C. Paradee - Deep Cover

Shelby's thoughts were interrupted as she saw Kris staring at her. For one brief fleeting moment, haunted blue eyes met tumultuous green ones. Then Kris stalked past Shelby, and in a voice totally devoid of emotion, flatly stated, "Now you know," before walking out onto the balcony.

Earl answered his cell phone and after disconnecting followed Kris out onto the balcony. "Relax. It doesn't really matter. She's on our side."

Kris looked at her boss. Not to you it doesn't. To Shelby, it might. "Right."

"We're finished. The teams came up empty. I'm leaving two agents behind for the rest of the night. I'll be in touch."

The operative nodded and followed Earl back into the apartment, securing the door when he left. She turned around to find somber green eyes gazing at her.

KRIS MET SHELBY'S gaze. She would have had to be blind to have missed the surprise in those gorgeous green eyes when the analyst overheard her conversation with Earl. At that instant she'd realized that Shelby had never really believed that she was Blue. It's better this way. She'll be afraid of me and back off.

Shelby was at a loss for words. Kris seemed more distant than ever. She wracked her brain for anything that might dispel the tension permeating the apartment, and then caught a glimpse of the underside of Kris' arm. "You're still bleeding." She headed for the kitchen, calling back over her shoulder, "I'll get some peroxide to clean that up."

Kris stared at Shelby's retreating figure, confused. She hadn't sensed the fear she'd expected to see. Doesn't she get it? She should be afraid - very afraid. Why isn't she? Irritably, she growled, "Surprised?"

Shelby sighed. Stopping, she turned to face the operative. "Surprised about what, Kris? That you bleed, just like I do? Or that you are Blue?"

Narrowing her eyes as she approached Shelby, Blue snorted, then drawled sardonically, "Both. I'm sure you've heard the rumors."

Nodding, Shelby ignored the derisive expression and met Blue's intense gaze. "Yes, I have. So, all of a sudden I'm supposed to think you're some invincible, cold-blooded machine? You're still human, Kris. You have feelings no matter how deeply you bury them, and you can get hurt, too, even though you're loath to admit it; and yes, you bleed, just like I do. So, just what am I supposed to be so surprised about?"

Blue snapped. "Don't you get it? I am NOT like you. You should be afraid of me. Think about who I am."

Shelby stared at the intimidating woman glaring down at her. Kris did scare her when she was like this, but it was a fear of what the operative was capable of, not fear for her own safety. Shelby spoke with quiet certainty. "You wouldn't hurt me."

Kris' eyes widened in amazement and she looked away, biting off a scathing retort. The operative had faced down many powerful foes, yet this woman refused to be intimidated; she struggled to understand that. She wanted to scream in frustration. This was totally outside her realm of experience.

Blue was an expert at manipulation and could usually cajole the most unlikely people into doing whatever she wanted them to. As for those that didn't – well, there were other ways to get them to comply with her wishes. But the woman standing in front of her wasn't like those countless other dupes. She didn't want to try to manipulate Shelby and wasn't sure she could, anyway. Her interest in the analyst had long since totally surpassed anything she could rationalize. Why is she different? And why am I letting her get to me? Kris knew part of the answer. Because she cares.

Kris became angry. Angry because Shelby cared, and angry because she was glad that Shelby cared, and angry because she couldn't let Shelby know that she cared.

Shelby watched the naked emotions play across the usually unrevealing face as the operative's eyes turned distant and troubled. She wanted to say something, anything, to stop Kris from looking so unhappy and angry, but was leery of interrupting her thoughts, knowing she had very probably pushed her too far already. She turned around, reaching into the cupboard for the bottle of peroxide.

"How's your arm?"

Surprised, she plucked the bottle from the shelf and turned around. "It's a little sore."

"Mind if I check it out?"

"Uh, sure." Shelby held out her left arm and the tall woman grasped it, gently probing the bruised area around the analyst's wrist with deft, sure fingers.

Kris looked up. "I wanted to make sure we didn't need to get it x-rayed. It feels okay, but it's going to be sore for a few days. You were limping?"

"I landed on my hip." Shelby smiled wanly. "I have more padding there." She handed Kris the peroxide. "Need some help?"

Kris shook her head. "Why don't you go ahead and shower? Then I'll take mine and clean this up."

The operative watched Shelby slowly make her way down the hall, before returning to the door to retrieve the forgotten bag of lunchmeat one of Earl's men had recovered from the parking lot and delivered. She put the perishables in the refrigerator, laid the partly squashed loaf of bread on the counter, and walked into the living room.

Shelby returned to the kitchen a short time later, smiling when she saw the bread. It would make some interesting looking sandwiches. She saw Kris looking out the balcony door. "Your turn."

She opened the refrigerator, retrieving the braunschweiger, sliced turkey, spicy mustard, and a small jar of Miracle Whip. Taking out an onion, she set it on the counter with the rest of the food and reached into the cupboard for a couple of saucers before remembering she had used the last of the napkins. She pulled the step stool over and climbed on it to reach the extra package stored in one of the high cupboards.

Kris rounded the doorway into the kitchen only to bump solidly into Shelby, who was stepping off the stool. Her surprise gave way to a plethora of fleeting impressions as her body reacted to the contact. She steadied Shelby and stepped away. "You okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?"

No. No I'm not okay. Shelby tried to slow her racing heart and had trouble finding her voice. "Yeah. Sorry."

"My fault. I didn't want you to go to any trouble on my account." She even remembered how I like my sandwich. "You go ahead and make yours. I'll make mine when I get out of the shower."

"I have a better idea. Why don't you go take your shower, and I'll fix both sandwiches. I really don't mind." She smiled winningly. "Okay?"

Gazing at Shelby, Kris nodded slowly. "Thank you. I'd like that."

Shelby smiled with relief at the small victory, turning her attention back to the sandwiches once Kris had left. She was still wired from the energy rolling off the operative in waves a few moments earlier, and her body instinctively reveled in the sensation.

Her thoughts turned reflective. She had given up trying to justify her feelings for Kris. For the first time in her life, Shelby thought she understood what her sister, Jackie, had said two years before about her decision to marry Steven and move to Seattle.

"Shelby, have you ever met anyone that just took your breath away and you didn't know why, but they did? Such a strong attraction that you couldn't ignore it, and you just knew you had to know more about that person? That's how I felt about Steve. I was lucky. He felt the same way."

Shelby knew now. Kris had never encouraged her interest in any way; and to the best of her knowledge, the operative had no interest in her. Yet, her burning desire to know all about the enigmatic woman increased with each passing day. She smiled ruefully. Hey, Jackie, what would you think if I told you I know what you mean now? What would you think if I told you I have that feeling...for another woman? What would you think if I told you she was an assassin? What would you think if I told you she was on a list of suspects for a series of unsanctioned hits?