Mortified

Amidst the chaos, Susanne hears the ringing phone and growls before setting her paperwork aside to answer it as she stands behind her desk. Her hair was falling out from where she'd had it pinned, sweat was running down the back of her neck and her mascara was starting to smear. Just another typical day in the office. "Elite headquarters, how may I help you?" Hearing the male voice, she furrows her brow, trying to distinguish who it belongs to. Then when he says who it is, her heart stops. The man from the shop. He'd... changed his mind? But... why? And why was he asking about her office?

Leaning forward over her desk so she can see out onto the main floor, she suddenly spots him. Snapping back out of sight, her eyes are wide and her face already beet red. Her confidence from earlier in the day was completely gone, now replaced with panic. "I um..."

Looking around, she sees there's nowhere to go and she was absolutely mortified. She had embarrassed herself to no end earlier, acting like some stupid teenager or something, all over him with her hairbrained idea. Remembering how she'd actually run her fingers through her hair, a chill runs down her spine and she swallows hard. And now Chuck was here? Why, why, why?

Turning around, she sinks down behind her desk and out of sight to sit on the floor, the phone still clutched in her hand. Not only was she utterly embarrassed, but she was a hideously unkempt sight at the moment. "I'm... I'm not here. I mean I'm busy. Just... just go away before I tell someone you... you..." She racks her brain. "...you're stalking me." Cringing at herself, she figures that couldn't have been any more lame. "Forget about tonight. I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking... I was stupid. I'll... I'll come pick up the CD tomorrow and... and..." And what? She swallows hard, her heart racing. An incredibly gorgeous man was asking to see her, willing to go out tonight even though she was basically using him, and she was still scared spitless? She was an Elite agent for crying out loud! She faced murderers and she couldn't bring herself to go on a silly little date? Where was her confidence from earlier? Maybe it was because before, she'd had the upper hand. Now he'd caught her off guard and her true reaction was coming through.

Bringing her knees up to her chest, she pounds her forehead on them before hiding her face completely. "...and we can forget this whole thing," she mumbles.


Not hearing any more from Karla, Kip figures she'd accepted his response. It was better that way. He wasn't sure he could hide his misery today like he had yesterday. Tomorrow... tomorrow would be better.

Rolling onto his side, he faces the wall. But that made him feel claustrophobic. Turning over again, he lies on his other side, staring at the open doorway. Then he rolls onto his stomach... then his back... then his side again. He sighs.

Finally getting up, he wanders to the living room and flops down on the couch. Flipping on the television, he finds a cartoon marathon. Twila would tease him to no end if she found him watching these, but at least he didn't have to think while they were on.

Stretching out, his attention is diverted and though his eyes droop, he didn't sleep. It was an odd feeling... not wanting anyone around, yet being so lonely at the same time. He wanted to see no one, yet a hug would be nice. Would things ever make sense?


"Right." Justin points down the hall too before he heads that way to clean up. He doesn't take a shower though - he would do that at home. He does splash some cold water on his face, rinse his mouth and wet his hair though, at least feeling halfway presentable now.

He's only a couple minutes before he's wandering back towards the kitchen. Smelling the coffee, he smiles. "Mmm... you figured out how to wake me up." He decides he has a time for one cup before he leaves, so he sticks around a little bit longer.

Soon though, he knows he really does have to go, and he's slipping on his shoes by the door. Giving a last look at Beth, he offers her another warm smile. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

Feeling an odd sort of tingle on his spine, he makes sure not to look into her eyes for too long. "And if you need anything, call."


"Agh... I've been quoting my brother." Alec gives Misty a queer look. "That's just not right."

Standing in the kitchen and still feeling a bit lame, he doesn't mind when Misty engages him in more conversation. "Um, things are good... I think... as far as I know."

He furrows his brow, realizing that it just didn't sound correct. "I mean..." His cheeks redden slightly and he laughs. "Yeah. I guess Ryan's the only girl I've ever stuck with so... I don't have anything to compare it to. So I guess as far as I know, it's good."

He feels stupid and turns around to fiddle with a knife on the counter, his face turned away from Misty. "How come you stayed with Carson?" he questions out of nowhere. "I mean, there aren't many girls who will stick it out with a guy that cheats."


Gage blinks, still squinting in the light and trying to focus. It had been the pills? Now on top of everything else, he felt like the stupidest person on the planet. "Oh..."

Seeing Sapphire's tears, he bites his lip, feeling horrid. Without asking, he knew he must have scared the wits out of her. Those tears were his fault. Lifting his hand, he puts it to her face, using his thumb to wipe away a few of the salty drops. "Please don't cry," he asks hoarsely. His eyes beg for her forgiveness. "I'm so sorry."

He swallows hard and tries to ignore the pain in his head. "I guess I just... wanted..." He gives up. It was all his silly fault anyway, so it really didn't matter why he'd done it. "I know it was stupid," he resigns, his hand falling from her face. "I can't win no matter what, can I? I was probably meant to never wake up."


"Yes, Doctor Fuller..." Reese paces his office, phone in hand. "I was just calling to inquire about Hope Garrison and her condition." The last he'd heard, there wasn't much time left. "I wondered how she was."