TRANSLATION: teşekkürler - thanks

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

Chapter 14: Reunions

Rose and Dimitri were pulling up to CIA headquarters with just a few minutes to spare. Pulling into a parking space, they made their way inside. Stopping by security, they picked up Dimitri's visitor's badge before making their way to Tasha's office. They had spoken only briefly to one another, the conversation mostly centered on Rose's discussion that morning with Lissa. Neither could find any reason behind someone taking a photo of Lissa and her mother.

Stepping off the elevator, Rose led him to the office, knocking on the Assistant Director's door before opening it. She found Tasha inside, seated behind her desk with Mason sitting with his leg crossed at the knee in the chair across from her. Both occupants stood as they entered, with Tasha making her way gracefully around the desk. "Dimka!" she cried, pulling the man into a warm embrace.

Rose stood to the side, watching silently as the two old friends greeted one another. She inwardly chastised herself at the brief clutching in her stomach as she took in their shared comradery. She had no claim on the man, and even though she knew there was nothing romantic between the two, she loathed the part of her that felt the twinges of jealousy.

The pair kissed each other's cheeks in a typical European greeting before Tasha gestured for them to take a seat. Mason pulled another chair over, leaving Rose and Dimitri to sit next to one another. Moving back around the desk, Tasha sat down and placed her clasped hands in front of her. Leaning forward, she said, "Well, I'm glad to see you, my friend. I just wish it were under different circumstances."

Dimitri nodded, replying, "Me too." Looking around the room, he turned back to her, saying, "It appears you've done well for yourself, Assistant Director."

Laughing lightly, she gestured with a sweeping movement, responding, "It does have its perks." Lowering her arms, she quickly grew serious. "But, it also has its travails. Which is why I asked for this informal meeting." Again, Dimitri nodded. "I know Rose has filled you in on everything, so I think it's best if we just skip all the whys and wherefores and get down to brass tacks. We need your help, Dimitri."

"You want me to see if I can get Croft to rescind the kill order," Dimitri replied.

Tasha nodded. "It would be most helpful if we only had one group targeting our agent." Looking at Rose, she smirked. "As much as she can be a royal pain in the ass on any given day, I've grown rather fond of her." Turning back to Dimitri, she said, "I'd very much like to keep her alive."

"So would I," he said softly, as his eyes caught Rose's. Her breath hitched as she saw once again the depth of his concern.

"Good," Tasha firmly stated. "So, here's what I propose. You can read Croft into most of what you know. Just enough to get Interpol to back off Le Chat. It shouldn't appear that your agency is giving her a pass; just enough to keep her from being shot on sight."

"Okay, I'll talk to him when I get back," Dimitri responded.

"So, have you figured out yet who your mole is at Interpol?" she asked.

"Not yet. We've ruled out anyone directly on our team. Agent Prinz is widening the scope of her investigation. I'm supposed to check in with her once we're done here."

"I'd ask that you keep me informed, once you've identified the culprit. If this is going to be an unofficial joint investigation, all the players will need to be fully apprised of any new findings. Agreed?"

"Of course," Dimitri replied.

Turning to Rose, she said, "So, what's the plan for tomorrow night?"

She hated keeping secrets from her boss but knew that for their plan to work, Tasha wouldn't be able to learn about her connection with Abe. Instead, she provided only the basics. "Dimitri will be attending with Lissa and Christian. I'll arrive with Abe. He'll find someplace secluded for the meeting to occur. Dimitri and I will have our stories straight before then, so he doesn't suspect that we've already met."

"Okay. I want this to go down smoothly. Make sure to reign in that temper, Hathaway. There will be a lot of influential people at that party, both upstanding and borderline criminal. We don't need gunplay to break out because you got pissed off at someone," Tasha said, her eyebrow raised.

"Why is it always me?" Rose cried. Pointing to Mason, she exclaimed, "He's gone off half-cocked on occasion."

"Hey, leave me and my cock out of this!" Mason retorted.

"Children!" Tasha said sternly. "Let's drop the cock talk and get back to business." Turning to look back at Rose and Dimitri, her expression softened. "Thank you both for being there for my nephew and his wife. I know Lissa was a bit traumatized over what happened."

Rose glanced at Dimitri, her eyes asking the question she didn't voice. He merely nodded his head. Looking back at Tasha, she said, "There's something you should know. Lissa called me this morning. I had asked her to let me know if she found anything missing, no matter how trivial. Apparently, she's misplaced a recent photo of her and her mother."

Rose's eyes narrowed as she saw Tasha's face pale considerably. The momentary look of fear and terror was quickly replaced with her stone façade. "I appreciate you letting me know. I'll look into it."

Scooting up to the edge of her seat, Rose leaned forward. "Tasha, what do you know?"

Her ice blue eyes, so reminiscent of Christian's bore into her own. "What I know is that you have a meeting to prepare for, and I have work to do." Turning to Dimitri, her features soften once again. "Dimka, I would love to have you over for dinner tonight. We could catch up. Lissa and Christian will be there as well. Their new beds don't arrive until the middle of the week."

"That sounds great, Tasha. What time should I be there?"

"Let's say seven." Turning to Rose, she said, "I'm sure Lissa would love it if you could join us."

"Thanks, but I think I might have plans. I'm going to reach out to Abe, and see if I can find out anything about the break-in at Lissa's. He seems to know a lot more about the Front than he's been letting on." While it was a truth, it was only a partial one. She would reach out to Abe, but for her own selfish reasons. She wanted to learn more about her mother's relationship with the man, as well as more about the man himself.

"Okay then. I think that wraps things up for now. I'd like for us to meet back here on Wednesday morning at nine sharp to discuss how things went at the party." Standing, she made her way around the desk, as Dimitri stood up. Embracing once again, she led them all to the door. "The receptionist will be able to get you a cab back to your hotel, Dimitri."

He thanked her before the three exited the office. Walking down the hall, Mason stopped in front of his office. Turning around, he reached out his hand toward Dimitri. "We weren't properly introduced back there. I'm Agent Mason Ashford."

Dimitri accepted the proffered hand, shaking it firmly. "It's a pleasure. I've read your file. Well, what wasn't redacted. Pretty impressive career. Even more impressive you've managed to stay alive being partnered with Mario, here," he said, thumbing toward Rose.

"Hey! I resent that!" she exclaimed before mumbling, "Stupid Christian."

Mason chuckled. "Yeah, 'lead foot' doesn't even cover it. More like 'Osmium foot.'"

Waving her arms in front of her, she said, "I'm right here, folks."

Tossing her a withering glance, Mason put his arm around her, pulling her into his body. Turning to smile at Dimitri, he said, "Well, we appreciate your help on this. Rose maybe be a pain in the ass sometimes, but she's my pain the ass."

Smacking him in the stomach, she growled, "If you don't get your arm off me, I'll be a true pain in your ass." Glancing up at Dimitri, she was slightly startled by the flash of menace she saw in his face as Mason withdrew his arm. "So, we'll be going now, Agent Ashford."

Waving them away as he entered his office, he said, "Fine, fine. Just go. Leave me here to file all the paperwork alone. As usual."

Snorting, Rose walked away, leading Dimitri back toward the elevators. Riding in silence, they reached the first floor. Dropping off his badge, they stood at the reception desk. "I'll also need a cab, please," he said, smiling to the young woman. Rose shot the petite blonde a harrowing glare as she caught her eyes raking over Dimitri as if he were a cinnamon roll in the middle of a gluten-free dessert.

Leaning in slightly, she rested a hand on his arm before rising up on her toes to whisper in his ear, "No need for a cab. I'll take you back to your hotel." She made sure that her 'whisper' was loud enough for the young woman to overhear. Smiling at her blandly, she grabbed Dimitri's hand and led him out the door. Once outside, she quickly released it, unnerved by the now familiar sensation his physical contact elicited.

"You don't have to do this, Rose," he said as she unlocked the car.

Looking up at him over the hood of the car, she replied, "I know." Climbing behind the wheel, she waited patiently for him to slide into the passenger seat before pulling out of the parking lot.

After a few minutes of silence, Dimitri asked, "So, are you really planning on seeing your father tonight?"

"More than likely, if he's willing. Why? Do you think it's not a good idea?"

"I can't say. You haven't really said much about Abe's revelations. It was a lot to take in."

She remained silent, trying to find the words to explain her reasoning, as much for herself as for him. "I guess I'm just looking for answers, as to what happened after I was born and what happened to my mother. He can give me those." Glancing at him briefly, she saw he was watching her intently. "If you're asking if I want a relationship with the man, I can't answer that. At least not right now. For now, my only focus is on finding my mother and eliminating the Revolutionary Front."

"Do you trust him? To tell you the truth?" he asked.

Shrugging, she replied, "I don't have much of a choice at the moment. As much as I dislike Abe's choice of profession, I can't lie and say he hasn't always had my back." A humorless laugh left her as she said, "I guess now we know why."

After another brief lull in the conversation, Dimitri asked, "What do you know about Lissa's mother?"

Slicing her eyes toward him for a second, she turned back to the road. "She was great. She was there for me after my mother...well, I was going to say died." Pausing, she sighed heavily. "Rhea was a great mother to her children and a loving wife to her husband, Eric."

"I know her parents and brother, Andre, were killed in a car wreck several years ago. That must have been tough, for you both."

"It was. Lissa and I were supposed to be with them, but we were both struggling with a final. We decided to stay at school and study."

"What sort of work did her parents do?" he asked.

"Her father was the CEO of Dragomir Industries. It's a huge, international shipping company. They handled a bunch of imports and exports around the world. Rhea was the CFO. She spent a lot of time traveling overseas, meeting with their subsidiaries and clients."

"Is there any reason to think she would somehow be involved with the Front?"

"Never," Rose said, vehemently. "Rhea was a good, honest woman. There's no way she would be involved in terrorism. Besides, if she were, don't you think they would have found out when Lissa married Christian. They ran a full background on her before they wed."

Silence filled the space between them once again. Rose pulled up in front of Dimitri's hotel a short time later. With the car idling, Rose twisted in the seat, looking at Dimitri. "Are you ready for tomorrow night?"

Dimitri smirked. "More so than before. At least we won't have to pretend in front of Abe. That cat's way out of the bag."

"Okay, well, I guess I'll see you then," she said.

"Thank you for the lift," he said warmly before opening the car door.

As he was about to close it, Rose leaned over. "Dimitri?"

Leaning back down, he peered at her through the open door. "Yeah?"

"Thank you, too. I'm not great at asking for, or even accepting, help. You've gone above and beyond, so thank you."

Smiling warmly, with the gaze that melted her insides, he replied, "You're welcome, Roza. Don't worry. We'll find your mother and put an end to the Front. You'll see." Closing the door, she watched as he walked into the hotel before pulling back out onto the road.

As she drove back to McLean, she flipped on her Bluetooth and dialed Abe's number. He picked up almost immediately. "Are you okay, kiz?"

"I'm fine, old man."

She could hear him release a breath. "Good. I was worried after you left yesterday."

"Well, you didn't need to worry. Have you forgotten who my parents are?"

He chuckled, "Touché. So, what do I owe the honor of your call?"

Taking a deep breath, she replied, "I was wondering if you had any plans tonight? I thought we could grab a bite…and talk."

She could hear the grin in his voice as he replied, "I'd enjoy that. Why don't you text me later with a location and time?"

"Fine. I'll see you later then." Hanging up, she focused on the road for the rest of the trip before pulling back into the underground garage.

Once inside her condo, she threw together a quick salad and grabbed a bottle of water. Stepping into her office, she powered on her computer, munching on the veggies while she waited. Logging in to the CIA servers, she checked her email. There was nothing that required her immediate attention. Shifting tracks, Rose opened the company search engine before typing in the name. She took a sip of water while she waited for the results. Finally, the search results popped up on the screen. Rose leaned forward and clicked on the first link. Skimming it, she found nothing to cause concern. It was a basic biography of Rhea Dragomir, from her birth to her death.

Reading down the list of results, she spotted one document that mentioned her mother as well. Opening it, she found that most of the information had been redacted, or blacked out. However, two other items hadn't been concealed that caught her eye. One was the date of the memo – one week before the Dragomir's accident. The second was the name of the person who had authored the memo – Agent Natasha Ozera. Noting the case number down that was still visible in the subject line, she quickly closed the program. Dropping back into the chair, stunned, she wondered what had been the CIA's interest in Lissa's mother? She also had confirmation now that Tasha had known something.

Picking up her phone, she called her partner. Mason answered after a few rings. "Feeling bad about leaving me here to do all the work myself?"

"Not likely," she replied. "Actually, I need to ask a favor. Well, actually two favors."

Mason sighed heavily, "You do realize I actually have a life? I'd like to be able to get out of the office before dusk."

"Yeah, yeah…your porn collection can wait."

"I'm hanging up now, Rose," he said.

"Wait!" she called out. Heaving a sigh, she said, "Look, I'm sorry. I know I've left you to shoulder a lot of the workload in the office. It's just that a lot is going on, and we're getting closer. I can feel it, Mason."

"Damn it, woman. You know I can't resist you when you get all sincere and shit." Sighing again, he asked, "Fine. What do you need?"

Smiling, Rose replied, "First, I need to ask you to keep this to yourself. Even from Tasha. Just for now."

She could hear him groan, before he responded, "This isn't going to end well for me, is it?"

Rose couldn't help the chuckle. "Probably not for either of us. I need you to see if you can dig up the original files for this case number." She proceeded to read the sequence to him. "The memo from the file is redacted on the site. I need you to see if there are any hard copies stored in the file room."

"Got it. I'll look into and give you a call if I find anything."

"Thanks, Mase," she replied before hanging up.

After unpacking his things, Dimitri called Keren to find out if there had been any progress in finding the traitor within their ranks. According to her, she had widened the scope of her investigation into any of the support and technical staff who had worked in any way with their team on the Le Chat case. Unfortunately, she had come up empty-handed. Dimitri was relieved that Croft had come back clean, meaning he could entrust the A.D. with the details of Rose's true identity and mission. If Croft would rescind the order on Rose's life, then at least he'd have one less thing to worry about.

For whatever reason, Dimitri didn't inform Keren about Abe's recent revelations, or Rose's true identity. As far as everyone at his office was concerned, he was still investigating the elusive cat burglar. Dimitri did, however, tell her about Tasha's request to ask A.D. Croft to cancel the kill order for Le Chat, as well as the plan for Abe to introduce him to the thief the next night. After assuring his friend he would be careful, Dimitri hung up.

Glancing at the clock in the room, he saw he had just enough time to grab a cab to meet Christian. Dimitri had agreed to help Christian find a new living room furniture. According to him, Lissa had delegated that task to him, which he was all too happy to accept.

As he pulled up in front of the store he was to meet Christian, he saw the man standing out front, talking on his cell. Paying the drive, Dimitri stepped out and approached him. Christian held up a hand but continued to speak. "Yes, I understand. Thank you," he said, before ending the call. Based on the look on his face, Dimitri gathered it wasn't a pleasant conversation.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

Christian sighed but nodded. "Yeah. It was just the police. They weren't able to pull any fingerprints from the scene. Whoever did this was smart."

"Shit, I'm sorry, man," Dimitri replied. "How's Lissa holding up?"

"She's fine, I think. She seems more pissed off that someone destroyed the furniture. That, and the fact that she thinks someone stole a picture of she and her mom."

Dimitri nodded. "It does seem an odd thing to take. Any idea why anyone would be interested in either she or her mother?"

Christian shook his head. "No earthly idea. Rhea was a businesswoman, wife, and mother. It makes no sense."

Dimitri considered sharing he and Rose's concerns with the man but then decided against it. He had enough to deal with at the moment. Until they had something more concrete, he realized it would only add to his concern. "Well, it's probably nothing." Patting his shoulder, he said, "So, how about we go buy you all some furniture?"

Smiling, Christian replied, "Yeah. I could use some shopping therapy I think. Lissa claims it's a balm for the soul."

Both men were chuckling as they made their way inside. They were immediately greeted by a young woman who seemed particularly enamored with Christian. "How may I help you gentleman today," she asked, batting her heavily made-up eyes at Dimitri's friend.

"I need to find a sofa and oversized chair for our living room," Christian responded.

"In Italian leather," Dimitri added.

He watched as the woman's face fell slightly before she plastered the smile to her lips once again. "Certainly. I'm sure we can find something for you and your partner," she responded.

Dimitri stifled a laugh as he saw Christian's realization at her meaning. "We…he…we're not…" he sputtered.

Slipping an arm around Christian's shoulder, Dimitri smiled at the woman. "Don't mind him. We were just up all night testing out the new bed." Looking at Christian, he burst out laughing at the glare he was casting Dimitri's way. As Christian was shoving his arm from around his shoulders, Dimitri said, "Oh, don't be embarrassed, honey. You shouldn't be ashamed of a passion like ours."

As the saleswoman walked away, Christian shoved Dimitri. "Dude, what the hell?"

"Relax," he replied, still chuckling. "Remember, you have a pregnant, hormonal wife at home. Wouldn't want to give the young saleswoman there any false hope," he teased.

"What? No, she wasn't… "

Dimitri simply nodded, "She was eyeing you like she hadn't been laid in a year." He chuckled again as he saw Christian's eyes widen and dart nervously toward the back of the shop.

Twenty minutes later and one living room set ordered, they exited the store. "So, you want to ride with me to Tasha's place? I know it's early, but you can hang with Lissa and me until dinner," Christian offered.

"Sure, I don't' have anything else going on right now."

"Good," Christian replied as they walked to his car. As he was sliding into the driver's seat, he looked across the hood at Dimitri. "Oh, and just a heads up. Be prepared for an interrogation," he said, a dark gleam in his eyes.

Narrowing his own at his friend, Dimitri asked, "About what?"

"You and Rose, of course."

Rose walked through the door. It was a well-known Turkish restaurant in McLean. Glancing around, she saw Abe seated at a back table, with Pavel and two other men sitting at the next table over. There were a few other patrons around, but they were all seated at the front of the restaurant. Moving toward them, she settled into a chair across from Abe.

Smiling, Abe said, "I'm so glad you called, Rose." Picking up a nearby bottle, he poured the wine into her glass. "I hope red is okay?"

"Fine," she replied. Picking up the glass, she took a large gulp. A waiter joined them, handing her a menu. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"Their lamb dishes are their specialty. I highly recommend the Beykoz Kuzu," he said. "I've taken the liberty of ordering the Kazan Meze Special as an appetizer."

Rose nodded, as she examined the menu. The waiter returned a few moments later. "Are we ready to order?" he asked.

"Rose?" Abe inquired.

"Yes, I'll take the Tournedos Black and White, medium rare, please."

"Very good, madam." Turning to Abe, he asked, "And for you sir?"

Abe ordered the Beykoz Kuzu before dismissing the man unceremoniously. Turning to Rose, he smirked at her. "Just as stubborn as your mother."

Seeing her opening, Rose began the interrogation. "Did you love her?"

She took pleasure in seeing his eyes widen, if only infinitesimally. One rarely got an unguarded reaction from Ibrahim Mazur. "Yes, I did. I still do, actually. Your mother is a force of nature. She was one of the only women I've ever known who could keep up with me." Chuckling, he said, "That's another thing you two have in common."

"If that's true, why did you let her leave? Why did you let her keep you from being a part of my life?" she asked, her tone blatantly accusatory.

"As I said, she made a very persuasive argument. Well, that and she also threatened me with arrest if I didn't stay out your life."

"She what?" Rose exclaimed. Realizing how loudly she had spoken, she quickly glanced around the room. Luckily the other patrons and staff were too busy to take notice. Leaning across the table, Rose spoke in a hushed tone. "Why would she do that?"

Abe shrugged. "Probably because she knew I wanted to be a part of your life – of both your lives." Sighing, Abe said, "Listen, Rose, I'm not exactly father material. My line of work doesn't permit me to have a normal family life. Back then, I was more interested in keeping my little empire than I was playing house with you and your mother. To be honest, if I could go back and do things differently, I would probably make the same choice." Reaching across the table, he took one of her hands. "But hear me, Rose. I've always loved you and done what I could to watch out for you – and your mother."

Rose pulled her hand back, still reeling from his words. Looking at him incredulously, she said, "How exactly did you watch out for my mother? She was taken by a madman; held captive for all these years!"

She realized she might have overstepped when she saw his features harden. "Kiz, you are my daughter, and I love you, but don't you ever doubt that I didn't try to protect her, or you," he said, his tone fierce and challenging. "Janine was in way over her head. I tried to warn her. I told her about the chatter; that someone had identified her as a CIA operative." His features relaxed slightly. "But, like I said, your mother is a stubborn woman."

"I need you to tell me everything you know, old man. If we have any chance of getting her back alive, you've got to be honest with me."

Abe turned and nodded toward Pavel. The man stood and made his way to the table. Handing him an envelope, he retook his seat. Abe slid the envelope across the table to Rose. "This is everything I have so far. My sources are still trying to identify the mole within Interpol." Taking the envelope, she started to open it but felt Abe's hand close lightly over it. "I would recommend waiting until you've gotten home." Nodding, she folded the envelope, sliding it into her back pocket.

The waiter suddenly appeared, placing the appetizer down on the table, as well as two small plates. "Teşekkürler," Abe said to the man. Turning to Rose, he proceeded to dish a few items onto her plate. "This is börek," he explained, indicating the beef layered amongst phyllo dough. Pointing at another item, he said, "This one is dolma, or stuffed grape leaves, and these are sucuk, or Turkish sausage." He spooned another item onto her plate. "This is cerkez tavuk. It's a Turkish Circassian chicken with walnut sauce. It's good on these piece of bread."

Looking at the larger plate, she recognized the other items as Feta cheese and Greek olives. Pointing at the white sauce, she asked, "What is that?"

He spooned a little onto her plate. "That is their special garlic yogurt dip. It's delicious," he replied, grinning.

They ate in silence, as Rose tasted each item on her plate. She had to admit, it was all pretty damn good. Of course, it didn't help that she was incredibly hungry. Once they were finished and the plates removed, Abe refilled her glass. "So, kiz, anything else you would like to know?"

Taking a sip, she decided to try her luck. "Do you know Rhea Dragomir?" she asked, her eyes focused intently on his face, looking for any sign of deception.

The only tell she saw was a slight dilation of his pupils. "You're speaking of your friend's mother, yes?"

"You know I am. Now stop being evasive, and answer the question."

Abe glanced around the room before leaning closer to Rose. "Why do you want to know?"

"Lissa and her husband's home was ransacked yesterday. The only thing that is missing is the last picture Lissa had of her and her mother. There is nothing about Lissa that would warrant such an action. So, it has to be Rhea."

"I don't know much. I know Lissa's mother was in contact with your mother on occasion, before Janine and I separated." He paused, his gaze wandering from her own. Looking at her once again, he said, "Come to think of it, before your mother's 'death,' when I was tracking her whereabouts, I noticed a pattern. I didn't think much about it. Rhea's role in the family business required her to travel extensively. However, I did find that whenever she was in one city, Janine would be there as well."

Rose's brow furrowed. She had one more piece of the puzzle, but it was still a jumbled, confusing mess. She only hoped that Mason would be able to provide some additional pieces when he retrieved the original case file. "Whatever it is, it has to do with the CIA. I found a memo mentioning her name, as well as mom's and my boss. The rest of the file was redacted."

"Rose, it's imperative we see what's in that file."

Raising her eyebrows, she replied, "You don't think I realize that? My friend is pregnant and an innocent. I refuse to let anything happen to her or her family. I would burn the world before I let that happen." Giving Abe a hard glare, she added, "I would also destroy anyone who got in my way."

The corner of Abe's lip twitched up momentarily before he responded, "You are definitely my daughter."