THE REVENGE OF MIGUEL BAIN

by KC, Deena, Susan J. and Chris H.

"Where?" she asked.

"On my adventures which will takes us around the world," he said.

She looked at him.

"I see that you are unsure. Well, think about it." he said.

"Thanks, I will."

Miguel drifted off to sleep and CC got up from the bed, wrapped a sheet around her and went into the bathroom. Miguel started to dream of the life that he left behind. He dreamed of seeing his beloved Elenora for the first time, their first dance, their first kiss and of course the first time they made love. The dream was so real to him that he began to get aroused. He saw her standing before him smiling.

"Come to me, Miguelito," Elenora smiled.

"Oh my love, where have you been?"

"Waiting for you." She held her hand out to him.

Miguel reached for her. Just as he was about to touch her hand, he woke up to find himself sitting up in the middle of the bed with his hand outstretched. He moved and sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. CC opened the bathroom door and saw Miguel.

"Oh Elenora, what are you trying to tell me?" he whispered.

CC then closed the door quietly. Miguel looked around the room and noticed that CC was no where in sight. He heard the shower running and he went into the bathroom. He saw CC in the shower, he walked over and opened the glass door.

"Do you need some help?" he asked.

She turned around.

"I thought you were asleep?" she said.

"Not anymore."

He stepped in and closed the door behind him. He took the bar of soap from CC's hands and rubbed it between his hands.

"Miguel…."

"Hmmmm….."

"Aren't you tired?"

"No. Are you?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"On what you're planning to do."

His soapy hands felt like silk as they slid down her body. He kissed her hard on the mouth. He moved her backwards so that she was against the wall. He kissed her neck and then moved down to her breasts. His tongue flicked each hard nipple as his left hand was probing between her legs making her moan even louder. She held onto the showerhead with both hands completely surrendering herself to him. His probing was beginning to make her spasm. She looked into his eyes and thought to herself how sweet and tender they could be if they were given the chance.

"Miguel…."

"Yes querida?"

"Who is Elenora?"

He stopped what he was doing and looked at her.

"Where did you hear that name?"

I heard you say her name while you were sitting on the bed. Who is she?"

He opened the shower door and got out, she followed him. They each grabbed a towel and wrapped it around themselves.

"Miguel answer me." she said.

"Why the hell do you want to know who she is?!"

"I'm just curious that's all!

"Well don't be so fucking curious !"

She stared at him.

"Who ever she is, she really did a number on you."

"No one did a number on me! Now drop it !"

"All right, I will !"

CC left the bathroom, slamming the door behind her and going into the bedroom. Miguel took off the towel and went back into the shower. He turned the water back on and let the water wash over his body.

And then once again his thoughts turned to Elenora. He could see her face so clearly and he thought for a moment there he could smell her perfume. CC then came to mind and he smiled thinking of her. She's tough, smart, hard nosed and wildly exciting in bed. He then thought of his life and how it all tool a violent turn all those years ago. He knew that he was good at what he did. He thought of the day that his path crossed Rath's and from that moment on he knew that he not only wanted to be good but he wanted to be the best and the best couldn't let anything or anybody get in his way. He put his head under the shower head and let the water wash over him. He started thinking about his victory over Rath and the fact that now he was indeed Number One.

CC was getting dressed and thinking Miguel. The sex was great, but you can't base a relationship on purely sex; there had to be more she thought. As she thought about his lifestyle she felt herself get angry. How could a man with such potential go around killing people for money? She knew that she had to decide whether or not to end the relationship before it got totally out of control and enveloped her completely. She knew that if she didn't do something quickly there would be no way out except perhaps to die.

"Does he expect me to fly him to all of his assignments? To wait quietly while he kills people? Or just sit at home nice and content like some little housewife?" she said to herself.

She shook her head and walked into the kitchen and made some coffee. Miguel came out of the bathroom with only a towel on. He dried himself off and got dressed. He inhaled the aroma of coffee and walked towards the kitchen. When he got there he saw CC looking out the back door.

"So, is the plane okay to fly?" he asked

"I think so. I have to check everything once more time just to be sure. Why?" she asked.

"Just wondering."

"Wondering? Wondering if I'm going to fly you to your next hit!"

"Don't start."

"What?"

"About my line of work, and once and for all forget about her !" Miguel poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Fine! So what's your next assignment? Killing the Pope?" she said sarcastically.

"No, a woman pilot," he replied as he took a sip of coffee. She looked at him and he started laughing.

"You son of a bitch!" she yelled.

She threw a glass that was on the table at him. He moved before it hit him.

"Then quit asking so many damn questions!" he said.

CC went outside to check the plane. Miguel studied his assignment. He started thinking as much as he cared for CC he couldn't let it go any further. He couldn't let anyone get close to him as Elenora did, no one. He heard the motor if the plane and went to the window, he saw her take off. CC circled the area a few times and then landed. CC went and sat in one of the passengers seats.

"What the hell am I gonna do? He's a bloodthirsty killer who can turn on me anytime. I could just start the engine and leave, but what about the animals? I just can't leave them behind. There's no telling what he'd do to them. Damn it CC, you've got your work cut out for you this time."

She got up and opened the door to he plane and walked down the steps. There stood Miguel waiting for her.

"What do you want?" CC snapped, irritably. She didn't look at his face, for fear her emotions would erupt. Why had she asked him about Elenora? She knew she had only done it to hurt him. To make him show some emotion to her. She really didn't care who Elenora was; it was obviously a thing of the past. But sometime in his past, he had cared so much for a woman that he would mumble her name in his sleep. CC knew that it was partly envy, and partly the need to see that Miguel actually could have feelings, or at least had them at one time.

She wondered again why she had ever gotten herself into this relationship. She had broken her cardinal rule; never get involved with a client, and never know too much about what they did. She had always kept her distance for her physical protection. She never worried about her emotional involvement. And her rule had proved that she was right. Since meeting Miguel, she had almost been killed, and now she had to watch him leave her behind. She finally looked at Miguel when he didn't speak. He was watching her.

"Well, what did you decide?" he asked.

"Decide? About what? About going with you? I already told you I can't do it. What the hell do you want from me? Damn you, Miguel…

CC hurried toward the door of the cabin. Miguel didn't move to stop her, but turned and followed her inside. She felt the tears rising, and she walked straight into the bathroom and slammed the door. Damn him! She turned on the water in the faucet, and splashed cold water on her face. After several deep breaths she got the tears under control. She would not cry in front of him. She could not show that side of herself to him. He didn't care anything about that part of her anyway. She would hide her feelings. Tell him to leave. "Please leave. Yes, the sex was great. If you ever decide to change careers give me a call…"

She wasn't sure how long she had been in there, when Miguel tapped on the door.

"CC. Don't do this. Come out of there." His voice was quiet, almost gentle.

She looked at her face in the mirror. Her eyes were a little red, but chances were good that Miguel would never notice it. She was back in control. He wouldn't know she had shed a tear for him. She opened the door. They stared at each other for a moment, then Miguel spoke.

"CC. I wanted you to go with me because I like for you to be near me. And it's nice to have a personal pilot, especially one who is so… willing, in my bed. I misunderstood you. I thought you wanted the same thing. That you didn't care about what I do. But it is becoming obvious that you want more from this… what? From us, you said. I can't give you more than what you see right now. I am what you see. If you want more, then you're right. I should go."

CC couldn't look at him. She knew he was right. What she felt or thought she felt for him wasn't returned. He was not capable of feeling love, or even recognizing that emotion in her. She examined her hands closely, staring at the dark lines where the grime of the plane had left its semi-permanent marks. Finally, she spoke.

"Miguel. I don't give a damn about what you do. I don't think about it. Oh, shit. Damn it that isn't true… I have thought about it too much. I just hope that your marks are at least people who have done some evil. But I could ignore that. I have done it before. If it were only that, I would take you where ever you wanted to go." She paused.

"Then go with me! Take me to airports anywhere in the world! That is what you wanted with the plane isn't it? You would have a reason to visit all kinds of places. And, even if I am 'Number One,' I don't have to take that many contracts, and we could go other places. Where ever you want to go."

"No, Miguel! Stop. Stop! Dammit! You just don't get it, do you?" CC felt the tears rising again. She closed her eyes and said to herself, you will not cry, you will not cry.

"No, quierida. I don't get it at all. What is the big deal? You said you don't care if I kill. Or at least you don't care as long as I don't tell you about it. I can live with that. Tell me what the hell is bothering you?"

CC stood up and walked to the window. She stared out at the distant mountain range, hugging herself. Did she dare tell Miguel how she felt? How she cared for him? She looked at the dark clouds on the horizon. It occurred to her that these past warm days had lulled her into thinking that winter was not going to come. But the sky she saw in the distance made her realize that she needed to get the plane off the mesa, or it would be stuck there all winter. She was so deep in thought, she didn't hear Miguel come up behind her and she jumped when she felt his hand on her shoulder and neck. He pushed her long braids aside and kissed her neck. She closed her eyes, and felt the shiver of desire for him run through her. It would be so easy. Just fly him places. That is all he wanted. She could do it. And she would be with him all the time. And that really was what she wanted, right?

He turned her around and kissed her, pulling her body close to his. She could feel his arousal, and she wanted to just give in. She rubbed her hands down his body, over his back. Then she felt the bandages from his latest wound. A sob escaped from her lips, enveloped by Miguel's insistent kisses. She slipped her hands between their bodies and pushed him away.

Miguel's eyes flashed with anger. "What the fuck are you playing at, CC? Quit playing whatever game this is. If you want me to leave, then we can fly out of here tonight. Say the word. I am dependent on you to get me out of here. Or, I will buy your truck and drive out. Don't keep inviting me, then pushing me away."

"Fuck you! You can have the damn truck! Just get the hell out of my life! I was doing fine until I met you! I didn't need anyone, didn't have anybody to worry about but Cyber and Papa. Then you come along and made me fall in love with you…"

She stopped, her face flushing with the embarrassment of what she had just confessed. She shut her eyes and tried not to cry, but she could not stop a tear from rolling down her face. She felt Miguel's hand under her chin.

"CC. Look at me. C'mon. Open your eyes. That's right. Now, you think you are in love with me? What do you love? What I do to you? That is just sex. Anyone can learn to do that. You are old enough to know better. Tell me what you see in me that you love?"

CC didn't answer for a moment. She stared into his eyes, then finally said, "What I love? Your lack of inhibition. Your complete immersion in whatever you are doing. Your apparent lack of fear. How you make me feel safe, even though I don't need your protection. How you sometimes know what I am thinking. The tiny signs of some gentleness in you when I see you with Cyber. How you and Papa like to scream at each other. I just FEEL so much more of everything since you have been here. And yes, I do love the way you make me feel. And for me, it isn't just sex."

She paused, but when Miguel didn't reply, she continued. "But it is painfully obvious that this is only a one way street. So, I will tell you one more thing and we will get through this day and I will fly you to Albuquerque in the morning. And you can fly out of my life, and I can forget you. Obviously, you won't have to work too hard to forget me. If I didn't care for you, I could do what you want. I could even have sex with you. But, the thing is, I cannot deliver you to your death. I saw you hunting Rath, for your revenge and to be 'Number One', and then I see in my mind some young boy, waiting in the wings to take you. Some kid with too many hormones comes along wanting your 'title.' And sooner or later you make a mistake, or the kid gets lucky. And I am sitting at the airport, waiting for you, but you don't come back. Then I have to live with the fact that I made it a little easier for you to meet your end. I can't do that."

CC rubbed her eyes and said, "I am going for a walk. I'll be back by night fall. Just tell me later what time you need to be at the airport."

She snapped her fingers and Cyber danced to attention. She and the dog headed off toward the roughest terrain visible from the cabin. Miguel called her name once, but she ignored him. She didn't want to talk to Miguel anymore. Cyber dashed along in front of her, excited to be running free. She watched him stop and wait for her to catch up before he took off again. She wanted to walk and forget. Forget that she had ever had any feelings awaken for Miguel. She walked on, headed for a special place to think. She hadn't been there since her brother's death, all those years ago.

After a couple of hours, she arrived at the old Anasazi ruin, a small and remote site that was only well known by locals. She had gone there many times as a kid, with her brother. They had scared each other with ghost stories about the former inhabitants, and had great fun there. She had continued to go there whenever she got leave from her stint in the Army. And after her brother died, she went there and stayed for several days, remembering every moment with him.

She sat looking out over the edge of the canyon wall. The sheer drop into the small, dry riverbed was a breathtaking view. She stared across to the opposite wall, and thought about why she had let her guard down. Why had she let this violent man get to her? His physical attributes certainly played a part. But that wasn't all. She was enticed by something else. What it was, she wasn't sure.

But she had to forget that. He didn't, no, couldn't return her feelings. It wasn't something she could change. Whatever had made Miguel who he was could not be changed simply by love. He couldn't give himself again. But she felt sure that he had given himself. Sometime in his past, he had been a lover, a caring man. But whatever had happened seemed irreversible. CC didn't try to stop the slow cascade of tears. She would not deny she loved Miguel, but she cried because she knew could not compete with his demons.

Miguel returned to the cabin. He checked the computer for any messages, but nothing new had come in. He stared at the screen and thought about CC. Damn her, he thought. Why did she have to develop feelings for him? He had never been with a more exciting woman. So vital, so sure of herself. So tough, and so wild. He never considered that she might grow to care for him. She seemed too independent. As cold and businesslike in the relationship as he was, except in her bed. There she was more exciting than anything he had ever known. She was so completely willing. She did things for him that no woman had ever done, and was always as eager as he was.

What the hell could he do? He would not fall in love with her. That had happened once, and he had been changed completely by his only love. What had happened to Elenora was why he was Miguel Bain. And he did care enough for CC to know that she would be in danger if anyone ever knew of their involvement. If anyone ever thought he cared for her, she would be a perfect target to get him. And he would not let that happen.

He wandered around the cabin, looking at things that CC collected. He had seen them all before, but never really noticed them. Many pieces of Navajo and Hopi art, rugs and ceramic pots, and antique quilts from her white ancestors. He realized as he looked at them that they were all the artwork of CC's female ancestors. The domestic arts of women. She surrounded herself with reminders of the strong and talented women in her personal history. History, the subject he had loved before killing had become his passion.

He picked up a small stone carving, it looked like a dog, or more likely a wolf. He looked at it, admiring the artwork. The stone was highly polished, and was a beautiful black, streaked with lines of gray. The cool smooth stone felt good in his hand, and he slipped it into his pocket as he continued to admire the other pieces in CC's cabin.

His attention was drawn away by Papa, who suddenly screamed "chit chat." He turned to the bird, and tried to get the bird to say the whole phrase, but Papa stubbornly refused to repeat it. Miguel finally tired of the bird, and after checking his e-mail again, he sat on the porch and waited for CC to return. He didn't know what to say to her, only that he needed to be at the airport in Albuquerque before noon. He sat with his feet propped up, staring out over the rough, beautiful terrain.

CC stared out into the small canyon until almost sunset. She suddenly realized that most of her walk home would be in the dark, and she whistled and called to Cyber as she scrambled to her feet. She wasn't worried about getting lost, but it would take her some extra time to traverse the path in the dark. She and Cyber started back to the cabin.

She had come to no conclusion throughout her day of thinking. Only that she would never let another man get to her. No matter what. Miguel was the last one. She didn't need the pain. She trudged over the path, trusting Cyber's hunger to guide them home.

Miguel watched as the sun set, and stared expectantly toward the path that CC had taken. He knew she wasn't lost, but she did say she would be back by nightfall, and it was already difficult to see. Where the hell was she? Pearl began a persistent call, which annoyed him until he realized that she was only hungry. He slapped some cat food on a plate for her, then covered Papa's cage for the night as he'd seen CC do so many times. He went back on the porch to wait.

Almost two hours later, Cyber bounded onto the porch. Miguel jumped up and peered into the darkness. "Cyber, where's CC? She's with you, right?" The dog just danced around Miguel's feet. Miguel stepped out into the yard and started for the path. Then he saw CC emerge from behind the trees. "Where the hell have you been? You said you'd be back by sundown. The sun's been down for almost two hours!" he yelled.

"What, Miguel? You were worried about me? That's hard to believe. I didn't think you ever worried about anyone's skin but your own. No, no, that's not true either. You really don't even worry about your own skin, do you? I guess you were just afraid you would have to drive the old truck to the airport tomorrow? Well, I am back. And I will be more that happy to fly you out tomorrow. What time?"

Miguel stared at her, then said, "Damn it! I have to be at the airport at 11am. I will take the truck. I can't take anymore of your bitching."

"Look, I said I would fly you. That's it. End of discussion. We need to leave here by nine."

CC pushed past Miguel into the house, fed Cyber and took a shower. She slipped into her bed after the shower, and listened to Miguel rustle around in the kitchen, fixing something to eat. She wondered if he would sleep in the bed with her that night, or choose to sleep on the couch. She tossed and turned for a long time, then finally dozed off.

An hour or two later, she felt Miguel slip into the bed beside her. She awoke when he shook the bed. She hoped he would touch her, try to make up to her. She would have slipped into his arms, his caresses, immediately if he asked. But he didn't. He only slipped his arm over her waist and curled his body around hers. Only a few moments later, she could hear his breathing change as he drifted into sleep. She had no more tears to cry, and she lay there listening to his breath in her ear until she too drifted off the sleep.

The cabin was cold when she woke up. She could hear Miguel stomping around, and realized he was trying to start a fire in the wood stove. She sat up and watched him. He was playing toss with Cyber, and he laughed loudly when the toy and Cyber almost landed on Pearl. Pearl was hissing and spitting and Cyber started barking. Miguel loudly whispered "Hush!" and looked back over at the bed, catching CC watching him. He looked at her a moment, but neither of them said anything. He went back to starting the fire.

CC got dressed. Miguel poured her some coffee and made a comment about how cold it had gotten. CC nodded, and stared into the dark liquid in the cup.

"Look, CC, if you want I will just take the truck. Please, just let me buy it from you."

"No! No. I told you I will fly you. I have to get the plane off the mesa before the snows start, anyway. And it's a short flight. I'll take you. We can leave whenever you are ready."

"CC, change your mind. Come with me."

I can't, Miguel. And you know why. Don't ask me again."

Neither spoke again. CC finished her coffee and went out to the plane, and prepared for the flight. As she completed her check of all the systems, she heard Miguel behind her.

"Are you taking the zoo?"

"No, I will be back by tonight."

"How will you get back here without the plane?"

"I'll hitch a ride with somebody, or borrow a truck or horse. It's no big deal. I do it all the time."

Miguel loaded his things into the plane. CC went back to the cabin, grabbed a heavy coat, and backpack, and locked up. She returned to the plane, got in and started it. "She looked at Miguel and said, "Ready?" He nodded, and she took off. The flight wasn't very long, but it seemed interminable for both of them. They barely spoke. CC dreaded landing and their final good-bye.

She landed the plane, and taxied up to the small buildings reserved for private planes. She turned everything off, and got out as Miguel did the same. She helped him retrieve his luggage and the precious laptop, then walked with him to the small terminal. They entered the building, then stood and stared at each other, neither knowing what to say.

CC finally spoke, "You can catch a shuttle bus from here to the main terminal. Good- bye, Miguel. Don't get yourself killed."

She started to walk past him, but his hand grabbed her arm. "No, CC. You don't get off that easily." His powerful arms pulled her to him, and he held her tightly. She could barely breathe. He loosened his hold, and kissed her, a hard, probing kiss. Her mind was filled with the desire to take him back to the plane, but another part of her knew it had to stop here. She managed to push him away and whispered, "No, Miguel. No more. You are leaving my life. Good-bye."

She kissed his lips once more, gently, and walked away to file her return flight plan. She didn't dare look back. When she finally turned to go back to the plane, he was gone. She looked around, hoping to catch one last glimpse of his back, but he was nowhere to be seen. She sighed and swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. She planned to take off as quickly as she could, and take the plane to it's usual wintering spot, a small airport not too far from the town closest to her home. But when she got back to the plane, she could only stare at the big jets taking off and landing, wondering which one would carry Miguel away.

After some time, she took off and returned to the airport nearest her home. She landed the plane, and moved it into a small hangar. She spoke briefly with the airport's owner, then hitched a ride into town. She arranged to borrow a horse to ride back up to the cabin, then went to pick up her mail at the post office. She realized she had been neglecting her regular habits; she hadn't picked her mail in days.

The old mare she borrowed to ride back to the cabin was like an old friend, a quiet animal that barely needed to be guided to the right path. She would be lucky to make it home by sunset, but she wasn't in a big hurry. The animals would be fine until she got back. She absentmindedly flipped through the stack of mail she had retrieved. Most of it was junk, and she should have sifted through it before she started back, but it gave her something to do.

She stopped when she noticed the envelope from the bank. The bank that held the loan for the plane. She stared at it for a few seconds before she opened it. There was a letter and the last check she had mailed for the loan payment. The check had not been cashed.

She had to read the letter three times before she understood what it said. "Your check is being returned as the balance of your loan has been paid in full. Payment was received on…" She clutched the envelope to her chest. Miguel. Miguel had paid off the loan for the plane. She was free. She didn't have to fly high-paying shady characters around anymore. Damn him! she thought. He had to leave something behind that she couldn't forget.

She rode on, thinking about him and wondered if this… gesture meant that he did care for her, somehow. More likely that he only felt obligated to pay her for her help. She decided that was more like him. Why would he care for her? He just wasn't capable of it. She stuck the envelope from the bank along with the rest of the mail back into the large backpack she had carried from the plane.

The remainder of her trip was uneventful. She thought about how she had dreamed of moving somewhere warmer and as the sun set, she felt the autumn chill. She pulled her coat around her, and decided she would start looking for a place, somewhere. Maybe a Caribbean island. Lots of sun, and no snow. She almost dozed as she dreamed of a warm new home. It was just after dark when she arrived at the cabin. She took care of the horse, then went inside. The fire in the wood stove had kept the cabin warm for the day, but she added some fuel to keep it going. Cyber and Pearl danced around, knowing it was time to eat. She fed them as she listened to a stream of foul language from Papa.

"What's your problem, old bird? she fussed at him while she got him some seed.

"Cut the chit chat," he said.

CC whirled around and stared at him. "Cut the chit chat." He squawked again.

"Oh great, Miguel. Thanks for making you even more impossible to forget," she whispered.

Miguel's flight was an international one. CC hadn't asked where he was going, and he hadn't volunteered the information, but his European destination would keep him on planes for several hours. He closed his eyes and tried to doze as he waited for the plane to depart. He wondered where CC was. Probably already on her way back up to the cabin. He thought about her, her slim, tight body, her brown skin, and the cascade of black hair that fell around her shoulders. The familiar arousal he felt at the thought of her now made him shift uncomfortably in his seat. He felt something cut into his thigh, and he pulled the small stone wolf he had taken from her cabin.

He stared at it. The little stone animal was like CC. It had been cold and hard when he first touched it. But after some time in his pocket, it was warmed by his body, and was as smooth and silky to touch as she was. He rubbed the tiny statuette in his hands as he stared out the plane window and realized that the little wolf he had taken would be his memory of her.