This is the beautiful lie {Ana}

[Daniel Avery]

"Tell me something."

Daniel lifted himself on his elbows on the bed, a sigh escaping his lips as he looked down at Ana. The rain pounded against the windows, sounding like pebbles against the glass. He moved, brushing a hand across the hair on her forehead. "Why do you like me?"

It was a simple question, though a loaded one. Daniel felt horrible for lying. Lying to her, to her mother...it hurt. However, he knew if he told Ana what was going on, what he really did then Ana would be dead. Daniel didn't question that for a second that she would be found dead somewhere if they had ever found out. And he...he would be dead right along with her.

So, he lied. He smiled and told her that he had to work, that he was a lawyer and Hanso had a perfectly good front...but still, the urge was there. "I mean, you don't even know me. We've only known each other for a couple months but..." Daniel wasn't sure where he was going, or why he was even talking this way. Perhaps it was because he knew that soon, he would have to leave again. He would have to leave and not tell her where he was going. He would come back, bring her something expensive from wherever he went, and hope that she didn't ask too many questions.

"Tell the truth. You just like the fact that I bring you diamonds every time I come back. I'm a big boy, I can take the simple fact that I'm just being used for material possessions."

Tell the truth. Tell the truth, she'll understand tell the--

The crack of thunder made Daniel look at the window. "The storm's getting worse."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

Beyond the windows and walls, the echo of thunder crackled through the air as every so often a streak of lightening would illuminate the bedroom. Not that Ana really minded, she always found then oddly relaxing. Probably more so at that moment because she was pretty much spent for the moment. Danny had tired her quite a bit out actually, she thought with a smirk as she looked up into his face, a long silence stretching out between the cracks of the thunder.

Tell me something... Why do you like me?

The words broke the silence, confusion etching at her brow some as he shifted up. A soft 'Hm?' grunted on her breath as she trailed her nails against his back. Not that she was confused on the meaning of the words, because she knew why she liked him, but rather why he was asking the question was baffling. Just out of the blue.

However, before she couldn't open her mouth to ask why he was asking this so suddenly, he continued on. Sure they'd known each other only a few months, but it really didn't feel like it, it felt longer. Of course most of their time tended to be cut short when he'd go off to work. She didn't question it really, when you had work, you had work, being on the clock as a cop she understood that, especially because he was a lawyer. Though, that didn't stop the feelings she got, that he was skipping on some details, like some big secret. But then, everyone had their secrets, and if he wanted to tell her, he would. Until then, she tried to not question it.

Though, she snorted slightly up at him, nearly rolling her eyes at the notion that she just wanted him for the diamonds and the gifts. "Honestly, do I strike you as the gold digging type? You know I could give a shit less about the gifts." She was just happy to be the first thing he'd go to see the second he'd got back to town. Shifting beneath him some she shifted herself up on to her elbows as well, her head tilted to the side. "I could just be happy if you came home with a big red bow around your neck... preferably just that..." she let the suggestion trail thickly off her words as he nudged him with her hip, her mouth curving into a smirk.

Of course, their relationship wasn't just the gifts... or the sex. "You make me feel safe... you know?" she then finally told him after a moment, her hand coming up to rub his cheek gently. "Your funny... thoughtful... good listener... you're there when I need you and that to me is enough." Ana wasn't saying it to be sweet either, and she tried to not make it sound like she was a love sick puppy, even though she was probably was.

However, her eyes looked towards the window as the thunder got louder. With a small shrug she brushed it off. "It'll pass... Until then... Tell me why you like me."

[Daniel Avery]

A smirk spread on Daniel's face as he heard her ask if she was the gold digging type. "Well, I don't know." he told her, and then arched an eyebrow as she said she didn't give a shit about the gifts. "Oh is that right?" Daniel asked. "You're telling me if I came back empty handed you'd be alright with that?" The smirk widened as she talked about the bow, an the eyebrow arched further. "Your birthday is soon," he said slowly, a half grin slipping onto his face as he dipped down, biting her lip.

Ana spoke again, and the wicked smirk died out to a more thoughtful one. He tilted his head slightly, listening to her say all the reasons why she was with him. She loved the person he wanted her to see. True, he wasn't all bad. He wasn't as evil as some people made him out to be yet deep down there were parts of him that he knew only Ana saw. She asked what he liked about her, and he tilted his head slightly, thinking for a second.

"I like that you don't question why I'm the way I am."

He wasn't sure if what he had said was offensive, and he opened his mouth slightly. "The way I am--you don't question me. I like that."

However, Daniel found himself smirking slightly. "The sex ain't bad, either." he commented and rolled over onto his back with a sigh before he frowned, hearing the phone ring. He looked over, reaching for it. He looked at the phone, and closed his eyes frown a brief second before opening them. "Hold on." he told her, and took in a breath before he answered the phone.

"Yes?" he asked as he looked at the ceiling. "Yes. Now? We just closed--of course. No, I completely...I completely understand. Yes. Yes, I'll be there tomarrow morning. Yeah, leave them with the front desk. Of course. Yes, I remember. Of course. Namaste."

Daniel sighed out, moving to shut the phone. It slid out of his hand onto the bed, and he felt his eyes close. Sometimes...sometimes Daniel wanted it to end. The lying...all the people that he knew Dharma hurt...sometimes the thought of just leaving it all was tempting. However, living was more tempting. Yes, he liked living, alot.

"I have to leave tomarrow morning." This was the time to lie. The lies were ready on his lips, ready to spill out, ready to fall. "I, uh...I've got a case. A case that I thought we closed, but...um...I guess I was wrong."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

"Then I guess you know what to get me then... I'll try to act surprised," she added the last part in a whisper, the ever devilish grin coming to play on her mouth. And then there was another thing she absolutely loved about the man above her, his playfulness matched her own. She could forgo the gifts and be left with just that and she could be happy entirely by that means. Hell even if she didn't she could forgo the gifts. She just wasn't a materialistic person. Never was, and probably never would be.

However, as he started talking about what he liked about her, she quited up and sobered up her face as she seriously considered his words. The first thing made her frown with trying to understand exactly his meaning, until she thought she kind of got it when he said he liked how she didn't question him. Which was true, she didn't pry to much when he didn't share. The second, the notion of sex made her chuckle some. Of course, he was a guy, his mind always went to either food or sex... and it wasn't surprising it went right to sex.

"It better be-," she went to say but was cut off by the sound of his phone. Something in her chest dropped in disappointment as it disturbed them. Because there wasn't anyone that called that late at night unless it was his work, which usually meant one thing: they needed him. There was even more disappointment as he rolled off her, losing contact with his skin. Falling back onto the pillows she grabbed the sheet that lain against her waist and pulled it up to her chin, trying to keep her displeasure from her face.

It wasn't surprising that he told her that he'd have to leave the next morning. It was either that or right then it seemed. She hated it, but really, there was nothing she could do. "You just got back..." she protested at this, but stopped herself. Sighing, she brought her hand to rub at her temples and to push the hair out of her eyes. "When will you be back?"

[Daniel Avery]

"You just got back..."

A sigh escaped Daniel's lips as he brought a hand up to rub his face . "Ana." he said, and she asked when he would be back. "You know I don't know that." Truthfully, that wasn't a lie. Daniel didn't even know where he was going at the moment, all he knew, is that they had called, and he was needed. He knew he was needed to go to some person, some person that was just afraid or seeing something they weren't supposed to and fighting back...and Daniel knew that he was needed to put them in their place.

A sigh escaped his lips as he turned his head to look at Ana. It was midnight, however, Daniel knew that he had to leave. He sighed out and moved over resting his arms on either side of her head as he moved over her once more. He wished he could tell her. "The people that I work for...they're not exactly the most forthcoming. I won't even know where I'm going until I get my ticket." He leaned, pressing his lips against her collarbone for a momebt before he pulled back. "I'll call you, but my co-workers...they don't really outside people."

He felt a sigh escape his lips once more. "I know this is hard for you, believe me, this is hard for me too but...but I just need you to understand...I've just gotta leave for a little while longer."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

Ana knew. She knew all about his job already, already knew the procedure. Didn't know where he was going till he got there, short phone calls here and there to make sure that he was okay and to check in with each other, lots of restrictions with his boss. But that didn't stop her from wishing that he could just put it off for one day. Though he couldn't, it was his job, it was more important for him to be at his case or there would be a problem. Her, if she couldn't make it in, there was always a huge list of people that she could call in to cover her at the station. Lawyers weren't so lucky it seemed.

As he pulled himself on top of her once more, Ana didn't resist him, bringing her own hands up to stroke at his shoulders. "I understand... I don't like it, but I understand," she told him, looking up and into his face. The dark strands of hair that were usually slicked carefully back were somewhat now loose and spiked down as he lay atop her, looking rather adoreable, for a moment almost making her forget that he had to leave soon.

Trying to force a smile on her lips she leaned up, pressing a kiss to his lips and then jaw, right next to his ear. "Do you have to leave right now?" she asked, lowly, hoping in an effort that it may just convince him that if he didn't have to leave right at that instant to at least wait awhile to go and get his things ready to leave in the morning. Where he was at the moment was where she wanted him to be, right in her grasp. No place other, as long as she could help it.

[Daniel Avery]

A slight groan escaped his lips as he heard her nearly whisper in his ear. Silently, he thought that after the first five times that night she'd be done, but of course, Ana-Lucia was never done. And Daniel knew that's what he loved about her. However, he heard his cellphone ring again. A sigh escaped his lips, and he pressed his face into the crook of Ana's neck, letting out a frustrated groan.

He leaned on one elbow, reaching for the phone before he sighed out harshly, slamming his head down on the pillow before he answered it, his voice slightly harsh. "Yes?" Daniel seemed to pale slightly in colour, and he sat up quickly, holding a finger out to Ana before he moved off the other room.

"What?" he asked in a harsh whisper, moving to the kitchen with a frown. "You cannot be serious! The only time he wants to speak to someone is if they're in trouble and my BALLS are not going to be on the line because YOU fucked up." Daniel's eyes widened slightly, and he held a finger out in the air as if the person on the phone was standing in front of him. "No. NO! No, you will NOT blame this shit on me, Andrew. If he's going to put anyone's ass in the grinder is going to be YOU, I'll make SURE of it. I swear I'll drop your name so fast you won't even have time to scream. FIX it before I get there, or I swear, I'll suggest that they drop your ass in the middle of the pacific ocean. Goodbye."

Daniel slammed the phone shut, and he felt a shaky breath enter his lungs and he released it in a sigh as he leaned against the counter. The top people at Hanso wanted to speak with him, and when they all wanted to speak to him one by one, Daniel sensed trouble. They were testing his answers, trying to find faults, differences. Making sure they didn't have to get rid of their top Lawyer.

"Fuck."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

Once more the mood was ever broken by the sound of his cellphone. Closing her eyes she bit down on the inside of her mouth, resisting the urge to ground out a few obscenities under her breath. As expected, he went after it again, moving to make a grasp for the phone, however, this time he got up and went into the other room. Exhaling as his figure disappear through the door frame, she rolled over on to her stomach. Burying her face into the pillow, she muttered some colorful words in Spanish into the fabric until she was satisfied, though it wasn't completely out of her system.

Picking her head up, she lulled it to the side, taking a deep breath as she started out of the window. The storm was still going strong it seemed, still sounding like the rains was more like pelting stones against the windows, drowning out the sounds thankfully of the conversation in the other room. She didn't need to overhear, instead she tried to concentrating on the sound of the rain and the thunder as she brought her arm up and under head, curling up and getting comfortable, expecting him to come back in when he was done.

She didn't know how long exactly she was laying there waiting, but it had been a few minutes since she figured she heard any sound of commotion of Danny taking. Sighing once more, she pushed the covers of the bed back, getting up from the bed and going in search of her robe in the closet. Pulling it on, she moved towards the door, by the time she reached it, she could see him at the counter in the kitchen. Pulling the robe around her more securely, she lent against the door frame, crossing her arms over her chest to keep it closed. Whatever the phone call was about, she wasn't sure she wanted to know, or pry, with the way it sounded, it wasn't good. That would probably be like putting salt in his wounds.

[Daniel Avery]

For a brief second, Daniel wondered if he was going on a plane to wherever to die. Or be fired and then die. He leaned his head against the counter for a moment before squatting down, letting out a harsh sigh. "Fuck. Fuck--" he whispered, and then heard a slight noise. His head shot up, and the image of Ana was thrust into his vision. For a moment, his eyes went slightly wide before he stood up quickly. He felt his face shift into a smile. "Hey. Sorry. Work." He moved over to her and kissed her cheek. He pulled back, looking at her as he hoped the colour came back to his cheeks.

However, the look on her face made him realise that he wasn't. "It's uh...they just want me to stay a little longer. I've, um...I've got some people to meet and it may take me a little longer than expected." he told her, although he knew she wouldn't believe it. "It's nothing, really."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

There was concern in Ana's eyes as she watched him, a frown spreading on her features as he tried really hard hide the look she'd seen. The poker face, she'd seen it on people that were brought in for questioning when they didn't want to share what they knew. She'd seen it on his face usually after a call, sometimes she didn't question it, but right now... It looked serious. For him, she wanted to smile for, show she wasn't worried for him, take it like a cup of tea but for some reason, she just couldn't at that moment.

Thinning her lips, she brought her hands up to cup his cheeks, stroking the smooth, ever so gently stubbled skin. Looking at him earnestly, she quirked her brow. "Are you sure it's nothing?" she questioned, her fingers brushing some of the hair out of his face, to better see his eyes. Managing to force a weak smile, she looked into the blue-green hues, easily she could get lost in them if she tried. "I mean, I know it's none of my business, you don't have to tell me... But you go me worried here."

[Daniel Avery]

He had himself worried, too. Perhaps for the wrong reasons. He hoped silently that it was for the entirely wrong reasons. Perhaps Hanso and the board wanted to speak to him to update him on the status of the Stations on the island? Or perhaps the status of the Oceanic Airlines operation? Perhaps...perhaps it was all getting blown out of preportion.

However, the tone of Andrew's voice held the former. That there was something brewing within the Hanso Foundation and he was standing at the vast void, looking over the lip into the belly of the beast.

A sigh escaped his lips as he brought a hand up, pressing against her cheek. "It's...it's just a bad case. There's--I just don't want you to get hurt, that's all. And the people in the case they're--" he shook his head and moved back into the bedroom. He moved to the closet, knowing that he held a few clothes there. Whatever else he needed, he'd buy. He had a feeling that he'd be going to Copenhagen, but he wasn't able to tell Ana. "I just have to explain some of my actions, meet with a few high priced old men who think they're still yuppies. Don't worry," he called to her. "I'm well protected if that's what you're worried about. I just don't want to involve you in this. You don't belong in this."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

Danny was worried about her getting harmed because of a case? Ana wasn't completely sure what he was getting at exactly. Of coruse, she heard of dangerous cases before, it wasn't unheard of. People around the defendant or something or other and the lawyers being at risks. Though that tended to happen more with gangs and stuff. She heard about a lot of cases like that back at the precinct but it still felt just slightly off target. Rubbing at her face tiredly, she crossed into the room behind him, watching as he not surprisingly began to gather his things together. Taking a breath, she moved over towards her bed, taking a seat at the bottom watching him, not about to help him because she would just be in his way. "There's a duffel bag at the bottom right of the closet," she told him.

"But do promise me you'll try to not get in trouble then?" she asked after another moment, her eyes dropping to the floor. Though not liking that she was in the absence of doing something while he was fiddling around, she grabbed at his pants that were discarded on the floor near her feet, starting to fold it up in her lap. The last thing she wanted was for something to happen to him, whether it be with his position in his job or even his well-being, though mostly with the latter. Setting it to the side once she was done, she looked back to see the site of his back while he still gathered his things.

"Because you know.. I..uh," she began, but her voice faltered after a moment as she bit on her lip, in contemplation. Licking her lip then, she exhaled saying it in breath. "I love you," she finally said quietly.

[Daniel Avery]

"Thanks." he told her when she mentioned the duffel bag. He peered in, and grabbed it, moving to toss it onto the bed. When she asked that he not get in trouble, Daniel felt himself smirk slightly. "I'll do my best. I'm sure, like I told you, it's nothing. They just wish to speak to me. Besides, if my answers are what they expect or more, I'm thinking that I may be up for a new job they possibly have open. More money. Less stress. I wouldn't be working so closely with the big wigs"

That part was true, at least partly. If he got the Oceanic Lawyer posititon, he'd be top Lawyer. He wouldn't have to worry about working closing with Dharma, seeing and defending the tests that Daniel had silently objected to...he'd be a lawyer for an airline.r What could go wrong?

However, Daniel felt his eyes look at Ana as she said she loved him. It wasn't like he hadn't said it, but mostly, he found that they had both said it while they were screwing. Not that they didn't mean it, but for some reason, it felt more real when she said it now. A sigh escaped his lips, and he moved, kneeling in front of her as he took her hands. He looked up at her with a slight smile. "Then I'll be completely fine." he told her seriously, his lips spreading into a slight smile. "You don't have to worry about me, Ana. I promise, everything will be alright. And...and one day, I'll be able to tell you what I do because I won't be doing it anymore. I just have to find the right time, but I promise you, I'll tell you one day. You'll just have to stick with me until then if you want to find out."

[Ana-Lucia Cortez]

All this danger over just a talk with the higher ups? Or was she misunderstanding or even missing something. The whole explanation of what he was giving her was making her travel in circles, confusing her as she tried to put the pieces together. Yet, the more she tried to think about it the more she felt a headache come over her head. But the whole less hours sounded good to her though, less time he'd be away from her if that was the case, quite literally it seemed. More money, she could be fine with out, though she knew that it was important to Danny, but that was also a good thing in his favor.

When he came to kneel in front of her, his hands coming to grasp her own, she looked to his face as he spoke, trying to reassure her everything would be okay. The way his eyes bore into hers with sincerity was something that was rather... unmatched and unable to help it, a hint of a smile creased her lips, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "You better be fine," Ana warned him somewhat, as she pulled alway. "If not, not even your suave, reassuring lawyery jedi-mind trick will save your sorry ass from me." Which was true. The man was good at getting her to calm down, to extent. Of course she was still worried, but she wasn't going to tell him that, or confirm it more then he already knew.

She knew a lot about the man before her, but sometimes she just felt she was missing a big piece of that, no scratch that, she knew she was missing a big piece. But she just hoped he would in fact tell her when that time came. Yawning, she brought one of her hands up to stifle it in its tracks, but not succeeding much, and she glanced over shoulder to the clock. "You should go," she told him, trying to hide the contempt from her voice then, thinning her lips into a thin line. "I know you got a lot of shit to do before you leave, I shouldn't keep you."

[Daniel Avery]

A smirk crossed Daniel's face as he heard Ana warn him. "It's not lawyer jedi-mind tricks," he commented as she kissed his forehead. "I'm just unbelievably charming." he told her with a grin, before hearing her speak once more. Her tone had shifted slightly, and the thin line of her lips made him sigh, standing up to start packing once again. He grabbed his pants from her lap and pulled them on. He continued to pack, focusing on the dufflebag as if it held the secrets of the world. "Fine," he told her after a moment, hanging his head. He knew if he told her the complete truth, somehow, they'd find out. They'd find out and they'd kill them both.

"I don't work for the Firm downtown, you probably knew that already." he told her simply. "I work...for a company that has major ties overseas." He tried to think of any way to tell her that wouldn't jeperdise what he did, or the company he worked for. "It's, uh, it's a research company, among other things. I'm the top Lawyer for their company."

His mouth grew dry. What the HELL had he just told her? Well, he hadn't told her that Dharma had been accused of violating human rights. He hadn't told her what he had known about Dharma's research programs. He hadn't told her that he had gotten murderers off scott free.