Please read the author's note at the end, thank you!

The Long Road Ahead

Act II

Episode VII

Narcissism – Part II

As if all the troubles that had weighed her down in the past months had suddenly vanished, Tessa's body nearly turned to jelly. She felt her legs give out a little at the image David's familiar face. Tessa stumbled forward a bit, her head nearly coming into contact with David's chest. Thankfully, his grip upon her hand and waist and the faint movement of their slow, rhythmic dance kept her standing. But it all did nothing to stop her from coming inches closer, whether it was planned or not. Mouth hanging open, unable to utter any other words besides his name, Tessa looked up with her gray eyes, meeting's David's unwavering gaze. His soft brown orbs looked down at her with in the most peculiar fashion. It was a strange comforting stare, evident with feelings of care, trust, and something else…

Tessa's mouth began to move. Her lips formed silent words yet no sound came forward. All the things she wanted to say, all the things she needed to say, were still just soundless bursts of air. Nothing. She felt David's fingers tighten around her hand as he noticed the look upon her face. He too opened his mouth for a moment as if searching for something to say as he led her along in the slow dance that pulsed to the voice of the singer and band within the hall of the nightclub. Yet, David was the first to smile. It wasn't a smile of happiness or joy, but something much more, like he had finally come to some strange realization that lifted the fog of war that surrounded them. But as the dance continued on, he too let his body relax. Something about the touch of Tessa's soft skin made him forget what he had done and why he was here, right now, with Tessa and everyone else.

Finally, after long seconds of silence, David finally opened his mouth to speak silent, weary sounding, words down to Tessa Testarossa. "You…You look…beautiful tonight, Tessa. Y-You really do."

Her eyes darted downward, face turning red. Why, after all of this did Tessa feel like such simple words meant the world to her. It was like a bottle of long forgotten and expensive wine had finally been found and opened. That little phrase combined with the feeling of David's hand on her back almost made her forget the real reason why they were here in the first place. "…M-Mr. Reed…" Tessa stuttered back, finally brining her face to look back up at him. There it was, that same haunting smile as before.

David tilted his head off to the side, his body still leading Teletha along through the slow waltz-like dance. He was waiting for a reply.

Strangely, Tessa threw logic out the window. She tossed away any care about the current mission for the sake of perhaps her only chance at a meaningful conversation. Once this all was said and done, she knew not what would happen to David, her friends, and even herself. Still, just talking to David this time around had Tessa's mind in jumbled mess. She was feeling something she had never felt before. Taking in a gulp of courage, the Mithril Captain finally managed a reply. "T-Thank you, Mr. Reed."

Her simple reply brought another faint smile to David's face. He was about to utter something back, yet Tessa continued on.

"You…" The young woman trailed off. Tessa looked him up and down. She could feel the some of her hair brush up against his chest as she tilted her head. Never before had she seen David in a suit. The way the tailored black and white clothing fitted against his form, having only the upper most buttons of his white dress shirt undone with the black tie ever-just pulled away from his neck sent an odd tingling sensation down her spine. Such a sight made her feel more emotions she couldn't explain. Blinking a number of times, Tessa finished her statement. "…You look very…" Another small pause. "…handsome tonight, D-David."

This brought a brighter smirk from the man, one that lightened the mood. David chuckled silently, bringing his face down a little closer so no one around would her them. "Judging by such a statement, I assume you and your friends aren't here to kill me?" He purred back with a smirk.

Even David's face coming centimeters closer made Tessa's legs go weak again. There was an odd lump in her throat as her mind seemed to short circuit. This must be her punishment for thinking about him all this time and finally having a chance with him like this. "David!" Tessa gasped in surprise. Although, his assumption might have had some merit due to the situation. "David, I…We're not here for that."

"That was a joke, Tessa." David laughed again, his eyes looking Tessa over once again, clearly admiring her dress and the body form underneath. "You really do look…Well, look like something right now." He said again, letting out a breath of pent up thought. "I know it sounds cliché, especially at a moment like this, but it's a shame you don't do this more often."

Tessa could feel David's eyes on her. It made her feel uncomfortable yet comfortable at the same time. And even David knew Tessa had done the same thing to him. "I…I…" Furiously she attempted to look for words that would somehow ease the feeling building in her throat. Nothing but broken words came through. "David…You see…" The tightening of David's grip on her waist brought her to a halt.

"Tessa…" He mumbled softly, the smile on his face fading slightly. "…We can finish this conversation later." There was an odd comfort in his words this time around as the subject changed. "So you're not here to put me down, might I ask why you've followed my little trail of breadcrumbs? I see you've brought some new friends this time around."

It took a moment, but when David shifted the concept of conversation, Tessa felt the lump in her throat fade into the back of her mind. While still there, her mind shifted gears, returning to the present. With the information of their task flooding back to her, Tessa's body straightened a little, her legs regained some of their former strength. Right. Back to business then. She resisted the urge to scoot her body up against his, now wasn't exactly the time for such a maneuver. Even so, Tessa lifted her head to speak once more. "We-We know what you were doing. We know what you've been up to all this time David."

David raised a surprised eyebrow, yet still gave another smirk as if this little admission was something he had been expecting.

Tessa continued on. "Your sister, The Collective, everything, I figured it out through that journal you left me. I figured it out, just like you asked me to." The young woman tilted her head slightly downward, the memories and thoughts all flooding back to her about what had transpired in the past.

Cranking his head off to the side for moment in thought, David only gave a nod.

Still, Tessa kept on. "I know it doesn't mean much to you right now, especially coming from me, but for what it's worth I'm sorry you and your sister had to go through such a thing. I know it must've been difficult find that out all by yourself. But going after your sister, trying to get her back from The Collective could only be worse…" Teletha felt the reassuring grip of David's hands, a feeling that made her heart flutter as she explained her views. "…After I found out about your sister, what she could do, why she was taken, I-I-I knew what you did was an effort to get her back…I don't blame you for what you did."

Shifting a bit where he stood, David lowered his head a bit more down to Tessa's level. "To be honest, Tessa…" He began softly, sounding regretful "…I never really like what I did in the first place."

Tessa subconsciously scooted closer to David. It was like some reaction in her brain pushed her closer to the man after he uttered his words. "H-Huh?"

David continued on. "I had to do it to find out where they were keeping Beth. I didn't have a choice. For a while, my hand was forced. I had to deal the few cards I could play. After I ran into you, met you, got to know you, I knew that somehow, someway, my little plan was going to work. I know I must've made a great many people angry, I know I probably caused you an untold amount of stress, but…" The man trailed off, his eyes shifting down to the glossy wooden floor.

"David?" Tessa muttered. It took a great deal of courage, but after a brief few seconds, the young woman pressed her forehead against his in an effort to bring him back to reality.

"…But I had to do it. I can't take any of it back. I won't take it back." Was the only thing David replied with once his eyes returned to Tessa's. Seemingly, Tessa's gambit had worked. David now has his gaze locked upon her just as she had him. "I…I…"

Feeling her face heat up, Tessa darted her eyes off to the side to catch, Kaname, Sousuke, Mao and Kurz through the crowd. They were staring at her, bright grins upon their faces. All of them, save for Sousuke, had the look as if they were waiting for some motion picture blockbuster to start. Sousuke, on the other hand, didn't have anything but his normal stoic expression plastered upon his face. She knew what they were waiting for…Tessa looked back to David who was sharing the same blank expression on what might happen next. After a gulp of courage, Tessa nodded, now knowing her friends had her back. "David, I know you're a good person. I knew that from the moment you pulled me out of that airport. You had reasons on doing what you did…I…I accept that…I…We…We want to help you. We are going to help you get Bethany back!" She thought it best not to pursue a brief thought that shot through her mind. Now probably wasn't the right time for something like that.

Whatever pain feelings of regret that David held inside him for putting Tessa through such things lightened. The expression on his face immediately relaxed. This brought a faint smile from Tessa, she finally being able to see the old David Reed again. His body shuffled once again now knowing that he was no longer alone in his fight of his. "So, you're willing to help me?" David whispered quietly. With a slim nod off to the side he acknowledged Tessa's friends in the crowd. "You all are?"

Tessa only gave a happy nod in response.

Briefly, David was at a loss for words. His mind swam in thoughts of what he wanted to say to Tessa, the job at hand, and the rest of his life up until this point. Finally, the man latched onto an idea. His face stiffened as his mind slowly came to order itself. He had to be in the now. There were some topics that could wait for later. "Right…I guess we better get started then?"

Showing a dim yet content smile, Tessa replied. "Correct, Mr. Reed." Then she felt his hands tighten around her waist and hand as the dance continued on. She felt his body move her deeper into the crowd as if to avoid any peering eyes that may be upon them...Still, Tessa felt that faint lump in her throat grow larger…

David then wasted no time. Some sort of training or past experience brought forth his next action. Pulling Tessa in closer, he pressed her body up against his, closing the last few inches that were between them. Yet, their slow and flowing dance continued. Their bodies were now blending in completely within the crowd of other club patrons…He leaned his head down to Tessa's ear as if to whisper some romantic words to a lover. It was all mostly a sham, a fake to fool anyone watching. "Tessa…" David began softly, his words hushed so strongly even Tessa had to strain to hear them.

"Hmm?" Tessa purred back, tilting up her own head to listen to what the man had to say. Oddly enough, Tessa firmed up her grip on David's shoulder and hand. Even though shivers were going up and down her spine at David's touch, something about the way he held her was strangely comforting, a feeling she was yearning for.

"…When I left you back on the island, after proving my loyalty to The Collective, I returned to them." David continued. His eyes briefly darted through the crowd, still ever scanning for a suspicious body that may be spying. "I returned to them, finally able to access that information I needed on where they had been storing Beth. She is alive and I know where."

"And?" The Mithril Captain darted her eyes away from David for a moment, once again catching a glimpse of Kaname and Mao trying to get a better view. Such a sight made her grin sweetly, and unconsciously lay her head on David's shoulder...It didn't take long for Tessa to notice her own actions, but as red in the face as she was she pushed forward, thinking to perhaps best to play the part of a true couple…

A pause. David glanced at the young woman he was now holding. He couldn't help but let his face turn a very faint shade of red. But nonetheless, he continued on. "I…I did what I could to gather as much data on where they were holding her." Another small pause. David's tone of voice changed into something more troubled. "But it seems like I got more than what I bargained for. I came across other details as well, databases full of information on The Collective's dealings. Everything from previous jobs, contracts, purchases, you name it, and I found it."

"What do you mean, David?" Tessa mumbled again. She took note of David's troubled change in voice. "What's the matter?"

"I took as much as I could. I stole everything I could get my hands on. They are on a few compact data drives in my jacket pocket…I want to tell you everything now, but…"

"But?"

"I wouldn't be the right place. There could be people watching, listening. I need to show this to you, to Mithril. Frankly, as you probably guessed, I've reached the end of my rope. I've reached the end of my usefulness of working on my own." David let out a small chuckle. "That's why I wanted you to come after me. Getting Bethany back is all I want. She is-."

Tessa cut David off with a stern whisper. "I know, she is the key to all of this. She's a Whispered. With her under Collective control, I…I know what kind of technology they will be able to produce. As a…Mithril Officer, I can't just sit back and let that happen. Like I said, Mr. Reed, we'll get her back." After a long silence, Tessa finally lifted her head up from David's shoulder, letting her face come in front of his. "I trusted you from the start. I trust you now. You helped me before, David. Now it's my turn to help you."

David managed a relieved smile and a confirming nod before a faint murmur through the crowd drew his eyes over Tessa's head. The music had since stopped as both he and Tessa came to a slow, almost pained caseation in their dance. It was done. The band had finished and the pairs in the crowd slowly separated, save for Teletha Testarossa and David Reed. Removing her hand from David's she brought it to David's other shoulder, gripping at his suit jacket almost in needing. Her head glanced in the same direction as where her partner has his eyes locked. Mao, Kaname, and the rest of her companions were nowhere to be found. Like ghosts they had vanished from the visible areas of the club. Tessa's eyes began to scan even more frantically. While the rest of the crowd was still acting normally, there was a faint aura of uneasiness that was creeping up both David and Tessa's back. Something was truly amiss in this situation…

Continuing her search for her friends, Tessa's head began to feverishly dart about the club's gaudy interior. Nowhere. Kaname, Melissa, Sousuke, and Kurz were all gone. It was then when Tessa tugged on David's jacket. "David?!" He whispered up to him sounding rather concerned. "My friends are gone."

"Yeah-Yeah, I noticed that too." David mumbled back, pulling Tessa's hands off his shoulders using his own. For a moment, he held onto them, his thumbs running over the Captain's smooth skin. Then, as if some strange animalistic instinct had kicked in, David firmly intertwined his fingers in Tessa's and placing one foot in front of the other, the man began to pull her toward the door next to the bar. Putting one arm in front of him, he began to carve a path through the club goers.

Ever briefly, Tessa's heart skipped a beat at the way David had a hold of her. But the sound of some new voice calling out toward them in the crowd brought her back to reality. She felt her dress flutter about her ankles as David pulled her through the pulsing mass of bodies. "D-David…" Tessa mumbled again, trying to get his attention. "…We can't leave my friends behind." Cranking her head around again there was still no sight of Kaname or Mao, Kurz or Sousuke. The sound of a door swinging open pulled her focus forward once again. "David?"

David had now pulled them through the door behind the bar, entering a small white and silver room that Tessa could only assume could be the kitchen. Just behind the swinging door David scooped up a duffle bag, something he had hidden earlier. It held the last of his personal items that he could a carry. Pulling it over his shoulder he and Tessa pressed onward through the long rectangular kitchen area…He turned his head around, his face trouble with the fact that Tessa was right. Stopping for a moment, he let out a brief huff of frustration. "Right." David replied simply, releasing his grip on Tessa's hand and reaching into his suit jacket.

Tessa flexed her hand that David once held anxiously. Her eyes darted from the door behind them to the man in front of her. She used her other hand to briefly smooth out her dress. Such things weren't exactly meant for running, much let getting into any sort of firefight.

"Here!" David called out in the empty kitchen as he pulled out two small black devices from a pocket. With a swift motion he got a grip on Tessa's wrist, bringing it up, and placing the data drives firmly on her palms. David shifted his eyes up to Teletha's gaze and nodded. His fingers slowly curled around hers, wrapping the Captain's fingers around the two small objects. "Take these, you'll need them more than-!"

A crashing of pot and pans and the opening of every door stopped David and Tessa cold. From the door they had just entered and the exit in front of them, groups of bodies poured in. They had small automatic guns in hand, silencers fixed upon the tips of each muzzle. Uniforms of dark green and dark grey began flooding the room in the most orderly manner possible, each man being trained and drilled for such a maneuver to go off without and slipup. But on each shoulder, they all wore the same patch, a marking of some unit…Yet, they didn't fire, their weapons snapped to David who had since reacted in drawing a weapon of his own…Surrounded!

With a soured and distressed expression David's gun darted from person to person, far too many for him to dispatch on his own. "Shit…" He mumbled to himself, lowering his gun slightly knowing that he was beaten. Having no other option, he dropped his pistol onto the table beside him, throwing his hands up into the air in surrender.

Although it took a few seconds, Tessa's head lit up. The markings on the uniforms, that faint blue and the image of a sword. She knew them, they were familiar! But, these people appearing only meant one thing. She was had…Mithril had come to find her and bring her home…

A tall body with dark tan skin stepped forward, lowering his weapon as he approached Tessa Testarossa. While his face showed obvious signs of displeasure, this man could help but smile as his eyes met the Mithril Captain image. "Captain Testarossa…" The man began firmly, giving a brief salute. He ran his free hand through his black hair.

David blinked and lowered his arms slowly. No sooner than the man had spoken did he feel a pair of men grip at his arms, placing them behind his back and slamming his wrist into handcuffs. Even though he put up a brief struggle there was no escaping now. While handcuffs weren't the best way to get back to Mithril, it was happening nonetheless. Giving a small grunt, David finally surrendered his body to the men trying to get ahold of him.

"Lieutenant Clouseau…" Tessa mumbled silently in reply, noticing the way David was now being treated. Sadly she was in no position to argue his case, at least not yet. In her fingers she fiddled with the two data drives she still gripped tightly in her fingers.

Clouseau gave David a glare as men began to lead him out the door toward a pair of black SUVs. Shaking his head from side to side with disapproval, the man spoke once more. "You've given us quite a scare ma'am. It seems you've riled up Mithril quite enough for one day. You and your friends couldn't have picked a worse time to go AWOL." Lifting his hand, Clouseau motioned to his men to exit the room. "Madam Captain…" He spoke again sounding rather disheartened. "…We best get moving. We have a long flight before we reach the Tuatha De Danann."

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! Prepare for the explosive ending to Act II in the coming three Chapters!

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