The hospital corridors were as all hospitals, sterile and way too clean. The floor with the glossy shine and the light green painted wall felt calming but not very welcoming, maybe a few pictures on the walls to cheer the feeling up. As she walked beside Eyal, she couldn't help but muse if he missed his calling and not become a doctor or was the espionage business his true love. With a light tug to his sleeve, "Do you miss it at all?"

"Miss what Neshema?"

"Not finishing med school, not becoming a doctor."

"Not at all. What I'm doing now is incredibly fulfilling and it has it rewards. Still saving lives but in a different way. Maybe there is some ounce of humanitarian aspects in me."

"I know there is."

"Well don't go telling it, hate to tarnish my hard nose image." Eyal giving her a quick hug around the shoulders. "She is in the next room and don't let her overwhelm you, she is the typical Jewish mother."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see." Eyal opening the door to his mother's room to find her propped up in bed and his sister-in-law there. "Shalom ladies, I have someone for you to meet and please be on your best behavior."

"If it isn't my second born child with a beautiful friend and not some scraggly looking guy." Mrs. Lavin with a warm smile, "Hello dear, my name is Rachel Lavin."

"My pleasure to greet you, I'm Annie Walker."

"And I'm Ruth, Eyal's sister-in-law." The pretty redhead with bright green eyes came from around the bed to greet Annie. "Eyal told us last night he had a good friend visiting Israel and showing her our homeland. You will have to come to dinner one evening and meet the rest of us. My husband and Eyal are brothers."

"Thank you, yes I would love that."

"Now Imah tell me how you are feeling today." Eyal giving his mother a kiss on the forehead.

"In pain - how else to you think I should feel. My fault for not letting Haim get up on that ladder." She looking at Annie, "Haim is my oldest grandson and can be helpful around the house if I can only pull him away from the girls. A real looker he is."

Ruth patting Rachel on the arm and looking at Annie, "My son is in his first year at the university and enjoying the campus life which includes the girls. My daughter, Edya is fourteen and today with her swimming team headed to Haifa for a regional swimming meet. My husband and Haim are also driving up to cheer her on to victory but there is some strong competition she will be going against."

"I once belonged to a swim team and found it fun. I really cherish my time spent with the team." Annie feeling at easy around the two Lavin women and quickly took a liking to both of them.

"Well Annie, where do you call home?" Rachel Lavin wanting to learn more about this woman her son has shown any interest in for many years. She trying so hard not to push, not too inquisitive but still...

"I'm now living in Washington DC but it's hard to call any place home. My parents were with the military and I have spent most of my life living out of a trunk. We moved around a great deal." Annie finding herself surprised at revealing too much to two strangers but were they really strangers?

"Seeing different places that should have been interesting. I lived for forty-four years in the same house. Only move to some old folks apartment complex after my husband, rest his sweet soul, died."

"I thought you like living there Imah."

"I do son, I've got friends there and get to see more of my grandchildren but Netanya is in my heart's home and always will be. That is where I had three beautiful children. However the old ladies where I live now can play a mean game of mahjong."

"See Imah, all is not lost by your move."

"Guess not because I get to see more of you, my nomad offspring."

"It was my job."

"So you have told me. Now if you had finished ..."

"Don't start that medical school routine again. It is getting old hat."

"I must have something to complain about, after all I'm Jewish." And everyone breaking out in laugher. The woman did have a way about her. "No need to take any more time with me when you have this lovely lady to show Israel. Annie make sure he takes you to the desert, it is beautiful this time of year."

A few more nice words exchanged between them before Annie and Eyal left the hospital. Reaching his car, Eyal smile at Annie, "Well there are several places we can go. Israel is rich in history and fun spots to play. What is your heart desire?"

"A touch of Jewish history, I want to learn more and I understand there is an Israeli Museum."

"It is in Jerusalem and has a section of Jewish life and history as well as an Archaeology wing. There is also a fine arts section. The visit will take up the entire day and to me well worth the trip. Jerusalem is the cradle of Israel from its early beginnings and other places to see. If you want, we can spend two days there and you will get your fill of our history."

"Need to pack an overnight bag."

"No need, we can pick up what we need at this wonderful little store I know of and get real Israel clothing."

"What is that?"

"The same as any western clothing, no different unless you are an orthodox Jew than there is strict clothing code."

"I have seen women wearing scarves covering their head."

"Only after marriage, the hair of a woman is part of her beauty and may excite a man so when in public she keeps her head covered. We are reformed Jews so none of these dress codes apply and women have equal rights as men. So ends lesson number one in our Jewish culture."

Annie thinking much like the Amish in America and the vast difference there. She may speak Hebrew but knew little about the culture; however from the little she had seen of Tel Aviv it wasn't much different from any big city in the states.

Filling his car up with petro they were on their way to Jerusalem. Eyal had always been secretive, especially about his personal life and Annie didn't know him as well as she probably should have. In the past he had revealed a little bit more about himself every time they would see each other but now he was being truly open with her but it didn't feel like enough. She wanted to know more and on their drive to Jerusalem would be a good time to questions him, keeping in mind to not push.

"Do you belong to a synagogue?"

"I do but don't go very often. Mostly just on holidays and when Imah gets on her rampage of me not going and I take her. That keeps her quiet for a few months. How about you, do you go to church?"

"Wasn't raised in a church, but I have been a few times. Danielle is taking her two girls to church and has asked me many times to go but I always found an excuse. Don't know, maybe I'm frighten of religion."

"Some religion can be fearful and hard. While we are in Jerusalem we should take a side trip to the Garden Tomb, a rock-cut tomb that many Christians believe to the true site of Jesus resting place and not far from the Golgotha or Calvary where his was nailed to a cross."

"You know a lot about the Christian religion?"

"Some. When I was in high school I took a course in the main religions of the world, we study not only the Christian religion but also Buddhism and the Muslim religion. All very interesting in their traditions."

"You are a very interesting person. You keep surprising me with bits of trivia I would never think of."

"It helped when I was in the field. Knowing a little something about all cultures and ethnicity backgrounds aided me many times to blend in."

"That is what made you the master spy. I've learned from you." Annie being interested in Eyal view of things. An open minded person as he has seen many different traditions and people.

"More of a lucky spy and I hope you didn't learn any of my bad habits." Eyal turning his head with a quick wink to Annie.

After lunch they made their way to the Tower of David, an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to Jerusalem's Old City, they headed to the Western Wall where may Jews were there praying. Next to the Dome of the Rock, now one of the oldest works of Islamic architecture. Next to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the church is home to branches of Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholic but not to the Anglican and Protestant Christians. And finally to the Tomb Garden and here is where Annie was most moved. There was something so pure in the simple stone cave or tomb she started to think more of learning about the Christian religion as well as the Jewish.

At dinner that evening, she and Eyal involved in deep conversation about what they had visited, a mixture of the three main religions all with roots in one spot - Jerusalem. "I'm so impressed with your country." She said.

"It has it good points as well as it bad points. I've been many places but for me this is home. It makes me happy to be able to show you Israel and we still have more to see. After tomorrow and our visit to the museum, a trip back to Tel Aviv and check on my mother... I was thinking a drive south to Eilat. I know it is a tourist trap but you can't leave Israel without a couple days visit. That is where my family would go for holiday when I was a boy and my bother takes his family."

"Great. By the way, what do you have plan for tonight."

"How about a movie, nothing outstanding but maybe some wine and quiet time. The hotel I'm thinking about staying at has a little club if you wish to go dancing."

"The movie sound more inviting, must be getting old." Annie tapping Eyal on his forearm. "You want to know something?"

"What?"

"Not once since I've been here have you made any sexual quips to me. What's wrong?"

"There is nothing wrong Neshema, nothing at all. I'm just trying to be a good host to you. Believe you are at a cross-road in your life and... Well Annie tell me why are you here anyway."

Annie looked away from his all-knowing eyes, she was sure he knew why without her say it. "You know I went to all the places we had been together, I was missing you, missing the togetherness we had. Maybe I was wrong to think you would welcome me back with open arms and we pick up where we left off a year ago. Eyal I'm sorry. Guess I was once more being presumptuous."

"Don't be Annie, I also have missed you but gave you the distance you needed. Our being together left me with wonderful memories that can never be taken from me. You know me and timing and right now we need to move slowly going forward. My life is here in Israel is going to become complicated and you need to find your way to normal life again."

"Not sure what is normal." Annie paused a second, "What do you mean by complicated?"

"It hasn't happen as yet but for now let's just enjoy you being here." Eyal touching Annie's hand, "Having been a spy leads to a lonely life and after one quits the espionage circus it not always easy. Having to adapt to living a normal life again, to trusting and having a routine. There are certain aspect of being a spy that you just can't turn off, like being paranoid. I've only been out of the field a two weeks now and still trying to get use to the so call normal life but the one thing I have going for me is I'm still connected to Mossad."

"You think I'm spy material?"

"I know you are but not the hardcore type. I myself had to quit that route as it was turning me into a monster."

She bit her bottom lip, it was now or never time to ask. "What about us Eyal? Is there any future in us?"

"We certainly have a foundation to build on. Remember I once told you that my heart was protected because of a stone wall."

"Yeah and I'm so thankful you were truthful with me."

"It is now time that wall started coming down. I don't want to lead you on in any way and I will never lie to you either. Many outside things are happening with me. Think I told you I needed to become a full-time father to my son, to be there for him in his teen years. Well, Avi is thinking about moving in with me and Annie that is where my attention has to rest. I will tell you this, if you decide to remain here in Israel I would be greatly overjoyed and... well once more timing. Moving slowly to see if we are truly meant for each other because when I make the commitment it will be for life."

"Guess all my past love affairs I jump too quickly and they never worked out. I don't know Eyal, making Israel home is a big step for me and returning to the spy field... I just don't know. Believe me, there is nothing I would do to come between you and your son. I hope to meet him face to face soon and if we don't click..."

"I know Annie. That is the type of person the old Annie Walker is that I dearly adored. Make a deal with you."

"What sort of deal."

"We'll leave for Eilat tomorrow afternoon with a quick stop to see my mother and you pack. We'll spend three days there on vacation, no talk about the future, just us having fun and enjoying each other's company. We can't make anything happen overnight but we can start working on building on our current foundation. How about it... A deal?"

"Deal..."