12 Lost

A cushion flew over and smacked Tristan's face hard, sending him repulsing on the couch.

"What the fuck!" Tristan sent a death glare at the man who had hurled the cushion at him, only to cower in fright when he saw his leader's menacing eyes. He knew he fucked up big time.

But what could he do? Between his leader and his leader's future wife, he chose to side with his leader's future wife. After all, Ace himself had no choice but to accept defeat in front of his wife. What could he, a poor man, do?

"You're right," Everett admitted and Kate punched the air in triumph.

"Thank you." Kate glanced at Joker and bobbed her head as if she was curtsying him. 

"Kate, I risked my life to give you the clue. Will I be getting just a thank you?" Tristan was not happy. Considering his sacrifice, his profits weren't that great.

"Not at all. Do you know Restaurant Serenity?"

"Yeah. Why do you ask?" Tristan gave her a puzzling look.

"The food over there is delicious," Dean exclaimed all of a sudden. "Don't tell me...." His eyes rounded in realization the next instant.

"That's my Mom's restaurant. All the food served over there is mostly from her recipes."

Everyone went silent as they collectively stared at Kate, making her grin proudly.

"Did you just trick me?" Tristan went into total disbelief.

"I didn't. I never said I'll give you my Mom's number." Kate shrugged lightly and Tristan had to recall their conversation to find out if she was telling the truth.

"That's not fair, Kate. How could you do this to me?" Tristan was aggrieved and he pouted like a kid.

"Be happy that you got a way to have delicious food." Kincaid couldn't tolerate Tristan's dramatic antics anymore. The man could turn anything into a farce if he wanted. What a ridiculous talent!

"That's true. But isn't it better to have Kate's Mom's food directly? I'm sure that'll taste better." 

"Well, my Mom's held up with some work right now. Let a few weeks pass, I'll introduce all of you to her and then it's up to you and her." Kate relented and gave him another coupon for the help he had provided her with and this time, Tristan shrieked like a little girl before he rushed to hug her.

"Thank you so much, Kate. Aren't you lovely?" He praised her as he approached her. Before he could pull her up to hug her, he was stopped by his leader.

"What do you think you're doing, Joker?" 

"What?" Tristan gave him a look that said, 'Duh! Can't you see what I'm doing? I'm just expressing my gratitude.'

"Come back, Tris, before Ace dislocates your limbs," Paul advised like a good friend from behind and Tristan didn't dare ignore his words. His leader's expression definitely said that if he were to hug Kate, he'd have to say goodbye to his limbs.

"Fine." Tristan relented and returned to his seat as he snorted in anger. Between his hug and his limbs, he chose the latter.

Kate ignored the amusing scene that had just transpired. "One down, one more to go."

"You were lucky that I had a weak teammate." Kincaid gave her a look that said she wouldn't be that fortunate the next time.

"Now, who among you is flamboyant?" Kate mused as she looked at the three men. She scrutinized all three of them before she settled on Paul. 

"Why do I feel you're the flamboyant one?"

"And what made you conclude that?" Paul didn't reject or deny it. Instead, he leaned forward curiously while he waited for her analysis.

"Your expression says I am right." Kate smiled triumphantly. "As for your answer, among everyone present here, I think you're quite exuberant, after Tristan of course."

"You're right. Ace was referring to me." He admitted.

"Wait a minute. Would you mind telling me who won the most when you guys were playing poker?"

Everyone knew where she was going with her question. But they didn't mislead her with wrong answers.

"That's got to be Rhys," Desmond answered.

"Does he win most of the time?"

"More or less."

"That means he has good analysis skills." Kate deduced and turned towards Dean who was the only one left. "Then, your call name must have got to do something with your physical attribute. Am I right?"

"Brilliant." Paul clapped and the others followed suit immediately.

"You're terrific." Rhys acknowledged her skills as well. Among them, he had the best analysis skills. But in front of Kate, he felt his skills to be mediocre. However, this didn't make him jealous or restless. Instead, he only admired and respected her all the more.

"As for your call names..." Kate bit the inside of her cheek thoughtfully as she stared at the three men. She even did a double-take on Dean. "Does your call name have something to do with your eyes? They are unbelievably attractive."

"Thank you." Dean effused with joy and even winked at her as emphasis.

"Are you mixed blood?"

"Yes. My Mom's Korean." 

"Ah, that explains why you have fox-like eyes." Kate nodded lightly and lowered her head. She completely missed how stunned all the people around her had gone the moment she had finished speaking. 

"Umm, Kate..." Desmond started but hesitated. 

"I accept defeat. I'm unable to deduce their call names." Kate gave up. It was getting late and she had to catch up on her much-needed sleep. Although she loved her new company, she needed to sleep as well. And just as she thought about it, a yawn threatened to escape her mouth.

"Are you sure?" Kincaid was stunned by her sudden declaration. He had assumed she'd defeat him; after all, she was close to decoding another name.

"Yes. You win." Kate shrugged her shoulder once and the S.W.A.T. started celebrating their leader's victory.

Everyone was happy for Ace and they hooted in joy. Even Kincaid was exultant. But somewhere in his mind, he couldn't brush off the feeling that something was wrong. This thought dominated his mind and he gave Kate a pensive look.

"Kate, are you really unable to decode their call names?"

"What do you think?" Kate responded with a question of her own and Kincaid got his answer immediately.

Kate hadn't lost. Instead, she had accepted defeat willingly.