Wow, long time, no post.

--------------------

"I could've sworn I heard you call these people 'friends' instead of coworkers." Jordan sneered at me while he was being thrown onto the couch in the STN office.

"Can't they be both?" I asked under my breath.

Amon regained his composure from carrying Jordan all the way upstairs and straightened his jacket while making sure that our hostage was fully secured in his handcuffs. From my angle, it didn't seem as though the poor guy could even move, but I was proven wrong when he stood up and faced my partner.

"You guys aren't cops," said Jordan to both Amon and I, "so what business do you have with me?" With mild amusement, Amon pushed Jordan firmly back onto the couch.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Michael join our little group from the break room. He didn't dare throw a glance my way or else Amon was sure to threaten him. I couldn't look at him either. Even though our little kissing incident was sometime ago, we never really had a chance to settle things.

"Robin, Michael," Amon called, "I want you two to keep and eye on this guy until I can assemble the rest of the team. Once I do that, we'll figure out exactly what to with this man." And with that, my ever-brooding partner headed for the elevator and didn't look back. Within seconds, he was completely out of sight, leaving me in an awkward position with Jordan and Michael. I said nothing to either of them, but I could tell what each one was feeling. Jordan was upset at me and thought I betrayed him, Michael was still awkward about our kiss from the other day, and I had no idea what to do.

After a silent minute, Michael gave up on talking to either of us and went back to his desk to do whatever it is that he usually does in his free time. I then stood alone, watching Jordan struggle in his cuffs.

"Well," Jordan looked up at me, "are you going to loosen these things or what?"

"I don't have the keys." I replied, sheepishly. Cautiously, I sat next to Jordan, hoping to make peace somehow. "Would you like something to drink or snack on?"

"Nah, I think I'm okay." He looked over at Michael who already was jamming away to his music and oblivious to his surroundings. "But I would still like to know why it is that I'm here."

"There's nothing I can tell you because I don't even know."

"You sure?" Jordan inched closer to me, "That man appeared to know you very well, so I would imagine he's let you in on some information."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Do you remember that first day you came to visit me at work?" I nodded and he continued, "Well, when that same guy who dragged me here pulled you out of the store that day, I saw how close he got to you. It looked as though you two were merely centimeters away from each other's faces. With that in mind, how can I not assume you two are close?" At this point, Jordan was practically whispering in my ear, "Don't hide your relationship from me like you did your real job."

"I'm not hiding anything from you because there is nothing to hide." I distanced myself quickly when I noticed movement from Michael's desk. Quickly, I glanced over to make sure he hadn't seen anything, but he wasn't there anymore.

"Robin," Michael called out, "I'm going to get something from downstairs. If Amon or anyone else calls, answer it please?"

"Got it." The hacker then made his way to the elevator and disappeared almost as quickly as my partner did when he had left.

"Jordan," I said, checking one last time to make sure Michael was really gone, "I'm so sorry about all of this."

"Its okay, really." He sighed heavily and motioned for me to join him back on the couch, "Just make sure that the really talk, dark guy doesn't rough me up too much, okay?"

"I don't really think I can guarantee that, although if you cooperate with him, things will be much easier." I went and stood by Jordan, looking down at him preparing myself to do some questioning of my own. "Why are you here in Japan? I thought life was supposed to be wonderful in the States, so why make the drastic change?"

He looked up at me and paused before answering. "Because things felt too different for me there. That, and I wanted to help a friend of mine here. She's been like a sister to me, so when she asked for my help, I agreed and as soon as I arrived here, things really started to click in my life." His gaze now focused on the window, "I started up on my education again and opened a business selling flowers. Back in the States, when my buddies found out I loved flowers, they immediately thought I was gay and were constantly trying to hook me up with other guys. Of course, I didn't pay much attention to the people they threw my way, so eventually I got bored at the right time. Now being here in Japan is great, I don't get made fun of for indulging in something I love."

"So you came down here for flowers?"

"No, it was to help my friend in need. The flowers were just an added bonus." Suddenly, his gaze looked hopeful. "And then, I met you."

My concentration on his answers was suddenly broken as curiosity and hope peaked.

"I think you and I meeting was completely by chance and as we've been able to learn more about each other and talk, I'm really enjoying the hand that's been dealt." He looked up at me again, but this time stood up and nearly towered over me.

"You should really sit down in case Michael comes back. He sees us like this and I know he'll tell the tall, dark guy you're afraid of." I pushed Jordan back down, but he stood back up again.

"I don't care if that big, tall, dark, and handsome man friend of yours finds out, let him."

"No." I said firmly, pushing him down again, but he was being assertive and standing up again. We kept on doing this several times until Michael came back into the office and stared at us. It took me a couple of minutes to realize he was staring.

"Robin," said Michael, "if you're done playing yo-yo with our…guest, go talk to Amon downstairs in the garage." He then walked to his computer desk as I stood embarrassed. Finally Jordan stayed down and I motioned him to stay as I left to go meet Amon.