Chapter 12

January 2002

Life was good now. Life had been good for so long. Even with the effort keeping up their countermeasures placed upon their bodies and their relationship life was sweet. He had his next degree now, could have any job he wanted at any time. And she had her degree in hand, could do anything she wanted but after winning a contest at the University she'd found a new field to explore. One that she loved. One that was re-building the self-confidence she had left in the desert so long ago.

They had their work, they had their future and if they no longer came together in the night to build the fire between them but rather to huddle against the cold that was acceptable for now. He had to hold to the faith that when they were free of the nightmare that part of their life could be repaired along with their damaged bodies.

But then the latest wife moved on. "She OD'd." He said as she walked down the steps of the empty lecture hall.

"You would think he would have learned how to find sturdier women to abuse by now." She said. "I assume the engineering department got a delivery this morning?"

"Oh yeah." He said. "Where were you?"

"I was over in the jam room, helping the Undergrads prep for Open Mic night." She nodded. "They appreciated it deeply." For a long moment she rested in his arms. "He had pictures taken of me at the last show."

Damn. That wasn't fair, she was finally finding herself and now this. "What did he say?"

"The usual. El hueso es para el perro, la carne es para el hombre."

Bones are for the dog, meat is for the man. He smiled at that. "Arf."

She smiled before she groaned. "What the hell are we going to do? I am out of ideas! He just won't forget us!"

"I know." He took a deep breath. "I have an idea. How do you feel about moving to Washington DC?"

She shrugged. "I don't care where we live, although snow might be difficult right now."

"We'll find warm places for you to hang out during the day."

"Do you really think just moving is going to be enough?"

"No. I met someone today, he's trying to recruit me to work for the FBI."

Her eyes widened at that. "That ought to piss him off."

He nodded. "If I take the job it might convince him to leave us alone. But..." He took a deep breath. "If they find out who we really are, who you really are, there's no way I'll get it."

She shrugged. "So we don't tell them. Our paperwork holds up. There's no way they can trace us electronically. If need be I'll avoid them so they don't get suspicious." She leaned against a desk and looked at him. "Who am I avoiding?"

"His name is Jason Gideon."