Thank you for your kind reviews, as well as the favorites and follows. I forgot to mention in the previous chapter's A/N a huge thank you to Swimming and Lea0014 for their assistance with Chapter 10. You ladies rock!

DISCLAIMER: I own only the plot and Keren Prinz. Richelle Mead owns the VA stuff.

Chapter 11: Awkward Conversations

The blare of a car horn jolted Rose from her slumber. Slowly looking around, she took in her surroundings through dry and, most likely, bloodshot eyes. Tilting her head up, she found Dimitri lying flat on his back, one arm under her, while the other lay across her hip. Her head was resting on his chest as her arm lay across his stomach. Tensing, she slowly tried to extricate herself from his grip. Observing him, she eased his hand off her body before setting it gently on his stomach. Rising up, she quietly slipped off the bed and began gathering her clothes. Quickly pulling them on, she hunted for her purse before slinking to the hotel room door. Stopping short, she realized it might be wise to leave him some sort of note. While he now knew the truth, she wasn't entirely sure he was ready to trust her completely. To avoid having him hunt her down, she grabbed the pen off the nearby desk, scribbling a quick note on the hotel notepad.

Walking back to the door, she slowly turned the handle. She glanced back at Dimitri's resting form. The blanket he had tossed over them the night before was now just barely covering him. She smiled slightly as she took in his handsome face and Adonis-like body. As her gaze fell to the circular scar on his chest, red and raw, she felt a clench in her chest. Even though she hadn't pulled the trigger, a part of her still shouldered the blame. Shaking her head slightly, she pulled open the door and slipped out into the hallway.

Once she was outside the hotel, Rose handed the valet the stub for her car and waited patiently. As she stood there, she pulled out her phones, checking for any messages. Rose frowned as she saw several missed calls from Tasha and Lissa, as well as a rather stern text from Tasha, instructing her to call her on her personal line. Rose realized that could only mean one thing – she had talked to Christian. Rose pocketed her phones into her bag as the valet arrived with her car. Giving him a generous tip, she slid into the driver's seat and headed home.

As it was an early Sunday morning, she was able to avoid any traffic, so the trip only took about fifteen minutes. Pulling into the garage, she made her way upstairs. Heading to her bedroom, she shed her shoes and clothes before turning on the shower. Stepping underneath the hot water, she let it wash over her, cleansing her of her sins. It wasn't that she regretted having sex with Dimitri. No, she thought smirking, she definitely didn't regret that. No, her crime was that she had felt things while they had been together. Things she knew would only distract her from her mission – her goal. There was no room in her life for relationships or romantic entanglements, no matter how great they were in bed.

Finishing up, she stepped out of the shower and dried off quickly. Brushing her teeth and running a comb through her hair, she walked out into her bedroom. She pulled out her underclothes as well as a pair of leggings and t-shirt, getting dressed quickly. She had no plans for the day, although after she spoke with Tasha, Rose wasn't quite sure what she'd be doing. Padding back into the living room, she stopped by the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and some Tylenol from the cupboard. While she'd had worse hangovers, this one would need some assistance to relieve. Popping a couple into her mouth, Rose swallowed some of the water to wash them down.

Just as she was about to step into her office to call her boss, the phone rang and vibrated in her hand. Looking at the screen, she grimaced. Swiping at it, she answered, "Hey, Lissa."

"There you are! Do you have any idea how worried I've been?" she yelled.

Pulling the phone away, she waited for her friend to quiet down before resting it back against her ear. "Lissa, I'm sorry. I should have called. I got…preoccupied last night."

"Are you okay? Did Dimitri arrest you?" she asked, fear lacing her words.

Rose snorted. "Please, like he could. No, Lissa. Dimitri and I just…talked," she explained. Rose silently pondered why she was hesitant to tell her best friend about the night she had spent with Dimitri. Outside of her work, Rose kept no secrets from Lissa. Yet, somehow she felt the need to conceal another part of her life.

Rose heard her friend's heavy sigh. "Look, Rose, I know you can't talk about your work. I also know I shouldn't have heard half of what I did last night. I just need to know that you're okay. Don't ever scare me like that again!"

Guilt scrambled up her throat as Rose listened to her best friend. She knew it was unfair to expose her friend to her life – to her work. She had never intended for her friends to be involved. Now, once again, Rose had to keep secrets from those she cared about – even lie to them. "Lissa, I'm fine. Trust me. I hate to cut this short, but I've got to call my boss."

"Okay, but remember we have those spa appointments on Tuesday morning," she said, her voice once again tinged with the regal air only she could pull off. It was the tone that gave no room for argument.

"Yes, your highness," she teased.

Hanging up, she dialed Tasha's personal cell number. After the second ring, she heard the terse, but feminine voice answer, "About time, Hathaway."

"Good morning to you too, Associate Deputy Director."

"What the hell could possibly be good about it?" she barked.

Fuck, Rose thought. Apparently, she had already spoken to her nephew. Rose would have to remember to have a pointed discussion with Christian at a later date. "So, I'm guessing by the tone, you've talked to Christian," she stated.

"I did. I'm not going to even go into how many regulations you broke with that stunt last night," she ground out.

"Well, damn. I was really looking forward to hearing you regale me with a list of all my screw-ups," Rose bit back.

"Watch it, Agent Hathaway. We may be closer than most bosses and employees, but remember, I am still your boss."

Sighing heavily, Rose responded, "You're right, and I apologize. It's just been a long night, and I've got a bit of a headache."

"Accepted." Her voice noticeably softer, Tasha continued, "Look, Rose, I know you couldn't have foreseen what happened last night." Rose had to stifle a laugh. No, she really couldn't have, she thought. "I just need you to tell me everything that happened. This way I'll know what sort of damage control we'll need."

Rose stifled a laugh. She was sure her boss and Dimitri's childhood friend would not want a full accounting on the previous night's events. Running a hand through her mostly dry hair, Rose huffed as she sat in the chair. She then recounted the story of her chance meeting with Dimitri, along with the information she had passed along to him later. She made sure to leave out any details that might suggest more had occurred than a professional conversation.

"So, do you think he'll be on board with everything?" Tasha asked.

"I mean, I think so. Aren't you the better person to judge that? I mean you two are close," Rose responded.

Chuckling, Tasha replied, "Dimitri is a complicated man. His sense of honor is unquestionable. So is his sense of duty. If he feels it's what's best for the greater good, I think he'll go along. He lives by a code – the welfare of the greater society comes first. If it fits within that code, he'll do what he feels is right."

Rose nodded, more to herself. She had the same impression. "I think you're right. He seemed to understand once I explained everything." Sighing, she said, "I guess we'll find out tomorrow."

"Well, since the cat is out of the bag, pardon the pun, you might as well join us in the morning. That way we can discuss how we're going to handle Mazur and the party. We'll have to ensure that Dimitri can pull off a convincing performance."

Rose hadn't considered that aspect of the mission. Dimitri wasn't an undercover operative, and she wasn't sure he was equipped to pull off such a deception. She tried to push away the doubt that was bubbling to the surface. It was one thing to let him in on the specifics of the operation. It was something else altogether to risk so much time and effort. One slip from either of them and it could mean the end of not only her mission but also their lives. She felt a shudder course through her at the thought. "Sure. I'll see you tomorrow, then," she said before hanging up.

Tossing the phone on the desk, she walked back into the kitchen and made a quick protein shake. Walking over to the balcony, she slid open the doors and stepped outside. The sun was still low in the sky, warming the air just enough to take off the chill. Sipping the drink, Rose let her mind wander back to the previous night's events. She had been impressed with the manner in which Dimitri had taken all her revelations. He had been professional, and yet charming. She had been taken aback somewhat by his question about their kiss in Paris. He had seemed to need to know it wasn't just a ruse, and she had chosen to be completely honest with him. Kissing Dimitri had never been part of her plans. In fact, it was probably the worst thing she could have done. There was no place in her life for commitments or complications. Yet, as she thought back to how she had felt wrapped in his strong arms, she couldn't squelch the flutters that surfaced inside her. She couldn't deny the mutual attraction. Nor could she deny that they could be amazing together – both in bed and in the field.

Shaking her head as if to clear the lurid memories from the previous night, she finished the rest of the shake. Walking back inside, she set the glass in the sink. Realizing she needed to pick up some additional groceries, she slipped on her Converse shoes and grabbed her keys and purse from the table. Locking the door behind Rose took the stairs down to the garage two at a time. There was a small market near the apartment complex where she could pick a few items to tide her over until she had to go back out in the field. As she neared her car, Rose felt the uneasiness that she had come to know and trust, as she sensed a presence. Looking around, she saw no one in the vicinity.

As she hit the remote to unlock the door, she once again felt as if she were being watched. Opening the door quickly, she slipped behind the wheel, locking it behind her. Starting the car, she pulled out of the garage a few seconds later. Pulling up at the stop sign, she froze when she heard the deep, male voice emanate from the back seat. "He wants to see you – now."

Dimitri stepped from the shower, wincing slightly at the pain that radiated from the still healing wound. With a crooked smile, he somewhat relished the pain, remembering how the previous night's events were the cause of his current discomfort. Drying off, he slid his clothes on, easing his shirt over his head with care. Walking out of the bathroom, his eyes took in the rumpled bed. Again, he couldn't help the unbidden, but pleasant images that assaulted his mind. Dimitri had been with his fair share of women, most of them pleasurable distractions. With Rose it was different – she was different. It wasn't just that she could meet his passion with just as much intensity and ferocity. Nor was it the fact that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever know. It was more – so much more. With her, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time, maybe never. It was as if he was home. It brought both reserved happiness, as well as a gut-wrenching fear.

Shaking off the thoughts, he walked to the bar, picking up the discarded glasses off the floor. Placing them on the bar top, he couldn't help but grin as he picked up the note she had left. He chuckled as he reread it: "You definitely had me purring. See you tomorrow. R." Folding it neatly, he stuffed into his pants pocket before picking up the hotel phone to order room service. Hanging up once he was done, he reached for his phone, checking it for missed calls or texts. He was surprised to find several missed calls from Keren. Seeing he had one text, he pulled up the message. It was from Tasha, and he smirked as he read it. "So, I guess the cat's out of the bag. Expect you promptly at nine o'clock tomorrow morning."

Powering up his computer while he waited for breakfast, he quickly checked his emails. Seeing nothing that needed his immediate attention, he called Keren's cell. Knowing it was the afternoon in Lyon, he was confident she would answer. Sure enough, on the third ring, he heard the click of the connection before he heard her lightly accented voice, "Hey, you," she said.

"Hey. Sorry I missed your calls. I was having dinner with some friends," he explained. While he couldn't say for sure, he felt hesitant about telling her about Rose or the other events that had occurred.

"No problem. I was just calling to give you an update on our mole hunt."

Dimitri stood, walking over to the window. Glancing down at the quiet street, he said, "Find anything useful?"

He heard her sigh. "Nothing that identified our traitor. However, I think I've been able to eliminate everyone on our team. I've found absolutely nothing that would tie any of them to the Front."

"Well, at least there's that piece of good news. Who will you be focusing on next?" Dimitri asked.

She hesitated for a moment before responding, "I know this could get us both fired, but I'd like to look into A.D. Croft."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow. While he knew no one was above reproach or temptation, he had honestly not even considered him as a possibility. "I agree it's risky, but I'm not sure what other choices we have." Considering all the ramifications and options, he followed up with, "Plus, if we're able to eliminate him as a suspect, that would mean we might be able to get his help in tracking down the real culprit."

"True," Keren said, dragging the word out. "However, if we were to do that, there's a strong possibility that he'd want to know how we discovered there's a mole to begin with. That would open a whole other can of worms."

Dimitri sighed, shoving a hand through his damp hair. He knew Keren was right. There was no way Croft wouldn't insist on knowing how they had found out about the leak. "Well, for now, why don't you go ahead and meet with the others – off-site. Give them a rundown on what we know. If they ask, just say our intel on being infiltrated came from an anonymous source."

"Will do." Pausing, she said, "So, how's the vacation going?"

Dimitri chuckled. "Uneventful at the moment. I'm meeting with Tasha tomorrow at nine in the morning. I'll call you after to let you know if I have any further intel."

"Okay, sounds good. I'll wait to hear from you," Keren said before hanging up.

Dimitri was finishing getting dressed when his phone rang once again. Rolling his eyes, he swiped the screen, answering, "She's still breathing if that's what you're worried about."

"I know. Lissa talked to her earlier," Christian said.

"Look, I'm sorry about last night. Is Lissa okay?" Dimitri asked, concerned not only for her mental well-being but also her physical one. Stress was the last thing he wanted to put upon the pregnant woman.

"She had a dying duck fit earlier, but she's better now.

Dimitri furrowed his brow as he replied, "She had a what earlier?"

Christian laughed. "Sorry. My new partner is from the South. His colloquialisms are rubbing off on me, apparently. It means she was pretty angry. I wasn't sure if I should stick around and try to comfort her, or run like hell."

Dimitri chuckled, "Well, I'm sorry she was so upset. The whole thing just caught me off guard."

"Hmmm…yeah, it definitely wasn't how I saw the evening going." Pausing for a moment, Christian asked, "So can you fill me in on what the hell is going on?"

Sighing, Dimitri replied, "I wish I could, but it's become very complicated…and very classified. Let's just say that, for the moment at least, Rose and I are on the same page."

"Good. Rose is a good friend to us both, just as you are. It would be difficult, to say the least, if you two were enemies."

Dimitri couldn't help the stupid grin that formed on his face. "Well, you certainly don't have to worry about that," he said.

He heard Christian moan lowly. "Oh man, I did not need to hear that!"

Chuckling again, Dimitri replied, "Relax, Christian. All I meant was is that she and I have agreed to work together on our common goal." While that was true, he was more interested in steering Christian away from inquiring about his night with Rose.

"Oh, well that's good," he said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Dimitri frowned at the implication. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"Oh, come on, man. You know that you're not exactly available, and for that matter, neither is Rose. You're both in relationships with your jobs. Plus, the two of you? You both have so much baggage between you that you'd need a jumbo-jet to follow you around."

"Fuck you, Christian," Dimitri growled. While he knew Christian was correct, it didn't prevent the wince of disappointment he felt.

"No thanks. Remember, I know how many times you've dipped your wick," he said, joking.

Brushing off the comment, he said, "I've got to run. Tell Lissa I'm sorry for everything, and I'll make it up to her soon." He hung up before Christian could reply. He knew it was ridiculous, but, while Christian's comment had been meant in jest, it had hit a nerve. Dimitri had been with a lot of women. He was a healthy man with a healthy sexual appetite. Dimitri had always been careful, both with the women he chose to sleep with, as well as using protection. However, the idea of Rose knowing that he had been with so many women brought up a feeling of remorse. How the hell had her opinion of him become so crucial to him, he wondered?

Setting his phone down, he was about to head back into the bathroom when there was a knock on the door. "Room Service."

Opening the door, he instantly stepped back as the burly man shoved the semi-automatic into his face. "There's someone who would like to have a word," the man rasped, his voice low and gravely.

Raising his eyebrow, Dimitri replied, "And, this requires me to be held at gunpoint?"

"No, this is just to ensure you come quietly and willingly, although the last part is totally up to you."

Nodding, Dimitri walked toward the door, as the other man sidestepped behind him. As they walked into the hall, Dimitri saw another man with a similar build standing just beside the door. Showing he carried a piece as well, they both walked behind and beside Dimitri. Taking the elevator to the lobby, they escorted him out the front into a waiting sedan. As one slid into the passenger seat, the other held open the door for Dimitri. Glancing at him briefly, he slipped inside, followed by the second man.

As the car pulled out into the nearly vacant street, Dimitri took stock of the situation. His hoped his assumption about where they were headed was correct. He was unarmed and unable to contact anyone for assistance. However, if his hypothesis was right, he hoped he wouldn't need a weapon or help. Glancing out the window, he saw they were headed toward the G.W. Parkway. After a short time, he recognized that they were headed south on the outer loop of the beltway. Looking at the man seated next to him, his gun still held firmly in front of his body, he asked, "So, any chance you're going to tell me where we're headed?"

Seeing the man's expression remain stoic, Dimitri sighed before turning to look back at the scenery as it whizzed by the car. Ten minutes later, they exited the beltway and headed down highway. Dimitri continued to try to elicit some sort of response from the other passenger. Finding him unwilling to proffer any details, he sat back in the seat and worked to formulate a plan of escape.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, they seemed to arrive at their destination, pulling to a stop in front of what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. After the driver pulled to a halt, he stepped out and opened the car door closest to Dimitri. Looking back at the man in the backseat next to him, he saw him wave the gun, indicating he should exit the car. Once he was standing outside the vehicle, he quickly scanned the area. Up until this point, Dimitri had been content to see the abduction through, confident he could affect some sort of escape plan. However, his eyes quickly lit upon the black car parked next to them. He recognized it easily – Roza. Clenching his fists, Dimitri moved to follow the man in front of him as he was herded up a ramp. The man in front banged twice on the metal door that quickly raised up and opened. The man behind him nudged Dimitri in the back, still remaining silent, and indicated he should continue walking.

As the trio moved further into the empty warehouse, Dimitri could make out several figures deeper inside. His gut knotted as he recognized the woman seated ahead. Although her back was to him, Dimitri could make out the distinct long, dark hair and shapely figure. As they approached the group, he observed her hands were tied behind her back. Dimitri felt the inferno growing in him as he took in the sight.

The man behind him shoved him past Rose, and Dimitri heard her gasp as he moved to stand in front of her. Two of the men came up behind Dimitri and roughly pulled his hands behind his back, while a third held a gun at his face. Glaring at the man, he allowed himself to be bound, before being released.

It was the sound of a door opening and then banging shut with a resounding echo, that had Rose turning to look behind her. She breathed a small sigh of relief. It was momentary, for as the men came closer, Rose could see a rage burning beneath the older man's stone façade.

"Everyone out!" Abe shouted.

The other men looked at one another quickly before moving toward the doors. Silence filled the space, save for the echoes of men's footsteps as they exited the building. Once the door slammed shut, Rose watched as Abe and Pavel moved toward a nearby table. Tossing what appeared to be a folder on it, Abe leaned against the worn, plastic surface, his head bowed.

Turning, he looked past Dimitri and straight at the bound, seated figure of Rose. She saw his features harden, as he glanced to Pavel. "What is she doing here?" he asked, nodding in her direction.

Pavel replied, "They misunderstood. Based on those," he said, nodding toward the open folder, "they thought you wanted them both here."

"Get her the hell out of here," he said, nodding in Rose's direction.

"Abe, what the hell is going on?" Rose growled as she watched Pavel move to undo her bindings.

"Not now!" Abe shouted. "We'll talk later." Turning to Dimitri, he said, "Right now, Agent Belikov and I have some things to discuss." The tone in his voice alluded to a discussion that would not end well for Dimitri.

Standing, once she was freed, Rose stalked over to her boss. Rose glanced at Dimitri from the corner of her eye. She swore she saw a look of both respect and concern as he watched her. Suddenly, she was standing toe to toe with the mobster, their faces inches apart. "I'm not going anywhere, old man. Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on?" she said, nearly shouting.

Abe grabbed her shoulders. Glancing sideways, she saw Dimitri starting to move toward them. It was only the flash of Pavel's weapon and a slight move toward Dimitri that kept him in place. Instead, she heard Dimitri growl, "Let her go."

Dropping his hands, Abe moved toward Dimitri like a lion stalking its prey. "You," he said, pointing into his chest, "don't say a word." Shoving Dimitri to the table, Abe thrust his hand at the file's contents, spread out for viewing. "I trusted you to look out for her! Instead, you seduce my daughter?" he yelled.

Rose couldn't see what they were looking at, nor their faces, but if the sudden tension in Dimitri's body was any indication, it wasn't good. She stalked over toward Abe, already yelling, "What the fuck, Abe! How dare you abduct me from my own home. And, what the hell is the meaning of kidnapping an Interpol agent," she said, pointing to Dimitri. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Rosemarie, stay out of this!" Abe shouted.

It was with those words that the room suddenly fell silent. For a moment, the only sound was Rose's heavy breathing. "What did you just call me?" she whispered.

Rose saw the fight suddenly leave Abe, like a deflated balloon, as he replied, "You heard me."

"Wait," she said, as his earlier words came rushing back. "Daughter?" Abe simply sighed and nodded. Rose moved to the seat she had previously occupied, blindly searching before she sat down, her eyes focused on the floor. After a few seconds, Rose inhaled sharply before looking back up. "Explain," she said, her voice hard and monotone.

Sighing, Abe looked to the other man before saying, "Pavel, untie Agent Belikov please." Returning to the table, he gathered the photos and slid them back into the folder. Turning around, he sat on the edge before addressing Rose. "I met your mother, Janine, when she was on a mission for the CIA. I was an informant who was assigned to work with her to root out a small terror cell in Turkey. One thing led to another, and, well, we fell in love." Rose noted the look of whimsy that passed over the man's face. Growing serious again, he continued, "When she discovered she was pregnant, she returned to the States. She told me, in no uncertain terms, that she didn't want me involved in the baby's life – in your life. She feared my line of work would bring too much danger and risk to you both. I wanted to argue and tell her I could keep you both safe, but we both knew that wasn't possible."

Rose noticed that Dimitri, at this point, had moved to stand beside her, as if trying to lend her his strength. Avoiding eye contact, she kept her gaze focused on the man in front of her. "So, if you stayed out of our lives, how or why did you find me?" she asked.

She saw a deep pain flicker across his face as he said, "When I found out about your mother, I knew I had to ensure you were safe. I had been able to watch out for your through various means. Your mother had been kind enough to send me photos and updates on occasion." Pausing, he looked at her with what could be described as pride. "When I heard you had joined the CIA, I was both proud and worried. I was fearful you'd end up like your mother. But, I also knew you had the same fire and zeal as she did to do what is right. So, if you were going to risk your life in both the pursuit of justice, as well as revenge, I figured I would do my damnedest to protect you."

Rose studied the man, reflecting on his words. Walking up so that they were nearly touching, she whispered, "Were you ever planning on telling me?"

His eyes, unflinching, answered, "Probably not."

Searching his face and realizing the truth of the matter, Rose nods before turning to Dimitri. "Let's go," she told him as she walked toward the exit. She felt Dimitri at her back, the heat radiating off him giving her strength.

"Rose, please!" she heard Abe shout.

Continuing to walk, Rose retorted, "No! I don't want to hear any more of your excuses. We're done. If I ever see you again, I'll arrest you myself!"

"Rose! Your mother is alive!"