A/N: With so many things going on at the time, somehow I skipped over this chapter. I reinserted it and any comments should be left on the last posted chapter. Sorry about the mix up.
First Impression
"Okay," Liv said as she rounded the bat over her shoulder, "Let it rip."
Denis smiled as he let go of the tether. The ball whisked under the pole and arched straight towards Olivia, who swung at it and missed. The ball tapped the bat as it zinged back towards Denis.
"What happened there?" He asked as he jogged in to retrieve the ball.
"The ball slows down a lot." She said as he chuckled.
"It'll take a little getting used to. We couldn't afford to go to the cages every day, so Dad's buddies built us this."
Liv straightened as Casey smiled and cheered her on, "It's okay baby. Once you get the hang of it, it really teaches you how to keep your eyes on the ball."
Denis pulled the ball back to the tether's end. "Ready?"
Liv set up and carefully eyed the ball. She dipped her head and Denis let it fly again. This time she watched the ball as it arched towards her and figured out the tether's pull. She swung and cracked the ball with all of her strength, sending it flying to the right of Casey's brother. The ball hit the end of its reach and flew back at her. Liv went from happy she'd figured it out to stunned as the ball sailed into her chest.
"Hey!" She shouted to Denis.
"Don't look at me." He barked with laughter as Liv rubbed her chest. "That was all you. Never seen a bounce back like that."
"Oh honey," Casey said as she fast walked over to her. "You want me to kiss it and make it better?"
Liv got a heated grin, "Later, I just might." She whispered.
Becky walked up with a bat in her hands, "Okay lovebirds, take it to your room."
Liv shook her head and Casey led her to the side.
"Casey and Denis make this look easy because they've been playing since they were teenagers." Becky chuckled, "I on the other hand, have only played with this thing for about four years and it still messes with me." She looked pointedly at Liv's well defined arms, "But I'm also not a power hitter."
Denis opened his mouth but closed it and shook his head at his girlfriend, "Too easy baby, you got to make me work for it."
She snorted at him, "Oh you're going to work for it or your sorry ass is on the couch. I'll sleep in your childhood bedroom by myself."
Liv was getting used to Becky's wit and it was becoming less of a surprise and more of anticipating what came out.
Casey stood back with Liv while Denis pulled the ball to the end of the elastic cord's capacity.
Becky rounded the bat and leaned in, making the batter's box as small as she could. Denis smiled and let go.
Liv watched as Becky crouched, swung, and smacked the ball with the end of the bat, sending it along its original arc and straight into Denis's glove. "Nice work baby."
He was about to pull the ball back for another pitch when Greg's Avalanche pulled up the driveway. Instead, he let it go and turned around as Greg parked right next to the Mustang.
Tom got out of the back door, straightened up, and closed it. He reached into the truck and pulled out a small black roller case, which he took by the handle and carried towards the house. Greg got out of the driver's seat and glanced at his father before walking around the truck and opening the passenger door.
Liv looked at Casey, Denis, and Becky who were all watching as Greg held the door for a long legged, incredibly thin woman with regal features in a suit and a phone stuck to her ear. There was no doubt that she was beautiful, but the way she held herself told Liv all she needed to know. She'd seen people like her at those society functions Alex used to take her to on occasion. This was a woman who thought herself better than those around her.
Tom marched stiffly up the drive. Liv kissed Casey and held her hand up to the man. "I've got it."
He stopped, looked at her and realizing that she knew he was irritated, he nodded and handed the bag off. Liv took the case and turned towards the house.
Casey didn't entirely understand what had just happened, but she had a feeling her girlfriend just scored some victory.
Liv looked over at Casey and tipped her head to the side.
Casey handed the bat off as Denis watched Greg pull two more bags out of the back of the truck and carried them to the house.
The woman continued talking and only as she followed Greg did the conversation become clear.
"No! I told you that it wasn't for sale for under a hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds." She said in a very British accent, "Gerome, if they won't meet the price then tell them that it's not for sale. My client was very clear that the price was firm and if the buyer can't meet it then there is no sale. Stop wasting my time with this one. If there's nothing else, it's been a long flight and I need to freshen up… No I'm at the home of my gentleman's parents in the Colonies so I won't be available for the rest of the week… If it is that urgent they can contact Remington, at least he has enough sense not to try to arbiter with a client whose price is set. Thank you, good day."
She closed the phone as she followed Greg through the garage door.
Becky looked at her boyfriend with amusement, "Oh sweet cheeks, I think you're right. This weekend is going in the books."
Denis shook his head and smiled, "Better and better, year after year."
Pleasantries
No one saw Greg or Felicity until dinner. Unlike most large families who have an elongated table, the Novaks went for a large round style capable of seating ten comfortably. Its hard wood construction was sturdy as was the classic American spindle back chairs. Denis arranged the seating for eight and set the table while Becky helped Carol place food on the serving dishes. A plump turkey overpacked with stuffing sat steaming on a square porcelain platter awaiting its carving and consumption.
Liv and Casey pulled two bottles of wine out of the pantry and moved glasses to the table. Carol looked out at the dining room and nodded, "Olivia, dear. Set Tom up with a pilsner glass, he doesn't care for wine."
"Got it." She replied.
Chopper sat near the wall and watched the tall detective with a careful eye. She glanced over at him and he smiled that startlingly toothy smile. She felt a chill go down her spine as the damn thing winked at her.
Liv set the glass down and pointed a finger at the dog, "You're just messing with me now. I'm not falling for it."
Chopper grunted and continued to smile.
Casey chuckled at her lover, "You realize that you're having a conversation with a dog."
Liv sighed, "If that's what it takes to let him know I'm not a tasty treat, I'll do it."
Casey rolled her eyes, "Chopper, where's Dad?"
The doberman perked his pointy ears, stood up and sauntered out of the dining room and up the stairs.
"Your kidding." Liv said.
"He'll be sitting in my father's study not four feet from him." She grinned, "Go look."
"Thanks I'll pass." She said with a grin. "So where are we sitting?"
Becky set a plate full of dinner rolls on the table, "Girl, your right here between me and Casey, safest place for you to be."
Liv snorted, "So how come you don't have an issue with us?"
Becky stopped and looked up at her, "I have two cousins who are gay." She looked towards the kitchen and leaned closer, lowering her voice., "Denis thinks they're hilarious but we've kept that quiet since we weren't sure how his family would react."
Liv shook her head, "So I'm your guinea pig."
Becky smiled, tipped her head and put on a cute face, "I would have said lab rat but okay. Believe me I'm taking notes."
"How opportunistic of you." She said with a smirk.
"I'm G2." she said, "I take what I can get wherever I can get it." She bounced back into the kitchen.
"G2?" Liv frowned.
"Military intelligence," Casey supplied, "All those years working with Munch I thought you'd know that."
Liv shook her head, "I tune out half of what he says."
As Carol, Denis and Becky brought out the rest of the meal, Liv frowned, "Honey. You've put me in a bad spot." She said and winked at her love.
"Liv mind your manners." Casey chided. "I promise you'll have your chance. Watch tonight."
As Becky walked back in with a plate of mashed potatoes, she smiled at Liv, wiggled her eyebrows and set the plate on the table.
Liv got an evil look in her eye and turned back to Casey. "Okay, I promise, I'll be good."
Casey didn't like the tone her girlfriend used, but before she could say anything Greg walked in with Felicity on his arm. No longer in the suit, she now sported an expensive silk shirt and tasteful dress casual slacks.
"Trust me, my mother has a very refined palette." He smiled at the setting in front of them. "All the best traditional American food for the holidays."
Felicity looked around the table with one eye brow arched, but as the scent invaded her nose, she inhaled deeply, "A bit common fare but it smells delicious."
Greg smiled, "See? I told you."
Although Liv doubted that Felicity was deliberately being insulting, she could easily understand how others could come to that conclusion. She pushed the thought away and set down next to her girlfriend. Becky came back again with a pitcher of sweet tea and started filling cups as she went around the table. She ended at her own and sat down.
Denis came in with Carolyn and both sat quietly conversing about tomorrow's trip. Tom was the last one through the door with a bottle of beer in his hand and before he sat down he looked around the table, his mind quietly taking attendance or, Liv thought more accurately, roll call.
Food was passed around in quick order and soon plates were full and Tom called for the dinner prayer. "Thank you Lord for this wonderful food and for the company of our family and friends. May You look out for our missing and bring her home soon. Amen."
"Amen," Liv said quietly.
Tom nodded and soon food was being consumed.
Liv quietly sat next to her girlfriend enjoying the hunks of dark meat covered in gravy. As she sat enjoying the meal, she was grateful that she'd brought her kettlebell. She was going to have to work all of this delicious food off some how. But, as she glanced over at her girlfriend, she started coming up with other ideas about how to burn off the calories.
"So Greg, I don't think that we've made any formal introductions for your friend here," Carol said.
"Oh, Mom, I'm sorry." He said quickly. "Um, honey, let's just go around the table. You've already met my father, Tom."
The old man nodded and returned to eating.
"Next to him is Caroline, my mother." He said.
"It's nice to meet you dear." She said,
"A pleasure, I'm sure." She replied.
"Next to her is my brother Denis and his girlfriend Becky."
Both of them waved politely.
"And the redhead next to you is my sister Casey and her friend Olivia."
She nodded to them, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
No one missed the fact that Greg had said friend, not Girlfriend. Liv looked up at Greg and then yo her love, who was ignoring it as she helped herself to extra gravy. Becky however gave Greg an arch stare but let it pass.
Casey, in an attempt to move on, smiled to her. "Nice to finally meet you, we were beginning to wonder if you were ever coming over?"
"Oh I'm dreadfully sorry for all of that, my schedule is actually quite full." She said quietly, "I was only fortunate enough to get away this weekend because of a last minute auction cancellation in New York City."
"Oh," Liv said catching Tom's eye, "What gallery?"
"The Markowitz Art Gala." She said "It seems they had an issue with booking some very spectacular pieces from Germany."
Liv shook her head, "They didn't have a booking problem. The pieces were stolen from the plane in their London changeover."
She looked over at Olivia, "How do you know that? No one does."
Casey shook her head, "Liv is NYPD and I work for the DA's office. We've been getting bulletins since it happened."
Felicity looked down her nose at Liv, "Then why haven't the police found them?"
Liv shrugged as she quietly lifted Becky's biscuit, a little payback for calling her a lab rat. "Because the theft happened in London and there's not much we can do over the pond. It's Scotland Yard's problem. But, we have pictures and crate numbers on all the items stolen so if they show up in New York, we'll find them."
"My agency suspects that the pieces were stolen from the Customs yard at LaGuardia."
Liv looked up again, "That's not possible. The theft was reported by TSA on inspection of the plane prior to unloading and let me tell you that you cannot open the back of a cargo plane on the tarmac without raising a huge number of alarms, including the National Guard."
Becky looked around her plate with a knife full of butter in confusion, "She's right, since 9/11 you can't fart in a major airport without getting searched. Let alone do something on the tarmac."
Liv quietly tore a piece off of the biscuit and put it in her mouth to suppress her grin. "The FAA reported that the plane also got better fuel mileage consistent with the loss of weight." She looked up at Felicity, "If I were your agency I'd look from London back."
Felicity scooted her chair out, and wiped her mouth, "Excuse me please." She left the dining room and hurried up the stairs to her room.
Tom looked at Olivia, arched his eyebrows and took a sip of his beer.
Later that night...
Three hours later, after working off her plate, and unbeknownst to Becky, half of hers, Liv carried her kettlebell to the car and put it back in the trunk before heading up to the bathroom to shower. She was intercepted by Felicity on her way to her room.
"Hey, did you get in touch with your agency?" She asked as she toweled off her hair.
"Yes," she said with a smile, "Thank you for that. Apparently there was a mix up at Heathrow. The crates were sent to Atlanta and got lost in the bustle of that airport. They were actually sitting in a Customs holding facility until they got around to identifying them."
Liv nodded, "Glad I could help." she said and headed towards Casey's room.
"Olivia?"
Liv stopped at the door, "Yes?"
"Your relationship with Gregory's sister." She said cautiously, "You both seemed rather close today."
"We are. Casey and I are very close. Good night." She said as she stepped into Casey's room.
Becky came up the stairs in a rush and beelined it for the bathroom, "I got next if the lovebirds haven't used up the hot water again."
Felicity paused outside of Greg's door, "The love birds? Is that what you call Gregory and I?"
Becky stopped and stared, "No, that's Liv and Casey."
Felicity's face contorted, "You mean…"
Becky, unable to resist the temptation pointed down the hall, "Oh yeah, they're a couple. Didn't Gregory tell you?" She grinned again and closed the bathroom door. Leaving Felicity staring wide eyed.
Headway
Casey went out jogging with Becky the next morning before breakfast, leaving an exhausted Liv to sleep in a little more. Honestly, keeping up with Casey's younger appetite was the only part of being with the young girl that Liv worried about. Alex hadn't been so… hungry. But, Casey was twelve years younger than her where Alex had only been five.
Still, as soon as she heard her love's voice, she got up, brushed her teeth and got ready for a day on the boat. She quickly packed a go bag with a change of clothes for her and Casey as well as swimsuits and sunblock for her very pale lover. On her way out the door, Tom called out for her and she diverted to his study.
"Yes sir?" She asked as she walked in.
"Can the 'sir' crap. I ain't no officer." He grumbled, "I have a safe here if you'd prefer not to carry your issue onboard. I'm the only one who knows the numbers so it will be secured."
"Where are we heading today?"
"Hadn't thought that part through, usually we'd head out into the Chesapeake, maybe half way to Baltimore. Otherwise, there's Washington or maybe even just cruise down the bay toward Norfolk."
She nodded, "Given how new the boat is to you I'd suggest running down the bay."
He looked up at her, "Why the bay?"
"New boat," she shrugged, "New capabilities, larger area for maneuvering lots of marinas between us and Norfolk if something goes wrong."
He nodded, "Anyway the offer on the safe stands, I'm going down about nine-thirty to get her started."
Liv smiled, "I'll be there."
He returned to the chart on his table.
After she left he turned his gaze down the coast line, noting the wide area and the marinas. "She's got a point."
"He told you he was going to the boat at nine-thirty?" Casey asked in disbelief.
Liv shrugged. "That's what he said."
"Damn," Denis gasped. "Liv I think you might just have a shot."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
Becky shook her head. "Usually he just tells Casey's boyfriends when we're leaving."
Liv took a large pull from her coffee, savoring the beautiful chicory flavor before swallowing it. "So that means what?"
Tom came in to the kitchen and poured himself a large travel mug of black liquid before turning towards Greg and Felicity. "Boat leaves at ten sharp." He said, "And we're heading south today."
Greg looked at his father, "we're not cruising up the bay?"
He shook his head and walked back towards the stairs.
Liv smiled slightly.
"See?" Casey said. "If I were you, I'd be there at nine-thirty."
Liv checked her watch and poured her coffee in a travel cup before kissing Casey's cheek. "I'll see you on the boat."
Casey frowned. "Where are you going?"
"Locking up my gun." She replied.
A moment later she was standing in Tom's study. He opened his floor safe and she handed him her Glock. He looked idly at the two mags she held out.
"They're NYPD controlled property." she said.
"Oh yeah." He said and set them next to the gun. He closed the door. Spun the dial and replaced the floor board. Liv rolled the mat over the cover and nodded to him. "Thanks, see you on board."
He nodded and started putting the charts in the case as she left.
Common Ground
Glancing around the dock, he noted Olivia's absence and sighed as he climbed aboard. As he unlocked the cabin door and descended into the boat he set the charts down on the table and switched on the main breakers. The lights came on and he noted that he was still on shore power. The battery gauges read full so he switched off the shore and started the generator from the panel. He set up the coffee pot with his favorite roast for boating and felt a slight tremor as the boat shifted.
"Permission to come aboard." Liv shouted.
"Granted," he said, "Pull the shore cable and wrap it up."
He felt something being dropped on the deck and then the shift that said she stepped off again. Another moment later she was back on the deck, "Up or down?"
"Under the pilot seat." He barked.
"Got it." She replied.
Looking at the switch panel he noted the gauges, "Turn the key, what does the battery read?"
He heard the solenoids click and, "Fourteen Portside, thirteen five starboard."
"Good." He waited to see what she'd do and the solenoids clicked off. "Really good." he said approvingly.
"Did you check the oil yet?" She asked.
"Gotta fill the pilot first." He said as he took the now full carafe and refilled his cup. "Come on down."
Liv picked up the bag from the deck and carried it down into the cabin, her senses were assaulted as her nose registered hazelnut. "Oh yeah!"
"He nodded to the carafe as he closed the panel. "You like Hazelnut?"
She polished of the chicory and refilled it. "I have a very Irish friend from Boston who lives on it. Every year we go hang out at his place and that's all he keeps in his house."
"In Boston?" He asked.
"Springfield, Illinois." she said, "He's army, too."
Tom looked harshly at her, "The only post in Springfield is Camp Lincoln and it's a reserve base."
She sipped greedily at the sweet robust coffee and sighed, "He set up Fort Justice for Springfield Arms last year and maintains a house on post."
Leaning back against the counter, "I think I heard about this guy. Something about how he got captured by guerillas in Panama, got cut up pretty good and left floating in the canal for dead. I heard he blamed the Army for it." There was some serious contempt in Tom's voice.
Liv sighed, "He did, but only for lack of training. Instead of whining about it, he constantly pushed for better training, better equipment, he's been in front of the Pentagon five times and the Joint Chiefs of two administrations."
"General consensus is that he's got a screw loose." He said.
"I know Staff Sergeant Colin O'Malley personally," Liv said firmly, "One thing that I can honestly say is that he doesn't have any loose screws. He doesn't blame the army for what happened to him, just that he had no training at all to survive his circumstances. He believes it so much, that it's become his principal reason for existence 'to push HQ and get the soldiers the training and equipment they need so no soldier ever has to go through what he did.'"
Tom frowned at her, "Those are his words?"
Liv stood tall, "Absolutely, it's the only thing he sees anymore. That's why he masterminded LETO. He wasn't getting anywhere with the Army so he got Gilbert Huff to foot the bill for a training center for Law Enforcement; to give us a better chance at survival. His games are the best example of real conditions a cop can have and I wished I'd had his training courses when I was a rookie. The FLETC in Glynco is starting to take examples from LETO. He's done all of this to prove that the existing standards for Basic Training simply aren't enough and need to be modernized like any other training for combat; Police, Federal Agent, and the military." She stopped as she realized how much she was putting into this argument.
Tom leaned back and glared hard at her, "He's your friend?"
Liv nodded, "And a damn good one. With all due respect, I believe in what he's doing and I'll defend him against the president if I had to."
"And is that how you feel about Casey?" He asked. "Are you that passionate over her?"
Liv tipped her head and narrowed her eyes, "More."
He carefully examined her posture and her movements, there was no deception, but there was conviction, and she had it in spades.
"Woman or no, you keep that passion for her and there will always be a place for you here." he said firmly. "Now, what have you found out about Aimee?"
She blinked, cleared her head and focused, "I haven't turned anything up that you haven't already. Mainly I've been backtracking along your notes for any new leads, but so far nothing. Honestly, the biggest thing I have going is that Aimee and Casey are identical twins. They both have the same face and DNA. I have a friend at the FBI who is going to run Casey through facial recognition as a test subject during their next routine check of the system. Hopefully, I can use the near matches to chase down the leads and get DNA to compare."
Tom frowned, "How much does he know?"
"That I need a favor, and that what I'm doing is legal." She said. "Aside from that he wants deniability."
He nodded. "Do you trust this friend?"
"Yes." She replied without hesitation, "He knew about my last relationship almost from the beginning which would have been a political disaster for her except that he kept it to himself. He was also the first one to figure out that Casey and I are involved."
He nodded again and indicated the topside with his cup. "Pop the engine cover, we need to check the oil before we get going."
"I got it." She said as she topped off her cup and headed back up to the sundeck.
While Tom pulled out the right chart and put it under the glass of the galley table, he also retrieved his phone and dialed a number at the base. The phone rang and a moment later it was answered.
"Top, I thought you'd be half way up the bay like a navy man." Came the voice of Captain Tomlinson.
"Still early sir, but I'd like your authorization to pull a file on Tuesday."
"What the hell do you need my approval for? Or is it out of our company."
"It's off post." he said.
"Give me the name Top."
Staff Sergeant Colin O'Malley, hometown is Boston Massachusetts."
"Where's his post?"
"My info said he's contracted out."
"Shouldn't be hard to find. I'll get LT on it Tuesday." he paused, "Why the interest Top?"
"Just thinking about Major Sanchez's brief earlier on training. I want to check it out before I put something up the ladder."
"Make sure it doesn't drip on us." he said harshly.
"Yes,sir." he replied, "Happy Independence day."
"Bye Top."