Play with Fire [closed for Homerun2611]

[hells_fury]

Playing with Fire [closed for Homerun2611]

Aaliyah Morrison wiped her forehead with the towel she had laid down. Her heart pounding from the physical exertion she was putting her body through. A slow deep breath would be had before taking a drink from the water bottle. Flesh was speckled with droplets of sweat, her long brunette hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail. She wore a sports bra and a pair of her favorite workout leggings, donned with a pair of running shoes. Looking back at the treadmill she would nod to herself. She had been working out every day and today even with it being her day off had been no exception, it also gave her the perfect excuse to go check in at the office. The gym had just been installed in the basement of the building and was free to everyone who worked at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. So Aaliyah was making sure to make good use of it.

Checking her watch she smiled to herself, her goal of the day having been reached almost an hour ago. Shaking her head however she would jump back onto the treadmill and crank up the speed. Her feet hitting the belt as she turned her music back on. She wanted to push herself and usually she wouldn't push so hard not if she had to go into work, today however that was not the case, today she was technically off. She knew she would end up in the office, end up finding herself working in one way or another she usually always did and her boss was well aware of that fact.

She wondered what her partner was up too, wondered what he was doing on his day off. Regardless she shook off the thoughts and focused herself on what she was currently doing, she focused on her heart rate and her breathing as she pushed herself even harder, sweat now sprinkling her skin as she ran at a full out sprint.

 

[Homerun2611]

It was an old habit but a necessary one. It didn't matter the day, or the weather, you would find him there, running the streets of Georgetown before crossing the Potomac, running past the Marine Corps War Memorial, and then down and back across the Potomac, past the Lincoln Memorial, a quick turn of the head and a salute to the Washington Memorial before running the last of the 4.5 miles from his rented brownstone apartment to the Bureaus, Washington office.

He wanted to take in every second he could, as every step, every building, every tribute to the heroes and legends of our country, reminded Hugh Davis, why he did this! He treasured these moments. He laughed at himself, how did a boy born in the land down under, become a man who bleeds red, white and blue.

At seventeen he was an Olympic hopeful swimmer, offered scholarships to swim at some of the best: USC, University of Texas, UCLA, even a couple of Ivy’s. However, the decision to pass all of that up as easy when he was given the chance to go across the county and attend the US Naval Academy. Too tall to be a pilot at six foo two, and 180 pounds of broad shouldered thin waisted, muscle, he had a different dream, to go special ops, be a Navy Seal, and defend the country that had adopted him. That was 13 years ago, He graduated the Academy with honors, and became a full fledged Seal in record time.

He met Beth when he was a junior at Annapolis during a weekend furlow in DC. She was a Senator’s daughter, and a devout Catholic. They fell in love almost instantly and saw each other every chance they could after that weekend. Begrudgingly the Senator gave him, a barely practicing Lutheran his daughter’s hand. They got engaged at Christmas the following year and planned to get married shortly after graduation, as the Senator hoped the young officer might follow him into politics. It was Valentine’s Day when Beth was diagnosed with Leukemia. Rather than celebrate their wedding that June, he attended his beloved’s funeral.

He served two tours serving time in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the things he did were the most top secret, but having lost the only thing he had ever loved, he was willing to give his all, thinking nothing of sacrificing his life. When he left the service the FBI was his only goal, and with a distinguished service record and ability as a trained killer, he progressed fast. Then eight months ago, his partner was killed breaking into a large drug bust where Hugh was giving him cover. Hugh got both killers but too late to save his partner.

They had grown close as brothers, best friends, and so when Aaliyah was assigned to him, he vowed not to get that close again, but also to protect her and not let someone else die on his watch. He was already drenched in sweat as he entered the bureau, his shirt sticking to his body like a second skin, when he took the elevator down to the new gym to do his free weights and take a steamer.

He saw Aaliyah working on the treadmill and headed over. She was young and beautiful but he tried hard to ignore all of that, treat her more like he kid sister of a friend, then a stunningly attractive woman. They were playful, but professional with each other, having shared a burger and a beer a few times after work, but not much more. “How was the day off, are you set for us to head down to Quantico tomorrow for the briefing?”