A/N: With apologies to Mary McCarthy but the title was irresistible. This story is set a few months after "Mother's Day" and a few months before "Labor Day."

Tuesday morning -

"Jesus, Hood, it's about time you got out of the shower. What're you trying to do? Set a Guinness world record?"

Jacob Hood paused in the bathroom doorway, his eyebrows raised in surprise. He wondered how he managed to piss off Rachel. He realized her pregnancy hormones could be a bit unpredictable but she was usually more even-tempered. He looked at her speculatively, trying to read any cues in her body language. But she was just standing there, half-dressed, her hands on her hips with an annoyed look on her face. He decided to go with the obvious.

"Uh, I'm sorry? Did you need to use the bathroom?"

Rachel snorted in disgust. "No I do not need to pee. Trust me, I think I could figure out I can safely go in to pee while you're in the shower."

Jacob resumed toweling his hair dry. "Rachel, I'm not a mind reader, if you're annoyed with me, just say so, ok?"

Rachel smiled reluctantly. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. It's just... I'm so damned frustrated trying to get this skirt fastened. Alex showed me how to use a rubber band to make the waistline bigger but it's hard to do it behind my back."

Realization dawned. "And you'd like me to do it for you?" At Rachel's grateful nod, Jacob took the rubber band she was holding and began looping it around the button, through the buttonhole and back.

"Why are you going to this much trouble? I thought you and Alex went shopping for maternity clothes last weekend?"

Rachel leaned back against Jacob with a sigh and his arms circled her waist. "I'm at the awkward stage; I've gained enough weight to make my regular clothes to tight but not enough so maternity clothes are to loose."

"Come on, you haven't gained that much weight." Jacob ran his hands up and down her midriff and around her waist Privately Jacob was amazed she gained any weight at all. Pregnant Rachel kept up her fitness regime: running five miles daily, lifting weights a few times a week at the gym in the Hoover Building, and attending a yoga class every Saturday. When he tentatively raised his concerns to Rachel and her doctor, both women were dismissive. The doctor went so far as to say she wished all of her patients were as physically active. Her only caveat was that Rachel should listen to her body, scaling back when her condition warranted it. Jacob was relieved when Rachel decided the District's summer heat and humidity made running indoors a much more comfortable option.

"I've gained seven pounds, at my weight, that's about the difference from one size to the next."

"Well, why don't you buy some clothes one size up?" Jacob continued stoking her bare midriff bending his head to kiss the side of her neck.

"It wouldn't make sense, I'd be buying stuff I could wear for a couple of weeks and maybe never again. I got a bunch of longer tops that don't tuck in; I can make do until I fit into maternity clothes."

Breaking away from Jacob's roving hands Rachel picked up the top lying on the bed and slipped it over her head and shrugged on her suit jacket. "What do you think?"

Jacob titled his head and considered her outfit. In her suit, with the long top concealing her waist she looked like any other professional woman walking the streets of D.C. "You look fine."

He was surprised at how little her body had changed even though she was now in her fourth month. Her breasts were a bit fuller, her waist a bit thicker and her stomach had developed a slight pooch but in his opinion her body wasn't much different than the non-pregnant women he saw every day.

"But," he said, pulling her back into his arms. "You looked much, much better without the top." Jacob slid his hands under the top, caressing her back. "Why don't you….."

Rachel laughed softly as they were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. "Saved by the bell, you know we have to hurry." She twisted her arm to check her watch. "We need to leave pretty soon if I want to make my 9 o'clock."

Still smiling she opened the door to Special Agent Terrance Mason. Her smile broadened at the sight of the bakery bag in his hands. "You have learned well grasshopper."

Terrance returned her smile, "Thank you master."

When he joined the Special Science Advisor's team, SAC Young had made it clear his EPD training was inadequate to the task of keeping Dr. Hood safe. She took him through numerous drills and scenarios, quizzing him on what he would do in what he considered outlandish situations, like Dr. Hood stepping in front of a speeding car. But when he had to pull the man from a crumbling cliff he appreciated her tips. The good doctor had been so intent on studying the action of the waves at the bottom of the cliff he didn't notice the ground literally falling out from under him.

She also pointed out that he was responsible for more than Dr. Hood's physical safety; the doctor couldn't concentrate if he was worried about something. And these days the thing that caused him the most worry was how his wife was doing. So Terrance made it his job to make sure SAC Young was happy. Hence the pastry. Dr. Hood insisted on having a healthy breakfast but SAC Young had a sweet tooth and she grumbled at the fare he produced. Terrance made it his business to supplement breakfast with offerings from the local bakery.

As he could have predicted, Dr. Hood raised his eyebrows and made a comment about "empty calories" and SAC Young countered that muffins with blueberries in them counted as a fruit. Their good-natured banter was cut short when he reminded them that if SAC Young wanted to make her early morning meeting they needed to leave. Now. Shaking his head in disapproval, Dr. Hood announced that to make up for the less than healthy breakfast, he'd make sure she had a decent lunch.

….

Terrance looked up with relief when the phone in Dr. Hood's lab in the Hoover Building rang. He devoutly hoped it meant he would be going out into the field with Dr. Hood. In the four months he'd been on this detail they only worked three cases. He was beginning to feel this posting wasn't quite what it was cracked up to be.

The promise of the phone call fizzled out. It was only the security desk at the entrance to the building. There were two old people trying to visit Dr. Hood, but they weren't on the list of expected visitors. Terrance took their names and promised the security guard he would look into the matter. He was half-way to the door when he paused with a grimace. True to his promise, Dr. Hood was having lunch with SAC Young. Since the weather was hot and muggy, Dr. Hood decided to go out and buy a picnic lunch for them to enjoy in her office. Remembering what he had interrupted the last time he walked in on those two he wasn't in a hurry to repeat the experience. 'Honestly,' he thought, 'at his age and in her condition, you'd think they'd show a little ... restraint.' Terrance grinned, turned and reached for the phone. There was someone else who could have the pleasure of interrupting Dr. Hood and his wife during their ... lunch.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Naomi Siefert sniffed disdainfully as she glared at the closed office door. She could just imagine what was going on in there. She hadn't been happy when she learned her new boss was a woman half her age. She also thought her new boss was something of a show-off. The first week some reports had been delivered from the Foreign Terrorist Watch Group. When she tried to organize them, as she had done for the previous SAC, she was irritated to see that the original Arabic intercepts were included with the translations. When she complained to that woman about the mistake, she had been coolly informed that there was no mistake.

"I told them to send me the originals. I want compare them to the translations the Watch Group compiled."

Then there was that husband of hers. Naomi grudgingly admitted that he was pleasant enough, always polite. But honestly! Half the time he looked as if he had his head in the clouds, and the other half, Naomi blushed. She'd never forget the glimpse she got of them kissing when that poor handler of Dr. Hood's walked in on them. It had been positively indecent. She wouldn't be at all surprised at what the two of them got up to behind closed doors. She frowned as her phone rang; according to the caller ID it was Dr. Hood calling. She answered cautiously and her frown deepened at what she heard. Hanging up she looked at the door indecisively for a few moments then her lips pursed as she reached for the phone. She certainly wasn't going to put herself in an embarrassing position by walking in on those two.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seated on the blanket Jacob spread on her office floor, Rachel gave a moan of pleasure as she finished the chocolate covered strawberries he bought for dessert. Jacob's lips quirked up as he leaned over to place a finger across her lips.

"You need to be quiet, otherwise old frozen face out there will think we're having sex."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Let her. Maybe I'll get lucky and she'll get so disgusted with us she'll request a transfer." She looked thoughtful, "or maybe retire. I'll have to check and see how close she is to retirement age."

"Is she still giving you a hard time? I would think after all these months she's have become reconciled to working for you."

"It's not that she gives me a hard time, she just can't stop telling me how SAC Ernst would do things. I think she's just one of those women who doesn't like working for another women." Rachel shrugged, "Whatever, she's only a minor pain in my ass. I can deal with her."

"Well, if you really want to get rid of her," Jacob said as he reached for her, "maybe we can …"

Rachel laughed at the expression on Jacob's face as her phone began ringing. "Your timing today is pretty bad." She carefully got to her feet and crossed over to her desk.

"Hello Naomi, what's up?" Rachel listened carefully. "Hmm, ok, thanks for letting me know." She hung up the phone. "Jacob, there are two people downstairs who want to see you, an Arthur and Charlotte Heilman, how would..."

Jacob scrambled to his feet, an expression of surprise on his face. "Arthur and Charlotte are here? I wonder what they want." He explained to Rachel, "Arthur was chair of my dissertation committee when I was working on my PhD. He was my mentor." He smiled faintly, "and Charlotte always mothered Arthur's students since they didn't have children of their own. I haven't seen them …" Jacob paused, the last time he had seen them was at Maggie's funeral. ".. Um, for years."

"So," Rachel prodded, "do you want Terrance to bring them here? Or to your lab?"

"My lab," Jacob said. He wasn't sure he was up to introducing Rachel. He hurriedly kissed her goodbye and left without saying anything further.

Rachel looked at his retreating back in surprise. She shrugged and picked up the phone, "Terrance? Hood wants to see those two. Get them and bring them to the lab. He'll be there by the time you get back."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Jacob, dear, it's so good to see you again." An older women with a silver grey hair held out her hands to him.

"Charlotte," Jacob murmured, taking her hands and accepting a kiss on the cheek. "It's good to see you." Smiling he held out his hand to the older man. "And you Arthur, how are you? It's been too long."

"And whose fault is that?" Arthur said taking the hand Jacob extended.

"Now Arthur," Charlotte chided him. "Jacob's a busy man, he's in the real world now, not academia."

Jacob gratefully took the straw Charlotte offered, "Um, yes, my time isn't exactly my own in this job. It can be, um, unpredictable."

In the corner Terrance gave a small huff of disbelief. As far as he could tell Dr. Hood pretty much set his own schedule. He blushed as the two older people looked at him inquiringly and Dr. Hood grimaced at him. "Uh, a frog in my throat." He coughed theatrically.

"So what brings you to Washington? A conference? Lecture?" Jacob asked.

Charlotte and Arthur glanced at each other, Arthur seemed reluctant to speak but Charlotte nodded encouragingly.

"Actually, we've come down to see you," Arthur said slowly. "We, I thought you might be able to give me some help."

"That's very flattering," Jacob smiled at his old teacher, "but I sincerely doubt there's anything I could teach you Arthur."

"It's not a matter of science, well not exactly." At Jacob's raised eyebrows he continued, "I need to consult you more as someone who has experience with wrong-doing, like your FBI work."

"Arthur, I don't know what you think I do here, but I'm not an agent. What I do is similar to field work."

"Let me tell him," Charlotte interrupted. "You're making a hash of it."

The story she told was simple and straight to the point. Things had been going wrong with Arthur's work. His current project dealt with applying the principles of biophysics to botany. He hoped to develop a genetically modified tomato containing more grams of protein and fewer grams of carbohydrates. Preliminary research notes went missing and computer files became corrupted. At first he put the problems down to carelessness on the part of his research assistants. But when taxed, they denied the allegations. Just as Arthur was beginning to worry that perhaps his mental abilities were deteriorating things got a bit worse.

The early experiments in the small greenhouse he set up were going well when problems developed. As in the preliminary stages, it started small. A window left open on a cold night killed a tray of seedlings. A week later a too rich mixture of fertilizer killed another tray. Arthur was positive neither of these things were accidents; his lab tech was responsible for checking the greenhouse at the end of every day and his research assistant for mixing the fertilizer. It was too much of a coincidence to think that both of them, each of whom had impeccable work records, could make such critical mistakes.

"I agree," Jacob interrupted Charlotte. "It would be quite a coincidence for something like that to happen. But," he hesitated, "what do you want me to do? To question your assistants?"

"No, I've already done that," Arthur spoke up. "Bill and Christina both swear they don't know how any of these accidents happened." He flushed, "actually I think they both suspect me of making the mistakes." When Jacob protested he shrugged, "I'm getting old Jacob, it's not that far-fetched." A fierce look crossed his face, "but last night, that was different."

The previous evening Arthur decided to put the greenhouse to bed himself. In a routine inspection of his latest seedlings, he was horrified to discover several cutworms. "Cutworms! In my greenhouse." Arthur's voice was shaking, "There's no way that occurs naturally. Someone introduced them into my greenhouse." This discovery decided him; he went home and told Charlotte they were leaving for D.C. in the morning.

"I still don't see what you want me to do," Jacob said. "I mean, I'm not a FBI agent …."

"I'm not looking for an FBI agent," Arthur said. "But your experience these last years, you know what to look for, how to conduct a discreet investigation. I'm convinced someone is sabotaging my work."

Jacob was puzzled. "If you think that why aren't you involving the Harvard authorities? Surely, they have the facilities to conduct..." He trailed off at the uncomfortable looks on the faces of both Arthur and Charlotte. "What aren't you telling me?"

Arthur looked at him sadly. "I'm afraid to tell them."

"What!" Jacob was indignant. "You can't believe that you're responsible, that your mind is failing and you've been making these mistakes. I won't believe that, I read your last paper, it was as brilliant as always."

"It's not that Jacob," Charlotte said softly, the subject clearly pained her. "We talked about this last night, on the way down here." She and Arthur exchanged glances.

"It has to be one of the group." Arthur said.

Jacob's eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious, isn't it more likely to be either of your lab assistants?"

"No," Arthur shook his head, "You know Bill, he's been with me for years. He's totally loyal to me. As for Christina, she's one of the best grad students I've had in a while. Besides, she doesn't have any reason to sabotage the work, hell, I'm giving her credit as co-researcher. If this thing works out it will launch her career."

Jacob was still doubtful, "But would they even have access to your work?

"Yes, all of them would have." Arthur gave a moue of impatience, "I'm being honored by Harvard this year. I think they're hoping to force me into retirement by giving me a lifetime achievement award next week. There's a symposium involved and most of them are participating."

"Since most of them would be in town anyway, the group decided to have this year's reunion that weekend." Charlotte took over the explanation. "Between that and hammering down the details of the symposium all of them have been in and out of Boston, Arthur's lab, and the greenhouse for the last few months. Any of them could have done the damage."

"Why would any of them want to harm you, your work?" Jacob argued. "It doesn't make sense. They're all friends, colleagues. Hell, all of them owe their careers to you."

Arthur smiled faintly, "I wouldn't go that far, I may have given you all a boost, but you're responsible for your own careers, all of you." He shrugged, "as to why, who can say? Who knows? Maybe it's payback for an imagined slight from years ago."

"Not necessarily," Terrance piped up.

"Who the hell are you young man?" Arthur asked irritably.

"This is Terrance Mason, my, uh, handler," Jacob said. He looked at Terrance with approval. The young man was shaping up nicely as Rachel's replacement; he was taking an interest in what was going on around him, he didn't wait to be invited to participate, and he had a creative mind. "What are you thinking?"

"Dr. Heilman's developing a GMO, a lot of people don't like scientists monkeying around with the food supply. Maybe one of them has bribed or blackmailed or somehow corrupted his research assistants or lab tech."

"Monkeying around?" Arthur sputtered. "I'd hardly call months of experimentation aimed at improving nutrition for millions of people monkeying around."

"I take it you don't approve of GMO's?" Jacob asked Terrance mildly. When the young man merely shrugged, Jacob titled his head to one side and nodded at the Subway sandwich wrapper in the trashcan. "You had a turkey sandwich for lunch today didn't you?"

"Uh yeah," Terrance wasn't sure where this was going but he knew better than to think Dr. Hood's question was a non sequitur. "Why?"

Jacob countered with another question, "Have you ever seen a wild turkey?"

"Um, sure," said Terrance, "mostly brown, kind of scrawny."

""Exactly," Jacob answered, "and that's pretty much how all turkeys used to look. People think it's strange that Benjamin Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird. What they don't understand is the turkey Franklin knew had little to do with the one they're most familiar with, the big, fat turkey with plenty of white meat. That turkey is the product of selective breeding. In short, the turkey you eat today is a genetically modified organism."

Charlotte bit back a smile, it might have been years since Jacob stood in front of a classroom but it was evident he hadn't given up teaching.

"I knew we were right to come here," she declared. She smiled at Terrance warmly. "It never occurred to either of us that someone might undermined Arthur's work for political reasons." She looked at Jacob ruefully, "we jumped to the conclusion it was personal."

"I'm still convinced it is." Arthur said. "I haven't published anything about this project, it's not likely anyone outside of my circle has heard about it."

Jacob and Terrance exchanged glances, they both realized it would be fruitless to argue with the old man about the many ways his current research project could have become public knowledge.

"Yes, I can see that," Jacob said soothingly, "and yes, you were right to come to me. I can put out some feelers, see if any of them has anything in their background to suggest…"

"That's all well and good," Arthur cut in, "but I think it would make a lot more sense for you to come to Boston for the symposium and the reunion. It would give you a chance to size them up yourself, ask a few questions." He glared at Jacob, "conduct a real investigation."

"That might not be a good idea," Jacob objected. He hesitated, not quite sure how to word it, "it's, um, been a few years since I've been to one of these things." To be accurate, he hadn't been to one of the reunions since Maggie became ill.

"I know", Charlotte said, "But this silly award Arthur is getting gives you the perfect excuse to show up again."

Jacob still resisted the idea of going to Boston. "That would work for me but I'd need my team available if you expect me to conduct an investigation." He relaxed a bit, it looked like he could dodge this request after all. "I couldn't justify taking them to Boston, using Bureau resources on a personal matter."

Once again Terrance interjected himself into the conversation. "Uh, Dr. Hood? It might be not be something personal. It might be something that concerns the Bureau."

"What are you talking about?" Jacob shot the young man an irritated look.

Terrance colored a bit, "on that case in Florida, I remember you said that research is expensive, that even when you were at Stanford you had to chase outside funding."

Jacob smiled involuntarily. He might be temporarily annoyed at Terrance but he was pleased to have more evidence the boy was paying attention.

Reassured by the smile Terrance plowed on, "so I was wondering, Dr. Heilman, who's funding your research into the new tomato?"

Arthur was taken aback, this was another aspect he hadn't considered. "I've gotten a grant from the SARE program."

At Terrance's puzzled look, Jacob explained, "It's a research program established by the Department of Agriculture to encourage sustainable agriculture." His eyebrows rose as the implication hit him. "Which means we have potential sabotage in a federally funded scientific research project. Definitely something of concern to the Bureau."

Terrance nodded happily, it looked as if he was going out in the field. A sudden thought struck him. "Do you think we should notify SAC Young sir?"

It was Jacob's turn to look puzzled. "Well of course I'll let Rachel know I'm going …"

"No," Terrance interrupted, "We need to notify SAC Young."

Jacob instantly realized the distinction Terrance was making. The young man was careful to differentiate between Rachel's personal and professional roles in his life. "Why?

"This might be a matter of national security," Terrance shrugged. "I don't know, I mean, it might be some kind of domestic, eco-terrorist kind of thing. Who knows? Counter-terrorism might already have this situation on their radar."

Jacob tilted his head and nipped in his lower lip. "You might have something there, we should involve Rachel."

"Absolutely not!" declared Arthur vehemently. The others looked at him in surprise. "It's one thing if you bring him," Arthur gestured toward Terrance. "People have heard you travel with an agent. But how will you explain this Rachel person? It would tip people off that I suspect them of sabotage."

'Uh, actually, it wouldn't be hard to explain Rachel," Jacob colored faintly. "She's um, my wife." He plowed on ignoring the looks of shock on Arthur and Charlotte's faces. "But Rachel wouldn't be the one to accompany us. She's not a field agent anymore, she's in charge of the Counter-terrorism Division. It will be up to her if she wants to send an agent along with us."

Charlotte was the first to recover from the shock of hearing Jacob had remarried. "Well, why don't we ask her?"

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rachel sat impassively as she listened as Arthur, with occasional contributions from Charlotte, once again outlined what was happening in his lab, to his research. She sat silently for a moment after he finished his tale. She looked at the group of people surrounding her desk. "Let me get this straight," she said slowly, "you want a discreet investigation because you think a member of this group of yours is involved?" At Arthur's nod, she asked "but exactly who or what is this group?"

Jacob launched into an explanation. Customarily, a graduate program limits the number of new students it admits each year; a department can only support a finite group of graduate students. Normally it takes seven years to complete a PhD but the number of grad students isn't evenly distributed over those seven years, there's always some attrition. The year Jacob began his graduate work at Harvard was an anomaly. There were more than the anticipated openings caused by graduations. Two grad students left the program to pursue jobs outside of academia. Another finished his dissertation ahead of schedule and was immediately offered a post-doc fellowship at Berkeley. A fourth student was dismissed for failure to progress satisfactorily academically. So instead of the normal two or three new grad students there were six.

As any new group of PhD candidates would, they quickly formed a bond around the shared trials of their new roles. The size of this group, however, caused them to form an unusually tight bond. They were aware some faculty members disapproved of admitting so many new grad students; they worried the department was prizing quantity over quality. Because of this they were determined to help each other succeed. Arthur became the mentor to the group since he was the faculty member who was the most outspoken in supporting the admission of all of them. They became close friends and kept up the friendships as the years passed.

"Since they're scattered all over the country they try to get together once a year. A sort of class reunion." Charlotte put in. "Almost all of them come every year."

Rachel's eyebrow rose, this was the first time in the five years she'd known Jacob she'd heard about this group.

"I can see why you'd want a discreet investigation," Rachel said. "It would pretty much destroy your relationships if those people found out the two of you suspected them of sabotage."

Charlotte bit back a smile at the look of shock on Arthur's face and the look of dawning comprehension on Jacob's. She found it interesting that Jacob's wife unerringly zeroed in on the real issue. Arthur and Jacob only considered the potential damage to professional reputations. Rachel saw the real disaster, the destruction of friendships of almost a quarter of a century. She nodded in satisfaction, this woman might just be the wife Jacob needed.

Rachel turned her attention to Terrance. "Now, why do you think this might be something to interest my division?"

"Timing mostly," Terrance replied. "I know Dr. Heilman's afraid this is personal, but honestly? He can't think of a current beef any of these people have with him and I can't believe it's for some past slight. I mean, jeez, it's been how many years since they were students of his?" Terrance shook his head, "Yeah, I've heard revenge is a dish best served cold, but this? It's been what? Over 20 years? That's not cold, that's frozen over." Terrance shook his head, "no, I think it's more likely some eco-terrorists who oppose GMOs."

"I don't find it likely at all," Arthur snapped. "If you send another agent along with Jacob and this one," he jerked his head in Terrance's direction, "it will be impossible to conduct the investigation discreetly."

"We were hoping you would accompany Jacob," Charlotte said, "it would look more natural." She titled her head, "I know I'd love to get to know Jacob's wife."

Rachel sat chewing her lip, clearly divided in her thoughts. Politically, there had been a backlash regarding the Bureau's investigation into ecoterrorism; they were accused of targeting groups in ways that violated their First Amendment Rights. Even though the Bureau was cleared of those charges by a Congressional investigation, the Counter-Terrorism Division was treading warily in these cases. But she couldn't forget it was a car bomb set by an eco-terrorist group that brought Jacob under the protection of the EPD. If she accompanied Jacob it would be easier to keep the investigation low-key. She could claim she was there in her personal capacity. If it turned out this case was terrorist related, she'd be on the scene to direct the action. She reached for the phone on her desk, "Naomi, I need to speak to EADA Hazelton about a potential episode of domestic terrorism."

She returned her attention to the group. "I need to run this by my boss." She flushed a bit, "I don't want him to think I'm taking advantage my position for personal reasons. If he thinks this is a good idea then it's a go; otherwise I'll have to assign another agent to the case." Her phone buzzed, it was EAD Hazelton and he wanted to see her in his office.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The group waited with varying degrees of patience in Rachel's office. Looking up as she entered, they guessed from the smile on her face what the answer was.

"I take it Curtis is agreeable?" Jacob said.

"Uh-huh," Rachel answered. "Dr. Heilman isn't the only one who wants a discreet investigation. The Bureau's taken a publicity hit on some of these investigations so EAD Hazelton's more than happy to not only have us low-key this one but to have the actual investigation done by another division." She hesitated, turning to Dr. Heilman, "I don't know if Jacob told you, but there actually is a third member of his team, Agent Lee. I'm afraid even with me representing C-T unofficially there's going to be another agent besides Terrance going to Boston with us."

Jacob intervened before Arthur could complain, "It will be fine, Arthur, Felix, uh, Agent Lee, he's really good at blending in, he's umm like a mouse."

"Actually," Rachel said, "it's going to be just as hard is explaining Jacob's appearance." She tilted her head, stopping Jacob's protest with a lift of her eyebrow. "It's been how long since you attended one of these shindigs? Do you really think they'll accept you're coming to just to show off your new wife?"

"What if they're part of the symposium?" Charlotte said.

She cut across Arthur and Jacob's objections. "No, it makes perfect sense. This symposium is in Arthur's honor, the speakers are his former students who will discuss their work and Arthur's influence on it." She smiled, "Everyone knows Arthur is a stickler about research protocols, so it would be natural for Jacob to talk about the abuses he's encountered as the Special Science Advisor. And," she finished triumphantly, "of course he'd want the agents he works with to add their perspectives about his work."

Rachel nodded in approval, "I like it. But can you get them added to the program?"

Arthur snorted, "Of course I can, the damned thing is in my honor, if I want Jacob to speak then he's going to speak. Besides," he add, "The organizers are all old friends, they'll be happy to cooperate even if it is the last minute."

Rachel picked up the phone and told Naomi to call Felix in to the meeting. As they waited for him to arrive she questioned Arthur and Charlotte about the plans already in place. Charlotte explained that most of the group would be arriving on the next Wednesday. There would be an informal dinner Wednesday night for the symposium organizers, Arthur's current grad student, his lab tech, and the other group members. The symposium was slated for Thursday and Friday. A formal dinner was planned for Friday. It was there that Arthur would receive his award. On Saturday Dr. and Mrs. Heilman had invited the members of the group to their home for brunch. After brunch, people would be returning home. The FBI contingent exchanged dismayed looks, it seemed that had a very limited window in which to conduct their investigation.

Terrance was tentatively offering some ideas on how they should proceed when Felix arrived.

Arthur's eyebrows rose, "He's your mouse?" he said sotto voce.

"Yep, a six foot six inch mouse," Jacob murmured. "You'd be surprised at how he can blend in."

Introductions were quickly performed and Felix was filled in on the problem. To everyone's surprise he disapproved of the plan.

"Nah," he scrunched up his face, "Me? At some fancy symposium? The Doc would have to write out stuff for me to say." He shrugged, "I told you, all that science stuff? That's not me. No, it's best for me to stick to my strengths."

"Which is gathering intel," Rachel said. "How are you going to do that and not raise suspicion?"

"I don't have to go to Boston, I can dig up whatever you need on these people from here. I've been doing a lot of liaison work with the Cyber Division. I can tap into their networks, work with them on doing the investigation," Felix said, "it's a win-win as far I'm concerned. I get to sharpen my skill set and the Doc gets the benefit of a consult with some real computer wizards.

As for the rest of it, it's pretty straight forward," Felix shrugged. "Terrance provides the kind of support you always did, keeping his eyes open, coming up with lines of investigation. And you," he smiled broadly, "you're going as Mrs. Hood, not SAC Young. It'll be perfectly normal for you to question these people; hell, you're just trying to get to know your husband's old friends."

Rachel looked at Jacob; it would be his call as to allowing Felix to stay in D.C. Jacob, for his part, looked at Felix thoughtfully. Since the case in Idaho, Felix had been cultivating his contacts in Cyber. Jacob could understand his reasoning; as Felix said, it allowed him to refine his intelligence gathering skills, made the team some useful contacts, and, perhaps just as importantly, gave Felix an in with another division should he decide to transfer from the Special Science Advisor's team.

"Yes, that should work," Jacob said. "I can't think of anything Felix can't do from here rather than in Boston."

"Well," said Charlotte, getting to her feet. "That settles everything. Arthur and I need to head back to Boston before anyone realizes we're gone. We'll expect to see you on Wednesday."

With a flurry of goodbyes the two took their leave. Jacob stood, looking after them, lost in thought. Felix brought him back into the moment by loudly clearing his throat.

"So, Doc," he said, pulling a notebook out of his pocket. "Why don't you give me the names of your friends and I'll get started running the background checks."

Quickly Jacob sketched out the information on his six friends; three men and two women. Two of the men, Richard Sumner and Mike Cutler were nuclear physicists; Mike taught at Michigan and Richard worked for the Sandia National Laboratory. Stan Banks was a chaired professor of physics at M.I.T. The women's careers were just as distinguished; Miriam Hopkins was a professor of applied physics at Princeton and Hanna Click was a biophysicist like Jacob. She taught at Johns Hopkins.

Felix took careful notes but then pressed Jacob gently for personal details. Hanna and Stan were both married to spouses who were also in academia. Hanna's husband also taught at Johns Hopkins and Stan's wife was a librarian. Mike and Richard were divorced and Miriam had never married. After some prodding, Jacob gave Felix everyone's birthdays and hometowns.

"Ok," said Felix, snapping his notebook shut. "I'll get started on this right away."

"Why don't you come over to our place tonight," Rachel suggested. "I'll check with my people in C-T, see if there's any chatter about Dr. Heilman or his work, we can compare notes over dinner."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rachel pushed her food around her plate, she was feeling vaguely nauseous and a bit cranky. So far the most obvious symptom of her pregnancy were the bouts of nausea and vomiting. Unlike most women, however, Rachel suffered from evening sickness. It had gotten better since she entered her second trimester, but it hadn't totally subsided. She was unenthusiastic about eating dinner under the best of circumstances since she knew there was a good chance it would be coming back up before long. She shuddered a bit as she watched the others dig into their food.

Felix reached for a take-out carton of fried rice. "I gotta say Doc, I'm not sorry the way this investigation shook out. I'm learning a lot from the crew in Cyber." He shook his head in admiration. "What they don't know about computers and locating information isn't worth knowing."

"How nice for you," she said sarcastically. "Did you by any chance learn anything that could be helpful to the case?"

Felix didn't take offense. "Sure did." He learned over to pick up a pile of folders he had placed on the floor when the food arrived. "I was able to pull up a lot on all of them."

Jacob hesitated, intellectually he knew this had to be done but he hated the idea of delving into his friends personal lives. Coming to a decision he stood suddenly, picking up plates and the almost empty cartons of food. "Why don't I clear these away before you get really sick sweetheart?" He looked around, "I'm going to make coffee, decafe for Rachel; does anyone want regular?"

Terrance and Felix looked surprised as Jacob vanished into the kitchen. Rachel gave a small sigh.

"This is going to be hard on him," she said. "I mean, think about it, would either of you want to know the dirt on your old friends."

The two men looked at each other, understanding dawning in their eyes.

"Uh, what do you suggest we do ma'am," Terrance asked. "I mean, we have to investigate these people, friends or not."

"Of course we do," Rachel said, "I'm not suggesting otherwise and neither would Jacob. Why don't we compartmentalize the investigation? The three of us will discuss the intel on anyone Jacob knows personally, I'll pass along to him anything we think he should know." At the two men's nods, Rachel said briskly, "good, that's settled. Now, what did you dig up?"

Felix launched into a recitation of what he had learned. For the most part, the Doc's old friends were solid citizens. They lived within their incomes. There was no evidence that they drank to excess, did drugs, or gambled. As a group they were apolitical, there was no record of large donations to any political party or candidate. They held respectable jobs and were well regarded in their fields.

"In other words, you got nothing," Rachel said with disgust.

"Not so fast," Felix replied, "I was saving the best to last."

It turned out Richard Sumner wasn't only divorced, his divorce was messy. His wife caught him having an affair with a student and gone nuclear. The divorce cost Sumner not only his family, his house and a huge chunk of his savings, it had also cost him his job. It seemed the University of Texas frowned upon faculty/student romances. The lab at Sandia snapped him up, but the position wasn't quite as prestigious as the one he had lost. Rumors were circulating that he was attempting to regain a position in academia; he had been in contact with his former colleagues, including Dr. Heilman, sounding out the possibilities. Rumors were also circulating that Heilman had not be particularly receptive to Sumner's overtures.

Miriam Hopkins recently ignited a war, not only in the field of biophysics, but in the academic scientific community more broadly. A paper she published was mildly criticized by a younger, male biophysicist. Miriam responded by accusing the man of denigrating the paper solely because the author was female. He hotly denied the charge. Other female scientists chimed in on Miriam's behalf, sharing stories of discrimination over the years. Others, both male and female, refuted these claims of discrimination intimating the true problem was shoddy thinking and research. Battle was joined and was being fought, academic fashion, with blog posts, opinion pieces, and in hastily formed symposiums. The issue had been going on for almost a year. All of this drew Felix's attention because Dr. Heilman's name had come up in the early days of the dispute. While he was not involved, he had been asked to render an opinion since he knew the original combatants. He had never weighed in on the issue.

"I don't know," Terrance said. "Those things seem kinda petty. I mean, this is their mentor, someone they've looked up to for a long time. Would they turn against them for this kind of stuff?"

"Let's ask the expert," Rachel said as Jacob re-entered the room with a tray holding a pot of coffee and some mugs.

Rachel briefly outlined the controversy Miriam was involved in and Richard's academic ambitions. And how Heilman seemed to be taking a standoffish positon in both cases. "So," she concluded, "do you think either of them might have it in for Heilman, see trashing his research as payback for not giving them his full support?

"I don't think so," he said slowly. "I really can't see Arthur weighing in on either case and they both should realize that." At Rachel's raised eyebrow he elaborated. "Arthur has always been opposed to academic politics getting in the way of the work. Miriam knows that, when we were students she tried often enough to get him to condemn this or that practice. As for Richard," Jacob's cheeks colored slightly, "What he did was unacceptable. He crossed a line Arthur laid down for us when we first started teaching. He wouldn't approve of Richard having an affair with a student. He would see it as proof Richard wasn't suited to a position in academia."

"Really?" Felix asked. "I mean, what's the big deal?" He winked at Jacob, "bet you had your pick of the campus cuties back in your single days Doc. Besides, it's not like Sumner was having it off with a kid." He checked his notes, "The student? She was a grad student, an adult."

"It's a huge deal," Jacob sputtered. "It's a complete violation of the teacher student relationship." He glared at Felix, "It's a line I was never tempted to cross. The fact the woman was one of Richard's grad students makes it worse, not better. Grad students depend on their advisors for mentoring, introductions, recommendations. Richard knew better and he damn well knew Arthur would think so too."

Felix held up his hand, "Ok Doc, I get it. But I've got to tell ya, these two are the only ones in your group who even come close to having a beef with your old teacher."

Rachel recognized the stubborn look on Jacob's face. She knew he hated to think one of his old friends betrayed their mentor. "I think we should take what Felix found under advisement. It's an avenue I can follow up on in Boston. If either of them thinks they have a grievance against Dr. Heilman, they'll most likely be more than happy to unload to a sympathetic ear. Which I will be more than happy to provide."

Felix nodded in agreement. "Sounds like a plan to me. Did your people pick up any chatter about Dr. Heilman's work?"

Rachel hesitated. In reality, neither her people nor the Boston field office had any information about opposition to Dr. Heilman's work. She was reluctant to say so in front of Jacob, it would only emphasize that the motive was most likely personal. No, this information could wait.

"Nothing conclusive."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rachel sat cross-legged on the bed watching Jacob change into a t-shirt and sleep pants.

"Any reason why this group of yours never came up before?"

He paused in the act of pulling the shirt over his head. "I don't understand."

"Jacob, we've been together, in one way or another, for five years. I've never heard you mention this group and, if I can believe Charlotte and Arthur Heilman, you've been friends with them for what, almost twenty-five years." She looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "So, to repeat the question, what gives with you and this group?"

Jacob climbed into bed beside her with a sigh. "It's no big deal. It's just ... these people were part of my life before the FBI. Since then, well, I've, we've been busy. It wasn't convenient to make it to the reunions."

"Really? When was the last time you saw them?"

Jacob shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, all of them together? I guess, um, at Maggie's funeral."

Rachel's breath caught in her throat. Even though she knew Jacob loved her, even though the woman had been dead for seven years, she still felt a bit uncomfortable at the mention of Jacob's first wife. The wife who had been so beloved it had taken him years to overcome his grief.

Jacob hated the stricken look on Rachel's face. He knew she was making an erroneous connection. His reluctance to see his old friends had nothing to do with Maggie. What he really hated was having to deal with their condolences.

"It's not what you think," Jacob said as he pulled her into his arms. "Honestly, it's more a timing issue than anything. I have kept up with most of them, individually." At Rachel's look of skepticism, his lips kicked up into a half smile. "Those contacts of mine? The ones I've called for assistance? That's who most of them are."

Rachel's eyes widened, "Johns Hopkins, the head of neonatal research? The one you called asking about chelation therapy during the case in Milwaukee? That was…"

"Yep, Hanna's husband, Will Harper. He's the leading neonatologist in the country." Jacob laid back, pulling Rachel down with him. She half-turned, snuggling into him, her arm across his waist, her leg thrown between his.

Jacob reached over and turned off the light. "I haven't been avoiding them, I just haven't been up for their trips down memory lane." He kissed the top of her head. "I prefer the future to the past."

"Umm, ok." Rachel lay quietly for a few minutes. "So, you were never tempted to cross the line with your students, huh?"

"What? No. Why would you even ask that?"

"I was wondering if I should cancel my order for my Halloween costume." Rachel giggled and snuggled a bit closer. "I was thinking of dressing up as a naughty school girl, but if you're not interested….."

Jacob gave a snort of laughter. "Considering you'll be seven month pregnant by then, I think you'd already have been a very naughty school girl."

Rachel's hand slid under the waistband of his sleep pants. "True, maybe I shouldn't wait until Halloween. Maybe we can discuss my latest exam grade now, Professor Hood."