The people in the White House sub-basement could hear the discussion taking place even before they saw them. The double doors to the room practically slammed open and in stalked the owners of the two voices in question. Silence fell at their entrance.
Sipping quietly at his coffee, Hubble Urick watched with unconcealed amusement as the ANA's two top deep-cover operatives finally became aware of the silence in the room. This briefing was about to get a lot more interesting.
The voices raised in argument cut off as though someone had thrown a switch, and Hubble, fighting laughter, watched as the pair followed the gazes of their audience from their faces to the ceiling above the doorway - and to the item that he had ordered place there. As one, their faces blanched when they caught the amused and expectant gazes of their fellow ANA associates. They made a swift movement to step away from each other but stopped at Hubble's drawled, "No, no. You know the rules."
Eyes horrified, they glared at their nominal boss but found no help there. In fact, as their eyes swept the room, they realised that everyone was behind Hubble one hundred percent - on this, if nothing else.
Faces resigned, the pair turned to each other and shrugged. She stepped closer to him and raised one hand to the back of his neck to pull his head down a little. One of his hands gently pressed on her left hip, the other moved slowly up her right arm to mirror the hold she had on him.
Their lips drew closer and closer together before gently meeting. For all that it was a chaste kiss, the pent up passion in it was clearly felt around the entire room. Equally as silently as they had moved together, the two disengaged from their embrace.
Glancing round at their stunned audience, the two visibly shrugged, and then, the argument started once again.
Hubble Urick watched with wry amusement as their war of words continued. Nobody interrupted them - their interaction was too interesting to watch. While arguing, she calmly poured them two mugs of coffee; he, ever the gentleman, automatically held her chair for her while they took their place at the conference table - still arguing.
Seeing the pair take their seats, Hubble called the meeting to order. As always, in the middle of a fight or not, the pair put up a united front when dealing with the rest of the ANA and stood firm to their own beliefs. It was amusing to watch the way they defended and supported each other... a true partnership in every sense of the word.
Considering the date, the briefing was mercifully short. They left, walking in concert, resuming their earlier argument; instinctively separating to avoid walking under the mistletoe again before resuming their conversation out in the safety of the corridor.
Addressing his associates, Hubble said, "God help us if they ever get a clue." Wry laughter met that all too true observation.
"Merry Christmas, people. I'll see you all back here on the 29th."