CHAPTER TWENTY TWO (RED FLAGS ABOUND)
"What do you think you are doing??" Haley was astounded, having turned her attention from trying to figure out the controls on the call button. They should have been self explanatory, what with the little figures and arrows and the like. But, when she pushed one, it usually did just the opposite of what the 'figures' implied.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Vincent Duvalier continued to unbutton the front of his shirt. "Gonna take a shower..got a problem with that?"
"First of all, it's my room and my shower so yeah...I got a problem with that. Are you crazy?" She asked what she considered a rhetorical question. "This is a hospital room not a hotel!"
"In my kind of work, you learn to take advantage of the little niceties when and where you find them." He told the truth for once. "A shower is a shower."
"The nurse will call Security and they will throw you out on your ass, white boy." She said smugly.
"They will 'try'." He conceded the possibility.
"You are sooooo full of yourself."
He hung the green sage shirt over the back of the visitor's chair. "No..just know my strengths."
Haley drew her eyes away from the tattoo on his right bicep. She had always liked that tattoo. She told herself it was because she was patriotic. It was an eagle with something in it's claws. Knowing Duvalier, she figured the stupid thing was probably carrying off a baby or a little bunny or some such creature.
She had never stared long enough to make it out, to her credit.
"Well..one of your 'weaknesses'..." She pointed out. "Is that..you're insane."
"Merely delusional." He differed, laying his watch on the stand by her bed.
A nurse tapped lightly on the door, entering the room with a tray of little white cups in her hands. She pulled up short when she saw Duvalier, her eyes widening, her mouth falling agape.
She was pretty, blonde and a little older than Haley and it was clear, she liked what she was looking at, even though she did try to hide the fact.
She smiled prettily for the man and then more professionally at Haley. "..Doctor prescribed a sleeping aid. He wants you to rest." She placed one of the little cups in Haley's hand. Her brown eyes flicked Duvalier's chest area with a subdued interest then shifted back hastily. "If there is.."
"He's going to take a shower and it's my room." Haley tattled before Duvalier could speak 'his' piece. Which meant..she won..in her world. "If you want to call Security, it's ok with me."
The nurse looked a little unsettled, seeking the man for 'his' side of the story.
"Eh...if your..husband wishes to.."
"He's not...that!" Haley was clearly horrified at the thought. "God!...NO!"
The nurse had her answer to the unasked question, her smile returning, directed entirely at Vincent Duvalier.
"I'm her 'keeper'.." He..smiled back. "God knows she needs one."
The nurse chuckled at such..wit.
Haley narrowed her eyes, her mood not improving one bit.
"It's just that.." Duvalier spread his hands expressively, showing off the ripple of his muscles as he did so. "I've been on the job for three days straight and.."
"Everyone has been on the job for three days straight." Haley pointed out. "Not just YOU!"
"And a shower sounds really nice along about now." He took the time to smile ingratiatingly once again. "I mean..if it's against your rules.." He put his hands on his hips, and the nurse's eyes dropped to..his hips and..chanced a quick assessing glance..lower.
Haley noted the exchange, her eyes shifting from one occupant of the room to the other. Her thoughts her own for the time being.
"I wouldn't want to get on your bad side.." The man's eyes were saying so much more than his mouth. "..Not that you.." The slate grey gaze followed the nurse's form with masculine appreciation. "Seem have one."
Haley rolled her eyes expressively knowing bull shit when she heard it.
"I..I really don't see a problem with ..eh..Mr?.." She fished openly.
"Agent." Vincent corrected. "Duvalier...you can call me..Vincent, if you like." The nurse had no problem examining in minute detail, the man's badge when he had fastened to the right side of his belt.
"Yeah.. But, those of us who know him well, just call him asshole." Haley made mention, with a sincere lift of her brows.
The nurse chuckled. "You had better take those please." She remembered her duty.
Haley looked at the pills..they were a pretty blue. "Got anything for nausea?"
Vincent bit the inside of his mouth to keep his smile from erupting, 'getting' the woman's sarcasm instantly.
"Why yes..would you like something?"
"Yeah..cause it's getting pretty deep in here" Haley commented dryly. "And I don't want to drown in shit."
The nurse seemed a little taken aback by such..honesty, seeking Duvalier's assistance on just how to respond in this instance.
"She's just a little cranky." He soothed the situation over.
"I'm not 'cranky', damn it!" Haley was fairly certain of her facts.
Vincent held up his hands in the universal sign of 'peace', his expression saying it all. "Whatever you say, Meadows."
"So's your mother!" Haley suggested..emphatically. "God rest her soul." She 'crossed' herself, remembering to show respect for the dead. Forgetting that he had said, his mother was still alive.
"If..if you will take those, I'll just.." The nurse put her diplomatic training to good use. "..go get that shot."
"What shot?" Haley demanded. She didn't want a shot. When did a shot come into the picture?
"For nausea?"
"Ohhh....forget it." Haley conceded defeat, sinking down into the bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. "I'm fine." But, if she had her weapon, she was pretty sure SOMEBODY would not be..just saying.
"Jury is still out on that one." Duvalier informed the bewildered nurse, in that way he had about him. "She's ok. Just a little blow back from the job. A good night's sleep and she'll be as close to normal as she's ever going to get. Thank you for..everything, though."
"Look who's calling the kettle black." Haley muttered sullenly. "Normal..as if you would know 'normal' if it bit you in the ass."
"If you don't need..." The nurse tried again. "Anything else?" She asked Haley.
"A straight jacket and rubber room." Duvalier had genuinely tried to keep that one to himself..granted, he hadn't tried very hard.
But, Haley had heard the derogatory remark. "You know I'm claustrophobic!" She ranted. "Why would you even say something so stupid?!"
"Let's allow the nice lady to be about her business, shall we?"
"Well, I'm not keeping her!"
"She can't go until you take the pills, numb nuts."
"...Ohh." Haley...sought her water, swallowing the pills. "...sorry."
"Ok then!" The nurse offered cheerfully. "I'll just..get my rounds done then. Just 'do' the button if you need anything." For some odd reason..she had looked at Vincent Duvalier when she said that. Haley was confused momentarily..then...she got it, making a 'ewww' face once again.
The woman left and the room fell silent...for all of two seconds. "Don't you ever turn it off?" Haley disdained. "How disgusting can you get?"
"How disgusting do you like it?" The man quipped.
Haley lay her head back, closing her eyes. "I'm sick and you're just being horrible to me! What kind of man are you??" She accused.
"A hot, tired one." Duvalier said. "If you keep quiet for just ten minutes..when I'm done with my shower..I will go get you some chocolate. Can you do that, do you think?"
"I can get my own chocolate!"
"Didn't think so." His hypothesis had been confirmed. He turned, going into the small cubicle.
Seconds later, the woman heard the shower head sputter to life.
She lay back on her pillow, her mood not the best in the world. She wondered where Jim Brass was. It was late afternoon already and the man still had not come to see her. She thought about calling him but..she remembered that Frank Mathers and Joe Appleton had once said..that they could never respect a woman that called them on the phone.
A woman should never call a guy. That's what they had said. It was..unseemly. She wasn't sure what 'unseemly' meant exactly..but, Haley didn't want Jim Brass thinking she was..that.
Frank knew about women..almost as much as Vincent Duvalier. And Joe was a good guy. If he said it..it must be so.
She respected her team members. For the most part, except that Jimmy Powell. Who had stolen her Ipod..the little buttwipe.
So..she sat and..waited for Jim Brass to phone her. She was still waiting ten minutes later when Duvalier came out of the steamy bathroom, a short towel wrapped around his waist.
She cut unamused eyes to him. He fished in her purse for what he needed. "Gonna use one of your 'girly' razors.." He found the pink object in the bottomless pit of a purse she hauled about with her everywhere she went. "Need to shave."
She sat, arms folded across her chest. She was mad..whether at Jim Brass or Vincent Duvalier, she could not decide. Maybe both.
"What?...do I shock you?" He glanced at the towel. "Want I should take it off?"
She seemed consider his proposition. "Since I'm still the only woman on the planet to have NOT seen it..I think...for a little while longer. I'll keep my virginal status."
"We both know you're not a virgin..Brass saw to that." The fact still rankled the man but he managed keep his tone inoffensive for once. "And I only wish to God I had as much pussy as you lay claim..I would be a contented man."
"Brass didn't do it...dear old dad did, remember? And ..you are without doubt..the crudest man I know!"
"How many have you known?...Two. Well..one." He corrected. "You old man was a fucker and should be taken out and castrated...then shot. Preferably..by me."
"Do I have to buy the bullets?" She remarked, then..yawned, hiding the act with her palm. She blinked tired eyes. Sleepy eyes. "...Gosh..I don't know why I'm so...tired." She was perplexed. "I'm really beat."
"I don't know either..maybe it's those sleeping pills you took a few minutes ago." The man scowled over at her, his manner polite.
"Ohh..yeah." She had forgotten.
She slid down in the bed, snuggling to her pillow..the extra one the nurse had brought her before..not the blonde nurse..the dark-haired nurse. The one Haley liked. Not that she didn't 'not' like the blonde one. She frowned....what??
She let it go.
Duvalier slid into the bed beside her, curling his much larger frame to her's. For a moment, the fact did not register with the woman, for the gesture felt familiar and 'right' somehow.
"HEY!" It registered. "What the..."
"Don't be a bitch to me right now." The man sighed wearily. "I'm fucking dead, woman! I need to sleep."
"Then go find a bed...you've never had any difficultly with that!" She pushed on his chest. "You can't...be here! It's against regulations..and probably the Ten Commandments, knowing you! Get OUT!"
Duvalier held fast to the petite frame. "After all I did for you today..you ungrateful little bitch! I shot that fucker for you! And now, you begrudge me some sack time?"
"...Well..." She was...having trouble thinking clearly for some reason. She didn't want to be an ungrateful bitch. And...he did look kinda tired.
"Don't 'well' me...scoot the hell over! We're both freakin adults...at least, I am one. What the fuck is the trouble here?"
"Maybe they will bring another bed or something." She could compromise. "This is MY bed...see?" She clearly was in it, after all. "I'm sick and you're not..remember?"
"You're not sick..you fucking faker..you just are a selfish, ungrateful little fucker!" The warmth of her body filtered through the thin sheet. He liked the feeling. He liked it...a lot. No damned way he was going to give an inch in this.
Vincent looked into the glazed emerald stones, knowing 'drugs' when he saw them. He had no compulsion about taking advantage of the situation..none what-so-ever.
"I'm sorta sick." She reminded. "In a ..sorta..way. The ambulance guys said I was sorta sick."
"And I'm sorta exhausted." He reasoned where there was no reason. "Let's compromise here."
She stopped pushing on his body parts. "Well, you can't stay here..they will throw you out and think bad things about me."
"I won't let them. I'll explain everything."
Her eyes dropped sleepily.
"I'll beat the shit out of anyone that says bad things about you. Promise."
"You will?" She...yawned, her hand covering her mouth. "That's really...kinda nice, Vincent." She smiled at him, snuggling down to his warmth. "But..you can't even stay here, ok?"
He welcomed her into his embrace, his lips grazing her forehead lovingly. "Sure baby..whatever you think."
She closed her eyes, laying her head on his shoulder. He pulled her closer, stretching his form out alongside the length of her, his leg thrown over one of her's.
"Ok." She nodded happily. "You...just rest a few minutes then..." She..closed her eyes.
He lifted her chin with his thumb and index finger, his mouth parting her's slowly..his tongue pushing gently between her lips. He kissed her deeply..lovingly...wantonly. How he had wanted to kiss her all fucking day.
Her head fell back and to one side.
He..smiled, realizing he had lost her for a time.
He kissed her again, but felt no response what-so-ever this time. That was ok. He could live with that...for a while longer.
She smelled good. The man nuzzled her neckline, his hand fondling her breast experimentally. He liked that the little nub of nipple instantly responded to his touch. He cupped her ass cheek pushing her into his early arousal.
No...he thought, even though his palm remained molded to the curve of that firm little ass. When he touched her there..she would be fully responsive and..functioning.
He could wait.
He had waited this long.
Vincent closed his eyes and..allowed his mind to rest. No horrible dreams came to trouble the man this time. No shadowy faces of past..enemies. Julie even left him to his peace for once.
He slept..heavily..deeply.
This..was where he wanted to be...finally.
"
.