Chapter 11

The family sat stunned for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Gil reached over and put a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"C'mon, Gin," He urged gently. "Maybe we should step out a minute."

"Well, I've given you something to think about," she conceded, standing up. "I'll clean up a little. Let me know when you're ready to talk again." She gestured to Gil and they left the room, shutting the door.

Sonja covered her face with her hands. What was she doing? Maybe her mother and Hardy were right. Maybe she couldn't work with LaSalle anymore, maybe she'd have to leave NCIS. But, that thought just angered her more. Dammit, it was the best job she ever had-he was the best partner she ever had-yet, her feelings for him were too strong to ignore any longer.

Serena pulled her hands down. "Sonja, don't let her get into your head. Sure, she means well, but, damn girl, you don't find someone who's so perfect for you every day."

"And, let's face it," Sophia piped in. "You've have had quite the dry spell."

"How do you two know so much?" she said. "You haven't even met him."

"But, we know you, dear sister. You swore off love and anyone who can change your mind about that's gotta be special," Serena offered.

"Yeah, maybe next he'll get you to eat a cheeseburger," Sophia giggled.

Serena hopped up. "Well, I gotta go." She leaned down and gave Sonja a hug. "Just listen to your heart sweetie. I have a feeling mom will come around."

Sonja turned to Sophia. "You're not gonna abandon me too are you?"

"No," she said. "I'm a loyal sister." She patted Sonja on the back.

Serena frowned. "Oh, c'mon, Sonja's a big girl-that is, she's an adult." She flashed a smile and left.

Sonja stuck her tongue out. She was the shortest of the three and they often teased her about it. The childish interplay almost made her feel better. At least some things never changed.

The vacuum started up in the other room. Sophia got up to close the door and practically jumped on the bed next to her sister. "So, tell me Sown," she said in a giddy voice, "how did this all happen?"

Sonja gave her a big hug. That was just what she needed. Things had happened so fast, she never got to talk about how scary, awful, and wonderful the last 48 hours had been. But, that was one of the great things about her sisters-they always listened and always rooted for her.

She had barely begun the story, when Serena came running in breathless.

"Well, look who's back," huffed Sophia. "Miss I'm-an-important-lawyer-with-no-time-for-family!"

"Sorry, sorry," she said, holding up Sonja's I-phone. "I grabbed the wrong phone!" She threw Sonja's on the bed and looked around. Relief spread on her face as she spied her's on the dresser. She jammed it in her jacket pocket. "Sorry again honey. You know I wouldn't go if it wasn't important…"

"Yeah, yeah, no worries..." Sonja waved her hand. Actually she did understand. More often than not, she was the one absent from family events due to the demands of her job.

Serena blew Sonja a kiss and left again.

"I wonder what that was about?" Sonja said, almost to herself.

"Never mind about her," Sophia said. "Dish girl-you left off where you were just getting relaxed when he showed up unannounced…" she prompted.

Sonja continued the story. She edited the really terrifying parts, like looking down the barrel of a gun and trying not to pass out as she wrapped LaSalle bleeding shoulder. But, when she got to the part where they kissed, well, that needed no censoring, and she might have embellished a little, for dramatic effect.

Sophia sighed, holding her head up as she leaned on a pillow. "That sounds so romantic. I mean considering you were in a hospital bed."

Sonja sighed herself, smiling at the sweet memory that seemed so long ago, but was barely 24 hours old. "It was perfection."

There was a knock at the door.

"Sonja, it's us again. Can we come in?" It was her father.

Sophia grimaced. "You ready for round two?"

Sonja took in a deep breath and let it out. "Well, I guess they won't leave until mom's said her whole piece."

Sophia got up to open the door, then stopped and twirled around.

"First, let me see your hands." she said.

"Why?"

"Just making sure you're not armed. Don't want any violence," Sophia quipped.

Sonja shook her head, with a perturbed look on her face. "It's locked up, don't worry."

Sophia opened the door. Ginny entered first and Gil was close behind.

They sat back in their respective chairs. Her mother began yammering the minute her butt hit the seat.

"Just so you know, I cleaned the bathroom and the living room. Really honey, I know you're busy, but all that dust and grime is not hygienic, and you know how weak the immune system gets when you're stressed. It's just not healthy. Maybe you could get a cleaning lady, your dad and I could pitch in to help pay."

Sonja rolled her eyes inwardly. In a way she was relieved that her mother had gone back to nagging about her housekeeping. At least that took the focus off Chris.

Gil interrupted.

"Ginny, didn't you have something else you wanted to say?" he said, tilting his head.

GInny pursed her lips and spoke as if swallowing bitter medicine, closing her eyes. "Well, I'm sorry if I was out of line. I didn't mean to offend you. " She stopped and Gil cleared his throat. She opened her eyes. "And, I trust you. That's it - I'm sorry and I trust you." She stopped and looked at Gil as if to say, 'Happy?' He smiled and patted her hand.

Then she turned back to Sonja and began to backslide.

"I'm, I'm just worried about you honey. I worry that this man could be dangerous."

Gil tried to keep his wife on course, "But, remember, we said when we met him the other night, he seemed very concerned for our girl. You were going to give him a chance."

"Well, actions speak louder than words Gil," Ginny reversed gears and turned back to Sonja. "I do trust you honey, but I don't trust him. "

Sonja was beside herself. After relating the story to her sister and hearing her mother attack Chris again, she suddenly had no doubts where she stood.

"So what are you gonna do mom? Forbid me from seeing him? Ground me?" Sonja spat out. "Chris and I are grown adults."

"That's what scares me," Ginny said suddenly soft. "When you were younger, I had some control." She looked up and there were tears in her eyes. "I pray every morning that you'll make it through the day alive, that you won't be shot by some crazed gunman or terrorist. I have nightmares that your father and I are called to the morgue to identify you and we can't because your face is missing."

"Jesus, mom, you need to stop eating before you go to bed," Sophia said.

GInny clutched Sonja's arm, "Honey, I know you think I'm terrible…but, It just seems that since you've been partners with this LaSalle," she spat out the name. "Even when you worked with all those drug dealers, you never got shot at or hurt."

Sonja took her mother's hand. "It's OK mom, I'm scared sometimes too. It's not him, it's just the cases we've been getting. But, I couldn't do my job if I thought about all the things that could happen. I concentrate on what's ahead of me and use my training to get me through it."

"But, if you're working with someone you have feelings for, how can you be sure you won't be distracted?" she asked pointedly.

Sonja was taken aback. This actually had crossed her mind and was what Hardy was warning her about.

Suddenly the doorbell rang, making them all jump. Ginny was still fixated on Sonja.

Gil got up. "You want me to get that?" He pointed to the door with his thumb.

"I want my grown-up daughter to give me a grown-up answer," Ginny said, still glaring at Sonja.

"Ok, well, I guess I'll get the door," he said, seeming grateful for the chance to leave the room.

They could hear voices, but Ginny was unmoved.

"I'm waiting."

"Well," Sonja stalled. "There are partners that get involved." She paused, "They work it out."

Ginny sensed she had reached her daughter. "You sound real sure about that," she said.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door.

"Go away," Ginny shouted.

The door swung open. Christopher LaSalle stepped in.

"I understand you have something to say to me," he stated calmly.