Walking down the hallway, the only sound was that of soft footfalls echoing off the metal walls. Section was all but deserted, and the only people left were the night crew, who kept an eye out for any problems or anomalies. But, that was okay. Trace liked the solitude, and quiet that this time of night afforded her. And, with her life being as hectic as ever lately, a little peace and quiet was just what the doctor ordered.

Turning at the corner, Trace didn't notice the person in front of her until they had already collided. Looking up from her PDA, she was face to face with one of the most important people in her life, her mentor and trainer...Jurgen. Gazing up at him, she felt her heart skip a beat, and her breath catch in her throat. He had always had that affect on her, and now would be no different. She tilted her head, and gazed deeply, into his liquid blue eyes. Only, what she saw there was not a look of greeting, but one of anger.

'Uh..hi Jurgen,' she stumbled out, caught totally off guard by the anger she just witnessed in the depths of his usually warm, and reassuring gaze.

'Don't *hi Jurgen* me,' he replied, a tone of barely controlled rage evident in his wording, 'just when were you going to tell me?'

Trace only looked up at him, confused and not understanding his reference. 'Tell you what, Jurgen?' she questioned.

Jurgen only chuckled, and shook his head. Then, taking his wire rimmed glasses off, and pinching the bridge of his nose, his smiled quickly faded, and was replaced by his angered appearance again.

'About your *new material*,' he retorted. Then, placing his glasses back on, he stood rigidly, waiting for her answer. *He actually expects me to lie* Trace thought to herself, judging his body language. But, determined not to give him the benefit, she only smiled herself.

'Well, I had planned on telling you when you got back from Elsmere. But, since you seemed to have stumbled upon the intel on your own, what is the point in it now,' Trace replied, then moving around Jurgen and past him, started to walk away.

'Trace,' Jurgen began, 'it was good to see you again, love.'

Trace turned to look over her shoulder, then smiled 'as it was you, Jurgen.'

Then, turning from him, she continued down the aisle, towards the lobby. She hadn't the heart to tell him that she had been spending her time with someone else for the past month. She hadn't the heart to tell him that she may be falling in love...but not with him.

~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~

'Anton Williams, drug dealer, and flesh peddler,' Operations began, clicking on his remote to bring up the targets file. 'Last seen in Algiers, it is thought that he is trying to *franchise* his business, onto the North American continent..more specifically...Canada.'

Another click, and a close up of the target presented itself. Sitting at the table, all team members were focused intently on the intel being presented, except for Trace. She glanced sideways, to her left, and saw Jurgen. Then, glancing to her right, she saw her new recruit...Gray. Both men were not aware that she was watching them, and she was grateful.

It was bad enough that Gray was being sent out on a mission against all her better judgment, but that Jurgen was the team leader, that complicated things even more. So, here she was, not listening to the intel being presented, worrying about Jurgen and Gray, and apparently being spoken too and not realizing it.

'Trace, did you get that?' Operations half yelled.

Trace jerked her attention back to the presentation in front of her, and blinking her eyes, looked to Operations. 'Uh...huh?' she replied, realizing too late her mistake.

Operations leaned onto the desk, and looked her in the eye. His stare was so stern, and so forceful, that Trace flinched without realizing it. 'I said, you and Gray will be team one on this one, and Jurgen will be running tactical.'

Trace nodded, in agreement, without saying a word. 'Maybe it wasn't Gray who wasn't ready for a mission of this magnitude after all. Maybe it was you,' Operations spit out.

Trace, trying to control her tongue, only stood quickly, and without flinching, looked Operations directly in the eye. 'No sir. I am more than able and ready for this mission.'

Operations stood back upright, and with a sly smile, and still looking at Trace, gave his orders. 'Team One is on close quarters standby. This mission is a go at any time. As soon as we know what train he is on, the mission will go green. Any questions people?' he asked. When there were none, he threw his remote down, and turning from Trace, mumbled 'good'.

After Operations had left the area, Trace let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and bringing her hand to her forehead, wiped the sweat from her brow. Then, turning, she came face to face with Jurgen again.

'Ah, nah, not now Jurgen,' she said, trying to move around and past him.

'Yes, now,' he said, taking her by the arm, and pulling her back towards him. 'What has gotten into you lately? What happened while I was gone? This isn't at all like you,' he started, concern heavily laden on his voice.

Trace looked up to him, and saw there the man that she had first cared for. The concerned, loving, gentle man that she had lost her heart to, once upon a time. 'Nothing is wrong. Maybe I am just burned out. Too many missions, too little time. I need a vacation...that is all. Don't worry,' she said, placing her hand on his cheek, and smiling up at him, 'I will be fine.'

Jurgen placed his hand to cover hers, and leaned his head into her palm. But, the moment was not to last. 'Uh, Trace, are you ready to check the equipment?' Trace turned her head, and found Gray watching her and Jurgen, a look of puzzlement, and something else on his face. Was that a look of hurt she saw? Before she could analyze the look any further, she removed her hand from Jurgens, and turned to walk away.

Jurgen only watched her go, with Gray, and in that moment knew that whatever he and Trace had had, was no longer there, or as strong. And, down deep in his heart, he knew it had something to do with her new recruit. But, he wasn't giving up on her just yet. He would find a way to get her back, and make her see that he was the only one for her.

~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~

As the train whistle blew, and the porter signed for all aboard, Gray placed his arm possessively around Trace's waist, guiding her to the train. Feeling a little crowded, and even more uncomfortable, Trace stepped sideways, and removed herself from his grasp.

'Whats' wrong?' Gray asked, a look of bewilderment dulling his handsome features. 'Did I do or say something to upset you?'

Trace only smiled, and leaning in, brushed a kiss across his lips. Pulling back from him, she reminded him, 'We are here on business, not pleasure.'

Gray's eyes twinkled, and a mischievous smile crossed his lips. 'Who says we can't do a little of both?'

Trace only blushed, and shook her head. 'Come on, Casanova, we had better get on the train, before it leaves without us.' Then, with Gray closely behind her, they boarded the train...bound for Callandar...Canada.

Finding the room, and placing her bags on the bunk, she turned around to find Gray entering the room behind her. Before she could say anything, he had tossed his bags on the floor, and placing his arm around her waist, pulled her firmly against him. Holding her, his gaze traveled over her face, as a smile formed on his lips. In the next moment, those same lips were on hers, kissing her softly and tenderly. Deepening the kiss, his tongue moved against her lips, begging him entrance. Parting her lips, she moaned as his tongue probed and caressed her. His urgency struck a cord deep within her. One of a need that had been denied for far too long.

Grays hand began to move up and down her back, kneading and massaging her, and in spite of herself, she moaned again. Taking this as his cue, one hand moved around to the front, and unbuttoned the top buttons on her blouse. Pushing the blouse back, his hand slid inside, claiming her breast. Caressing and stroking her, his mouth continued to ravage, and possess her at the same time.

Traces knees began to buckle, threatening to give way from under her. The only thing that mattered was the feeling of his skin on hers, his mouth on hers. The sensations threatened to steal away her very soul. She arched her back, moving against his hand, offering more of herself to him. It was as though she were on the brink of starvation, and he was her only hope. He was her savior, and her tormentor, all in one.

His hand still caressing and stroking her, his mouth moved over her cheek, across her jawline, and down to her neck. There, he placed hot, urgent kisses, periodically nipping and suckling her flesh. A shiver ran through her, and her breath caught in her throat. She was losing herself in the feeling...the feeling of him.

At that moment, she heard the distant sound of her comm link, and she was jerked back to the here and now. Placing her hands on Gray's chest, and giving him a slight push, she tried to break his hold. But, Gray was still intent on his current duties, and would not be dissuaded.

Removing his hand from her blouse, he ran it up over her shoulder, and into her hair. Take a fist full, he tugged her head back, exposing her throat to him. Then, starting at the collarbone, he slowly, and deliberately ran his tongue up her neck, to the area just behind her ear. Taking her earlobe into his mouth, he suckled it, swirling his tongue around it repeated. 'You taste so good...' he murmured, his voice low and husky. Moving across her jaw, and back to her mouth, he claimed it with even more fervor than ever.

Regaining her composure, and catching her breath, she shoved him even more forcefully, and was able to disentangle herself from his embrace. Stepping back from him, she dropped her head, and closed her eyes, willing her breath to return to normal. After a few moments, she raised her head and opened her eyes. Only to find him gazing at her. He was smiling, seductively, and was wiping his lips, occasionally running his tongue over the tips of his fingers.

Noticing that his gaze was directed to a specific place, she looked down and found her blouse still gaped open. Blushing slightly, she buttoned it back up, and tucked it into the waistband of her skirt. Then, realizing that the comm link had chirped, reached up and tapped it once. Almost immediately, the connection was made.

'What took so long,' Jurgen asked, his voice laced with a mixture of irritation and concern.

'We had trouble finding the room,' Trace lied, hoping that Jurgen couldn't detect her breathlessness over the open connection. Looking up at Gray, she was greeted with that knowing smile he always had, and she found herself smiling despite herself.

'Williams is in the next room. The next stop is a little under twenty minutes away. Team two will be waiting on the platform. It will be your job to get him disembarked, and to the team,' Jurgen instructed.

'Understood. We will be ready. Team One out.' Trace tapped her comm link and turned to look out the window. The landscape rushed by, in a blur, causing a slight sense of vertigo. One moment, she was looking out the window, the next she was leaning against Gray. His arms wrapped securely around her, and his breath warmly falling on her ear.

'We can't do this, Gray,' she said, a tone of sadness and regret in her voice.

'Why not?' he started, 'we are both adults.' Trace turned in Gray's embrace, and gazed deeply into his eyes. She had thought, the first time she met him, that she could lose herself in those eyes. That time felt like a thousand years ago.

Raising her hand, and running her forefinger over his lower lip, she smiled, weakly. 'If it were just the two of use involved, then it would be easy. I could easily see myself waking up next to you, being with you, losing myself in you. But, we have to be reasonable...'

Gray stepped back from Trace, and looked down at his feet. 'Its Jurgen isn't it? I mean, you still love him don't you?'

Trace nodded in the affirmative, before she realized it. She realized what she had done, when she saw the hurt look cross his face. Stepping up to him, she took his head in her hands, and turn his gaze up to her. 'I will always love Jurgen. He taught me, trained me, and helped me learn what it meant to be loved. But, with you, it is different. I want to be able to share all of myself with you, body and soul. Can you understand that?'

Grays only response was a slow smile. Then, nodding, he leaned in and placed a soft, tender kiss on Trace's forehead. 'I will wait. For as long as it takes, I will wait. When you are ready, I will be here.'

Trace, a tear running down her cheek, pulled Gray to her, and wrapped her arms around him. She held him as if her very existence depended on it. Which, when she thought of it, her present existence did. She had finally found someone that she could fully share herself with. Some she could grow to love, in a deep and profound way. And, she would never let him go.

~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~ >< ~~~

The mission statistics played across the monitor, as the van access door swung open. Moving across the threshold, team two escorted their target down the hallway, and to the white room. Following closely behind were Jurgen, Trace, and Gray.

Waiting for them, at the entrance, were Operations and Madeline. Jurgen exited first, with Trace and Gray following behind. Turning and heading down the hallway, Trace and Gray made their way to debrief. However, they were stopped by Operations calling to them.

'Trace, Gray,' he started, as the duo turned and looked back at him. 'Good job.' Both operatives smiled, and turning, continued on their way.

Turning back to Jurgen, Operations gaze was stern and harsh. 'Did the cameras pick up everything?' he asked. Jurgen hesitated a moment, then answered. 'Yes, they did.'

Madeline, standing slightly to the right and behind Operations, spoke up. 'Are they having an affair?'

Jurgen was silent for a few moments, then drawing himself up, looked her directly in the eyes. 'No, they are not. The mission went as planned, and no anomalies occurred.'

'Very well,' Operations stated, 'head to debrief, and drop off your PDA with Birkoff.'

Jurgen paused a moment, then turned and strode down the hallway. After he had turned the corner, Madeline moved up, and turned to Operations. 'He is lying. Covering for them.'

Operations smiled. 'Yes, I know. But know he knows for himself. It may be of use in the future.'

Then, turning in unison, they moved off in the opposite direction from the others.

THE END

This story ©copyright Trace, 09/17/99