A/N: I'm going to apologize now for not uploading this sooner. I've been busy, but I've also been lazy and had writer's block, so there's not much of an excuse for my lack of updates. Anyway...here's another chapter. Thank you to everyone who's read and reviewed this, and keep up the good work. The more reviews I get, the better the chances of an update.

July 31, 2010

…He Calls You When You're Apart, Just to Hear Your Voice

"Aren't days off supposed to be the best thing in the world?" Michelle wondered aloud as she curled up into a ball on the couch.

Apparently they weren't. Not anymore, at least. Now that she had Tony with her almost every minute, no w that she could rest her head on his chest for the sole purpose of hearing him breathe, now that she had his kisses (and his meals!) to look forward to instead of eating takeout alone on the couch, she hated being without him. Even if it was for professional reasons.

Yes, it was true. Michelle Dessler had been given a day off from her almost ridiculously rigorous job… but Tony Almeida hadn't. She'd be spending one of her scant days off without the person who continuously made it all worthwhile. She sighed and brushed a few errant curls out of her face, not particularly in the mood to make a deal with The Devil, as her brother had so endearingly called her mane of hair. She was too lazy (and not clinically insane), after all, so she wasn't going to even bother with pulling her hair back into a bun. A laugh bubbled out of her throat as she imagined the look on Ryan Chappelle's face in the event that he ever saw her like this. The laughter soon subsided, though. She sighed and flipped on the TV.

Five episodes of Bones later, Michelle was still watching the television mindlessly. She wasn't in the mood to deal with lunch. Come to think about it, she actually hadn't really thought about food that much today. Breakfast was usually pancakes or eggs and sausage, made by her very own personal chef. Often, Tony didn't get another chance to make a meal, so they made the most of the mornings. Today, Michelle had treated herself to half a handful of cereal; the usual breakfast before Tony had come into her life. And as for lunch? She knew her boyfriend wouldn't be particularly happy if he came home and discovered a half empty pizza box from the nearest takeout restaurant lying on the countertop.

Ugggh. She might as well just take a nap. Tony probably wouldn't be getting home until late, and like always, she planned on waiting up for him to come home before going to bed. She stretched out a zombie like arm and grabbed the blanket next to her, then fell sideways and collapsed on the couch.

She woke to the angelic sound of her cell phone ringing. Michelle groaned and rolled over. Who the hell would call me in the middle of my day off…and more importantly, my NAP? Still, to her credit, she eventually sat up and answered her phone.

"Dessler," she growled.

"Sorry to wake you, sweetheart," a very familiar voice said in a soothing tone.

Her bad mood instantly evaporated. "How could you possibly have known that I was asleep?"

"You have that scratchy morning slash bordering on smoker voice that you always get after…"

"Okay, I get the point," she cut him off, daring him to continue.

"And there is the fact that I can read your mind," he said lightheartedly.

"Yes," she laughed, "you can."

They were comfortably silent for a few minutes, simply enjoying having the other person on the line with them.

"How was your day?"

"Huh?"

"Honey, when did you fall asleep? Hours ago?"

"Mmph!" she sniffed in protest.

"Apparently," Tony muttered. "By the way, I left some spaghetti for you in a pot on the stove. You're probably starving by now if you managed to miss out on lunch, which, knowing you, sweetheart, you definitely did."

"What?" she asked, confused. "How on earth did I miss that?"

"You're exhausted," he replied gently. "But I love you anyway."

She smiled a toothy grin that, if anyone but Tony had been in her presence, she would have immediately blushed a crimson red.

"And now you're smiling to yourself," he smirked.

"Am I really that predictable?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

They chuckled and each laid back on their respective couches.

"Did you have a reason for calling, honey?" she asked softly. "If you need help at CTU…"

"No, sweetheart, that's not it," he reassured her.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah," he replied. "I just… I just really wanted to hear your voice. It's been kind of a rough day without you around to make it seem all worthwhile."

"Sweetheart," she breathed, "I… do you want me to stay on the line for a little? You, my dear, need a break."

"Sounds great. What do ya want to talk about?"

Wasting the better part of an hour, they talked about everything and anything until Tony's secretary buzzed in to alert him to an incoming call.

"I'll be home in a couple of hours," he said apologetically, knowing full well that two hours could quickly turn into a double shift.

"I'll be waiting," she said honestly.

Not for the first time, there was a pause.

"Sweetheart?" she whispered. "I love you."

"I love you so much, Michelle," he said quietly. "See you in a little bit?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "I'll try not to burn the house down."

"Bye, honey."

"Bye."

Click.