| Viva Las Vegas Episode 27 |
** "How much money does Sampson have?" Nash wanted to make sure that the exact amount was returned. "Fifteen G." Rachel had written the check herself. "Everything is going well so far with the betting, if he rakes the money on the race tonight, he should be headed to Vegas." Nash had a feeling Harvey wouldn't like the idea. He was right. "No way. You know I love my job, but no way." Harvey was dead-set against the idea. "Harvey, please. One day is all I'm asking.'' There was no way to do this without sending Harvey and Rachel to trail him. "Nash, I said no." Harvey didn't tell Nash no often, but he was serious. Not even Rachel could make Vegas appealing. ''Harve, it's just a day. We'll watch the bids, cuff him and and leave.'' Rachel knew why Harvey was so apprehensive, and she couldn't hold it against him. The idea of going to Vegas for a case was intriguing, especially with Harvey, but she wasn't going to nag. "It's not that easy, Rachel, your partner didn't die there." Harvey knew the situation wasn't her fault, but this was something she could never understand. Rachel wanted to fire back about how exactly her first partner died, but now wasn't the time. Nash could see the fury in her eyes, he knew what she was thinking. He knew her story, no one else did. "Rachel, go see what kind of arrangements are available and try to contact the Vegas police." Nash wanted a few minutes to talk with Harvey alone. Harvey waited for Rachel to go down the stairs. "I can't do it Nash, I can't go back." Harvey couldn't see any way going to Vegas would be feasible, there were too many memories. "I put you on this case because I assumed you could handle it." Nash had confidence in Harvey as an employee and a friend. "You never said anything about going to Vegas." Harvey didn't remember Nash bringing up Vegas once when he initially gave them the case. "We got lucky." Nash considered it lucky that a man like Sampson would make such a gutsy move. "Lucky? Going back to where my best friend and partner was killed is lucky?" Harvey couldn't understand how Nash would think the situation was lucky. It was more like torture. "I thought you'd be okay.'' Nash knew Harvey was far from over Evan's death, but he thought he had come to a point where he accepted it and could deal with such a case. "Well, I'm not okay." Harvey considered Nash to be insensitive for one of the first times in his career. "Why wasn't this a Teddy Malone and a Rachel Ballanco case? You two could've pulled it off?" It wasn't that Harvey didn't like working with Rachel, because he did, it was that they had to go to Vegas. Otherwise, he'd never suggest the change. "I didn't think you'd like the possibility of me going to Vegas with your gi..." Nash couldn't bring himself to say it, "Rachel. You were ready for another case so I gave you one. If you don't want to go..." "Dammit, Nash." Harvey looked at his watch, he had nearly forgotten his appointment in fifteen minutes, he had to get there by five. "I've gotta run." ** "I didn't know how much I should say in front of your wife." Due to Rachel and Harvey's closeness, Dr. Benson assumed she was his wife. Dr. Benson could see Harvey was nervous as he sat before him. "Rachel's my girlfriend.'' Not that Harvey didn't aspire to maybe make her his wife one day, but the doctor should know just to set things straight for right now. "In either case, I didn't know what you'd want her to hear." The doctor had told Harvey enough before he left the hospital, but now there was more. "Is something wrong? Is it worse?" Harvey was wondering if he should've brought Rachel with him this time. She did offer, but he turned her down. "I'd like to run some more tests to get a better idea; however, I do think surgery is a great possibility later on." The doctor had a decent outlook for Harvey, as long as things didn't get any worse. "It's that bad?" Harvey was worried, things didn't seem so bad when he had last spoken with Dr. Benson. "There's been a lot of damage, it's hard to say how much the body can take." Harvey's body had been through hell, and now he had to pay for it. "But I feel fine?" Harvey didn't think there was anything wrong with him, he hadn't felt this good in a long time. "For right now, yes, but it will probably catch up with you later on." The doctor didn't know how long these good days would last for Harvey. "But later?" Harvey didn't like not getting a definite answer, this was his life they were talking about. "Later, things could be different. I just wanted to warn you that you could be fighting the clock." The doctor had to warn him about the worst possible outcome. "I could die tomarrow if things got worse?" That's exactly how Harvey saw it, he had gotten no definite time frame. "We could all step out on the street and die today, Harvey. We're talking long term, there might be weeks, months or maybe even a year before we have to consider the surgery. For right now, just keep up with your day to day life." The doctor didn't mean to scare him, only warn him. "So I just have to sit around and wait?" For Harvey, that wasn't an option. "I'll run the tests, and then we can talk about our next move." The doctor wanted to reassure him there was hope. ** "Harvey's taking this pretty hard." Nash hadn't anticipated a reaction like the one Harvey gave. He wanted to talk to Rachel about tomarrow before she left. "Can you blame him?" Rachel understood where Harvey was coming from, the death of a partner isn't something Nash has had to deal with. "If I were him, I probably wouldn't want to go to Vegas either." "You still come to work every morning." Nash didn't know how she did it, she had gone through a lot to get where she is. "That's different.'' Rachel couldn't see the similarities Nash did. "It happened a while ago." "Is it? You still went to Bayside everyday and carried on with your work." Nash assumed Rachel had never told Harvey about Ryan. "I did what I had to.'' Rachel wasn't one to pity herself, she made do. "What Ryan and I had was different." "You were partners, Rachel. He was your best friend and he died. You should tell Harvey." Nash thought Harvey might feel at least a little better knowing that Rachel shared his pain. Or at least knew where he was coming from. "I don't think it will help." Rachel was sure Harvey wouldn't want to hear about her partner, not now. Cassidy was great, for a rookie, but she didn't compare. "I should get home.'' Rachel didn't want to miss Harvey coming by. "I'll call you later, we can work something out if he still doesn't want to go.'' Nash didn't want to hold it against Rachel for Harvey not wanting to take the case. ** Harvey shifted the Cruiser into park. He had driven around since leaving the doctor's office. He didn't want to go home alone with his thoughts, and he wasn't ready to face Rachel. The bar looked comforting and inviting. He got out of the car and walked inside. "What'll it be?" The bartender didn't look very friendly. "Whatever's on tap." Harvey waited while the bartender poured the beer and placed it infront of him. His phone rang. He took the phone out of his pocket and checked the number on the display. It was Rachel, probably wanting to know what the doctor said and if he was coming by. She'd have to wait. Harvey turned off the power and placed the phone back in his pocket. ''Looks serious." The bartender noticed the grim look upon Harvey's face and his reaction to the call. "You have no idea." Maybe the bartender did care afterall. ** Rachel opened her door, not surprised to see Nash standing on her porch. "Nash, come on in." It wasn't exactly the person she was hoping for. She hadn't left the house all night, she had been waiting for Harvey. "Have you heard from Harvey?" Nash stepped inside, this was his first time there. This was a definite improvement from her apartment. "No, have a seat." Rachel pointed towards the couch. "Not since he left the SIU." "What time was his appointment?" Nash wondered if maybe he had gotten there late and got pushed back. Perhaps he had to go for tests. "Five. I tried calling him earlier, no one answered on the cell or at home." Rachel was worried something was wrong. Harvey never had done anything like this before, he always called. Even before they were a couple, she always knew where he was. "I've tried calling him as well; on the cell and at home." It wasn't like Harvey not to call, especially for him not to call Rachel. He could see Rachel was afraid. "He's probably blowing off steam about Vegas.'' "He really doesn't want to go, Nash.'' Rachel could tell from the sound of Harvey's voice earlier that he was adament about not going. "I know, but I need you two to go to end this case." Nash wished there was a way around this, but there wasn't. "I don't think he'll go.'' Rachel didn't think she'd be able to convince Harvey to go. "I thought about that, and if worse comes to worse, I'll go with you. I don't want you going alone.'' Nash didn't want Rachel to be in Vegas alone. "I can handle it Nash, it's an open and close case.'' Rachel didn't think she needed the assistance. Going to Vegas with Nash might not sit well with Harvey. ''I'd feel better if someone was with you." Nash still worried about her, whether she was a good cop or not was irrelevent. It was already well after ten. "Have you eaten dinner yet?" "No, I had been waiting for Harvey." Eating hadn't even crossed her mind. Nash gave her the bag he brought in with him, "I had a feeling you'd say that, these are the vegetable wontons from Mandara." He paused for a minute, "with plum sauce, not peanut. '' "Thanks." In the short time they were together, Nash learned her appetite well. "I should probably get going, call me if you need anything or when you hear from him.'' Nash got up off the couch and walked towards the door. "I will.'' Rachel followed him to the door and hugged him, Nash knew kissing her was beyond out of the question. "Thank you, Nash." ** Harvey looked through the keys he had, trying to find the right one. The porch light was on, but not of much help. He imagined Rachel never intended for him to use his key in situations like this, but she gave him one. Harvey thought about just going home, but he had to see her. He opened the door and walked in, she left the lamp on in the living room. Harvey quietly walked up the stairs, thinking she might be asleep. Harvey saw the dim light from her room as he came down the hall, maybe she was awake afterall. He came into her room and found her sound asleep, with her glasses still on and the book still open. Harvey looked at the book, "Saving Graces, huh? And I told Antwon you weren't much of a reader." He chuckled softly, he shut the book and took her glasses to set on the nightstand. He kissed her softly, "I'm sorry, Rache'' and turned out the light. ** Harvey searched through the long corridors of the hotel for Rachel. Nash was already down, he hoped she was safe. He walked down the darkened hallway, into the room. The moment of Evan's death came back to him. "He knows, baby.'' Harvey found Rachel crouched on the ground behind the door. "He knows what?" Harvey reached for Rachel's hands to help pull her up from the floor. "Harvey?" "He knows about us, about Evan. He's after us, he already got Nash.'' Harvey checked over his shoulder, looking for Sampson lurking around. "We've got to get out of here." Harvey quickly assessed the area, Sampson could be anywhere. "Think again.'' Kyle fired the gun with precise aim, hitting Rachel in her back. He shot to kill. "Some people never learn.'' Rachel's limp body crumbled in Harvey's arms. "Noooooooooooooooo!" Harvey checked Rachel's pulse, there was none. By the time he looked up, Kyle was gone. Harvey woke up in a pool of perspiration, his t-shirt and hair were completely drenched. He sat up, afraid to fully open his eyes and find himself alone. He felt the sheets next to him, assured by Rachel's movement. She looked so peaceful, asleep in her favorite cotton men's pyjamas that she adamently denied owning --- she always claimed she wore them because they were comfortable, not because the belonged to anyone significant. Another quirk he loved. Harvey wanted to tell her about the dream and that he'd go to Vegas, but he didn't want to wake her up. He had to get out of that shirt, maybe cold water would help. Harvey got out of bed and walked into the bathroom. He stripped off the wet shirt and turned on the faucet. He brought several cold handfuls of water towards his face. He thought about the appointment and the dream, she'd want to know. Harvey saw himself in the mirror, "get a hold of yourself, Leek." Harvey didn't know if it was the alcohol, the case, the doctor's warning or a combination of all three that had him going, but it wasn't good. The dream had seemed so real. He gently wiped his face with the towel, still scented with Rachel's perfume from during the day. Harvey shut off the lights and walked towards the bedroom, knowing he'd owe Rachel an explanation for coming in late when she woke up. He crawled back into bed next to her, relieved she was there. ** Harvey awoke to find Rachel was already up, his head felt as if it had been split in two. He found her in the kitchen, making coffee. The distance between them told Harvey she was angry about the night before. "The flight leaves at eight-thirty.'' Rachel set her coffee cup down and walked into the living room, "Nash wants a briefing at seven-fifteen, if you're going." Harvey checked the time, it was just after six. Rachel walked back into the kitchen, "I set out some tomato juice and aspirin for you." A definite remedy for the hangover she knew he had. Harvey reached out to touch her, but she pulled away. "You're angry?" He couldn't blame her, she had every right to be. He didn't call or answer her call. "I'm not angry, I was worried. I waited till almost two.'' Rachel wasn't nearly as mad as she was afraid. "I should've called." Harvey felt bad for not calling, he just didn't know what to say. "I was afraid something went wrong at your appointment, or something happened.'' Rachel didn't know what was going on last night, or maybe he was just upset about Vegas. "I'm sorry and I promise it won't happen again." Harvey reached out to her again, this time she didn't pull away. He knew he should've called, the time wouldn't have mattered."I'm going to get cleaned up so we can leave for... Vegas." Harvey didn't want her to go alone or with Nash. He started to walk back down the hall, but Rachel stopped him. Rachel kissed him, "you're here and you're okay, that's what matters." Maybe he had a chance for redemption after all. ** "So did he come by?" Nash waited at the conferencing table with Rachel while the others were getting coffee. "Is he here?" "He came in after two, and he's here. Harvey's going to go." Rachel wanted to tell Nash now so it wouldn't become public knowledge later on. "What changed his mind?" Nash wondered why Harvey suddenly wanted to go. "I have no idea. Here they come." Rachel wanted to make sure Harvey didn't know that Nash had come over last night or offered to go with her if Harvey didn't want to. "Let's get started." Nash waited for everyone to take their seats before he began. "Kyle got there last night, my guess is he already got a lot of work done. I want you two to meet him at Caesar's as soon as you get there, you told him you'd come, right?" Rachel waited, "yeah, I mentioned it.'' "Good, I've got you two a room for the day to use as base at the Bellagio. It's not far. You can set up everything there." Nash had it all worked out for them, hopefully it would be an easy case to close. "Kyle seems to trust Rachel, so you'll be working with the LVPD, Harvey." "So you want me to meet with them while she's with him?" Harvey wanted to make sure he got Nash's plan straight. "Yeah, that way someone's always with him and he can't run." Nash didn't want to give Kyle Sampson the opportunity to get away. "I think that's it, keep in touch and don't miss your flight.'' Nash got up from the table to talk to Rachel for a minute, Harvey went downstairs and was sidetracked by Antwon. "I hate flying." Harvey never had liked to fly, their destination wouldn't make this flight any easier. He gathered some papers from his desk to look at during the flight. "Maybe you can join the airplane club, to pass the time." Antwon grinned as Harvey passed him by. "Huh?" Harvey had no idea what Antwon was talking about. "You know, the club." Antwon was convinced Harvey would know. "Oh, that airplane club. I don't think so." Harvey laughed, that was quite a suggestion. "She might not go for that." "You never know." Antwon laughed at the intrigued look on Harvey's face. "Why are we talking about this? She's my girlfriend, not communal property." Harvey didn't know how they had started talking about what he and Rachel did in their personal time. He chuckled, leave it to Antwon to bring the up the Mile High Club. ** "You've been quiet." Rachel wasn't used to Harvey being so quiet. Even though the seats on the plane were close together, the distance between Rachel and Harvey was immense. "I don't like flying." The flight was only part of his problem. "You're thinking about Evan?" Rachel knew there was no way Evan wouldn't cross his mind. She thought of Ryan just as much, everytime she went out on a case with Cassidy. "That too." Evan, Vegas, the case, his health... he was thinking about it all. "How was your appointment?" Rachel hoped if there was something wrong that he would've said something by now. Harvey didn't know exactly what to say, her question was inevitable. He couldn't tell her, not now. "It went well, just a check-up." "Did he say what was next? What you should do?" His reply didn't seem right, but she could be wrong. Maybe the problem was less serious than Dr. Benson originally anticipated. "I'll be okay.'' Harvey brought her hand to his lips and gently kissed it, that was all she needed to know. ** Harvey and Rachel had watched Kyle for hours, playing with and perfecting his program. He gave them the stats and told them which games to play, of course they were winning numbers. Kyle was happier to see Rachel, but he understood Andrew came with as part of the investment. "You know, this wouldn't be so enjoyable if it wasn't illegal." Andrew smiled, it wasn't bad playing when you had the winning numbers. ''I know." Rachel kept her eye on Kyle as he went from station to station with his Palm Pilot, programming each game. She wondered why security didn't pay attention to him, maybe because they knew she and Harvey were there. "What's he up to now?" Andrew strained to turn his head and follow Kyle with his eyes. "You might want to call the LVPD." Rachel kept her hand on Harvey's back as she whispered in his ear, "I think he's ready." "You think?" Harvey wasn't sure what Kyle was up to, but he didn't like it. "Yeah, go now. I can handle him." Rachel was sure between the gun and the handcuffs, Kyle wouldn't get away. ''Okay," Andrew kissed Rachel and Kyle was disturbed by the sight. He watched Andrew walk out into the main lobby and came closer to Rachel. "Where's he off to?" Kyle was wondering if this would give him some time alone with Rachel. "He's got some business to take care of.'' Rachel figured she should just say business and keep it obscure. She wouldn't want Kyle to question Andrew's whereabouts later on. "Oh. Come with me, I want to show you a few things." Kyle had a lot on his agenda. "Okay.'' Rachel reluctantly followed him, hoping she wasn't getting herself into something she couldn't get out of. ** "Hey, it's me. I'm with the LVPD now." Harvey knew Nash would want an update. "Rachel's still with Kyle?" Nash wanted to make sure he didn't get out of her sight. "Yeah. He's built quite the pyramid, let me tell you. All the extra profits go to him." Harvey guessed early on that after Kyle had the original capital, the investors wouldn't see a dime more than their initial investment. "So this device, program actually works?" Nash had no idea something so sophistcated could be constructed. "Yeah. I tried it.'' Harvey realized he shouldn't have said that. ''I didn't hear that. Keep up the good work and make sure I get a phone call." Nash wanted to know once the LVPD had Kyle in custody. "Sure.'' Harvey hung up the phone, wondering what Rachel was up to with Kyle. ** Later that afternoon, Kyle held the Palm Pilot so Rachel could see the screen, "we're in, baby." He had officially locked into Caesar's gaming computer system. "That's amazing.'' Rachel pretended to be interested but she now had all the proof she needed to arrest him. When Kyle walked towards the slots, Rachel pressed the call button on her phone that was already programmed with Harvey's number. Harvey and the back-up were ready and waiting in the lobby. "Hey, come here, gorgeous." Kyle called over to Rachel until she was at his side, "pull the lever." Rachel pulled the lever on the slot and the wheels began to spin inside. Kyle checked again for Andrew, hoping he wasn't around. "I promised I'd make you a rich woman." Kyle pointed to the coins dropping into the drawer below. He ran his hand against her thigh suggestively, feeling the cool leather pants against his skin. "As long as your husband is elsewhere, why don't you come upstairs and show me a little extra appreciation?" Rachel definitely didn't like where this was going, but didn't have any time to react before Kyle made his move. This wasn't supposed to happen. He put his hands into her front pockets and pulled her in, for a disgustingly thorough kiss. She felt his tongue hit the back of her mouth and thought she'd choke. She saw Harvey and the LVPD coming towards them. Harvey could see she hadn't anticipated the kiss and was in distress, "that's him." He pointed towards Kyle. "The one kissing Officer McCabe?" The other officers wondered what was going on. "Yep, she'll let him have it." Harvey knew Rachel would let Kyle have it as soon as she could break free. They stayed a good distance back, and Harvey watched as other men gawked at the scene nearby. "Let's go upstairs," Kyle got up from the stool, still keeping a tight grip on Rachel. He whispered in her ear, "I've never screwed a married woman before." Rachel pulled back a little when he tried to grab her and punched him in the gut. "And you never will." All eyes in the casino were now on her. "What was that for? I helped you. You'll get your money back, all I wanted was something in return." Andrew was baffled by her actions. "That was for thinking I'd even consider sleeping with you, and these are to arrest you for breaking into the computer systems and theft." Rachel pulled out the handcuffs and shackled each wrist. "This is kind of kinky.'' Kyle had a cocky grin on his face, "arresting me in public, nice touch." "Maybe for you it is, but we'll see what you think after a few months in prison." Rachel flashed her badge in front of him. "Inspector Rachel McCabe, San Francisco Police Department." "You're a cop?" Kyle looked at her, completely confused. "And so is he. Harvey, come here. " Harvey and the other officers approached them. "Take him away, boys." The LVPD captain walked over, "nice work, you two. Let's go wrap things up and get a call out to Nash." ** |
| Part 2 |
| ** "Nash booked us a flight for eight tomarrow morning.'' Rachel eyed Harvey across the elevator, she could tell Harvey wasn't pleased about Kyle's kiss or the idea of being in Vegas longer than they had to. "Is that okay? I could call him back?" "That's fine." That would give Harvey some extra time to make a stop before they left. Rachel watched as the floor numbers changed, trying to distract herself from his mood. Harvey could see he needed to lighten things up, he smiled "the nerve of him, kissing my wife." Harvey chuckled as he came closer towards Rachel, he pressed the emergency stop button. "You're telling me, that was gross." She noticed the elevator coming to a hault, "huh?" "You didn't enjoy the kiss?" Harvey looked over her curiously, waiting for her response. She couldn't tell if he was serious or not. "Are you kidding? I was practically gagged." Rachel couldn't remember the last time she had been kissed in such a repulsive manner. "How's this?" Harvey pinned her against the wall of the elevator and gave her a long, investigative kiss. "Much better, but I think we're giving security quite a show." Rachel attempted to point to the camera while Harvey was busily working his way from her mouth to her neck. "Ah, to hell with them." Harvey grinned and continued, "probably had soap operas on down there anyways." Much to their surprise, they were interrupted by a call over the intercom, "Is everything okay?" Harvey looked at Rachel in shock before turning to press the intercom button. "Everything's fine.'' Harvey pressed the button to start the elevator again, "I guess you were right." After being caught, Harvey and Rachel departed the elevator from the seperate sides when they reached the eleventh floor, both wearing guilty grins. ''What's with you anyways?" This had been a relatively sudden mood change for Harvey. "You smell so good.'' Harvey hadn't been able to keep much distance from Rachel all day, her perfume was intoxicating. By staying with her, his mind was less likely to wonder back to Evan. The case was also a good distraction. He followed her back into their room. "What?" Rachel grinned, wondering about his absurd comment as she collapsed on the bed. Obviously, he felt a little better. "Where'd that come from?" "You do. Half the men at Caesar's wanted to take you home with them, Kyle certainly did." Harvey had seen more than a few men taking notice of Rachel. He knew he had nothing to worry about as far as competition, though he'd definitely be willing to fight. "It's not the perfume, Harvey, it's the handcuffs." Rachel pulled her handcuffs from her back pocket and dangled them before Harvey. "I can go either way personally," Harvey grinned, "but you're mine so it doesn't really matter what turns them on." Harvey crawled across the bed to give her a kiss. ''I guess I am." She returned the kiss but was distracted by the message on the computer screen. She cleared the screen, "so what's on the agenda for tonight?" It was already almost dinner time, Rachel wondered what he might have in mind. ''I'm in Vegas, I have to gamble..." Harvey had brought a little extra money to spend on the tables before their flight home. He hadn't anticipated them staying the night, Nash's suggestion that they stay had took him by surprise. Harvey figured Nash had his reasons. Harvey wanted to go by the hotel. "Gamble? I had something else in mind." Rachel could tell Harvey wasn't picking up on her not-so-subtle hints as she sat next to him on the bed. She couldn't take it much longer, they were alone and there was no chance anyone would find out about them. They had been discreet while they were in San Francisco, but they had no reason to be here. "Not gambling in Vegas would be like not going to Haight and Ashbury in San Francisco. And well," he was interrupted by Rachel's kiss and instantaneously knew what she meant to imply... "technically, we're still on the clock." Rachel turned around and closed her lap top after sending the final file from the case to Nash, "not any more." Harvey knew exactly what was on her mind and was all to happy to comply later, but now he wanted to go. The evening would be hers, but Harvey needed this time to himself. "Remember this for later." Harvey kissed her again and sat up, straightening out his shirt. "I'm being abandoned for a craps table?'' Rachel pretended to be offended, guessing Harvey probably wanted a little time alone. "Tonight, you're mine." Harvey smiled as he picked up his jacket over the chair. He wanted to stop by the bar a moment before he went to the hotel. "Meeting for dinner?" Rachel didn't know if she'd see him for the rest of the evening or not. "See you at eight downstairs.'' Harvey came to the bed and kissed her again before walking out the door. ** Harvey walked through the darkened corridors of the hotel, taking him back to the place and time he hated most in his life. He had to come back and face his demons. Harvey found the spot, the exact area where Evan was standing when the bullet hit. He slid against the wall to the floor, overcome with emotion. "You know, Evan, this isn't easy coming here. You'd be impressed, this time I brought a woman.'' Harvey chuckled, people would think he was nuts if they saw him. "It hasn't been the same without you, buddy." Harvey got up and lightly touched the wall, with tears welling up in his eyes. He walked back down the darkened hallway. ** "Joe, any word back from Bill?" Nash had wondered what Bill had said about Rachel, if he still wanted to find her now that he knew who she was. "Not yet." Joe wasn't surprised Bill hadn't called him yet, he assumed the news would come as a bit of a shock. "Maybe we should say something to her, when she comes back?" "You mean incase Bill tries to contact her instead of you?" Nash had considered that Bill might do that. "Maybe not, she might pull a disappearing act." "You think she'd do that?" Joe didn't know Rachel was so touchy about the adoption. "I know she might not want to play a game she can't win." Nash was referring to the fact that Bill might let her see her daughter, but Rachel would know she'd never get her back. ** "Harvey, are you okay?" Rachel watched him as they were eating, something didn't seem right. "I'm okay." Harvey didn't want to tell her had gone back to the hotel, he didn't want to worry her. "You're the one who's not eating." Harvey wanted to change the subject and pointed to her plate, he had a lot on his mind. He poured himself another glass of wine, it was their second bottle. "I'm distracted by you." Rachel hadn't meant that in a physical way, though she couldn't deny being interested. She meant she was worried. "Just eat for now, there's plenty of time for that later." Harvey smiled, he was touched by Rachel's concern and her subtle interest. "Right.'' Rachel grinned mischeviously, but pushed the plate aside. "I'm going to head back to the room, are you joining me now or later?" "I'll be up soon.'' She got up and gave Harvey a passionate kiss, the kind she normally reserved for private. Rachel built up his intrigue with the evening to come. Rachel walked away from the table and Harvey paid the bill. ** "Joe, what's wrong?" Something had been bothering Joe for quite a while, and Inger was determined to find out what it was. "Inger, there's something I have to tell you, about that case.'' It was time to tell her, Bill already knew, there was no reason not to. "The case, for Bill? Is something wrong?" Inger wondered why Bill had been over so often lately, and who Joe was helping him find. "Bill asked me to find Cecilia's birth mother for him." Joe was going to be honest and tell her the truth. "Oh? For what?'' Inger couldn't imagine why Bill would want to find Cecilia's birth mother now. "He just said he had to find her, he never told me why." Bill never gave Joe a reason, just that he needed to find her. "Did you find her yet?" Inger wondered if that was the answer to all of his late nights. "Yeah, I found her alright." Joe was a little relieved and a little hurt to know who it was, wondering why she wouldn't have trusted him with such information. "And?" Inger hated when Joe left his sentences open, dangling the mystery. "And, it's Rachel." Joe wondered how Inger would take the news. "Our Rachel?" Inger wondered if it was the same Rachel who worked with Joe. "Yeah. Funny how that worked out, huh?" Joe couldn't believe the truth was right under his nose all along. ** "We've got an early flight tomarrow, Harvey, maybe we should head back up to the room." Despite the early flight, Rachel and Harvey both knew they wouldn't be sleeping if they went back up to the room. "Rache, I'm on a winning streak. I can't leave now." As interested as Harvey was in the evening ahead with Rachel, he was equally if not moreso intrigued by the game before him. The drinks earlier had helped. "Harvey..." Even her seductive tone couldn't distract him, he was intent on sitting in for another round. She sat there quietly next to him, not wanting him to forget they had to leave early. When she ran her finger against his thigh, he caught notice. "What's with you tonight?" Rachel hadn't seen Harvey on a tangent like this before. "Taking advantage of every opportunity. Seizing the day. I want to have fun while I still can, life's too short." He had something in mind for them later, but that was his own surprise. Harvey couldn't wait. "What's next? A walk down the aisle, year off in Tahiti?" She had tried to instill the idea that life was too short ever since he was shot, but she found it a little odd he finally let the message sink through now while sitting at a craps table. "That doesn't sound bad at all, you'd legally be mine and I'd get a year's vacation ." Harvey liked the deal a lot, reminding him that he had to pick up the ring in Carmel sometime after they got back. It couldn't wait anymore. "Harvey..." Rachel never knew what to expect as far as Harvey was concerned, but this was a little out of the ordinary. "If I win this game, we've got to celebrate and do something big. This is the last round, I swear.'' He was completely possessed by the game. Being in Vegas reminded him of what happened to Evan. This trip had to be better. He had to do it for Evan. He wasn't going to come away feeling so alone. Harvey turned a moment and kissed Rachel before looking back to the table, "I'm in." Harvey passed the dealer his chips and the game began. ** "Joe, I want you te help me contact her." Bill had thought about it long enough, it was time. He hoped he wasn't waking Joe up with such an early call. "You want me to help you with Rachel? I told you I'd find her, I never said anything about meddling in her personal life.'' Bill looked at him, pleading for help. "She's already going to kill me." "She can do that afterwords, but for now, I need to find a way to talk to her." Bill laughed at the thought of a woman going after Joe. "Very funny. Ha. Ha. Right now, she's in Vegas." That at least bought Joe some time to find a way to help Bill. "In Vegas?" Bill wondered what she was doing there. "She's on a case, undercover." There was no reason not to tell Bill what she was doing. "Oh." Bill could see their meeting would be delayed. He had more time to think. "She'll be back today or tomarrow, give me a call when you're ready." Joe hung up the phone. Bill was unsure once again of what he should do. ** Rachel wrapped the sheet tightly around her and walked through the room, looking for her clothes. Their clothing from the night before was strewn across the room, wherever they happened to throw it as they came in. She realized the time on the clock, grateful they hadn't missed their flight that morning. Getting in at three and up by six wasn't easy. Rachel gathered her clothes, piece by piece from the floor. She picked up Harvey's jacket and saw a piece of paper beneath it. Rachel bent down to get a closer look and read it carefully, "HARVEY!" Harvey sat up in the bed, startled by her scream but completely unawake. "What? Is everything okay?" "When you said we had to do something big to celebrate, apparently we took it a little too far...'' Rachel looked at the paper again in disbelief, this couldn't have happened. "What? We couldn't have... we didn't?" A million thoughts were running through Harvey's mind as he laid there, unable to recall the events of the night before. They had enough to drink, but they weren't drunk. It didn't make sense. He wanted to eventually, but not like this. "We did." Rachel and Harvey's eyes locked across the room as they wondered what they were going to do. Somehow, no explanation seemed plausible for what had happened between them. ** |
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