* * *
 

Movie: The Devil Wears Prada
Title: Bodyguard III
Author: The Raven
Pairing: Miranda Priestly/Andrea Sachs
Summary: AltFic - Miranda's bodyguard is targeted...
Rating: R
Spoilers: No.
Feedback: nerocorvo@gmail.com
Disclaimer: They are not mine, I'm just rubbing them together to see what happens. The story however, is mine...
Notes: This story connects to two previous stories that I wrote, titled Bodyguard & Bodyguard II. It might make more sense to read them first and then this one. But I have tried to make this an independent story that can be read by itself. Of course, I blame Cheyne, what kind of weirdness would it be if I did not? The inspiration for this story comes from a) How Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway played their parts in the movie, and b) from the my readers...
 

"But it's your birthday!"

Miranda Priestly tried not to sound like she was whining, but just this once, she really felt like it. So what if she sounded like a petulant child? This was just the sort of occasion where petulance was in order.

"I know."

Andrea replied, unruffled by Miranda's tone.

It seemed that her bodyguard-cum-lover, was going to need some persuading to comply with Miranda's wishes. As if she had ever been easy to talk into anything in the time that the two had known each other, been lovers. (Which amounted to the same length of time actually.)

"I wanted to do something special for you."

Miranda finally said in a huff, looking at Andrea over her glasses as the two of them had a rare breakfast together at Miranda's townhouse. Despite having handed off a great deal of responsibility to her employees, Andrea was almost as busy as Miranda, most days. Other days she was even more busy. It occasionally irked Miranda that they seemed to have so little time together, but the reality was, that they spent most if not all of their free time together.

It was more than enough. It had to be, for now anyway...

"Every time I am with you, it is special to me, for me, Miranda. My birthday is just a day. I've always worked on my birthday except when I was a child."

Andrea said quietly as she sipped at her coffee, the movement of her hand as it held the delicate cup fascinating Miranda. The two of them had barely slept the night before, and Miranda could not stop her mind from flashing back to some very erotically charmed moments. Arousal flared in her body, just as strong, no, stronger, than it had the first time. It seemed their passion for each other was unabated.

Squirming only slightly, Miranda opted for a different tactic.

"Please?"

Miranda never said please. However, Andrea was not just anyone.

Dark eyes glanced up at her in veiled surprise and an elegant eyebrow rose on that beautiful face.

"I'll try."

The other woman finally said.

Miranda was smart enough to realise that it was as far as she would get for now. However, it would not stop her from making plans. She still had two whole days to talk Andrea around, and Miranda always got what she wanted.

As she finished her coffee, she ignored the unhelpful voice in her head that gleefully reminded her that Andrea was one of the few people on the planet, it seemed, who dared to challenge her.

This time, Miranda would get what she wanted; no matter what...
 

- - - -

Andy could not help but smile when she thought back on the morning conversation that she and Miranda had shared. She would do her best to free up the day of her birthday. It seemed to mean something to Miranda, and Andy certainly planned on doing something for Miranda when it was her turn to have a birthday. However, to Andy, her own birthday was just a day, sad as it may have been.

Perhaps if she were home, if her parents were still around...

Shaking her head to clear the nostalgia, Andy reminded herself that Miranda was home to her. But, it was not the time to deal with this right now, she had work to do, work that she could not ignore simply to indulge herself in her thoughts.

Opening the mail that was stacked on her desk, Andy fired up her computer and set it to check her messages and her email. It seemed everyone wanted an answer or some advice for something, nowadays. Sometimes she longed to be back in the field, but in the field, she would not have the time she had now. Time that was very important for her to have.

Still slightly distracted by her thoughts, Andy did not notice what she was holding until she glanced down and saw it. Dropping it like it was on fire she rose from her chair and hit the silent alarm button that was discreetly affixed to her desk.

In a heartbeat, her office was stormed by her first in command who was quickly followed by a small legion of assistants.

"What is it?"

Andy looked at the woman who had asked the question, before she indicated her desk, on which a huge tarantula was crawling around.

"How did this get past security?"

Andy asked in a dangerously quiet voice, her focus on the box that the arachnid had been in. It might contain a message, but first she wanted to get it to her labs for analysis.

Her second in comment had an equally hard look on her face as she turned to the assistants standing behind her.

"Get me whoever was staffing security when the mail came in, and get me the security logs. Immediately."

The other employees scattered like spooked cats, leaving only Andy and her most trusted employee together in the room.

"I suppose we should try to catch it, before it lays eggs or mutates, or something."

Andy eventually said after the two of them had watched the creature explore her desk for a period of time. The humour broke the tension in the room and the other woman nodded with a slight smile, before reaching over to pick the spider up and gently slide it into the water glass that sat empty on Andy's desk.

Andy handed her a coaster to cover it in with and said.

"We need to get it, and the box analysed. After that, give the spider to the local zoo, or something."

The other woman nodded, reaching over to snag the box with freshly gloved hands and then disappearing just as three people entered the room, one of them carrying a thick binder and a CD.

Nodding, Andy dismissed the third person and turned her attention on the two remaining once her office door had been closed. The two, hardworking, qualified, trusted, looked distinctly nervous under her scrutiny.

"I just had delivery of a spider. Granted, it was not venomous, but what I want to know, is how it got past you into the building."

Andy slid the CD into her computer, pulling up video logs of the security area when the mail had been delivered, waiting for an answer.

"I am not sure, Andy. We checked, scanned, and had the electronic nose sniff everything that was delivered."

The female of the two spoke up as Andy watched the screen, conforming that indeed, procedure had been followed. The two had not been sleeping on the job. Then Andy realised something. The box had not been in the delivery.

"Thank you. You may go."

Andy said with a slight smile, indicating to the two that she was satisfied with their answer and that the issue no longer concerned them.

Almost laughing when she received a twin set of relieved smiles in return just before the pair turned and left her office, Andy turned her attention back to the computer screen.
 

- - - -

It was afternoon when Miranda came back to her office and found that she had missed a call on her private cell phone. Instead a message blinked demandingly on the display, seeming to admonish her for her absence. Realising that it was probably a message from Andrea, Miranda snatched up the phone and toggled the screen.


"Miranda, I am sorry. I have to cancel for tonight. I will call you later and try to give you some details. - A"


Outrageous!

Miranda thought, quickly calling Andrea's private number, which promptly sent her to voicemail. Miranda ignored that, instead calling Andrea's office. She wanted answers now, not later. They had planned to go to the Opera together. Such a late minute cancellation was just outrageous!

A professional sounding feminine voice answered Andrea's phone.

"Ms. Priestly. Hello. Andy said you might call..."

Miranda pulled the phone away from her ear and glared at it for a moment. Leave it to Andrea to anticipate her actions. At this point Miranda did not know wether to be pleased, or infuriated.

"I need to speak to Andrea, immediately."

Miranda said to the woman who was patiently waiting on the other end of the line.

"I am sorry, Ms. Priestly, but Andy is indisposed right now. May I take a message?"

Suddenly incensed, Miranda felt her blood pressure raise.

"No, you may not. However, you will tell me what is going on."

Miranda's voice brooked no refusal. She would know, and she would know now, or there would be hell to pay.

"I can't do that Ms. Priestly..."

The calm voice said, but Miranda was having none of it.

"Yes you can, and you will."

Miranda said in a dangerous register, not allowing the other woman to finish her statement.

"Not on the phone, I can't, Ms. Priestly. However, you like, I can come and meet you with a car and perhaps sate some of your curiosity?"

The woman continued, as if Miranda had not interrupted her.

A car? How bizarre...

"Very well. Ten minutes. That's all."

Miranda said into the phone, realising that this was probably as far as she would get with the woman on the phone. Perhaps in person she would have more leverage. Miranda was pretty sure that the voice belonged to Andrea's second in command. The woman was someone Miranda normally liked, but right now, she seemed to stand in the way of Miranda getting to Andrea, and for that, Miranda despised her. It was illogical, but Miranda did not care.

"Emily."

Miranda said.

Immediately, her assistant appeared at the doorway of her office.

"I will be leaving in ten minutes. Reschedule my appointments for this evening,and make sure the girls have a babysitter lined up in case I am out late. I will call you later for The Book."

Miranda dismissed the shocked younger woman without a second thought. Emily would handle the situation well and Miranda was not concerned.

Quickly gathering her things, Miranda headed to the lobby of the building, estimating that she had maybe three minutes before the car arrived.

In the elevator, Miranda called her driver, dismissing him for the evening. Whatever driving she needed for the rest of the day would be done via other means. Right now, Miranda was only concerned with finding out what was going on with Andrea.
 

- - - -

Andy Sachs was not amused.

Further investigating had revealed that her spider had been delivered by Fed Ex, of all things, and though the package had been checked, the nature of its contents, a spider, had not set off any alarms anyplace.

Perhaps she should add movement to the list of parameters for the scanners to check.

After checking with all her agents, she decided that the spider had nothing to do with any fieldwork going on, rather it was personal. This could get dangerous, or be simply annoying.

In any case, she wanted to put some space between herself and Miranda and her children, for fear of drawing them into some unforeseen ugliness. At least until she had a better idea of what was going on.

Miranda would be furious, when she checked her messages. Andy had seen her second in command take the expected phone call. It was a mark of the woman's competence that she was completely unruffled by the experience. If nothing else, Miranda would give her some good practise with how to deal with high maintenance, high end clients who seemed to have unlimited resources and power at their disposal.

Idly watching her right hand man, as it were, get her coat and leave, Andy deduced that she was going to pick up Miranda. Discreetly of course.

Andy decided that she needed to get out, to see if she could lure her stalker into the open. Anyway, all the resources available to her in the office, were also available to her out of the office, so it really did not matter where she was.

Also, she ached to see Miranda, so needed to remove herself from the temptation of the other woman possibly talking her way into the office and finding Andy here. At least in her car, she would be somewhat safer from Miranda's wrath, maybe.

With a resigned sigh, Andy picked up the needed equipment to allow her to live out of her car for a few days if needed. It would also let her confront many situations that could arise. It seemed almost absurd that suddenly she was her own bodyguard.

A few minutes later, Andy roared out of the garage onto the streets of Manhattan and started to turn things over in her head as she drove.

Who was taunting her and why? Where would this lead? Where could it lead?

It was rare that Andy caused anyone to go to jail. If the client wanted to prosecute, that was up to them, same with the police. Andy's job was to protect the targeted person, not enforce the law. So it was unlikely to be a recently released prisoner.

However, the very nature of her work, and the work of her company, and her employees, meant that Andy often stood in the way of people and their desires. Regardless of how convoluted, sick or simply ridiculous, those desires were.

That was something that could make a person very angry...
 

- - - -

Miranda did not wait for the driver of the car to get out and open the door for her, rather, she opened the passenger side door and slid into the front seat. There was no way she was going to have this conversation while sitting in the backseat of a car. It was too easy to ignore someone who was not sitting beside you, this was something that Miranda knew.

"Ms. Priestly."

The beautiful, yet deadly looking woman said, by way of greeting.

"Hansen. This is becoming an annoying habit. You bringing me bad news about Andrea."

Miranda said somewhat sharply, trying her best to be civil. After all, she needed the messenger, no need to shoot her. Yet.

"Give me your phones, your PDA, anything electronic."

Hansen said in a voice that told Miranda that she had better obey, or she risked the other woman's wrath. Also, it seemed like an important request.

Quickly digging out the items in question, she was surprised when the glove compartment in front of her opened.

"Put them in there."

Came the sharp command.

Miranda complied and for long moments there was silence as they idled at a red light. Then, the compartment opened again and a green light flashed in its interior.

"Your equipment does not have viruses, malware, listening devices and is uncorrupted."

Hansen said in a gentler tone of voice.

Miranda was startled as she repacked the items into her purse.

"Of course it does not. Now tell me what is going on."

Miranda said, neither her voice or face betraying her anxiety, at least not for the moment.

"Andy has been targeted. We are unsure by who. Thus, she has needed to go underground for a little while to resolve the matter."

Hansen said in an almost clinical tone of voice, but Miranda did see that the other woman had a white knuckle grip on the steering wheel. Obviously whatever was going on was serious.

"Take me to her."

Miranda ordered, in a quiet but deadly voice.

"I am sorry, Ms. Priestly, but I cannot. Andy is worried that you and your children may become targets by association."

Miranda felt her self control start to waver.

"Call me Miranda. And I repeat. Take me to her, or at least get me on the phone with her. Now."

It was totally unacceptable for Andrea to take on this sort of thing by herself. Miranda needed to see her, had to see her.

Hansen was silent as they drove, neither agreeing to, or declining her request. Miranda focused on her surroundings, wondering where they were going.

"This is the best I can do for now, Miranda."

Hansen said as they pulled up to a bank of payphones. Miranda was perplexed, but got out of the car and when the other woman indicated that she should walk ahead to the phones, Miranda relented with a sigh.

No sooner had she arrived at the phones, when one of them rang.

"Answer it."

Hansen suggested, while looking around the area, no doubt trying to spot or anticipate trouble, should it arise.

Snatching up the phone, Miranda held her breath and waited.

"Miranda."

Came Andrea's voice over the phone. It almost made Miranda feel lightheaded with relief.

"Andrea."

Miranda said, trying to project what she felt into the word. Fury, confusion, love, hope, sadness.

"You need to go about your routine, Miranda, and keep Hansen close. Try not to be too mean to her. I will try go see you soon. I love you."

Andrea said in a rush.

"I love you too."

Miranda managed to say before the connection fell silent.

"Damn it!"

Miranda said as she slammed the phone into the cradle and turned to Hansen, fury boiling in her blood.

Hansen shrugged minutely as she scanned the street once more. It was then that Miranda became aware of the amount of attention they were garnering, by virtue of clothing, because of the car. By being women.

"Time to go."

Hansen suggested, with a hint of steel in her voice, quickly ushering Miranda into the car and then they were off again.

Miranda sighed silently. She always got what she wanted, and before the day was done, she would see Andrea, would hold her, would kiss her. She did not care what or who stood in her way...
 

- - - -

It had taken hours of driving, thinking, walking around, checking, but finally there had been a break in Andy's problem. The problem with the type of weirdo who sent spiders in the mail was that they in fact, most of the time, wanted to get caught. A real professional would have simply shot her with a high powered rifle from half a mile away, and disappeared forever after without a trace.

Or something like that...

Andy's problem now centred around what she would do with her spider fancier stalker. In an ideal world, she could hunt him down and slit his throat, and be done with it. However, money and power, and prestige, did not really place her above the law, or at least not above basic morality.

However, if he so much as breathed in the direction of Miranda and the children, Andy would hunt him down. There was no question about it.

Now, however, she needed to draw him out and have a confrontation with him, which would lead to the climax and conclusion of the matter, whatever it may be. So, it was time to plan. It was her birthday in a few days and Miranda had plans for her, and she was not about to miss them.

Also, professionally speaking this was a huge waste of time and resources. The employees she had drafted to help her, were worried, and the rest who knew, were understandably anxious. She was loathe to divide their attentions, so for that reason as well, she needed to conclude this mess. Now it was simply a matter of how.

But first, first, she wanted to see Miranda. It was distracting to know that the other woman had been hounding her second in command all day, and it was only Hansen who had stopped her from tearing the city apart to find her. Miranda was blinded by emotion, and mostly unaware of how dangerous publicity was in Andy's line of work, so it could not be helped.

Maybe when this was all over with, Andy could find a way to explain it a little to her in a way that would not alienate her lover, or make her start feeling paranoid, or like she needed to change her style. Andy's life was clandestine enough as it was, she did not wish it on Miranda or her children.

Shaking her head free from her thoughts, Andy slowed her jog down and came to stop in front of Miranda's townhouse. Though it in theory had exposed her and made her a little more vulnerable, Andy was certain that choosing to jog to Miranda's house was the most discreet way of arriving. Her idiot stalker would not think that she would be so plain and so bold.

However, she could not just walk up to the door, just in case, so it was time to put some of her more unusual and less used skills into practise. Andy moved to the side of the building and disappeared into the shadows, before examining the almost smooth brick, stone and mortar construction of the wall before her. It would be a challenge, but Andy so enjoyed a challenge...

Removing her gloves, Andy quickly reached into her pocket and spread some magnesium chalk onto her hands before she started to manoeuvre up the side of the building, her sticky rubber shoes and her strong fingers finding purchase where none seemed to exist. It was painful, painstaking, and it required patience, but Andy would win in the end.

Ten minutes passed and she found herself perching on the narrow window ledge of one of the upstairs windows. Andy had supervised the installation of the passive security system that the townhouse held, so she knew how to breach it. It of course, helped to have the experience of a cat burglar to guide her. Sometimes her work required that she did the most unusual things, fortunately.

A moment later, she slid up the window and eased her body into the room behind it. Now it was just a matter of finding Miranda and not startling her or the children when she did. Miranda was a mother bear when it came to her kids. Andy knew that Miranda would kill to protect her children, so with that thought in mind, she pulled off her hat and shook out her. She also unzipped her fleece jacket and pulled the sweaty tee shirt away from her body as she looked around.

She really needed a shower...and she needed Miranda. The feeling was overwhelming.
 

- - - -

It was getting late. Despite her best efforts, Andrea's second in command, had steadfastly refused to budge to Miranda's demands. The woman had been polite, helpful, efficient, the perfect bodyguard, driver, resource. But, when it came to information about Andrea, she was utterly mute. Eventually Miranda had conceded that she needed to get some work done, so had asked the woman to drop her home and booked her as a driver for tomorrow.

Miranda had also decided to make a contract with the woman. It was only fair and professional, and lord knows, she could afford it. But that was not her reason, her reason was that she did not want anyone else to book Hansen, as Miranda knew that of all the people, Andrea's trusted employee, would be the one who had access to Andrea. That was all that mattered...

After nearly catching up on the paperwork she had neglected for most of the day, Miranda made a decision to got to bed. She would need to be at peak efficiently in order to find Andrea in the morning, or tomorrow anyway. Miranda was convinced that she would be able to wear down the stubborn resistance that faced her. She always got what she wanted, after all.

Rising from her desk, Miranda secured her things, closed the lights and went to tuck her children in. After that, she just wanted a shower and to go to bed. Even if sleep eluded her, perhaps simply resting, would be sufficient for her to feel charged in the morning. Hopefully. It was of course, wistful thinking, but Miranda was not a pessimist.

As she walked to her bedroom, Miranda paused. Something felt, off. Or maybe it felt familiar. If she did not know better, she would swear she could detect Andrea's scent in the air and almost feel her presence in the house. This was of course, impossible. Dismissing her thoughts, Miranda stepped into the bedroom and stopped dead in her tracks.

Sitting in the centre of her bed, was Andrea. She was wearing dark athletic clothes and a grey tee shirt that appeared to be soaked in sweat. She also wore an impish smile on her face. Miranda could only stare, flummoxed. After a pregnant pause, Andrea tilted her head at Miranda ever so slightly, jarring Miranda from her shocked state.

"How did you get here? What are you doing here? Andrea..what? I have been looking for you all day!"

Miranda said in a rush, moving towards her lover with determination.

Not waiting for Andrea's reply, Miranda practically pounced upon her, pushing her down onto the bed, unheeding of anything else. Andrea responded immediately, instantly, her strong arms pulling Miranda close as Miranda leaned down to kiss Andrea.

The clash of mouths was furious, desperate, almost angry, yet full of passion and want and pent up desire. Miranda paid no heed to the sound of cloth ripping as Andrea sought to gain access to her skin. Anything, just so long as the barriers that separated them were gone as soon as possible. Any delay was unacceptable.

With that thought in mind, Miranda pulled and tugged at Andrea's clothing, her hands now at ease with the weapons that Andrea wore, so they too were cast aside. When Andrea opened up under her, her mouth and body inviting Miranda in, Miranda lost focus, and felt her self control slip from her fingers. Andrea had that effect on her. Always had, always would.
 

- - - -

Arching under Miranda, Andy forgot everything else that had been crowding her mind all day. The touch, the sensation, the feel, of her lover, was overwhelming. The kiss that drove her mad, hands that demanded to touch her; Andy heard herself moan deep in her chest and Miranda's response was instant.

It was just seconds and they were both naked, entwined. Heat, sweat, slick, taste. A feast for Andy's senses, for her soul. It would never be enough. Andy could not imagine a time when she would not want this, would not need it. It was an unusual thought.

Shifting her legs, she slipped a thigh between Miranda's, instantly rewarded by the sensation of wetness and heat that she found there. Reaching down, Andy eased her fingers between Miranda's body and her own leg. Focused as she was on Miranda, she failed to notice that Miranda was mirroring her movements until she felt expect fingers slide into her with deadly accuracy. Unprepared for the sensation, Andy crushed her mouth to Miranda's, moaning her delight and her passion into the kiss.

They became one. At first, slowly. Andy moved her mouth to kiss Miranda's neck, moving her hand and mouth in tandem, feeling Miranda match her rhythm. It was intoxicating, the layered sensations made Andy breathless. And Miranda gave as good as she got.

By now almost paralysed with sensation, Andy could feel her orgasm approaching, like a tidal wave. Wanting to take Miranda with her on her journey, Andy quickened her movements, relishing the sound of Miranda gasping in her ear as the moments gathered into the climax of the moment.

Was it seconds later? Andy found that it no longer mattered as she felt crushing pleasure course through her body and had her own pleasure amplified by the sound of Miranda moaning her pleasure as she came as well. Fire licked through Andy's veins as she was engulfed in pleasure. Exquisite...

Gradually, Andy came back to her senses, resting her head on Miranda's shoulder as her lover had collapsed on top of her. The feelings that were pouring through her system and the emotions and aftershocks that their love making had generated broke Something in Andy.

She felt a tear escape the corner of her eye, it was soon joined by another one. Finding that she did not care, Andy sighed in contentment and gently eased Miranda onto her side. Her lover opened her eyes and looked at her, eyes so blue, and so filled with emotion, that Andy felt herself falling into them, falling in love, again.

"Tell me what is going on, Andrea."

Miranda finally said, reaching out to catch a tear from the side of Andy's face.

They stared at each other for an abbreviated eternity before Andy nodded and cleared her throat.

"Alright."

She said, pulling up the covers on Miranda's bed to cover them and adjusting her body to a more comfortable position, while being careful not to lose contact with Miranda's body.
 

- - - -

"I hope you don't think that whatever is going on, is going to stop me from planning for your birthday."

Miranda said before she could stop herself.

She was rewarded by a hearty laugh from her lover. The sound startled her. It was rare that Andrea laughed so freely, and Miranda wanted to hear it again. A frisson of sexual arousal shivered its way up her spine at the thought. However, she desperately wanted to know what was going on, so she clamped down on the feeling. Interrupting Andrea now, was not an option...

"The stalker of one of my ex-clients has decided that he is going to teach me a lesson. I have to draw him out. This is a dangerous person. So I need to stay away from you and the girls until the matter is resolved. He might easily strike at you to get at me."

Andrea finally said after a long pause.

Miranda felt fear tighten her throat at the words.

"I hear you contracted Hansen. She is more than capable, you should have her spend the nights here in the Townhouse. I have two agents shadowing your daughters, on my tab. The look like teenagers, but are very experienced in their niche of expertise. Your daughters will be safe, Miranda."

Of course Andrea would have thought of every eventuality. Still, Miranda was a little surprised that her daughters had bodyguards and that Andrea was suggesting that she have her own bodyguard stay the night at the townhouse.

Miranda had learned a long time ago that Andrea really knew what she was talking about when it came to the work she did, so Miranda made a mental note to call Hansen in as soon as she had the opportunity.

"I know, Andrea. I know, I knew you would make sure we were safe. But what about you?"

Miranda felt emotion choke her throat again at the thought of something happening to Andrea. It was an impossible thought. She slapped it aside before it could take root in her mind and wreck her concentration completely.

"I won't lie, Miranda. This will be tricky, but short of going after the guy like Rambo, my only option is to draw him out into a situation that I have control of. I don't know how long that will take, but I have no intention of missing out on whatever birthday plans you have for me, darling."

Andrea had never used a term of endearment towards her before. Her lover was very conservative and guarded in her emotions, only opening up for Miranda. It was a necessary evil of her profession of course, just as it was for Miranda's.

"Please be safe."

Miranda said quietly, stroking her hands through dark hair that was lush and soft under her touch..

"I have to go."

Andrea finally said after a few more moments had gone by.

"Do you?"

Miranda said, allowing her dissatisfaction to seep into her voice.

"Yes. If he is watching or knows where I  am staying, he will figure out soon that I am not where he expects me to be, and will start digging. I don't want to bring you danger, or have him think that I can so easily outwit him. I need his guard down and his arrogance up."

"I also need you to be safe, or I won't be able to function."

Miranda wanted to hold onto Andrea, to stop her from going, but she knew that the other woman would be unshakable in her resolve. Never mind that she had a point.

Andrea sat up, reaching for discarded clothing and Miranda felt something in her chest ache at the sight.

Rising, she went to her dresser, where Andrea kept some of her clothes in case she came to spend the night unprepared, and quickly dug out a clean tee shirt and undergarments for her lover. It seemed like the least she could do, yet it was nothing at all.

Brushing away a tear, she turned and found Andrea standing directly behind her.

"Thank you."

Her lover said quietly, taking the clothes and quickly pulling them on.

"For what?"

Miranda asked, realising that Andrea was not talking about clothes.

"For being who you are, for loving me."

Andrea replied after she had laced on her shoes and tucked her long hair into a dark hat. The transformation was startling, yet mouthwatering. The clothes were skin tight and when Andrea strapped on her weapons, and tucked them under her jacket, Miranda realised that it was the first time she had seen Andrea wear clothes that did not conceal them.

Andrea moved towards her, quickly taking Miranda into her arms and holding her. She smelled of skin, sweat, sex, with a feint overtone of perfume applied long ago. It was the most beautiful thing Miranda had smelled. She did not want to let go and tightened her grip.

"It's time."

Andrea finally said, leaning in to kiss Miranda with all that she was worth and then gently extricating herself from the embrace and moving towards the window of Miranda's bedroom As Miranda watched, Andrea opened the window and levered herself out of it, seeming to cling to the edge of the window sill like a giant spider, or a bird.

"I love you."

Andrea said when she looked back into the window, her face shadowed by the night.

Miranda could only nod and reply in kind.

"I love you, too."

No sooner had the words left her mouth, and Andrea was gone, leaving Miranda clutching the clothes that she left and wondering what was going to happen next. Not knowing was going to be hard, but Miranda knew Andrea would handle the situation.

She quickly went to her bad and dug out her phone, calling Hansen's number and relaying the request that the bodyguard come and stay the nights until this debacle was over. The woman, who had not even been asleep, immediately responded that she would be there in half an hour and with that, Miranda was left with nothing to do except wait.

Moving to her bed, she pulled back the covers and slipped Andrea's still slightly sweaty shirt into the bed, not asking herself what she was doing as she did it. Then, she turned to make herself presentable in the bathroom before she would go make sure that the guestroom was in shape for her visitor.

Now if only summoning patience was so easy...
 

- - - -

Back at her hotel, Andy showered and changed into some comfortable clothes. She needed to rest in order to be at her prime, but first she needed to think. A message from Hansen told her that the bodyguard was ensconced in Miranda's home. Hansen was as good as she was, so Andy was at ease with that. Actually if Andy was honest, it was a safe thing to sat that Hansen had in many ways superceded her teacher.

Andy needed to get Hansen to leave the nest, though. But that was a concern for another time. Right now, Andy needed to resolve this issue, and do it before her birthday. Or Miranda would be royally pissed, and then they would all suffer.

All of Manhattan, that is...

Firing up her laptop, Andy decided to do some research. Usually the fucking weirdos who stalked celebrities, were prone to boasting about it and were often stupid enough not to hide their tracks or their acts online. As if the internet offered the casual user any privacy at all.

A few clicks and Andy was being bounced around hundreds of proxy servers across the globe. Add to that, for this type of activity, she would boot into the Linux partition of her hard drive. Microsoft tended to bee too chatty, and even with the security and tweaks and hacker-like modifications she had made, Andy was not taking any chances this time.

An hour later, Andy was satisfied with what she had found. It was time to pack up and to get some rest. Tomorrow she would hopefully be able to provoke her nemesis into confronting her, or at least into making a mistake that would let her easily pinpoint his location.

After all, she had a birthday to get to.
 

- - - -

When morning came, Miranda was in a very explosive mood. Today had better run smoothly, or heads would roll...

"What is your name, Hansen?"

Miranda inquired as they drove through early morning traffic.

Dark eyes made contact with hers in the rear view mirror before they fixed once more on the road. The similarity with Andrea ended there though. The two women only had their demeanour in common when it came to appearance. That and dark eyes.
"Maria."

The woman responded before pulling the car over in front of Miranda's building.

"What happens today, Maria?"

Miranda asked quietly.

"I park the car and you go to work. I will see you shortly. And before you ask, yes, I will tell you what I can if Andy contacts me or I learn something new."

Miranda spared the woman a smile before Maria stepped out of the car to open the door for her. Thanking her, Miranda walked quickly into the building. She could feel those watchful eyes on her as she went. But unlike with Andrea, Miranda did not feel the gaze as a caress.

But now it was time to plan a birthday and to run a magazine. She had an unimaginable amount of work to catch up on and it was time to get started.
 

- - - -

Knocking on the door of an ex-client was not something Andy did often. Sometimes, her former clients would give her references, send her Christmas cards, or otherwise inquire about her well being, but it was rare that they crossed paths again, unless it was in the professional sense.

As the door opened, revealing a strikingly beautiful woman, Andy reflected that this was not really a very professional visit, though it did brush the edges of such a thing.

"Andy?"

The woman said, with some surprise.

"Hello there. Sorry to bother you, but I have some new information that you should have."

Andy chose her words carefully. It was true. The woman was being stalked, this time carefully and from afar. It was a reason why she lived behind walls, gates, with dogs and with a private security force. A sad situation. Perhaps this would be rectified soon.

Andy was counting on it. She knew that her pest would be watching his obsession, and when he saw her talking with her, it would likely provoke him into some sort of action. The ex-client was safe behind her defences, and anyway, the madman was living a delusion where he loved her, so unless she did something to spurn him, such as marry someone else, or take a lover, he would not target her.

Entering the house, Andy followed the other woman into a spacious living area and accepted the invitation to sit down.

Without a word, she handed over the file she had been carrying.

It revealed that her land-line phones were tapped, some of her mail was being successfully forwarded to a P.O.Box, and that her wireless computer net had been hacked.

"I am going to try to do something about this. In the meantime, you should find a new data security expert, and get the issues resolved. The mail fraud is a matter you will need to take up with the postal service, but I doubt you have much personal stuff sent here. As I remember you are not in the least bit ignorant about how easy it is to interfere with such things."

Andy smiled and accepted the tea she was offered and waited for a response.

"You remember correctly. But thank you for bringing this other stuff to my attention. What are you going to do? You are not my bodyguard anymore..."

The woman sipped her tea and watched Andy over her teacup.

"No, but it is in my professional and in my personal best interests, to make sure you are doing well. As to what I will do, I can't tell you. There is no legal immunity, after all. I would require that you testify against me, if the need came, so better that you don't have any clue about anything after all."

Glancing at her watch, Andy figured she had spent enough time in the residence and that it was time to go.

"I have to go. Sorry to run off so fast, but you know how it is."

Andy said as she stood up and waited for her ex-client to walk her to the door.

"With you, yes, I remember. Thank you again for stopping by. I really appreciate it and it as good to see you. You look as beautiful and as deadly as ever."

Andy smiled and nodded, before walking out the door and bristly making her way towards her car. Hopefully her quarry had taken the bait. Hook, line and sinker...
 

- - - -