Thanks for the beta Kimber!
Katie rinsed out the washcloth and hung it on the towel bar. Glancing in the mirror, she sighed. The stress had gotten to her on a physical level now and her 'I feel sick' feeling had resulted in throwing up every time she ate. She supposed it could be food poisoning but didn't food poisoning usually cause someone to be violently ill for longer times, not throwing up every time she ate? Combine that with the bags under her eyes and she looked rough. Certainly not the 'newlywed glow' she was supposed to be exhibiting. Considering that she hated her 'husband' with a passion, not that surprising though.
Eliot knocked once then tried to open the door. "Babe, why is the door locked?"
She hastily grabbed a swig of mouthwash and spit it out before opening the door. "Sorry, must have hit the lock by mistake," she lied. Knowing her inability to lie convincingly to him, she didn't meet his eyes and moved around him quickly.
There was a long pause and when she turned around he was studying the doorknob with a face then glancing at her. "So you accidentally turned the lock?"
"I locked the door. What's the big damn deal?" she snapped for lack of a better response.
Eliot walked over to her, crossing his arms when he stopped in front of her. "The big damn deal is you lied to me over something stupid. People don't lie about insignificant things unless they're hiding something bigger. Now, do you want to tell me what's really going on?"
Katie rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. "It really sucks when you analyze everything I do. Sometimes I'd like to just say 'nothing's wrong' or 'I'm fine' and that be the end of it."
He waited, giving her that annoying face of patient determination. She was too tired to argue with him. "The stress is just making me a little bit sick lately. It's no big deal."
"How sick?" he placed his hand on her forehead and she stepped back.
"Not that kind of sick. Just you know, all pukey and tired. I'll be fine," Katie shook her head at him. "So what are we doing now?"
"You're going to lie down and take a nap until Parker and Hardison come back from recon…" Eliot put his arm around her shoulders and tried to lead her to the bed.
Katie resisted with a stunned face. "Eliot, I don't need to be coddled like a child or sent to take a nap. I said I was fine."
"I'm not treating you like a child damnit. I'm trying to be understanding…compassionate…nurturing… Damnit! Cut me some slack, you know I'm not good with this crap."
"Yeah you do kinda suck at it." Katie couldn't help but grin. Placing her hand on his cheek, she reassured him. "I'm fine. Let's just get this all over with as soon as possible. What's next?"
"You're probably going to feel worse," he replied. "But if you're up to it, you and Quinn need to go play tourist and see if Quinn can get invited to the next card game. We think there's something more to it than just a card game."
"Suddenly the nap is sounding better." Katie sat down on the bed and looked up at him with a pout. "I'm too sick to pretend to like him." When he smiled slightly she pulled on his hand until he stepped closer. "You want to play doctor?"
Eliot ran his hands down her back and kissed her on the neck before murmuring, "You know I would love to but right now I need to focus on the con. Business first. But when this is over, I'm going to make up for missing the trip to Rome. I'll take you anywhere you want to go and we'll just disappear for a few weeks. But I need to know everyone is safe before I can do that."
"I know." Katie smiled and rested her head against him. "And that's why I love you. You better be careful though. Eventually everyone will know you have a heart."
"Unfortunately they already know or they wouldn't assume I'd protect you, Parker, and Sophie in the first place."
A flicker of guilt and frustration crossed his face. Katie pulled him to sit down beside her, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Stop it. You're feeling guilty for caring enough about people that other people notice. You don't want to be a coldhearted bastard like Quinn. Just because you're protecting us doesn't mean you aren't dangerous enough that people still have to worry about you. This isn't a flaw."
"No, but it's a weakness that I don't want exposed, which is part of the reason why I didn't want a serious relationship…"
Putting her fingers over his lips Katie shook her head. "Please, let's not argue about that for the one-hundredth time. I'm with you now so no matter what, I'm safer with you than without you." He looked like he was going to argue but nodded.
"I need to make a couple of calls. Are you okay with Quinn for awhile?" he asked and she nodded, ignoring the feeling of dread that hit her stomach like a rock.
She kissed him quickly then left him to make his calls. When she went out to the living room, Quinn was stretched out on the couch in a swimsuit and shirt and glanced up, saying, "We're going to the pool. Put on a suit. Look sexy."
"I don't have a suit. I didn't know it was going to be a vacation or that I'd be swimming. I guess we need to go shopping first," she sighed as she sat down. "Next time I need to pretend to be a rich newlywed, someone needs to give me a heads up so I can prepare better."
"You can't go shopping for a suit. We're supposed to be on your honeymoon so naturally you'd already have a suit. Call Parker and Hardison to get you one," Quinn replied shoving a croissant in his mouth. "Actually get Hardison to do it. Men always pick out sexier clothes."
"Your logic baffles me and your orders annoy me," Katie shot back as she pressed the button on her phone to call Hardison. She ignored Quinn's gloating smile.
xOxOx
When Eliot came out of the bedroom, Quinn was flipping around the channels to Katie's annoyance while they waited for Parker and Hardison. It grated on his nerves as well after awhile but he didn't want Quinn to know it bothered him. Eliot resisted the urge to shove the remote down Quinn's throat. Barely.
When the others returned, Hardison handed Katie a bag as Parker shook her head, dropping down into a chair beside Hardison. "I cannot believe he spent so much money on something so little. I could have just pocketed it."
"What's that?" Eliot asked and reached into the bag that Katie was holding open. "What the hell, Hardison?"
"He said sexy. I got sexy!" Hardison replied, avoiding Eliot's glare and opening his laptop, suddenly very engrossed with whatever was on the screen.
"Where's the rest of it?" Katie responded and rolled her eyes. "I don't think I've been this naked in public since…well, other than skinny dipping…but you know, since…ever. I'm supposed to be on my honeymoon not trying to find a man."
"Just put it on. I'm going crazy here from the boredom. I need to get out of this room and away from you people for awhile." Quinn stood up as Katie left the room and Eliot shoved him back onto the couch.
"Sit down. If you think I trust you out of my sight, you're insane. Don't make me beat the fuck out of you again."
"Look, you wanted me to get an invite to the game tonight. That's what I'm going to do. The mark is at the pool. We need to mingle somehow. While we're doing that, you guys need to get into their room. Can you manage that?"
Eliot took a double take when Katie walked out of the bedroom before glancing at Hardison in openmouthed shock.
"Well…well…well…" Quinn whistled low.
Parker had been right. She probably could have put that suit in her pocket. He was afraid if she moved, she'd be flashing everyone. He couldn't resist asking, "Did you even get the right size? I mean…seriously?"
"Yes! It's the right size." Katie crossed her arms over her chest. "I can't wear this in public. I'm not supposed to be this…exposed. I'm supposed to be just married! How am I supposed to move without something falling out, Hardison?"
"Don't yell at me! He told me to buy the damn things," Hardison finally spoke but never glanced away from the computer. "I got you a cover too. Just wear that."
"I'm going to have to. This is ridiculous. And I need some sunscreen unless you intend for me to be a lobster tonight."
"I'll buy some on the way to the pool and stick you under an umbrella." Quinn said then clapped his hands once. "Let's roll."
"This is going to be a disaster. I can feel it," Katie muttered to herself as she followed Quinn out the door. Eliot was going to come down after helping Parker break into the men's suite.
"It'll be fine. Just pretend you're happy," Quinn said, pressing the elevator button. "Trust me, this isn't fun for anyone. I don't usually strut around in public completely exposed and vulnerable in my job either. I'm more of a behind the scenes person." Getting on the elevator he selected the lobby button and put his arm around her. "I'll go easy on the PDA okay? But you need to at least smile."
"If you get invited to this game, am I supposed to be there? Wouldn't it make more sense for me to be pissed off that you're doing that instead of spending time with me?"
"Good point. Yeah, work with that. Although, I'm not sure how easy this invite will be to work out. Maybe we can at least find out where it is."
The elevator doors opened and Katie forced a smile, trying to act happy. Quinn dropped his arm to hold her hand, which was better for her because she didn't end up pressed against his side anymore. Every once in awhile she'd hear Eliot, Hardison and Parker talking and it was comforting to know they were there. After buying some sunscreen, shades, and some other miscellaneous items, trying to play the part of tourist and honeymooner, they went out to the pool choosing a spot near the one of the marks. One of the men must have been swimming or something because his belongings were down there. The other was talking to a blonde whose bikini was even smaller than Katie's, which honestly, was a relief. She wasn't able to see the woman's face but something about her seemed familiar. A waiter came over and they ordered drinks.
When the woman laughed loudly, Eliot said in her ear, "Wait. Who is that near you?"
"Some blond talking to the mark. Don't recognize her. Probably just some chick," Quinn muttered, his eyes glancing over. "Katie, she going to the restrooms, I think."
"Katie, follow her. But be careful in case she's not just some random woman." Eliot was obviously concerned about this woman judging from the tension in his voice. Something seemed off.
"Why is she important?" Katie whispered, covering up again and setting her drink down on the table. Quinn was too busy listening to the mark, who was now on the phone. She leaned down and pretended to kiss his cheek and said in a normal voice, "Honey, I'm going to the bathroom. Be back in a minute."
"Don't be gone too long babe." Quinn replied but barely glanced at her. If Katie had been actually expecting his attention, which she definitely wasn't, she would be so annoyed now. But at this point it was more of a relief. Walking around the pool, she entered the ladies room after the woman. As soon as she did, she felt a hand on her arm. Katie turned, ready to defend herself but was face to face with Tara.
"Why are you here?"
"Hello kitten. Missed you too," Tara replied, smirking. "Give me your com. I'm here to help."
"Damnit Tara." Eliot muttered as Katie reached up to remove the com from her ear. Wiping it off with a paper towel, Tara put it in her ear.
After listening for a moment, Tara got seriously pissed and snapped, "Look, I tried to contact you when I left Boston but I wasn't in a position to do so. I'm here as a guest of the guy who is receiving the painting so I think it's pretty obvious that I've got an 'in' and can help. But if you want me to leave I will. Frankly, Vegas isn't my favorite place to be since an incident at the Luxor."
Katie walked to the mirror and messed with her hair and tried to appear like she wasn't listening. Eventually Tara turned to her and said, "Okay, we're going to come out of here all buddy-buddy. We were in the same sorority in college and just happened to bump into each other."
"That's never going to work. It's obvious we're not the same age." Ignoring the glare on Tara's face, Katie went on. "Why don't we use some type of charity as a cover? Or something, because really? Sorority won't work with the age difference and the obvious differences in the type of background we're from unless you can fake your way though knowing everything about my world because I certainly can't fake my way through yours."
"Valid point," Tara admitted then thought for a moment before saying, "Okay, we both went to Vanderbilt as you did. You were in the sorority; I was alumni and knew your older sister."
"Kappa Delta though because I don't think either of us could have made in to Alpha Delta Pi. They're the smart nerdy ones who actually like to go to classes."
"Yeah, we're never going to pull that off. Don't forget to pretend you like me." Tara put lip gloss on and smiled.
"I'm already pretending I like someone who threatened to rape me, kidnapped me, and tried to kill Eliot. I think I can manage pretending that."