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# Garrett struggled to decipher Hunt's code on his own later that night. He sipped at a cooling cup of coffee as he doodled on a separate sheet of paper. He thought he was about to get a break, when his doorbell rang. He looked up, blinking to come back to reality, only to wonder who it could be that time of the night. Ginger stood on the doorstep looking nervous and even a little frightened. "Ginger? What are you doing here?" "I...I'm
not sure...can I come in?" Garrett stepped aside. "Yes, yes of course. Please, come in." Garrett brought Ginger a cup of coffee. She took a sip and stared into the depths, obviously distressed over something. He sat down next to her, and after a moment, he took her hand. "What's wrong?" "Carter's funeral was today. Everything I see or touch...it all reminds me of him. I just started driving and ended up here." She put down the cup and got up to pace. "I probably shouldn't have come..." she paused at the desk and picked up the calendar. "What's this? It's Carter's calendar, isn't it?" Garrett went over and took the notebook away. "You know I can't really get into the particulars... Besides, I'm off duty." Ginger looked deep into his eyes. Her hazel eyes flashed mischievously. "I find it hard to believe that you're ever off duty." She left the desk and continued her tour of the room, checking out bookcases and knick-knacks. "Have you figured out Carter's code yet?" "Excuse
me?" "Carter's code. He had a paranoid streak in him. He trusted only a few people." "Were you one of them?" Ginger nodded. "We'd been friends a long time." Garrett let her talk after that, about whatever she wanted. He tried not to feel too guilty about using anything she said to further his investigation. "I don't want to talk about Carter anymore," Ginger said a while later. "What do you want to talk about?" Garrett asked. Ginger pushed herself away from the mantel and met him as he crossed the room toward her. "Who says I want to talk?" Even
though Garrett knew it wasn't the smartest thing to do, but he
couldn't resist the invitation. Something about her full lips
asked to be kissed, and he didn't want to disappoint them. The phone rang, interrupting the moment. Garrett had to shake his head to clear the remnants of the spell. He almost stumbled going for the phone. "Burrows," he answered gruffly. "I interrupted something," Jackson said on the other end. Garrett glanced at Ginger and sighed. "Maybe." "Sorry. Something's come up." "Is it important?" "Important enough that I don't want to talk about it over the phone. You still have the calendar, right?" "Yes." "I'm coming over." "Now?" "Yes, now. Be there in ten." Garrett hung up the phone, puzzled. When he turned back to Ginger, she was watching him intently. "Problem?" she asked. "I'm not sure, but Jackson's on his way over. He says it's important..." "I should go," she said. "Maybe I shouldn't even have come..." she started gathering her things and headed for the door. Garrett
caught her arm, stopping her. "No, don't say that. I'm glad
you felt like you could come..." He wasn't very good at the sensitive, comforting thing, but he was trying. She smiled at him and touched his face. "That's sweet, thank you." He
stared into her eyes. His large, rough hand covering her soft,
smooth one, holding it to his cheek. |