Chasing the Shadows (Nikki & Michael 3)

He hesitated. “No. But the principle is the same."

"So you're saying I take and don't give?"

His frustration flitted through the link between them. “No, that's not what I'm saying at all."

"Then what are you saying?"

"That for any relationship to last long-term, there has to be some sort of give and take between the wants and desires of both people."

She crossed her arms and glared at him. “And just what have you given up in this relationship? Your solitude and loneliness? Gee, that's mighty big of you."

"Sarcasm will not get you anywhere."

"But neither is simply trying to talk to you."

He made a cutting gesture with his hand, and the frustration in the link became clouded with anger. “I said I'd think about it. Leave it at that, Nikki."

"God, you're so damn frustrating at times."

"So are you,” he retorted. “Go have a shower."

She thrust her hands onto her hips. Energy tingled at her fingertips, but she resisted the temptation to knock him against the nearest wall. “Stop treating me like a child and giving me orders all the time."

"Fine,” he said, voice tight. “Don't have a shower. Do what you please. I'm heading downstairs to the dining room."

She swept the newspaper off the coffee table and threw it at his retreating back. He didn't even look back at her, just walked out the door and slammed it closed. She watched the sheets of newsprint flutter to the ground and sighed. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately—throwing things at his retreating back. And while she knew it was only a venting of her anger, it was one she'd definitely have to control. It wouldn't take much to slip into using her kinetic powers instead, and that was far more dangerous. Besides, he was right in what he'd said yesterday. If she wanted to be treated like an adult, she should start acting like one. Throwing things at him might provide short-term satisfaction, but in the long run, it wouldn't help either of them.

With another sigh, she walked over to the door and picked up the newspaper. After dumping it onto the coffee table, she walked into the bedroom.

And discovered a stranger standing in the middle of the room.

* * * *

Michael rubbed his eyes as the elevator doors slid shut. He hadn't meant to get angry, but it was just so damn frustrating that she wouldn't listen. He'd agreed to consider her request—was it asking so much that she do the same?

The elevator slid open, and he strode into the dining room. Jake was nowhere to be seen, but Mary sat at a table near one of the windows. He hesitated, but in that moment she turned around and saw him. He smiled at her raised hand and wove his way through the tables toward her.

"Michael, so nice to see you again,” she said, voice warm, cultured. He clasped her offered hand gently, her fingers like cool parchment against his own. “As it is nice to see you again.” He kissed her fingertips then pulled out a chair near the wall. While it was nowhere near ten and the sun itself offered no danger, he wasn't about to take a risk after last night's attack. “Jake been called away?"

She nodded, a small, tight smile touching her lips. “It's always one thing or another." Her voice was edged with the bitterness he could read in her thoughts. Mary, the loving, patient wife, had just about had enough. He hesitated, not sure he really should interfere, but unwilling to sit back and watch two people he liked drift apart. He smiled slightly. Nikki was certainly a bad influence. A year ago he wouldn't even have sat here, let alone been thinking about discussing Mary's personal problems when he had enough of his own.

"Jake will never change."

She leaned her chin on her clasped hands, her gaze touched with amused weariness. “Don't you think I know that?"

"Then why—"

"Why am I complaining so?” she cut in. “Because I have spent thirty years of my life loving him and supporting his endeavors. I think it's beyond time he started supporting mine."

"But your desires lie here in San Francisco. His do not." She raised a finely penciled eyebrow. “And you think I desired to spend thirty years of my life in a town like Lyndhurst?"

"No one could want to spend thirty years in a town like Lyndhurst,” he said with a smile.

"Except Jake. And possibly Nikki.” She sighed softly. “I love San Francisco. And I love Boston, where I grew up. They are so much more ... refined ... than Lyndhurst. Is it asking too much that he move his business to either city?"

The sharp premonition of danger stabbed his mind, and he raised an eyebrow. Why had no one mentioned the fact Mary had grown up in Boston?

"No,” he said slowly, “I guess not."