A/N: Thanks ever so much to all of my reviewers. I've responded to all the signed reviews, and really appreciate those who take the time to encourage me after reading each chapter! It means a lot to me to receive the feedback. Thanks, also, to those who have put my story on alert – I take that as an indication that you're enjoying it, even if you're too shy to leave a signed review!

This chapter contains some strong sexual innuendo. Nothing explicit, but it's there. I may try my hand at something M rated between Nancy and Frank if there's interest, but it will be posted outside of the story. Let me know what you think . . .

I hope to be able to post again mid-week, but no promises. Work is hectic, and spring is around the corner here in northeast Ohio, as we try to get our Market ready for plant season. Such is life. Since I make no money from the writing thing, (Nope, don't own any of the characters you recognize ;) I must keep up with the work that pays the bills!

Happy Reading! And don't forget to review, please!

Chapter 4: Who Needs Protection

Nancy had forgotten Bess and George were there until they were standing in front of her, shoes and coats on over their pajamas.

"We're going to head out, Nan," George said.

"Yeah, Nan. Six adults in this tiny apartment are four too many," Bess said.

George gave her a hug. "Have a good time with Frank, Nan."

"Give us a call later." Bess added.

"I'm sorry, guys." Nancy felt terrible that her friends were being chased away at this time of the morning, but she couldn't blame them for wanting to escape. If it hadn't been for Frank's presence, she might be tempted to run away herself. They exchanged goodbyes, and she locked the door behind them.

Rood had returned from his recon at some point, and he and Lion stood in the living room, heads almost touching as they conferred. To Nancy the pose appeared almost intimate. They spoke too softly for her to make out more than a word here or there. She walked to the living room window out of habit and looked down toward the front door. She waited for Bess and George to walk out to a waiting cab that they must have called earlier.

As they drove off, Nancy's eyes were drawn to the now familiar beige Jetta. It sat in almost the same place it had earlier, but she didn't see Colby in the vehicle anymore. She took that as a sign that it was as she suspected and he was visiting someone in the neighborhood. She scanned the remainder of the visible part of the street, and noted the blue panel van. Mitchel was still here, too.

She turned back to find Lion closing and locking the door behind Rood. "Where is he going?"

"He's going to do another quick sweep around the building and then watch from the street. He wants to check a panel van he saw on the street, and apparently there's a guy sleeping in his car down there. Probably harmless, but we don't want to take any chances."

"The guy sleeping in his car . . . he isn't in the beige Jetta across the street, is he?"

"I believe so. Why? Do you know him?"

"Kind of," Nancy said distractedly as she walked back to the window and looked down. Rood was knocking on the window of the Jetta. From her angle, she couldn't see Colby until he sat forward to roll his window down. Apparently, Rood told him to move along, because a minute later he was pulling away from the curb.

She jumped when Lion spoke from right behind her. "Who is he?"

"Phillip Colby."

"Should that name mean something to me?"

Nancy turned from the window as Colby's car disappeared from sight. "Probably not. He's engaged to Yvonne Whitney, David Whitney's daughter."

"David Whitney of international conglomerate, Whitney Enterprises?"

"That's the one. Anyway, I seriously doubt he has anything to do with a hit on Frank."

"Why would he be sleeping in his car in this neighborhood?" Lion asked.

"I'm wondering that myself," Nancy muttered, more to herself then in response to the agent. She nodded to the panel van, where Rood was heading next. "The blue panel van belongs to the Channel 9 News Team out of New York. Mitch Mitchel paid me a visit yesterday evening, and is apparently still hanging around hoping for a story."

Lion raised an eyebrow at her. "Mitchel, huh? What did he want?"

Nancy decided she might as well share the story. Lion doubled over in laughter. "Well, Hank will get rid of him for tonight, but from what I've heard of the guy, I'd bet he'll be back. He's persistent."

"Great." She took a deep breath, and decided to broach the subject she really wanted to discuss. "How much credence do you think there is to this threat to Frank, anyway?"

Lion shrugged. "Like you said, the East Coast Syndicate is bound to be pissed about the recent busts that came out of the identity theft ring. There's enough credibility to warrant being careful, at least."

Nancy wondered how much of the conversation in the kitchen the agent had overheard. Then she considered the size of her apartment and decided Lion had probably heard the whole thing. There was going to be precious little privacy in such close quarters with four adults. At least Rood and Lion both seemed nice enough.

"Do you think Frank should go into protective custody?"

Lion's smile was sympathetic. "I don't know that what I think really matters. I will say that I don't blame Frank for the choice he's making. In the end, it is his choice."

While it seemed like an odd thing for an agent on protection detail to say, Nancy had to admit that she couldn't agree more, and she appreciated Lion's candor. She felt guilty for being glad that Frank had refused protective custody. She knew if U.S. Marshals had been involved instead of the FBI, and Frank was truly under protective custody, she wouldn't have even seen him. Yes, she was definitely being selfish.

She took a deep breath. "I agree. I'm just worried."

The agent put a hand on her shoulder and guided her toward the bedroom. "That's good, Nancy. It means you'll be careful. Now, why don't you go get some sleep? Hank and I will keep an eye on things."

"Thank you Special –"

"Liesle."

"Liesle. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Nancy walked into the bedroom and closed the door. Frank was already stretched out on the bed. He had taken off his shirt, but hadn't gotten any further. His eyes were closed, his breathing even. Nancy heaved a sighed of disappointment.

She jumped when he spoke. "What's wrong, Drew?"

"I thought you were asleep."

"Just resting my eyes until you decided to join me. Are Hank and Liesle all set?"

"Yes. And Bess and George have headed home."

She sat on the edge of the bed, head bowed. She was tired and worried. The relaxation of girls' night had evaporated in the last hour.

Frank sat up, placed one hand on the bed behind her and leaned in to kiss her shoulder. She looked up at him through a veil of hair.

"I'm sorry about this, Nan." He gathered the hair, and tucked it behind her ear.

"About what? You didn't ask for any of this."

"Well, at the moment, I'm mostly sorry about the two FBI agents camped in your living room . . . and for the paper-thin walls of your apartment." His eyes were locked on hers, his smile suggestive.

Nancy shook her head and laughed. She straightened, reaching up to kiss his lips lightly. "Actually there is only one agent in my living room. Special Agent Rood is watching from the street. If I had to guess, he's likely keeping a close eye on that fire escape."

"Hm, perhaps the situation is more salvageable then I thought. We'll just have to be quiet."

Frank's husky voice and dark eyes sent a heat wave through Nancy. His hand slipped across her stomach to cup her hip as he leaned in and kissed her. She closed her eyes and gave in to the intense feelings that he awakened in every fiber of her being.

The respite of girls' night might be gone, but the kind of relaxation Frank offered promised to be even more enjoyable.

*

It was almost noon when Frank woke up and rolled toward the warmth lying in the bed next to him. He propped his head up on a hand, and just stared at her for awhile. Nancy's face was relaxed in sleep, her lips curved in a slight smile. He carefully moved a few straggling hairs out of her face, then let his fingers trail lightly down her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, and the smile became more pronounced as her gaze focused on him. He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.

He pulled back as she yawned and stretched; but complied happily when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a more satisfying kiss. He could have lingered here for the rest of the day, but the sound of voices in the living room and the smell of bacon cooking disrupted the intimacy of the moment. He sighed as he lifted his head.

"I think our keepers are making breakfast."

Nancy looked over at the clock, then back at him, her smile teasing. "Make that lunch, and they are your keepers, Hardy. I suppose we should get out of bed and get dressed."

Frank collapsed onto his back. "I don't want to."

Nancy leaned up on his chest, her eyes dancing. "What do you want to do, Frank?"

He took a deep breath and smiled at her warmly. "How about I show you?"

He tangled his hand in her hair while slipping the other under her hip to roll her on top of him. He caught her lips against his in a hungry kiss.

That was when the knock on the door sounded. Nancy's groan echoed his own as they rolled apart.

"I hate to interrupt." It was the muffled voice of Hank. "But Nancy's cell rang, and I noticed it was your brother, Frank. I thought you would want to know."

Frank sighed, and then called out, "Thanks, Hank."

Nancy was already standing, and his breath hitched just watching her walk to the closet. He could get used to seeing her every morning

She turned around, and smiled at him. He was struck again by how beautiful she was, as his entire body reacted to her.

"Wipe that lewd grin off your face and get dressed, Hardy."

He stood up and closed his eyes to block Nancy from sight, as he tried to conjure a picture of Aunt Gertrude to calm himself down. A moment later, Nancy's cool hands on his shoulders startled him out of his thoughts. He opened his eyes and looked down into her face, any progress toward calming down lost.

Her gaze was evocative. "Maybe we could take just a few more minutes."

He wrapped her in his arms. This was definitely how he wanted to spend the rest of his life waking up.

*

Given that Nancy's bathroom was across the hall from her bedroom, showering and dressing had proved interesting. Frank had come to the conclusion that, as nice as Liesle and Hank were, he wished they would disappear. They were definitely hampering his plans with Nancy.

He glanced up as Nancy walked into the room, fully dressed. She stopped in front of the dresser to retrieve her keys and a pocket knife, tucking them into the pockets of her Yale blue dress slacks. The fitted silk shirt in the same color hugged her slim figure perfectly. The muted color of the outfit set off the red highlights in her hair, and made her eyes really pop. He could have stared at her for hours.

She caught his gaze, and chuckled. She walked over to the window he was standing next to and opened the shades to let in the sunlight, and then turned to appraise him critically. He felt woefully under-dressed next to her, in his gray khakis and blue button down with no tie. He had packed his one good suit, but he wasn't about to wear it to go have lunch with his brother and soon-to-be-sister-in-law; even if lunch was at the ritzy Four Seasons.

"You clean up pretty good, Hardy."

"You look amazing, Drew. It makes me want to tear those clothes off of you."

She took a step closer and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I never would have taken you for the insatiable type, Frank."

"Only where you're concerned." That was disturbingly true. He'd never felt this way about anyone, even Callie. He felt a flash of guilt. Maybe he was being greedy. Was she trying to drop a hint? "You know, Nan, we don't have to have sex every time I'm in the mood. I'm guessing I'm in the mood far more often than you are . . ."

Nancy put her hands on his shoulders, her face tilted up to smile at him. "Trust me, Hardy, if you ever make an unwanted advance you'll know it. You might be surprised at how often I'm in the mood, especially when you're around."

She stretched up, and he leaned down to meet her in a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her, and felt her fingers tangle in his hair. The feel of her body against him, the smell of her eucalyptus shampoo, the taste of her lips, the sound of her accelerating breath, all created a powerful sensory experience. One he couldn't seem to get enough of.

His disappointment was intense when she pulled back and took a ragged breath. "I think we better table this discussion until after lunch, Frank."

He let her go reluctantly. She squeezed his hand as she turned, but something must have caught her eye out the window. Her face paled, eyes tightening.

"What's wrong, Nan?" Frank turned toward the window and scanned what he could see of the street scene outside the building.

Just down the block, the side of a blue panel van opened and he grunted. "Is that Mitch Mitchel? What's he doing in Chicago?"

Nancy looked up at him. "Do you know him?"

"He's like the Maury Povich of New York newscasting. Channel 9 picked him up recently, but I think that's probably just because they're at the bottom of the ratings pool, and they figured a sensationalist like Mitchel would be a draw."

Nancy's smile looked sickly. "Great."

"Did Mitchel come here to talk to you?"

Frank could hear the anger in his voice, and apparently Nancy did, too. Her reaction surprised him.

She started to chuckle. "There's actually a funny story there."

She proceeded to tell him about what had happened the night before, and he was almost in tears he was laughing so hard when she told him about her greeting for Mitchel. But he sobered quickly as she continued.

"So this Phillip Colby character was outside your apartment last night?"

"Yes. And I just saw him, again."

Frank leaned on the window sill, and looked up and down the street. "Is he still out there? What does he look like?"

"He's gone. Phillip Colby is kind of hard to miss. He's tall, a little taller than you, with wavy blond hair, china blue eyes, and angular features. He's almost too good looking to be real."

"You know, if I didn't know better, I might be jealous."

Nancy shook her head and crossed her arms. "Haha, Hardy. The guy is really starting to creep me out. Just now, I'd swear he waited until I saw him, and then he took off down the street."

"Do you think he saw you during surveillance?"

"I was on detail probably more than anyone else, since I had to cover call offs. I suppose it's possible."

"Maybe he's stalking you."

"He is engaged to Yvonne Whitney, who is gorgeous and rich. I seriously doubt Phillip Colby would chance screwing that up by stalking me."

"You know, you are really clueless about just how attractive you are."

Nancy waved off the compliment. "You're just infatuated. I think maybe I'll stop by the office. Matt was going to be working this weekend. Maybe he can shed some light on Phillip Colby. He was running the electronic portion of the background check. I'm curious what he was able to find out. I could meet up with you at the Four Seasons when I'm done."

Frank shook his head, chuckling. "If you think you're going to the office alone, think again, Drew. I'm going with you."

"Along with your entourage? Come on, Frank."

"You're stuck with the whole freaking parade, Nan. What if Colby tried something?"

Nancy crossed her arms and raised her eyebrows at him. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Hardy. You're the one that needs babysitters."

"Low blow, Drew. And I'm still going with you."

He smiled at Nancy's resigned grunt. "Fine. We better get moving. Joe's not going to be happy if we keep him waiting for his food, again."

Frank smirked. "Yeah, poor baby. He'll just waste away to nothing."

Nancy grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. "Let's go. We can call Joe on the way and let him know we might be a little late."

Frank grimaced. "He's going to be oh, so happy about that."