Even Lovers Drown CH 25

It was quiet between them while he went over the forms she'd delivered, and this gave Olivia the chance to look him over more carefully than she'd had a chance before.

He filled his officer's uniform nicely, Olivia had to admit - if only to herself, at least - and most definitely not to the handsome officer sitting across from her. It was obvious from the way that he carried himself that he knew it. He also had her somewhat intrigued - again, a thought she thought best to keep to herself.

Olivia was familiar enough with the Pentagon's layout to know that the closer one was to the inner ring, the higher was the inner dealings and connections of the person possessing an office within it.

That the office he'd led her to was located deep within the maze of halls told her gut that Capt. Jacob Ballard held a fairly high-level position within the inner circles of the Defense Dept.

After a time, Olivia couldn't help but ask what it was he did.

Jake Ballard lifted his eyes from the paperwork in his hand.

"A little of this and a little of that. Sorry, but it's mostly classified - as you can guess. But mainly, I herd cats."

Olivia lifted an eyebrow. "Herd cats?"

"Do you know any computer techs? They're a breed unto themselves. Just like cats - stubborn, unpredictable with a tendency for a need to be independent but with a certain something special all their own."

Knowing what she did about Huck, she had to agree. "Do you play with computers, Captain?"

"Jake." he corrected her. "I know enough to be dangerous, but that's about it. However, I am an excellent liaison..."

"I'll just bet you are." she murmured.

His eyes told her that he'd heard her. "...Therefore, I maintain a good rapport with the real techs though, and that makes me good on analysis concerning their - quirks."

Olivia - again thinking of Huck - let out an unexpected chuckle.

Jake's smile grew even wider at the sound. "I see you are familiar."

"Definitely." she said.

Their eyes met in amused and mutual comprehension.

Jake went on with his explanation. "Well, a while back, a few studies were done and it seems that allowing some of our higher level tech people benefit from being allowed to play in other sandboxes every now and then decreases stress and actually makes them more creative and productive in the work they do for us. Which - before you ask - I am unable to talk about further."

"They must be doing some very intense work for the government." Olivia tried a simple probe. After all, the more she knew about Shireen Davis, the better she could work for and with her.

"I'm not at liberty to say." Jake replied. His eyes told her that he saw right through her attempt. "And just what is it you said that you do?"

His move, obviously.

"I didn't say." she told him with a look that was meant to tell him that she saw right through his words. "But I run my own business - its a management firm of sorts."

"Of sorts." he let that remark go. "But that doesn't tell me what you do."

"Let's just say that with the clients I manage, I'm not at liberty to say." she tossed his own words back at him.

"Mystery with a touch of intrigue." He smiled in appreciation. "I can't wait until our date."

"You said it wasn't a date." she reminded him.

"You're right - but it is the start of a beautiful friendship."

Olivia found herself raising an eyebrow at his remark. "And you are so sure - why?"

"Kismet, fate..." he said. "Unfortunately, we will have to postpone our destiny. When I stopped by to pick up some of that most excellently recommended wine - the chocolate red went over magnificently, by the way - I was informed that they postponed the event until the next week because of a later delivery of one of their classic vintages."

"So much for your idea of fate." Olivia said.

"Fate is in your favor." he said with a suddenly straight face.

"Is it now?" she couldn't help but play along.

"It's all part of the plan. You get the exquisite pleasure of anticipation in seeing me again." Again, the self-assured smile spread across his face.

It really was a nice smile, Olivia had to admit. She had always like boldness in a man. Alpha-males had always been an attraction for her.

Somehow, he must have read her thoughts in her face, because Jake's smile blossomed into a knowing grin before dropping his gaze back to the papers before him.

This time, Olivia sat quietly until he had done.

At last, he looked up. "Everything appears to be in order. This still has to go before an approval committee - as I'm sure you can understand - but there's nothing I can see that stands out as an immediate red flag for a security risk. Your references are excellent as well as impressive."

He should be, Olivia thought. Instead of explaining further, she settled for an uncommitted smile.

Again Captain Ballard - Jake - smiled back at her in perfect understanding. She was starting to like that about him. Maybe they could develop a friendship of sorts down the line. If nothing else, it couldn't hurt to have a friendly ear in the Pentagon

"And now that the entertainment part of the show has concluded, can I offer you lunch?" he said.

"It's a little too earlier for lunch, don't you think?" She glanced at her watch; there was at least another hour or so before noon.

"If you say so - how about a cup of coffee instead?" He was obviously not taking no for an answer.

Olivia glanced at her watch. "I really think that my appointment schedule is full today..."

"I'm guessing it's like that most days."

"Really?" she said.

"Really. You strike me as a very driven woman. Tell me I'm wrong."

She couldn't. Not really.

"So. One cup of coffee - what harm could it do?" he said, satisfied that he'd guessed right.

"That is the question of the day." Did she really have a reason to say no?"

None that she could think of, off the top of her head. "There is a certain coffee kiosk near the White House park where they brew it just the way I like it..."

"Done." he said, coming to his feet. "Allow me to drive you to your car and I'll follow you."

It seemed he was determined not to take no for an answer. It would remind of her of someone else - if she let it. Olivia decided that it wouldn't.

Besides, she asked herself again, she asked herself - what harm could it do?

/**/

She'd warned Jake that she hadn't much time before she had to return to her own office, but that hadn't seemed to deter him at all. Olivia couldn't help but wonder at the fact that it appeared that he could come and go within the offices of the Joint Chiefs as he pleased.

Neither could she help but question him on that.

"Herding cats takes a special skill, in case you hadn't noticed." he explained to her. Olivia had guided him to her favorite kiosk and shortly after, they found themselves an empty bench to enjoy their coffee.

"I've noticed." Olivia said.

"And I'm very good at it, so I have a great deal of freedom to deal with it. As you'll discover, I'm good at lots of things."

Olivia was surprised to find herself laughing. Again. "I'll bite - what kind of lots of things?"

He waved a hand in the air. "All kinds of things - this is why I'm asking you to sit back, relax and just enjoy the Jake Ballard Experience. Nothing else like it in town."

"I'm sure there isn't." she said wryly. "I wonder what else you do, Captain Ballard?"

"Didn't we already visit this portion of the program? Jake."

"Jake?"

"Of course; you and I are going to become great friends."

"Are we?"

"Yes. Of course. After our date for the wine-tasting event - you'll see."

"Captain Bal... Jake - I've already told you - and you've already agreed - that that was not a date. It's just two people meeting for drinks."

"So you did - Olivia - but I'm betting you'll change your mind. I think you could use a good friend."

"And what makes you say that?" the way he was looking at her just then sent a ripple of emotion her, one she couldn't quite pin down. Not unease exactly, just a sensation that he saw more into her than she was prepared to accept at the moment. She didn't know if she liked that or not.

His hazel-blue eyes looked straight into hers. "Can't we all use a good friend?"

There was no denying that, Olivia thought. Her feelings shifted because his words struck a little closer to home than she cared. Even so, with all the drama that had become a daily part of her life, it was nice to just sit and enjoy a stress-free moment. Especially with a handsome man that was obviously doing his best to charm her with his humor.

And succeeding.

That revelation sent a tiny shock through her; suddenly and unaccustomedly flustered, Olivia dropped her eyes from his.

But only for a moment. Before she could do anything else, two fingers had slipped under her chin, raising her gaze back to his. Olivia couldn't help but notice the strength - and warmth - in them.

"It's okay, Olivia." he was saying to her in a softer tone of voice that sent a coiling of - something undefinable - spiraling through her body. "Your friendship is all I want right now."

He stood. "In fact, to prove that - I think it's time I got back to work. After all, too much of me can be a hazard to your health. I usually suggest small doses as part of the..." he paused to smile expectantly at her.

This time she said it with him. "Jake Ballard Experience."

Her unfamiliar shyness disappeared as she smiled up at him. "I am almost disappointed that the wine-tasting is postponed."

"Remember - anticipation is the first symptom." Jake said, letting his grin do the rest of the talking for him. He put out his hand and Olivia took it. "I'll be seeing you - maybe sooner than you think."

"We'll see." Olivia said.

"Yes, we will." Jake said. He made his goodbyes and walked away.

/**/

Olivia allowed herself a few more minutes of fresh air before leaving the park. She sipped at the remnants of her coffee and just let herself take a moment to just rest, to think of nothing of important at all.

She sat back on the bench, watching busy people walk by. That same busyness filled most of her day; she wondered what reasons they had for what they were doing. Were they just taking care of the business of every day life, or was it to bury other matters - matters of the heart - beneath the veneer of work?

How much was it all just a sham?

She shook her head; there was no use in dwelling on such somber thoughts. And oh, wasn't she being all philosophical all of a sudden?

Her eyes roamed the park once again and was surprised to see a familiar face. Faces, actually.

Still some distance away, James was out in the park, pushing Ella along in the baby stroller that Olivia had purchased for a christening gift. At least it was one of the more practical ones she'd bought.

Olivia smiled despite the thoughts she'd just been having. There had been tons of plush and frilly presents to go along with the more practical ones. If there was anything that would lift her spirit it would be a surprise visit with her god-daughter. She stood up, ready to call out to James, but before she could, a familiar but unwelcome voice was sounded from behind her.

"So, what pie do you have your fingers in now?"

Olivia turned slowly to take in the sight of her former fiancée, former lover, former everything, Edison Davis.

"Hello, Edison." Olivia said very carefully.

"How polite we are today." he said, tension dropping his voice low.

She sighed. "We're over, we're done. Let's keep everything amicable, shall we?"

He made a sound of derision. "By all means, let's not make a scene."

Olivia felt her temper rising. It wasn't her fault that things had gone wrong between them - not all of it, anyway. "No, we don't need a scene - now if you'll excuse me..."

"Maybe I shouldn't." he interrupted her. He moved to block her. "Maybe I should look into why you were just sitting on a park bench with a member of the intelligence office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, looking very cozy and comfortable with him."

"Why that is, is no longer any of your concern, Edison. I thought I made myself clear on that point."

"Crystal clear. I'm sure that you think so - but what if I don't agree?"

"Then I suggest that you look into seeing someone as to why that is." Olivia said. She glanced around Edison's large frame, seeing James heading down another path away from them. At the same time, she saw another familiar face. David Rosen, her sometime on and sometime off ally and rival. He was jogging up the path that James was heading down.

She sighed again. If only she'd moved a few minutes earlier, maybe she wouldn't be trapped in this conversation. Even David usually wasn't this maddening.

Why couldn't Edison just accept that it was over? She didn't take kindly to being threatening - as he had done, nor being questioned and bullied. All sins laid at his door.

And then there was the matter of Fitz. No man could compare to her former lover - in or out of bed. Edison had just had the bad misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Edison moved again so that she was blocking her view of the two men just as they met up.

"Can you at least give me the courtesy of listening when I'm talking to you?" he said.

The morning's enjoyment had been erased. Olivia looked up at the man she'd once cared about. "I don't see why. Didn't you call me a whore, an idiot and a liar not too long ago?"

He spread his hands out in appeal. "I was angry..."

"And when people are angry, they can usually be counted on to say what they mean." This time it was Olivia who raised her hands. "We're done, Edison. That means you don't get to question me about who I talk to at all."

She'd talk to James another time, Olivia decided. Edison was impossible to talk to when he was like this and she wouldn't inflict him on her god-daughter or her father. Before Edison could say anything else, Olivia turned and walked away, heading straight for her car.

Unfortunately, she didn't the expression on his face as he stood there staring angrily at her back, his hands slowly clenching and unclenching his fists.

Neither did she see James and David Rosen stop and engage in what quickly took on the appearance of a very intense conversation.

If she had, she would have sworn it looked like they had planned it.