PYGMALION

 

by DocPaul

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eleven: Lives a woman true and fair

 

Day Eleven: Friday, 12:03 am

 

 

“I can’t believe you’re still up.” Sean shut the door. Rubbing his neck, he sighed. He’d be lucky to ever feel rested again. Michael shook a barbeque rib at him, and Maria just kept chewing.

 

“Bless you!” Sean grabbed a chair and turned it around, straddling it backwards to face the food laden table. “Feeding frenzy again?”

 

Michael just grunted and continued to eat. Potato salad…good. Maria was dipping chunks of barbeque meat into a thick sauce and licking the sticky sweet and spicy sauce off her fingers.

 

“Where have you been, Sean?”

 

Sean looked at Maria quickly. Her question was asked in a casual manner, but her eyes belied that tone. She was looking and seeing too much - as usual.

 

“Just checking into some leads. I did get the report on the loft fire. Simon believes it was your loft that was the target, but your security system was too complex and hard to override, so the bomber took the next closest space.”

 

Michael stopped eating for a moment. “That would’ve been the loft behind Liz and Isabel, not the one next to Edith.”

 

“No.” Maria said quietly. “Sean is right. The loft next to the garage has a security system. It’s on all the time. Or it was.”

 

Michael looked at Maria, puzzled,  “Security system? Why? None of the empty lofts that needed renovation were on a security grid. Just the occupied ones.”

 

Maria looked miserably at Michael. “I had it installed over six weeks ago.” The confusion rushing across his face was enough of a question. “I wanted to expand into the loft next to us…”

 

“Maria, we have plenty of space already.”

 

“You said yes.” Maria reminded him. Of course, that was just recently. She had installed the security system in the empty loft on the other side of the garage in preparation to convince him. The loft in the minor annex building with them already had a security grid connected to theirs.

 

“Six weeks?” Okay, so it was official. She really was controlling him. “Were you expecting to expand into that loft as well?”

 

“No. But I figured that when we renovated ours, that some of our stuff would have to have a storage area. Someplace close and roomy enough so we could find things we needed, but a place to make room for the workers and ourselves. The empty loft is a massive amount of space, and in the future I could have that loft renovated and it would already have a security system.”

 

Michael could see her reasoning, but he didn’t have to like it. She was too used to getting her way, but in truth, the lofts were hers to do with as she saw fit. It was just…he thought they were beyond this ‘his and hers’ stuff.

 

“It’s your property. You can do what you like,” Michael said in a cold quiet tone.

 

“It wasn’t like that! This wasn’t a decision that really concerned our lives, Michael. It was all about convenience. When we started renovating it would’ve been the same solution you would’ve thought of, given the circumstances. I just did it ahead of time in preparation. I’ve been thinking that way a lot recently.” The babies. Maria was concentrating on the future. Future needs. Future plans. Planning ahead.

 

“The decision did concern our lives, Maria. It concerned Mrs. Mulhoney. That means because the bomber couldn’t place the bomb in that loft, he set it in the one next to hers. It took away time…time we needed to rescue her, and…”

 

Michael stopped at Sean’s angry sound. Maria’s face had turned ashen. He stopped raving long enough to actually understand what he was saying and how he was saying it. It was unforgivable. He was letting his hurt feelings lash out at her, and he had hit a real sore mark.

 

“I didn’t mean that…”

 

Maria’s face shut down, and she turned away from him. Picking up her scraps, she quickly cleaned the area around her and left the room without another word or even a look.

 

Michael cussed and quickly stood up to go after her, but Sean stopped him.

 

“Leave her.” Michael pulled his arm free. “Leave her! The damage is done. Nothing can take that away now. Leave her to work it out on her own.” Sean’s face was angry and fierce. “How the hell could you…”

 

Michael just shook his head. He was stupid. That was the only explanation. He had taken all his anger and guilt, and piled it on Maria’s small thin shoulders. He had to fix it. Needed to fix it. Putting away the remainder of the food, Sean just made a quiet sound of goodnight, and went upstairs to bed. Michael worked to clean the kitchen. He should go upstairs, but he couldn’t handle seeing her hurt look. He had abused her in a terrible way. Leaning against the counter with his arms resting there, and his head lying on his arm, he tried to blank his mind. Impossible.

 

The doorbell saved him from himself.

 

“Mac?”

 

“Michael. Hi.” Julia stood there uncertain. “I know it’s late. I’m sorry. I just…”

 

“He has just gone upstairs. Why don’t you go on up?” Michael moved aside and let her in, gesturing towards the staircase. “He’s in the first door on the right at the top of the stairs.”

 

“Thanks. I’m really sorry,” Julia looked at him and frowned. His face was shuttered and dark. Angry and sad at the same time. “Is Maria doing okay? I heard about the loft and everything.”

 

“No. She was trying to go on, but I messed that up.” Michael reached over and turned on the alarm again. “Let Sean know the alarm is on so he doesn’t set it off if you leave.”

 

Julia nodded. “Sure. I’ll tell him.”

 

Michael went off into the dark living room to sit as Julia made her way upstairs. Tapping on Sean’s door lightly so as not to disturb Maria, she waited. There was no answer, so she let herself into the room, calling softly to him.

 

“Sean?”

 

There was water running in the adjoining bathroom. Tossing her jacket across the chair, she straightened her clothes and went to find him.

 

The room was full of steam. He was in the shower. She could see the outline of his body behind the shower curtain. Calling softly so she didn’t startle him, it wasn’t surprising he didn’t hear. Her voice seemed to stick in her throat. This was wrong. A mistake. But she had to come. All day, she had struggled over what to do.

 

“Julia?” Sean pulled back the curtain and saw her standing there, just staring.

 

“Um…, hi! Um…” she quickly averted her eyes. “Sorry. You’re dripping.”

 

Sean looked down at his naked body and grabbed a towel. Stepping out he quickly toweled off but didn’t bother with clothing. He didn’t have anything she hadn’t seen before on numerous occasions.

 

“What are you doing here?”

 

Julia glanced at him quickly, and then away again. “I...um…” Damn him. “I’ll just wait for you in the bedroom so you can get dressed.”

 

Sean reached out and nabbed her, stopping her from running away. “I sleep in the nude, as you know. Maybe you could just tell me what’s going on? Why are you here?”

 

“I…” Julia cursed herself under her breath. He wasn’t going to turn her into a fumbling schoolgirl again. He wasn’t. “You look good.” Dammit! The hell he wasn’t.

 

“You look flustered.”

 

Julia couldn’t find any room to walk or move away from him, so she quickly changed the subject. “I saw Michael downstairs. He didn’t look so great. He said to tell you that the alarm is on, so when I leave…”

 

“Are you going to be leaving?”

 

“I, um…”

 

Sean moved in close to her. She smelt great. She looked tired, but the pinkness to her cheeks was a bonus. Moving his hand under her hair, he leaned in real close with his lips just barely a whisper from hers.

 

“Really? So then why are you here?”

 

“I…I wanted to check to see that you were okay.” Julia looked down at his mouth. “The fire. I knew that you were staying with Liz, and…”

 

“Liz and Isabel. Their sofa, and their erratic use of all the hot water. I’d much rather stay with you.” Sean looked at her in earnest. “Cooking is no fun without you, Counselor.”

 

“Really?” Sean nodded. “What did you make?”

 

“First night, both Liz and Isabel were gone on an overnight camping trip double date thing. Chicken tetrazzini with extra cheese sauce and mushrooms. I had to eat it alone, and Michael confiscated more than half of it for Maria and himself.”

 

Julia peeked cautiously at him. “Your tetrazzini is unmatched.”

 

“It would’ve been better if you had been there to help eat it.”

 

Julia didn’t know what to say. He was crowding her, and he was okay. That mattered. Nothing else did. Her heart stopped when she heard about the fire and that there was a death. Waiting for details on the news, finally she gave up and used her connections to get the details early. Just to make sure. It took her an entire day of internal struggle to decide to go and find him herself. She had to be sure that he wasn’t hurt.

 

“You’re shaking,” he stated in an almost accusatory tone. Worry was hard to release.

 

“Caffeine overload. It was a long day.”

 

“Aye, that it was.” More ways than she could imagine. “Worst day of my life, or at least in a while.”

 

“I had to come. Had to know you were okay.” It was hard to admit that she felt some of the same possessiveness towards him that he had for her.

 

"Why?" he murmured, his eyes dark and full of a depth of emotion that she had often witnessed, but never understood before.

 

"Why do I love you? Or why do I care?" She laughed. "Why wouldn't I? Why the hell wouldn't I? I never knew how hard it was to shake someone off, try to keep them in a quiet place when you needed them to be silent. You’re never silent, Detective. Most of the time you’re loud and obvious, making me crazy, making me do crazy things. I even kissed you once before I even knew you, remember?" she teased, tracing a finger over his lips. "I kidded myself it was anger and getting back at you, but I knew as soon as my lips touched yours that it wasn't. It burnt a streak of lightning up my spine, and made every part of my body tingle, and you… you acted like a shy teenager who'd never been kissed before!" She laughed, remembering.

 

"Not like that, at least," he chuckled, his big hands pulling her close. "Nobody ever kissed me like that," he whispered, lacing his hands through her hair and gently brushing her lips with his own.

 

She responded hungrily, reaching up to pull him close, opening her mouth and finding his tongue with her own, tasting him, desperate to be as close to him as possible. His hands ran streaks of fire over her body, caressing her skin as he moved his hands over her hips, her thighs, her back as they kissed until they ran out of air, then separated. Wrong. It was a mistake to come to see him, but it was so hard not to care! He was alright, alive, and…well, just Sean. Just Sean. Sounded so simple. It wasn’t.

 

“I thought we weren't together.” Sean had to know.

 

"Come with me." She took hold of his hand and led him into the bedroom, and he hesitated, glancing at the closed door. Michael and Maria were down the hall. Not that it mattered before, but Julia was different. "The world can wait a few hours. What’s wrong between us can wait. I can't," she told him impatiently. He grinned and followed her to the bed.

 

“I seem to be at a disadvantage, Counselor. You have too many clothes on.”

 

“Sean,” she said. “You’re about to get lucky. You want to ruin it with too much talk?”

 

Sex. Julia. Naked. Or talk about their relationship? Oh, he could be very quiet; it wasn’t impossible. Not really. Sometimes actions were more important than words.

 

He started peeling off her clothes before they even reached the bed, and had her completely naked by the time she hit the mattress. He had managed to get the bedding moved out of the way, then she pulled him down on top of her. She could feel his erection digging into her thigh and she said seriously, "I'm so glad to see that you’re none the worse for wear,"  She rolled over on top of him, taking him in her hand and reveling in the feel of that hardness beneath her fingers as he quickly gasped and thrust up against her, moaning. “I really do need to make it clear how I don’t appreciate what I consider to be my personal property being risked in such a manner.”

 

“Thought this personal property was discarded, Counselor.”

 

“You thought wrong.” Or maybe it was her. She thought she could walk away, but it was hard, so hard to imagine not having him in her life. "I think that's working okay," she teased, removing her hand from him.

 

"Is that a professional opinion, or are you going to need to investigate deeper?" he sputtered, grabbing hold of her and pulling her down so that she straddled him, his hands gently caressing her breasts. She put her head back and moaned as his fingertips rubbed her nipples. Leaning down she made a meal of his mouth.

 

"I love you," she said finally.

 

"And I adore you, but you already know that," he replied, pulling her head down and stealing another long kiss.

 

"Yes…so many acts of kindness…" she whispered, running her fingers across his chest, finding a nipple, stroking it. His nipple ring wasn’t in, and strange how disappointing that was. "I had a hard day worrying about you, and if it was only a small amount in comparison of what you go through because of me, then I apologize. I just thought…I don't know what I thought."

 

"I've loved you literally from the moment you threw your shoe at me. A very long time," he said, and his eyes were so serious that she shivered.

 

"I'm just sorry. I’m sorry that we have such a hard time finding common ground, and I’m sorry I asked you to leave." She kissed him again, then moved further down his body, licking his beautiful, moist flesh as she went. He tasted of salt and of a masculine musk that was so ‘him’, and a cleanness left from his shower. She became aroused just from the scent and the taste. She took him into her mouth, and he moaned, thrusting up against her once more.

 

"Too soon. It's been a long time, and I don't want to disgrace myself," he gasped.

 

“It’s only been a few days.”

 

“Days?” Sean groaned. “Like I said - too long. Come here," he sat up and pulled her back up his body, gently caressing her, kissing her. This felt so good after so many hours of a weary, soulless existence, wondering if he’d ever find a way to get her to let him back in. She nuzzled into his big shoulders, sucking and biting, needing to taste him and feel his solid flesh against her own. Finally he rolled her onto her back and looked down at her. That old magic was there, or more specifically, Michael and Maria were in the house. He could feel it. It was like having the normal lust and attraction he felt for Julia magnified to the point that even the fast beat of her heart along the pulse in her neck was enough to send his own heart racing.

 

“I don’t know that I can do this, Counselor.”

 

“Sure you can. You’re very good at this, Detective. I’d give you a recommendation.”

 

Sean laughed, but suddenly went serious. “I don’t know that I can take having you in my bed, and then gone again the next day, or the next time I do something thoughtless in your eyes. I…I don’t think I can take it.”

 

“You want me to leave?”

 

“No. I want you to stay,” Sean said, wondering if she heard what he was saying, really saying.

 

Julia studied his serious face. He just…damn... Refusing to back away and hurt him more than he already had been, she searched his face. So damn charming and adorable. Sean was a strange man. He had that twinkle of the Irish, a sort of devil-may-care to him, but he was capable of suddenly becoming quiet and deadly, intense. It was hard to take him for anything but what he was. He was honest at all times about his emotions, honest and open, and the few times he fooled himself, he was quick to correct it no matter the cost. This was costing him a lot.

 

“You risk much, Detective.”

 

“Maybe it’s worth it, to me,” Sean answered, his eyes dark and unreadable.

 

“I can’t say…”

 

“Then who can, if not you?” She was a slippery character, but even she needed to play by the rules. Giving her an out was too much. Stick to it. Stay strong. It could go good or bad, but at least she knew what his intentions were. “We can’t keep playing games. I’m not strong enough.”

 

“You’re the strongest man I’ve ever known.”

 

“Not in this. Never in this,” Sean said, revealing his Achilles’ heel. His heart. It broke easily. It was fragile in ways that not even he could explain. All those years away from his family, his mother treating him as dead, they had burned a hole in his heart, left him wasted and in pain to the point that he searched for anything to make it feel better, or mask what was really hurting him. It led him to pain as pleasure, abuse, and a need to feel a real cut that would burn and hurt more than the mental ones. “I’m asking you to stay.”

 

Julia studied the length of his body leaning over her, and ran her hand down his skin. He really was quite beautiful. If she said no, would he leave? Walk away? Life without Sean would drive her to drink. Life without his lazy smile and devilish humor. Life…there’d be no life, because there would be no Sean, and no one could ever replace him. Her heart bumped and stuttered in her chest as if a large weight held it prisoner.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Yes?” Sean couldn’t breath. He needed a damn DeLuca paper bag to breath in, and a nice hyperventilating break down. “Yes, really?”

 

Julia hooked an arm around his neck. “Really, but…”

 

“Of course. There would be a but. Hit me.”

 

“But not right now. Not today.” Julia stopped him from talking. “We need some space and time to come to an agreement, and we will come to one, Detective. I don’t want to lose you, and once you come home, I don’t want you to leave. Ever.”

 

“So what do we do in the meantime?” Sean asked, looking down his body to where her hand was. She was damn well making it hard…making it difficult to think. “I don’t want to play games.”

 

“This is no game, Sean. I’m very serious,” Julia smiled at the look on his face. He was feeling just how serious she was. “Maybe you could maybe try courting me in an old fashioned way.”

 

“Courting? You mean call you up for dates?” Damn. Sean could see the long narrow tunnel looking longer and narrower with the light at the end of it suddenly dimmer.

 

“Yeah. Fooling around in a dark theatre, the backseats of cars, and you coming over to Mom’s for Sunday dinner while trying to discreetly feel me up under the table.”

 

Sean face took on a devilish look, a twinkle entered his eyes. “How about I do that while we live together?”

 

“No. We did that already. Too fast. Long before we ever came to understand each other, and look at where it’s gotten us.”

 

Sean looked down at their joined bodies, her hands on his, and shrugged. He was pretty happy right here, right now. But he knew what she meant. She was right. If she let him walk through her door again, he wasn’t leaving. Ever. So if she wanted to date, then fine. He could date as long as that meant he was getting closer to coming home.

 

“Okay. So I call you? And ask you again later?”

 

“Yeah. Later.” Julia kissed his neck and then his face. “And Sean?”

 

“Hmm?” Sean was turning his attentions elsewhere now that the business of being together was over, now he wanted to get down to business.

 

“Next time?”

 

“Uh huh.”

 

“Bring a ring.”

 

Sean laughed. His lawyer. Always so exact. Nothing too spontaneous. She was getting better. He was wrecking her careful plans with bouts of spontaneity. Sean smiled. Oh yeah, he had a damn ring just for her, and it was going to make her heart stop. It was his Irish grandmother’s ring. He had sent for it over three months ago, and it figured she would catch him in at a time when he was wearing nothing but his birthday suit to blurt out a marriage proposal. This worked better. He had an entire romantic scenario worked out in his brain, so now he could actually follow through with it. Next time.

 

“Yes, dear.” Sean’s voice was light and full of laughter. Dating. He was back to dating. This could be fun. He needed practice. So he moved his mouth down her front to latch on a tempting breast as his hand slipped down her body, loving the play of her muscles under his hand. Practice made perfect. Dating. Courtship. Oh yeah, he could drive her insane with that. No problem.

 

"Please…now," she whimpered. Dammit, she had just given him a license to tease, and he smiled, positioned himself over her, and then slid easily inside her. "Oh god!" she yelled, crossing her legs behind his back and drawing him deep within her body. "More, please…more…"

 

He started to thrust, long, slow, mind-blowing thrusts, that rubbed her just right with each movement, driving her wild. She looked up into that familiar, beloved face, and wondered how there had ever been a time when she hadn't known she felt like this about him. That was all of what? Two weeks upon meeting him? The damn man was tastier than chicken.

 

"You feel like coming home," she whispered, reaching up to caress the sides of his face. She came a few seconds later, exploding into a white light that turned her body to boneless ecstasy and her mind into a glowing field of stars. She was dimly aware of him coming inside her a few moments after, then he collapsed down beside her and pulled her lithe, white body against his sweaty flesh.

 

"Home, sweet home," he grinned, and she smiled back, remembering how arrogant he got at times. Too sure of himself. Time to trim the sails and knock back some of that self-satisfaction.

 

“Is that all you got? Or should I leave?”

 

“Stay put. That was just an appetizer.” Sean said turning her in his arms so she rested with her back to his front. Pulling her close and whispering in her ear, he let himself actually feel good for the first time in almost two days. “Miles to go before you sleep, Mac. We’ve got the Dynamic Duo of Lust in the house. This is far from over.”

 

Julia laughed softly as he nibbled the side of her neck and his crossed hands held her breasts. “Need the extra help, Detective?”

 

“Brat!” Sean playfully nipped at her neck and chuckled in her skin at her small yelp. Miles to go before he’d let her rest.

 

They slept for a while. When she woke, she found four sunflowers, propped up in a vase, sitting beside the bed. Where the hell did he find sunflowers in the middle of the night?

 

"My mom always told me you could trust a man who brought a girl flowers," she whispered. He smiled down at her, one hand propping his head up. “Where did you get them?”

 

“Secret! But if anyone claims that someone was trampling my Aunt Amy’s flower beds in the early morning, I deny everything.”

 

“Did you put on clothes?” Julia asked curiously. Sean in the buff was something else. He was a born nudist. Once his clothes came off he seemed to forget that they were missing.

 

Sean just made a face. It wasn’t like anyone was up and around at this hour anyway, and if they were, they were probably drunk. "I almost can't believe you're here like this with me," he murmured, running a big hand over her slender thigh.

 

"What, buck naked?" She glanced down at her body, realizing that for the first time in months she felt relaxed, calm, and even happy.

 

"Uh-huh." He dipped his head and stole a kiss. She gave it freely, wanting more. Always wanting more. "I'll never give up, you know that right?" he said as their lips parted again.

 

“I always counted on that, Detective.” Julia said. She was a little closer to understanding what he was going through. The fear in her body when she heard of the fire, the bomb and Mrs. Mulhoney's death was enough to rewrite her world. Nightmares of him hurt or dead raced in her mind, and left her unreasonable for a moment. Maybe she had just walked a mile in his shoes. It didn’t change much, but it gave her a perspective she hadn’t had before. Whereas, she knew he could die as a policeman, putting his life on the line, there was a place in her that couldn’t see that ever happening, couldn’t ever believe Sean to be gone or dead. Then the fire happened and she wasn’t near. He was too far away, and the fear that he would be gone was a harsh reality. They suddenly had a common language. An understanding. They could start there.

 

~~~

 

Michael finally climbed the stairs to the bedroom. Damn, Sean and Julia were noisy! He made a mental note to let Kyle know about the misuse of his boyhood bed. It should piss him off that Sean saw more action in it than Kyle had. Evil. Michael smiled slightly at himself. He really wasn’t that amused. He had spent hours chastising himself.

 

Maria was asleep.

 

Michael frowned down at the bed. She had put on extra blankets. Removing his clothes, he slid into  bed next to her. It was hot. Like a damn furnace, but her skin was cold.

 

Ignoring the uncomfortable heat, he pulled her into his arms to transfer some of the heat from his body into hers. She was cold and tired. She was losing the fight, and tonight he had added to the losing side when he struck at her in pain.

 

He hated himself.

 

Hugging her close, he whispered in her ear how sorry he was.

 

Settling down to sleep for just a few hours before he needed to wake her, he closed his eyes and opened up the connection between them. Nightmares. She was having nightmares again. They were so stark and violent, that at times they scared him awake.

 

~~~

 

Michael came down the stairs pulling a t-shirt over his head. Food. Lots of food. Hot tea. Maria was asleep. He could hardly rouse her for an early morning feeding, and when he tried to wake her, she begged him to just let her sleep.

 

“Sean, I need you to…” Michael stopped when he saw Sean and Julia engaged in an intense session of tonsil hockey. “Ah, c’mon! I haven’t even had breakfast yet, for chrissakes!”

 

Julia peeled herself away from Sean and looked over at the grumpy Michael with a slight pinkness to her face. Oh, he really did look good with that pissy expression. Smiling slightly at him, she quickly kissed Sean goodbye again, just not as long this time.

 

“Sorry, Michael. I was just leaving.” Julia went for the door, but Sean remembered the alarm.

 

“Whoa, wait! I’ll get the alarm!”

 

Julia looked back at Michael and decided to leave a little dig behind. “By the way, thank you for the early morning treat. It was lovely.” Michael just frowned as the damn enigmatical woman swept out the door.

 

Sean chuckled.

 

“What? What the hell is she talking about?”

 

“You and Maria. Early morning sex.”

 

Michael swore. “What? We woke you? I didn’t think we were that noisy, and you don't have much to talk to me about after last night.”

 

“No, not noisy. It was the 'unexpected waking to being so damn aroused' feeling she’s talking about. You two really generate some sex vibes.”

 

Michael didn’t want to talk about it. That morning disturbed him. Sex. It had been just sex. Maria hadn’t been there with him. She had just gone through the motions and then right back to sleep.

 

“Look, Maria’s sick. Cold.” Sean stopped chuckling and took in the serious look on Michael’s face. “I think I did a lot of damage last night, Sean. She seems broken. I should…I don’t know. Just...could you make her something special for breakfast? Lots of fats and sugars, and something hot. She’s so cold.”

 

Sean nodded. Searching the kitchen, he quickly went to the phone and began ordering groceries. They were under stocked.

 

Maria finally joined them an hour later in heavy wool socks, a pair of sweats and a shirt with a sweatshirt over it. She was shivering.

 

“God, baby.” The concern in his voice was hard to miss. Sean looked up from his cooking at Michael’s voice, and swearing, he quickly put the kettle on to boil. Michael was rubbing her body in a full body hug.

 

“I’m okay. Just a little cold.”

 

Michael swore. She was still not making eye contact with him, and her voice was quiet and small. He had hurt her. Really hurt her.

 

“Sean, make tea. We’ll be right back.” Michael dragged Maria after him into the family room. Pushing her down in a chair, he went to the fireplace and began building a fire. It was too early for fires, but she was cold. He could get this one room steamy, and she could rest in here during the day.

 

After starting the fire, he crouched down in front of her chair. She stared past him at the fire. He rested his head on her knees and her hand came down to move through his hair.

 

“Forgive me.”

 

“Michael, no. It’s not you.”

 

“Yes, it is. What I said…how I said it. It was wrong.” Maria looked at the fire and tears started running down her face. “I took out my anger at myself for not making it on time to save her on you, and I can’t forgive myself for that. I couldn’t forgive myself for not keeping my promise. I told you that I would get them, all of them.”

 

“Margo and Zeke…”

 

“Are alive because of Zeke, not me. All in all, I was pretty much a failure.”

 

Maria finally looked at him. “You don’t know how to fail, Detective.”

 

“Yes I do. I did it with you.” Michael reached up and framed her face. “I swore to myself that I’d never hurt you, because I love you so much, Maria. Hurting you is like hurting myself. I know I don’t say much at times.”

 

“You say plenty. I’m quite accustomed to reading ‘Michael actions’.”

 

“I should say it more often. It’s just…” Michael stopped for a moment. “I… There are no words at times to tell you. Nothing that wouldn’t make it seem less than it is.”

 

Maria scooted closer to him. “I know. And you know I know. I see it all the time. Feel it. You let me inside you, Michael. You don’t need the words because I feel the rush of what you’re trying to say.”

 

“Then feel this. Know me.” Michael joined his mouth to her, and concentrating on nothing but her, he opened up himself to her. Let her feel everything he had felt last night. Let her see his reaction to her sad face when he had hurt her. The fear when he saw how cold she was. All of it. His sorrow and sadness over her. Forgive me...

 

Maria moved away and wiped a tear from her cheek, “Thank you.”

 

Michael stood up, his face still shuttered and dark. Picking her up, he took the chair and sat with her in his lap with his hand on her face as he held her close. Never let go. He couldn’t. He needed it, her…them, too much.

 

That was how Sean found them. Bringing a cup of tea into the room, he bit back his comment on the heat. It was like a desert, hot and dry.

 

“Drink this, M. I added extra sugar.” Sean kissed her forehead as he handed her the cup, and looked at Michael over her head. The larger man nodded slightly, and Sean blew out a sigh of relief. He’d hate to have to kill Michael at this juncture in their relationship, but there were rules. “Breakfast in ten, so finish that, then both of you come eat.”

 

~~~

 

Alex watched from the bed as Isabel rushed around getting ready for school. She hadn’t brought any clothes. All of hers were being treated for smoke damage, so he had taken her shopping. It was amusing to watch her try to accessorize what she had, mix, match and change until she looked perfect. Actually she always looked perfect regardless of what she wore, but there was no convincing her of that.

 

“You had a nightmare again last night,” Isabel said over her shoulder.

 

“Did you walk in it?”

 

“No. I…” Isabel didn’t want to say too much. His dreams disturbed her.

 

Alex didn’t say anything, but he waited. Isabel and her ability to dreamwalk had been a novelty at first. When she discovered the gift months back, she had no problem invading many peoples’ dreams, until she tried to enter Michael’s. For days afterward she was jittery and upset. What she saw or felt had been too much even for her to explain. The images were jumbled and dark. Angry. But more than that, it was Michael. He seemed to know she was there, and he had kicked her out. The anger was targeted at her. The darkness and violence were directed at her. She couldn’t understand it.

 

Max’s dreams were amusing. Laughable in a strange way. Everything there was off-kilter with a touch of  the erotic. Isabel wanted to tease him about it, but then she would have had to admit that she had walked in a place which was a true invasion of his privacy.

 

Sean. Sean looked like a good time. Isabel woke up crying and in pain. It was too much. There was too much in him. It was hard to describe or put into words, but Sean bled and it was in his dreams. Endless dreams of people he loved, dying or being too far away. It moved into a myriad of pain and despair. Isabel broke free of the dream. She had expected kinky domination scenarios, or at least a woman holding a whip. Instead, it was Sean. Standing in a dark room alone with open graves around him, all the people he knew inside, with him holding a long butcher’s knife and cutting long bleeding lines into his own skin.

 

Then Maria. Sweet, lovable Maria. Isabel woke from her dreams screaming in fear. Hysterically rushing around the room, she had to find a paper bag to breathe into as her heart almost ripped itself from her chest. She tore her room apart, almost driven, as she piled things in front of her door, too wired to settle down. Finally she sank to the floor in exhaustion. The next morning Maria came over with a sweet smile on her face, a coffee cake, and on her way out, she turned to look at Isabel and said calmly, ‘Stay out. That was a mild one. You might not be so lucky next time.’ Isabel stood looking through the closed glass door, seeing her own reflection as her hand was held over her mouth to repress her scream of fear.

 

So she practiced on simple uncomplicated people. Looking at the scar on Liz’s throat and knowing her personal history, Isabel decided not to venture in her roommate’s dreams. She had thought of Jonathan, but out of respect for Max and a fear of finding something she didn’t want to know, she bypassed him as well. Her classmates and people from work seemed to be easy and fun to visit. But Alex... He was the one she really wanted to do, but sleeping next to him, she already knew that his dreams were rarely calm.

 

Alex dreamt. All the time. Violent dreams that woke her just by touching his skin. She flashed his thoughts. That alone was enough to keep her out. He walked in a dark land, knee deep in blood and despair with the masses pulling at his body. Reaching down, he dragged them with him, but there were too many. Too many. He was only one man.

 

“No. I never dreamwalk you.”

 

Alex smiled. “It might be an education you wouldn’t want, Iz. All those naked dancing women.”

 

Isabel laughed, letting a serious moment slide. “Oh,” she said making a face at him. “Like a little flesh is going to scare me.”

 

Alex sat up in the bed. It was nice having her in his home, having her things there and waking up together. They spent most of the time at her place. “Skip school and come back to bed.”

 

“I’ve heard that request before, and have given in too many times already.” Isabel jumped on the bed on her knees. “Unfortunately, I can’t today. I’ve got a review session before a test, and I hate missing those.”

 

“Hmm, I could hire someone to take those notes.”

 

Isabel kissed him quickly and pushed him away. “Stop it. I thought it was the female that was supposed to be the temptress, not the male.”

 

“I’ve always flourished under the care of a strong female. If you come back, I promise to keep my hands off your ass.”

 

“Like I would believe that! You have unholy designs on my entire body.”

 

Alex leaned back in the pillows and put his hands behind his head. “What gave me away?”

 

Isabel just shook her head in wonder. What didn’t? The man was too much into everything, and almost impossible to keep up with. “I’ve got to go. Home early?”

 

“I’ve got a late run at the club. Home after two. Don’t wait up for me.”

 

“I could come down to the club, and…”

 

“No.” Absolutely not. Club Hell was off limits for her. Not that he didn’t trust her recovery, but you didn’t tempt a recovering alcoholic. It was bad enough he continued to instigate her into engaging in constant  wild sex, but at least he was keeping her from engaging in it with a full array of men. Exclusiveness had to be considered an improvement.

 

“I’m stronger, and…”

 

“No. Seriously Iz, half the time I don’t want to be there. I like that what we have doesn’t involve the club. I like having something sane and clean outside of there.”

 

“Okay. I understand.” Isabel kissed him again, harder this time. Sane and clean. Shocking that those words would ever be used to describe her. Alex. He saw her how she wanted to be seen, and the way she feared no man would ever see her again.

 

“I  can take off the entire weekend if you want me to.”

 

“Actually, no. You took off last weekend, and you only play Thursday thru Sunday. I have to study for a test on Monday anyway, so there’ll be lots of library time. You do your thing, and I’ll do mine.”

 

“Deal. But the following weekend we’ll see about doing something.”

 

Isabel grabbed her bag and jacket. Smiling at him, she waved her hand and was out the door and down the steps.

 

Alex listened as her car started and she pulled away.

 

Isabel. Vilandra. Who was she? And were they the same?

 

~~~

 

Maria was finally finishing breakfast when there was a knock on the door. As soon as she finished one plate, Michael had pushed more food on her, so the knock was heaven sent. A rescue from the food demon plaguing her. Trying to get the door, she found herself pushed back down in her seat, and another cup of tea set in front of her.

 

Sean chuckled under his breath at the look she sent Michael when he went to answer the door.

 

Alex.

 

Of all the people any of them expected, Alex was the last one.

 

“Alex!” Maria was happy to see a familiar face, one not carrying anything to eat for a change. “Did you come to save me?”

 

Alex entered the room going straight to Maria. Bending down, he quickly kissed her cheek. “Are you in need of rescue, my lady?” Ignoring the snorts and comments by the smelly peanut gallery. “So many Pigs on hand today. Don’t these boys ever work?”

 

“Not lately. They seem to find me their only job.”

 

“Well, there is a noble task indeed. Lucky you.”

 

“You have no idea!”

 

“Can the crap,” Michael said, coming back to reclaim his mate from yet another male intent on charming her to death. Hello. Pregnant. Knocked up. It usually means, not available. “What you doing here, Alex?”

 

“Always a charmer, Guerin. You should’ve taken me up on my offer to date you. It might have rearranged your life and taken some of the starch out of your shorts. Look how loose and easy your partner is now.”

 

Michael’s eyes narrowed, suspecting an insult. “Alex? Anytime today?”

 

Alex grew serious as he looked at Michael, Sean, and Maria. “We have to talk.”

 

~~~

 

Kyle waited for Tess to calm down. Thank god their baby didn’t give power to Tess like the twins gave Maria, or their house would have just been trashed.

 

“Tess…”

 

“I’m not going to live this way.”

 

“Tess…”

 

“The restrictions, the food, and the clothes... ‘Exercise, Tess! Don’t eat that, Tess! Rest, Tess! Sit in a frickin’ corner, Tess! Be good. Stay out of the way...’.” A finger hit Kyle hard in the middle of his chest. “I’m sick of it! Do you understand?”

 

“Tess…” Wrong word. It set her off into another tirade. Kyle patiently waited for her to get it out of her system. Finally he grabbed her. “I understand.”

 

No, he didn’t. Even she could see that. He was placating her.

 

“I want to go be with Maria.”

 

“She’s at Dad’s house.”

 

“Then I’ll go there.”

 

Kyle grabbed both her arms and gave her a small shake. “That is the site of a bombing, Tess. It’s not safe.”

 

“Maria’s there.”

 

“She has nowhere to go right now until her loft is ready again. But she is being protected.”

 

“Then it’s safe. Who’s protecting it? Who’s protecting her? Michael? Sean? Max? All three?” Tess grabbed her bag. “Perfect. Either, or, I’m safe. Ta-ta. Going to visit my sick friend who just lost someone to an act of violence. I’m going to be there.”

 

“The baby…”

 

“Is fine. I’m fine.” Tess saw the doubt on his face. “What? You think I can’t protect my child?” Tess reached over and moved her hand causing Kyle’s ugly chair he liked to sit in to go flying. It was disappointing how something so ugly could withstand abuse. Maybe Michael could practice his powers on it and blow it up.

 

“I just need you to be safe, okay? I have to meet Sean for lunch to run some leads. He’s waiting for a call this morning. I wish you would just consider staying at your mom’s.”

 

“She has enough kids in the house with my brothers and sisters and all their kids, the neighborhood kids, and cousins. I don’t want to add work. I would be fine with Maria.”

 

Letting out a strong sigh, Kyle nodded. “Okay. But, you take your beeper and cell phone. Is it recharged?”

 

“Yes, Buddha. It is recharged. A moment of preparation saves a lifetime of regret.”

 

Kyle chuckled at her tone. All the little sayings he had posted all around the house were obviously starting to sink in with her. “An unexamined life is one that has never been lived.”

 

“What does that mean, Buddha Boy?”

 

“It means, I would rather hold and keep close that which I love now, than lose it and spend the rest of my life wishing I had taken more care.” Kyle framed Tess’s face with his hands. “I did that once, Tess, and it lost us time and Jack. I can’t let that happen again.”

 

“Kyle…” Dammit! He was too good at this all sensitive male thing. “I guess I could go to my Mom’s. She misses me and is really excited about the baby.”

 

Kyle was smart enough not to smile in triumph. It was better to show good grace in the face of an honest compromise. “Thank you, Tess.”

 

“I love you, but I swear once I’m no longer pregnant, things are going to change.”

 

Kyle hugged her tight and kissed the side of her head. “I wanted to talk to you about that.”

 

“What? Me not being pregnant? Seeing my feet? Wearing sexy underwear? What?

 

“Well, I was thinking after the baby’s born, and…”

 

“And old enough for us to leave a few days? I was thinking the same thing. Honeymoon. A longer one than just two days. Someplace warm where I can go topless, swim nude and wear a bikini?”

 

“No.”

 

Tess’s face fell, disappointed. Kyle quickly made up ground.

 

“I mean yes, of course…absolutely that, but no, I was thinking of something else.” He wasn’t doing such a great job. Maybe a different approach. “Now remember how we decided to name the baby after Jack?” Tess nodded. “I think we shouldn’t.”

 

“But,” Tess didn’t know what to say. Jack was the baby’s name.

 

“Listen, I know it’s late in the game, but some things have changed. Max. I mean in Max’s new relationship, chances are that he will never father another child, right?”

 

“Possibly.” Max and Jonathan could break up, but she really couldn’t see that happening. No one in their sane mind would let Jonathan Stiller off a short leash. The man was…ummm, ummm good.

 

Kyle cleared his throat. “So I was thinking we should let Max name the baby. Maybe after his father, Philip Evans, or whatever he wants.” Kyle had given this a lot of thought lately. Max was his friend, and suddenly he was seeing himself stealing parts of Max’s life, hoarding them, and it felt wrong.

 

“I don’t know. I think Max thinks of the baby as ‘Jack’ too.”

 

“Well, if he does, and he wants to leave the baby’s name Jack, then fine. But I thought he might want to name it after his father. You and I can have more children, and there can be another Jack. That baby will be just you and me, no Max, and somehow that is more like you, me, and Jack.” Her quietness worried him. Maybe he had gone too far. “I mean, you do want more children? With me?”

 

Tess was looking down at the floor. She looked up and there were tears in her eyes. Oh damn. “Tess, honey, look…damn, I’m sorry. It’s okay. We can name the baby Jack. I just thought…”

 

Tess quickly put her fingers over his mouth. “No. It’s okay. Actually it’s lovely. I’d love to have more babies with you, Kyle. Lots of them. You’re right. The next one can be Jack.”

 

“What if it’s a girl?”

 

“Jackie or Jacqueline - it comes out the same.”

 

“That would be better. Jack always was such a feminine guy.”

 

Tess hit him hard. “He was not!” Laughing at Kyle, Tess hugged him close. “I miss the two of you and your teasing. So what does this have to do with when I’m no longer pregnant?”

 

“Oh that.”

 

“Yes, that.”

 

Kyle moved his hand down the front of her stomach smiling at the movement inside. “I was wondering if you’d consider getting pregnant right away after this little guy is born. Like within the next year?”

 

There was no breath in her body to answer. It took a few moments, but she finally found her voice. “Are you asking me to have your baby?”

 

“Yes.” God, he loved everything about her being pregnant, even the nagging back pain, the swollen feet, and oh Lord, the breasts. Oh yeah, especially the newfound cleavage.

 

“Kyle…”

 

“You don’t have to answer now, and maybe after labor, you might not want to, or not right way. But…”

 

“Yes.” Tess kissed him quickly before he rambled himself into an anxiety attack. “Yes, I’d love to make a baby who is just you and me.” Smiling smugly Tess had to tease. “Why would I not? There would just be you irritating me next time with no tag team labor coaching. Heaven.”

 

Kyle, a smart man at times, just nodded. Sure. He decided not to tell her that he had every intention of making Max help him with the next pregnancy. It was the least his buddy could do. Plus, they made an unmatchable team. Michael was in the dust in comparison to their baby preparation tactics.

 

~~~

 

“We should tell the others,” Maria said.

 

The three men shared looks, but they knew Maria was right. This was alien business. They had a right to know.

 

“Why didn’t you tell Isabel, Alex?” That question kept running through Michael’s head. Damn. His sister. He had a sister. And Max was his brother. Unreal. He had felt them. Always. And he had even felt Tess, but this was too much.

 

“Why...?” Alex paused. He couldn’t explain. “Hard to say. Instinct. There are dark places in Izzy. Just as there are gentle ones, too. I…I don’t how much of what she was or who she was have survived, but I think that whatever harm she did in her last life haunts her. It could explain why she spent over five years punishing herself.”

 

“Punishment?” Michael never saw it that way. He saw it as weakness, despair, and irreconcilable grief. Never as punishment or atonement.

 

“What else could it be? When I met her she was practically begging me to rape her, to abuse her, and at that time I was angry enough and caught up in my own grief to do as she asked.”

 

Sean laid a restraining hand on Michael as the larger man stood to his feet.

 

“Sit down, Guerin. It didn’t happen. There was enough self-preservation in Isabel, and enough humanity in me to keep us from taking it too far. Something in me recognizes something very basic in her. We talk a silent language. I feel her in my warriors’ blood. It feels…like kindred.”

 

Maria wiped her eyes. “Aw, that is so romantic.” The men looked at her in horror, and she just sniffed. “Well, it is!” Rolling her eyes, she contemplated some more breakfast, or at least Michael’s last donut. She was tired. Her brain was having a hard time keeping up as sleep was a mantra humming in her mind.

 

“Last life,” said Sean shaking his head. “Crazy.”

 

“Great. I fucked it up last time, and some idiot called a cosmic ‘do over’ on me.” Michael picked up Maria’s hand and joined their fingers. Raising their joint hands to his lips, he couldn’t complain too much. It had brought him to Maria.

 

“Did your friend tell you what this Destiny is, or this Granilith thing?” Maria asked, distracted by the touch of Michael’s mouth on her skin. He looked rested today. Good. He smelt good too. Spicy. Hot. A touch of musk. Mmmm. Not paying attention, she moved closer and joined her mouth to him.

 

Both Alex and Sean squirmed.

 

“Ah c’mon, don’t start M! We’ve got some serious decisions to make.”

 

Michael was caught up in it too. Taking his hand to her face, he kissed her again.

 

“Yo! Other frickin’ people are around! Aliens. Bombs. Death threats!” Sean threw his hands up in frustration. It wasn’t right to get a man all riled up with his woman off at work. It just wasn’t right.

 

“Sorry, I’m bad. That was my fault.” Maria pulled her hand from Michael’s and tried to straighten herself. Her hair felt a mess. All over the place. “Did he tell you why they were regenerated? And these Dupes? They’re exact replicas of Max, Isabel, Tess and Michael?”

 

“The Royal Four. Yeah. I guess they are a ‘more alien’ mix, and not the real thing. The real Royals aren’t sterile, and since both you and Tess are pregnant it is confirmed that you four are the legit thing.”

 

Michael couldn’t leave the Isabel/Vilandra thing alone. “He said not to trust Isabel. Why?”

 

“I think he didn’t want to say, given my relationship with her, but he felt compelled to forewarn me of a possible danger. Really, he didn't tell my any more.” Alex held his own council. He had reason to be wary of aliens. Freddie had taken a lot of his inclination to distrust away, but he had a historical reason to make sure the aliens could be trusted. Of the four, he really only trusted Guerin. Isabel had a darkness he understood, but understanding it only made him aware of how it could turn and destroy, when left to run out of control. Max was an unknown, and Alex liked him enough, but.... And Tess? He really didn’t know. Of the four, Michael was the only one he trusted.

 

Maybe because Michael felt like a brother in arms, the same as he was in many basic ways.

 

The four of them sat at the table. Michael picked up Maria’s hand and held it to his lips again, thoughtfully considering all Alex had told them. Sean, ever patient, waited for Michael to work it through with Maria’s quiet suggestions giving him a gentle guide, a clarity in thought. And Alex, the warrior among them, was ever ready and diligent. He was wary and on guard, but with these three, he was able to relax and share the load.

 

The Praetorians were banded together to meet a threat to their people. Perhaps it was true. There was no escaping Destiny and the nature of a person. They were doing what they were born to do.

 

“Why is my family protected?”

 

“What?”

 

Michael repeated what Alex had said earlier. “You said that your friend said that ‘no one would harm the Commander and his family…not until Destiny was fulfilled.’ So why my family?” What about the King? Max’s family and child?

 

“I don’t know.” Alex looked at Maria. “I do know that it has to do with Maria. My friend didn’t say in so many words, but the implication was that they were watching over her…her and the babies. She is protected and will be for a long time. Whatever this Destiny is, Maria is tied into it.”

 

“And the babies can’t be removed from me until it's time for them to be born?” Maria asked.

 

“That's what he said.” Alex gave Maria an apologetic look. They had hoped to keep it together until the babies were old enough to induce labor, but those standards were human ones, and now it appeared that it was the dominant alien genes that were programming the course of the pregnancy. Tired. They were so damn tired already. How the hell were they going to make it for another eight weeks or more?”

 

“How can they know that?” Maria looked at the others. “How can they know what my role is, or how my children will tie into this great ‘Destiny’ they all seek?”

 

“I don’t know. They seem to know the future, but how that can be escapes me.”

 

Sean had been silent all this time, but he finally had to add his two cents into the discussion. “What I want to know about is this Granilith thing. Obviously it’s very powerful, and something everyone wants. And these Skins. That explains the strange shedding we’ve been finding, and I’m assuming that ‘Walkers’ are the reason for all the people who are found in strange places from their home with no memories. But where the hell is this damn Granilith, and why do they think you have it? Meaning of course you Royal Four people.”

 

“Don’t look at me. I don’t have any damn Granilith, nor do I even know what it is. Far as I’m concerned, if they want it, they can have it and get the hell off my planet.”

 

“It has to have a purpose, Michael, a greater importance to have so many wanting it, and it has to be a power base.” Maria moved her hands along the table in an absentminded pattern, her brow furrowed in thought. “It’s connected to you and the others, not only how you were recreated, but also connected. Why else would this Antar place send it from their home world to Earth with the Royals? The real questions are how is it connected, why did they send it, and what does it do.”

 

Alex got up and poured himself some coffee. “One thing is certain, your merry bomber isn’t one of them. The implication is that the aliens are searching for this person too. Perhaps they know who it is, but not who is hiring him. I’m not sure. One thing is certain, it’s a race to find him, find his employer and shut off the threat.”

 

Maria nodded and sneaked a glance at Michael. He hated alien talk. If it weren’t for his powers, he would deny this heritage. That and the babies, and the toll on her body due to their ancestry. So far he was taking this discussion rather well. Maybe because it was with them and not the other aliens.

 

Taking his hand, she made him look at her. “You okay?”

 

“Not really. I’m human. That’s a relief. Or at least a hybrid alien human mix, but mostly human for all practical purposes. I can’t go back to this Antar or this other planet I’m from, and both Max and Isabel are my siblings. Good to know. In my past life Max was Zan, an asshole King whom I followed blindly, to the detriment and defeat of my own people. Isabel was a traitor to us all, her family and her people, with some bigger asshole named Kivar. Yeah. Not much to recommend my past life, or my past worlds.”

 

“That’s in the past. This is now.” Maria said reassuringly.

 

“Except for this great unknown Destiny. I don’t know that I want to know what the hell it is. I’d hate being told what I have to do, how I have to act... But isn’t Destiny, by virtue of being whatever the hell it is, already pre-determined?”

 

“Maybe,” Maria grabbed him, and moved her hand along his face, feathering his cheekbones. “I just know I’m glad that whatever it was or is, that it includes me. I like thinking that I am your destiny, Detective. Good to know that no matter how hard you try, you can’t escape my evil clutches.”

 

Michael chuckled, and leaned in to kiss her. Smiling he said softly, “God, I love you evil.”

 

“You’re in luck, because…”

 

Sean tossed up his hands. “That’s it! I’m outta here.”

 

Alex agreed. It was time to leave before the table became a re-enactment of some of his more interesting fantasies. Alex called a farewell behind him as he looked at his watch. So late already. He had wanted to make a trip to the reservation to see his grandfather. Maybe tomorrow.

 

~~~

 

“So who are we going to see?” Kyle quickly tossed his garbage in a bag. It was his car, not Sean’s, even if Sean was driving. He didn’t want it to look like a garbage pit. Sean’s last vehicle, a nondescript gray car with red rust spots and a missing fender, was held together by said rust plus the garbage spewed about the place.

 

“An informant.”

 

“Reliable?”

 

Sean didn’t comment, but Kyle could tell it was serious since his shoulders were tensed. “Very.”

 

“So when does the mystery car show up?”

 

“My new Dodge?” Sean’s face suddenly split in a smile of pure joy. “Oh, if you’re anticipating driving it, partner, think again. That car is going to be purely recreational.”

 

“Uh huh. So what color is it?”

 

“Charger Red with detail, though it will need to be repainted.”

 

Kyle nodded. Of course it would. “Red, huh? Dodge Charger? Isn’t that like a Starsky and Hutch car? What did they name that, the General or something?”

 

Sean gave Kyle a sour look. “General Lee. And no, it is not a Starsky and Hutch car! We’re serious cops.”

 

“I don’t know. I thought old Starsky was pretty serious. Although I have to admit it was hard to take Hutch seriously after he started singing love songs.”

 

Sean thought about it for a mere second, and quickly said at the same time as Kyle did, “I’m Starsky!”

 

They both frowned at each other. “Dammit, Kyle, you be that damn Hutch guy.”

 

“You’re more gay than me!”

 

“Hey, not true. You had a gay relationship. What about Jack?”

 

“That was beyond gay. That was true love! Man, I saw you slutting around at Area 51 kissing everyone, making out with your ex-partner in Vice. You definitely have many more gay tendencies than I do! Add in that I am married,” Kyle flashed his wedding ring, “and there you have it! Heterosexual, macho man, member of the Men’s’ Farting and Burping Society. Starsky. And my hair is darker than yours!”

 

“Mine is curly, and I’ll fucking dye it!” Sean cursed under his breath. No way. He wasn't going to be no damn Hutch in this duo. Uh uh. Nope. He’d sneak in and bleach Kyle’s hair if he had to. “I might also mention that I asked a certain chicken-lickin’ good ADA with killer legs to marry me, and she said yes. So…” Sean gestured at himself, “hetero, here! Curly hair and a Starsky car! Add in that Starsky always took the biggest beating, had the highest tolerance of pain…and it is obvious who is who in this team.”

 

“You asked Mac to marry you?” Oh wow. News or what? “That means you’re back together, right?”

 

Sean squirmed a little in his seat, cussing under his breath as he barely missed clipping another car. Damn technicalities. “Well, literally, um…not yet.” Sean held up his hand at Kyle’s hooting and singing some wretched 70’s song about not giving up on some damn baby. “We are going to move in again, get married, and everything. I was even thinking of getting a dog.” Sean smiled happily to himself. Dog. Good one. That clenched it. Serious stuff owning a dog, and when you add in Julia’s neurotic white cat, Ms. Fluffy it looked pretty settled.

 

“A dog.” Kyle smiled out the window. “That’s a bold and daring move there, Hutch.”

 

“Starsky.”

 

“Exactly. About time you acknowledged my name.” Kyle whistled amused at Sean’s sour face. “Damn, a whole dog, huh? Next thing you know I’ll be hearing the sounds of baby rattles and the smell of baby powder.”

 

A baby? Oh shit! Sean swerved, swearing evilly out the window at a trucker, pulling his gun and badge. Baby? Dammit, Starsky didn’t have no baby. That’s why he had the cool car.

 

Before Sean could comment, they arrived.

 

“So, who are we seeing?” Kyle asked. His desk at work was piled so high, he’d be lucky to ever see daylight. This better pan out. His call list, lab reports and follow up work were growing out of sight.

 

“Got to see a man about a horse.”

 

“Tell me we’re not interrupting our day to put down a bet on a horse.”

 

“Different kind of horse, son. Let’s go.”

 

Sean couldn’t help himself. He stopped to pick up the racing form, and snickered when he noticed Kyle had one too. Kyle made a sound under his breath.

 

“Sean, you got cash on you?”

 

Sean put his hand over his back pocket as if suspecting his partner of trying to rob him blind. Obviously if the man would steal the identity of Starsky, which belonged to him, it was apparent there were damn shifty genes in the Valenti makeup.

 

“I’ve got to make a bet.”

 

“Kyle, you were just complaining about stopping and betting.”

 

Kyle just said a name. “Ness’s Untouchable.”

 

Sean flipped through his racing form quickly. “No shit! Where?”

 

“A horse in the fifth. Terrible odds, but damn with that name...”

 

Sean loosened his money from its clip. “I’ll go a C-note on the nag. What do you want?”

 

“Skin me the same, and I’ll catch you if we win, or next payday.” Sean nodded and peeled two hundred off the pile of money. Damn. This was his upfront money for his Dodge. He started to hand over the two bills when he hesitated. “Does Tess know you gamble?”

 

“Give me the damn money!” Kyle just shook his head. Tess wouldn’t care. Well, unless he lost. But with a name like Ness’s Untouchable how could it lose?

 

Sean continued to read the form. “Maidens... Fillies.... Two Year olds.... What the hell does any of that mean? Kyle, are odds of 62.30 good or bad? Kyle...?”

 

“You’re asking me? I can’t figure out this damn thing. What is this? Win. Place. Show. I thought it was all or nothing? What the hell? Do they pay us if the horse actually shows up to the starting gate? If that’s the case, I say we quit our job, which is sucking right now, and come down here and bet on the healthy looking horse that look like they can trot up to the gate.”

 

“I don’t think it works that way, Kyle.”

 

“Don’t you know? What’s the use of being from the wrong side of the law if you don’t get any tips on bookmaking and gambling.”

 

Sean flipped through the racing form for an easy translation and idiot’s guide for a fool who was to be soon parted with his lovely loot. “Hey, back off, Copper’s Kid! My people pop stiffs who don’t pay, they don’t run numbers. Too risky. Just go put our money down. This baby is coming home. Name like that, we’re in the money.”

 

Sean waited as Kyle hit the window, and tucked their ticket in his shirt pocket. Time to work. Gesturing to his partner, they headed up the stairs to the owner’s private boxes.

 

Kyle was still reading the racing form when he became aware of two large men stopping them. Damn. They looked familiar. Goons. Looked like brothers to the two that beat the shit out of Sean last Spring. Shirley and his sister, Gertrude. Muscle. Who the fuck were they going to see?

 

Sean calmly opened his jacket and showed them his piece and badge. Kyle followed suit. One man with an earpiece turned away and talked into a hand receiver. He looked back at Sean, and held out his hand for the shield. They waited patiently as the man went inside. It was a few moments later that the other man got a message in his earpiece, and he opened the door for them.

 

Vincenza Rinaudo.

 

“Uncle Vinnie!”

 

The older man stood up and hugged Sean. “Sebastian.” He kissed Sean on both cheeks. “So, I know you live in my neighborhood, but do you call?”

 

“Politics.”

 

“Yes, yes. Always politics. Lucky for you, I hear from your cousin, who tells me all the news.”

 

“Maria is good about keeping people informed.”

 

“Not so much lately, no?”

 

Sean nodded. “She’s feeling a little under the weather.” He calmly took a seat and accepted a cup of coffee. Family chitchat occupied them for a few moments. Kyle waited and tried to stay quiet as Sean caught up on family news with his uncle.

 

“I appreciate you coming all this way to see me, Zio. It’s important.”

 

Fixing his eyes out across the track, the older man lit his cigar. “Your father, he asks this special favor. He says it is for Family.”

 

“It is. Maria’s home was bombed two days ago.” Sean waited while the gravity of the situation was apparent. “And Amy was caught in a car bombing eleven days ago.”

 

“This matter is grave. Amy and Maria, they are part of the family. Is this an attack on us or are they just in the path of damage?”

 

Sean couldn’t lie. “I don’t know. They could be collateral damage, or they could be the targets. The car was Amy’s husband’s, my Captain. He appeared to be the original target. But the attack on the loft? That made it more personal.” Sean refused an offer of more coffee. “It’s more than Maria, Uncle. It’s the unborn twins as well. Uncle Frankie’s grandchildren.”

 

Vincenza looked at his nephew. His sister’s son. “This is a problem. The request, it too makes a problem. Are you sure this is what you want, Sean?”

 

“Yes.” No hesitation.

 

“Maria could ask. It would leave no room for misunderstanding.”

 

Sean knew that. But this was his responsibility. “It is not Maria’s place to ask. It is mine or Michael’s. He is sick as well. The pregnancy, it has been hard. So I’ll ask.”

 

“Very well.” The older man looked at one of his men and nodded. “This is the best we can tell you of what we know. This man, your bomber, he has no set signature. All bakers have a certain style. There is one...” he paused as Sean opened the envelope with a dossier in it. Kyle leaned over to read it as well. “...he is a professional. Special Forces trained. Some say ours, but others feel he is Russian. There was a Russian called Sergio. No other name. Just Sergio. He was good. His signature was like this. Non-repeating. Multiple deployment and mixed materials for his bombs. Nothing ever the same. Few years ago, Sergio left Russian services, never to be heard of again. Then came this man. Chameleon. He rose out of nowhere. Some say from Special Forces out of Peru. Others…not so sure. Thing is, this man, he too, like Sergio has no set pattern or signature. He is equally good. Is he the same man? No one can say. Sergio was a hard man to photograph. I had them give you a picture of him, very old. No current pictures. Chameleon? No one has ever seen him. All his transactions happen via a special phone and email with electronic payments. He is a ghost, but he always succeeds in his missions.”

 

Sean nodded as he and Kyle quickly read through the two dossiers. “This may not be our man, but it is more than we had before.” Sean looked at his uncle. “What is the cost to you if we capture the Chameleon?”

 

His uncle shrugged. “That is a question that has no answer until it happens. There will be a price. There always is.”

 

Sean knew that. He had reason to know. “If it helps, the cops may not take him down. There are factions working our streets. Rumor is that this bomber and his employer are messing in unsafe waters. These factions are looking to take him out first. Our hope is to beat them. We may not succeed.”

 

“The price may be Maria and her unborn children, or Amy. So if that is so, I wish you well in your hunt.” Vinnie made a note to himself to contact his niece and check up on her. This news disturbed him. Maybe a few extra men to keep an eye on her, just in case.

 

Sean thought of Mrs. Mulhoney, Jim’s arm, and his aunt in a wheelchair. “The price has already been inconceivable. There is nothing left we can pay, that has not already been taken.”

 

Sean stood up, seeing that his uncle was ready to depart. Hugging him warmly, he received another kiss on the cheek and a firm grip to the back of his neck. His uncle whispered to him, “Sebastian, il prezzo di queste informazioni può essere più di potete permettersi di pagare.”

 

Sean stood back and nodded. That was true. All information came with a price, and this could prove to be more costly than most, but then again there was no cost too great. “I understand, Zio. I can only say that I will pay the cost gladly. This is for famiglia and there is no price too great for that.”

 

His uncle smiled. “You are a good son. And you will be a better nephew when you call your Aunt Rosa. Silence is an insult that improves with age like a good wine. Soon your Aunt will be drunk on rage that you should forget her.”

 

“Understood. I will call.” Picking up his shield from the table and taking the envelope, he and Kyle walked out of the room.

 

Kyle was quiet until they descended the last stairs. They were both thoughtful, but Kyle kept looking back over his shoulder.

 

“What did he say to you?”

 

Sean glanced back too. He stopped with Kyle at a railing watching the races, but seeing nothing in front of him. “He said that the information he gave us might come with a very high price, a higher one than I can afford to pay.”

 

“I don’t understand. Was he threatening you?”

 

Sean laughed and patted Kyle on the back. “No. Not at all. Just a lesson in reality. When a cop goes to them for information there is an expected favor required in exchange. Otherwise they run the risk of being informants for the cops, and there is not a position they would hate more. It’s….well...bad for business. Your clients suddenly don’t know if they can trust your silence, and silence is a golden thing.” Sean searched his clothes for a cigarette. Lighting up, he offered one to Kyle who quickly refused. “They stand on shaky ground. Maria asking would definitely have no connection to the police, but Michael and I…well, there’s a lot of gray area there.”

 

Kyle tried to understand what Sean was saying. “So they might ask a favor of you for this information?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Kyle nodded. Okay. Fine. “Like what?”

 

Sean quickly drew the smoke into his lungs. Damn. He was supposed to be quitting. “Something a cop…an honest cop would have a hard time doing. It could be something as simple as turning his head. Hard to say. The point is you don’t know until one day the request comes, and regardless of what it is, there is an honor to it.”

 

“Damn.” Kyle’s mind ran rapid with endless scenarios. “You would do it?”

 

“In a heartbeat. For this? Yes.”

 

Kyle rocked on his feet, looking out across the track like Sean. They stood there in thought. “Okay, then if there is a price to pay, I want to know. Whatever you pay, so do I.”

 

“Kyle…”

 

Kyle just hit Sean on the back as they turned to leave. “Forget it, partner. This is about family.”

 

Sean laughed. Yeah. Family.

 

They were on their way out when it was announced.

 

“Results in the 5th, NESS’S UNTOUCHABLE, was very reluctant to load delaying the start, stalked the dueling leaders to the stretch, rallied to take command approaching mid-stretch and widened to the wire under steady left handed urging. KANDOOLIE raced five wide while well back on the turn, rallied through the lane and easily bested the rest. HAMPTON EXPRESS came through inside of LUCKY HEIDI to vie for the lead a half mile out, dueled to upper stretch before tiring. CRYPTO'S TRICK was away awkwardly but recovered quickly and chased the pace to the lane before tiring. LUCKY HEIDI broke alertly and held the early lead, was joined on her inside a half mile out, dueled to the lane, was trying to lug in through the entire stretch run and could not be ridden while giving way. SUSAN'S TOWER was ridden along to race between horses in mid-pack early, remained within range to the stretch before giving way. AWESOME CHARMER raced four wide and between horses in mid-pack to the stretch and was not a factor. SECRET TOOSOME showed little. ONE SHARP BIRD showed little while racing inside. ZEN'S SUGAR was outrun. AMBER BLUE was always well back being outrun.

 

Sean and Kyle looked at each other. Then they both jumped. They won. Did they win? Excited, but uncertain, they decided to celebrate anyway.

 

“Whoo hoo! Man, I was thinking of betting on Zen’s Sugar. What a sad show that was!”

 

Sean pushed Kyle towards the pay line. “Shut up and cash in our ticket. And don’t forget you owe me a C-note. Damn, maybe I should charge interest.”

 

Kyle turned to look at his partner. “Interest? I only borrowed it for half an hour!” Kyle shook his head. Damn mooching Sean. What a frickin’ tightwad at times.

 

As they walked out of the track to their car, Sean quickly took out his cell phone and hit an autodial. “Hey, Counselor! You feel like a date on Saturday…and I do mean Saturday, tomorrow, not next week?” Sean listened and laughed. “No really. I’ll take you somewhere nice. Not the House of Chicken.” Kyle chuckled as he counted his lovely loot. That would pay for a nice present for Tess.

 

“Then it’s a date. I’ll iron out the details with you tonight. You coming over?” Sean paused. “Naw, come over to Jim’s again. We still got Michael and Maria, and I feel like getting really hot and heavy.” Sean laughed at Julia’s reaction and quickly hung up.

 

“You know,” said Kyle as they got into the car. “I was thinking that you’re right.”

 

“Of course I am.” Sean looked at Kyle sharply. Okay this was unexpected. “What am I right about?”

 

“The whole Starsky and Hutch thing.”

 

“Damn right I am!” Sean said with little modesty and a lot of gusto.

 

“Obviously, I am more of an Elliot Ness type.”

 

Oh, no way! “You? A G-Man? More like junior G-Man. If anyone’s Elliot Ness-like, it would be me.”

 

Kyle pointed at his face and smiled at Sean in a cheesy manner. “Check out the face! Authority. Born leader. Charisma. Ness through and through. Yep, you’re definitely the old Starsky.”

 

“I’m the more experienced partner…”

 

“And you do have the wild curly hair….Ness’s was straight like mine. You have the car. Ness had the more sedate vehicle. Nothing too flashy like Charger Red.”

 

“I’m not painting it red when it’s refitted! I was thinking of a classic black. Elegant. Understated, and obviously more in keeping with the Bureau. You have a frickin’ car seat. Ness would never have a car seat.”

 

“He was a family man.”

 

“I’m getting married…someday!”

 

Kyle went in for the kill. “Then there is the whole sex thing.”

 

“What? You saying you have better sex?”

 

Kyle just smiled and looked out the window. “Can’t help it. It’s that whole alien one hour orgasm thing. No reflection on you, or anything.”

 

“I do well enough…thank you!”

 

Kyle just snorted. “I think I’ll use my money to buy a nice Ness trench coat.”