Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 35

"You did a good job," Samuel told Paddy when he appeared seconds later in the head guardian angel's office.

"Thanks," Paddy replied morosely, his wings sagging in reflection of how he felt.

Samuel came around from behind his desk, laying one hand on Paddy's shoulder. "It wouldn't have worked," he said softly.

"I know." Paddy wasn't surprised at Samuel's words, or his concern. Somehow he always knew everything about the guardian angels in his charge. Their hopes, their fears—nothing got past Samuel. It was the reason, Paddy thought, that he was who he was.

"It's just… Damn it, when is it my turn?"

"When the fates decree."

"It's been over eight hundred years." Paddy sighed deeply. "I know, there's nothing you can do about it but…"

"Go. Rest. Unwind. Things will look better in the morning."

Paddy snorted softly. "Maybe I'll go bug Dom first. That always cheers me up."

"He's off on an assignment, as are Deidre, Dave and Hal. Now if you want to have a bit of fun… No, that wouldn't be a wise idea."

"What?" Paddy asked.

"There's a new angel who could use taking down a peg or two. He seems to think he's the chosen one since he ended up here."

Paddy smirked. "Let me at him. Right now I'm in exactly the right mood to deal with him. It'll take my mind off of Mike and…everything."

"I thought you might be. His name is Theodore."

"'Gift of God' huh? Now this could be fun. Where can I find him?"

Samuel told him, chuckling to himself when Paddy immediately took off with fire in his eyes. "Now let's hope this takes his mind off of Michael," he murmured. He knew it would—eventually. After all, that was a reason he was the head guardian angel. To watch over his charges and help them deal with problems, both on the job and in their personal lives. And all in all, he had managed to do that successfully for more time than even he cared to think about.

The End

(Of the story, and the series. Thank you for following along. I hope you enjoyed them/it)

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 34

As they talked, Paddy realized Mike and Link had joined them. 

"I owe you my life," Mike said, his voice trembling with emotion. Link nodded in agreement.

"Only doing what I was hired for," Paddy replied with a slight smile. "And once you two realized what was happening you'd have gotten yourselves out of there."

Link shook his head. "Maybe, but McKim would have gotten away."

"He didn't though, so all's well. Oh, by the way, Mike, I thought you'd like to know, your sister had nothing to do with this."

Relief flooded Mike's face. "He told you that?"

"Yeah. I sort of forced that much out of him before I punched out his lights." And that's sort of the truth since I invaded his mind to find out.

"Thank God." Mike turned to Massey, asking, "Can I get back to work now?"

"You'll do nothing of the sort," Link said forcefully before Massey could reply. "I think, under the circumstances, they can do without you for the rest of the day. I'm going to take you home and make sure you finally get some sleep, now that this is over."

"I… Okay. If you're sure." Mike smiled at Link for a moment, getting one in return. Then he turned his attention to Paddy. "But first, can I talk to you alone for a minute?"

"Yes," Paddy replied. They moved away from the others. Then, when he was sure no one would overhear, he said, "Go for it."

Mike frowned, then blurted out, "How did you get into the lounge?"

"Through the door?"

"No. The fire must have already been burning or there wouldn't have been smoke so soon. It was like one minute it was just me and Link in there, and then you were shouting for us to get out."

"No," Paddy said quietly, "I did come though the door." As he said that, he implanted the image of his doing it in Mike's mind. Then he smiled. "You two were so wrapped up in his giving you a backrub I think the ceiling could have fallen in and it would have taken you a moment or three to realize it."

"I… Okay, maybe. It just…" Mike nodded. "Yeah I suppose so. You must have come in seconds before he lit it and…"

"And immediately smelled gasoline, which is what Massey said he used, and then the smoke."

"If you say so."

"I do." Paddy chuckled. "And what I say goes because I'm the old one here."

"Older," Mike replied with a bit of a grin. "But not old." Suddenly he hugged Paddy. "Thank you for…everything."

"Hey, it was what you hired me for. Remember that when Vic sends you the bill."

"You're kidding!"

Paddy laughed. "Yeah, I'm kidding. Now you better get back to Link. He looks distinctly worried, especially since you hugged me."

"Ouch. Okay."

"Are you two going to…well you know?"

"I don't know but maybe. I think I like him. I think he likes me. That's a start, right?"

"Yeah it is." Paddy patted Mike's shoulder. "So go."

"Will I see you again?"

Paddy shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe someday."

"I hope so. I'm going to…"

"If you say 'miss you'," Paddy grumbled.

"Well I will. So there." Mike hugged him again, quickly, then headed back to join Link.

"I'm going to miss you too," Paddy said softly, watching the two young men walk away, Link's arm around Mike's waist. "Much more than I have a right to." Moments later he stepped into a doorway where no one could see him and vanished.

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 33

Once again, Paddy buzzed them through the door. Then he sat down to watch the counter. Two kids came in just as the intercom rang. Whoever was on the other end asked for Mike. Paddy told them where to find him and then returned his attention to the teens, telling them what he'd told the pair earlier—that they'd have to come back after four and get in line for a bed. They argued with him briefly before giving up.

Moments after they left, he became aware that something was very wrong.

Instantly he was in the lounge. "Get the hell out of here," he ordered, pointing to the window.

Link and Mike looked at him in shock. Link pulled his gun, asking, "What's going on?"

"Move it," Paddy told him tersely even as he turned to face the door. Seconds later they all saw smoke curling under it. "And call 911."

Mike was at the window, trying to open it as the fire alarms went off. "It's stuck," he cried out in panic.

"Of course it is," Paddy growled in anger. "Break the damned glass."

Link did, using the butt of his gun. He and Mike crawled out, thus missing seeing Paddy vanish again.

Paddy reappeared in the hallway. Ahead of him, just heading for the side door, was a dark-haired man. The sprinklers and alarms were still going off as Paddy shouted, "Not this time, you bastard." He reached him instantly, grabbing one arm to swing him around. The man struggled to get free but one hard punch to his gut and he doubled over in pain. Paddy hit him again, in the jaw, and the man landed flat on his back on the floor.

* * * *

Ten minutes later, everyone who had been in the building was either out in front or, in the case of most of the teens, gone. Mike and Link, who had both gotten minor cuts from the broken shards of glass in the window, were being bandaged by EMTs.

Detective Massey was reading Owen McKim his rights prior to the man being taken to the police station to be booked on charges of attempted murder.

Paddy leaned against the building wall, watching the proceedings. He smiled ruefully when he saw Link with his arm around Mike as he talked to him. Mike grinned slightly, nodding, his attention totally focused on the young cop.

I think my assignment it finished, so I should leave before anyone tries to stop me.

Paddy pushed off the wall, only to find Detective Massey coming toward him. He stopped in front of Paddy, saying, "I'll need your statement about what happened."

Lying with a straight face, Paddy replied, "I was going to find Mike, to tell him someone was looking for him. In hindsight I suspect it was McKim I talked to on the intercom. Anyway, I got into the lounge and a minute later I started to smell smoke. I told Mike and Link to get out through the window and, being the idiot that I am sometimes, I opened the door. The sprinklers were on, the fire was going out, and I saw McKim trying to escape." He shrugged. "I guess he didn't know about the sprinkler system or he'd have done a better job setting the fire."

Massey nodded. "The firemen think he used gasoline, but not enough of it."

Paddy snorted. "And McKim thought the fire would be put down as accidental?"

            "At the moment, who knows? He's not talking. Perhaps he figured it would be blamed on some teen that was pissed off at the shelter for some reason."

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 32

As Mike had predicted, he, Paddy, and Link walked into chaos when they entered the shelter. It was controlled chaos, but still enough that the two young men manning the admissions counter were definitely relieved when Mike and company took over.

The rain finally let up an hour later. Many of the teens left at that point. Those that remained took advantage of the sudden calm to try to get some sleep while there were empty beds in the dorm. 

Mike bent to touch his toes then stretched. "I didn't need this today," he grumbled.

"Sit and I'll rub your back," Link told him.

"Great. But first I need to hit the john." He headed to the door to the employee's area, asking one of the others to buzz him through.

"I'll go with you," Link said.

Mike started to protest that he was quite able to use the restroom on his own then realized what he meant. "Okay, but you get to wait outside."

"After I check it out."

They both looked at Paddy, waiting for him to buzz them through, which he did. When they got to the small employee restroom, Link went in first. He came back, telling Mike it was empty.

Mike chuckled. "Good. I don't like voyeurs."

A couple of minutes late he rejoined Link in the hall, saying with a trace of amusement, "I half expected Mister… Okay, he's not Keefe, he's McKim. Either way, I half expected him to drop down through the ceiling tiles and try to drown me in the toilet."

"Now there's an interesting image. It would be hard to make that look like an accident though. 'Honest, officers, he must have slipped on the wet tile and gone in face first, hitting his head'."

Mike laughed as they headed back to join Paddy in the front room. "Somehow I doubt anyone would buy that."

"No kidding."

When they got to the counter, Paddy was dealing with a couple of kids, telling them they were too early to sign up for a bed for the night. They muttered a few words about his parentage and ancestry and left. He chuckled, then said, "It's slow enough right now that if you want to go somewhere more comfortable for your back rub, Mike, have at it."

"You sure?" Mike asked.

"No, I said it just to entertain myself. Yes I'm sure."

            "We can use the employee lounge. It's got a sofa," Mike told Link.

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 31

Link called Mike the next morning to say he'd pick up him, and Paddy, around eleven-thirty. He arrived right on time, meeting them at the front door of the apartment building to escort them to his car.

"You looked tired," Link told Mike, concern lacing his words.

"I didn't get much sleep."

"Oh?" Link glanced between Mike and Paddy.

Paddy chuckled, following them down the walk to the car. "I had nothing to do with that."

"He didn't," Mike agreed hastily. "I was tense and kept twisting and turning, dozing off then waking up again."

"Understandable." Link patted his shoulder then went around to the driver's side of the car. Mike took the passenger seat and Paddy got in the back.

"I think we're in for rain," Mike commented, looking out at the fast rolling clouds descending on the city. "Be ready for an invasion."

"That bad?" Link asked.

"Yeah. Kids will be looking to get off the street to somewhere dry."

Link nodded, grumbling that Mike was right about the rain when the first raindrops started hitting the windshield.

* * * * 

They were halfway to the shelter when Paddy's phone rang, followed seconds later by Link's. They both checked the Caller ID and answered, Link waiting to do so until he'd pulled off to the side of the street.

Paddy listened intently for a moment then said, "You're sure, Vic?" The reply must have been positive because Paddy swore softly before hanging up.

Link's conversation took a bit longer. When he finished talking he looked at Mike, then glanced at Paddy. "I presume your caller told you the same thing Detective Massey told me?"

"I'm sure he did."

"Okay, would one of you mind telling me what's going on?" Mike asked tightly.

Link nodded. "We now know who Mr. Keefe really is. A few hairs and a partial fingerprint were found at the scene where the kid was pushed down the stairs. The hairs had been dyed from light brown to black. Neither pieces of evidence conclusively pointed to Mr. Keefe but the presumption was they came from him. The forensics team ran the partial and came up with a list of possible names. Mr. Kingston had been in touch with Detective Massey and sent him the information he'd gathered on your family, Mike, at Massey's request."

It took Mike a moment to get what Link was saying. Then he shook his head. "Mr. Keefe is not my uncle. I'd have recognized him. And even if I hadn't, because it's been a long time since I saw him, he'd have recognized me."

"There's one other male in the picture," Vic said. "Your sister's fiancé, Owen McKim."

Mike appeared shocked, sighing deeply, scrubbing one hand over his face. "So she is involved in…in what's been going on."

"Not necessarily," Paddy replied, reaching over the back of the seat to grip his shoulder. "Tell him what Massey found out, Link. Vic was a bit sketchy on the details."

"Owen McKim has a history of fleecing gullible young women. He finds a victim, becomes engaged to them and then convinces them to loan him sizable amounts of money. Once they have, he disappears. When the victim realizes what's happened she's usually too embarrassed to file a report, although in some cases a family member has in her stead."

"But Amanda doesn't have any… Oh my God."

"Exactly," Link said. "From the reports Mr. Kingston gave Detective Massey, your sister met Mr. McKim about a week after your father's death."

"Vic presumes," Paddy added, "that McKim probably accessed the probate files and found out that she stood to inherit a fair amount of money if you weren't found or if you died."

"So he worked his way into her life and then came looking for me to get me out of the picture."

"That's what it looks like at this point. Now all we have to do is find him," Paddy said.

Link nodded. "Which isn't going to happen sitting here." After pulling out of the parking space onto the street, they drove to the same lot he'd used the day before. By the time they reached the shelter the skies had opened and what had been a light rain turned torrential.

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent – 30

Paddy made it halfway through his meal before saying, "You like him, don't you?"

Mike chuckled. "I wondered when you were going to ask. The answer is, I don't know him well enough to say one way or the other. He seems like a nice guy. I think from the way he was acting he's possibly gay, but I'm not going to bet the house on that."

"The way he kept watching you at the shelter, I would. I tried to tell myself it was just his getting to know how you acted and reacted so he'd pick up on it if something was wrong. I'm not sure I was right."

"Well, as I said, since I barely know him how can I say I like him?"

"But you find him interesting."

Mike thought about that and nodded. "In a way I suppose. Does that bother you?"

"A bit I guess. You're…we've become friends. I don't want you to get hurt."

Resting his elbows on the table, cupping his chin is his hands, Mike studied Paddy. "Is that how you see us? As just friends?"

"At this point, yes," Paddy replied. "There was a time when I wished we could be more. That's not…practical and I'm not the kind of man who is willing to take advantage of a situation for a night or two of"—he smiled wryly—"unbridled sex with no strings attached."

"And that's all it would be?"

"Yes. When this is over I'll move on. So"—he reached over to grip Mike's arm—"if you're resisting any feelings you might think you have for Link because…well… Okay, however I put it, it would sound egotistical."

"Because at one point maybe I felt the same way you did? I was betwixt and between you know." Mike laid his hand over Paddy's. "I really was. First I'd tell myself I found you more than interesting. Then I'd decide that was just because of the situation. Or perhaps it wasn't. I couldn't make up my mind and I still can't."

"But you're not willing to find out one way or the other?"

"You said it yourself. When this is over you'll be moving on. I suspect that doesn't mean to another job for Vic that would keep you here in the city."

"No, it doesn't." Paddy smiled ruefully. "I'm not one to stick around in one place for too long. So, probably, if we did have feelings for each other that went beyond just friendship…"

"You'd still leave when the wanderlust hit you again. I understand. Still, it might have been interesting to find out if…if there was more."

Paddy nodded. "It might have been," he said softly.

But that wasn't going to happen. It never really could have. So stop acting like a jealous idiot when Link's around. If they decide to find out if there could be something between them—and for damned sure it's too soon to tell—don't interfere. My job is to keep Mike safe. That's it. End of story. Feelings don't enter into that. They can't. I… I can't let them.

"Paddy," Mike said, squeezing his hand, "are you all right with this?"

"Yeah, I am. Now let's finish eating and then get some sleep. Sooner or later Keefe is going to show his hand and when he does we all have to be alert and ready to stop him, and catch him before some one, namely you, gets hurt."

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 29

"Paddy's right, he is my bodyguard," Mike said. "But right now the idea of driving, not walking, sounds good. I keep expecting Mr. Keefe to pop out and grab me or shove me in front of a moving car or what have you."

Link slung one arm across Mike's shoulders. "That's why I'm here, to keep that from happening. And before you pull away, it's going to be easier for me to hang around you if anyone who might be watching thinks we have something going on between us."

"Like Mr. Keefe," Mike muttered.

"Exactly."

Paddy glared at Link. "Since I'm the one staying with Mike, wouldn't Keefe think that about me?" 

Link arched one dark eyebrow. "You're old enough to be Mike's… Okay, I'll be nice and say older brother."

"Póg mo thóin," Paddy spat out indignantly.

"No sure what you said but I have a feeling I'd rather not know."

Paddy smirked. "Something you probably do with every man you've been with." 

"Damn it you two, will you stop." Mike quit walking, pulling away from Link. "I am not up for grabs, by either of you. If you want to fight, have at it. I'm going home." With that said he walked away, not looking back to see if they were following.

Paddy and Link quickly came up beside Mike, bracketing him between them.

"Sorry," Link said. "I'm behaving like an ass."

"As am I," Paddy said in agreement. "Your safety is what's important. Not our posturing like two…"

"Roosters?" Mike smiled slightly. "I suppose I should feel flattered but quite honestly at this point all I can think about is getting inside where I'm safe. And before you say anything, Link, my apartment has full security installed by an expert."

"Good. Then when we get there I'll leave you two at the front door, go home and get some sleep. That's my car." They were at the lot and he led them to it.

Link did exactly what he'd said, other than the fact that he actually went up in the elevator with them to make sure Mr. Keefe wasn't lurking in the hallway. "After all," he explained, "I suspect I'm the only one of the three of us who is armed."

"I have a knife, but yes, technically you are," Paddy told him.

* * * *

Once he and Paddy were in the apartment, with the door locked and the security box rearmed, Mike said "You have a knife? Where?"

"Nowhere," Paddy admitted. "I was just…"

"Trying to one-up him, sort of." Mike shook his head, heading to the kitchen. "We can have burgers again or I can make us sandwiches," he called out after checking the refrigerator. "I've got pastrami and corned beef."

"And rye bread?" Paddy asked, coming in to join him.

"Of course. Plus Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing." He grinned. "I hit up the deli a few days ago so we can go all out and have Rubens."

"Sounds good to me. I'll help."

Ten minutes later the sandwiches were made and they were settled at the table with them and coffee.

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 28

Mike didn't read Link the riot act, but he did explain to him that a lot of the kids ran away rather than face continued abuse—physical, verbal and/or sexual—at home.

"You're a cop," Mike said when he finished his lecture. "Why the hell don't you know this?"

"I do," Link protested, "on a mental level. Emotionally though… That kid had bruises on both arms and no backpack and…" He shook his head. "He must have run away so fast he didn't even pack anything."

"Possibly. Probably. At least he found us. One of the counselors will make certain he gets a pack and a couple of changes of clothing. That's the best we can do, other than feed him tonight and give him a safe place to sleep."

"He can't stay?"

"He can spend the day here if he wants, but he'll still have to line up again tomorrow evening for a bed and a meal. If he's lucky, he'll get them again. If not…" Mike sighed. "It's a fact of life for kids on the streets, Link. We only have so much room and some of it's taken up by the Thirty-Day kids. Unfortunately, he'll probably leave in the morning and try his hand at begging to get enough to buy something to eat and from there—it's a vicious circle. Try for a bed, and if a shelter doesn't have one, try to find a safe place to spend the night and start all over again the next day."     

"That sucks," Link muttered.

"No shit. Now we'd better get back before Paddy blows a fuse."

Link nodded. "Are you and he…"

"We're friends, nothing more."

"Good," Link barely whispered but Mike heard him anyway and wondered why he sounded so relieved.

For sure it can't be what I'm thinking. We've only known each other for a few hours. And I'm not sure I can even call it knowing. He's here to do a job. Tomorrow it could be someone else, just like it was yesterday. Still, it would be nice if it was Link again. Mike wasn't certain why he felt that way, but at the moment he did.

* * * *

"I'll drive you home to make sure you get there safely," Link told Mike as he, Mike and Paddy left the shelter for the night. "I'm parked in a lot two blocks from here."

"You don't have to. That's my job," Paddy growled before Mike could reply.

"And mine," Link said firmly. "I'm the cop who's assigned to this case. You're just"—he grinned mockingly—"the hired help. And you don't have a car. Right?"

Paddy nodded, muttering "Right" as he clenched his hands angrily. At the moment he wanted nothing more than to strangle the young officer. Emphasis on young. "How the hell old are you by the way?" he asked tightly.

Link grinned. "Not as old as you, but old enough."

"That did not answer my question."

"I know. I'm twenty-five."

"You look like you're barely old enough to go into a bar."

"And that, Paddy, is why Detective Massey assigned me to this case." Link turned to Mike, repeating his offer.

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 27

The next day at the shelter was much like the previous one for Paddy and Mike. The only real difference was that Mike was getting more and more tense, waiting for the other shoe to drop. And Detective Massey had assigned a new officer to the case.

When Mike and Paddy got to the shelter around noon, Mr. Jones called Mike into his office. Since his boss knew what was going on, Mike wasn't too surprised to see a new, and younger, undercover officer there. Mr. Jones introduced him as Lincoln Allen.

"Just call me Link," the officer said, smiling. "Everyone does."

After introductions were performed, Link told them his cover story. He would be an ex street kid who was volunteering at the shelter now.

"Detective Massey said doing it this way will give me more freedom to move around."

Mike eyed him. He was tall, just over six-foot Mike thought, with medium length black hair and dark blue eyes that lit up when he smiled.  "It does," he replied to Link's implied question.

With that settled, Link said, "Mr. Jones told me you're in charge of letting kids in. If I can help with that it would make things easier. That is if it's something I'd be doing." 

Paddy, who had been leaning against the wall watching and listening, said, "It is. I do it whenever it gets too busy."

"You're the man Massey mentioned. The PI," Link said.

"That would be me."

"Well, since I'll be here now, if you have other things, other jobs you're working, it's okay if you take off."

Paddy bristled, obviously biting back a scathing reply. "Mike hired me. It's his choice whether he wants me around, not yours."

"Guys," Mike said, holding up one hand, "As far as I'm concerned the more the merrier right now." He looked between the two men. "One of you can stay with me behind the counter. The other one can monitor the door. God only knows there are times when it would be nice to have someone there to weed out kids who are stoned or drunk so we don't have to deal with them." 

"Sounds like a good job for Link," Paddy said quickly, before Link could suggest otherwise.

"Okay, then let's get out there. I'm sure whoever's on the counter now is wondering if I've just been fired or something."

With that said, Mike and his two 'volunteers' left Mr. Jones' office.

* * * *

Paddy spent more time watching Link watch Mike than he did paying attention to what he was supposed to be doing. The young undercover officer seemed to be a bit too interested in Mike as a person as far as Paddy was concerned. When it got very busy later in the afternoon, Link joined them behind the counter, standing close to Mike so he could ask questions about one kid or another.

Am I reading too much into this? After all he really doesn't know the ins and outs yet. Besides which, they just met. Link's probably just trying to get an idea of how Mike does things so he'll know from his body language if something is wrong or off kilter.

Still, Paddy couldn't help the wave of jealousy that washed over him when Link leaned in at one point, his hand on Mike's shoulder, to see how he was filling out the form for a kid who couldn't have been more than fourteen. A kid who was desperate to have a bed for the night but unwilling to even give Mike his street name for fear it would get out and somehow lead his father to him.

When Mike eventually just wrote down a made-up name for the kid and waved him through the double doors to the recreation area, Paddy heard Link whisper, his lips close to Mike's ear, "He's been abused, hasn't he?"

Paddy was relieved when Mike pulled away. Then less so when he asked Paddy if he could handle things for a moment while he had a talk with Link. Paddy nodded reluctantly and hoped that Mike would read the young officer the riot act for being so damned naïve.

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 26

Mike hurried into the kitchen while Evan joined Paddy at the window, asking him, "Watching for Mr. Keefe?"

Paddy nodded. "Sort of. Not that he'd walk right up even if he does know Mike lives here."

"Could you sense it if he was in the neighborhood?" Evan asked, keeping his voice low.

"I should be able to, since he's a danger to Mike. If I didn't it would be time to turn in my wings."

"You could do that?" Evan asked in surprise. 

Paddy chucked. "Not really. This is a forever thing."

Evan nodded, glancing toward the kitchen. "You like him, don't you?"

Hedging his bets, Paddy replied, "He's a nice young man."

"Paddy, I've been watching you watching him when he wasn't aware of it. The look on your face… Well if I had to describe it, it would be one of yearning." He smiled a bit when Paddy shook his head. "You won't do anything about it. Probably because you think you can't, given what you are. That, in my opinion, would be stupid. Or more, it would be if he has any feelings for you."

Paddy snorted softly. "He sees me as a friend and a protector, nothing more."

"You're certain? You've… probed?"

"No I haven't! I wouldn't. That would be unethical at best and a total invasion of his privacy."

Evan grinned. "Then maybe I should do a little probing of my own, verbally."

"Don't you dare! Let it be, Evan. Nothing good could come of it. He's young. He's got his whole life ahead of him. Even if he does"—Paddy spread his hands—"have feelings for me as you put it, he deserves better. He should find a nice young man his own age, fall in love and go from there." Sighing, he added, "I have nothing to offer him. Hell, when this assignment is over I'll never see him again."

"Those are the rules you live by?" Evan asked in dismay.

"Yes. We're only around for our charges, when they need us to keep them safe or to push them in the right direction when they go way off course. Then we're gone and they're none the wiser that we were even around."

"Not true. You and Dom let us know who and what you are. And you're dealing with us now, too."

"Special case," Paddy replied tightly. "With Mike… Yeah, I'm visible to him because he needs me to be if I'm going to protect him. But he has no idea that I'm more than just someone who was around at the right time, in the right place, and offered my help. And that, my friend, is how it's going to stay."

Evan shook his head. "I think you're wrong but I'll stay out of it."

"Thank you. Now, shall we go see if dinner is ready?"

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 25

Paddy had been right about one thing. Nothing happened the next day as far as seeing or dealing with Mr. Keefe was concerned. Detective Massey did assign an officer to be at the shelter while Mike was there, but only for the day as the man had another case he needed to work starting the following morning.

Paddy and Mike spent their time at the shelter doing what they, well Mike, always did. Paddy helped out at the admission counter when needed and otherwise spent time in the recreation area getting to know some of the teens. He found their reasons for being on the streets interesting, and in many cases very disheartening. People should have to have a license to be parents, with classes, just as they do if they want to drive.

On their way to the shelter, they had stopped at Vic's office to drop off the key to Mike's apartment so that Evan could work on adding more security. It wasn't until they were on their way back to the apartment at the end of their shift at the shelter that they realized they might not be able to get in. Paddy called Vic to tell him that, only to be told in return that Evan was waiting for them.

"He's not as dumb as you seem to think," Vic said, laughing. "You on the other hand…"

"Yeah, yeah," Paddy muttered, hanging up.

When they got up to Mike's place, Evan greeted them at the door. After giving Mike his keys, he explained the security box and asked Mike what series of numbers he wanted to use. "And not your birthday, or Social Security number, or anything like that," he cautioned.

After thinking for a moment, and doing some counting on his fingers, Mike told him, "12, 1, 15, 3, and 8."

"Okay, but you'll need to punch them in as single digits," Evan pointed out, "since the numbers on the pad go from one through zero, like on a phone."

Mike nodded. "I think I can handle that."

As Evan programmed them in he said, "What do they stand for, if you don't mind my asking?"

Mike glanced at Paddy and smiled. "Laoch, which I hope I spelled right."

It took Paddy a minute to figure it out before he replied, "You did." When Evan cocked and eyebrow in question, he explained what laoch meant.

"That fits," Evan said, smiling. Puzzled, Mike asked how he knew that. "From what Vic told me about him," Evan replied without batting an eye.

::Good catch.:: Paddy told Evan, mentally.

"I'm not as dumb as I look. You on the other hand…"

"Yeah, yeah. What's with you two. That's twice in less than half an hour."

Evan just grinned before taking Mike around to show him what other security measures he'd installed. When they were finished, Mike thanked Evan profusely then asked if he'd like to stay for supper. "It's stew, which won't take long to heat up."

"From a can?" Evan asked warily.

"Oh no. Homemade and in the freezer."

"In that case, I'd love to."

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 24

If he hadn't let his hair down… Mike stared at the sink full of dirty dishes but he was seeing Paddy, his long red hair hanging to his waist, imagining him bare-chested as he charged into battle with only his sword and shield and his courage to protect him.

Shaking his head, he brought his mind back to what he was doing, which was washing dishes. Not half as interesting as what I could be doing if I just had the nerve to say something. But I don't, and I won't, though it could be just what I need to take my mind off of Mr. Keefe and…and everything. But that would just be using Paddy which wouldn't be fair to him. I mean it wouldn't be…would it? I like him, but not like that. I don't think.

He put the last dish in the drainer and realized he'd washed them all by instinct while his mind had been elsewhere. Then he shivered. It's what's going on that makes him interesting. Nothing more. I'm scared, he's here, he's kind and… Mike sighed. And damned sexy with his hair down like that. I wonder if he really does have a warrior's body. But I'm not going to try to find out.

He jumped when he heard Paddy say, "Daydreaming?" and turned to look at him. He'd pulled his hair back into its clasp and now stood, framed in the archway, with a smile on his face.

"Yeah, I guess," Mike replied. Damned sexy now, too. Okay, enough!  "More like I'm half asleep I think."

"Then let's get to bed. We could have an interesting day ahead of us. Or two or three, depending on how soon Keefe makes his move."

"You think it could take that long?" Mike asked, following Paddy into the living room.

"Hard to tell. He has to come up with a safe way to get at you."

Mike winced. "So I'll be looking over my shoulder until he does."

Paddy chuckled. "If you do, you'll see me, since I have your back as they say."

"Not funny," Mike grumbled. But he did smile. "All right. I'll see you in the morning."

"That you will," Paddy agreed as he headed toward the guest bedroom. "That you will."  

Guardian Angels – Ambivalent - 23

"Whew." Mike blew out a long breath. "I guess that's what we wanted but damn. At least Massey kept Dizzy out of it."

"True, which does mean Keefe probably won't go after him. Instead it puts you squarely in Keefe's sights now." Paddy gripped Mike's shoulder, asking "Are you all right?"

"Scared as hell, but yeah, I guess I am." He smiled slightly. "Well, other than the fact that I want to go bury my head under the covers and not come out until the cops find Mr. Keefe."

"Unless they get real lucky and someone does call with information, that's not going to happen if you hide out here."

"I know." Mick looked at Paddy, shaking his head. "At least I have you for moral support, and protection."

"That you do." Paddy realized he was still holding Mike's shoulder and somewhat reluctantly pulled his hand away.

Mike chewed his lip. "What if Keefe decides to track me down here at the apartment, now that he knows who I am?"

"That's why I'm here," Paddy replied.

"Okay. True." Mike smiled slightly. "And since I'm on the third floor he can't really come in through a window. Right?"

"Not unless he's Spiderman," Paddy agreed.

"Who knows? He could be. He decided he was tired of being a do-gooder and that crime paid better."

"Uh-huh. If that were the case then his Spidey senses would have let him know the first time he saw you that you were the person he was hunting and we'd never have met because you'd be dead."

"That's a horrible thought."

"You're being dead? Yeah."

"No, that we wouldn't have met. I would have missed making a new friend whose company I happen to like."

Paddy chuckled. "Isn't that what friendship is? Liking someone enough to want them around?"

"Yes. And I'm glad that I met you even if you are, umm…" Mike seemed at a loss for how to describe him.

"Old?" Paddy cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes. No! No, you're not old you're just…"

"Not nearly as young as you."

"Right, and there's nothing wrong with that. You're world-wise."

Paddy laughed. "Meaning I've been around the block more than a few times."

"Well—yeah. I guess." Mike eyed him for a moment then blurted out, "Why do you wear your hair so long? Okay, that was probably not something I should ask."

"Why not? It's a legitimate question. To answer it honestly, it reminds me of my heritage. I grew up being taught we Irish are more than fine musicians and”—Paddy grinned—"prolific drinkers. We are laoch. Warriors who stand strong for what we believe."

"If you let it hang free I bet you'd really look like a laoch. Did I say that right?"

"You did." Impulsively, Paddy undid the clasp holding back his hair. He shook his head, his hair flying out like red flames before it settled again.

"Oh yeah," Mike said in awe. "Definitely a laoch. Give you a sword and a shield and you could take on anyone."

"Who knows," Paddy replied with a bit of a grin. "Perhaps in a past life I had them and helped defend Ireland against foreign invaders." In truth he had, and he'd died in the process. Not that he was about say that to Mike.

"And now you're defending me."

"Going to do my damnedest to." Paddy finished the last bite of his hamburger. "That was good."

"Do you want another?" Mike grinned. "After all, laoch have to keep up their strength."

Paddy snorted. "I'm heading to bed in a few minutes. I hardly think I need strength for that."

"Unless… Umm… Good point." Mike looked flustered as he got up and began clearing the table.

Paddy was very tempted to take a quick look at the young man's thoughts to see what had caused his sudden discomposure. But do I really want to know? If it's what I think… No, that's unlikely. He sees me as his protector and nothing more, which is a damned good thing. He watched as Mike hurried to the kitchen with the dishes, admiring for a moment the grace of his movements. Frustrating right now, but yeah, better it remains just that.