Chapter Six

   In the days that followed, Nick played his part to perfection while they were in public. When they were behind closed doors though, he gave Heidi a hard time. He taunted her, teased her and pushed her into corners, making it very hard for her to remember she was there to protect him, not to kill him!
   Brian came upon one of their arguments and starred in disbelief. He couldn't believe that was his best friend, treating someone like that. The words that were coming out of his mouth were clearly upsetting Heidi, but instead of backing off, Nick continued with his tirade, becoming ruder as the argument wore on.
    "I didn't ask you to protect me and I sure don't need or want you as my friend. So butt out," Nick yelled, his face red in anger.
Heidi had all she could take and she exploded, letting the last few days worth of pent up emotion fly. "You ungrateful little boy! I don't care if YOU asked me to protect you or not, I'm here and I'm staying. And I never asked to be your friend. I wouldn’t have you if you were served to me on a silver platter. You're a self-important brat! Grow up Carter and get a whiff of reality. Somewhere out there is a stalker. A stalker who is fixated on you and I'm the only thing standing between you and him, so you had better start cooperating," Heidi yelled back, her own face a nice deep shade of red.
  "So you'd like me on a silver platter would you?" Nick taunted, the one line of her tirade sticking out in his mind.
   "Ooooh!" Heidi growled and threw her hands in the air. "You are impossible," she stated before turning and stomping off.
  Brian stuck his head around the corner door and asked, "Is it safe to come in?" Nick smirked and waved him in. Brian swayed a little with the bus’ movement as he made his way down the narrow isle to a seat. "You know; you really shouldn't piss her off. After all, she does have your back," Brian reminded him. "Yeah, I know, but its so much fun to watch her ignite. She turns these fabulous colors and her eyes flash. Its absolutely amazing the colors her face turns," he said, his face lit up in a teasing grin.
   "Nick, you're awful! What are you going to do if; after you've distracted her with a fight, your stalker makes his move? She's right and you know it, she is the only thing standing between you two."
"Brian, please no more lectures okay? I think I've had all the lecture's I can handle for one morning,” Nick said, as he lay back against the couch and closed his eyes.
"Sure Nick. Just think about what I said, please?" he requested as he stood and left Nick alone; his mind going back over the way Nick looked as he described Heidi. Maybe; just maybe!
                                                       ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
  Brian made his way through the bus and was surprised to see Heidi sitting at the table, her head down on her arms. He figured after the last blow up with Nick, she'd have retreated to her bunk. Deciding to see if he could help, he plopped down in the booth across from her and waited for her to look up.
   "Go away Nick! I've had enough for one day,” she said, her head still pillowed on her arms.
"I'm not Nick, but I have to agree with you there," Brian said. Heidi's head shot up off her arms and she smiled wearily at Brian.
"Sorry Bri, it's not even ten o'clock in the morning and I've already fought with Nick twice. Guess I'm a little on edge," she said as a way of apologizing.
"Not a problem. Although it's been very entertaining!" he grinned. She playfully smacked his arm and they shared a laugh. "I really am sorry Nick's behaving like he is. He's not usually like this, I don't know what's come over him," Brian stated.
"Put yourself in his shoes Brian. Some crazed man has a fixation with Nick. We don't know who he is or where he's from. We have no idea why he's doing this. He's on edge, scared, terrified if he's totally honest with himself. He’s just waiting for the other shoe to drop. It's understandable really,” she said, defending Nick to his best friend.
  "You care about him don't you?" Brian asked, startling Heidi.
"Of course I care about him, he's my assignment. It's my job to keep him safe," she began only to be cut off by Brian's knowing look.
"That's not what I meant and you know it,” he said as he crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her to answer.
  "Brian, you're as crazy as he is; if you really believe that there is more between us than bodyguard and client. Half the time we're together we're fighting and the other half is filled with tension and evil looks. Not to mention it's unprofessional to get emotionally involved in an assignment and I'm four years older than he is,” she stated as if that should be the end of the discussion.
  However, Brian wasn't having any of it. There were definitely sparks of a different kind flying between these two people; and he was definitely enjoying the show. "That all may be true, however that doesn't stop a person from caring on a deeper level,” he said, clearly ignoring her warning look.
    "Oh yeah! I can just see it now; instead of exchanging kisses we'd be exchanging verbal darts. No thank you Brian. I can do without that,” she answered sarcastically. "I'm going to catch a nap. Wake me if we stop," she said as she stood and moved to the back of the bus.
   Brian watched her leave, his mind a whirl with images from the last few days. Suddenly things were becoming clearer to him. The way Nick watched her when he thought no one noticed, the way she blushed when he came to close. The passion they both displayed while fighting. Yep, it definitely had all the earmarks of two people who were attracted to each other. A smile formed on his lips; the next few weeks were going to be fun to watch.

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