Author's Notes: This story used to be called "She Who Holds The Cards" but since I decided to add to it that became the name of the first chapter instead.

Setting: Shortly after "Out Of Body."

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters I'm just using them to have a little fun ;)

Warnings: Yes, it's got femslashyness in it, folks. FF sexual content and mature themes.

Relation to other stories: Stand Alone.

Summary: The team tries to bring down a gang of betrayers. Cleo and Sarge get a little closer...

Double, Double, Cleo In Trouble

"Hey," Sarge greeted sitting herself at the table next to Cleopatra.

"Hey, Sarge."

"It's nice to have the lab all to ourselves isn't it? If you ask me this day off is long over due."

"You can say that again."

With Hel and Mauser gone Cleo and Sarge had spent most of the afternoon relaxing and hoping no unexpected missions would spring upon them. After all, it wasn't often a quiet week would pass by and they were determined to take full advantage of it while it lasted.

Sarge glanced over at Cleo's pack of playing cards on the table beside her, remembering her recent desires. After taking care of Raina and learning to play cards she was anxious to discover all the other fun games Cleo could teach her.

"Ya know, Cleo, I was hoping you would be in the mood for a card game."

"Sure, what game?"

"The one you played the other day."

"Mississippi panty twist?"

"No I meant the one you were playing with Mauser."

"Oh." Cleo paused. "You mean strip poker?"

"Yeah." A naughty grin spread across Sarge's face as she turned her eyes to meet with Cleo's. "That's the one."

Cleo hesitated momentarily, thinking over the sexy, older woman's request.

"I thought you said you didn't wanna play that game," was all she could manage to say.

"No I said I'd already seen Mauser naked," Sarge corrected, reaching for the pack of cards on the table. "But I would like to play with you." She smiled, holding up the deck with one hand while her other skimmed across her exposed cleavage.

Cleo smiled widely, the thought of Sarge sitting beside her in all her exposed feminine glory sending tingles up and down her spine. She wanted to jump for joy at the eagerness of her teammate but let her eyes explain her requited desires instead.

Sarge slowly opened the card park and began slipping them through her fingers all the while keeping her eyes locked with Cleo's. She reached her hand out to the blonde placing the deck in her open, awaiting palm.

"Why don't you show me that shuffling trick again?" she asked, slowly letting her hand slide down Cleo's palm, her fingers rubbing against Sarge's wrist as their contact broke.

Cleo grinned in agreement, shuffling the cards while allowing her eyes to search the sultry body of the woman beside her.

"You remember how to play?" Cleo asked, secretly hoping she didn't.

"Yeah, just like the other poker game you taught me right? Only with a much more rewarding victory."

"Right," Cleo agreed, smiling as the anticipation continued building up inside the pit of her stomach.

She dealt the cards and carefully studied Sarge's face as she looked them over. It was hard to tell whether they were each grinning from the anticipation and excitement, from each other, or from their cards.

Cleo grinned as she studied her own hand, not a bad one at that. She'd played her fair share of poker in the twentieth century but had to admit she didn't think she'd be upset no matter how this game played out. Whether she won or lost she was sure she'd be pleased either way. But maybe a little cheating was necessary.

By the fifth hand Cleo was finding it impossible to keep her curious, lustful eyes off the curvaceous body of the half naked woman before her. She'd had to remind herself many times to concentrate on the game and was now kicking herself for actually teaching Sarge the correct rules for she now was having to concentrate at winning.

Glancing over at Sarge, Cleo moistened her lips at the desirability of the beautiful woman. She's admired her since the first time she'd seen her. Enthralled by her exceptional beauty, it didn't occur to Cleo it was her turn.

"Cleo," Sarge's deep, sultry voice called. "Cleo," she repeated, the blonde's attention still diverted from the game. "Hey, Cleo."

Her words finally getting through, Cleo snapped herself back into reality.

"Huh?" she asked, looking up from Sarge's cleavage where her eyes had remained fixated. She pulled them from the mesmerizing skin seeming to glisten and call her by name. "Oh," she said in realization it was her turn. The alluring look on Sarge's face informed her she was flattered by her admiration of her form.

Cleo took the time to think her move through, desperately wanting to force the last remaining garment off Sarge's delicious body. She hesitated before making her move, then relaxed back into her chair and tried to hide her grin of satisfaction. Her hungry eyes scanned Sarge as she prepared to make her move.

"You in?" the challenge in Cleo's voice apparent at the question.

"Oh, I'm in."

Sarge's sly grin only turned Cleo on furthermore. If she still had her underwear on she knew they'd be far too wet to wear by now.

She glanced over Sarge's body one more, her firm thighs slowly rising as she crossed her legs, Cleo's desire rising tenfold at the seductive sight.

"Time to show me what ya got, Cleo."

Cleo grinned, placing her cards face up on the table without hesitation. Sarge smiled, copying Cleo's actions. A wide grin quickly spread across Cleo's face at the sight before her.

"Royal flush beats your straight," she happily informed.

Sarge smiled not seeming to care too much she was down to her last bit of clothing.

"You've got a tell," Cleo informed, playfully running her hand over her bare thigh.

"A what?"

"A tell. When you were bluffing your mouth got this sexy dimple in the corner and you bit your lip a little."

Sarge chuckled as she stood up, preparing to undress herself and offer Cleo her reward for a game well played.

"Cleopatra, master of poker and dancing."

Cleo blushed at the words.

"Among other things," she added.

"If only we could retake the surface with poker we'd have it made."

"If the fate of the world relied on dancing and card playing I'd be the super hero," Cleo agreed.

Sarge smiled, stepping closer to Cleo as she raised her hands to her top, lingering on it while she watched the excitement build up inside the woman before her. She unfastened her top, smiling as Cleo's eyes lit up as she let it slowly slide down the length of her firm body to collapse in a forgotten heap on the floor between them. Her arm extended to Cleo's shoulder allowing her fingertips to gently skim across her flesh.

"I wanna learn all the games you play, Cleo," she informed, her tone making her obvious desire evident.

"And I wanna teach you," she answered, standing to pull the woman into a deep kiss. Taking Sarge's hand, she slowly walked them towards her sleeping quarters.

"I'll show how we partied in my day. Let's see," she began, "there's don't make a sound, striptease…" she trailed off, grinning as the door to Sarge's quarters closed behind them.