Kutee: What? Isn't Dr. Young just doing her job? Family? Ok. Sure. I'm sure they'll show up. Thanks for leaving feedback!
AMCGL7: Hate is a strong word. And you really hate Dr. Young. Wow. What'd she do? Who would she be having shady dealings with? I thought she was only a simple psychologist. Thanks for commenting!
Note: So, against my better judgment, I've joined this newfangled thing called Twitter (yes, it's not that new and I'm in my twenties, but I can still call it newfangled.) If any of you want to follow me (which would be kind of cool) look up fab_fan1. If you want to communicate with me, even better. Now, on with the story!
Frankie slowly walked out of the elevator. She didn't notice the people entering the elevator behind her or the closing of its doors. She barely registered her body moving down the brightly lit hallway, numbered doors passing by with each step. Her eyes were focused inward, her mind churning with all-encompassing thoughts.
She would never hurt Bianca or the kids. She had control over herself. She wouldn't impulsively do anything like that. The Amos case was different. She did the right thing, the only thing she could. Letting a murderer walk free was not an option.
Was she making excuses? No…no she wasn't. It was the truth. She wasn't lying to herself. That lady didn't know her or anyone she talked about.
Frankie's feet stopped moving, and she glanced at the numbered door. Automatically her hands dug in her pockets, pulling out the keycard Bianca had handed to her earlier. She slipped the thin plastic rectangle into the slot and pushed on the handle as a green light flashed.
She quietly entered and soundlessly shut the door behind her. The well-known voice of Scooby-Doo and his cohorts echoed throughout the hotel suite, and giggling followed. Frankie swallowed roughly and breathed in deeply. She rubbed harshly at her eyes and shook her head, forcing the thoughts away.
"Hey, sweetheart. How was your meeting?" Bianca spotted the still agent as she left her children in the clutches of the cartoon. She stepped up to her girlfriend, a wide grin on her face.
"Fine." Frankie smiled half-heartedly. She pecked the younger woman's cheek and slid passed her.
"That's good." Bianca turned. "Talk about anything exciting, or is it top secret?"
"Just work stuff." Frankie peeked in at the children. Miranda and Gabrielle were on the couch, the eldest's eyes glued to the television, her little sister copying her, and glancing every so often to make sure she was doing it right.
"Frankie, is everything ok?"
Frankie didn't hear her. Her gaze was solely on the children. A bad influence, that was what the doctor has said. She knew she wasn't too good of a person. She had made a lot of mistakes in her life. But, she could never honestly want someone else to make those same mistakes, especially Miranda or Gabrielle. Had they been picking up on something, though? They were good kids. They weren't like she was. Hell, she wasn't like she was before. She had changed, matured.
"Frankie."
"What?" the shorter woman was broken out of her thoughts at the sharp voice.
Bianca frowned and walked up to her, "What's wrong?"
Frankie plastered a smirk on her face, "Nothing."
"Are you sure? You seem…distant." Bianca reached out and curled her fingers around Frankie's wrist, squeezing gently.
"Yeah, it's cool. Just tired, ya know. You kept me up late last night."
"I think you were the one who kept me up late." Bianca tugged her into an embrace.
They were comfortable with you. They knew what you were like. They trusted you, for some reason. If they trusted you, why wouldn't they trust them?
Frankie unconsciously stiffened and pulled back from the hug. She looked up at the beautiful face she loved so much.
Could it be possible these two women were able to let men such as this into their lives because they had known these traits before? They had seen and experienced these people before with you, why wouldn't they let someone else just like that into their orbit?
Her hand traced an elegant eyebrow before trailing down to touch a plump lip. Had she been the first to introduce this wonderful human being to the horror of people? Had she put a false sense of security in her mind, a feeling that people like her wouldn't hurt someone as precious as her?
"Frankie?" Bianca was worried at the look in the other woman's eyes. She trapped the darker hand in her own and held it to her lips, pressing a tender kiss to the fingers.
"You're something special, you know that? You…you deserve the world." Not what you've gotten. Not being attacked. Not having your innocence stripped from you by a vicious act.
"Talk to me." Bianca urged. What was going on? What had changed?
Frankie blinked as if coming out of a daze. She retrieved her hand from Bianca's grasp, "What about?"
Bianca frowned at the blasé attitude, "About why you're suddenly being like this."
"Like what?" Frankie spun and started to walk away.
"Like that." Bianca grabbed her hand, effectively stopping her.
"Walking?" Frankie raised an eyebrow, "Didn't know that was against the rules, boss."
"Stop."
"I have." Frankie pointedly gestured at the hand holding her.
Bianca sighed, "You know what I mean."
Frankie didn't respond. Her gaze strayed towards the hand on her. Had Cambias grabbed Bianca like that? Had he…smirked like she always did? No, she was not going to think about that.
Bianca locked eyes with her, "What happened today?"
"Besides our early morning? Nothing." Be normal.
She was lying. Bianca knew that doubtlessly.
"But, I wouldn't mind having another morning like that again really soon." Frankie winked salaciously.
Bianca furrowed her brows. Frankie was trying too hard. She didn't have to try at all, but she was. It was like…she didn't want anyone to know what she was truly feeling, thinking. "It was a great morning."
The younger woman tilted her head and let her eyes roam Frankie's face. She fought to lock gazes with the familiar browns, searching. Those orbs looked so different from just a few hours before. Then, they had been full of love and joy, tenderness growing each time they landed on her. Now, they were closed off, hints of what could be worry or gloominess sneaking through. They were the eyes of the person she had first come into contact with in Paris. No, that wasn't right. There was a difference. That person wasn't so…tentative. It was as if she was scared, but of what? Did it have to do with what she wouldn't tell Bianca the night before?
"What's up?" Frankie asked, shifting uncomfortably at the intense look.
"I love you." Bianca said, the emotion reflecting in her eyes.
Frankie blinked. She felt her ears change color involuntarily, but her tongue felt heavy.
"I've loved you since I met you. I'm going to keep loving you. You know why?"
"Why?" Frankie whispered.
"Because," Bianca let her hand slide down and tangle with the tanner one, "I trust you. I know you. No matter what, I know what's in your heart. That kind, gentle, loving heart of yours is what I can't live without."
"That…that's great." Frankie grit her teeth at the feelings bubbling up inside.
Did you not take advantage of a girl who had been dealing with huge life altering issues such as her sexuality and her father dying?
It had to have been difficult knowing for a fact that she was happier without you in her life.
"I trust you so much. I hope you trust me, too." She hoped this worked.
"You know I do." Frankie felt the warm hand in her own, "You know that." She was never the one she didn't trust.
"Then, trust me now. Tell me what's wrong."
"Bianca," Frankie sighed. She rubbed at her eyes, her hand looping up to smooth over her hair and scratch at her scalp.
"I know you'll tell me when you're ready. But, something is wrong."
"Everything is cool." Frankie tried to deflect.
"No, it's not. Please, don't lie to me. Lying only causes problems; we know that better than anyone." Please, just talk to me. Tell me. Trust me.
Frankie shook her head, "There's nothing to talk about." She couldn't talk about this, she wouldn't. She would not bring her or the girls into her problems. It was her situation to deal with, not theirs.
"Frankie, sweetheart, is it your job? Is it Michaels?"
"No, Bianca. Let it go." Frankie started to get agitated. Couldn't Bianca see she didn't want to talk about it? That she couldn't?
"No, Frankie."
Stubborn Kane woman, "Just let it go. It's no big deal, ok. It's nothing."
Bianca pushed on, "You can trust me. I won't judge you. I've never judged you like that. I love you. Please, honey, do not lie to me."
Don't lie. You got in another fight. Stupid useless brat.
Frankie ripped her hand free and stepped back. She jammed her hand into her pocket and rooted out a few sticks of gum, popping them into her mouth, "Damn it, Bianca. Why are you hounding me about this? Are you bored?"
"No. I'm worried about my girlfriend."
"Don't be."
"I worry about you, Frankie. I'm worried now."
"Good to know. You can stop."
"Frankie!" Miranda yelped, scurrying into the room. She had heard voices and went to investigate. She didn't have the flashlights and cool van like on TV, but that was ok. She had found her mommy and Frankie near each other, and she did not really like the looks on their faces. They looked sad.
"Hey, kiddo." Frankie grunted as Miranda slammed into her legs, wrapping her waist in a giant hug. She awkwardly patted her back, the glacial voice mocking her in her mind, reminding her of the meeting she had left.
"Come watch TV." Miranda cheerfully ordered. Gabrielle appeared, crawling along the floor to join in.
Frankie blocked the tike from getting any farther and picked her up, hesitant hands cradling her fragile body. Gabrielle giggled and grasped the metal necklace.
"It's Scooby-Doo, then Spongebob." Miranda continued, hands waving wildly in the air as she talked.
Children at that age pick up a lot of clues from adults on how they should act. She was around you the most. A person who has repeatedly lied, stolen, committed crimes…shall I go on?
Bianca studied Frankie as the little girl talked. The gleam in Frankie's eye was strange. She wasn't listening attentively. Instead, it seemed as if she was thinking, the hands holding Gabrielle more nervous than she had seen in a long time.
A knock at the door interrupted Miranda's reciting of the television schedule. Frankie and Bianca exchanged a wondering glance. Who was that?
Bianca walked up to the door and peeked through the view hole before opening the door, "Maggie?"
"Hi, Bianca." Maggie nodded, Ally at her side.
"Come in, come in. What are you doing here?" Bianca ushered the two women inside the suite. She shut the door and turned to face them.
"We came to visit. I wanted to see Miranda and had some time off." Maggie's gaze flickered, "We tried calling earlier when we got in, but no one answered. Guess you were busy."
"I didn't hear my phone." Bianca shrugged, "Sorry I missed you. Hi, Ally."
"It's fine." Maggie gazed over at Miranda, "Hi, Munchkin."
"Hi, Maggie." Miranda waved from Frankie's side. She leaned against the agent's legs.
The second the twins looked at each other, the room grew colder. There eyes met for a quick moment before darting away. They both shifted unconsciously.
"Think we can spend some time with Miranda? Maybe get lunch?" Maggie directed the question at Bianca. Her hand entwined with Ally's.
"I don't know." Bianca glanced at Frankie. The agent was stoic, the only movement coming from her jaw as she chewed her gum and Gabrielle curled in her arms.
"Why not?" Maggie asked. "Did you have plans?"
"No, we didn't have anything definite."
"Then, she's free. We'll have her back in a few hours. It'd be really great if we could have some time with her."
Bianca bit her lip, "Miranda, go get your shoes and coat, honey."
"Ok, Mommy." Miranda hurried off to her and Gabby's room.
"This is a nice room, Bianca." Ally made small talk. "Hello, Frankie."
Frankie shifted her weight, "Hey."
"Frankie." Maggie greeted, an eyebrow lifting at the sight of her sister holding a small child. It was different. Truthfully, it was a sight she'd never thought she would see.
"I know we weren't close, but when I found out what happened…I felt like I lost an arm."
"Maggie." Frankie replied in the same tone.
Your sister was beaten by her boyfriend. She was in an abusive relationship for quite some time, actually.
Do you feel guilt about this as well? Perhaps believe you could have stopped it?
Frankie blinked.
Stop it. Drop the attitude, Frankie. Don't you get it? You messed up, again. All you do is mess up.
Miranda reappeared, coat and shoes on. She skipped up to Bianca, hugging her. Bianca told her to be on her best behavior and that she loved her. Then, she hopped over to Frankie and tugged on the leg of her trousers. Frankie carefully bent over.
"See ya Frankie; see ya Gabby. Love you." Miranda kissed their cheeks. Gabby giggled, and Frankie nodded weakly "See ya, kid."
Frankie watched as Miranda happily walked up to Maggie and Ally, receiving a hug from them both. Maggie hugged the child effortlessly. It was natural, flawless. The little girl waved cheerfully as Maggie locked their hands and led her out of the suite.
The sound of the door closing had Frankie digging in her pockets, hunting for her car keys. "I have to go."
"What?" Bianca's head whipped around. "Where?"
"Here." Frankie handed Gabrielle over.
Bianca took her youngest child, "Where are you going? Stay, please."
"I can't." the keys shined in the light.
Bianca went to a nearby chair and softly set Gabrielle down in it. Sure she would stay put, she rushed up to Frankie. Her hands grabbed strong shoulders and spun her around. Frankie's back tapped lightly against the door.
"Stay." Bianca pleaded. "Don't go."
"I have to." Frankie bit down hard on the gum.
"No, you don't. You just got back."
"I have to go back to work." Frankie pressed further against the door. Why wouldn't Bianca let her go?
Bianca frowned, sensing she needed to keep the agent with her. Counting on that intangible connection she had felt so strongly the night before, she cupped her palms around Frankie's cheeks and brought their lips together.
She brushed her mouth against Frankie's, before pulling her closer. Their lips met again and again, each caress become deeper. The lengths of their bodies touched, and she could feel the pounding of a heart racing along with her own.
Bianca broke the kiss, panting heavily. Their foreheads rested against each other. "Stay and talk with me."
She held her breath as lips pressed brokenly against her temple. There was a pause. She could feel Frankie giving in.
"I love you."
Then, her arms were empty, and the door was opening and closing.
"Yes…yes…good." Frankie listened to the speaker on the other end of the call. She silently acknowledged Jones and Moreno, the two agents sitting on the first bench they had met at. She walked passed them, not looking back. Jones scrambled to his feet to follow, Moreno joining at a more laidback pace.
"Yeah, I owe you." Frankie flipped her cell phone closed and stuck it in her coat pocket.
"Hi, Stone." Moreno greeted happily, "Don't feel like sitting?"
"No," Frankie turned to Jones, "I got us an in."
"That's good." Jones nodded.
"I need you to get me a landline. Cell phones can easily drop calls. If you can, make it a secure line."
Jones mentally noted these requirements, "Sure thing, boss."
"What's going on, Stone? Why not use your office line?" Moreno cut in.
"I told you I didn't want to meet in the same spots." Frankie spoke firmly, ignoring the questions.
"Rawr." Moreno formed claws with her hands.
Frankie locked her jaw and glared at the DEA agent and Jones, "Listen up. This isn't some fun little sideshow for you to play cops and robbers at. This is an investigation. If you can't handle that, then go home. Otherwise, do what I say."
Jones's back straightened, "Yes, ma'am."
"Whatever, Stone." Moreno nodded.
Frankie resumed walking, "I have a contact setting up a phone call with Williams. I need a secure line that will not lose the call."
"Will do." Jones responded.
"Moreno, did you get any more information?"
"Not yet. Another case is coming up for me with the DEA. I need to spend some energy on that."
"Can I count on you to still work on this?"
"Yes."
"Good." Frankie shoved another stick of gum in her mouth. "Go back to work. No one should know you were here."
Moreno flashed the FBI agents a grin, "No problemo, undercover." She walked away, humming to herself.
Frankie did not watch her go, her eyes ticking along the faces of the few people walking around the park. She spotted a man walking his dog, an open book covering his face. Frankie bent to the side to read the title. It was a book of poems by A.E. Houseman.
"Oh, when I was in love with you,
Then I was clean and brave,
And miles around the wonder grew
How well did I behave.
And now the fancy passes by,
And nothing will remain,
And miles around they'll say that I
Am quite myself again."
"What?" Jones heard Frankie mumbling under her breath, but couldn't make out what she was saying.
"Nothing." Frankie shook her head, "Get me that line."
"That was good mac and cheese." Miranda rubbed her puffy pink belly for emphasis.
"It was good." Maggie agreed, holding her hand as they left the restaurant.
"Where to next, girls?" Ally looked up and down the busy sidewalk.
"There are a lot of museums and sites nearby." Maggie felt around in her purse for the pocket sized guide book they had bought.
Miranda rolled her eyes and kicked at the sidewalk. She hoped they didn't want to go see the big scary guy.
"How about somewhere inside? It's cold out here." Ally buttoned her coat up to her neck.
"The Ford Theatre isn't too far from here." Maggie pointed.
They began to walk in that direction, Maggie holding onto Miranda's hand, Ally on her other side. They walked a few blocks and ended up in front of the old theatre. They were guided down to a small museum in the basement where a few artifacts from the Lincoln assassination were housed. They milled about, taking in the signs explaining the timeline of events.
Maggie walked up to a case of assorted knick knacks. Miranda released her hand and shuffled over to a different case.
"Cool. It looks weird." She stared at the gun used by Booth to shoot the president. It didn't look like Frankie's. She couldn't touch Frankie's gun. Her mommy and Frankie both told her to never touch it.
Her mind drifted as she stood with her hands flat against the glass. Her mommy and Frankie had looked so sad. Her mommy had looked worried, too. Miranda didn't like it. When she had walked in, the room didn't feel right. It never felt like that before. It wasn't right.
"Miranda, is everything ok?" Ally slid up next to the six-year old.
Miranda shrugged.
"Maggie." Ally called out.
"Hmm?" Maggie finished reading the final sentence and made her way over to them.
Ally gestured at Miranda, who was once again lost in thought. The corners of Maggie's mouth drooped and she placed her hand on the girl's head, running her fingers though the russet locks, "Munchkin, what's wrong?"
Miranda shrugged.
Maggie pursed her lips, "You can tell me."
Miranda ducked her head. Should she say? "It's…Mommy and Frankie."
Maggie's frown deepened, "What about them? Did Frankie do something?"
Miranda shook her head, "No. What would she do?"
"Only a question. Tell me what's wrong with them." Maggie led the child over to a chair against the wall.
"I don't know. Frankie was sad, Mommy too. But, they were happy. Why would they be sad now?"
"Did they fight? Did you hear them yell or argue?"
"No." Miranda shook her head. "But, Mommy looked scared. Frankie was sad. Mommy shouldn't be scared. Frankie protects us, and Frankie shouldn't be sad. We love her, and when people love you, you can't be sad."
"Are you sure they didn't fight? Frankie didn't say something to upset Bianca?" Did Frankie mess up somehow?
"No, Frankie doesn't make Mommy upset."
"Never?"
"Never." Miranda was resolved on that.
"Maybe it's something to do with Frankie's work?" Ally suggested.
Maggie felt her breath catch in her chest, "Her work?" Frankie didn't get hurt again. She looked fine. That would be just like her, though. Get hurt again so Bianca and Miranda would stay in DC. Hadn't she gotten shot enough times?
Miranda's eyes widened, "But…Frankie didn't fall or anything. I swear. I watch a lot to make sure."
"I'm certain she isn't hurt." Maggie soothed.
"I woulda known." Miranda folded her arms. "Besides, Frankie's my best friend. She would tell me."
Maggie narrowed her eyes. Best friends? Not to mention Frankie had been holding Bianca's other daughter. When did Frankie become so domesticated? More importantly, was Frankie messing it all up? It was inevitable. It had been years, but Maggie knew her sister. Frankie would mess up, one way or another. It was Frankie Stone's MO. Someone like that didn't just change.