by: MacSas

“This looks cosy” Martin said, as Daisy and Bret turned to face him.

“Marty” Daisy smiled, still holding Bret’s forearms for support.

“Didn’t hear you knock” Bret said, by way of greeting.

“I didn’t” Martin said, looking pointedly at Daisy’s hands on Bret’s arms; Bret’s hands on Daisy’s waist.

Bret fought the urge to launch into a ‘this isn’t what it seems’ speech. Let Martin be jealous. And he was jealous. Bret could tell by the look in the other man’s eyes that he didn’t care for how close the lawyer and his lady were. Bret sighed inwardly. If only Martin knew how bad Daisy had tunnel vision when it came the Mountie. She truly saw no one else. And Bret could honestly say that he himself had tried just about everything to catch her eye, and on many occasions. No luck though. For her, it was all about Martin. Bret knew it wasn’t worth him wasting his time looking for a sign that would never be there for him. He knew it had been pointless the first time he’d seen Daisy and Martin together in Calgary. They interacted like an old married couple, in tune with each other so finely they made it seem like they’d been together forever. They were so comfortable in each other’s presence they didn’t need to fill silence with talk. They enjoyed companionable silences. That was rare, and Bret could only envy them their bond.

Daisy refused to feel guilty for something that was only apparent in Martin’s mind.

“Well” she said. “I haven’t seen you for a few days”

Martin nodded towards Bret. “Looks like you haven’t been lacking in company”

Bret gave a huff as Martin stepped into the room. “You know, for a guy who’s smart, you sure do play dumb well”

“Bret” Daisy warned.

“Really?” Martin said.

Ignoring the warning from Daisy, Bret continued. “Where have you been the last few days? Licking your wounds? Soothing your pride? Not bad for a guy who couldn’t be torn from her side a few weeks ago”

An uneasy silence followed.

“I didn’t think you would want to see me,” Martin finally said, addressing Daisy. “I thought it would be best if I let you have some time alone.” He returned his gaze to Bret. “If I had known you didn’t need my help I wouldn’t have come”

“Marty” Daisy sighed, tiring of the feather fluffing between the two men. “Bret arrived yesterday. I suggested Bo call him because he is the best person to help Luke.

He came to see me today to tell me what he was planning for Luke’s defence”

“Not that you’d care” Bret couldn’t help taking the dig. He knew it was petty and that he should just leave so Martin could visit Daisy in privacy. But the little devil on one shoulder was out yelling the angel on his other.

“I’m here now,” Martin hissed to the lawyer. How dare he stand there looking so smug, like he’d won a lottery or something. Bret would never know how hard it had been for Martin to stay away these last few days. He honestly believed he had done the right thing. He knew that Daisy would have a hard time dealing with him arresting Luke. He thought time apart was a good idea. Now as he stared down the lawyer, he wondered if he’d made a very bad choice.

“Oh, well, that makes everything alright then” Bret snapped back.

“Stop it!” Daisy yelled, then moaned as pain sliced through her side. She bent over clutching her hip. Bret tightened his grip on her arms to enable her to remain on her feet, or she would surely have fallen to the ground. Martin moved forward to help her to the bed.

“Back off, both of you” she whispered through the pain. Bret reluctantly released her. She moved awkwardly to the bed. It felt like someone had stuck a red-hot poker in her side and was now slowly turning it in a small circle.

“I think you both better leave,” she said, leaning on the bed, trying to will the pain away before she collapsed in front of them.

“Let me help you into bed first” Bret said.

“Excuse me,” Martin fumed. “I think that as her partner, I should be the one doing the helping”

“That’s rich” Bret said with a short laugh. “Her partner wouldn’t have left her alone for days after he’d arrested her cousin for a justifiable crime”

As Bret’s words rang out, Daisy furiously looked at him.

“Bret, whatever you’re thinking of saying, forget it”

“No Doll, let him talk” Martin challenged. “He seems to know so much. Let him educate me a little”

“Your so damn smug” Bret clenched his jaw. “You have no idea what Daisy has been thinking while you’ve been gone. She’s confused”

“About what?” Martin scoffed.

“About us” Daisy surprised them by putting in. She looked to the ceiling and sighed.

“I don’t understand” Martin said.

“Yeah well, neither do I” Daisy sighed. “I don’t know what I think anymore”

Aware of Bret’s presence in the room, Martin approached Daisy’s side and murmured “But you do know I love you, right?”

Daisy kept her focus on the bed, still trying to will away the poker in her side. “But I don’t know if that is enough now” she answered him in a hushed tone. “I need some time to think”

Martin was quiet for a moment. “Fine” he finally decided. “You need time, that’s okay with me. In fact” he clenched his teeth as he walked past Bret to the door “you can have all the time you want.”

The door slammed shut behind.

Daisy gave a stunned sob. Bret came to her side and helped her onto the bed. Seeing she was in immense pain, he pushed the call button for nursing attention.

“You had no right” Daisy suddenly fumed at him. “You had no right to tell him those things, no right to try and goad him into a fight, and no right to interfere in my relationship” She paused to enunciate each of the next words. “You had no right”

Bret shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. You gave me the right when you came to me for help” He walked to the door just as the nurse arrived. He paused and looked back at Daisy. It killed him to see her tears and know that he was responsible for them.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“Why is he so interested in your relationship with Daisy anyway?”

“Maybe because he has had a thing for her from the time they met”

Bo and Martin were sitting at a secluded table inside the Boars Nest, drinking lukewarm beer that was half water. Martin had already been warned about the peanuts. “They got enough salt in them to make the Dead Sea choke” Bo had laughed, when Martin attempted to swallow a handful. As the pair sat and drank, Martin had told Bo about the events at the hospital.

“What will you do now?” Bo asked.

“I can’t push myself into her life” Martin said. “And I don’t want to be in a tug of war with some other guy over her either”

“Mmm, that’s just so juvenile” Bo quipped.

“Well” Martin drained his glass “whatever happens now is up to her. I just want to see Luke out of jail, Lex in jail and Daisy happy”

“Even if it’s without you?”

Martin thought for a moment. “I guess so” he sighed. “How’s your Uncle doing?”

“He’s fine. Still happy to be out there with his friend. Doesn’t look like he’ll be home anytime soon though. Morris has had a hard time with his recovery. Doctor says it’s typical at his age”

“How did he take the news about Luke being arrested?”

“Great” Bo smiled. “Considering we haven’t told him”

“Is that wise?”

“Believe me, it is. Jesse has a temper like you haven’t seen. The less he knows the better, right now”

Martin’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me” he said as he flipped it open. “Kent”

Bo wiled the time away chatting to a barmaid he had been trying to convince to go out with him. After a few minutes though, he got the hint that she wasn’t interested and wandered back to the table. Martin had just finished his call. “Bomb out again?” he grinned as Bo sat down.

“I don’t get it” he sighed. “I’m a friendly guy. Yet she won’t have anything to do with me”

Martin laughed. “According to Daisy, you can be very friendly”

“Huh” Bo wondered allowed. “You think maybe that’s why I keep getting the cold shoulder from Missy there?”

“Oh yeah” Martin laughed aloud. “That’s bound to be it”

Bo picked up his glass. “Who was on the phone?”

“Bailiff from the jail. Luke’s bail has been posted, he’s on his way back to the farm”

“Excellent” Bo said, finishing his beer. “Let’s go see what he has to say now that he’s home”

Martin tossed a few dollars on the table before following Bo to the General Lee.