XIV

Martha knew her son was right. She knows now that she has to finally admit that she works for the NSA, to everyone involved She needed to contact Johanna to tell her what she found out about Sofia from her son. She doesn't mind telling them, it's just that she feels that she will be betraying her core values as an agent if she does. So she decides that for right now her son will be the only one she lets in on who she works for.

As she walks down the block towards the loft she thinks about what she needs to do about her son. He needs to explain his dual roles that are infused within the confines of his life. She knows that agent Gray is most likely his contact with the FBI, but she is lost on who could be his handler within the CIA. Mike is his tech guru. He knows a lot and while he is good at what he does, he is only an information agent at best. What she fears the most is when Kathryn finally finds out the truth of what he actually does. He has been working with her for the last two years and he has not told her anything other than he is a mystery writer. This will all change this afternoon.

Sitting on a bar stool at the breakfast nook Kate was thinking that she was in the dark with so many of her emotions. She loved Rick unconditionally, this she knew. But he was acting superficial, distant even. When she told him about her breakup with Demming the other night in his room, she thought that he would be pulling her into his arms telling her that he would give "them" a chance. Boy was she ever sadly mistaken. She really needed to get him alone so they could have a serious talk. Before she could finish her train of thought the front door to the loft swung opened and in waltzed Martha. She was not immediately aware of her surroundings as she walked in. Heading towards the nook she startled and turned pale as she noticed Kate sitting there.

"Kathryn, what a joy it is to see you here."

"Martha, you do know that Rick has invited me to stay here…right? Where else would I be without a case? I've been sidelined from working remember."

Martha thought for some time before responding. Since it was too long the detective in Kate Beckett noticed.

"Martha, what's wrong?" Kate asked wanting an answer.

"Kathryn, whatever are you talking about?"

"Martha, you're keeping something from me."

"Phish, posh my dear. I'm not keeping anything from you. Why on earth would you think that?"

"You are not as good of an actress as you think you are because the guilt is written all over your face."

Just as Martha was going to defend her actions, the loft door opens once again and Rick walks in. He sees the look of guilt on his mother's face and then he sees Kate's face which does not look happy, maybe really pissed off. So he stops mid-step to try to gauge Kate's discomfort. He thinks that his mother has told her who he is and what he has done. Without thinking, he starts…

"Kate, can you come with me into my office please?"

Martha finally putting it all together says…

"Richard, there's no need to be jumping to conclusions here. Can I have a word with you before you speak to Kathryn?"

Rick turns around and tells her "Mother, this needs to be done. She needs to know who I am. I gather that you have kept quiet on the subject correct?"

Martha just nods her head.

"Then I'm off. Wish me luck."

In a whisper, Martha says "Good Luck!"

Kate has taken up residence in the leather chair opposite his desk. He walks in and sits at his desk. Now's the time to get this off his chest. He looks up at her and waits until he sees her returning his gaze.

"Kate, there are things about me that you don't even know about. And these things could end up putting you in a life or death situation." Rick pauses letting this sink in.

"Come on Rick, stop pulling my leg. Everyone knows that you're this notorious page six playboy. You write mystery novels for a living. What kind of life or death situation could you possibly get me into that I could not get out of myself?"

This going to be harder than he thought.

"Kate that's my cover. It is the one thing that keeps unsuspecting agents finding out who I really am."

"Rick, you're starting to scare me now. What's going on?"

"Kate since I've been shadowing you for the last two years, and actually for the 6 years before that I have been an active agent with the CIA." Rick waited for her to throw something at his head in anger. When nothing collided with his head he took a chance to look over to her. What he was seeing was her laughing lightly.

"Rick, come on be serious. The CIA?" now Kate started to really laugh, that was until Martha walked into his office.

"Richard you must tell her. She needs to know everything. While you're doing that I need to make a call. I'll be right back. Tell her NOW!"

Kate just looked at the both of them wondering what the hell was going on here.

Martha walked out of the office and pulled her cell phone from her back pocket. She needed to update Johanna with what was going on with Sofia's murder and what Rick was telling her daughter at the moment. She hit the saved number and the call connected.

"Martha? Is everything alright?" Johanna was worried.

"Jo, listen Rick is now telling Kate that he is an agent with the CIA. Then he will tell her what he has found out about Sofia's travels and then ultimately her death. Have you figured out if she had a tail before of after she went to see you?"

"It was definitely after she left here. She was being surveilled when she arrived in Paris or shortly thereafter being held over there for those 18 hours after setting off the alarm for the gunpowder residue. My guess is that whoever it was tailing her was the person who killed her. Either way, I am just about finished wrapping everything up here. My final report for the intel of these splinter groups will be sent to the joint chiefs. These splinters are acting on their own accord without any authority from the main terrorist cell."

"Jo, I am going to have to tell Kate that I am an NSA agent. I won't tell her anything about you and what you're doing there. That's for you to handle."

"Thanks, Martha. I understand. She needs to hear it from me."

Ending the call Johanna Beckett knew that this was going to be hard. One of the hardest things she will ever do.

Martha walked back into her son's office and she watched Kathryn for any signs of disbelief. When she raised her head to see who had entered the office, Martha noticed her tears cascading down her face. She looked to her son and all he did was give a nod, informing her that she was told everything.

"Kathryn, I am not a believer in someone who delivers more than one can handle, but there's something else you need to know about me. And I think that you can understand what I'm going to tell you."

Kate looks up, wipes her cheeks with the hankie that Rick gave her and nodded for her to continue not trusting her voice.

"Kathryn, I am an agent with the NSA. I have been for quite some time now. For my initial mission, I was tasked with finding out information involving the hostages in Beirut back in 1985 aboard TWA flight 847. We lost a Navy diver by the name of Robert Stethem. He was only 23. We found later that Mohammed Ali Hamadi was involved and he is now serving a life sentence in Germany. He was caught with the information that I recovered."

"Kate, are you okay?" Rick asked.

Kate just wiped her cheeks and eyes once again, looked at the both of them opened her mouth to say something but then closed it without saying a word. She then stood up and left his office not once looking back.

When she was far out of earshot Rick said: "Well I think that went well."

"Richard you can be so naïve at times." Martha says as she too leaves the office.