Woke Up One Morning... Part 32
The rain has carried on all through the night straight to this new morning after our adventure at the daycare. Wide awake and raring to go following my shower, I am busying myself away in the kitchen to have breakfast ready by the time Heero is done cleaning up in the bathroom.
Since this morning's wrestle in bed, which I let my husband win by claiming me, I know the smile on my face won't be going anywhere anytime soon regardless of the dreary weather outside. Besides, having come from L2 where it's so scarce, I'm always very welcoming of rain every now and then.
Whistling a cheery tune to myself as I flip the pancakes that are grilling on the skillet, I nearly jump when a pair of strong arms wrap around my waist. I lean back against the firm chest behind me and bend my head back onto a shoulder as Heero attacks the nape of my neck with light kisses and nips.
"You got the drop on me," I giggle against my wishes when his lips brush against a ticklish part of my skin. "Not an easy feat."
Still holding me close, 'Ro lowers his head onto my shoulder. Our eyes meeting, the corner of his mouth curls up in a smug smirk as he comments, "It's not difficult if you're distracted like you just were."
Pulling back a bit, he releases his arms around my waist and ghosts a hand over my ass as he snickers, "I have no idea what could possibly be on your mind this morning that would have you in such a good mood." His laugher grows a bit when my face burns with a blush.
I turn to swat his own rear with the flat bottom of the spatula in my hand. Shaking my head, I chuckle, "Yea, well you can't tell me you didn't have a good time too, buddy." Quickly, I set to plating the pancakes before they burn.
"That I did," my husband admits, smiling as he moves to his place setting where the daily paper is sitting. As he sets to reading, I shake my head in amusement again and finish making up our plates complete with toast and eggs.
For one who relies so much on his computer, it was a surprise to me that Heero would bother reading the news in its paper form. When I had asked him about it long ago he just shrugged and said that he had an appreciation for the novelty of it compared to opening his laptop for everything.
Seeing him doing even simple things like this always gives me a feeling of normalcy. Of course, our being in our Preventer uniforms takes away that illusion a bit. But one of these days we actually will be leading normal, simple lives the way we always wanted.
We enjoy our breakfast in silence with the exception of an occasional break for conversation. As he eats, my lover continues to read through the paper and my own eyes are glued to the large window to watch the rain as it continues to fall.
It takes me back to my days as a street rat back on L2. Whenever rain did come, I would gather up every can and other container I had to my name and set them out to catch as much clean drinking water as I could. The pattering of the drops inside those glasses and tins would make a beat that I would dance around to, soaking myself to the bone but happy for it.
Out of habit, I would do the same thing whenever it was announced that rain would be coming when I went on to live at the Maxwell Church. All of the others kids that were at the orphanage would follow my lead, taking out everything that would gather the water so that we had a whole 'band' to dance to.
Sister Helen just about had a heart attack the first time we were out there getting totally drenched. But even she came to have an appreciation for our need for something to look forward to and even joined in towards the end...
Back then, the rainy days were some of the happiest times for me. These days, I still have a better appreciation for the rain than most people who do not know what it's like to go without it for weeks on end because of my experience.
A hand settles on my leg and squeezes, bringing me back to the present. Blinking in surprise, I look over at my husband and his smiling face. "Do you think you'll save a dance for me on L2 when we're able to make it rain more often there?" he asks softly.
Having known about those stories of my past, somehow he knew that was exactly what I was recalling when really I could have been thinking about the case. How the hell he's able to read me so well is just incredible. At any rate, his request has my face breaking out in a wide grin of appreciation.
"Of course," I breathe, wrapping his hand with one of mine and squeezing it.
Taking up our empty plates, 'Ro cleans them moments before we're locking up the house and heading out to the car together. Against the slight coolness on the air blowing in from the ocean, I zipper my jacket all the way up and set my mind back to the tasks at hand.
Rain or shine, duty calls.
* * * * * *
Headquarters seems to be more of a flurry of activity than usual when we step through the front doors of the lobby. Agents all around are walking about with a determination and quickness in their pace that normally means they are preparing to carry out an assignment just passed onto them.
Behind her desk, Rose smiles, "You boys have come in on a busy day. Seems everyone has something going on." She pushes forward her jar of homemade cookies and offers, "Some sugar may be needed to get you going this morning."
I grin back and take up a chocolate chip and wink, "You're the best, doll. Thanks." Heero takes up a macadamia nut and nods to the receptionist with a small smirk as we head off to the elevators.
When the cart doors close, I chew on a bite of cookie and mumble, "Wonda wha all of fah commofin is 'bout?"
Opting to wait on enjoying his snack until he is finished talking, my husband shrugs, "I'm sure that Lady Une will be getting a hold of us soon to fill us in."
Sure enough, we do not have to wait long to learn what is going on. Stepping into our shared office, I swallow the last bit of my treat and blink in shock at finding the Commander waiting for us inside, leaning up against my desk across the room.
"Good morning, gentlemen," she greets while pushing herself from my desk to stand up straight. Folding her arms, she states, "in case you haven't noticed already, we've been quite busy this morning. Krutza has been working through the night with Agent Link and his team to translate the coded notes and transcriptions found in his estate."
Holy shit... then that means...
The smile on her face growing when our eyes widen in realization, Une nods firmly, "We have quite a few people of interest to pick up now. Those individuals range from possible clients for the Glycaminum to buyers who already have their hands on the chemical. Agent Talon has organized the teams going out to collect them so they are just now getting their assignments and moving out."
A sharp laugh leaves my lungs in a release of relief. Then things are moving along. One of those clients would have to have played a role in plotting the attack on the Assembly. After we have them, It will only be a matter of time before the right tie into this mess to know where Ivanov is then we can being him in as well as his manufacturers.
Krutza proved to be even more of a goldmine of information than we had initially thought. And of course he is going to be more than happy to comply with selling out his own since that will only help lessen his sentence as well as earn him protection from the Preventers until we have everyone.
Suddenly, another thought strikes me and I ask, "So, you're here to give us our assignment to bring in one of those people of interest?" Beside me, Heero's shoulders roll back in readiness to accept whatever mission may be delivered.
Lady Une replies, "Actually, you won't be leaving for any of these assignments. I'm saving the both of you to be responsible for bringing Ivanov in. We should be homing in on his exact location relatively soon once we get our interrogations going."
I'm actually honored that we were considered for that big takedown. Since we've invested so much in this case, it would have sucked if we were left out of catching the mastermind behind it all.
"So, until we have something solid to go on to go after him, I suggest you save your strength and prepare to listen in on a lot of interviews that will be coming up," the Commander says as she walks past us to head for the door.
Waving back at us, she grins over her shoulder, "Enjoy the brief break from action while you can. Maybe you can actually get caught up on your emails and messages waiting to be sorted through."
A groan rumbles from me as I look back at the tall stack of unopened mail on my desk. The stack on Heero's desk is not much better as he eyes it wearily. Chuckling quietly, Une steps from the room and the door closes behind her.
Meeting my husband's eyes, I sigh, "I actually think that field work is looking better than being safe in our office right now." With an amused snicker, he shakes his head and reluctantly rounds his desk to begin delving into the work that has been building up on us.
No sense in just complaining all morning as opposed to getting this over with, I reason as I go behind my own desk. A burst of air puffs from my mouth, stirring my bangs as I start from the top of the pile and open the first envelope I grab.
Thank God for the coffee machine just at the end of the hall. It would be a one hell of a long day without it.
* * * * * *
By the end of the normal work day, I almost worked past five o'clock after not being used to the 'normal' routine for so long. We did not hear anything new about the situation with those field assignments, and we probably won't for at least a couple of days.
That bit is frustrating- the not actually being out there to know what's going on. But, I do know Tyce and how he knows every agent's abilities. He would have only suggested the best suited people to every mission.
Danielle, Adam, Penelope and Tyson were nowhere to be seen around the building all day whenever we were walking about to get lunch or stretch our legs. No doubt they're all locked away in their offices, or supervising their teams to see that all runs smoothly with the ship-offs that have been going out all day.
Agent Bridge will be in and out of meetings to make sure everyone is up on the rules and regulations of wherever they are going. Their transportation will all be worked out by Agent Hawk. And Agent Link will be working behind the scenes on the documents that Krutza is helping him with.
Even without fully knowing how many names we now have to go on in this case, one would only need to look around headquarters to get an idea with the activity going on. I would say more than a quarter of the agents that had been off duty are now away to some other corner of the world or some Colony.
Those Preventers that are still around have been whispering around the water coolers and cafeterias, wondering what's going on. Many of them will most likely be sent out as more suspects are discovered over the next few days.
By far, it's our biggest undertaking for one case. Though we knew it would be that way from the start, it actually is a little unnerving to physically see how it is affecting life around us.
Deciding against making dinner at home, Heero and I opted for dinner out instead. Seated at a private booth, there was little of our conversation that did not involve the case in some fashion. And that will probably be the norm until it's finally finished.
Occasionally, however, we would break the monotony with discussions about our future home. Working out the finer details, we're coming to common ground on what we would both like. "Inner-city or suburb?" my husband asks as he polishes off his steak, a small smile on his face.
"Suburb," I answer without having to even think about it. Sitting back against the soft cushions of the back rest, I smirk, "It'd actually be nice if over time we could have some lakes on the Colony. I'd really like a water-front house again after living at our current place by the ocean." Just the thought of there eventually being lakes and ponds, hell any form of water, on L2 is a thrilling thought to me.
The smile on his face spreading a bit, 'Ro nods, "I'd like that, too." Good. Yet another detail that we've managed to work out together.
As of right now, we now have our plans to build our own place- a water-front home with a large back porch, three bedrooms, a Labrador retriever and a grand piano that Heero will use to teach me to play. Not a bad start since we've only been at this for a few minutes.
It's now my turn to add something to the home and it only takes me a moment of consideration before I announce, "We could also use a large shed for working on mechanics and such. Hilde will have all kinds of fun things to play with from her salvage yard business and I know you love working with gears and bolts as much as I do."
"And a large enough shed could also double as a wood shop," my lover comments, that wistful look back in his eyes as he loses himself in his thoughts. "I've always wanted to work more with sculpting and carpentry." I grin and nod at his acceptance of my suggestion and make a mental note to add that to the 'plans' for our house.
There's now a fantastic vision in my head of how this will all look when it's finished. Can't wait to actually see the real thing. And we are getting closer to that every day.
* * * * * *
Much as I hate bringing work home, both Heero and I did this night. At least it's still raining so it's not as if I'm missing out on anything. Thanks to the clouds that have blanketed the sky, it's darkened outside much earlier than usual.
The moment we returned home from dinner, I move to our office and throw the light on before moving to my desk facing the furthest wall.
Opening my briefcase when I sit, I turn on my desk lamp and sigh while taking up the remainder of my mail pile that I have yet to sort through. Booting up my laptop, I wait for it to wake up as I start opening the first couple of envelopes at the top of the stack. When my computer is up and running, it doesn't take long for me to plow through the tediousness of logging each message into the Preventer database.
Completely focused on my work as I take care of several inches of my pile, I finally stop to notice that I've been going for about twenty minutes. Looking back at the empty desk behind me, it hits that Heero still has not stepped into the office to get to his own work yet. That's... extremely out of character for him.
My brow forms a worried frown as I get up from my seat and head out of the room to find my partner. All of the lights on the first floor are on, but he is still nowhere to be found and I'm increasingly concerned. "Heero?" I call as I approach our back patio, the last place to check on this floor.
Quietly stepping out onto the deck, my ears pick up a variety of clings and pings on the air that instantly sends me back. Eyes wide, I look through the windows around to spot Heero in the rain, out on the beach where the sand is the most compact from being wet for so long. Setting out shielded candles along with a wide collection of bowls and glasses of different materials, he has such a look of complete serenity on his face even as he is being soaked in the falling droplets.
It's... easily one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
Opening the back patio door, I pull on a pair of my sneakers waiting there to step out and greet my lover just as he finishes up making the ring that's several feet wide all the way around. As I near, I notice that the center of that ring is completely clear. A wave of nirvana washes over me along with the rain that is already making my sweater and jeans heavy when I hear the music that the cups and bowls are making as they collect the water.
When he looks up to meet my eyes, Heero straightens himself with a wide smile and his hair matted down against the sides of his face. His own sweater and pants stick to his body like a second skin as he shrugs, "I realized that we still haven't had our first dance as a married couple yet, so I thought now was as good a time as any."
My eyes widen further as I breathe, "Heero..." That was why there was such a clearing in the middle of the ring. It was a dance floor. Along with my other emotions, there is a streak of panic that's building. Shaking my head, I frown, "I... I never slow danced before. And I've seen how light you are on your feet with some of the dances you've had with 'Lena before."
I don't even try to argue how we would run the risk of catching our death of pneumonia out here like this. Our immune systems had been enhanced chemically back in our training days to prevent us from even catching a common cold regardless of the circumstances. Might as well just get out the real reason for my hesitation over this idea.
His smile never fading, 'Ro slowly walks towards me and urges, "It's easy. Just follow my lead." Lost in those eyes on me, I allow him to lead me to the center of the space. Slowly putting my right arm around his waist so that my hand falls on the small of his back, he mirrors the movement and holds me close.
Clasping my free hand in his own, he extends our arms out and begins to turn us around in time with the 'music' made around us. The cool breeze has absolutely no effect on me as I follow his lead. Even the occasional cloud-to-cloud lightning doesn't faze me. Spinning and keeping up with him, I laugh after we've made a few successful whirls around without my falling over or tripping awkwardly.
I'm even comfortable enough to let him spin me out before he gathers me close again for a deep kiss. Somehow, we never miss a beat as more kisses are shared during our constant movement.
Water droplets on Heero's face sparkle in the twinkling candlelight that's outmatched by the brilliance of his loving smile. Quietly, he hums a beautiful melody that goes perfectly with the chimes in the air. Grinning from ear-to-ear, I'm all his as we continue to dance on without a care in the world.
Bring on the rain, the cold and the night. Whatever life has to throw at us, we'll keep dancing through it as long as we have each other.
TBC...
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