Disclaimer: I think by now it's safe to say that while I've done enough research, I honestly don't know jack about the government or the FBI. I'm mostly just focused on Regina and Emma! If anyone has any insight they'd like to share, I am always open to new information!

CHAPTER 7

Emma's phone vibrated as she was climbing onto her motorcycle. She hadn't been to work in a couple days. In her opinion, going to the office was always pointless. Emma didn't feel it necessary to have a desk to do her job and contacting her boss from her phone had proven over time, to be much easier than dealing with him face to face. At the moment she was currently on her way home from meeting with an informant he'd sent her to speak to. Normally Emma was with Neal when she did these things, but as it happened, she had been out and about when her supervisor had contacted her and asked her to meet the guy for another case. Pulling the phone from her pocket, she hit the slide to unlock it. A text message from Regina was waiting for her.

"Where are you?"

Emma could hear Regina's voice as she read the message and smiled to herself. A few weeks had passed and they had been seeing each other frequently since the first morning Emma had brought her donuts and coffee. She had stopped by on her way home and occasionally in the mornings to bring Regina breakfast or just to steal a kiss on her way to work. Though, she tried to refrain from stopping by too often first thing, so that she wasn't waking Regina up before the crack of dawn all the time. When they weren't together, they were sending each other messages on the phone. Every moment they spent together, every conversation was an opportunity to learn more about each other.

More than once, things had heated up a little more than Emma was ready to handle and she always managed to bring those situations to a grinding halt, much to the other woman's dismay. And more than once Regina had literally begged Emma to stay the night. It was killing her, but she refused to give in. Since the night she'd taken Regina home from the bar where they'd met, Emma hadn't given her attention to any another woman. No one else seemed to exist anymore and taking home a stranger was no longer an option in Emma's eyes. Emma felt bound to Regina, but she had no idea how to explain why she kept putting a stop to the intimate situations.

Emma touched the button to reply. "Where do you want me?" she typed. Pausing for a moment, she read the message again. Should she send it? Should she say something else? Emma knew the message would start a vicious cycle of flirting and sexual innuendo that would ultimately end in her changing the subject albeit not so subtly. She enjoyed flirting with Regina. Enjoyed teasing and being teased. The fact remained that Emma wanted Regina and Regina wanted Emma. So why was Emma making her wait? Emma told herself that it was simply because she needed to make sure that she was what Regina wanted. But that was only a small part of why she continued to hold back.

"What the hell." Emma mumbled to herself. She hit send. "What can it hurt?"

Instead of taking off, she waited for a moment to see if Regina would reply. A second later the phone vibrated.

"Is that a trick question?"

"I thought yours was." Emma typed quickly. "Considering you have a prior engagement tonight?"

"I was hoping you had forgotten about that and were going to tell me you were on your way to sweep me off my feet. ;)"

Emma smiled at the last message. Anyone looking might have wondered why she was staring at her phone with a goofy grin on her face, but she didn't mind. She replied, "You should go out with your friends. You're the one who said you hadn't seen them in a while. You can see me any time you like. And besides, we have plans tomorrow night."

"That's tomorrow. I'll miss you terribly until tomorrow night gets here."

"And you can text me any time you like, babe. It will be here before you know it."

"I could get used to hearing you call me that. I like it."

Emma wanted to see Regina, but she resisted the urge to give in. Slow. She needed to go slow. Why? You know why. She sighed to herself. Sometimes her inner monologue got old. "I'm heading home. I'll be around if you need me. ;) Enjoy your evening, gorgeous. Can't wait to see you tomorrow."

She slipped the phone back into her pocket and turned the key on the motorcycle. Home was only 30 miles away, but some days the drive could take an hour. It didn't matter that it was Thursday. It didn't matter what day of the week it was for that matter, the Capitol traffic was always heavy and dealing with her boss's informant had been mentally taxing. For once, Emma was just ready to get home and relax.

. . .

The following morning, heading out the front door, Emma grabbed her jacket from the banister and locked the door behind her as she was pulling it shut. She gave the knob a jiggle, just to double check and turned to head down the front steps. She looked up to see Neal getting out of his truck by the curb in front of her house.

"Swan." He yelled, throwing his hands up. "Where have you been?"

Emma glanced at the watch on her arm and looked back up as she headed towards the road. Neal walked around the front of the truck and leaned against the passenger side as she approached him.

"What do you mean? I just saw you yesterday." Emma looked at him, clearly confused.

"What's going on with you? Ragan's not happy, Em. You haven't been to work in three days. No one's heard from you. I haven't heard from you." Neal raised his eyebrows, waiting for a response. "I didn't just see you yesterday. I haven't seen you since Tuesday."

"What day is it?" Emma asked.

She sounded serious, but Neal was unsure. "You're kidding me right?"

"Yes. I'm kidding." She deadpanned. "I know what day it is. It's Friday. I've been busy."

"Busy." Neal repeated, mostly to his self. "You've been busy? Busy doing what, Em?"

Neal was bugged and his best friend could tell. He hadn't seen or spoken to Emma in three days and it just wasn't like her. Even before, after everything that happened to her, she had still never gone a day without contacting Neal in some way. Something was up and he was catching on.

"It's nothing. Just work stuff."

"Since when do you do 'work stuff' without your partner?" He questioned. "Were you headed somewhere?"

"I've just been going over the files Neal. Really." She tried to sound reassuring, but he knew her better than that. Seeing the look of uncertainty on his face, she added, "We haven't been able to catch a break in months. Things just aren't adding up. And yes I was leaving."

"So fill me in. Isn't that what being a partner is about?" Neal shoved his hands in his pockets and looked around. He couldn't help but wonder what kind of line his best friend was about to feed him. He was beginning to feel like he was being lied to and didn't like it at all. But the rational portion of his brain insisted that if Emma was lying, it must be for a good reason.

Emma took a deep breath and stepped toward him. "Just let me check into some things and I promise I'll fill you in. You trust me, don't you?"

"Yeah, Em. You know I do." He sighed. "I'm just worried about you. That's all."

"There's nothing to worry about. I swear." She patted him on the arm. "I've never been better, Neal."

"You've been distant lately, okay?" Neal decided to confess his thoughts. "You're never available and I'm having a hard time with it. You're my best friend and I can't help but feel like something isn't right. You know I trust you. I just want to be there for you."

Emma smiled to herself. She knew Neal was right. But she wasn't quite ready to tell him everything. She had been spending all of her free time with Regina, so why wouldn't she expect him to catch on. Emma knew that her best friend was smarter than that. She would have to tell him soon.

"So what are you getting us into, today?" Neal asked. "You want me to come with?"

Emma considered her options. Her plans with Regina weren't until later in the evening. And humoring Neal with a little stake-out might not be such a bad idea. It would give her the opportunity to do a little snooping and ease Neal's irritation with her at the same time. And as much as she loved her motorcycle, it was nice to not have to drive sometimes.

"Sure." Emma nodded. "But you're driving."

"Fine with me." Neal pushed away from the truck where he was previously propped. "It's after ten, have you eaten yet?"

They both opened their doors and climbed into the truck.

"Of course I've eaten." Emma laughed to herself as Neal pulled away from the curb. "But I'm always hungry."

He stopped at the nearest fast food place so they could grab a bite to eat and once they were on the road again he spoke up. "So what's on the agenda?"

"I was thinking we could cruise by the Mills Cafe and see if anything was going on."

"Sounds good…" Neal nodded and made a turn to head towards the small restaurant.

. . .

One block from the restaurant, Neal parallel parked in the closest spot he could find. He left the truck running and they settled in, not knowing exactly what they were waiting for or how long they might be there.

"What are we lookin' for Em?" Neal asked, grabbing his cup. He took a long drink and glanced in her direction.

"I don't know." She mumbled. "Something. Anything."

"So…you just want to wait around and see if anything happens?"

"I don't know what I'm looking for. I just need something." Emma took a deep breath. "Something to go on."

Neal stared blankly at her for a moment. He shook it off with a sigh and went back to watching the front of Luis Mills's restaurant. Business looked slow. Only a couple of vehicles along the street. In the past, most of the evidence they'd gathered had been during busy hours. Lunch rushes. Weekends, during heavy dinner flows when 'customers' and 'business partners' could come and go without appearing out of place or suspicious. Neal wanted to believe that his partner knew what she was doing. But after everything she'd been through, he was beginning to worry that Emma was losing her touch. He was starting to wonder if she was ever going to recover.

Just as Neal's mind had begun to wonder, something caught his attention. He sat up straight and nudged his best friends arm.

"I think we've got something." He said.

They watched as a black BMW pulled to the curb in front of the restaurant. After a moment, they saw the passenger window come down. No one was getting out. A second later, the front door of the restaurant opened and a petite brunette walked out and approached the car with a long, thick, white cylinder in hand. Neal glanced over at his partner, noticing the strange look on her face.

"Isn't that the Mills woman you took home that one night?" he asked.

"Yeah. It is." Emma took a deep breath.

"So they're just passing off goods in the middle of the street now?" He asked, reaching for the gear shift. "Maybe we should pick 'em both up and see what's going on. The family knows the FBI has been watching them."

Emma reached for Neal's hand, stopping him. "Wait." She said. "We have plenty of photographs of transactions just like this one. Why haven't they picked anyone up before?"

"I don't know, Em. Does it matter?" He was confused. "The boss wants progress… let's give him progress."

"Just wait, Neal." She snapped at him, immediately regretting it. "Sorry. This is what I came for. Let's just wait. I think I'm coming up with a plan."

"A plan?"

"Yeah. Just take me home. Let me get some things together and I'll drop by the office in a little while." She spoke in an even tone.

"Swear to me you'll show your face and I'll drop the whole subject." Neal assured her and she knew he meant it.

"I swear." Emma held up her hand dramatically and crossed her heart.

. . .

As promised, Emma showed up at the office several hours later. She took a direct path to Neal's cubicle and stuck her head around the corner, causing him to jump.

"All work and no play, makes Neal a dull boy." She said in a taunting voice.

He smiled. "You know it. Dull as hell."

"Hey, so, would you mind if I borrow all the files on the Mills family members?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Yeah sure." He replied, opening the top drawer of the file cabinet closest to his leg. "I thought you had a copy of all of these."

"I do." She smiled. "I just want to compare and make sure I have everything. I'm not sure I have the file on the Mills woman's parents."

Neal passed the thick stack of folders and paperwork off to his partner. He knew she was up to something, but it seemed as though she was getting back into her job. It left him with mixed emotions. His best friend had never been so secretive before.

Things have changed, Neal. He thought to himself. Just because she's getting back into her job doesn't mean she's going to do things like she used to. True. But that doesn't mean I have to like it.

"Are you back?" Emma asked, staring blankly at her partner. She'd lost him after he handed the files to her and wasn't sure where he'd went. "I mean…that looked like a good trip, but-"

"Yeah," he shook his head. "I'm good. Sorry. Just thinking."

"I'm gonna take off."

"Swan!" He threw his head back. "You said-"

"I said I'd show my face. I showed my face." She threw up her free hand as she walked away. "I'll call you!"

"Right." He mumbled, shaking it off. He knew he had to give her time. But how long was long enough?

. . .

Emma crammed the files into a slim back pack she used to carry things when she was on her bike. Instead of wearing it like she should, she strapped the bag onto the passenger seat, under a cargo net meant to hold things tightly to the bike. It was going on four in the afternoon and she was supposed to be meeting Regina at six for dinner. Climbing onto the bike, she took off, heading straight for home.

She knew she would have to shower and change quickly if she was going to make it on time. Emma didn't like to be rushed and going into the office had really put a cramp in her plan. Of course, seeing Regina walking out of Mills Cafe with a mysterious cylinder in her hand hadn't helped the situation either. It left her wondering if she should call and cancel their plans for the evening. More importantly it left her wondering if she had finally lost her mind.

No. She hadn't lost her mind. Emma knew that for a fact. She'd spent three years feeling that way. But she didn't anymore.

. . .

Showered and changed, Emma stopped just short of the front door. She was doing a last minute check in front of the mirror and decided to make a change. Reaching for the hook under the mirror, she grabbed a set of keys that she rarely used anymore. Back-tracking through the house, she went through the kitchen to a door that led to the garage. She paused as the door closed behind her, staring down the car that sat in front of her. Emma took a deep breath and walked slowly around the vehicle giving it a once over. She ran her hand from the front drivers' side headlight, up the hood and over the mirror, stopping on the door handle.

Another deep breath.

After Amanda left, Emma had traded her car in for something sporty. She didn't want to be reminded of Amanda every time she looked at the little yellow VW Bug. The car had belonged to Emma and after they moved in together, Emma had handed the keys over to her girlfriend who preferred the sensible little car over the motorcycle Emma had insisted on buying. Everything Amanda ever did was 'sensible'. Until the day she'd decided to leave Emma. But Emma wasn't sure why she didn't drive the trade-in more. A pearl white 370z with more horsepower and extra's than one person really needed. The car was a dream. There was usually something about the motorcycle that called to her more, but tonight…tonight she was going to take the car. It had been a while. After all, it really did need a spin around the block. She opened the door and slid down into the black leather seat and enjoyed the moment. Every time driving this car was like the first time. It wrapped around her like a favorite pair of jeans, only better.

Deep breath.

Emma glanced down at her cell which she had placed in the cup holder and realized she should be going. She pushed the button on the dash and smiled as the engine rumbled to life and settled into a quiet hum.