Agent Audrey Hanson, FBI. Challenge #2

The door opened up and she answered it.

“Hello?” she said.

“Miss Carla Gallo?” I flashed my badge. “My name is Agent Audrey Hanson, FBI.”

“Is there some sort of problem?” her soft raven brow furled just a bit.

“We have word that you are the target of a sicko psycho stalker who may make an attempt on your life. I have been assigned to protect you. I will be your bodyguard. May I come in?”

She opened the door fully and I slipped in after checking around a bit to make it look good. If the chief knew I was using Bureau resources like this and attempting to seduce a moderately known actress, he’d have my head on a lunch tray. But I’m doing this to catch Sylar, I keep telling myself, so it’s OK.

“Really? A psycho stalker? This is just too… Oh, I don’t know what to say.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it, ma’am,” I answered. “Can I… call you Carla?”

“Uh, OK, sure,” she shrugged.

“It’s just that although I am tasked to protect you from all bodily harm, it might look more natural if we appeared closer than bodyguard and, er, body.”

“OK, sure,” she agreed. “I’m just surprised that something like this would happen.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much, ma’am,” I let that slip. “I mean Carla. I think it’s just a crazy Judd Apatow fan who loved you in Undeclared. He’s bound to make a mistake soon and then we’ll nab him.”

“He loved me in Undeclared?”

“I have to admit, I really liked that show, too,” I admitted. “I liked how you were kinda sorta hooking up with that goofy kid. That was sweet.”

“Oh thank you,” she smiled. “You know, I’ve done other stuff, too.”

“I don’t watch that much TV,” I replied. “You know with work at the office and all.”

“Oh, well I was also in Mission Impossible III.”

“Yeah, I didn’t see that.”

“Oh.” She started to look a little down; I have to turn this around a bit.

“Well, I mean that I have trouble watching spy movies because that’s what I do in real life, you know,” I said quickly. “You know how a doctor might not want to watch a hospital drama.”

“Oh, I was in House, too!” she said.

“I love House,” I laughed and grabbed her shoulders. “Isn’t Hugh Laurie dreamy?”

“Oh yeah,” she nodded with an impish grin. Her face went serious again, though. “So if there’s someone out to get me, what am I supposed to do? Do I just hide here all day?”

“No no, just go about your regular business,” I answered. “I’m here to protect you and I’m sure this creep won’t make a move while I’m around. If he does, I can handle him.”

“Ok, great. Well, I was just going to take a shower here.” She pointed back to her bathroom.

“Oh, uh, would you like me to loofah your back?” I offered.

“Ah no.” She looked a little creeped out. “I can take care of that.”

Damnit. OK, she didn’t like that idea. I’ll win her over, though.

“I’m kidding, of course.” I playfully punched her shoulder. “I was thinking that after your shower, maybe we could take a bike ride.”

“What if that guy goes after me though?” she asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” I answered. “Like I said, the illusion that you’re going about your regular day is your best bet. It may even just keep him away.”

“Hmmm, OK.”

So after Carla took her shower, we went for a little bike ride and a walk in the park. We had a lot of fun together and I could feel her ease her guard down.

“You know I was just thinking,” I said.

“What was that, Audrey?” Yes, I let her call me Audrey. I don’t let just anyone call me Audrey.

“There’s a carnival in town, why don’t we go to it tonight?” I suggested.

“A carnival? I don’t know.”

“I’m serious,” I said seriously. “I think this is all for the best.”

“What is that your professional opinion?” she teased.

“Yes ma’am, it is,” I answered with a mock serious tone. “Studies have proven that crazy stalkers are repelled by Ferris wheels and cotton candy.”

“What about funnel cake?”

“Especially funnel cake,” I assured her.

“Well, we better go, then,” she laughed. “Who would’ve thought that I could have so much fun with my bodyguard?”

The carnival was even better than I could have imagined. We rode all the rides and we shared popcorn and cotton candy. I even won her a big stuffed teddy bear by knocking down all the ducks with a BB gun.

“This is so great,” she said while smacking on her funnel cake. “I’m really, really having a fun time with you. If it weren’t for the thought of that stalker guy–”

I held up my finger to quiet her and then talked into cuff button on my other hand. “This is 7 Mary 3… Roger Wojo 1 Adam 12… Affirmative. Hutch. Drebin. Understood. 7 Mary 3 and 4 out.”

“What is it?” Carla looked at me concerned.

“Good news!” I smiled. “They caught him. You’re safe!”

“Oh that’s great,” her beautiful teeth flashed as she grinned from ear to ear. She then looked down unhappily. “I guess this means you’ll be going.”

“Well, I have other assignments,” I said as she absently put another piece of funnel cake in her mouth. “But they can wait.”

“Really? You’ll do that for me?” I drew closer to her.

“Yeah, I like you.” I took her hand and put her finger in my mouth, softly sucking off the powdered sugar. “I like you a lot.”

“I like you, too,” her lips drew close to mine.

The next morning, I got up and tried to leave quietly.

“Where are you going?” she purred softly as she woke up.

“I’ve made a mistake, Carla,” I answered. “Rule number one is don’t get involved with the person you’re trying to protect. I got too close.”

“Yeah, but you don’t have to protect me anymore,” she said as she patted the bed. “Please.”

“I can’t,” I answered sadly. “But I do have one thing to say to you.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“If I
Should stay
I would only be in your way
So I’ll go
But I know
I’ll think of you every step of
the way

And I…
Will always
Love you, oohh
Will always
Love you
You
My darling you
Mmm-mm

Bittersweet
Memories
That is all I’m taking with me
So good-bye
Please don’t cry
We both know I’m not what you
You need

And I…
Will always love you
I…
Will always love you
You, ooh

[Instrumental / Sax solo]

I hope
life treats you kind
And I hope
you have all you’ve dreamed of
And I wish you joy
and happiness
But above all this
I wish you love

And I…
Will always love you
I…
Will always love you
Will always love you

I, I will always love
You….
You
Darling I love you
I’ll always
I’ll always
Love
You..
Oooh
Ooohhh…”

“That was beautiful,” Carla sighed wistfully. “But please, you can’t go.”

“I have a plane to catch,” I said. “And if I don’t get on that plane, I’ll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of my life.”

She nodded sadly. “But, we’ll always have the carnival.”

“We’ll always have the carnival,” I repeated.