Deep Cover

CHAPTER 15

AFTER CAREFULLY SECURING the rifle with a bungee cord on a branch well hidden by foliage, he quickly climbed down from his perch. The tall, dark haired man glanced around discreetly before getting on the bicycle leaning against the tree trunk and casually riding through the back yard of the vacant house to an adjoining side street, en route to his vehicle parked nearby.

He knew he'd missed his primary target - her head - but given the abrupt loss of velocity and swerving of the Sable, he felt very satisfied to have connected at all. With luck, the wound would be debilitating, but whether it was or not, it would still serve his purpose up to a point. Fear was always good tactic, and he was an expert at utilizing it.

Seconds seemed like an eternity, even though less than a minute had passed since the shot had resounded through the quiet neighborhood. Experience told Kris that the shooter was most likely gone, and she heard a tentative knock on the driver's side window simultaneously with softly spoken words from beneath her.

"You're squishing me."

Kris breathed a sigh of relief at the welcome sound of Shelby's voice. "Sorry." She straightened up, her eyes watering in pain, quickly scanning the surrounding area. She ignored the mother of the child she had narrowly avoided hitting, who was tapping on the window, immediately turning her attention back to Shelby once she was sure the pedestrians were safe.

Her partner was still leaning against the door, where she'd been pushed when Kris fell on top of her, and she was now holding her left upper arm with her right hand. A red smear stood out starkly against her pale face, and blood smeared from her saturated sleeve created a macabre design on her blouse.

Exhibiting a measured calmness she didn't feel, Kris gently touched Shelby's hand, and said, "Let me see that, okay?"

Shelby remained silent, but removed her hand and let Kris examine the wound. The operative noticed that the bullet had passed through the fleshy part of her partner's upper left arm, which accounted for the large amount of blood and Kris worried about the very real threat of shock.

Somewhat relieved that it had missed the bone, she gently lifted Shelby's hand and placed it back over the injury. "Press against that for a minute. I'm going to find something to make a compress with, then we'll get you to the hospital."

Nodding, Shelby applied pressure, surprised that it really didn't hurt. It was a surreal experience as she objectively noted that both her and Kris' tops were amply stained with red and the coppery odor of blood permeated the air. Perfectly content to remain where she was with her head resting against the door jamb, Shelby watched Kris stretch over the front seat to reach the gym bag on the rear floor. She was glad she'd just cleaned it out and replaced the dirty linen with clean, and then smiled at the mundane thought.

Kris ignored the pain the stretching had engendered, and removed a towel folding it into thirds. She carefully wrapped it snuggly around her partner's arm, holding it in place with one hand, while she gently helped Shelby right herself in the passenger seat.

The operative knew time was of the essence because Shelby could go into shock. "Here, hold this in place. We've got to get you to the emergency room."

Quickly rolling down the window, she met the concerned gaze of the woman holding her toddler. "He okay?"

"Yes. I don't know how to thank you..."

"No thanks needed..."

The woman stared at the red stained shirt Kris was wearing. "You're hurt. I'll call an ambulance..."

"No I'm not, but my friend is; and I really need to get her to the emergency room. It'll be quicker if I take her."

"Yes, of course..." The woman retreated back to the small group of bystanders that had gathered once word had spread that the backfire had actually been a gunshot.

Kris put the car in gear and sped off toward Arlington Memorial Hospital. She looked over at Shelby anxiously. "How're you doing?"

Shelby took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Her arm had started to throb, setting her teeth on edge. "Okay."

The beating of the operative's heart had finally slowed to a normal pace, and she spared a quick glance at her passenger, worriedly taking in the pale face and tight set of her mouth. "I'm sorry."

The analyst looked at Kris puzzled. "Why? You didn't do anything."

Kris pursed her lips, grimly. "I know. That's the whole problem."

Shelby sighed. "Don't do this. Don't try to take responsibility for something you had no control over. Please?"

Kris cut her eyes sharply toward her companion. "I just feel like...I should have sensed something..."

The analyst shifted in her seat to face the tall, guilt-ridden woman. "No one could have prevented that. Not even you." Green eyes flickered over Kris' shoulder. My God...there it is."

Surprised at the abrupt change of subject, Kris asked, "There what is?"

"The bullet hole. It's in your neck rest. You could've been killed."

Kris shook her head at the shock in her partner's voice. Shelby was sitting next to her bleeding, with a bullet hole in her arm, and she was worried that the shot had come close to hitting her.

At a loss for words, she reached over and placed her hand on Shelby's thigh, squeezing it gently. "Here we are."

Parking the car in front of the emergency room, Kris quickly exited and made her way around the car to the passenger door, pulling it open. "Wait here. I'll get a wheelchair."

Shelby smiled wanly. "Oh no you don't. I can walk." She swung her legs out of the car and got to her feet, grabbing onto Kris when she suddenly became light-headed.

Kris immediately wrapped the blonde in her arms, thanking whatever powers guided the universe for saving the woman she loved and needing the brief moment of contact to reaffirm that she was, in fact, going to be okay.

The operative steadied Shelby, then placed an arm around her waist, carefully avoiding the injury. "I've got you." She slowly guided Shelby toward the entrance, a squinting of her eyes the only indication of the extra burden placed on her bruised muscles.

"I need some help here." Kris' voice rang out sharply over the noise in the busy emergency room, attracting the attention of a nurse, who immediately summoned one of the house officers.

Shelby was assisted into a wheelchair and as she was abruptly pushed away, she looked over her shoulder to make sure Kris was behind her. The tall woman followed the green eyes tracking her, only to find her progress stopped by one of the nurses.

"Are you a family member?"

"No, but I'm responsible for her." She pulled out her CIA identification badge and showed it to the woman blocking her passage.

"If you're not family, you wait out here. Her injury doesn't appear to be life threatening. I'll let you know her status after the doctor sees her."

Blue narrowed her eyes and growled, "She is a CIA employee. She was shot. I don't know that there won't be another attempt made while she's here. I am empowered by the government of this country to protect her. Now, you either move out of my way, or I'll move you. It's your choice."

The nurse backed up in the face of the tirade from the intimidating woman. "It's against hospital rules. You can talk to the supervisor."

Noticing the confrontation, a woman in her forties approached. "What's the problem here?"

Encouraged by the appearance of her supervisor, the nurse said, "She thinks just because she works for the CIA we can bend the rules and let her in the back."

If Blue hadn't been so concerned about Shelby, she would've laughed at the nurse's sudden courage in the wake of reinforcements. She looked at the newcomer. "We're working on a case. My partner was shot. She could still be in danger. It is my responsibility to protect her." Inclining her head toward the nurse, she added, "She refused to let me pass."

The supervisor looked at her subordinate and said, "They need you over in trauma three." Once the woman left the area, she turned her attention to Blue. "It is against hospital policy to allow anyone back in the treatment room. However, because of the possible further threat to her life, you can wait right outside the treatment room doors."

Blue nodded, preferring not to disrupt the care to her partner by insisting she be present in the treatment room and followed the supervisor to the door Shelby had been wheeled through. At least she would control who had access to the room, because the door didn't have a window and no one had entered or departed since Shelby had been taken inside. That would have to do for now.

Standing outside the door with her arms folded, Blue looked around the area for a pay phone, locating one within a few feet of her location. She'd seen signs posted, forbidding the use of a cell phone inside the hospital and wanted to call Lisa and Earl.

Keeping her attention focused on the door, Kris dialed Lisa's number.

"Hello."

"This is Kris. Shelby was injured shortly after we left your house. I took her to Arlington Memorial."

"What do you mean, she was injured? What happened? Is she okay?"

"She's being seen right now. She'll be okay."

Lisa calmed down a bit. "I'll be right there."

Kris hoped Shelby wouldn't be upset because she'd notified her mother. She knew the emergency room personnel would do so anyway, but had felt obligated to make the call herself.

Disconnecting the phone, she inserted another thirty-five cents and punched in Earl's number. After briefly filling him in, Kris returned to her post outside the treatment room. He'd indicated he would dispatch two teams of agents, one to ensure their safe exit from the hospital and return home, the other to secure the apartment complex.

She was going to have to talk to Shelby about moving into a safe house. It was becoming increasingly clear that someone was targeting her partner. From the angle the bullet had entered the car, there was no doubt in her mind that Shelby was the intended victim.

Until she had evidence to refute it, Kris considered Jonathan the top suspect in this latest attack against Shelby. The shooting had occurred only one street away from Shelby's mother's house, and Kris intended to ask Lisa if her ex-husband knew that her daughter was planning on stopping by after work. She had a strong suspicion that he'd known.

Kris was becoming increasingly worried the longer the door remained closed. What if there was some nerve damage, or something else she couldn't have ascertained with her quick look? Shelby had looked so pale, and she'd been quiet for most of the trip, except when she was trying to make Kris feel better. The operative began pacing back and forth in front of the door, ignoring the glances cast in her direction by the staff. Her self-indictment matched her steps. You should have sensed something. You were too complacent. You should have been more alert...

Shelby lay on the gurney watching a doctor and nurse clean her wound and prepare to suture it closed. She was still dizzy, but the fast acting painkiller they'd given her had relieved the throbbing. She watched the fluid from the IV dripping slowly through the needle into her hand. The doctors had explained that she needed fluids because of the blood loss and they were also giving her antibiotics intravenously which would be followed up with a prescription when she went home.

Shelby thought about the attack. Just how close one of them had come to being killed suddenly sank in. She shuddered as she realized if that little boy hadn't run in front of the car causing Kris to slam on the brakes, one of them would surely be dead.

"Hold still."

She rolled her eyes at the doctor's unemotional tone, then glanced at the nurse, who'd started chuckling. She smiled when the woman winked at her. Returning to her musings, Shelby wondered how Kris was holding up. The stark fear in her partner's eyes had been evident, but that had not slowed her movements as Kris covered her in the car. She clearly remembered the feel of Kris' body lying over her own as their hearts beat rapidly in tandem.

She had wondered if Kris could possibly be experiencing the same depth of feeling for her that she did for the enigmatic woman, but her question had been unequivocally answered in that nanosecond of time. She wasn't surprised that her partner was blaming herself. She was going to have to work on that. There was nothing Kris could have done any differently. She knew that. Now all she had to do was get Kris to believe it.

Kris saw Lisa come charging down the corridor, headed straight for her.

Lisa stopped, breathing deeply from her run from the car to the hospital entrance. "Is she in there?"

As soon as Kris nodded, Lisa pushed past her, and barged into the room, only to be ushered right back out by one of the nurses. "You've got to wait out here."

"I'm her mother."

The nurse said, kindly but firmly, "She's going to be fine. She's very lucky, the bullet passed straight through her arm."

Lisa felt faint. "Bullet?"

Suddenly realizing the woman didn't have any idea of what had happened to her daughter, she said, "The doctor will be out to talk to you once he finishes. Just have a seat in the waiting room. It shouldn't be long." She turned around and went back into the room.

Lisa' fear turned to anger. She stalked over to Kris. "How did she get shot? You were supposed to be protecting her."

Understanding Lisa's anger, Kris spoke calmly. "Someone obviously knew she was going to be at your house, and also knew the route we'd most likely take when we left. There was no way I could have foreseen that." Even as she uttered the words, Kris was haunted by doubts, searching for anything at all that she could have done differently.

"Well you should have. That is your job, isn't it?"

Kris had had enough. She already felt totally responsible for dragging Shelby in deeper, beyond the limits of the case, and then not even being able to protect her. She didn't need a poor excuse for a mother telling her what she already knew.

Blue met Lisa's eyes icily, watching dispassionately as the older woman retreated. "Did you tell Jonathan that Shelby was stopping over after work?"

"That is none of your business. It has nothing to do with this."

Blue smiled coldly. "It is my business, and it has everything to do with this. Jonathan threatened your daughter, or have you managed to forget that little detail?"

Lisa answered defensively, "I never heard him threaten her and he said he didn't."

"So you'd take his word over Shelby's?" Blue closed the distance between them, never giving Lisa a chance to answer, fully intending to make her point up close and personal. "You know what, Lisa? I do take responsibility for not being able to protect Shelby. I have to live with that. But I think the shooter had some help. I don't know if it's Jonathan, but he is definitely a suspect. And I think you told him Shelby was coming over after work. Am I right?"

Lisa stared at the intimidating woman. "Yes. I told him, because he was supposed to come over and I didn't think it would be a good idea for him to show up until Shelby left. But he had nothing to do with this. You're just grasping at straws."

"Maybe so. But someone needs to be thinking of Shelby's best interests. You can rest assured, I will find out who shot your daughter, and they will pay."

Lisa felt a shiver of fear course down her spine. She'd seriously underestimated this woman, but anger guided her words. "How dare you accuse me of not looking out for my daughter. I can't even remember how many times I've tried to get her to quit that job."

Blue shook her head in disgust. "I'm not talking about her job. You knew she had been shot at once already. Jonathan told you. You knew he was there when the shot was fired. You knew he left and did nothing to help her. You knew Shelby was suspicious of his motives for being at her apartment. Yet, you still told him what your daughter's plans were tonight, without any regard for her feelings about him. No matter how you cut the deck, you did not think of her first."

Lisa stared at the operative, speechless, unable to believe the blatant contempt on her face. She couldn't envision Jonathan harming Shelby after all the treatment he'd received, and felt Kris was wrong to consider him a suspect. And now the bodyguard was just trying to cover for her own inadequacy by blaming her for telling him that Shelby was going to stop over.

She was drawn from her resentful thoughts by the sound of the door opening. She whirled around and followed a nurse who was indicating she could go in, now.

Kris watched Lisa walk in, trying to get a peek at Shelby, but her view was blocked by the medical personnel. She knew she'd been hard on Lisa, but the woman was living in a fantasy world. Jonathan was dangerous whether or not he was involved in tonight's attack, yet Lisa seemed blind to that fact.

The operative paced restlessly back and forth, longing to see Shelby. Just for a minute. Just to make sure she really was okay. Just because she needed to see her really badly right now.

She cursed the hospital regulations that forbade her to go to Shelby, remembering a program she'd seen on HBO called, 'If These Walls Could Talk, 2." The first account had detailed the heart-wrenching story of a couple that had been together for years. When one suddenly became gravely ill, her partner was not allowed to see her, and she'd died alone without the loving support of her soulmate. Kris could still clearly remember the frustration and anguish to which the surviving woman had been subjected - both by her partner's death, and by unfeeling family members, all because their commitment was not legally recognized.

Kris shook the images from her mind. That was different. But is it really? Isn't a life long relationship with Shelby what you really want? Kris nodded. Yes, I do want that. And we will have it, if Shelby wants it. But we'll never be in the position of that unfortunate couple, no matter where we have to live.

She tried to assuage her concern with logic. Shelby was going to be fine. Her wound wasn't serious. Kris finally gave up her rational assessment when it failed to dispel her frustration at not being allowed at her partner's side. She continued to pace, stopping suddenly when the door opened again. She looked at the nurse. "Can I go back there, yet?"

"Yes, we're making an exception for you because of the circumstances. Dr Kowalski is writing Shelby's discharge orders now." The nurse glanced up at the operative. "You have a very persuasive friend."

Kris grinned. "That she is."

Sitting on the gurney with a large bandage around her bicep, Shelby was arguing with her mother. "I am not quitting my job. I already told you, I don't think this had anything to do with where I work."

"I suppose you think Jonathan did it, just like that bodyguard of yours?"

Shelby couldn't stop a snort of amusement from escaping her mouth, even though she was tired and her arm hurt. It tickled her that her mother insisted on referring to Kris as her bodyguard. While technically she was, bodyguard was such an inadequate description of the operative's extensive capabilities and of her own relationship with her.

"I think it's possible. You said you told him I was coming over." Shelby looked directly into her mother's eyes, her expression serious. "If he did it, Mom, would you still protect him?"

Lisa's mouth dropped open. She could understand the bodyguard trying to shift the blame to her, but how could her own daughter think such a thing? "Of course not!" Tears began falling from her eyes. "I can't believe you even asked me that."

Shelby shook her head. "Sorry, Mom. But you believed Jonathan when he told you he didn't threaten me at the trial, so I had to ask."

The older woman looked at her daughter, biting off a defense of her actions. Shelby was right. She had chosen to believe her ex-husband instead of her daughter. Doubts previously kept tightly under control began escaping, and Lisa knew she had a lot of thinking to do. "I didn't know what to believe. I thought you may have just read more into what he was saying than he actually said."

"I know." Shelby suddenly looked past her mother and smiled warmly.

Lisa's gaze followed her daughter's, and she snorted derisively. "Don't know why you're so happy to see her. You wouldn't be here if she'd done her job, no matter who did the shooting."

Shelby turned to her mother pointedly, her eyes flashing as her temper flared. "Don't you ever criticize Kris again. I would be dead, if not for her. Did you already forget that she saved my life in the parking lot? You yourself thanked her for that, and now all of a sudden, she's at fault because she can't see through trees and houses? I can't believe you said that. I trust her, and that's all that matters!"

Kris listened in silence. She'd briefly seen Shelby's temper before, but never witnessed the extent of the anger her partner was now displaying. And it was on her behalf. It was a strange but welcome feeling.

She stood behind Lisa and winked at Shelby, hoping to calm her down. She quirked a half-smile when the corners of Shelby's mouth turned up.

Kris stepped next to Lisa looking at the large bandage. "How's your arm?"

"It hurts a little, but they gave me something to help with the pain and the doctor's writing a prescription for Tylenol III."

Lisa stood there puzzled. She couldn't understand how Shelby could defend a woman who had failed at her job and then sit there talking to her like they were best friends. Her daughter could have died. "I'm not criticizing, but maybe you should get a male bodyguard."

When twin glares met her gaze, she added uncomfortably, "It was just an idea."

A few minutes later, Shelby was given a prescription and set of instructions for caring for the wound. Kris helped her down from the gurney. The three left the trauma room and began walking through the lobby.

"I want you to stay with me. Kris can stay there, too."

Shelby shook her head. "Thanks, Mom. But I'll be more comfortable in my own apartment."

"Just until you're able to go back to work. I'd just feel a lot better if I knew you were safe."

Shelby understood her mother's concern, but had no intentions of staying any place that Jonathan frequented. "I won't be taking time off. The doctor said not to use my arm for heavy lifting or anything strenuous, but that's it, other than keeping the wound clean. I'll be fine, really."

Kris opened the door and carefully eyed the parking lot locating the team of agents before nodding to Shelby to follow her.

Lisa didn't want to upset Shelby by insisting. "Okay, honey. Whatever you think is best. You be sure and call me if you need anything." Lisa hugged Shelby, carefully avoiding her injured arm. "Bye."

"Bye. I'll call you tomorrow."

Lisa smiled briefly, before turning away, her thoughts troubled. She was going to call Jonathan the moment she arrived home.

The drive home had been quiet. Shelby glanced over at Kris ruefully. "So much for surveillance tonight."

"Hey, don't worry about it." Kris flicked on the left turn signal and pulled into the apartment complex parking lot. She'd been in cell phone contact with the agents that Earl had assigned and the parking lot and apartment were secure. "I do need to go tomorrow, though. I'll ask Earl to send someone over to stay with you while I'm gone."

"Oh no you won't!"

Kris had just switched off the ignition, and quickly gazed at Shelby, startled at the vehemence in her voice. She felt the full fury of her partner's anger leaping out at her from the swirling emerald eyes. "It would only be for about four hours or so. I'm not going to leave you alone."

"That's right. You're not. And I'm not leaving you alone, either. I'm going!"

"Come on, be reasonable, Shelby. You were just shot. You don't need to be sitting in a car on a side street when you could be taking it easy at home."

Shelby met the concerned blue eyes pointedly. "And you were just beat up."

"That was different." One look at Shelby's face and Kris hurriedly said, "Wait, let me finish."

"No, Kris, let me finish. I'm not going to go through what I did Monday night again, wondering if you're okay and worrying something might have happened if you're late getting back. You asked me to help. I agreed. We're in this together, sweetheart." Shelby smiled as the tips of her partner's ears reddened.

The operative opened her mouth and closed it again. She'd actually feel a lot better if Shelby was with her rather than with another agent. Kris knew she couldn't expect anyone else to protect Shelby with their life. And she intended to do just that. "Okay. But tonight you let me take care of you. Deal?"

"Okay, but I think it's going to be an early night for me. That painkiller is really making me sleepy."

"Let's get you upstairs."

Kris exited the vehicle and moved around to the passenger side of the car. She extended her hand for Shelby to grab onto. Her partner grasped her hand, but exited the car without really taking advantage of the leverage she'd offered, and it suddenly occurred to Kris that even though Shelby had to feel like hell, she was worried about hurting her. Her heart ached with the depth of emotion washing over her. She shook her head, amazed that love could be so physically palpable.

Lisa pulled into her driveway, surprised to see Jonathan's car parked there. She walked through the house, headed for the living room, knowing that was where she would likely find Jonathan and their sons. All three were engrossed in a baseball game. "Jonathan? Could I see you for a minute?"

"Oh, hi, babe. Just a minute, okay?"

"No. It's not okay. I'd like to talk to you now."

Jonathan looked up, surprised at Lisa's sharp tone. "Sure, babe." He looked at Jimmy. "I'll be right back. Let me know what happens."

Jason glanced at his mother uneasily. She never talked to his Dad that way. The teenager was becoming less and less certain that his father had changed the more time he spent with them. There had been little things, like when his father had arrived an hour earlier, he'd gotten very upset because Jason was watching a scifi movie. Jonathan had told him to grow up before changing the channel to the baseball game. His father had apologized right afterward, but it had sounded hollow to the boy.

The young man knew his father had put his mother in the hospital, and had really wanted to believe he was cured, but he was beginning to get very worried – worried enough to say something to his mother even if she did get mad at him, or at least to call Shelby. She would know what he should do. Feeling better now that he'd made a decision, Jason picked up the remote and changed the channel, over the protests of Jimmy who insisted, "Dad wants the game on."

Jonathan followed Lisa out to the kitchen warily, but angrily. She had no business belittling him in front of Jason and Jimmy by demanding he accompany her anywhere. Jason was turning out to be a challenge anyway. He couldn't read the kid, and that bothered him.

When Lisa closed the kitchen door, he walked over and hugged her, only to find his overture rebuffed. "What's wrong, babe?"

"When did you get here?"

Jonathan hid his irritation at her tone of voice. "About an hour ago. I was really surprised you were gone. The boys said you practically ran out the door, telling them you were going to the hospital and would call from there. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Lisa looked at Jonathan pointedly. "I thought you were going to wait until I called you to come over."

"I had some errands to run, so I came by when I was done. Since I didn't see Shelby's car in the driveway, I didn't think you'd mind." He shrugged. "So what's the problem? Why are you giving me the third degree? And why were you at the hospital?"

"Where'd you go shopping?"

"What does that have to do with anything? Now, quit playing games and tell me what this is all about."

Lisa looked at her ex-husband pointedly. "Shelby was shot shortly after she left here this evening. You knew she was coming over."

Jonathan's face reflected surprise. "What? That's terrible!" His brow furrowed at the implication of her words. "Surely you don't think...? Lisa, I would never hurt our daughter. It's that damn job of hers."

Lisa gazed at him, torn, but she wanted to clear one thing up. "Shelby is not your daughter. I turned a blind eye to your brutality once. It'll never happen again."

"Lisa, please," Jonathan begged. "I hate myself for what I did to her and Anne. I don't blame you for suspecting me." He dropped his head, gazing at the floor. "I know I was wrong. How can I convince you that I've changed? I'll do whatever you want."

Looking at the forlorn man, Lisa's heart softened. She wanted to believe him, but did she dare? Shelby insisted he'd threatened her at the trial, yet he'd never admitted to that. Could she trust Jonathan now? She needed some time to think.

"I think I'd like a little space right now. I just don't know what to think. I think we should wait a little longer before you move in here."

Jonathan's voice choked. "I love you, Lisa. I would never hurt Shelby. Please believe me."

It took every bit of Lisa's rapidly diminishing resolve to stick to her course of action. "I love you, too. I don't think you were responsible for Shelby getting shot. There's just so much going on right now. I need a few days to make sure we're making the right decision for the right reasons."

Lisa's words rocked Jonathan. He'd never expected this and felt his anger begin to build. That damn little bitch had been lucky again and it was costing him dearly. His countenance, however, reflected a profound sadness. "Whatever you want, babe. All I care about is making you happy. I'll be sitting by my phone, waiting to hear from you." He moved to the door with slumped shoulders. "Bye, babe."

Lisa walked over and fleetingly kissed him. "I'll call you in a couple of days, okay?"

Nodding, Jonathan departed. Lisa tracked his progress to his car and watched him drive away until she could no longer see the car. She sank into one of the kitchen chairs and sighed audibly. I don't know what to do.

Lisa's eyes widened. Jonathan had never even asked how Shelby was.

Shelby chuckled and patted the couch next to her. "Would you please sit down? You're making me crazy."

"You sure you don't need anything else? Want some more iced tea?"

The younger woman started to rise, and Kris moved to her side. "What do you need? I'll get it."

Shelby grasped the operative's forearm with her right hand and said, "You - next to me."

Kris smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"Well, what are you waiting for, then?"

Shelby was touched by Kris' attentiveness since they'd arrived back at the apartment. The tall woman had made them turkey breast sandwiches, served with potato chips and iced tea, cleaned up their mess, arranged the couch so that Shelby could rest her arm on the pillows, and for the last several minutes had been hovering over her, not knowing what else to do.

Searching for an answer, Kris muttered, "Um...I just..."

Shelby smiled warmly. "I know, sweetheart. You've been wonderful, but you need to take a break."

Once the analyst had sat back down, Kris carefully lowered herself next to Shelby, not wanting to jar her.

"Will you relax? I won't break." Placing her hand gently on Kris' stomach, she asked, "How are you doing?"

"Fine." Kris quirked a half-smile at the disbelieving look on her partner's face. "Well, it is a little sore."

"Somehow, I have a feeling it's more than a little sore. Did you take some Aleve?"

"Yeah, last time I went into the bathroom."

"Good. Now, let's talk."

Kris gazed into the somber green eyes, puzzled. "Okay."

"You're still blaming yourself."

The operative looked away. She felt so damned guilty. Why couldn't she have been the one shot, not Shelby? Her partner didn't deserve that. She didn't belong in the dark world of subterfuge and double crosses, where every shadow held a new threat.

Shelby laid her hand on Kris' thigh. "I don't blame you."

Kris' eyes were haunted. "I still feel I should've sensed something, been more observant, just something..."

"You love me, right?"

Blue eyes gazed deeply into green ones. "More than anything."

Shelby reached for Kris' hand and gripped it firmly. "Please stop beating yourself up over this. Promise me you'll let it go. Would you do that for me?"

Kris glanced around the room, vaguely aware of the TV droning in the background and Stormy sleeping on the back of the couch. What Shelby was asking seemed so simple on the surface, but it required her to forgive herself. "I'd do anything for you. But..."

"No buts. Okay?" Shelby released Kris' hand and shifted so she was directly facing her. She brushed the operative's longish bangs to the side, gazing into the vivid blue eyes. "It would really make me happy."

Kris slowly nodded embraced by the love emanating from her partner, understanding that her self-condemnation was hurting Shelby. "Okay. I'll try."

The analyst grinned. "Great. Could we seal it with a kiss?"

Smiling, the tall woman shifted sideways and bent down, meeting Shelby's soft lips with her own. It was a sweet, lingering kiss, full of promises yet to be fulfilled.

Earl had summoned Kris and Shelby shortly after their arrival the following morning, and they were sitting in his office, along with Jeb and Dennis.

The Director of Covert Operations had listened intently as Kris provided a detailed run down of the events up to and after the attack. He directed his eyes toward Shelby. "I want you to move to a safe house until we figure out who is behind the attacks. You've been lucky so far. You might not be so fortunate the next time."

Shelby shook her head. "I don't think the attacks are related to my job. I wouldn't feel right about using tax payers' money for a personal matter."

"How about letting me be the judge of that?"

The analyst looked at Kris for help, only to find her looking down at the floor. She narrowed her eyes, and her demeanor subtly changed. Kris was going to hear about this later. "I don't want to move into a safe house. I think my stepfather could be responsible, and that is not Company business. If you feel I need more protection, then assign some agents for outside surveillance."

Earl clearly read the body language and remembered her threat last time they had tried to force her to comply with their wishes. "At least think about it." When Shelby nodded, he continued, "I've called the local police, and they're sending two officers out to question Whiteman. I'll call you when I get a report."

The two women stood up and departed.

Shelby walked along side of Kris, trying to contain her anger. "I can't believe you. You didn't even support me in there. What's with that?" Shelby had spoken quietly, but her words were fraught with tension.

Kris sighed. The last thing she wanted was for Shelby to be angry with her, but she was concerned about her safety. "I wish you would reconsider. If it is Jonathan, you'd be a lot more secure in a safe house."

Shelby glanced at Kris. "And what if it isn't? You said yourself there was a leak. So, now, all of a sudden, you're on their side. What about you, Kris? You don't need my help anymore?"

Kris' stomach dropped at the hurt in her partner's voice. "Yes, I do, but your safety is more important to me. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you. I shouldn't have dragged you into this."

Shelby shook her head. "Well, I am in it, and I plan to see it through. And next time you have a brainstorm like this, how about talking to me first? Or don't my feelings matter?"

"Of course they do!" Kris said vehemently. "I've just been thinking and whoever fired that shot had to be damn good. Spending a few years in the military and going hunting are very different from targeting a moving vehicle."

Shelby turned the corner with Kris as they entered the corridor her office was in. "Deer don't stand still and wait for you to shoot them."

"Well, yes, they do, sort of. It's only when you don't get a clean shot that you end up chasing through the woods after them. Something just doesn't feel right about this whole thing."

"Why didn't you say something before now?" Shelby slowed her step, watching Kris intently.

Matching her partner's stride, Kris admitted, "I'm just speculating and if you'd agreed to move into a safe house..."

Shelby stopped in the hallway and faced her partner. "If I agreed to move into a safe house, Earl would've insisted you did, too, and your mother would be good as dead."

Kris glanced at the barren institutional walls, their tone matching her mood as she realized what a huge error it had been not to include Shelby in her planning. "I thought about that, but I figured I could convince him to let me come and go."

Crossing her arms, Shelby shook her head. "Didn't you try to convince him you didn't want to work this case once, too?"

Kris sighed at the relentless logic. I screwed this up royally. "Touché. I'm sorry. Forgive me?"

The analyst looked away. She understood that Kris was just being overprotective, which she really didn't mind as long as the operative included her. Shelby returned her gaze to Kris, nodding. "Yes. If you remember that we're in this together, no matter what happens."

"I won't forget." Kris had to refrain from hugging Shelby right there in the hallway. They began walking again, and turned into Shelby's office.

Curious, Kris asked, "Do you think Jonathan shot you?"

Shelby's brow furrowed. "I don't know. Part of me insists there is no way he would cross the line from abuse to murder. Rationally, I know men like him do it all the time. But it usually takes something to trigger the escalation. I haven't done anything to him."

Kris mulled that over. "Does he know about the agreement you made with your mother? About him not moving in until she talks to Kim?"

The analyst's face paled. "I never thought of that. If she changes her mind about letting him move back in, I could be in trouble."

"I think you already might be." The words hung like a black cloud in the small room.