Thought I'd give it a try. Be patient with me if the updates are slow, please? Midterms are driving me crazy, but I promise it will be done by the contest deadline. If you haven't read it yet, you'll want to read sprogpaws' intro to the contest before beginning my continuation.

I'm rating this story PG-17 for disturbing content. If you've read sprogpaw's intro, you know that the case involves neo-Nazis...some of the characters in this story voice pretty harsh opinions. Please know that I'm not writing for shock value, but to try and accurately portray a story. I hope that it goes without saying that there are many views expressed in this story that are not my own.


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

Three hours later…

“Quite a party, isn’t it? Lucy really outdid herself.”

Myles fished a rather nasty looking jelly snake out of his drink and glanced at the diminutive woman who stood before him dressed as Minnie Mouse. The Disney theme was a bit too cute, but Tara managed to carry it off because of her irrepressible sense of humor. “Lucy enjoys entertaining,” he replied.

“Yes she does. I have to admit that she surprised me tonight,” Tara said thoughtfully. When Myles tilted his head at her, his gaze curious, she flushed. “Never mind; I shouldn’t have said anything.”

He studied her for a moment and pondered what he knew about her thought processes. “You’re surprised that she asked me to be her date tonight.”

Tara’s blush deepened to the point that her face was almost the same color as her polka-dotted skirt. “I’m sorry, Myles. It’s none of my business, but I just wondered…” her voice trailed off as she looked down at the floor, clearly embarrassed.

“You wondered why Lucy would ever approach me again after the way that I hurt her,” Myles finished the sentence for her. Tara had gone past embarrassment to mortification and looked ready to bolt for the door, but Myles found himself almost pleased that she had the courage to say what everyone else had to be thinking. He told her so. “It’s alright; I’m sure the others all wondered the same thing. You’re just the only one who was brave enough to address it.”

“Or nosy enough,” Tara retorted, not quite ready to let herself off the hook. “It really isn’t my business, and I apologize–”

This time he interrupted before she could finish speaking. “Forget it. Lucy and I discussed what happened and resolved it as much as possible. I’d like to think that I’ve changed somewhat since then, but the truth is that I can’t alter what I did. There’s too much history, and she knows that as well as I do.”

Tara looked at him, puzzled. “Then, why…”

He smiled somewhat ruefully. “I’m Lucy’s escort as a matter of convenience. The rest of you already have dates, and she wanted people in pairs because of the theme of the party.”

“Oh. Well, she didn’t have to…” again Tara stumbled and looked away.

Myles watched her, curious as to why she seemed so distracted. He was also curious about his own reaction; he was concerned enough to ask, which was certainly odd. “She didn’t have to do what?” he prompted.

For a moment it appeared as if she wasn’t going to answer, but finally she sighed and raised her eyes to meet his. “She didn’t have to pair me with Stanley.”

It was a surprise, but not that much of one when he thought about it. There had been something all evening, some little detail that didn’t quite fit. It was as if the lens had been slightly out of focus, so that everything was just slightly distorted from reality. He didn’t even need to ask; her eyes told the story. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.

Tara looked down at her drink, and if he hadn’t known her better, Myles would have sworn she was about to cry. When she spoke again it was almost a whisper. Myles found that he had to move closer to hear her over the sounds from the party; he leaned into her space, unconsciously providing her with a shield from the activity around them. “Stanley’s a really nice guy,” she said wistfully. “He likes me, a lot, and we share so many common interests. It’s perfect…except that there’s nothing there. Not for me, anyway. I would give almost anything I have if I could just make it happen…but I can’t. And I hate to hurt him, because he really does care about me…”

Myles thought for a moment before reaching to touch her arm. “This might be presumptuous, but based on my own situation which we just discussed, I feel somewhat qualified to address your predicament.” Tara looked up at him, confusion etched on her features. He took a deep breath before continuing, “If it isn’t there, no amount of hope in the world will make it take form. You’ll be kinder to him if you tell him now, and it will be the more honorable way to manage it.” He felt his cheeks flush, but he forced himself to continue. “I learned it the hard way; I’d rather you avoided that if at all possible.”

Understanding dawned on Tara’s face, and she smiled gently. “That’s good advice. Thanks, Myles.”

He nodded, relieved that she wasn’t offended. “My pleasure.” Searching for a safe change of topic, he asked, “You’ve almost finished your drink; may I get you another?”

Tara shook her head. “No thanks. I’m going to find Stanley and tell him I want to go home. I think…I think I’m going to take your advice right away. Tonight.” Her face was still a shade too pale, but her eyes were determined and somewhat peaceful. “Tell Lucy that I enjoyed the party?”

Myles nodded. “I will.” As the pretty blond woman began to move away from him, he surprised himself by catching her arm again. “Tara?” When she turned back to face him, he found himself struggling for words. “If…when you’re done…if you need anything, call me.”

Her eyes searched his, and then she smiled. “I will. Thanks, Myles.” She slipped her hand into his and gave it a quick squeeze before she left.

------------------------


Side note to Sprogpaws: Did you really think I was going to leave the M/L and T/S pairings alone? Of course not!

Ooooh! A Rerio fanfic! /flip does a happy dance

You are off to a great start - can't wait to see what develops between Tara and Myles....I'm sure with you writing it, it will be perfect.

Nah, Rerio, not for a minute, in fact I'd have been disappointed if you had!! Truth be known, that was why I worded it the way I did - I had you in mind as I wrote the intro

Fantastic start, btw, but then there was never any doubt that it would be! And you have no idea just HOW excited I am to have you posting an entry - tiggerifically ecstatic is only the beginning!!!!!

I know you are really, really busy, so I just want to say how please I am that you've chosen to do this, means a lot to me, it really does - thank you.

(we need an ASL thank you smiley!)

Oooooh, when I saw a Rerio contribution to this challenge I thought, this is gonna be really good! And you haven't disappointed! I LIKE what you're doing with Myles/Tara; I have become such a fan of them too!

Hope you can get through midterms without completely losing it...

Can I just say one more time that I'm loving how each writer is making this challenger their own.

Rerio...I'll take your M/T pairing any day...you write them like they were born to be together. Anxious to see how you develop them.

What fun, what fun, what fun...

Yes and we will be patient only because we're forced to...

Sidenote: Can we put a Halloween cap on one of these smiley faces in honor of the challenge???

I am so keen on this story! Thank you for joining in here... the water is warm, the company is good, and the fishies dont bite! Great great start! Cant WAIT to see what happens next!

Jen

Thanks for the replies, all! It feels good to be posting something new on the board.

***


Myles stood looking after Tara for a few moments before he went in search of Lucy. He found her in the kitchen. “Tara asked me to tell you that she had a good time.”

Lucy looked up from the dishes she was rinsing. “She and Stanley are leaving? I should go say goodbye.”

An instinctive protective response rose in Myles’ chest that would have worried him if he’d taken the time to think about it. “I think they’re already gone; Tara seemed tired.”

Lucy grinned. “I guess even Tara can’t maintain that bubbly energy forever. Donna and D are also getting ready to go; I just talked to them. I’m so glad they could get a sitter so that they could have the evening together.” She looked around the apartment with satisfaction. “I throw a good party, if I do say so myself.”

“You do,” Myles agreed. “How is the main strategic campaign progressing?”

Lucy’s eyes twinkled up at him. “Right on schedule,” she replied, waving her hand toward the living room. Jack was sitting next to Sue on the couch; if the dark-haired man moved any closer to the beautiful young blond woman, he would be sitting in her lap. “They’ve been like that for almost an hour, talking. Before that, they were dancing and singing all the lyrics to Grease. Jack hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off her all night.”

With good reason, Myles thought privately, but he kept that observation to himself.

Just then D and Donna said a final goodnight and left; Bobby and Darcy followed soon after. With a slight blush, Sue explained that she was going to walk Jack out to his car. Within minutes, Myles and Lucy were the only ones left in the apartment except for Levi, of course. Lucy turned to him, an enormous smile on her face. “It’s working! I’m so happy!”

Myles laughed. “I’ll admit the results look promising.”

“I have to thank you for your contribution,” Lucy said. Seeing the confusion on his face, she continued, “I really wanted to keep the group small tonight, and I needed couples to make it work. Thanks for going along with me.”

He lifted a single brow. “It wasn’t exactly a hardship, escorting the most beautiful woman at the party.” He meant it; Lucy truly was strikingly attractive.

She was pleased. “Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.”

They studied each other for a moment, both thinking the same thought: It’s happened. Whatever discomfort was between us has disappeared. There’s no going back, of course, but at least we’re over the awkwardness of it. Music was playing softly in the background; Myles held out his hand. “Dance?”

She smiled and placed her hand in his. “I’d love to.” They danced in the kitchen, and the old ghosts of the night returned to their beds.

I love how Lucy is forever the "matchmaker.'



Poor Jack. He has a hard enough time keeping his eyes from roving to Sue. With her all dressed up as the "changed" Sandy - he didn't have a prayer.



Rerio, you did a great job of resolving the conflict between Lucy and Myles. The road is now clear for Myles to turn his attention toward the lovely, bubbly Tara.

Note: I'm thinking there's another post on the next page but wanted to add before I read it, so, if that's ture, this will be out of order...oh well...sorry if it bothers anyone, I'm having fun...

Oh, man, Bigfan is reduced to a Ditto...Flip you covered it. But a worthy ditto, is a worthy ditto and important to recognize one when it's needed.

Rerio...you are pulling us in...Myles and Lucy's friendship reconciled, Tara within hours becoming available, Jack and Sue "heating up". What halloween fun we have to look forward to.

Wait...I'm remembering that scariness was promised...oh my, oh my, oh my

As they walked to his car, Jack glanced at the woman beside him to make sure she was watching before he spoke. “Ms. Thomas, it appears that your party was a big success.”

She smiled. “Thanks, but Lucy did most of the work. She came up with the idea and put a lot of effort into it; I only helped a little.”

He did his best to appear shocked. “Lucy, putting together a couples-only Halloween party with assigned partners and a romantic theme? I can’t believe it!”

Sue blushed a little, but her eyes sparkled. “Amazing, isn’t it? So is this costume.” She glanced down at herself briefly, wrinkling her nose. “Lucy helped me pick it out, and I had to gather all of my courage to wear it tonight. It’s just…not me.”

“No, you look great,” Jack insisted. Despite his best efforts, he felt his eyes drift over her form yet again. How many times was that tonight, anyway? He’d lost count. Taking a deep breath, he did his best to control the tremor in his voice, for his own sake, if not hers. “It’s nice. Very…nice.”

The look in his eyes was making it hard for her to breathe. “Thank you,” she said softly. “I had a really nice time tonight, Jack.”

“So did I. I enjoyed being with you…very much.” They studied each other in silence for a moment. Finally Jack spoke again. “I never thought it would happen like this,” he said.

“What?” she asked, puzzled.

He reached out to take her hand in his. “I never thought that our first real kiss would happen on Halloween.”

She did her best to appear indignant. “What makes you think we’re going to kiss?” she demanded, but her smile was warm.

He saw the gentle amusement in her eyes…and the acceptance. Without saying another word, he cupped her jaw with his hand and gently pressed his lips to hers. Like their previous kiss, the undercover one, things progressed quickly. They seemed to fit each other perfectly, with no hesitation or awkwardness. She responded to him with a trust that was humbling and an eagerness that challenged his intentions. She was innocence…and passion. He pulled her close to him and lost track of the world.

Aaaaawwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!

Now that was just plain nice!!!
Great job!!!

What a description...oo-la-la...I'm liking this. Rerio, you outdid yourself with this picture. Straight into their hearts, straight into their moment. You captured it.

DITTO!


Interesting interaction between Myles and Tara. Could there be something in the works there? Oh yeah, I forgot. Rerio writing this story. Of course, there is M/T in the works.

It is very sweet how you portrayed the relationship between Myles and Lucy. It is fun to hear them tease and spoof each other, but I like them being sweet as well.
Nicely done.

You bet your sweet patootie! I have completely gone over to the dark side. However, if you really want I can try to write some other pairings...

Myles and Lucy...
Sue and David...
Jack and Allie

:whistle:

Thought my heart was going to fly right out of my body, it was beating so fast.

Then it did - it flew away, doing loop-de-loops as it went!

That was luuuuuuurvly! Absolutely perfect!

Oh, yeh, Rerio - you can bet your sweet patootie that there will be trouble, deep trouble, if you start writing those other pairings!

DITTO to sprogpaws! But then, rerio knows better....right, rerio? Because if not... you KNOW all us j/s junkies will be coming after you!

luv ya hon!

Threaten all you want, but I know that you're not about to write a Myles/Lucy story! I am loving the warm fuzzies here--how I've missed your writing!

I'm at a complete loss for words, rerio. Will smilies do?

Sure, I'll take smilies. Thanks for all the replies, everyone!

Now, a few warnings are in order before we continue:

1) I haven't put as much effort into research with this story as I did with others, partly because I haven't had enough time. This story is also kind of an experiment for me; I wanted to see if I could write a complete, powerful short story quickly without obsessing about it. So I'm only using information that I already had coming into it. That being said, if you see any inaccuracies, please feel free to tell me.

2) This being a Halloween challenge, I've taken some liberties with the laws of physics and such...expect some strange things that would normally not be seen in a Sue Thomas fic.

I think that's it! Oh wait, one last warning...

3) Major creepiness ahead!

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


Janelle Montgomery’s father always told her that the best actors know when it’s time to leave the stage. I’m going, Dad. I just hope I haven’t left it a scene too late. She frantically threw clothes and toiletries into a suitcase and closed it. Heading into the living room, she placed the bag on the couch and checked her purse for money and keys. Her hand stumbled across her planner, and she remembered that she was supposed to meet a friend for lunch tomorrow. I won’t be there…and I can’t even call. The thought made her pause and look around the home she had built for herself. It was small but beautifully furnished, and she loved it dearly.

Janelle hadn’t had much money growing up, but love had filled in the gaps. Her parents had been warm and supportive and had encouraged her to pursue her dream of working in big business. Highly intelligent, she had discovered early that people would pay just about anything to have good corporate management. With some hard work and a lot of persistence, she had cultivated a talent for logistics that allowed her to choose her own path in the field. Now here she was, living in D.C. She loved her life, and it broke her heart to leave it all behind.

She wasn’t sure where she was going to go. Mom had died of cancer a few years ago, and Dad followed the next winter from a heart attack. Even if they had been alive, she wouldn’t have brought this to their doorstep. Stupid. I’m so monumentally stupid. Even as she thought it, she knew it wasn’t true. When she had been offered the position at JACE she had been thrilled to be working for one of the premier financial corporations in the country. Then she had stumbled onto the discrepancies in the company’s inventory and expense reporting systems; she had been sure there was a mistake. When she approached her boss about it, however, she was informed that she was expected to go along with the deception.

Janelle hadn’t been raised like that. Even now, she wasn’t sure why the people involved thought she would look the other way. Had she somehow given the impression that she was supportive of that kind of dishonesty? Although there had been that one time in the office, when she had…not been herself. A trickle of unease shivered down her spine. It doesn’t matter, Janelle. You’re wasting too much time. Just get your things together and get out of here.

Janelle had gone to the FBI and told them everything she had seen, bringing what documentation she had as evidence. That was when things had really gotten out of hand. She had seen someone new around the office lately. She hadn’t known who he was, but according to the FBI, it mattered. A lot. They took her statement and offered to place her in protective custody. She had asked for time to think about it, but she’d never had any intention of entrusting herself to their care. She had nothing against the FBI, but JACE Financial was a huge company with influence at all levels of government. She’d be safer on her own. There was an element of creepiness in fleeing on All Hallow’s Eve, but it couldn’t be avoided.

It’s time to go, she thought. Looking at the small, rather pitiful representation of her life in the luggage in front of her, she suddenly remembered the picture of her parents that she kept on her bedside table. Hurrying into the bedroom, she retrieved the photo and almost ran back to the living room. When she saw the group waiting for her by the front door, her heart jumped in her chest. She had left her exit too long.

She thought about trying to bluff her way out of it, but the disarray in her usually neat living room told the damning story. Her visitors’ eyes, curiously empty, only reinforced the conclusion she had already reached. Dad, I’m coming home to you today. In a gentle whisper she heard his reply. It’s okay, baby. We’re waiting. She straightened her shoulders and faced them squarely. It was Act II, Scene V, and there was nothing to do but follow on until the end. If I must die, then I’ll do it well.

She didn’t. She held on to her reserve through the initial fear and the pain…a horrible, burning pain that began in her abdomen. Once she realized what was happening to her, she began to falter. Somewhere along the way she got a little confused and had trouble focusing, but a final moment of clarity shot terror directly into her soul. She stared at her torturers and gave way completely as she realized what they were. Her horror overtook even the terrible pain. Oh my God…they’re not…

She died screaming.

Yeah...that's putting it mildly! Though extremely well-written, this was a truly terrifying post...the way you took us into Janelle's head, let us know a bit about her situation as well as the fear she was feeling...and then the moment at the end there when she knows she is about to die...

And then there was that horribly vague ending, when we know that she is dying but we don't know how or who is responsible....ACK! That's all I'm going to say.

Wow, rerio!! This is so fuzzy, and suspenseful at the same time!!! For not obsessing over this, it's breathtakingly wonderful!! Keep it up!

*shivers* OK, you definitely got me! Poor Janelle...I liked her!

So much for the warm fuzzies...

No kidding!

My head is still reeling from being slammed into a cold door after those warm fuzzies earlier.

Well written scene. The addition of comments from her father just prior to her death provided some cushion. It allowed me to believe that she would be okay, in death that is.

The amount of information you gave us was amazing. It wasn't that you wrote a whole lot of details. It was the type of details you gave us that filled in so much about her life. Remarkable writing.

After revelling in the fuzzies, I'm now suffering from a definite case of emotional whiplash! I am so glad I didn't read that before I went to bed last night, just know I'd have had nightmares!

:eek jaw drops:

And just when I thought that you were adding a new character to the mix...you get rid of her. And I was starting to like her! *grrrr...*

Yeah, you really understated the creepy warning. I think I'll stick to reading this part of the forum during the daylight hours. I think I'll still have trouble sleeping tonight. I can just see their vacant expressions...even though I don't know what they were... *shudders*

This is starting to sound like an episode of the X-Files. This is gonna be good.

The following morning

“Thanks for coming in on a Saturday; this couldn’t wait.” Jack rapped his finger against a picture of an imposing-looking building that was taped to the whiteboard. Turning to face the team, he said, “JACE Financial. One of the leading financial corporations in the country.”

“Two Nobel prizes, Fortune 500 listing…you name the accolade, they’ve received it,” Myles agreed.

Jack nodded. “They’ve also been the subject of some recent speculation concerning embezzlement. Benson’s team in White Collar has been discreetly investigating the company for a few months, but they hadn’t found anything. Then Janelle Montgomery, a logistics manager at JACE, walked into Benson’s office yesterday claiming that she had evidence of illegal behavior inside the company.

“Fraud?” D asked.

“Yes, and her documentation was solid. That was good enough, but Benson really got excited when he discovered that Janelle had seen something, or should I say someone, unexpected.” He nodded to Tara, who promptly displayed an image on the computer screen above the Bullpen.

Bobby let out a low whistle. “Drake Mitchell?”

Jack’s eyes were serious. “Janelle mentioned that she had seen an unidentified man meeting with various key players in the office. She went through an ID process and pinpointed Mitchell.”

“Who is he?” Sue asked.

Tara looked up from her laptop to answer. “He’s the presumed leader of a neo-Nazi organization called LPT, which stands for ‘Light, Purity, and Truth’. It’s primarily an upper-class group, associating itself with people in the higher echelons of society.”

“So much for the theory that wealth and education can eradicate stupidity,” Myles remarked with disgust.

“They’ve been the suspected link between some pretty horrific crimes…bombings, terror attacks…murder. Nothing’s ever been proven,” Jack said. “They’ve been hard to catch, surprisingly so.”

“What do you mean?” Sue asked.

“Most people who get close enough to LPT don’t live to tell about it. Those who do often appear confused afterward…unable to remember what happened.”

“Lying to protect themselves, or out of fear?” D suggested.

“Maybe,” Jack agreed. “These people usually seem pretty sincere, though. Maybe brainwashing, but it’s hard to say.”

“What about Janelle Montgomery?” Bobby asked.

Jack’s face was grim. “If she knew anything else, she won’t be talking about it. She turned down an offer of protective custody and returned to her home yesterday afternoon. Her body was found there this morning…at least, we assume it’s her body. We’re waiting on dental records.” He nodded again at Tara, and a particularly gruesome photo of a crime scene appeared on the screen. The body at the center of the image was burned beyond all recognition. “It looks as if she was making plans to leave; notice the suitcases on the couch.”

D was studying the photo. “She didn’t die there, did she? There aren’t any burn marks around her, and there’s no evidence of fire in the room”

“We’re not sure yet. The death itself is highly unusual in that the worst damage to the body appears to be internal.”

Myles looked at Jack, shock evident on his face. “But that would mean…”

“…that she died from what amounts to spontaneous combustion.” Jack held up his hand to ward off the forthcoming protest. “I know; it doesn’t make any sense. All I can give you is the evidence as it stands now. We’ll have to work from there.”

After a moment of stunned silence Bobby spoke, trying to lighten the mood. “So what’s the plan? Are we going undercover at JACE? Will the dashing Attorney Buchanan and his lovely assistant be making another appearance? Will there be more instances of marital infidelity against the beautiful but heartbroken wife Tara?”

Jack shot Bobby a disgruntled look. “No. Benson’s group tried the JACE angle for months and got nowhere; security’s too tight. This calls for the personal approach; we’re putting a couple in the house next to company CEO Bill Collins.”

“Ah, so it’s the charming Mr. and Mrs. Hudson who’ll be pursuing the criminals this time,” Myles said sardonically.

The gleam in Jack’s eyes should have been a warning. “Sue and I wouldn’t be a good match for that assignment; we’ll be working with D from another perspective. LPT really toes the line on the Nazi agenda: perfection, social status, blond hair, blue eyes…” he trailed off as he gazed expectantly at Myles.

Myles added it up and glanced at him in surprise. “You mean…”

“You’re the ones who fit the profile,” Jack said, obviously enjoying himself. “Tara and Myles Leland…welcome to married life.”

Tara blushed to the tips of her roots while Myles frowned and Bobby howled with laughter. “Enjoy the honeymoon, mate! It’s probably the only time you’ll ever get a woman to willingly marry you.”

The group burst into laughter, which Jack allowed for a very long time. Finally he smiled. “Okay, we have work to do. Garrett wants the lovely couple in place by tomorrow morning.”

Oooooh! So Myles and Tara get to be "newlyweds". This could be lots of fun.....LOTS of fun.

Way to go, Rerio. Interesting case, interesting couples, romance, intrigue, dangeer, ecxitement, etc..... You've got it all. Can't wait for more.

Myles and Tara together should get very interesting. You will throw us J/S fans a bone every now and then won't you? I can't wait to read your intake on internal combustion.

rerio, I don't know how you juggle all the different balls you have to keep in the air and yet STILL manage to come up with such fantastic storylines and writing!!

I'm really impressed with how you've built the case, the attention to detail is superb. And as for putting Myles and Tara undercover as a married couple, now why didn't I see that coming!

Spooked beyond all belief at what happened to Janelle though

Thanks all for your replies!
Don't worry, Lady N...Sue and Jack play a prominent part in this story, as does D. They will get much more screen time here than they did in Sunlight; there will generally be warm fuzzies all around!

There will also be cold chillbumps (assuming I can write them effectively, of course)...I look forward to scaring everyone silly!

What do you mean, assuming you can write them effectively?!?! Honey, you more than excel in every which way in your writing - I have never, ever come across anything you could have improved on!!!! A+ in every genre if you ask me!!

Warm fuzzies mixed with cold chillbumps sounds like a perfect recipe, look forward to riding the rerio rollercoaster of life right there with ya!!

Rerio...wow, wow, wow...I'm thinking you do short-story really, really well.

We have the romance angle, the creepy angle, the great story angle, the M/T angle...

I am thoroughly captured by this and am anxious for more.

Short, long or inbetween...doesn't matter...you can just plain write, my friend.

lol Myles and Tara. This ought to be interesting.

Great job! Very interesting twist

Sunday

Myles watched Tara as she gazed out the front window of their new five-bedroom home. She was upset; that much was obvious. He had tried to talk to her about it yesterday during a lull in the action, but she had pushed him away. Throughout the move into the house she had been efficient and somewhat brusque, not allowing any time for personal interaction at all. Now she stared unseeing out the window, nervously twisting her wedding ring on her finger. Part of him wanted to respect her wishes and leave her alone, but he knew that wasn’t a good idea. If they were going to be successful with this case, he needed her in the game with him. He also found that he couldn’t bear to see her unhappy, a realization that left him unsettled. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to stand beside her. “Care to talk about it?”

“I’m fine,” she replied distantly, even though it was apparent that she was not.

He sighed. “Have I changed so much since Friday night that you suddenly can’t confide in me?”

She looked at him with surprise. “No, of course not.”

“Then what is it?” He tried for a gentle, teasing approach. “I realize that matrimonial bliss with me is probably one of your worst nightmares, but that’s easily remedied as soon as this case is over. You don’t have to be my wife forever.”

A pained look flashed across her face. “I won’t be anyone’s wife…ever.”

The anguish in her eyes caused his heart to tighten unexpectedly in his chest. “What happened with Stanley?” he prompted quietly. If she had been hurt…

Now it was her turn to sigh as she moved away from the window to sit down on the couch. “Nothing happened. He took it like a complete gentleman, but I hurt him all the same. It’s just…this…” her voice trailed off as she waved a despairing hand at the well-furnished room.

He thought maybe he was beginning to understand, but he still didn’t quite have it. He moved to sit beside her and asked, “Not up to undercover work right now?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s just…I look at all these things…beautiful house…gorgeous ring…attentive husband.” She was still touching the ring on her finger, almost obsessively. “It’s not that I have to get married. I can live a single life and be perfectly content with myself. Still, it’s not what I imagined, you know? I always thought there would be someone by now. I never dreamed it wouldn’t happen for me, but my dating record is pathetic. Then I find this really great guy who truly cares for me, and I dump him because I don’t ‘feel’ anything!” She gave a disgusted shake of her head. “Maybe I don’t deserve to have anyone because I’m so stupid.”

“No.” It came out sharper than he had intended, the weight of her distress troubling him immensely. “You’re not stupid. You made the right choice with Stanley; anything else would have made you both miserable. As for the rest of your concerns,” he reached out to gently brush a piece of her hair away from her eyes, “you know as well as I do that they’re nonsense. You are a lovely, intelligent woman with a great sense of humor. Something perfect will come along for you at precisely the right moment; I’m absolutely certain of it.”

She looked into his eyes for a long time, gauging his sincerity. Finally she smiled. “Thanks. I needed to hear that.” She tilted her head to one side as she began to say something else, and the stubborn lock of hair that Myles had already moved fell back in front of her eyes. “Drat this hair! It’s driving me crazy!”

He gazed with amusement at her new hairstyle. In keeping with their cover, Tara’s hair had been lightened a few shades and shaped in an elegant style that framed her face. She was also wearing blue contact lenses. “I think it looks nice.”

She scowled at him. “That’s because you didn’t have to make any changes.” They had decided to leave Myles’ hair and eye color natural so as not to appear too obvious. Besides, he did an excellent job of portraying the conceited aristocrat without needing a costume. “It’s not me, and it tickles,” she complained.

He laughed. “I can’t fix your hair, but as the ‘attentive husband’ I could be persuaded to prepare a late lunch. Are you interested?”

Her smile sparkled as she teased him. “You, cooking? I’m beyond interested; I’m fascinated. In fact, I think I’ll join you in the kitchen so that I can see this miracle with my own two eyes.”

He scowled at her in mock indignation, but he felt a peculiar lightness in his chest over the return of her usual cheerful nature. “This is the thanks I receive for listening to your concerns? Well, you may join me in the kitchen, but I doubt you’ll be able to see anything with your ‘own two eyes’ because of that appalling hairstyle.”

She laughed and smacked him on the arm as she stood. “Hush. You know you just want to show off your skills.” She stopped him with her hand before they left the living room. “Myles…thanks.”

“Anytime.” He didn’t smile, but his eyes were warm.

She looked at him for a long moment before she spoke again. “Bobby’s wrong about you, you know.” At the questioning look on his face, she continued in a rush, “The woman who marries you will spend a lifetime wondering how she got so lucky.” She quickly left the room and headed into the kitchen, leaving him speechless behind her.

That was an interesting post. I never really thought about Tara thinking deeply about her relationships - but I guess she would. It certainly fits that the undercover assignment would make her stop and take stock of her life.

Seems to me that Tara may have just found the one for her - and he was there all along, right under her nose.

Looking forward to more.

I'm with sprogpaws on this, rerio! I doubt there is anything you don't do wonderfully! I've never read any of your other stories...(unfortunately), but trust me, that is next on my agenda!!!

Oh, and you have those 'chillbumps' down already. Spontaneous combustion??? I can only imagine what that might look like...(thankfully. I have a feeling that if I knew, I'd be spending the rest of the week on the floor of my bathroom...)

I think we're off to a wonderful start. Should be very interesting to see Myles' domestic side. :laughs:

Ah, forget it...I was going to wax eloquent about the glimpse into Tara's perspective on her relationships, but it's simply not necessary. All I need to say is GREAT JOB, Rerio!!!

Monday

Sue looked at the boxes in front of her, trying to decide which to unpack next. No wonder undercover assignments are so exhausting. It’s not the strain of playing a role that makes it difficult; it’s the massive moving projects involved! I ought to buy stock in U-Haul. She smiled at the thought.

D waved a hand to get her attention. “You look nice standing there with that smile, but it won’t get these boxes unpacked.”

She jumped, startled. “Oh! Sorry; I guess I got distracted. How much more do we have to do?”

He looked around the room, taking inventory. “Not that much, but it has been a busy morning. Ready for a break?”

“Yes,” she said gratefully. “Tell you what; I’ll make some coffee.”

“Better than the stuff in the Bullpen?” he asked skeptically.

“Of course!” she replied indignantly.

He smiled. “Then I’m game.”

As she made the coffee and located some cups, she thought about the job she and D would be doing in this investigation. Myles and Tara were the perfect insiders; she and D were…the perfect outsiders. The perfect targets. The Bureau had located a small catering shop for sale in the vicinity of Collins’ neighborhood; the owner had been forced to sell after a serious illness. The business arrangements had been made, and Sue was now the proud “owner” of a fully furnished cooking establishment. She thought with some amusement that it was a good thing that she knew how to cook! D would be her assistant; the idea was to attract the attention of Collins, Drake Mitchell, and LPT. She gave an involuntary shudder as she thought of the consequences of that kind of scrutiny. Quickly dismissing those thoughts from her mind, she carried the coffee over to the counter where D was seated.

“Thanks.” He took a sip, and his eyes grew wide. “Not even in the same classification as Bullpen coffee! What are the chances that I could talk you into brewing this at work on a daily basis?”

She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Well, I used a pretty expensive blend. You’ll have to get Randy to approve it.”

His face grew sorrowful. “I knew it was too good to be true. Well, I’ll just have to enjoy it while I’m here.” He took another drink, his face expressing something close to nirvana. Finally he spoke again. “So, are you ready to be the object of prejudice and mass hatred?”

“Not unfamiliar territory for either of us, I think.” She held his gaze evenly.

He grimaced. “I suppose not.”

She reached out to take his hand in hers. “I hope we catch them.”

He gave her hand a firm squeeze. “So do I.”

They sat in silence for a little while longer, reliving the kind of nightmares that never truly go away. Finally D stood and went to place his cup in the sink. When he returned to the counter he said, “We should finish unpacking.”

Sue wrinkled her nose. “Are you going to work me this hard during the entire assignment?”

He laughed. “Well, I’m your assistant, but I can’t cook. I figure I’ll have to make up for it with manual labor.”

“You can’t cook? At all?” Her face reflected her dismay.

He shrugged. “I do alright, but nothing that’s good enough for the catering business. Donna would be laughing herself silly if she knew about this assignment.”

Sue smiled. “Well, there’s no reason you can’t learn something while you’re here. I’m going to send you back home with some new skills.”

His eyes reflected his horror. “I don’t suppose you’d let me just be your general handyman instead of your cooking assistant?”

“Not a chance,” she replied. “You’re going to be such a good cook when you get home that Donna won’t recognize you.”

He chuckled, but his face sobered as he looked down at the empty place on his left hand. “It feels strange, not having it there.” The catering business was only the front part of the building; the back portion included a small living area. They would be sharing that space, and D had removed his wedding ring so that people could assume…what they wanted to assume. It would only add fuel to the flames.

She knew there was more to his statement than just feeling the absence of a piece of jewelry; he missed his wife. And I miss Jack. She gave a quick shake of her head and thought with amused exasperation of Jack’s assigned role in this case. He was playing her older brother so that he would have an excuse to check in with them, but in truth Sue thought he had arranged it that way so that he could keep a close eye on her. He’d made it more than clear yesterday that he wasn’t thrilled about placing her in danger. He would most likely be around this evening…

Her thoughts were interrupted when Levi, who had been resting beneath the counter, suddenly rose to his feet and bristled his fur.

Brother? Did I read that right? Brother? This ought to be interesting. I can't wait to see how you write this, Rerio.



This part makes me nervous.

Seriously, I dread what Sue and D. will undoubtedly go through during this assignment. People can be so cruel, so hateful - all in the name of their cause. I'm sure, with your descriptive writing, Rerio, that we will feel every hurt and humiliation that D and Sue feel throughout this fanfic.

The up-side? I plan on feeling the warm-fuzzies, too.

Ah, flip, you said it all! This is going to be such an interesting case, Rerio! Can't wait for more!

Maybe Jack and Sue could be close sibilings. Very close. :whistle: That might add more fuel to the fire. This should a very inersting and riveting story.

wow Rerio

i Am having such fun catching up with everything!

this is fantastic....and so many wonderful new ideas...tara and myles...D and Sue....and i dont think i want to know what the group that killed Janelle really are

I'm so impressed by how much thought you've put into this, rerio, to have every little piece slot in to place so well.

When I was reading that last post, it made me really sad to think that two members of what many of us would probably consider as our 'extended family', are classed as 'inferior' and 'defective' by others in this world. These are people we know and love (yes, I know it's a show, but I bet many of us know and like these characters better than some members of our 'real' extended family!) yet there are people around who persecute them just for who they are, and these people really could be living next door to any of us.

I already mentioned that I worded the scene setting posts with you in mind, allowing enough uncertainty in the M/L and T/S pairings to let you bring them together, but I never in a million years expected you to take the case I dropped in and craft it so skillfully into the team dynamics. It never even crossed my mind that a neo-nazi group would have two ready made targets on the very team investigating them.

I think that's why this struck such a cord with me. I'm fortunate to live a life free of that kind of prejudice and bigotry, and in a way that has probably made me complacent. This last post managed to remind me just how easy it is to be unaware of something happening right under your nose, so to speak, so for that I've got to say thank you, Ami.

On a lighter note - I'm looking forward to Sue teaching D to cook! And as for Jack being her brother, well that could prove interesting after their lovely kiss the other night!!

Oh, Pam! Your comments are so appropriate, and gave me pause as well! While I had also considered the cruelty of people to automatically consider D and Sue inferior or defective, I must admit that I, too, sometimes take my blessings for granted. And that is just another hallmark of great writing...to make us think deeply of the realities we, or others, must face in this world, and whether or not we are working to improve that in our lives and for those around us.

Thank you for bringing our attention back to this, and to Rerio for writing a piece that inspired it!

My beta informs me that I'm twisted.

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


D placed a hand on her arm and nodded toward the front of the shop. She turned to see three businessmen standing by the door, their faces strangely devoid of expression. Despite herself, she felt her heartbeat speed up. Taking a deep breath, she spoke. “May I help you?”

The tall man in the middle responded. “You’re the new owner?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m Sue, and this is my assistant, Dimitrius.”

All three men shook her hand but ignored D, who was standing behind her. She grit her teeth. “And you are?” she prompted.

Tall Man ignored her question. “You’re planning on opening a catering service, then.”

She nodded, playing the part of the eager small business owner. “It’s going to take some time to get the paperwork processed, but I’m excited about this opportunity.”

One of the other men, the one on the left, nodded his head at Levi. “You obviously have a lot to learn about your field; the health department won’t allow you to keep a dog on the premises.”

Here we go. “Not under most circumstances, but Levi’s not just any dog. He’s my hearing dog; I’m deaf.”

There was an immediate reaction. The men looked at each other for several seconds, almost as if they were silently communicating. Finally Tall Man spoke again. “Even so, permits are hard to come by in this county. You might find it more difficult than you imagine.”

“In fact, you might want to reconsider your course of action altogether,” Lefty added, moving closer.

D instantly stepped in front of Sue. “Fellas, this is hardly the way to greet a new business owner in town.”

Lefty looked at him, narrowing his eyes. He began to speak, but Sue couldn’t understand what he was saying. Suddenly D stumbled. Sue gasped and reached out to support him. “Are you okay?”

He shook his head and wrapped his arm tightly around his waist. Lefty was still speaking nonsense, and now the others were joining him, their mouths moving faster and faster as D trembled and swayed on his feet. Levi pressed against Sue’s legs and began barking frantically. Sue studied the men’s faces, more frightened than she cared to admit. There was something wrong with them…their eyes…

D stumbled again and almost fell. Reaching down to assist him, Sue noticed just in time that the men were advancing. Raising her head to look at them, she snapped, “You need to leave.”

For one horrifying moment she thought they would ignore her, but then they stopped talking. Lefty said one last unintelligible thing, and the men left. As soon as they were gone, D turned and staggered to the bathroom. Sue followed just in time to see him retch into the commode. He vomited repeatedly, purging his system until his entire body was shaking with fatigue. Finally he slumped to the floor. Sue knew the building was wired, but she couldn’t for the life of her think of the correct code words to use. She wiped D’s brow with a washcloth, all the time saying aloud for the microphones, “We need help. D is sick. We need help. Someone get us some help…”

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa .............................?!?!??!

Please, a hand to hold, quickly *grasping around in cyberspace* I'm just a little terrified!!!

ACK!!! Sprog...here's my hand! Wow! Oh, my!!!

I hope this means Jack will be filling in for D.