Deadly Attraction Chapter Two. By EternalSenshi. I don't own SM. Please R&R.

"Charlie! Blake!" Serena cried, running out of the bathroom. "I want him out!"

Charlie helped the shaken Darien move to the door. "You talk to her," he said to his partner.

"Oh, why do you always leave me with her?" Blake complained.

Serena crossed her arms over her towel-clad body. "I'm waiting!"

"You owe me Charlie," Blake muttered. "Serena, just sit down and let me explain something to you, okay?"

Serena sat down angrily on the bed, her arms still crossed, and a glare settling on her face.

"That's better," Blake said, pulling up a chair. "Look, Serena, whether you like it or not, Darien is your partner. And you know as well as I that you need a partner."

"I do not need a partner," Serena said firmly.

"I know you don't think you need one. But Charlie is insistent on it because of all the leaks that have been spreading in other departments."

Serena kept her firm glare on him, but knew he had a point. "Fair enough," she muttered.

"Good. Try to freshen up for your flight. You know who your target is, and you know what to do." He stood up, cleared is throat importantly, and stared at her. "Don't blow it by getting mad at Shields."

"Then he better not get in the way."

"He won't." He smiled. "Are you sure you're not being too provocative?"

"OUT!" Serena screamed, shoving him out and slamming the door behind him.

Blake straightened his tie and nodded. "That actually went well," he muttered, and went to find Charlie and Darien.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"You feeling better?" Charlie asked as Darien sipped his water.

"A little," Darien admitted. "Damn it! Why didn't you tell me what the hell I was getting into?"

"You were the top of your class at the academy. We thought you could handle it," Charles said. "You're just like your father-"

"My father never had to work with a killing bitch," he snarled.

Charles set his jaw. "I would give her a little break if I were you. True, she's mean. But there's a reason she became that way. Besides, your father had to work with more Serena's than you've ever met in your life. What do you think your mother was before she married your father?"

"A librarian," Darien said, having another sip of water.

"Still, give Serena a chance. She's good at her job. If you just let her sit in control, pretty soon she'll begin to trust you." Charles checked his watch, and gasped. "You're about to lose your chance - you have to board in five minutes!"

Darien put down his glass, grabbed his suitcase and walked out the door. Give her a chance? he thought. Not going to happen. Not between us.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Serena boarded the plane quickly, and closed the window next to her. She stared at the wall until she felt someone plop into the seat next to her. "You're late," she said.

"Relax. At least I'm slowing down my driving," Andy said.

"Get out of here!" Serena said. "Trained assassins only!"

"Oh, thanks," Andy said, acting hurt. His expression changed into a look of teasing. "It wouldn't have anything to do with a certain new recruit-"

"Andy, I'm warning you," Serena said through gritted teeth. "My blade is in my boot."

He looked at the seat behind him. "That seat looks comfortable," he said, and quickly moved.

"Better," Serena said.

Darien ran down the aisle and fell into the seat next to Serena. "Sorry," he said. "Lost track of things."

"Don't do it again," she snapped.

Andy extended a hand between the seat. "Andrew Foreman. Call me Andy. I'm your personal driver."

"Oh, nice to meet you," Darien said, shaking his hand. "Darien Shields."

"So, you'll be working with Serena?" Andy asked.

"Of course he is," Serena barked. "Why else do you think he's here?"

Andy sat back. "Sorry for making chit chat."

"It's okay," Darien said. "Someone's just got something stuck up her ass."

"Someone needs to keep their hands off other people's asses!" Serena yelled.

Mina walked out of the back and stopped in front of the three. "Would anyone like anything to drink?" she asked, smiling.

"No," Serena said angrily, turning back to the wall.

"Nothing, Mina. Thanks, though," Andy said, smiling.

Darien looked at Mina, and smiled. "Champagne, please."

Mina smiled back. "You must be Darien Shields, the new assassin."

"New assistant," Serena said firmly.

"You got me," Darien said to Mina teasingly. "You know me, but how come I don't know you?"

"Because my position is on a need-to-know basis." Mina said.

"Well, I'm pretty sure I need to know," Darien said flirtatiously.

"Oh, gag me with a spoon!" Serena said loudly. "Mina, don't you have better things to do?"

"Yes," Mina said, giggling. "Nice meeting you, Darien."

"Likewise," he said, winking.

Mina walked away, a bright smile on her face. She turned, and waved slightly.

Darien watched her go, until someone's hand hit him on the back of his head. "Hey!" he said, turning to Serena angrily.

"Get your head out of the clouds and focus!" Serena snapped.

Andy sat back and hid his smile from them as people began coming aboard the plane. Darien pulled the magazine out of the chair in front of him, and started flipping through the pages. "I never thought I'd be working for a female homicidal maniac..." he muttered.

Serena turned to him. "Tell me, Darien, are you usually a male chauvinist?"

"That wasn't chauvinistic," he protested.

"No, of course not. My mistake," she said. "You're just an egotistical male bastard

that's exactly the same as an amoebae - you both have a one celled mind."

"Oh, gee. Thanks."

"So, I suppose you'd be a wonderful person if I got to know you."

"That's what people say all the time," he said.

"Really?"

Darien was perplexed. For the first time today, she seemed as interested in him as he was about her. "Uh, yeah, I guess. There was this one time-"

"I don't plan on getting to know you."

'Psssh' went his thoughts on getting to know each other. "All right then."

"There are two rules," she said. She held up a finger. "First, stay completely silent when we're on the plane, when we're working, and when you're near me." She motioned a zipper sign across her lips, and turned to the window.

"And the second rule?" he dared to ask.

"What was the first rule again?"

Mina came walking back, holding a tall champagne flute. "Sorry about the wait, Mr. Shields. By the way, Miss Gawthrop, there's a message from Mr. Blake and Mr. Charles."

"Yeah? What is it?" Serena asked.

Mina looked confused. "I'm not sure why, but Mr. Blake mentioned not wearing towels outside of the mission, and Mr. Charles said to be careful not to kill Mr. Shields, no matter how much you want to."

Darien and Andy began laughing as Serena began pouting. "He's lucky for now, because I never kill with an audience."

Mina giggled. "All right, Miss Gawthrop. Anything you need for the flight?"

"Nothing, thanks," Andy muttered as he rummaged around, looking for the pillow.

"A copy of the file to study, and a gin tonic." Serena demanded.

"Right away, Miss Gawthrop. And you, Mr. Shields?"

"A chance to talk to you later," Darien said.

Serena rolled her eyes. "Would you at least pretend you're a professional?"

"Oh, Miss Gawthrop, he's just being sweet," Mina cooed, and pecked him on the cheek.

"Enough!" Serena cried. "The sooner we get there, the better the end of this Harlequin Romance."

"Yes, Miss Gawthrop. I'll go grab the file." Mina winked at Darien and walked down the aisle.

"Hey, Darien, I think she likes you," Andy said.

"She better not," Serena snapped.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

It was a hot and humid day in Barbados when they arrived, and the heat seemed to aggravate Serena's already angry condition. She seemed infuriated at every little thing the boys did.

"Hurry up!" she snapped at then as they were lagging behind with the luggage.

Darien looked at Andy. "Is she always like this?"

"Always before a mission," Andy said, grimacing under the weight of a particularly heavy bag. "Hand me that gun bag, would you?"

"Oh, sure." Darien hoisted the heavy bag up and put the handle in Andy's hand.

"Thanks," Andy said. He made sure he had everything, then looked at Darien. "Ready?"

"Yeah, I think so." Darien turned and looked around. "Let's go."

A cop placed a hand on Andy's shoulder. "All right, boy, you come with me," he said in a thick accent.

"I-I don't understand," Andy stuttered.

"Let's go," the cop repeated, pushing Andy forward. He noticed Darien looking worried, and pushed him next to Andy. "You come too."

"Hey! What's the-!" Darien yelled.

Serena turned to see the two of them, not behind her, but being pulled away by police officers. Please let them just being led to the bathroom. Please don't let them cause trouble. Please- Serena stopped her pleading as they got pulled into a room she knew very well. She groaned and began sprinting after them. Damn them! she thought angrily.

"Come on, let's go," the police officer said roughly. He turned to see a frenzied Serena running towards him, leaping over suitcases and turning past people to catch up to him. As soon as she reached him, he lifted up in his hand in her face. "Sorry, madam, no entrance."

Serena whipped out her badge from her boot. "They're my responsibility," she protested.

"I'm sorry, but I-"

"I demand that I be brought in there with them. We have a job to do, and if you stand in my way, I swear you will be fired." She glared at him, knowing she couldn't say any more than what was brought out.

He sighed, and stared at her badge. "Fine. Come on in," he said waving her inside.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"GUN BAG?!" she screamed, slamming her hands on the desk in anger.

"It was an accident, Serena," Andy muttered.

"The whole time I've done this job, I've never worked with anyone stupid enough to say the phrase 'gun bag' in an airport!" she yelled.

"But Serena, I'm the only one you've worked with," Andy protested.

"Shut the fuck up!" Serena snapped uncontrollably. Andy, once again, fell silent. "If it weren't for me, you'd be in a lot more trouble than this!"

"Miss Gawthrop? Are you done yet?" the cop asked.

"No I'm not!" she roared. "I don't know why you two aren't smart enough to figure out that you NEVER say the phrase 'gun bag' in a crowded airport with security at every door! If this has destroyed this mission, I swear to God, I'm going to fucking kill both of you!" She slammed her hands down on the table for intimidation, then stormed out of the room.

Andy looked at Darien. "It's just nerves," he reassured him. "Nothing much."

"Gee, thanks," Darien said sarcastically.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Serena brushed out her soft hair and sighed as she sat on her bed in her hotel suite. She looked at the packet placed on her pillow, and bit her lip. Looking at that file isn't going to help. It never does, she thought. With hesitant fingers, she took the packet and held it close to her. I can't go back. I can never go back. I have to be rough and mean, and a...a bitch, and...think about what could have been your fate! she scolded herself. Just as she was about to open the file, there was a knock at the door. "Coming!" she said, shoving the file under the pillow. She opened the door and glared at the person standing, waiting for her. "What?" she snapped.

Darien held up his hands defensively. "I'm not here to fight,"

"No, but you're here to spy on me in the shower."

"No!" Darien sighed. "Look, I wanted to say that I was sorry for what happened in the airport."

"Fine." Serena slammed the door in his face, and turned away. She put her head in her hands, and slid to the floor.

"Damn her," Darien muttered outside the door. She turned away, then turned back as he heard something surprising. She was...crying?

He looks like James, she thought, sobbing uncontrollably. She crawled over to the bed, and grabbed her file, opening it up. Pictures of what had happened - what she'd done to James and that whore of his - spilled out onto the floor. She sobbed uncontrollably, not sure what to do. He looked like James, but she couldn't hate him for it - could she? She fell to the floor, hating Charlie and Blake for giving her the photos, hating Andy for his driving, and hating Darien.

She didn't want to hate anymore.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

"I'm telling you, she's one grade A psycho," Darien said.

"She's not. She's perfectly sane. She just has a...an attitude problem. That's all," Andy said, sipping his beer. "She's just very serious about her job. She's a perfectionist."

"She's psycho!"

"You don't know her yet," Andy said. "She can be a nice person."

"Don't stick up for me, Andy," Serena said, sauntering into the bar. "You don't know how."

"Speak of the bitch," Darien drawled out, turning around. She long blonde hair was tied in an elegant knot at the base of her neck, and she was wearing a long red dress with a long, low cut neck. Immediately, he wanted to take back his words, but then regretted that thought. He had to be tough around her, even if she was an Aphrodite on the Earth.

Serena sat next to him, and her dress lifting to reveal sparkly red shoes. "Careful what you speak of, Shields," she threatened softly. "You may end up dead because of it."

"Whatever," he said.

"Andy, I'm taking my drink. Take him to the room," she said, nodding.

He rolled his eyes. "Thanks for entrusting me with that,"

"You wanted more responsibility," she said. "Bartender? Pina Colada, no alcohol," she said.

The bartender nodded, and came back rather quickly. She placed the drink in front of her, and she smiled. "Thank you," she said, and left her money. "Don't forget to come, Andy, or you'll be seeing more red than you'd like to see," she said, taking her drink and leaving.

Both boys stared at her as she left the bar, sipping her drink seductively. Darien turned to Andy, a smirk on his face. "Non-alcoholic?"

"Another nerve thing, I think," he said. "Anyway, better get going."

"Right," Darien said. He put his drink down, and followed Andy into the lobby. "What's the room?"

"Trust me, it's better to see it up close. Oh, by the way," Andy mentioned, turning to the rookie. "Please don't piss her off."

"I don't piss her off!"

"You do. She's never hated anyone so vehemently before."

Darien looked at the ground. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"I'd watch your back," he said. "And that's a warning."

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

What's the room? Oooh! Anyway, sorry I haven't updated for a while. I've been busy, and I'm trying to write "A Lust For Blood" too. I'll get them done! (I hate senior year...although I do love my Japanese class...yay!)

Anyway, I'll see you soon. Yakusoku! (promise!)

EternalSenshi.