Sandoval and Liam walked down from the roof of the Embassy talking animatedly. They were discussing the events of the previous two days and the attack they had foiled on the new Taelon research facility in New York. Sandoval still sported a sling on his left arm, testimony to the fact that he had pushed Liam safely out of the line of fire of the last of the fanatical idiots that refused to believe that Ma'el's life should be studied.
Both men were so engrossed in their discussion that they barely noticed the giggles coming from some of the female Volunteers. Speculative eyes followed their path through the Embassy's corridors, who was going to tell them?
One of the security personnel approached the pair.
"Uh, Agent Sandoval, Major Kincaid could you spare a moment please?"
Liam replied, "Yes Michaels, what is it?"
"Major, now that you are both back my men and I were wondering if you would be moving your correspondence from the security wing any time soon?"
Looking confused Liam said, "Correspondence, you mean actual letters? Surely you're joking, nobody sends paper mail any more."
Michaels did his best not to laugh at the confused expressions on the faces of the two agents. Everybody in the Embassy knew about the correspondence, it had actually become something of a running joke to the staff. The betting pool on the reaction of the two men was getting rather interesting too.
"Uh, you'll see what I mean when you get there."
Confused and intrigued the two men followed him to the security wing, noticing as they did so; the half hidden and amused looks being directed at them. Entering the room indicated they came to a sudden stop at the sight of over ten large mail sacks. Perplexed Liam approached one and pulled out an envelope and opened it up.
"To the two dishiest Protectors on the planet. Will you be my Valentine?"
Sandoval looked at the disbelieving expression on Liam's face and looked at the huge pile of mail and said, "Oh hell. Please tell me this isn't what I think this is."
Michaels finally gave in to the laughter that he had been doing his best to suppress. Turning to leave before he got himself into too much trouble he said, "Face it sirs, you're hot! Valentine season is upon us."
Liam and Sandoval looked at the sacks and then at each other. Liam summed up the entire situation saying, "Oh, hell. We're never going to hear the end of this."
They pulled up some chairs and started looking through some of the cards.
n hour and a half later a Volunteer was sent to find them; she walked in to find them sitting on the floor laughing. They had given up on the chairs and ended up sitting there on the floor surrounded by piles of opened cards. The more he had read the funnier Liam had found the entire situation, he had tried to restrain himself but at one particularly silly poem he had lost the battle and started to laugh. Throwing the card over to Sandoval he had started to chuckle, seeing Sandoval's face upon reading the card he just dissolved into a fit of the giggles. Sandoval joined in and that's how the Volunteer found them. She laughed to herself, wondering if they'd still be laughing in about twenty minutes.
Sandoval raised his voice.
"You want me to do what?!"
The press officer, glad that she had to full backing of Da'an, repeated her statement.
"Da'an sponsored a competition for some local high schools. The winners are to get a tour of the Embassy from you before getting to meet him in person."
Knowing all about the Valentines that had been arriving all week, she added in a sweet tone, "There are six winners, all girls, ages sixteen and seventeen, all very eager to meet you, Agent Sandoval."
Liam burst out laughing and Sandoval just glared at him.
The press officer said, "Major, you have been volunteered for another project. This time for charity. There is a fund raiser for a new kids hospital and your services have been volunteered."
Not liking the gleam in her eyes, Liam asked, "Doing what?"
Not even trying to hide the laughter in her voice she replied, "It's a charity bachelor auction and Major, you're the star attraction."
Liam's strangled "What!" was drowned out by the guffaw of laughter that erupted from Sandoval. Liam closed his eyes, he was in sooooooo much trouble.
The auction had been a great success so far. Five extremely good looking bachelors had done their bit for charity and five very happy women were going to be having the times of their lives tonight.
The guest auctioneer, Jonathan Doors, announced the last bachelor with an almost gleeful tone.
"All right ladies. Our last vict-- I mean volunteer needs no introduction. Major Kincaid is well known as the Protector to the North American Companion. He has always served his country with distinction and has graciously agreed to participate in our little auction. Major step forward please."
Liam sighed and stepped into the spotlight. He was wearing a black dress suit with a silk shirt that matched the colour of his eyes. The pulses of every female in the room began to race just that little bit faster. God, the man was gorgeous. Bidding began.
The bids raced from one end of the room to the other with amazing speed. Liam blinked. The bids had passed the previous high total in less than ten minutes, he blushed. This of course just set the female hearts racing even more. The bidding had been going on between two very determined socialites for the last few minutes when a new voice entered the fray.
"To close the bidding I offer one million dollars."
Gasps of astonishment spun round the room. Liam eyed the bidder with a speculative frown.
Doors, just astonished as the rest of the room said, "I think unless anybody wants to challenge the bid we have our winner."
He paused but nobody said anything, what could you say to a bid like that?
"Then our final charity bachelor will spend Valentine's Day with Ms Renee Palmer. This auction is concluded."
Liam watched Renee approach him with an unreadable expression in her eyes, his he knew, were full of questions. Mindful of their audience he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it softly.
"You wish is my command, Ms Palmer. What would you like to do?"
Tucking her hand round his arm Renee leaned close and whispered in his ear. A dozen cameras were suddenly focussed on them. Liam sighed this was going to be an interesting evening. Then he turned to Renee and smiled.
"As you wish Milady."
They threaded their way through the crowd of tables and on to the dance floor. Renee moved easily into Liam's arms and they danced. Oh how they danced! They had never before danced with each other but it seemed as though they were made to fit in each other's arms. Liam was an excellent dancer as was Renee but together their steps seemed to mesh as though they had been dancing with each other all their lives. Finally, exhausted they made their way to their table and relaxed. They talked, they drank and they ignored the speculative glances being sent in their direction. This night was going to feed gossip columns for weeks. The leader of the band approached Ms Palmer and asked her what she would like to hear next. Sending a glance at her dance partner Renee gave a sly smile and whispered something to the man that had him laughing.
Renee stood and pulled Liam to his feet. They made their way to the dance floor that had cleared as they were spotted approaching it. A single spotlight was directed at its centre. They made their way to the spot and stood there, poised and waiting. The music began and the crowd smiled its appreciation. A tango, of course.
The spellbinding music of this the most sensuous of dances filled the ears of the crowd and they watched as the couple danced. The passion stirred the blood, the dance stirred the soul and they watched as Liam and Renee lost themselves to the thrall of the music. All to soon the moment ended and Liam and Renee stood there, still, melded into the final position of the dance. The crowd broke into rapturous applause.
Liam and Renee left not long after. They spent the night walking and found themselves talking some but mostly just happy to be silent in each other's company. As dawn approached Liam escorted Renee to her home. They stood outside her doorway neither wanting the magical spell to end but both realising it had to. Liam lowered his head and kissed her softly and gently.
Of their own volition Renee's hands cupped the back of his head and her fingers tangled in his hair pulling him closer. Liam and Renee lost themselves in the moment. Finally, slowly Liam pulled back and gently leaned his forehead against hers. He whispered, "Thank you."
Smiling quietly, her eyes mysterious, Renee murmured, "For what?"
Liam said quietly, "For being my first Valentine. No matter what happens in my life this moment, this night, belong to you, Renee, and they always will."
Gently he placed his hand on her cheek and kissed her once more. Renee opened her door and slipped inside. She raised her fingers to her lips remembering the feel of Liam's kiss. One million dollars had never been better spent.
Sandoval sat at Liam's desk with a sinking feeling in his heart, this was going to be torture, he just knew it. He chuckled quietly though, at least he wasn't being auctioned off, he should be thankful for small favours!
The message arrived from security to say that his 'party' had arrived. The smothered laughter in the voice delivering the message carried an entirely different one of it's own. The rest of the Embassy staff had obviously been looking forward to his and Liam's return. Discipline had seemingly gone out of the window entirely if the looks they had been getting since they returned were any indication. He couldn't in all conscience get annoyed though, the situation was ridiculous, laughing at their superiors in this instance was to be expected, even Liam and himself had thought it funny - until they got their new assignments!
Sighing he got up and tugged at his waistcoat to straighten it. The sooner he started the sooner he finished. He decided to forego his jacket, it had required Liam's assistance at the hospital and he wasn't about to ask one of the Volunteers on duty, they had the giggles as it was.
Sandoval approached the group standing in the reception hall of the Embassy with a smile pasted on to his face. Casting a glance over the group he winced inwardly. The girls seemed to be what was that phrase Beckett had used - that was it - the girls were all a twitter.
"Hello, ladies, my name is Agent Ronald Sandoval and I'd like to welcome you on behalf of the Taelons to this, their Washington Embassy. Da'an is looking forward to meeting you all and congratulates you on winning the contest.
"As your designated guide for your visit I welcome you too. Does anybody have any questions before we begin?"
One girl raised her hand tentatively, "Where is Major Kincaid?"
Sandoval sighed quietly. This was going to be a long afternoon.
"Major Kincaid has another appointment today, I'm afraid he will be unable to join us."
Three of the girls looked noticeably crushed at the news. Sandoval motioned for them group to follow him. Sandoval tried to keep the tone informal but educational, the girls would have none of that. They pestered him with questions. It wouldn't have been so bad if they'd been questions about the Taelons or his job, no such luck. With the typical relented ness of teenage girls they grilled him about himself. One girl, the most overt of the bunch, kept touching his arm as she asked her questions. She obviously thought she was being coy or some such other nonsense and Sandoval was beginning to get irritated. The fact that this little tour had an unofficial audience hadn't escaped his attention either. Far more Volunteers than normal were walking the corridors and oh so innocently bumping into the tour. The Volunteers seemed to find the entire situation hilarious.
The coy one, Megan, touched his arm to get his attention, again. Silently counting to ten Sandoval directed his attention to her.
"Yes Megan?"
"Um, Agent Sandoval. I've been wondering. Why do you always wear such stuffy suits? Don't you ever want to let rip? I mean come on! My grandpa wouldn't be seen dead in some of the stuff you wear. I don't get it, you'd look great in some of the funky stuff that Major Kincaid wears - hey girls am I right or am I right?"
That set off a ten minute discussion on the last half dozen ensembles that both he and Liam had worn, in detail. How in the name of all that was holy did teenagers notice that much detail about clothes?! Their opinions had been startling to hear. When Lisa had said, "You know you're totally hot right now. With the right clothes you'd be so much more! I mean your fan base has the potential to rival Major Kincaid's.
Sandoval let out a strangled gasp. "We have fans?"
Unaware of the shock she had caused, Lisa blithely carried on. "Oh yeah, it's all unofficial of course. The Washington group has about fifteen hundred members, you should visit our net site."
In a horrified whisper that carried to the nearest Volunteers Sandoval said, "Net sites. There are net sites about us?"
The Volunteers that heard this quickly rushed round the corner to hide their outbursts of hysterical laughter.
Sandoval, still stunned, passed through the rest of the tour his mind in a blur. When it came time to visit Da'an he heaved a huge sigh of relief. Being in the presence of the Companion calmed the girls down somewhat and he survived the rest of the day with no more major shocks to his system.
Early the next day Sandoval was surprised to see Liam arrive so early. He had heard about the astonishing conclusion to the auction.
"Good morning Liam. Did you have a nice evening?"
Liam quirked a grin at him and said,
"It turned out to be far more interesting than I had expected it would."
"I'm sure," said Sandoval with a smile of his own and a question in his eyes.
Liam just smiled. Sandoval sighed. Obviously there would be no further expansion on the events of the previous evening. One thing still confused him.
"Liam, I thought you were given the morning off. Why are you here?"
Liam looked at him and perched on the end of Sandoval's desk.
"I know the fifteenth of February was your wedding anniversary. I know you lost your wife not too long ago. I was wondering if you wanted some company?"
The last query was tentative, as though Liam wasn't sure how it would be received, Sandoval gave him a glad smile.
"Yes Liam, I'd like the company, thank you. Coffee?"