I hate waiting.

If there is one thing guaranteed to make me lose my patience, it's waiting. Whoever said the thrill was in the journey, not the destination, obviously didn't lead the kind of life I do.

I have a low frustration tolerance. Maybe it's genetic. Maybe it's a product of the stunningly bad upbringing I had.
Or maybe I'm just having a colossally bad day. Nothing significant. Just free-floating angst. Enough to contaminate everyone I come in contact with.

Except him.

What's wrong with him?

I snap. He smiles at me.

I come up with some charmingly sarcastic putdown. He winks.

What's with the fucking winking? Doesn't he know he's driving me crazy? Can't he see I'm already half out of my mind?

That...last one. Um...not a good trait in a field op. We're supposed to be trained, goddammit.
And I am.

I mean, I was. I think.

He thinks. All the time. About what? That's what I'd dearly love to know.

He's with the thinking. I'm with the saving the world. Well, in general. I mean, I'm not a superhero. No cape on these shoulders. Although there could be. There could be.

Wait...there he goes again. Looking at me. That stupid grin. He looks all of twelve years old when he smiles like that. Whoa, didn't mean that looking at kids turns me on. Nope. I just find him so damn...

Hot. It's fucking hot in here. And did I mention the waiting?

Jeesh. Sooner or later, all this waiting has to come to an end.

Doesn't it?

Shit, I didn't even say that out loud and it sounded whiny.

Tick tock. Mission clock's running. I gotta go.

Right over there. Where I can stand behind him and hover over his bony little shoulder.

Waiting.

For the mission profile. Of course, that's what I meant. I'm not waiting...for him.

Wow, he's smiling again. I think the sun just came out and got rid of those clouds that refused to go away. Kid's a positive weatherman.

"Sorry?"

Crap, he was actually saying something and I missed it. Hope it doesn't get me killed.

"I said...your team is about to leave without you." That makes me chuckle. Like they could go anywhere without--

"I'll be right back," I tell him. Then I hightail it to the tunnel for a quick word with Chas.

When I get back, there's that telltale twinkle in his eyes. Like he knows what I'm thinking. He couldn't know what I'm thinking. Otherwise, he'd be running away. Not...

...waiting.