Part 21

POV - Rader

It was a long day. I'm on my way out, when the phone rings. I recognize the number and it doesn't lift my spirit. Calls at the end of the working day are a bad omen anyway.

Any hopes that I was wrong vaporize after short conversation.

The timing sucks, off course, but that, unfortunately, can't be helped.

I have to find Foster. Sooner, better.

Having learned her routine, I'm more than sure the woman is at the hospital.

With this thought in mind I grab the jacket and close the doors behind.

Despite the rush hour, traffic is not so bad. I get to the County General in mere 30 minutes. As always, my charms work well to my advantage. Nurses kindly show me Ms Lewis room.

By the way, didn't know Foster's maiden name was Lewis. Gillian Lewis. Sounds strange to the ear.

Musing, I almost miss the right doors. Through the glass I see Foster sitting on the bedside chair.

Knew it! My instincts are superb!

I look at the elderly woman covered with the blankets. Blond hair with a lot of grey in them, high cheekbones, Nordic eye and nose contours, the woman doesn't bear even remote resemblance to Foster. Apparently my nemesis is more of a daddy's girl. Interesting.

Foster seems lost in her thoughts. Sad and thoughtful expression on her face lately has become her trademark. I don't want to disturb her, but there is no time to waste. I quietly open the doors and enter. Foster looks up. Seeing me, she doesn't seem surprised or annoyed, only weary.

"What are you doing here?" question holds little, if any, optimism.

"How is she?" I ask instead of a reply.

Foster looks back at still figure hooked up to the vires and machines. It takes some time, before she replies, "mom has partial paralyses on the right side of the body. Doctor says that with time it should reduce or disappear, but no guarantees. Either way the recovery time will be long and difficult…"

"You know, if it makes you feel any better..." I begin, but she cuts me short.

''It probably won't.''

I know she isn't being rude. It is just mere statement of a fact, one that I have to agree with, ''you're probably right.''

She looks at me. Her face void of emotions that so vividly played there just seconds ago, when she spoke about her mother, "You never replied to my question."

"What question?"

"What are you doing here?!"

Classic Foster. Right back to the business.

"Pack your toothbrush," I say with false cheerfulness, "Bennett called. We have to go. Now!"

Strong emphasis on the last word.

She tenses. I can see she understands what this is about.

''Where is Cal?'' the woman asks, looking at her wrist watch.

''Hopefully went missing,'' I can't help myself. Especially after this morning. That wanker! He is so full of himself that it literally makes me sick.

''Cut it, Jack!" her tone is tight, "this is serious. We need to tell him.''

"I know," I sight. The woman has a solid point. This is serious. Considering all the secrecy, we are not supposed to tell anyone where we are going, but if something goes wrong – Cal could be our only ace in the sleeve. 99.9% probability that it is false alarm, but there is always this 0.1% you can't neglect. One could never be too safe, especially when dealing with spooks.

"Think our boy wonder went home a while ago."

Foster catches the contempt in my voice.

"What is wrong with you two lately?" she asks arching a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" I decide to play innocent, "We are practically brothers in arms."

"Right," she smirks rolling eyes, "Never mind. Will leave it for another day. I can deal with one problem at a time."

"Since when?" I taunt, "Always thought that the word multitasking has your image in the dictionary."

Despite her best effort she smiles, "Flattery won't get you anywhere. Grab the jacket and let's go."

POV - Cal

Zoe is taking a shower. Maybe I should join her? Hot, steamy sex definitely tops my agenda for today, actually - for any day. While I'm still musing over all possible scenarios, the doorbell rings. Must be the pica guy.

I grab 20 dollars from the counter and open the front doors. Surprise factor is definitely there, "Gill, I didn't expect you!"

"But you knew I was coming?" Rader chuckles. I cast the man a cold stare, but he doesn't seem to care.

Gill's expression is tense, "We need to talk."

"Why is he here?" my tone almost accusing.

"For fun," Gill sighs in exasperation, clearly not impressed with my open hostility towards Jack.

"Yours or mine?" I can't resist a bite. Rader is the last person on earth I want to see, especially in my house.

"Guess," Rader smirks, as he pushes past me. Gill follows. All I can do is close the doors behind.

"What is going on?" Zoe appears on top of the stairs. Seeing Gill, her face distorts in dissatisfaction.

"It's about the work," Gill explains. Only now I notice how tense she is. It worries me, because Gill is never the one to cry wolf.

"Off course it is," Zoe murmurs with sarcasm. Apparently thought of me and Gill in the same room still makes her uneasy. Silly thing.

"What happened?" I ask.

"We don't have much time," Gill's voice is low, "Bennett wants Jack and I on an undercover mission. That is all I can say. It shouldn't take more than three days. You know the drill, if we don't give any sign by then."

Past experience has shown that additional questions are useless. Knowing Bennett I can assure that neither Jack nor Gill has any details at this point. Everything always is last minute and fucking top secret with the man.

Gill came to warn me, it means that I'm their insurance. Normally it is the other way around - I'm in the field and she is covering my ass from a distance. One can never be too cautious, especially when dealing with national security matters. People tend to disappear and I'm talking not just about some crazy extremists.

"I'll go instead of you," I try to convince her.

"No, Bennett specifically asked that you are not to be involved," Gill sighs, "he is still mad for that fiasco."

"Right," I coldly eye Rader. One could think that it is only mine fault, "But..."

"You doubt my ability to handle the situation?" Gill looks me straight in the eye.

"No, it is just…" I pause feeling Zoe's challenging stare on my skull. If I finish the sentence, it could end ugly, so I paraphrase it, ''I don't want anything bad to happen."

"Spoken like a true man," Gill slightly rolls her eyes, "as if you being there could prevent that. Don't worry. I can take care of myself. Besides, Rader will be there."

Doesn't she realize that it is exactly the point I'm worried about. That son of the bitch wouldn't think twice, before throwing her to wolves, just to save his sorry ass. Doesn't she realize it? I know I can't voice my thoughts. It would only lead to yet another argument. For some unexplainable reason Gill had always been on Rader's side.

Instead I ask, "You sure?"

"I'm sure," she confirms.

"Still… I don't like it," I try to argue.

"Me neither, but there is little any of us can do about it," as always, she is the rational one.

I catch Gill's elbow, but she moves away from the touch. Looking over at Zoe she says, ''Sorry for disturbance. We are leaving."

Rader catches up with her as she heads to the exit. I follow behind.

At the doors, I once again grab Gill's elbow. She turns to look at me. Her expression unreadable.

"If anything goes wrong…"

"It won't," Gill gives me reassuring smile. I can see she understands and appreciates my worry.

"Promise to be careful."

"I will."

Her confidence does little to ease my mind, but I know well enough that I can't force her to stay. Truly hope everything goes smoothly. We have done undercover work for Bennett before and never experienced any problems. Hopefully it stays that way. Still some unexplainable uneasiness doesn't let me go, as my gaze follows departing figures. They sit in Gill's car and drive away.

Sensing lasers burning holes in the back of my head, I close the front doors and turn. Zoe is clearly annoyed, her expression demanding.

I know that on top of everything else she noticed Jack's disheveled look and put two and two together. His split lip and mine blue eye is an inseparable tandem.

And the evening started so well…

tbc