When Aidan and Cass walked into the briefing room, having returned from Australia, they were met by many very unhappy faces. Krit first shot Cass a hurt look, and then turned his glare to Aidan, but his could not match that of Cal, who was beyond pissed at both parties.

Cass shot Aidan a confused look and then took a seat.

Hannah was looking at Aidan, eyes both hurt and accusing at once.

"You all look like someone died." He noted. "In fact, someone did, but it was the bad guy...so why the long faces?"

"As if you don't know!" Hannah shot accusingly, then fixed Cassidy with a deadly glare.

"I'd appreciate it if you spoke in a less accusatory tone, Agent Duvall. Now tell me what's got you so upset."

"Well I'm not sure, but my guess is that she's mad that you decided to fuck Agent Kincaide." Krit replied, in an unusually sharp tone.

"Oh, so THAT'S what the 'how could you so wrong me?' look was," Cass said.

"What makes you all think that Agent Kincaide and I had any relations beyond that of two agents working on a case?"

"Your earpieces," Hannah said simply.

"Ah." Aidan said simply, floored for a second.

"Just admit it, would you?" Hannah said.

"Yes, I fucked Cassidy, and you know what Hannah? It was damn good." He shot her a glare and left the room.

Hannah got up as well, following him out. "Was it better than me? What was it, the red hair or just how quick she spreads her legs?"

"Trust me honey, it was harder to get in her pants than yours." He laughed.

Krit and Cal glared at Cass. "How the fuck could you do something like that?!" Cal snapped. "He's such a fucking prick!"

Hannah was floored for a moment. "I--"

Cass shrugged.

"You what?"

"I-- If you like her so well, you can keep her!"

"Never come to me again, Cassidy." Krit stated, hurt apparent in his voice.

"I didn't need your permission for that."

"I'm sorry you feel that way," Cassidy said simply. "You're a good guy."

"I hate you," Hannah said, her eyes watering.

"That's your own fault Hannah, not mine. I could have fucked Cal too, but I didn't out of respect for you. But never once have I given you reason to think that I was faithful to only you."

"Yeah and you're not a good woman. Not at all."

"If you respected me you wouldn't have gone and slept with that whore!"

"I never said I was," Cassidy replied.

"Yeah I would have."

"Yeah well you aren't."

"You're not the first to hold that opinion, you won't be the last. We're just different people, I don't do that exclusive thing well. Go find someone who does," Cass told him. "You'll be better off."

"You wouldn't!"

"Yeah you're right."

"Yes. I would. I just shouldn't have let you hear."

"Well it won't be a problem. Ever again!" Hannah snapped. "I'm not going back to you ever."

Cassidy smiled, almost with a twinge of sadness. "It was fun." She kissed Krit and then left the room.

"Okay."

"Hey Krit, don't let her get to you, okay?" Cal said, sighing. She left too, going after Cassidy. "Hey wait up."

Hannah stomped off.

Cass turned around. "Yeah?"

"Let's go to my room and talk."

"Okay," Cass agreed.

Cal sat on her bed. "I just feel...betrayed, you know?"

"You're entitled to, I'd say. But he did tell me the only reason he didn't sleep with you was because Hannah was around, and apparently he has some sort of slanted, twisted respect for her."

"Yeah right. And anyway, you know how much we all hate him, but you betray me and you betray Krit to fuck him."

"I never made any promise of exclusivity to Krit."

"Yeah I know, but you knew it'd hurt him if you did it with someone else."

"I didn't do it to hurt him."

"I know that."

"I really do feel bad that he's hurt, he's a good guy."

"Yes, he is."

"Little naive sometimes, but a good guy nonetheless."

"He'll get over you...but he may not trust you."

"Not many people do."

"I do."

"Well, I appreciate that."

"I think I'm most pissed that you fucked him first."

"Trust me, now that Hannah's ditching him, you'll get your turn."

"I don't want my turn."

"Then don't take it. I'm not going to tell you what to do."

"I know."

"But anyway, it is nice to be back. If I hadn't been playing his wife, we wouldn't have fucked."

"Yeah you would have...eventually.” Cal shrugged. "So was he any good?"

"I’d say."

"Is it big?"

"Rivaling only his ego for size, my friend."

"Holy shit."

Cass laughed.

"Damn. Now I'm jealous."

"Go for it. Trust me, I'm not the type who's going to mind."

"He doesn't want me."

"Yeah, he does."

"No. He doesn't."

"He does, I swear!"

"Cause now you're the expert on Aidan. Well tell me then, why does he hate me so much?"

"He just likes to be an asshole."

~*~

"Agent Johnson, wait a minute," Aidan said as the group was leaving the room.

Cal turned to him. Now was her chance. She tossed her head, sending her long black hair over her shoulder. "Yeah?"

"You don't need to put on the show," he said, approaching. "I already want you." He kissed her.

Cal almost swooned. What the hell kind of game was he playing with her? But she kissed him back eagerly, Cass's words hitting her mind. 'He doesn't want me.' 'Yeah, he does, I swear'.

Aidan pulled her close, still kissing her.

"What are you doing?" She whispered breathlessly.

"I'd think that'd be pretty obvious," he said, pressing against her.

"But you...you...you laughed..."

"What was I supposed to do with her in the room next door?"

"You were supposed to do me."

"Does that offer still stand?"

"Yeah." She whispered, kissing him again.

Aidan smiled. "Good."

~*~*~*~

Cassidy waited until she was certain everyone had gone to their rooms for the evening. She glanced in the mirror one last time, wrapped the robe more tightly around herself, and left the room, softly knocking on the next door.

"Who is it?"

"Your neighbor."

"Cass go away."

"Please let me in?"

"Fine."

The door opened, and Cassidy slid inside. "Hi." How exactly did one go about this?

"Hi."

"Krit, I... I'm sorry."

"No you aren't."

"I am," she said, looking away from him. "And I want to make it up to you somehow..."

"How Cass? By screwing me and then leaving again? What’s wrong? Is Callahan too busy with someone else?"

"No! I... damnit, I don't know what I'm doing, Krit. I just know I want you."

"Why?"

"Because you're handsome. And good natured. And good in bed."

"Yeah well so are other guys."

"But they aren't you…"

"Come here."

She complied.

He kissed her softly. "You mean that?"

"Yes. Yes, Krit."

"Too damn bad."

Her expression was one of shock and then dismay. Cass looked at her feet.

"I'm done with you Cass."

"I... Krit..."

"What?"

Cassidy's lip trembled, but she simply shook her head no. "Nevermind..."

"Goodbye."

Cassidy let a single tear slide down her cheek before she turned to leave.

"I'm sorry, but this is how it has to be."

She nodded, head still hanging, and put her hand on the doorknob. "I miss you."

"Bye."

She opened the door and went back to her own room, heading for her evening bath. Truth was, she'd full well expected Krit to reject her; in fact, she'd wanted him to. She knew she'd hurt him - just as she had been hurt, long ago, and she didn't want to leave Krit as bitter and warped as she had become. So she was willing to embarrass herself in front of him. Maybe there was a heart somewhere inside her after all.

Aidan was sitting on her bed, in the dark. He said nothing, waiting for her to see him.

Cassidy sensed the presence before she saw him. "Fancy meeting you here."

"Not really."

"No, not really," she agreed.

"Got anything on under that robe?"

"Not a thing."

"I don't believe you. I think you should prove it."

She smiled and slid the robe off her shoulders, twirling around. "Trust me now?"

"I think I need a closer look."

"Why Aidan Callahan, are you horny?" Cassidy looked mock surprised. "You'll have to be gentle, I'm stinging from the rejection of another agent."

"Are you? I'm not." He laughed.

Cass shrugged, smiling a bit. "Good for his ego, and I really don't mind. He's a good guy, shouldn't get burned if he doesn't have to be."

"You gonna join me on this bed or not?"

Cassidy slid onto the bed next to him. "I do believe you're overdressed."

He laughed a little and pulled off his shirt. "Yeah you're right."

"We're getting there..."

"Yeah, we are. So Krit turned you down huh?" He asked, shimmying out of his pants.

"Yeah. I wanted him to. Puts him on the high moral ground, lets him feel he's doing the right thing. And that doesn't matter so much to me."

"Well good. I had fun myself."

"Good. No details, though. I'll get 'em from her later."

"How do you know who it was?"

"I read minds."

"Ah."

Cass laughed. "No, I just figure Hannah wouldn't, Scarlett's her sister & therefore couldn't, it wasn't me, and I'm fairly sure it wasn't Krit, so that leaves only one other."

"It was good."

"Well good for you. I go to him naked and get told to leave while you're off having a good time." Cass looked miffed. "You're just going to have to make it up to me."

"That's my plan."

"Good news for me." Cassidy said.

"Yes, I think so."

Cassidy kissed him. "That's enough with the talking."

"Right."

To The Next Part