Can't Move On

"Are you going to come with us tonight Boss?" Steve asked as he straitened his collar in the mirror. He knew what the answer would be before he asked, but he wanted to offer anyway.

David didn't even look up from where he was working at the table, "No, but you men have fun," he said.

"Come on Boss, just once. Come out for the night. It's not like the paperwork is going to disappear in the few hours we'll be gone," Steve said.

David looked up at last at his subordinate officer. He could see the worry in his eyes. He glanced down at the papers on the table and sighed, "alright," he agreed.

Steve broke into a wide grin, "It will be great!" he said as he clapped David on the shoulder.

David stood up from the table and walked to his room where he flicked on the light. He looked in his closet and pulled out a slightly dusty dress shirt and a pair of slacks; these he brushed off and quickly changed into.

David was the last out the door. The soon arrived at the club and the others split off to their various pursuits; Bryan and Mark to the dance floor and Joe to a poker table.

Steve hung back with David, wanting to introduce him to some of the regular people that he knew. His eyes brightened as they fell on Loreena. Perfect, he thought to himself. He gestured to Loreena to come over.

Steve watched her approach and thought of the possibilities for David. Loreena was a petite blond woman with delicate features and porcelain skin. She was clad in a simple black dress that fell to just above her knees.

"David, this is Loreena," he nodded at the pretty woman, "Loreena, this is David, he's my commanding officer," Steve said, making the introductions.

Loreena smiled an offered her hand to David who shook it firmly, "It's nice to finally meet you David. Steve has mentioned you frequently."

A smile ghosted across David's face, a smile that didn't quite warm his eyes. "It's nice to meet you too," he said.

"Would you like to dance?" Loreena asked.

David was about to decline when Steve nudged him discreetly. "Alright," David said and held out a hand to her.

*****************************************

David sighed as he closed the front door, it was after midnight and he still had work to do. He shouldn't have gone to the club.

"So, did you have fun?" Steve asked as he poked his head around the corner.

David paused before answering, "Yes. I did enjoy myself," he said.

Steve grinned, "so are you going to see her again? I know that she liked you."

"No," David said as he hung up his jacket, "no I won't be seeing her again."

Steve's face creased with puzzlement, "why not? It's not like you're married or anything," he said.

"You wouldn't understand," David said as he walked past Steve towards his desk.

Steve perched on the edge of the desk as David began to work. After a few moments of silence; broken only by the faint rustle of papers and the infinitesimal click of the pen, Steve finally asked, "is this about Ariana?"

David's head jerked up, shock written on his face, "how do you know about that?" he demanded.

Steve hesitated before pulling out a folded piece of paper and handing it to David. "This landed at my feet about a month ago," he said.

David swallowed hard. He knew what this was even before he unfolded it. His hands shook as he held the letter that he had sent heavenward.

"I think that she would want you to move on," Steve said quietly.

David's eyes flashed to the younger mans face, fire darting about in those dark eyes. "I can't," he said as he pushed back the chair roughly.

"Why?" Steve asked to David's turned back, a back that was tense with pent up emotion. It was almost a whisper, pleading to have it explained.

"Because I still love her," David said, his voice no louder than Steve's.

Steve shook his head as David stalked out the door towards his bedroom.

David knew that he could never love another. He knew that he couldn't move on. That was the reality of his life. And he would not give up on that, because without her, he was nothing.