Page 16 of Watch Over Me

Show time.

The familiar sounds surrounded him as soon as he opened the door. Usually, it was enough to make him drop his shoulders, but this time, coming face to face with Eddie's stony expression, James was the furthest thing from relaxed.

He took a few steps forward. "Hey."

"Hey." Eddie reached out to take the equipment. "Anyproblems?"

"No, everything's good."

"Okay, good."

Damn.This was dismissive in a way that left James at loss. "You can go now"was more than implied, it was basically spelled out for him.

Still, he'd come here for a reason beyond simply dropping the equipment off.

"Listen, Eddie, I—" He paused, remembering Ryan's advice. "I'm sorry about this morning. I really am." He glanced at his chair. Knowing that he wasn't welcomed in it right now stung like hell. "I shouldn't have said what I said, and I definitely didn't think about how you'd take it—"

"And how was I supposed to take it?" Eddie looked up at him again, eyes bright with fire. "Was I supposed to be glad you were questioning me in front of everybody?"

"No!" James shook his head. "No, you weren't. I meant that I didn't… realize the implications."

Eddie put down the equipment he was still holding and crossed his arms against his chest. "What were you trying to imply, then?"

James did not want to say it out loud, but it wasn't like he had a choice now, was it?

"I was worried," he finally admitted, watching Eddie's eyes widen. "I wasn't worried about your skills, but about you. Field work is different, you never know what's going to happen and—"

"You thought I couldn't handle it."

"I thought you might get hurt!"

James's raised voice sounded particularly loud in the room, but it managed to surprise Eddie into silence.

"I know it's not my place. It's your decision, and Kalei's, not mine. I wasn't trying to…" James shoved his hands into hispockets as he chased the right words to say. "I was just… I was worried."

For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the ever-present humming of computers, but then Eddie sighed, sat back in his chair, and watched him with a look James couldn't decipher.

It didn't feel like anger, though.

"You're awful at worrying, then," Eddie finally said, and it surprised James into a laugh.

"Sorry about that."

"You're forgiven," Eddie offered, and James's shoulders dropped a fraction. "I do know how it is, worrying about you—you guys, so I get it." Eddie scratched his cheek as he stumbled over his words. "You made is sound like I don't know what I'm doing, though, and that's not okay, especially in public like that. I'm not a field operative, sure, but I'm not going out there as one. Either way, you should've talked to me aloneandled with worry, not, you know." He waved his hand, presumably trying to convey James's choice of words from that morning.

James cleared his throat, the tightness in his chest slowly receding, even though he still felt like shit. It was clear that Eddie was hurt by his stupid behavior, and that was the last thing James wanted.

"I know," he admitted quietly. "I truly am sorry."

Eddie sighed. "I believe you. Don't ever do that again, though."

Ready to put it all behind them, James started to nod, then hesitated. He couldn't promise not to worry, could he?

"I'm never going to question your capabilities, in public or otherwise. So I guess I can at least promise to handle my worry better next time?"

Eddie raised his eyebrows. "Next time?"

"Who knows, maybe you'll get a taste for the field work,"James told him, trying for a smile, even if the mere idea ofthatmade him want to vehemently protest.

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