Author's notes: Still do not own any of these characters, except the family of Rachel. Sorry about the delay, Driver Education really messed with my mojo! Actually I blame the show's writers. Ever since they claimed that Colby is a spy for the Chinese I have had a hard time putting it past me. Anyway, as mentioned earlier, I'm staying true to the image we all had of Colby as the all-American boy!
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When her plane reached Denver, Rachel had a two-hour layover before she would need to board. Finding an open gift shop, she purchased a bottle of water and a magazine. Sitting down she tried to pass the time, but her mind kept going back to her last phone call to Colby. The voice was definitely that of a younger woman and the voice sounded very at ease and comfortable enough to answer the phone.
Again she mentally chided herself, why shouldn't Colby move on? She had cut all ties and made it impossible for him to contact her. She had needed time to sort out her feelings. Once she had decided how she felt, the pregnancy clouded the answer. She had never even thought about terminating the pregnancy, but what would happen after the birth of the child was something that she had yet to decide upon. She knew she would not be returning to law enforcement, but what then?
She was surprised when an announcement was made that seating would be beginning for the last leg of her journey. Lifting her bulk out of the chair, she picked up her items and made her way to the counter. A less than perky employee processed the paperwork and in short order was walking down the corridor to the small jet that would take her to Rockford.
Settling into her seat she closed her eyes and within minutes she was a sleep. Waking briefly at take-off, she then reclined her seat and went back to sleep.
It seemed like minutes later the steward was asking everyone to return seats to the upright position for landing. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she tried to work the knots from her neck and back. She glanced at her watch and noted that with the time change she would be arriving in time for an early breakfast.
The landing was non-eventful and she exited; many of the passengers remaining onboard since the plane would be landing next in Chicago. Once inside the terminal, she pulled out her cell phone, but the charge on the battery was too low to make a call. Rachel walked over to a small bank of pay phones, pulled out several coins and dropped them into the slot. Punching in a familiar number, she waited for someone to pick up.
It only took three rings until the phone was answered; Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. "Hi Mom." She continued quickly. "No, everything is fine. I've got a small favor to ask of you though. I'm at the airport and I need a ride to your house."
She paused and listened to her mother's excited exclamation, "So can someone come and get me?" The affirmative answer was adamant. "I flew on Air Tran, so I'll be waiting by the doors." She paused and listened. "Thanks Mom, I love you too."
Disconnecting, she went to find her luggage. Nearby a young man walked up to the car rental counter and quickly filled out paperwork; casting glances towards the luggage claim area.
Twenty-five minutes later a white Taurus pulled up outside the Air Tran doors and a middle-aged woman climbed out. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail and the long strands were shot with gray. The face was warm, with laugh lines at the corner of her hazel eyes.
Rachel was suddenly overcome with emotions and tears sprung to here eyes as she saw her mother. 'Damn hormones,' she thought as she wiped at them with her hand. Waving, she called out, "Mom."
Hearing her daughter's voice, Renée Williams turned to look for her daughter. If the obvious pregnant form of her daughter shocked her, it did not show on her face. She moved quickly to Rachel's side and enveloped her in a somewhat sideways hug. "Honey, I'm so glad you've come home. Let's get your bags loaded. Your Dad is home finishing making us all some breakfast.
Rachel was grateful for her mother not asking her any questions as they tossed her bags in and left the airport. Waiting for the light to turn green, Renee smiled at her daughter, "Lets wait to talk until after we've had something to eat. I'm guessing that you have a few things to tell us."
Laughing at the dry wit of her mother, Rachel dabbed at new tears that were threatening to spill across her checks. "You might say that."
Both women shared a laugh; neither paid attention to the non-descript beige sedan that followed their car into the sparse morning traffic and then dropped back to trail them.
Arriving at the small acreage outside of Rockford, Rachel got out and took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. Looking around, she took in the familiar surroundings of her teen years. The two-story farmhouse was painted white and had a large wrap around porch. A porch-swing was suspended near a large picture window. The look was inviting and friendly; quintessential small town America.
Renee insisted on taking care of the luggage. "Now, you go in and freshen-up if you want." They were met at the screen door by a black lab with a briskly wagging tail. "Get back Raider." Renee gently scolded the dog as she pushed open the door.
Rachel held the door as her mother carried in the bags and sat them down. Following her inside, Rachel bent awkwardly over to scratch the dog's ears and tail and she crooned to him. "How have you been? Have you been a good dog? Yes, you're a sweetie." The tail knocked loudly against the wood floor. She watched as her mother headed to the kitchen, no doubt to forewarn her husband about Rachel's condition.
After a few minutes of petting the dog, she followed the hallway down to the guest bathroom. Washing her hands and face; she looked into the mirror. 'I look as tired as I feel', she thought. Maybe coming home was the best idea. She could catch up on her rest and take a break from worrying about what her future was going to bring.
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Pulled over alongside the rural road, the man that had followed the pair from the airport was talking on his cell phone. "Yes, I followed them to 4836 Rolling Acres Road, it is outside of Rockford. She is definitely pregnant. What do you want me to do?"
On the other end of the connection, Arner Stone was contemplating. So Rachel was pregnant, his men in California had thought she might be. Needing more time to think he instructed the disciple that he needed to just keep an eye on her and make sure that she didn't disappear again.
Disconnecting the call, Stone sat in his chair and reflected back over the last 8 months. He had found and subsequently lost the woman that would have given new life to his church. Since his narrow escape from the cabin hideaway, Stone had been on the run. Staying with the most devote followers he had been able to evade capture, but the feeling of being pursued had further damaged his already weakened mental status. His daily preaching had taken on an increased tone of hatred towards the government, especially those that were currently searching for him.
Currently staying in a disciple enclave in Arizona, he had been working with several of his disciples to try and manipulate the system from the inside. An assemblyman with a fondness for underage girls had become a staunch supporter and had been helping with donations to the church and applying what pressure he could on the authorities to allow them to practice their religion in peace. Unfortunately someone had found out about the young girls and had tried to blackmail Assemblyman Halstead. The blackmailer's death had brought attention back to the Church and the FBI had been sniffing around. Balling his hand into a fist, Stone slammed it onto the table. His plans for a glorious future continued to crumble and he needed to act quickly to shore things up.
His thoughts turned back to Rachel. He had been so close, there had only been two days of cleansing left until she would have been his bride. Any child she carried should have been his. It could have been, had it not been for the FBI agent that had interfered with his plans. His attempt at eliminating the agent had failed with the timely arrival of other agents.
As he sat and thought about it more and more, Stone slowly began to believe that the child that Rachel was carrying was actually his. It should have been, so in his mind it was. A renewed sense of purpose surged through the prophet's veins. It was important that he reclaimed his child and his bride if possible. With his family by his side, they would lead the Church into a bright future.
Picking up his phone, he placed several calls and put the wheels into motion. Soon he would be on his way to Illinois to bring home his family.
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The morning had started with Colby and David in Don's office. David had returned to the apartment yesterday only to find it empty and so far there had been no sign of Lisa Chambers. It seemed that one of their few leads in this case had flown the coop. They had put out an APB for her, but so far nothing had come in. Neither man was optimistic about finding her again.
The younger agent had also voiced his concerns about Rachel's safety and had implored his boss to use his connections to locate and protect her. The veiled threat against her safety had rattled Colby.
Don agreed to contact Rachel's ex-boss and ask for any assistance in finding her and giving her a warning. It was while they were hashing over the case that David received a phone call. He stepped out of the room and in a few moments returned. "That was the morgue, a Jane Doe just came in and the description matches our APB on Lisa Chambers."
"Shit." Don ran a hand through his short cut hair. "David, get over to the morgue and make an identification if you can. Colby, I want you to go over to her apartment. Take a forensic team and get me something on someone."
Both men left Don's office and made for the parking garage. David shook his head as they headed down to the ground floor, "We should have grabbed her yesterday." He was second-guessing his own judgment.
"We had nothing to hold her on. Even if we had, she wouldn't have talked. I've seen what these people do. There is no way any of them will spill the beans on Stone." Colby pulled out his keys, "Call me if Jane Doe is a match." Both knew that it was very likely that it would be and now there would be two murders to solve.
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It was the type of breakfast that she would never fix for herself; in California a big breakfast would be cream with her coffee. Here, pancakes, eggs and bacon were a light start to the day. Her parents were lingering over coffee, so she excused herself from the table. Heading into the living room, she stopped to look at the framed pictures lining the mantle and scattered around the room. The pictures on the mantle were grouped by family members; her older brother Robert, along with his wife and two sons, her little sister Roxanne and her husband Pete and then a photo of herself. 'I guess Mom will finally get to fill in a little around my photo,' She told herself.
"The one's of boys is new."
Her mother's voice jolted Rachel from her own thoughts. "It's nice. I haven't talked to Robert in a while." Her older brother lived in town and she knew it gave her parents great joy to have grandchildren so close.
"Family is important. They can be your greatest supporters in times of need."
The words struck a cord in Rachel and the tears started to flow again. She turned to her mother and was enveloped by reassuring arms. Her mother crooned soft words of comfort into her ear as she rubbed her back tenderly.
Renee gave her daughter a few minutes to cry before she tried to get her daughter to open up. "Family will be important to the baby. Does the father plan on contributing or will you be raising the baby on your own."
Grabbing a tissue, Rachel blew her nose and shook her head. "He doesn't know."
"He's unsure?"
"No," replied Rachel. "I haven't told him yet. The agent that was held captive with me is the father." She sat down on the couch and proceeded to tell her mother the whole story.
"Rachel, far be it for me to intrude, but you need to let him know." Renee told her daughter gently. "He has a right to know that he is going to be a father."
"You're right, but I just can't call him up on the phone and tell him. "By the way Colby, sorry I've been out of touch the last 7 months, but you knocked me up."." Rachel's voice was heavy with sarcasm.
"I don't imagine you would want to just spring it on him over the phone. Why don't you invite him here and then you will know if he is still interested in you? But either way you owe it to him to let him know." Renee's voice was caring, but firm.
"A part of me is worried that he will accept and another is hoping that he won't." Rachel's tears began anew.
"A part of this is your father's and my fault." Renee spoke softly. "If we hadn't stayed with the Church for so long, both you and Robert wouldn't have such confused ideas about love." She sighed, "I guess I'm lucky that Roxanne was young enough to not understand what was going on around her. We were so blind to so many things. The idea of a huge family serving God was such a promising hope, that we wanted to believe." Tears came to her own eyes, "I just wish we would have woke-up sooner."
"It's not anyone's fault Mom, except the Prophet's. He's the one that has twisted God's word. It's not that I can't love, I guess it's that I'm just afraid to love. I've seen too often what happens when someone gives himself or herself totally to another. I don't want to lose a part of me."
"But it's not losing a part of yourself. The part you give comes back to you tenfold because it's been multiplied by the love of your partner. Don't be afraid to love, you'll look back someday and hate yourself for not taking a chance." Renee smiled at her daughter through her tears. "I'll leave you alone. I'm sure you have a call you would like to make."
Rachel nodded and walked over to the phone. Picking it up she dialed Colby's cell phone number. A ribbon of fear wound itself around her as she waited for the phone to be answered.
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So far the search of the house had given them nothing. Other investigators worked on trying to locate forensic evidence; one promising item was semen and vaginal fluid on the sheets. Colby was going through the stack of mail that had been left on the counter when his phone rang.
Glancing at the display he didn't recognize the number or even the area code, flipping it open he spoke. "Agent Granger."
"Hello Colby."