411. Chapter 411

She knows Maggie is sore. She knows Maggie’s got a bruised rib.

She knows because Maggie doesn’t wince often, but when Alex hailed her on the radio she gave her before Maggie insisted on going back out there with James, she heard the wince in Maggie’s voice.

But god, she would rather Maggie by her side – safe, safe, because she will die before she lets Maggie do the same – than out there, alone.

And Maggie keeps up with her. Just a little bit slower, just a little bit stiffer.

Every time Maggie jumps out of one vent to access another, on the ground below, Alex rakes her eyes up and down her body. Checking her for further injuries. For extra pain.

And, if she had to admit it, because damn.

Just… damn.

A very trusted, very sexy agent on her six.

“See something you like, Danvers?” Maggie asks once when she catches Alex watching her while she straightens up, while she catches her breath.

“There’s another four letter word starting with an L I could think of, Sawyer,” Alex doesn’t miss a beat, and Maggie grins, because if anyone can make her dimples come out in the middle of a war, it’s this woman.

It will always be this woman.

“That so, Alex?” she flirts, her voice honey.

“That’s so, Maggie,” Alex flirts right back, their lips touching, their lips parting.

“Mission.”

“War zone,” they murmur at the same time as they pull away, both their bodies keening from the loss.

They get back to it – everyone’s lives depend on it – but it’s not the last time.

Though the next time they stop to flirt, it’s because Alex catches Maggie looking at her instead of the other way around.

Or, more specifically, Alex catches Maggie staring at her ass.

She turns to check on her as she crouches and crawls through the last vent, and Maggie’s tongue is on her lips, and her eyes are decidedly not assessing tactical situations around them.

“Eyes front, soldier,” Alex chides with a grin, and she hears the smile in Maggie’s chuckle.

“Oh, I’ve got no problem keeping my eyes front, Acting Director Danvers.”

Alex pauses and Maggie puts a comforting hand on her calf. “He’s gonna be just fine, Alex.”

“I love you, you know that?” Alex turns to tell her.

“I do. You show me every day, Alex Danvers. I hope I show you, too.”

“You always have.”

“Always will too, Alex. I promise.”