Simon had listened but not offered much during the recent days of discussions regarding the Quest. He thought of it with a capital Q.  Certainly Dia did, and saw it as some religious kind of thing. For pity sake she had to remain virtuous to even begin it, despite Lev's frequent presence which tended to shatter her otherwise calm demeanor.

He needed, he decided, to just step back and away. Yeah, it might be interesting as hell, and Bobbie seemed to want him to go, but, well, where was the percentage for him?  Granted Smitty wanted him to go, but was that reason enough to put the whole plan in jeopardy when he clearly was conflicted if not down-right negative about the whole thing? Weren't Quests supposed to be done by folks enthusiastically ready to sacrifice their all for the thing?

He'd managed to smile at Bobbie, but even so she knew he wasn't gung-ho on the idea. And he was pretty sure she wanted a serious talk with him about it. He was sitting in the small garden belonging to the townhouse, trying to decide what to do. And, he admitted, avoiding Bobbie, who was all bubbly and eager to get going on this. He sighed. He put his head against the back of the chair and watched the clouds, wishing he was home at his beach house, swimming in the ocean. He thought better there.

She found him there a hour or so later, his head tilted back and his eyes closed, looking like he was a sleep.  Just looking at him made her smile.  She drew a finger, cloud-light, along his cheek, feeling the beginnings of stubble scratching the tip.  Then she sat in the chair next to him, content to watch him sleep until he woke up.

"Hey," he said softly. "Felt like I needed some air."

"If I'm intruding I'll go away," she said. 

"No," he said reaching out for her hand. "Not at all. What have you been up to?"

"Not a whole lot.   Getting stuff together for Dia and holding Smitty's hand as needed," she said. 

"Now there's a thankless task. Trust me, I know it all too well."

"He's cute," she said.  "He just needs some seasoning and he'll be a whole lot better.  This trip would do wonders for him."

Simon rolled his head toward her and gave her the eye. "Hah. Spoken like a true believer."

"That's not how I meant it.  I was thinking more along the lines of Outward Bound or something, that's all."

Simon chuckled deep in his chest. "Oh, yeah. Now that's a picture. Smitty having to cross some suspension rope bridge and freezing three steps into it. So I guess you're dead set on going."

"She's my sister.  And how often does somebody get a chance to maybe meet Solomon?" she asked.

"Well, Solomon never seemed all that interesting to me."  He was toying with her fingers. Hers so light and small and pretty compared to his. "I confess I don't get the whole thing. Why would he hide and then leave such a tortuous way to find him in the first place?  I'm also thinking, why not just wait until the middle east calms down some? What's the rush?"

"All very good questions," she said.  "I can't answer any of them.  Is that why you don't want to go?"

"Honey, I'm a crook and a liar, a con-man and a bastard. You don't want someone like me along."

"Really?  Daddy's going and he's all those things too.  So you'll have a chance to bond."

"Oh yeah, like that's gonna happen. Seriously, he's going along?  Well, he does have three daughters risking their necks on this, so I guess it makes sense for daddy to protect you all."

"Well, he's going more because he thinks he was Indiana Jones in a past life and to deal with Miryam if she shows up.  He knows we can protect ourselves.  But forget that.  I know you think he's skulking around with a shotgun just waiting for his chance, but he's not."

"How do you know that?" he asked, looking over and meeting her eyes. "He still blames me because you got hurt. Not that I blame him."

"Because I talked to him about after he'd calmed down.  He just gets excited at times.  Then we just keep him out of trouble until Mama can calm him down.  After that things are usually fine.  And you two really are a lot alike.  In fact you and Ian and he have a lot in common.  It's poor Leroy who's the weirdo."

"Leroy's a good kid. Good egg and all that. I'm not sure at all I agree with you about Ian however. Even if he might have a colorful past, it's just that, in his past."

"Is it?  Or is it that at the moment he's no reason to act otherwise?"  She shrugged.  "But that really isn't the point.  It's more that you're comparing yourself to him, among others, and there's no need to."

"And why is that, beautiful woman? How else can I look at this expedition other than to try to see what I can add to it that others can't?"

She smiled at the compliment.  "Well, you've a unique way of seeing the world, of interpreting things.  You have skills as a con and a thief that might be very useful indeed, not to mention being about to lie successfully is an asset in some situations.  And being a bastard has it's uses as well.  Ian, Daddy and Dia can handle the magic.  Betty Jo and I can handle the government.  Lev is there to take cold showers and keep Dia alive until she gets a clue.  Dia needs Smitty because of his research and none of us want him left behind.  It's too dangerous for him.  Smitty needs you to feel safe.  But more importantly, none of us have the skills you have.  It's always better to con your way through than fight."

He laughed out loud. "I've heard some cons in my day, but yours takes the prize."

"But it's true, toots.  The key to any con is to tell as much truth as possible.  Daddy taught me that."

Simon grinned. "Well, he taught you that right. But how do you know I'm not conning you?"

"I trust you."

"There you see.... Bobbie, you shouldn't trust me. I don't even trust myself."

"I'm sorry.  I can't help it, I just do.  Besides not too long ago you told me I should trust you."  She lifted his hand and kissed his fingers.  "I know you're terrified I'm going to get hurt because of you.  But that's not all this is, is it?"

"You're a cop. Hanging out with someone like me is sure to hurt you somewhere down the line."

"It's possible a lot of things will hurt me down the line."  She sighed, shaking her head.  "Simon, a million and one things could happen that could hurt both of us.  I think life's too damn short to try to spend all my time trying to avoid them.  I didn't ask to fall in love with you.  It happened  And since it did I'm going to enjoy it and you, while also doing everything I can to make it work and not waste energy trying to figure out all the reasons why it shouldn't.  I'd like it if you'd help with that but if you don't think you can then that's fine too.  I'm still going to fight for what we have because I think you're worth it and because it's a hell of a lot more than most people ever find."

"You're a maddening woman, Bobbie Jo. There's no doubt about that." He lifted her hand up to his mouth and kissed it. "I just hope you don't come to regret putting your faith in me. But all right, I'll go along. Who knows, I suppose if Solomon is really alive another miracle could happen too, and I'll live up to your expectations."

"Oh honey, don't you get it?  You already do."

He got up and reached out for her hand, pulling her up into his arms. "See, that's what worries me. You seriously need to learn to dream bigger."

She pressed herself against him, her arms around his neck.  "Then you'll just have to teach me, won't you?"

"I'll do my best," he said, then he kissed her.