Promises
by mardel
part final
R

Special thanks to Joyce for the beta


"Then we agree, no problem." Darien rolled the bag up to keep the 
chips fresh 
and stood. "I'll try to remember to wear underwear from now on, and 
thank
you." 
"You're welcome." she smiled. 

Bobby returned to the bedroom. He was tired but not sleepy after 
their snack.
"Claire wants us to stay, what do you think?" 

"Sounds good to me, you Ok with it?"

"I like the idea, as long as I can cuddle with someone." Darien was 
teasing.

Claire had changed into a short cotton night gown. She didn't mind 
sleeping naked
but with two men in her bed she felt a little night gown might be a 
good idea. 
"I'm exhausted, but if you want to stay up please do." She moved 
towards the
bed. I have three pillows, do either of you require more than one?"

"One is fine with me." Bobby answered. 
"One is good, I'm ready for bed, who want's the middle?"

"It's going to have to be you or Claire, I can't do the middle."

"I'll volunteer, unless Darien wants to?" 

"Fine." 

They arranged themselves in her queen size bed, Bobby on his side
with Claire spooned up against him then Darien spooned up with
her. Claire was glad for her night gown or she would be over heated
from all the skin contact. 

Darien was exhausted, satisfied and happy. He hadn't felt happy in so 
long 
he wasn't even sure he knew how to behave. Claire was soft against 
him,
his head above hers she was cuddled up as close to Bobby's back as she
could possibly get. 

Claire sighed, and snuggled close to Bobby. Her hand around his side 
and entwined 
with hers trapped against his chest. Having Darien pressed against 
her back was 
just an extra added bonus. She felt warm, safe and loved. 

Bobby closed his eyes and tried to let sleep over take him. But there 
were too many
things he needed to think over. He loved Claire. He loved Darien. 
They both loved
him. He'd gone so long without being cared about by anyone, he wasn't 
sure he
could deal with two people needing him. He would be a fool to refuse 
their devotion.
Most people never experienced the love of another person like he was 
being 
offered by two very special people. He was just going to have to 
accept the way
things where and do his best to keep from obsessing. 

Claire did feel good, resting against him. He liked the contact, he 
might even get to
the point that he could have one of them on each side, but for now he 
still needed
to be on the outside. Free to defend himself or them from any danger 
that might arise.
That was always a consideration in his life, being prepared for 
anything. 

They were all drifting off to sleep when Darien sleepily spoke up. 
"Guys?"
"Umm," Claire answered.
"Ya, Partner." Bobby mumbled
"If things don't go well with my treatment..."
"Darien your treatment will be over soon, there isn't any reason to 
worry that 
you'll still have the madness." 
"Go to sleep Dare, it's my job to worry." Bobby reminded him.
"Yeah, I guess it is." Darien slipped his arm around Claire and moved 
closer. 

At some point during the night Claire was awakened by the feeling of 
a massive erection
thrusting into her backside. Darien was behind her, and his arousal 
felt huge, very long
and hard. He moved against her for about a minute, then he smoothed 
a hand
over her leg and pulled up her gown. He positioned his huge erection 
between her legs
and thrust hard, and deep. Claire groaned, it felt enormous.
Darien whispered, a growl she was all too familiar with, "You want me 
don't you Keepie?
Does that feel as good as His does?" 

Claire moaned. As scared as she was she couldn't help but respond to 
the
thrusting he was rocking her entire frame with. Sex with a 
quicksilver mad Darien would
be forceful and violent, but it wasn't rape if she was willing and 
God help her she was
willing. He was massively swollen. If felt like he would rip her in 
half with
his huge organ. Darien continued to ride her, moving her to her 
stomach after another 
minute so he could thrust even deeper and harder. Claire groaned. 
"Oh, Darien, " she panted as he rode her with long powerful thrusts. 

Darien was enjoying himself. During the night the counteragent had 
worn off and he
was simultaneously aroused and found himself with a very available 
Claire as a partner.
He opened his red eyes, "Looks like the shot didn't last as long as 
you planned.
Do you like this Keepie? Think I can satisfy you this time?" Darien 
growled.

Darien worked his hips harder, faster. He was nearing his apex but he 
wanted to make
her climax, even in his drug induced madness he wanted to prove to 
her she wanted
him. 
Claire opened her eyes, his head was tucked down, he wasn't looking 
at her. He was
totally consumed with his need. 
She wondered what he'd done to Bobby, she hoped he'd only knocked him 
out.
She heard a moan from the floor beside the bed, and felt relief, 
Darien must have
cold coked Bobby when the madness had taken him. 
Her body was still responding to his hard pounding, she was near 
orgasm. Claire 
attempted to relax, as he thrust faster still. His cock driving into 
her with each 
powerful forward movement of his hips. Darien growled and thrust even 
deeper, 
driving his huge cock to the hilt inside her body. Claire cried out, 
her orgasm reached,
involuntarily or not. Darien continued to thrust, he was ready to 
explode. His body arched
painfully as he groaned out his climax. His cock spasming repeatedly 
as he ejaculated hard
several times. He groaned as his swollen organ continued to thrust 
into Claire's hotness. But a
moment after he climaxed his eyes cleared. He became aware of what he 
was doing, and it over
loaded his system, and he passed out. 

Claire thought for a moment he'd arrested but he was still breathing. 
She moved out from under
him, and rolled him to his back. She checked his eyes, they were 
normal. Now she was really
confused. She'd been sure Darien was under the effects of the 
quicksilver madness. 
She checked his monitor, it was all red. Something was very wrong. She
moved off the bed and checked Bobby, he was just beginning to come 
around.

Claire rushed to her kitchen and returned with a shot of counteragent 
two and also
another gene therapy injection for Darien.
Ever since Eberts had warned her, she was making double the amount 
for back up.
Bobby was the first to come around. Claire saw no reason to tell him 
details, only
that Darien had been quicksilver mad at one point and knocked him 
out. 

"Did he hurt you?"Was Bobby's first question, he didn't see any marks 
on her
neck. 

"No, I'm not hurt. I managed to give him the shot before things got 
out of hand."
She lied. "But I'm worried about how he's responding to the new 
counter agent.
His eyes weren't red but his monitor was. 

"How much longer until he's had all of the treatment?" 

"Three more days. We are going to have to stay close. It might not be 
a good idea
for you to be alone with him either." Claire added. 

"He's going to be Ok after you're done treating him right?" Bobby 
looked down at
his partner. Darien was still out, from fainting after what had 
happened. 

"Yes, he will be. It's getting to that point that I'm worried about, 
now." Claire
touched Bobby's cheek with her palm. 

Darien came around during their conversation. He remembered some of 
what he'd
done. He'd hit Bobby over the head with Pavlov's doggie dish. Then 
he'd turned
his attention to Claire. He thought he'd forced her to have sex with 
him, but he didn't
remember details well after a bout of quicksilver madness. He might 
only have wanted
to force her into sex. He'd know by the way they acted once he opened 
his eyes. 
Bobby didn't sound angry, but then he wasn't sure Claire would have 
told him. 
She might think she was protecting him, by not letting Bobby know he 
was an animal
when he was under the influence of the gland. 

Darien couldn't believe it had only been a few hours ago he'd felt 
like life was
good and everything was going to be fine. He had two people he loved 
as part of
his life. But he might have just driven a wedge between him and both 
of them 
if he'd hurt Claire, forced her like he thought he might have. 

"Darien can you hear me buddy?" Bobby sounded concerned, Darien 
wished he
didn't have to open his eyes. He wished he'd never accepted Kevin's 
offer.
But then he'd never have known Bobby and Claire. 
"Dare open your eyes, look at me." 

Darien exhaled and groaned, then opened his eyes and looked up at his 
partner.
"I did it again didn't I?" 

"Not your fault, don't worry about it. How do you feel?" Bobby asked. 
Darien could see Claire behind him, she was studying him too. 

"My head still hurts." 

"Darien I've given you another treatment of the gene therapy, and a 
shot of 
counteragent two." Claire said from behind Bobby. 

Claire wasn't letting Darien get a close look at her, she didn't want 
to pretend
everything was normal, when she wasn't sure how she felt about what 
had
happened. 

Darien closed his eyes again, he felt like crap, physically and 
emotionally. 
He turned on his side away from his friends. Drawing his legs up so 
he 
was kind of in the fetal position. Bobby sat beside him on the bed, 
and
put a strong hand on the base of Darien's neck rubbing his thumb over 
the tender
area in an effort to ease the lasting effects of the pain. 

Claire felt the need to be alone. She felt like the third wheel now, 
seeing how
worried Bobby was for Darien. She slipped off to the bathroom, and 
removed
her crumpled nightgown. She turned the water on hot, and stepped 
under the
stream of water. The tears began a second after she felt the water 
hitting her 
face. She wasn't sure why she was crying, to many emotions were 
swirling
in her heart. The Darien that had attacked her, wasn't the same man 
she loved.
It was an attack, but it wasn't. She could have fought him and gotten 
them both
hurt in the process. Bobby was so worried about Darien, he wasn't 
worried 
about her. But she hadn't told him what had happened, so why should 
he be
worried about her. Claire was angry at herself for crying, but she 
couldn't
seem to stop. 

Bobby noticed Claire had gone when he heard the shower start in the 
bathroom.
"Dare is the pain easing up any?" 
"Yeah, that feels nice." Darien felt guilty keeping Bobby from going 
to her. 
But he needed to be comforted, Bobby didn't know Claire needed it 
just as much.

"Claire's been in there a long time. Do you think I should check on 
her?"

"It wouldn't hurt, the worse that could happen is she tells you to 
get out." 
Darien sighed. 
Bobby smoothed his hand one last stroke over Darien's neck and stood.
"I guess I'll check on her then." 

"Claire are you Ok in here?" Bobby opened the door, the room was full 
of steam
but he could hear the sound of her sobbing, along with the noise of 
the shower.
He reached in and turned the water off, pulled the curtain aside and 
held a towel
out for her, wrapping it around her body. 

"No, please. I'm fine." She protested. 

"Yeah, that's why you're in here crying you eyes out." Bobby 
surrounded her with
the towel and hugged her close. He stood in the middle of the 
bathroom with her 
in his arms, " Tell me why you're upset?" He rubbed his hand over her 
back
and held her with the other. 

Claire shook her head no, she couldn't tell him. It could affect his 
feelings for 
Darien. She wouldn't jeopardize their relationship over this. 
"Come on Keepie, you can tell me. I've heard it all you know, or 
lived it." 

Bobby was trying to cajole her into breaking her silence. 

Claire thought you've never lived this one. And telling you is just 
going to make
everything worse. 
"Alright if you don't want to tell me. How about if we get you dried 
off and
into a fresh nightgown." He rubbed the towel over her skin, and was 
about to
start on her hair. Claire freed her arms from the confinement of the 
towel and
wrapped them around his neck.
" Bobby..." 
"I'm here, sweetheart." He hugged her hard then as she tried to get 
control of
her emotions. 

Claire held tight to him for several minutes. Then asked him. " Would 
you
bring me my robe from the closet?" 
"Sure anything you need." Bobby kissed her briefly, then left the 
bathroom.
He returned in a minute with her robe. 

"Thank you. I'll be out shortly." Claire took her robe and smiled 
weakly at
him.
Bobby nodded, he knew she was hurting but there seemed to be only so 
much he could do. 

Darien was sleeping when he checked on him. It wasn't even four in 
the morning
yet. But Bobby was used to sleeping only about four hours a night. 

Claire emerged from the bathroom. "I'm going down to the kitchen and 
make
some tea." She said, her head down, her manner subdued. 

"He's sleeping, I'll come with you." Bobby slipped his discarded 
shirt on and
followed her down the stairs. 

Claire let Pavlov out into the yard, and put the tea kettle on. She 
fussed about the
kitchen for a few minutes, putting things on the table. Bobby stayed 
out of her
way and watched. He'd thought about it, he'd decided he knew what was 
wrong, why she was upset. 

"He did it again, didn't he?" 

"Sorry?" Claire fainted ignorance.

"Darien, when he was quicksilver mad, he forced his attentions on 
you. That's
why you're upset." Bobby crossed the kitchen and stopped her from 
fiddling with
the cups and saucers. He turned her to look at him. When she was bare 
foot they
were the exact same height. 
"Claire that's not him, when he's under the influence of the 
madness." 

"I know it's not." She looked into his dark eyes, then looked away 
again.
"I just need some time." 

"You know I love you. I hate seeing you hurting." Bobby's hand was on 
her
waist his entire focus on her.

"I love you, I love you so much, but I don't think you can make this 
better for me.
Only time will help with this." Claire looked up into his eyes again. 

"Want me to get him out of here?" Bobby offered. 

"No let him rest." The kettle began to whistle and she turned to turn 
of the stove.

"Would you like some tea?" 

"Yeah, sure why not." Bobby let Pavlov back inside. Then took a seat 
at the table.
The small dog put his feet up on Bobby's leg for attention. So Bobby 
lifted him 
into his lap. 

"I know you don't sleep long most of the time. What do you do most 
mornings
before going to work?" Claire asked hoping to get her mind off 
herself.

"I do those meditation exercises you made me learn sometimes. I run 
through the
form most mornings. I read the paper, watch the early news. The usual 
stuff." 

"The form, you mean the routine Ha Ke To teaches?"

"Yeah, you have to keep up with it or you get out of practice. I have 
to visit
my dojo regularly to spar with guys at the same level too." 

Claire nodded, she remembered the first time she'd seen Bobby in 
action.
He was impressive. "If you'd like to use the living room for anything,
just move the coffee table." 

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. How about you, what do you practice 
to keep
in condition?" Bobby knew she was into yoga, but he didn't know if 
there was
something else.

"I usually take Pavlov on a long walk at night. I do yoga most days, 
that's about
all." 

Bobby thought about running home to change but he wasn't sure if 
leaving 
her and Darien alone was a good idea just yet. 

"I think I'm going to go into work early this morning. I want to look 
over some
of my work on the gene therapy, so if you'll bring Darien along at 
the usual time."

"Yeah, I'll see that he gets to work. Want me to lock up when we 
leave? Do you have
a spare key?" 

"Yes," Claire got up and dug in her mail basket for the key she gave 
Eberts when he
was taking care of Pavlov for her. "Here you are." she handed him the 
key.
"I guess it's a little early but you won't mind will you sweetie." 
She lifted her dog
off of Bobby's lap and hugged him. Then set him on the floor and went 
to the cupboard
for his dog food. Pavlov danced around excitedly, his tags jingling. 
"There you go, you eat up and I'll go and get dressed." 

Bobby grinned, dogs were so easy. Feed 'em, walk 'em and pet 'em and 
they 
were good to go. 

He was sitting drinking his tea, when he heard the paper land on her 
front step.
He brought it in and was reading when she returned to the kitchen. 

"Bobby, I'm going to walk the dog. Darien is still sleeping." She 
informed him.

"I'll go with you." 

"That isn't necessary." 

"I'd like to, unless you don't want company." He stood up. 

"If you're worried about my safety..."

"Claire that's a given, how long have you known me? I just want .." 
He paused

"I didn't keep you safe before. But I can keep you safe now, if 
you'll let me." 


"Don't blame yourself, it's not your fault anymore than it was his." 
Claire locked
eyes with him . "Go get some shoes."

Bobby hurried up the stairs and was back with shoes and his sidearm 
in a minute.
He pulled on his jacket and held the door for her and the little dog. 

"The bottom lock locks by itself, that's all we'll need for now." She 
told him.
Bobby took the outside position on the sidewalk, but that was the 
side Pavlov
needed so he stopped and moved to Claire's other side. He reached for 
her hand.
Claire didn't expect such an obvious display of affection from him in 
public. 
He was very tactile in private, he even talked with his hands 
sometimes if he was
very involved in the conversation. But she liked it, his hand felt 
good, right.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Darien woke up, his head still was hurting, but it was down to a dull 
ache.
He noticed he was alone in the bed, but after what had happened he 
didn't
really expect them both to be cuddled up with him. He moved out of 
the bed
and groaned as he stood. 
He visited the bathroom, deciding to take a quick shower. He had to 
pull his
jeans on from the day before but he felt cleaner and awake. 
Bobby was sitting reading the paper at Claire's table when he entered 
the kitchen.

"Hey, where's Claire?" He headed for the coffee pot and poured 
himself a mug
full, taking a careful first sip. 

"She's at the lab, she wanted to check some stuff." Bobby looked up 
from the paper.
"How's your head?" 

"Better but not gone." Darien leaned against the counter top and 
exhaled deeply.

"Do you remember what happened at all last night?" 

"You mean when I was red-eyed?"Oh great here if comes, Darien thought.

"Yeah, I know you knocked me in the head with something, but Claire 
won't tell
me what else happened." Bobby looked at Darien, watching him closely.

Darien exhaled again, "I'm not sure, I think I tried to get her 
to .... ah, you know."

"Tried to or did?" 

"Bobby I'd tell you if I knew but I can't remember if it happened or 
not. 
I'm sure I need to tell her I'm sorry, but for how much, I don't 
know." Darien 
sounded depressed about what had happened. 

" I don't know Partner, maybe we should stay away from Claire until 
you
finish your treatments." 

"Whatever you think. I'm thinking you might want to confine me until 
this
is over. I know we are trying to keep The Official from knowing about 
my treatment.
Maybe you could cuff me to my bed or something." He suggested.

"If it gets to that point I'll do it." Bobby crossed his arms over 
his chest and
stared at Darien.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Claire was rechecking all of her information about the gene therapy.
When Eberts entered The Keep. 
"Claire you are here bright and early this morning." He set down a 
memo
for her to look over about budget cutting. 

"Hello Albert, yes I was having trouble sleeping so I figured I might 
as well
come into work." 

He nodded, then moved close to where she was working and whispered.
"How's it going?"

"Fine only a few more days." She whispered back. 

"Well if you'll look over this memo and get back to me." He said in 
his usual
tone of voice. 

"I'll look at it in a few minutes. Thank you." 

Eberts exited the lab and headed for his office. 

A minute later her phone rang.
"Yes?" 

"Claire, it's Hobbes, look you don't need to see him today do you?"

"No, not unless he uses the quicksilver. I think it would be best if 
he
didn't for the next day or two. Do you have a case that requires he go
invisible?"

"No, we're just following some guys right now. I think we're going
to stay out of your way tonight."

"Bobby you shouldn't be alone with him all the time, if something 
happens."

"I know, but it's better to put me in harms way than risk you getting 
hurt.
I'll call you later." 

"She's worried about you." Darien said from his seat.

"Yeah, come on Partner we have work to do." 

The work day was boring, Darien spent half of it with his eyes closed 
in an attempt
to ease the ache in his head. 

Bobby took him home and made him eat. 
"You know Partner, what I'm hungry for isn't food." 

"Yeah, well we can't do that either. Nothing that is going to get 
your blood pumping.
It's only for two more days. I think you can last that long." Bobby 
told Darien while
dodging out of his reach. 

"Come on Bobby just a kiss."

"No, now stop." Bobby hated turning him down, but if he wanted Darien 
to make it
through the treatment, he had to keep him from needing more 
counteragent. 

"Fawkes don't make me cuff you to the bed. It was your suggestion, 
and it's not
a bad idea." Bobby warned him.

"Sounds like fun, I've never done anything like that but with you I'm 
sure willing to
give it a try." Darien smiled and held his hands out wrists up, like 
he wanted Bobby
to slap the cuffs on him. 

"Stop acting stupid and eat your dinner." Bobby glared at his friend. 

Darien knew that tone, Bobby wasn't playing with him. So he opened 
his box
and began to eat his shrimp low mein. 

Bobby flipped on the TV and was looking for something interesting to 
watch.
Darien ate his dinner, and stretched out on the couch. He'd rather 
have taken
Bobby to bed, but he didn't want to ruin his chances of finally being 
free of
the madness. 

Bobby slept with his feet up on the coffee table and Darien dozed 
off on the couch.

Bobby's cell phone rang at six and woke them both up. 
"Bobby, hurry and get Darien, I've discovered something, it's good 
news!"

"Ok, we'll be right there." Bobby grabbed Darien's foot from his 
place on
the side of the couch. 
"Wake up and go get ready. Claire has something important she need to 
tell us."

"I'm awake, it's good news?" 

"Yeah, she sounded very excited. Go wash up or something but be quick 
about it."

"What's up?" Darien ran to The Keep from the van as soon as Bobby had 
it in park.

"I've re-examined you tests, I think if I'm correct, let me get a 
sample." She
quickly put the tourniquet on his arm and extracted a tube of blood.

"What?"

" If I'm correct you've had enough therapy already, the fourth 
treatment won't be
necessary. You should be free of the need for counteragent from now 
on." 
She checked the sample and double checked it and then waited for 
Bobby to arrive.

"Well? What's the good news?" Bobby asked as he arrived.

"She thinks I'm already there, that I won't need counteragent 
anymore." 
Darien turned towards Bobby as the door slide shut. 

"Darien you're free." Claire turned towards them both, a big smile on 
her face. 

"Yeah! Alright, come here Keepie this deserves a hug or something." 
Darien 
moved towards her, arms open, he scooped her up and twirled her 
around the
lab laughing happily. 

Bobby was grinning, thrilled it was over. "Keep the celebration down 
there buddy,
we don't want The Official to hear."

Darien set Claire down, then lifted her hand and kissed it. "Thank 
you." 

"You're welcome." Claire answered, but she felt very uneasy about 
what was
going to happen to her now. 

Not two minutes after Darien's exclamation the door to The Keep slide 
open.
The Official strode into the room, minus Eberts. 

"Is this true you disobeyed my orders and gave him the treatment?" 

"Yes, Sir I did." Claire sighed and answered him. 

"Chief go easy on her, she had to help him. She's a doctor, she took 
an oath."
Bobby moved in near Claire.

"Before you do anything else you'll regret let me tell you 
something." Darien 
stepped between the Official and Claire. 
"I would have stayed and I am going to stay but only if Claire gets 
to keep her job
and you allow her all the resources she needs to continue to try and 
find a way to
remove the gland." 

"I won't be blackmailed." The Official growled.

"If you expect me to stay, you'll compromise." Darien said. 

"I'm the man in charge here." 

"We know you are Chief, but you were being unfair."

"Unfair, that gland is the only asset that is keeping this Agency 
alive."
The Official turned on Bobby. 

"All the more reason for you to compromise." Darien added.

The Official huffed, he hated it when his agents challenged his 
authority.
"Dr., will Fawkes have no adverse side effects now that you have 
given him
the gene therapy?" 

"No, as far as I can predict he will be fine." 

The Official glared at her, then turned and walked out of The Keep.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"Claire you have to come with us, I'm sorry for what happened the 
other night. 
I'm not even sure which of it was real and which was just what I 
wanted to do."
Darien told her. 

"Darien it's not because of that, I just need to be alone." 

"No, it is because of what happened, I know it is. You said you 
didn't blame me,
now you have to prove it." 

"I don't have to prove anything." Claire's eyes became just slits as 
she turned
on him. 

"Ok, bad choice of words. Look Bobby is going to be back here any 
minute.
We need to find someway to get past this." 

"The only thing that is going to make me comfortable with you again 
is time."
Claire glared at him then turned her back, she couldn't believe she 
was defending
her feelings to him.

"But Bobby won't let you go home alone. You have to come with us or 
we have to
all go back to your place." 

"Ok, I'm ready what's the plan for tonight?" Bobby strolled through 
the door to The
Keep. 

"I'm going home, you two go celebrate." Claire told him. 

"Whoa, hang on. What's wrong?" Bobby moved across the room and 
touched a
hand to her shoulder. He looked at her defensive body posture, "Did 
you guys 
have a fight already?"

"No, we did not have a fight." She hissed. 

Bobby glanced at Darien and he made a motion like he didn't know what 
was the
trouble. 

"Claire why do you want to go home alone?" Bobby moved so he was 
facing her.

"I don't want to go home alone, but I also don't want to go with both 
of you." 
She spoke softly so only Bobby could hear. 

"Hum, I knew this would happen, sooner or later." 

"Why can't you just let me alone." 

"Can't do that, I love you, I can't just stand by and see you hurting 
like this
and do nothing." Bobby placed a hand on each shoulder and kissed her 
gently.
Claire melted into him.

Darien sighed, she'd won that one. Helping him celebrate wasn't as 
important
as helping Claire. 

"You said you don't blame Darien for what he did when he was red 
eyed."

"I don't, but emotionally it's hard to get past." 

"You don't hate him?" Bobby prodded

"No, of course not." She refused to look at Bobby and kept her head 
buried against
his shoulder. 

"You know I'm trying to remember what you said that first night. You 
told 
him you loved him. Were you stretching the truth?" 

"No, I do love him, it's just that I'm afraid of what might happen." 

Darien moved to join them standing as close as he could without 
touching her.
"Claire if you've cured me there's nothing to be afraid of now. You 
don't think
I would ever do something like that without the influence of the 
madness do you?"

She shook her head but wouldn't look at him. 

"I think we need to go somewhere else and work on this." Bobby moved 
towards
the door. 

"Bobby please, you can't force this." she protested

"I'm not going to, but we need to be somewhere else to talk."

Bobby made them both get into his van and he drove home. To his 
place. They hadn't
all been there together. Even Darien and him hadn't been there 
together for anything
other than dinner a few times. 

"I need a beer. Claire what can I get for you?" 

"A soda or water." She didn't handle alcohol well and she wasn't 
letting her guard 
down. 

Darien followed Bobby into the kitchen. "What are you planning 
Partner?" 

"Do you love her or not?" Bobby turned on his friend. 

"Yes, I love her, I just love her differently than I do you."

"Do you want us the three of us to work?"

"Yes, because you do. I want you happy." Darien locked eyes with 
Bobby. 

"Then go along with this, convince her she will never ever under any 
circumstances
have to fell threatened by you again. Over me, or anything else. If 
you really
mean what you say, no more confrontations. I'm going to do my best to 
give you
both equal time. But I still work with you everyday. She's bound to 
feel left out."

Darien nodded. 

"I'm serious, Claire loves you, she was disappointed that you don't 
feel the same way."

"I love her."

"You told her it wasn't like that, it's friendship." 

"Yeah, it is but she wants you Bobby." 

"She's already got me."

"You want me to pretend I'm "in" love with her?"

"I didn't say that, but she needs to experience the tender side you 
keep hidden most of
the time. So far she's only seen the red eyed you and the way you and 
I are. You've
not given her any of yourself, yeah you may have done it, but that 
wasn't for her now
was it?" Bobby knew, and he was right. 

Darien nodded again. He had no idea Bobby knew they had 'done it' the 
other morning.
It seems Bobby knew everything. 

"You're telling me this isn't going to bother you?" 

"It will bother me more if you and Claire continue like this." Bobby 
got the soda
and two beers and walked back into his front room. 

"Thank you." Claire accepted the drink, she was sitting facing the 
kitchen in 
his side chair.

Darien came back into the room. 
"Claire you know how that first night was for me, then we double 
teamed Bobby?'

"Yes," 

"Tonight is your turn. Anything you want, everything you want. Bobby 
and I are
yours to command." He squatted down beside her chair and looking into 
her eyes.
She looked worried. 

"Darien I don't think I'm up to that ... maybe another time." She 
broke eyes contact
with him.
Darien swallowed. How was he going to show her his gentle side if she 
was still 
freaked by the other night?
What could he do to put her at ease? What did Claire like? Bobby she 
liked Bobby.
He glanced over at his partner, but he just motioned for Darien to 
keep going. 

"Come on you've never wanted to have two big strong men to order 
around?"
He persisted. 

"No, I don't think so." she shook her head. 

Bobby saw that Darien was out of ideas, he moved to his entertainment 
center and
put on some music.

"Dance with me?" Darien asked, in his most soulful puppy big brown 
eyes way.
He took her hand and was very careful to go slow, he put a hand on 
her waist, then
began to dance with her. Claire was stiff at first but she began to 
loosen up some
half way through the song. The next song was a little slower. Bobby 
watched 
as she began to feel comfortable with Dare again. 

The next dance was even slower, Darien shifted his hold on her to a 
little closer.
Claire leaned against him, she did love him. What had happened 
wasn't his fault.
"Darien I'm so sorry." 

"You don't have anything to be sorry about." He held her closer still 
his mouth
touching her temple as they continued to move gently with the music.

"I do, the answer to the madness was simple really, if Arnaud had 
created it, it
almost had to be. I didn't find it sooner. You never should have to 
endure." 

"Shh, never mind about that." He kissed her temple, "relax, think 
about what
you'd like us to do, anything you want." 

Bobby was smiling now, his plan was working. 

"I like this." she sighed. She did love the feel of his long hard 
body moving
against her's. Darien was now holding her with both of his arms 
around her, her cheek pressed
into his shoulder. 

"You mean all you want is to dance?" 

She lifted her mouth and kissed him, it was nice, it was gentle and 
it was tender.
But she knew and he knew it wasn't passion. "I'd like to cuddle 
later." 

"Later?"

"We should go out for dinner tonight. We need to celebrate." She 
stopped dancing
and reached her arm out towards Bobby. He came to stand with them in 
a 
loose three person circle. 

"You two made up?"

"Yes, we have." Claire nodded. Darien smiled. 

Claire pushed Darien towards Bobby. That was all the urging it took 
they kissed.
She could see the love between them, she was envious of both of them. 
"Now you two." Darien motioned for Bobby to kiss her. 
Claire willingly and passionately kissed him. Hang on for as long as 
you can 
you'll never find two better men. She thought. 

"Where are we having our celebration dinner? Claire?" Darien asked. 

"I understand there is a wonderful restaurant on Delaney St......."


End 

    Source: geocities.com/mardel33