"Mommy! Frankie!" gleefully cried Miranda as her tiny legs carried her into the library.
"Hi Miranda. How was your walk?" Bianca asked as she smiled at her daughter. The child skipped over to the adults with a giggle.
"We had a lot of fun, didn't we Miranda?" Reese wrapped an arm around her wife's waist.
Miranda nodded her head, glancing between the three, "Yeah. We walked around and looked at the trees and the birds. This place is really big."
"Oh? You must have walked a lot." Bianca playfully widened her eyes.
"Yep."
"Are you tired?"
Miranda looked at Frankie before raising her shoulders in a shrug. Bianca recognized the move and slid her eyes over towards the agent. Seeing the glance, Frankie inched a shoulder up and down, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. Bianca rolled her eyes, causing the other woman to turn her head to hide the full-blown smirk.
"Yes she was, that's why I put her and Gabrielle in their room for a nap." Reese answered, a slight scolding tone coating the sentence.
Miranda shrugged again, "I wanted to see Mommy and Frankie. Besides, naps are for babies."
Reese opened her mouth, but Frankie spoke first, "Naps aren't for babies, kid. I was actually gonna take a nap right now."
"Really?" Miranda turned to solely face the woman.
Frankie ignored the irritated look coming from Reese, at being interrupted, and swept the giggling girl into her arms, fingers tickling her sides, "Yeah. How about we go check on your sister and catch some shut-eye?"
"Thank you, Frankie. Maybe if she gets some sleep she'll start doing what she's told." Reese stared at the laughing girl.
Bianca narrowed her eyes at her wife, "What?"
"It's nothing," Reese turned her attention to the tall brunette, "she's just been a little difficult today." She offered Bianca a grin and gave her a short peck on the lips.
"Eh, you know how kids are. Can't listen to parents all the time or they might grow up to not have their own thoughts." Frankie set the child on the ground, the tiny hand immediately shooting out and grasping the agent's.
"Pardon me?" Reese frowned at the shorter woman.
"It seems to me Miranda is a good kid, that's all. She's never been difficult."
"You're not always around," Reese pursed her lips, "and no offense, Ms. Moore, but I don't think the nanny should tell the mother how to be a parent. Don't tell me how to be with my children."
Frankie's eyes flashed, "Oh, but Mrs. Williams,"
"Ok...how about that nap. I think that sounds like a good idea, I might take one myself. Honey?" Bianca stepped between the two.
Reese looked at Frankie coldly before moving back, a tight smile on her face, "Sure sweetie, sounds great."
"Good. I'll meet you upstairs, I just have to check on something." Bianca kissed her cheek.
Reese nodded her head, slowly leaving the room with a backwards glance.
Once Reese was out of earshot, Bianca spun, pinning Frankie in place with hard brown eyes, "What was that?"
"What was what?"
Bianca angrily opened her mouth to respond, but caught sight of Miranda standing firmly at Frankie's side. "Miranda, baby, can you go over there and get a book for me to read?"
Miranda worriedly peered up at Frankie, who gave the kid a small smile and a wink. The little girl stomped over to the other side of the room, arms crossed as she grumbled to herself.
Bianca kept her focus on the agent. She harshly whispered, "Frankie, what are you doing? Are you trying to start a fight with Reese?"
"I wasn't trying to do anything. I just made a comment."
"About how she was treating Miranda."
"Sorry...maybe the mother should have stepped in instead."
"She is her mother!" Bianca bit out.
Frankie blinked at her and clenched her jaw. "Right. My bad. I won't say anything next time."
Bianca sighed and rubbed at her forehead, "Frankie."
"No, it's cool. I got it. I'm just the nanny. Forgot my place for a second, won't happen again." she took a step towards Miranda.
"Stop, Frankie. Stop." Bianca caught her wrist and pulled her back.
Frankie let herself be tugged back. She let out a breath and shoved her hands into her pockets, a bored look crossing her face.
Bianca ran her hand up the bare arm, reaching around to cup a tanned cheek and direct the woman's eyes towards her own.
"She's allowed to discipline Miranda and talk to the kids like that. She's my wife."
Frankie closed her eyes at the pleading look, "I know. I know. I'm...I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. Just...I need you to understand. I need..." she trailed off, not knowing how to put what she was feeling into words.
Frankie gave her a crooked bittersweet smile, "You need to go upstairs with Reese and get some sleep. It's been a long day, and we're all tired. I'll take care of the kids. It's my job after all."
"Frankie..." Bianca felt a chill run through her as her throat constricted.
"It's ok." Frankie swallowed hard, clenching her fists in her pockets as she gathered courage. Taking a deep breath, she surged upward and placed her lips on Bianca's forehead, her hands coming up to grasp lightly at her jaw. "It's ok. I get it. I understand."
Bianca choked back a sob, relishing in the gentle kiss. She brought her hands up and wrapped her fingers around Frankie's wrists, holding them in place. After a minute, Frankie finally tore her lips away, brushing a kiss on Bianca's cheek as she pulled away, "I did the right thing once, I can do it again. I can do this, again. I can let you go."
A tiny sob broke past Bianca's lips. She covered her mouth, her other hand refusing to let go of the agent's wrist.
"Mommy? I found a book." Miranda's tiny voice spoke up. She cradled the book in her arms confused and sad, not understanding the tension in the room, but knowing something bad was happening.
"That's...that's great, honey. Set it down right there, I'll get it in a second." Bianca coughed out, trying to hide her teary brown orbs.
"Hey kid," Frankie plastered a smile on her face, "why don't we go get that shut-eye now?"
Miranda nodded and wrapped her arms around her mother's waist in a short hug, "It's ok Mommy, I promise."
All Bianca could do was brush her fingers through the child's silky brown hair, using all her energy to hold in the tears. After a few moments, Miranda unwound her arms and grabbed Frankie's hand, slowly walking out of the room.
The moment she was alone, Bianca collapsed against the bookcase, cries slipping past her shaking fingers. This was the right thing to do, this couldn't go on anymore. She was married. She had kids, a life. Nothing could change that, not even some beautifully gentle FBI agent who could recite poetry at the drop of a hat. Not even some woman who her children adored. Not even the girl who made her heart skip a beat with a look when she was seventeen and made her heart stop with a smile when she was twenty-five.
"Mommy was crying." Miranda trudged up the stairs with Frankie.
"Yeah well, it happens." Frankie grit her teeth, trying to feel as if her world wasn't falling apart at the seams.
"No. You said you don't like Mommy crying." the child stopped moving, her hands falling to her hips.
"Kid." Frankie took a calming breath, desperate for a smoke, "sometimes things happen and people get sad. That's just the way the world is. You can't do anything about it."
"Why?"
"Because life isn't nice or fair. The world doesn't care what you want or need or feel."
Miranda squinted, taking in what her best friend was saying. "The world is stupid."
"Yeah, yeah it is."
Miranda nodded and began to walk, making her way down the hallways and to her room. Frankie followed behind, the past few hours playing in her head. She unconsciously helped Miranda into bed, tucking the blankets in around her while she scanned the room for anything out of place. Once she had the little girl safely in bed, she stepped over to the crib. Peering inside, she spotted a sleeping Gabrielle. She pulled her carefully out of the crib, making sure not to wake her as she cradled her in her arms.
Moving over to the window, she slowly rocked the infant in her arms, "Hey there. Sleeping huh? Must be nice. You shouldn't be by yourself like that though, makes me nervous. How about you stick with me or your moms? Being alone is overrated, anyways."
She shifted her feet, taking in the scenery before focusing back on the tiny girl. "Know what? I'm an idiot. Surprising, right? I keep messing everything up. My whole life, all I've been is a screw-up. But there have been some good people in my life, and all I do is hurt them. But I don't want to. I don't know how to stop, though."
Gabby gurgled, her little eyes sleepily blinking open.
"Do you think I'm doing the right thing? I'm not good for you guys. I know I'm not. I never want to ruin what you have."
Gabby, eyes finally open, giggled, her chubby hands waving and clutching at the green shirt. Frankie couldn't help but grin.
"Can't ruin perfection though, right. 'Cause you and your sister and your mom, you guys are pretty near perfect. Even if your mom refuses to listen to me most of the time."
The two stayed by the window for close to a half an hour. Gabby amused herself with the adult's shirt and the bright sunlight. Frankie worked through her thoughts, using any technique possible to get rid of her emotions and temper. Finally, she walked back to the crib, laying the infant gently down onto the soft surface. Pressing a finger to her lips, she touched the tip to the baby's head, "I promise I'll protect you guys, no matter what. If I do nothing else, I'll do that."
She then stepped over to Miranda's bed. She placed a warm hand on the drowsy girl's shoulder. The girl blinked at Frankie as the agent crouched beside her.
"Hey kid. Wanted to tell you sweet dreams, and that stuff I said earlier about the world...forget it, ok? I was upset and said stupid things. It's not true."
Miranda yawned, "I know."
The rest of the weekend was spent separated. Frankie rarely ever left the two children's sides. Bianca was always with Reese. The few times they ran into each other, over a meal or in the hall, they would exchange pained glances and tight smiles. Sunday evening arrived, though, and the family packed up to head back to Paris. Frankie rode back to the apartment with them, Miranda and Gabby in one car and Reese and Bianca in the other. When they reached the building, Frankie helped the children into the apartment before bidding them goodbye, citing a need to check on her own residence.
Frankie entered the office, her jacket already halfway off two steps towards her door, "Johnson, tell me what we know. Taylor, get everyone assembled here in five minutes. Jones, get me a coffee and some damn cigarettes!"
Everyone jumped to their feet, rushing around as Frankie entered her personal office. She tossed her jacket on a chair and flopped into the other behind her desk. Johnson scurried in behind her, folders in his hands.
"Agent Stone, we have identified the man apprehended on Halloween evening. His name is Drake Curtis. He is twenty-two years old originally from Charlotte, North Carolina."
Johnson placed a folder down on the desk, which Frankie promptly opened and scanned.
"He was a student at Duke University studying Art History. He took a study abroad trip and never returned home. There were allegations that he..."
"Was a druggie." Frankie finished, taking a pen out and making notes in the margins of the papers, "That's why he acted the way he did when I talked with him. He was probably still high as a damn kite. I've seen people just like him. Let me guess, good kid by day, likes to party at night. Starts out small, thinking he's cool and next thing he knows he's robbing grandma's jewelery to get a hit."
Jones poked his head in, "Everyone is ready for you, ma'am. And here's your coffee."
Frankie stood up, taking the hot beverage from the rookie as she pushed out into the outer office. The rest of the small group sat around a desk, their attention turning to the lead agent.
"Alright, here's what we got. Some druggie got into the Cambias party and broke into the room of Gabrielle and Miranda Montgomery. This is a massive breach in security and could have ended with those two kids kidnapped and probably dead."
She scanned the group before continuing, "Here's the problems. He has no reason to be there. From these files he has no reason to even know what the hell Cambias is, who the family is, or even that he is in France. He's coked out of his mind and only cares about the next hit."
"He might have been going after money to pay for drugs." Jones raised his hand.
"Could have. I guess any druggie would go out to a chateau miles from anything resembling civilization. Especially since he has no car or way of getting out there. Oh, and he would go after kids instead of the cash." Frankie sarcastically responded.
"So what?" Taylor called out.
"So what? So what we have is a guy who for every reason should not even be thinking about being there, but he is. He is taking actions towards kidnapping two kids. He is nothing but a homeless college drop-out with a drug addiction. Why would he be there doing that?"
The room was silent.
"Why?" Taylor finally broke the quiet.
"Jesus, did I get anyone with a brain?" Frankie mumbled before speaking louder, "Because someone told him to be there and to do that. He alluded to the fact that someone else is involved. He was able to enter a secured area. He found children who nobody knew were there. How? Because someone else is involved."
"So we have to find this other guy." Barnes concluded.
"Yeah, except we have no idea who to look for. Most likely the guy picked someone off the street who has no connection to him and who won't talk to us. This Drake guy is so messed up he probably thinks a dog told him to do it." Frankie rubbed at her nose.
"What do we do?" Jones asked.
Frankie sighed, "Keep this guy. We have to see if we can get anymore from him. We need to go over every piece of evidence we have since the moment we got to this country. Double check everything. And go over the staff again from the party. Go over the guests. I want to know anything you find."
With that, she turned on her heel and went back into her office. She dropped into her chair and sipped at her coffee, rereading the file on Curtis.
A soft knock sounded at her door, "Ma'am."
"Yeah, Jones?"
"Can I speak with you for a second?"
"Sure."
The door opened and he entered, softly closing it behind him. He cautiously approached the desk, chewing on his lip nervously.
"What is it, Jones? Did you get those smokes?"
"No...no ma'am. It...I was just..." he stammered.
Frankie sat back and crossed her arms, "What? Just say it."
"Ma'am...we cannot hold Mr. Curtis."
Her eyes narrowed, "What?"
Jones shuffled his feet, "We cannot hold him, ma'am. We don't have the authority."
Frankie stared at him, "Agent Jones, are you telling me you want to release the suspect?"
"No...well yes...but...we do not have jurisdiction here, ma'am. We are not allowed by law to even arrest him. We broke the law doing that!"
"Jones, do you know what could happen if we just let him go?"
Jones shook his head.
Frankie leaned forward, "If we let him go, and he is walking around Paris, he is going to be found. Those guys we don't know, are going to find him. They will find out the FBI is here, whether through him blabbing about it in a drug induced haze, or by one of us following him. Know what happens then?"
He shook his head again, uneasily.
"Then, they do exactly what they have been trying to do. Except, they'll know we're here. They'll plan for that. Right now, they don't know we're here. For all they know, this idiot got lost and is lying dead in a ditch somewhere with a needle in his arm. That's what we want. They know we're here, and we are at a disadvantage this group cannot overcome. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Jones swallowed, "Yes, ma'am. But, we can't do this. It's against the law."
"So, you want us to jeopardize this entire investigation and the safety of that family, so you don't have to break a law?"
Jones stayed quiet.
Frankie rubbed her hands hard across her face, "God damn it. Get out of my office."
Jones, stunned, didn't move.
"Go! Get out."
Finally, he flailed around, tripping over his feet as he exited. Frankie sat there for a moment, before abruptly standing up. She downed the rest of her coffee, burning the roof of her mouth, and snagged her jacket. Jones watched quietly as she stormed out of the office.
The agent walked down the street, sliding into the first market she saw and buying a pack of cigarettes. Making her way through the busy roads, she randomly entered a park. Gravel crunched under her shoes as she shuffled along, her mind whirling in thought.
"No hello? Are we not talking at all, anymore?"
Frankie turned her head to see Bianca sitting on a bench by herself, hands folded neatly in her lap as her long black coat hugged her body.
"If we weren't, we messed that up."
Bianca patted the spot next to her, indicating for the agent to sit down. Contemplating ignoring the gesture and moving on, Frankie silently cursed at herself and sat down. She took out the packet of cigarettes and smacked it against her palm.
"Don't even think about putting one of those things in your mouth." Bianca watched her.
"What should I put in my mouth then?"
Without missing a beat, Bianca retrieved a stick of gum from her purse and unwrapped it, shoving it into the other woman's mouth.
Chewing on the pink stick, "Not exactly what I had in mind."
"Oh, and what did you have in mind?"
Frankie smirked before catching herself, "What are we doing?"
"I don't know, but it doesn't feel wrong."
Frankie looked down at her feet, "If someone does the wrong thing for the right reason, is that bad?"
Bianca furrowed her brow and thought about what was said. "What happens if you do the right thing?"
"You could cause a lot of bad things to happen."
"Are you sure about that?"
"You can't be sure about anything, Bianca."
"Not anything?"
Frankie looked up at Bianca's raised eyebrows, "Of course...there are somethings. But...not with this." She focused back on her shoes, "I don't know what to do."
"What do you want to do?"
Frankie clasped her hands together, "I want to protect you."
She felt the younger woman lean into her, fingers lightly scratching the nape of her neck, "I know. No matter what, I know you'll protect us. And, I know you'll do what is best. I trust you."
They sat there quietly, Frankie thinking while Bianca offered silent support. A little while later, Frankie stood up. She shot Bianca a thankful grin before leaving.
Entering the office, Frankie almost ran into Stuart.
"Agent Stone, we were just about to visit Curtis."
"Good. When you get there, release him."
Everyone stopped moving at this order. Jones had a hopeful look on his face.
"What?" Stuart was confused.
"Release him. Take him outside of town to a little village somewhere, then let him go."
"But Agent Stone..."
"That's an order." Frankie sternly intoned before walking into her own office.
Johnson entered a few minutes later, a file in his hands. "Ma'am, this is that other thing you asked me for."
"Good, put it on the desk." Frankie ordered, not looking up from the file in front of her.
He dropped the manila folder onto the desk and left. Once the door closed, Frankie threw the papers on Drake Curtis to the side and snatched up the new folder. She quickly opened it and scanned the information.
Jonathon Lavery had been involved with her sister to the point of engagement. There were rumors that more than one woman had been beaten by him. She snorted when she read a brain tumor had been found and was determined to be the cause of his actions. Once the tumor was removed, he was a normal caring human being.
She flipped her phone open, ready to call in a favor, when it rang in her hand. Answering it, Frankie held it up to her ear.
"Hello."
"Frankie."
"Bianca?" Frankie held the phone closer.
"Hi...I was just thinking...about earlier."
"Yeah?"
"And...I meant what I said. About trusting you and knowing you'll do what's right."
"...thank you." Frankie paused for a moment before responding.
"And...I miss you."
Frankie bit the inside of her cheek and stayed quiet.
"I miss you, Frankie. I see you everyday, but we haven't really talked, and I miss you. I can't help it."
"Bianca, you said..."
"I know what I said. I know what you said. And maybe...maybe we just need to stop talking and just...be."
Frankie swallowed, "Be what?"
"Be us. Be what we are, whatever that is. Because what we are, I need that. I need you in my life. Can we...can we do that?"
Frankie ran a hand over Jonathon's folder before shoving it in a drawer and locking it, "I'll be there in twenty minutes."