Timing
By MMW
Vin rolled over and sighed. He really didn’t want
to get up. He wanted to return to the dream of Meredith he’d been having. Two
weeks. Two more weeks before he could see her in the flesh. At least it was Friday.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips as he sat up and headed toward the shower.
Quickly scrubbing down in the lukewarm water, Vin
turned off the flow and reached for his towel. His brow furrowed as he realized
his towel was no longer on the rack. Cracking open an eye, he looked around the
room and quickly spotted Drea. She looked very much like she had last time he’d
seen her, long, lean and sexy as Hell. A smile curved along the corner of his
mouth as he watchedher hold his towel in two fingers.
"Lose something?" she asked, a sultry
smile appearing on her face.
"Same old Drea," Vin said joining her
laughter with his own. He held out his hand for the towel and nodded his thanks
as she returned it to him. He kept his eye on her as he dried off. It didn’t pay
to lose focus when Drea was around. A lot of people had been stabbed in the
back that way - literally and figuratively. "What brings you back to
Denver?" he asked.
Drea leaned back against the wall, folded her
leather-clad arms across her chest and made no secret of drinking in every inch
of the man before her. The tip of her pink tongue traced the outline of her
lips and a very satisfied smile reached from her mouth to her eyes which also
spoke of a desire for him. "Guess I made the right choice calling you,"
she said as Vin wrapped the towel around his waist.
Vin allowed his own smile to show as he slowly
ran his eyes from Drea’s head, down to her toes and back up. "Kinda glad
ya did," he said, his voice low. Sparks flew in the room as their eyes met
and locked. It had been years since they’d seen each other and their previous
relationship had been all fire and heat with no substance. That heat hadn’t
abated over time, but Vin wanted more from a relationship. Standing in the
small room with this woman, though, was heating his blood. Knowing he had to
break the tension, he returned to his question. "So, what brings you back
here after swearing off me, Denver and everything we had together?"
She smiled recalling her departure. The heat
between them had been the only reason she stayed as long as she had. He was a
Bounty Hunter and she was... not. Of course, he never would have taken her in
but only because she didn’t have a bounty on her head. "Business,"
she said cryptically.
Vin raised an eyebrow. He knew Drea’s business,
or at least what it used to be. He knew that she was good at what she did and
wondered how far she’d progressed in her chosen profession. It would definitely
be wise to make sure she didn’t know he was ATF, at least not unless she brought
it up. "Business good?" he asked.
A feral smile spread across her face.
"Bounties good?" she asked.
Vin raised an eyebrow. "Obviously not as
good as business," he replied indicating his apartment. He smiled at her
laugh.
"Interested in something more profitable?"
she asked.
Vin leaned his shoulder against the wall,
becoming serious. "Depends," he said.
Drea laughed. "Don’t worry, Vin," she
assured. "I won’t ask you to do anything you haven’t done before."
Seeing he still appeared reluctant, she added, "Ten thousand for a weekend
of your time."
Vin eyed her, knowing he had to play his role.
"Side benefits?" he asked, very pointedly scanning her body.
Drea smiled. She had definitely made the right
choice. All she needed was some eye candy who could take care of himself if
things went bad and she was more than willing to pay him to appear with her,
but his suggestion was very, very tempting. "We’ll see," she said.
Vin smiled seductively at her answer. "What
do you need from me?" he asked, wanting to know all the details before he
went in. He knew Drea would tell him. She knew how he worked and would know
he’d never agree to anything until he knew all the details.
Smiling at Vin’s predictable reaction she said,
"Ever heard of Marcus Grand?" Seeing Vin’s puzzled expression she
relaxed slightly. "He and I have been in business for a while and recently
he’s been less than forthcoming. I’ve come to meet with him to discuss our
business opportunities and will need a local escort."
Vin nodded slowly. "Guns?"
"Best bring them all," she advised.
"Time?"
Drea smiled. "I’ll pick you up around six.
We can have a nice dinner, meet Grand later for drinks and business and then
maybe get reacquainted."
Vin finally smiled. "I’ll be here."
He watched as Drea smiled and left.
Waiting until he heard the closing of the door,
Vin turned so his whole back was resting against the wall. He allowed his head
to tilt back until it too was resting on the wall. What had he gotten himself
into? The ATF had been looking into Marcus Grand for months. He was a fairly
recent addition to the Denver scene, having expanded his territory just a few
months prior. No one had been able to get an in with him or a meet. Ezra and
Team Seven were slated to try next, but Ezra was currently trying to establish
a cover on a tobacco sting. They would see him tonight, but not before.
Vin knew they had to act on this, knew they had
to do this right. He also knew they had to do it soon and that Chris would not
be happy. Not only were they down a man with Ezra gone, but there were too many
question marks about the night and about Drea and Grand. He hoped he came out
of this in one piece.
Standing, he headed out of the bathroom to get
dressed and break the news to the Team.
<><><><><><><>
Meredith glanced at the clock. The shuttle to the
airport would be arriving soon to pick her up. She was nervous. More nervous
than she could remember. Then Laura’s words came back to her, "Why are you
nervous? You know what he’ll say. Now stop being a chicken and get to it!"
She loved Laura. Everyone needed a friend who knew them like Laura knew her.
It had been her long-time friend that had opened
her eyes to the fact that Vin’s actions were speaking very clearly that he
wanted her. Meredith had been in shock when she realized it, but couldn’t deny
the truth of the statement.
When she arrived back at her hotel room, she had
dug out the poems she had received anonymously. Re-reading them, she allowed
herself to see what she had missed before, the description of herself, the love
and emotion directed at her and the phrases and rhythm to the poems that was
undeniably Vin. She had heard enough of his poetry to know that much.
She had wanted to call Vin right then and find
out for sure if he really felt the same about her, but a small nagging voice in
the back of her head told her not to do it over the phone, to look into his
eyes so she could be sure he wasn’t just sparing her feelings. So, Meredith had
shifted a few things around, including her flights, and now had a six-hour
layover in Denver on Friday night. Though they wouldn’t have a chance to
explore anything too deeply, it should give her enough time to find him,
hopefully at the Saloon, and tell him how she felt. It would also give her a
chance to update JD with her altered itinerary. She had to change the hotels
she’d be staying at and had changed which locations she was visiting.
But she would go to the Saloon and tell him how
she felt. Then if he didn’t return the feelings, well, she was leaving again
anyway. And depending on her reaction, she could always accept the job here in
Cleveland. After all, a private firm, higher pay, better benefits... She had
put them off wanting to find the answer to this very important question before
making her decision. Of course, there were other factors in staying in Denver,
her friends, her sister... but she knew the Cleveland area and had relatives
and friends here as well.
She released a sigh. Things would work out as
they worked out. She was just being silly. As awkward as it might be while they
tried to figure out how to transition their friendship to a romance, Vin would
accept her offer of her heart and she would stay in Denver.
Seeing the shuttle pull up, she wished briefly
that she’d had time to change before leaving. She was still in the suit she had
been wearing all day and her hair still resided in a tight bun at the nape of
her neck, a concession to the heat of the offices she’d been in where the
temperature resided somewhere around surface of the sun. She always called this
her Librarian look, just give her a pair of glasses on a chain and voila!
Instant Librarian. Still, Vin had seen her worse.
<><><><><><><>
Vin knocked on Chris’ door. "Can I talk to
ya for a minute?" he asked. Seeing his boss nod, he stepped into the
office and began explaining about Drea, her proposal and what it could mean to
their team.
Chris didn’t like it. There were too many
questions, too many unknowns. He didn’t like sending Vin into this situation
with a woman he didn’t trust and didn’t know anymore and a man who was so slick
he made teflon look sticky. "No," he said.
Vin took a breath. He’d known this would be the
response and he knew he would have to keep his cool and marshal his arguments
if he was going to gain Chris’ approval for the plan. As far as he could tell
this could be their only hope of getting two gun dealers off the street - Drea
and Grand. They had to do this.
Six hours later Vin found himself heading home, a
tiny mic ready to be hidden in his clothing. The others would try to keep up
and keep him covered. Hopefully tonight would just be the set-up for the actual
sale. Opening his closet doors, Vin scanned his clothes and pulled out an
outfit he knew would not only distract Drea but comfortably conceal his weapons
and his wire.
Taking a deep breath, Vin tried to clear his mind
and slip into the role he knew he’d have to play. No cracks. No slips. He had
to become someone he’d left behind long ago.
<><><><><><><>
Meredith sighed in relief as she stepped out of
the airport. She only had her purse with her, but that would be all she’d need.
She had to be back in four hours and on the road again. Walking up to the first
taxi, she told him, "The Saloon." It was six o’clock now. Given the
distance, the hour and the time, she figured she’d be there by 7. That would
give her until about 9:15 or 9:30 to find someplace, some time to talk to Vin.
Two hours should be long enough, at least she hoped it was.
As they approached the Saloon, Meredith felt her
stomach tighten. She shouldn’t be so nervous. She shouldn’t be so afraid... But
then, putting her heart on the line wasn’t something she did everyday. Taking a
deep breath, she deliberately pushed aside all thought of the last two times
she’d offered her heart and had it returned to her shattered almost beyond
repair. That wouldn’t happen this time. This time she would offer her heart to
Vin; Vin would return his for hers and together they would be one. This was the
right thing to do.
So why was she so nervous?
Paying the cab, she stepped out and looked at the
facade of the Saloon. How many interesting things had happened here? How much
had this become part of her life? It was good to be home.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and
walked in.
Allowing her eyes a moment to adjust, she scanned
the room looking for the Seven, not seeing them, she looked for other friendly
faces. Releasing a sigh at the distinct lack of anyone she knew in the
building, Meredith made her way to the end of the bar and took the seat in the
shadows.
Inez had seen her friend enter and, though she
was surprised to see Meredith here two weeks early, she was concerned about the
nervous tension she read in the woman. Making her way over to the corner of the
bar she smiled at her friend. "It’s good to see you here, Meredith. I
thought you were supposed to be away for two more weeks."
Meredith smiled at her friend. "I am. I have
two more weeks of travel before I get to come home. I just had something I
needed to do so I arranged for a long layover tonight."
Inez looked at her friend. After years of owning
her own bar, she was good at reading people. Tilting her head sideways, she
studied her friend. "What has you so nervous tonight?" She watched as
Meredith looked up at her, the young woman’s eyes were wide and as Inez saw
them, she could clearly read them. What she saw surprised her and yet gladdened
her. It was about time Meredith found love. Smiling at her friend, Inez reached
out and patted her Meredith’s arm. "Whoever he is," Inez said,
"he’s a very lucky man." She saw the hazel eyes warm and a smile
twitch her mouth. Leaning in conspiratorially, she whispered, "And he’s
going to have his hands full with you." That’s when she saw the brilliant
smile she so enjoyed. Patting her friend’s arm she went off to get her a soda.
Meredith watched the entrance waiting. She saw
her friend come in with Ezra. The two were laughing. She faded back into the
shadows a little further, allowing the two some privacy. Thanking Inez for the
drink she brought over, Meredith sat quietly and waited.
<><><><><><><>
Vin forced a smile on his face and turned to face
Drea. They had been getting to know each other again over dinner. Normally Vin
wouldn’t object to the close contact, not with Drea, the woman knew how to
drive him wild with a single touch, but for some reason he just didn’t seem to
be able to find the same pleasure in it that he used to. It just felt wrong.
Right now she pushed him against a wall and roughly claimed his lips while
allowing a gentle caress down his side with her hand. Vin couldn’t stop his
reaction; she knew that the combination drove him wild. Of course, he knew how
to turn her on as well and if she wanted to play dirty, he would play right
along with her.
She allowed a slight groan as he hit the spot
that drove her wild. "It’s been so long," she sighed as she broke
their kiss. Stepping back, she twisted her hands in the lapels of his jacket
and pulled him off the wall. Pulling him so their bodies were pressed together,
she whispered, "We’ll finish this later." Claiming one more kiss she
pulled away and said, "Now, we need to meet Grand at the Saloon."
Vin felt his stomach drop to his knees. The
Saloon. He hoped the boys heard and would make sure everyone knew not to
approach him. It could blow the whole deal if he were made now. He would just
have to trust his teammates and hope for the best.
Arriving at the Saloon, he held the door open and
watched as Drea walked in. Raising his eyebrows he shook his head. The woman
looked good coming and going. A sly smile curved his lip. Certainly wouldn’t be
a chore to get re-acquainted, though probably not proper procedure. Of course,
when it came to Drea, there wasn’t anything proper.
Walking through the door after her, he scanned
the room. He saw people from work, but no one seemed to be paying any attention
to him. He released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. The boys had
gotten here first. He saw a slight nod from Buck letting him know that
everything was taken care of.
<><><><><><><>
Meredith slipped out of the back room. Inez had
allowed her to slip back there in order to check on her reservations, flight
times and email. Stepping back into the main area, she spied Vin sitting alone
at one of the corner tables. Taking a deep breath, she approached him from his
blind side. Reaching out she placed a hand on his shoulder. She allowed hand to
trace down his arm as she took a seat next to him. Finally as she was sitting,
Meredith curled her fingers around his hand.
Vin was waiting for Drea to return. He felt a
hand land on his shoulder and smiled. They were still waiting for Grand to show
up. Feeling the hand being to trace down his arm as the body settled into the
seat beside him, he thought Drea was looking for some more games. Expecting to
look into the obsidian eyes of Drea, he found he couldn’t breathe as he instead
found himself looking into the eyes he’d been dreaming of for months. What he
read in those eyes, in the contact, in her fingers curling around his hand...
It was everything he’d dreamed of, everything he’d hoped for, everything he
wanted - love, understanding, commitment, her heart, her soul, all that she was
and would be - and she was freely offering herself to him.
Opening herself to him, offering herself to him,
she searched for the words. Licking her lips, Meredith began,
"Vin..." Losing her nerve and sitting straighter, she decided she
needed to find somewhere more private, leaning forward she asked, "Do you
think we could go somewhere more... private?"
"Aw. Isn’t that sweet?" Drea said as
she snaked an arm around Vin’s shoulders and sank possessively into his lap,
watching in satisfaction as the woman seemed to shatter and Vin smiled.
"Rich little stiff girl wants to go slumming and chose you, Vin," she
continued, her snide tone cutting and condescending. "Sorry, bitch, this
boy’s taken." So saying, she leaned over and kissed him, making it very
obvious he was taken by her as she more or less stuck her tongue down his
throat. Vin had no choice but to respond.
Meredith felt all of herself shatter in that
moment. Cruel didn’t even come close to explaining what had just happened.
Standing, she half-walked, half-stumbled to the ladies’ room where she promptly
lost the contents of her stomach. Taking a few minutes to gather herself, she
rinsed her mouth and returned to the main area, choosing a table by the door,
as far away from Vin and the woman as she could. Fortunately she was still in
the shadows so no one should see her or recognize her, which was good since she
was shaking uncontrollably. Glancing at her watch, she was thinking of calling
a cab and sitting in the airport the whole time when her friend who had earlier
arrived with Ezra came over and took a seat across from her.
Vin didn’t know how he felt. Everything he’d been
longing for had been offered to him and then taken away because he couldn’t
tell Meredith he was undercover, couldn’t tell her the truth. God. He thought
he would die when he smiled up at Drea. He’d only caught a glimpse of the
devastation on Meredith’s face before Drea leaned over and tried to strangle
him with her tongue. His only recourse was to respond in kind.
When the kiss finally broke, he didn’t see any
sign of Meredith which was probably for the best. Right now he hated Drea and
himself for what that scene must have done to Meredith. How could he explain?
How could he ask her forgiveness? How could he convince her that he loved her?
What a mess. But right now he had to put that out of his mind. Right now his
life was on the line and he couldn’t make a mistake, not this close.
<><><><><><><>
She had seen it all while Buck danced her around
the floor and made small talk - all in an effort to make Ezra jealous. She saw
Meredith come out of the back room, put her hand on Vin’s shoulder and allow it
to skim along his arm as she sat beside him. It hit her then that Meredith had
felt the same about Vin that Vin felt about her. She was cheering the two of
them on when another woman came in and settled on Vin’s lap, said something
obviously cruel and then kissed the Sharpshooter.
She watched as Meredith left the main area and
headed toward the restrooms. She saw several minutes later when a pale and
shaking Meredith re-entered the area and made her way to a shadowy table by the
door. Even from a distance she could feel the pain radiating from her friend.
As the song ended, she made her way over toward the distraught woman and sat
down. "Hey," she said gently, reaching out and resting her hand on
Meredith’s in a gesture of comfort. "Thought you were away for two more
weeks."
Meredith struggled to compose herself. Sniffing
slightly, she replied, "Had something I thought I needed to do. Rearranged
a few flights, got a longer layover. I’ll have to go in about 15 minutes."
She nodded at the brief but factual recitation.
Meredith was definitely hurting, she never spoke like this. "Want to
talk?" she asked low enough for Meredith alone to hear. She saw her
friend’s chin quiver before the jaws clamped shut and didn’t miss the tears
threatening to brim over. The negative shake of Meredith’s head was enough to
convince her that her friend needed a distraction just now. Her quick mind ran
through various options and means to distract her friend. Her eyes lighted on a
very jealous looking Ezra. Meredith would have a better view of the Southerner
than she would. "What’s Ezra doing?" she asked.
Grateful for her friend’s sensitivity, Meredith
offered a small smile, glanced at the Undercover Agent and reported,
"Trying to look bored while shooting dirty looks at Buck, jealous looks at
me and..." A mischievous look crossed her face. Looking into her friend’s
eyes, Meredith asked, "Ezra tends to have slight memory gaps when he’s
been drinking, doesn’t he?"
She tilted her head to the side, puzzled by the
question, but nodded in the affirmative.
The smile broadened a little further. "He’s
doing a bit of damage to some mighty fine scotch."
She felt herself smiling. Folding her arms and
leaning forward on the table, she asked, "What do you have in mind?"
Meredith leaned forward conspiratorially,
"I’m not suggesting anything too bad, just the odd comment."
"Do tell," she encouraged.
"Well, given that he has memory lapses, he
probably won’t remember everything that happened tonight. All you really have
to say is something like, ‘after what you did last night’ or something like
that."
A slow smile spread across her face. That she
could do and it would drive Ezra nuts. She laughed slightly. It would serve him
right for being such a chicken about acting upon his feelings for her.
The two continued to scheme for a few more
minutes until Meredith had to leave.
<><><><><><><>
Vin sat numbly in his seat. Drea and Grand had
finished their business. Things hadn’t gone as well as Drea would have liked
and after Grand left she had told Vin she just wanted to go to her hotel.
They’d get reacquainted the next day. That left Vin sitting alone in the
shattered remnants of his heart. He was miserable. Everything. He had
everything right there and had lost it with a smile. If he hadn’t had to pretend
to enjoy Drea’s attentions...
He leaned his head back against the wall and
stared at the ceiling. The boys had left a while ago. He didn’t really care. He
needed to talk to Ezra, but Ezra was in no condition to talk to anyone. Vin
wondered idly what he would feel when he finally allowed himself to. He also
wondered if there was any way he could make it right with Meredith. He doubted
it since he’d shattered her. He hadn’t missed that. He recalled her once saying
she was afraid to take a chance on love because she’d had her heart shattered
before and wasn’t sure she could survive it again. God, he hoped she would.
He never noticed the tears running down his
cheek.
On To The
Get Away | Back
To Mad Lib Story Index