Dancing With The Devil (part two)

Chapter 24: A Lil Bit O' Goss

Later on that morning, before the alliance were going to embark on the mission, the two old best friends went on a walk... a sweet simple walk.

Astrid still couldn't help but feel as if something might go wrong, but she had no choice but to go ahead with the plan. She and Faith took the hounds out to the nearby field for a stretch of their legs as well as to have an old fashioned gossip.

Neither of them knew how to begin the conversation, so they just sauntered along the path that lined the large pasture and listened to the birds singing.

Eventually Astrid grew tired of the silence between them and spoke.

"You're boyfriend thinks I'm pretty."

Faith frowned, but chuckled non the less, "you are pret-"

"He said he loves me," Astrid said quickly, wanting to get it off her chest, "Jim. Last night."

"And what did you say?" Faith grinned widely.

"well, I said it first actually, he just said he loved me back," she pressed her lips together, fighting back an enormous grin as the scene played in her mind, "it's just... I never though I would hear him say those words, you know, coz he's a psychopath. But, he did, and I think he meant it. And I did. But then I think about what Sherlock said, and I knew it was true and every time I think about what he said, I can't help but feel as though he's doing this all for the game."

Faith didn't say anything. She just, slightly nodded her head.

"And maybe he's right. If he is then I don't know why I'd be surprised. After this whole thing is over, I don't know what I'm gonna do. Do I stay with Dom, the sane, kind, selfless Irishman, or Jim the psychopathic, crazy, homicidal, vain, Irishman," Astrid chuckled to herself, "I mean, it shouldn't really be a hard choice, but over the past nearly five years my type has changed dramatically."

"Well, that or you've been into crazy from the beginning."

"You can't talk, you're dating a sniper."

Faith chuckled and shook her head, "fair enough."

"I guess we're just into crazy."

"Seb's not crazy."

"Ha."

"What?"

"Nothing."

There was a small pause as Astrid stopped herself from laughing at her friends comment. She slipped her hands into her pocket as a few more seconds of silence passed them.

"So who are you gonna pick?"

"Jim," she answered, "I mean, Dom's sweet and he's compassionate and caring, as well as pretty good looking, but I don't love him."

"He doesn't know you like Jim does."

"Exactly." Astrid nodded and looked ahead. After a few seconds she suddenly started laughing, "we are acting like such teenagers right now."

"Yeah."

"It's like Harrison Samuels all over again."

"It is nothing like Harrison Samuels, I can't believe you're even bringing that up!"

"I mean, the guy could be mistaken for a psychopath, if he wasn't so stupid," Faith laughed, "what was going through your head when you were seventeen."

"I was seventeen, lonely, depressed and desperate. Also he was hot and willing. Don't compare him to Jim."

"He's a prison guard, ya know?"

"You what?"

"Well, he was buff and big and strong and dumb," she shrugged, "kinda make sense."

"How do you know this stuff?"

"After you disappeared on results day, I decided to be sociable and he said he got some sort of bodyguard, prison guard gig. He sounded excited to be honest."

"Huh, sounds like he got a higher salary than me."

"Well, maybe then, but now, with the amount of money you get working with Jim."

"So much for independent women," Astrid checked her watch, it read half eleven, "we should head back. Dom will be there when we get back, I'd hate for Jim to murder him."

The two called back the dogs who had sprinted off into the distance and slowly made there way back to the humble abode.

(A/N Happy Christmas to all those who celebrate it!!)