"Direct Approach"
June 16, 2008 Safehouse 1, NYC 1400 hours Paige walked aimlessly through the Safehouse corridors. She was searching. Searching for the Detective and where They might be hiding him. Certainly, she did not expect him to be in any of the areas that she had access to. And of course he wasn't. But searching still gave her some time to devote to her cause, her new reason for getting through the next couple days...herself. "It's kind of better than a phone call," Paige said as she flopped herself down on the plush couch across from another exactly like it where Bella sat. She was sketching, what, Paige didn't know, but the woman was talented and Paige often enjoyed the sketches. "Better reception, too," Bella said with a small smile. "Anything good?" Paige asked nodding toward the sketch pad in Bella's lap. "Nah," she said looking at the pad with a small smile. She didn't show it to Paige though. "I never expected you to do that," Paige said seriously. Bella's eyes flicked up to meet hers. "Neither did I for the most part." "It was a surprise, to say the least," Paige continued. "That's why it wasn't your fault," Bella sighed heavily and returned her attention to her pad. Paige tilted her head perplexed with the actions of the woman. She was the one that had mouthed the words 'call me' and yet now, when confronted with something better than a phone call...she was aloof. What the fuck? Paige tried a more direct approach. Sometimes being direct worked better. "What did you want...when you said call me?" Bella nodded but continued to sketch. It was almost an afterthought when she finally spoke. "I thought you might like to know my relationship with the deceased," she said evenly. Paige remained silent. Of course she would like to know. Bella finally met her gaze. "Lachlan was my brother...my twin." Paige narrowed her eyes, "your twin?" Bella nodded. Paige felt her stomach turn. How could she have killed her brother? Her twin, no less? Didn't twins harbor some special sort of bond being in the womb at the same time? Paige was close to her brother before she had to leave, she couldn't imagine putting a bullet in his head. "I know what you're thinking," Bella smiled at her, "it's pretty wrong I killed my own brother." "Yeah," Paige nodded, "I mean...he was your brother." Bella shrugged. "He was. And I loved him for that. But I loved him for the person that he was, not the person that he'd become. I'm surprised actually," she touched her injured shoulder, "his aim had improved significantly. Unless of course he was aiming for my head, which in that case would make him a lousy shot." Paige stared at Bella. "You think he did that on purpose," Paige said nodding towards her shoulder. "Aye, open up old wounds, plus he knew I wouldn't want to be the caged bird," she said before returning to her sketching. "In a small way," Paige said softly, "aren't we here?" Bella stopped and gazed at Paige evenly. "This is a much bigger cage then where we came from." Paige nodded her head. Made sense. It was. A bigger cage, so to speak. They certainly had more freedom here than they'd had at the Section. And although there lives still were held over their heads, they still maintained a certain amount of dignity and freedom not enjoyed in the place prior. "You wanna go out sometime? Like next week?" Bella smiled, "sounds like fun. Why not this weekend?" "I would but I got shit to do. Next week, or the weekend. We should go out, as a team. We'll get Declan to go." Bella blinked a couple times though her expression did not change. "Yeah, that'd be great. Thursday maybe?" "As long as we don't get called out on anything. I know a couple good clubs around here. We'll have some drinks, dance a little. Make some poor men miserable," Paige grinned. "That sounds like a good time to me," Bella grinned back. "Great," Paige said standing up, "we'll coordinate before then. I'll call you." "Sounds good," Bella said cheerfully. Paige smiled and left Bella. She ghosted around the building a little more becoming increasingly agitated as she thought about the upcoming days. It wasn't the babysitting that made her nervous, it what was to happen after that. She pulled out her cell and sat with her back against a wall in the garage. "Yeah?" Paige smiled just hearing his voice. "Hey Jaime, it's me." There was a pause. "Hang on a sec..." She waited as she could hear gunfire in the background and voices. Then it was quiet. "Yeah, sorry about that, I was out on the shooting range. Everything ok?" "Yeah, everything's great. How are you?" "Good. Just teaching and all. What's up?" "Nothing. You busy this weekend?" "Uh...this weekend? Let me see..." Paige grinned. "How busy can you be?" "Well, I've got a...an appointment with the garage, the car, you know, oil change and such." "Uh huh," Paige laughed at him. "And well, then I'll have to wash the car...wax it, that sort of thing. Then the gym..." "Ok, enough. So you want me there or what?" "I'd love to have you here, you know I would," he said softly. "Well, I got some time off. I was fixing on coming down Friday night. Staying till like Monday or something depending on your schedule." "Sounds great. I have to be back on the base Monday morning but I'll be free from Friday about 3pm on." "Perfect. I'll wear something nice for Friday." "A late dinner?" he asked. "I was thinking something along the lines of a late dessert," she said giggling. "Oh, so then this something nice...is it something lacey nice or something leathery nice?" "Well, you'll just have to wait and see." "Great. I look forward to it. I also hate to cut this short but I got guys with guns and live ammo..." "Yep, say no more. I'll see you Friday night, probably late. I have some things to take care of first." She almost winced when she said it. "Ok, I'll see you Friday night. Paige?" "Yeah?" "I'm glad you're coming," he said and she could hear the gunfire again. "Me, too. I'll see you Friday," she said smiling. "Friday then, take care," and he hung up. Paige sighed staring across the garage pavement. It was nice to hear his voice, to get that warm little butterfly effect in her belly after having nothing there for so long. Joshua had been...no...was still a tremendous burden to her emotionally. But that would all change very soon. They would become equals...Paige, Joshua, and Michael, equals on a level the two men have not yet dared to admit to. She would become their equal on Friday night and then on Monday when the fire burned out and the dust settled...she would bring them both to their knees. Return