~~ Then You Fall… ~~

Standing outside the boardroom door, Larabee checked the hall clock. It had been nine whole minutes since he'd called this meeting and he'd spent the entire time trying to figure out what he was going to say.

There were so many things that needed to be said… 'A lot of questions searching for answers' Chris guessed. He sighed, knowing that he wanted… no, needed to keep control… for everyone's sake. There was just no way he could let this gathering become too unruly… Too much hinged on the outcome.

Chin down and eyes closed, the blond took a long deep calming breath. Puffing his cheeks, he let the air sit for several seconds, eventually exhaling at a slow steady rate. Gradually, green reflections opened and focused on the entranceway. Cocking his head from side to side, Larabee cringed as his neck popped loudly.

His impromptu relaxation routine now played out, the senior agent stepped towards the double doors and, after taking one last deep breath, entered the boardroom.

On the other side of the portal, what little conversation there had been, stopped as six uneasy men watched their boss's entrance. All eyes were on him and Chris met their stares confidently. Then, turning quickly, he secured the door before moving to his place at the head of the table.

Apprehensive looks questioning him again as the team leader studied each man carefully...

He wasn't surprised to see Vin sitting furthest from his position. The Texan glanced away before their eyes could meet.

On the opposite side of the table from Tanner, Ezra shrewdly began to scrutinize the cleanliness of the furniture.

On Larabee's immediate left, Jackson seemed to be the only man smiling in the group. Next to Nathan, Josiah looked ready to take notes.

Across the table from Sanchez, Buck was aimlessly doodling while JD sat next to him, stiff in his chair, looking very anxious.

The team leader sighed silently as he looked out over his six friends. He lowered and rubbed his forehead then glanced back, biting his bottom lip. "Well, boys," he eventually began, "guess that line has finally been drawn in the sand."

Chris met their eyes in turn and then dropped his chin again. Gathering his chair, he sat down at the table to join them. "We step across together…" looking at them solemnly, he cocked his head, "or we don't go at all."

The boardroom was silent for a long time before Dunne spoke, the quiver in his voice was clear. "You…" he looked at the man in black nervously and then glanced down at the desk. "You breaking up the team, Chris?" he managed to ask.

Instantly studying his roommate, Wilmington seemed almost ready to cuff the younger man but with a glance at their boss, thought better of it. "That's a stupid thing to say, JD," he admonished instead. "You ain't thinkin' nothin' of the sort… right, Chris?"

The senior agent hadn't missed the wane of confidence in his oldest friend's question.

"Perhaps, you should not be so hard on our young friend, Mr. Wilmington." Without making eye contact with anyone, Standish had spoken before their leader could respond to Buck's question. "The situation within our ranks is… somewhat precarious… wouldn't you say?"

"Well, I reckon you should know," the rogue responded, the bite in his tone was clear.

Nathan's tentative smile had disappeared by now and he could see why Chris had seemed upset earlier. "Just ain't right to presume you know all there is to know, Buck," he said disapprovingly.

"He didn't say he knew everything," JD frowned, automatically defending his best friend.

The profiler sat forward in his chair, "Gentlemen, please," he raised his arms to quiet the pending arguments. This was exactly the kind of behavior he'd been expecting to erupt all day, and now that it had, Sanchez felt some responsibility to control the situation. "I see no reason to drag our personal opinions into this matter. We are at work and should conduct ourselves accordingly."

Wilmington seemed ready to say something but Chris beat him to it. "I'd like to agree with you, Josiah. However…."

Allowing his heavy sigh to be heard this time, Larabee's eyes studied those gathered around the table yet again. Glancing at his watch, he blinked, lips pursing in disapproval. "However, in roughly… seventeen minutes, our work day ends." His gaze refocused and then the senior agent took control of the matter at hand. "And seeing as how our personal situation… my personal situation has a lot to do with this. I don't think we need to worry about keeping it too professional." His eyes momentarily on the profiler, Chris looked back at everyone else, cleared his throat and then smiled. "We can wait, if you want… or we can say everything that needs to be said right now."

The silence was deafening…

Then, slowly, a chair shuffled, several bodies fidgeted, and finally, a calm voice broke the quiet. "Everythin'… that needs ta be said, Chris?"

Larabee glanced at his best friend from downcast eyes. His brows quickly furrowed but eventually, a gentle smile graced the blond's lips. "I know I can count on you for that, Vin."

Cool blue reflections stared at green just as they had done so many times before. "Reckon you ain't gonna like some of what gets said."

"Yeah," JD added quickly and then thought better of saying so much.

Always the perceptive one where his roommate was concerned, Wilmington jumped to Dunne's defense this time. "The kid's right, Chris. Vin, too… There's questions we need answers to."

Larabee raised his arms in mock surrender. Pursing his lips together tight, he nodded once. "A little birdie told me we needed to be honest with each other, Buck, so let’s do just that. The sooner we get everything out in the open, the sooner we get back to work around here."

Things went quiet again but slowly; an incessant noise changed all that.

Dunne's head was hung low; his hands locked tightly together thumping nervously on the table. And, although they'd all noticed the annoying repetitive sound, the team leader took it upon himself to address the kid's agitation. "You got something you want to say, JD?"

Glancing at his boss and then at his best friend, Dunne nodded after Buck gave him a reassuring smile. "Yeah," he replied. He met the blond's stare, but then hesitated.

"It's alright, JD. I said everything, and I meant it," the man in black confirmed supportively.

Dunne licked at his dry lips. He couldn't help his reaction. The question bothered him but he just had to know. "Did you hit Ezra, Chris?"

His eyes closed for just a second before the senior agent slowly began to nod. He wasn't proud of the way he'd reacted last night but he wasn't going to deny his actions either, especially since so much seemed to hinge on the truth. "Yes, JD… I hit him."

The kid hesitated, swallowing the lump in his throat. "You were… fighting over Kate?" he suggested apprehensively.

Larabee's intended reply was interrupted before it even reached his lips.

"That would be an emphatic no, Mr. Dunne!" Standish leaned forward to get a clear view of JD around Buck. "We were not sparring, and especially not 'over' Miss Lansky…." Having said that, the southerner paused to gather his composure. "Mr. Larabee's… deed, was simply a… a well-deserved assault on my person. A single blow… nothing more."

"Well…deserved?" the rogue repeated slowly. Looking at their undercover agent, he raised a single brow. "So you admit it then. You and Kate… you…"

"Buck…" Chris tried to curtail the rogue's barrage.

Ezra halted both men as they glared at one another. "Mr. Larabee, if I may… You said we were here to 'get everything out'," he repeated, somewhat awkwardly.

The man in black begrudgingly nodded his affirmation although he didn't care for the topic of conversation much.

His leader's confirmation received, Ezra continued. "I believe Miss Delaney's… announcement, of yesterday, accomplished that task rather… conspicuously. I would however like the opportunity to… 'have my say', as it were."

Surprised at the southerner's willingness to air the issue, Larabee rethought his position, briskly agreeing that the man should proceed. "Floor's all yours, Ezra." Cocking his head, the blond acknowledged the undercover man with a wave of his hand.

"Thank you," Standish managed a quick smile.

Dipping his chin for mere seconds, Ezra then refocused on Buck. "Yes, Mr. Wilmington… I… Well…" he sighed. "Unfortunately, yes… Whilst it is not something I choose to dwell on… I admit to the dubious distinction of awaking to find myself in Miss Lansky's company. I was… quite shocked, I assure you. Horrified… To say I was appalled at my behavior would be an understatement."

The rogue snickered. "Now that'll boost a gal's confidence level."

"I don't think that's what he meant, Buck," Josiah said pointedly.

Standish raised an eyebrow for the ladies' man and then sent a quick smile Josiah's way. "Mr. Sanchez is of course, correct."

"Doesn't make much sense, Ezra," Nathan looked puzzled. "What you said…." Looking at the southerner, his brows were furrowed. "What do you mean you were shocked? Makes it sounds like you either don't remember… or didn't plan on it, maybe."

Standish pursed his lips. "Your suppositions are both accurate, Mr. Jackson."

Buck snorted outright at that comment. "Both? Sounds to me like you're optin' for all the excuses you can find. Of course… you should be."

The undercover man cleared his throat rather loudly to make his indignation clear. Addressing the medic, he offered pretext for his previous statement. "Both… excuses, as Mr. Wilmington so succinctly puts it, might possibly be explained by the three… perhaps four bottles of alcohol consumed that evening, Mr. Jackson. I believe they would be a plausible justification for my lapse in memory and the… fortuitous nature of the… liaison."

Josiah blinked several times. "Three… or four… full bottles?" he repeated questioningly. Raising a brow, the big man added, "I'd say you're both lucky you didn't end up in the hospital, Ezra."

"Perhaps…." With his green pools closed, two fingers rose to brace the bridge of his nose. Several long seconds passed before Standish was ready to speak again. "Perhaps that would have been the preferable option, Mr. Sanchez…" he looked back at the profiler. "But in answer to your question, yes. As I explained to Mr. Larabee last night… the details are exceedingly insufficient, but I cannot, and will not deny a…'one-night-stand' with Miss Lansky."

Ignoring the abhorrence in Ezra's tone, Wilmington continued his imprudent questions. "And was that little piece of info exchanged before or after Chris popped you one?"

"Buck!" Larabee growled. His temper was growing short and he wanted his oldest friend to know it.

"Now hold on there, Stud," the rogue waved a hand at his boss. "JD here asked the question first and like you said, we's gettin' everythin' out on the table, right?"

Clenching his jaw, the senior agent nodded slowly. Wilmington had the most annoying way of getting to his points but Chris had never hidden from anything he'd ever done… good or bad. Uncomfortable or not, he knew he'd have to let Buck continue. He just hoped the rogue had enough sense to keep it civil. Convictions firmly in place, Larabee nodded his affirmative answer.

"Well, alright then." Turning back to Standish, the ladies' man cocked his head. "Before or after Chris hit you, Ezra?"

Rather indignantly, the southerner took a breath, his brow rising curtly. "After," he answered and then looked across the table at Vin, completely ignoring Buck.

Tanner had refused to hold his office mate's gaze at first but eventually found his eyes drawn back to glance at the man when Standish looked elsewhere.

Deep down, Vin knew he couldn't condemn his friend over a momentary lapse in judgment. They'd all made mistakes and a decision, seemingly brought about by the heavy consumption of alcohol, wasn't anything new for some of these men. Feeling somewhat remorseful for the way he'd been acting all day, the sharpshooter tried to refocus on the discussion at hand.

"Now… Just so I understand this," Josiah appeared to be trying to clarify the points just revealed. "When Adrian came in here yesterday… she… was telling the truth?" he looked from Standish to Larabee and back again.

When both men showed little reaction to his query, the profiler smirked a little. Satisfied that he had his answer; Sanchez pulled his chair up closer to the table, pursing his lips in thought.

The brief silence was broken by another question. "So… just how long ago did all this happen, Ezra?"

The undercover agent rolled his eyes, almost glaring at Buck.

At the head of the table, Chris was ready to flatten his best friend. He seriously wondered how a man could be so supportive at the beginning of the day, and so damn obnoxious ten hours later. Not the slightest bit amused, the blond lowered his head and shook it slowly, dumfounded by Buck's behavior.

Looking to the senior agent for direction, Ezra's head hung low when he saw no signs of assistance coming from their boss. Swallowing what little was left of his pride, the southerner answered the question, his voice quiet and weary. "A mere six days ago, Mr. Wilmington."

It took only seconds for all the pieces to fall into place. "What?" The rogue turned fully to face Standish. "Friday!"

All eyes were now on the undercover agent and he suddenly felt very small.

"You mean… while we were out gettin' shot at… takin' down that bastard Prichard…you were off screwin' around with Kate?"

Buck's eyes suddenly went wide and he quickly stopped his verbal lashing of the southerner. He immediately glanced at Larabee, his ire completely gone and his head dropping to match Ezra's sorrowful pose. "Eh… sorry, Chris," he offered humbly.

Quiet reigned for a while as everyone tried to regain some semblance of composure. The revelation was bad enough. Now that it involved dereliction of duty however, it seemed much worse.

At the far end of the table, Vin had been quietly listening to the conversation. The information, while new, really wasn't that surprising considering the mood Ezra had been in that day. Still though, a deeper concern was rolling around in his gut and he couldn't let that go.

Observing his best friend throughout Ezra's speech, the Texan couldn't help but wonder how far Chris was willing to go where Lansky was concerned, or how far he'd already gone…

Breaking the silence, Tanner spoke quietly. "Ya didn't hear Ezra out, Chris… before ya hit him!"

The statement was so impersonal it stung.

It took a minute before Vin's eyes found Larabee's. "What happened to Kate?"

Nathan responded to that question quicker than the looks shot the sharpshooter's way. "You can't be serious, Vin," he queried directly. Getting no reply, Jackson glanced around the table at his other teammates. Receiving only their non-committal shrugs, the medic frowned, leaning back forcefully in his chair. "You all can't be serious?"

Larabee sighed heavily.

Slowly tapping the table in front of Jackson, Chris smiled reassuringly. "Not their fault, Nathan." Refocusing on the entire room, he continued. "I saw the way you all looked at me this morning." The man in black couldn't deny his annoyance. Truth be told, their assumptions pissed him off severely but that didn't mean he couldn't understand. "Guess the question makes sense when you think about it. You all heard me yell for her yesterday… but then… you all conveniently disappeared."

Shrugging off his little 'dig', Larabee filled in a few more blanks, his blatant sarcasm on full display. "Ezra walking in here this morning, sporting that bruise, just fit right in, didn't it? Makes sense that you’d marry up all that 'evidence' with the… angry drunk you all know and love… Hell, I suppose I might question me, too."

Hearing the tone of his oldest friend's voice, Wilmington hesitated, but then decided he was probably the only man amongst them who could say what he had to. "Chris…."

The senior agent glanced at Buck expectantly.

"I've known you for a lot 'a years, Chris," the rogue spoke seriously. "I never thought I'd hear myself say it… and Lord only knows it ain't in your nature to outright hit a woman. But… well… I can't say it, Chris. I can't honestly say I couldn't see ya hittin' back, if Kate pushed… especially, knowin' the way you two go at it sometimes."

Larabee suddenly found the wood grain of the table very interesting.

Chris hadn't been ready for those particular words and was somewhat embarrassed at his own assumptions. The questioning looks earlier had led him to conclude the worst, not allowing for the possibility that his friends knew him a little better than he gave them credit for. What's more, and as much as he hated to admit it, the blond knew that the rogue's logic was sound. He'd been beyond pissed with Lansky's attitude yesterday. He had gone to her place after eventually leaving work and even gotten out of his truck several times, only to find his way back. However, until this moment, Chris hadn't understood why he couldn't bring himself to confront her.

"We were both… angry… when she stormed out of here last night," he began to recount quietly, his eyes still downcast. "We exchanged words in my office, nothing more. And I never saw her after she left here." Looking at his men, the senior agent offered a brief smile. "Suppose… that might 'a been a good thing…."

Silence settled over the room again, the seven men quietly acknowledging the blatant honesty being unveiled for all to see.

Vin had been sitting quietly, observing. Previous suspicions still nagged at him but steadily overtaking them was the gut feeling that some serious emotions were at play here. A part of him wanted to be happy for Chris, yet his distrust wouldn't be suppressed so easily. He couldn't stop the words when they erupted. "For both yer sakes."

The quiet broken, Larabee's seemingly lost expression turned quickly into a scowl. "For both our sakes?" he repeated questioningly. He was instantly on the defensive, not liking the tone of the Texan's voice. "You mind explaining that, Vin."

Tanner knew he couldn't…

Even before the incident in the garage, the sharpshooter had been trying to come up with a rational explanation. He knew this woman… had known her for almost three years. He was at a loss to explain the strange vibes he'd been getting and had gone to confront her downstairs, about how they pertained to Chris. Maybe he'd been overstepping his bounds and maybe he hadn't… fact was though; it didn't matter anymore.

Vin had come away from that encounter 'knowing'… he just couldn't explain what!

They were called 'gut instincts' for a reason and Tanner knew they'd saved his life on many occasions. Using that logic alone, he saw no rationale in questioning such 'feelings'. With no incentive to dispute, trying to explain had always proved fruitless. He had no idea what made his insight so strong and so right, and now, with so much at stake, Vin knew it would be damn near impossible to rationalize.

"Seems to me there might be a few things you wouldn't mind explaining."

Larabee's confrontational attitude didn't surprise the sharpshooter very much. He looked at his best friend, their eyes not exchanging the words they normally did. They both understood that something was missing. They'd both known it for two weeks, maybe three. Yet, because he cared so much, Tanner was lost. He still didn't know what else to do, so he had chosen to stay aloof.

It took a moment, but Vin responded as unemotionally as he was able, "Could be."

Larabee spied the Texan through a narrowed gaze. He wasn't about to reveal to everyone how distant they'd seemed lately but he did have the strangest feeling that the sharpshooter was leaning towards something he wasn't ready to hear.

The hair on the back of his neck standing up, Chris made a split second decision. Glancing around the room, he paid close attention to the individual expressions. Sitting up straight in his chair again, he continued, his eyes locked back on Tanner. "While Vin's thinking, I'd like to explain a… a little something… a decision I reached today."

All too serious, the man in black lowered his head, one hand rising to massage his brow. When he finally looked back at his men, Wilmington's eyes were the ones he sought out this time. "Except for Buck… none of you knew me when… when Sarah and Adam… were taken away from me… I've carried a lot of guilt over that for a lot 'a years. That bomb… was meant for me… Instead… it took away my only reason for living."

A lowered head and a deep breath later, Larabee was again looking around the table. "I know what… Kate did. You all know now, too. I also have a pretty good idea of why she did it… I'm not buying into her games though… I'd think by now there'd be one thing you all know about me… and that's that I'm as stubborn as they come…."

Without acknowledging their expected reactions, Larabee continued. "You all know I don't give up on anything… but, having my family ripped away… I felt useless… isolated… powerless… It took me a long time, to realize that I had no control over what happened. I've accepted that… now. I've had a lot of help coming to terms with that loss and the truth is… I think I'd still be running if it weren't for Kate."

Chris took another deep breath. "I know you all noticed her… attitude today. I should apologize for that. I think, no… I know that was my fault. See… in a way, Kate provided the means for me to live again. She gave me back what I lost… allowed me to be strong again. I know when she finally puts it all together, she's going to be really pissed."

An impromptu smirk graced the senior agent's lips; his eyes sparkled a little as he looked at his six friends. "Boys, put simply, I have a choice now… I could choose to walk away, or I can choose to stay… I've made my decision, and I think you deserve to hear it straight from the horse's mouth."

A hand ran quickly through his hair before Larabee sat up straight in his chair. "I know she's playing games with me. Her reasons aren't clear but I'm not going to let her win. Her foul mood is because I told her that, straight to her face. I'm not giving up on Kate… on us... I'm not going to lose another woman I love… Not without a fight this time."

The six men took a moment to let their leader's revelation sink in. The decision made so much sense if you knew this team leader on a personal level. The passions that drove Larabee had also sustained him through the worst cruelty life could throw at a man. If he hadn't loved so much, he wouldn't have fallen so hard. A vicious circle to some, but to those that truly understood Chris, they knew he wouldn't have it any other way. Varying reactions slowly became a chorus of agreement. Larabee's decision wasn't that surprising and their gentle nods showed their acceptance.

Dunne understood the message his boss had relayed. The commanding tone left JD with a clear understanding of means and judgment, but the issue of motive was a little cloudy. "Call me stupid, Chris," he finally broke the silence, "but what kind of game is she playing?"

Sobering quickly, the ladies' man answered without thought, beating his best friend to the reply. "It's a real complicated pastime, JD, and as hard as it may be to accept… that there little filly is head over heels in love with her stud."

Wilmington's statement only served to bewilder the kid more. "But… she… with Ezra…."

The rogue's laughter cut Dunne off. "Yep," he nodded his agreement. "Brilliant piece 'a work that. Might 'a even fallen for it myself."

A good portion of the team was now slightly confused.

Glaring at his oldest friend, the senior agent cleared his throat to garner the man's attention, "Eh, Buck… You knew?"

"Hell, yes!"

Seeing Larabee's expression change drastically, the rogue's eyes widened again and he decided it was in his best interest to clarify his meaning. "I mean… no… I mean… Well, I didn't know she'd go that far… I mean…."

The blond's eyebrows quirked as a low rumbling sound emanated from the pit of his stomach.

"Now, Chris… We all know… I mean, well… You just can't hide them kind 'a feelin's… Well, at least not from ol' Buck, here…."

Sanchez had always loved to observe the 'back-peddling' Wilmington did when forced into a corner and now was no exception. He watched the interaction between his teammates with growing curiosity yet finally, it got the better of him and he to say something. "Are you saying… Kate knew what she was doing, Buck? That she did this all on purpose?"

JD scowled, completely perplexed by the additional clarification Josiah put forth. He knew he'd never been in a really deep relationship and he was beginning to suspect that was a good thing. "But… why?" he gingerly inquired.

Nathan's interest had been peaked by the current discussion and he was now willing to put a supposition on the table. "To push Chris away?" he offered questioningly, part query and part statement of fact.

On the opposite side of the table, the southerner let out a sudden gasp. He'd listened carefully to Larabee's revelation and was satisfied in the knowledge that what he'd risked saying last night had not only been heard, but understood as well. Ezra found solace in the decision, too. He wasn't entirely sure if forgiveness would ever be part of the package but hearing his leader's words, he wasn't about to give up on the possibility.

It was the medic's non-committal declaration though, that had the undercover agent thinking about the rest of his conversation with Chris. There was more to what happened between Kate and himself and he was ready to let that information be known. "Yes, Mr. Jackson, that would appear to be the case." Ezra hated to admit that he had been played, to the ultimate disgrace no less, but sometimes one had to let their pride go in order for a lesson to be learned.

Caught off guard, the rogue's eyes flashed on Standish. "Oh, and you figured that out about when?"

Not allowing the aggressive tone to agitate him, Ezra replied matter-of-factly, "Miss Lansky is an extremely talented young lady, Mr. Wilmington."

It took only a moment for the profiler to clear his throat.

All of a sudden, the southerner swallowed hard, realizing what he'd just said. He breathed deep, trying to ignore any possible misinterpretations from his statement.

With his dignity securely intact, Standish continued. "However, inappropriate… there is the possibility that perhaps some good did come of our… interaction… I believe I was afforded the opportunity to observe our friend… in a, less guarded moment. After some consideration… I have concluded that her… deceptive capabilities, rival, or quite possibly, exceed my own."

Considering their undercover agent's statement took a minute but Nathan was the first to query the remarks. "That don't make a lot of sense, Ezra. You've… Well, you learned to turn things off. You were trained for your job. And we all pretty much know you've got… some other reasons for being able to do what you do so well."

Standish sighed. "Indeed, Mr. Jackson… Both my training and my… upbringing, have led to my professional expertise in the matters of stealth and deception. I must admit… I am at a loss to explain why Miss Lansky appears to possess the same skills."

"So… she's been fooling all of us?" the kid asked earnestly.

The southerner nodded. "It would be my hypothesis that Miss Lansky is living a closely guarded existence, Mr. Dunne, at least part of her life anyway. It cannot be easy for her. It is therefore conceivable that the… stress, originating from our liaison… allowed me a brief glimpse of… of a… Well, of something I have never seen before."

"Now that there's a real good description, Ezra."

Slightly indignant at Buck's remark, the undercover agent sighed. "As hard as it might be to comprehend, Mr. Wilmington, I do not believe I have adequate words to describe what I witnessed for mere seconds. A curtain opening and closing, perhaps… It took me until last evening to understand what it truly meant."

Remembering the conversation they'd had yesterday, the team leader queried Ezra's meaning. "That she loves me?"

All eyes landed on Chris, yet Standish shook his head. "No, Mr. Larabee… well, yes, but no… As I said to you last night, another revelation brought me to that conclusion."

Confused by the exchange, Josiah prompted for clarification. "Well share the wealth, brother."

After raised eyebrows asked permission, Ezra smiled at the nod he received in reply. "With Mr. Larabee's approval… I can tell you that Miss Lansky is scared… but of what, I do not know."

Slowly and steadily, the sharpshooter's initial huff became a quiet laugh.

If ever there were a time Larabee wished he could read the Texan, it was now. As with Buck, he was gradually losing his patience with Tanner. "Something you'd care to share, Vin," he asked coldly.

"Yeah, Chris…" the younger man replied. Avoiding the issue was one thing but allowing misleading information to stand was another. "It's just that… well, Kate ain't afraid of nothin'. I'd stake my life on that." Meeting Larabee's glare head on, Tanner's amusement disappeared. "Reckon, my life might be on the line, if I called her on it, too."

Wilmington's snort broke the gaze the two men had fixed. "That's got 'a be the most ridiculous thing I ever heard, Vin. Didn't think I'd ever agree with Ezra on any of this but I got 'a this time. Kate's afraid 'a somethin' all right. My guess would be Chris."

Straightening in his chair, the rogue continued. "She was in the army for Pete's sake, not Special Forces. She wasn't a Ranger, like you, or a SEAL, like us," he indicated first Chris and then himself. "She was a damn clerk, Vin… I bet the only thing she ever killed was some stupid horse fly buzzing round her office."

Larabee frowned at his oldest friend's statement. "She was a soldier, Buck… just like us. You said earlier that you'd be comfortable with her backing you up."

"Yeah, I did," he acknowledged enthusiastically. "I ain't stupid, Chris. I know the woman can take care of herself. You ever seen her in those self defense classes she volunteers at. Hell, I know better than to tangle with that little lady. But, damn it, I ain't afraid that she's gonna kill me. She's scared of gettin' seriously involved on a real emotional level with you and that's all there is to it."

By now Josiah could feel the pain behind his eyes beating a path to his brain. There were clearly some opposing details being presented and even more evident, were the convictions that went along with that knowledge. "Gentleman, if I may…."

When all quieted, the profiler spoke again. "It would appear that everyone has something to say on these issues but is it just me, or do we have some conflicting information here?"

Nathan frowned at his best friend. He knew the big man better than most and he could easily decipher the curiosity in Josiah's tone. "Oh, I don't like the sounds of that… You ain't tryin' ta work a profile here, ya know?"

"Sound like it could be an interesting challenge though," he eyed Jackson, his big toothy grin making an appearance. Looking back at the others, Sanchez licked at his lips. "One I believe I would like to take on. With your permission, of course?"

The team leader was surprised by his lack of disgust. The idea seemed almost natural and as soon as it had been mentioned, he was immediately interested. "You mean… a full work-up, Josiah?"

Rubbing at his chin, Sanchez considered the question intently. Seconds later, he was directing his question to the man most involved. "Answer me honestly, Chris. What you've heard here in the last little while… does any of that information surprise you? Do any of the conclusions drawn, surprise you?"

Larabee thought about the question but it didn't take him long to decide on an answer. Whatever the sharpshooter was getting at, he had no idea. Buck thinking Kate was afraid of him seemed to go along with what Ezra had been saying but not really in the same context. And, honestly, he hadn't really seen any of it before now. Pursing his lips, he nodded. "Yeah… I suppose it does," he replied. "I'm not exactly sure how much stock to put in any of it though."

Josiah's scowl was slight but he was very absorbed by the blond's reaction. "That's interesting," he responded.

Watching the profiler's expression, Larabee's curiosity peaked again. "How so?"

To him, it was obvious, but Sanchez knew he would have to voice it for all hear. He also understood the sensitivity of his message. "Because, Chris, of all of us… you're the one who supposedly knows her best."

"Supposedly?"

The instant comeback wasn't unexpected and Josiah tried to explain his thoughts. "I'm referring to the certainty with which everyone has made their statements, Chris. Ezra shows clear confidence in his information. Vin seems convinced of his, and Buck, well, it would appear that he's still sticking with the same old story about knowing the ladies."

Wilmington was going to protest Josiah's objectification of his talents but was interrupted.

"Almost… like they've all been shown a different face."

Six sets of eye turned to stare at their seventh.

"What?" JD suddenly felt put upon. All the 'discussing' and 'commenting' had him a little confused but sitting back and just listening, he could see the whole picture exactly as Josiah painted it. "I just meant… well, that you're all seeing what you want to see."

Nathan looked at the kid, a smile slowly growing on his lips. He liked the point of view that Dunne was presenting but it occurred to him that there might be another. "Or… what she wants you to see," he added thoughtfully.

The silence was brief…

"Or what she don't want us to see."

Everyone was now focused on Tanner again.

An uneasy quiet settled but was quickly broken as Sanchez shuffled closer to the table. "A single entity… like a building, standing tall and proud for all to see… yet, having four sides… each revealed only to those who look directly at that face."

The analogy wasn't lost on the Texan. His wiry grin appeared as he added his wisdom to the gathering. "Like a big picture puzzle…" With all eyes on him, Vin finished presenting the logic of his comparison, "Reckon we're all workin' on a different piece is all."

Chris was listening. He watched reactions around the table and the agreements made him more anxious with each passing minute. He fidgeted uncomfortably in his chair… things were adding up that he didn't like one little bit. Finally making up his mind, the team leader glanced at Sanchez. "Do you think you can work up a profile on Kate, Josiah?"

Sitting back, the big man considered the request thoughtfully. He was confident in his abilities but yet, worried about the potential of his findings and the impact they might have. "Are you sure you want to go that far, Chris?" he asked earnestly. "This may simply be a misunderstanding… Maybe none of us are so sure of our facts."

Glancing at the other men again, Larabee sucked in his bottom lip as he considered his options. He knew he was looking at a complicated maze. On one side of the coin, this felt so much like such a personal issue. He could probably find a way through to Lansky without any help.

However, on the flip side, Kate had made this more than just their problem when she had, inadvertently or not, involved Standish. This was now a team problem and requesting the assistance of his friends seemed logical. It helped that these men just happen to be the best of the best when they worked as one. "I'm sure," Chris finally acknowledged firmly. Taking a deep breath, he reached just that little bit further with his decision. "Gives us all a joint purpose, don't you think?"

His leader's words hit Jackson first. "Excuse me?" Eyebrows rose curtly as Nathan clued in as to where this was going. "A… joint purpose," he repeated. "Are you proposing to enlist everyone's help, Chris?"

Larabee's didn't hesitate. "If you all wouldn't mind lending your expertise to my…."

Wilmington finished his oldest friend's sentence when he paused. "To your quest for love, Chris?"

The senior agent smiled, cocked his head, but then shook it no. Glancing at the ladies' man, he shrugged a little. "Hopefully, that'll be the ultimate result, Buck, but I get the feeling… Kate could use my help… our help. I'd like to offer her that hand, if I can."

The kid looked puzzled.

It wasn’t like he didn’t understand what Larabee was getting at. Lansky had been a part of their close-knit group for a very long time and they all felt pretty strongly about her association. He'd always thought of her as the ultimate 'tomboy' and knew that most of them never even considered the fact that she was a woman. To them all, she was just a real good friend. That logic wasn't the part Dunne was having problems with though. "You want to help her… by profiling her?" he questioned aloud. "Isn't that like… illegal or something?"

Silent communication ran around the room instantly.

The man in black briskly produced a mischievous smile and Wilmington warmed to it just as quick. "Only if she catches us, JD," he smirked, "but like Chris said, we're experts. She ain't gonna know a thing."

Tanner sighed heavily and all eyes drifted to him. Why he was persisting, Vin didn't know, but he was fast becoming tired of being the odd man out. Like it or not though, he felt it his responsibility to keep the team grounded. "You ain't thinkin' this through much, are ya, Buck?"

The rogue frowned, glancing across the table at Tanner. There were many a time when the sharpshooter's aloof nature drove him crazy and now just happened to be one of them. "What's eatin' at you, Vin?" he snapped. "You've done nothin' but complain this whole damn time. What the hell ain't I thinkin' through enough for your almighty attitude?"

It was almost a defensive reaction for his best friend yet a deeper feeling accompanied his response this time. Dunne calmly interjected his thoughts on the matter. "Maybe it's just me," he said quietly, his gaze drifting to that of the sharpshooter, "but I get the feeling… Kate isn't the only one afraid around here."

The kid's supposition hit too close to home for Vin's liking. His rebuttal was quick, the tilt of his head slight, and his smile barely noticeable. "Best not ta come up short when yer judgin' the unknown, JD. Respectin' goes a long way in comin' out in one piece."

Clearing his throat to head off another confrontation, Josiah responded with his own calm words of wisdom. "Perhaps, if we all work together, gentlemen, we can come to some sort of agreement to… maybe define that unknown?"

Although he agreed with what the profiler was saying, Tanner had been trying to make a point and he knew it was more than relevant. "Then you best be askin' Buck about them blueprints I saw him and Kate goin' over today." Focusing on the rogue, he raised an eyebrow. "You seemed mighty happy when ya left her desk, Buck… even though, yer the… expert."

By now, Chris was vigilant about the information being relayed. A single eyebrow rose as he looked at his oldest friend. "She give you a lead, Buck?"

With all that had gone on between then and now, Wilmington had completely forgotten about Lansky's part in the 'discrepancy' that his colleagues were now out investigating. Hesitating, the surveillance man licked at his lips. "Eh… could be, Chris. Edison and Brice went back to the scene after we met this afternoon. And… like Vin said… I had gut feelin'… I just knew that Kate knew somethin'… I played that hunch."

Quiet for sometime, Standish was now more than intrigued by the conversation. "I'm not sure I understand your meaning, gentleman," he puzzled. "Are you implying that Miss Lansky had something to do with the Prichard case?"

Sending a nervous glance Larabee's way, the rogue shrugged, his fingers rising slightly to convey his loss at how to respond.

The team leader sighed and a hand rose to rub the back of his neck vigorously. "No, Ezra, we're not." Taking another deep breath, Chris sat back in his chair. He'd purposely kept some of Kate's hidden 'talents' confidential but now that didn't seem like such a great idea. "You all remember the Kulinski Case?"

The quizzical look on his face was evident but Dunne nodded, his memory of the case clear. "Yeah," he grinned proudly at his roommate. "When Buck found that shipment of guns and the FBI couldn't."

Eyes focused on the senior agent, Wilmington licked at his lips nervously. When Larabee gave him an approving nod, the surveillance man corrected the story. "Truth is… I didn't find those guns, JD. I… had a little help."

At the end of the table, Tanner leaned forward and spied the ladies' man through narrowed disapproving eyes. Next, his gaze fell on Larabee and he glared in earnest. "And you knew?"

Ignoring the Texan's accusatory tone, the man in black nodded. "Of course I knew, Vin. Everything in this office goes through me, remember?"

Attempting to rein in his displeasure, Tanner sat back in his chair. "Almost everythin'."

Wanting to dispel the confrontational attitudes being displayed by Larabee and Tanner, Nathan chose to direct the conversation elsewhere. "She went down to that site though, didn't she, Buck? She was with you, looking over the place, if I remember right."

More than happy to be sidetracked, Wilmington eagerly replied. "Yeah… After the dogs came up empty, Kate said she knew what to look for but she needed to be on site. It took a few hours of wandering around but she's the one who told me where to find the bunker."

"That's crazy," Dunne blurted out. "How would Kate know where to look?"

"How indeed?" the deep voice of their profiler sounded and all eyes were on him.

Through his quizzical expression, Jackson began to smile. "I know that look… You're enjoyin' this aren't you?"

This was purely about his job now and Sanchez lowered his head to hide his sparkling blue pools. "Nathan, my friend…" looking back at Jackson, the profiler nodded slowly, "you know I love a challenge."

Grinning, the medic replied quickly, "Yep."

"You will attempt to work up a profile on Miss Lansky then?" Standish asked from across the table. He voiced the words but the southerner already knew the answer. All of the information exchanged here this afternoon could only lead to that conclusion.

Looking at his leader, Josiah's eyebrows rose questioningly.

The answer came quickly, the slightly tilt of the blond's head was all the permission Sanchez need to reply to the southerner's query. "I'll need anything else you all can think of but I believe I can come up with something workable based on what we've discussed."

Larabee's expression was a little tense. He was deep in thought; his eyes focused on the kid. "JD," he finally drew Dunne's attention. "You think you can approach your sources at Defense again?"

Surprised at the request, the computer specialist frowned. "You think there's something in her military record she isn't telling us, Chris?"

Glancing at Tanner, the man in black sucked at his bottom lip as his eyes narrowed. He could feel Vin's angst deep in his gut and he knew he was letting his own feelings get in the way of seeing a possibility. There were so many times the sharpshooter's instincts had been right and when push came to shove; Chris owed Vin some recognition. "Just playing a hunch," he replied, his green reflections never leaving blue.

As unspoken as any communication they usually had, the Texan didn't flinch at Larabee's announcement, his only reaction shown in the tiniest of curls to his bottom lip. He took in the gesture, yet felt compelled to add his thoughts. Sitting forward again, Tanner broke their stare for only a second. "Won't be in her file," he said quietly.

Dunne knew he wasn't stupid but some of this was going right over his head. He knew that military types spoke a language all of their own and he sometimes wished he understood it better. "What won't be?"

Transferring his gaze to the kid's questioning eyes, Larabee pursed his lips. He knew what his best friend was getting at and he had to agree. "If Vin is right, everything…."

"Huh?"

Wilmington quite often had the feeling of being on the outside when it came to Larabee and Tanner but right now, he understood their code perfectly. He wasn't about to tread that territory without their assistance though. "We'll just have to wait and see what you come up with, Kid," Wilmington suggested. He was trying to ease Dunne's bewilderment and his own uneasiness.

Knowing Buck too well, Chris played off the distraction. "You think you can get in, JD?" he asked again.

It only took a moment of consideration before the computer specialist nodded. "As long as it's regular access, I don't see a problem."

Tanner shrugged and Larabee replied by cocking his head. "Guess that'll have to do for now."

The room went silent once more as the seven men looked at one another.

Having more than enough time to consider the significances, Standish cleared his throat and spoke. "A very interesting meeting you called, Mr. Larabee." He glanced at Chris and then the others. "It would appear that we once again have a single focus. A purpose for stepping across that imaginary line as one entity."

The impact of Ezra's words took Nathan by surprise. "And why do I get the feelin' that Kate just ain't gonna like this one little bit?"

The response came without thought. "What she don't know…" Buck said calmly. His eyes met Jackson's and then dropped away.

Feeling as though he had been brought back more into the fold, Tanner gave his own reply, "Reckon, she best not find out."

"Vin's got a point," the senior agent agreed. He, too, felt more at ease with the outcome of their lengthy discussion. Looking around, he again assumed his leadership role. "This doesn't go beyond this room, everyone got that? Kate has eyes and ears all over this building, so conduct your business carefully. Keep this one inside your offices, with the doors closed."

"You co-ordinatin'?" the rogue asked.

"As per usual," the team leader replied but then hesitated. "I think Josiah needs all new info on this one as well though. His office or mine but both of us knows everything, alright?"

From the end of the table, Vin spoke up. "Reckon it would be best if we all stayed in the loop, Chris. Puzzle pieces have a way of gettin' lost if you ain't workin' on the big picture together."

"Yes," Standish nodded. "I would have to agree, Mr. Larabee. This particular meeting has already proven Mr. Tanner's counsel accurate. I might advise that we heed his suggestion."

"Seven heads are better than one," Buck piped up with a cocky smile.

Ezra raised an amused eyebrow. "A supposition confirmed repeatedly by the accomplishment this contingent has achieved during its tenure."

Several resigned huffs responded to the southerner's long-winded statement but their attention was quickly drawn as Larabee stood.

"Boys… I don't want anyone to lose sight of the facts here. Most importantly, and I hope you all agree on this one… Kate is our friend. And she just happens to be the woman I love. I… get the feeling that… well," he lowered his head for a moment and then glanced back. "Buck said it this morning and I've had all day to think on his words. The changes we've seen in her behavior… all seemed to have started about the time she and I… Well, about the time I made my feelings known. I don't want anything else to change around here, and I want everyone to treat this with the respect it deserves… the respect Kate deserves."

The affirmatives were verbal and visual but Chris got a good feeling from them all.

"If I may," Sanchez caught the senior agent's attention.

When Larabee waved the floor to him and sat back down, Josiah addressed everyone. "If we are all in agreement, I might suggest that sticking with our established routines is paramount."

Seeing no objections, the profiler continued. "Tomorrow is our normal Friday to meet at the Saloon after work and… well, I've already picked up the steaks for the barbecue on Saturday."

"You still want everyone over for that work party, Josiah."

The big man nodded in answer to the kid's question. "That old oak still has to come down, JD, and as much as I like blackberries…."

Ezra sighed, his eyes locked hard on the table in front of him. "Everyone, Mr. Sanchez?"

Puffing his cheeks, Josiah glanced at Larabee and shrugged. He knew exactly where the southerner was going with his line of thought. Getting the four main components of this mess in one place at one time would be a stretch but he was at least willing to try to follow orders. "Chris said to keep everything normal, Ezra. We worked this day out Tuesday… Rain, Adrian, Kate, and us… we all planned to be there. Nothing's changed as far as I'm concerned."

Quietly, JD looked across the table. "And… just how many sharp tools are going to be there, Josiah?" he asked, not really wanting to know the answer.

Turning the key in his ignition, Chris waved at Buck and pulled out of his parking spot. A few minutes later he cleared the security gate and headed for home.

The man in black was exhausted, both physically and mentally. The last twenty-four hours had supplied him with so much information that his tired brain was having trouble processing the new data. Forty-eight hours without sleep wasn't helping the situation much either.

Rubbing his weary eyes, Larabee rolled down his window and reached for the volume button on his radio. The CD in its player caught his attention and a gentle smirk crept to his lips.

Smiling in earnest, Chris popped the disc in and waited for the title track to engage…

The run had been awkward but like anything else in her life, Kate would never let a little injury stop her from doing what needed to be done.

Now, standing in the shower with her eyes closed and the cool water running down her right side, she couldn't help but question that exasperating ‘need’.

What really needed to be done?

She no longer had a taskmaster… hadn’t had one for almost three years now. No one could force her… There was no one coaxing her compliance day after day after day...

Yet, here she was… still meeting those 'ivory-towered' standards her superiors had once set.

Far exceeding their wildest expectations had been a good thing at first, but now it haunted her very existence. Twenty years of ingrained rigorous activity had left Lansky unable to face a day without an outlet for her energy… even when she hurt this much.

Done with her washing fifteen minutes earlier, she'd been allowing the cool water free reign over her burnt skin. It felt so good yet the spare time on her schedule was quickly running out. Left arm against the shower wall and forehead resting on her wrist, the blonde took in a deep breath. Exhaling slowly, she finally reached for the tap, shutting off the chilling jet of liquid.

Extracting herself from the stall, Kate patted her skin dry and then ran the towel roughly through her hair. She winced as the cloth accidentally dragged across her arm. She threw it against the wall with a growl, "Fuck!"

Biting her lip to quiet the anger that still raged inside, she marched back into her bedroom and pulled open the bottom drawer of her dresser. Retrieving the salve, she moved in front of her mirror, sighing heavily at the reflection. "If Nathan could see me now," she muttered, her head shaking softly at the thought.

Reflecting back in the glass, her burns were ugly. Her right side, from just above the hip to below her knee was red and swollen. On her right arm, scalds and scrapes surrounded six self-administered stitches. Shielded by that raised limb as the flaming branches came down around her, her face had been spared the initial blow yet still bore reminders of the ordeal.

Sucking up her courage, Lansky unscrewed the lid of the ointment tin and began to administer a liberal coating over the scorched flesh. The contortions of her face clearly illustrated the pain and discomfort she felt but she refused to let it win. Quitting… giving in to any weakness, just wasn't part of her doctrine.

A half-hour later, Kate carefully pulled her baggy cargo pants over the thin bandages on her legs. She'd given the salve time to soak into her burns and then wrapped her leg, mid-calf to high thigh. Covering her hips and tummy with another dressing, she slipped her underwear and sleeveless T-shirt gingerly into place afterwards. Like yesterday, she had no choice but to forgo the bra, her right arm not co-operating enough to fasten the catches.

Sitting on the bed, she put on her socks and laced her boots, forcing away the complaints from her limb as she did so. One last growl saw her stand, cock her head from side to side several times and then head towards the living room, a full T-shirt, over-shirt and another bandage in her hands.

Stopping at the end of her short hallway, Lansky surveyed the devastation left in the wake of her return home last night. She sighed, disappointed. Good reason or not, she didn't like the fact that her normally controlled anger had unleashed itself so violently.

From his desk, Chris had watched curiously as his assistant settled at hers. He couldn't help ponder the strange determination he saw in her expression, nor the all-too-brief wince he'd witnessed.

Concern and worry shadowed Larabee's face.

At first, his thoughts automatically revisited the injuries he'd witnessed the day before. The hows and whys had been lost so easily in her defensive responses. Now though, observing the tiny signs perhaps only he would see, the blond was more preoccupied with what was going on inside Lansky's head.

Up until team Seven's meeting yesterday afternoon, Chris was convinced he knew this lady better than anyone alive. Some of the things said in that room had truly surprised him. Others weren't that shocking when he really gave them due consideration. All in all though, he still considered his own revelation the most astonishing statement of all.

Admitting to his men his feelings for Kate had not been part of his original agenda but, ultimately, it had proven a statement of fact not to be left out. Those same emotions now fueled his uneasiness, and his resolve.

Cautiously, yet determined, the senior agent stood and walked a slow path to her desk. Catching Tanner's approach from the corner of his eye, he silently indicated for the sharpshooter to hold position. He then stopped at her workspace and waited to be noticed.

She knew he was there…

Lansky had her back to Chris and wished that she could spend the day in this position, totally ignoring the man.

If she were the type to cry, Kate might have gone home last night, curled into a big comforting pillow and wept over the courage and conviction behind Larabee's declarations of love and determination. But…

There were no doubts left in her mind now…

The senior agent had acknowledged the one-night-stand that she'd had with his undercover man.

The realization that she'd wanted Chris to fight over her was shocking and overwhelming all at the same time.

Deep down, Lansky knew that her desperation to force Larabee away had conjured up her affair. The second Standish had walked into the Saloon a week ago; all the pieces had fallen into place. His choleric mood had just made things so much easier… fire being her emotion of choice.

She'd actually wished them to clash when Chris and Ezra had exchanged such casual greetings yesterday morning. She was in fact, pissed that they were so civil to one another.

Yet, analyzing that reaction, she'd become annoyed at herself. She wasn't some helpless heartbroken woman anxious to see her lover fight for her. Although it had been thrown together carelessly, she had nonetheless orchestrated the whole affair. She didn't want Larabee to forgive her but she certainly didn't want to see any 'macho' displays of testosterone either.

The battered jaw Standish couldn't hope to hide was Lansky's first slap in the face. The second had come from Chris himself. The arrogant, self-serving, insistent manner in which he'd professed his love, and his intention to keep saying it. The powerful, almost threatening way he had declared, in no uncertain terms, that he was not going to be pushed away…

"Hey."

Kate's eyes closed as her heart melted into so much goo.

There it was…

The whispered one-word greeting that had become their lifeline.

The simplicity of the utterance had always meant that everything was okay between them. The single syllable had broken down walls and forged a bond stronger than anything known to man. By conveying this one word now, Larabee was wiping the slate clean and through all the muddled, extreme, and intense thoughts raging a battle in her mind, Kate 's heart was also now declaring its right to be heard.

Lansky wasn't the type to cry, but at that moment, for the first time in too many years, she felt like doing it.

A conversation she'd had with Buck earlier in the month came rushing back...

If only Buck knew…

If only Lansky could admit it to herself.

A few feet away from his best friend, a cold shiver ran down Tanner's spine.

At first, Vin had sensed relatively normal reactions from Kate. Unreadable by the average person, the set of her shoulders was fairly relaxed. He could see tension there, but nothing like yesterday. She was almost receptive in comparison and perhaps, exhibiting a little doubt.

Yet once Larabee had spoken, a complex chain of events took place.

He likened his feelings to that of wild animals and the inherent instincts they had for survival… perceptions that sometimes forewarned of pending natural disasters.

Nature's creatures seemed to 'smell' fear and used that attribute to predict when prey was afraid, or was willing to challenge them for the right to live… Then there were the tiny hairs that stood on their backs and cautioned of imminent peril.

All of those factors came into play for the Texan as Lansky turned to face Chris. He felt tension return to her shoulders. He saw the subtle lift of her chin as she silently greeted their boss. But most of all Vin sensed the danger he couldn't explain.

Ezra's words from yesterday flashed in Tanner's head and he suddenly turned his back on the couple.

To them, his movements might be perceived as affording them privacy. To the sharpshooter however, it was a way to hide his smirk. Tanner had yet to find a way of explaining his gut instincts, but now, coupled with the southerner's statement, Vin realized he finally had a credible description

"Something I can do for you, Mr. Larabee?" Kate inquired as she twirled her chair to face her boss.

Inwardly, Chris sighed at her lack of reaction to their usual greeting. He wasn't however, about to let her see his disappointment. "Any other day, that might be a loaded question," he grinned. Leaning down, he stopped when their eyes met head on. "But today, I just came out to see how you are. Maybe we can get Nathan to look at that arm of yours."

Lansky knew the medic would have a full-blown conniption over her injuries. "I'm fine," she answered calmly.

"Well, good… then you won't mind him taking a look," Larabee straightened, a big smile on his face.

"I'm a little busy right now," the blonde stalled, her indignant huff well concealed. "Maybe later."

"I'm going to hold you to that," the team leader announced with raised expectant eyebrows.

Chris turned and called Vin into his office. Following, he then closed the door behind them.

As she watched, Kate snorted aloud and mumbled, "Over my dead body."

"You mind tellin' me how you knew?"

Lansky glanced at the report the rogue had just dropped on her desk, but didn't stop typing. Staring into his expectant gaze, she knew exactly what he meant yet decided to egg him on a little. "Well…" she sighed heavily, "Perhaps if I knew what you were talking about."

Wilmington sneered and shot back, "Don't give me that! You and I both know you're not what you seem."

"Umm… Well, that certainly explains why I can think, talk, and type, all at the same time," Kate mused. "Good heavens… that rules out any possibility of me being a man in disguise… but then again… most personal assistants aren't, Buck. You do know that, right?"

Leaning on the desk, the ladies' man was a little too confrontational for Lansky's liking. "I didn't say you weren't good."

Finally stopping her transcription on Dunne's notes, the blonde turned her chair, stood, and then watched as Wilmington straightened to tower above her. "I'm very good at a lot of things, Buck," she taunted. "Why don't you go ask Ezra all about it?"

The rogue desperately tried not to blink.

Despite the fact that he'd been ready for one of Lansky's customary witticisms, he hadn't quite expected her to take that particular detour. Clearing his throat quietly, the surveillance man leaned in after a moment and smiled. "Maybe I should ask Chris instead. Ya see, he's got a little more experience and he appreciates what you've got to offer a hell of a lot more."

Kate watched indignantly as a very smug looking rogue, stood back up, grinned from ear to ear, and then walked away.