Robert A. Taft Memorial and Carillon.
Washington D.C.
John Griffin pulled his car into a parking space alongside 1st Avenue Northwest near Northwest Constitution. Putting the car in park he looked over at the sole Cherry blossom tree that stood by itself in the corner of the Taft Memorial. Not Far from the USAO, John used to pick up lunch at the Capitol Cafe and lay a blanket out beneath the tree and await the love of his life. So many momentous thing had happened beneath that tree that overlooked the Capitol and it was the only place in the world where John could remember being the happiest. Sighing heavily John sat down in the grass and put his back to the tree.
He knew why he was here. It was the pictures inside that house in Boston. The woman who looked so much like his wife.
She looked happy, really happy, as she held that honey blond haired woman. So many pictures there reminded him of happier times when Abbie looked at him the way the Detective looked at her wife. He couldn't fathom the relationship she had with another woman but he did understand love. And they were planning to have a child, soon from the looks of the baby's room.
John bowed his head and remembered back when he was that happy. It had been right here, almost 14 years ago.
August 6th, 2002
"So I know that you have court but…" John reached into the small duffel bag and pulled out a very nice bottle of wine, "I think one glass wouldn't hurt."
Abbie smiled at his thoughtfulness as he retrieved two glasses from the bag and set them down next to the assortment of picnic foods, he'd brought while he waited for her. John was such an amazing romantic when he had a mind to do so. In addition to the grilled chicken clubs, he'd brought an assortment of cheeses to go with the grapes, strawberries, and now topped it off with a bottle of summer red. But as he reached fro the bottle opener She caught his hand.
"I can't." She said softly.
"Awe, c'mon, Abbie." He smiled, "It's just a glass and I promise it'll go very well with the Fromage."
Abbie laughed at the way he butchered the French word for cheese. But as he set the corkscrew to the bottle again she stopped him again.
"John, I can't have any." She said again.
He stopped as she stared at him.
"John?" She said hesitantly. "I need to tell you something."
His smile fell and he set the bottle down and took her hand, " What's going on, Baby Doll?"
She bit her lip nervously before looking up at him again, "John… I'm pregnant."
He blinked at her and opened his mouth but no sound came out. Abbie took the silence poorly and started spouting of.
"I'm sorry. I was careful with my birth control but…"
"Your pregnant?" He asked and his face lifted into a lopsided smile, "Really?"
It was Abbie's turn to be surprised. "Your not mad? I mean, I know when never talked about it but-"
"I can't believe it." He said and his face fell slightly, "Do you want to keep it?"
Abbie looked away, "I'm not against it but…"
"But what?" He asked, praying that she wasn't thinking of that.
She looked up at him again, "I don't think I could go through with an abortion."
His wide smile was a huge relief to her, "Abbie, I love you and this isn't the way I wanted to start a family but…"
"But what?" She asked.
"But I'll take it." He said and pulled her hand up to his lips. "I think I need to go ring shopping."
Her face went white and he reached out to cup her cheek, "Wow you just got pale. Are you alright? Are you going to get sick?"
Abbie got up onto her knees, "John, I love you so much and yeah, I'm okay but, I'm not ready to get married. I just found out that I'm pregnant."
"Right," he said, "So we should get married."
"And if you seen all the cases I've seen over the years of people who got married because of a pregnancy, you'd understand."
"Abbie." He protested.
"John, listen, please." She'd said. "I do love you and if we do get married, I want it to be for the right reasons, not because I'm pregnant."
He nodded to her and again brought her hand to his lips. "Your pregnant."
"I am." She replied.
"I love you, Abbie." He said as he pulled her into his arms, "Tonight, we're going to celebrate."
She smiled as he nuzzled her cheek. "But will you say that when I'm fat and can't even put my shoes on."
John leaned back and picked up one o f the two velvet cupcakes he'd brought, knowing their her favorite. "Let's find out."
He shoved the cupcake against her face and smeared it along her cheek with a grin.
"John!" She shouted in laughter.
She grabbed at his hands as he pushed her down onto the blanket. All the wile she was laughing as he gently licked the creme from her face. "Oh my god! You ass."
He laughed as she giggled furiously beneath her, both careful to stay off her stomach. Abbie laughed as John had smiled down on her, I love you Abbie."
She cupped his cheek with her hand. "I love you too." Right before she snatched the other cupcake and mashed it into his face.
He sat there for several minutes remembering those happier times. The three times Abbie had said that she was pregnant. And the day he'd proposed to her beneath this very tree. John sat there wishing for all he was worth that he could go back and fix things. Regardless of everything that happened, he did love Abbie. He just wished that things had been different. John knew where he went wrong and more than anything else, he wanted to change that one moment that had irrevocably altered his life.
His phone rang and he answered it without looking, expecting to hear from his partner on the information he;d relayed on his way back to D.C.
"Jake, talk to me."
"Hello, John." Came the soft voice of the last person he wanted to hear from.
"Ella." He said coldly.
She laughed. "Is that how you talk to all of your lovers?"
"Just the ones that threaten to charge me with rape."
Again she laughed. "And I thought you had as much fun as I did. Honestly John. Admit it. You loved holding me down and fucking me hard. I felt how much you spilled inside of me."
"I was trying to get information on the drug shipments." He said through clenched teeth. "If I'd have known you made me i never would have touched you. Let alone made it rough like you wanted."
"Which is why I never told you about the camera." She simpered.
"Look, I'm kinda busy right now." He sneered.
"I heard, trouble at home? I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact you like to stick your dick in women who your not married to."
"Just you and that was business." He snapped.
"Don't forget Greylek." She breathed. "I know you love fucking her over and over but then again, she's so hot. I love watching her face when she comes for you, it's almost enough for me."
John froze at her words. No way! She couldn't possibly…
"You wouldn't want me showing your wife my collection of home videos." She laughed again. "But Kim? If she can go down on me like she does you, I might have to show her my collection at my house."
"Haven't I done enough for you?" He asked.
"Oh hell no." She hissed. "Like it or not, you belongs to me, John. Now about your wife, this trial is causing problems for a friend of mine. I want you to find away to get her to leave it alone."
"And how exactly do you expect me to do that? I've got my own problems."
"Your a smart man." She cooed. "Use that big head of you're to figure it out or I'll have to send some men after your boys to get her cooperation. Bracken owes people some pretty hefty favors that he can't pay back and I want him in one piece."
His throat tightened. He knew who she'd send and that psycho was too short tempered to be around his sons.
"I'll find a way."
"Monday, John." She said firmly. "Don't forget to kiss your lovely mistress for me. Give her a good pounding and I might remember that she doesn't like women."
The line disconnected and John resisted the urge to throw the phone. He had to get to his boys, that was his first priority. But if Ella Poe knew about Kim, then she would know when he was heading out to get his kids.
He dialed his partner and tried to figure out how to get to Abbie.
Unknown Warehouse
Anacostia, MD.
"Hey bro. I got it." Jake Acevedo said with a cheeky confidence. "Springfield Illinois. I'm putting the boys together right now."
"Good but I got a problem. I can't go with you." John grumbled.
"Wsup?"
"I gotta keep Abbie from knowing what your doing so just go get my kids and get them safe."
"You got it man." Jake said with a smirk. "I'll take care of everything."
"You're the only one I trust, Jake. Don't let me down."
John disconnected and Jake immediately dialed a new number. The phone rang twice with a foreign ring signal before she answered.
"Good news?" She purred.
"It worked." Acevedo said happily. "He's staying behind."
"Very good." and he could hear the pleasure in her voice. "Get his kids and meet up with Mango. He'll bring you and the kids back to Arboletes where I can get her to tank the trial."
Jake smiled. "And John?"
"He's quickly outliving his usefulness." She said.
"Good." Jake spat, "the guy's a friggin pussy and I'm tired of having to hold his hand in every operation."
"Then it's a good thing I had you put those camera's in Greylek's home." She chuckled, "Are you ready to come home?"
"Sooner the better." Jake said, "cost of living here sucks."
She laughed, "Go get 'em."
Jake disconnected and looked over the hand picked team of operators. "Okay, that was the boss, let's go take care of griffin's kids and it's back to the beach."
"Bout friggin time." One called out.
"Umbrella drinks and dirty freaks." Another one shouted.
Jake grabbed his bag and nodded, "Team Blackbird, Mount up!"
The ten men moved from the open space to the three black Chevy Tahoe's that were parked near the door. One by one they dumped their duffels into the back and climbed into the trucks. A few moments later they were on their way to steal three children from a hand full of cops hiding out at an arms testing range.
Acevedo smiled, "Like taking candy from a baby."
Base Camp.
Columbia, MD.
After the LAV was packed, Colin gathered the crew for a briefing before they headed out. They stood gathered around the side of the heavily armored transport as Colin looked them over.
"So now we're really in it." Colin said. "Until the armorer can touch up the Suburban were going to be noticed wherever we go because you just can't hide a ten ton tank like this so a friend of mine has graciously offered us a place to park where it won't stand out so much. Jane and Kate have met Colonel Sanchez before. Well, he's made arrangements for us to have a hangar over at the airstrip at Fort A.P. Hill for a while. He offered us troops as well, but I told him they weren't needed. Instead he's got Security beefed up at the airstrip and they know enough to leave us be. Should our needs come to it, we can call on the garrison for help."
"Like we're under attack?" Kate groaned.
"Yeah, like that." Colin nodded. "I don't know what the setup is at the hangar but it's remote, it's secure, and we can get concealment." He turned his attention to Abbie, "You're sleeping in the LAV because it's armored and if the enemy gets their hands on their own explosives, I want you safely tucked away with Julia."
He turned to the blonde medic, but pointed two fingers at Abbie "Should anything go wrong, your job is to make sure that she gets deep inside the base. Drive the LAV right into the barracks if you have to."
Julia nodded. "Got it, Sarge."
He turned to Kate. "Soldiers will be on patrol along the perimeter of the airfield as well as the routine security patrols on post. None of them will be authorized to approach the hangar so we will have guard duty to monitor their activities. No one is permitted inside the hangar for any reason. Not the MPs, not the regular Police, not the soldiers."
She bobbed her head and Colin turned to Booth, "I have a total of two friends on this base, Colonel Sanchez, and his Sergeant Major. They made this happen for us and I may have to leave from time to time to go on post and you'll be in charge till I get back."
Booth nodded. "Got it."
Colin then turned to Jane. "Abbie is all that matters so you know what to do."
Jane nodded. "Yeah, I do."
Colin patted Griggs. "We'll be issued a Singar Radio on post to monitor base communications. Have it set up in the LAV as quickly as possible and make sure you check its guts out thoroughly for any kind of GPS transmitter."
"No problem," Griggs replied.
He turned back to the group as a whole. "Alright. The sun set twenty minutes ago and after yesterday I want to be inside the hangar before dawn. Our next court appearance is two days from now so that gives us a full day to prep for insertion. AP Hill is a major training facility for the Military so you can expect to see service members from every branch. In addition, it's used for several services of the Department of Justice so you can expect to see Federal Agents as well."
He looked at Abbie. "Abbie, because this is a high profile case. Neither you or Booth are to leave the hangar at all, last thing we need is for someone to take a shot at you out of convenience."
He then turned to the partners. "You two don't go outside without total concealment since by now Bracken is more than likely looking for you too."
They all nodded.
"Since Griggs and Hill are the only two who are active military, they'll handle supplies." He looked over his team. "Any questions?"
There were none.
"Alright, everybody in." he said and looked at Hill, "Yer still driving."
Outside of Bowling Green, VA.
Four hours is how long it took to get to Fort Hill. Since Washington was directly in line between Baltimore and Bowling Green, Virginia, Colin had created a route to circumvent the Capital altogether. Unfortunately the hour and a half trip was more than doubled.
Kate lifted her head from her catnap as the howl of the aggressive tires lowered its pitch, signaling a reduction in speed. She glanced around the cab at her crew.
Her partners eyes were wide open and alert as she watched the area for any signs of a threat. Those dark eyes met hers and Jane sent her reassurance. A good night for Jane's insomnia to visit. Kate nodded and looked at the nearly identical woman who lay asleep next to her best friend.
Colin had insisted that Abbie get as much sleep as possible since it would take a while to get to the base and it would take more time to get set up in the hangar. Though he denied it, Kate knew that his concern for the attorney was more than just the mission. Colin was smitten and it was something she'd never seen from her friend before. It was actually cute watching his cheeks mottle with embarrassment when Kate caught him looking at Abbie.
The interesting part was the innocent way Abbie kept inquiring about him semi innocently. Jane was certain Abbie was attracted to him, but in both of the partners' experience, it wasn't that unusual. The fact that Colin was also attracted to her was the unusual part but Abbie's marriage and her children kept both her and Colin in check.
Kate looked at Colin who was sitting in the front passenger seat directing the Medic towards the base. She knew him to be a hard working, fun loving man who could drink her under the table. But very rarely had she ever seen the rigid soldier that he was the rest of the year. Something she had seen in abundance here and oddly enough reminded her of her partner's other side. It was hard to put the two images together in her mind.
Colin looked over his shoulder at the sleeping attorney and then up to Kate.
She smiled and mouthed "bad boy" in the dark. Colin stiffened and turned back to the road. She smiled to herself and looked towards Booth.
The FBI agent sat lightly dozing in his seat as his right hand fingered the ring on his left. He must be missing Dr. Brennan, She thought to herself. Temperance Brennan was smart like Maura was smart and as Kate thought about it, Booth wasn't much different from Jane. Tough dedicated cops madly in love with brilliant doctors whom they work with.
Kate instinctively stroked the ring on her finger. God, how can I miss him so much? We've only been gone for four weeks.
Four weeks of no contact. She didn't even know if he made it to Springfield all right. Kate looked over at Jane wondering if this was what her partner was feeling. Jane and Maura had always had a hard time being apart since they'd finally hooked up together in New York.
Her eyes fell to Specialist Hill who was driving the behemoth. Though she knew the woman casually from LETO, Kate really didn't know her that well. It was Liv who'd made it a point to get to know her and it was Liv who told them Julia's brother and sister-in-law had been killed by a drunk driver, leaving the blonde haired medic with her orphaned niece. As Dani's only living relative, Julia was now responsible for raising the girl. Liv had said that Julia cherishes and adores Dani and Kate wondered if the medic regretted leaving Dani behind. It made her think about her own vibrant "not quite" daughter.
Alexis had been more than accepting of Kate into their lives, welcoming her with open arms. Something that Kate had been very grateful for. Though a genius like Brennan and Maura, Alexis had a kind of naivety that Kate had held in awe. But that innocence had been shattered last Christmas. Alexis had grown from the experience and it had brought her and the redhead closer together but Kate would give anything to have the sweet innocent Alexis back, the one who hadn't had to kill. She made a mental note to get to know Julia and her niece better.
Kate's eyes went to the robust Cuban sergeant sleeping behind the driver's seat. Griggs was single, mischievous, and had a knack for picking up bimbos. He probably missed picking up some former college cheerleader in a bar somewhere whose IQ was smaller than her shoe size. Kate shook her head at the tall Cuban man. When he wasn't the brains behind the Close Quarters Battle simulator at LETO, he was little more than a party animal, a step up from a frat boy since he didn't spend his time completely wasted, just moderately intoxicated and completely hilarious in every way.
Colin's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Here we are." He said, "Switch off the headlights, but leave the running lights on"
Julia turned towards the gate and shut off the lights. The guard at the gate called into the building and two other soldiers with M16s came out.
Colin called out. "Wake 'em up Kate. We're here."
While Kate was waking up Griggs and Booth, she did so in a manner that wouldn't wake up Abbie. Julia pulled up to the gate and the soldier held a hand up. She put the truck in park and Colin unlatched his door and flipped a switch. As the armored door swung open, he pulled papers off the dash and climbed out of the vehicle.
He walked straight up to the soldier and presented the paperwork. Colin handed the orders off to the guard and cleared his throat. "Morning gentlemen. We have authorization from Colonel Sanchez to enter and proceed to the airfield."
The specialist took the paper, but didn't read it. "Identification is required prior to entry sir."
"Read the paper, son. Or should I call the Sergeant Major at his home." Colin held up his arm and shined a penlight on his watch. "I'm sure he'll be awfully cheerie to have the Colonel's orders questioned at oh three hundred."
The soldier stiffened and held the paper under the guard shack flood light.
His features got confused then he made a decision.
"Standing orders is no one enters without ID, sir." He said firmly, "And without the colonel or the sergeant major to verify this, I can't let you pass."
Colin pulled a cell phone out of his vest pocket, "Your name son."
"Specialist Andrews."
He quickly dialed a number and put the phone to his ear.
"It's me. Specialist Andrews needs verification... Copy that." He hung up and stood patiently.
"Sir I'm going to have to ask you to turn your vehicle around and leave the..."
The phone in the guard shack rang and he looked at his two companions. "Hold him here."
He went in to answer the phone. A moment later he pressed the button to open the gate and handed Colin the paper. "You're cleared to proceed sir." He said quickly. "Let him in."
Colin nodded. "I'll see to it Sergeant Major understands your only being diligent." Colin turned on his heel and climbed back into the truck.