Life is all numb3rs

by tavingtonsbeauty

Don Eppes is a born leader and works for the FBI. He never thought his work would lead him to the woman of his dreams or put her & his family in danger. This story combines episodes with original work. Please read&review if you want. Thanks! Enjoy!

1. The secret

1600 6

years guardians

2 1

killers artifact

They were finishing dinner. The two agents in the safe house room were sitting down to play cards with two grad students.

The other four people in the room were talking quietly among themselves as they sat on the couch. One woman stood up and walked to the back room. Another headed to the powered room leaving the two young men to chat to themselves. The women looked about the same age, but one had her hair red brown hair in a bun, wore glasses, and wore a business skirt and suit. The other had short cropped mousy hair and wore a t-shirt with blue jeans.

Esperanza looked like one of her students, but dressed like a professor. She looked about one of the two bedrooms in the suite. She was sipping tea as she looked at the window. Her reflection looked back as she thought about being here under Hodges recommendation. At only a petite five – four she was like a mouse compared to some of the men here, but she could take them on if necessary. She touched her bun and sighed as she looked at the LA skyline.

Outside on the balcony was another agent keeping guard. Six more were around the safe house and they were in constant contact with each other by their radios talking quietly. Nothing seemed out of place…

Suddenly the door burst open. An agent jumped up making to protect the girls near him as he drew his gun, but he fell to gunfire in seconds. The girls screamed.

Esperanza came out of the bedroom and grabbed Lizzy's hand as she came out of the bathroom and pushed her back in as she saw the carnage about them. So many…so many were dead and dying or going to die… She locked the bathroom door and backed toward the tub as the sounds of shooting and the groans of pain were heard out in the apartment.

The shooters drew a knife as he caught one of the card playing girls as she tried to run screaming for help and slit her throat dropping her to the ground instantly as he cut nearly to the spine.

Esperanza looked and saw the window. She wrapped a towel about her arm and shattered the window. She looked up. "You have to jump Lizzy."

Lizzy was her best grad student and a good friend. She nodded and jumped up on the sill and then down. She rolled and then snapped up looking up at Esperanza for guidance.

"Run!" Esperanza barked as someone came to the door. She heard Arabic spoken outside and jumped herself cutting her arm on the glass and leaving part of her suit jacket. She landed on her ankle wrong and she felt and heard it crack badly.

Yelping she ducked down as she heard the door being blown with a shotgun and then angry Arabic voices. She made herself small under some crates out of sight from them above her. She saw them as they looked out barking in Arabic to each other as they held their guns.

When they ducked back in she ran off in the opposite direction as Lizzy using an emergency ladder to get up to a roof though it was very painful. She then sat against a vent and removed her jacket as she ripped her shirt and made a bandage. In the distance she heard the sirens…too late.

Megan Reeves was the first on the scene with David Sinclair. Next was Colby Granger as they looked at the carnage wrought on the "safe house".

Five agents had been murdered. Two outside the door of the suite. Two others were injured. Worse. Those they were supposed to protect were murdered as well. Most had had their throats slit and lay about the room like broken dolls where the killers had dropped them.

Don arrived and winced as he pulled on his gloves seeing the two agents shot multiple times at the door. "What the hell happened?"

"Men stormed the room. We got seven agents down. Five of them are dead. Four others that we were guarding were also killed." Megan said looking about as she stood in the center of the crime scene with Don.

Colby was knelt looking at the IDs found on the people. "Mindy Crispin, grad student Cal-Sci. Alex Dorr, Professor of Cal-Sci. Jesse Donnaly, grad student Cal-Sci. Lastly Will Jennings, Adjunct professor of Cal-Sci. They all have school IDs Don."

"Hell of a thing to take out so many kids from a university." Don said. "And in such a way." He said as he looked down at Mindy's face. She had gotten the furthest away. He touched her face seeing the shocked look that was forever in her open eyes.

The agent in charge came in with his arm bandaged by the medic outside. He took a breath. He had been the first to be shot at down the hall, but had fallen and cracked his head against a door when hit. He paled seeing what had happened. "Oh my God…"

Don moved and grabbed him. "Hey…Jordan. It isn't your fault. You were outgunned and no one expects this at a safe house. They came for war."

Agent Jordan took a breath. "Doesn't really help much Eppes." He looked again. "A student and the lead professor are missing."

"Agent Eppes?" A CSI called.

Don and the shaken lead agent went to the bathroom. Don noted the door had been blown by a large caliber round to the lock. He looked at the CSI in the bathtub. The man nodded to the shattered window and lifted a scrap of cloth from a glass shard. "Looks like someone dashed out here. Could be out killers…could be the missing. I will dust for prints and take the blood sample there."

"Good work." Don nodded. He walked back into the room as the coroners started to pack up people into body bags. He turned to the pale man beside him. "Hey…stay with me Jordan." He said. "What were their names?" He asked.

"Dr. Esperanza Urriolabetia and Elizabeth Sturm." The man said.

"Where is that name from?" Don asked. "Urriola…bay…tia.."

"I am not sure…she looked kinda Mediterranean, but the name isn't Italian. Greek? Dark eyes and hair. Pretty."

Don shook his head unsure.

He looked at Don. "Did you find the box?"

"The box?"

"Yes…there was a lock box on the bookcase there…" He pointed.

"No."

"Then the shooters have it."

"Could the missing women have it?" Don asked.

"Maybe…but I am not sure how with all the gunfire." Jordan said looking about at the bullets littering the room.

"What was in it?"

"I don't know. You'll have to contact her supervisor and Assistant Director Hodges. Apparently it could change history. Hodges assigned us the detail."

"Why did the head of our Bureau office have protection on a bunch of people from Cal-Sci?"

"You'll have to ask him yourself." Jordan said. "He did not tell us. Only to guard them until there was to be some gala to give the thing over to the museum."

"Thanks. Go to the hospital okay. Get checked out. This would shake anyone up." He looked at his team as they looked about. He took a breath. Two missing, two injured, and nine dead. Not a good start to the day at all.

Don took a breath as he sat down at his desk with his coffee in hand. "What do we have besides the brutal murder of nine people. The injury of two more and two missing women." He said looking up. "And seven of said people are our own."

"Agent Jordan gave the sketch artist what he remembered. Not much to go on though." Colby said putting them on the board next to the pictures of the murdered and the school ID pictures of the two women. "She is young to be a professor." He said nodding to Dr. Urriolabetia.

"Yeah." Don said. "So…Middle Eastern or Latino. They did not wear masks because it would seem they were not expecting anyone to live through this and be witness." Don sighed. "And they are in the wind with our missing. We need to find them to protect them."

"They all were from Cal-Sci." David said. "She was the head of the group that they were protecting. We should start there."

Don nodded. "Megan with me. We are going to Cal-Sci. Colby start rounding up the security footage. David start looking for our missing charges and to the morgue to see if they have anything we don't already know."

Don sat in the chair at the desk of Dr. Esperanza Urriolabetia in the history department of Cal-Sci. He was looking through files stacked about her desk.

Dr. Wittmore, the department chair came in with another box of things.

"Did she have any enemies?" Don asked.

"A few here. She promoted Middle East understanding. It can get you into some trouble in this country with the ignorant people." He sighed. "She consults with the FBI on Middle Eastern matters." He looked at her room. "She and Lizzy and the others came back with an artifact from the holy land. Islamists were not happy she found it nor were they happy she was bringing it back to the states to keep it safe from destruction."

"What if they have it?" Don asked.

"I pray not. It is a valuable piece of history. They would kill to keep it secret." Wittmore sighed. "Or sell it, which is worse…"

"They have killed. Why is it so secret?" Don asked. "No one can tell us what it is." Megan said finally looking up from Esperanza's date book and her class schedule.

"It is a missing piece of the Quran. More that that I can not say." Wittmore said holding up his hands. "She should have stayed in Europe…"

"Won't say." Don corrected watching him. "What do you mean?"

"She was educated there and she is a first generation Basque immigrant from Spain." Wittmore said.

"Which is why she looks Mediterranean." Don said nodding.

He nodded. "Please find Espa. Even if they have it they have sworn to see it burned and her with it." He said.

"We are doing all we can." Megan said.

"One last question…do you know why the FBI was put on the case?" Don asked. "I have five murdered agents to account for let alone your people."

"Assistant Director Hodges is a friend of her family. That is all I know."

"Does she have family?" Don asked.

"Not here. Her father lives in Idaho. If there is nothing else I have a memorial with the school board to plan and prepare." Wittmore said with a deep sigh.

Don nodded. Wittmore walked out. Don looked to Megan. "What do you make of Dr. Urriolabetia?"

"She is very tidy and clean, but she does seem to have an active life. I will go check out her apartment when we are done here." Megan said. She looked up at him. "A piece of the Quran. If it is something that could change history…"

"It is a motive for all that murder." Don nodded.

Don was eating dinner with his father and brother two days later. They were no closer to finding the killers or the missing women. Don had asked the director of the LA office about Esperanza and was told she was a bright girl and Hodges cared for her. When she had terrorists on her trail he set up a safe house for her to stay in until after the artifact was out of her hands. Hodges was not happy that she had not been found or men found for his murdered agents. He finally had let Don go after impressing he needed to find her and then killers several times. That was why Don had come home to have a beer and deflate from the interview with the high up boss.

His cell phone rang and he cleaned up his dishes and went to a crime scene in a park. It was raining. He had grabbed an umbrella and his rain jacket from the car as he walked out onto the sodden earth to look at the body.

David and Colby were already there. "Hey Don." Colby nodded to the stripped body on the ground beneath a tree. "Don it is Elizabeth Sturm."

Don nodded as he walked in the grass and knelt down as he took a breath. He squatted down and touched the face of the small young woman that had been beaten terribly. She was naked and cuts covered her along with many bruises the size of fists.

The coroners looked at him. "There is evidence she was attacked sexual as well sir."

"TOD?" Don asked as he noticed the linear scar around her neck that had been dug into the flesh. He turned her head a little noting that she was not fully riggered. She had been garroted. Don's blood went cold.

"Liver temp puts her time of death at about 5 or 6, but is difficult to saw with this cold rain." The coroner said. "Rigger has not fully set in…so can't be more than a couple hours. I think she was dumped here…there is no blood on the ground from when they ripped into her neck with the cord or wire…"

"Wire or cord?" Don asked.

"No fibers so I am guessing wire…narrow gauge. You'll have to wait for the ME for more Agent Eppes."

"Thanks." Don said standing up.

There was only one more before they reached their goal of the remaining threat. Only one more to kill to take back history…

The fingerprints of the men at the first crime came back from Interpol and immigration. Colby brought the files into the office. "The two men were Mohammed bin Kareem and Bilal bin Tarik."

"Blood came back too." David said. "The blood is Dr. Urriolabetia. They think she cut herself pretty good."

"So check hospitals see if she checked in to get it treated." Don said.

David nodded as he and Colby left.

Don now had names and faces of the killers, but no leads to their whereabouts. Nor did he have any for the whereabouts of Esperanza. He looked at her picture from her DMV photo. She was pretty. Really pretty factoring no one looked their best for the DMV. "How did you get mixed up in this?" He said softly.

He paced looking at the pictures. He had just put up Lizzy Strum's ME photo to add to the others. These killers had tortured her for information no doubt. She had died nastily, the wire had cut back nearly to the spine. There had been a bruise in her back where the killer had levered against her to kill her.

She looked so young and innocent in her DMV picture beside her death photo. He sighed. Too young to die that way anyway…

So many dead and no way to really bring them justice until more evidence came up or they found Esperanza alive…

The next morning when all were drinking their morning coffee in the break room a young woman was shown in. Her face was thin and drawn. She had a guest pass on her torn business suit. Her hair was in a haphazard bun. There were deep circles under her eyes. The agent at the door watched her.

"I need to speak with the lead agent for the case about the lost artifact."

"You have what kind of information?" The lady asked her gently.

"I know where Dr. Urriolabetia is. I am sure they have been looking for her."

"Indeed. Come with me…" She looked down. "Marie…"

She nodded and limped behind the agent as she brought her to desk of the agent in charge. "He will be here in a moment. His name is Agent Eppes."

"Thank you." The weary woman said softly. She sounded exhausted to even herself.

When left alone, she limped to board in the war room where she saw the pictures of Mindy and Lizzy dead on the ME table. Her breath caught as she reached to touch Lizzy's face. Tears came to her eyes as she saw them all there. They had all died for her and the artifact secret she carried. She stood on one foot and shook her head. "What have I done?" She gasped.

"Can I help you?" A soft male voice said from the doorway. She half turned to see a tall, sharp featured man with dark hair and eyes standing there with his arms folded holding a cup of coffee in one hand. He was handsome even in his suit and tie and he had the air of authority about him. She also could see his badge and his gun. Agent Don Eppes, she had no doubt. She looked back at the pictures as another tear was blinked from her eye.

"Can I help you?" He repeated as he took a step forward ready to pull her away from the gruesome pictures of his investigation as he unfolded arms.

Don was curious about this woman. She was dressed in a designer suit, but it was torn and she was standing like a flamingo. She also looked very tired. He wondered what this woman could tell him about his missing woman. Agent Phipps had told him there was a woman who looked homeless that had information for him. She looked dirty, but with her clothes she was not homeless…unless she had stolen the clothing. He doubted it. She had the feel of someone who was not from the streets of LA. Despite her haggard appearance she was still pretty under the mud and runny makeup.

"Do you know Agent Eppes what it is like to have someone die for you?" She touched the picture of one of the murdered agents who had been shot three times in the chest. "Do you know what ten feels like?"

"Dr. Urriolabetia." He said softly as he came into the room his voice full of surprise. He set down his coffee and looked at her as she turned to him and dipped her head in an old formal greeting. She straitened her short stature body to look at his eyes. She looked like hell and most definitely like a woman who had been on the run for three days.

She had clearly worn the same clothing for four days. He had no doubt that the cut sleeve would match the cloth he had in evidence. Her eyes were puffy from weeping. He hardly blamed her. She had witness something horrific and had been on the run from some brutal people.

"Yes." She said softly and offered a soft humorless smile. She pulled the jacket off and winced as she moved her right arm. As she set it on the chair she revealed her arm was bound just below her elbow. Dried blood stained her light blue blouse.

"You look like hell. Can I get you something?" He asked.

"You would too if you had the men I have chasing me." She sighed.

He turned seeing David and Megan coming into the room. "David can you get some coffee and something for her to eat."

David nodded and went to fetch the things. Colby came in and nodded to them.

"Thanks." Esperanza said and went to go to a chair. As she took a step forward the adrenaline left her body now that she was safe and had been so high for three days. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she sank earthwards.

Don gasped and moved quickly. He pushed the chair out of the way as he caught her to him and lowered them both to the floor as he pillowed her head against his chest.

"Dr…Dr. Urriolabetia? Esperanza?" He called tapping her cheek gently to try to wake her.

Nothing.

"She finally let herself relax Don." Megan said kneeling by them. "She was exhausted."

Don cradled her gently as Colby got off the phone with the paramedics. "The medics are on their way."

"She needs medical attention." Don said nodding. "I'm going with her. She needs to know that she won't be killed on our watch again. She trusts me enough to let herself pass out here. She needs to have someone she knows there when she wakes up…even if she doesn't know them well."

Colby knelt down. "Her arm and her ankle will need to be looked at. She's a fighter Don."

"Yeah." Don said looking down at her face.

She woke some eight hours later. She looked about the clean room, what little she could see of it. She saw equipment and two men at the door.

She needed to go before they found her here. She sat bolt upright with a yelp.

"Dr. Urriolabetia…" Don Eppes' voice registered in her brain as she felt his strong large hands on her thin shoulders. His hands were warm. She could feel them through the thin medical robe she wore. He was rubbing her shoulders trying to get her to calm down.

"Esperanza. My friends call me Espa." She managed as she took a deep breath.

"I'm Don." Don said letting his hands drop and he rested them on the rail as he watched her. "You need to relax. You are safe here. I'm here with you."

She shivered and looked about like she did not believe that. The two men she could clearly see were officers now that her eyes had cleared the sleep from them. He reached over with a smile and cupped her chin to make her look at him. She noticed that he wore neither tie nor jacket now.

"Espa look at me." He voice was gentle, but firm.

Her dark eyes locked with his own brown eyes.

"Nothing will happen to you now."

"Promise?"

"Yeah I promise…" He said letting her go to go back to his chair post. As he turned she caught his hand as she looked up at the TV. It was a hockey game. He had been watching apparently.

"You like hockey." She said. It was not a question.

He looked at her then his hand caught in hers and back up at her. "Yes." He said surprised she could move as fast as she had to catch him. Not only that, but her grip was strong despite being weak. He had seen how much fluid the nurses had put in her to re-hydrate her through her IV. That was after they could get her veins that had collapsed.

"Stay with me Don." She begged softly then.

"I need to go back to work now that you are awake and stable. Don't worry there are two officers outside your door and three agents around. You'll be fine."

"Please…" She begged her eyes full of hope and fear as she looked at him.

He looked at her and saw how fragile she was and how scared. He took a breath and nodded. "Okay…I'll stay." He said exhaling a breath.

She let his hand go and looked back at the game. "Who's winning?"

"Houston." He said sitting back in the chair. "You into hockey Espa?" He stretched his long legs and looked up at her.

"A little." She said shifting and she felt something on her sore foot. She looked down.

"Your foot was broken in two places. How you walked I will never know." He said noticing her eyes shifting down. He looked over her as a woman came to the door. She was a nurse. The officers were checking her ID to the lists. When she checked out they let her pass.

"Hi there I am Abby." She said seeing her patient was awake.

"I'm Esperanza."

"I'm your nurse. Hello Agent Eppes."

Don nodded before looking back at the game.

"I brought you both some water. Would you like something else?" Abby asked.

"Do you have juice?" Espa asked.

"Sure…grape or cranberry or apple?" Abby said as she gave Don his water which he thanked her for.

"Cranberry." Espa said.

"Agent?" the nurse asked.

"Apple would be nice." He smiled at her.

"I'll be back in a moment." She said leaving after checking the monitors on Espa and her current bag of saline.

Don and Espa's minds went back to the hockey game as they sipped their water.

"You know they will release you in the morning if you thrive." Don said. "Your cut on your arm needed stitches and your leg is in a cast, but they will give you a walking boot and crutches."

"Then where?"

"A safe house until I find the men who did this."

"No." Espa said stiffening. "I will get Bob to have me go home with him or stay at the building. I am not having more agents murdered for me."

"Espa…I…"

"Do you not understand me?" She asked. "Ten people have died for me. I watched agents and my friends slaughtered like animals. I'm not going to let that happen again." Her eyes locked with his defiantly.

"Alright." He said after a moment of testing her resolve and finding it like a brick wall. "I will think of something. You are in my care now. I do not loose people. Don't run off alright? I need to know where you are." He said his dark eyes searching hers.

"Very well."

"Good." He smiled at her. "Our juice is here."

Don woke the next morning. He had been given a cot to sleep on. It was more comfortable than he would have expected. He heard noises in the shower and knew from the pile of the medical robe that Espa had been disconnected from the machines and was going to come out dressed in the clothes he had brought for her.

When the water finally turned off he heard her moving about as she dried and dressed. He got up and knocked on the door. "Espa are you alright in there?"

"Yeah thanks Don." Came her meek voice back through the door, but he could tell from it that she had been crying. Again he hardly blamed her.

She came out a moment later drying her long hair and in the camisole shirt with the shorts that Megan had found and he had brought for her. He could see Megan's taste in the clothing, but they looked good on the petite woman. She did clean up nice enough.

Her hands and arms were red from her trying to clean so rough that she had cleaned with nothing left to be cleaned. He had seen the reaction in rape victims before as well as trauma. It was feeling of being dirty and inability to get clean because the dirt was inside their minds not on their bodies. Also normally both sets of victims were deadly silent after and could not stand be touched. She had allowed him to touch her. She also was talking which was a good sign.

A doctor came in. He smiled. "Agent Eppes. I can release her now to you."

"Good." Don said as he signed the paperwork watching Espa put her hair in a thick braid.

"She can go anytime now." The doctor said.

"Thanks doctor." Don said. He started to gather her things and his own. When he was done she was balanced on arm crutches that they had brought to her at her request since she hated the other ones.

"Ready?" he asked gently

"Yeah." She answered.

"Come with me then." He laid a hand on the small of her back to direct her as they walked together out into the parking lot. His suburban was not far.

He helped her in and put the gear he carried as well as her crutches in the back. She looked down at the boot. It was heavy, but she could walk with it, though she needed to take it slow. The crutches were to help with balance for the first couple of days.

He got into his suburban and smiled seeing her belt was on already. He belted himself in and started his car. He backed up and started through the parking lot and out onto the street. He got onto the Interstate and drove along quickly weaving easily through traffic like a born Californian. He turned off on an exit and made some turns in what was starting to look residential. He saw her winding her hair into a tight bun and using a pen she had found on the dashboard to hold it still.

"Where are we going?" she asked when she saw him as he turned into a beautiful neighborhood with large trees and beautiful yards.

"You'll see." He smiled at her over his sunglasses. "It's a surprise."

"I see." She said looking a little suspiciously at him, but then an old oak caught her attention. "I wonder how much you have seen in your days?" She commented looking up at the giant.

"Where is the artifact?" Don asked as he made a turn at a stop sign. The question was burning in his mind. "They do not have it do they?" He looked at her steadily a moment before looking back at the road. "Otherwise you would be wanting us to find it."

Espa smiled slightly before looking at him. "You are very intuitive Agent Eppes." She said and then sighed. This was a man she could trust and she knew it. She reached up to the bun in her hair and let it down. She then used her fingers to loosen her braid. She then reached up under it and pulled a small tube that had been bound there. She held it up.

His eyes widened slightly. "Ten people have died for that?" He asked a bit surprised.

"No Don." She shook her head. "Thousands." She said and then swallowed as he pulled into the driveway of a beautiful craftsman home. The yard was perfect and she looked at the nearly perfect neighborhood. "Where are we?"

He got out and walked about to open the door for her. She got out a little awkwardly, but she used his shoulders to help her down. His hands held her hips a little longer than necessary to hold her steady. He turned to shut the door as she balanced awkwardly on her good leg and put a little pressure on her sore one finding it did not hurt nearly as bad anymore.

He saw the sprinklers were going and knew she would never make it to the door before she would get wet. He bent and picked her up petite form up in his arms with ease and nodded to the house. "This is my brother and father's home."

She protested a moment before wrapping her arms about his neck as he shifted her a little. One arm was under her knees and the other was around her back. She saw his aim and was thankful, but she was a little disconcerted this man could just pick her up. More that she actually let him.

He balanced her on his knee as he drew out his keys and opened the door. He walked in and set her down on the floor again with ease. He smiled a little at her before going back out to fetch the other things from the backseat.

She limped to a chair and sat down with a little less grace than normal. She looked at the pictures on the lamp table. There were pictures of Don as a small kid with a smaller kid, no doubt his brother. Don's face looked very much the same, just now it had more lines and had become more thoughtful. She sighed. She had a couple like those with her little sister before she had died from alcohol poisoning at a party. The boy had gotten her drunk and she had passed out and he had raped her. He freaked out and went on the run when she did not wake up. It was a shame her sister had not thrown up…it would have helped, but her family did not easily. The boy was in jail for felony rape and manslaughter and her sister was dead.

Worse the grief had taken her mother into a deep depression. Her lack of will to do anything had killed her finally in the end. Died crying in a car that caused a car accident when Espa was in late her teens and she left a family with new baby at home who Espa's father was raising now on his own. Lupe was almost eleven now…

"Donnie is that you?" A voice interrupted her reverie. She looked up as she jumped and turned to see a man in his mid-sixties watching her from a few feet away. "Oh…Can I help you miss?" He had the same strong features and eyes that Don had. There was no doubt that he was Don's father and that he was no threat. In fact his face was sweet and gentle.

"I am Esperanza. Your son brought me here. I am sorry. We can leave if you…"

He smiled and held up his hand. "You know it has been years since Donnie brought a girl home. Welcome. I'm Alan Eppes. A pleasure to meet you." He stepped forward and took her hand.

She took it and gave him her first real smile she had in days.

The door opened and revealed Don carrying in a suitcase, a laundry bag, and her crutches. She noticed it was her suitcase as well. He had has a bag packed for her. That was kind.

Alan helped him set the stuff down and nodded to his son. "Who is the girl?" He asked in a low voice. "She is cute." It was a little too hopeful and Don heard it.

Don looked at her and back. "Work. A little professionalism dad. She is not a girlfriend, but I need her safe and she doesn't want to go back to a safe house. I hardly blame her."

"She's the girl you have been looking for?" Alan asked. When Don nodded he sighed. "Ahhh…"

Espa got up and was hopping to look at some pictures on the wall and mantle. Don moved and had a hand on her elbow before she fell or tripped. She smiled a soft thank you at him. She looked at Don's childhood in pictures with him standing nearby allowing her space.

To him it was funny that she was actually interested in his pictures. He had not looked at some of them in years. She seemed fascinated which made him smile. He wondered how many pictures she had like that.

"You know sometime we will have to talk about what you saw…" He said as gently as he could.

"I…" she started, but Alan interrupted.

"Donnie. Let her settle in first for goodness sake. Also why do you need to interrogate a witness?" Alan asked.

"Dad…I am lead agent on this investigation. I am not going to interrogate her. I am going to ask her about what she saw. She is rather crucial here." Don said his hands on his hips next to his phone and his gun strapped to his side. "I just thought to warn her is all. It is my duty to her and to the fallen. One of them anyway."

"Yes and you have to clear me as a suspect…" She said without looking at him.

"What?" He asked.

She touched the picture of Don's mother on her wedding day. "She is beautiful. The black and white…very nice." She said. She looked at him. "You need to clear me of having some inside job."

"Well yes and no…Espa…You are not a suspect. I…" Don lifted his hands.

She lifted her own to hush him. "I understand Don."

"Okay. Well we will have agents outside as soon as they come down from control. I called it in last night. I will be here most of the time, but I have a team as well. They are trying to find the people responsible for all this."

She nodded.

"Stay away from windows. Don't go into the yard without an escort. Don't lock any doors unless I ask you to. You know standard common sense things."

She nodded again. "So I am a prisoner. At least the prison is nice." She said as she limped to another set of pictures.

"Espa…I don't want you to get hurt. Are we clear?" Don asked coming next to her. At his full height Don was an imposing man of 5'11 and she came only to his shoulder. He looked even more imposing with his suit jacket on, even if it was missing the tie and the neck was open a little. He still was packing a gun. His confidence gave her comfort and she needed that.

She whipped about to face him. Again he was impressed with her reflexes. "Will you have to watch me in the bathroom too?" She asked her arms folding across her chest.

Alan smirked as his son was at a loss for words for a moment. "No…well…I meant most of the time. I'm not a pervert Espa. You can have some privacy. You are not a prisoner. You are just my charge and I am not going to let anything happen."

"Yes because Hodges will have your head and your career." She said toying with him now.

It was clear he was not used to being the mouse in such word battles. "Well that is one reason yes. The other is I really do care."

She took a breath and her shoulders slumped. She seemed to become even smaller than she was. "I don't want to be alone right now." She said as she saw Alan leave the room.

Don's large hand moved to rest on her thin shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm here. My dad is here. My brother will be home soon. The family Eppes will keep you company." He smiled. "I promised remember."

A man came in the door. Don nodded to him. "Espa can I have the artifact. We are going to keep it in our vaults. That will hopefully make it safer for you, but I still am not going to take any chances."

She nodded giving it up without a fight knowing it was pointless. Don could use his other agent and himself to pin her down and take it by force if he had to. She was not about to let that happen. The man spoke to Don and then left. Don turned back to her as he removed his jacket and threw it on the chair that she had been sitting on. He unbuttoned his cuffs and rolled up his sleeves. It was warm in the home, but tolerable to her. Apparently not him.

She moved and stumbled a little as her legs got crossed. She had forgotten she wore a large boot now. Don moved sideways and caught her. He smiled at her. "We need to stop meeting like this."

She laughed at that and grinned. Her laugh was beautiful like the rest of her. It was good to have her have enough self still to laugh.

He righted her. "Do you want to relax a while? The couch is comfortable." He knew she must be tired since she was still recovering from her four days of hell.

She nodded and he helped her there. "Is there any chance I could get a sandwich or something?" She asked. She looked at Don as he stepped back from her. He smiled and was about to answer when…

"One better Esperanza." Alan said. He brought out a tray with soup in bowls, spoons, bread, butter, and some cheese on a plate. The soup was a tomato with tomato pieces inside it. IT was Tomato Bisque. The bread was warm and smelled very yeasty. "Go on then…"

"Dad…that is kind. Thanks." Don said.

She gasped. "Wow…thank you Mr. Eppes." She said sitting forward.

"Alan please my dear." Alan said as he set the tray down on the table.

"Thanks Alan." She said grabbing a piece of cheese and started to eat it.

Don dropped into the chair beside her. "Hum…this looks good." He took a bowl and started to eat it. He put up a couple of pieces of cheese as he sat back.

"What can I get you kids to drink?" Alan asked. "I have water, tea, beer, and coke."

Espa had smirked when he said kids as she watched Don wince. She started into the soup with another piece of cheddar in her other hand. "Coke please." She said looking up."

"Coke coming up. Donnie?"

"Water for now. It is early for beer. Besides I am technically on duty still." Don smiled. "Thanks dad."

Alan disappeared and reappeared with the drinks.

"This is good." Espa said as she opened her coke the bowl balanced on her knee.

"Yeah dad can cook." Don said grinning at his dad before he left again, a little too confidently for Don's liking. He knew he was hoping for something to come of this. He had been after Don for years about marriage and grandchildren. Don had to admit at thirty-five time was ticking, but his job had always come first.

Espa, though fragile, was very pretty, smart, and likeable woman. His dad liked her, but then his dad would like any woman he brought home work related or no with a pulse.

She finished and lay back on the couch. In moments her breathing slowed and she was asleep her belly full of good food and her mind at ease because of safety. Her arm dropped off the couch as she shifted a little in sleep.

Don smiled a little. She was very beautiful with her features relaxed. He put her hand back on her chest and then pulled a blanket up. She hardly stirred, which surprised him a little, but then he knew she had to feel safe now sleeping so deeply.

He walked the few feet away to turn the TV on quietly. A baseball game was on and he settled in drinking his water with her in the corner of his vision.

Alan soon joined him and they talked quietly letting her sleep for it was very clear she needed it. She looked so peaceful on the couch. So peaceful and so young.

"How old is she?" Alan asked. He looked at her head framed by her wild hair.

"Late twenties…but she looks younger no?" Don said looking over at her a moment.

"Yeah…"

Charlie came home about two hours later. Alan and Don looked up as he spoke. "Hey dad…hey Don."

Don pressed a finger to his lips and pointed at the dreamy Espa to Charlie's left. Espa shifted a little.

Charlie was startled to see her there and walked over to Don and his father. "Who is that?" He asked softly.

"Dr. Esperanza Urriolabetia." Don said softly.

"She's your missing woman?" Charlie asked

"Yep…" Don nodded.

"Poor thing is exhausted." Alan said softly

"I would be too if I was days on the run." Charlie said. He pulled up a chair and dropped onto it as he leaned his arms on the back.

Don got a call on his cell. It was Colby.

"How is your houseguest?" Colby asked.

"Well enough…" Don nodded.

"We got names. Immigration and customs knew one of them and found the other. They are Mohammed bin Kareem and Bilal Kano…"

"Great. Any luck finding these guys?" Don asked looking out the window at the front lawn. He looked over at Espa a moment. Well names were a start.

"No highest priority, but they are totally in the wind and have been for a while. IC lost Mohammed after a raid when they had him on surveillance."

"Good work. Keep at it." Don said and turned off his phone and put it back at his side. "Well we have names, but no one." He said looking over at Espa as he spoke to his family softly.

Dinner was a pleasant affair. Espa was quiet, but spoke when spoken to and she ate two servings to Alan's pleasure.

Don aand she went and started on doing dishes together. He had planned this out with his family while Espa had slept.

"Espa." He said starting to wash the plates. "What can you tell me about Mohammed bin Kareem and Bilal Kano."

"Are they who did this?" she asked looking at him as she held a dish.

"We think so…"

She bit her lip and then jumped up on the cabinet and sat there as he gave her dishes to dry.

"You know them don't you." It was not a question.

She nodded. "They are former Bath party guards from Iraq. They went underground and are reported contract killers for Islamic nations." She said softly.

"I see." He said. "What else can you tell me about what happened?" He handed her the last plate. "Or what can you can tell me to help me find these men who killed your friends and my fellow agents."

She took a breath. "Blood. Lots of blood." Her eyes closed as she held the plate. "The agents cried out. There was gunfire. I came from the back bedroom and saw one of the agents get his throat slit. I grabbed Lizzy. One of them looked at me. His eyes...they were so…cold."

Her hand went to her mouth and she dropped the plate causing it shatter on the floor. "Oh my God. I am so sorry…Here let me clean it up…" She jumped down and started to pick up the sharp pieces. She cut herself, but took no notice as she told herself she was a klutz.

Don dropped and pulled her away and took the pieces as he pressed his hand to the cut to stop the blood. "Its just a plate Espa. I am sorry I upset you, but I had to…"

"I know." She whispered and shivered. "I had not known fear until that point." She said sitting back against the cupboards.

He knelt before her and lifted her chin his eyes searching hers. "Help me find these guys Espa."

She looked at him. "I have told you all I know. Don't you think if I knew more I would tell you?"

"Yeah I do…" He sighed. "Come one lets get a band-aide on that cut and then I will clean this up."

He had her go with him to the downstairs bathroom. He opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out a box. He put a band-aide on her cut hand and smiled. "There you are." He said. He walked past her to clean up the mess in the kitchen.

Meanwhile Espa used her crutches and went into the average where Charlie was working on chalkboards in the garage. She looked about at the complex equations.

He noticed her and smiled. "Hello Esperanza. Don's not out here." He said softly.

"I know…He is…cleaning up my mess…" She said softly.

"What?"

"I got a little emotional and broke a plate by accident when I was drying the dishes." She said with a sigh.

"Oh. Well no worries. I broke a bunch more growing up. Don even more than me."

She giggled a little and then took a breath. "So this is your house?" She asked looking up at the rafters before dropping onto the couch and leaning her crutches on it. She tucked her legs up against her body.

"Yes. I bought it from my dad." Charlie said. "Don and I grew up here."

"Really…" It is a neat home. I love craftsman homes. I think they are lovely…" Epsa looked at all the boards and then sneezed.

"Bless you." Charlie said.

She smiled a little embarrassed. "You really are as much of a genius as your father and brother say." She said. "I have no idea what all this is…"

"You are a doctor as well are you not." Charlie asked.

"Of history. Middle East history actually. This would cause my brain to explode." She said looking at one problem and sighed. She rubbed her face softly. "Math and me are not good friends. I got like a C in math in high school and college. I am sure that makes me an idiot next to you."

"Hardly…" He said. "I do not understand history well…"

He smiled. "I am trying to work out predatory/prey dynamic to find the men well…hunting you."

She nodded. "I think that is truly amazing." She said sitting forward.

Suddenly Don ran in a beer in hand. "Charlie. Have you seen…" There was true worry in his voice. Then he saw Espa sitting there looking up at him. "There you are…" He said with a cheerful smile. The relief was clear on his face as well as his voice as he dropped onto a desk and sipped his beer. "What have you got?" he asked his brother.

"A couple of similarities. I am still working. It will take me a bit to work us out."

Don nodded. "Espa. Wanna watch something with me instead of being bored out here." He grinned as his brother turned with a shock look on his face.

Espa smiled. "Well this is over my head. She got up. "More hockey?"

He shook his head as he got up. "Baseball."

She smiled. "I am partial to soccer, but that will due. My dad played semi-pro. Chicago Japanese league too. We used to play catch when I was little."

"Really?" Don asked. "I played for the Stockton Rangers a single – A team. But this was a long time ago…" He said.

"Nice."

He chuckled as she limped back into the house as she walked with her crutches. He looked at his brother and grinned at him with his self-satisfied grin before following her.

They watched baseball and drank beer into the night. Don was enjoying having a girl who was at least somewhat knowledgeable of the sport. She truly was a gem and he liked her.

It was the bottom of the eighth when Don looked over at the now quiet Espa who had been cheering moments earlier.

He smiled gently at her. It had been a rough couple of days for her. She had finished her second beer her noticed. Well that would help her relax regardless. He watched the rest of the game and finished his beer. He had only had one so he could be still sober and take care of her.

When it was over he got up and gently touched her arm. She woke, but not with as much as a start as was expecting. He had his hands wide to show there was no danger.

"What was the score?" she yawned a little and stifled it a little and smiled at him.

"Two to seven Yankees."

"No big surprise." She said rubbing her eyes.

He watched her. She was pretty tussled from sleep. "No I supposed not." He smiled. "Come on. I will take you up to my room."

Her look turned suspicious and he coughed a little. "Well it is my old room dad made a guest room when I moved out."

"You don't live here?" He could tell by her smile that she was teasing him.

"No. I have an apartment downtown, but I am here a lot." He smiled. "I will be on the floor or in chair since you do not seem to want to be alone."

"No…I don't. Thank you Don."

"My pleasure." He said. He took a hold of her crutches. "Come on…I will help you."

She leaned on him as they walked to and then up the stairs. It hurt to put weight on her foot even with the boot on to protect it. They went to his bedroom where he had already brought up her suitcase.

"Okay bathroom is across the hall. I will be here, but will leave if you…you know…wanna…"

"Get dressed for bed?" She asked looking at him.

"Yeah." He said giving her an awkward smile.

She nodded and went to her suitcase. It had been hastily packed and clearly by a man. Most likely by one of Don's fellow male agents. She turned holding her nightgown. "Thank you Don…for everything." She said looking up at him.

"Don't thank me yet. We need to catch the bad guys." He said looking out the window. He nodded to his agent below and then drew out his gun and looked at it before returning it to his side. He turned back and saw her going into the bathroom.

He sat down in the chair and started to read a book he had found on the bookshelf. The water was running in the bathroom. He shifted the book getting into it for now. It was Tolkien's The Two Towers.

The water stopped and he waited looking up from the company being in Rohan. After several moments without movement he got up and knocked lightly and tried the door. It was unlocked. "Espa?"

"Yes?" she answered as he partly opened the door bringing with it a steam cloud.

"Just checking on you." He said making sure he did not peek as much as he wanted to.

"I'm fine. Can I go back to being the only me enjoying my bath?" She asked.

He chuckled. "Sure. Sorry." He shut the door an took a breath. A very attractive woman was bathing in his family home, but it was work. He had to keep telling himself that. This was work. He could not be attracted. But he was…

A little while later Espa came out limping to the bedroom. She was in her night clothes and drying her hair with a towel. The tee came to her mid-drift showing it a little to Don as well as showing her nipples and full breast, which he itched to touch in spite of himself. Her pants hugged her thin hips and were tied there. She was lithe and short, but very pretty.

"How did you manage to keep your leg dry?" he asked as she came in.

"It was out. Didn't you see?"

"No…I didn't peek at you." He sighed rubbing his face. "Espa you deserve privacy even under my protection." He said looking up at her.

"Thanks." She sat on the bed as he looked at her from the chair near the bed. On the floor was an air-bed with covers and pillows made up for him.

She did feel safer with Don Eppes. He was gentile and sweet, but also the boss of the situation.

He picked up his radio as she climbed on to the bed with sleep pants and a sleep tee offering him a nice view of her clothed rump. "All units report in."

"One go."

"Two go."

"Three go."

"Four go."

"I have her upstairs in the northeast bedroom. It has the least amount of windows." Don said looking about his room. "Leader out." He turned back to Espa who was snuggled into the covers. He offered a slight smile at her.

"Copy that." A voice said.

He turned the radio down and then put in an ear clip and had a microphone on his collar.

She snuggled down into the bed and watched him move about turning off the lights.

He dropped down into the chair again and leaned back rubbing the back of his neck as he moved it a little from side to side. He rolled his head forward and saw her looking at him. "Hey it's okay. You can sleep. I am not going anywhere and I am your last line of defense. There are four agents outside on four hour shifts to keep them sharp."

She nodded and shut her eyes. After a few moments she was asleep.

Don watched her in the moonlight room that cast interesting patterns around the room. He sighed. Many years he had dreamed about having a girl in his bed here. She rolled over and snuggled down onto her stomach. Don checked his gun again and relaxed back to half sleep/half guard his charge.

Morning came. Don woke feeling the sun coming in the window. He opened his eyes. He had spent the night in the chair. He looked over. Espa was not in his bed. He took a breath. "Espa…" He said softly shaking his head.

"Where is our target?" he barked into his radio as he got up and headed for the stairs.

"Downstairs." A voice said on the radio.

Don smelled food cooking. He looked about. No one was there. He opened the door to the kitchen and saw her with Alan together talking softly as they cooked.

She looked up and saw his un-amused face of Don as he looked at her from the door. She looked down. "Sorry…I wanted to make you breakfast. I didn't leave the house promised." She smiled at him trying to get him to lighten up. "I got up early and Alan was up already making coffee when I came down. So we talked and I made tea. I decided to cook. I hope you are hungry."

He nodded a little looking at his dad a moment.

"Yeah Donnie. She has been down here since six-thirty. She has not left my sight."

Don took a breath and seemed to be pacified a little. "You can cook?" He asked folding his arms and leaning against the door.

"I'm Basque." She said matter-a-fact-ly in answer smiling at Alan as she limped back to the stove using her boot to walk on a little more normally. Apparently her vicodin meds had taken effect. He moved from the door and poured himself a cup of coffee and stirred in milk and a bit of Splenda.

Charlie came down in casual clothes, his hair tussled from sleep. He was still blurry eyed.

Espa looked up. "There is coffee in the pot. The agents have already had a crack a at it so I will make more in a moment." She said lifting her mug that had a small string hanging from it. Tea.

Charlie poured himself a cup of coffee from the pot finishing it. Espa came over and started a new pot with the ease of a daily coffee drinker. She smiled at the three Eppes men standing there watching her.

Don took a sip after declaring it. This coffee was richer and more full bodied than he was used to. It was some of the best he had ever had. "This is good." He said looking at Espa as he leaned against a counter.

Charlie had added sugar and gone to the living room.

Espa smiled and shifted something in a skillet. She had a box of eggs, cheese, turkey, and tomatoes. "It is from Germany. It is stronger than American coffee."

"Yes." He said. He moved and saw his dad cutting up hash browns and cooking them on his travel griddle on the counter. "Are you making omelets?" he asked peeking over her shoulder.

"Yes country chef with hollandaise sauce." She answered as she turned it onto a plate.

"Which she home-made." Alan said grinning at her. "I have never been able to do that."

Don knew this was a joy for his father to have a cooking partner who was as good if not better than he was.

Espa ladled the sauce on and put a tomato on the top and then gave it to Alan to put hash browns on. She passed him the other plates to have more hash browns put on. She picked up two plates and Don took up the other two and followed her out as Alan turned off his grill and grabbed the rest of the hollandaise.

Charlie looked up as Don plopped a plate of food before him. Someone had set the table and there was orange juice. Charlie had already gotten into it and smiled as he looked at the plate of food.

Don watched her put a plate down for herself across from Don and one at the head of the table for the father Eppes. Alan sat down and they all ate the most delicious breakfast that and of them had had since Margaret Eppes had passed on of her cancer.

Espa looked at the pictures as she ate.

Don followed her gaze. "That's our mom." He said nodding to the family picture taken about three years before she had died.

"She was beautiful." She said looking at another when Margaret Eppes was younger.

"Yeah." Alan said

It was clear Alan had told her about his widowhood and how it had come to be while she was cooking with him.

"This is really good Esperanza." Alan said. "We will have to cook more."

"Indeed." She said smiling.

"What is a Basque?" Don asked suddenly looking at Espa thinking about what she had said before. "Obviously good cook. Thank you…but I have to plead ignorance as far as your people."

"They…we came from the Pyrenees some are French some are Spanish. My family comes from northern Spain near Bilbao." She smiled.

"They are the oldest people in Europe." Alan said nodding. "Evidence puts them there in their land for 100,000 years. Carthaginians and the Romans were feared them." He grinned at her.

"What is your necklace?" Don asked. He had seen it on her neck every time he had seen her. It was different and shiny. It flashed in the morning light. It looked like a rounded swastika, but he knew that it was not that once good now foul symbol of fascism.

"It's a Laubauru. A Basque Cross. A Basque symbol for ions before if became a Christian symbol of the people." She said touching it. "It was my mothers before she died and I have not taken it off since the day of her death."

"Your mother died too?" Charlie asked surprised.

"Car accident when I was young." She said. "It was my dad and I for years." She smiled at Alan.

After the meal Charlie went to work in the garage, Don and Alan went to clean dishes, and Espa sat in the dining room.

"She is a lot like you, you know." Alan told his elder son quietly. He smiled nudging him a little.

Don took a breath as he rolled his eyes. "Dad, I am her bodyguard not her date. She doesn't even see me like that." Don said shaking his head. "I mean she is pretty and devoted to her job, but we can't date." He looked at his father who always seemed to be in his love life affair.

Espa walked into the backyard onto the porch. She nodded to the agent to the agent sitting there. She looked at the trees. Charlie joined her. He smiled at her. She sipped her tea looking about the yard.

She saw something there. She blocked the morning sun and gasped as she dropped her tea mug and dove to the side as a gunshot hit where her head had been. Charlie gasped as he ducked as well.

The agent jumped up and drew his gun. "Gunshot! Back of the house!"

Don jumped at the voice in his earpiece. "Was she hit?" He barked moving toward the backdoor his gun drawn.

"No sir…She saw it…"

"All units to the back! Get her in the house!" Don said dashing along.

The agents ran out from the front. One backed toward the door pushing Espa through the door to Don with Charlie.

"We're on him Don." Came Colby's voice.

Don grabbed her and dropped her behind a wall as he ducked with her, his gun ready. "What did you see?" he asked looking at her as he held his gun down ready to shoot if needed to protect her.

Her eyes were wide with shock and her pulse was racing. She was shocked to the core. He had seen it before in victims. He put up his gun knowing that most likely was not helping her.

"They…found me…" she managed. The fear was clear in her eyes and her voice.

"They aren't going to get you. Espa look at me." He cupped her chin. "I promised you…" He looked at her eyes. "Remember."

"Yeah…" She shivered. "He missed my head…" Her wide eyes made her look like a doe caught in headlights. She was spooked and he hardly blamed her.

"He is good to get that close through my agents. What did you see?" He asked said searching her eyes.

"A long rifle barrel." She looked up. "The bullet made little noise. He had a silencer." She said wrapping her arms about herself protectively.

He nodded. "Colby…what have you got?"

"A truck Don. Did she see anything?"

"Not the shooter, just the weapon. Sounds like a silenced assault rifle." Don looked up his hand on Espa's shoulder. "Tyler? Stay with her. Have dad make her some more tea." He looked at Charlie near them. "You okay…"

Charlie nodded looking up at him.

"Tea…I broke another dish…I need to…" She started to move.

Don pressed her back. "Espa…stay put here okay." He looked at his brother then Espa again. He gathered her in his arms and held her as she started to sob. He took a breath feeling his compassionate side strike a chord with her fear and her pain. He walked with her and Tyler further into the home.

Don nodded to Tyler to look after her as he drew his gun to go out on the hunt. He went strait through to the wooded area behind the house. He saw a man packing up a sniper rifle.

"FBI! Don't move. Put your hands up!" he cried holding his gun training on the man.

The man looked up and then ran. He was in camouflage gear.

"Suspect running west. He is in camo! Colby where are you?" Don barked into his radio.

"Other side of the woods. We have him surrounded." "Colby said.

Don chased the man. "FBI! Stop or I will shoot!" The man continued. Don then fired at a tree at the man's shoulder level close enough to be a warning. The man jumped as Don continued after. Don fired again and the man looked back. As he turned back. Colby's fist hit his face dropping him.

Don came up. "Who do you work for?"

The man smiled as Don rolled him over so Colby could cuff him. "Hands on your back, thumbs up." Don ordered his gun still trained on him.

After seeing Espa to tell her she was safe again and that he had to leave to interrogate a suspect, he had at the FBI building.

Don walked into the interrogation room. "How are you finding out where a girl is in a safe house? Who do you work for?"

"I want a ticket out of here." The man said looking up. His accent was heavy Latino inner city accent. "Such profiling you have me here…"

"Hardly. We found you packing up the rifle you tried to shoot Dr. Urriolabetia with. Luckily she saw you or you would charged with murder in that as well as the ten others." He smiled. "That is a needle in your arm for one of the agents, but you killed ten people." He said lying out the pictures of the murdered.

"Ten? I only went after the girl. Strait up contract kill."

"From who?"

"They will kill me."

"Good…" Don said. "Tell me what you know and I will see about what I can do for you." He took a breath "Why did you shoot at my sister?"

"You said the doctor."

"My sister and her look a lot alike. And I know who you were aiming for."

"Well I was told to shoot at a short dark haired girl."

"See my hair? You are lucky you didn't get her. Who made the contract?"

"I did not have a name." The man said. "1,500 down and 5,000 after. An email told me where to go and what the target looked like."

Don got up and left the room. He nodded at David. "I think he is telling the truth. He was given a description and where to go. He was not given a picture."

"Yeah and her fingerprints don't match the crime scene." David said.

"I'm going home. I need to see how Espa is holding up." He took out his phone as he started for the door. "Hey dad…How is she?"

"Quivering in a corner with a cup of chamomile tea. I think this got to her." Alan said looking at her as she shivered under a light blanket. She sipped her tea her hand quivering uncontrollably.

"I think everything about this got to her." Don said with a sigh. "I'll be there in a bit. Try to get her to talk about it."

"Right…"

"Try dad." Don said with a sigh as he left the building heading to his car.

"Alright. See you when you get here."

Espa looked up at Alan. "I'm sorry. I've put you and Charlie in danger." She said wiping her eyes. Her voice was shaky.

"How about you go take a shower. It will help you relax. A nice hot one."

She looked up at him and then nodded. She walked up the stairs. First she went to Don's room and packed a small bag for herself. She took a deep breath. She then threw in Don's switch blade she found in the drawer of his desk in the room.

She took a breath and started to write a note. She then went into the shower and started the water. She looked out and saw Don pull into the driveway. He was driving his large suburban. He jumped out and looked about.

She climbed out the window with the ease of a cat. Perching she waited. As Don spoke to the agent at the door she crept down along the house. She was walking a gauntlet of agents. She knew if caught Don would likely yell and put her in jail at his office to keep her safe. She liked them all enough not to put them in danger anymore.

Don came in the house. Alan and Charlie were watching TV. "Where is Espa?"

"Upstairs in the shower." Alan said.

Don could hear the water running. He went up and saw her suitcase had been ransacked. He had remembered it on the floor closed by the chair. Espa was not the type to leave things that he had noticed. The girl was very neat and definitely cleaned up well from her days of hell. Blinking he went to the door of the bathroom.

He knocked. "Espa?" he said gently.

No answer.

He took a breath and knocked harder. Something wasn't right. He could feel it. "Espa?" He said louder through the door. He tried the lock. It was locked. He blinked. He had asked her not to lock doors unless he asked her to. He took a breath. He felt something in his gut. He pressed his foot against the door and broke the old lock. He stepped into the steamy room. "Espa?" He yanked the curtain back afraid she had suicide on pills and died on the shower…It could happen with to someone under so much stress.

Nothing…she was not there.

His breath caught as she turned. Leaning against the mirror was a note.

I'm so sorry Don –

He looked through the mirror at the open window behind him. He shook his head and turned off the water. "Ahh…hell!" he cried and dashed out holding the sodden note.

Espa jumped on a buss to head to LA downtown. She was unaware of the man who got on with her along with two other people.

Don ran downstairs. "All units! Target has run!"

Charlie and Alan looked up. "What?" Alan asked

"She ran off." Don said as he started to pace as he rubbed his face. "When did you see her last?"

"About five minutes before you got here." Alan said. "She thinks that she put us in danger. Donnie…what if…"

"I know. Thankfully, I don't think she will get far." Don said shaking his head. "Why…Why did she go? She should know better…"

Espa used her ATM in the Little Saigon district wearing normal street clothes. She knew the ATM camera would pick her up. She pocketed the money and left.

She then bought some clothing from the small Middle Eastern clothing shop paying with the cash she had just gotten.

She then dodged into a restroom and changed into her Middle Eastern clothing with a hijab and veil. She tucked the switchblade into the boot where she could get at it easily. She started to walk a little awkwardly with her leg, but…

"She was pretty shook up by the attack. Dad said she was blaming herself." Don said at the office. "Doesn't she know this is the wrong thing to do?"

"She's in shock. All rational thought is gone Don." Megan said with a sigh. "She thinks she is protecting other innocent lives." She looked at him. "She is a woman…she is trying to be protective."

"Oh and her life isn't important?" Don asked hands on hips shaking his head. "Women…"

"Ten people died for her and her cause Don. Witnessing that and then being shot. It is a lot to process." Megan said softly looking at him. "And women can be rational, but not when in a hyperactive state Don."

"Yeah and clearly she hasn't processed it." Don said.

Colby and David walked up. "We lucked out. She used her ATM card in Little Saigon." Colby started.

"What? How did she get there so soon?" Don asked.

"Bus. She must have gotten out before we locked down." David said.

"well she can't have gone far. Go looking." Don said. "Wait I will come."

"She might be in the mall." David suggested.

David, Colby, and Don got out of Don's SUV by the mall in Little Saigon.

"She used the ATM there." Colby pointed across the street.

Don nodded. "Let's split up to look for her."

The other two nodded and walked the opposite way as they looked at some of the ground floor stores on the outside of the mall.

David and Colby went along and then heard noise in the ally. They looked.

A Middle Eastern woman was fighting with three men. She was quick and lithe as she dodged around and blocked their hits. Colby and David were impressed at her martial arts skill in her round kicks and blocks.

Not sure what it was about, but knowing the men out weighted her by more than one hundred pounds they drew their guns. She was already tiring. It was clear.

"FBI!" David and Colby barked guns out and ready.

One man turned toward them lifting a rifle he picked up from a ladder near the small group and fired the semi automatic. They dodged behind a trash dumpster.

"Don! We're under fire. We need back up! Ally way on 510! Assault in progress!"

The girl clocked one in the face with her palm. She kicked the other in his knee as the gunman kept the agents pinned. She turned and saw them over her veil. Her eyes widened.

Esperanza knew them. They were not in flack jackets. She swallowed knowing they were in danger as much as she was.

The momentary distraction cost her. As they watched as he took a pistol butt to the face. She blinked as blood came to her nose as her veil fell from face. She blinked in pain and took a step back then a stunning blow by the other man to her temple. She dropped to one knee and shook her head trying to clear it. She struggled trying to get back on her feet to fight.

One of the men brought out a cloth as he stepped behind her. He pressed it to her mouth and nose. She struggled trying to pull him off her.

"We have a hostage Don! She put up a fight, but they have something on a cloth." David said as he watched the girl's struggles were getting less and less forceful. He fired causing the men to duck. The girl fell limp in the man's arms that held her. They threw away the blood soaked cloth and picked her up with ease now that she was unconscious. She was thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She was completely limp.

The man who held her went into the building as sirens were heard. The two men set up to fire their AK rifles.

Don came down the ally in his SUV, but stopped at the gunfire. He jumped out from behind the door. He wore his SWAT gear that he had managed to put on. Colby took a shot as he did. They both took one down.

Don took a breath as Colby and David went to see if they were alive. Colby then dashed through the door. He looked about the hallway and saw it took him to a street as David looked at the dead men.

He looked at Don. "Why were they attacking the girl?"

"And where did they take her." Don said.

On the ground was a hijab and veil of blue they had seen the girl wearing.

"It is hers." David said.

Don called in Crime Scene to come with coroners. He pulled on a pair of gloves to start looking at the evidence. He knelt down and picked up the bloody cloth with his gloved hands.

He sniffed it and blinked feeling a touch woozy.

"What is it?" Colby asked coming back.

"Don't know. It's kinda old school…it seems like chloroform." Don said as David held open a bag to put it in. He sighed and got up to talk to the men coming on scene.

In the back of a van Espa lay on some dirty blankets bound hand and foot. She was also gagged and still out cold with blood drying on her nose and chin.

"So we know these men used chloroform to subdue her." Don sighed. "I wonder who she was. We are waiting on DNA from the cloth so we can know who was taken."

"She knew martial arts. She kept them at bay until they cold cocked her Don." David said. "Three men versus one girl…"

"She was injured too. We can tell from the blood when they knocked her face. She is a strong stubborn woman." Don said. "One girl kidnapped…Espa on the run…"

Colby's phone rang. "Granger…" He stepped out of the war room to talk. He walked back in after a moment. Don cocked his head at him. "What is it?"

"The DNA came back. Don…the blood is Esperanza's."

"What?" Don asked sitting forward. "That girl was Espa…they got her?!" He took a breath and shook his head. His phone rang. "Eppes."

"You have something of value we want. We have something of value to you…" An electronic voice said.

"Who are you?" Don asked nodding to David. He signaled to start a trace.

"That is not important. We will send a video with instructions."

"Let me hear her…" Don said. "I know you have Esperanza Urriolabetia."

"No…"

"I need to know she lives."

Espa felt tape ripped from her mouth. She yelped as a phone was pressed to the side of her face. "What…?"

"Espa?"

"Don?!"

"Are you hurt?" Don asked.

"Don't give it to them Don! My life is not worth it!"

Don gasped. "Espa no…we…" He heard a crack and Espa grunted and he knew they had punished her for her outburst by beating her somehow.

"Our demands will be met Agent Eppes or she dies horribly like her grad student." The electric voice purred. "Where she cry out again and again like a whore when we take her."

Don's blood burned as she gasped. "What do you…"

The phone was dead.

He looked at David. "They have her. You get a trace?"

"GPS is coming up in a moment." David said as they went on the move to Don's suburban.

David's phone rang. "872 Warm Springs."

Don nodded as they started putting on their SWAT tactical gear. He barked orders for other SWAT to meet them there, but wait for his command.

Espa struggled against her bonds as the man hung up the phone. He barked in Arabic. So they were moving. Smart man. Too smart.

When she saw no one was looking she reached up and yanked her necklace. She knew Don would find it and know it meant she was there.

She let it drop before her as the men moved stuff. After it dropped she was grabbed from behind and pulled along toward some stairs. She sighed as she was put against a wall for a moment.

She saw them setting up a small bomb under a table and a recording of the men talking in Arabic. She realized it would be enough to lure the men into the home.

A man saw her looking and slapped her before moving her into the van. They drove off with her sitting worried in the back on a bean bag praying the bomb not to hit Don.

Don's team was outside. David came up.

"We have the place surrounded. There are two doors here and here." David said pointing to a made up map on a napkin. "Windows here and here. We have them all covered."

"Microphone has two men speaking Arabic." Colby said. "They are talking about cheerleaders here and how slutty they are."

"Let's do this." Don said.

They knocked the door and looked about the place crying out they were FBI.

"Clear!"

"Clear!" came the team who had gone upstairs,

"Where are they?" Don asked,

"I'm starting to get a feeling I haven't had in a while." Colby said

Don looked about and then under the dining room table. He jumped back. Let's go! This thing is wired! Get back!" He barked

As the men dove for cover the explosive blew sending wood and porcelain in every direction.

They went out and Don called in the bomb squad to secure the house. When it was declared clear he went back in to look around.

A glint on the floor near his foot caught his eye. He knelt down. He lifted up a thin silver chain that was broken. He lifted the pendant to look more closely. He blinked lifting it up to the light. "Not so idly do the leaves of Lorien fall." Don said quoting Tolkien as he held the beautiful Laubauru in between his fingers as he stood up. "Espa…" He whispered.

"Broken off when someone struggled?" Colby asked not hearing him.

"Perhaps." Don looked at the chain. "Espa always wore this. It was her mothers she told me. I never saw her take it off." He looked at Colby. "She's leaving bread crumbs to tell us she was here and that she is alive…"

Charlie brought in some new information with his math to aide in the search. It gave them an area to search.

Don had another thought as he looked down at Espa's cell phone records. He blinked and then pulled out his phone as it rang again. "Eppes."

"The video is in your office Agent. Be warned. I am not a patient man." The electric voice said and then it clicked.

He looked at the number on his phone. He sat up and smiled. "They are using Espa's phone. We can GPS it as long as it is on. David get on that. Colby look for the…"

A knock came at the door. Don got up and opened the door for the agent at the door. "This package came in moments ago." The fellow agent said bringing in a video that had on it. 'For Agent Eppes'.

Don looked it and went to the war room to plug it in to the VCR.

A man with the same computer altered voice came on masked. "Good day Agent Eppes. We want the artifact that you have stashed away. We have a hostage." The video panned to Espa tied to a chair with duct tape. Her head was to the side. Blood dried and fresh covered her lips and chin as well as her shirt front where it had dripped down. She was unconscious.

Don took a breath.

"…As you can see she is no worse for wear now, but she could be if you do not make the drop."

Don looked up as David came in with Charlie. Charlie gasped when he saw the captured Espa. She started to come to in the background.

"Charlie has helped the techs alter the voice back to the man." David said. Charlie plugged in his computer as the voice continued to go on.

Megan was taking notes.

After a moment Charlie's math algorithm sifted the words and a clear voice came through.

"That isn't Middle Eastern sounding." Don said. "Sounds like a Caucasian."

"Yes…" Charlie agreed.

"A Caucasian I have heard before." He looked at Megan's whose eyes suddenly filled with recognition.

"Dr. Wittmore…" she gasped.

Espa came to. Her eyes were wild as she focused. She shook her head and struggled. The masked man turned. "…or I will deal with this problem." He back handed her hard enough she fell backwards and the video ended.

Hodges came and looked. "I need her found Eppes."

"We are doing all we can." Don said. He sighed and watched the director leave again. The man truly cared for the girl. He could see it.

Don looked at David. "GPS?"

"A satellite is down. They are waiting for another."

"How long?" Don asked as he started to pace.

"Fifteen minutes tops." David said.

Megan held up her paper. "They want the drop to take place at Cal-Sci on the quad where there will be hundreds of kids standing around."

"Yeah." Don sighed as he stopped his pacing. "How much time?"

"Four hours…" Megan said looking down.

"So…at noon." Don said rubbing his hand over his jaw.

"Yep."

"Great." He sighed.

Charlie looked at Espa since Colby had rewound the tape. "She knows who is holding her and why…Look at how she is looking at the man."

"The man who betrayed her." Don said. "That is a look a hatred in her eyes."

"What would he use the thing for?" Charlie asked

"Black market I am sure." Don answered.

"Don…You can't let her die. She has fought too hard." Charlie said.

"I know…" Don said looking at him.

A tech came in. "Your IDs for the men are back. They are Russian mob hired guns." She said. "Also we have a GPS. 176 Tendoy."

"Good thanks." Don said. "What are the Russians doing working with Islamic fundamentalists and with a history department chair."

"I can work on pattern analysis" Charlie suggested.

"I am going to Tendoy. I want SWAT and LAPD there when we get there, but tell then to hold back until I give the go." Don said.

Charlie nodded feeling a little useless just then as the team went out.

Don and his crew rolled up to a group of officers standing by. "Microphone gives six in the house. So does heat signatures. One of the voices is a woman."

"Our hostage." Don said nodding.

"We have visual on two and they have semi automatics."

"Alright. Let's stay low and sneak in." Don said as they moved along toward the house. He was chewing gum as normal and had his shooting glasses on his face.

The team made it to the side door where no one was watching because it was assumed a better approach. Don and the men lined up. Don listened under the window.

"Shut up you whore?" Wittmore growled inside the house.

"James. Why are you doing this?" Espa asked.

"Why?" He sounded surprised. "Are you so naïve?" I have financial backing from the Russians. I will use that to help my Islamic brothers destroy this corrupt country."

"But you promoted understanding…You can not trust these men…They will betray you James." Espa said.

"I trust them far more than the little bitch who found something so valuable and would not even let me have it."

"Call it intuition." She said her voice suddenly angry.

"Shut up harlot or I will send them a corpse."

"I am not afraid of death James. Besides you already are planning to. Why else would you have told me about your treason to our country?"

"Ahh…so not so naïve as I thought. You know you were always my brightest colleague."

Don sighed. Espa was getting bold and could wind up dead before they could save her.

"Tell me….Why did you have them all killed? The agents did nothing. They were only there at my godfather's request. They had no part in this. They all had families." She watched him as he paced about her.

"What you have has caused people to die before. God will see them safe."

"God…I don't think you even know what that is…murderer." She hissed.

Don raised his hand. "Three…Two…One…Execute…Execute…" he whispered into his radio.

The door was knocked in. "FBI!"

The men cried as they rushed in. They dove for cover as fire came at from two Russians. Wittmore moved and freed Espa holding her close with a large military knife at her throat as he dragged her backwards along the hallway.

Don shot one of the Russians. The other fell to Megan's shots. They moved along cautiously barking clear as they searched rooms.

"Espa?" Don called as he walked to the back of the house.

"Don watch out!" Espa's voice cried as she saw the trap that was set. She was dragged back. She whimpered as Wittmore moved up the back stair with her in tow.

As they came to the next room two Muslim men stood up. One had a hand gun and the other a shotgun. They kept the FBI agent's heads down until the shotgun jammed. Don stood up and fired taking the men down.

The handgun fired, but the man had been watching his friend fall not where his bullet went. It grazed Don's arm and buried in the wall. He gasped in pain.

"Drop the gun!" David barked his gun trained on the man.

The man did not and lifted his hands in surrender.

Don moved on with David and Colby as the man was taken down and handcuffed.

They went up the stairs. They cleared rooms until they came to the master bedroom. Wittmore stood against the wall holding Espa as a shield with the knife pressed to her neck.

"Let her go." Don said holding his Glock trained on them.

"No. Not without the artifact and my ticket out of here." Wittmore said.

"You are going to hell. That is your ticket James." Espa hissed.

"Shut up bitch." He said gripping her bandage arm causing her to cry out.

"You're surrounded Wittmore. You have no choice. Let her go now."

"I can take the director's pet with me. You know he killed his agents. If they had not been there they would not have died."

"You still had five others killed."

"Was supposed to be six, but this one…" he pressed the blade harder and yanked her hair. "Was clever as always…"

Espa looked directly at Don. She took a breath and winked at him though it was clear she was in pain. He was not sure what to make of that until she kicked back with her foot and jumped a step sideways.

Don understood and fired two rounds. The slugs tore through Wittmore's exposed chest.

As Wittmore fell stunned at the turn of events the blade cut Espa's neck. She was forced to go down with him. She felt him go limp behind her calling to Allah to take his soul.

She felt Don move the knife away and pull her away from the corpse. She pressed a hand to her neck. He pulled it away to look as she lay on the ground looking at him.

"Breathe deeply Espa." He told her. "Stay with us." He said as he looked at the wound a moment.

"You're hurt…" She pointed to his arm where it bled freely.

"So are you?" he said as he pressed his hand and a cloth to her neck. She hissed as it stung.

"I thought you would not come." She said looking at him.

"Shhh…" he smiled. "I promised to keep you safe remember. Just don't run off again alright."

She took a breath. The wound on either was not serious, but both were bleeding steadily. Megan knelt. She had already called for medics to come in for Espa and Don. She kept Espa down as Don talked to her gently.

"And now I present page thirty-four of the Quran to the LA museum of History and Art for the loan of two years from the Cairo Museum in Egypt." Espa said. She dressed in a beautiful dress of scarlet with her hair pinned up on her head. Twin curls framed her beautiful face. Her neck had a scarf hiding her wounds. She wore earrings that matched her dress.

Don and Charlie sat at a table in the crowd wearing their best. Espa had invited them to come to the Gala. Near them sat Director Hodges.

She gave the glass encased paper to the museum director. She then turned back after much applause.

"I also would like to share my words of thanks, though they are never enough to the FBI for their hard work and dedication." Her eyes fell on Don and Charlie. She then took a breath. "I always wish to say thank you to the brave agents and my dear friends who lost their lives." She lifted her glass "To a better world and to those who have died to make it so."

"Cheers!" came the crowd.

Don and Charlie drank to the toast. Indeed. A better world.

Espa got down and put a microphone on her cheek as the MC stood up. "Dr. Urriolabetia is again treating us this evening by singing as part of tonight's entertainment. This song is dedicated to those who died recently. I give you…"The Voice".

Espa began to sing. Charlie wand Don looked at each other stunned. Espa was a very good singer. She looked so beautiful as she began to sing the beautiful song.

I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name.

Listen my child you say to me
I am The Voice of your history
Be not afraid - come follow me
Answer my call and I'll set you free.

I am The Voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am The Voice of your hunger and pain
I am The Voice that always is calling you
I am The Voice and I will remain

I am The Voice in the fields when the Summer's gone
The dance of the leaves when the Autumn winds blow
Never do I sleep throughout all the cold Winter long
I am the force that in Springtime will grow

I am The Voice of the Past that will always be
Filled with my sorrows and blood in my fields
I am The Voice of the Future
Bring me your peace, bring me your peace
and my wounds they will heal

I am The Voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am The Voice of your hunger and pain
I am The Voice that always is calling you
I am The Voice

I am The Voice of the Past that will always be
I am The Voice of your hunger and pain
I am The Voice of the Future
I am The Voice, I am The Voice

I am The Voice, I am The Voice

At the end of the song she got a standing ovation. Don cheered as loudly as everyone else as she bowed.

He looked at Hodges who dipped his head. Earlier the man had been very thankful to Don and had given him much kudos on his record for a job well done. Espa was his goddaughter and Don had seen her safely restored.

Espa got down as the next number started and the people about quieted. She shook hands as she walked.

"She can sing…" Don smiled.

"And well." Charlie added.

"And it is natural." Espa said at Don's elbow as she joined them.

"Espa." Don greeted. "How is your neck?" he asked noting her face had makeup to hide the fading bruises.

She touched the scarf. "Better. How is your arm?"

"Fine." He said waving his hand with a smile.

"Walk with me." She said softly.

He nodded and he and Charlie both took an arm gently and walked with her outside the gala hall. "We needed to escape anyway." Don said

She turned to them. "I can never thank you enough you know." She said to them.

Charlie waved it off. Espa smiled and kissed his cheek. "Stay safe." She said. She then turned to Don and held out a business card. "Stay in touch Agent." She said and lifted an eyebrow.

He did not miss it. He smiled noting Charlie there her reached into his pocket. "I almost forgot." He held a silver chain and laid it on her neck. He did the clasp behind gently, his finger lingering on her neck a moment longer than he had to.

She looked down and smiled a little. "My necklace." She said.

"Your sign helped us you know. It is only fitting that I return it to you. Your mother should be very proud of you."

"Good. I wondered if you would see it again." She smiled. "Your mother is proud of you as well Don." She touched it and inhaled.

As close as he was Don had a great view of her cleavage and he coughed a little as he watched her breathing.

Charlie had started for the door.

"I will see you soon." He said holding out his hand to her.

She shook her head and hugged him kissing his cheek firmly. He turned his head and caught her mouth. She was surprised, but relaxed into the kiss as his hands came up behind her pressing her slightly against him.

Don pulled back and smiled at her blushing face. "Oh we will see each other soon." Don said his hands on her hips.

"I will count on it Agent." She said.

They both smiled and laughed as Don went after his brother as she stood there flushed from his kiss and his words.