Radclyffe - Honor Guards

"She fell asleep in the middle of a sentence," Diane explained quietly as she pulled the door partially closed behind her.

"Is she all right?" Cam's voice vibrated with tension. She'd only been gone a few hours, but it felt like a month. "Was she complaining of any pain? She doesn't have a fever or anything, does she? Is—"

"Hey, slow down," Diane said in a surprisingly gentle tone. "I think she's just worn out." She tilted her head, her long blond hair swirling around her elegant neck, her azure eyes traveling from Cam's face down her body and back again. "You look ready for bed, too. I was going to spend the night in case she needs anything, but—"

"No," Cam interrupted. "You go ahead and stay. It will be good if you're here in the morning."

"I'm not so sure about that. She's likely to shoot first and ask questions later when she discovers that you were here just now and I didn't wake her."

Cam grinned. "Just keep your head down until I can talk to her. I'll tell her you were just following orders and didn't have any choice."

"Sounds good to me—I'd rather you take the heat." Diane reached out and squeezed Cam's hand, then released it. "Are you okay?"

"Sure."

Diane made an exasperated sound. "You know, that macho stuff might work with some people, but I've watched the two of you fall in love. I know what she means to you." And I'd give anything to have a woman look at me the way you look at her.

For the first time, Cam admitted to herself how tired she was, and how worried. "I'll be better when she gets the results of the genetic testing. Otherwise, I'm good."

"I meant it when I said you could call me, Cam. Just because Blair and I are friends doesn't mean that you and I can't be as well. We both love her."

"I know you do, and I'm glad."

Something in the way Cam said it, as if she really did know, brought Diane up short. Looking for a hidden message, she studied the calm charcoal eyes. She couldn't read a thing in them. "You don't mind?"

Cam shrugged and leaned a shoulder against the door frame. "She's an amazing woman. I can't imagine loving her and not wanting her."

"That's the difference between us, Cam. When I had the chance, I was afraid to do both at once. You never were." With a sigh, Diane leaned up and kissed Cam's cheek. "Go home. Go to bed. You look like hell."

"Ask her to call me when she wakes up. And...tell her I love her."

"That, Commander, will not be a news flash," Diane said with a small laugh, the sorrow leaving her eyes. "But I will be sure to pass along the message."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

Wisely, Diane didn't answer, but merely passed a steaming cup of coffee to her friend as she sat beside her on the sofa. She waited until Blair, looking grumpy under the incongruously bright and cheery cotton throw, had taken a few sips. She'd had an hour or so before falling asleep the night before to prepare her story. "Cam looked like she was really beat. The only way I could get her to go home to bed was to tell her that I thought you should sleep."

Blair frowned. "I think there's some trickery at work here, but I haven't had enough coffee yet to figure it out."

"She said she loves you and for you to call her when you're civil."

"She didn't say civil." Blair narrowed her eyes. "Did she?"

Diane smiled demurely.

Blair laughed. "God, I'm glad you're here."

"So am I." Diane reached across the space between them and briefly stroked the back of her fingers over Blair's cheek. "Are you going to be all right alone here today? I can stay, or you can come to my place."

"No, thanks. Really. I have to work, and Cam will be in and out. I'll be okay."

"Will you phone me as soon as you hear from the doctor?"

"I will. She said she'd rush the lab, but I don't know when we'll get the word."

"Whenever—day or night." Gently, Diane took Blair's hand. "And if you want to talk about anything, any time, just call, okay?"

"I promise." Blair leaned over and kissed Diane's cheek. "Thanks. I love you."

"I love you, too."

27Aug01

Panther Motel, Deerfield Beach, Florida

Report - Strike Team One. Confirm five core members and pilot, Strike Team Two, rendezvoused on schedule. Operation date established: September 11, 2001. Departure point: Boston. American Airlines Flight 11 to Los Angeles. Target: NYC. Tickets purchased via Sun Trust debit card for delivery to POB in Hollywood, Florida.

0615 27 August 2001

"I really like the way you look when you get ready for work," Stark commented as she sat cross-legged on top of the covers, a yellow terrycloth robe loosely belted around her waist.

"Yeah?" Renee turned from the dresser where she had been sorting through her travel jewelry box in search of the small gold hoops she intended to wear that day. She'd already donned a plain white shirt and dark trousers and clipped her weapon holster to her right hip. A matching blazer lay over a chair next to the open closet. "How come?"

Stark leaned back on both arms, unmindful of her robe opening to expose her chest. "You just look so...capable. I like it. It's sexy,"

"Sexy?" Renee shook her head with a fond smile. "I'll tell you what's sexy. Sexy is you lounging around in that robe with nothing on under it and most of you on display. Come on, have a little mercy—I have to leave for work in five minutes."

Stark followed her lover's gaze down her body and grinned. "You can't see anything."

"Sweetie," Renee said in a threatening tone as she stalked closer to the bed. "I don't need to see—I know what's underneath. Being reminded is what's dangerous." She leaned over and kissed Stark on the mouth, finishing with a small nip to her lower lip before straightening up,

Eyes slightly unfocused, Stark let out a shaky breath. "I don't think that was a very nice thing to do. Now I'm totally excited."

Renee slipped into her jacket and pocketed her badge. "Good. Think of me today."

"As if I wouldn't anyway," Stark mumbled. She closed her 6yes and lay back on the bed, listening to the soft sound of Renee's laughter lingering in the air.

0730 27Aug01

Delray Beach, Florida

Report - Strike Team Two. Confirm departure point: Boston. United Airlines Flight 175 to Los Angeles. Target: NYC. Two one-way, first-class tickets booked at a cost of $4500.00 each; contact address Delray Beach, Florida.

0910 27 August 2001

Blair set down her brush at the sound of a knock on her door and glanced at the clock. She'd been working since five a.m. in a faded red T-shirt and jeans, her hair tied back with a blue bandanna. She pulled the bandanna from her hair and wiped her hands on the way to the door. Out of habit, she checked the peephole and saw her lover on the other side. Quickly, she released the locks and pulled open the door. "Hi. You're early."

"Did you hear anything yet?" Cam stepped inside and waited for Blair to close the door before kissing her. "I finished the briefing early...well, actually I started the briefing early. I didn't want to miss Saunders's call."

"Nothing yet. We might not even get the test results today." She took Cam's hand and led her to the breakfast bar. "Sit down. I'll get you some coffee. Have you eaten?"

Cam shook her head. "Just coffee is fine."

Blair narrowed her eyes. Cam had never looked anything less than 100 percent fit, even when she' d barely been recovered from a near-fatal gunshot wound. Now, her color was ashen, fatigue lines etched her cheeks, and her normally vibrant voice was tinged with weariness. "Cam, have you eaten anything?"

"I'm not really—"

"We haven't even been back two days, and I'm going out of my mind," Blair said, her tone low and edgy. "If I could have you around all the time, I probably wouldn't want it. But not being able to have you around all the time is destroying my concentration. And sleeping without you..." She held up her hands in frustration. "Now I have to worry that you're not taking care of yourself."