"Family Ties"

Part 2

Ch. 3

(Hospital)

"Did you get 'em?" Rose asked Granger as soon as he entered, later that night.

"Not yet. But we're close," he told her.

"Is that all you came to tell me, Agent Granger?" she asked.

"No," Granger said, his deep voice soothing her. "I came to see how you were."

"Why?"

"Because I care about you,"

"Because I'm your boss' sister,"

"You mean more to me than that," he told her firmly.

"Really? Because I'm confused," Rose said. "One moment you're showing me that you care, the next you're business like."

"That's not fair," Granger said.

"Is it? If we're going to do this; be in a relationship with me, than show me affection regardless of if my family members are around." she insisted.

They looked at one another for a few moments. Finally, Rose looked away, tears swelling up in her eyes. She had been crying off-and-on for the better part of her stay in the hospital. Mostly since the night before when the impact of what had happened had finally sunk in.

Despite her crying to hide her tears. Granger saw them. He reached over and took her unbroken, petite, hand and closed it into both of his two large, manly hands.

"Stay with me tonight, Colby," Rose whispered shakily.

Colby sat down immediately in the chair next to her bed without another word, still not letting go of her hand. He caressed her hand and she had finally went to sleep.

(Eppes House)

After a few days in the hospital, Rose was finally able to go home. Allen had helped her over the threshold of the house. Colby was behind them, carrying her bag full of clothes. Charlie was sitting in one of the chairs in the living room, his laptop on his lap. But he immediately put it down when his sister entered the house.

"I'll make some tea," he offered, getting up and setting off into the kitchen.

Allen settled his daughter down on the couch, making sure not to harm her broken wrist as he helped her down.

"I'll put these upstairs for you," Colby told her, indicating the bag of clothes.

"Do me a favor and get my laptop," Rose said.

He nodded as he heaved the bag over his shoulder and climbed up the stairs. The front door opened to reveal Don.

"Hey, there she is!" Don greeted her. "How ya feelin'?"

"Glad to be home," she sighed blissfully.

Charlie popped his head through the door from the kitchen. Smoke was drifting out into the rest of the house from the kitchen. The smoke floated above Charlie's head.

"Hey, dad, is the stove supposed to be smoking like that?" he asked.

Allen sighed, "He's a math genius, yet he doesn't know how to boil water," and then went in to help.

Don and Rose glanced at one another, smiled and then chuckled. Seconds later, Colby came down, carrying Rose's laptop.

"So, have you gotten anything out of the clone yet?" Rose asked her oldest brother.

"Nope," Do answered, taking off his jacket and hanging it up next o the front door. "He's pretty tight lipped."

"Dr. Jackson called. He said that Landry has orders to have him removed from our custody and into Area 51," Colby put in.

"When does the transfer happen?" she asked.

"Tomorrow afternoon," Don asked.

"I want to try and interrogate him before that happens," Rose stated.

To be continued . . .