A/N: Gosh, I never expected this story to get so long and complicated. Thanks to my very loyal readers who review or send me PM's . I am really glad you are following it, and if you don't like where it is going, I might just leave it where it lands. The quandaries my muse keeps going back to threaten to overwhelm the terrorist angle. Oh well, it started as a relationship piece, not as a procedural. I suppose it is only fair the relationships continue to become more complex. Relationships are messy in real life, and apparently they are going to get messy in fiction as well. Perhaps I should have stopped at the original Chapter 7 and left it as Colby-sex. I'm afraid some readers may be disappointed, or maybe my muse will change its mind and save the day. I honestly am not sure where this will end up. CQ

Two Lonely Souls

Chapter 21

Hours later, Colby entered their bedroom. Isabella was sleeping soundly and he didn't want to wake her. The rest of the Penthouse was relatively quiet as well, trying to let the sleeping people sleep. He went to shower and change and climbed in the bed to rest beside Isabella. He reached for her as he often did hoping she would turn to him and they would make love. Instead, her breathing stayed the same and she didn't turn but somehow he knew she was awake anyway. That was the first time she had ever rejected him, and it was a rejection. He turned and lay on his back hands behind his head, leaving her where she was sleeping on her side, facing away from him.

Colby lay there musing about the day. After Ian had announced the bruises on Bella's body, the chill from the Special Ops team felt subzero. The little contact he had with Gifford was positively arctic, covering a volcanic heat trying to burst through. He suspected the only reason it hadn't was because of something that Gifford had perhaps promised Bella that kept that lethal power in check. Even his own team was cold towards him, wondering if it was just sex, or if there was something more. He was odd man out, and now that Isabella rejected him, however minor and warranted it might be, he was out in the cold like he was during the Chinese debacle. He never again wanted to feel so alone like he did then.

He sighed, his adrenaline still pumping from earlier. He got out of bed gently, pulling on his swim trunks and a t-shirt planning to burn his extra adrenaline with exercise and weights. Colby exercised to exhaustion, his pain driving him. He kept rethinking the last week or so, beating himself up for his stupid mistakes. Mistakes that might ultimately cost him the woman he loved. Others periodically came in and worked out, but Colby stayed internally focused not willing to experience the chill in the house. He just drove himself harder and harder, keeping his eyes focused ahead and only acknowledging others with a head nod if they acknowledged him at all.

Sensing the mood in the house and the erratic coming and goings, Rosa fixed a buffet style dinner, so people could eat when they were ready. Colby picked up some dinner for him and Isabella and carried it upstairs after his workout. Bella was up and getting dressed, planning to go downstairs.

Colby carefully walked to her, placing some food and a drink next to her on her vanity where she was applying her makeup.

"I'm glad to see you up! I brought you some dinner. Looks like you plan to go downstairs. Your friends will enjoy spending one of their last night's gaming with you. I'm going to shower and change."

"Thank you for bringing me dinner. Did you have a good workout, Colby?" She said as she carefully applied yet another coat of mascara. Her eyes looked huge and dramatic. She was clearly going for effect tonight, he thought sadly. All was not well in the castle of Worthington-Granger.

He started heating the water in the shower as he took a bite of his dinner, watching her in the mirror. Once he swallowed and took a drink, he sighed and said, "Yeah it was good. I burned off some of my adrenaline from earlier."

"So do you feel better, more relaxed?"

"In some ways. I would have preferred working it off with you, but I suppose that was not to be. Instead I went downstairs to the freezer the Penthouse has become and worked out."

Isabella ignored his allusion to sex with her, but did ask about his latter comment. "What do you mean the 'freezer the Penthouse has become'?"

"Once Ian blew the cover on the bruises, and despite your defense of me, almost everyone is treating me like I am abusing you in some way. I'm a pariah, even among my own team. Gifford's barely contained rage is formidable. Did you tell him the whole story?"

"I told Tommy nothing. He came to wake me to leave when most left earlier and saw some of the bruises where my shirt hiked up. But still I told him nothing more about it. I did ask him to promise not to hurt you in anyway. That is probably where the 'barely contained rage' comes from."

Isabella finished her makeup and her hair was especially luscious and gleamed in the bright light of the vanity. She took her last bite of food, not eating everything, but more than she had eaten in a while, and got up to dress. Colby watched her head towards the closet to pick her clothes, while he got in the shower. When he emerged, he took in the sight of her and sighed.

She had on a tight black dress that hugged her curves and came to just above her knees. The sleeves came to just above her elbows, and there was a long slit in the back of the dress. It was cut in a deep plunge at her breast showing everything to its best advantage. Her legs were bare and tan, luxuriously shiny with her soft fragrant lotion. She wore high black heels. This was what he considered her trolling dress. She enjoyed going to a couple different pool and cigar bars dressed to kill and troll for marks at pool. Only her gloriously colored and designed Phoenix rising from the ashes tattoo on her ankle wrapping slightly around her foot showed. Her bruises and other tattoos were covered.

He drank in the sight of her as he wrapped the towel around his waist.

"I take it you are going out." He made it a statement. "Is this a solo trip or is there anyone going with you?"

"Others are coming. Are you planning to join me?" It wasn't exactly an invitation but wasn't exactly not one either.

"Hmm, let's see Bella. Go to some upscale bar to watch my fiancée sucker some poor fool into playing pool, while every male there ogles you. I've been frozen out by pretty much everyone out there so it is unlikely I'll be welcome. If you take your Special Ops team with you as an entourage it will be even more of a scene. No, I think I'll skip this little payback. That's what this is isn't it? I'd thought you said you forgave me?"

"I thought I had, and maybe I have. But I feel a need to go out, spend time with my friends. While I can't take my frustration and anger out on any targets with my gun, I can sure take down some marks with my pool cue. And get some much desired attention from others."

Colby's voice grew dangerously loud. "And you need this attention why? I pay plenty of attention to you and you damn well know it."

Isabella's voice stayed soft and low. "The attention you have paid me of late has been mostly either professional when appropriate or violent when inappropriate or attention you should have been paying me was paid to others. Now I'm going for a little nasty attention. But you know, as I used to know about you, that I will come home to you untouched and not passing out drunk. I'll be stone cold sober and knowing exactly what I'm doing. Come or don't come, it is up to you. Everyone is invited. We'll be going to the Normandie Room. I've reserved some pool tables as well as a few other things, including our own personal servers and rooms."

"Normandie Room huh? The perfect place for you to take the guys. They'll love it, and they will love spending time with you. I think I'll pass this time." His voice was mean and sarcastic.

"You can pass, it is your choice. But keep in mind how that will look. People already sense the strain between us, and are cutting you out. Are you going to give up that easily? I never imagined you to be a quitter." Her voice was a challenge, although she remained quiet against his raised voice.

Colby became silent. She picked up her small purse that he knew just carried breath mints, her black American Express card, and lipstick. She turned and walked out the door.

She walked down the stairs to a few catcalls which she just smirked at. Everyone except Colby and Don looked to be going. Don was probably still asleep and she left him a note under his door letting him know where they were going. Colby knew and would show up if he decided to. The rest of the group took several of the FBI loaned vehicles and piled in. Isabella drove in the first car, leading the way to Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood and the pool bar called the Normandie. It was an upscale pool bar with great bartenders. She had reserved several tables for pool, including one with the cigar benefit. The guys were all dressed in nice jeans or khakis and button down shirts with mostly leather jackets. No one carried a gun, but they were all lethal enough to do without if it became necessary. She didn't have to remind them not to get drunk because they had a big day tomorrow. The Special Ops guys never got drunk. It was too dangerous for everyone. The FBI guys rarely did either, and never when there was a big op ahead.

They entered Normandie's where she was well-known. It wasn't ideal for picking marks, but with as many men as she had with her, it would probably scare any off anyway. She went to the bar, handing Antonio her card, both effectively protecting her card from theft and starting a tab at the same time. Antonio had two women servers reserved for just Isabella and her party. He introduced them to Angela and Gina. Isabella knew they were part-time models and would-be actresses. They were stunningly beautiful and the guys would love their attentions. She thanked Antonio as the two women led the guys to their private tables and rooms.

Everyone placed their orders, mostly beers or wines. She always drank Royal Spring water when she was here, and they kept the private reserve available for her. Tommy ordered the same and started racking the pool balls on one table. Others started doing the same, setting up teams or playing individually. The music in the background ranged from 80's music to hip-hop to other eclectic choices. One of the many reasons Isabella came here was for the music. Tommy and Isabella played a private game. They wereprobably the best players there and everyone knew it. And they were both very competitive. As far as pool went, most of the two teams thought they were the ideal couple.

An hour later, back at the Penthouse Don woke up to silence. He saw the note Isabella left telling him with where everyone had gone. He showered and dressed, walking out into the silent Penthouse. Colby was standing at one of the floor to ceiling windows with a drink in his hand, his eyes staring at nothing in the bright, blinking lights of Los Angeles.

As he came down the stairs, Don asked the obvious. "You didn't go with them?"

Without turning from his reverie, Colby answered softly. "Apparently not."

"Why not?"

Colby turned to face him. "I didn't think she wanted me there. She went out dressed to kill, with all her long time friends and would-be lovers to play a game she is expert in. She left with a little dig about she would come home to me stone cold sober and untouched."

"As opposed to coming home drunk after having sex with an ex-girlfriend and passing out in Isa's bed. I'd say she is still pissed, Colby. Not to mention the shower rape that occurred later. You are not racking up any points, and hiding here isn't getting you anymore."

"She told you." He said it as a statement but shamed filled his voice.

"She needed to talk to someone, and I was probably the most disinterested party around. I should have sent her to my dad for real wisdom, but he doesn't know all the players. I suggested she give you another chance, but that she shouldn't rule out Gifford either. They have been in love a long time, and clearly still are. You need to get in the game or get out Colby. Gifford is a serious threat to you. You'd be a fool to step aside willingly unless you aren't as in love with her as you once were."

"I'm more scared that she doesn't love me like she once did. Maybe what we had was infatuation, and it's over now. I killed it."

"Colby, relationships are hard work. I know. I have bailed on every relationship I ever had until Robin. I have to work hard every day to keep that relationship going. Not because I don't love her, but because I do. Isa still loves you Colby, she is still in love with you. But she loves another as well. Someone who keeps that relationship going and has never hurt her or bailed on her. Ever. From what I can tell from Gifford, he never will, even if she marries you, he will always be with her in his heart. Sorry bud, but so far, it doesn't seem that you feel the same way about her. You haven't killed the relationship yet, but you're slowly strangling it with your mistakes. I can't tell you how to fix it, but staying home is not helping. I'm leaving to go to the bar and relax some. Are you coming?"

Colby was silent, making up his mind. "I guess so."

Back at the bar, Tommy had barely beaten Isabella in their first game. They both gamely played with other teams, although no one would allow them to pair up together. Everyone was relaxed and laughing having a great time. Some of the guys had wandered into the main room to play at picking up girls. With a serious op the next day, there was no question about going home with anyone, but it was fun to flirt anyway.

Tommy and Isabella slipped quietly and mostly unnoticed into one of the reserved rooms. They left the door open but sat together on the leopard print love seat. The room was beautiful and intimate with plush furniture and soft lighting, meant for couples to get to know each other, either by making out or playing chess. Tommy brought over the chess set and table and placed it within easy reach for both, while they sat close together. They talked while they played, not touching but still feeling the heat coming off of each other.

They reminisced a little and then talked of the future.

Isabella transitioned the conversation from the past to the future easily. "Tommy, you were right about what you said would happen if Colby did condone a small trip for us to have our experience, see if my choice would still be him, or if it would be you. At the time I found the idea intriguing but disturbing as well. I know that once we cross that invisible red danger line we have been so careful of, we won't be able to go back. We have loved each other too long, wanted each other too much to ever go back. I think though if we loved each other enough, I could live with the beltway shenanigans, the parties, the balls, and the politics both inside and outside the military. You could be President one day. My father has told me that your name is already being floated around for future political pursuits. You could make a difference."

Tommy continued looking at the chess board, planning his strategy out for three moves before even touching a piece. He was still able to talk about this difficult subject without losing his concentration on the game at hand. Tommy's ability to compartmentalize was legendary.

"And if I choose not to take that possible political path, will you be disappointed? Do you want to be with me because I might be President one day?"

"Tommy, you disappoint me. You know me better than that. I want to climb into a big white country house with a picket fence and lots of room for kids to play. I would never leave it. But if being with you meant something else, than I would suck it up and make that commitment. But I have to know what spending day in and day out with you where we weren't on some mission would be like, what it would be like for you to seduce me into bed, for you make love to me in a way where I feel your love absorbed through my skin. Could you do that Tommy?"

He looked up from the chess board, looking deep into her eyes. "You know I could. But I would never let you go after that. I wouldn't keep you as my prisoner, but I would be lost without you. Hell, I'm lost without you now, I just hide it better. This might be the most dangerous thing you have ever asked me, Bella. And what about Colby? I know he offered this up to us. Is the option still open?"

"I don't honestly know. After we made up somewhat this morning, I told him I would not be taking him up on his offer. But I have changed my mind. I want this Tommy. I want to give us a chance."

Tommy smiled gently, happiness pouring off of him. "Then let's give it a shot. But I won't go behind Granger's back. He may not be as honorable as I thought, as I hoped he would be for your sake, but he is still your fiancée. I won't dishonor you or me by cheating on him. And Isabella, it's checkmate."

"Damn it, Tommy. You are the only person who can beat me at both pool and chess." Isabella pouted slightly. Secretly she was pleased. It felt right that he was better at so many things then she was. It was unusual and left her constantly challenged in so many ways.

Another voice was heard from the doorway, "And maybe that is why you two are so perfect for each other. He can beat you at everything, he makes you feel everything. He tips you off that pedestal the rest of us have you on, making you something less than perfect and pushes you to aspire to something more. You do the same for him, Bella." Colby's voice was quiet as he leaned on the doorframe. Neither Tommy nor Isabella knew how long he had been there.

"Colby! Welcome to our little party. What you just said was very insightful. You have always been a wise man though. One of the many things I always found attractive in you."

"I haven't been very wise lately, Bella. You and I both know it, although I doubt Tommy knows the extent of my foolishness. I owe it to you to make sure of your choice, me or him. I just ask that whichever of us you choose, you and the chosen one allow the other to continue to be a part of their lives, whatever that may be. If by some miracle, you choose me, Tommy will never let you go, not for good. He will have to be a part of our lives in some capacity. I feel much the same way, but perhaps not as passionately as he does. I suspect neither of us will share your body, but perhaps we can share your love." Colby stopped and looked at both Tommy and Isabella. "Make your arrangements. Take as long as you need. I just ask that until this op is finished, she continues to sleep in our bed and if she will allow me, I want to make love to her again so she knows just how I feel about her before she leaves with you. And we both wear condoms until the decision is made. No need to make the situation more complicated than it already is." Colby had been standing this whole time, and having said what he needed to say, turned to leave.

Tommy stood up, asking Colby to wait. He walked over to Colby and put his hand out. The two men shook hands and nodded their heads in silent agreement. Colby turned once again and walked out the door.

Isabella looked at Tommy torn about what to do now. "I'll make the arrangements. You go home with him."

She stood from the love seat, walking towards him intending to kiss or hug him, she wasn't sure. He took a brief hug and told her to hurry to catch up with Colby.

She ran out of the room stopping at the bar register, calling to Colby to wait. He had almost reached the outside door. She quickly signed the bill, asking Antonio to add a 50% tip to be split among the servers. The tab was still open until all her party left. She took her card and walked up to Colby.

"Will you take me home, Colby?" she asked softly, her voice still carrying over the medium sized crowd in the room.

He smiled and opened the door for her, leading her into the cool Los Angles night.

TBC?