Commitment (16 page)

lex walked into the waiting room and saw Cassidy sitting beside her mother talking quietly. Cassidy looked up and caught sight of her wife approaching and smiled. “Hey.”

“Hey yourself,” Alex answered softly. “How’s she doing?”

“Nick came out about half an hour ago,” Cassidy said. “It will be a while.”

Alex nodded and took a seat beside her wife. “Where are Dylan and Cat?”

“With Mom at Nick’s,” Cassidy answered. “She’ll make the trek when things are closer,” she explained. Alex nodded again quietly. “You all right?” Cassidy asked.

“Yeah,” Alex answered softly.

“I’m going to go get some coffee,” Helen interrupted as she reached her feet. “Anything you need?”

Cassidy shook her head. “Coffee would be great,” Alex answered. “Don’t you want some?” Alex asked Cassidy.

“No, not right now,” she said. Helen smiled at her daughter-in-law and took her leave.

“Cass? Are you okay?” Alex asked, momentarily forgetting the unsettling feelings hospitals always brought on for her.

“Yeah, why?”

“I don’t know. Just surprised. No coffee? You look like you could use some.”

Cassidy laughed. “Is that a polite way of saying I look like crap?”

“No!” Alex chimed. “Just tired.”

“Well, I am tired. But, it’ll be a long night no matter what. If I start now, I will only need more later,” she explained. “So, how was Pip?”

“Okay,” Alex said.

“Alex?”

“He’s going to check things out in Stockholm,” Alex said nervously.

“And?” Cassidy prodded.

“I’m going to head to London for a couple of days,” Alex said tacitly. She saw Cassidy’s nearly imperceptible nod of understanding. “Only a couple of days.”

Cassidy smiled. “It’s okay,” she said. “You showed him the letter?” Cassidy asked. Alex nodded. “How did he take it?”

Alex laughed. “I told you. He would do anything for you.”

“Um-hmm.”

“I don’t want to talk about that now,” Alex said, shifting nervously.

Cassidy took hold of the agent’s hand gently. “I know you hate hospitals,” she said. Alex shrugged. “Are you going to be all right here; waiting?”

“Yeah,” Alex answered, relaxing slightly. “So, what do you think?”

“About?” Cassidy asked.

“Think it’s a boy or a girl?”

Cassidy took a deep breath and sighed. “Well, I know Barb would not so secretly love a little girl, but for some reason I have a feeling we will be greeting another nephew.”

“Yeah? How come?”

Cassidy shrugged. “I don’t know. I was sure Dylan was a boy. No one believed me,” she chuckled. “I just have a feeling.”

Alex smiled and stroked Cassidy’s hand. She closed her eyes for a moment and let her thoughts stray from her surroundings, wondering if Cassidy would have
feelings
when they finally conceived. Her smile steadily grew wider in contentment, and
she heard Cassidy giggle. “What?” Alex asked without opening her eyes.

“What are you grinning about?” Cassidy asked.

Alex decided to leave her private thoughts exactly as they were. “Nothing in particular,” she fibbed and then yawned. “Going to be a long night, you said. Just trying to make the best of it.”

“Uh-huh,” Cassidy answered in disbelief. She shook her head at the realization that Alex had, in a moment, drifted off to sleep.

“She sleeping?” Helen asked as she took a seat. Cassidy nodded. “In a hospital?” Helen couldn’t believe it. Cassidy shrugged. “Miracles never cease,” Helen said with a roll of her eyes.

Cassidy looked at her mother-in-law and winked. She studied her hand as it entwined with her wife’s. “No. They really don’t,” she whispered.

Jonathan Krause stepped out of the taxi and made his way into a small coffee shop. He scanned it quickly and took note of the man sitting in the far corner. He approached casually and moved into the opposite bench. “So? Not like you to want coffee at this hour,” Krause said lightly.

Brian Fallon smiled. “No. That is usually your department. I took the liberty,” he said as their waitress approached and set a steaming mug in front of each of them. Fallon nodded his thanks. “How are you, Agent Krause?” Fallon asked.

“Curious,” Krause answered as he lifted his coffee slowly to his lips.

Fallon sighed. “I got an unexpected call to meet with my boss this afternoon,” he offered.

“Which boss?” Krause inquired.

“Fair question,” he said. “In that you and I are sitting here now, I guess we both know that rules you out,” Fallon joked. He took a deep breath as his voice became more tentative. “Tate,” he answered.

“Really? And what did the good assistant director have to offer?” Krause wondered.

“Look, I don’t know what to make of this,” Fallon began. Krause merely raised an eyebrow in question as he continued to nurse his coffee slowly. “He visited the president today and ran into a stranded NSA agent,” Fallon said. Seeing the vein in Jonathan Krause’s neck begin to pulse, Fallon quickly but carefully continued. “It was Anderson, apparently keeping company with a certain NSA Director.”

Krause nodded and very slowly placed his coffee back on the table. “Continue,” he said.

“Krause,” Fallon’s voice became strained. “He followed him. Followed him to State.” Jonathan Krause listened intently but with no visible change in emotion. The CIA agent’s ability to remain so remarkably collected in any situation and to maintain an unreadable expression often unsettled Brian Fallon. Fallon continued slowly. “Did you know that Ambassador Daniels was here; in the states?” Fallon watched as the muscles in Krause’s neck visibly strained. “Gets worse. He thinks,” Fallon paused and took a breath for courage. “He suspects Director Taylor is working with Brackett. He thinks…”

“He thinks Taylor is Brackett’s contact,” Krause surmised. Fallon nodded. Krause took another sip of his coffee before steadily easing it back to the table again. He turned to Brian Fallon and nodded his understanding.

“Krause, you don’t actually think that Michael Taylor…”

“I don’t know. Either Tate is trying to throw us off his trail, or there is a good chance your other boss is not who we believe him to be,” Krause answered. “Those are the only two possibilities.” Krause stopped and considered what course to take next. “Look, I am headed to Stockholm this week. Alex will
be headed to London. If Daniels is here, it’s something that was decided quickly. Daniels is set to meet with Sparrow on Wednesday….back in London.”

“Do you want me to…”

“No,” Krause said. “No. Alex is headed in that direction.”

“What about Taylor? She’ll want to know…”

Krause stopped Fallon’s thoughts. “Nothing to Agent Toles yet, Agent Fallon; not about Taylor. You’ve still been drilling into O’Brien’s accident for the NSA?” Krause asked. Fallon nodded. Fallon had been investigating a car accident that very nearly cost Congressman Christopher O’Brien his life. Officially, every agency and the Metropolitan Police Department had ruled the accident just that; an accident. Alex had been certain it was anything but an accident; after months of investigation, even the most promising trails seemed to lead to a dead end. “Nothing new?” Krause inquired.

“No,” Fallon said.

“There will be. There’s money unaccounted for in O’Brien’s campaign. I’ll send you the information. Bring it to Taylor. Alex and I are going to leverage those little ears the congressman sent home with Dylan. Let’s see where they lead us,” Krause offered.

“You think we can flush him out. Whoever it is?” Fallon asked.

“I think one of your two bosses knows far more than he is saying. You’re close enough to both to water the seed that we plant and then watch it grow,” Krause said.

“Krause, Taylor is Alex’s…”

“I know,” Krause said. “People are seldom who we think they are Fallon,” he paused and attempted to swallow his personal reality. “Sometimes not even ourselves,” Krause said softly. Fallon studied him as the CIA agent rose to take his leave. “Stick as close to Taylor as you can. Give him the information on O’Brien that I send. And, Brian?” Krause stopped
and put his hand on the man’s shoulder. Fallon looked at him inquisitively. “Watch yourself.”

Sunday, December 14
^th

Alex shifted uncomfortably in her chair, still groggy from her impromptu nap. She heard Cassidy’s voice speaking softly. “What time is it?” she mumbled.

“It’s almost four o’clock,” Cassidy answered, taking a moment to gaze at Alex’s sleepy state affectionately.

“Still no baby?” Alex asked in amazement.

“No,” Cassidy chuckled. “Your mom went in a bit ago and she’s definitely getting closer. They’re giving her something now to try and help coax the baby a bit,” Cassidy explained. “I called Mom; she’ll be here with the boys shortly. I guess they haven’t slept anyway. Cat is too excited.”

As Cassidy finished her statement, Helen appeared around the corner. “Oh, look who decided to keep us company,” she poked at her daughter.

Alex growled slightly. “I’m sure you two didn’t even notice,” she said.

Helen laughed. “Well, I am sure after all that rest you could use a stretch,” she said.

Cassidy snickered, and Alex looked at her mother in confusion. “What are you talking about?” Alex asked.

“I thought, perhaps, you and Cassidy could take a walk and say hello,” Helen suggested.

“You mean in her room?” Alex asked warily. Cassidy covered her mouth in an attempt to hide her ever-widening smile. “Nick is there,” Alex dismissed the suggestion.

“Yes, he is,” Helen repeated the obvious.

Cassidy stood and offered her hand to Alex. “What?” Alex asked again with a look of concern on her face. “I’m sure Barb doesn’t want to see…”

“Actually, Alexis,” her mother began. “She specifically asked if Cassidy would come in.” Alex huffed slightly and took Cassidy’s hand. “I should think this would be a fantastic opportunity for you,” Helen said. Still tired, Alex looked at her mother completely perplexed. “Think of it as homework,” she winked at her daughter. “You are married to a teacher.”

“Great,” Alex mumbled. “You’ve been spending too much time with Rose. I’m cutting you off. And…I don’t have any homework yet,” Alex replied. Helen just took her seat and grinned, catching Cassidy’s muffled laughter as she led Alex off.