24. March 7th
MARCH 7TH
Kai
A little over an hour later,Waters returned to her side at the dock. Slowly, over the past weeks, his face had become more open, his posture less ramrod straight, and his movements easier. Right now, he was in full operator mode and as tense as the first day she met him.
Okay, scary G.I. Joe is back. That's not good.
"What happened?"
She watched him scan the lakeshore left and right, then narrow his eyes to look to the far side of the lake. "We had a break-in," he murmured. "They trashed the War Room and your room. Your laptop is gone."
"Shit." She looked out across the water. "You had security measures up at the house. That's why you took off."
He didn't acknowledge her statement, which was confirmation enough. "They didn't touch the rest of the house, so it's very clear your belongings were the target." His jaw tic was back. "I didn't want to worry you, but someone also searched your trailer back at the studio. That was a more methodical search, but then again, they knew there was little chance of being interrupted since you were already here. The security on the lots is pretty much shit, even though there are so many ‘secret' things there and celebrities running around. Way too predictable and definitely not enough bodies."
"So, someone thinks I have something they want."
"Yes."
"And you still think this is connected to Ka-Bar?"
"It's our best lead."
"The package I was supposed to pick up in Cairo. Could it be that?"
"Crossed my mind."
"Then I need to call the embassy and find out if Agent Carter has come back, if he has it, and if he sent it."
Waters seemed to consider this plan. "I'm not sure that's the best idea. Someone's probably watching for that. Possibly even listening in somehow."
"What do you suggest?"
"Midas, my computer guy, found a very weak clue to suggest an area where Ka-Bar was when he disappeared. We think the ambassador he was tight with might have supplied him with exit contacts because he couldn't get to his own materials. I'm sending one of my teammates to check out the area."
"All the way to Cairo?"
Waters nodded. "This is an in-person issue. He should be there shortly. We have a general area where we think he might have been lying low. Steel might get lucky enough to find something if Ka-Bar was able to leave behind a breadcrumb to lead us to the next step of finding him. After this length of time, it's clear that whatever exit strategy he had was unsuccessful." He apologized. "Sorry. This is really the first chance I've had to fill you in on all that."
She waved him off. "Not accusing you of holding back anything. I know you'll tell me what you can when you can."
"I want to move everyone back to the house. We need to fill them in on the break-in. I will give them enough information to put up their defenses, but not so much that I scare them. I just want people to be extra aware of anyone hanging around."
"Got it. And better to address it once rather than multiple times and field any questions so everyone hears the answers."
Waters turned her to face him so he could put his hands on her biceps and look her in the eye. "Midas is already working on trying to identify the thieves, but I have to admit, it's going to be tough." He kissed her capped forehead and held her close. "I promise we'll get them, Kubrick. We'll find your brother and take care of all of this. Trust me to protect you."
Good grief. This man.
Looking up at him, she smiled sadly. "No need to ask for that trust, Waters. It's been yours for some time now." She exhaled with a tinge of irritation. "I can't avoid reporting the break-in to Big Bird since my computer's gone."
"Agreed."
"He's going to go full-on nuclear-molt."
"Atomic."
"He's going to come down here."
"Anticipated."
"He absolutely hates you."
"Mutual."
Groaning at the havoc the man was going to cause in her life, not to mention her cast's lives, she lamented, "Where are we going to put him? He'll refuse to stay in Coxen Hole."
"The perverse part of me says we pitch him a tent in the jungle. But I know we can't actually do that. He can have my room."
She looked at him suspiciously. "And where will you be? Not in that same tent you were proposing."
He brushed some errant strands of hair behind her ear and up under her cap. "There's this sexy blonde across the hall I've been wanting to shack up with. Think she might not be immune to me staying with her for a bit."
"Mmm. Presumptuous."
"Not presumptuous if it's true."
She grinned. "I warn you. I don't sleep neat."
He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "No, you don't. But if I wrap you up tight next to me, you probably can't do too much damage. Besides that, I'm not sure there'll be a whole lot of sleeping."
She snuggled back up to his chest, and they stood in silence on the dock.
When Vixen and Enigma surfaced,Kai told them to gather their gear and meet back at the house. Waters made it very clear not to separate from each other for a moment. They would explain more after they collected the rest of the group from the rappelling station.
Everyone showered, changed, and met around the kitchen table. While they ate, Kai laid out the break-in, explained that while there didn't appear to be any danger expected, she wanted no one to go anywhere on their own as a precaution in case it was the work of a fan who had crossed the line. A potential "crazy fan" wasn't all that out of the realm of possibility to them, so there were no uncomfortable questions.
After lunch, the actors headed to the shooting range that had been set up, and Kai went to make her phone call to Big Bird before meeting them there. Waters sat on the edge of the desk while she called him.
Slightly different seating arrangements than my last call to the assclown.
She felt her face heating up as she picked up her phone and dialed. Looking up as it began ringing, she caught Waters' smirk. He knew exactly what was causing the flushed skin. He winked at her but otherwise stayed put leaning on the desk.
As expected, Big Bird went atomic. She simply sat there, rubbing her forehead, waiting for him, like a tantrum-laden toddler, to eventually burn out of energy, and then she could address the issue rationally.
Kai was paying so little attention to what he was screeching that she didn't notice Waters' tolerance level for bullshit was at an end. Suddenly the phone was out of her hand, and he was speaking.
"Stapleton, this is Waters. I'm hanging up this phone. When you've finished your bout of hysteria and can speak rationally, call back." Then he clicked off, turned the power off, and threw the phone gently on the desk.
"I was just letting him burn to the end of his wick. I wasn't even listening to anything he was saying."
"Don't care. Why does anyone work with that man?"
"Simple." She shrugged. "Behind the dickhead nature, he can sniff out a winning picture better than a crack whore in a warehouse of smack. And he's richer than the gods of Olympus, so if he's throwing money into something, that means it's a winner. Unfortunately, that's how Hollywood works. Follow the money to success."
"You are not to touch that," he ordered, pointing at the phone, "until tomorrow morning. You're skipping the range today. Get your cute little ass into my room and take a nap."
"Why?"
"First, whether you realize it or not, the adrenaline crash is coming, and I can't have you on the range with a live weapon when that happens. Brick will make one dumbass joke, and you'll shoot him.
"Second, my room because your room qualifies for national disaster relief funds from FEMA. Most of it needs a complete replacement, which I will help you figure out later.
"And third"—he grabbed her chin in his hand—"we have a date later, and you're going to need all the rest you can get." With that, he tore the cap from her head and threw it off to the side. Then his mouth was swooping down onto hers, teeth clashing with his intensity, his tongue plundering her mouth to show her exactly what energy he had stored up for her.
The kiss was hard and hot but over quickly, leaving her stunned into silence. "Get in my room and get in my bed," he ordered.
"Yes, sir," she parodied with a sarcastic salute. When she turned on her heel, she readied to take a step, and there was a massive crack sound, followed by a stinging sensation on her right ass cheek.
An arm snaked around her waist, and then another loosely around her front, dragging her back against his chest. His breath was hot in her ear when he threatened, "You bet that wicked ass, ‘Yes, sir.' Now take your saucy attitude out of here, or I'm gonna make that ass red from the palm of my hand." Then his teeth gently nipped her earlobe before he let her go with a gentle push.
When she got to the door, she took the chance to look back. What she saw pushed her internal temperature up a couple more degrees. He was rock solid, almost statue-like in appearance, and laser-focused on her face.
"Waters?" she asked softly.
"Kubrick?"
"Wake me when you're all back from the range."
His grin was positively feral. "My pleasure, baby."
She shivered, then stepped out of the War Room, closing the door behind her. Quietly, she slipped into his room across the hall and locked the door behind her. Stripping down to her sports bra and boy shorts, she dropped her clothes on the floor where she stood and crawled between the sheets of his perfectly-made bed.
So typical! Could probably bounce a coin off of this bed. Why make a bed you're just going to get back into later that day?
Kai buried her head in his pillow and inhaled. She couldn't prevent the groan escaping from her throat. His smell was everywhere. Wanting it to imprint on her body, she pulled the sheets tight around her and snuggled deeper into the pillow. It might creep him out later that she was covered in his scent, but somehow, she doubted it. That would probably cater to some sort of natural claiming behavior he had going on that his woman smelled like he'd rubbed himself all over her, marking her so other males knew to stay away.
His woman.
Is that what she was?
Why do people have to put labels on everything?
For now, at least, it appeared he'd marked her as his. But at the end of filming, they would go their separate ways, and what was she then? His ex?
At that moment, it suddenly became too much to think about. Her bones felt like they weighed twice their normal burden, her eyes felt gritty, and exhaustion slammed into her with the speed and force of a freight train. Her eyelids closed, she burrowed deeper into the comfort of Waters' bed, and fell instantly asleep.