***AUTHOR'S NOTE: Our apologies for the delay regarding the posting of this chapter. You can rest assured that many more chapters are on the way, and that CaM will soon be updated once again. In light of the delay, I HIGHLY recommend that you backtrack a chapter, and re-read chapter 15 BEFORE reading this (16). I think you'll have a better chance of recovering and recalling the story, past events, and tone of this piece..... or you could be stubborn and forge on ahead, which I suppose works too. :) Either way, it's your decision. Thank you for all of your feedback and support! Additional comments would be appreciated after you read this section. Email addy may be found at the bottom of this page. Thank you! ~Jessi
Claudia stepped from the cab, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt to conserve what little warmth she could. The early morning darkness was cold, the frigid air biting through her sweater, assailing her skin. Her head was pounding, her laggard heartbeat loud and hollow in her ears. The bottoms of her feet ached painfully in protest to the long hours she had spent pacing the hospital waiting room, hands helplessly tied.
Claudia pushed open the heavy door of the hotel entrance; she was more than ready to seek her bed, but knew full well the thoughts storming her head would most likely keep her wide awake. The outrageous events of the previous night ran through her mind repeatedly....and she cursed AJ’s existence. Damn him....what had he been trying to pull? How could he just up and leave, not giving a second thought to the people his actions placed in danger....let alone the serious harm that could have come to him had Parker not....
Claudia’s chest tightened as she pictured Parker’s prone form lying on the gurney in the ER. Blood coated her shirt and the bedding on which she lay. Her complexion had grown pale and drawn from the great loss of plasma, her ebony hair spilling around her head and shoulders like a pool of midnight blood. Parker’s eyes had remained closed, unresponsive and unmindful of the pain which surely wracked her body. Claudia hated death, hospitals included, more than anything. She loathed the medicinal scent which pervaded the air, the rot of dying people permeating the atmosphere. And to her, Parker was among those dead and dying as she lay on the stretcher. Claudia’s worry hadn’t abated a single bit, even after she had learned that her partner was going to be okay....she was going to live. The anxiety and fear continued to grip at her heart, as though the dark woman might still be pulled from this life forever...leaving Claudia alone and friendless once again.
And it was, in part, her fault. Claudia had failed, and that knowledge caused the shadowy guilt to consume her, eating away at her pseudo strong exterior as the minutes ticked by. She should have done her job....she should have been watching the monitors....she should have caught AJ’s departure....she should have....
Though their acquaintance had been formed no more than three weeks ago, Parker had become an important player in Claudia’s life, practically the only one. Not given to opening up to anyone in particular, the darker woman had somehow managed to cut past the reclusive habits and mousy exterior, finding the core of Claudia’s person. For that, Claudia felt a friendship for Parker that she had never felt for another in her life. Parker looked out for her, stuck up for her, cared for her.....and Claudia had repaid her by not doing her duty.
The lobby of the hotel loomed before the haggard redhead as she trudged slowly toward the elevators. Their doors slid open invitingly, beckoning her to board. Willingly, Claudia did so, leaning gratefully against the wall for support. She had plenty of time for silent, murky reflection now that she had returned to the hotel. As it was, AJ had ended up accompanying she and Nathaniel to the hospital, not giving Claudia much time to dwell on the severity of the circumstances, given her new found authority. AJ had demanded to see an accredited doctor for his head injury, though Claudia suspected his motivations were influenced by the close proximity of Parker. It was obvious the man felt guilty....but then, he deserved it. Claudia felt nothing but a bitter dislike for his blatant ways.....she needed a scapegoat, and he was the perfect target besides herself. No, they were both responsible for the chain of events that had transpired, one with seemingly premeditated intent, and the other unintentionally.
Claudia had shouldered the burden of command without a word, trying her best to act as Parker would have...it was harder than anything she’d attempted before. An impenetrable mask had been donned, leaving her features blank and expressionless. Emerald eyes usually so bright and alert had become lackluster, clouded with worry and the need to fill a pair of impossible shoes. That Nathaniel was concerned about her was obvious....inwardly she cringed at the sterile way she had handled Parker’s delivery to the hospital...filling out the medical forms to the best of her knowledge....standing watch over the proceedings.....seeing that AJ was treated.
It all unraveled as seemlessly as a play, and in truth, Claudia felt like a bystander, watching her life and the events therein from afar. Now though, now she was free to feel and think and hurt. There wasn’t anyone to notice, no one left to put on a pretense of control for. For that, Claudia was grateful....she didn’t think she could have held out much longer. Sending Nathaniel back to the hotel with AJ had been her saving grace. After their departure, she had been left alone in the barren hospital with no one to see her collapse in exhaustion into a chair. Shortly thereafter, Parker’s doctor had come to speak with Claudia, informing her that , though her partner had lost a great deal of blood, she would be just fine. The wound had been inflicted on her upper right shoulder, the bullet gliding through her flesh. Thank God for the exit wound. The offending shot had torn through several ligaments and the muscle, but Parker’s recovery was certain. She would be all right. Claudia, on the other hand, would never be the same. That night was definitely not one she wanted to relive.....ever.
The elevator chimed her arrival on the designated floor. There would most likely be no moving on to the next city, come dawn. Parker was being held overnight for observation, but would be allowed to return to her ‘home’ for further rest and recuperation. Claudia nearly begged the doctors to keep her friend in the hospital....she knew Parker would probably demand to be released, thinking she should return to work.
For now, the female head of security was drugged up on pain killers, oblivious to all that went on around her.... it was just as well.
The more Claudia thought about it, the more it seemed that this mission had been doomed from the start. As if the attempts on the Boys’ lived hadn’t been enough, whoever was behind all of this had resorted to instilling paranoia in the entourage via creepy phone calls and dangerous internet encounters. Their aim? To keep the Boys and security on edge...keep them guessing. And their plan had worked.
The truly frightening thing which Claudia couldn’t stop thinking about, was the power of the shot Parker had been subjected to. Michael had recounted the fact that the gunfire had come from the rooftop of the six story building across the street. Handguns and shotguns tended to lose their a great deal of their velocity and force of impact at anything more than 100 yards away. While handguns, such as Claudia’s own Colt Commander, were ideal for short range confrontations, a rifle would be needed to cross the distance of the city block from the vantage point of the roof across the way. A high powered rifle would have been best, with a state of the art scope....and it was likely that that was exactly what had been used. Semi automatic weapons and several models of the sort of rifle Claudia referred to could be purchased legally, at a firearms dealer.....but many, including Claudia herself, favored the anonymity buying from an illegal dealer provided. No paperwork, no background checks, and more importantly, no questions. Yes, the person or persons behind this mess certainly had dangerous motives, money, and connections... all of which worried Claudia to no end.
And here, in the midst of it all, Parker wasn’t able to be by her side. Instead, she had done her job, taken the bullet for AJ, and it had earned her a private suite in the local hospital. Claudia thought bitterly of the irony of the situation. Parker, the strong as stone foundation of the team, was the one who had been injured. It was entirely too reminiscent of Archille’s heel, Claudia decided.
With a heartfelt sigh, she came to a halt in front of her hotel room as she fumbled for her key card. Claudia dug deep in the recesses of her pockets, finally finding the slip of plastic, and sliding it into the slot in the lock. The faint click of the door unlatching resounded through the quiet hallway. Pushing the portal open gently, Claudia hesitated before entering the room. Her brow furrowed as she thought, her lower lip caught unconsciously between her teeth. Indecisively, as though she were afraid to, Claudia glanced toward the solid wood panel two rooms down and across the hallway from hers. Her breath slowed considerably while she contemplated the direction her thoughts traveled. She could barely make out Jack’s form at the far end of the hall as he read the latest issue of Newsweek. Claudia’s gaze darted between the security guard and the door across the way. Finally, steeling herself with courage she had been unaware she possessed, she edged toward the other room.
As she stood before the panel, she inhaled deeply and raised her fist to knock softly on the wood. The noise was barely audible, but it was all the strength she had in her at that moment. When no answer was forthcoming, she realized she would have to do without him. Claudia was about to step back to retrace her steps to the lonely bed which awaited her, when the door swung open to reveal just the person she had wanted so badly to see.
“Claudia,” Howie exclaimed softly, his warm brown eyes filling with concern. His eyebrows raised in surprise, and though he did not smile, she knew instinctively that he was not unhappy to see her.
“Hi,” she greeted quietly, quickly appraising his attire. He wore a pair of dark blue boxers and a white tank....for once, she was simply too tired to become embarrassed.
“You’re back,” he stated the obvious as he gazed at the petite redhead in front of him. Her features were so weary, he feared she had been fatigued far past her level of tolerance. Her skin was a shade paler than usual, lacking the rosy glow she normally bore. Her hair, always askew -vibrant with life- lay flat and somber. But most of all....her eyes were filled with pain, the same kind which had taken residence in his heart.
“Yes,I just got in,” she told him, clearing her throat in an attempt to speak past the unshed tears plaguing her. “I....I thought you would like to know that AJ is back as well.....he’s all right.”
At that moment, Howie would not for the life of him, have told Claudia that AJ had all ready stopped by. Instead, he gently pushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, laying his palm alongside her cheek for a brief time. “Thank you, I appreciate that. How’s Parker?”
“She’s okay...they say she’ll recover just fine. She lost a lot of blood though. They’re keeping her for overnight observation. The doctor said she can come back tomorrow afternoon as long as she rests.”
Howie nodded, letting the pause between them lengthen before saying, “And how is Claudia?” The question, asked so kindly and with such tender emotion, was nearly her undoing.
“I’m all right. Don’t worry about me,” her voice was soft as a feather, as she averted her eyes from his. “I should probably let you get back to bed, now.”
Again, he did not tell her that he hadn’t slept a wink since she had left for the hospital with the others. “Okay....if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure,” she confirmed without conviction, turning reluctantly. Her feet padded softly on the carpet as every step she took tore her away from the only source of comfort she could conceive of. At her door, she glanced over her shoulder, finding Howie still in his doorway. With a tiny wave, she entered her suite, sinking back against the closed panel for support. Closing her eyelids, Claudia watched the shadows dance on the inside of her head for a moment.
Finally hauling herself away from the entrance, Claudia stumbled to her duffel bag, extracting a pair of pajamas. They were cotton, bearing a paisley print in shades of burgundy, forest green, and tan. Shedding her clothing listlessly, she pulled the sleep apparel over her slight frame. Even in the clothes labeled ‘small’, the cuffs of the sleeves hung nearly to her fingertips, with hem of her pants tucking beneath her bare feet as she walked.
Claudia made her way into the spacious bathroom, turning the hot water faucet on full blast, then leaning forward to drench her face. She didn’t have the energy required for a shower, so this would have to do until morning. Placing her hands on either side of the sink, Claudia propped herself up, starring at the soap bubbles as they were drawn down the drain. A quiet knock at the door jarred her from her musings, and she moved to answer it.
“Hi,” it was his turn to greet her. Claudia’s eyes widened in confusion as she assessed the Latin man outside her room.
“Hey.”
“So, I was laying there and I couldn’t get to sleep,” he told her.
“Why?,” she murmured with genuine curiosity.
“I’m not liking it when you lie to me,” he admitted, not angry, just matter of fact.
“When I...?”
“You’re not ‘all right’, Claudia. I think you’re far from it,” Howie explained gently. “And I’m concerned.”
“About what?”
“You.”
The last word hung between them, deafening in it’s intensity. Howie took a hesitant step forward, barely moving, but expressing his care to her. Claudia’s mouth began to tremble as her emerald spheres grew watery. Slowly, she pressed a hand to her forehead, as if trying to tame her wild thoughts and the tears which threatened to spill.
Howie felt pulled in a thousand different directions, part of him longing to snatch her up in his arms, the other half telling him to let her make a move toward him. The latter won out, and Howie held his space. v“Funny thing,” she began, “I’m not okay. I don’t feel well at all,” she confessed, her voice no higher than a whisper. “In fact I.....I think I might.....” she was breathless and desperate to feel his strong arms around her as they had been at the toy store. She craved his touch, but didn’t know how to ask for it....or if he would even give it. “Howie....please.” she finally asked hoarsely. “Please....”
He needed no second invitation as he stepped forward to envelope her in his secure embrace, holding her tightly to his chest. She felt frail in his grasp, as delicate as a new born chick. He held her tenderly, one hand planted firmly at her waist, the other stroking her back softly.
As soon as her face buried in his chest, Claudia felt the hot tears spill over, tracing paths down her cheeks as she tossed all caution of strong facade to the wind. The wonderful warmth of his body merged with hers as he caressed her gently. Slowly, Claudia’s arms snaked up his chest, finally winding themselves around his neck. Rising on her toes, she endeavored to be closer still, the soft skin of her cheek pressing against the side of his neck and jaw. Howie could feel her heated tears burning as they slid down the column of his neck.
Moving them into the room entirely, Howie shut the door behind them as he continued to hold the tiny woman. At last, when the majority of her cries had abated, Howie picked her up in his arms, carrying her to the bed which was obviously hers. She stiffened noticeably as she felt the mattress beneath her, but he quickly reassured her saying, v“It’s more comfortable for you. Sleep now, I’ll be here.” he sat on the bed beside her, holding her hand while lightly brushing his thumb back and forth across her skin.
It took a few moments for her to become comfortable again, but Claudia soon felt herself begin to drift off to sleep. Just before she was lost to her dreams for the night, she grew aware of the bed shifting as Howie attempted to stand.
“No...please....stay...,” she murmured sleepily. He starred at her serene features, her soft tug on his hand convincing him to settle back beside her. She breathed a word of thanks and he made himself at home on the empty side of the double bed. She had repositioned herself on the far side away from him, but had kept their hands entwined in the center of the mattress. Howie lay back, resuming his delicate caress of her palm, his gaze trained on the bundle of red curls beside him.
*****
Parker walked through the hotel lobby, flanked by Claudia and Nathaniel on either side. Words could not express how thrilled she was to be out of the hospital. Upon waking up the previous day in the hospital, she'd demanded to be discharged immediately...but to no avail. Unfortunately, she was under strict orders from the doctor to remain in bed and rest. Parker hated the sterile walls of hospitals...it was the only time she ever felt claustrophobic. The lengthly stay she'd had in the hospital after Senator Kravik's assassination was still fresh in her mind...the surgery she'd undergone to remove the bullet from her chest, the pain medication she'd been pumped up on.
Last night she'd been startled awake by a nurse brandishing a needle. Despite her weakened condition, Parker had flat out refused the medication, scaring the nurse half to death with her brisk manner and cold eyes. The poor woman had fled from the room in tears, but Parker could care less. She never took any medication unless it was a necessity, and even then she'd only take it in pill form. So now, armed with a prescription bottle of pain killers with her arm in a sling...well, she'd certainly felt better. She hated admitting that her services were now limited, but the satisfaction she'd received from just knowing that AJ was still alive and well was more than enough.
Claudia had reported that AJ was still more than a little shaken up, but other than that, he was fine. The lump on his head had diminished considerably, but he wasn't speaking much to anyone. Remembering the emotional outburst she'd displayed in front of AJ, Parker actually dreaded seeing him. As the three of them stepped from the elevator onto their floor, Parker shrugged her trench coat off of her shoulders and cradled it over her left arm. She began removing the sling from her right, drawing Claudia's concerned green gaze to her.
"What are you doing?," she asked.
"Taking this damn thing off, it's driving me insane," Parker answered.
"You know you really aren't supposed to do that yet...you don't want to open the wound."
Parker sighed, but Claudia's eyes were huge and pleading. The smaller woman had obviously had a lot on her plate over the last two days, and Parker felt guilty for leaving her alone at the helm...even though the circumstances were well beyond her control. Parker decided to humor her...she left the sling on.
Parker was surprised to find nearly every member of their mismatched crew crammed into the room she shared with Claudia. Anxious, solemn faces stared stared up at her as she entered the room, obviously they had all been waiting for her return. And for once, Parker was unsure of what to say. Four of the boys Boys, the remaining three guards, and even Jackson were sprawled out around the room...only AJ and Michael were absent from the scene.
"Welcome back boss," Jackson said quietly, shattering the silence. Parker acknowledged his greeting with a simple nod of her head. The floodgates seemed to burst open then, and soon everyone was bombarding her with inquiries.
"How do you feel?"
"Do you want to sit down?"
"Are you in pain?"
"Do you need anything?"
"What's it feel like to get shot?"
The last question had come from Nick, and despite herself, Parker smiled. Maybe it was the hazy effects of the pain medication...but she suddenly found the situation extremely amusing. These people had certainly expressed their displeasure with her, she'd argued with just about every single one of them...and here they were...fussing over her.
"What do you think it feels like Carter?," she asked, though without the hard edge her tone normally held. "It hurts like a bitch."
Wearily she sank down into the chair that Kevin had vacated for her, and let Claudia take her trench coat from her hands.
"But you're okay now right?," Howie asked, his brown eyes warm with unspoken admiration.
"Of course," she answered, blowing it off, as if getting shot were an everyday occurrence for her. "The bullet passed right through...no biggie."
"You're supposed to take it easy for a week or two," Claudia reminded gently.
Parker rolled her eyes. "I still have a job to do, Claud."
"Well you won't be any use to us if you let your wound get infected," Claudia scoffed. Parker still felt a little dizzy from the added combination of blood loss and pain medication...her mood was far more mellow than normal...far more mellow than anyone in the room had ever seen her. "So...what did I miss?" she asked, intending to get right back into the swing of things.
"I got attacked by a bunch of fans yesterday afternoon in the lobby," Nick answered.
"Yeah...and one fan's mother um...offered me...an interesting uh...proposition," Kevin offered, blushing a little. To everyone's shock...Parker actually chuckled a bit.
"But no one had any more trouble?," she asked, a slight smile still playing on her lips.
"Nope...things have been pretty quiet around here," Nathaniel replied.
"How's the equipment?," she asked, directing her question to Claudia.
"Working fine," Claudia responded.
Parker's eyes softened as she looked at her partner. She knew that the smaller woman was extremely bothered by the events that had transpired during AJ's nightly escape. Her usually vivid eyes were dull; Parker suspected unspoken, unnecessary guilt. Parker made a mental note to speak to her later. In this line of work, one quickly learned that sometimes dangerous situations were an occupational hazard. No one was to blame. But for now she had one other piece of business to deal with.
"So where's McLean at?," she questioned, knowing that she had to reassure herself of his well being...had to see him to believe.
Howie and Kevin shared a nervous glance, then finally Howie said, "My guess is that he's probably down in the bar."
"He's pretty much been down there since he got back from the hospital," Kevin stated.
Parker stood and addressed everyone in the room, "Well guys...it's back to business as usual. If you need me...you know where I'll be." She paused to retrieve her radio and her tracking device, then, as though she were making a split second decision, she spoke again.
"By the way...I'm making another change in guards," she said. "From now on...you're with Michael," she told Nick. "I'll send him up."
No one said a word as she swept from the room. Everyone was pretty much thinking the same thing...it would be a very long time before Parker let AJ out of her sight again.
Parker was surprised to find her hands shaking as she made her way down to the hotel bar. Her normal cool resolve was shattering piece by piece each day that she worked with these people, and after her emotional outburst in front of AJ...she simply didn't know how to approach him. As much as she hated to admit it, this case was becoming more personal especially in the face of the current incident. Glancing down at her wounded arm, resting in its sling, she realized that yes, it had become personal...though not because she'd been shot. That was merely a risk she'd taken in this line of work. No, it was personal because of what had nearly happened to AJ. And the realization that it could happen at any given time, to any one of them solidified her determination to solve this case.
AJ was the only customer in the bar, seeing how it wasn't even lunch time yet, with Michael standing a safe distance away. His shoulders were slumped dejectedly, and without warning, her heart suddenly constricted in her chest. A wave of bleak sadness brought stinging tears to her eyes, and disgusted, she wiped them away with one efficient movement of her hand. Stunned by her uncharacteristic emotions, she closed her eyes in an attempt to shake them off. She told herself it was just the medication affecting her senses, but deep down it was more than that. The enormity of the situation was finally settling in.
Still, by the time she reached AJ's side, all traces of her emotional onslaught had vanished. She waved Michael away without ceremony, not not trusting herself to speak yet. Taking on her usual indifference, Parker finally took the glass from AJ's hand just as he was raising it to his lips. "Alcoholics aren't very nice people McLean," she stated calmly, placing the glass back on the bar. "So I don't suggest that you continue your campaign to become one. And besides that, I need you alert and functional."
His eyes were silently questioning her when he lifted his gaze to hers, and his skin had gone a pale shade of ash white. She only lifted an eyebrow, waiting...trying desperately to hide her nervousness and the tell-tale shaking of her hands. She was flooded with relief that he appeared to be okay, but still terribly embarrassed that he had witnessed her breakdown. Then suddenly, before she had time to react, his hands were cupping her face and his lips were on hers. Even more surprising was the fact that she didn't fight the gentle pressure of his kiss, when normally she would've broken his arm for taking such liberties. If he had been anyone else, she would have. It was a simple kiss, but full of warmth, and again she didn't fight him when his lips left hers and he pulled her until she was standing between his thighs, and hugged her tightly to him.
He was offering the one thing she'd been without for most of her life...physical comfort. It wasn't something that she particularly needed, she'd gone without it many times before. It was just a new experience to her. No one had ever held her this way...not even her mother. Once, when she was a little girl, she had fallen off her bicycle and scraped her knees up. Her mother had slapped a band-aid on it and left Parker standing there with tears streaming down her face. And it had been very much the same when she'd broken her arm...no one offered to hug her, to make her feel better. No one but her siblings. And since their deaths, she'd learned to suppress the yearnings she'd had for physical interaction.
Somehow, AJ had just seemed to know. For a brief instant, she let herself go and clung to him with her good arm, reveling in this new sense of human compassion that she'd never felt from anyone. Sighing softly, she rested her cheek against his shoulder and fought the urge to close her eyes. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered that this was highly inappropriate behavior on her part, but she ignored the warning for the moment. Besides...he smelled really good and his hands were slowly stroking her hair.
"Thank you Parker," he whispered. "I'll try not to be stupid anymore, I promise."
She smiled, despite the voice in her head telling her not to. "I guess you'll take what I say seriously from now on then."
"Count on it."
"Good, because I've appointed myself your new guard," she answered.
"What for? I promise I'll be a good boy from now on," he said, mock humor in his voice.
"Because regardless of what you say, I'm not giving you another chance to do something that idiotic again."
"You don't trust me?"
He sounded a little hurt, but Parker didn't let that stop her next words, "I did trust you...I trusted you to act responsibly and to do what I tell you. These guys aren't playing games...your life is on the line. You want me to trust you again? You'll have to earn it."
After a few silent seconds, she heard him mumble, "Fair enough Detective."
Finally, she detached herself from his arms, not wanting to get too comfortable being there. Clearing her throat, she sat down on the barstool beside his and fought to clear her mind. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence that stretched between them, just an annoying one, and AJ was the first to break it.
"Parker...I don't know what I can say, or what I can do to ever thank you enough for being there. If you hadn't..." He stopped to clear his throat, obviously thinking of what might have been.
Parker didn't give him a chance to say anything more. "AJ look at me," she commanded quietly, she'd known that this would come up eventually, and she was more than prepared for it. Her soft use of his first name drew his attention to her immediately. He found that he liked hearing it fall from her lips...she made it sound like an endearment, a caress of a word.
Her eyes met his evenly when she said, "When you go out on that stage every night and sing, do you expect all of those people in the audience to thank you for doing it?" He shook his head, she nodded, "Because you love doing it right? Because it's what you do?"
"Yes."
"Well...this is what I do. The occupational hazards are a little different of course, but I don't expect to be thanked for doing what I love...for doing my job."
AJ wanted to protest, to emphatically point out the differences in their careers...the woman had saved his life after all, yet she treated it as though it was an everyday occurrence. Hell, maybe for her it was. Instead he let the matter drop completely with a nod of his head. He had a million questions he wanted to ask, questions about Senator Kravik..after her panic in the alley when she had begged him not to be dead...he was more than curious as to what actually happened to her.
He was contemplating how to approach the subject when she suddenly tilted her head and adjusted the ear piece to her radio.
"Okay Claudia...we're on our way now," she said quietly. Turning back to AJ she said, "We're getting ready to pull out now. They're waiting on us."
"Another day, another city," he said, standing up and stretching.
They walked side by side to the elevator, and once safely enclosed and ascending, Parker suddenly glanced at him. "About that kiss..."
"What about it?," he asked, feeling his heartbeat quicken just remembering the soft feel of her lips against his.
"Don't let it happen again McLean," she said, looking away from him to stare straight ahead.
When he didn't answer right away, Parker glanced back at him again, startled by the heat in his suggestive gaze.
"But it will happen again Detective," he said, in a matter-of-fact tone that unnerved her. He sounded so smug, so sure of himself that she wanted to slap him silly.
"Don't try to provoke me...it won't work," she warned.
"I'm not," he replied, "I'm simply stating what I know to be true."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because I'm having a hard enough time keeping my hands off you as it is. And with us working so closely together now...well...you get my drift."
She tried to ignore the tingle of sensation that ran up her spine at his low, seductive admission. Had she unknowingly just made her job a lot harder on herself by choosing to guard him? The elevator doors slid open then, allowing her no more time to entertain her thoughts. From that moment on, she was all work again, calm as ever on the outside, but tense on the inside.
It wasn't until much later, seated on the bus as it rolled towards a new city, that she returned to her personal thoughts. Claudia was engrossed with her computer, Parker took the opportunity of this rare free time to clean her sword. The decision turned out to be a grave mistake on her part. The second she removed it from the case, the memory of AJ's hands stroking the blade assaulted her mind. She thought of his earlier words and wondered. Would she have the will power to stop him if he wanted to kiss her again? She thought so...no, she knew she would. It was another question that worried her, that nagged her well into the night. Would she even want to stop him?
*****
“One more time, from the top,” Kevin instructed. This elicited a collective groan of protest from the other four fifths of the group, but they nevertheless resumed their positions. An up tempo beat poured over the massive speakers suspended above the stage as Kevin counted off the measures to the start of their routine. Perfectly in sync, the five bodies on stage moved to the rhythm flawlessly, a sight impressive enough to command respect from even the most callous of critics.
Not for the first time, the activities on stage drew Claudia’s attention away from her computer screen though her fingers were still poised above the keys. The men in the spotlight were mesmerizing in every sense of the word, from their impeccable harmonies to their fluid movements. One figure in particular seemed to lure her thoughts and focus like never before, his stage presence commanding her eyes to look at him. And she did.
As she gazed at Howie in the midst of his band mates, singing soulfully even though the twenty thousand venue seats weren’t yet occupied, she knew what had attracted her to him from the start. It was a simple concept really: he cared. He cared about those surrounding him, from the grip who set up the stage, to the caterer who provided their meals, to the tiny redheaded security guard who stuttered whenever she tried to talk to him.
Seeing Howie at her door the evening prior had spurred a rush of emotions, flowing through the barren plains of Claudia’s heart like a flashflood in the depths of the Sahara. His presence beside her had offered a kind of comfort she wasn’t used to receiving, but had craved during the years of her recluse, though she was only now beginning to realize it. A computer wasn’t capable of affection, no matter how had Claudia had relied upon it. In truth, waking up next to the Latin man had been like a thousand swarming hugs for her psyche. While the mere fact that they had shifted together to the middle of the bed sometime during the night was enough to make her face light up like a stoplight, Claudia’s embarrassment simply could not overpower the surreal element of it all.
Instinctively, she understood that his interest in her was more than just that of a potential friend. However, she was not entirely sure that he knew what he was seeing when he looked at her..... or what he was getting, for that matter. Howie couldn’t possibly understand her lifestyle; the illegal acts she committed on a regular basis would be enough to turn him away for good. How could anyone with his beliefs and values comprehend her motives? How could someone like Howie avert their eyes whenever she made another sale which would lend itself to the obstruction of justice, fair trade, or legitimate business?
But even that knowledge didn’t make the allure of the man any less potent, she thought ruefully, making a conscious effort to return her gaze to the computer screen. The bottoms of her feet rested comfortably flat on the back of the seat in front of her, providing a makeshift surface for her laptop to perch upon. The surveillance and tracking programs were up and running once again, this time with a few minor changes.
In light of the AJ escapade, Claudia had reclaimed the tracking devices one by one and had added a heat sensor to the back of each. Now, the system ran only when the device was in direct contact with a source of heat which matched the estimated temperature of the human body, providing the necessary assurance that the designated bearer of the pin was indeed wearing it. Furthermore, Claudia had increased the photographic resolution of the security cameras, cleaning up the imagery until it was clear as a bell. While probably not critical to their security regime, it made the team’s technical expert a bit more comfortable with the situation. The seeds of personal doubt had been planted, and Claudia was determined to combat them with every ounce of protective services she could offer.
That very morning, she had placed a rush order to one of her contacts, requesting that call tracing apparatus be included in the next shipment of equipment which was due to arrive that afternoon. This time, the long awaited phone taps would await her installation as well as the latest component which was capable of overriding the internal extensions present in an establishment such as a hotel. Claudia could hardly contain the excitement which welled inside her, forming a lump of anticipation at the back of her throat. New gadgets always inspired new ideas, and she hadn’t had the opportunity to really appreciate the technical excellence of the equipment she had incorporated into this job.
The music died then, the last chords fading away into nothingness as the Boys held the final stance of their routine. Sweat beaded along their foreheads and their shirts clung to their upper bodies as evidence of the challenging work out they had endured over the past half an hour. Nick and Brian collapsed into a heap on the stage floor, their actions only partially in jest. Howie snatched a water bottle from the platform at the center of the stage and sat on the edge, letting his feet swing over the side. Kevin and AJ continued to stretch, relaxing their muscles properly.
Nathaniel plopped into the seat next to Claudia and sighed dramatically. A smile crept onto her face as she appraised the haggard man beside her.
“What’s up?” she asked, cocking her head and raising an eyebrow as he slumped comfortably in the folding chair, smack in the center of the twelveth row.
“The usual. Another mob of prepubescent girls tried to get past venue security, a middle aged fan attempted to sneak in with the catering truck, and some woman flashed me in a desperate campaign to obtain an all access pass,” he shrugged offhandedly, “You know, the usual.”
“Tough job,” Claudia sympathized wryly, a chuckle escaping her lips.
“Yeah, well. Somebody’s gotta do it, right?” he gave her a shit eating grin, a tell tale sign that denounced the severity of his complaints.
“So, did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Give her the pass?”
“Hey! I do have some morals,” he pouted, enjoying the fact that the introverted redhead was coming out of her shell long enough to exchange a light banter with him. He worried often about her reclusive habits and whether or not she would be able to truly open herself up to being a part of the team. Even Parker interacted with the other guards more than Claudia did. And Parker was antisocial at best. “So, how are things going with Howie?” he inquired, then watched as the familiar red glow swept across her cheeks.
“Fine,” she shrugged, inadvertently telling him in that one word just how ‘fine’ she found the situation. If nothing else, the tentative relationship between Howie and Claudia was of interest to the rest of them as a point of distraction from the horrific events of the past several days. Months, if one wanted to get technical about it. “What about Brian?”
Nathaniel directed a withering glance at the redhead.
“That great, huh?” she giggled, grateful to be out of the limelight of the topic at hand.
“That boy is a ball of pure energy. I swear to God, if this shit doesn’t clear up soon so we can get Leighanne in here to relieve some of his sexual deprivation, I can’t be held responsible for what I might do to him.”
“Sexual deprivation?”
“Hey, that energy is coming from somewhere, and there’s only one thing I can think of that would need that amount of vigor redirected.” Claudia blushed anew as she caught the meaning of Nathaniel’s words, eliciting a loud laugh from the burly man. “Sorry, Red. I keep forgetting what it’s like to have an innocent among us. So, what’s new in Inspector Gadget’s closet?”
“Nothing yet. But soon, Nate, soon.”
Brian chose that moment to leap up from his lethargic position on the stage floor and bellow for Nathaniel’s presence.
“I think your best friend is calling you,” Claudia grinned unrepentantly as the bodyguard glared sourly.
“Best friend, my ass,” he muttered, though he rose to the occasion with a fluid strength she supposed only a man with his training could muster. “See you later, Claud.”
The others seemed to take their cues from Brian, as each located their bodyguard to accompany them as they performed their various pre performance rituals. Before she knew it, only Howie was left sitting on the edge of the stage, looking at her. They starred at one another for a second, each lost in their thoughts and the effort to become omniscient at a moment’s notice. Finally, he slid off the stage as she began to stride toward him, laptop in hand.
“Hey,” she greeted softly, feeling as though she were treading on uncertain territory where their relationship was concerned. Something had happened between them the night prior, something neither was quite sure what to label. Claudia thought that, perhaps.... it was trust. Despite their emotional connection, she felt as nervous as a racehorse at a starting gate, when all of her instincts called for her to ‘run!’ as fast as she could, not casting a single glance back. But then there were those foreign stirrings in the pit of her stomach that made her want to inhale the scent of his aftershave mingling with the starchy flavor of the crisp hotel sheets.
“How do you feel today?” he asked. The inquiry held a thousand different undertones, questions close to the surface of his mind which had yet to be answered. Though they had been in one another’s presence most of the day, the pair hadn’t had an opportunity to discuss what had transpired between them, let alone get a personal question in edgewise. And it didn’t look as if now was going to be that moment of revelation, either. A group of grips hauling yet another soundboard entered the floor of the arena, causing plenty of commotion and ruining whatever significant words had been about to pass between the two. Wordlessly, they began to head for the greenroom.
*****
He couldn’t help but cast a sideways glance in her direction, admiring the way her buoyant red curls never seemed to be able to tame themselves. Now, as always, they were in a state of violent disarray, contributing yet again to that childlike, innocent aura he had observed the first day she strode into the dressing room with Parker. He could still picture the way her locks had looked spread out upon the fresh white pillow case the night before. The contrast between her fiery hair and the material had been stunning....almost as stunning as the woman herself.
While most men would have dismissed the mousy female from the start, Howie had been captivated by her. She was so quiet and yet, he knew she must have a multitude of stories to tell. Her demeanor was calming the majority of the time, but when electronics were in the vicinity...Lord help them. That was another thing that Howie found enchanting. She got such a euphoric expression on her face whenever her hands touched anything even remotely technical. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head and the fact that she became completely oblivious to the world as a result was oddly endearing.
As if to emphasise his fascination, Howie hadn’t been able to sleep. Knowing that she lay beside him and that he was unable to take her into his arms had been a tedious study in self control. She tempted him the way no other woman had before. She wasn’t the least bit seductive in the traditional sense. She didn’t have long legs or silicone lips or even a sizable bust. But she did have charming naivity and the bashful way she looked at him through her lashes made his heart race. And he knew better than anyone that there was a woman’s figure hidden beneath those voluminous sweaters of hers.
He also knew that she guarded herself like a closely kept secret and that he would have to work, to chip away every piece of that withdrawn attitude of hers, a little at a time. A woman like Claudia couldn’t be rushed. After five minutes in her company, one could presume that she was innocent in the ways of men, having probably not been the most sought after ‘prize’ of a girlfriend in her younger years....or even now. But none of that mattered to him.
What mattered most was the fact that she had opened up to him the night before. It had taken a lot of courage, he knew, to have asked him to stay when virtuous propriety had shouted for her to turn him away. Her tiny hand had felt so right, nestled in his own palm. And later, when she had unconsciously shifted toward him, curling up at his side and pressing her face into his chest like there was no tomorrow.....needless to say, that had not exactly been his finest hour. Howie had struggled nearly until dawn, trying to decide whether he wanted to wrap his arms around her or watch her sleep, head pillowed on his shoulder.....or both. Finally, when he had thought he could take no more, sleep claimed him, merciful in it’s escape. Even that hadn’t stopped his dreams from running rampant.
Howie had been bitterly disappointed that morning, when he woke alone on the large expanse of mattress. He sat up as straight as a board in bed, anxious gaze darting about the room. An empty bed loomed beside him, no trace of Claudia, save for the indent her head had made in the pillow and the pineapple scent of her bodywash which still assailed his nostrils and clung to the air of the hotel room. Howie could smell her on his t shirt, and for that reason, he hadn’t changed it. Rather, he had simply worn it beneath his gray fitted sweater that morning in hopes she would remain with him throughout the day.
Now, Claudia sat with her legs tucked beneath her, perched atop the low coffee table in front of the couch on which he made himself comfortable. She seemed to have a certain dislike -or disregard, he couldn’t decide which- for conventional chairs, preferring instead to locate herself where she pleased. More often than not, the floor or a table won out. He found himself wondering yet again what was going on inside her head. Her lower lip caught between her teeth in concentration, she was typing rapidly, probably inputting what she would refer to as ‘data’.
Howie turned another page in his book without having read the one prior. In fact, he hadn’t read any of the pages he had been thumbing through as his thoughts had been otherwise occupied. There were forty five minutes until show time and he was settled quietly, ‘reading’ his most recent novel and sipping lemon and honey tea, as was his custom before a concert.
A soft knock sounded on the door then, breaking the lull of silence which had settled over the room. Parker’s form appeared in the doorway, masked by something large, colorful, and fragrant.
“These came for you,” she informed them as she entered the premises bearing a floral arrangement gingerly in her arms.
“And these,” AJ added even as they noticed a similar set in his grasp. Both placed their loads on the coffee table beside Claudia as Howie’s mind reverted back to their conversation regarding significant others.
Excitement illuminated the petite woman’s face as she appraised the collection of blossoms before tearing into them with unparalleled furor.
The other three occupants exchanged puzzled glances as she ripped the flowers from their vase, dropping them in a pile at her feet, paying no regard to the preservation or resulting condition of the blooms.
“Wow...what’d those flowers ever do to you?” AJ muttered to no one in particular.
“Um...aren’t you even curious as to who they’re from?” Howie hazarded.
The smile on Claudia’s face didn’t diminish in the least as she reached for florist’s foam at the base of the arrangement which had secured the stems in their rightful places. Loosening the glue which held the foam in place, she soon tore that free as well. All that was left of the beautiful creation was an empty round vase.
“I already know who sent it, and he’s outdone himself this time,” she announced. They watched as she turned the block of foam over in her hands, exposing a mass of technical equipment. Whomever ‘he’ was had been clever, cutting a niche out of the synthetic material for each component then gluing the entire thing into the bottom of vessel and disguising in such a fashion. An amused smile grew on Parker’s lips in appreciation of the fine scheme.
“Let me guess,” she intoned wryly, indicating the bunch of blooms AJ had carried, “more of the same?”
“Why don’t they just Fed Ex this shit?” AJ scoffed, not seeing the necessity to go to such lengths for a couple lousy pieces of black plastic.
“Because, when Claudia goes shopping, she doesn’t go to just any old radio shack, do you?” Howie teased with a grin.
“Then where do you go?”
“A mail order catalog, AJ, where do you think?” Parker shook her head, returning her attention to her partner. “So that’s it, huh?”
“Pretty much.”
“Then you’ll need the guys’ cell phones, correct?” at Claudia’s nod, the other woman continued skeptically, “are you sure these things are going to work?”
“Sure,” Claudia shrugged then turned to the man beside her, “Howie, give me your cell for a second.” He obliged her request, handing it over with a flourish. “The first step is to install a tap so we can record all of the conversations which take place on this phone.”
“Wait, you’re going to listen in on everything I say?” Howie’s forehead furrowed.
“Well, we’ll have to. I mean, it’s not like we can set the tap to omit certain calls. It’s programed to record everything once the phone line has been picked up or in this case, the connection opened. This may be high tech equipment, but it’s not THAT powerful.” Howie seemed satisfied with her answer and Claudia took his silence as green light. “The tap itself is made up of two components; the first of which, is a miniature automatic phone line transmitter. When you remove the back casing of the cell, the inner workings are exposed. The transmitter is connected to the wire which feeds directly into the line or service provider. This is so that both ends of the conversation may be recorded.” Claudia lifted the transmitter on the tip of her finger.
“That is fuckin’ tiny,” AJ breathed.
“Seventeen by fourteen millimeters,” she stated proudly. Gently nestling the transmitter in the bed of wires in the phone, she extracted a pair of tweezers and a tiny probe from the trademark mesh bag at her feet. Carefully, she linked the transmitter to the phone line itself.
“You said there are two components to the tap,” Parker observed.
“Right. The second is a cassette recorder which is set to the same VHF frequency of the transmitter. The range of the two pieces together is about 400 meters in open space, so you’ll have to keep these recorders on hand. Maybe in your cell case.”
“What about the tape?” Parker prodded. Claudia’s expression belied her confusion. “How often will we have to replace them?” she clarified.
“Oh, that’s the best part!” Claudia exclaimed, fairly beaming with excitement, “The motor speed of the recorder has been reduced one third of it’s normal rate. This feature extends the actual recording time of a 120 minute tape to a total of six hours.”
“And that’s it?” AJ asked, his eyebrows nearly blending into his hairline as he starred at the little woman in disbelief. “You just stick that little disk in there, do your thing, and bam! We’re on candid camera?”
“More like candid phone line, but yeah......that’s it,” Claudia confirmed. “Oh! One more thing....because the average phone tap doesn’t generally work on internal extensions, I’ve ordered a special transmitter for the phones in your hotel rooms. Aside from a call tracing extension which will feed into the GPS system on my laptop, I’ve nothing more to add.”
“Will that tracing gadget go in my phone too?” Howie inquired with a lift of his eyebrow. Claudia nodded and withdrew another small box from the foam, placing it in among the wires before restoring the cellular case backing to the phone itself.
With a self satisfied smile, Claudia handed the cell back to Howie, “Voila.”
Michael chose that moment to pop his head around the partially closed green room door. “Hey....thirty minutes until show time. You’re wanted in the dressing room for prep.”
Parker glanced at her watch and rose from her position on the couch. “Alright then. We’ll get the remaining cell phones for you to alter during the performance and you can take care of the hotel extensions later this evening.”
As the last order fell from Parker’s lips, the motley group stepped into the corridor to make their way toward the Boys’ dressing room. Immediately, Claudia noticed that the backstage bustle seemed to be lacking a bit of it’s trademark hustle and confusion. Crew members, while still dodging left and right in an attempt to have everything set to perfection before the opening act took the stage, wore apprehensive expressions on their faces, their manner subdued. Claudia realized that they had all most likely heard one version or another of the events which had transpired not more than twenty four hours ago...it had obviously rattled their assurance and instilled a quiet atmosphere, which was only natural. The realization of one’s mortality tended to feel like a smack in the face and for these individuals, it was no different.
One of the reasons for the crew’s tension might have also had something to do with the two uniformed, armed guards standing watch over the main backstage entrance, stern yet detached expressions pasted on their features. Rivaling Jack for size, another burly man brandished a metal detector.
“Parker?” Claudia tugged on the other woman’s sleeve in supplication, “who are those men?”
“The cavalry,” Parker replied simply. “Sooner or later the culprits will realize that since we’re not coming to them, they’ll have to come to us.” Claudia nodded in understanding, though she was tempted to ask if the armed sentinels were truly necessary. The sight of the blue sling cradling Parker’s injured arm stifled that inquiry as soon as it entered her thoughts.
“Oh.....Parker?” Claudia whispered again, more tentative than usual as she gazed past the additional security, out into the cavernous arena whose seats were just waiting to be filled. “What about all of them?”
Parker’s focus followed the smaller woman’s line of sight and she sighed, looking uncertain for first time in Claudia’s memory. “I don’t know. We can’t run twenty thousand people through a security firewall and I doubt our sniper would let a few precautions of that nature stop him. No....we’re just going to have to take our chances on that one, Claud.”
*****
“Here you go, Kevin,” Claudia said as she snapped the cell casing back into place. “It’s all yours.”
“Thanks,” he responded distractedly, taking the tiny phone from her grasp and checking the power. “Hey, it works!” he observed in surprise.
“Did you think it wouldn’t?” she asked, mouth quirking slightly at his skepticism. Kevin shrugged and offered her an apologetic grin before moving off to don the rest of his performance apparel.
“Hey AJ, don’t you feel a little left out? All of us are getting some cool shit from Claudia and you’re gettin’ a whole lot of nothing,” Brian teased, watching as the redhead began work on his own cell phone. AJ rolled his eyes and shrugged, glancing at the door as he anxiously awaited for Parker to return from her rounds.
“I’ll buy another phone in the next city for her to have fun with.”
Before Brian could form a suitable smart ass reply, the door to the dressing room was thrown open in a flurry, the solid panel bouncing off the sheet rock like rubber.
“What the fuck is going on around here?” demanded a thunderous voice. The head of every occupant raised in surprise to meet an icy storm raging in a pair of steely gray eyes. The harsh tone belonged to a curvy blonde woman who stood in the doorway, arms akimbo and face distorted in what could only be described as rage. “I asked a question and I’m waiting for a damned good explanation. Now, who’s going to give it to me?”
All eyes turned toward the only person in the room who had the authority to answer that query....Claudia. Her green orbs widened in surprise as the gazes of her fellow security team members fell upon her stricken features. Her mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to get something -anything- to sound. She became increasingly aware of the woman’s internal volcano of impending wrath, and recalled the parable of Daniel and the Lion’s Den.
“Nina....you’re back,” Howie observed mildly. Claudia’s eyes darted at those surrounding her. They seemed familiar and almost accepting of the ferocity of this woman’s presence. Brian leaned close to Claudia, murmuring under his breath into her ear, “Nina Pearson....our tour manager.”
The blonde...Nina...had grown wearing of awaiting an explanation and demanded in a voice louder than the her first, “Who the hell’s in charge here?!”
“I am.”
This announcement came from a new, more powerful voice and silence descended on the room at large. There, standing tall and unafraid behind the fearsome manager, was Parker. Claudia’s eyes nearly drifted shut in relief. As memory served, there had been an angel at work in the Lion’s Den as well.
“Is there something I can help you with?” she inquired, brushing past Nina with ease, and entering the room in complete control.
“You can start by telling me who you are and the meaning of this,” she gestured toward the backstage lobby and main entrance with a flick of her wrist.
“My name is Parker Mendoza. I’m the head of security along with my associate, Claudia Valentine. ‘This’,” she indicated the hallway with a sweeping arc of her arm, “is called safety.”
“I don’t care what it’s called, it’s unnecessary and I want those men out of there immediately.” Nina replied, eyes flashing with anger as Parker encroached upon ‘her’ territory.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that,” Parker told the woman coolly.
“Fine. Then I will,” with that, the managerial hurricane turned to sweep out of the room as unceremoniously as she had come. She did not, however, anticipate Parker’s quick, catlike qualities which soon waylayed her departure as the sleek, darker femme intercepted her path.
“I don’t think so,” she warned, tone more deadly and unyielding as any of them had ever heard before. “You see, I’m well aware of the extent of your office and quite frankly, matters of security need not be approved by you, especially regarding this particular facet. My job is to protect these men from danger, keep them out of harm’s way, and nothing you can say -or do- is going stop me.”
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