending up blinded..

"And you think you'll know if I am lying, how?" he asked.. that increasingly familiar smirk laying on his lips

"Oh I'll know.. after all.. its my job to know" she replied, with a firm tone.. "So what were you really thinking off?"

"You really want to know?" he challenged.. with a tone that warned she probably would be better not knowing.. she tilted her head and looked at him more intently

"I really want to know" she confirmed "What were you really thinking you would never see again.. specifically?"

"Well if your talking.. specifics.. I was thinking of the things I like.. the curve of a womans neck, her shoulders.. of course there is also the more obvious and predfictable.. her breasts, the inner thigh.. want me to go on?" he smiled.. making quite clear, he would in the greatest of detail if she wanted, or perhaps with even more pleasure if she didn't want

"You know I think we can do without you listing every.. feature.. Funnily enough I am familiar with the female body.. having one.. though the male obession with it.. is.. mildly amusing.. " she said, with a drier tone than she perhaps intended.

"Amusing.. but necerssary.. how else to have us acting like mindless drones for you.. " Sands replied with an equal dead tone to his voice

"I don't quite see you playing the mindless drone for any female Mr Sands" she countered

"you don't see that coming do you?.. well maybe the mindless part.. once too often.. wouldn't you say?" he said.. almost more to himself

"So there was a girl?..A woman? " Sara said slowly ... "involved in your blinding?"

"Very... very much a woman... very much involved.. "

"And she is?" Sara asked.. meaning the womans name and who she was to Sands

"Dead.. she is very dead" Sands said firmly... in a 'he should know' tone he then shifted expression and tone.. "And that is three... three all too truthful answers.. I am owed my turn at this I think" he gave a slight smile.

" 'Too truthful'.. you see being honest as a problem, do you?" Sara instinctively asked, in analytical mode

"your going for four are you?.. why not.. I can see your on a roll.. no I don't see it as a problem.. as long as it serves my purpose.. and gets me the end results I want.. it'll do.. equally well as a lie.. better if its what will get the better result.. I am pragmatic in that.. adaptable.. in fact I like to adapt.. play to whatever circumstances I find myself in.. "

"As long as your in control.. " Sara echoed...

"As long as I am in control.. " He confirmed.. "So you can no doubt.. take it as read.. that .. these present circumstances.. are something of a bitch.. so to speak.. no offence" he added with too much relish

"None taken . .. believe me you'll know the instant you give any" she warned.

"Will I?.. " Sands chuckled "Oh I do hope so.. I hate a woman with no backbone.. a bit of fire is oh so welcome" he grinned "So much so I might have to even try to give offence ..just to make sure its really there.. and this is worth playing"

"Your forgetting Agent Sands.. I've read your files.. and its more than clear you don't have to put any effort in to giving offence...I mean that is why your superiors sent you down to Mexico.. so that they didn't have to deal with that side of you?"

"Indeed it was.. but now I am back.. and your in the front line having to deal with it.. I do hope they are paying you enough" he said wryly

"Well.. your Sheldon Jeffrey Sands.. Central Intelligence Agency.. your something of a legend.. the current betting has you down as a twisted psycho.. overdue for going postal on somebodies arse.. and as interesting as that would be to see.. I have no doubt.. I have to wonder.. are you really going to be that predictable.. something you have been anything but in your career?" she said with a smile

Sands frowned slightly in her direction.. not only at her quoting the start of his personal mantra, and making him wonder what else he let slip while pumped full of drugs and out of it.. but at her attempt to manipulate him, via others opinions of him.. even if it came with the ego boosting title of 'legend' he then smiled slowly "Well.. you don't know tha half of it.." he said.. to both the description of 'legend' and 'twisted psycho' "and since I apparently have never cared what others expect of me before.. or factored it in while playing the game, I would think I am unlikely to start now.. though purely for my own edification.. what do you think I am going to do?" he shot a smile over at her

"Maybe seek out that balance that apparently matters to you.. there is little else that seems to.. though if I were to hazzard a guess.. I would say, what ever amuses you most" she replied.

Sands let out a chuckle.. and 'looked' over at her... "well something.. fun would be.. due to me..around now.. after all this, don't you think?" Sara almost shivered again, at something in his voice.. it all sounded too reasonable, until she made herself remember what this man apparently found amusing.

"Perhaps.. what would you find fun agent Sands?" Sara said warily.

"You would be surprised what I find pleasure in dear Sara.. " Sands said in a disconcertingly soothing tone, "But one has to work with what you've got.. right?.. And what has the agency sent me?" he prompted

Sara looked at him questioningly for a moment before realization dawned "Me.. they sent you me.. " she replied quietly

Sands smiled "That they did.. It might get a wee bit dangerous Sugarbutt .Can you dig it?"

"I can dig it" she replied confidently.. while secretly wonderign what deal with the devil she had really just made..