LATER THAT WEEK
The rest of the week went by with no problems. Don kept a close to Kelley and at night he, Jimmy, Charlie, and the rest of the team worked on how to protect Kelley and catch Baker. Kelley remained blissfully unaware of how much trouble she could be in, and Don and Charlie were determined to keep it that way. Wednesday was spent shopping with Amanda and Megan of course with Charlie and Don in tow. Thanksgiving Day was spent watching parades, football, and eating WAY too much at a family reunion for Kelley's dad's side of the family. Friday was a lazy day at G's house getting ready for the game day festivities on campus the following day.
"Ok let's go over this again. I want to at least look like I know what I'm doing." Don looked at Kelley again.
"Ok here's how it goes." She looked at him and began to chant. "Hotty Toddy gosh a'mighty who the hell are we? Hey! Flim flam bim bam Ole Miss by damn!"
"Ok I think I got it." Don tried the cheer himself.
"Perfect!" Kelley smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "We'll make you a Rebel yet!"
"So where does this cheer come from?" Alan asked.
"Not really sure. There are tons of stories on how it came to be." G added. "Now that Hotty Toddy is learned I think it's time for me to turn in." Slowly everyone went to bed. Once Charlie was sure Kelley was sound asleep he headed to the kitchen. Don, Jimmy, and both of their teams had already assembled there.
"Ok. Everyone knows their positions around the tent and in the stadium. Luckily the school was willing to make allowances to let our extra agents in." Don was saying.
"What can I do?" Charlie asked as he entered the room.
"Charlie, I just need you to stay close to her so we can protect you both, I also need you to act normal. I don't want to ruin her day." Don watched his brother sit down.
"Have you guys gotten any more leads on where he is?" He asked looking around the table.
"Well we saw the guy Wednesday following you guys while you were shopping on the Square. We chased him down but couldn't find him. It's like he disappeared." Colby said.
"But don't worry Charlie. You know we won't let anything happen to Kelley." David reassured him.
"Alright everybody. Let's go over this one more time and then turn in. I want everybody sharp tomorrow. There will be over 60,000 people in the stadium and even more in the Grove. We'll have to be sharp." Don went over their protection plans again with team. Then they all broke off and headed to bed or to their duties.
"Don, you're not using Kelley as bait again are you?" Charlie asked his brother after everyone left.
"Not really, but I would love to catch this guy before Sunday. I don't want have to worry about this when we get home." Don put his hand on Charlie's shoulder. "If she draws him out, we'll be ready."
"Ok Don. Just give me a heads up if something is about to go down." Charlie look at his brother for the first time a little worried.
"You got it brother. Now get some sleep." He pointed Charlie towards the hall.
NOVEMBER 27, SATURDAY
Everyone woke up early dressed, packed the car, and headed to the Grove. G had tenderloin and biscuits, hot chocolate, coffee, and muffins at the tent ready for everyone. They all enjoyed their breakfast and spent the rest of the morning touring the campus and the tents.
"Boy you weren't kidding about these tents." Charlie said as they walked through the sea of tailgaters. "You Rebels take this tailgating very seriously.
"I don't care what you say, this is not tailgating." Don laughed as they continued. "I mean look at this, there are chandlers, flower arrangements, and gourmet food. This is way beyond tailgating."
"How bout Groving?" Alan suggested.
"I just call it living." Kelley smiled.
"You got that right, Ladybug." Don put both his hands on her shoulder.
They headed back to the tent for lunch. "I have not seen this much food in this small a space in my life." Don commented. "What are these thing?" He had picked up a small, circular, fried object.
"That's a fried dill pickle, Don." Hamp told him. "Try it. They're really good."
"If you say so Buddy." Don popped the pickle in his mouth. "You're right Hamp, this is really good."
They hung out at the tent a little longer and then it was time to head to the walk-through. "Ok so what goes on at the walk-through?" Alan asked.
"The walk-through is where the team gets off their charter buses and walks down the Walk of Champions to the stadium. Fans line up to wish them luck and cheer them on." Kelley informed them as the headed towards the Student Union.
"Sounds like fun." Don was scanning the crowd. He was on edge with all these people around. Baker could be hiding in plain sight. He had to be ready in case something went down fast. The four of them stood on the side walk and watched the team get off the buses and head toward the stadium. The pep band was playing in the background.
"Ok Don, it's time to show me how good a learner you are." Kelley looked up at him as the cheer leaders yelled "Are you ready?"
The crowed answered "Hell yeah! Damn right!" Don, Charlie, and Alan joined right in. "Hotty Toddy gosh a'might who the hell are we? Hey! Flim flam bim bam Ole Miss by damn!"
Kelley laughed "I knew I'd win you guys over yet!"
"You were right about one thing." Charlie smiled and put his arm around her waist. "This is a lot of fun!"
"And just think, we haven't made it to the game yet." She gave them a big smile.
They headed back to the tent for a few snacks and then headed over to the Grove stage to watch the band warm up. "Pie!" Kelley yelled across the crowded.
"Kelley! Charlie! Don! Alan!" Amanda, in full band uniform, came running up to them. "So are ya'll having fun?"
"We are. You look very nice in your band uniform." Alan commented.
"Thank you Alan. So Kel do you miss this stuff?" Amanda asked.
"You know it. If I could I'd put on a uniform and head to the field." She hugged her and smiled.
"Well I gotta go warm up. You guys enjoy the game." Amanda headed back into the crowd.
"Have fun Pie!" Kelley called after her. She and the Eppes men headed to the back of the crowd and listened as the band warmed up. "Gosh I miss this!" Kelley yelled over the last notes of the warm up.
"That was awesome!" Don mused. "I have never really paid attention to the band at games before, but that was great! Now what?"
"We head to the stadium to watch my Rebels kick some Bulldog butt!" She caught Don and Charlie by the arm and lead them to the stadium. The game was a blast. Ole Miss beat Mississippi State 49-0. "That was so much fun! I love game days!" Kelley was announcing happily as they headed back to the tent. Once they reached the tent, Charlie and Alan headed to the rest room and Kelley sat down next to Don. "So are you going to let Colby, David and Megan have a break to eat any of this good food?"
Don looked at her surprised. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on Don! Did you really think I wouldn't notice your team following us around all week?" She smiled at him. "So have they seen the guy yet?"
"Ladybug, how long have you known they've been following us?" Don gave her a confused look.
"I thought I saw David at the zoo, but I wasn't sure, but Colby gave it away on Wednesday. He tried to duck into a clothes rack but his head stuck out too far. I didn't say anything because I knew you had a good reason for having your team here." She gave him a sly smile. "Now come on if they have to be here you might as well let them get something to eat."
Don held up his wrist with his mic on it. "Ok guys. Ladybug made you all. Come on in to the tent."
Kelley looked up and saw Don's team heading for the tent. "You guys fix a plate." She pointed towards the table.
"How come you didn't say anything sooner?" Colby asked. "We've been watching you guys eat all this good food all week while we've been eating takeout."
"Sorry Colby. I just figured you were on duty and you were used to it." Kelley gave him a sly smile. "Plus I figured today would be your toughest day of watching for the bad guys. Now that we are through the hard part, I think you guys deserve a break.
"We'll let's not be too hasty." David held up his hand. "He could still be around here."
"Whatever David, Just eat." Kelley grinned. Everyone began to gather back at the tent to eat supper.
"Has anyone seen Hamp?" G asked.
"Not for awhile." Kelley said look around the tent and thinking of the last time she had seen the little boy.
"Wasn't he with you Cole?" Joey, the boy's dad asked.
"I took him to the bathroom a few minutes ago, but I brought him right back here." The older brother defended himself.
"Ok. Settle down. Let's all just look for him." G held up her hands to stop the coming argument.
The group began to spread out and look for the small boy. Out of the corner of her eye Kelley saw a glimpse of the boy's jacket in the distance. Then his situation came into full view. Hamp was being drug away by a man. He had his hand over Hamp's mouth. Without even thinking about her own safety, she ran after the boy and his captor. She followed them into a space on campus where there were no tents around. "You let him go!" Kelley yelled.
"And if I don't?" The man spoke without turning around. "What are you gonna do Ladybug? You seem to have out ran your FBI protection. I knew it would be hard to get you away from them. But apparently you have a soft spot for this little one here. I realized getting my hands on Hamp here would be the only way to get you alone."
"Who are you?" She asked. The man turned around and raised his head to look at her, her blood ran cold. "Justine? What? Why?"
"Hmm let's think about this." He snarled. She saw he had a knife to Hamp's throat. "Your mom ruined my chance at my score on this campus and then after I killed her and your dad you somehow managed to escape to LA. I of course found out and followed you there. I was waiting for my opportunity to take care of you but it never came. So when I found out that that the genius boyfriend was bringing you back here I knew I would get my chance here."
"Your problem is with me not Hamp. Let him go!" She stayed calm and stared him down.
"You're right. As far away as we are from the crowd, I can kill you and escape before anyone finds you." Baker laughed evilly as he released the boy. Hamp ran to her. She grabbed him in a hug.
"Get behind me Hamp and close your eyes." She whispered. "Don't open them until I tell you too or Don or Uncle Jimmy come and get you. Understand?" Hamp shook his head and did as she had told him.
"Any last words?" Baker asked as he came closer to her. "I'll be sure and use your blood to write them on the side walk for your G-man."
"Yeah. How 'bout go to Hell." She snarled at him.
"Oh so the Ladybug is not afraid of me?" He laughed in her ear.
"No. I'm not afraid of you." She smiled at him.
"And why is that?" He asked.
"Cause I've got him." She smiled again and pointed as Colby put a gun to his head.
"I think if I were you I'd put that knife down." Colby growled at him.
"You have got to be kidding me." Baker dropped the knife and put his hand on his head.
"Sorry Justine. I don't joke when it comes to the FBI." Kelley gave him a wink.
"You bitch." He spit at her
"Hey." Colby jerked him backwards and he cuffed him. "That's no way to treat a lady and plus there are little ears here.
Kelley turned around and bent down to be eye level with Hamp. "It's ok buddy you can open your eyes now."
"Are you sure?" He asked through tears.
"I'm sure buddy. Colby has the bad guy already." She pulled his hands down and wrapped him in a hug and picked him up.
"It's ok Don. I've got 'em. Yeah all of them." Colby was on the phone. "Great I'll meet David at the car." He hung up the phone and turned to Kelley. "Don's on his way."
"Ok Colby." Just then Don, Charlie, Jimmy, Alan, and Joey came through the bushes.
"Ladybug, what the hell happened?" Don asked.
"I saw the guy had Hamp. I didn't even think. I just went after him, but I heard Colby right behind me." She looked up at Don while still holding a scared Hamp.
"That was a big risk Little One." Jimmy looked at her with a disappointed. "Why would you do something like that?"
"He had Hamp. There was no way I was gonna let anything happen to him." She began to tear up thinking about what could have happened to him. "He's just a little boy."
Joey walked over to her and kissed her forehead. "Thank you Little One. You saved my little boy."
"Any time Joey." Kelley gave him a little smile.
"Hey Dad." Hamp raised his head and look at his dad.
"You ok Buddy?" Joey asked him.
"Yep. Kelley took care of me. Like she always does." Hamp looked at her and hugged her tightly. "I love you Kel."
"I love you too Bud." She hugged him back. "Why don't you go with your dad ok? I need to talk to your Uncle Jimmy and Don."
"Ok." Hamp hopped into his dad's arms and they headed back to the tent.
As soon as Joey and Hamp were clear Charlie ran to her and wrapped her in a hug, kissing her. "Don't ever scare me like that again ok?" He pulled her back and looked into her face. "Please don't ever scare me like that again."
"I'm sorry Charlie, but I couldn't let him hurt Hamp." She felt awful for scaring him again.
"Ok you guys let's get back to the tent and then head home. It has been a really long day." Don lead the way.
NOVEMBER 28, SUNDAY
Kelley woke up in her usual spot, next to Charlie with her head on his chest. "Good morning, Babe." She smiled up at him.
"Good morning yourself." He kissed her forehead.
"So we are not going back until tomorrow huh?" Kelley looked up at him.
"Nope. I already called everyone at CalSci and USC to let them know we won't be back until Tuesday." She sat up and looked at him.
"So what are we up to today?" She smiled up at him.
"Well you have to go down to the FBI office and give your statement and then you and are going to spend a little time together." Charlie smiled at her slyly.
"What are you up to Charlie Eppes?" She gave him questioning look.
"You'll just have to wait and see won't you?" He kissed her deeply.
After they got up and dressed, Charlie took Kelley down to the FBI office where Don and Jimmy were waiting. After giving her statement, Charlie took Kelley to a local bed and breakfast for brunch. "Charlie, this is so sweet. My dad used to paint for the guy who owns this place. He even painted it a couple times."
After they finished Charlie got up and took her hand. "Let's go for a walk."
"Sounds good to me." She took his hand and they headed outside. "Wow this place is so pretty."
"I know. The gazebo and the lake just give the right mood don't they?" Charlie smiled at her.
"What mood is that Professor Eppes?" She smiled back at him.
"A romantic one." Charlie stopped walking and took both of her hands in his. "Kelley I need to ask you something."
"What's that Charlie?" She gave him a wink.
"Well I just wanted to tell you.." As he began to talk, out of nowhere it began to rain. "Perfect, just perfect." He groaned.
"Come on we have to get out of the rain!" Kelley laughed and grabbed his arm and began to drag him towards the gazebo. They reached the shelter and Charlie began to shake the raindrops from his hair. Kelley reached up and smoothed out some of his wild curls.
"At least in LA you get a little bit of warning." Charlie smiled at her and laughed.
"What can I say? Welcome to Mississippi." She put her arms around his neck. "Now that we are in a dry spot what were you going to ask me Charlie?"
"Well" he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I was going to say that I love you more than anything in this world." He raised one of his hands to her cheek and began to stroke it gently. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I can't risk loosing you ever again."
"Charlieā¦" She tried to cut him off. He raised his finger to her lips to silence her.
"Let me finish." He lowered his finger back to her cheek. "You mean so much to me and you understand me better than anyone else in this world, and seeing the way you protected Hamp made me realize that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want you to be the mother of my children, and I want to grow old with you." He stepped back from her and took her hands again. "I was going to wait for Christmas to do this but after all you've been trough this week I think now is as good a time as any." He reached into his pocket and dropped to one knee. Kelley's hands went to cover her mouth in surprise, she knew what was coming. "Kelley Dawn James, will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife? Will you marry me?" Charlie opened the box he had pulled from his pocket to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. He looked up at her and smiled.
Kelley took in the sight of the ring and then looked at Charlie's face. She had never loved him more than at that moment. "Oh course I will Charlie!" She smiled down at him.
Charlie began to cry as he slid the ring onto her finger. Once it was on he quickly stood up and pulled her into a hug and a kiss. In between kisses he repeated over and over "I love you." He gave her one last long, slow kissed.
When he pulled away she looked up at him and said. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing you say that."
"Good." He kissed her nose. "Because I'll never stop telling you."
