Chapter 32

Tony entered the room first, doing a quick sweep. Palmer went straight for his bag, everything was inside, so it was fast to get it and leave the room. They were changing rooms for the night. ' Just being safe ' said Tony.

They changed it for a room on the fourth floor with two beds, Tony wasn't planning on sleeping, but it would be more comfortable than sitting on the chair that the other room had.

Palmer sat on the bed closest to the window, he put his bag on the floor, removed his coat, put on top of the bag and sat quietly staring outside.

He could see the moon from this window, just like he could that night in the woods, when he and Artemis admitted their feelings. They were so young.

From the stage the moon was in he could see that on the day they were supposed to meet again, it would be a full moon.

And people said that she was not a romantic.

" Penny for your thoughts, Palmer? "

He laughed, a small laugh the same way.

" I don't think you should waste your money on them Tony. "

" Come On! Humour me. We are in for a long night. I'm not sleeping. And you don't look like you want it either. You should sleep, but don't look like you will. So, why not talk? "

" I don't think you should stay awake Tony. You have a full day tomorrow, you should rest. "

" Like I'm the only one. "

" I doubt that Agent Gibbs or Dr. Mallard would let me work. "

" True. But you managed to convince Bossman to take you with us tomorrow. "

" It's necessary. "

" So you said. "

He turned to look at the agent sitting on the bed behind him. He was leaning against the headboard, hands behind his head, looking relaxed, for the untrained eye. But he was observing all of Palmer's movements.

" You doubt me? "

" I think you belive is necessary. But is it really? "

" I don't see where you're going with this. "

" You said it yourself, she's playing a game. And all you did was follow her instructions to the letter. "

He turned back to the window, he knew that Tony would ask questions, but it didn't mean he would answer. He spoke too much already. Laced his lies with small amounts of the truth. And it brought back too many memories. And now he had to go through them with Tony watching his every move.

" I'm going to change out of this clothes. " He got up from the bed, grabbed his bag and went to the bathroom. He locked the door and leaned against it, dropping the bag on the floor. Closing his eyes and taking one deep breath.

He stripped and stood, feeling the cold floor beneath his feet. He then walked over to the sink, holding both sides of it with his hands, he looked at his reflexion in the mirror.

He really looked bad. His injuries were not the ones bothering him though. He had worse while in training. His problem was in his mind.

People that knew the real him, Scot, knew that emotional was not a word that would ever describe him. Cold, yes. Rude, many times. Arrogant, that too. But emotional, never. It was not something that could be used to describe the members of the Order. When you are an assassin you learn how to detach. Those who displayed more emotional reactions only did it by showing a small level of happiness. Mostly during or after a job well done. Scot didn't do that. He didn't celebrate when he accomplished his objectives.

The time he got emotional was when she was involved. And it was not surprising, she was the only real connection he ever had. His parents, he barely ever saw them, only received orders and sometimes notes. Meeting them in person, was rare. His masters changed every time he mastered something, so no real long time relationships there. She was the only constant, from the first time they trained together. From when he was 13-years-old, she was the only one that was aways there.

Sometimes he wondered how it was possible for him to care so little about other people, but so much about her.

Is not like he had no emotions, he did. But he was an expert in ignoring them. Locking them away, rationalizing them until they ceased to exist.

He was so good at doing it, that he didn't believe he could just feel everything. Just react to something and feel his emotions.

Except when it was about her. She was under his skin, she would always be, merged into him. No way to ignore her.

He turned the faucet on, splashing water on his face. Looking at his reflexion.

You can come back, with me. We would take you back, with open arms. Please think about it, for me.

If he made her think that he was coming back, she would let her guard down for long enough for him to incapacitate her. Unless the offer was a trick. It was unlikely, she didn't need the extra lie in her game, it was good enough as it is.

Unless, knowing that he would figure her plan out easily, she felt that she needed the extra step.

Nevertheless, the offer could be true. It was most likely true. He could see in her eyes, that she missed him just as much as he missed her. She would want him back. Or, she would try to kill him. And most likely, succeed, he was out of the game for too long. He was still better than most, probably only members of the Order were better than him, and only a few.

But if one could defeat him, it was her.

" Alright, that's it! "

Scot was meditating. He and Artemis were hiking through the Himalayas, another one of the Order's survival trainings. They were camping in a cave they found.

" I'm trying to meditate Arty. If you could be quiet, it would most appreciated. "

" What's your name? "

That was unexpected, he opened his eyes, looking at her. She was sitting in front of him, starring at him.

" What? This again? "

" Scot, I know you for three years. I see you every single day. We are together, romantically involved! How can I not know your name? Tell me! Is killing me! "

He gave a small smile, and closed his eyes again, getting back to his meditating position.

" Why should I? What do I get? "

" Oh! So this is how is going to be? " He could practically hear her smirk.

" Afraid so. I need a little incentive here Arty. "

He sensed her moving to sit near him.

" Well, what do you have in mind? And if I really make a deal with you what guarantee do I have that you will honor it? "

" Do you think I would cheat? Do you think so little of me? " He said back, pretending to be offended. " And besides. I know better than to cheat on someone who is constantly with me. It would not be practical to be in constant fear of your vengeance. "

" Good. Now, what do you want for your name? " She said, leaning against him, using the hood from his winter coat as a pillow.

" One day. "

" A day? "

" Yes. " He said, opening his eyes and looking at her, who was looking up at him from her spot on his shoulder. " One day. Without the Order, or the masters, or the Orders hideouts, nothing. No expectations about what we should do or feel. Just you and me, 24 hours and all we would like to do. Anywhere. "

She looked at him, her expression not changing. Until she smiled, a big, honest smiled. And it was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

" I think I can do that. "

And she moved closer to him, both immediately, searching for each others lips, their arms holding each other.

" Palmer? Are you alright in there? "

He jerked back to reality, startled by Tony's voice.

" Yeah. "

" Is just that you've been in there for a while. And I need, you know... "

" Oh! Right! Just a moment. "

He quickly grabbed a pair of black sweat pants and a loose gray t-shirt from his bag. He got dressed and placed the scrubs that he had earlier inside the bag. He then got out of the bathroom, walking to his bed and placing the bag on the floor next to it.

He heard Tony closing and locking the door, and allowed himself to get los in his memories again.