A/N: Slightly longer chapter than normal. Thank you for sticking with me.

Remember to find Jenalynn Roberts on facebook for publishing updates. Youcan find the link to sign up as an advanced reader there.

I don't own FSoG's characters, but this plot is all mine.

Laters

Falling Undercover

Chapter 26

"So, did you really have the money sent to your mother?" Christian couldn't believe his ears Tuesday when Ana agreed to send money to Carla Adams. Ana spent the remaining time they had waiting for the pilot to return talking about her relationship with her mother.

"Of course I did. I made her wait a few days for it though. Carla Mae cares only for herself. She always has. I've told you how she left when I was a little girl and didn't return until after I graduated high school. That's when we found out I inherited all that money from her aunt. She wanted her cut." Ana lifted her glass of water from the table to take a drink before she continued. Sitting in the middle of the restaurant waiting for her best friend and her boyfriend to show up was not the best place to be discussing this though. "She calls me every six months or so. Usually when there is a new man in her life, or when the man cuts up her credit card. This time her husband was fired from his business firm for failing to bring me in on whatever it was Bob promised them. Yes, I sent the money, but only a portion of what she requested. The lawyers will take care of getting NDAs signed once more and reminding them that talking to the press will land them in civil court."

"Why don't you have her charged with extortion? I know she's your mother and all, but you can't be expected to send her money like this for the rest of your life." Christian hated to see Ana taken advantage of by anyone.

"Because she would just do a jailhouse interview with whoever put money into her commissary account. I would have to hire a PR rep just to combat every lie Carla spilled. Not worth it." Ana just shrugged her shoulders. She didn't care about the fact that Carla only wanted to talk to her about money. It was the other parts of the conversation from Tuesday that irritated her and frightened her. "I'm more worried about the fact that she spoke with Jose while he was in Atlanta. She knew he was coming to Seattle to see me instead of going to Brazil like he was supposed to do. Any updates on that front?" Thursday night arrived, and Ana was thankful to see something other than the Steele House walls or her apartment.

"The Seattle PD is doing their best. Finally agreeing to let them have the evidence from Portland will help. Contrary to popular belief though, DNA results aren't spit out in a matter of a few minutes. Portland and Seattle are working together on the case, and they should have a warrant in the next few days for Ethan. Until they have something that can positively be identified as Jose's the best bet is to get Ethan first and have him roll over on Jose about Portland." Christian spent the afternoon trying to track down his FBI counterparts to get an update or permission to tell Ana his identity now, but it had been fruitless. Logan was brushing him off, Taylor was in the air on his way to Seattle. Cable was still playing shadow and not in the thick of the investigation. "We'll know something soon."

"I hope so. I do not want to spend the weekend hiding out at Escala. If they don't have one of them in custody Saturday morning, I want to go stay at Dad's. I could do with the company of family." Ana hated feeling like she was being hunted. Everywhere she turned there was another shark waiting to snap at her. "There's Kate and Bob the Builder."

Ana stood to greet her friend while Christopher was distracted by a message he had just received on his phone. "Ana Banana, Kate tells me you've got her working overtime. You need to ease up on my future future-wife." Ana giggled at Elliot's label for Kate as she was lifted from the ground and spun around in Elliot's arms. She knew the blond couple would eventually land in happily ever after land.

"So, where is this beast Kate tells me about?" Elliot placed Ana back on the ground as she moved back toward the man sitting at the table next to them.

"Christopher Tate, meet Bob the Builder." Christian put his phone back into his pocket, not paying attention to Kate and her boyfriend until he stood. He looked up finally, pushing his hand out when recognition hit the faces of both men.

Christian was swearing under his breath wondering who left this out of their report. "What the fuck Banana? I'm not sure what this jackass's been telling you, but his name is Christian Grey, not whatever the fuck that was you just told me." Elliot's face was turning red as he looked at the man in front of him. For years he blamed all his life's problems on Christian Grey. It was the last family dinner where Christian walked out that he finally sought treatment for his own issues. "Four years Christian. You show up for one dinner and tell everyone that you're going to work for the FBI. You spend an hour telling our parents how well you're doing after everything that happened as kids and then you tell them you're not coming back."

Christian knew this looked bad. He needed to get Ana out of here and explain to her. Elliot was looking like he was spoiling for a fight and Christian didn't want that happening here in public like this. It would only embarrass Ana further.

"Chris, what's happening?" Ana watches the two men squaring off for a duel. Her voice just above a whisper as she looked at the man that she had fallen in love with. "Is what he said true? Are you not Christopher Tate?" Ana could feel the tears stinging her eyes as she looked at the man she wanted to share her life with.

"Ana, I…" Christian was at a loss. He didn't want to do this hear. "Can we talk about this somewhere else?" Christian looked toward his brother seeing the anger linger there.

Kate stood back watching everything unfold. She liked Christopher, he couldn't the be the self-absorbed ass Elliot described his brother as. "Steele, you okay?"

Ana shook her head in the negative. The man she had fallen in love, the man she had given every part of herself to, the man she entrusted her life to had lied to her. For what?

"Does mom even know you're in town? You keep away from all of us and don't even bother telling her you're home. Typical self-involved Christian. I've spent years trying to make myself better so that when you came home, things would be different. You don't want things different though do you? You want to go on playing the victim. Did you tell Ana about all the horrible I did to you growing up? What about the last time you were here and how you started a fight that ended with Mia needing stitches? I bet you didn't. How have you maneuvered this city without seeing any of us?" Elliot was pissed now. Mia would have wanted to see her brother. Mia was the one that made Elliot and their father see what they had been doing to Christian all his life. It was her that refused to speak to Elliot for a year until he got treatment for his drinking issues.

"I can't right now El, I've got…" Christian stopped when he heard the gasp from his right where Kate had been standing. The look of horror on her face.

"Dr. Trevelyan, I forgot your mom used another last name at the hospital. Ana, I…" Kate was at a loss for words. She knew that the ER doc that had been seeing Ana was Elliot's mother. The woman had to stand in the room with Ana and Christian each time, and she stood there pretending not to know her own son, but why?

"I'm not getting it." Ana was perplexed. What did her ER doctor have to do with this?

"Grace Trevelyan-Grey is our mother." Elliot spits the words out with even more venom. Of course, his mother knew Christian was in town and told no one. What lie did Christian give her to keep her from telling everyone? Elliot has waited for his brother to show up for years so that he could finally make amends and move on in his sobriety.

"I… I can't do this here. I don't know you. I have to go." Ana grabbed her purse and dashed for the elevator. Dialing Ryan's number, she made sure he would be at the door waiting for her. Ana couldn't face this right now. Christopher Tate was nothing more than a lie. All of it was a lie; nothing but a fairytale. Why? Why would he do this? By the time Ana was settled in the back of the car, she felt resigned. She didn't need further proof that she was never meant to have her happily ever after. Whatever his reasons were, Christopher Tate was another in a long line of people that just wanted something from her.

Christian stood at the table watching his brother waiting to see what he would do. "Elliot, whatever you're thinking, stop. Please. Mom knew, but she couldn't say anything. I'm supposed to be undercover. I need you to not say anything. Hopefully, this will all end soon, and we can talk." Christian took a deep breath, feeling a small amount of the weight on his shoulders lift a bit. "I need to talk to Ana. I promise we can talk next week."

Christian started for the elevators hoping he hadn't missed Ana. "Hey Christian!" He stopped when he heard his brother shout his name, turning to look at the man that had tormented him all his life, Christian never saw the punch coming until the fist connected with his eye. "I like Ana, and that's for whatever the hell you've done."

Christian nodded. It was the least he deserved for the lie. Twelve hours was all he had needed, and then he was going to tell Ana everything. Christian needed to call Cable and get him to pick him up.

Ana was pacing. For the last ten minutes, she went through everything wondering how much of it was a lie. Was Elliot the brother Chris had told her about? Ana couldn't reconcile Elliot with the evil kid Christopher described. Christian. His name was Christian Grey. Oh! Ana's hand came to her mouth as she realized everything. Carrick Grey was his father, Mia Grey was his little sister. Was he really at the range when she was meeting with Mia? Or was he off with some secret wife or something. Ana's mind was a dark place as she tried to think of all the reasons why he would need to lie about his identity. Was the background check they received even real? Was everything a lie? Did he have a secret family? Did he tell his wife and kids that Daddy had to take a business trip and then proceed to find wife number two? Did he have a family in every town he's worked in? Oh, Oh, no. It can't be true. He didn't try and get her pregnant on purpose, did he?

"Whatever it is you're thinking stop. Please. You have to believe me, baby. I only lied about my real name." Ana never heard the elevator ding with his arrival, and she wanted to melt into his embrace the minute his arms came around her, pressing her back to his front. "Can I please explain?"

Ana took a shuddering breath as she pulled from his embrace. She refused to look at him. Walking away from the windows to the couch, Ana reached for the bottle of wine she had opened the second she arrived home. Pouring a glass, Ana took a large gulp before she settled against the cushions of the couch. "Why?" It was the only word she could form. Why was the question to everything now?

Christian settled on the floor in front of Ana, crouched down clutching the hand that wasn't holding her wine glass. "Ana, baby, I don't even know where to begin."

"How about you start with the why. Why did you come here and lie to me about who you were? Do you have any idea the scenarios going through my head? The secret families I've conjured around the country, or the idea that you're Jose's inside man this whole time. I mean how did he find me in Bainbridge if you didn't tell him?" Ana was getting hysterical. She didn't believe she could listen to another lie. "I need to know it all. Now." Ana finally looked up at Christian, yes Christian. Christopher Tate didn't exist.

Christian was at a loss. He never imagined that those were the reason she would come up with for his lie. "The photos you received before you were shot. I came because of those pictures and one other I found while investigating the death of one of those women."

"Investigating." And let the words roll over her tongue, testing it out. She heard Elliot say FBI. Is that why he's here?

"Yes, my boss, Jason Taylor got copies of everything from Luke and he sent me here to see if the same guy after you is the one we've… I've been looking for over the last three years." Christian hated this. "Ana, I need you to understand. The only thing I've lied about is my name. The FBI sent me in undercover hoping to get answers and clues to a killer we've been tracking for years without sending the public into a panic. The Papz spends weeks stalking a woman, those women in the photos, before he abducts them and does unspeakable things to them. The last victim was found in Atlanta just a few days before you were shot. There was a picture of you found under her body. It was the first time we had a clue as to who he was coming after next. I've been doing my best to try and find the connection. Trying to keep you safe. Yes I lied about my name, but everything I've told you about myself was the truth. I was only ordered to stay close and get you to talk about your past in hopes of finding a suspect. To keep you safe while I did it." Christian felt the tears slip down his face as he watched her cry. "Falling in love with you wasn't part of the plan. But it happened. I fell in love with you, and everything we shared in Bainbridge was real. You have to believe me, Ana. I love you, and I only want to protect you. Baby, I love you." Christian took the glass from Ana and sat it on the table behind him so he could hold both of her hands against his chest. "I love you. Falling in love you was not the plan. It's actually kind of a rule. No falling while undercover. I fought the feelings you brought out in me tooth and nail. I didn't want you to think it was all part of an assignment. That I had been ordered to seduce you to get the information I needed."

"Isn't that what happened though? You were ordered to do what was necessary to get the id of a suspect. What happens now that you have it? I am assuming Jose is who you were looking for." Ana took a deep breath trying to quell the panic that was rising within her.

"The FBI doesn't work on assumptions. We need something concrete. Till then we wait. You understand what I had to do don't you baby. You know I love you, right?" Christian refused to give up without a fight. He needed to hold hope, Anastasia Steele was his future, and he would do whatever was necessary to protect her.

Ana peered into his stone gray eyes looking for the man she fell in love with. Christian seemed so hopeful. Leaning forward, Ana pressed a gentle kiss to his lips, pouring all her love into this one action as she wrapped a hand around the back of his neck. Resting her forehead on his, Ana closed her eyes refusing to see his face as she whispered her next words. Ana felt Christian's lips against her forehead when the tears started another treck down her cheeks. "I love Christopher Tate, and you're not him. You need to leave."